Cattleya’s POV"You don't have to know about it," Jaxon said, his gaze hardening.I knew he was hiding something. I was about to ask for more, but he put his thumb over my lips. "Who told you about it?"I smiled at him. "Why would I tell you? If you can't tell me anything about The Crimson Circle, then I won't tell you who told me about it.""Fine, I'll introduce you to it. Just tell me who the hell told you about this information," he asked, his face darkening.I placed a hand on his chest and another on his neck then tiptoed closer to whisper, "Your one and only capo, Leo Petterson." I bit my lower lip and smiled widely. Why should I protect that crazy man? He's a criminal, working for the devil.Jaxon's jaw clenched, then he let go of me. He kissed my forehead. "I know you're tired. Would you mind if I take you home first?"I nodded. "You'll drive me home?""No, my driver will. I just need to fix some little problems. And I don't want you to see how I fix my problem," he said, his
Jaxon’s POVI smirked at her, a knowing glint in my eye. How could this woman know so much about me, even without me saying a word? She knew too much!"I got rid of him. He's a problem I needed to fix. It blows my mind that he's a fucking traitor." I said calmly.She stepped back, her gaze filled with doubt and confusion. "What do you mean by 'getting rid of him'?"THREE HOURS AGO, I watched Cattleya as she gracefully exited the room; her sophistication really mesmerized me more.But there was something about her: a desire to protect and cherish her.Yet, a nagging doubt lingered. Could I truly trust her? What if she turned on me? The thought was killing me, contradicting my thirty-two years of never being let down.I put my hand in my pocket as Cattleya left the Shadow Manor Residence.Then I walked down the stairs, sharpening my eyes as I scanned the area. There he was! The traitor. "Leo, a word." I said, demanding in a dangerous tone.Leo looked up, his jaw clenched and his f
Cattleya’s POV "I'm not sleeping with you tonight," I said, my voice flat. I didn't bother to look at him as I turned and walked towards the guest room. As I reached the door, I glanced back. His eyes were fixed on me, and the cold intensity made me feel strange. And then he lowered his head, and for a moment, I couldn't fathom the emotion behind his reaction. I sat on the bed with a sigh, then checked my wristwatch to see what time it was. Dang, I need to get in the shower before bed, or else I won't be able to sleep better.Then I put it on a voice record to send to Vianne, "Hi, Vianne, how are you? I know it's been a long time since I stopped collecting art, but I want you to manage it for me. Do your best. I trust you." **** NEXT DAYCoffee?" Jaxon offered as he sat across from me. I was busy staring at my laptop since Vianne had forwarded me all the famous and well-painted art. I'd been busy staring at it for a whole morning and had no time to eat breakfast.I looked up,
Cattleya’s POV"Nikolai's forehead creased for a moment, and then he smiled at me. "Of course, I'm your private detective. I can easily track down people.""So, when can I see them? Where do they live? And how can I get in touch with my twin sister's daughter? I'm so excited to meet her and maybe someday introduce her to my parents," I said with a twinkle in my eyes.Nikolai gave me a half-smile. "I think it won't be long. I just need to do more investigating before we can make a move. How about that?" I nodded. "I think that's a better idea." Then I remembered I had to pay him. I'd been so preoccupied that I'd forgotten. "Uh, wait..." I said, opening my purse, grabbing a pen and a check, and writing something on it. "This is for you. I'm so happy with your service.""Anytime," he said, taking the check from my hand. He didn't even look at it; he just put it on his desk. "So, I'll call you again when I have more information, Ms. Cattleya." I sighed. "Just call me Cattleya. How abou
Cattleya’s POV“I am not yours, Jaxon,” I said, frowning at him as if he had said something absurd.As I ate my food, he stared at me, munching his own, “But everyone knows you belong to me.”I glared at him, “Yeah, temporarily.”He chuckled, “Why did you take your private investigator on a date? Do you like him?”I coughed softly and then took the glass of water he handed me. After drinking, I wiped my lips and said, “Let me be clear. I like him as my private investigator, not romantically. Why am I even explaining this to you?” I groaned softly.He laughed at me and replied, “It’s because you care about my feelings. You don’t want your husband to feel sad that you’re taking another man to lunch instead of him.”I scoffed, “Hey, for your information, I brought him here to celebrate. He did a great job, and I felt like I could get answers thanks to him.”“And you have my protection—” suddenly, he paused, his eyes widened. "Shit..." he grabbed my hand, and we ducked under the table. A
Cattleya’s POV"How do you know about my twin sister? Was she your friend?" I asked in my trembling voice. Grace smiled and said, "I guess you need to know a lot about me before you ask me something important." She chuckled, and her voice was filled with disgust. "I know what happened with Leo, and it was your fault. Ariella was crazy about that guy... and do you think the man you married is a saint? He's the devil, and he is capable of misleading you!" And she turned her back on me, unwilling to give me more information. I walked upstairs and sat on the edge of the bed, thinking different things, and it was killing me. Who should I trust this time? They’re all making me confused. But the fact that Jaxon put himself in danger to save me was enough for me to believe that he cared for me. Or maybe he wanted something from me in return. Or possibly he did all that because he knew he’d be alive and nothing would happen to him in the end. Or perhaps he did all that so that I could trus
