Six years later“Yeah, that one! You're a natural!” The photographer exclaimed, his camera clicking rhythmically as he captured countless photos of her. Gwendolyn felt the familiar routine of posing wash over her, but today, an unfamiliar heaviness settled in her body, an undercurrent of stress she couldn’t quite shake off. With an instinctive grace, she lifted her chin slightly, offering a tantalizing side profile, her right hand poised just shy of her moist, nude lips, a gesture that felt both natural and intentional.“She’s truly stunning. Just look at those golden blonde hair!” One of the crew members remarked, her voice etched with admiration.A warm blush crept over Lilith’s cheeks, making her feel like she was the one being admired. Her gaze darted towards Gwendolyn, who effortlessly commanded the spotlight with her poses, exuding confidence and charm.“Do you know who she is?” A curious new worker piped up, his eyes wide with intrigue.“Mrs. Redgrave? Oh, everyone knows her!
The room was as hushed as a grave. Gwendolyn kept checking her watch impatiently, however, she failed to notice that someone had been staring at her for so long. When Lilith glanced around the room, her eyes caught the person. She thought he was just passing by but seeing that he was staring at Gwendolyn through the transparent office glass, she decided to call for her attention. “Gwendolyn, did you notice a young man out there has been secretly checking you out?” She whispered into her ear as she gestured in the direction of the man standing near the glass.Gwendolyn barely heard everything she said. She had been in the room for thirty minutes, waiting to be summoned by the president. She had made up her mind to leave once the certain time she intended to spend at the company elapsed as she had an important business to handle. Being a prominent artiste, she had to manage her schedule and she wouldn't let one affect the other. However, an interview with the president was never pa
She was so eager to see him after finally hearing the news she had waited so long to hear from the doctor. She walked ahead the moment the door was opened by Doctor Stewart. “There he is.” He pointed at the tall man standing near the window.Gwendolyn looked over, she was surprised to see him standing on his two feet. A few days ago when she asked about him, she was told he hadn't regained consciousness. Already she had given up on him, she thought he would never wake up after spending three months in a coma ever since she rescued him. She skipped a step closer and then cleared her throat to attract his attention. Sluggishly he spun around to see the doctor and a woman he couldn't recognize. When Gwendolyn gazed at him, she was nearly speechless. If at all she was directed to the ward she would have thought she was in the wrong room. The man standing in front of her was never like the man rescued, he was so hot and handsome that she couldn't take her eyes off him. Was it becaus
Silence stretched taut in the room for a minute, everyone was completely speechless. Mr. Brook was devastated after her unanticipated announcement. He stood, staring at Gwendolyn, who hadn't realized what she had done. She hadn't noticed how awkward everyone was staring at her, waiting for her to explain what was going on. “Did I hear what you said clearly?” Immediately her right hand stopped after she realized everything. That was an impulsive outburst. She chewed on her lower lip, looking at her father standing in front of her. “Dad, that's not what I mean?” “Then explain everything to me.”Parting her lips to defend herself, Mr. Whitlock interrupted. “This isn't happening? Edward, I'm disappointed. Did you invite us here to humiliate us in front of everyone? How could you? Austin, we're going home. You're not going to marry her. She can't be my daughter-in-law.” Mr. Whitlock seethed fiercely. He hit his hands on the table abruptly then rose. Austin was completely dumbfound
The rumor about her pregnancy had already spread across the city like a virus. Many bloggers had published different articles about her. The one that caught people's attention most was ‘Who could have been her mysterious baby's father? Could it be the manager director of the firm?’ Gwendolyn wasn't affected by the rumors, she had already figured out who could be behind everything; it was her ex-boyfriend. Apart from their parents that were there last night, he was the only person she thought would leak out the secret. Perhaps to ruin her career.While waiting for their family's doctor in his office, her phone rang, about to pick up the call doctor Walton entered. “I hope you're not offended. I have a patient that needs urgent care. Shall we?” He gestured to her to follow him.She rose from the chair, and before budging an inch from where she was standing she called him back. “Doctor Walton, I'm not pregnant.” She divulged.Doctor Walton abruptly spun around. Since the door was still
“She never lied.” Zayn interrupted the moment she was about to defend herself. He stepped in, standing in front of her.Edward was astonished when he stood up against him. He rose from the couch, looking at him with ferocity. “Who the hell do you think you are? Who let you into my office? Get out before I call the security.” He seethed. Gwendolyn parted her lips, she put a hand on Zayn's shoulder, attempting to caution him to be careful with his words. He glanced back and assured her with a smile, telling her that ‘he'd handle it’. She sighed softly, standing back. Although she didn't trust him she had to leave him to do it. After all, Doctor Walton must have told her father that she was never pregnant.“Sir, I love your daughter. I won't stand here and watch you telling her to lie for you. If you can't seal a business deal without selling your daughter to a man she doesn't love, forgive me but I must say this, you're not supposed to be called a father. And you…aren't you ashamed? As
