Desiree's POVToday is my boyfriend's twenty-fifth birthday, and I’ve planned a surprise party for him. “Hush, he's almost here,” I tell everyone.I’ve decorated the living room with sparkling fairy lights and bright blue, red, and purple balloons—Mike’s favorite colors. It looks amazing. A big banner that says "Happy 25th Birthday, Mike!" hangs over the fireplace, but it’s a bit crooked because I couldn't reach the middle without wobbling on a chair. The smell of his favorite foods—spicy buffalo wings, loaded nachos, and lots of pizza—fills the air. My heart is beating fast with excitement. “Is he almost here?” someone asks, yawning.“We’re starving,” another guest says.I roll my eyes. “Oh, be quiet. You’ll ruin the surprise.”The truth is, I’m hungry too. And worried. We’ve been waiting here longer than I expected, awkwardly holding a bottle of champagne, a can of foam spray, a bag of confetti, and a fake trumpet. My stomach growls. I glance longingly at the snack table but resis
The room erupts into chaos as they tussle, pulling and shoving each other. Mabel shrieks, trying to fend Jessica off, but Jessica is relentless, her face twisted with fury. The guests are stunned, some trying to intervene while others just watch, wide-eyed.That's right, Jessica. Attack the bitch.During the chaos, I manage to wrench myself free from William's grip. Fueled by rage, I push past the bewildered guests and make a beeline for Mabel.She’s still fighting with Jessica, their screams and claws flying. I dive into the fray, grabbing Mabel's arm with a vice-like grip.“You think you can just waltz in and ruin everything?” I shout.Mabel’s eyes widen in fear as she struggles to break free, but I hold on tight, determined to make her understand the magnitude of her betrayal.“You’re a coward,” I spit, my grip tightening. “You can’t even face me like a decent human being.”Mabel's eyes dart around, looking for help. “Let me go, Desiree!” she screeches, her voice cracking with desp
Mike’s number is no longer reachable.It’s been a week since he shattered my heart. A week since he left me for my cousin. I haven’t been sleeping or eating well, and my mind is consumed with thoughts of him. Each time I call his line, it goes straight to voicemail.“Hi, this is Mike. Leave a message,” his recorded voice says, a cruel reminder of what I’ve lost.I’ve tried reaching him at his office too. “Is Mike available?” I ask every time.“Sorry, he’s in a meeting,” his secretary, Edwina, always replies, her voice annoyingly polite.“When will he be out?” I persist.“Not sure, he has a busy schedule.”One day, I call again. “Edwina, please, it’s important. Can you let him know I’m trying to reach him?”“I’m sorry, Desiree,” she says, sounding slightly more sympathetic this time. “He’s just not available right now.”Frustrated, I push harder. “Edwina, we used to be friends. Can’t you just tell him I need to talk to him?”There’s a brief pause on the other end. “I’m sorry, but there
I push past her and run into the crowd, my pulse racing. The farther I go, the clearer the voices become. The crowd is shouting, "Say yes! Say yes!"And there he is, on his knees in the middle of the dance floor, holding out a ring to Mabel. My heart sinks.“No. No. No,” I whisper, my voice lost in the deafening music. I scream, “That’s mine!” but the words are swallowed by the roar of the crowd.Jessica grabs my arm, trying to hold me back.I watch in horror as Mabel dances around after accepting Mike’s proposal. She twirls, her face glowing with joy, then throws herself into Mike’s arms. They hug and kiss, oblivious to the world around them.My vision blurs with tears as I stand frozen, unable to look away. Each kiss feels like a dagger to my heart. The crowd’s cheers feel like a cruel mockery of my shattered world.When I look around, I see familiar faces—William, people from Mike’s job, people from his gym. All smiling, cameras flashing. The same people who celebrated with me at M
