Sophie looked concerned but nodded. "Okay, Mommy."Karina thanked Phoebe for spending the night. "I really appreciate you being here, Phoebe."Phoebe waved it off. "No problem at all. I’m glad to help."Karina’s phone rang, and she glanced at the screen, seeing Aidan’s name. She almost swore aloud but caught herself. "I’ll just go freshen up. Join you both in a bit."Sophie smiled. "Okay, Mommy!"Karina turned to Phoebe. "Are you leaving soon?"Phoebe nodded. "In about an hour. I need to get back to campus.""Thanks again, Phoebe," Karina said before heading upstairs.Once in her room, she shredded off her clothes and hurried into the shower. As the warm water cascaded over her, images of last night’s intense moments with Aidan flooded her mind. She gasped softly, feeling the heat rise within her again.Stepping out of the shower, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her lips parted as she noticed the marks he had left on her body. Her eyes fixed on a vivid hickey at the side of
Unable to keep up with Gina's silence any longer, Aidan went on, "Though I saw the DNA result which showed Lucas is Sophie's father… but I have been holding onto this tiny hope that I can be her father. I know it's weird but… I can't help it."Gina sighed. "Look, Aidan, you don't need a blood relationship to connect with Sophie. You can be her father because Sophie acknowledges you as her daddy."He smiled, drawing comfort from her words. "That's really huge, Gina. I appreciate it."She reached out to his hand on the table and tapped it in reassurance. "Just forget about anything else and let your heart guide you, Aidan."He nodded. "Thank you." Then he teased her, "But I hope your heart won't guide you to a clubhouse again.""Oh, you're crazy.” She hit him playfully and went on drinking her coffee.A Few Days LaterAmira was happily shopping at a mall, her mood lifted by the pleasant buzz of retail therapy. She hummed a little tune as she picked out a new dress, some accessories, and
Riley seemed to pass out for a moment before jerking back up. She leaned closer, her hands making their way to his chest. "Let's go spend some private time."He gently stopped her, making her take another shot of her drink. Leaning forward, he asked, "Do you know Amira?"Riley roared with laughter. "I know that bitch. She always tries to order me around."Aidan played along, nodding. "Really? What's her deal?""She hates Karina's daughter, Sophie," Riley revealed, a wicked smile on her face.Aidan's brows knitted in genuine concern. "Why?"Riley belched, still smiling. "She found out about Sophie and wants to..." She paused, her words slurring.Aidan leaned in eagerly. "She wanted to what?""She wanted to end..." Riley's head dropped to the counter as she passed out, leaving her sentence unfinished.Aidan groaned in frustration, trying to wake her up, but it was no use. He sat back, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just learned. He felt unsettled and frustrated at
Aidan noticed her movement and chuckled. “Well, I got to know about some wanted criminals. One had a striking semblance to your assistant."Amira gulped, trying to maintain her composure. "You're kidding, right? Lola isn't even from this country. What do you even think of me? I do a good background check before employing anyone."Aidan nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know, honey." He held her face, caressing it roughly. "But, you know, Amira, she definitely looks like one who knows bad people or does bad things. Talking from her outward appearance and attitude."Amira tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to keep cool. "Stop presuming nonsense, Aidan. Lola is different. Besides, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. You know."He smiled and nodded as if acknowledging her words. She smiled back, starting to caress his body. "Did you come to keep me company?" she asked, trying to change the subject, noting his mood seemed to soften.As her fingers trailed his face to his neck, she leaned fo
With a smirk, Lucas slid two thick fingers inside her, reveling in the way her velvet walls clenched around him. "That's it, baby," he crooned, his strokes slow and deliberate. "Take it all."Amira's head fell back, a guttural moan escaping her lips as she surrendered to the sensations. Her bra came undone under Lucas' deft ministrations, and he immediately latched onto one pert nipple, nipping and suckling.The couch creaked under their combined weight as Amira ground herself against his questing fingers, desperate for more. "Don't stop," she panted, her nails raking down his back. “Fuck, don't ever stop."Lucas growled in response, his free hand kneading the soft curves of her ass. He was utterly enthralled by the sight of her, flushed and panting, as he brought her closer and closer to the edge.Amira's eyes widened as she felt Lucas' hardened length tease along the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. A delicious shiver ran down her spine."It's time," Lucas growled, his voice thic
Lucas smiled, pulling her in for a languid kiss. "And I thought you loved Aidan," he countered, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.Amira shrugged, a rueful expression crossing her face. "It's complicated now," she admitted.Lucas nodded, his expression understanding. "Same with me," he conceded, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her skin. Then he captured her lips again. Their tongues tangled in a heated kiss, passion simmering beneath the surface. Amira finally pulled back, her eyes sparkling with determination. "Let's work together, Lucas Salvatore," she whispered, her voice laced with a hint of steel. "To get what we both want."Lucas' brow furrowed, a hint of caution in his gaze. "I agree," he murmured, "but you don't harm Karina, and I won't harm Aidan. I'm sure you've not thought of hurting Karina."Amira's expression darkened briefly, but she nodded. "I did," she admitted, "but I never acted on it."Relieved, Lucas pulled her close, pressing a soft kiss to her fo
The woman removed her sunglasses, her gaze shifting between the two. "Hello, dear," she said, her eyes lighting up as she turned to Karina. "You know me?"Karina chuckled, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Of course, you're Alicia Montgomery, the famous singer from Brazil. I've heard your songs all over London when I was there the last five years."Alicia beamed, pulling Karina into a warm hug. "I'm honored, my dear," she cooed, before flicking her gaze back to Lucas, her expression unreadable.Karina, curious, asked, "Uh, do you know each other?"Alicia's smile widened as she turned to Lucas. “Yeah, he's my... dear friend, Lucas," she said, her voice trailing off as she fixed her gaze on him.Lucas cleared his throat, a forced smile on his face. “Hello, Alicia," he said, his hand slipping around Karina's waist.Karina glanced at Lucas, and she forced a smile and nodded. She muttered to him, "You seem more surprised than happy, Lucas."He forced a laugh. "Yeah. It's been a w
Aidan took a dangerous step closer to her. “I'm better than you, Anita. No matter what Karina learns about me and my past, I'm certain she will understand me."She laughed, ridiculing him. "Oh, seriously? Keep being delusional, brother."He shrugged. "You know, I'm always better than you. I will get to have a stable family with Karina soon, unlike you, who got yourself pregnant by a married man who's older than you by over a decade and who never loved you.” He clicked his tongue, feigning pity.“If Lilly finds out about him, she ought to call him Grandpa, but it's going to be Father." He mocked, ripping open old wounds, making Anita gaze at him in fury. “You're now old news. You've lost your once-perfect career, you can never have a happy home, and above all, you can never be a great mother to your daughter. So pathetic.”Seeing his words had punctured her thick heart, he turned to his mother. Juliana tried to calm the situation, but he stopped her. "I guess it was great to stop by. I