"Margarette!" It was a truly remarkable response from Justin. It was precisely as if he had recently witnessed a ghost before. Since I am nearly searching every nook and cranny of the city in an effort to locate my spouse, it would appear that I am able to accept the notion that I do appear as his ghost at this point. And here I was, by complete mistake, coming into the two of them while they were having their secret appointment for lunch. "It would appear that the two of you have already completed eating, as I see it. Unfortunately, you didn't even bother to wait for me, which is a shame. In all honesty, I am rather hungry as well, my dear husband." I started to sound snarky and flirty as I pushed my shoulder on Justin's shoulder as he was standing close to me. Due to the fact that I appeared to have disrupted their date, Regina's reaction was unmistakably visible; she was keeping her aggravation and envy to herself in silence. All of a sudden, Regina, who was unable to suppress her
Justin's arms enveloped me, his touch igniting a cascade of sensations that coursed through every fiber of my being. The tender embrace radiated a comforting warmth, as if his very presence had the power to chase away the chill of the world. From the moment I laid eyes on him, I couldn't help but form a scathing judgment. This man, with his air of arrogance and self-importance, seemed utterly oblivious to the world around him. It was as if he existed solely to serve his own interests, paying no heed to the needs or desires of others. In my mind, he was nothing more than a contemptible dickhead.Yet in this very moment, it defies that thought. The warmth of Justin's embrace enveloped me, a comforting shield against the uncertainties of the world. In his strong arms, I found solace and reassurance—a tangible reminder that I was protected and cherished. The way he held me close spoke volumes, whispering secrets of security and safety that only our hearts could understand. As Justin's
“Justin, get off of me!” I immediately protested as soon as I realized what he had done.After mustering enough courage to push him off me, i was only able to make him move an inch apart from me enough to prevent his lips from coercing with mine once more.However, Justin’s golden brown eyes glowed in the still dim space of the karaoke room. At that precise moment, I could very well tell that there would be nothing that could hold Justin back.He instantly held both of my hands above my head with just a single hand. Meanwhile, his other free hand was tracing across my lower body. After a while, his hand settled on my belly. “Stop touching me!” I protested while trying to struggle free from Justin’s grip. But much to my disappointment, Justin’s hold on me was way too strong for me to subdue. At this rate, it would be impossible for me to actually push him away from me completely so that I could actually escape.Justin’s body frame was way larger than mine; it goes without saying that
“Answer me first, Marga. What’s your answer on my proposal otherwise, I will not stop.” Justin said, leaving me a devious smirk.No matter how much I exerted myself, my efforts were in vain. Justin towered over me, his muscles rippling beneath his taut skin. It was clear from the outset that he possessed a strength far beyond my own. As I attempted to subdue him, my efforts felt feeble and futile. Each time I reached out to restrain him, he effortlessly shrugged off my feeble attempts, as if I were nothing more than a mere annoyance. It was as if I strained against the weight of the rock above me, feeling its unyielding strength pressing down on my every effort to move it.My mind was a jumbled mess, unable to find clarity amidst the chaos of my current predicament. I found myself in a rather precarious situation, with his intense gaze penetrating the depths of my very being. It was as if he could see right through me, making the task at hand all the more awkward.“Justin, didn't you
That night, Justin and I came home late and I fell asleep in an instant due to tiredness and because I was pregnant. I always feel like sleepy. And for some reason, I fell into a deep sleep that made me remember how my dream exactly went.Everyone was so busy getting ready for the grand ball that was being held at the Montefalco’s ancestral manor in Anacortes that when I woke up, I had only one maid to help me with the preparations. In most cases, I have more than three maids working specifically for me to attend to my day-to-day requirements.It occurred to me that perhaps there was a shortage of manpower, as even my own maids were taken away from me to assist with the preparations. People will start arriving at any moment now for the spring moon festival ball that will take place tonight here at the Montefalco Manor. This has been an annual event that has been celebrated by the Montefalco in Anacortes as well as its neighboring alliance all over North America for many years and many
My hand flew outward, striking her face out of reflex.Even the fact that I had completely lost control of my hand came as a complete surprise to me. When I finally became aware of what I had done, it was already far too late. As a direct result of my actions, Regina's face was pushed to the side, and I saw it happen. My palm lightly brushed across her left cheek, leaving a barely perceptible rosy mark in its wake.My body was in a state of extreme discomfort, and I could feel tremors in my hands. If ever this were to even get to Justin, the very idea that I had actually made a scene here after completely losing my cool over a whore like Regina would be simply too pitiful. Simply considering the possibility makes me feel like a complete and utter idiot.“Margarette!” I suddenly heard a domineering and authoritative scream of my name from a distance. There’d be no one else who would dare call me that way other than my husband, Justin. It seemed like he actually saw me after all. Despi
