ELOISEAdam's reaction made my stomach clench. I stopped walking as well. “Even now, it feels like I’m being trapped. He made me fear him so much that sometimes, I feel like the knot around my ankle is still there, and I remember how hopeless I was.”“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” His voice was a low growl.“It’s all in the past now.”Adam’s face hardened, and he reached out to gently touch my arm. “It doesn’t matter when it happened. That’s unforgivable. I swear, I won’t let him hurt you again. Not while I’m here.”I nodded, swallowing hard. I knew I had to tell him. I had told no one about this, and it had been kept in my chest for so long that I knew at some point I had to get it out.“This is why I didn’t like the feeling of being helpless, being tied—being a submissive. I was already born that way; I knew you’d noticed. I knew you’d sense it, but I was done doing that; I just had no choice.”Adam frowned in confusion. “But you asked me to teach y—”I pressed a finger to hi
ELOISE The morning meeting with Dad and his wife was arranged in the drawing room. Sunshine was slipping through the curtains, illuminating my father's and Davina's serious faces. Davina had already forsaken her mourning attire; her expression was stoic yet slightly more composed than in previous days. Adam's supportive presence beside me fortified my resolve as we faced them across the room. "I'm pleased you've allowed me to organize this, Eloise. I heard from Bruce that Adam has generously offered to cover the expenses. But, it should be considered as part of Eloise's dowry," Dad began his tone, casual but calculating. I wanted to laugh. "There’s no such thing as dowries in America. The Sebastians wants an equal partnership, not outdated traditions." He nodded, acknowledging my point with a wry smile. "True, but we men must oblige to our wives—or wives-to-be, right?" He glanced at Adam for affirmation. Adam responded diplomatically, "I suppose you're right." Feeling the momen
ELOISE"We don't plan on staying here long. You can name the titles to me or whatever, but I have no experience managing your finances or business," I said with my chin up. I was going to be a Sebastian. When I finally married, Dad would no longer have much hold over me.Davina laughed humorlessly. "See that, Logan? She doesn't have what it takes. If you transfer your title to her, it will end this family.""When I transfer, Davina. It's 'when.' She will be the head of this family and have heirs with this man to continue the line. It's not futile." Dad sighed, and for the first time in my life, he was siding with me, but I wasn't naive. There was always a catch."How can I do that if I'm in the States?" I questioned."Callum will still manage the business," Davina concluded. "You will be titled, but that's all." She smirked. "Honestly, we will only need a legal binding and signature."There. The truth finally came out. They would only give me the paper title. They only needed my name
ELOISE "Ah, Miss Eloise, I saw you just a few weeks ago, and now, here you are, ready to step into a new chapter of life!" Bonnie exclaimed. The French designer meticulously checked the measurements of my wedding gown, her skilled fingers running along the delicate lace and satin. I stood before the mirror, the reflection showing my flushed face and awkward poise. "How time flies," I replied, smiling at her reflection in the mirror. Bonnie chuckled softly; her eyes glimmered in delight as she adjusted a pin near my waist. "And now, you'll be the most stunning bride I've designed for this year. This gown," she gestured grandly, "is crafted to make you stand out. So you better stand straight, my dear." I did as I was told. I watched her expert movements, each measurement and adjustment made with precision and care. "It's even more beautiful than I imagined." The gown was an exquisite design of ivory satin that flowed like liquid with each movement I made. The bodice was meticulousl
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
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
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
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
ADAMTwo Months LaterI stared at the array of takeout containers at the dining table.Chinese. Pizza. Sushi. And what looked like... pancakes?I glanced at my wife, rummaging through another bag of food with a look of utter dissatisfaction on her face.She sighed heavily, dropping back into her seat with a huff.“This isn’t what I wanted,” she muttered, poking at a container of stir-fried noodles with her chopsticks. “Why do they always mess up the order? I specifically said no onions.”I bit back a smile, sipping water to hide my amusement. She’d been in a mood all evening—no, all week. She snapped at the delivery guy, rearranged the table three times, and now complained about the food. It wasn’t like her to be so... irritable.“Do you want me to order something else?” I offered, keeping my tone calm.She groaned. “No, it’s fine. It’s not your fault. I’m just... hungry.”“Alright,” I said, taking a bite of sushi as I watched her pick up a slice of pizza. She inspected it and then pu
