Lucien.I don't know why I had that package delivered to her. Isolation were my plans for her but somehow, I couldn't help the nut in my stomach over my decision to close the world on her. She is stubborn, those were fact about Moore and those are what I liked most, reasons to have her punished and humiliated. “You never learn, I see?” I let out the words in my throat. She disgust me, every single part of her does. She raised her head up, ready yet again to protest. I stared over her, her body clean and flawless, no indication of sufferness despite the things she had been through. “Come.” I let out, forcing the thoughts of ruining those skin off my head. I'll take it gradually at a time.I had against my rule brought her a phone. I even added a credit card so she could at least spend while I still carry out my bitterness on her. But seeing the paper box on the floor only indicated that she had tossed them aside without knowing what's in there. Yet, she took some help from a r
LUCIEN. “Put your hands on your laps.” I roared anger emitting from me while she quickly did as was instructed.I walked past her into the inner room where everything dreadful to a woman would be.Athena had a choice when I brought her here, but Moore, she comes at my order. “Is… what's this place?” Her trembling voice asked as I walked through the trail to pick up the right cuffs that would keep her in check.I picked the leather cuffs with sharp designed edges and walked swiftly to her side. “You will see.” I replied to her questions before stretching my hands towards her. “Your hand.” “This is a criminal offence, you know? I could sue you for abuse.” “I'll watch you try.” I replied, my patience wearing thin.If only she had someone to tell her that things wouldn't be too hard for her if only she behaves. “I don't give my consent to this. I didn't sign my involvement, you're doing this to me out of my free will.” Whatever thing she thinks she's doing by buying off tim
MooreI buried my face deeper into the duvet, feeling the stinging aches all over my body. Tears rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably, my chest rose and fell in quiet sobs. The pain in my body was nothing compared to the whirlwind of emotions inside me.I couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan, the way he had rushed to help me at the hospital. My heart clenched in fear, imagining what Lucien might do to him now. He wasn’t the type to let things slide, and I knew the thought of Ethan stepping in didn't sit well with him. I had been terribly punished for that.My organs hurt, and I could still feel the heat of the whip on them. He had made his mark clear. If I wished to survive here, then I had to be obedient.Obey! Obey! Obey!“Son of a bitch!” I cursed inwardly.I closed my eyes, hoping—no, praying—that somehow, I could protect Ethan from Lucien’s wrath.But that was wishful thinking. I could barely protect myself.I wiped my eyes, feeling the burning embarrassment crawl through me.I had
Jordan.I hadn't been able to concentrate since Mrs. Giodarno, as I should start calling her—walked out of my office the previous day. The encounter replayed in my mind over and over, like a song stuck on repeat. It wasn’t anything particularly significant, just her grabbing a few things. But still, it left a mark.I can't seem to breathe in close proximity with her.I couldn’t explain it, but something about her pulled me in. It was a strange feeling, a magnetic force that I couldn’t shake off, no matter how much I reminded myself that she was married. Married to Lucien Giordano, of all people. That fact should have been enough for me to keep my distance. And yet, here I was—standing in her home, my heart pounding against my chest as if I were some nervous teenager.I took a deep breath, clutching the small purse she had left behind at my office. I’d used it as an excuse to come here. I could have sent someone, though I wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe I wanted to see her again, mayb
Emily“What the heck?” I blurted out, not almost feeling myself while I stared at my phone with the intensity I had no idea I had.The message stared back at me like an open wound, festering with dread. My heart hammered in my chest, the words burned into my brain."I see your slutty sister got married to a filthy rich man, huh? Tell her to watch her back. I know her movements."Whoever sent this was serious. It wasn’t some random prank. Whoever it was had been watching Moore closely, and now they were coming for her. The threat wasn’t even aimed at me, but I felt it deep in my bones. I’d never been this terrified in my life.A knock on my door jolted me out of my spiralling thoughts. My phone nearly slipped out of my hand as I rushed to answer it.I opened the door, and Madam Isabel, the housekeeper, stood there, her kind but tired eyes looking at me through thick lenses. She held a large bag, the kind you’d expect from a high-end boutique."Good afternoon, Emily. This arrived for yo
