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63|Ultimatum
Last Updated:
2025-01-21 01:04:59
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Reckless Hearts 64|Off The Rails
For once, the family dinner was going well, despite Holly being almost two hours late. They were all minding their own business and enjoying Nanette's four-course meal. They were all happy. Until Liam addressed the elephant in the room, asking about the marks on Holly's neck. When she made it clear the subject was not up for discussion, he doubled down, demanding to know if Cooper was responsible. Soon, Willow jumped on the bandwagon, and Holly knew she didn't stand a chance. So, after much badgering from the brother-sister tag team, she caved and filled everyone in on her encounter with Cooper and her subsequent protection order. As expected, her parents were furious, threatening all kinds of legal action against Cooper. Liam and Willow were equally enraged, but happy to settle the score with violence. "Honestly, you guys have nothing to worry about; I've handled it. The hearing is in three weeks, and I'm pretty sure the judge will rule in my favour and grant me a permanent o
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Reckless Hearts 65|Blindsided
"No," Holly whispered, gasping for air as the walls of her chest moved closer, squeezing her lungs. "He wouldn't do that." "He did, and right in front of Sabrina," Cooper said in a hauntingly calm voice. "I didn't realise you have a thing for psychopaths." "What the hell is he saying? He's not making any sense!" Liam said, glancing at Holly, annoyance and confusion flitting on his face. "Yeah, what does Andrei have to do with this?" Willow chimed in. "I'm so confused!" "For God's sake, Holly, tell me you are not involved with Andrei!" Liam said softly, disappointment and anger burning brightly in his eyes. "Oh, they are involved, alright. He was with her at The Castle the other night, threw his weight around like some hotshot," Cooper added fuel to the fire, fanning the flames of Liam's rage. "Is it true?" He demanded, turning all his anger on her. "Were you with Andrei a few nights back?" "I was," Holly admitted, nodding her head. "But it's not like that. He agreed to sell the
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Reckless Hearts 66|Wounded Her
After their call earlier, Andrei wasn't expecting to hear from Holly again, but when Helga ran upstairs and crashed his meeting with his lieutenants, excitedly announcing Holly's arrival, he'd left his study faster than the Flash, eager to see her. So her cold reception—no, her rage simmering just below the surface—was the last thing he'd hoped for. "You are upset," he said, unsure if he should approach her. Holly followed his lead, staying put on her end of the room, her hands curled into fists, shaking at her sides. It was clear as day she was trying her damnedest to hold her anger in, and he wanted so much to take her in his arms, if only just to make her feel better. But her sharp intake of breath, followed by a fierce look, told him to stay the hell away from her. "What exactly do you think of me?" Holly asked just when Andrei began to think they'd spend the entire night staring at each other. "What do you mean?" "Do I look like some damsel in distress to you?" "Of course n
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Reckless Hearts 1|A Win-win
"Absolutely not! We've talked about this, Papa!" Andrei Ivanov grunted irritably as he lowered his towering frame on the burgundy camelback sofa in the den of his ancestral home in Glen Eagles, north of Rock Castle. Surprisingly, Pavel, the Ivanovs' longtime butler, dressed in a dark suit and not a hair out of place, remained unfazed by the tension in the room. The same way Andrei's father, Nikolai, sat unperturbed behind his vintage desk as he gazed back at him, "Yes, you will cancel your flight." Massaging his temples to stave off a looming headache, Andrei explained—yet again—why he couldn't cancel his flight the following evening, citing every excuse he could think of. When that didn't work, he doubled down and lit a cigarette, taking long, deep puffs before addressing his father again in a much firmer tone, "You've known about my move to Moscow for a while now. It's happening, with or without your approval. I suggest you get on board fast!" "I'm sorry, but I can't do that," Ni
Last Updated : 2024-11-04Reckless Hearts 2|Where People Find Wives
