“There’s nothing scarier than my younger sister coming back…” Manni muttered as she paced around the small porch just outside the sitting room.“Calm down, sweetheart. Let’s go inside and sit. Is this about my position?” John asked gently, already sensing her answer. Manni had shown up at his house first before he arrived, yet she hadn’t even used the spare key he had given her to let herself in. She just stood there, visibly tense, too worried to enter. Even more telling, she’d chosen not to go with her mom to welcome her long-lost sister, who had been gone for three years without a single word. It was hard to believe they shared the same parents; their behavior towards each other seemed more like stepsisters, competitive and strained.John’s question brought Manni back to the moment. She folded her arms, looking at him with a mix of frustration and hurt. “Have you forgotten where I found you? Sometimes I wonder if you even care about my feelings…”“I’m sorry, darling.”“Don’t ‘darlin
"What did you come here to do, you loser?" Manni's cold words hit Becky like a slap. She blinked, wondering if she was dreaming. This was her sister, wasn’t it? The same one who had just asked kindly about her in the sitting room, smiling as if she actually cared? Back in the sitting room, their mom had watched them exchange pleasantries, probably thinking the bond between them had held firm, despite all the years apart and how things used to be. But now, in the privacy of Manni’s bedroom, that friendly mask had fallen away, revealing a harshness Becky hadn’t expected. For a moment, she told herself she must have misheard. Maybe Manni was on the phone? But no, Manni’s gaze was fixed on her, eyes narrowed with something like disdain. Becky’s heart skipped a beat. "You said…?" she managed, her voice softer than she intended. She didn’t want to make trouble. She wasn’t here to stir up old fights. But Manni didn’t answer, instead turning to lock the door with a loud, deliberate click, B
Alexander felt a soft touch on his shoulder, but his mind was still racing from Humphrey's words. Humphrey had spoken to him in a way no one ever had before, raw, unfiltered, leaving him unsettled. He barely noticed the presence behind him, so lost in thought that the touch seemed almost familiar. “Helen?” He murmured, turning slowly, surprised to see her standing there. The woman before him wore bold, red lipstick, the shade he always admired, and her low-cut dress revealed her intentions as clearly as her gaze, which lingered with a seductive glint. She took a step closer, her posture suggestive as she leaned, adjusting her dress just enough to expose more of her legs. “Stop pretending, Alexander,” she whispered, her voice soft and alluring. “I know you want me, and I know you’re hurt because of what has happened.” Alexander’s heart clenched. He felt the weight of his grief, and yet here she was, assuming she could fill a void that went far deeper than she seemed to understand. Hi
“Go to your room now,” Becky’s dad whispered urgently in her ear. His eyes widened with fear, darting around. What’s wrong with Mr. Scholes because of a knock? They stood far from the main door, and unless he yelled, no one outside could hear them. Maybe he was worried about Mr. Alexander’s assistant, who kept pressing him, asking, “When is the burial date of my boss’s late wife?” Perhaps he feared losing respect or simply wanted to keep his daughter safe from any harm being the one thwarting his daughter's plan. Becky gently placed her fingers to her eyes, trying to stop her tears as she remembered Manni's words. She turned to the left, heading toward her room, while her dad went in the opposite direction. He stayed silent, even as the person at the door knocked again. As he walked to the door, he thought, Can’t he speak out? Looking through the peephole, he blinked and was surprised. “Diana?” he whispered aloud. Then he opened the door. “Good evening, Mr. Scholes.” Diana’s small
The next morning, Manni paused outside Becky’s room, catching the sound of her sister giggling. She frowned. "What’s wrong with her? Laughing with herself?" she muttered to herself. There was something about Becky’s cheerfulness that felt like a threat. "Why’s she so cheerful? And why did she call a family meeting this morning of all times? Could she be planning to tell Mum and Dad what I told her? That would be a disaster. What am I going to do?" Anxious and a bit queasy, Manni lingered outside the door, hoping to hear more of Becky’s conversation, but the giggles had stopped. After a moment of hesitation, she knocked. "Yes, who’s there?" Becky called out from inside, her tone neutral but distant. Manni took a deep breath, steadying herself before she answered. "It’s me, Manni. Can I come in?" She glanced around quickly, then took her phone out, started a recording, and slipped it back into the pocket of her loose, hollow white nightgown. "Yes!" Becky’s voice was firm. Manni ste
Adams’ voice rang out sharply, breaking the serene ambiance of the richly furnished room. “You’ve given Alexander so much privilege. He keeps delaying his visit. You told him how much you wanted to see him, yet he makes excuses,” he said with so much frustration as he paced around the elegantly decorated sitting room, adorned with Italian furniture. The polished floor mirrored every movement of his feet. Mr. Luke, seated in his usual massive armchair with golden accents on its arms and legs, tried to interject, his brows furrowing slightly at his son’s outburst. At fifty-nine, he wore an air of authority tempered by a weariness that had deepened with age. “Maybe… maybe Alexander is just busy with some of the,” he began, his voice soft as he tried to defend Alexander. “Busy?” Adams interrupted, practically spitting the word, his gaze darkening. “Busy is just an excuse, and you always fall for it, don’t you, Dad? Why wouldn’t he delay? You appointed him CEO as if it were his birthright