As if terminating the contract wasn't enough, he canceled their partnership and assured him that he would never got to partner with any other prominent companies. He said Edward breached the contract they had. For the past few days, Edward despaired, he wasn't granted an audience whenever he went to Whitlock's company. Gwendolyn was to be blamed for everything, Edward concluded. If it wasn't for the love he had for her late mother, he would have disowned his daughter. Nevertheless, unknown to him for the past eight days the rumor about her pregnancy was leaked to the media, and she was also facing hardship in her career.When the director informed her she had to take a minor character's role, she presumed it was a joke until two days before the day they were supposed to shoot the film. The director informed her the person that was supposed to take her role would appear on the screen. Gwendolyn had tried to negotiate with him but what people were saying about her also mattered. After
She was completely lost in thought until his voice brought her out of her reverie. “Are you listening?” Her body went cold like an iceberg. She was nearly speechless, blinking slowly as her eyes twinkled with marvel. “I don't even know him?” It was when the statement broke off her lips she realized what she said.There was a look of confusion on his wrinkled face, he stared blankly at her, waiting for her to repeat what she just said. “I don't understand you anymore.”It had gotten to a point she needed to make up her mind. She was to marry a young man she despised with every bone in her body and there was another mysterious young man she saved from an unanticipated death who her father wanted her to marry again, Gwendolyn was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Confused like a lunatic, in the next minute if she didn't think of a solution she might go insane. Her pair of arched eyebrows looked down at him through sweeping long eyelashes. “I'm not going to marry anyone. Why must I get ma
Six years later“Yeah, that one! You're a natural!” The photographer exclaimed, his camera clicking rhythmically as he captured countless photos of her. Gwendolyn felt the familiar routine of posing wash over her, but today, an unfamiliar heaviness settled in her body, an undercurrent of stress she couldn’t quite shake off. With an instinctive grace, she lifted her chin slightly, offering a tantalizing side profile, her right hand poised just shy of her moist, nude lips, a gesture that felt both natural and intentional.“She’s truly stunning. Just look at those golden blonde hair!” One of the crew members remarked, her voice etched with admiration.A warm blush crept over Lilith’s cheeks, making her feel like she was the one being admired. Her gaze darted towards Gwendolyn, who effortlessly commanded the spotlight with her poses, exuding confidence and charm.“Do you know who she is?” A curious new worker piped up, his eyes wide with intrigue.“Mrs. Redgrave? Oh, everyone knows her!
As Margaret heard the voice of the person she had come to see, a shiver ran through her as she withdrew her sore hand, gently massaging her wrist. The redness that bloomed there was akin to the deep hue of a cherry, a stark reminder of the forceful grip that he applied when he grabbed her hand. “I’m thinking of working with Ms. Brook.” She said tentatively, her voice trembling slightly. “My company would be glad to have someone as talented as her on board if she’s willing.”“I'm afraid she’ll be rejecting your offer.” He replied sharply, his tone leaving no room for discussion. “If your company requires a model, find one through your agency, but leave her out of it.”Margaret felt the weight of his glare, the ferocity in his eyes making her heart race. There was a tempest of fury swirling within him, and the air around them seemed to thicken, pressing down on her like a suffocating shroud. As she reluctantly met his gaze, she noticed how he towered behind her, his imposing presence ov
“Why did you lie to me, Gwen?” Edward asked, his voice low and calm, revealing no trace of anger, but a hint of disappointment lingered in the tone.“I didn’t lie to you, Dad. I just... shared my feelings about him. If I wanted to deceive you, I wouldn’t even have mentioned who he is. I’m really sorry it took me this long, but now I can finally share everything because he's the one I want to be with. I'm not ashamed to say it.” Her heartfelt apology hung in the space between them, palpable and sincere.“Hiding the truth is just as bad as lying. You shouldn't have kept this to yourself. God, what were you thinking?” His brow furrowed slightly, concern etched on his face, though the softness of his gaze suggested a well of unshed emotions.She suppressed the urge to huff in frustration, forcing herself to maintain her composure. Tapping lightly on his mahogany office desk, she met his gaze head-on, ready to respond. “Well… if I had told you sooner, would you even believe me?”“I would.
