[Juliette’s POV] My shoulders sank in surrender. “You have my word. I won’t talk to him.” His brows finally relaxed. But they immediately knitted again, this time in concern. “Can I trust you, Juliette?” Those words and the pleading tone hit me hard. Guilt consumed me. My body remembered all that had happened between us in the past month, and my loyalty towards this man returned like an old habit. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. “Yes, Ralph. You can trust me.” I buried my face into his warm chest, feeling his human heart beating gently against my forehead, and drew in a deep breath, taking his powerful scent with me before resting my cheek on the steady thudding. His arms came around me and he hugged me back, as though it was a confession of love. And my heart melted once more. ***** After dinner, Ralph wanted to start the ball rolling for the preparations for the party . So we were in one of the lounge rooms, Ralph and I next to each other on the long c
[Juliette’s POV] For almost a minute, we gave each other the hug of a long lost friend. As soon as we pulled apart, as always, Luke ruffled the top of my head like the older sibling. He is six years older than me, so I understand the attitude. And, as far as I could recall, ruffling my head has been his favourite move. Since little, I’ve noticed that with others, Luke is more reserved with his gestures of affection. So the ruffling made me feel special—until I started having a crush on him. From then on, every time his hand reaches over to the top of my head, I’d cast a look of irritation, or move my head out of his hand’s way to avoid it altogether. Despite my persistent protests, he never grows out of it, as though I’ll always be the sister that he wanted. Now, having not seen him for a month, which has never happened before, I let him ruffle to his heart’s content. Giggling until he stopped, I looked up at him, beaming like a little girl, as he gently smoothened the strands
[Juliette’s POV]After I made Luke promise not to confront Ralph about his suspicions, he left and I returned to the party discussions with Agatha. Sensing the deadly severity of my secret mission, I wasn’t sure if I could tell Agatha, so I left out that bit in my update to her. Also feeling unsure about Ralph being in the know about my meeting with Luke, I asked Agatha to keep it a secret from Ralph, should he ask. When I emerged from the woods, I felt even more stressed out and twice as depressed. Throughout dinner, I was unusually quiet—-which, of course, Ralph took notice. So I wasn’t surprised when he took my hand after we were done eating, and suggested with a large grin that we take a stroll in the NorthWest Garden. As we walked through the hallway connecting the dining room to the garden, I snuggled closer to that familiar warmth, praying inside that what Luke said wasn’t true. I wanted Ralph to have nothing to do with Papa’s accident. But what if he really lied to me?
[Juliette’s POV] Who the fuck is ‘him’? Oh God…, here’s another one! It radiated from the spot where he struck, rippling through my skin to my fingertips. A delighted moan slipped into the sweaty air around us. "Ooh… yes!" I tried to pull him closer. I need him to be closer. To feel all of me. I want to feel all of him. There must be more… more of him that I can take…. "More… Deeper…." I squeezed out a tiny whisper. He seemed to know what I wanted and pushed the back of my knees towards my chest to drive further into my velvety heat of delight. I clenched him harder. “Fuck, kitten.” He grunted with pleasure. Pressing his forehead on mine, he rammed into me as he growled, “My sexy kitten…," then pulled back slightly and rammed in again. More thrill arched my back, ripping a high pitched gasp from my throat, and I heard Ralph snarled, "Look at you… making that face again." He rammed into me once more. "Do you make this face for him too, Juliette?" Who the hell is he
[Juliette's POV] The wheels of my head churned furiously. What should I do? I wanted to make another promise to this man. But I also wanted to keep my promise to Luke. Oh God… what do I do? Desperate for a way out, I asked, “Why can’t I talk to Luke?” Ralph groaned in exasperation and pushed me off him. “Forget that I ask, Juliette." He stood and stepped away to gather his clothes, adding bitterly, "You only keep promises when they are in your favour. Once they no longer benefit you, you bail.” I shot up to a stand with an incredulous look. “That's not fair! Those promises weren’t even fair to me in the first place!” Ralph chuckled dryly. “So now they have to be fair to you?” He buckled up his pants and turned to me with his usual fierce look. I drew in a sharp breath of awe. Can he get any more handsome? He came closer and I held my breath in sheer anticipation. “You want ‘fair’, I’ll give you ‘fair’, Juliette.” He snatched my dress off the grass and threw it at me.
