Share

0007

Penulis: I.J Faeoma
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-24 00:56:21

I’d always dreamt of going on a shopping spree like this—designer stores, endless racks of silk and fine wool, the swish of elegant fabrics against my skin. But not like this.

Not for this reason.

This wasn’t a dream come true. It was a wardrobe crafted for deception—a carefully curated illusion meant to help Alexander secure his inheritance. Or so I told myself.

So, I let the saleslady an overly enthusiastic woman in stilettos and red lipstick make most of the choices. She seemed to know exactly what would impress, what would flatter, and she was clearly thrilled by the endless stream of credit flowing from the Blackwood account.

Still, I couldn’t pretend I didn’t enjoy the feel of silk gliding across my skin. I’d never owned anything so luxurious. Every piece fit like it had been made for me alone. Cinched waists, flowing skirts, soft fabrics that draped my figure in quiet elegance. The woman I saw in the mirror didn’t look like a girl from a rundown shack. She looked… poised.

When the saleslady suggested I cut and style my hair to match my “new image,” I surprised myself by agreeing.

A few snips later, my long waves were replaced by soft, shoulder-length curls that framed my face perfectly. They made my eyes pop, softened the sharpness of my cheekbones, and left me feeling like someone entirely new.

I had woken up that morning feeling restless, haunted by the dream I’d had the night before. I’d called the hospital first thing, desperate to hear something….anything that would ease the ache in my chest.

Instead, I got a shock.

“Your mother’s been transferred to a private hospital,” the nurse said calmly over the phone. “A better facility arranged by your husband, Mr. Blackwood.”

Husband.

The word still didn’t sit right in my head.

“She’s in a much more comfortable environment now,” the nurse continued. “You can visit anytime.”

She still hadn’t woken from the coma, but at least she was safe. Cared for. No longer surrounded by flickering lights and crumbling walls.

Another calculated move by Alexander, I was sure. But still… it eased something heavy in my chest.

By the time I returned to the mansion, the driver was already unloading the last of my shopping bags. Lucy came out to greet me, her hands reaching for the bags as she offered a warm smile.

“Ma’am, welcome back,” she said kindly. “Let me help you unpack and get ready. Mr. Blackwood is home, but he’s in his study. He asked not to be disturbed.”

Of course, he did.

I took a long, luxurious bath before slipping into one of my new outfits. A pale blue woolen dress with a white collar that traced the curve of my throat like a whisper. The fabric was soft and delicate, the lines sleek against my figure. I ran my fingers through the styled waves of my shoulder-length hair and studied the reflection staring back at me in the vanity mirror.

I didn’t recognize her.

She wasn’t just dressed differently, she carried herself differently. She looked like a woman who had walked through fire and come out with smoke in her eyes.

I had never been in bed with a man, yet somehow, I looked like I’d already been burned by love.

A knock pulled me from my thoughts.

“Ma’am?” Lucy peeked into the dressing room, then paused. Her eyes widened with open awe. “Oh… Ma’am, you look beautiful.”

Without waiting for an invitation, she stepped closer and gently touched the ends of my hair with admiration.

“Thank you, Lucy,” I said softly, chuckling under my breath. “What’s going on?”

She straightened. “I came to inform you… Mr. Blackwood is in the garden.”

I blinked. “I thought he was in his study.”

“Well, he was. But… his stepmother arrived a few hours ago while you were bathing.”

I froze. “What?”

“She’s here… with her son and his wife. They’re having brunch in the garden. Mr. Blackwood is entertaining them.”

My heart skipped.

She just arrived? Already?

So soon after he’d mentioned her yesterday?

This performance… it was happening faster than I expected.

“They’re here now?” I asked.

“Yes, Ma’am. Would you like to join them?”

“Yes… I’ll be down shortly.”

As Lucy left, I took one more glance at myself in the mirror. Whatever this meeting would be, I needed to look the part. Elegant, confident and composed.

Mrs. Blackwood.

Not the terrified girl beneath the mask.

I walked through the house, the soft click of my mules echoing against the marble floors as I stepped outside into the sunlight.

But the moment I neared the garden, I heard his voice.

Sharp. Angry.

“You bitch! Shut the fuck up and tell your mom to stuff her face in bread!”

