She didn't believe me at first, but my face, which was the picture of guilt, shame, and pain, convinced her. I wasn't used to lying, not about things like this."No way. You're lying.""I wish I was, but I'm not," I lamented."Did he recognize you? What did he say about it? Did you get to talk about it?" she asked, agitated."I didn't have a chance to hide. Since he recognized me on the spot. He asked to speak to me alone, to give me the project and to... insinuate that he knew who I was.""What did you tell him?""I pretended not to know him. He didn't shout or insult me, but he implied that he thought I was denying it to take advantage of him later. He said I knew he would buy the company and used it to my advantage. He called me an opportunist." I explained the reason for my bitterness."How rude!" Jenna exclaimed, offended on my behalf, as if it had been said to her."Exactly. He could have been more gentlemanly with me, right? How about waking me up before leaving the hote
I was not putting on airs; it simply had been necessary for us to stay this late. I had worked my way up from the bottom in this company, and I didn't deserve to be betrayed by my ex-fiance with my own half-sister. What hurt me the most was being accused of being the mistress of a married man who had only been kind to me. How could they be so cruel?The doors suddenly opened, giving me a second to wipe my eyes, though it wasn’t enough. Lucius was on the other side of the elevator and must’ve realized that I had been crying. He was slightly surprised by this, just for an instant. Then he entered and stood beside me, pressing the button to close the doors.This was, at the very least, uncomfortable. I blinked rapidly to dry my eyes. I couldn't touch them again."Do you usually leave at this hour, Marianne?" he asked to break the silence."It was a special circumstance this time, because of the assigned project, Mr. Brown," I replied."Oh. Were you thinking up a worse name to call me
My life over the past two weeks had been a series of tragedies. Another example of this was the constant banging I heard coming from the room next to mine. I didn't need to get creative with guesses; it was the sound of Jenna's bed frame hitting the wall, a sound that I'd learned about since last week.Yes, she was having sex with her date from last Friday in her room.This was a studio apartment, with a half-wall dividing "the only room" from the area with the couch and kitchen. There were no real walls, and sound traveled freely. Let's just say I had been a privileged listener to things I didn't want to hear. I tried to get comfortable in about five different positions on her living room sofa and covered my ears with a pillow. It didn't work; I could still hear everything clearly, so clearly that I felt like a pervert."Derek, go slower, the bed's making a lot of noise," Jenna thought she whispered."It shouldn't be audible. If it was, your friend would have told us," replied the
"Who was it?" asked Jenna, emerging from her room with a silk robe tied around her waist."They finally sent my clothes over," I said, exhausted, as I looked for a box cutter in the kitchen to open the boxes."It's about time, isn't it? Why did Andrew take a week to send your belongings? Didn't you talk to the cleaning lady to help you pack them?" my friend crossed her arms."I did. But he's a petty child, so he just had to delay the shipment. I bet if they don't have that pre-engagement party tonight, he won't send anything over. It's good I had the ring as a hostage during that time," I explained, sitting on the floor."Pre-engagement party?" she raised an eyebrow."'Pre-engagement.' They want to save face by using me, and I want to find a way to give them what they deserve. There has to be a way," I said as I carefully opened my first box."Mmmm. To me, the best way to 'get revenge' is by excelling at your talent and healing for yourself. Don't waste energy on those kinds of p
"Marianne Fairmount. Sister of the bride," I said with a sinister smile. "The sister... of the bride," he mentioned slowly. He seemed like he wanted to tell me something, but held back. "Would you like some champagne? The guests are gathered in the living room, and dinner will be ready in a few minutes."I took one of the glasses because I knew I would need it. As I walked to the area he indicated, my path was suddenly halted by the sight of the other guests scattered around the various pieces of furniture in the room.One of my aunts wore a long, deep blue dress, which was accompanied by the pearls she wore for special events. Another friend of Serge’s was in a tuxedo. Amanda's friends were in a corner, each dressed more spectacularly than the next, all with very elaborate makeup. This wasn't a casual gathering; everyone was dressed in formal attire. Including the bride, who was approaching me triumphantly and victoriously. Was it surprising that the bride, alias my sister, wa
They started serving the appetizers, but my half-sister just couldn't let me eat the salmon carpaccio in peace. She took one of her water glasses and tapped it with a fork. The general conversation died down as everyone turned to listen to her."You have no idea how fortunate we are to have you, our closest friends and family, gathered here tonight," Amanda said emotionally. "But I feel particularly honored to have my sister Marianne with me."She couldn't leave me alone for even a minute, could she? All eyes were on me."Marianne and I haven't had a conventional sisterly relationship. But if there's one thing I can say, it's that the blood bond that unites us will NEVER weaken.” She emphasized the blood bond like the psychopath she was. "Not even in this particular 'situation' that we are all aware of."Her shrug made most of the guests laugh. She was humiliating me again, in public, referencing that she was marrying the man who was my fiance until recently. She was a traitor, not
"We had agreed to save the news for another celebration, dear," my father commented.Seeing him like this was like seeing the very image of hypocrisy. He knew the truth, that this was all a farce, that less than two weeks ago, I was in love with Andrew and wanted to give him a thousand children. But would Serge Fairmount admit that he didn't have control over his perfect family? Never."I'm sorry, Dad. I just got excited. Can you imagine? Me being her maid of honor and her being mine?" I pretended to sigh dreamily and then turned to Amanda with an idea. "We should even have a double wedding. Wouldn't that be wonderful—""We’re not having a double wedding, Marianne!" my innocent sister snapped in a very deep voice.Such a change in her tone surprised the guests, including Andrew, who looked at her strangely. Even better was the disapproving look Serge gave his princess. She noticed and retracted her words."I'm sorry that we couldn't come to an agreement that easily, sis. We both h
"What do you mean by that? Could you be more specific?""If what happened the other night was a figment of my imagination and you're sure of it, why are you avoiding me?""I'm not avoiding you. Why would I? You must have misunderstood.""Have I? You were supposed to provide the market study of the property yesterday. You didn't," he remarked with a slight reproach."I sent it through my colleague, Amy," I corrected, puzzled."I haven't received anything as far as I know," he responded.I couldn't afford a slip-up like that. I searched on my laptop, found the study, enlarged it on the screen, and handed it to Lucius."Sorry for the inconvenience. Here it is for you to review... or would you prefer a printed copy?" I offered softly, watching his reaction.Lucius agreed to review it on my computer, but the number of questions he had about the graphs forced me to stay close, pointing out what he wanted to see. I could barely concentrate with such proximity, my heart racing while I
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