"Not here, but in Cameria. My daughter lives here. She works in construction," Maria answered smoothly.Marianne studied Maria's face carefully, clearly not buying the explanation right away. But eventually, she seemed to accept it."Construction? Could it be in the annex projects that Fairmount Corporation is working on? I've been overseeing that site, and… I think I've seen your daughter. She looks a lot like you but with… blonde hair? Am I wrong?"Without knowing it, Marianne had hit a nerve. Maria's face betrayed her, showing she had been caught. Of course, she had. She had made two rookie mistakes despite her years of experience: never underestimate your target, and never engage directly with them.In her plan, Marianne wasn't supposed to have overheard us or been this curious. Maria had only come to warn me that I shouldn't have gotten married, but at this point, I didn't give a damn about her opinions. My marriage had gone exactly as I planned."She must be the one," Maria
"Uncle, why are you so mean to Mr. Liam? Do you enjoy him always scolding you for being so cruel?" Sara asked.I'd love to ignore the fact that Lennon's daughter was calling me "uncle". That was an emotional bond I'd rather not have, yet it was one I was stuck with. When Sara first joined the family, she barely reached my waist. Now, she had grown so much that we stand eye to eye."I don't like the scolding… or Liam. Either way, I'm the bad guy, Sara," I replied, making her laugh."Is it true you sent Mr. Liam to the hospital after the fight with Marianne's dad?" she asked, clearly intrigued.The truth wasn't nearly as interesting as she made it sound. After separating Liam and Serge, I had told him to behave. He had fired back, asking how I could marry Amelia's stepdaughter, if I had any blood in my veins, and calling me a good son of my mother. Playing the dignified man, he had left—probably with Leah and Lennon. They must have taken him away because I hadn't seen them at the par
Lucius' P.O.V.I'd given her the wedding she wanted, fulfilled her every wish, and even gone as far as to give her exclusive rights to my body. Marianne had no reason to complain about me, but I, on the other hand, had plenty of complaints about her—starting with her insistence on not separating from Jenna at this hour of the night.It was 2:00 AM, most of our guests had left the hotel, and I was practically kicking out the last few stragglers. Yet, as I glanced over at the almost empty hall, there was my wife, giggling like a preschooler with her friend."So, where are you going for your honeymoon? And for how long?" Lucia asked, holding a sleeping Levi in her arms. The baby was barefoot and shirtless, down to just his diaper."The Maldives, I think…" I replied absentmindedly, still looking behind me.Marianne was now trying to apply lipstick on Jenna. It was bright red, and she was smearing it all over her friend's face. They were both laughing hysterically, like two little girl
"Are we really married, or is this just a dream?" Marianne asked, her eyes closed, and reeking of alcohol.“When did you get like this? I left you alone for less than an hour, and I find you like this. You didn’t need to drink so much tonight, Marianne,” I scolded her, feeling ridiculous for even trying.“What do you mean I shouldn’t drink?” she hiccuped. “If the bride doesn’t drink at her own wedding, who else should?”I stepped into the elevator that led up to our room and pressed the button. It wasn’t difficult; I was an expert at carrying a woman in my arms while multitasking.“Drinking is fine—just not the entire bar,” I reminded her.“I didn’t drink the whooole bar! Just a little bottle of… of… what did I drink again?” she mumbled, confused. I rolled my eyes as we stepped out of the elevator. “It was for the nerves.”“I’m sure it was,” I replied sarcastically, opening the door to our suite.The sight inside only made me more irritated. The bed was covered in rose petals, c
I cursed myself a thousand times over. Women weren't supposed to be a weakness for me—I was supposed to be their weakness. But with Marianne, it was... it was different.Maybe it was because we shared so many similar scars, or because the person responsible for some of them was the same. We had a common enemy: Amelia. That had to be it, right?"When did I ever say you were boring or prudish, huh? I told you to stop crying. I can't have sex with you as you're too drunk," I explained.She swayed a bit, almost as if she was processing what I was saying—that she was really drunk and that I was desperately trying to look anywhere but at her. The erection straining against my pants was killing me, and Satan was probably rubbing his hands together, ready to add another sin to my growing list."Then don't have sex with me, but don't leave me alone. I hate sleeping alone…""Yes, Marianne. I know you don't like sleeping alone. You always tell me that when you're in this state, and the next
It was another morning where the world was spinning behind my closed eyelids. I opened them with difficulty, the light making my headache worse. I woke up in a white bed.There was a strange feeling in my mouth, so I salivated and spat out… a piece of a rose petal. Not only did that surprise me, but so did the candles and the champagne bottle in the distance. My wedding dress, wrinkled and discarded on the floor, caught my eye as well.A glance down at my own body made me break into a cold sweat. I was trapped in the embrace of a man, completely naked, with one of my breasts exposed from beneath the sheets. I slowly turned my head to see my brand-new husband: Lucius.He was in the same state as me, and I cursed myself a thousand times over because the truth was painfully obvious. Just as obvious as the fact that I didn't remember a damn thing about how I got to this room. I had sex with Lucius for the second time, and once again, I didn't remember any of it.This couldn't be happen