I stopped cold.

Alexander’s voice was laced with fury.

Then came another voice feminine, older, refined, yet biting.

“And you’re an ungrateful idiot! I took good care of you when your mother died. You were nothing but a spoiled mutt!”

Her accent was posh and polished like someone who drank wine at noon and spoke with a silver spoon in her mouth. But behind it… was venom.

I stepped closer.

Four people sat around the garden brunch table. The moment they saw me, their conversation halted abruptly. Eyes turned.

Three pairs locked on me with a strange mix of surprise, confusion… and curiosity.

Alexander stood quickly.

“My darling,” he said, and for a brief second, I almost believed it.

He crossed the grass to me, slid an arm around my waist, and leaned in to press a kiss on the side of my face. The warmth of it, the sudden intimacy…. it stunned me.

This was all an act. But God… he played it so well.

“Everyone,” he said in a calm, proud voice, “I want you to meet my wife… Beatrice Blackwood.”

I froze.

The smile on my lips almost slipped.

Beatrice?

My heart plummeted into my stomach.

I swallowed hard, forcing the smile to stay. My eyes flicked toward the older woman across the table—his stepmother.

She stared at me with piercing, icy blue eyes, like she was trying to see through my skin… like she already had.

And in that moment, everything clicked.

This was why he’d chosen me.

To trick her.

To make her believe I was someone else.

The woman in that painting I suppose. The one I hadn’t dared ask more about.

But still… he should’ve warned me. He should’ve told me beforehand to prepare for this particular act.

I tried to keep my composure, but inside, I was spinning.

And when Alexander tightened his grip around my waist with a subtle warning pressure, I felt like I was going to collapse.

Lanjutkan membaca buku ini secara gratis
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi
Komen (1)
goodnovel comment avatar
Fiona Cakes
Alexander should have been straight with her. I don't like that.
LIHAT SEMUA KOMENTAR

Bab terkait

  • POWERLESS   0008

    One could have heard a pin drop in the silence that followed Alexander’s announcement. But the first to recover was his stepmother. She rose slowly from her seat like a queen at court. Elegant, commanding, yet seething beneath her well-maintained exterior. Her raven-black hair, streaked with a whisper of grey, was swept into a sleek chignon, but no amount of sophistication could disguise the venom in her blur eyes as they raked over me. Her voice dripped with disdain. “If this is some kind of joke, Alex, I suggest you end it immediately.” Then her gaze sliced back to me cold and dissecting. “We all know Beatrice left you long ago. What did you do this time? Blackmail her into coming back? Threaten her?” I stiffened, my heartbeat thudding against my ribs. “And let’s not pretend,” she continued with an acidic smile, “that your aversion to commitment and your habit of replacing women like you change your suits is a secret.” Her gaze traveled slowly over me again, like a

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-25
  • POWERLESS   0009

    It seemed I’d be cocooned in the comfort of his room tonight. Alexander’s cold voice still echoed in my ears, lingering like a cruel aftertaste from everything that had happened in the dining hall. We had no other choice at least not if we wanted to keep up appearances in front of his stepmother, Gratia. Sleeping in separate rooms would only raise suspicion. And so, I found myself standing awkwardly in his space for the first time. His room was nothing like mine. Where mine was airy and soft, his was dark, bold, unapologetically masculine. The scent of sandalwood and musk wrapped around me the moment I stepped in intoxicating, commanding, and undeniably him. Alexander moved toward the bed, casually tossing extra pillows at the center as a divider. His eyes flicked to me, cold and unreadable. “So,” he said flatly, “there’s no way I’m sleeping on the floor. The bed’s big enough for both of us. You stay on your side.” I crossed my arms tightly. “So we’re just going to pre

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-26
  • POWERLESS   0010

    The chaos still echoed through the mansion like distant thunder. Alexander had nearly erupted. His fury, raw and volcanic. His voice had dropped to a deadly calm as he stood before everyone, a storm contained only by sheer will. “If you ever touch her again,” he’d said through clenched teeth, “I’ll make sure the lawsuit buries you so deep, not even your name survives it.” The silence that followed was suffocating. Drew and his mother didn’t dare move. Adrenaline still surged in my veins as I escaped the tension, slipping away into the dining hall. I sank onto one of the velvet sofas, my pulse still racing, my cheek faintly stinging from Gratia’s slap. Nadia sat across the room, her hands gently cradling her swollen belly. Her green floral gown clung delicately to her figure, the soft fabric blooming around her like spring. Her hair, swept into a neat knot, bore an eerie resemblance to Gratia’s. She looked at me, eyes brimming with sympathy. “I’m so sorry,” she said sof

