Emily Carter thought heartbreak would be the end of her story—but it was only the beginning. After catching her long-term boyfriend cheating, she walks away shattered, determined never to look back. But fate has other plans when she crosses paths with Ethan Sinclair—her ex’s older, enigmatic brother—at a high-profile gala. Ethan is everything Daniel wasn’t: powerful, reserved, and dangerously captivating. He’s also off-limits. Yet when a single glance turns into a stolen kiss, Emily finds herself drawn into a world of secrets, passion, and power plays. But in Ethan’s world, nothing is simple. Public image is everything, and Emily quickly learns that being with him means staying hidden in the shadows. As emotions deepen and their secret affair intensifies, Emily must ask herself—how long can she be someone’s secret before she forgets her own worth? A story of forbidden desire, dangerous power, and the cost of loving a man who was never supposed to be hers.
더 보기EMILY’S POVA sudden knock came on my apartment door, loud and unexpected. I flinched slightly, and my head turned towards the entrance door."Babes, please hold on. Someone is knocking on my door," I said, to Olivia over the phone, my voice tightening."Are you expecting anyone, Emily," Olivia asked, and I nodded negatively as if she could see me."Not at all, I'm not expecting anyone," I responded."Maybe you should ignore it," Emily suggested, and I nodded in agreement. "I think I'll agree with you. I'm not expecting anyone," I replied, and just then I heard another loud bang on my door.My eyes went to the door, my mind racing with various thoughts. I'm not expecting anyone. No texts? No calls? -- just nothingCould it be Ethan? Maybe he's back and if he's the one, why is he here? I thought he didn't want to ruin his reputation. Coming over to my house will ruin his reputation.I stood up from the plush sofa, still holding my phone as I adjusted my gown. I approached the person, m
Emily’s POVThe black sedan pulled to a halt in front of my apartment. I clutched onto the thin strap of my purse, avoiding his gaze. My heart slammed against my ribs, feeling a moment of hesitation. I was about to slide out of the passenger seats before my hand could reach the door handle when Ethan's hand landed on my wrist, closing around it. His grasp was firm but not harsh as if he never wanted to let me go."Emily -" He began, voice low and deep."No," I interjected, yanking his hand free from my wrist. "I understand; I have clearly said that multiple times," I said, my voice coming steadier than I had imagined. I slid out of the car, closing the door with a sharp click.I felt his eyes on me, watching me for minutes as if he was expecting me to turn back and meet him. I didn't look back; instead, I hurried up, hastening my steps, gripping my small purse tightly until I reached my front door.I unlocked the door and went inside. As soon as I got inside, I slammed the door shut
Emily’s POV… I stirred as the soft morning light streamed through my bedroom window, casting a warm glow over the sheets. The first thing I became aware of was the soreness in my body—a reminder of exactly how last night had unfolded.The second thing? The steady, solid warmth beside me. Ethan was still here. I blinked, my head turning slowly on the pillow. He was lying on his back, one arm resting behind his head, the other draped loosely over his stomach. He’d been awake, watching me for a while. I swallowed, suddenly unsure of what to say. “You stayed.” Ethan’s lips twitched, but he didn’t move. “I did.” That was unexpected. Ethan Sinclair wasn’t the type to linger. He wasn’t the type to entertain repeats- at least that’s what I’d always heard. And yet, here he was. Before I could over-think it, he shifted, reaching over to brush a strand of hair from my face. His fingers were warm, his touch, too gentle for a man who had been anything but last night. “What are you doing
Emily’s POV… Ethan pulled back abruptly, his breathing uneven. His grip on my waist tightened for just a second before he forced himself to let go. His forehead nearly touched mine as he exhaled slowly. “We’re not doing this here.” I, still still dazed from the heat of his kiss, smirked. “So where, then?” Ethan stepped back, shaking his head, his expression unreadable. “Emily.”I titled my head, eyes gleaming with challenge. “My apartment.” A dark chuckle escaped him, but there was no amusement in it- just something dangerous. He studied me, his gaze trailing over my face as if searching for hesitation. “You don’t stop pushing, do you?” he muttered. “Not when I want something.”His jaw tightened. “You should be careful about that.”I took a step closer, deliberately, testing him. “Why? Because you’re not like your brother?”Ethan’s expression darkened instantly. His eyes flashed with something almost lethal, but his voice remained controlled. Too controlled.“No, Emily. I’m not
