"I don't like being ignored, Anya," Kane hissed as we walked into his penthouse. I stayed silent, the way I always did when Liam was angry. I didn’t understand why Kane was so upset about me meeting Liam. It wasn’t like I wanted to see him in the first place. Kane exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. I stood there, waiting—for what, I wasn’t sure. Maybe for him to calm down. “I asked you a question, Anya,” he said harshly. “No,” I answered softly. “Why don’t I believe you, hmm?” Great. Now I was a liar. All I wanted was to be left alone. My face hurt, my palms stung, and the corner of my lips ached. I just wanted to crawl into bed and cry myself to sleep. I didn’t have the strength to explain what had happened with Liam, so I said nothing, just staring at Kane blankly. He moved toward me in quick, deliberate steps, and for a split second, the thought of Liam hitting me flashed in my mind. I flinched, instinctively raising my hands to cover my face and h
Kane hadn’t returned home yesterday. In fact, I hadn’t seen him since he said goodnight two days ago. It was already 2 p.m. today, and there was still no sign of him.“Anya, are you sure you don’t want me to make you something for lunch?” Cassie asked for the third time since I sat on the couch, absent-mindedly staring at the TV.“No, I’m not hungry, but thank you for asking, Cassie,” I replied softly.She nodded and walked back into the kitchen.I’d done my best to avoid Cassie yesterday because of the slight bruise on my face and cheek. I didn’t think she’d noticed—if she had, she would’ve made a big fuss about it. Today, the bruise was a bit better, the discoloration fading slightly. I’d also layered on makeup to make it less noticeable. Still, I couldn’t help but sigh.Two days left until I returned to my misery.As much as I felt guilty that Kane might have been avoiding his own home because of me, I couldn’t deny how much I enjoyed the peace and quiet. Just Cassie and the TV kep
Kane's Pov:I was doing my best to avoid her by not going to the penthouse last night and I didn't think I was planning to go there today either. That night hadn't exactly gone how I planned and I couldn't help the anger that consumed me when she had told me she stepped out with Kane after I told her to stay where she was. Was she that eager to reunite with him? And then Liam showed up, looking smug, which only fueled my anger further. I couldn’t stop thinking about what they had spoken about or if he had said something bad about me to make her scared of me. The questions tormented me, making it impossible to focus on my work. Did she tell him everything that happened between us? She claimed she didn’t, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe her.I had ever plan to take things all the way and actually fuck her like I had imagine countless time but when I saw her eyes filled with tears I just couldn't go through with it. And when she flinched as I moved closer, it felt like a knife h
Anya's pov: “Does he hit you often?”His question froze me in place. Why was he asking me that? Did he know what happened that night? But how? My mind raced with a million thoughts.Kane pulled back slightly, his hands still resting gently on my arms. His intense gaze bore into me, making my stomach turn with nervousness.“Anya, I asked if Liam hits you,” he repeated, his voice soft, but worry was clear in his dark eyes. “Are you in an abusive marriage?”“What are you talking about? Of course not,” I answered quickly, forcing out a nervous chuckle as I avoided his gaze.From the corner of my eye, I saw his jaw clench. He let his hands fall to his sides, and the warmth in his eyes was replaced with coldness and anger.“So he does,” he muttered, almost to himself.“No… no, he doesn’t. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered, the lie leaving my mouth faster than I could think. I couldn’t let Kane know the truth. My ‘happy marriage’ was nothing but a facade, and I had to pro
I woke up in Kane’s bed, my whole body sore—a painful reminder of last night. Groaning softly, I turned to my side, my tired eyes drifting to where Kane was supposed to be. The sheets were cold. He’d been gone for a while.Rubbing my eyes, I tried to shake off the sleep. I wasn’t sure what I expected this morning to feel like, but it wasn’t this.Kane was gone.Wrapping the blanket around myself, I listened for any sound in the house, but it was silent—too silent. I sighed, my mind racing. What did last night mean to him? What did it mean for me? Sure, I had stepped out of my marriage—not because I wanted to, but because that was what I was here for. Still, last night had been the best I’d had in years and with the way he had acted last night I at least expected a warm good morning or maybe I was asking for too much.A growl from my stomach pulled me out of my thoughts. I got off the bed, still wrapped in the blanket, and picked up my scattered clothes from the floor. After dressing,
I spent the rest of the day in my room, lost in thought. I didn’t know how to feel—confused, guilty, frustrated. Last night felt like it meant something, but Kane’s silence and cold attitude made it clear that it didn’t. By evening, I heard his voice through the walls—low at first, then sharp and filled with anger. I couldn’t make out the full conversation, but whoever was on the other end wasn’t getting kindness from him. Then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. A few minutes later, the front door slammed shut. Kane had left. And for some reason, the house felt even quieter than before. A little while later, the front door opened again, followed by the sound of footsteps clicking against the floor. Was he back already? I sighed, staring at the ceiling for a moment before finally pushing myself off the bed. Sitting here alone wasn’t helping. Maybe a glass of wine would calm my nerves. I wanted to avoid going downstairs to see him, but I needed that wine more. Steppin
“Cassie, what’s wrong?” I asked, rubbing my eyes as I opened the bedroom door.“Sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Anya, but you need to get ready right now,” she said, looking at me with an apologetic expression.“Why? What’s going on? Did something happen?” I asked hurriedly, now fully awake.“No, everything is fine. Mr. Kane asked me to let you know that the driver taking you home is waiting downstairs. You need to leave quickly,” she said in a quiet tone, as if trying to soften the blow.My chest tightened. I took a deep breath, but it felt like I had been thrown into freezing water.“What? Why? It's still so early” “I’m sorry Mrs Anya those were his instruction”“He..he didn’t say why at least?” “No he didn’t”“Oh… I… okay. Give me a minute,” I stuttered, glancing around the room, struggling to process what was happening.He really treated me like some random prostitute—used for one night and discarded the next morning. Everything he said before we slept together had been meaningless.