I have a new favorite hobby. Every night, before I go to bed, I g****e Caspian Hart, the CEO of CypherEdge Dynamics, Mike’s father. And God help me, the man is breathtaking. There isn't much information or many pictures published of him on the internet, but the few I've seen have left me addicted. His piercing blue eyes and chiseled jawline make it impossible not to be drawn to him. One night, as I’m absorbed in my ritual, Jessica catches me off guard. "Who's this man you keep googling?" she asks. I slam my laptop shut, feeling my cheeks flush. "Nobody important," I mumble. "Seriously? Nobody important?" Jessica’s eyebrows shoot up in disbelief. "That’s what you tell me after nine years of friendship?" I pause, trying to decide if I should tell her. Jessica is a baddie, a well-known one at that, but she can be puritanical. She'd once ripped me a new one for smashing the windshield of my ex's car after I found out he was cheating. "Giving him a taste of your wrath is one thing,"
“Hi, Uncle Bruno,” I say. His loud voice booms out of the receiver, “If it isn’t my favorite niece. Hello, Dee Dee. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?” Uncle Bruno is one of the coolest people I know. He's a famous TV and event host who plans and leads big events all over the world. This year, he's the host of the Luminary Gala. Uncle Bruno is related to my dad's new wife (the super religious one). He's her brother, so that makes him my step-uncle. He's also one of the few friends I have. “I need to get an invitation to this year’s Luminary Gala. Can you get me on the guest list?” I say. There’s silence on the other end of the line. “Hello? Are you there?” I say. “Yeah, I’m here. That was... unexpected. It’s a very exclusive event, Dee.” “I can be your plus one,” I offer quickly. “I already have a plus one.” “Your plus two, then.” He pauses, and I can almost hear the gears turning in his head. “Hmmm.” “Is that a yes or a no?” I ask, anxiety creeping into m
It’s the day of the gala, and I’m panicking. “You look good, Dee,” Jessica says. “Are you sure? Does the color of the dress seem right? Am I wearing too much makeup or too little? Is the dress too tight? Am I doing the right thing?” Jessica sighs, placing her hands on my shoulders. “Remember, you don’t have to do any of this. Just say the word, and I’ll send Uncle Bruno’s limousine away.” I chuckle. “I can’t believe he sent a fucking limousine.” Yup, Uncle Bruno has never been discreet. True to his word, I got an email with all the details—event schedule, seating plan, and my spot in the hall. Seeing my name, Desiree Blackwood, on such a high-profile list nearly had me in tears. But the real jaw-dropper? I had a front-row table, right across from the keynote speaker’s. I mean, I’d be practically staring into Mr. Hart’s eyes. My fingers are trembling. Jessica steps back, giving me a once-over. “The dress is perfect, Dee. The emerald green really brings out your eyes, and
Oh. My. God. I'm face to face with Mr. Hart, and there's no doubt he's talking to me. His blue eyes stare right into mine, and I can't look away. This is the moment I've been waiting for, but now that it's here, I'm completely speechless. I just keep staring. And staring. “Cat got your tongue?” he says. I shake my head, trying to gather my thoughts. Maybe if I pretend this is a casual encounter with a cute barista, I’ll remember how to speak. “Why are you following me?” he asks. I’d pictured this moment so many times. What I’d say. How I’d say it. I practiced in front of my mirror, perfecting my body movements. Don’t smile too much—it makes you look cheap. Don’t slouch—it decreases your height. Don’t look away—hold his gaze. Don’t speak too fast—it makes you sound demented. Don’t flip your hair—everyone does that. But in none of those rehearsals did I say what I’m about to say now. “I was just looking for the restroom,” I blurt out. He looks me up and down, as though he's not
“Oh, thank you,” my mom purrs, her tone suddenly ten shades warmer. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”I roll my eyes. “Are you two done? Or should I leave the room?”Caspian waves me off, his focus entirely on the call. “We’ll get the drives analyzed as soon as they arrive. If there’s anything incriminating, we’ll find it.”“I expect nothing less,” my mom says. “I’ll overnight them to the house. And, Caspian?”“Yes?”“Don’t let my daughter bully you into downplaying this. It’s important.”I groan. “Mom!”“I mean it,” she says. “You married into this family. You should know we fight dirty when we have to.”Caspian laughs, low and amused. “Noted. Thank you.”“Good night, Caspian. Desiree, call me tomorrow.”“Yeah, sure. Good night,” I mumble, snatching the phone back as the call ends. I toss it onto the coffee table and slump into the cushions.“She’s insane,” I say, more to myself than to him.“Insanely effective,” Caspian counters. “You have to admit, it’s a brilliant move.”I narrow my
