Waking up, a heavy fog clung to my mind, and a nauseating churn gripped my throat. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks – I was sick, and the memories of last night's revelry flooded back.With an unsteady rush, I stumbled towards the bathroom, desperately trying to keep the roiling contents of my stomach at bay. The world swirled in disarray as I barely made it to the toilet in time, the unpleasant sound of retching filling the air.Each heave felt like a punishment for the indulgence of the night before. The bathroom tiles blurred in and out of focus as I clung to the porcelain, grappling with the aftermath of my own excess. Regret settled in, a bitter taste that matched the acrid echoes of my earlier sickness.As I caught my breath, the morning light filtering through the window seemed harsh, intensifying the throbbing headache that accompanied my queasiness.I couldn't help but chastise myself for the lack of restraint, the consequences of which now echoed in the quiet mise
Adrian's lips crash against mine in a searing kiss, his intensity stealing my breath away. I melt into him, returning the fevered embrace with eager passion as our bodies press flush together. His hands roam over my curves with an urgency that sets my skin ablaze.Our kisses grow more fervent, open-mouthed and hungry. Adrian's tongue dances boldly with mine as he rocks his hips, grinding his hardened length against my core through the thin barrier of our clothing. A desperate whimper escapes me loving how his thick cock felt against my sweet core.Breaking away to trail scorching kisses along my jaw and down my neck, Adrian hoists my leg up to wrap around his waist, opening me up for him. "You're so gorgeous," he rasps hotly against my collar bone. "I need to taste every inch of you..."His calloused palms blaze a path up my thighs, bunching the fabric of my nightgown higher and higher. I arch shamelessly into his touch, lost in the dizzying haze of lust and desire coursing through my
My lips trace a path down Adrian's sculpted torso, feeling the heat of his skin and the rapid beat of his heart beneath my fingers. His hands find my hair, tangling gently as I make my way lower, planting kisses and soft bites along the way. Each touch elicits a low growl from him, a sound that sends a thrill through my body.When I finally reach his hips, I pause, glancing up to meet his gaze. His eyes are dark with desire, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. I brush my fingertips along his length, marveling at the way he twitches under my touch. His cock was about the same size or even bigger as I had read in books.Adrian's response is a guttural moan as I wrap my hand around his hardened cock, stroking slowly at first, enjoying the way he shudders beneath me. I lean forward, my tongue darting out to taste the salty bead of precum at the tip. His hips jerk involuntarily, and I smile against him, savoring the power I hold in this moment.Gradually, I take him deeper
Lyra PovI wake up with a start, blinking against the harsh sunlight filtering through the curtains. As my eyes adjust, I realize Sebastian is already awake, propped up on one elbow watching me with an amused grin.Memories of last night come rushing back. One too many overpriced cocktails later and Sebastian's sultry glances and heated touches had me following him back to his penthouse suite.I can hardly believe I actually slept with Adrian's younger brother. He's part of one of the wealthiest families in the world. If Adrian is a billionaire, that technically makes Sebastian one too by default. Just your casual, mind-blowingly rich guy that I recklessly seduced and ended up in bed with.My gaze shamelessly roams over Sebastian's naked, muscular form peeking out from the tangled sheets pooled around his waist. God, he's like a living, breathing Greek god sculpture with that chiseled jaw and smoldering silver eyes.Part of me wants to slip out of bed quietly, mourning the likely fact
I wake up feeling utterly blissful, a pleasant tenderness pulsing between my thighs. As the lingering haze of sleep fades, flashes of last night's passion hit me. Adrian's searing kisses, his calloused hands roaming my body, the delicious grind of his hardness against my core.The way he tenderly kisses me going down to ravish my core and make me scream his name. The way I went down on him and drank all of his sweetness. I can't suppress the small smile that tugs at my lips. So, he was the mysterious stranger who I gave my virginity to at the club that wild night. It all makes sense now why his touch, his scent, felt so achingly familiar.It was my boss all along.Clearly things would definitely change after this.But yet...something still doesn't add up. If Adrian was indeed my sensual partner from that evening, how can he also be confined to this wheelchair? My brow furrows as I try to reconcile that missing piece of the puzzle.Heat rushes to my cheeks as I remember the vivid detai