Two hours after the harrowing incident, Mr. Kane reached out to Lucien, informing him that he had just arrived at the airport and was on his way to the company. Lucien felt an unsettling tension knotting in his stomach at the thought of the meeting. Despite their many attempts to connect over the past weeks, some unforeseen obstacle always intervened. Now, with an important board meeting underway, he regretted his inability to go to the airport himself. Instead, he urged Jace to make the trip, accompanied by a few bodyguards—a precautionary action against any unexpected threats that might arise.Although anxiety gnawed at him, Lucien found solace in the skills Jace brought to the table, he trusted that he could handle the situation without a scratch on him. Every five minutes during the meeting, his phone vibrated gently on the table—texts from Jace, each one carefully crafted to reassure him of his safety. Yet, amid the flurry of updates, a flicker of doubt gnawed at him. He couldn’
“Your three days are over. Tell me, why should I accept that actress who supposedly used you?” The weight of frustration hung heavily in his mind as he whimpered, his voice laced with desperation. “How many times must I tell you that she didn’t use me? Shouldn’t you be grateful that she’s the reason I’m alive? You’re the one who refuses to accept Gwen, but I’m not marrying anyone other than her. I love her, and that should be all you need to know. Stop being such a stubborn old man.” Though Lucien’s anger had dissipated, a certain stubbornness still clouded his grandfather's acceptance of the woman he adored. He could sense that the unexpected invitation to the office was merely a prelude to their confrontation. “Of course, I'm mostly grateful for that. I would have given her a tower of gold if she was wise enough to report you missing the moment she found you. My great-grandchildren shouldn’t have a mother like her.” He declared, his voice steeped in disdain. “My children don't de
After showering, she sidled across the room to his walk-in closet. She selected a long blue shirt and wore it over her pants, the shirt barely reached her thighs, and her curly hair tumbled over her shoulders. She glanced at the mirror on her way out of the closet, she noticed her nipples were conspicuous, stiffened in the shirt, but she barely cared about that. She stroked a strand of hair behind her ear and dampened her lower lip.She seemed refreshed. Their conversation replayed in her head, echoing in her mind as each word reminded her of a tingling feeling she felt earlier. When he asked if she wanted to get married, she felt the yen to say yes if it was him; remarrying him would be a wish come true, but Gwendolyn still assumed they could be fucking buddies until both of them got tired of each other. After all, she believed it would happen one day. ‘If it's you then I don't mind. ’ She hit her forehead when she recalled what she said. She only said that during the heat of the mom
As the echoes of the conference meeting faded away, leaving behind an air thick with unspoken words, the last few attendees ambled out of the hall, their footsteps becoming feeble. A palpable tension hung in the atmosphere, settling heavily on Jace's mind like a suffocating air. He remained seated, his thoughts a chaotic like a total disaster, knowing all too well that he needed to confront the unyielding silence that stretched between him and Lucien. Every time their eyes locked, a flicker of unquenchable curiosity sparkled in Lucien's gaze, silently pleading for acknowledgment. He despised not talking to his elder brother and he didn't want to be the first person to break the eerie silence.“You look like someone who just lost his first love, Jace. What's the matter? Are you going to stay angry at me forever?” Lucien's voice sliced through the stillness, a sharp voice to the thick awkwardness they had both been sidestepping for days.Jace hardly reacted to the teasing remark. His ex
Immediately the call disconnected, Gwendolyn swerved around to look at him, holding her phone tightly. Her countenance wasn't pleasant, she was still worried despite her father assuring her everything was fine, he just needed her to be at the hospital with her stepmom.“Is everything all right?” His brows furrowed with confusion. Seeing how worried she looked, he couldn't gauge if everything was all right.With a shake of her head, “I’m not sure. I should be heading to the hospital now. He said she needs me there like I'm a doctor. I wonder if everything is fine as he said.” She enunciated impatiently. She stepped away from the chair, and then to the exit. Lucien tagged behind her as both of them ascended the stairs together. ”Hospital? Did something happen? Did he tell you what happened?“Yes. Remember I told you she's pregnant, right? I think it's almost time. She might be feeling uncomfortable. She'll need me there. She's in her third trimester. Fuck, I'm supposed to keep my phone
In the next second, they were back in his bedroom, still engaged in a passionate and lips-devouring smooch. Gwendolyn could scarcely explain how he brought her back to his room, the only thing she knew was when she eventually opened her eyes to look at him, they were both on their feet near the king-size bed. His mouth left hers in a swift motion, grazing her cheek down to her neck with kisses, her body quivering with nervousness. She was feeling nervous, and at the same time, her need was about to make her lose her mind. Every time his tongue brushed on her skin, her stomach always tingled. Suddenly, his hand caressed her back slowly, vaguely searching for a string. There, he found the zip. He zipped down her gown with reluctance. Even though he already felt his erection, hardening below, he was more willing to create room for a change of heart, if she wanted. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to stop him, they had both lost their minds in the pool of lust and love.“Ah, Lucien,” She