LOGINShare
CHAPTER 464
Last Updated:
2024-03-26 04:37:51
Related chapters
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 465
Jonathon strode through the doors of The Playbook offices and straight to the receptionist. “I’m here to see Liam Thompson.” “Do you have an appointment?” “No. Tell him Jonathon Ashby is here. He’ll want to see me.” The receptionist’s eyes grew wide when Jonathan said his name. She fumbled with the phone as she picked it up to notify Liam and Jonathon turned away. People within earshot had all stopped to look at him. As he slowly looked at each person, they busied themselves and moved away. He had his bastard face on—that’s what Natalie called it—and it had the desired effect. He was in no mood to be fucked with. He was here for one thing and one thing only. It was time to go and see his mother. “Jonathon?” Liam asked, walking toward him. “I want to see her,” Jonathon said. “Okay,” Liam replied, his eyebrows making a ‘v’ between his eyes as he watched Jonathon. “Give me a couple of days to set it up—” “No,” Jonathon said. “You said she was on the Gold Coast, right?” Wh
Last Updated : 2024-03-26One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 466
The need to prove something to the world, or more correctly, prove something to the woman who walked away and never looked back had spurred him on to succeed. Now he just needed to understand. Why had she stayed for Liam and not for him? “Look, I know you think I’m an arsehole who got everything you missed out on, but growing up was no picnic for me either,” Jonathon said. “Ashby Chocolates barely made ends meet when I was younger and I have worked my arse off to get it where it is today. You are not exactly living in the poorhouse so don’t give me shit about ‘doing okay for myself despite my hardships.’ Regardless of what my exterior life looks like, there is something particularly debilitating about knowing that your mother walked away from you and never looked back. I just need to know why. Is that too much to ask?” “I don’t want you to upset her,” Liam said gruffly. “She’s not perfect and she hasn’t had an easy life. Irrespective of what you might think, she’s not a bad person
Last Updated : 2024-03-26One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 467
Her coffee was delivered and she took some time to stir in a cube of sugar and take a sip. The others watched her and she imagined this must be what a bug felt like under a microscope. “So what do you want to know?” she finally asked, not able to take the silent scrutiny a moment longer. If they wanted to have a go at her, they may as well get it all out now. Emma wanted to clear the air. She wanted them to know her feelings for Jake were genuine and they had nothing to worry about. They shared a look between them before Chloe finally spoke. “We’re concerned about you,” she said, and Emma appreciated the honesty. “What exactly is it that concerns you?” “Your sudden change of heart,” Cassie said. “Jonathon poured his heart out to you and you rejected him, then a few days later you turn around and confess an undying love for him. We can’t help but feel suspicious.” Emma frowned. Did Cassie just say, Jonathon? Emma picked up her latte and took another sip. “You mean Jake,” she
Last Updated : 2024-03-26One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 468
“Who told you?” “I was ambushed by a group of momma bears who were trying to protect him.” “The WAGs,” Natalie said with a roll of her eyes and a short, sharp shake of her head. Emma looked at her with a puzzled glance. “The wives and girlfriends,” Natalie explained. “Why were they trying to protect him from you?” Emma turned away, looking back through the large floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the city. “You fell in love with him,” Natalie said, defeat in her voice. “Didn’t I warn you about that?” “He told me he loved me,” Emma said, not turning around. “He told me he wanted me in his life.” “So? What’s the problem?” Natalie sounded annoyed and angry. Emma turned to her. “He told me he loved me but he didn’t tell me he was Jonathon Ashby. Why? Why would he do that?” “Do you love him?” Natalie asked, her voice softer. “I thought I did,” Emma said, turning back to the view. “But how can I believe him? How do I know if I love the real man or just the man he
Last Updated : 2024-03-26One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 469
Are you home?” Liam called as they stepped into the foyer of a modest, but modern, home on the canal in Runaway Bay. Even being modest, the house had to be worth at least a million dollars. The location alone was worth that much. Jonathon was not impressed. If she hadn’t left him and his dad for money, then how could she afford this place? “Liam? Is that you?” A woman walked into the foyer drying her hands on a tea towel, a pleasant smile on her face that froze when she looked beyond Liam to Jonathan. “Jonathon?” she whispered hoarsely, her eyes wide. She wobbled a bit on her feet before Liam rushed forward and caught her by the elbow. “I think it’s time we talked,” he said. “Yes,” she replied, her eyes not leaving Jonathon. “Let me get us some tea.” “No,” Jonathon said, finally finding his voice. “We don’t need tea.” She nodded and let Liam guide her back down the hall and into an airy room with big couches that looked out over the canal. Jonathon sat in a single armcha
Last Updated : 2024-03-26One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 470
“I don’t believe you,” Jonathon whispered. The man she was describing was not the man that he knew. His father had always been supportive of him and had encouraged him to go to university and choose any career he wanted. “I loved you both so much but I knew that if I didn’t do that for myself I would live to regret it and end up resenting you. I couldn’t bear the thought. I left, thinking your father would come to his senses and we could somehow make it work, that he might finally accept I could have my career, and it wouldn’t take away from being a wife and mother. If anything, I believed it would make me a better wife and mother.” She sighed. “He changed the locks and took out a restraining order on me. He told the police I abandoned you and he feared I would try to come back and kidnap you.” “What?” “I went to your grandparents and they helped me visit you without your father knowing. I still held out hope that he would eventually come to his senses. One day he came home ea