[Juliette’s POV]The sex was darn good. The area between my thighs were still aching from squeezing too much; my insides, still numb from the pressure of his sheer size as he slammed mercilessly into me last night, in various different positions—that brute strength was still ringing in my skin; my limbs were still sore from the numerous contortions to assist him in reaching the deepest depths of me. I swallowed hard as images of our wild sex from last night congested my mind, and his deep, husky groans of immense pleasure echoed in my ears. My cheeks started to heat up.Yes, sex was really good—in fact, too good. And when something is too good, you know it isn’t true. My marriage with Ralph. It had started with a deal, a deal that had forced two strangers—mortal enemies—to start a family together. Pfft! What family?My insides chuckled sadly. With the deal, the Lux fortune and our family feud between us, the notion of love sounds like a daydream. I don’t care what Papa thinks, I d
[Juliette’s POV] “So we’ve hit the jackpot,” I whispered, my lips quivering in fear and anguish, my eyes glowering at the carpet floor. That jerk of an asshole Virtus… How dare he lie to me. “We’ll have to think of something else now. In the meantime, you may want to get your phone checked. I have a feeling it’s tapped.” “But Ralph wouldn’t—.” And I paused. The lump in my throat forbade me from jumping to Ralph’s defense, not when he had lied to me about helping me with the investigation and trusting me. How naive could I get! “After what just happened, I think he would, and I had proven my point, J. Shit, I gotta go. His PA is calling me, and I have to return this phone to Christine before he catches me using it.” It was then I heard his voice reverberating in the background; he was in the stairwell. I was astonished. “You’re using her phone to call Agatha?” Smart move. “I've got no choice, do I? I’m under scrutiny, J. That Ben Smith’s been hovering around me like a vul
*WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SEXUAL VIOLENCE.* [Juliette’s POV] His face turned from being clueless to having fathomed out my response. Taking one step closer, he taunted, “OK. Let’s hear it. Why are you blind? Your eyes look fine to me. And you look like you want to kill me. So go ahead, let me have it.” That does it. I shot up to a stand, both hands in tight fists, eyes glaring at him. “You two-face jerk.” “Two-face—? Oh….” He dropped his face on the grass and shook his head in a dry laugh. “This is something new.” I mimicked his sarcastic laugh. “Yes, it’s darn new to me too! You, being all nice and warm in front of me, and then a slimy worm behind my back.” I thought about him pretending to help and sabotaging my investigation, and more anger filled my eyes. He straightened and glared condescendingly at me. “Do you always spit on someone's kindness, or is this about me being a Virtus?" I stepped forward and jabbed a finger in his direction. “Don't you dare swing t
[Juliette’s POV]”Jesus Christ….” Ralph stared in wide shock at the truth revealed in Elizabeth Lux’s handwriting. His shock was as good as mine. I realised my mouth was agape and closed it, my shock finally ingested in a gulp and an inhale. I found my voice and muttered, “She had his baby.” I turned to Ralph and swallowed again to maintain my voice. “Milo’s not the first.” I grabbed Ralph’s sleeves and shook him out of his daze. “Milo’s not the first to have the Lux and Virtus blood! Do you know what this means?” The swell in his throat finally came alive, bobbing nervously between the collar of his freshly put on shirt, and he murmured with heightened worry. “This means Milo is in grave danger.” I felt my face fall deadpan. That wasn’t what I had in mind. “No, silly! Milo isn’t the first. That means he’s safe! Daddy wouldn’t mind having him.” I pointed at the journal. “Daddy knows this all along—.” “And he hates it.” Ralph’s fierce gaze bore into mine, trying to make me see what
[Ralph’s POV]And I slid my fingers through hers. I pinned her hands above her wonderful expression of bliss to sink deeper into her. She wrapped around me unconditionally while I stroked her the way she wanted, stretching her desires beyond that cliff so she’d want—no—burn for that tip. I pushed in further, driving her body to the brink of madness as our lips almost touched, my nipples pressing hard against hers, grinding, yearning for her the same ways her blood boils for me. “How badly do you want me, kitten?” I licked her quivering, intoxicated upper lip. I knew the answer, but I couldn’t help but tease her. My damn, damn pride. Her insides were hot like lava, twitching fiercely with a need for me to move. But her slender thighs were wedged securely between our warm bodies so she was completely immobilised, afraid that the slightest touch would take away everything, and she didn’t want that. So she resorted to hiking that sweet voice of hers. “Ralph, please!” I seized her
[Juliette’s POV]“Don’t worry, Miss Julie!” Thomas’ voice rang as the car bolted forward. “No one will know a thing!” Outside the window was pitch darkness. Even the headlights were off so that they wouldn’t be spotted. “You’ll be killed if Papa finds out,” I murmured, my heart racing as fast as the car. Thomas chuckled. “I’ll be fine, Miss Julie. There’s one thing I know for sure about Master Lux: he doesn’t care about small fries like us.”I felt my lips curled up in a smile. That’s true. Papa wouldn’t even know of Thomas’ existence. “But he’ll know when a car’s missing.” I sighed. “We’re so fucked. We’ll be discovered. And we’ll both have to pay for it—.” God, I’m whiny. “This is a gift, Miss Julie. From Mr. Ralph!” Thomas proudly patted the steering wheel. “The old Master hasn't visited the garage since his return. I bet you a hundred dollars, he doesn't know about this baby. Besides, it’s mine. I don’t put it with the other cars he used. So he’ll never know.” So this is wh
