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Chapter 23

last update Last Updated: 2025-04-21 15:25:51

The message was a cold reminder that things were far from over. Madison sat at her desk in her small apartment, her phone resting in her palm. The words were etched in her mind: “I know what you’re up to. You won’t get away with this. I’ll make sure of it.”

Who could it be? She ran through the possibilities in her head—was it someone from her past? Maybe someone who had been hurt in the process of her unexpected involvement with Sebastian? Or worse, was it someone who knew too much about them, someone who wanted to exploit their relationship for their own gain?

She wanted to confront Sebastian right away, but after their conversation the day before, she didn’t know how to explain the new twist in her life. She wasn’t sure if she could handle more secrets or complications in their already delicate dynamic.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Should she respond to the anonymous message? Ignoring it might be a form of surrender, but acknowledging it could potentially put her—and Sebas
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Latest chapter

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 30

    The early morning light filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows across Madison's office. She sat behind her desk, fingers hesitating over the keyboard. The quiet of the office was a welcome contrast to the storm of emotions she had been wrestling with the past few days. The photos had circulated like wildfire, and the whispers, even in the supposedly professional atmosphere, were unavoidable. Some employees had been kind enough to avoid bringing up the topic directly, but others weren’t so subtle. She could feel the eyes, the curiosity, the judgment.It had been days since the gossip broke out, but the weight of it still lingered.She’d tried to bury herself in work, focusing on the spreadsheets and the meetings, pretending everything was fine. But it wasn’t. And it certainly didn’t help that Sebastian, her boss, had been unusually distant. His once warm, piercing gaze now felt more guarded whenever he passed by her office. The warmth between them had turned into an unspoken

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 29

    The week flew by in a flurry of emotions, with Madison grappling with the knowledge that meeting Sebastian’s family was now unavoidable. It was one of those moments she had both anticipated and dreaded. She had heard Sebastian talk about them on numerous occasions, his love for them unmistakable in his words. But she had also heard the underlying tension in his voice at times—his desire to break free from their expectations, the weight of their influence over his life.She knew the stakes were high. Family was everything to Sebastian, and although he had never pressured her to meet them, the timing felt significant. This was a new chapter in their relationship. No longer was she just the woman he spent time with in secret or at casual coffee shops. Now, she was about to step into the world that had shaped him, a world she could never fully understand but wanted to try to be a part of.Madison stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress for the fourth time that evening. It was a

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 28

    The days following their heart-to-heart conversation at the café passed in a blur of emotions and uncertainty for Madison. Despite the calmness that seemed to settle between her and Sebastian, there were still many unanswered questions, lingering doubts, and insecurities she couldn’t shake. She had agreed to take the chance with him, but the weight of her decision was heavier than she had anticipated.She was still unsure of how she fit into his world. It wasn’t just about Sebastian—it was the world he came from, his family, the expectations, the glitz, and glamour of it all. Madison had always been grounded, simple, and she had always kept a steady distance from the excesses that came with wealth and privilege. But Sebastian wasn’t asking her to dive into that world; he was simply asking her to be with him, to be part of his life in the most intimate way possible.It was the intimacy, the vulnerability, that scared her. The thought of letting someone so deeply into her life, allowing

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 27

    The next few days passed in a haze of emotions for Madison. The conversation at the restaurant with Sebastian had left her feeling both lighter and heavier at the same time. She had spoken her truth, confessed her fears, and yet, somehow, it didn’t feel like it had changed anything. They were still caught in the same cycle of uncertainty, both hesitant but yearning for something more. Despite her resolve to take it slow, Madison knew that avoiding the situation was no longer an option.She could feel herself being drawn closer to him with every passing day, and it both thrilled and terrified her. What Sebastian was offering her—his sincerity, his commitment—was something Madison had always longed for but had never thought she’d find, especially not in a man like him. The question that plagued her, though, was simple: Could she really allow herself to fall for him, given all the complications that came with his world?Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of her phone, the screen l

