When Lisa saw this, she became alarmed. She knew very well how poor Williams was. There was no way he would reject such a windfall.
Williams frowned; there was a look of disdain in his eyes. Mr. Kendrick thought that he was looking down on the amount and directly increased it, but his next action astounded him.
He kicked the money away. "Leave now, or I will not think twice about disgracing you," he said calmly.
Kendrick gritted his teeth. "Do you know who I am?"
"I don't care; now get lost."
"Fine, you will regret this," he said and left hurriedly without turning back. Williams turned back to Lisa.
"Are you alright?" He checked her pulse.
"Williams, I'm feeling so hot," she murmured. Williams thought carefully; he didn't know where she lived, so he made the decision to take her to his hotel room since he was also lodging there. He hugged her body and brought her with him. The attendants had seen what happened; they were afraid that they might be exposed, after all, they collected a bribe from Mr. Kendrick.
He brought her to his room. Lisa was clinging to his body like a koala. Her matured bodily smell caused a reaction in his lower body; she smelled like Jasmine. He was a little drunk before the whole thing, and the effect had started to kick in. He tried his best to clear his head and brought her to his bed.
Lisa herself didn't feel any better. She was feeling sexually aroused, and her body was so hurt. She had been trying to hold herself from pouncing on Williams, but it seemed like the drug effect was too much; she couldn't hold herself anymore.
She pushed herself against him; right now, it didn't matter to her; all she wanted was to have him there. Williams, who was a little drunk, couldn't hold the assault; they ended up in a passionate kiss. The sounds of clothes tearing and passionate moaning grew louder and louder.
The following day, Williams was the first to wake up. He was surprised to see Lisa sleeping beside him; then he recalled what happened last night. Lisa was so wild and unbelievable, and above all, she was still a virgin.
This came as a huge surprise to him. He looked at her tiny red lips that were pouting. She looked so beautiful. His eyes trailed to parts of her body that weren't covered by the bedsheets; he gulped and looked away immediately. He could feel a twitch on his lower body.
Everything felt like a dream to him. That day, he had left for a business matter and didn't eat anything. The journey from New York to Pennsylvania isn't an easy one, so he went out very early.
After he was done, he decided to find a good place to eat. On the way, he bumped into an honest-looking man. He didn't think much about it and had continued looking for a good place to eat; that was when he spotted Chef Jeff Eatery, which seemed to be quite famous among the locals in this area.
He went in and made an order; luckily, he didn't order too much. After he was done eating, he brought out his phone so he could make a transfer since he didn't bring his card with him, only to notice that his phone was missing.
He was surprised and thought hard before he realized it's most likely the honest-looking man since he's the only one he ever had a weird encounter with.
He was so ashamed; he had never been in this kind of situation before. He didn't carry any cash on him since he was in a hurry that morning and didn't have time; besides, he thought it was unnecessary since he could always pay with his phone via bank transfer.
He stayed there not knowing what to do; he could feel the beautiful waiter looking at him weirdly; she had been so ashamed. When she offered to pay for his bills that day, he had felt so ashamed. He originally thought that she would scorn him.
Since then, he had taken an interest in her. The time he saw her in the bar talking with a middle-aged man, he was so disappointed for an unknown reason, jealous. He had secretly moved to a chair nearby, and with his sharp hearing ability, he managed to overhear their discussion.
Just as he was thinking, Lisa beside him woke up; he looked at her, and their eyes met. Lisa immediately screamed and wanted to jump out of bed, and when she saw she was naked, she hid under the bed.
Williams felt amused and continued looking at her. Lisa seemed to have remembered what happened; she buried her head under the bedsheets. When she jumped on him yesterday, she was blushing so much.
It was her first time, and it got taken just like that. She also felt ashamed. But on second thought, it wasn't so bad. If Williams wasn't there yesterday, she would have slept with Mr. Kendrick. The idea irked her. Williams seemed to be a good man considering the way he stood up for her and even rejected the temptation of money.
She wasn't very superstitious about the belief that your first must be with your husband.
"I'm sorry about what happened last night; it wasn't intentional, I..."
"Enough, I know it's not intentional; I don't blame you. I just want you to forget everything that happened; just pretend nothing happened," she said.
Williams felt pained when he heard her, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he got out of bed. "Go ahead and bathe; I will get new clothes for you," he said with guilt, looking at the red gown that's now worse than a rag.
Lisa looked at the cloth amused; I didn't know this mine was this wild, she thought. She patiently waited until he was out of the room before she left her bedsheets. When Williams returned, she was wrapped in a white towel. She took the clothes from him and went to the washroom to change. After she was done, she took her purse, after thinking for a while she took out some stacks of dollar bills.
"I don't want you to ever remember what happened today or mention it again. I know this amount is nothing for you, but at least you can use it to buy something nice for yourself."
