The day had finally arrived. The deal I had kept on hold for over a year, waiting for the perfect moment, was here and now. I had hoped that one day she would return, and I would use this deal to get her. And everything happened as I expected. I could have stopped the news of her slapping Vini Weber from spreading yesterday, could have steadied the Weber Group’s shares with a single phone call. But I wanted more than a simple “thank you” from her. I wanted her. I'd sacrifice a fortune for her—three billion, thirty billion—it didn’t matter. But she was blind to see how much I needed her, how desperate I was to make her mine. "Did you hear that?" she asked again, her voice slicing through my thoughts. I opened the drawer and pulled out the contract I had prepared weeks ago, the paper cool against my fingers. I pushed it across the desk. Her eyes widened when she read the term contract on the papers. "What is this?" “Read it,” I replied, keeping my tone measured, hiding the
I was clenched in one corner, feeling a little uncomfortable. I huddled myself further into the corner and tried to put as much distance as possible between us. The driver felt more like a robot; he did not blink or shift his gaze for the entire ride, as if Mr. Dylan had given him strict orders about it.Dylan's fragrance was strong, yet undeniably attractive. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing muscular arms with greenish veins throbbing. I couldn’t help but stare. No wonder women went crazy about him.Suddenly, I felt hands gripping my waist, and a wave of discomfort washed over me. I shifted slightly."Mr. Dylan, I already told you, I'm not the kind of woman who sleeps around with men," I tried to set my boundaries once again. His expression darkened."What do you think of me, Ashley? Do you think I'm close to you because I want to fuck you?" His words were blunt, hitting me like a punch to the gut. I swallowed hard. I felt embar
Vini's eyes filled with tears and her fist were clenched. She stared at me as if she were going to eat me alive. "What happened, Vini? It was just a painting," I said. Everyone around us snapped photos of it, murmuring among themselves. Alex's sharp eyes looked at me in frustration. As soon as I stepped off the stage, Alex’s family surrounded me. Vini was crying like she'd lost everything. She must be cursing me under her breath. "Why did you do that? Do you really hate me this much?" Vini took out a blade from her purse and placed it on her wrist. "I should kill myself to satisfy you," Vini screamed. The crowd muttered, giving her sympathy. "Miss Ashley is hurting Miss Vini so much. Now Miss Vini is getting into depression." "Yeah! I mean, look how she insulted Miss Vini's painting publicly." I grabbed the blade from her left hand and placed it in her right palm. "If you really want to die, cut the nerves of your left wrist, not the right one," I said. Her face turned pa
I pushed myself against the corner of the car to avoid any contact with Dylan. His face showed clear irritation. He didn’t like my behavior. I had been defensive every time he tried to hold my hand or even touch me."Miss Ashley..." he called out in a sharp tone. His glare was cold and piercing. "I am not invisible, am I?" he asked sarcastically. I knew very well that the man sitting beside me was not just any ordinary person. Even the exhibition owner had bowed to him like he was some kind of emperor. No one would dare insult or ignore him, but I was extremely upset because of that deal."No, Mr. Dylan. I am just a little tired," I said.I glanced at my watch. It was almost eleven. I still had to plan my strategy for tomorrow’s press conference.All of a sudden, a car came out of nowhere and rammed into our car. The impact was so strong that sparks flew from the collision, lighting up the dark road."Ahhh..." I jumped in my seat. Dylan instantly moved closer and wrapped his arms arou
While being in the car, when she pulled her hands away, I shamelessly grabbed her waist. Her playing hard to get only fueled my desire. When I had her on my lap, I wanted her there for the entire journey. But as soon as those hooligans ran off, she slipped back into her seat. The distance between us was unbearable. "I was still stranger to everyone. Isn't too awkward to bring this topic..." Before she could say anything else, the door behind swung open. Alex and Vini walked inside. Ashley immediately pulled away from me as if she was guilty of something. "Mr. Dylan, are you okay? I heard about the accident. I hope everything's fine," Vini asked, her face was full of concern. Alex's eyes were fixed on Ashley. I clenched my jaw. The way he looked at her made me want to rip him apart. "Yeah, I’m fine," I barely aknowledged Vini. My eyes stayed fixed on Alex, silently warning him to back off. But he didn’t. He approached Ashley and placed his hands on her shoulder "Are you alright?" he a
Ashley POV"Stop it, Dylan.." I pushed him away, not because I didn't want his kiss but because I liked it too much. The way his lips claimed mine stirred something deep within me. A spark that I hadn't felt in years and it terrified me. I turned away, guiltily, I had just divorced not a month before, and Dylan's touch sparked in my heart. He stormed into my heart. "Ashley.." Dylan called me, I avoided looking at him. He is about to touch my face. "Don't.." I shook my head. "Don't do this to me.." My body was turned hot, he might have felt it if he tried to touch it. I didn't want him to know that his touch melted me right now. We are just bound by the deal. I shouldn't raise much hope. When I loved Alex deeply, he gave me pain. If I dared to love a person like Dylan, he would shatter my heart into small pieces. I climbed into the car and fixed my gaze out of the window to avoid his piercing stare."We should go back to the mansion, Alan must be worried about us."I said."Okay.