"Did you read the itinerary I sent you earlier this week?" I asked, trying to get him to talk."I glanced at it," he responded, disinterested and focused on his phone."What did you think? Did you like it? Have you visited these places before?"He released a heavy sigh and looked at me, clearly annoyed. Then he stood up from his seat."I'm going to the bathroom," he muttered as he walked off.Watching him lock himself in the bathroom again to avoid me only made me feel worse. My mind was blank, desperate for answers only he could give. I set my book aside and headed straight for the bathroom. I wanted to knock on the door, but instead, I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and did something bolder. I yanked the door open and stepped inside. Lucius, who was just unbuckling his belt, looked at me in surprise before impatience took over his face."What are you doing?"I was doing something crazy, I told myself, as I closed the door behind us, locking us both in this fancy but
His movements weren't delicate or gentle. They were powerful and intense. It might seem impossible or exaggerated, but I swore it felt like he was splitting me in two. I was drowning in my own desperate moans, overwhelmed by the pleasure and excitement coursing through me.I could stay like this for much longer, but for Lucius, this position wasn't enough. He tired of it and guided me toward the door, this time pressing my hands against it as he took control of my back. I knew what he was about to do before he did it, and I reveled in the sensation of him entering me again, his strong hands gripping my hips.My voice betrayed me with a high-pitched cry, and again when he grabbed my hair, using it to steady his rhythm. My forehead and palms were pressed against the door, searching for something to hold onto, trying to endure what my husband was doing to me. I wanted him to keep going, to give me more, and nothing was enough. I barely noticed the strange tremors shaking around us.I w
Sara Brown's P.O.V."Didn't we agree you wouldn't come, Mom?" Richard asked, his voice low and disappointed."Richard, you too?" Victoria exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of hurt and indignation."What else did you expect, Victoria?" Julian interjected, crossing his arms. "We practically had to beg Sara for permission just to see Matthew. Meanwhile, you've done nothing to make amends yet here you are, demanding things. That's not how this works.""Do you want me to apologize to Sara?" Victoria's voice cracked as she looked at me, her emotions on full display.I would never trust Victoria, and I certainly would never leave my son alone with her unsupervised. But in this moment, her vulnerability chipped away at some of my hardened resolve. Life had been so good lately, so full of joy and love, that my heart no longer had room for resentment."You don't need to apologize to me," I said calmly. "The people you owe an apology to are your sons."Victoria's eyes widened, her
Sara Brown's P.O.V.Six months later.Becoming a mother was one of those adventures I never knew I needed, but I'd never been more grateful for taking the leap—especially with Lawrence by my side. Now, here we were, standing in front of a flower-draped altar nestled in the woods of the Brown family estate.Getting married in this spot felt symbolic. It had been our sanctuary as kids, the place where we'd escaped from the grown-ups and shared secrets. It was fitting that my best friend, the boy who'd been by my side through thick and thin, was now becoming my husband.Behind us was a small gathering of family and close friends. The Browns—ever-expanding with a small army of kids—were all present, as were a handful of Lawrence's relatives, including his brothers, Richard and Julian. We'd kept the guest list to just sixty people, making this a more intimate celebration than anyone would've expected from a Brown-Lewis wedding.Still, it was perfect. Everyone we loved was here. And the
I looked at our baby's tiny face, and the urge to cry overwhelmed me again. He was absolutely perfect."Are you going to keep crying?" Sara teased with a mischievous grin. "If you don't stop, I won't give you another one."I wiped my tears immediately, not wanting to take any chances. She burst out laughing, her radiant energy filling the room."So," quickly shifting topics, she leaned forward slightly, "what are we naming him? We agreed we'd know when we saw him. I've got a name from the shortlist in mind. Do you?""I do," I replied, smiling."Okay, let's say it together," she suggested, and I nodded. "On three. One, two, three—""Matthew!" we both exclaimed in unison.We stared at each other before breaking into matching grins. Sara started clapping in excitement over our perfect sync. I laughed at her enthusiasm, but something on the hospital TV caught my attention—a news report about yesterday's gubernatorial election. Images of Isabelle, the winner, flashed across the scree
