Six men, dressed in expensive black suits, marched in. One of them stepped forward, carrying a tray adorned with jewelry encrusted with precious stones, and placed it on the center table.
“This is from Charles Hudson for his granddaughter-in-law,” the man announced with a bow. The second man placed a large box next to the table and opened it. “These dresses were designed by the world’s best designer, Austin Bash. They are all size 12 and made for Miss Thompson.” Andrea’s heart twitched. Her dress size was 12. How did Old Charlie know that? The third man stepped forward and opened another box filled with customized shoes. “This gift is from Charles Hudson to his precious granddaughter-in-law, Andrea Thompson,” he declared. Colton had told her he was rich and the grandson of Charles Hudson, but Andrea had never fully grasped just how wealthAs the car drives through the streets of Colton's neighborhood, Andrea glances at the homes in shock and awe. She’s no stranger to luxury—she’s lived in nice neighborhoods all her life—but these homes are on a completely different level. She knew Hudson made a good living—after all, he’s the CFO of a multibillion-dollar company and drives incredible cars—but holy shit, this is insane. When the car pulls up to what must be his home, the leader of the group waits for the wrought-iron gate to open. Apparently, they have another gate, despite the neighborhood already being guarded. They drive up a long, winding driveway, and when they turn a corner, Andrea is met with the most breathtaking sight. A mansion. Yes, mansion, because calling it anything less would be an insult. To the left is a three-car garage. The leader presses a button, and one of the bay doors begins to rise. He pulls in, and the door shuts behind them.
But then, she remembers—he defended her before. He even broke Edwin’s hand for her sake.Maybe he is different.She hopes he is. Because one year is a long time to endure an arrogant billionaire and his insufferable family."Melissa," a voice interjects—low and firm.Andrea turns to see Victoria entering the room."Oh, relax, Mother," Melissa laughs, though there’s no humor in it. "We’re just getting to know each other. Right, Andrea?"Andrea meets Melissa’s gaze, her expression steady. "Right."The tension in the room is palpable. Veronica and Melissa exchange unimpressed glances, while Victoria steps closer and gently places a hand on Andrea’s shoulder."Come, honey. Let’s take you to your room," Victoria says, leading Andrea upstairs.Colton’s bedroom is just as luxurious as the rest of the house, featuring a massive king-sized bed that Andrea can’t wait to sink into."Thank you so much…" An
Andrea screamed and quickly wrapped herself up with the towel. Her eyes were beet red. “What are you doing here” “This is my home, and I have the right to take a shower in my room,” Colton answered and walked into the bathroom. “Are you going out, or should I strip in your presence” Andrea was speechless. This was the worst day ever and this family, they were all insane except for Victoria and Grandpa Charles. When she made no attempt to move, Colton pulled off his shirt and started to unbuckle his belt. “Wait, are you insane don't do that!" Andrea screamed, closing her eyes and finding her way out of the bathroom, unfortunately she slammed her body hard against his solid chest. Instead of air kissing her cheeks, his lips singed on her skin. Rich and woody with notes of spice, raw masculinity, mystery... and something edgy, his scent fills her nostrils. Proba
As soon as he stepped out, his gaze fell on Andrea who was sitting on the bed, her back facing him. “Holy crap” he let out and closed the door again. “Now I have to deal with a woman living in my room” he thought then cleared his voice. “Please can you help me with my pajamas, it's right there in the last drawer of the wardrobe” “I will get it” Andrea said, and get the pajamas and opened the door a little then shoved her hand inside making sure the door wasn't open wide enough to see his naked body. “Thanks” Colton said, and took the cloth, but unfortunately, his hands brushed on hers, and an ungodly sensation swept through her, “This is insane, incredibly insane" she thought. When Colton finally came out, he was well dressed up in his pajamas and ready to rest on the bed, however, he noticed that the quilt was gone and his pillow gone too, whi
Andrea barged into her father’s study, slamming the door shut behind her. Edwin Thompson looked up from his work, startled, as she thrust a stack of papers onto his desk. “What is the meaning of this, Father?” Andrea demanded, her voice cold and accusing. Edwin’s expression hardened. “Have you lost your manners? Is this how you greet your father now? Is it because you are now married to Colton that you think you can behave however you want?" His tone was sharp, his patience worn thin. Andrea glared at him. With trembling hands, she wiped away the tiny tear that escaped from her left eye. “How can I show you respect when you removed my name from the jewelry design competition?” Andrea's tone was low but rigid. "You registered Evelyn's name in my place and gave her my design." She just left Hudson's home to work earlier only to discover this at the office. Andrea knowing her father