Dylan POV The warm water cascaded over me and washed away the drowsiness but the memories of last night clung to me. Even a blink takes me back to her room, her face appears again. *** Flashback I was restless and couldn't sleep. Just because Ashely was just a wall away. She was too close, yet impossibly far. I resist the urge to see her, fighting a battle within me. I finally made up my mind and walked to her room. She lay asleep on her bed. The soft glow of moonlight illuminated her skin. A purple satin gown clung to her body and outlined the curves that haunted my dream. I knelt beside her hesitatingly and reached her for her face. My fingers brushed her cheeks. She stirred slightly. My thumb ran across her lips, the kiss we had in the evening felt the same as eleven years before. Her lips tasted sweet and juicy, I clenched her waist tightly so that I was scared I might hurt her. I couldn't control myself and brought my face close to her. But then I recalled
Ashley POVAs I descended the stairs, Dylan's gaze locked into me as if the rest of the world didn't exist for him. His expression held something intense. Almost predatoryA nudge from an elderly woman beside him pulled him back to reality. "Go and get her." She whispered. She must be his grandma. He is the only person in his family and also his most lovable person. Without hesitation, Dylan approached me. His confidence was outstanding.I was still on the last two stairs when he held my hand firmly. He helped me step down the remaining stairs."You're late.” His voice was still rough. His hands lingered on mine. “Everyone is waiting." I braced myself. I expected a single compliment from him but his arrogant ass won't let him do that. Yesterday at the same time he was kissing me and now I am engaged to him, what's next? Marriage or honeymoon? I really couldn't understand where my life was going.He gripped my waist as we walked to the stage. Everyone's eyes stuck on us. I could
Ashley POVI crumbled the pregnancy report that I was hiding inside the quilt. The conversation I had with Alex in the morning echoed in my mind. The question put me in another haze. "Do you know who was behind the fire that occurred in the Weber group factory?" Alex asked me. My eyes tapered at his words. How can I forget that fire which almost burned the factory and led to the injury of many employees and the death of one?"You won't believe it was Dylan Marcov behind it," Alex smirked. "Shut the fuck up. You said enough." I said while holding my gown. I almost stumbled upon it after listening to his nonsense."You might not believe it now, but you will come to know the truth. Your husband was full of revenge that he would not see what's wrong and what's right.” I didn't want to believe anything he said. Our last meeting already caused a nuisance in my life. I could not think Dylan would be the one who set fire when I was dying to set up the new factory. I had worked hard for it
Dylan POVHer face turned pale at my request. She stared at my face blankly. "Go and get your stuff here.." I said she was still not moving. "Mrs. Marcov, have you listened?" I asked her again. She fumbled and rushed to her cabin.I sat on my chair back and gathered her stuff. She had no idea that I was always watching her, no matter what. The glass partition between us was see-through from this side. On the days when she changed the measurement of the floors in the structure of towers, I sent another mail to Chinese investors and advised some changes in it."Come and sit here." I gestured at the chair, Ashley walked inside and did as I said. I smiled at her obedience. "What do you want me to do?" She opened the file and asked me. "Develop another structure against the raw one?" I said. Her brows raised. "What? It will take almost a week to develop it again. Are you taking revenge on me?" She muttered.It wasn't revenge but she would work with me for one week and I was excited abo
I pulled the curtains of the window and found him standing at the corner of the road. He leaned over his Rolls Royce and lit a cigarette in his mouth. His eyes continuously tried to gaze at the balcony. My heart pounded at his sight. How his single gaze had a tendency to move my heart this fast. I pulled the curtains back and went on the bed. I lay back and tried to sleep."Why is he here? What was he trying to prove?" I muttered and slept back. "Will it change everything he did?"I thought he would leave if I ignored him. But as the time passed I found him standing at the same place. Almost tens of cigarette buds lie beside it. I got back to my bed, it's been three hours. But Dylan was still standing on the road. "Just leave. Why are you here?" I texted him back. "I won't leave until I see you." He sent me several emojis followed by it. I walked into the balcony, My body was chilling. The autumn winds are blowing faster than they should be. I rubbed my elbow, and stood there. "
Ashley POV"Why did you come back?" Grandpa asked me, I breathed heavily. Alan was standing there too. "Grandpa, please trust her. She is not someone who acts recklessly. It must be something serious." Alan said. I speechlessly stood before them wearing the same wedding outfit. I didn't know how to explain, but whatever Dylan did was not worth forgiving."Serious? What is she doing seriously? She ran away from her wedding night. She did not even think about the reputation of both families. It would ruin everything in both houses." Grandpa coughed, he almost trembled, Alan held his shoulder tightly. I was scared, I didn't want to give any more pain to Grandpa."Alan, please take Grandpa back to his room and give him his medicine," I said, worryingly. Alan nodded and did as I said.I knew whatever we did could ruin everything, but what about everything he did before? What if Marrying me could also be one of his plans? I recalled everything he did and the extent he went to destroy our