Adrian's PovI wake just before dawn, the early morning light filtering in through the curtains. Stella is cuddled up against me, her bare skin warm and soft where it presses against my body. I can't help but pull her a little closer, breathing in the intoxicating floral scent of her hair.Last night's passionate memories come rushing back - Stella's lips hot and eager on mine, her form arching wantonly above me, the exquisite heat of being sheathed deep inside her at last.A possessive pride surges through me. After all this time craving her, desiring to make this woman truly mine, I've finally claimed what I've wanted for so long once again.My eyes rake over the delicate curves of her body, taking in the smatteri
I can't tear my eyes away from the shocking sight of Adrian running on that treadmill, his legs carrying him effortlessly. This whole time he's been able to walk...to run. He's been lying to me this entire time!A flood of hurt and confusion swirls inside me. I turn on my heel and rush out of the gym, barely registering Adrian calling my name behind me. Hot tears sting my eyes as I make my way back to our hotel room with singular focus.As soon as I'm inside, I yank my suitcase off the luggage rack and flip it open on the bed. I frantically start grabbing handfuls of my clothes and belongings, haphazardly shoving them inside.I need to get out of here. Away from Adrian and his deception."Stella, wait." Adrian's voi
Adrian advances toward me with the self-assured stride of a predator cornering its prey. Instinctively, I step back, my suitcase falling from my grip as I collide with the wall behind me."W-What are you doing?" I stammer out, unable to stop the flush of nervous heat spreading across my cheeks.He doesn't respond, at least not with words. His piercing gaze roams hungrily over every inch of my body, dark eyes glittering with an undisguised yearning that has my pulse stuttering.Soon Adrian stood before me, his form looming over me, one palm slamming against the wall by my head as he cages me in with his larger frame. His other hand drifts up, fingertips lightly tracing along my jaw and sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
Adrian's PovStella was standing there, holding a baby in her arms. Her expression was soft, filled with warmth, and for a second, I almost believed everything was fine.But something was off.The doctors stood to the side, silent, their expressions a bit unreadable. A strange tension seemed to be in the room.Gabriella’s voice broke through the silence. “Adrian, come and see your daughter,” she excitedly spoke.I took a slow step forward, but before I could get any closer, one of the doctors stepped in front of me.“Mr. Lockwood,” he said carefully, his voice low, “we need to speak with you.... in privately.”Something about his tone made my stomach twist.I turned to Stella, who stood nearby completely unaware of the storm brewing behind her. My parents stood frozen, their gazes flickering between me and the doctors. Even Sebastian, for all his arrogance, looked uneasy.Reluctantly, I allowed the doctors to pull me aside.I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it wasn’t the words that c
Adrian's PovI sat in the wheelchair, my hands gripping the armrests tightly as Gabriella’s screams of pain filled the room. The beeping of monitors, the rushed movements of the nurses, the doctor's firm instructions, all of it blended into the background. Then the door burst open.Sebastian strode in, his presence instantly shifting the air. His jaw was tight, his eyes locked onto Gabriella with an intensity that made my stomach churn.“Sir, you’re not allowed in here,” the doctor snapped, stepping toward him.Sebastian barely acknowledged her. His gaze flickered to me before he spoke. “I’m the father of the baby; I should be here.”Gabriella’s head whipped toward him, pain forgotten for a moment as fury overtook her face. “You are not the father!” she screamed, her breath ragged. “Now get the hell out!”I would be lying if I didn't say I didn't expect this, in fact I did expect this.I clenched my fists, forcing my expression into something controlled, something that mirrored outr
Stella's Pov. I paced nervously outside the hospital room, my hands fidgeting with the hem of my jacket as the sounds of Gabriella’s labor echoed through the closed door. Adrian had gone in, of course. She’d asked for him to be there, to hold her hand while she brought their baby into the world. I bit the inside of my cheek, my mind racing. Gabriella had to have planned this. There’s no way she didn’t—having the baby now, just before Adrian and I were supposed to leave for the trip. She was always doing something to keep us apart. Such a bitch. I tried to shake off the thought, but it lingered, settling in like a bitter taste I couldn’t get rid of. I wanted to hate her for it. But more than anything, I hated how powerless I felt standing out here, waiting. Adrian’s going to be a father. A father. Pride swelled in my chest. I was happy for him—of course, I was. But a sinking feeling quickly followed, pulling me down. It wasn’t me in that room with him. It wasn’t my baby he’d be
