"A gunshot? But I didn't hear any gunfire...""They could've used a silencer. Did you notice the shattered vase behind you? If I searched for a bullet casing, I might find one. Though, it's likely already been picked up and disposed of.""What are you talking about, Jason?" I tried to laugh it off, hoping it was some sort of dark joke, but he wasn't laughing."You're acting like you don't notice it. You're not welcome in this house."His words hit harder than I expected. I already knew that, of course. I'd never been welcome here. It was the reason I had avoided coming. Still, there was a big difference between being unwelcome and being outright targeted."That couldn't have been a bullet. Why would anyone try to hurt me?""No one hires a bodyguard if they believe they're perfectly safe. You mentioned you don't usually have a bodyguard despite who you are. How do you explain that?""Well... you see..." I hesitated. "My dad and uncle think that the project I'm working on might ma
I was rushing so fast, not watching where I was going, that I ran straight into someone—of course, it had to be Lawrence. Our chests collided, both of us startled, though he was the first to step back."Watch where you're going," he said, his voice stern, before brushing past me.The sadness in my heart swelled to unbearable levels, just like the pounding headache I had. My vision was blurred, and everything felt wrong."Is this how you're going to end things? Without even giving me a chance to talk?" I called after him.Lawrence paused, turning around slowly to look at me."Talk? What's left to say? So you can make things worse?" he retorted."To try and make things right..." I took a step closer, closing the distance between us. "Everything I feel for you—it's new to me. That's why I'm scared, and that's why I don't want to rush. I know I've hurt you, and I'm sorry for it. I never wanted to hurt you. But... taking such a big step can't be done lightly."I poured out my heart,
Lawrence Lewis's P.O.V.We were walking hand-in-hand through the woods, shrouded in so much fog that it was hard to see where we were going. I could barely make out my own hand clasping Sara's as she led the way ahead of me."Why do you always drag us into trouble?" I asked, sounding like a little boy."I'm not trying to get us into trouble! I just want us to see the hydrangeas. Didn't you say they were your favorite?" she responded, her voice also childlike."I wish I'd never told you..." I muttered as the fog began to lift.I glanced down and realized we were kids again. She tugged on my hand harder, urging me to run. We raced forward until we arrived at her chosen spot—the hydrangeas. Sara's face lit up with excitement as she twirled in place, her eyes sparkling with joy."Aren't they beautiful? No wonder you love them so much!" she exclaimed. "Which one's your favorite color?"I couldn't stop smiling. Everything around me made me happy—the flowers, the sunlight, and especial
Surprisingly, the brothers wrapped up their signatures without any hesitation. My lawyer reviewed the final details, I offered them a few polite words, and just like that, it was done. Sara had secured two buildings and a couple of plots of land; I now held ownership of two buildings, including the largest and most significant one. By any measure, we were neck and neck—but I felt like I was ahead. And yet, there had been no sign of Sara Brown throughout the entire process.Once the office emptied out, I immediately grabbed my phone and called Amber."Hello? What kind of miracle is this, Lawrence calling me?" she answered the call, her tone light and teasing.As expected, I didn't usually call Amber nor did I respond to her messages promptly."Did Sara leave the country?" I asked bluntly.It had to be that. She must've gone on one of her self-discovery trips to some exotic destination."Not that I know of. Why?" she replied. Her casual tone only made me more anxious."How sure ar
How had Sara ended up hiring Emma's beloved Jason? And more importantly—"Why did he refuse to work for you again?" I asked Emma, my curiosity laced with skepticism.Emma's face twisted with a hint of pain."He said he didn't want me ruining what little he'd managed to build for himself after working abroad with me," she replied, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. She struggled to keep her composure. "What could he have built, working where I found him? Not much. But of course, for Sara, he was more than happy to take the job."It was almost amusing how quickly Emma's sorrow shifted to jealousy. But her revelation sparked another question in me: Why did Sara need a bodyguard in the first place? As far as I knew, she hated them and called them glorified babysitters. Could this really be part of Sara's master plan? To have Jason under her command?If so, it was a brilliant move."I'm not involved in that hiring decision, and I have no idea where Sara is. You've got nothing to a
Lawrence Lewis's P.O.V.A month of medical leave? Whatever happened to Sara was no small matter. As I drove to her apartment with my heart lodged in my throat, my mind replayed our last encounter. The redness in her eyes, the bandage on her hand—I had dismissed it all, too consumed by my own nerves, too focused on shielding myself from my feelings for her.How could I have treated her that way? Was she sick? Did she get hurt at the engagement party? I knew nothing about it. All I knew was that if something terrible had happened to Sara, I... I wouldn't survive it.Lost in my own spiraling thoughts, I reached her building and rushed up to her door. I rang the bell once, twice, three times, and got no answer.Why was she at her apartment and not with her family? Was she alone? What state was she in? Louis's words echoed in my head: The surgeries didn't sit well with her. I couldn't wait any longer. I fished out the emergency key I had promised myself I'd only use if necessary and unl
Today was one of those rare chances. I led her to the kitchen and helped her sit at the dining table. As I stepped away from her, I rummaged through her fridge and pantry. Luckily, she had all the ingredients. I got to work, focusing on every detail, and I even took the time to wash the dishes piled up in the sink.The minutes passed by faster in the kitchen than they had in her room. I put the finishing touches on the burgers—extra pickles and crispy bacon, just the way she liked it. I placed the plate in front of Sara.She sniffed the air and tentatively reached for the bun."T-thank you..." she said, sounding embarrassed. Her voice broke my heart.She managed to take a bite, chewing slowly. I waited, holding my breath for her reaction. Did she like it? Was it good enough?"Mmm... it's really good," she murmured, smiling a little. "Could you get me some water?"I grabbed a glass of water for her and sat down at the table. Sara took a few more bites before setting the burger asi
What if it's more than just Victoria's threats? And what about the Whites? They had a vested interest in ensuring this marriage went through. Still... targeting Sara would be taking things way too far. She was a Brown. They wouldn't dare, would they?"Are you doubting it too?" I heard her sigh. "It's easier for me to stay calm here in my own place while I heal.""Why are you here alone? Wouldn't it be better to stay at your parents' house?" I asked."I was there until last week, but I got tired of being cooped up on the second floor of their house. Here, everything's on one level. And apart from my useless attempts at finding a series to watch, I'm pretty efficient at getting around," she explained, trying to sound upbeat. She didn't manage to pull it off, unfortunately."Yeah..." I replied, feeling a pang of sadness."Yeah..." she echoed in the same tone."Would you accept my apology if I told you... I was a complete idiot for the way I spoke to you, knowing now what condition y
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,