ELOISEThe news was everywhere.“BREAKING: Adam Sebastian Takes Charge as CBS Undergoes Major Changes.”The TV screen in the corner of Adam’s—I meant our—living room displayed his gorgeous face as the anchor discussed his triumphant return to CBS. I sat curled up on the plush leather couch, my bare feet tucked beneath me.The move to Adam’s penthouse had consumed our week, but things felt more real for the first time since our whirlwind honeymoon—more tangible than they had a couple of weeks ago.“Following the high-profile arrest of former CEO Christopher Jackson on charges of fraud and embezzlement, CBS has been acquired by Sebastian Pictures,” the reporter announced.I glanced toward Adam, who sat in the adjacent armchair. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and he held a glass of scotch.His hair was slightly tousled, as though he’d run his fingers through it one too many times. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes—those piercing ocean blues—held a flicker of satisfaction that only
ADAM The music shifted again, this time to something bolder—a sign that the night’s main event was about to begin. The guests settled at their tables, and so did Eloise and I. Servers glided through the crowd, topping off glasses with champagne, some served canapés. Christopher then stepped onto the stage like a man who believed the world bowed at his feet—because, for now, it did. I smirked. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his tone booming through the room. “Thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate our annual holiday gala and another year of extraordinary success at CBS.” Polite applause followed. His smile widened. “This year has been one of tremendous growth, and we owe that to our investors, our partners, and of course, all of you.” He gestured broadly to the crowd. “But tonight, we celebrate more than profits. We celebrate vision—the vision that built this company into what it is today.” The applause grew louder, but Christopher held up a hand, silencing them. “An
ELOISEThe Astoria Royale buzzed with the presence of celebrities, influential politicians, renowned news anchors, and prominent CBS journalists, all gathered for tonight's grand event.Towering glass chandeliers bathed the grand ballroom in a soft, golden glow, and the scent of vanilla and champagne lingered in the air with some faint traces of expensive perfumes and cigars.It was intoxicating. Dizzying. I still wasn’t used to this, not even after all the lavish parties back in Scotland.I stepped onto the red velvet carpet leading into the ballroom, the click of my emerald stilettos barely audible beneath the hum of conversation, the smooth notes of classical jazz, and bursts of laughter.The crowd stirred when Adam and I entered. Cameras flashed from behind us, and photographers called out for us to turn and pose.The flashes were blinding, but Adam’s warm, steady hand at the small of my back grounded me. I glanced up at him.God, my husband was breathtaking tonight.Adam wore a s
ELOISEThe night was unusually calm for New York—no sirens, no distant honking horns. It was just the quiet hum of the city beneath us and the distant shimmer of lights stretching to the horizon.I leaned on the balcony railing of my house, my fingers wrapped around the warm ceramic of my coffee mug, while Adam stood beside me, resting his weight against the edge.His face was hard to read tonight—calm but calculating. The kind of expression he wore when his mind was turning over something too heavy to leave unspoken. I’d grown used to the layers in his looks, but tonight, there was something sharper.“Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind, or do I have to pry it out of you?” I teased, though my voice came out softer than I intended.Adam’s lips quirked into the faintest smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re getting good at that—reading me.”“It’s not hard. You practically radiate tension.” I leaned closer, resting my head against his shoulder for a moment. “Talk to me.”
ELOISEWhen Adam and I first entered my place to meet Jenna and grab a few things, my best friend was already standing by the door, hands on her chest.She looked at us with disappointment written all over her face, but I knew it had more to do with the fact that I hadn’t told her I was getting married.“You traitor,” she mumbled.I sighed, not wanting to disappoint her further. I immediately hugged her.“I’m sorry. I have no excuse. But can we please sit inside so I can explain?”“You told me I’d be your maid of honor!”She glanced at Adam and scowled.“Another traitor.”“Hi! Jenna, right?” Adam flashed his sweetest smile.Jenna’s mouth dropped open, but she quickly looked away.“Just come in.” She stepped aside.We entered the living room while Adam looked around, taking in the space.“You do have a nice place here. Maybe we should stay?” he teased.Jenna gasped and rushed in front of us.“Are you guys—kicking me out?”I laughed. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just kidding!”We sat down
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