Emma looked like every last drop of color had drained from her face. Her mother wasn't faring any better. I had to step in."Emma and her mother will be coming with me to my apartment," I stated calmly.Mark turned to me, his expression a mixture of disbelief and malice."And why would my wife and daughter go with you?" he asked, a wicked smile creeping onto his face."We have a dance rehearsal tomorrow. It's for the wedding," I improvised, keeping my tone steady. "The instructor will be coming to my apartment."Mark appeared to consider my words but didn't seem entirely convinced."Fine, take her. But my wife—"Emma grabbed her mother's arm and stepped back before Mark could finish. She interrupted quickly, her voice trembling but determined."Mom's a terrible dancer too. She'll need the lessons as much as I do."Mark's jaw tightened, but there wasn't much he could argue. With a frustrated wave of his hand, he stalked off to his car, leaving us behind. Emma and her mother cli
I couldn’t help but laugh as I stared at my office computer. Another headline had just dropped, shattering Mark White’s already tattered reputation. Maybe the scare we got watching Jason brawl with Mark in public had been overwhelming at the time, but every second of that chaos had been worth it. Article after article detailed Mark’s downfall, from his arrogance toward employees to allegations of embezzlement during his tenure as mayor.My favorite part of all this? Mark’s legal team scrambling to scrub the internet clean of stories tarnishing his reputation. Alas, once something went viral, no legal team in the world could erase every meme, post, or comment.I was currently reading yet another expose about his rocky marriage. Anonymous sources were hinting at domestic abuse allegations. It was juicy, to say the least. That’s when Elliot barged into my office, arms loaded with folders.“Laughing at your own handiwork again? Or are you reminiscing about your villainous glory days?” h
I wasn't entirely sure what I was walking into, but with Lawrence by my side—calm and steady as always—I allowed myself to trust his judgment. His hand rested lightly on my back, and the reassurance in his touch combined with his unwavering gaze was enough to settle my nerves. There was no turning back now. This reading wasn't just about the distribution of wealth—it was about solidifying Lawrence's position as the rightful heir. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and pushed the door open.Inside, the tension was palpable. The room was filled with lawyers—two assigned to each family member—along with Lawrence's brothers, Richard and Julian, the ever-looming Victoria, and a handful of Lawrence's distant relatives. A close friend of his late father was also present.The moment Victoria's gaze landed on me, it was as if someone had slapped her. Her expression twisted into a mask of fury, and I could see the veins in her neck bulging. Everyone else seemed confused, unsure why I was
"What?" I blurted out, unable to contain my disbelief. Judging by the stunned expressions around me, I wasn't alone in my confusion."My own pride and ambition blinded me to the opportunity of uniting our families," the notary continued, reading aloud the words of Laurence. "But I had an epiphany, inspired by none other than Leona...""That old hag has been dead for decades," Victoria hissed under her breath, her fury palpable. "How much longer will she keep ruining my life?"The notary, undeterred by her outburst, resumed. "To cement this union and ensure my legacy, I would like to bequeath my vineyards in France to Sara Brown's firstborn, should such a union with my son come to fruition. These lands are a reflection of my passion for equestrianism and fine wine—a legacy worth preserving."Victoria's teeth ground audibly as she spat out, "My husband left the vineyards in France to an imaginary child under orders from a ghost?""That's precisely what happened," the notary confirme
I never thought my father's stories about the consequences of open marriages would hit so close to home—or be this mortifying and public. Yet, here I was, witnessing a revelation that silenced Victoria with more force than any argument ever could. The level of awkwardness was beyond legendary.While I was stunned into silence, glancing around the room confirmed I wasn't the only one wrestling with discomfort. The lawyers shifted uneasily, the secretary avoided eye contact, and Victoria looked on the verge of an aneurysm. But what struck me most was the complete lack of surprise on the faces of Richard, Julian, and even Lawrence. It was as if they'd known all along."The lack of biological connection never stopped him from presenting us as his sons," Julian said, his voice heavy with restrained anger and humiliation.His words confirmed it—they'd known for years."Maybe so," the notary replied, his tone curt. "But beyond fulfilling basic obligations, Mr. Laurence was clear in his te
"Do you think it's time to stay quiet?" Julian's voice was sharp and bitter. "Or did you enjoy living in the shadow of the only real son our so-called father ever had? Because he never considered us his children, but we sure as hell thought of him as our dad. We lived a lie because of you, Victoria.""I don't have the patience for this," Victoria said, standing with an air of exhaustion. "If you want to scream at me about what a terrible mother I've been, you've got the rest of your lives to do it. Right now, I need to start the process of contesting this will. Oh, and at six, I have an appointment with my stylist."She grabbed her sunglasses and purse from the table, leaving the room with all the grace of a tempest. The door slammed shut behind her, a sharp punctuation to her dramatic exit. I stared at the door, blinking, hoping she might come back."She's really gone," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper."Classic Victoria," Lawrence said with a humorless laugh. "Leaving her ch