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-26
  • POWERLESS   0011

    Alexander’s voice was smooth, unbothered. “I need to shower.” Before I could react, his fingers curled around my arm, pushing me gently aside. Then, without another glance, he stepped into the bathroom and shut the door in my face. I blinked at the polished wood, stunned at how quickly he went from hot to cold. Oh well. What was I expecting? A heartfelt moment? No touching. That’s what the contract said. And yet, some foolish part of me had almost believed—No. Stop. Shaking off the ridiculous thought, I exhaled sharply. I needed to get out of here. Slipping out of Alexander’s bedroom, I scanned the hallway, my heartbeat picking up. The last thing I needed was to run into Gratia again. I tiptoed across the grand staircase, relief flooding me as I reached my bedroom door— “So, you don’t sleep in the same room as your husband?” I stiffened. That voice. Drew. His tone was silky, teasing, yet something about it felt… off. Slowly, I turned. He leaned lazily agai

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27
  • POWERLESS   0012

    I swallowed. “Mom, I can explain.”“What did you do?” I inhaled shakily, forcing myself to say the words— “I got married.” The silence that followed was thick, suffocating. And then— She coughed violently. I quickly patted her back, trying to soothe her as she drank another sip of water, still struggling to process what I’d just said. When she finally caught her breath, her eyes locked onto mine, filled with unreadable emotion. “You got married?” she repeated hoarsely. “I don’t understand. Am I… am I dreaming?” “You’re not.” I held her hand tightly. “I had to, Mom. You needed the operation. I couldn’t just let you slip away.” She exhaled shakily, her fingers pressing against her forehead. “You sacrificed your happiness… for me?” “It’s just for six months,” I whispered. “I’ll be fine.” Her pained expression shattered me. She exhaled again, rubbing her temples, then looked at me with new seriousness. “Who is he?” I hesitated. “Alexander Blackwood.”

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27
  • POWERLESS   0013

    “Of course, Celeste, I know that. I’m married to Alex, remember?” I lied, letting out a light, almost amused laugh as I stared into her dumb eyes. Or at least, what I wanted to believe were dumb eyes. In truth, this woman was anything but. There was a sharpness beneath her doll-like beauty, that made me feel like I should tread lightly. I hadn’t known this hospital belonged to Alex, but the revelation didn’t surprise me. What did surprise me, however, was seeing Celeste here. After the strange way I’d been introduced to her, I never thought I’d come across her again. And yet, here she was, standing before me like a ghost I couldn’t shake off. Celeste tilted her head slightly, her smirk never faltering, her gaze sharp and unwavering. “What are you doing here?” I froze. My mind scrambled for a lie. I couldn’t tell her I was here to see my mother. There was something about her that made my instincts scream danger—like she knew Beatrice. And if Beatrice had meant something to Ale

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27
  • POWERLESS   0014

    “Call Drew! Call my son! Where is Drew?!” Gratia’s voice was raw with agony as she collapsed into the arms of a trembling maid, her wails piercing through the heavy silence. The weight of her grief was suffocating, thick enough to steal the breath from the air. I stood frozen, my body unwilling to move. My mind refused to process what I was seeing. I had seen death before, my grandmother’s funeral had been somber yet peaceful. A body laid to rest in a coffin, dressed in dignity. This was different. This was suicide. Nadia’s lifeless eyes remained open, staring at nothing. Her skin was ashen under the dim lighting, the heavy red curtains casting eerie shadows across the room. My stomach twisted violently, bile rising to my throat as I tore my gaze away. Beside me, Lucy stood motionless, her face drained of color. The air crackled with whispers and frantic murmurs blending into Gratia’s broken cries. Then, Lucy’s warm fingers wrapped around my wrist. “Come, sit,” she m

