Janice thought she had found her fairytale ending when she married Layden, the man who had captured her heart at first sight. She devoted herself entirely to their love, investing her dreams, time, and emotions into building a life with him. But soon after their wedding, the warmth in Layden's eyes began to fade. His once-loving words grew scarce, his touch distant. Late nights turned into entire nights away, always excused by work, until Janice found herself married to a ghost of the man she once adored. The man who once whispered sweet promises now blames her for everything wrong in their marriage. And when his frustrations turn into abuse, Janice realizes she is trapped in a love that is nothing but an illusion. At Layden’s promotion party, fate throws her into the path of Icarus Adonis Sebastian—his dangerously charming and ruthless boss. Icarus is no stranger to Janice; they share a past from college, where Layden had been the quiet, bookish type, and Icarus the untamed bad boy. Time has only refined his allure, and the moment their eyes meet, old embers ignite. But this time, Icarus isn’t just looking—he’s claiming. As Layden spirals deeper into cruelty, Janice finds herself drawn into Icarus’s orbit, where passion burns hotter than reason. But Icarus isn’t the kind of man who plays fair—when he wants something, he takes it. And he wants Janice. When love turns to torment and desire becomes a battleground, Janice must decide: does she fight for the marriage she once believed in, or does she let herself be consumed by the fire of a man who has never played by the rules? Because Icarus doesn’t just want her—he’s ready to burn down her entire world to have her.
View More"Padrino, ho trovato qualcosa su—(God father I found something about—)"Alessio."Oi, serpente, stai buono. Sto sistemando la tua regina, (Oi, snake, stay put. I'm handling your queen.)" Icarus said, his voice steady yet unfazed.Alessio froze mid-step. His breath hitched, his entire body going rigid as if something unseen had just wrapped around his throat. Then, as if on instinct, he took a step back."Pardonimi (Forgive me)" His voice wavered slightly.What just happened? What had Icarus say? And how had he known Alessio was coming—had he heard his footsteps, felt his presence before the door even opened?The weight of my situation crashed over me. I was naked. Two men in the house.Heat flooded my face as Icarus moved, his broad frame still a barrier between me and Alessio's gaze. Without looking away, he reached down, fingers finding the towel on the floor. His chest brushed mine as he pulled me with him, the contact sending a dizzying pulse through me—whether from the wine or th
The hum of the engine filled the silence between us. City lights flickered through the tinted windows, casting brief flashes across Alessio's face, but he remained unreadable. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the gear shift, as if he hadn't just dropped a man to the pavement without so much as a second thought.My hands curled into fists in my lap. I was still breathing too fast, still feeling the phantom weight of Layden's grip on my wrist. Still hearing his voice, sharp and venomous, curling around my mind like smoke.Alessio didn't look at me, but I knew he was aware. He had been watching me all night. Hell, he was probably watching me now, even without turning his head.I forced my voice to steady. "You didn't have to do that."His fingers flexed against the wheel, but he didn't respond right away. Then, with quiet finality, he said, "Yes, I did."I let out a breath, leaning back against the seat. The scent of leather and something subtly spiced c
I took a deep breath, finally allowing myself to settle in. I wasn’t going to keep waiting for Icarus to arrive. Waiting would mean I had a thing for him—which I absolutely did not.Or you’re just lying to yourself, my subconscious taunted.I ignored it.Lying back on the bed, I stared at the ceiling. The room was silent, pressing in around me. It was unfamiliar yet oddly soothing. Maybe I should start getting used to it—after all, this was home now.My gaze drifted to the suitcase on the floor. Lupe had brought the rest of my bags earlier, stacking them neatly in the corner. I knew I should start unpacking, but the idea of a hot shower was far more appealing. A quiet thrill stirred in me, a flicker of curiosity I couldn’t ignore.I stood, gently undressed, and made my way into the bathroom.It was stunning—simple yet elegant. Soft white tiles stretched from floor to ceiling, reflecting the warm glow of recessed lighting. A deep soaking tub sat against one wall, next to a sleek glass
I left work early—per Icarus’ instructions, of course. A few minutes after I walked out of his office, he sent Layla to deliver the message.And I quote: "Tell Ms. Janice she’s excused for the rest of the day so she can get her things in order."The audacity.It was just a move-in, not a life-altering event. It wasn’t like we’d be sharing the same bed.Still, the whole situation felt entirely too personal for my liking. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but there was no point in dragging my feet. I’d pack my things, get this over with, and remind myself—this was strictly professional. Nothing more.It couldn't be that bad, I tried to convince myself—but I knew better. My mind drifted back—to the time we were assigned as project partners in college. We spent almost every moment together, and somehow, those moments always ended in stolen kisses and tangled limbs. I jammed the key into the door, twisting it in frustration before pushing it open. Icarus had said the driver would arrive by 5pm
