ELOISE Sure, I wouldn’t bring up the subject with Adam. We weren’t in a serious enough phase to be concerned like an obsessed girlfriend. I couldn’t even label myself as such. Our relationship was solely based on a deal, and that took precedence over caring about Adam’s personal life. I had to establish some boundaries for myself. Eventually, he would be gone, just like the other redheads who came into his life. In the meantime, I could enjoy having that delicious specimen of a man all to myself, even if I knew it wouldn’t last. It wouldn’t be so bad to ask Chase about him and just let things be, right? As we walked together, Chase accompanied me until we reached my block, sobering up from a few shots of drinks. The street was quiet, and the night had a mild temperature, reminiscent of our college dating days. “I don’t think Adam would tell me about this if I ask him, and I won’t bring it up with him, either.” “You have to try at some point, right?” Chase said. “But not right
ELOISE Once Jenna disappeared into her room, it all sank in. I was left feeling torn—disappointed and doubting if I could keep faking it. Right when I was going to ignore those personal things about Adam, something would stop me and make me overthink. This just made me even more confused about what I wanted. I couldn’t shake the image of Adam from my mind… mostly his cock. Yeah, that, along with his killer abs and confident stance on the balcony, was imprinted in my memory and the mind-blowing thing I learned today. It was all just a big mess. Chase’s presence beside me suddenly felt like an anchor in the storm, but even he couldn’t shield me from the battle swirling in my head. I glanced at him, searching for some veneer of certainty or reassurance, but his expression mirrored my anxiety. “Maybe you’re right.” The words escaped my lips in a whisper, barely audible over the pounding of my heart. “About what?” Chase asked. “I was too gullible because that’s exactly what he’s afte
ELOISE Chase picked me up at six in front of my house, as promised. The Sebastian estate was on Long Island, so we had plenty of time to talk as we rode. I briefly told him about my arrangement with Adam. “Are you out of your mind?” Chase glanced at me, then focused on the road. “I would be crazier if I agreed to marry the asshole my father wants me to marry.” “There has to be another way.” “There was no other way back then. You know my dad. You almost lost your college scholarship because you were my boyfriend. He threatened to ruin Zoey’s parents’ lives. I don’t know how, but I believe he could. He has connections, and he’s trying to expand them even further now.” I barely escaped the viscount’s clutches. He only left me alone because he had Malcolm. He kept me in New York because the Cunninghams were ashamed of me, and I only realized that now upon meeting my grandmother. “Yes, I remember. The dean actually sent me an email, and I couldn’t believe it. I had 4.0 GPAs and was
ELOISEAdam sat very close to me while Blaire and Chase were talking.“Why didn’t you say you were still coming here? You didn't wear the dress I sent you,” he hissed.“I thought you’d want me here, and I prefer what I'm wearing, thank you,” I said in a whisper. He stayed silent all week, not even bothering to reply to my text.He let out a heavy sigh and loosened his tie a bit, although he scanned me from head to toe again. “Well, you look ravishing, and of course I want you here. I invited you, but you came with Chase. Why is that?”“Should I have that checked with you first?”His brows furrowed. “Stop firing questions at me.”“I’m answering you.”“Are you angry at me?”I hesitated; a beat passed. “No.”“Of course you are.”“Wait, I need your permission for that, too?”A muscle in his jaw ticked, and he moved closer. His hand then ran over my thigh and slipped inside my dress. He caressed me there, his expert fingers kneading me, and I instantly felt the rush, almost moaning.“So yo
ELOISE The only problem was that I didn’t know how to leave this private remote estate. But just when I thought I hadn’t been noticed, Chase had to spot me. “Eloise?” What should I do now? Should I come up with an excuse? Should I explain why I was leaving? I should just go. I quickened my pace and continued walking, trusting my instincts. “Hey, El!” I pretended not to hear and quickened my pace. The door was already in sight. “I told you to stop.” He grabbed my hand and spun me around. “I shouldn’t have come here. I should’ve trusted my instincts.” “So you’re just going to walk away?” I tried to pull my hand back, but his grip only tightened. “If you won’t help me, let me leave.” “At this hour? It’s nearly midnight. I brought you here, so we’re leaving together.” I took a deep breath and managed to calm down. “Can we go back now?” “Before we do that, tell me what’s wrong. Is it Blaire? I saw her followed you.” “Who is she?” I shook my head in disappointment, then raised
ELOISE “Who is Adrianna to you, then? I heard the rumors.” "Is that how you see me, Eloise? I may be many things, dark even, but I'm not that bad." “And Blaire?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Blaire is here because she’s invited." I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. “Then who is she? Can’t you tell me that too? But you can’t, of course. Meddling in our private affairs is not part of our deal.” “She's a family friend. Oh, screw the deal. You need to be fucked.” I gasped. I couldn’t think of anything to say. He pressed his lips on mine, hard and calculating. His kiss was intense, demanding as if seeking to devour me whole, and I surrendered to the overwhelming sensation, losing myself in the heat of the moment, but I pushed his chest a little while I still dared to ask. “What? Here?” “Why not?” His hands roamed my body again with a possessive urgency. I moaned softly against his lips as his fingers deftly traced the curves of my body. I swallowed hard. It was too muc
