Selena’s eyes fluttered open, the warmth of sleep still clinging to her body. But as she stretched her arm out, expecting to feel Adrian beside her, all she found was an empty bed. Her heart dropped. She sat up quickly, the cool sheets pooling around her waist. The room was eerily quiet, as if he had never been there at all. But he had. She could still feel him on her skin, taste him on her lips. Then she saw it. A piece of paper lay on the pillow beside her. With shaky fingers, she picked it up. _"Now you will know the pain of losing someone you love, just like I did two years ago."_ Selena’s breath hitched. The words blurred as tears filled her eyes. No. No, this couldn’t be happening. She forced herself to look around the room, desperate for any sign that this was a cruel joke. That Adrian would walk back in, smirk at her, and say this was just another one of his twisted tests. But he didn’t. And then she saw the cheque. It was neatly placed on the bedside t
Selena sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door Valerie had just walked out of. The room was quiet now, but her mind wasn’t. Valerie had told her to rest because they were going out tomorrow. But sleep felt impossible. Her thoughts were a mess, tangled between everything that had happened. Between Adrian, Valerie, and the strange new reality she found herself in. She sighed and lay back, staring at the ceiling. Her body was exhausted, but her mind refused to stop running. Would tomorrow be any different? Would Adrian still act cold and distant? Would she even have the strength to face him again? She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the questions, but sleep claimed her before she could find any answers. --- The next morning, Selena woke up feeling slightly more rested, though her heart still felt heavy. She got out of bed, washed up, and dressed in simple jeans and a blouse. Just as she was slipping on her shoes, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," s
Selena stepped out of the dressing room, adjusting the blue dress. It fit well, hugging her frame without being too tight. Valerie clapped her hands together. "I knew it! That color is perfect on you," she said excitedly. Matteo smirked. "Almost too perfect. Maybe Adrian will finally wake up and—" Selena shot him a sharp look. "Don't start." Nathan, who had been leaning against a nearby rack, nodded in approval. "It suits you." Selena felt a strange warmth at his compliment, but she quickly pushed it aside. She wasn’t here to impress anyone—especially not Adrian. Valerie grabbed her wrist. "Alright, you’re getting it. No arguments!" Selena sighed. "Fine." They walked to the checkout counter, and Matteo casually tossed a few more items onto the pile. "What are you doing?" Selena asked, raising an eyebrow. "Buying you more things," Matteo said nonchalantly. Selena shook her head. "I can pay for myself." Matteo grinned. "I know. But I like spending money." Valer
The car ride back home was quiet, tense even. Valerie kept throwing glances at Selena, who stared out the window, lost in thought. Matteo drummed his fingers against the steering wheel while Nathan sat with his arms crossed, his face unreadable. Selena still couldn’t shake off the feeling from earlier—the warning from that man. The way he spoke, the way he seemed to know her, know Adrian. What did he mean by trust is dangerous? She barely noticed when the car pulled into the driveway. “We’re home,” Matteo announced, breaking the silence. As they stepped out of the car, the front door swung open, and Adrian stood there, his sharp gaze locking onto them immediately. “Inside,” he ordered. No one questioned him. They walked in, and that’s when Selena noticed Isabelle sitting on the couch, a pleased smile on her lips. Valerie frowned. “What’s she still doing here?” Adrian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the center of the room, his presence commanding attent
Selena stormed up the stairs, her heart pounding furiously in her chest. She wasn’t going to sit there and let Isabelle play her games. Not when Adrian refused to see what was right in front of him. She reached her room, slamming the door shut behind her. Taking a deep breath, she leaned against it, trying to calm down. But the anger wouldn’t go away. A knock sounded on her door just as she ran a hand through her hair. “Go away,” she called out. “It’s me,” Valerie’s voice came through. Selena sighed before opening the door. Valerie stepped inside, closing it behind her. “Can you believe that?” Valerie fumed, pacing the room. “She’s acting like some innocent victim while you’re the villain. And Adrian just lets her!” Selena sat on the edge of her bed, rubbing her temples. “It’s exhausting.” Valerie stopped pacing and faced her. “You know what’s really annoying? Adrian knows you. He knows when someone’s lying. So why is he letting her get away with this?” Selena scoffe
Selena paced the length of her room, her mind spinning. She was done waiting. Done being kept in the dark. Adrian thought he could just bring Isabelle here and expect her to sit quietly? No. If he wanted to protect secrets, he should have kept them far away from her. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Selena?” Valerie’s voice came through. Selena sighed and pulled the door open. Valerie stepped inside, closing it behind her. “I figured you’d be in here, plotting someone’s downfall,” Valerie teased. Selena smirked. “Not someone. Just Isabelle.” Valerie plopped onto the bed. “Good. Because I have news.” Selena raised a brow. “I’m listening.” Valerie grinned. “Nathan and Matteo were talking earlier. They don’t trust Isabelle either.” Selena’s heart skipped. “Did they say why?” Valerie nodded. “Something about Lucian. Apparently, he’s involved, and Isabelle’s hiding something.” Selena’s eyes darkened. “I knew it.” Valerie leaned forward. “What’s the p