Like the sound of broken glass, I feel like my whole world has been shattered into pieces after hearing those hurtful words from the man I have vowed to love and cherish. It was as if what I was experiencing on the inside was nothing more than a piercing wound that was incapable of being healed by any kind of antidote.As I stood there in front of everyone else watching me get humiliated by my own husband right after he kicked me out and supported an allegation I am completely innocent of, I thought that I would not have the least bit of courage to breathe again if I tried. I am completely innocent of this betrayal.My legs, on the other hand, were only able to move toward Justin thanks to some sort of miraculous intervention. At this point, I felt as though the weight of the world was pressing down on my eyes. That is when I realized it was already carrying an excessive amount of tears in its load. The tears that I had been hoping would not fall in front of him eventually made thei
Later that afternoon, Justin took me to his workplace. "Why have you brought me to this place all of a sudden?" I inquire as I trail behind Justin, resembling more of a domesticated companion than his spouse.Justin turned to face me, a hint of frustration in his eyes. "I thought we had finally come to an agreement about the project?" he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "I brought you here to work together with Hector.I could hardly believe what I was hearing, my jaw barely opening in astonishment. From what I recall, I do not remember ever agreeing with Justin on that occasion. I could not help but lean in closer, my voice barely a whisper as I reminded him, "I did mention that I would consider it, but I don’t even have any idea that you’ve already set me up for this.”However, Justin leaned in closer, mirroring my gesture from a moment ago, as he responded, "This project cannot be delayed much longer, Margarette. So I hope you grasp the urgency of scheduling an appointm
Elise Grant was a woman born into privilege, but privilege came with its own kind of chains. She had spent her life learning how to play the game, but now she was realizing that the rules had changed—and I was the one rewriting them.I watched her disappear into the fog, but I knew she wouldn't be able to walk away from this. Not entirely. People like Elise didn’t just sit back and watch their world collapse—they fought, even when they didn’t know who the real enemy was yet.Leon let out a quiet sigh, his fingers flexing against his side. "She’s going to struggle with this."Dorian smirked. "Good. People make the best decisions when they think they don’t have any other choice."I pulled my coat tighter around me. The air was damp, the salty ocean breeze mixing with the lingering scent of gasoline from the fishing boats docked nearby. "She’s going to reach out again soon."Leon’s gaze flicked to me. "How can you be so sure?""Because she’s smart," I said simply. "And because she’s terr
The wind whipped through my hair as I watched Elise disappear into the night. A thrill ran through me, a mix of victory and anticipation. She had taken the bait, but we weren’t in the clear yet. Not by a long shot.Leon and Dorian flanked me, their expressions unreadable. The three of us stood in silence for a beat, the ocean waves crashing against the wooden pier below us.“She’s scared,” Dorian finally muttered, lighting a cigarette. The flame illuminated his sharp features for a moment before fading into the night. “Which is good. Fear makes people predictable.”Leon’s gaze remained fixed on the path Elise had taken. His jaw clenched, his thoughts miles ahead of us. “Fear also makes people desperate.”I turned to him. “You think she’ll run to her father?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted his stance, slipping his hands into the pockets of his coat. “Not immediately. She’s smart enough to know that if she tips him off too soon, she’s collateral damage.”I nodded. “The
The moment Elise Grant’s fingers touched mine, I knew I had her attention. She was a woman who played in circles of power, who measured every interaction with precision. A single misstep could cost her everything.I held onto her hand for just a fraction longer than necessary, letting the weight of my words settle between us. Then, with a small, knowing smile, I withdrew, lifting my champagne flute to my lips.“Margarette,” Elise repeated, as if testing how my name felt on her tongue. “I don’t believe I’ve heard of you before.”I chuckled softly. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”Elise tilted her head, intrigued but guarded. “And what exactly do you do, Margarette?”I swirled the champagne in my glass, watching the golden bubbles rise to the surface. “I help people see things they’ve overlooked.” I lifted my eyes to hers. “Or things they’ve been kept from seeing.”Her smile didn’t waver, but something in her gaze sharpened. “That sounds dangerously close to a threat.”“Not a threat.” I to