ELOISE The weekend stretched before me, but then I ended up feeling down. The roughness of the sex, the lingering regret in my chest, and our conversation replaying in my thoughts. I stayed locked inside my house, binge-watching a series with complicated storylines I couldn’t understand. The characters on the screen moved through their lives with a purpose and direction I wanted to relate to, but I remained trapped in a state of darkness, trying to figure out what to do next. I also listened to pop music that provided comfort and convinced myself I was okay. But when a sad song played, my heart felt like it was being torn apart again. I grabbed the vanilla ice cream from the coffee table and scooped spoonfuls while zoning out to the TV. Jenna was beside me, going on and on about this guy Rover she just met. I nodded absentmindedly, barely hearing what she said as I tried to make the ache in my chest disappear. “Hey, are you even listening?” “Of course, but how long will you keep
ELOISEFurious, I decided to take a break from my daily tasks and headed to Sebastian Tower during lunchtime. The reason for my frustration was my colleagues’ constant gossip, speculating about how I had won over a Sebastian. They were also questioning why I’d refused that we were seeing each other the first time. I’d only managed to avoid running into Zoey or Chase because they’d make a big deal of it again. I rushed to Adam’s floor, and since the lobby was empty, I decided to just confront him. “Can you explain why—” I came to a halt, causing six pairs of eyes to shift towards me, with Adam positioned at the forefront. “Eloise,” he said, acknowledging my presence. “Oh, I’m... I’m really sorry. I wasn’t aware that you were, um, forget it.” I took a step back and promptly shut the door behind me. I waited until Adam’s meeting was over. I couldn’t believe he had taken such a monumental step without consulting me first. It felt like he was dictating the course of our already weird
ELOISEThat evening, while I was showering, Adam joined me. He wrapped his arms around me from behind while his lips placed soft kisses on my shoulder. I moved my hair to the side and looked back at him. Even after everything, it still felt surreal. Adam was my husband now.Just a few weeks ago, I met this man because of a simple mistake on a blind date, and he became someone who supported me. But there was still so much I had to learn about him, many things we needed to resolve and discuss.Under the shower, we stayed silent, savoring each other’s presence. Words became unnecessary with each kiss on my shoulder, neck, and back. I surrendered to the surge of emotions, my body burning with every touch of his fingers on my skin.Adam’s lips traveled down my back to the space between my buttocks. I moaned, arching my back as his tongue slid through. I gripped the wall; the only sounds were the splashing water, my rapid heartbeat, and my heavy breathing. His fingers traced my slit, and my
ELOISEWhen the doctor left, Adam and I watched Davina sit beside Malcolm’s bed, her hand never leaving his face.The doctor told us he didn’t know when my brother was going to wake up, but he should still be able to from his temporary coma.Davina was the first to speak. “How… how could Callum do this to me? After everything…”Dad was standing by the window with his hands folded across his chest when he finally broke his silence. “Callum did it because I let him. Because my ambition and greed blinded me.” There was a long pause before he turned to face us. “I did this. I did this to our family... to Malcolm. I was too focused on making sure the Cunningham name stayed strong. I was one-sided.”Davina’s eyes flicked, and her lips pressed tightly together. “You can’t blame yourself for this. I asked you to—”“I can blame myself,” Dad cut her off. “I’ve seen the signs. To think that I almost gave away my only daughter.” He waved his hand towards me.My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t sure
ADAM Eloise and I continued to move through the crowd, accepting congratulations and well wishes from the guests. I kept glancing around the room, scanning the crowd for any sign of Jonathan, but he had taken the initiative and was now talking to Callum. He had probably slipped away during the ceremony to begin his part of the operation. Now, all I could do was wait for him to make contact. Eloise chatted with her relatives near the buffet table when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I stepped away from the crowd, keeping my movements casual. I checked the message. It was from Jonathan: We spotted the ambulance, but one of my men outside hit a small complication. I glanced around again, making sure Callum wasn’t watching, and I remained calm. I moved toward a secluded reception corner, pressing the phone to my ear as I dialed Jonathan’s number. Jonathan gestured to Callum to wait a moment as he answered my call. “Jonathan, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice low but urgent. “I’m sor