"Oh, you do?" Nikolai arched his brows in amusement."Yes, I do!" Andrei retorted. It was all lies, of course. He didn't have a girlfriend. But his father didn't need to know this. "How am I supposed to explain Veronika to her?"Nikolai shrugged carelessly, asking, "Why have I never met this mystery girlfriend?""You've never met any of my girlfriends," Andrei reminded him, suddenly glad he'd never made the mistake of bringing women home to meet his father. Who knew keeping his love life under wraps would work in his favour someday?"Your PA is always your plus-one at company events, and you've never been photographed with a woman before. I find it strange that you've never mentioned a girlfriend.""Strange or not, I'm not marrying Veronika. So call off this damn thing.""Who is she?" Nikolai ignored his outburst, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "And how long has this thing been going on?"Andrei took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, surprising himself with how easil
Last Updated : 2024-11-04Reckless Hearts 3|Coming Up Roses
While a glum Andrei sat with his lieutenants in one of the highly sought-after boxes at the Mirage, pondering his father's offer, on stage, under the dazzling spotlight, Holly Marie Anderson had none of his ninety-nine problems.In fact, life was going swimmingly for her. And why wouldn't it? After all, she was the star of the show, and the only reason the theatre was packed to capacity for the second night in a row. Drunk on the awe and adoration of her fans, Holly had one job and one job only: to deliver yet another jaw-dropping, heart-thumping performance. And that's precisely what she did. To say she was on fire was an understatement. Hell, she'd spent a tough three months preparing for the show and survived countless hours of gruelling practice sessions and dress fittings before embarking on a whirlwind press tour. In the twelve weeks leading up to this moment, Holly had lived and breathed Juliet, so much so that sometimes she was terrified she'd have a hard time letting go of
Last Updated : 2024-11-04Reckless Hearts 4|Her Final Bow, Her Last Plié
What everyone had imagined would be a quick visit to the ER ended up being a week-long bed rest in the orthopaedic wing of the Mediclinic in Glen Eagles for Holly.When she wasn't consulting with some specialist or other, she found herself entertaining an endless stream of visitors—from family to colleagues to the management team at the Royal Dance Institute. Cooper was pretty much a permanent fixture in her private ward, and her only source of updates about work. When he casually announced the show was on a break following her injury and faced a possible cancellation, Holly naturally felt terrible for everyone, especially him. He'd wanted the show as much as she did, and had worked just as hard. To see all their hard work go to waste was gut-wrenching. So, she tried to steer their chats away from work. But somehow, they always circled back to the show and, of course, Lola.Rumours had begun to swirl at the Institute. Half the corps was convinced she had maliciously stepped on Holly'
Last Updated : 2024-11-04Reckless Hearts 5|Ripped In Two
Devastated, Holly turned to her parents, silently pleading with them to pull her out of her never-ending nightmare. But, like her, they had no idea how to fix her. So she grabbed her mini crossbody bag, dazedly left the room, and wandered down the sterile corridors and out of the building, leaving her parents to discuss her upcoming surgery, physiotherapy, and all the other treatment plans Dr Evans thought were necessary but would never help her return to the stage.The crisp winter breeze was a shock to her system as she hobbled to one of the benches facing the hospital's entrance. She pulled her long cashmere cardigan closer and wound the heavy woollen scarf around her neck. She was so grateful that despite the short notice, her mom still had the foresight to stop at her townhouse in Morningside Mews and get her some warm clothing. Holly dug out her phone from her bag and fiddled with her knee brace as she scrolled through the less than thirty contacts. Half were family, including
Last Updated : 2024-11-14
Latest chapter
Reckless Hearts 66|Wounded Her