The black SUV moved through the city under the cover of darkness, the tension inside as thick as the fog rolling in from the harbor. I sat in the passenger seat, my fingers drumming against my thigh, my gaze fixed on the glittering skyline ahead. Leon drove in silence, his grip tight on the wheel, while Dorian lounged in the backseat, casually checking his watch as if we weren’t about to walk into one of the most dangerous plays of our lives.“Elise Grant won’t be easy to approach,” Dorian mused, breaking the silence. “She’s got bodyguards, a strict schedule, and enough privilege to think she’s untouchable.”“That’s what makes her blind to threats,” Leon countered. “She’s never had a reason to look over her shoulder.”I exhaled slowly, my mind racing through the details of the plan. Elise would be attending a charity gala tonight, hosted at a high-end hotel owned by one of her father’s associates. It was the perfect opportunity to get close, to plant the seeds of doubt in her mind. Th
The cabin felt smaller now. Maybe it was the presence of this new stranger, or maybe it was the way my nerves coiled tighter with every passing second. Either way, the moment Dorian stepped inside, I felt it—the shift in the air.I gripped the revolver tighter, even as I pushed the door shut.Leon emerged from the hallway, still holding his phone, his dark eyes sharp as they flickered between me and Dorian. He didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked… resigned."Dorian." Leon’s voice was clipped. "You took your time."The stranger—Dorian—chuckled, running a hand through his dark hair. "Traffic," he said, as if that explained everything. His green eyes met mine again, studying me with a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t quite name.I didn’t trust him."You’re staring," I said flatly, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.Dorian grinned, unbothered. "Just making sure you’re as sharp as Leon said.""Flattery isn’t going to make me lower the gun."Leon exhaled, pi
The car ride was silent except for the occasional hum of the tires against the pavement. Lillian sat in the driver’s seat, her hands steady on the wheel, eyes flicking between the road ahead and the rearview mirror. Every so often, I followed her gaze, expecting to catch sight of a shadow trailing behind us.Nothing.Yet the unease in my chest refused to settle.Leon had sent one of his private drivers to pick us up outside of town, just past the tree-lined outskirts where the city lights faded into darkness. The safe house was in an undisclosed location—secluded, heavily secured, and supposedly impenetrable. But after everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure I could believe in impenetrable anymore.Aunt Lou had been hesitant to let me go, but she knew staying behind was too dangerous. Uncle George had slipped a small revolver into my bag before I left, whispering instructions in a firm voice I had never heard from him before."Use it if you have to. Don’t hesitate."Now, as the he
i sat in the dimly lit room, my fingers trembling slightly as I clutched the warm cup of tea Aunt Lou had prepared for me. The fragrant steam curled upward, but even the soothing aroma couldn’t quiet the storm raging in my mind.No matter how tightly I wrapped myself in the comfort of my aunt’s presence, my thoughts remained restless, tangled with fear and uncertainty. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing—Leon, his jaw tight with determination, refusing to back down no matter the danger. His need to uncover the truth had set us on a treacherous path, and with Alexa hidden away for her safety, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.Sleep had been a distant dream for the past few nights. Every creak of the house, every gust of wind against the window, sent my heart racing. I knew I was being watched. Maybe not now, in this moment, but somewhere out there, someone’s eyes were on me.A soft knock at the door shattered my thoughts.Aunt Lou
The room remained silent for a moment, heavy with the weight of what Lillian had just revealed. My mind raced, processing the implications of the forged document. Justin wasn’t just trying to intimidate me—he was trying to erase my claim entirely, to make it look like I had given up willingly.I clenched my fists, my pulse pounding in my ears. “How did you get this?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.Lillian exhaled sharply, pulling out a USB drive from her pocket and placing it on the table. “An informant within Justin’s circle leaked these to me. They overheard him discussing his next steps—he’s preparing to launder the stolen assets and shift everything offshore. If we don’t act now, your parents’ properties will be out of reach forever.”Uncle George muttered another curse under his breath. Aunt Lou, pale and shaken, placed a protective hand over mine. “What do we do now?” she asked, looking at me as if I had the answers.I swallowed hard, then turned to Lillian. “Do we have
I sat in the dimly lit room, my fingers trembling slightly as I held the warm cup of tea Aunt Lou had prepared for me. Despite the comfort of her presence, my thoughts were a storm I couldn't calm.Leon’s determination to clear his name had put us on a dangerous path. With Alexa hidden away for her safety and Justin growing more desperate, the stakes had never been higher. The last few nights had been sleepless ones, filled with anxiety, and a nagging sense that something was about to go terribly wrong.A soft knock at the door snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. Aunt Lou exchanged a quick glance with Uncle George before rising to answer it. My heart pounded as I watched the door creak open, revealing a familiar figure—Claire Donovan.Claire stepped inside with her usual warm smile, but something about her felt different tonight. Her eyes held a sharpness that sent a shiver down my spine. She wasn’t here out of the goodness of her heart. There was an edge to her, and it set me on