Peter I lay on my side, watching Gianna. The soft rise and fall of her breathing was the only sound that mattered. Her face was turned slightly toward me, and I couldn't tear my gaze away. A content smile tugged at my lips as I took in every detail of her face as if committing her to memory. After all, I had no idea if this could ever happen again. Her dark red hair spread across the pillow. My fingers ghosted softly over a lock of her hair, careful not to wake her. It felt like silk between my fingertips—smooth and seductive, just like the rest of her body.How could someone be this beautiful?Her face, with the delicate freckles dotted across the bridge of her nose, seemed even softer as she slept. They were like tiny stars, unique and perfectly placed—different from the chaos she often stirred in me when she was awake. I tucked a strand of hair carefully behind her ear. I didn’t want to shatter this perfect moment—she looked like an angel. An angel with a sharp tongue and zero pa
Peter I felt a little guilty for not checking on Lisa or my mom. But I chose to be with Gianna, the woman who hadn’t even bothered to tell me where we were going or spare me a single glance to make sure I was following.The drive was drenched in silence, so thick it felt like an extra passenger. I sat in the passenger seat, stealing glances at her like some lovesick fool. She was so damn beautiful, but her death grip on the steering wheel told me she’d rather wrestle an alligator than let me know what was on her mind. Her laser focus on the road was borderline comical—was she worried that even looking at me might result in a full-blown catastrophe?I wanted to say something to break the silence, but a small, self-preserving voice in the back of my mind screamed, Don’t poke the bear. One wrong word and I’d be walking home. When the car finally came to a stop, I looked out at the building in front of us. A large sign hanging above the entrance read Wisteria Psychiatric Hospital.My mi
Alexis Celebrations dragged into Day six as the women prepared for the bride's farewell. It was a union of my closest friends and the female members of the groom's family, symbolizing the merging of two lives and two households.It was a lot—the singing, clapping, laughter, and loud chatter. I just wanted it all to be over. Also, I was waiting for Gianna. She was my only real friend in this sea of acquaintances and had been noticeably absent since morning. Most of the other women were packmates, staff from the fashion house or social climbers I couldn’t care less about.I made my way to Gianna’s door, knocking, but there was no answer. I pushed the door open to find the room empty and walked away. She would show up eventually.Women lined up outside for the procession, clapping and singing traditional songs. I stood at the center with a smile playing on my face as they all led me to my home, carrying gifts and boxes filled with clothing, jewelry, and other items that had been piling
GiannaThe wildlife reserve stretched out in front of us. It was an endless expanse of greenery dotted with open fields and enclosures for animals. I loved the smell of fresh grass, but initially, when we got here, I was skeptical. Peter forced me to stay. I wasn’t much of a wildlife enthusiast, and the idea of spending my day surrounded by animals wasn’t exactly thrilling."Trust me, you will have fun," Peter had said, and I rolled my eyes.But as we ventured deeper into the reserve, his infectious excitement began to chip away at my reluctance. I gasped when I saw zebras lying lazily in the distance. A few giraffes towered over the bushes, stretching their necks gracefully to nibble on the leaves of acacia trees."Look at that one," Peter said, pointing at a particularly playful baby giraffe galloping awkwardly beside its mother. "Reminds me of how I was as a kid."I suppressed a small laugh. We moved to an enclosure where a family of meerkats stood upright, peering cautiously at us
Gianna The party was in full swing, and I tried to blend into the background. The room was lively and filled with laughter, and I did my best to stay out of the spotlight. My eyes wandered to the far side of the room, where Oscar was talking animatedly to a girl. He was leaning far too close, flirting with her in his typical style. I rolled my eyes. The spoiled brat didn't deserve an ounce of my energy, and the only person I felt pity for was the girl who must be thinking she had hit the jackpot.Alex's boisterous voice cut through the crowd and pulled my attention. He was standing beside his bride and gesturing dramatically. "Seriously, look at her. She's the most beautiful woman in this room," he declared, earning a round of applause, chuckles, and whistles from his friends."Alex, you are super hyper and happy. Can't you see how Alexis is subtle because she knows your flattery is not a big deal to her?" one of the guys said, but Alex waved him off."You better not be fooled by tha
Watching my husband shamelessly dance with his lover in public was beyond humiliating. Byron was indirectly declaring that our marriage was over. Before we arrived at the party, he had killed me with his words. “Tonight, I will inform my dad about our divorce. It's a shame I let you carry the Campbell surname for five years. I can’t wait to stop seeing your fat, ugly face." Now, from the second-floor balcony, I watched him hold his lover's waist, locked in a passionate dance like actors in a romantic movie scene. I blinked back my tears with the back of my palm. Beyond the disrespect, Byron was going to fight dirty to take our four-year-old son from me. “You’re useless to him,” Byron had said more times than I could count, “You've got no status in the society. I’m the better parent, and when I take full custody, Valen will have a new mom who will treat him better than you ever could.” My mind raced for a way out. Running away with my son seemed like the only option, but how? I