After their call earlier, Andrei wasn't expecting to hear from Holly again, but when Helga ran upstairs and crashed his meeting with his lieutenants, excitedly announcing Holly's arrival, he'd left his study faster than the Flash, eager to see her. So her cold reception—no, her rage simmering just below the surface—was the last thing he'd hoped for. "You are upset," he said, unsure if he should approach her. Holly followed his lead, staying put on her end of the room, her hands curled into fists, shaking at her sides. It was clear as day she was trying her damnedest to hold her anger in, and he wanted so much to take her in his arms, if only just to make her feel better. But her sharp intake of breath, followed by a fierce look, told him to stay the hell away from her. "What exactly do you think of me?" Holly asked just when Andrei began to think they'd spend the entire night staring at each other. "What do you mean?" "Do I look like some damsel in distress to you?" "Of course n
Reckless Hearts 65|Blindsided
"No," Holly whispered, gasping for air as the walls of her chest moved closer, squeezing her lungs. "He wouldn't do that." "He did, and right in front of Sabrina," Cooper said in a hauntingly calm voice. "I didn't realise you have a thing for psychopaths." "What the hell is he saying? He's not making any sense!" Liam said, glancing at Holly, annoyance and confusion flitting on his face. "Yeah, what does Andrei have to do with this?" Willow chimed in. "I'm so confused!" "For God's sake, Holly, tell me you are not involved with Andrei!" Liam said softly, disappointment and anger burning brightly in his eyes. "Oh, they are involved, alright. He was with her at The Castle the other night, threw his weight around like some hotshot," Cooper added fuel to the fire, fanning the flames of Liam's rage. "Is it true?" He demanded, turning all his anger on her. "Were you with Andrei a few nights back?" "I was," Holly admitted, nodding her head. "But it's not like that. He agreed to sell the
Reckless Hearts 64|Off The Rails
For once, the family dinner was going well, despite Holly being almost two hours late. They were all minding their own business and enjoying Nanette's four-course meal. They were all happy. Until Liam addressed the elephant in the room, asking about the marks on Holly's neck. When she made it clear the subject was not up for discussion, he doubled down, demanding to know if Cooper was responsible. Soon, Willow jumped on the bandwagon, and Holly knew she didn't stand a chance. So, after much badgering from the brother-sister tag team, she caved and filled everyone in on her encounter with Cooper and her subsequent protection order. As expected, her parents were furious, threatening all kinds of legal action against Cooper. Liam and Willow were equally enraged, but happy to settle the score with violence. "Honestly, you guys have nothing to worry about; I've handled it. The hearing is in three weeks, and I'm pretty sure the judge will rule in my favour and grant me a permanent o
Reckless Hearts 63|Ultimatum
Holly woke up feeling happier than she had in a while. How could she not be when she'd shared not one but several kisses with Andrei? She sprung out of bed and belted into song as she went about her morning, preparing for her visit with her parents. But, like all good things, her joy came to an abrupt end when Katherine pounced on her as soon as she stepped into the lobby hours later, as she headed to Glen Eagles to meet her folks and siblings. "What the hell is wrong with your phone?" Katherine demanded, grabbing Holly by the arm and pushing her towards the revolving doors. "I called you numerous times, and the imbeciles at the front desk refused to give me your room number. You have got to put the brakes on all this madness. The Institute can't afford any more negative press—" Katherine's wild appearance—from her uncombed hair to her mismatched outfit and the poorly done makeup—made her look as frazzled and agitated as she sounded. A complete opposite of the woman Holly had known
Reckless Hearts 62|Unravelling
"Earlier, in the elevator, you mentioned you had something to tell me," Andrei said, well aware he was trying to delay his departure by making meaningless small talk. "Right! I did!" Holly leaned on the doorjamb and crossed her arms. "I saw your father today. No. I mean, Pavel." "Where?" "At the Mediclinic in Linksfield." "Are you sure?" "Dead sure." She nodded. "He was in the neurology wing, and I chatted to a nurse…" She paused mid-sentence, shaking her head slightly, like she was trying to convince herself that whatever she saw was unimportant. But she'd certainly piqued his interest, especially since neither his father nor Pavel had mentioned any hospital visit. "What did the nurse say?" "Honestly, maybe it's nothing—" "What did she say, Holly?" He asked, his voice cracking with worry. "What did the nurse say? Is Pavel sick? Does my father know?" "It's not Pavel who's sick, Drei," she replied quietly. It took him a moment to make sense of her announcement, and when he