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-29
  • POWERLESS   0015

    The days after Nadia’s death were the most toxic, suffocating days I had ever experienced. And that didn’t stop the press. They swarmed outside the estate gates, cameras flashing, eager to capture a glimpse of the very window where Nadia had hung herself. The funeral wasn’t what I expected either. It wasn’t like the ones on television, where people wept openly, their sobs cutting through the air. Instead, it was eerily quiet. Only Drew, his mother… who, surprisingly, didn’t cry as much anymore… and a handful of family members attended. I wasn’t allowed to speak to any of them. I stood beside Alexander, feeling the weight of their stares like invisible shackles. We were all dressed in black. A man with jet-black hair, introduced as Mr. Bolivar, Alexander’s new bodyguard stood nearby. Celeste, too. And unlike everyone else, she wore a bright pink blouse and black pants, as if the occasion was a fashion show instead of a funeral. Even now, she went to great lengths to get Alexande

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-29

Bab terbaru

  • POWERLESS   0034

    “If you don’t let me out this instant…” “Ma’am, please, you’re making this harder for yourself.” I spun around so quickly, I nearly bumped heads with Lucy. I had been trying to go see my mom at the hospital, but they wouldn’t let me leave the house. What the hell? “So I can’t leave this place? On whose orders? Oh, let me guess… Alex?” I asked, sarcasm dripping from my voice as anger bubbled up inside me. Who does he think he is? After everything, they’ve locked me in the same place where someone tried to kill me, and now I can’t even step outside? “Boss gave us strict instructions not to let you leave the house. Orbot isn’t around at the moment, so you’ll have to stay inside,” one of the guards said stiffly. “We’re sorry, ma’am. We’re just doing our job. We don’t want Boss to get angry.” With eyes blazing i focused on lucy. “can you see this?” I asked in disbelief. She kept her head bowed. “Ma’am, I seriously can’t do anything about it.” My voice cracked with accusat

  • POWERLESS   Author’s Note

    Hey everyone, I just wanted to sincerely apologize Chapter 0033 was accidentally uploaded in the wrong version. It’s not the correct chapter, and I’m really sorry for the confusion or inconvenience this may have caused. I’m working on fixing it and will upload the correct chapter as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your patience and continued support!

  • POWERLESS   0033

    “Have they found out who did it?” I asked, my voice low and scratchy as I strained my neck from the pillow, trying to sit up. A dull ache tugged behind my eyes, but I ignored it. I caught sight of Lucy emerging from the dressing room, dragging the hoover behind her like it weighed a ton. She avoided my eyes as she walked past the bed, heading toward the door with her back to me. “It was dark, from what I heard, ma’am. The person who drugged you… they turned off the power.” I frowned. “But how is that possible?” My voice was sharper now, edged with confusion. “They’d have to know this place inside out to even figure out where the breaker is.” Lucy paused at the door, hand gripping the frame, then looked over her shoulder. “Don’t stress yourself too much, ma’am. I’m sure Mr. Blackwood is sorting everything out with your father.” My stomach twisted. “Can you stop calling him that?” I muttered. “I only just found out he existed a few days ago, and you saw how that parasite of a sis

  • POWERLESS   0032

    Something creaked open. I wasn’t sure if it was the door or a drawer, but I felt the subtle shift in the air, the tug at the edges of the room. Then, without warning, a burst of brightness spilled through my closed lids, painting the back of my eyes in a blinding orange hue. My face tensed, and my eyes squinted instinctively, trying to protect themselves from the light. But the curtains… they were open now. The light streaming in was soft but persistent. “Good morning, ma’am,” a familiar voice said gently. Then a warm hand settled against my forehead pressing gently across my skin, as though checking for a fever. The gesture was so careful it made something ache inside me. My lashes fluttered as I fought the pull of sleep. My eyes opening slowly, adjusting to the soft glow of daylight. crouched beside me was lucy. The sight of her made something inside me loosen. Her round face, slightly tired but full of concern, was framed by her brunette hair, now styled differently.