The blaring alarm jolted me awake. A quick glance at the clock—just past six. Andra was probably already getting ready for work.I wasted no time, jumping into the shower and brushing my teeth. For a brief moment, I considered leaving my hair in its natural state, but one look in the mirror confirmed that was a terrible idea. With a sigh, I stretched, then gathered my hair into a messy bun, letting a few strands frame my face. A touch of makeup later, and I looked somewhat presentable.My gaze flickered to the shopping bags still sprawled on the floor as I contemplated what to wear. Rummaging through them, I finally settled on coffee-brown pants and a dark brown bodysuit, pairing them with simple blue-lens glasses. Satisfied with my reflection, I grabbed my laptop, phone, an extra copy of the divorce papers, and my new office bag from yesterday’s chaotic shopping spree.Black flats. Silver accessories. An eternity necklace, matching earrings, and a bracelet.Just as I was about to hea
After the call with Icarus, I sat there for a moment, staring at my phone like it had personally offended me. Andra, still buzzing from whatever that conversation was, flopped onto the couch with an exaggerated sigh."Alright, Miss Special-Assistant, what are we eating?"I rolled my eyes, setting my phone down. "I don't know, you pick.""Say less." She grabbed her phone, scrolling through the takeout options. "Burgers or Chinese?""Chinese," I said absentmindedly, my thoughts still spinning."Good choice," she nodded, placing the order before tossing her phone onto the couch. "So, you gonna tell your parents about your new fancy job?"I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I guess I should."I dialed my mom’s number. She answered on the second ring, her voice warm and familiar. "Janice, baby! How are you?"I smiled, leaning back against the headboard. "I'm good, Mom."There was a pause, then her tone softened with concern. "Are you still having those dreams?"I hesitated, my
The door clicked shut behind me, but I still felt him on my skin.I exhaled slowly, adjusting my grip on my bag. The air outside his office was cooler, quieter, but no less heavy. Like stepping out of a storm only to realize I was still soaking wet.A sharp sound pulled me from my thoughts.Layla.She stood a few feet away, polished and composed, a folder in her outstretched hand. Her smile was professional—warm, but with an edge of unreadability that reminded me she worked for Icarus. That she had likely seen dozens of people walk out of that office before me, though perhaps not in my position."Welcome aboard," she said, handing me a folder."Thanks," I murmured, gripping it tighter than necessary.She didn’t waste time. "Come with me. I’ll show you around."Without waiting for a response, she turned briskly toward the elevators. I hesitated only for a second before following, matching her pace.We stepped inside, and she pressed a button."This building has ten floors and three ele
I hadn't even realized when the evening bled into night. One minute, we were unpacking, talking about Icarus; the next, we were laughing about that time we tried baking in college and nearly set my apartment on fire.Outside, the sky had darkened, swallowing the city whole"I think it's time we call it a day," Andra said, stretching at the doorway. "You'll probably feel better in the morning."I nodded, offering a small smile before pulling her into a life-threatening hug. "Good night."She snorted but squeezed me back before disappearing down the hall.Once she was gone, I turned to the mirror, catching sight of my reflection.I was still in the #breakuppackage pajamas from last night, looking an absolute mess. I can't believe I let Cassidy see me like this. My hair was still in a lopsided bun, stray curls escaping in every direction. I groan, running a hand down my face. A shower. I need a shower.I took my time under the warm water, letting it wash away the exhaustion clinging to m
The ride home was quiet. Not because there was nothing to say—Sandra had plenty to say about Louis and his peacock arrogance—but exhaustion had settled deep in my bones, clinging to me like a second skin. All I wanted was to scrub it off Sandra, however, had other plans. The moment we stepped into the apartment, she led the way straight to her room, still yapping as she kicked off her heels with a relieved groan. "First of all," she announced, "I deserve financial compensation for putting up with that man." I peeled off my coat, my body already screaming for a hot shower. "You mean Louis? Or Icarus?" Andra shot me a 'really?' look as she unfastened her earrings. "I like Icarus. He didn't try to rename me like some colonial overlord." She yanked out a bobby pin, letting her braids fall loose. "That pompous peacock, however? If I ever see him again, I'm putting salt in his coffee." I huffed a tired laugh, rubbing my temples. "As long as you don't poison him. I'd rather not bail you
Tell me, what could bring an insanely driven, successful woman to the dust? Love.Yes, you heard me—love. The kind I had for Layden Macarus James. What Layden and I shared was magic, the kind that makes you believe in forever. And if I had to give up everything for him again, I would. Anything to make him happy. "If I had known you’d keep zoning out, I wouldn’t have agreed to follow you here," Sandra teased, pinching me just hard enough to snap me out of my thoughts. Sandra, dark-skinned and effortlessly stunning with hazel eyes that seemed to pierce right through you, had legs that could stop traffic. She was always the picture of confidence, and her playful demeanor only added to her magnetic presence.We were at a bridal boutique—my wedding was tomorrow. Tomorrow, I would marry the man I loved the most, and we were waiting for the dresses the sales rep was going to show us. Sandra didn't even bother asking me what I wanted, and I trusted her. I mean, I was too tired emotionall...
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