Selena moved carefully, balancing a tray of drinks as she approached the impatient customer’s table. The man, dressed in a sharp navy suit and gold cufflinks, was already tapping his fingers loudly on the table. His impatient demeanor and piercing gaze made Selena feel even more nervous as she placed the coffee in front of him. “This better not be cold,” he muttered, snatching the cup from the tray. He took a sip and froze. His face twisted into a look of disgust, and Selena immediately knew something was wrong. “Cold coffee?” he barked, his voice loud enough for the entire café to hear. “Are you even capable of doing your job?” “I—I’m sorry, sir. I’ll fix it right away,” Selena stammered, trying to take the cup back. Before she could reach for it, the man stood up and poured the cold coffee over her, the liquid splashing onto her shirt and soaking her uniform. Gasps rippled through the café as all eyes turned to the commotion. “This is unacceptable!” the man shouted again,
Selena struggled desperately, pulling and twisting her arm, but the man’s grip was firm, like iron shackles clamping her down. Her heart pounded wildly, and her throat burned from screaming, yet the men surrounding her seemed like they were having fun with everything. They exchanged smirks, their eyes gleaming with twisted amusement. “Don’t do this!” she cried, her voice cracking under the weight of her desperation. “Please, don’t!” Her father, standing just a few feet away, looked down at the ground, his face pale with shame. He fidgeted, his hands trembling, but he refused to meet her gaze. His betrayal cut deeper than anything else. “Dad, help me! Please!” Selena’s tear-streaked face turned to him, searching for a glimmer of the man who had once protected her. Instead, her father mumbled, “Selena, this… this is the only way. You have to understand. Do this for me. For us.” His voice was hollow, devoid of the love she had once trusted. Selena’s breath hitched, and her visi
Selena paced the length of her room, her mind spinning. She was done waiting. Done being kept in the dark. Adrian thought he could just bring Isabelle here and expect her to sit quietly? No. If he wanted to protect secrets, he should have kept them far away from her. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Selena?” Valerie’s voice came through. Selena sighed and pulled the door open. Valerie stepped inside, closing it behind her. “I figured you’d be in here, plotting someone’s downfall,” Valerie teased. Selena smirked. “Not someone. Just Isabelle.” Valerie plopped onto the bed. “Good. Because I have news.” Selena raised a brow. “I’m listening.” Valerie grinned. “Nathan and Matteo were talking earlier. They don’t trust Isabelle either.” Selena’s heart skipped. “Did they say why?” Valerie nodded. “Something about Lucian. Apparently, he’s involved, and Isabelle’s hiding something.” Selena’s eyes darkened. “I knew it.” Valerie leaned forward. “What’s the p
Selena stormed up the stairs, her heart pounding furiously in her chest. She wasn’t going to sit there and let Isabelle play her games. Not when Adrian refused to see what was right in front of him. She reached her room, slamming the door shut behind her. Taking a deep breath, she leaned against it, trying to calm down. But the anger wouldn’t go away. A knock sounded on her door just as she ran a hand through her hair. “Go away,” she called out. “It’s me,” Valerie’s voice came through. Selena sighed before opening the door. Valerie stepped inside, closing it behind her. “Can you believe that?” Valerie fumed, pacing the room. “She’s acting like some innocent victim while you’re the villain. And Adrian just lets her!” Selena sat on the edge of her bed, rubbing her temples. “It’s exhausting.” Valerie stopped pacing and faced her. “You know what’s really annoying? Adrian knows you. He knows when someone’s lying. So why is he letting her get away with this?” Selena scoffe
The car ride back home was quiet, tense even. Valerie kept throwing glances at Selena, who stared out the window, lost in thought. Matteo drummed his fingers against the steering wheel while Nathan sat with his arms crossed, his face unreadable. Selena still couldn’t shake off the feeling from earlier—the warning from that man. The way he spoke, the way he seemed to know her, know Adrian. What did he mean by trust is dangerous? She barely noticed when the car pulled into the driveway. “We’re home,” Matteo announced, breaking the silence. As they stepped out of the car, the front door swung open, and Adrian stood there, his sharp gaze locking onto them immediately. “Inside,” he ordered. No one questioned him. They walked in, and that’s when Selena noticed Isabelle sitting on the couch, a pleased smile on her lips. Valerie frowned. “What’s she still doing here?” Adrian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the center of the room, his presence commanding attent