Reckless Hearts 61|Thin Line
Unable to look away, Andrei watched her vigorously dry her lush hair with a hand towel, the thin fabric of her nightie stretching over her barely-there chest, the exposed skin on her arms gently calling out to him, seducing him into breaking all his self-imposed rules. Andrei stood up, grabbed the throw blanket and draped it around her shoulders, averting danger and temptation, for the moment at least. "What is wrong with you?" Holly snapped, a stormy look in her eyes as she tried to shrug off the throw. "You'll catch a cold in that skimpy thing," he replied. But it wasn't her wellbeing he was concerned about. It was his own sanity and peace of mind. He didn't trust himself to behave in her presence, and if their heated encounter in the elevator was anything to go by, surely keeping his hands to himself was a challenge he was destined to fail. "You must be starving," he said, redirecting his thoughts to something banal, like food. Still focused on her hair, Holly shrugged, "Not
Reckless Hearts 60|Playing A Dangerous Game
On the other side of the door, in the living area, Andrei was battling his own struggles. The only difference, though, was that his were totally self-made. Levi had pounced on him as soon as Holly and Colleen locked themselves in the bedroom, demanding to know what he was playing at. But no matter how many times Andrei told him to calm down and let go of his not-so-farfetched suspicions, Levi wouldn't back down. "What the hell do you think Liam will say to this?" He asked for the gazillionth time, and Andrei closed his eyes in frustration, replying for the gazillionth time that he couldn't care less what Liam thought because nothing was going on between him and Holly. "How many times do I need to say it? There is nothing shady going on here. It's just business!" "What kind of business?" Levi pressed, following him onto the patio. Andrei shoved a cigarette in his mouth and lit it up, taking a long, angry drag as he weighed all his options. "So, what kind of business do you have
Reckless Hearts 59|A Constant Hunger
"Well, well! What do we have here?" Colleen, winking slyly at the two of them, was the first to pick her jaw up off the floor. Levi, on the other hand, opened and shut his mouth several times, clearly struggling for something to say. "Don't just stand there; grab her crutches and handbag!" Andrei instructed them as he scooped Holly up in his arms and stepped out of the elevator car. He paused mid-step, calling over his shoulder at Levi, to lead the way. "Excuse me?" Levi dashed after them, easily keeping up with Andrei's momentum by matching his long strides. "You heard me! Lead the way to your private elevator. We are not getting in that one again—" Andrei stopped and indicated at the lift they'd just vacated by extending his thumb behind him. "How the hell do we know it won't malfunction again?" He asked, glaring at Colleen and Levi. "Not to mention Holly banged up her knee badly because of your old, barely-maintained elevator!" "Drei, stop it," Holly whispered, wishing the grou
Reckless Hearts 58|Like Drinking Poison
Holly gulped at the intensity of Andrei's gaze, flicking her tongue over her suddenly parched lips as she rubbed her clammy hands on her pants. "You have got to stop doing that," he groaned, holding his head in his hands. Wide-eyed, she asked, "What? What did I do?" "That thing you do with your tongue!" "What thing?" "Forget it!" Andrei replied. "Just don't do it!" "Fine then!" Holly laughed, returning to the dull, throbbing pain in her knee. She'd banged it up pretty badly when they were thrown around the elevator earlier, and now Dawid's hard work had gone to waste. "So?" Andrei prompted her, jerking his head at her knee. "It's a little sore," she admitted. "But I'll live." "You should sue Van Holt Industries," he ranted, the ghostly torchlight on his phone illuminating his chiselled face. If 'golden ratio' was a person, it was definitely Andrei. His sculpted features created a perfect sense of balance and harmony— "—So you're okay with this? With being stuck here for hou