Last Updated : 2024-03-26One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 471
“I wasn’t allowed anywhere near you, but I watched from afar. Your grandparents helped. I was sad when I heard they’d died. They never agreed with what your father did, but what could they do?” “Why didn’t they tell me? After my dad died, why didn’t they tell me about you?” She shrugged. “They didn’t tell me he’d died. We lost contact over the years but I suppose they thought too much water had gone under the bridge. They couldn’t give back the years we’d lost and they probably thought it would hurt you too much. Especially after losing your dad.” “Don’t do that,” he said, turning away from her. “Don’t make excuses for them.” She laid a hand on his shoulder and he closed his eyes. How many times had he wished for a mother he could go to and pour his heart out to? Too many times. “We are all imperfect people doing the best we can. I am as much to blame as your father. I could have fought harder for you. I could have risked going to court and hoping the judge would rule in m
Last Updated : 2024-03-26One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 472
It didn’t take long for the car to pull up outside the office building of Ashby Chocolates. Jonathon slid out and waved to Liam. They had agreed to catch up soon but they both needed to process the news they’d just heard and Jonathon still couldn’t quite believe he had a brother. Cassie was waiting in his office when he arrived. Natalie gave him an unreadable look as he walked past and something in his gut tightened. Whatever it was, something big had happened in the few hours he’d been unreachable. Cassie jumped to her feet as he crossed the threshold and she clasped her hands together and bit her lip. She didn’t give him a chance to ask what was wrong when she rushed him and spoke, grasping at his sleeve. “I’m really sorry, Jonathan. We thought she already knew. We thought that she’d found out somehow and was trying to swindle you.” Jonathon froze. “What?” “We only did it because we love you, you know that right? The other girls and I, we care about you and we didn’t want
Last Updated : 2024-03-26
Latest chapter
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger EPILOGUE
Six Months Later…Everyone he loved was in the room. They were celebrating. Barry and Becky had finally set a date. Lisa and Mason wouldn’t be far behind. Brian and Cassie kept sneaking glances at one another that they thought nobody else noticed. He thought he knew what was going on but he didn’t want to ruin the surprise. It was their news to share and he was happy to wait for them to be ready to share it. Liam and Loretta were here too. He’d been slowly getting to know them. There was a lot of hurt to work through, but they were getting there. Jonathon quite enjoyed having a younger brother even if it was only in small doses at the moment. Devi and Kirra were also there. Kirra was graduating in a couple of weeks and then she would be hopefully attending one of the universities close to home. She wouldn’t know if she got accepted until the new year, but Jonathan was quietly confident that she would get into her top pick. And then there was Emma. Every day with her was
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 480
“I know it’s too soon,” he said, cupping her cheek. “But I want you to know that I am in this for good. I want to spend my life with you Emma. I want us to be a family. You, me, Kirra, Devi, Liam, and Loretta—” “Loretta?” “My mum. I want one big, messy family with you and me at the heart of it. Tell me you want that too.” She pressed against him and brushed a kiss on his lips. “I do,” she said before putting the remaining half of the chocolate in her mouth and grinning. The wheel came to a stop and he drew Emma to her feet, moving them both over to the window. The entire city of Melbourne was spread out below them, but it dimmed in comparison to the woman in his arms. “I love you, Emma,” he whispered before kissing her while they stood on top of the world.He took her home. He couldn’t not. They had stuff to work out and a relationship to manage. He had a family to get to know and she had her mother’s illness to navigate and her sister’s final year of sch
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 479
He stepped into the pod and waited for the door to close before holding the final box out to her, his mouth dry. She reached for it but he snatched it away, lifting it beyond her reach. “Before I give this to you, I need to explain.” She looked from the box to his face and nodded. “Okay.” The wheel started to move and Jonathon moved them over to sit on a bench. He exhaled roughly. “Okay, so I don’t know how much of this you already know, but how about I just start at the beginning?” She nodded again. “My mother left when I was two. I always believed she left us for a man with money. I’ve recently found out that wasn’t true.” He took a deep breath and her hand rested gently on his chest as she moved closer to him. He took strength from her closeness. “Someone was impersonating me—” “Liam?” He nodded. “Right. Liam. It turns out Liam is my brother. He was trying to draw me out and get me to notice him. He ultimately wanted to meet his father. He didn’t
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 478
