I stood frozen while I watched him walk in with confidence, his hands in his pockets. He gazed at me like I had committed a crime.Actually, I did.Ute sherpishly chuckled to lighten the mood. "I’ll join the others. I'll leave you two to talk, okay?" She excused herself and patted Valerian’s chest twice, silently telling him to be careful before blending into the crowd.A lump formed in my throat. Is he mad at me for not telling him sooner?"Val..." I called, my voice fragile and guilty.He shuffled the sole of his shoe as he slid closer to me, searching for my eyes.Lifting his hand, he tucked my hair behind my ear and guided my head to meet the calmness of his gaze.Instead of showing betrayal, he looked at me with even more intense love."I'm sorry," I whispered. "I—I should've told you the moment I figured it out. I was just—" I began to babble, but he placed his forefinger on my lips and hushed me."I'm not mad. Just surprised that we're going to have twins," he clarified, showin
I take it back. I regret it. I regret it!!The pain I feel is the worst of all. Never in my entire life have I felt this way. And it's all Valerian's fault."Aah!" I screamed, tears welling in my eyes.I gripped his already wrinkled shirt—one he had barely worn by now. Some of his buttons had flown everywhere from my pulling."Damn you, Val! I swear I'm going to kill you!" I shouted at him as the nurses transferred me from the ambulance to the stretcher.My water just broke!I have an indefinite words to explain what I feel right now, but it just doubled up whenever I senses Valerian's loud panic. He acts like he's the one who would give birth."Hang in there, baby," he comforted me. "Everything will be just fine. I'll be here, okay? Just—just hold my hand, okay?"Sweat formed in bullets on his forehead. My whole body hurt, and I felt like I was about to explode.I expected the pain, but I didn’t know it would feel "this" bad! Is my body splitting to two? I gripped his shirt tighter
"Sign it, Ellie."Valerian’s words rang in my ears. I lost count of how many times he had tried to convince me, but my hand still refused to move, hovering over the stupid paper like it weighed a ton.I wanted this. I was the one who suggested it. So why the hell am I hesitating now?"I know what to do, don’t rush me," I snapped, shooting a glare at the man sitting across from me as I sat on the floor, he's far too comfortable and confident for someone who’d been nagging me.His man spread was almost right in my face. And had I—out of curiosity—glanced at what sinful thing he hid under those pants? I think more than a dozen times in the past few minutes already.Sighing, I picked up the pen, my lips twisting in disapproval."Time ticks, baby."I was on the edge of a cliff, and this man was shoving me right off. Was he for real?I threw him another glance. Those same green orbs that had swallowed me whole for years were still watching me like I was the only person he could ever fall fo
"ONCE YOU sign that paper, it's all over for us, Ellie."My soon-to-be ex-husband, Valerian Blackwood, sat across from me, legs crossed, a scotch in his hand. He didn't seem to care about our separation at all.Two years of marriage, and all I was fed up with were the endless scandals about him and his mega-ton amount of women chasing his round and soft ass. Who was I to question it when my husband was Valerian Blackwood? A drop-dead gorgeous billionaire. He was smart, sophisticated, and just perfect in every way. What else could I even ask for?But the life I was looking for was far away from what he'd given me. After all, we were nothing but a couple for a cause."Isn't that the purpose of divorce, Val?" I retorted, unsure whether I should let the ink stain the paper or take my time.On his side sat Attorney Eglin, tapping his thumb on his knee, his fat ass plopped on the chair. His eyes were bored, and he didn't seem to be in a hurry to witness a couple breaking up.Behind Valerian
THREE YEARS LATER..."I thought you said you were managing the resort well? Then what the hell is this?" Bree, my older sister, asked as soon as I stepped into the villa lobby.Exhausted, both physically and emotionally, I let my heels hit the carpeted floor and sighed heavily. I'd just come back from a board meeting my dad had set up in D.C., and I was greeted by Bree's less-than-welcoming words."Lose more guests, and you'll find your business sailing out to sea and away from you," she added.Bree's my sister, but she's also my advisor. I take her ideas, opinions, the spits coming out of her mouth, and even her snarky comments seriously. But sometimes, I just want to shove a mouthful of sand down her throat.I stood by the grand piano, placed my baguette on top of it, and took the glass of orange juice offered by the staff."Bree, summer season is just approaching, okay? We've already received a lot of reservations. Give it time, we'll have the resort full. Just relax," I told her,
MY HEART was pounding so loud it drowned out the chatter around me. I was hyperventilating, needing a breather. I was about to turn back to the elevator, but I thought, wouldn't that make me look like a coward? Lifting my chin, I met his gaze and even offered a small smile as I approached the table. I saw the way he studied me from head to toe. Then, a spiral of emotions began to take over my body. Suddenly, all the memories of his touch came flooding back. "Ellie," he called my name, and I thought my knees were going to give out. He stood up from his chair, and boy, oh boy, the jerk hadn't changed a bit. He was still yummy as fuck. "Pleasure to have you here," he said as he pulled out a chair for me and held out his hand. I think I had been holding my breath for too long. "It is a pleasure to have 'you' here, Mr. Blackwood. I didn't know you were willing to discuss this proposal with me." His hand was still outstretched, and I was awkwardly standing by the chair. "Shake my ha