[Juliette’s {POV]He raised a brow. “Was?” And I nodded. “Before my vacation.” I looked down at my feet, the way I always do when I regret my actions. “I was struggling… I’m sure you can tell–I mean, you know… I couldn’t tell what’s real. I was living a lie for so long that I had started to believe it.” “That’s why you asked for a vacation.” A statement that sounded like a question, Papa’s condescending way of telling someone that he knows better. And I ran along with it. “Yes.” “And your head is clear now.” “Never been clearer.’ I glanced at Agatha who’d been standing behind Papa, her knowing gaze told me she'd laid the groundwork. So I casually explained, “That’s why I got curious, Papa. Ralph had access to everything you owned, including this room. And I remember how much you treasure this place.” The scepticism was still locked in his gaze but my confidence didn’t falter like before. “That’s why you never let anyone in. Only Agatha cleans this place, and she’s always supervi
[Ralph’s POV]“A break in?” Robert gasped, and anxiety was banging against my skull, threatening to burst through. “Goddamn it, Ben!” I roared. “What the fuck is wrong with you? We use it, we throw it away. It’s just a fucking burn phone—you didn’t use one, did you? You kept a second phone.”“It was for Jewel.” There was regret in his voice. But I couldn’t let it go. “And you left it in the office? Can you be any dumber? Now two lives are in danger because of you!” “ME?!” He finally flew off the handle. “You let the love of my life take care of your stupid child! Do you know how dangerous that is? That child’s a fucking shooting target!” My eyes turned murderous. “What the fuck did you just say?” Suddenly, Ben was as calm as he’s ever been. “I was wrong. I apologise.” At my silence, he continued, “I know you can’t chill” “The fuck I can.” My voice was running on its own. “So I won’t ask. But listen, will you? A shadow’s already on his way.” My fingers raged through my hair, sh
[Harold’s POV] “So he was there.” The owner of Lux empire, known to all as the Business King, Harold Lux, was tapping his finger on the antique desk back in his office at Lux Corp, listening to the P.I. reporting on the voice speaker of his phone, when rage took over. “And my daughter was there.” His voice was unusually calm. But his best friend and veteran lawyer, Jerry, could detect the livid undertone, and a sigh of exasperation let out into the air. His old brows slowly gathered. “Did they meet?” What a question. Of course, they did. Of course, they would! Harold’s fingers gathered into a clutch—within it, is Ralph Virtus’ neck. After the flipping of pages, the P.I.’s voice was back on. “No.” Everything slid off those tensed shoulders. Harold leaned forward, interested for the first time. “Are you sure?” More pages flipped to highlight the professionalism and then the voice returned. “Positive. She stayed in her villa. He stayed in his.” “And you surveille
[Chatri’s POV]The EMERGENCY sign was still lit up. Chatri couldn’t tear his gaze away from it, making sure the light doesn’t go out Across him, seated on the row of plastic chairs, nestled safely between his wife and his mother, his precious fourteen-year-old daughter was praying hard for her saviour too. It was near his heart. Guilt burned the back of her eyes. Ralph-kun… I blamed you for destroying the peace that we’ve paid with our blood and sweat to get. Yet, you did not leave me alone. You fought by my side. You kept your word. With your life. Is this the root of your men’s loyalty? Three hours ago, when they got to the van, her daughter was a crying mess, her almost naked body would have been in full display if it weren’t for that bloodied jacket. Ralph Virtus was sprawled at the van’s entrance, hanging on by a thread. Chatri had to get in the chopper. Footsteps snapped him back to the silent hallway. The ex-mob leader turned to them and Ralph-kun’s right-hand man was mo
[Juliette’s POV]“My father has brought us to the next level—there’s no doubt about it. But as you can see, the charts do not lie. Lux Corp will not survive the casino’s first quarter if we sit back and do nothing.”I gazed firmly around the room. These so-called shareholders of Lux Corp. I need to break their resistance and knock some sense back into them. The oldest one of the group cleared his throat and muttered in a haughty slow pace, “So what you’re saying is: remove Harold Lux as Chairman and put you in charge.” Another guy quickly added, “We don’t do this sort of thing.” Then, the third man snorted in derision. “I’m actually surprised that you gathered all of us here today without the Chairman. If he gets wind of this—.” “He won’t if none of us talk about it,” I snapped, frustration in my throat. What’s with the surprised looks and frowns of disapproval? Aren’t they as much of a businessman as Papa? Can’t they see the signs? The fucking obvious signs! Suddenly, Papa’s de
[Sarah’s POV]She can’t believe it. The unbeatable, ever invincible Don Ralph—the monster in the devil skin; a heartless murderer with the killer sense of an Olympic shooter; king of the world’s most ferocious mafia groups—is completely useless against an infant that’s less than an hour’s old. If it weren’t for Sarah’s fierce insistence and fearsome glare, he wouldn’t even hold his own child. ‘What if I break his neck?’ whispered the poor man, his eyes unable to stray from the tiny creature in his frozen arms. ‘Stop it,’ snapped the caretaker. ‘Sway gently, and you’ll be fine.’ She glanced at the bed and Juliette, who was sleeping soundly, and then back at the man, who would probably feel as though he’s on top of the world right now. Is he going to cry? ‘So what’s his name?’ asked Sarah, swiftly diverting those tears from crystalising. Without looking up, he muttered, ‘Milo.’ Then, he glanced at his sleeping wife and a proud smile appeared. ‘Milo Virtus. The first of the many.’