Dylan POV"Ashley.." I rushed to the car but she was already gone. She didn't give a glimpse of me but left. I dug my phone out and called Ashley several times."Please, pick up my phone. Ashley. Please." I muttered under crushed teeth. I didn't know our wedding would begin with such trouble. I had no idea that I had to spend my wedding night regretting something I did in the past. "The number you have dialled is currently switched off.." She turned her phone off. How could I explain it to her? But what's there to explain? I did it and it was true. I must say it was one of my acts when I was not thinking with my heart but fully thinking with my mind. Twelve years ago, when I was just an orphan and met Ashley, I didn't even know it would be my last time to see her.**Flashback"Are you going to miss me?" I asked Ashley, I heard she was heading to her Grandpa's birthday party on the cruise and probably would see me after three days. I was crazy about her and three days would be mor
Ashley POV"I told you, I didn't know about it. And wasn't it you who refused to divorce me and wanted me to be whore of Dylan? You made sure I would not get a wedding or a family." I said. I was annoyed with Dylan at first but later Alan explained everything to me. Dylan didn't punish Alex because of Divorce but his intention. Alex began laughing loudly. "So he made up another story. You are still very naive Ashley. I thought you were changed, you became a powerful woman but you are still someone who can get fooled by anyone."Alex taunted me, I gritted my teeth and grabbed the flair of my gown. Initially, I felt pity for him but I realised some people deserve no mercy. "If you just came to congratulate me, then I will thank you. You can leave now." I said and started leaving the corridor. "Dylan Marcov, the tycoon of Markov Industries. Top-ranked billionaire in Forbes list. A major invisible shareholder of Weber group. Who bought 97 per cent of shares till now." Alex said and I
Ashley POV"Can't I come to see my wife? I have been missing her since morning?" Dylan said, I raised my brows."You promised me that you would let me stay here until the day of our marriage. So what happened?" I was puzzled but then I laughed to see him confessing that he missed me. I want to stay here and cherish my childhood memories. I didn't have many but still, they were enough for me to spend a week recalling them. But I was stunned to see Dylan in my room."I didn't come to take you back, You are going to stay with me for the rest of your life. So I think I can bear the pain of the week." “So why did you come here huh?” I asked folding my hands. “Come and sleep with me.” He patted on my bed, and his expressions were quite naughty.“No, I said no sex until we get married. Can you?” I asked him. He first refused but then he agreed. He got up from my bed."Alright, I came here for some important work. Zina Informed me that you brought Samson's file with you."He said and I rec
Dylan POVAshley walked down the stairs. It's been more than a week since Grandma's funeral and I already started preparing for my wedding with Ashley. People might call me desperate for that and ask me to wait for a few months, but I was. I was desperate to call her officially mine. She was the only person whom I was not ready to lose and I wanted to tie her with that sacred bond.The night suit was still wrapped around her waist as she hugged me from behind. "When did you wake up?" She asked me, it was a holiday and I thought she would sleep late."When you were sleeping like a baby," I said, she started leaving and I held her hand."Do you forget anything?" I gestured at my cheeks. She looked around. My bodyguards were behind me and Fred was sitting on the chair before me. Aunt Angela and a few relatives were around."What?" She hesitated a little bit as her eyes went around the crowd. "We are in the living room."She said, embarrassing.I wrapped my hand around her waist and pu
Ashley POVWe both had tea while sitting together. Dylan was a little relaxed right now. But there was still grief appeared on his face."Did you sleep well last night?" I asked him while holding his hands. He nodded as he took a sip of tea."Thanks to you, I can sleep well." He said, his hands rubbing the back of my palm."You know, Fred managed to get the footage from the ship where Grandpa celebrated his birthday. But it was too blurry to find out anything."He said with an upset tone. "What?" My brows furrowed. "Yes, and I want to accompany you every moment. I regret that I wasn't with you back twelve years ago."Dylan said with a regretful tone. Seemed he was guilty of that. And that's the reason he wanted to keep me with him every time. "When you were with me every time, why didn't you board a ship?"I asked him. That's what puzzled me the most. I handed him the invitation, I wanted him to come with me. But I was disappointed that he wasn't there."Something happened, and I m