I knew I had told myself that I would never follow wherever he went after the dinner we shared, but looking back, I'm grateful for accepting his invitation to visit his resort. The place felt like stepping into the Garden of Eden.As we entered the lobby, a few staff members were present. His secretary offered his services, but this jerk immediately dismissed him, raising my eyebrows.He led me to the beachfront, which didn't seem much different from mine, except for the surfboard decors and the name of his resort, 'BB Beach Haven'. Whatever that stood for."It's very... natural," I commented, my eyes taking in the surroundings with a glimmer.There was no doubt that business would thrive under Valerian Blackwood's leadership. He excelled at decision-making, managing his company with precision and equality.The design of the place was a stark contrast to my own resort. Everything exuded a natural vibe, from the wood-dominated interiors to the dark varnish reflecting his surname."Like
That kiss had my knees trembling. He still has that effect on me, and I curse it to hell!I have no idea if my stomach had butterflies or if my central nervous system was frying because I've been shaking since I woke up this morning.Memories flooded my head. Those quirky, adventurous nights—damn! He taught me things I never thought I'd learn about intimacy. He washed away my innocence, and now I'm dirty-minded as fuck.Cuffs, chains, and blindfolds. They were just ordinary things until I realized how to use those unholy tools to satisfy his fetishes.I almost forgot everything about some of the dirtier kinks I developed back then, but the man who woke up the woman in me came back and decided to knock down the wall I built."If he thinks I'm going to welcome him with my legs wide open—I mean, with my arms wide open—he's wrong. Absolutely wrong!" I exclaimed, slamming the car door behind me.Still in the depths of frustration, my morning couldn't be fixed by a cup of hot coffee.Last n
"Sign it, Ellie."Valerian’s words rang in my ears. I lost count of how many times he had tried to convince me, but my hand still refused to move, hovering over the stupid paper like it weighed a ton.I wanted this. I was the one who suggested it. So why the hell am I hesitating now?"I know what to do, don’t rush me," I snapped, shooting a glare at the man sitting across from me as I sat on the floor, he's far too comfortable and confident for someone who’d been nagging me.His man spread was almost right in my face. And had I—out of curiosity—glanced at what sinful thing he hid under those pants? I think more than a dozen times in the past few minutes already.Sighing, I picked up the pen, my lips twisting in disapproval."Time ticks, baby."I was on the edge of a cliff, and this man was shoving me right off. Was he for real?I threw him another glance. Those same green orbs that had swallowed me whole for years were still watching me like I was the only person he could ever fall fo
I take it back. I regret it. I regret it!!The pain I feel is the worst of all. Never in my entire life have I felt this way. And it's all Valerian's fault."Aah!" I screamed, tears welling in my eyes.I gripped his already wrinkled shirt—one he had barely worn by now. Some of his buttons had flown everywhere from my pulling."Damn you, Val! I swear I'm going to kill you!" I shouted at him as the nurses transferred me from the ambulance to the stretcher.My water just broke!I have an indefinite words to explain what I feel right now, but it just doubled up whenever I senses Valerian's loud panic. He acts like he's the one who would give birth."Hang in there, baby," he comforted me. "Everything will be just fine. I'll be here, okay? Just—just hold my hand, okay?"Sweat formed in bullets on his forehead. My whole body hurt, and I felt like I was about to explode.I expected the pain, but I didn’t know it would feel "this" bad! Is my body splitting to two? I gripped his shirt tighter
I stood frozen while I watched him walk in with confidence, his hands in his pockets. He gazed at me like I had committed a crime.Actually, I did.Ute sherpishly chuckled to lighten the mood. "I’ll join the others. I'll leave you two to talk, okay?" She excused herself and patted Valerian’s chest twice, silently telling him to be careful before blending into the crowd.A lump formed in my throat. Is he mad at me for not telling him sooner?"Val..." I called, my voice fragile and guilty.He shuffled the sole of his shoe as he slid closer to me, searching for my eyes.Lifting his hand, he tucked my hair behind my ear and guided my head to meet the calmness of his gaze.Instead of showing betrayal, he looked at me with even more intense love."I'm sorry," I whispered. "I—I should've told you the moment I figured it out. I was just—" I began to babble, but he placed his forefinger on my lips and hushed me."I'm not mad. Just surprised that we're going to have twins," he clarified, showin