Raw shock paralyzed me, freezing every muscle as this cruel joke hit me square in the chest. My mate—the one person the universe crafted to love me right—was none other than my husband’s brother. Could I be any more of a walking disaster? My mate's dark, intense eyes traced every inch of me, and I felt completely naked, as though he could see straight into my soul. This bond would be the death of me. Byron already hated me enough to make my life a living hell. Now, adding this bond with his brother would be a nightmare. From the scraps of information I'd overheard about the Campbell brothers, Byron would ruin me. My mate’s gaze burned into me. It was intense and shameless. He watched me like I was the only one in the room, as if every inch of my skin was on display for his inspection. It was maddening how he made me feel exposed yet desired. “What the hell are you doing here, Alexander?” Jacob, my father-in-law, barked, storming across the room toward his son. But before he cou
After stumbling back home, barefoot and drained, I could finally breathe. The five-minute walk felt like a marathon as I clutched my heels. My feet throbbed with every step on the cold pavement, but the relief of escaping that hellhole was worth the discomfort. To my surprise, the nanny had brought my son home earlier than expected, and he was fast asleep in his SpongeBob pajamas. Relief flooded over me as I stood at my son’s room door, watching the rise and fall of his chest. His face looked peaceful, and his dark curls tousled on the pillow. Valen was a smaller version of Byron, except that he had my cornflower blue eyes and the little birthmark on his nose, which was a signature of my side of the family. I stood leaning against the doorframe, wrestling with the bleak reality. Life as a rogue with a child? That was a nightmare waiting to happen. I wanted so much more for Valen than the scraps I had to offer. What kind of mother would I be to ruin his life? I couldn't give hi
Gianna The party was in full swing, and I tried to blend into the background. The room was lively and filled with laughter, and I did my best to stay out of the spotlight. My eyes wandered to the far side of the room, where Oscar was talking animatedly to a girl. He was leaning far too close, flirting with her in his typical style. I rolled my eyes. The spoiled brat didn't deserve an ounce of my energy, and the only person I felt pity for was the girl who must be thinking she had hit the jackpot.Alex's boisterous voice cut through the crowd and pulled my attention. He was standing beside his bride and gesturing dramatically. "Seriously, look at her. She's the most beautiful woman in this room," he declared, earning a round of applause, chuckles, and whistles from his friends."Alex, you are super hyper and happy. Can't you see how Alexis is subtle because she knows your flattery is not a big deal to her?" one of the guys said, but Alex waved him off."You better not be fooled by tha
GiannaThe wildlife reserve stretched out in front of us. It was an endless expanse of greenery dotted with open fields and enclosures for animals. I loved the smell of fresh grass, but initially, when we got here, I was skeptical. Peter forced me to stay. I wasn’t much of a wildlife enthusiast, and the idea of spending my day surrounded by animals wasn’t exactly thrilling."Trust me, you will have fun," Peter had said, and I rolled my eyes.But as we ventured deeper into the reserve, his infectious excitement began to chip away at my reluctance. I gasped when I saw zebras lying lazily in the distance. A few giraffes towered over the bushes, stretching their necks gracefully to nibble on the leaves of acacia trees."Look at that one," Peter said, pointing at a particularly playful baby giraffe galloping awkwardly beside its mother. "Reminds me of how I was as a kid."I suppressed a small laugh. We moved to an enclosure where a family of meerkats stood upright, peering cautiously at us
Alexis Celebrations dragged into Day six as the women prepared for the bride's farewell. It was a union of my closest friends and the female members of the groom's family, symbolizing the merging of two lives and two households.It was a lot—the singing, clapping, laughter, and loud chatter. I just wanted it all to be over. Also, I was waiting for Gianna. She was my only real friend in this sea of acquaintances and had been noticeably absent since morning. Most of the other women were packmates, staff from the fashion house or social climbers I couldn’t care less about.I made my way to Gianna’s door, knocking, but there was no answer. I pushed the door open to find the room empty and walked away. She would show up eventually.Women lined up outside for the procession, clapping and singing traditional songs. I stood at the center with a smile playing on my face as they all led me to my home, carrying gifts and boxes filled with clothing, jewelry, and other items that had been piling
