Derek's eyes locked onto Autumn as her cheeks flushed a deep red, a color that spread down her neck, making his pulse quicken. He couldn't fully grasp why he had said such words to her.The memory of that night together, a night he repeatedly told himself was a mistake, still lingered in the corners of his mind. But if he was honest with himself, there was something deeper, a greed that gnawed at him, a longing he couldn't fully deny.Autumn's eyes fluttered shut, and her lips, slightly parted, seemed more tempting than ever, drawing him in, messing with his thoughts. Derek's breath hitched as he realized how close he had gotten to her. The tension coiled tighter within him, the room suddenly feeling too warm. He pulled back, a burning sensation rising in his throat, making him tug at his loose collar as if the very air had become too thin."I apologize, Autumn," Derek's voice was strained, his hand moving to massage the back of his neck in an attempt to ease the tension. "I don't kn
Autumn’s face hardened as she met Ivan's gaze, her voice steady despite the tremor in her chest. "Maybe they won't think of me as anything spineless. They already drag my name through the mud, saying I can't contain you at home. What's there to talk about? We have an open marriage, for God's sake." Autumn said as Ivan's gaze looked like it could send Autumn six feet under.Before Ivan could respond, Iris wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing herself against his back in a gesture meant to calm him. "That's no way to talk to your husband, Autumn. Ivan is trying to protect you, and here you are being ungrateful," Iris chimed in, her voice a sickly sweet mixture of concern and condescension.Autumn’s eyes snapped to Iris, a sharp edge in her gaze. "Oh, please. If Ivan gave two shits about me, he would never have continued an affair with you. Don't come at me when you're having an affair with Dexter." The accusation hung in the air like a bomb ready to explode.Iris’s eyes wi
Autumn felt her world collapse in slow motion as Iris pushed her. The last thing she saw was the shock etched on Iris’s face before Ivan suddenly appeared beside her, standing frozen in disbelief. The moment stretched endlessly, but then gravity took over, and Autumn’s head plummeted towards the unforgiving concrete floor below. The impact was jarring, and she lay flat on her back, her vision beginning to blur. The once-clear world around her dissolved into a chaotic swirl of colors and sounds, the sharp edges of reality softening into a haze. A scream tore through the air—raw and filled with terror—as some of Derek’s men rushed onto the scene, their faces twisted in horror at the sight before them.Autumn’s heart sank to the pit of her stomach. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she desperately tried to focus, her pupils dilating wildly as she fought against the encroaching darkness. She blinked rapidly, praying it was all just a trick of her mind, that her vision wasn’t truly failin
"You fell, hit your head, and you’ve been in a coma for about three days. I have no idea why you can’t speak, though." Iris’s voice dripped with false concern as she walked over to a desk, calmly pouring water into a glass. She handed it to Autumn with a patronizing smile. "You must be thirsty, here..."Without hesitation, Autumn slapped the glass from Iris’s hand, sending it crashing to the floor where it shattered into countless pieces. The water splattered across the tiles, the sound sharp in the sterile silence of the hospital room.Iris looked down at the broken glass, then back at Autumn, her expression shifting from surprise to fury. "Watch it, you whore," Iris hissed, her voice low and venomous. "You can’t talk, so I can put you in a hell of a lot of trouble."Autumn’s gaze snapped to the door as Dexter walked in, her heart sinking at the sight of the two devils now sharing the room with her. "Dexter..." Iris pouted, running to him with exaggerated distress. Dexter caught he
"What the hell are you doing?" Derek’s voice sliced through the tension in the room like a knife, causing both Dexter and Autumn to drift their focus towards him. He stood in the doorway, his tall frame rigid with barely contained fury. Dexter’s manic expression shifted abruptly into a cold, impassive mask. His eyes flicked to Autumn, and the silent warning in his gaze was unmistakable, urging her to play along.But Autumn’s gaze didn’t waver. Her eyes locked onto Dexter’s, defiant and unyielding, silently telling him she wasn’t going to cooperate.Dexter chuckled, the sound dark and mirthless. He reached out, tilting Autumn’s chin with the back of his hand, his touch lingering in a mockery of tenderness. “I was just giving her a check-up,” he said, his voice smooth, though he could feel the slight tremor in his hands. He dropped his grip and took a step back, adjusting his belt surreptitiously, hoping it wouldn’t betray him by letting his pants slip.Derek’s expression hardened. “T
Derek's eyes scanned the sterile hospital hallway, the faint scent of antiseptic lingering in the air as he made his way towards Autumn's room. The permit in his pocket was still warm, and the memory of his recent work call buzzed faintly in the back of his mind. He clutched a small bouquet of flowers—a vibrant hibiscus—its petals soft under his fingers, intending to offer it to her as a small gesture. His mind wandered to the last time he visited. He had managed to get Autumn her phone, the only thing that kept them connected when his work pulled him away. But he could still hear Charlie's playful jab, teasing him about always showing up empty-handed. The words hadn’t stung, but then, he felt a twinge of guilt. He could not forget Autumn's almond-shaped eyes, wide and bright despite her condition, catching his gaze like a beacon. In that instant, he wished he could fill the room with flowers, a sea of color that might make her smile just a little brighter. Derek hadn't known what fl
Hello everyone, I apologize for the little updates recently. The week has been hectic but a chapter will be out soon. Thank you for checking out my book.Note chapter 31 has been edited and yet to be modified please be patient till my editor approves it. I'll be dropping updates back to back though.Please leave a review, it brings a smile to my face knowing your thoughts about the book.Thank you 🤗
It was a miserable sight. Ivan rushed to Iris’s side, dismissing Derek's perspective entirely. His nephew’s eyes burned with contempt, a silent challenge simmering in the air as if Ivan needed to reassert his dominance. Derek remained unfazed, his expression cold and detached. Without a word, he turned to leave, his intention clear—he would head to Autumn’s ward.But Ivan moved swiftly, stepping into Derek’s path, blocking his way. The tension between them crackled like a live wire."You've been spending way too much time with my wife, don't you think?" Ivan’s voice was low, laced with a dangerous edge. Derek’s gaze flickered to Iris, who lay feigning sleep, her breathing uneven and unconvincing."Isn't that better?" Derek’s voice, deep and smooth, carried a hint of mockery. He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "You can have your mistress, and your wife doesn’t have to worry about your affair. Everyone’s happy, aren’t they?" Ivan's grip on Iris tightened involuntarily, his kn