  • POWERLESS   0031

    My legs moved before my thoughts could catch up. I sprinted down the hallway, heart pounding louder than my footsteps, past rooms filled with quiet groans and nurses who turned too slowly. The further I went, the heavier my chest became.She wasn’t in her room.She wasn’t in her room.She wasn’t—Oh God.“Where is she?!” I yelled, but no one had an answer. Not the nurse with trembling fingers, not the receptionist who suddenly couldn’t meet my gaze.A growing noise rang in my ears as an unbearable pressure built in my chest.I don’t even know how I got there. Maybe I flew. Maybe I fell. Maybe I ran with so much desperation that my limbs forgot their limits.But I found myself pushing past the familiar white door that led to the hospital’s back garden.It smelled like damp soil.And there, through the trimmed hedges, beyond the faded wheelchair ramp—Was a form.A pale form lying still in the grass.My breath caught in my throat.No.No, no, no please.My feet made a muffled sound agai

  • POWERLESS   0030

    “Did you kill her because she chose Mr. Drew over you?” The question came with a loud snap of a camera, followed by a chaotic chorus of shutters and shouting. The reporters descended on us like vultures. “We just need one statement, sir!” A ginger-haired female reporter shoved a tiny mic into the partially open car window, her eyes wild with the thrill of a potential headline. When Candice had sent that message, I hadn’t even gotten the chance to show Alex. We were already pulling into the estate’s driveway—and then the swarm hit. Flashbulbs, voices and Chaos. These people should really give it a rest. “You okay back there?” Alex glanced at me from the front seat, his voice way too calm. “Yes, I guess,” I said. No, I wasn’t. The lights were blinding, relentless. Reporters kept closing in, waving mics like weapons. The guards were barely managing to hold them off. “Is it true you killed her to punish Drew for taking your inheritance?” “Were you in a passionate rela

  • POWERLESS   0029

    His hand was still on my waist, warm and grounding, as his breath brushed the side of my neck.“What was she like?” I asked in a whisper, my eyes fixed on the ornate patterns carved into the door in front of us. My heart pounded softly.He didn’t hesitate. “She was… a handful,” he murmured, voice low. “But Father loved her.”A strange tightness twisted in my chest. The thought of him being madly in love with her and still sleeping with Celeste made my stomach churn. But then again… Beatrice had been sleeping with Drew.“We met in Bangkok,” he said, his voice barely above the hum of memory. “When I took over Blackwood Holdings. But even then, I was already doing business with the Martin Muir. So when I found out Martin had another daughter i was… shocked. I’d only ever known Celeste, and I realized she wasn’t a fan of bragging about being a twin.”He paused. The silence between us stretched thin.“It turns out Joseph never really put her in the spotlight,” Alexander said quietly, his b

  • POWERLESS   0028

    “You should stop me,” Alex murmured, his teeth tugging at my nipple, making a strangled hiss escape my dazed mouth. Yes, I should, I thought to myself, but how could I? How could I stop him when there was this strange heat pulling me toward him…. toward the sinful place where his suit-clad thighs now rubbed gently against my body? I was an idiot. A total fucking idiot. My hands instinctively tangled in his thick hair, still damp from the shower he definitely took on his way here, the strands not fully dried. I could feel the wetness against my fingers, and it only made everything more intense. He suddenly moved his mouth away from my nipple with a soft pop, raising his face to mine. His silver eyes were now a deep blue, glazed over as he took me in. His gaze burned into me. What did he see? Did I look dazed with desire like him? I wouldn’t know. The next moment, his warm breath seized my jaw, and his lips crashed down onto mine, kissing me with a heat that made me shiver. The

  • POWERLESS   0027

    “It’s good to see you again, sister.” The voice was sweet…too sweet. Celeste, with her flawlessly curled blonde hair and those sparkling blue eyes, walked in like she owned the air we breathed. She pulled me into one of her signature tight fake hugs. My arms stiffened at my sides. It can’t be real. She called me sister. No, no, no. “I saw you,” I whispered, stepping back from her grip. “In the hospital. The same one my mom was in. You were there with… with a man you called your father.” Celeste tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. “And?” I turned to Joseph. “She can’t be my sister.” Alex now perched on a chair several feet away, deep in hushed conversation with a man in spectacles. He didn’t look up, didn’t glance in my direction. “Daddy!” Celeste cooed, strutting over to Joseph like a runway model. She bent to kiss his cheek, her fitted dress rising just a little too high. I didn’t miss the smug flick of her eyes in my direction. Joseph simply repli

Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
DMCA.com Protection Status