As soon as Alexander’s car disappeared down the road, Adams left his father’s house, his face breaking into a wide grin. He slid into his own car, shut the door with a firm click, and immediately reached for the bottle of wine resting on the passenger seat. Taking a deep sip, he savored the taste for a moment, feeling the warmth spread through him. His hand moved to the ignition, and with a determined look, he turned the key, the engine roaring to life as he pulled away. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he spoke aloud, almost to himself. "I haven’t told Jude," he muttered, a spark of excitement lighting up his eyes. Without taking his eyes off the road, Adams reached for his phone and quickly dialed Jude’s number. As soon as his brother picked up, Adams didn’t waste a second. "The deal’s done. We’re going to the summit," he said, his voice filled with barely contained triumph. "You’re coming with me, as one of my directors." There was a moment of stunned silence before Jude’s vo
"Why would you say that in front of my parents? You almost got me in trouble!" Becky's tone held a mix of laughter and frustration as they stepped out of the taxi in front of the airport. "I had to," Diana replied with a defiant look. "Manni has done enough damage. Just her look is enough to set me off. Why should she act all innocent when she's the one causing all the problems?" So engrossed in their conversation, Becky and Diana didn’t even notice the driver, who had already taken out their luggage and was waiting nearby. With a sigh, he cleared his throat, clearly trying to remind them of his presence. "See what you caused," Diana said playfully, nudging Becky as she opened her bag and handed the driver his fare. "You’re always tiptoeing around the truth. Let your parents know who Manni really is!" "How many times do I have to say." "You should’ve just told them the truth, Becky. It’s for your own good. They need to see she’s the troublemaker in the house," Diana insisted. "I t
Henry’s povI didn’t want things to feel weird between Kathrine and me the next morning. Not while we were still at the hotel.I woke up early, wrapped up in Kathrine's legs, her hair spilling over the pillow. It was still dark outside, but I knew she’d wake up as soon as the sun peeked over the horizon. For a moment, I just lay there, watching her, amazed at how someone like her had ended up here, with me.Carefully, I slid out of bed, not wanting to disturb her warmth, but I had plans before she woke. She wasn’t usually one for big breakfasts, but last night had been... eventful. If she wasn’t hungry, I definitely was, so nothing would go to waste.I rang the concierge, who sounded half-asleep, and arranged a little surprise. Then, I tidied up the suite, making sure everything looked just right. Once I was satisfied, I settled onto the small couch and waited.Just as I expected, I soon heard soft movements from the bedroom. It couldn’t be Noah, too early, too quiet. I heard the bath
Noah's POV:“Hey, Noah, a little help?” Henry’s voice broke through the quiet, strained and impatient. “The water’s turning into ice here.”I moved quickly, snatching a towel from the vanity before scooping Kathrine into my arms. She felt light, almost weightless, her body limp but still warm. For a second, I worried she’d completely blacked out, but then she let out a faint murmur and nestled her face into the crook of my neck. I left Henry to deal with the tub, trusting him to drain it and clean up the mess, while I carried Kathrine to the bed. She was my priority now, my responsibility.Laying her down gently, I began to dry her off, the towel moving in slow, careful strokes. She stirred slightly, her lips parting as she mumbled something incoherent. Her hands fumbled weakly for the comforter, trying to pull it over herself. I couldn’t help but smile as I continued to towel her hair, which clung to her skin in damp strands. Her body was a canvas of faint marks, love bites on her ne
Kathrine's povI was incredibly sore, to the point where walking seemed impossible. My body had never experienced anything like that before. Slipping into the hot water was pure bliss, and the jets massaging my muscles? Incredible. But when I opened my eyes and looked at Henry, a different kind of ache filled me. His physique was unlike Noah's, taller, slimmer, and with more hair on his chest.I never thought I’d find body hair attractive, but... I liked the way it felt under my fingertips. It was so tempting that I moved closer, sliding over his legs to get near him. Reflecting on our time together so far, it felt like Noah and I had been the focus, while Henry had been overlooked.No one had touched him yet. That didn’t seem fair.My Henry, always so giving, so reserved, so disciplined. Now, all I wanted was to break through that control. For some reason, the thought of pushing his limits thrilled me.My soreness faded as the warm, swirling water worked its magic. "Henry?" I placed