My steps were frantic as I headed toward the parking lot. Lawrence was nowhere in sight, and the fear that he might’ve left in this state was gnawing at me. Not finding him in the elevator or the hallway only worsened my nerves. I made a beeline for my car, and my search came to an abrupt halt when I spotted him leaning against it, waiting for me. Relief washed over me.“So, this is where you’ve been,” I said, my voice heavy with thankfulness.“I wasn’t about to go far with you still in there,” he replied with a soft, melancholic smile—one that mirrored my own.“I’m prescribing you something,” I said in a mock professional tone.“And what exactly are you prescribing?” he asked, curious.“This,” I said as I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. With his height, I had to tilt upward on my toes, but he didn’t hesitate for even a second, circling my waist with his arms and holding me like his life depended on it.“I need about a million of these,” he murmured
"Look at what you've done. You've been very naughty," I teased, grinning down at him."This has to be a dream..." Lawrence muttered, almost to himself."Oh, my God. Were you dreaming about knocking me up? You dirty pervert," I laughed, my tone light.This time, Lawrence didn't stay passive. With a firm grip on my hips, he flipped us over, pinning me beneath him. His lips crashed onto mine with a renewed hunger, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he thrust into me with such fervor that I knew exactly what was coming.And then it happened—a deep, guttural sound escaped him as he hit his climax, his release warm and consuming. The sensation of him filling me was exquisite, leaving me utterly satisfied. Or so I thought. Lawrence, ironically, didn't seem nearly as content."Damn it... I'm sorry," he muttered, frustrated."There's absolutely nothing to apologize for," I said, threading my fingers through his tousled hair. I grinned slyly. "That is... as long as you plan to make
Emma White's P.O.V.The chaos in the auditorium was absolute—shouts, people running in all directions, and sheer panic painted a scene of hell. My eyes stayed locked on Mark, who lay on the ground with blood smeared across his face. I couldn't move, paralyzed by shock and confusion."Get down! Don't just stand there," Lawrence urged, pulling me to a crouch.Obediently, I dropped low, realizing we weren't the only ones doing so. Others had also taken cover, waiting for the madness to subside. Though the gunshots had ceased, the frenzy hadn't. I couldn't get a clear view of how badly Mark was hurt—his security team had dragged him behind the podium."What just happened?" I asked Lawrence breathlessly."Whatever it was, it wasn't fatal," he replied, his eyes scanning the stage.From my crouched position, I saw Mark rising to his feet, ignoring his guards' insistence to stay down. My mother suddenly bolted from her seat, rushing to the stage the moment she spotted him. Her face was e
"What's more humiliating than being left alone during the debate? That was the plan—to show everyone that neither his wife nor daughter supports him after his scandals, emphasizing the danger he represents," Lawrence argued."I have to go. I'm sorry, but it's something I need to do. What's your take?" I pressed, glancing at the others.In the end, we agreed Lawrence would accompany me with his security team, Jason would be nearby to help extract my mother if necessary, and Sara offered to provoke Mark by visibly supporting Isabelle Silver.Oddly enough, Lawrence scolded Sara, telling her to stop meddling and stay with her parents that afternoon. Even more strangely, Sara didn't argue. Instead, she pouted and quietly placed her hand over her stomach in a... peculiar way.Was it just me, or did she have a bit of a belly?-All the progress I'd made in the days away from Mark seemed to crumble the moment we arrived at the auditorium for the candidates' debate. Seeing his face on the
"With you... I'd want everything."I smiled like a love-struck fool, nibbling on my fruit as my heart melted. If there were ever going to be kids in our future, I had to be at my healthiest. Jason started talking about his morning routine, and I listened with the phone tucked against my shoulder as I continued preparing breakfast. But as I poured the batter onto the pan, it struck me how odd it was that my mom hadn't come out of her room yet."That's strange. My mom's still asleep," I said, glancing toward her door."Did you check to see if she might've stepped out?" Jason suggested gently."Why would she leave? We agreed neither of us would go anywhere... I'll check."I put the phone down for a moment and knocked on her door, calling out softly. There was no response. When I opened it, the room was empty—her bed neatly made, her shoes gone. My heart raced as my phone buzzed again, this time showing my mom's number. Picking it up, I quickly explained the situation to Jason and tol