Without saying anything to Liam, I let go of her arm and walked back to the kitchen to finish my breakfast. I heard them follow behind me, the front door shutting as they entered. I tried to eat quickly because whatever was about to unfold, I needed the strength to deal with it.“Babe, this… this woman has been nothing but hostile to me,” she rushed out, her voice grating on my nerves. “First, she shoved her way in rudely, called me a whore, and yanked my hair and arm so harshly.”She dramatically held up her arm. “Look, I’m all bruised up!”“Leave.”Liam’s voice was cold, making me pause. I looked up at them—she wore a shocked expression, while Liam’s gaze was fixed on me.“W-What?” she stuttered.“You heard me. Get your things and leave. Don’t make me say it again.”If I wasn’t in such a sour mood, this would’ve actually been entertaining enough to make me smile. Poor thing had so much hope in her man.She scoffed and stormed into his room to grab her things. When she walked back ou
I stormed into my room and slammed the door behind me. Walking to my bed, I tossed my phone carelessly onto it. Then, I sank to the floor, clutching my hair. What a freaking scumbag. I should’ve asked him why he was saying all that all of a sudden. Did he enjoy toying with me?I spent the rest of the day in my room, playing games on my phone, unpacking my bags, and eventually taking a nap.A soft knock on the door woke me up. Slowly opening my eyes, I stretched with a groan and rubbed my face.“Come in?” I said, still half-asleep.“Mrs. Anya, dinner is ready,” Rose said, peeking through the slightly opened door.Dinner? I checked the time on my bedside table—7:30 PM. Wow, my nap lasted longer than I expected.“Okay, I’ll be down in a minute.”She nodded and closed the door. Getting up, I stretched again before heading to the dining room.Liam was already seated, phone in hand, with food spread across the table. I took the farthest seat from him, picking the dishes I wanted while compl
This was beyond awkward. The tension in the air was so suffocating, and the only sound was the clinking of utensils. I kept glancing between them, waiting for someone to speak because the silence was killing me.Then Liam finally opened his mouth.“Mr. Maxwell, I didn’t know you were into taking other people’s wives.”Oh, for the love of God. My breath caught as I looked at him in shock, then turned to Kane. But Kane didn’t seem fazed by the ridiculous comment.“I have to thank you for that, Mr. Ross,” Kane replied smoothly, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. He took a slow sip of water before continuing. “You’re the one who opened my eyes to it when you offered your wife to me. And then I thought, why not just take her from you instead?”What the hell was this conversation? I was here right.Desperate to change the subject, I forced a smile. “The breakfast is delicious. Rose is a really good cook.”Kane turned to me, grinning from ear to ear. “I think so too, love.”I froze. Love?