Williams stood there looking at her as she forcefully forced the money into her hand.
"When did a billionaire like him turn into a beggar? No, this is unacceptable."
Two days later, Lisa was returning from work, looking worried. The doctor had called yesterday and told her that her mother might not hold on for two weeks. She became worried, unable to think of a solution.Her friend Anna gave her fifty thousand dollars, and with the one she saved, it's only a little over a hundred thousand dollars; it still wasn't enough. Just as she was still thinking, she bumped into someone."Oh, sorry, please. I wasn't looking; it's not intentional," she quickly apologized."It's fine. You don't need to apologize. Actually, I was waiting for you."She looked up surprisingly and saw that it was Williams."Williams, what a pleasant meeting. I thought you traveled," she joked."Nah, I'm still around." The two tactically did not talk about what happened between them last time."I heard about your mom," he said out of the blue. Lisa lowered her head slightly. "Here, take this. Go ahead and pay your mom's hospital bills; her life is too important," he said while hand
Inside a restaurant, Lisa and Williams are sitting opposite each other."You really don't need to repay me; I already told you," Williams said.Lisa nodded. Anyway, she wasn't too confident that she can repay him, although deep inside she really wants to."Anytime you need my help, do not hesitate to call me," she said, although she knew fully well that someone of Williams' caliber would barely need her help.He nodded. "Sure, I will.""But you really caught me off guard. I always believed that you are not rich, perhaps a pauper. You can't blame me; after all, you couldn't pay for your food the first time we met."Williams was ashamed when he heard her. He cursed his luck that day, but on second thought, it's not that bad; he wouldn't have known somebody as special as Lisa if not for that incident. Yes, deep in his heart, Lisa was like a special existence."But why couldn't you pay for your meal that day?" she queried."Long story..." He briefly explained what happened that day. Lisa
Rachel and Harry were the only ones standing in this clearing; after he had made that playful suggestion, the air was electric with tension between them. Her heart leaped into her throat as she looked up at him, uncertain whether he was joking or not. The ritual still buzzed through her mind like energy, exhilarating but baffling. Stronger-that much was obvious-but emotionally speaking, everything felt heavier than before."A kiss?" Rachel repeated, her eyes searching Harry's face for a clue as to whether he meant it.Harry gave a half-smile, still playful, but his eyes flickered; a glimpse of something more shone from those depths. "I mean, it's not compulsory, but I thought it would be a nice way to show appreciation," he teased lightly; his voice softened as he added, "Only if you want to, of course."Rachel bit her lip, feeling this weird mix of emotions. She had known Harry for so long, always seeing him as a close friend, the person who'd always been there for her. But now, with
Chapter SevenRachel's heart was pounding as she stood perfectly still. Harry's words hung there in the air between them weighted with an unexpected importance. A kiss? The idea had come from left field. They were only friends, allies in that weird, shared journey of theirs. But something about this moment felt different.She looked deep into his face, into his eyes-trying to find some sign that he was teasing, but those eyes were all but somber, quiet, yet serious."Harry." Rachel tried to begin, but her voice faded, not knowing how she should continue.Harry, sensing the air was a little tense, unbent. He smiled, but his eyes still held a little sadness in them, as if he hadn't expected her to say yes anyway. "I'm just teasing, Rachel," he lied, faking a chuckle. "You don't have to kiss me. It's just.I wanted to lighten things up a bit.Rachel let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. But even though Harry had laughed it off, the atmosphere between them had subtly change
Chapter Eight Rachel's POVThe heavy feeling of Harry's confession remained in my mind, even after I had closed the door behind him. Somehow, I felt an emptiness within my stomach, as if he'd taken a piece of me with him. His honesty had come right out of the blue, after such a huge day. I had so many questions, yet had absolutely no idea where to begin in finding the answers.I wandered back into the darkened living room, skimming my fingers over an old photo frame on the mantle-my parents. Their faces, frozen in a faded smile, seemed a distant echo of a life I no longer knew. The ritual, Harry's words, the power…all so rapidly changing.Night wore on and my exhaustion tugged at me. I barely made it to my bedroom before collapsing onto the bed, my mind foggy with remnants of my day. The picture of the old man's wrinkled face, his warning cryptic, wouldn't leave my head: "To gain power, you must let go of something precious."What had I lost? Or worse-what was I going to lose?---I
The relentless downpour outside mirrored the storm inside Lisa’s heart. Rain blurred the city skyline, streaking the towering windows of the penthouse as though mocking the tears she refused to shed. Lisa stared at her suitcase on the bed, her hands trembling as she folded the last item of clothing.This was it.Leaving had been a fleeting thought in the past—when the weight of their “fake” marriage had become too much or when Williams’s coldness pierced her heart. But each time, she had stayed, clinging to the hope that there was something real between them. That hope had shattered the moment he placed the photos on the table, his gaze hard and accusing.“Explain this,” he had demanded.The betrayal she’d seen in his eyes had cut deeper than the words themselves. She had tried to explain—how the man in the photos was her cousin, how their meeting had been innocent. But he hadn’t believed her. The seed of doubt Morgan had planted had grown into a twisted vine, choking the fragile conn
The room was silent except for the ticking of the clock. Williams sat in his study, the report from David lying open in front of him. The truth stared back at him, mocking him with its simplicity.Her cousin. The man in the photographs—the supposed evidence of Lisa’s betrayal—was her cousin, Jason Hart. A name, a history, even a picture of them together at family gatherings filled the file.Williams let out a heavy breath, his head sinking into his hands. How had he let it come to this?It wasn’t the evidence that haunted him the most, though. It was the memory of Lisa’s face the night she left. The pain in her eyes, the tremble in her voice, the way her words had hit him like a physical blow.“I thought we were building something real, Williams. But I can’t keep fighting alone.”He had replayed those words countless times over the past three months, each repetition cutting deeper than the last. He had destroyed the one thing he hadn’t even realized he couldn’t live without—her trust.