ELOISE The band began to play another slow song, and Callum pulled me close, his hand resting on my lower back as we swayed to the music. His touch felt heavy and awkward, and it stung so painfully that it felt like he’d burn me alive. “You look beautiful tonight, Eloise,” Callum said, his voice low and smooth. “I’m sure Adam feels like the luckiest man in the world. It should've been me.” “I didn’t agree to this dance so that you could flatter me,” I replied, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me. His eyes squinted. “Are you flattered?” I rolled my eyes. “Hello, no. Where’s Malcolm?” He studied me momentarily, his eyes searching mine as if looking for something. “You know, I’ve always admired your strength. It’s not easy being in your position. But you’ve handled it remarkably well.” “Answer the question, Callum,” I said firmly. He sighed. “He’s safe. He’s right outside the premises, in a private ambulance with a doctor tending to him.” “How are we going to get him b
ELOISEIn fairness, I was in awe of the garden reception decorated with pastel colors, our color motifs, floral arrangements, and a lengthy buffet for fancy guests under the twinkling fairy lights. The soft mainstream music from the live band filled the air with laughter and conversations.From the outside, despite all the reasons and family drama, it was the perfect evening, just as I had always imagined for my wedding. I couldn’t shake off the thoughts of the challenges that awaited us.I walked through the crowd, exchanging smiles and greetings, but I was especially eager to see the Sebastians. As I approached their table, their presence at the reception meant a lot to me, and I hadn’t had the chance to greet them properly yet. I spotted them gathered under a large oak tree, the soft light making their happy faces glow. Rachel and Benjamin were sitting together, looking engaged in a conversation. Sitting next to them were Rafael and Julian, Adam’s older brothers, each holding one
ELOISEThe day had finally arrived, and I couldn’t believe it was real—my wedding day. I had always imagined what this day would feel like, but reality had a way of twisting those dreams into something more and less than I had imagined.I couldn’t fully explain what I was feeling. Nerves buzzed under my skin, mixed with a tingling excitement that I could feel on my fingertips and even a bit of fear. This was it. I was really going to get married—to the best, most understanding man I had ever known, not to mention the sexiest man alive.A smile tugged at my lips as I thought of Adam—his touch, his voice, the way he had been my rock through everything. But my heart kept pounding in my chest. It wasn’t just the typical wedding day jitters. My mind was also drifting to the idea that Malcolm was alive and that this was the day Callum and I had agreed I would get my brother back, as well as the secrets Adam and I were keeping from Logan and Davina.The soft hum of conversation drifted throu
ELOISEI returned to my father’s mansion feeling drained and exhausted, as if the spa’s effects had worn off. Everything happened in a flash, and it felt like my brain wanted to stop functioning. Back at the hospital, all that mattered was Malcolm. I kissed his forehead and said my temporary goodbyes with a heavy heart.By the time I entered the grand hall, Nina came running to me for an embrace. She was crying her lungs out, and all I could do was tap her back.“Where have you been? It’s almost midnight. I waited for you until they closed, but you weren’t there. We were so worried about you. What happened?” She stepped back to look into my face.“I was…”Adam suddenly came to me and wrapped me in his arms, tight, as if he had been longing for me. He was breathing hard. He hugged me so tightly I couldn’t breathe. He didn’t say anything for a moment. He was just there, holding me, feeling me with every touch and fingertip.“Adam…” I whispered. Then Mr. Ross approached us.“Miss, I had
ELOISE My brother lay there unconscious, with oxygen attached to his mouth and other things connected to his body. Tons of questions swirled in my head: How did he get here? What did Callum do to him? How did Callum fake his death? Didn't they bury him? Didn't Dad see his body? We even went to his grave. But those questions didn’t matter now. Malcolm was here, alive, even though he was in a coma. I ran to him and held his warm hand, staring at his skinny face. He looked tired but still handsome. He had been here all this time, kept alive only by these machines. We had mourned him. “What did you do? I knew it. I knew you did this.” I glared at Callum. He rolled his eyes and slipped his hand into his pocket, looking relaxed as if Malcolm wasn't his nephew. “Alright, I did this, did that. I just had to do what I had to because, in the end, I knew your father would ditch me.” He walked closer and casually sat on the bed next to my brother. “Now, are you going to negotiate?” A sur
ADAM I played pool and had brandy with Logan until evening, and he asked about my relationship with Eloise, just the basics. I was waiting for him to show any sign of the man Eloise used to tell me about, but he remained private and diverted the conversation to something else whenever I tried. I don't despise the man for what he did for his daughter, but I haven’t grown any liking for him; I was only trying to be civilized. He also wanted this business expansion to Las Vegas, implying that he only accepted our engagement because he expected me to invest. I didn’t find any anomaly in their plans for their expansion. Blackwood was actually managing that quite well, not that I praised him (because he was a low-life asshole and a criminal who leeched off the family), but there were still illegal transactions happening inside among their elite members. If I was to invest in such a business, I needed to make sure that fucker wouldn’t touch anything I’d work hard for. “I wanted to hear w