DAYS PASSED like blinks of an eye. Michelle got so occupied that before she even realized it, the annual party of the Steinfield Company had finally come.
The said party would be held in the enormous event hall of the hotel owned by Ethan’s family. Over the past couple of days, she and Ethan had been so busy dealing with the preparation for the party.
It was a tradition of the Steinfields, and since the event only happened every year, Ethan’s family made sure that it would be grand, elegant, and the talk of the town in the States. Needless to say, Michelle thought that Ethan’s family did not fail to throw such a grand party. With all the business tycoons, shareholders, investors, influencers, and media reporters invited to the party, she already knew that the said party would be featured in the biggest magazines, articles, and even on television.
Ethan’s grandparents and relatives would be there too. Although Michelle had already mastered
WITH HER HEART pounding wildly, Michelle turned to the door as soon as Megan opened it. Despite how her body tensed up, her lips managed to form a smile. Ethan might have come to pick them up, and she wanted to be her best self when he saw her.But when the door widely opened, her eyes glanced over at the familiar face of a man who was absolutely good-looking in his all-dark blue formal attire, wearing a sexy smirk that made her best friend gasp in surprise—a man who was not Ethan, but none other than Andrew, his best friend, who turned out to be Megan’s boyfriend."Andrew!" Megan exclaimed.The next thing Michelle witnessed was the two hugging each other, like they hadn't been able to see each other for a long time. Seconds later, they kissed, and that was Michelle’s cue to turn her gaze away, feeling totally awkward."I thought I was imagining and saw the mother of my future children for a brief seconds. God, you look amazing, Meg!"
HER BODY was rattling, her heart was racing too fast inside her chest, and a familiar tension was building against her skin.The moment she laid her eyes on the man who was wearing an all-black suit and pure temptation, she struggled to take her eyes off of him. Ethan was definitely the man of every woman’s dream, and he, out of millions of men around the world, was the one who became her husband.I don’t fucking like this feeling at all, she thought.Her chest was clouded with those emotions that made her feel giddy. Her stomach was twisting as if there were bats dancing inside of it, and no matter how hard she tried to calm her heart, it wouldn’t listen to her and only pounded of its own accord.She only came back to her senses when they reached the staircase. Her mouth fell open as she glanced down at the party that screamed nothing but elegance and classiness. Crowds were dressed in expensive gowns and suits, conversing with each oth
ETHAN GAZED at his older brother like he wanted to punch him in the face, and a flash of panic went through Michelle as she noticed it in his eyes."This is just a casual conversation," Jacob told Ethan as he sipped from his champagne glass.Ethan gave him a questioning, hard look. "You seem to like having a casual conversation with my wife when there are other women available here.""Ethan," Michelle called for him through her gritted teeth. She tapped his chest, trying to get his attention and wanted him to stop. "We’re not doing anything wrong. Please, calm down."He gazed at her as a devilish chuckle escaped his mouth. "I am still fucking calm, my wife."Michelle shook her head and looked at him in disbelief. She then turned to face Jacob, who never seemed bothered by his brother’s behavior. She could not help but feel ashamed. A minute ago, she was defending Ethan and even told Jacob that he was likeable. Now, Ethan came and acted
IN A FLASH, she felt conflicted about her feelings toward the man who was extending his hand, waiting for her to hold it.Michelle swallowed the lump in her throat. In her mind, she kept asking herself whether she was attracted to him or not.Was it because Ethan was so damn charming right now that she felt like her heart was going to explode?Or was it his sincere words that made her feel such things?Blinking those thoughts away, Michelle inhaled sharply. It was suck to think that somehow, she’d come to like Ethan. It was impossible for her to like him. They have signed a contract that prohibits them from feeling such things toward each other.She just couldn’t...She lifted her hand and accepted Ethan’s invitation to dance with him. Although her heart was frantically a mess already, she had to do what she had to do, and that included joining her husband on the dance floor as many eyes were looking at them. One hunch of a
ETHAN SHUT the door behind him as soon as they entered her suite. Suddenly, his scent filled the air in the room, and it was absolute madness for Michelle.He really had a way of taking her mind off everything. One kiss was enough for her to forget the party, even the rest of the world, and right now, the only thing that mattered to her was to seize the moment she had with her husband.Ethan was kissing him in a way that made her legs wobble. It was overwhelmingly hot, and her body was burning as their lips smacked continuously.She pushed her body closer to him. A needy moan escaped her when Ethan parted her lips and tasted every corner of her mouth. It was the voice of a woman who was in absolute hunger and desire, and it was a voice she could no longer recognize."Fuck," Ethan whispered in between their kisses.Michelle knew he had lost control. His hands traveled to the back of her gown, trying to tear the zipper apart so he could undress her.
THE FAMILIAR anxiety swirled around her chest and mind after having sex with her husband. Zipping up the zipper of her gown while she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, Michelle could only let out a long, quiet sigh.Her realization hit her to the core. It was wrong to mess up with a man who was not romantically inclined, let alone fall in love with him, knowing that there was a contract that prohibited them from feeling such emotions toward each other.What’s worse was that she knew it was an unrequited love.Michelle could feel that her own emotions had become a vortex of chaos, and it truly sucked up her heart to the extent that she felt the taste of misery.But she couldn't allow herself to be overcome by such feelings. It was painful, yes. It was all wrong, something that should not have started in the first place, but she would do everything to cease it... and Ethan would never find out about it.With that in mind, she started putti
"ARE YOU PLANNING to get drunk at a formal party like this?"Michelle was about to drink another shot of tequila when a familiar voice suddenly spoke behind her, making her spin around, only to see Selene Steinfield, who was currently giving her a disappointing look as the old woman raised an eyebrow, as if she was some sort of bad daughter-in-law.She could not believe that her mother-in-law seemed to have extra time to mind her. With all the cameras lurking in every corner of the event hall, the last thing she expected was a goddamn confrontation between her and Selene."There are cameras everywhere, Mom," she said, and gave her a thin smile. "I think it would be best if you smiled a bit at me so no one would suspect that you hate me.""Michelle," Megan called out to Michelle, who was sitting right next to her worriedly.Selene then smiled sweetly, seemingly getting what she meant but still refusing to give up the conversation so easily. "Can you
MICHELLE STOOD up. Her eyes looked around to find Ethan, but she could not see even his shadow among the crowd, not even in the corner where she saw him talking to Ashley earlier. She let out a sigh of defeat and turned to Nana Rose, who was already tired and sleepy.Nana wanted to go to her suite, and take a rest. Even Pops Will could not be seen. According to Nana, he might have joined his son at the casino, which was located on the other floor. Michelle had no choice but to help the old woman go to her suite instead."Come, Nana. I will take you to your suite myself," she offered.Nana Rose was happy to hear it, and immediately stood up slowly."I am sorry to be a bother, hon." She then surveyed the event hall. "But where is Ethan?""He’s probably speaking to some businessmen." She shrugged and smiled. "That’s how business-minded your grandson is, Nana."Nana Rose chuckled and nodded in response. "Oh, there’s no doubt ab