"I know you're angry about how I acted and how things ended, but you have to understand—I had my reasons. It might sound like I'm making excuses, but I'm sorry, Anya.""I really am," Kane added, glancing at me before focusing back on the road, his voice gentle.I scoffed and looked away. I didn’t need his apology. He wasn’t even at fault. I was with him because of Liam. I was there to be at his beck and call."There’s no need to apologize. I was with you for a reason, so it wasn’t anything special," I said flatly, staring out the window."Even so, I still hope you can forgive me."I ignored him. Forgiving him wasn’t that simple. The way he had treated me hurt, and it reminded me how little control I had over my life. Everything I did was dictated by someone else."You can drop me off a few blocks from my house," I said, noticing we were almost there."No, I'll drop you at your door and walk you inside."I turned to him sharply. "Are you insane? If Liam or someone else sees me, then wh
ANYA’S POVI was getting discharged today, and as I packed my bags, I wished I could stay in the hospital a little longer. Don’t get me wrong I don’t exactly like how I got here or being strangled half to death but because of the peace and quiet.My father and Liam hadn’t visited me since that day. I’d like to say it was strange, but honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted to see either of them anyway. And I was actually relieved they stayed away—I didn’t need to hear any of their bullshit.With a sigh, I walked out of the room, saying a final goodbye to the nurse who had been looking after me. As I stepped outside, I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. The fresh air hit my face, giving me a brief moment of peace even though I knew I was walking right back into a war zone.My father was supposed to pick me up, but he canceled at the last minute and left me money to call an Uber. The problem? I didn’t have my phone, and I didn’t want to bother the nurses. So, I figured I’d just take a t
"I can’t say it’s nice to see you, Mr. Ross," I said, moving to sit on the couch beside Daniel, who already looked irritated."I called you several times to set up a meeting," Liam said, walking over to stand in front of us before taking a seat. My jaw clenched. Fucker thinks we’re buddies now."And he thinks we’re buddies now," Daniel said, voicing my thoughts out loud, his tone sharp. "No one asked you to sit, but of course, it’s nothing to worry about."Liam’s face remained unreadable, and I had to summon every ounce of self-control not to reach over and strangle him—like he did to her. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths to stay calm."I’m leaving before I do something I shouldn’t," Daniel sighed, getting up. He shot Liam one last glare before walking out of my office.I turned back to Liam. "What brings you to my office, Mr. Ross?"I already knew why he was here—the bastard wanted something."It’s about the money I owe," he started, stiff on the couch.I scoffed. For someone
Kane’s povI didn’t know what I was thinking, showing up at the hospital like that. I had no right to be there after how things ended between us. Hell, I had planned to wait, to bide my time until she was completely mine. But the moment I heard she was rushed to the hospital after leaving my house, I panicked. That panic quickly turned into anger—at him, at myself.Fuck. I knew she wouldn’t be safe going back to him, but I let her go anyway. I had no idea he’d try something this soon. It hadn’t even been 24 hours, and that bastard already put his filthy hands on her—on my Anya.The first thing I did was call the hospital to ask how she was. Of course, they refused to give me any information—some bullshit about “privacy policies.” But having money and power comes in handy. Liam had made sure the news didn’t get out, covering up both her hospitalization and the fact that he was the reason she was there. Cheeky bastard.A mild concussion. A bruised rib.I saw red.I thought of every poss
My father stormed in, pulling Liam off me. I gasped for air, coughing as my throat burned. My vision blurred as I struggled to catch my breath."Get your hands off my daughter!" My father’s voice vibrated through the room."You and your daughter are the worst thing that ever happened to me! My life is falling apart because of you. Both of you!" Liam yelled, his face twisted with rage."Because of us?" My father scoffed. "No, Liam. Your life is falling apart because of you—because of your greed. You’re just looking for someone to take your frustrations out on."I hadn’t been happy to see my father in a long time, but today, I was grateful. If he hadn’t shown up, Liam might have strangled me to death.Liam let out a bitter chuckle. "It’s funny how you think you have a choice. You gave her to me in exchange for my investment. She belongs to me whether you like it or not, and I’ll do as I please with her.""Would I have ever agreed to it if I knew you were such a scumbag?" My father snapp
The sound of the door creaking open pulled me out of sleep. I stayed still, listening. It had to be my father, ready to start another day with an argument I didn’t have the energy for. So, I kept my eyes closed and pretended to be asleep.I had managed to sleep after breakfast this morning, but only because I had spent the entire night thinking. Thinking about what exactly? A lot.Footsteps moved across the room—slow and careful. This wasn’t my father. He never moved this quietly.I forced myself to breathe evenly, fighting the urge to sit up and see who it was. Then, the mattress dipped slightly. A hand reached up and gently caressed my face.“You know you’re really bad at pretending,” a voice said, playful yet familiar.Kane. Freaking Kane.Why was this asshole here? My eyes flew open, wide with shock.“What are you doing here? Why are you here?” I blurted out, sitting up, my gaze darting between him and the door.He chuckled. “Slow down, Anya,” he said, reaching for the plaster on
A steady beeping sound filled my ears as I slowly opened my eyes. The bright white light above made me squint, and for a moment, everything felt blurry.I blinked a few times, adjusting to my surroundings. The room smelled of antiseptic, and the soft hum of machines echoed around me. I was in a hospital.A woman in a light blue uniform stood beside my bed, checking something on a clipboard. She looked up and noticed me staring."Oh, you’re awake," she said with a small smile. "Please don’t try to move too much. I’ll go get the doctor."She quickly walked out of the room, leaving me alone. My head ached, and my body felt weak. I swallowed, my throat dry. What happened? How did I get here?Memories slowly started coming back—Liam, the argument, my father and I in his car talking and then… nothing.I exhaled slightly, scanning the room for any sign of my father. He wasn’t here. I guess he left.A few moments later, the door opened, and a middle-aged man with short brown hair and glasses