Emma White's P.O.V.I woke up wrapped in an unexpected sense of peace. Despite the unfamiliar bed and the small, borrowed space, it was a kind of calm I'd never known before. Peace, as it turned out, wasn't something you could buy, no matter how much money you had.Life in Lawrence's apartment had been surprisingly pleasant. Each day felt a little brighter, a little safer. As I got up and made my way to the bathroom, I splashed my face with cool water, noticing with delight how much my skin had improved.By the time I reached the kitchen, I was in an unusually cheerful mood. Pancakes seemed like the perfect breakfast, so I opened the fridge to grab some pre-cut fruit—melons and papayas, today's choice. The sight of the neatly packed container brought a smile to my face. I plucked a piece of melon and popped it into my mouth. It was perfect.Setting the fruit on the counter, I gathered the rest of the ingredients: oatmeal, eggs, and milk. The clock on the microwave caught my attenti
"Have you forgotten that you're still engaged to Emma White? Because I certainly haven't," Lionel accused, his tone sharper than a blade."The repeated delays in the wedding should've given you a clue—it's not happening," Lawrence stated firmly."Then why is the engagement still active? Wouldn't it have been simpler to handle this in order? Or do you enjoy fueling the rumors about my daughter? You've turned her into your mistress," Lionel spat, his glare piercing.Lawrence visibly flinched at the accusation, guilt washing over him. He seemed lost for words, so I stepped in."Dad... are you really going to echo the same gossip as those busybodies? I already told you—there was never a real relationship between Emma and Lawrence. That engagement was arranged by their parents," I explained, trying to diffuse the tension."There was never anything between us," Lawrence added, his tone desperate for clarity. "Not emotionally, not physically. It was entirely a business arrangement."At
In my head, an apocalyptic soundtrack was playing; on my parents' faces, an apocalyptic expression was forming. My apartment had turned into the ninth circle of hell. From this moment on, everything spiraled out of control. Lawrence turned to face Lionel and Clara while I instinctively clung to his back, using him as a human shield."Sara Brown!" my dad bellowed."She's not here!" I shouted, clutching Lawrence so tightly my arms ached."What are you doing with that boy?!" my father roared.Still pressed against Lawrence, I could see him glance around the room, taking in the chaos of scattered clothing—including undergarments. And then, Lawrence did something unforgivable."Isn't it obvious, sir?" he said, calm as ever.Lawrence clearly wanted to watch the world burn, and my dad wasn't about to disappoint. He lunged toward us, but my mom intercepted him, wrapping her arms around his middle to stop a full-blown disaster. Meanwhile, I stayed glued to Lawrence's back, peeking out fro
"Because I just found out from Richard!" I exclaimed, watching Lawrence's brows lift in genuine surprise. "He said Emma is their half-sister, which officially makes Victoria the ultimate hypocrite. I mean, how was she planning to marry you off to the half-sister of your half-brothers? And I was supposed to be the 'incestuous' one because of her wild theory that you and I might be siblings?""Why would Richard tell you that?" Lawrence asked, his curiosity piqued.I looked at him with a mix of tenderness and pity. I knew that Lawrence had said back in that room that he didn't see Richard and Julian as brothers, but I also knew him better than anyone.Gently, I stroked his face. "Because deep down, those two brats care about you, and they still see you as their brother."He shook his head, unconvinced. "You heard them. All they care about is the money. I even offered to give them some before the will was read but they ignored me and kept coming at me. I'm done, Sara. Let them file wha
"Look at what you've done. You've been very naughty," I teased, grinning down at him."This has to be a dream..." Lawrence muttered, almost to himself."Oh, my God. Were you dreaming about knocking me up? You dirty pervert," I laughed, my tone light.This time, Lawrence didn't stay passive. With a firm grip on my hips, he flipped us over, pinning me beneath him. His lips crashed onto mine with a renewed hunger, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he thrust into me with such fervor that I knew exactly what was coming.And then it happened—a deep, guttural sound escaped him as he hit his climax, his release warm and consuming. The sensation of him filling me was exquisite, leaving me utterly satisfied. Or so I thought. Lawrence, ironically, didn't seem nearly as content."Damn it... I'm sorry," he muttered, frustrated."There's absolutely nothing to apologize for," I said, threading my fingers through his tousled hair. I grinned slyly. "That is... as long as you plan to make
My steps were frantic as I headed toward the parking lot. Lawrence was nowhere in sight, and the fear that he might’ve left in this state was gnawing at me. Not finding him in the elevator or the hallway only worsened my nerves. I made a beeline for my car, and my search came to an abrupt halt when I spotted him leaning against it, waiting for me. Relief washed over me.“So, this is where you’ve been,” I said, my voice heavy with thankfulness.“I wasn’t about to go far with you still in there,” he replied with a soft, melancholic smile—one that mirrored my own.“I’m prescribing you something,” I said in a mock professional tone.“And what exactly are you prescribing?” he asked, curious.“This,” I said as I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. With his height, I had to tilt upward on my toes, but he didn’t hesitate for even a second, circling my waist with his arms and holding me like his life depended on it.“I need about a million of these,” he murmured