Fanning myself, I find it hard to breathe. Was the dress too tight? Did I eat too much? Or was I just hyperventilating because I was minutes away from getting married... for the second time? "Relax, relax, relax. Think of it as just a normal day and then seal this night with a kiss from your prince charming with big guns and a dick." I frowned at Bree’s so-called pep talk while she gave her whole body a once-over in the mirror. But judging by the look on her face, she wasn’t satisfied with how she looked. "Breathe in, breathe out..." she murmured, meeting my gaze in the mirror. "I think I’m better off with your 'encouragements,' Bree. I swear, they're not helping," I cut her off as I adjusted the ribbon of my robe. "It’s not for you, mother. It’s for me," she replied, pouring herself a glass of water before exhaling loudly. My back ached again, and the mix of excitement and anxiousness wasn’t helping at all. Add Bree to that—she had been with me since I started getting my hair a
Swallowing my burp, I stared at the view of the resort from the small hill, where I could see the guests enjoying the last weeks of summer.The whole place was enough to give anyone peace—but not me."Stop staring," I chided, noticing how Valerian's eyes had been eating me up since we woke up this morning.It's making me so conscious of how I look.Does he think I look fat? I did gain weight from my pregnancy because of my nonstop cravings, and it was obvious—especially on my arms and cheeks.When I looked in the mirror this morning, I thought I was staring at a steamed bun. I already have a double chin, and it's kind of stressing me out."You look beautiful," he suddenly uttered, looking at me viciously—like he's a wild lion and he wants to eat me.Rolling my eyes, I created some space between us. "Can you say something sincere? I literally look like a pig right now," I snorted."That's not true. It’s like claiming you’re an angel," he retorted, wearing that smug grin on his face.I
Too lazy to work, I stared into the air, replaying what happened that night at the celebration. If I could just go back in time, I'd smack my own head and tell myself to act right. I guess I just got sedated in the moment. There were a lot of eyes on us, high expectations poured onto me—the highlight of the night. And did I give them the right show? Did I give him the answer he was anticipating? I caressed my five-month-old womb. I guess I did the right thing. "Knock, knock?" someone uttered, showing up by the open door of my office with a bouquet of tulips and sunflowers hiding his face. "Earth is closed, Mr. Blackwood. Come back when it's open," I shooed him, leaning back in my chair as I watched his sulky face revealed when he pulled the flowers down. "Mood swings?" Valerian asked, pulling a surprise from behind him—a basket of oranges that made my eyes twinkle. "I think I've got an answer to that." Rolling my eyes, I had to clamp my lips shut to hide my excitement upon see
A ticking bomb. That’s me. If somebody cuts the wrong wire—boom! Everybody? Toasted. Fried.I’m still wondering how Valerian isn’t melting yet. Can’t he feel me blowtorching him since we share the same space?He’s got a lot of things to explain.I should’ve kicked him in the face back when I had the chance.I ate the oranges he gave me. I’m taking care of the flowers he gave me. I "kind of" welcomed him into my house. I let him join me in bed. I even let him kiss me. Hug me.And this? This is the "unfinished business" he was talking about? I thought it was about "us". I thought he was doing something to put us back together. Then why the hell is he with that leech?!"If looks could kill. He. Dead," someone snickered from behind me.When I turned, I thought I’d gone blind. If there was ever a personification of a diamond, it would be only one man I’d met recently—Atticus Lark."Jealousy isn’t good for pregnant ladies," he added, biting the olive from his drink. "Gives you stress." He u
Rubbing the bottom of my nose, I can smell the approaching change of the season—just like the shift in my mood. "Dad organized the event, and a lot of people are coming tonight. I believe he told me it’s a celebration of the 37th year since the company opened," Bree explained while I pouted, my eyes scanning the names of the invited guests. Ever since Dad landed here on the coast, I haven’t seen him, but Bree said he brought his work with him. I’m neither happy nor upset about it. Technically, it’s not exactly work—just related—but it still makes my bones jitter, whether from annoyance or something else I can’t quite name. "He’s bringing a date with him," she added. "Does going there require bringing a date?" I raised an eyebrow, squinting at a particular name on the list. Valerian Blackwood. It was written in beautiful golden calligraphy, perfectly matching how elegant and powerful he is. But in my eyes, he’s still a bastard. "It’s a must. A ridiculous rule Dad made for tonig
I hadn't considered any day special—until yesterday. I feel like the heavy thing that had been making my heart feel like it was about to explode is suddenly gone, and now there's just peace.But no matter how magical the scene was, I like to take things slow.And when I say slow..."What are you doing here?" I spat as soon as I opened my door and found Valerian holding a bouquet of sunflowers and a jar of... pickles?"Just came here to visit my pregnant Elodie," he said comfortably, lifting what he had in his hands.Arching my eyebrows, I gave him a deadpan glare.Just because we settled one thing doesn’t mean we’re already fine. I still want to play hard to get, and nothing goes fast—aside from his... No, no, no. I’m not going back to that kind of mindset anymore.I've refreshed my mind, and I am no longer a sinner. Or so I assume."This is private property, Mr. Blackwood. I suggest you back off before I call the police," I warned him, but as expected, it didn’t faze him—not even the