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 26

    The following days felt like a blur to Madison. She had avoided Sebastian’s calls at first, giving herself the time and space she had so desperately needed. The emotions from that night at the Sanford family dinner had left her in a state of chaos, and she didn’t trust herself to respond in a way that felt right. She could still hear his words from the phone call echoing in her mind: “Take your time. I’m not asking for anything more than what you’re willing to give. I just want you in my life, Madison.”But what did that mean? What exactly did Sebastian want from her? And more importantly, what did she want from him?Her days were filled with long hours at work, keeping her mind distracted with the steady hum of office life. But when the workday ended, and she found herself alone in the quiet of her apartment, the questions always came rushing back. Her mind wandered to the quiet moments they had shared—those stolen glances, the heated kisses, the gentle conversations—and the more she

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 25

    Madison’s fingers brushed against the cool surface of the doorknob as she quietly exited the grand estate, a sense of relief washing over her as the weight of the Sanford family’s scrutinizing gaze finally faded into the distance. The sound of the door clicking shut behind her felt like a small victory, though the anxiety that had settled in her chest throughout the evening remained. Her heels clicked sharply against the stone walkway as she made her way to the car, the night air cool against her flushed skin.She had never felt more out of place. The expansive, opulent mansion, the eyes of Sebastian’s family on her—it had all felt like a test. She wasn’t sure she had passed, but it was clear from the moment they sat down to dinner that she had failed in some way she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She had tried to smile, to answer their questions with the politeness expected of a guest, but underneath it all, she felt like an outsider in a world she could never truly belong to.Wha

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 24

    The invitation had come unexpectedly—Sebastian’s voice on the other end of the line, warm but with an edge of something Madison couldn’t quite place.“Madison, I want you to meet my family,” he had said. “Tomorrow night, a casual dinner. You’ve been a part of my life for some time now, and it feels right. Are you free?”Madison, caught off-guard by the sudden shift from their usual professional exchanges, had hesitated. Their encounters had been a whirlwind of stolen moments, secret meetings, and mounting tension, but the thought of stepping into Sebastian’s world felt daunting. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.“I’ll be there,” she had said, a quiet resolve settling in her chest.And so, here she was—standing at the entrance of the elegant Sanford family estate, a striking contrast to her modest apartment. The expansive mansion before her loomed with grandeur, the elegant stone pillars casting long shadows across the entrance. She felt small in comparison to the opulence s

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 23

    The message was a cold reminder that things were far from over. Madison sat at her desk in her small apartment, her phone resting in her palm. The words were etched in her mind: “I know what you’re up to. You won’t get away with this. I’ll make sure of it.”Who could it be? She ran through the possibilities in her head—was it someone from her past? Maybe someone who had been hurt in the process of her unexpected involvement with Sebastian? Or worse, was it someone who knew too much about them, someone who wanted to exploit their relationship for their own gain?She wanted to confront Sebastian right away, but after their conversation the day before, she didn’t know how to explain the new twist in her life. She wasn’t sure if she could handle more secrets or complications in their already delicate dynamic.Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Should she respond to the anonymous message? Ignoring it might be a form of surrender, but acknowledging it could potentially put her—and Sebas

  • ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER   Chapter 22

    The days after the leak felt like they dragged on forever, each one a battle with both internal and external forces. Madison had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. The constant barrage of public judgment, the whispers at the office, and even Sebastian’s protective gaze made everything feel heavier.But what weighed on her most wasn’t the scandal—it was the creeping feeling that something had changed between her and Sebastian. Not in the way she had hoped, but in the way she feared.One afternoon, Madison found herself in her favorite coffee shop, nursing a cappuccino as she stared out the window. The hum of conversation around her felt distant, almost surreal. Her phone buzzed in her bag, and for a moment, she considered ignoring it, but she knew better.It was Sebastian. His name flashed on the screen, and she hesitated before answering.“Madison,” his voice sounded tense. “I need you to come to the office.”“I’m not sure if I’m ready to face it all again, Sebastian,” she replied,

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