Despite Amelia’s endless demands and diva-like attitude, we eventually selected the cathedral we visited. And with the wedding date branded in our minds, just two days after that decision, here we were, rehearsing for the church ceremony.As the maid of honor, I was also acting as the coordinator alongside the wedding planner. Better said, I was trying to explain to the bridal party of ten bridesmaids and ten groomsmen, along with the flower girls and ring bearers, that we couldn’t start the rehearsal without… the bride and groom.Neither Amanda nor Andrew had bothered to show up on time for their own rehearsal. They were about twenty minutes late. That was why my wonderful stepmother was busy entertaining the priest so he wouldn’t get upset, while further back, Serge was making small talk with Andrew’s parents to keep up appearances. I couldn’t tell which of the three looked more irritated.“Call your sister again, Marianne. I’ve got a manicure appointment in two hours. I can’t mis
“Yes… the ring,” Andrew mumbled, and he slipped it on her finger with difficulty.And I do mean with difficulty because the ring looked too small for Amanda’s finger. The pregnancy had added a few pounds. She still looked like herself, just... well, it’s what happens to some pregnant women.“Didn’t you get my ring resized? I told you my size changed. The doctor talked to us about water retention...” Amanda whispered angrily.“Stop eating and whining so much, woman,” Andrew snapped back, forcing the ring onto her finger.Amanda’s face crumbled with the pain of Andrew’s insensitive and brutish comment. I think even the priest heard it because he started making a joke about the exchange of rings.But none of it reached Amanda. She turned to look at me. Her eyes were filled with tears, and I felt a twinge of pity.A pity I shouldn’t have felt or shown because my half-sister pulled away from Andrew and came over to me. She wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my neck, sobbi
“That’s enough of this,” Amelia cut in nervously. “Both of you will go talk with the priest like civilized people. I’ll handle dismissing the bridal party. Go on, go.”Reluctantly, Andrew followed the priest, who was trying to calm him and offer advice. Amelia, on the other hand, approached Amanda angrily, grabbing and squeezing her arm with malice.“You can’t humiliate our family like this, Amanda. You will get married, end of story. Do you hear me?” Amelia demanded, switching from a furious expression to a courteous smile for the rest of the guests.In the background, she was making up excuses for this scene, swearing it was just a bad day for the soon-to-be newlyweds. Amanda clutched my hand, scared and seeking support.“Tell me not to marry him, and I won’t, sister.”“What?” I said, surprised.“How could I have been so blind? Our father only wants me to marry him for the benefits. Just like he wants you to marry Lucius for the same reason. You still have time to save yourself
I might have been standing there with a “normal” face waiting for my coffee order, but inside me, a storm of epic proportions was brewing. I had fled that disastrous wedding rehearsal and ended up in this little café where I was waiting for my order. It was a small spot near Fairmount Corporation, and my final destination was the office so I could get back to work.Work was my refuge, the only thing that seemed to be going well for me. My order was called right on time, and I picked up my cup, thanked the barista, and looked around for a small table near a window overlooking the street.I spotted an empty one in a corner and headed there to drown in my thoughts.“Marianne! Hey!” someone called out as I walked past.I turned to see who it was: Matt. He was sitting at a two-person table, alone, sipping coffee with his laptop open in front of him.“Matt… what a coincidence to run into you here, huh?” I greeted.“It’s not a coincidence if I tell you I’ve been spending the last few we
“Are you projecting your feelings onto me? Who was the one bragging about breaking in her bed with that Matt guy? I come back, and you’re enjoying coffee with him,” Lucius said, amused. “You could be a little more discreet. We do have an agreement, last time I checked.”“An agreement? Yes. But not for exclusivity. Last I remember, you refused that,” I said, playing along.Lucius didn’t like my joke. His expression hardened.“If you’re trying to make me jealous, don’t bother. You won’t get far. What’s worked between us is the lack of drama because we’re honest about our intentions, even if they aren’t good or praiseworthy. Don’t change that.”Exactly. He said it himself. We were supposedly “honest” with each other. I had been, but had he? I doubted it.“To what extent should I trust your honesty, Lucius? You’re way ahead of me in this game,” I asked, letting my frustration slip out.He glanced at me, confused, as if he had no idea what I was talking about.“Are you mad because Cl
“Mine hasn’t been great either… If I told you the things he’s done to me lately,” I laughed, more relaxed now, noting that he still held my hand.It was too late to notice where we were heading. I hadn’t asked Lucius even once where we were going. And now that I thought about it, we seemed to be on a route very close to my apartment building.“Where are we going?” I asked suspiciously.“Where do you think? You’ve got an apartment to show me. It’s the least I deserve. I’ve been a good fiancé, much better than the last one, I can swear it,” he said easily.I could have let myself be swayed by his natural charm, but this time I didn’t. The matter with my stepmother was still unresolved. I pulled my hand away and got more serious. He glanced at me sideways.“What now?”“That’s what I want to know…” I took a breath. “I just came from the most chaotic, pathetic wedding rehearsal. Amanda threw a tantrum, said she doesn’t want to get married.”“And how does that affect us? Our wedding w
Lies, lies, and more lies. Amelia’s last name should have been "Lie," and her profession before marrying my father must have been that of a natural-born con artist. There was no other explanation.The story my stepmother always stuck to was that she was a foreign heiress, childless, and with plenty of money to invest. She claimed to have fallen in love with my father to the point where she didn’t care that he was already married.Then she gave him a daughter, Amanda. Her supposed only daughter. I remembered it clearly, all the drama from Amelia about how she had sacrificed her body for her "only child." How difficult it had been being a "first-time mother." She said it with such conviction that no one dared contradict her.“That doesn't make any sense,” I blurted out reflexively.“It doesn’t make sense that you’re falling for... our sister’s game,” he said, uncomfortable, shaking his head with his eyes closed.That reality hit me. If Amanda and I shared the same father, and Amanda
“Was Amelia really who she said she was? What else had she been hiding?” I asked.“From what I found out, she created a whole new identity,” he explained as he wandered through my living room, taking his time to analyze every detail and feel every surface. “She changed her last name and pretended she was never married or had a kid. Her degrees and qualifications are probably fake as well. I’m surprised she didn’t change her first name, though. Maybe her narcissism wouldn’t let her.”“She created a new life... but it still doesn’t add up. Your father must’ve had more money than mine. Why leave him for Serge?”By then, Lucius was inspecting my kitchen, checking the ceiling and the counters, and I followed him, puzzled by his behavior.“Because she couldn’t control him with my grandmother around,” he confessed.“What?”“My grandmother was a woman who knew what she was doing and knew exactly who she had as a son—a drunk and a spendthrift. The money was hers, and she controlled it. Am
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