Sebastian's pov.I sat inside the room, checking my watch for the hundredth time. Any minute now, he'd arrive. Adrian's time had finally run out, and the Lockwood empire was about to change hands.A smirk played on my lips as I thought about Adrian, off on his business trip with Stella. How convenient. When he returns, he'll walk right into the shock of his life. Everything he thinks he owns will now be mine.My mind wandered to Gabriella, heavily pregnant with what Adrian believes is his child. Oh, brother, if only you knew. Soon, she'll be handing that baby over to me instead.I've always been jealous of my big brother, something that I'd never like to admit. How he'd always manage to be the favorite. Outperform m
I'm nestled comfortably in bed, propped up against a mountain of pillows, with Adrian's strong arm wrapped around me. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries fills the air, mingling with Adrian's cologne."Open up," Adrian says softly, holding a forkful of fluffy scrambled eggs to my lips. I oblige, savoring the taste and the intimacy of the moment.It's been four days since we arrived for this "business trip," though we've spent more time in this room than anywhere else. I can't help but smile, thinking about how attentive and loving Adrian has been. It's almost easy to forget the complications waiting for us back home."What's that smile for?" Adrian asks, his eyes twinkling with amusement.I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder. "Just thinking about how perfect this is. How perfect you've been."Adrian kisses the top of my head. "You deserve to be pampered, my love. The three of you do," he adds, his free hand gently caressing my swollen belly.As if on cue, I fee
Gabriella's pov I pace the length of my room, fury coursing through my veins. How dare he? How dare Adrian go on a two-week business trip with that homewrecker Stella while I'm seven months pregnant with his child? Our child. The audacity of it all makes me want to scream. My hand absently rubs my swollen belly as I try to calm myself. This stress can't be good for the baby, but I can't help it. Things cannot go on like this. I need to do something, and fast. "Damn you, Sebastian," I mutter under my breath. His incompetence is infuriating. Instead of getting rid of Stella like he was supposed to, all he managed to do was come up with some half-baked scheme about a fake father. Useless. I should have known better than to trust him with such an important task. I should have done it myself from the beginning. I stop in front of the full-length mirror, studying my reflection. Despite the pregnancy, I still look good. Better than Stella, surely. So why is Adrian so damn infatuated with
Stella's povI stir awake, my eyes fluttering open to the soft afternoon light filtering through the curtains. The first thing I see is Adrian's face, his silver eyes watching me with a tender expression that makes my heart skip a beat."Good afternoon, sleeping beauty," he murmurs, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face.I smile, nestling closer to him. "How long have you been awake?""Long enough to count every freckle on your nose," he teases, leaning in to place a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.I giggle, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. Our lips meet in a gentle, lingering kiss that sends warmth spreading through my en
I watch Stella sleeping peacefully in my lap, I'm struck by a pang of guilt. I've been neglecting her, allowing Gabriella's manipulative tactics to come between us.When Stella uttered those horrifying words - that our relationship was over - it was like a bucket of cold water to the face. I knew then that I couldn't let her walk out of my life. Not without a fight. This trip to Italy is my chance to make things right.Two weeks to spoil her, to give her my undivided attention, to remind her how much she means to me. As we approach the airport, I gently wake her."We're here, baby girl," I murmur, brushing a strand of hair from her face.Her eyes flutter open, confusion giving way to excitement as she remembers where we're going. I settle into my wheelchair as we board my private jet, unable to take my eyes off her as she marvels at the luxurious interior."Wait," she stops before staring at me wide eye. "What about Lyra, what if they try to harm her while we're away?" She asks."Ther
Gabriella's face cycles through a range of emotions - shock, hurt, anger, and finally, a calculated blankness. Mark and Daisy exchange worried glances, clearly as taken aback as the rest of us.As for me, I'm frozen in place, my mind racing. A two-week trip to Italy? With Adrian? Away from all of this drama? It seems too good to be true.But as I catch Adrian's eye across the room, I see a glimmer of something - determination, perhaps? Or is it a promise of things to come?The shock of Adrian's announcement hangs in the air for a moment before Gabriella snaps out of her stupor. Her voice trembles with a mix of anger and desperation as she turns to Adrian."But I'm seven months pregnant, going on eight months!" she exclaims. "How am I supposed to cope alone?"Before Adrian can respond, Daisy steps forward, her voice calm and reassuring with a smile. "Mark and I will take very good care of you, Gabriella. You don't need to worry."Gabriella, however, isn't satisfied. Her next words make