Cattleya’s POVI didn't waste a second; my steps were quick as I made my way to the garage. I opened the garage door and drove as fast as I could to where Nikolai was waiting for me.I arrived right on time. As I walked into the office, my eyes landed on a familiar face—Analia, my bitchy cousin!I scoffed softly, utterly stunned. "You?"Analia stood up, a smug smile playing on her lips. She tucked a strand of hair behind her earlobe and said, "Oh, my dear, sweet cousin. You're finally here. I have so much to tell you about... everything... Who would have thought that I could be the one to provide some of your answers? But before I reveal any crucial information, you have to pay me first... twenty thousand dollars."I scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "You want me to pay you?"Nikolai stepped between us to calm the tension. "Cattleya, Analia is here to give you some information about your sister's life and whereabouts for the past three years."I tried to calm down and stepped back. "Look,
Cattleya’s POVNoah, a tall, muscular man with a beard, stood in front of me and said, "I think I'm not ready to speak with you, Ms. Sullivan. Look, I brought my child here because you wanted to see her. But if you ask me for information about your twin's sister, you'll get nothing from me. What transpired between your sister and I was merely a one-night mistake, and we remain strangers to each other..."I glanced at Aubrey outside, who was hugging her pink teddy bear. She glanced at me and gave me a soft smile. She looked so cute.So I asked Noah, "I understand, can I take Aubrey to meet my parents? Her grandparents actually…" And Noah expressed, "No, not yet. I think it's not the right moment for the grandparents to be involved in this situation. You must first tell them about Aubrey, and when they are calmer, I can let them see Aubrey in peace."I nod my head, “Alright.” And after that, I walked outside and lowered down to level her face, “I’ll see you again, Aubrey…” She smiled
Cattleya’s POV"Are you ready?" I asked, and then he held my hand tightly. He nodded nervously. I laughed, "Jaxon, this is not so you." "I'm just nervous, babe," he replied with a soft sigh.Thankfully, I had previously told them about their father, who had been away for many years and even showed them a photo of Jaxon. So, by the time they met him, they already knew who he was.Jaxon looked incredibly nervous as we arrived at the safe house. He seemed on the verge of running away. "What if they don't like me? What if they can't accept me?" he fretted."Have they seen your face before?" I asked calmly.He stood at the doorway, a mixture of excitement and apprehension evident on his face. "No, not yet. But I've already seen them. Gosh, they look so cute! They look just like me—""Hey! I'm their mother too," I teased, "You can't take all the credit!"Jaxon blushed. I wanted to laugh but gently knocked on the door with a smile.He sighed softly. "What do I do now? Will they be upset t
Cattleya’s POVI ducked down to cover my head. Looking around, I saw everyone had gone wild, fighting for survival as if their lives depended on it. Terror gripped me as I watched my husband battling fiercely, risking his own life."J--Jaxon!" He indeed chose me, and now he had to fight all those people trying to kill him. Within minutes, Vlad and his men arrived to help Jaxon in the battle.My eyes widened as I saw Vlad grab one of them and viciously crack their neck, and then a cruel smile graced his lips. He continued in this manner, dispatching each of them with chilling efficiency.I stepped back, searching for an exit, only to realize I had forgotten something. When I turned around, I saw Elise standing behind me, her eyes wide with shock.She hissed, "Don't you dare.." I scoffed, then walked towards her, grabbing her hand tightly and dragging her towards me. She struggled against me, but even though my body felt battered and bruised, I wouldn't let her go."Let go of me, bit
Cattleya’s POV"Oh, Cattleya, you are such a fool. How could you believe that I took your twins?" I heard Elise's voice echoing through the empty building.I never thought I would find myself in another life-threatening situation. My heart pounded in my chest, and then I took a deep breath, tried to steady myself, and looked up to see her. Elise stood at the bottom of the stairs, a vision in a crimson velvet dress, identical to the one I had worn on the night I chose revenge.A chilling smile played on her lips. She looked like a predator, poised and ready to strike.She turned around, a crowing glint in her eyes. "Do you like my gown? Oh, I almost forgot… it's quite identical to the one you wore the last time, but I think this one is better."I stared at her, my gaze unwavering. Giving her the death stare wouldn't achieve anything. I needed to think, to find a way to escape this deadly game, or perhaps even fight for my life.She walked towards me, stopping a few steps away. "But yo