Lisa adjusted her chair in the spacious living room of the O’Connell estate, her sketchpad perched on her knees. The designs she worked on for her fashion class were coming together nicely, but she couldn’t shake the growing tension in the house. Despite her best efforts to be polite and gracious, the hostility from Williams’ mother, Stacy, and Morgan was relentless. Every cutting remark, every snide comment about her background, chipped away at her composure.Her pencil hesitated mid-stroke as the sound of footsteps echoed behind her. She turned to see Williams walking in, his expression unreadable. His silence lately had been unsettling, and the unspoken distance between them gnawed at her.“Is everything alright?” Lisa asked hesitantly, closing her sketchpad.Instead of answering, Williams pulled a small envelope from his pocket and placed it on the coffee table. His movements were deliberate, almost too calm, which made Lisa’s stomach churn.“What’s this?” she asked, leaning forwa
The penthouse in the heart of Manhattan felt colder and emptier than it ever had. Williams O’Connell sat in his office, the city skyline stretching beyond the windows. The man who once commanded boardrooms and navigated billion-dollar deals now felt lost in his own life. Lisa’s absence gnawed at him. It had been two months since she left, and in that time, the world had lost its color. Her laughter, her resilience, and the way she challenged him had become the only things he truly valued. Now, they were gone. He poured himself a drink, though it was only midday, and stared at the photograph that had caused the rift between them. The picture of Lisa with another man—a photo that Morgan had so conveniently sent him—lay on his desk. He had stared at it for weeks, dissecting every detail, until the truth finally emerged. The man was Lisa’s cousin. The realization had struck him like a lightning bolt. The love of his life had been accused, mistrusted, and driven away because of his
The night was heavy with silence. Lisa lay on her side, staring at the darkened ceiling of her bedroom. Sleep refused to come, her mind replaying the confrontation with Williams over and over. His accusations had cut deeper than she’d expected, not because of the words themselves, but because of what they revealed: he didn’t trust her. By morning, her decision was made. She couldn’t stay. Not like this. Lisa spent the early hours packing her belongings into a single suitcase. She moved quietly, not wanting to alert anyone in the house. Her resolve faltered only once, as she folded a scarf Williams had bought her during one of their rare, carefree moments. For a brief second, she let herself remember the man he was before his doubts poisoned everything. But the sting of his mistrust was stronger than the memory of his kindness. When Williams woke up later that morning, he found Lisa’s room empty. Panic shot through him as he searched the house, but she was nowhere to be found. H
Lisa adjusted her chair in the spacious living room of the O’Connell estate, her sketchpad perched on her knees. The designs she worked on for her fashion class were coming together nicely, but she couldn’t shake the growing tension in the house. Despite her best efforts to be polite and gracious, the hostility from Williams’ mother, Stacy, and Morgan was relentless. Every cutting remark, every snide comment about her background, chipped away at her composure.Her pencil hesitated mid-stroke as the sound of footsteps echoed behind her. She turned to see Williams walking in, his expression unreadable. His silence lately had been unsettling, and the unspoken distance between them gnawed at her.“Is everything alright?” Lisa asked hesitantly, closing her sketchpad.Instead of answering, Williams pulled a small envelope from his pocket and placed it on the coffee table. His movements were deliberate, almost too calm, which made Lisa’s stomach churn.“What’s this?” she asked, leaning forwa
The room was silent except for the ticking of the clock. Williams sat in his study, the report from David lying open in front of him. The truth stared back at him, mocking him with its simplicity.Her cousin. The man in the photographs—the supposed evidence of Lisa’s betrayal—was her cousin, Jason Hart. A name, a history, even a picture of them together at family gatherings filled the file.Williams let out a heavy breath, his head sinking into his hands. How had he let it come to this?It wasn’t the evidence that haunted him the most, though. It was the memory of Lisa’s face the night she left. The pain in her eyes, the tremble in her voice, the way her words had hit him like a physical blow.“I thought we were building something real, Williams. But I can’t keep fighting alone.”He had replayed those words countless times over the past three months, each repetition cutting deeper than the last. He had destroyed the one thing he hadn’t even realized he couldn’t live without—her trust.