Emily’s POV… I stared at the business card in my hand, my heart pounding as I tapped Ethan’s number into my phone. Olivia sat beside me, practically vibrating with excitement, mouthing “do it,” over and over again. With a deep breath, I hit call. It rang twice before a deep, familiar voice answered. “Carter” My breath caught at the way he said my last name—calm, controlled, effortlessly powerful.“Ethan,” I said, trying to sound composed. “It’s Emily.”There was a beat of silence. Not the awkward kind. The calculated kind. Like he wasn’t surprised I had called—but he was still deciding what to do with that information.“I see you took my offer,” he finally said.I smirked slightly. “That depends. What exactly was your offer?”A quiet chuckle. Low. Amused. “Why don’t you come by my office tomorrow, and we’ll find out?”I hesitated. “Your office?”“Yes. Unless you’d prefer somewhere else?” His tone was smooth, unreadable.“No, your office is fine,” I said quickly, gripping the phon
Emily’s POV…Ethan studied me over the rim of his glass, his sharp blue eyes filled with quiet amusement. He didn’t smile-not fully- but there was something in his expression that told me he wasn’t used to being challenged. "Alright, Sinclair. Let’s see what you’ve got."He let a beat of silence pass, as if assessing me, before taking a slow sip of his drink. When he finally spoke, his voice was slow, deliberate. "That depends," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Are we talking business or something else?"I smirked. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"Ethan let out a quiet chuckle—low, deep, the kind that sent a strange thrill down my spine. "I usually don’t play games," he said, watching me with an intensity that made my stomach tighten.“That’s funny,” I replied, swirling the champagne in my glass. “Because you’ve been staring at me like you’re already playing one.” His gaze didn’t waver. If anything, it darkened slightly. “Maybe I’m just trying to figure out your angle.”I took a sl
Emily’s POV… My three-year-long facade of happiness finally came to an end in a single day. How did this happen? I’ll tell you. It all started the day I caught him cheating on me. I stood there frozen in the doorway like a block of ice. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. The scene in front of me felt like a cruel joke- Daniel, this same man I had loved for three years, was there before me, tangled up with another woman in our bed. I repeat- OUR bed. At first, neither of them noticed me, but when Daniel finally looked up, his expression wasn’t one of guilt or regret. It was annoyance. As if I were the one who had done something wrong. “Emily,” he said, casually pulling the sheet over himself. “You weren’t supposed to be home yet.” That was it. No apologies. No frantic explanations. Just those cold, indifferent words that sliced through me like a knife. The bitch beside him- brunette, sat up smirking- she didn’t even bother covering up. She just raised an eyebrow
Emily’s POV… My three-year-long facade of happiness finally came to an end in a single day. How did this happen? I’ll tell you. It all started the day I caught him cheating on me. I stood there frozen in the doorway like a block of ice. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. The scene in front of me felt like a cruel joke- Daniel, this same man I had loved for three years, was there before me, tangled up with another woman in our bed. I repeat- OUR bed. At first, neither of them noticed me, but when Daniel finally looked up, his expression wasn’t one of guilt or regret. It was annoyance. As if I were the one who had done something wrong. “Emily,” he said, casually pulling the sheet over himself. “You weren’t supposed to be home yet.” That was it. No apologies. No frantic explanations. Just those cold, indifferent words that sliced through me like a knife. The bitch beside him- brunette, sat up smirking- she didn’t even bother covering up. She just raised an eyebrow...
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