Peter I felt a little guilty for not checking on Lisa or my mom. But I chose to be with Gianna, the woman who hadn’t even bothered to tell me where we were going or spare me a single glance to make sure I was following.The drive was drenched in silence, so thick it felt like an extra passenger. I sat in the passenger seat, stealing glances at her like some lovesick fool. She was so damn beautiful, but her death grip on the steering wheel told me she’d rather wrestle an alligator than let me know what was on her mind. Her laser focus on the road was borderline comical—was she worried that even looking at me might result in a full-blown catastrophe?I wanted to say something to break the silence, but a small, self-preserving voice in the back of my mind screamed, Don’t poke the bear. One wrong word and I’d be walking home. When the car finally came to a stop, I looked out at the building in front of us. A large sign hanging above the entrance read Wisteria Psychiatric Hospital.My mi
Peter I lay on my side, watching Gianna. The soft rise and fall of her breathing was the only sound that mattered. Her face was turned slightly toward me, and I couldn't tear my gaze away. A content smile tugged at my lips as I took in every detail of her face as if committing her to memory. After all, I had no idea if this could ever happen again. Her dark red hair spread across the pillow. My fingers ghosted softly over a lock of her hair, careful not to wake her. It felt like silk between my fingertips—smooth and seductive, just like the rest of her body.How could someone be this beautiful?Her face, with the delicate freckles dotted across the bridge of her nose, seemed even softer as she slept. They were like tiny stars, unique and perfectly placed—different from the chaos she often stirred in me when she was awake. I tucked a strand of hair carefully behind her ear. I didn’t want to shatter this perfect moment—she looked like an angel. An angel with a sharp tongue and zero pa
Gianna My steps faltered. Peter, of all people, was standing right in front of my door, leaning casually against the wall. It made my heart do a strange somersault in my chest.I stopped a few feet away, trying to steady my voice and nerves.“Are you lost or something? Why are you standing in front of my door?”He lifted his head slightly, and a devilish half-smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.“More or less.”I frowned, though I was struggling to keep my expression neutral.“Please step aside. I'm exhausted, and I want to sleep.”Liar, my mind mocked me. Despite the firmness in my voice, my insides were turning to mush. The intoxicating scent of my mate was wild and clouding my thoughts, causing desire to crawl deep inside of me, even as the bond tugged mercilessly.“It’s a wonder how you sleep at night.”I blinked, taken aback by that statement. “I do sleep. Why would you even say that?”He took a small step forward, and I stepped back.“Because I don’t,” he said, his voice dro
Gianna I sat at the edge of one of the canopies, with my chair tilted slightly back, as I watched a group of performers move with energetic precision and confidence, drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd. Laughter rippled through the seated guests, and hands clapped enthusiastically every few minutes as magicians, comedians, and skitmakers did their thing. It was like an overcharged carnival that refused to end. I blinked drowsily, stifling a yawn behind my hand and feeling like my brain was on sensory overload.Overstimulated. That was the word. Four days of festivities, music, and shouting were starting to grate on my nerves. Truth be told, I was tired of watching yet another group of performers flipping across the lawn. My gaze drifted lazily over the crowd, landing on the flower-covered throne-like chairs reserved for the couple. They were seated like royalty, laughing their heads off at some joke. Alexis's eyes crinkled with delight while Alex leaned towards her, struck in lov
Alexis I couldn't hold it any longer the moment Valen left the room. Laughter bubbled up from my chest and spilled uncontrollably, doubling over until tears formed at the corners of my eyes. The entire scene had been absolutely priceless, and I didn't think I would forget that image in a while.From the bathroom, I heard the sound of the shower running and Alex muttering to himself. My laughter only increased.“Really?” his voice boomed over the water. “You're still laughing?”I walked into the bathroom, giggling as I leaned against the doorway. The steam fogged the glass, but I saw his silhouette under the spray.“Now come on, honey. That was hilarious. You should have seen yourself.”The water turned off, and moments later, Alex stuck his head out, glaring at me with mock offense and water dripping from his dark hair.“You’re mean. What kind of wife doesn’t help a man out? You could have just told him I was dressing up or to come back later.”“Well, what’s the fun in that?” I said,
AlexisMy arms folded tightly across my chest, and Alex tried to separate them, looking every bit the persistent man he was. He had barged into my room like he owned the place, and now he wouldn't leave without some sugar, no matter how much I tried to shoo him away."Come on, darling. You know you're not supposed to be here," I said, frowning for emphasis. "A groom seeing the bride before the wedding is a disaster waiting to happen. The euphoria and our first night as a married couple will disappear."He groaned dramatically. "Euphoria? Come on, Lex, that's just a stupid superstition. I need you badly. I've been unable to function well, especially after that hot dress you wore earlier. A quick blowjob and I'll bounce."Wagging my eyebrows, I chuckled. "Nope. This house is swamped with people. I'll give you all the blowjob styles you can ever think of after our wedding."He groaned loudly and sat up straighter, clasping his hands like a child begging for candy. "Please, baby just once