The relentless downpour outside mirrored the storm inside Lisa’s heart. Rain blurred the city skyline, streaking the towering windows of the penthouse as though mocking the tears she refused to shed. Lisa stared at her suitcase on the bed, her hands trembling as she folded the last item of clothing.This was it.Leaving had been a fleeting thought in the past—when the weight of their “fake” marriage had become too much or when Williams’s coldness pierced her heart. But each time, she had stayed, clinging to the hope that there was something real between them. That hope had shattered the moment he placed the photos on the table, his gaze hard and accusing.“Explain this,” he had demanded.The betrayal she’d seen in his eyes had cut deeper than the words themselves. She had tried to explain—how the man in the photos was her cousin, how their meeting had been innocent. But he hadn’t believed her. The seed of doubt Morgan had planted had grown into a twisted vine, choking the fragile conn
Chapter Eight Rachel's POVThe heavy feeling of Harry's confession remained in my mind, even after I had closed the door behind him. Somehow, I felt an emptiness within my stomach, as if he'd taken a piece of me with him. His honesty had come right out of the blue, after such a huge day. I had so many questions, yet had absolutely no idea where to begin in finding the answers.I wandered back into the darkened living room, skimming my fingers over an old photo frame on the mantle-my parents. Their faces, frozen in a faded smile, seemed a distant echo of a life I no longer knew. The ritual, Harry's words, the power…all so rapidly changing.Night wore on and my exhaustion tugged at me. I barely made it to my bedroom before collapsing onto the bed, my mind foggy with remnants of my day. The picture of the old man's wrinkled face, his warning cryptic, wouldn't leave my head: "To gain power, you must let go of something precious."What had I lost? Or worse-what was I going to lose?---I
Chapter SevenRachel's heart was pounding as she stood perfectly still. Harry's words hung there in the air between them weighted with an unexpected importance. A kiss? The idea had come from left field. They were only friends, allies in that weird, shared journey of theirs. But something about this moment felt different.She looked deep into his face, into his eyes-trying to find some sign that he was teasing, but those eyes were all but somber, quiet, yet serious."Harry." Rachel tried to begin, but her voice faded, not knowing how she should continue.Harry, sensing the air was a little tense, unbent. He smiled, but his eyes still held a little sadness in them, as if he hadn't expected her to say yes anyway. "I'm just teasing, Rachel," he lied, faking a chuckle. "You don't have to kiss me. It's just.I wanted to lighten things up a bit.Rachel let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. But even though Harry had laughed it off, the atmosphere between them had subtly change
Rachel and Harry were the only ones standing in this clearing; after he had made that playful suggestion, the air was electric with tension between them. Her heart leaped into her throat as she looked up at him, uncertain whether he was joking or not. The ritual still buzzed through her mind like energy, exhilarating but baffling. Stronger-that much was obvious-but emotionally speaking, everything felt heavier than before."A kiss?" Rachel repeated, her eyes searching Harry's face for a clue as to whether he meant it.Harry gave a half-smile, still playful, but his eyes flickered; a glimpse of something more shone from those depths. "I mean, it's not compulsory, but I thought it would be a nice way to show appreciation," he teased lightly; his voice softened as he added, "Only if you want to, of course."Rachel bit her lip, feeling this weird mix of emotions. She had known Harry for so long, always seeing him as a close friend, the person who'd always been there for her. But now, with
Inside a restaurant, Lisa and Williams are sitting opposite each other."You really don't need to repay me; I already told you," Williams said.Lisa nodded. Anyway, she wasn't too confident that she can repay him, although deep inside she really wants to."Anytime you need my help, do not hesitate to call me," she said, although she knew fully well that someone of Williams' caliber would barely need her help.He nodded. "Sure, I will.""But you really caught me off guard. I always believed that you are not rich, perhaps a pauper. You can't blame me; after all, you couldn't pay for your food the first time we met."Williams was ashamed when he heard her. He cursed his luck that day, but on second thought, it's not that bad; he wouldn't have known somebody as special as Lisa if not for that incident. Yes, deep in his heart, Lisa was like a special existence."But why couldn't you pay for your meal that day?" she queried."Long story..." He briefly explained what happened that day. Lisa