Grey“Mr. Addison, we’ve got another problem.”My PA’s voice trembled slightly, his fingers gripping the tablet in his hands like it held the weight of the world. I glanced up at him, noticing the worried look etched on his face. He looked more anxious than usual, which told me this wasn’t just a minor issue. Something serious was happening, again.“What now, Jerry?” I asked, rubbing my temples.He hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Shareholders are pulling out their shares. Ever since the incident at your ex wife's wedding... things have gotten worse."I felt my stomach twist. The wedding. That damned disaster had not only humiliated me but was now threatening to ruin everything I had worked for."How bad is it?" I asked through clenched teeth.Jerry's eyes flickered nervously, and he cleared his throat. "It’s... drastic. We've lost almost 15% of our shares in the past two days, and the trend isn’t slowing down. If it continues—""I get the picture," I cut hi
ArthurI walked into my home, the familiar cold air embracing me like an old friend. The tension in my chest simmered beneath the surface as I thought about what lay ahead. Moore’s sister, Grey, Lucien... all of them were pieces in a game I’d been forced to pause five years ago. But now, I had all the cards in my hand again.Five years.Five years since Moore left me to die.The memory of that day still stung like a fresh wound, but I wasn’t the same man who had fallen for her harmless looks back then. When I woke up after barely surviving, the news was everywhere—plastered across every screen and paper. Moore had gone to jail after her attempted murder or murder on me.She had aligned herself with a man I had intended to use. It had been the perfect plan until she ruined everything. Until she almost cleared me in a web that eventually caused her ruin.I had no issues with her, I only saw her as the perfect place to hide until I had all the power to overthrow him. But now, she's just
MooreI was still wrapped in the sheets, feeling a little better from the medicine I took, when the door opened. Vivian's figure stood in the doorway, her usual composed expression giving way to something slightly more concerned.“Your sister’s here ma'am.” she announced.My heart sank. Emily? Now? She wasn’t supposed to be here—wasn't she off in Europe for her studies? The last thing I needed was to face her. Not like this, not now.I only wanted her to pay for the clothes via invoice sent to her, but rather, she's here, In Lucien's home.I sat up, clutching the sheets closer to my chest, feeling utterly exposed, not just physically but emotionally. “Vivian, can you get the package from her? Tell her I’m... busy.”Vivian hesitated, her hand resting lightly on the doorframe. “She’s refusing to hand it over. Says she needs to see you, and she sounds urgent.”My throat tightened. Urgent? Emily didn’t do “urgent.” She was always the calm, collected one, never rattled by anything. If she
MooreLucien’s door was locked.I stood at the entrance, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, feeling the slight dampness of sweat on my skin. The scent of the food I had been cooking still clung to me, and I frowned, suddenly self-conscious. Should I have taken a shower before coming here? Maybe changed into something more… decent?I glanced down at my outfit—tiny shorts and a tank top that did absolutely nothing to hide my skin. The idea of facing Lucien like this made my stomach turn. Not because I cared what he thought, I told myself, but because I didn’t want him to think I had dressed this way for him. I would never do that.Would I?No. Absolutely not.Still, the urge to rush back to my room and grab a robe or something less revealing was strong. But I stayed put, pressing my hands together as I tried to steady myself. Whatever reason he had for calling me here, I doubted my outfit would be the focus.Lucien never needed a reason to be cruel.I wondered what my offens
Lucien"But I'm cooking," Moore protested, her voice clipped, eyes fixed on the floor as if she were speaking to herself rather than me.The sheer audacity of her response made something snap inside me. Cooking? That was her excuse?My jaw clenched as I took a step closer, towering over her. "Did I ask?" My tone was sharp, edged with something dangerous.Her lips pressed into a thin line, and I saw it—the hesitation, the defiance she wanted to suppress but couldn’t completely hide.She was angry. I could see it in her. And it wasn't because I interrupted her cooking session or whatever hobby she picked up in my absence, but because Athena was there. She thought I invited Athena, to possibly humiliate her.But Alas does she know I wanted her, her pussy and not that of Athena's.No offense but I find it hard to fuck Athena anymore. I have this insatiable hunger to end our contacts, but that would only mean I wanted Moore. More than I had intended. I can't risk finding that out. “No.”