Lawrence Lewis's P.O.V.Three months later...Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier with Sara loving me, life proved me wrong. Every day felt like a new peak of joy. A few months ago, I believed I had reached the ultimate high when she accepted my proposal during our trip to Finland. I'd asked her under the northern lights in a private and intimate moment, just the two of us—just like our entire relationship had been.The fallout from canceling my engagement to Emma had been relatively manageable for me. There were no financial or legal repercussions, and I narrowly escaped the disgrace of almost becoming the son-in-law of a criminal like Mark. But to say I avoided all drama would be a lie. The rumors and gossip surrounding how Sara and I had gotten together were relentless.I was usually a calm man, but any criticism aimed at Sara, accusing her of "breaking up" my previous engagement, turned me into a beast. Sara would always tell me to ignore the noise, that only we knew
I stood there frozen, feeling every gaze lock onto me. It was as if time had stopped. No one spoke, no one moved—they just stared. Sweat started trickling down places I didn’t even know could sweat.“Hi… how’s everyone doing?” I asked, my voice hesitant.I braced myself for the shouting, the dramatic exclamations, the scolding even. Instead, the extroverted ones in the room simply smiled at me while the quieter ones went back to what they were doing, almost as if nothing had happened. The initial wave of attention just… evaporated.“As I was saying,” Uncle Lucius continued, picking up right where he’d left off, “if you don’t finish your vegetables, we’ll give them to the lion in the forest.”My jaw dropped. This table—the entire Brown family—was completely unfazed. Even Lawrence had that knowing smile on his face, almost as if he’d expected this exact reaction. Before I could recover, Aunt Lucia and Aunt Marianne came over and pulled me into tight hugs.“You look gorgeous, Sara. A
Richard's voice broke the silence as he gathered his courage. "We'd like to add Duke and Monarch for me, and the boat for Julian. With that, we'll be ready to sign the agreement."I rubbed my ears, almost certain I had misheard."The horses and the boat? That's all you want?" Lawrence asked, his tone tinged with disbelief."Yes," Julian confirmed, his voice hesitant. "We believe... they're of great sentimental value to us. And they were gifts. They just... weren't officially transferred to us."Lawrence's eyes darted between them as if trying to confirm whether these were the same brothers he'd been fighting with."That's it?" he repeated, his suspicion evident."That's it," Richard said, though his discomfort was plain to see."What are you two plotting?" Lawrence asked, narrowing his eyes.The twins exchanged confused glances."Nothing?" Julian said, his tone growing defensive. "What are you plotting? You told us you wouldn't give us anything but then sent this offer out of
I couldn't help but notice the sadness etched onto Lawrence's face. He'd always said he wouldn't give his brothers anything. Yet here he was, not only offering them a portion of the inheritance but also bracing himself for their inevitable demands and negotiating with them."Wouldn't it have been easier to just offer them exactly what you were willing to give from the start?" I asked as I leaned against his shoulder, wrapping my arms around him. His sadness was palpable, and it was breaking my heart. Just moments ago, he'd been so happy. "Just say 'Take it or leave it' and then forget about them."Lawrence sighed, his gaze distant. "I know them. And I know myself. I can't lay the blame for all my hardships on them like I do with Victoria. Despite what I said during the will reading, I know they deserve more than what my father left them.""You have a heart of gold, Ren," I murmured, kissing his cheek. "Don't let those brats melt it down, okay?"He chuckled softly, though his sadnes
I swayed my hips rhythmically against his body, the two of us joined in that intimate connection we'd rediscovered nearly every night since the chaos with a certain corrupt official had come to an end.As Lawrence neared his release, he called my name, his voice rough with passion. I teased him by sucking on the thumb he'd slipped into my mouth, which was all it took for him to shut his eyes tightly as the force of his climax overtook him. I followed him into that blissful release just a moment later.Utterly satisfied, I collapsed beside him on the bed, both of us completely naked, basking in the warmth of each other's bodies. My breathing was still ragged as Lawrence shifted closer, his hands roaming gently over my hair, my chest, and finally, my stomach. The way his hand lingered there told me exactly what he was about to ask—again."Are you sure you're comfortable with this?" he asked."No. It was terrible. I never want to have another orgasm for the rest of my life," I replied
"What's going on here?" I asked Sara suspiciously."Just go with the flow," she replied, opening my car door with a grin.I hesitated but decided to follow her advice—or at least try. After exchanging cheek kisses, I walked over to where Jason was waiting. I tucked the envelope with my test results into my pocket. As I reached him, he took my hand, and we started walking up a hill in the park."When did you ask Sara to bring me here?" I asked, curious."That's a secret," he said with a chuckle. "And since you two are such close friends now—""Close friends?" I interrupted, raising a brow. "You think we're really friends?""That's how it seems. You smile a lot when you're with her," he replied."Do I?" I considered it for a moment, warmth spreading through my chest. "Maybe we are."Jason smiled but kept silent. As we climbed one of the hills, I was taken aback by the breathtaking view of the city spread before us. But even more surprising was the blanket laid out on the ground,