“Are you looking for this?” the security guy asked, holding out an old-fashioned paper ticket. Emma laughed as she snatched it from him, waving it over her shoulder as she jogged toward the front doors of the building. She slid into the car and Brian looked at her expectantly. “Um…” Emma looked between Brian and Cassie. “I want to say Luna Park, but I don’t think that’s right.” “Why Luna Park?” Cassie asked. Emma held up the ticket in her hand. “We went to a fête in Merveille and rode the Ferris wheel.” “The Melbourne Star,” Brian said, his voice gruff. “Of course!” Cassie cried excitedly, leaning over to give Brian a smacking kiss. “You’re brilliant.” Emma could barely keep still as Brian drove them across town toward the Docklands and the giant observation wheel. As much as she was enjoying herself, she wanted to see him. She had already forgiven him for his lie and now she desperately wanted to ask his forgiveness for her stupid, fearful, erratic
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 477
She walked around the corner expecting to see Jonathon outside the patisserie, but there was no one there. She stepped inside breathed in the sweet scent of pastries and chocolate and looked around, hoping to spot him, but he wasn’t there. “Are you Emma?” a lady asked. “Yeah,” Emma said, turning to the woman who sat at a small table with a familiar little box in front of her. “This is for you,” the woman said, standing and walking away. Emma sat and took the box, pulling at the bow and opening it to see another chocolate truffle, this time it had an ’S’ written on top of it in dark chocolate. She didn’t need the little ‘Eat Me’ note to know what to do. She put the truffle on her tongue and closed her eyes. The chocolate coating melted away to leave behind a cake center with the sweet tang of apricot jam. “Sachertorte,” she mumbled to herself as she sighed and opened her eyes. Emma picked up the note that had nestled beside the truffle in the box.The first time we made lov
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 476
Dear Emma,The first time we met I wanted to kiss you. I knew I couldn’t. I knew it was stepping across a line both personally and professionally, but still, I couldn’t deny the attraction I felt.Our relationship has had an unconventional start, a bit of a rocky middle, and an absolutely appalling ending, but there were some real high points along the way. Let me remind you of how good it was between us and how good it could be again.Do you remember our first kiss? I don’t think I will ever forget it. I thought I knew what I was getting myself in for when I leaned down to brush my lips across yours, but I was a fool. You were so much more than I ever thought I would ever experience. You took my breath away and I lost a little bit of my heart to you at that moment.If it meant as much to you as it did to me, meet me there at the place where we first kissed.Jonathon.Emma could feel the wetness on her cheeks and she sniffed as she wiped at the tears. “Well?” Cassie asked, rocking o
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 475
It was the first Saturday morning Emma could ever remember that had the three of them sitting around the kitchen table eating pancakes and laughing. What would have been a simple, family Saturday morning ritual for some was something out of a fairy tale for Emma. She knew they were a long way from being a happy family, there was still a lot of hurt to navigate and broken trust to overcome, but it was a start and for once in her life, she was willing to just go with it. On this day, Devi was back to the woman she vaguely remembered from before Tom died and Emma wanted to soak it up and memorize it. From pancakes, they’d gone to gardening. Emma shared her plans with Devi and Kirra. She would let the lease go on her flat and move back in here permanently. It meant she would be on hand if Devi needed her and hopefully give some stability for Kirra’s final year of school. After she graduated and went off to uni, Emma could look at what would happen next. They all agreed that if they were
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 474
Emma wanted to believe her, but it was tempting to turn away and close her heart off so she couldn’t be hurt again. Except it would hurt anyway. If there was one thing she learned through this whole saga with Jonathon it was that closing your heart off to others was a mistake. You ended up hurting everyone that way, not least of all yourself. She put her arm around Devi and hugged her. “Good for you mum,” she said.Jonathon worked all night and most of the day. He tried calling Emma but when she didn’t pick up or reply to his texts after the first twenty or so, he gave up. What he had to say needed to be said in person anyway. Inspired by the woman he had fallen irrevocably in love with, he had spent the night holed up in his test kitchen creating the perfect set of truffles. Anybody could buy a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers but only he could create an entire set of truffles that spelled out just how much he loved her and how much she had impacted his life. He had words
One Night Stand With The Unforgettable Stranger CHAPTER 473
Kirra said when Emma finally made it home. Emma had been wandering around the city trying to come to terms with what all this meant for her life going forward. She had made some hard decisions, but she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. It hadn’t helped with the pain in her chest where her heart was currently crumbling away to dust, but at least she knew that she wasn’t going to end up like her mother just because she had fallen in love. Life was always going to throw her curve balls and she just learned something about herself. Despite her previous belief, she was actually strong enough to withstand them, even swing the bat at them, and make the best out of a bad situation. “Hey, yourself,” she said, sitting at the table opposite Kirra. “Where’s Zoë?” “She had to go and run some errands.” “Where’s mum?” Kirra bit her lip and her eyes teared up. “I don’t know.” “She’s not here?” Emma asked, sitting up straighter and leaning forward. “When I got home, Z