Lucien"I know you better than anyone… So tell me, why did you linger in London when we could have actually taken care of everything perfectly well from Italy? You made me stay more than two weeks apart from my—"Gregory abruptly cut himself off, his frustration evident as he paced the length of the private jet."From your?" I arched a brow, narrowing my gaze at him.Greg hesitated, his jaw locking. He would rather bite his tongue than complete that sentence."I guess you already knew," he muttered, walking briskly towards the exit ramp, leaving me alone with my thoughts while I let out a slight chuckle.I didn't reply. Instead,I walked into the car, and leaned back against my seat, staring out of the small oval window. The city lights of Milan stretched beneath us, golden threads weaving through the night.I hadn't been able to get Moore out of my head for even a second, not even in the extra two days I spent in London. No matter how hard I tried, she kept invading my mind—her face,
Arthur“The Venice deal is back on our radar after ghosting us. Lucien must have rejected them.”Eric's voice cut through the silence of my office as he strode toward me, placing a thick file on my desk.I leaned back in my chair, my fingers tapping lightly on the glossy surface of the proposal. Lucien must have felt insulted. That man had power—wealth beyond measure—and yet, it didn't take much to weaken an empire. A single crack in the foundation, the right pressure applied to the right wound, and even the strongest could crumble.And that was why I didn’t just want to beat Lucien in business. I needed to go deeper. I needed to strike where it would hurt the most.I have his whore wrapped in my hands for a starter and I'm pushing way beyond that.Eric pushed another file toward me, filled with details about Lucien’s holdings, movements, investments. But I was barely looking at them. For the past five years, I had been nothing more than a shadow, working behind the scenes, maneuverin
MooreI froze at the sight of him.Jordan McWood.The last time I saw him, I’d been undressed, humiliated beyond words, and in no state to properly face him. And yet, here he was, standing right in front of me as if nothing had happened.Vivian had also been implicated in that rash decision of mine and I had hoped Lucien hadn't done anything to him too.He seemed like such a cool guy who stood for me even when he had no idea who I was.Without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him in a brief hug. It was instinctive, something I hadn’t planned, but it felt… right. He had been kind to me, and after everything, kindness was something I couldn’t take for granted.When I pulled away, I cleared my throat awkwardly, realizing what I’d just done. "Sorry," I muttered. "I just… I never got the chance to properly thank you for what you did for me that day."Jordan smiled. "You don’t have to thank me, Moo… Mrs Giodarno.""No, I do." I shook my head. "You went out of your way
MooreI furrowed my brows, walking directly out of the hospital.Someone was waiting for me outside.A strange occurrence, considering who I am now. If it were Lucien, he wouldn’t have bothered with something as simple as waiting outside. He would have walked in like he owned the damn place, his presence enough to silence a room.Lillard? Possibly. But what reason did he have to meet me so urgently?I sighed, slipping my phone back into my uniform pocket as I made my way toward the exit. I had left Mirabel with Ethan for now, and I didn’t want to waste time on whatever nonsense this was.The moment I pushed the heavy hospital doors open and stepped into the crisp evening air, I stopped dead in my tracks.Grey Addison.For a split second, I didn’t recognize him.He looked like a man who had just crawled out of hell. His usual arrogance had been buried beneath exhaustion, his once-polished appearance now tainted with disorder and pain. His right arm was wrapped carefully, and even from
Moore"You’re just determined to make Georgia hate you, aren’t you?" I said, glancing at Ethan as we walked side by side through the hospital hallway. His hands were full, carrying all the cleaning supplies like it was nothing."Well, I don’t give two fucks about her," he replied without hesitation, his tone cool and indifferent.I sighed, shaking my head. "You really don’t seem to understand that she likes you."Ethan shot me a sideways glance, his expression unreadable. "Are you interceding for her? That’s a shame." His voice was serious, but I caught the slight amusement beneath it.I frowned. "What? No. I just think you’re usually good at reading a room. This whole act of yours is only making her hate me more, though." I shrugged, resting my hands behind my back as we continued walking.Ethan ducked his head slightly, his piercing gaze settling on me. "Do you want her to like you?"I blinked, momentarily thrown off by his directness. It was unexpected. Ethan wasn’t exactly the typ
Moore"It pays to be a billionaire’s wife. Only someone with such status will resume work three weeks after her first day," Brittany sneered, her sharp eyes narrowing in disgust.I remembered my first day at this hospital vividly—Brittany had hurled insult after insult at me.Now, nothing had changed.I glanced at her, my expression blank, radiating an indifference I knew would only piss her off more.I don’t give a damn what you think about me.I wasn’t here for Brittany or anyone else. I was looking for one person.Ethan.It felt like months since I last came here. The memories of that day were still raw, still bleeding.I had stopped coming after Ethan had given me those jackets, a moment of kindness that had cost me dearly.Lucien had punished me for it.By dragging Athena to his bedroom.By making me watch. He had also had me whipped the next morning, rendering my body useless while he also made sure my clothes, the very one I and Lillard got were burned.A violent shudder ran do
AthenaMoore was carried by Lucien!I stared at my phone, frozen.The image burned into my mind like a cruel joke, one I couldn't wake up from. My grip tightened around the device as my anger swelled, boiling over with every second I continued to look.The headline at the top of the article taunted me, even though my name wasn’t mentioned.“Billionaire elite Lucien Giordano spotted outside his launch event carrying his once-disgraced wife in his arms. Has he finally forgiven her for the humiliation she caused him six years ago?”Wife… why do they call him his wife? Moore is no wife to Lucien!I scrolled, unable to take my eyes away, another one followed.“Enemies to lovers? Has the great Lucien Giordano rekindled his past love with Moore?”My breath hitched. I felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs.No.This wasn’t the Lucien I knew. There was no way in hell he would do that for Moore. For her.Lucien never looked at her the way he looked at me.He had never carried me bef