Caspian chuckles. “You're welcome.”He kisses me with an intensity that takes my breath away, and I kiss him right back. His lips taste of me. I moan softly into his mouth, our tongues intertwining in a passionate dance. I am his, he is mine, and nothing else matters at this moment. He pulls back to gaze into my eyes, our foreheads pressed together as if we're the only two souls left in the world. His eyes are filled with an emotion I have never seen before, a dark, primal hunger that scares and thrills me all at once. At this moment, I am his. His to control. His to use. His to love. I am his plaything, his toy, his possession. In the charged silence, I can feel his grip tighten on my hips."Please," I say. "Make love to me."He smiles then, a slow, predatory grin.“Want more, Cherry?” he asks.I nod in reply.He lifts me up as if I weigh nothing, my legs wrapped around him, and places me against the cold, hard stone of the nearest wall. My back meets the icy surface and I cry out,
“Every last one of them.” He shuts the door with a soft click. “You missed the dramatic exits. Jessica and Uncle Bruno had a showdown over the last cupcake. Bruno won, of course. By sheer brute force.”I chuckle, imagining Jessica’s indignation. “She’ll never let him live it down.”“Probably not.” He loosens his tie, and I can’t help but watch. There’s something almost hypnotic about the way he unwinds, each movement shedding the polished image he wears in front of the world.“You didn’t have to throw that party,” I say, my fingers tracing invisible patterns on the blanket. “It was too much.”“Too much?” He smirks, stepping closer. “You’re carrying my child. There’s no such thing as too much.”My cheeks heat, and I roll my eyes, though a smile tugs at my lips. “Still. It was sweet. Thank you.”He shrugs off his jacket, draping it over a chair before sitting on the edge of the bed. “Don’t thank me yet. I might’ve used the opportunity to have a little strategic meeting with the board. J
The entryway is packed with people—family, friends, even a few faces I don’t immediately recognize. Balloons and banners hang from the ceiling, and a massive sign reading “Congratulations, Mom and Dad!” stretches across the living room.“What the actual—”I turn to Caspian, who’s standing beside me looking calm, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, a slight smirk playing on his lips.“Surprised?” he asks.“You planned this?”He shrugs. “Guilty.”“You—” I gape at him, words failing me. “When? How?”“While you were busy arguing with your mom about leaving,” he says. “I made a few calls. Mike helped.”I don’t even have time to process my rage before Uncle Bruno barrels toward me, arms wide and voice booming.“Oh, Dee Dee, this is huge!” He scoops me up in a hug so tight I swear my ribs creak. “A baby! Just when I thought you couldn’t surprise us anymore.”“Uncle B, put me down before I suffocate.” My voice is muffled against his chest, but he complies, grinning from ear to ear.Je
I try to dodge her attempts to smother me, but it’s impossible. She pulls me into a bone-crushing hug, and I swear I hear Caspian chuckling behind me.“Mom, you’re—” I can barely breathe. “You’re squeezing me.”“Oh, hush. You’re pregnant. You’re invincible now!” She pulls back, her hands gripping my arms as she stares at me like she’s just been handed the Holy Grail. “We have to celebrate.”“No,” I say. “No celebrations.”She ignores me, her mind already racing ahead. “We’ll call your siblings, of course. And your aunt. And the cousins. Everyone has to know. Oh, we’ll have a big family dinner—”“We’re leaving for New York today,” I interrupt, my voice firm. “There’s no time for any of that.”She frowns, her face falling in a way that tugs at my heart. “But this is huge, Desiree. You’re having a baby! My grandchild!”“Which is precisely why I’m not ready for the entire family to descend on me like vultures,” I say, trying to keep my tone light but firm. “Mom, I love you, but no. We’re
