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Fourteen
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Love’s Fortune Fifteen
The ride home was a total drag. Arthur drove like a man possessed, knuckles white on the wheel, staring out the windshield like he was in a high-speed chase with his past. I kept stealing glances at him, feeling a pit form in my stomach. The Arthur who'd been all smooth operator back at the office was MIA, replaced by this brooding statue of a man."Arthur ," I finally ventured, breaking the tense silence. My voice sounded squeaky even to my own ears.He flinched, like I'd jolted him with a cattle prod. "Huh? Yeah?""Everything alright?"He blew out a breath, the kind you make when you're trying not to lose it. "Just a long day, Morgan . No big deal."There it was again, that frustrating brick wall he built around himself. We'd been married for months, and he still retreated into Mr. Stoic whenever things got a little hairy. It stung, a constant reminder of the whole "limited emotional availability" spiel he'd laid down before we even started dating.I loved him. Like, whoa, did I lov
Love’s Fortune Sixteen
The morning commute was a total drag. Arthur sat beside me like a stone statue, the silence thick enough to cut with a knife. Yesterday's encounter with Mr. Creepy clearly wasn't over. Pushing open the office doors, I was hoping for a normal day, filled with emails and brainstorming sessions, anything but what greeted us.There, perched on one of the fancy visitor chairs, sat Vladimir himself, looking like a cheesy used car salesman with his toothy grin. My stomach lurched. This was not how I wanted to start my day."Arthur!" he boomed, rising with the enthusiasm of a Labrador retriever spotting a tennis ball. "And Morgan, looking radiant as ever!"He reached out a hand towards Arthur, who just stared at it like it was a venomous snake. The air crackled with tension."Mr. Vladimir," Arthur said, his voice flat as a pancake. "Surprise. What brings you to our humble abode?""Ah, straight to business, I see," Vladimir chuckled, awkwardly withdrawing his hand. "Can't blame you. Time is mo
Love’s Fortune Seventeen
The morning started with a bang, quite literally. A deafening explosion rocked the building, followed by a cacophony of alarms and shouts. I shot upright in bed, heart pounding, as Arthur's figure loomed over me, his face etched with a grim determination."It's okay, Morgan," he said, his voice low and reassuring. "Stay here."Before I could protest, he was gone, disappearing into the chaos beyond our bedroom door. Fear gnawed at me as I scrambled out of bed, my mind racing. What was happening? Was it a terrorist attack? A gas leak?I managed to pull on a robe and slip into the hallway, the air thick with smoke and the acrid smell of burning. Security guards were rushing past, their faces tense and determined. I pressed on, my heart pounding in my ears, searching for Arthur.I found him in the main office, surrounded by a group of security personnel. His face was pale, but his eyes held an icy resolve."What happened?" I asked, my voice trembling.He glanced at me, his expression soft
Love’s Fortune Eighteen
The room was cloaked in an eerie silence, broken only by the soft ticking of the clock. Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Arthur was perched on the edge of the bed, his posture rigid, his eyes fixed on the window. I knew he hadn't slept a wink. I stirred, the soft mattress cushioning my movements. His head snapped in my direction, his eyes wide with alarm. "You're awake," he breathed, his voice hoarse with sleep deprivation. "Can't sleep?" I asked, my voice soft. He shook his head, his jaw clenched. "Can't afford to," he replied, his voice low. I reached out and placed my hand on his arm. "You need to rest, Arthur. You can't function like this." He squeezed my hand, a silent plea for understanding. "I can't let my guard down, Morgan. Not when they're out there, waiting for the right moment." I sighed. "You're not invincible, you know. You need to take care of yourself too." A flicker of irritation crossed his face. "I'm fine,
Love’s Fortune Nineteen
I woke up to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. The bed was empty, a chill settling in the space where Arthur had been. A pang of worry shot through me as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded to the balcony.There he was, leaning against the railing, his gaze fixed on the city skyline. The morning sun cast long shadows on his face, highlighting the lines of fatigue etched into his skin."Morning," I said softly, stepping onto the balcony.He turned to face me, his eyes filled with a mix of exhaustion and determination. "Morning," he replied, his voice barely a whisper.I reached out and took his hand. "What's wrong?"He sighed, his grip tightening around mine. "There was an incident at the office," he said, his voice low.A wave of dread washed over me. "What happened?" I asked, my voice trembling."Gunmen," he said, his jaw clenched. "They stormed the building, but security managed to repel them."My heart pounded in my chest. "Is everyone okay?"He
Love’s Fortune Twenty
My head throbbed like a drumbeat, and it felt like a ton of bricks was pressing down on my chest. A cacophony of shouts and screams filled my ears, but they sounded muffled, like I was underwater. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt heavy, like lead.I didn’t know how long I lay there, but the next thing I knew, strong arms were scooping me up. I could feel myself being carried, the rough concrete beneath me jarring my already pounding head. A face hovered above me, blurry and indistinct. But I could make out the shape of Arthur’s panicked expression, his eyes wide with fear. Then, darkness enveloped me once again.When I came to, I was bathed in the sterile white glow of a hospital room. The beeping of machines filled the air, a constant reminder of my predicament. My head still throbbed, but the pain was bearable now.I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my shoulder, making me wince. I looked down and saw a bandage covering my shoulder.“Easy,” a voice said softly. I
Love’s Fortune Twenty One
The day started off like any other. Arthur and I had traveled to Portugal, he had a penthouse there and a office at the back. I was in the middle of my morning coffee now, scrolling through emails, when my phone buzzed with an alert. I didn’t think much of it until the second one came. Then a third. Before I knew it, my phone was blowing up with notifications.Confused, I opened one of the messages from Brielle. The subject line alone made my heart stop."Did you see this?!"My hands shook as I clicked on the link she sent. The page loaded, and there it was—a headline plastered across the top of one of those gossip sites that you’d swear only existed to ruin people’s lives:"Arthur Stone’s Marriage: A Business Deal?!"My breath caught in my throat. My eyes skimmed over the article, but I could barely make sense of the words. "Arranged marriage," "contract," "scandal"—these words jumped out at me, each one hitting harder than the last. My stomach twisted in knots as I read the speculat
Love’s Fortune Twenty Two
I was sitting by the window, watching the rain drizzle down the glass, lost in my thoughts. Arthur was still at the penthouse’s office, caught up in yet another meeting with his team, and I was alone with too much time on my hands. The past few days had been a whirlwind—what with the media circus and all—but things had finally started to calm down. Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.I sighed, leaning back in the chair, and let my eyes wander around the room. It was so quiet, too quiet. The kind of quiet that made you start thinking about all the things you’d rather not think about. Like the way Arthur had been more distant lately, how he’d throw himself into work every chance he got, like he was trying to escape something. Or someone.I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away. Arthur was just stressed. That’s all it was. After everything that had happened with the press, who wouldn’t be?But then there was Vladimir.Even thinking about his name made my skin craw
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