"Grandma!"“Don’t call me that,” Naomi spat. Her voice was icy, her eyes venomous."We took care of you and provided for you. And what did you do? You married without informing us and let your husband break your father’s hand. The least you could do is let your sister compete with your design.""Grandma, it's okay. Don't be too harsh on Andrea; I understand she hates my presence in the company. After all, it was her mother's," Evelyn piped up, looking more pitiful than before."If not for my injury," she clenched her bandaged hand, "I would have created my own design. After all, Andrea also wants to help the company win the trophy.""You are such a sweet soul, Evelyn," Naomi said. "And you have such a big heart. Despite what Andrea did to you, you still want her to compete.""I did not do anything to her. I wasn’t the one who hurt her hand.""Shut up, Andrea! Evelyn sustained that injury because she was trying to pr
"Do you really think Evelyn isn't Edwin’s daughter? How foolish of you," Lauren sneered. "Edwin and I were married for five years before he met your mother. We were poor and had nothing, so he had to make the most difficult decision of his life. He married your mother—a lonely widow desperately seeking a man to protect her. It was the only way he could provide for us. Edwin had to accept the marriage proposal because it was the only path to securing our future." Lauren’s lips curled with contempt. "Those were the worst moments of my life. You have no idea how much I hated your mother for it. I was relieved when she finally died, leaving me to reclaim my husband." Andrea couldn't believe what she was hearing. All this time, she had been the outsider. Now it all made sense—why Edwin never took her side. And now, she was starting to question everything, even the truth behind her mother’s death. "In that case," Andrea said, her
Mira opened her front door and found Andrea drenched in water. She quickly pulled her inside and took her boxes in. She went to fetch a towel and some dry clothes, handing them over to Andrea. As soon as Andrea dried herself and changed, she burst into tears. Mira immediately took her in her arms, holding her tightly. “What happened? Why were you soaked? And these…” Mira gestured toward the boxes. “What are they for?” “I was kicked out of the house.” “What? Why would your family do something like this? In this storm? Didn’t they care about your life?” Mira was so furious that, at that moment, she felt like shooting Mr. Thompson in the head. “Please, come here. Sit.” She pulled Andrea to the nearest couch. “I’m sorry to bother you. I don’t have anywhere else to go.” She couldn't bring herself to run to Colton when he hadn’t even offered to take her in. And, of course, she couldn't stay with his family—not with Melissa and her grandmother living there. Charles Hudson, Colton’
Andrea woke up to the buzzing sound of her phone. She quickly grabbed it, only to hear Elijah’s voice on the other end.“Darling, hope you slept well,” Elijah said.Andrea imagined him with that annoying, dirty smile on his face, and she twisted her lips in anger.“Useless thing. Weren’t you supposed to help me out last night? And what did you do instead? You turned useless.”Elijah chuckled. “Sweetheart, I still value my life—even though I love you. How could I stand up to Mr. Hudson? You didn’t tell me you wanted to mess with him! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have shown up at all. Look, I’m still young, and I don’t want to die just yet.”“You’re just as stupid as Milo. Both of you deserve to die a million times,” Andrea snapped.Elijah laughed again. “Don’t say that. You’d be heartbroken if we died.”“Idiot,” she muttered before hanging up.Looking around, Andrea suddenly realized she was in an unfamiliar room. She jumped out of bed and glanced around again—Colton wasn’t there, and this
“Yes, I will not” Andrea challenged him. She was exhausted, angry, and determined to provoke him, which was why she insisted on staying with Mr. Handsome. When Colton saw that she wasn’t willing to move, he gently bent down and lifted her off the ground. Her body was cradled securely in his warm arms, his intoxicating scent sending a volcanic eruption through her entire being. Andrea became numb as his dark irises stared down at her, daring her to resist. “Let me down, Colton, or I’ll jump.” A malicious smirk tugged at Colton’s lips. “Choose, Andrea—let me carry you out as my bride, or let go of my hands and fall, break your bones. Trust me, the latter will hurt so much you won’t be able to walk for months.” Andrea was speechless. What a shameless man... how dare he? Steven chuckled. Mr. Hudson sure has a way of making people obey, he thought. As for Rosa, her face twisted in disgust, red with anger. Mr. Handsome, however, remained indifferent, calmly chewing his meat.