Caspian tilts his head, pretending to think about it. “Technically, yes.”“Technically?!” I say, grabbing the sheet to cover myself even though he’s seen everything. “Oh my God. She’s going to know. She’s going to know! I’m going to have to move to another continent. Maybe Antarctica.”He chuckles, too relaxed for someone who’s just committed a cardinal sin. “I’m pretty sure you’re overreacting.”“No, I’m not!” I slap his chest, but he just grins, his hand reaching up to catch mine. “You don’t know her! She’ll bring this up every Thanksgiving for the rest of my life. My life, Caspian!”“She’s not going to bring it up,” he says, sitting up now. “And if she does, I’ll handle it. Relax.”“Relax?” I throw the sheet off dramatically and scramble off the bed. “I cannot relax! This is a disaster.”He watches me, amused, as I grab the first piece of clothing I can find—his shirt—and pull it over my head. It falls halfway to my knees, but it’ll have to do.“You’re adorable when you’re panickin
“Caspian!” I hiss, my hands flying to his shoulders. Before I can protest further, he captures my lips in a kiss, his tongue thrusting into my mouth as if he's trying to brand me as his own. "I can't get enough of you. You're mine," he says, the possessiveness in his tone making my heart race with excitement and fear. I shiver at the dark promise in his words, my body already slick with need for him. He pulls back to trail open-mouthed kisses down my neck and collarbone, nipping and sucking at my sensitive skin as he frantically works the buttons of my shirt—his shirt, actually—ripping it open to expose my lace-covered breasts to his hungry gaze. I moan and arch into his touch as his calloused hands palm my bare breasts, thumbs teasing my aching nipples. I can feel the wetness dripping from me, already anticipating the feel of him filling me. I watch him through heavy-lidded eyes, my body trembling with barely contained need. Once he's done undressing me, he takes a lustful look
“No, it’s not,” I say, though my voice is a little too high-pitched to be convincing. “She knows what we did to get you pregnant, Desiree. She’s not going to be shocked by some creaky bed springs.” I smack his arm, my mortification complete. “Caspian!” He bursts out laughing, and despite my best efforts, I can’t help but smile. His laugh is infectious, the kind that makes it impossible to stay mad. Still, I cross my arms, glaring up at him. “You’re the worst.” “And yet, you married me.” “Poor decision-making on my part.” He reaches down, pulling me up from the floor with an ease that’s both annoying and impressive. Before I can protest, he’s dragged me onto the bed, his arms wrapping around me as he shifts us into some semblance of comfort. It’s a tight fit, but somehow it works—his body warm and solid against mine, the faint smell of his cologne grounding me in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. “This isn’t comfortable,” I grumble, even as I relax into him. “Sure it is,” he mu
“I’m trying to fix this!” I say, my voice rising. “You think I wanted to come back here? You think I wanted to face all this again? I’m doing this because it’s important—because it’s the right thing to do.”She laughs again, bitter and sharp. “The right thing. That’s rich.”“Mom, please,” I say, my voice breaking despite my best efforts. “I need you.”She softens, just a fraction, and for a moment, I think I’ve gotten through to her. But then she shakes her head, turning back to the stove.“I don’t know anything,” she says quietly. “Even if I did, I’m not getting involved.”“Why not?”“Because Elaine’s dangerous,” she says, her voice low. “You don’t know her like I do. She’ll ruin you if she thinks you’re a threat.”“She’s already ruining people,” I say. “And if we don’t stop her, she’ll just keep doing it.”Mom hesitates, her hand resting on the counter, her gaze distant. Finally, she sighs, the fight seeming to drain out of her. “What exactly do you need from me?”Relief floods thro