Cattleya’s POVThe rain had finally stopped, and I was starting to feel a little peckish. I headed downstairs, planning to grab a snack in the kitchen. But as I approached, I heard a loud crash. My heart lurched. Three figures, masked and menacing, stood frozen in the doorway.Panic rushed through me. I reacted instinctively, snatching a heavy vase from the counter and hurling it at them. The vase shattered against the wall, glass raining down. Then, like a ghost, Jaxon appeared. His gun barked three times, and the intruders crumpled to the floor."Ow!" I hissed, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my foot. Jaxon asked, "Are you hurt?" "I'd stepped on a shard of glass...." Jaxon rushed towards me, scooping me up in his arms. "We need to go," he growled, carrying me out of the house. Gunfire erupted behind us. It wasn't just three men. It was an ambush!He threw me into the car, buckling me in before sliding behind the wheel. "They found us," he said, his voice grim."I know,"
Cattleya’s POVHe put me above the table and pulled himself closer to me. He kissed my lips, then my cheek, and finally my forehead, staring into my eyes with such longing. He breathed softly and whispered, "You know how much I've waited for this…"I gasped and asked, "What do you mean?"He just smiled at me and continued. He kissed my earlobe, then down my neck, showering me with tender kisses all over my body. It sent a tingling sensation through me that I craved so badly.Then he took off his gray T-shirt. I gasped as I stared at his muscular body. Damn, what a body! I lay my back on the table, and he leaned in, kissing my lips again. He pulled me so close that our mouths and lips smashed together, driven by the longing we felt for each other.Then he caressed my neck down to my chest, making me almost moan aloud. He put his hand on my lips and said, "Moan out loud, baby..."He continued what he was doing, caressing my breasts more and more. Finally, unable to contain himself any l
Cattleya’s POVI awoke to the rhythmic drumming of heavy rain against the windowpane. Never had I imagined life could feel this peaceful, this utterly serene. I couldn't believe the man I'd yearned for, longed for with every fiber of my being, was sitting there, watching me sleep. I blinked slowly, a yawn escaping my lips, and murmured, "Did I sleep too long?"Jaxon smiled, the curve of his lips a breathtaking sight, and then he replied, "You passed out."I nodded, my heart pounding against my ribs. And I sat up in bed; the world still felt surreal, a dream I feared waking from. My gaze darted away, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze and the unspoken emotions swirling between us. I just couldn't help but sigh in relief. Then he said, "I… I only know you're my wife because my investigator proved it to me. The photos on the screen, everything about it, prove that you're my wife."My eyes widened. If this was all it was, if his feelings weren't genuine if he only recognized me
Cattleya’s POV"Catt, you should sleep, and we will face it tomorrow, okay?" Vlad said, leading me to my room. I couldn't help but hug him, saying, "Thank you for helping me."He was a little stunned when I hugged him. He tapped my shoulder, "Everything will be fine. I'm sure of it.""Thanks, Vlad," I said, kissing his cheek and locking the door. I only did that so that he would think my mind wasn't in a storm and that I would fall asleep tonight without thinking about anything. I took a deep breath and glanced at the window. I needed to know what really happened to Jaxon. I couldn't just leave him there with a group of people who betrayed him.I knew Vlad was working on it, but I had to take action before it was too late.I slowly opened the window, and the wind greeted me. I placed my hands on the railing and slowly climbed down without making any noise. Then I bit my lower lip when I saw Vlad talking to someone on the phone in the living room. I tried so hard not to be noticed by
Cattleya's POVMr. Salvatore glared at me as if he'd seen a ghost, then immediately pretended like he didn't know me, "Who the hell are you?"I chuckled softly. "Oh, you're just like your daughter. She pretended she didn't know me too. Alright, let me present myself again. My name is Cattleya Sullivan. The woman who died three years ago."Suddenly, Elise interjected, "It's Dylan's birthday, and I don't want you to ruin my son's birthday..." then she glanced at Jaxon. "How could you bring this woman here to cause some chaos?"Jaxon ignored her.And amid the crowd, I heard Grace's voice shriek. My first thought was that she'd escaped the mental hospital, drunk and disheveled. "Cattleya! Oh my god, it's been a long time! Y—You're alive! I thought you were dead?!" Then she laughed at her own joke. "Oh my god, maybe I was just seeing things. Are you a ghost?"And that's when Jaxon interrupted her, "Grace, do you know her?"Anthony arrived to stop Grace from talking. "Grace, what the hell a
Cattleya’s POV“What?! I didn't do anything wrong! She strangled me to death, Jaxon! This woman hurt me! You can ask your son! He saw everything!" Elise said while pointing a finger at me.She really wanted Jaxon to believe her, but I guess I really know my husband the most. By looking at it, he doesn't believe a single word that Elise just said."Did I just warn you not to hurt my employee? She's my new secretary, for the love of God, Elise. You always make this so complicated. And please, don’t drag Dylan into this. Don’t be so childish…." Then she shook her head and said one more time, "Jaxon—""Stop this, Elise. Get out of Cattleya's room now. I'll deal with you later," Jaxon said, opening the door wider.Elise walked out, her feet thumping against the floor. She looked furious, but here I am, my heart so flattered that Jaxon didn't believe Elise. I am so proud of my husband. Oh, damn, there he is, staring at me. Jaxon took a step closer and checked my arms and neck. My heart wa