Selena stepped out of the dressing room, adjusting the blue dress. It fit well, hugging her frame without being too tight. Valerie clapped her hands together. "I knew it! That color is perfect on you," she said excitedly. Matteo smirked. "Almost too perfect. Maybe Adrian will finally wake up and—" Selena shot him a sharp look. "Don't start." Nathan, who had been leaning against a nearby rack, nodded in approval. "It suits you." Selena felt a strange warmth at his compliment, but she quickly pushed it aside. She wasn’t here to impress anyone—especially not Adrian. Valerie grabbed her wrist. "Alright, you’re getting it. No arguments!" Selena sighed. "Fine." They walked to the checkout counter, and Matteo casually tossed a few more items onto the pile. "What are you doing?" Selena asked, raising an eyebrow. "Buying you more things," Matteo said nonchalantly. Selena shook her head. "I can pay for myself." Matteo grinned. "I know. But I like spending money." Valer
Selena sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door Valerie had just walked out of. The room was quiet now, but her mind wasn’t. Valerie had told her to rest because they were going out tomorrow. But sleep felt impossible. Her thoughts were a mess, tangled between everything that had happened. Between Adrian, Valerie, and the strange new reality she found herself in. She sighed and lay back, staring at the ceiling. Her body was exhausted, but her mind refused to stop running. Would tomorrow be any different? Would Adrian still act cold and distant? Would she even have the strength to face him again? She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the questions, but sleep claimed her before she could find any answers. --- The next morning, Selena woke up feeling slightly more rested, though her heart still felt heavy. She got out of bed, washed up, and dressed in simple jeans and a blouse. Just as she was slipping on her shoes, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," s
Selena’s eyes fluttered open, the warmth of sleep still clinging to her body. But as she stretched her arm out, expecting to feel Adrian beside her, all she found was an empty bed. Her heart dropped. She sat up quickly, the cool sheets pooling around her waist. The room was eerily quiet, as if he had never been there at all. But he had. She could still feel him on her skin, taste him on her lips. Then she saw it. A piece of paper lay on the pillow beside her. With shaky fingers, she picked it up. _"Now you will know the pain of losing someone you love, just like I did two years ago."_ Selena’s breath hitched. The words blurred as tears filled her eyes. No. No, this couldn’t be happening. She forced herself to look around the room, desperate for any sign that this was a cruel joke. That Adrian would walk back in, smirk at her, and say this was just another one of his twisted tests. But he didn’t. And then she saw the cheque. It was neatly placed on the bedside t
He removed his wallet from his pocket, his fingers glistening with her essence, the sight of her own desire on his rough digits, the realization that his fingers had been there, sending another wave of unchecked heat through her body. At this rate, she would combust before he even got inside her."As you wish, Selena. But this is the first and last time this would be happening". He said, before pulling out a condom, tearing the wrapper with his teeth. Selena didn't look down as he unzipped his trousers. Neither did he.And suddenly, before she could take another breath, his hand came back to her neck, this time the back of her neck like it had the day he kissed her, his other on the granite beside hers. She felt the tip of his erection brush against her clit, and her breaths quickened, the realization that she was doing this, with him of all people, thrilling some deep-rooted part of her. She wanted this. She hated it, and she was mad at herself for it. But she needed this. She need
His hands gripped her waist before she'd taken one step, picking her up with a kind of strength she'd never experienced, making her heart fall to her knees. She barely contained a yelp at the sudden movement, but the moment her feet were off the floor, he moved her like she weighed nothing more than a cushion, and carried her to the bathroom and put her on the granite counter in front of the mirror.The cold granite hit the overheated skin of ass suddenly, making her hiss, the counter hard against his not-so-gentle deposition.Her night dress bunched up against her upper thighs in the motion, the cold granite against her exposed flesh making her shiver. His hands left her waist and the moment they did, she put her hands flat on the counter, a little behind her to maintain her sitting position and keep her balance. The action made her breasts push outwards, her legs slightly spread from the way he'd deposited her, with her dress almost above her thighs. She felt a flush crawl over her
Selena’s breath was warm against his neck, her body still trembling in his arms. Adrian didn’t let go. He couldn’t. He had spent hours, days, tearing the city apart for her, killing for her. But none of that mattered if she was still stuck in the nightmare Cassio had left behind. She shifted slightly, her fingers still curled into his shirt, her breathing uneven. He felt it—her hesitation, her struggle, the war raging inside her. And then, she moved. Slowly, she lifted her head, her face inches from his. Her lips parted slightly, her breath fanning over his skin. Her eyes, dark and unreadable, locked onto his. “Selena…” His voice was hoarse, uncertain. Her fingers slid up his chest, tracing the collar of his shirt. He swallowed hard, every muscle in his body tensing as she leaned in closer. Then— “Fuck me,” she whispered. Adrian’s breath caught. For a moment, he thought he had misheard her. But her eyes—those haunted, defiant eyes—told him otherwise. He clenched hi