"Please get us a spare plate. Three people can’t finish this lamb, and it’s not good to waste food," Andrea said.The waiter hurried out and returned with her request.Steve coughed, side-eyeing Colton, while Andrea casually dished out food for herself and her very lucky companion. She even dropped huge pieces on Steven’s plate. Steven couldn't help but nodded his head in delight, a gesture that made him look like a betrayal.Then, to everyone’s horror (except hers), she picked up a piece of meat, leaned in, and plopped it into the man’s mouth like he was a baby bird."Go on and eat it," she cooed. "The lamb is so tender and taste good. Eat and see."The man innocently opened his mouth and received the meat. He closed his eyes as the flavor hit his tongue, a smile curling on his lips. He returned the favor, feeding Andrea a piece, and she accepted it with exaggerated delight.Colton clenched his fists. The air-conditioned room su
She went upstairs to change and messaged the person she had originally planned to meet, apologizing for canceling earlier and giving them the new address. The person didn’t mind—Andrea was doing them a favor, after all.In five minutes, she came downstairs. Despite the rush, she looked stunning.Her short black evening dress contrasted beautifully with her snow-white skin. With rosy lips, pearly teeth, and delicate features, Andrea looked like a work of art—no wonder men were drawn to her.Steven swallowed the lump in his throat.“Ehmm… if you’re ready, let’s go.”Andrea nodded, and they left.In a VIP room at the Sweet Cherry Hotel, Colton was having dinner with Mr. Green and his daughter, Rosa.Rosa scooped a large portion of salad onto Colton’s plate.“You need more veggies. You men don’t know how to take care of yourselves.”“Mr. Hudson, you’re lucky to have Rosa by your side,” Mr. Green said between bites of lamb ribs. “She’s just like her mother—caring and devoted.”“You flatter
After Colton dropped Andrea off, she returned tmo her office only to find a bouquet of flowers waiting on her desk. Tucked within the arrangement was a small red card. She picked it up and read the two simple words:"Thank you."Andrea turned the card over but found no name. Perplexed, she asked the front desk who had delivered it, only to be told it came via a delivery man. Andrea racked her brain for who might’ve sent them, but only one name came to her mind—Colton.Without wasting a second, she dialed his number.“Missing me already?” Colton’s deep voice teased, laced with a smug undertone.“Did you send me flowers?” she asked flatly.“Is that your way of asking me to?”Andrea felt as though a bucket of hot water had been poured on her. What kind of man is this, and what nonsense is he spewing?“Come on, darling, if you want flowers, just say so.”Andrea clenched her fists in frustration. Speaking to Colton was pointless. She ended the call abruptly and threw herself into work. Lat
“Come. You’ll sit beside me and watch me eat. Maybe that’ll bring my appetite back.” Andrea cursed Milo a thousand times over for dragging her to the one hotel where Colton was scheduled to have lunch. Of all the places in the city... Colton took her wrist—firm but not rough—and pulled her from her seat, guiding her through the grand dining hall into a private room cloaked in soft lighting and velvet silence. It wasn’t until they entered that Andrea noticed they weren’t alone. Two men—Judah and Roosevelt—sat lounging in leather chairs, wine glasses in hand. Judah looked up. “Who’s she?” Roosevelt smirked, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Can’t you tell? Our mighty Colton’s found himself a woman.” Judah’s brows knit together as he glanced between Andrea and Colton. “That can’t be. He’s with Rosa.” A flicker of frost passed through Colton’s gaze. One look from him, and Judah shut his mouth. The waiter arrived just in time to break the silence. Orders were placed, wine was po
Andrea was lost in thought when a group of men walked into the room. She didn’t notice them until someone grabbed her wrist. She looked up, thinking it was Milo, only to meet the dark brown eyes of Colton. The familiar scent of sandalwood filled the air. Colton was looking at her, his gaze faint, his pupils examining the face of the girl sitting in front of him, her face was without makeup. Her skin was fair with a healthy flush, her delicate features highlighted by slightly upturned eyes that made her look like a fox. Her nose was straight and pointed. She looked delicate and pure. Could be considered innocent if not because of her lies to him earlier. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be busy with work?” Colton sneered. Andrea, caught off guard, smiled shyly, like a fox ready to seduce its prey. “Mr. Hudson, what are you doing here?” Steve chuckled, knowing Colton had met his match in Andrea Thompson. A woman who is never afraid to offend him. Colton glared at
“Andrea, why didn’t you come earlier? You promised to here”“I’m sorry, something came up. I’ll meet you later during lunch.”“Okay, I’ll send the address,” the other person said and ended the call.Andrea spent the whole morning working on her idea. It wasn’t long before noon arrived, and she started feeling hungry. Just as she was about to shut down her laptop, her phone beeped with a message.The address for her lunch date had been sent. Andrea quickly tied up her work, stood up, and was about to leave when her phone rang. She picked it up and saw that it was Colton.“Hi,” she said.“Have you eaten lunch yet?” Andrea's heart raced hearing his voice. What charm did this man have on her, that even his voice affected her this much.“Not yet.” she whispered.“Okay, let’s have lunch together.” Andrea's heart beat so fast, that she clenched tightly on the phone, why inviting her over for lunch? She thought.“No, I have some work to do. Let’s have dinner instead.”“If that’s what you wan
“I know you’ll like it. Ms. Morris is the best cook I’ve ever known,” Colton said softly as he leaned in, adding more food to Andrea’s plate with care.“I can't finish that much,” she murmured.“You’re too thin. You need to put on a little weight. Come on, eat for me.”Andrea paused, her lips parting slightly. How could he just say that so casually? She ate a lot—more than most people she knew—but her body never seemed to change. Unlike her friend Mira, who had to follow a strict diet just to maintain her figure, Andrea couldn’t gain weight no matter what she eat. Some people were just built this way... and she guessed she was one of them.They finished the meal in silence, a quiet comfort settling between them—yet beneath it, a strange tension pulsed, unspoken and unacknowledged.When Andrea was done, she stood and reached for her bag, but Colton’s voice stopped her.“Wait.”She turned. “What is it?”“I’m done too. Let me drop you off.”Andrea hesitated, her fingers tightening around