Henry’s PovSeeing Kathrine like that was the most stunning thing I’d ever experienced. It wasn’t just about the physical part, it felt bigger, more meaningful, like it reached a part of me I didn’t even know was there. I won’t lie, I felt a little jealous that Noah was the one to be with her first, even though we’d planned it that way. Noah is calmer and softer than I am, and we wanted her first time to be so good that she’d want to keep going. I didn’t mind sitting back and watching, though. Well, not too much. I barely noticed Noah, my eyes were locked on Kathrine, watching every move, every reaction, every little sound she made. When she started asking for more intensity, I almost couldn’t hold myself together. If she liked it a little wild, then I knew she could handle me. But I could tell she wasn’t ready for me tonight, not after what Noah had just done. I’d have to wait my turn. I was also really proud of her for using her safe word when Noah did something she didn’t lik
Kathrine’s PovHenry and Noah awakened a part of me I didn’t even know was there. Who was this bold, teasing version of myself? Yet, slipping into that role felt as natural as breathing whenever things turned intimate between us. Pushing their buttons, especially Henry’s, gave me a thrill I couldn’t resist.“So, who’s going to take this off me?” I asked, my voice low and teasing, my hands gliding down my body as I held Henry’s gaze. He was the one in charge, the alpha. I thought stripping him of his clothes might have dimmed some of his power, but he still sat there like a king, composed, unshakable. My skin prickled as his eyes roamed over me.“Noah,” Henry said, a slow, confident smile spreading across his face. “You’ll undress her, but not with your hands. Use your teeth.”Noah’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He moved onto the bed, hovering above me on all fours, his body enclosing mine. He leaned down, catching the thin strap of my top between his teeth and tugging it off one
Kathrine's POVMy heart pounded as my gaze darted between Henry, Noah, and the delicate pendant in his hand. A lump formed in my throat.I had never thought about anyone else outside the two of them. Why would I? Henry and Noah were already more than enough. Polyamory meant multiple lovers, sure, I understood that in theory. But in my world, it was just them. Just us. I already had my hands full. So why would I ever look elsewhere?But then, was I ready for a real, committed relationship? I had told myself this was supposed to be light, fun, just an experiment. No strings, no deep emotions, no heartbreak. That way, when these two playboys inevitably moved on, I wouldn’t be left shattered.I should have said no to the necklace. I should have laughed it off, made a joke, or even called for a timeout. But I didn’t. Instead, I stood up, my hands trembling as I brushed aside the paper wrappings. I didn’t say a word. My body moved on instinct as I turned my back to Noah, knelt before him, an
Kathrine’s POVThe Grand was a fancy hotel on top of the mountain, mostly for rich skiers and socialites from out of town. It looked like a giant Swiss chalet, but with a ballroom, a conference center, and five floors. Everyone knew about it, but locals hardly ever went there because it was too expensive. I didn’t even want to ask how much Henry had paid for a room for the night.As we walked into the lobby, it felt like stepping into another world. A huge stone fireplace sat in the middle, though it wasn’t lit. Cozy chairs were arranged around it, and I could almost imagine coming back from skiing and warming up by the fire. To one side, there was a bar and a restaurant, and a grand staircase leading up. Henry went to the front desk, signed some papers, and got the key.“All set,” he said with a smile before leading me, not to the stairs, but to an elevator. That meant our room was on a higher floor. When we got in, Henry pressed the top button. It wasn’t numbered, just marked with a
Noah’s povI was sitting in my truck outside the Tokyo House restaurant, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, feeling restless. The sky had an unusual orange glow as dark storm clouds began to cover the setting sun. The air felt thick, like rain was about to fall any moment, and I could sense the shift in the weather. I hoped Henry and Kathrine would arrive before the downpour started. Thankfully, I had thought to bring an umbrella, just in case.I glanced at my phone again, but there were still no messages from either of them.Just as the first heavy raindrops began to hit my windshield, I noticed the Impala pulling into the gravel parking lot. I quickly grabbed my umbrella and hurried over to hold it above the passenger door for Kathrine as she got out.She stepped out carefully, offering a small smile, though it seemed a bit forced. "Oh, Noah! Hi," she said.I wanted to kiss her, but something about the way she carried herself made me hesitate. I glanced at Henry over the car
Kathrine's pov My backside was soaked and freezing, but sitting on top of Henry, I felt oddly warm and cozy. His smoldering gaze told me he wasn’t exactly cold either. Still, I couldn’t help but think the ice beneath him was melting, soaking into his clothes. Carefully, I climbed off him and followed his earlier advice to stand up. Squatting like a frog on the ice, I slowly straightened my legs, wobbling until I found my balance. Once upright, I shuffled my way back to the safety of the wall, gripping it like a lifeline.Too focused on staying upright, I didn’t see Henry peel himself off the ice. But a moment later, he was gliding beside me again, his hand gripping mine through my thick glove. He coaxed me away from the wall, encouraging me to venture further out onto the ice. Time seemed to melt away as I got the hang of skating. It was challenging at first, but under Henry’s patient guidance, I learned to push myself forward, make slow turns, and even stop without toppling over. I