POV: LAUREN“I don’t answer personal questions,” Henry declared, his voice calm yet sharp enough to cut through the air. His tone demanded respect. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, his piercing blue gaze assessing my reaction. “Let’s go inside.”Without another word, he guided me into the mansion, maintaining his imposing and steady presence. Even as the reporters continued shouting questions, his hand remained firmly at my waist, and Theodor, still nestled in my arms, seemed to find comfort in his uncle’s unwavering demeanor.Once the heavy doors closed behind us, I felt my knees almost give out. Henry stopped, turned toward me, and tilted his head slightly, studying my face.“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice noticeably softer this time.I swallowed hard, trying to gather my thoughts while my heart continued to race.
POV: LAURENI nodded quickly, trying to steady the surge of emotions washing over me. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the tension between Henry and Mia or the confusing feelings he always managed to stir in me. As I stepped away, I could hear Mia say something in an acidic tone, but Henry’s response was firm, his voice low and controlled as always. Their exchange echoed in my mind while I searched for Theodor.Soon, I felt a small tug on the hem of my dress and looked down to find Theo grinning mischievously.“Fairy, they have ice cream!” he exclaimed excitedly, pointing toward a nearby cart. “Can we get some without Uncle Henry seeing?”“We can, but you have to promise me you won’t spill on your clothes, okay?” I replied with a playful smile, trying to keep the mood light.Theo nodded enthusiastically as I glanced toward the back of the
POV: HENRYI pulled Mia by the elbow, ignoring the curious stares as I led her toward the back of the mansion. Once we arrived, I released her arm abruptly.“Henry, you’re hurting me!” she complained, rubbing the spot where my hand had been. “You didn’t have to be so rough!”“What do you want, Mia?” I asked, crossing my arms and narrowing my eyes. “I don’t have the patience for your theatrics.”“And that’s exactly why we drifted apart, Henry,” she replied, her voice taking on a whiny tone as she fiddled with my tie, pretending to be hurt. “You never made time for me. You can make time for your nephew, but for your fiancée? Never!”“Ex-fiancée,” I corrected, firmly removing her hands from my tie without hurting her. “Or have you forgotten that you were the one who left me before the wedding?”I took a step back, letting her go with deliberate force. As I turned to leave, Mia surprised me by hugging me from behind. She pressed her face against my back, her hands sliding up my abdomen an
POV: LAUREN“I deeply apologize for this scene, Mr. Carter,” I said, releasing Claire's wrist but still glaring at her, keeping my voice steady. “It was merely a misunderstanding.”“A misunderstanding?” Claire snapped, clutching her wrist as if mortally wounded. “This uncivilized brute threatened to hit me and break my wrist!”“Is that true, Ms. Becker?” Henry tilted his head slightly, his analytical gaze seeming to pierce right through me.“Yes,” I answered without hesitation, holding my calm demeanor. I noticed one of his eyebrows arch in response as his stare remained locked on me. “And I don’t regret it.”“There, you see, Mr. Carter?” Claire whined, rushing over to him like a spoiled child, placing her hands on his shoulders and positioning herself behind him. “This woman is completely unhinged. She should be fired!”“Uncle Henry, that’s not fair!” Theo interjected, gripping my hand tightly. “The fairy was just protecting me! That mean lady tried to hit me first!”“Theo!” I scolde
POV: LAURENThe tension in the air seemed to thicken until a robust man with a mustache and an authoritative demeanor approached.“Now, Henry, do we really need all this drama?” he said in a conciliatory yet condescending tone. Only then did I realize it was Roger, James’s father.Henry let out a dry, ironic laugh, crossing his arms as the vein on his temple became more prominent.“Roger, you really should be more selective with your guest list!” he retorted impatiently, his imposing stance and icy gaze making his discomfort clear.Before any more words could be exchanged, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. The warm voice of Margareth caught me by surprise.“Mrs. Becker, my goodness, it’s been ages!” she exclaimed kindly, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her presence was almost a relief amid the chaos. She whispered into m
POV: LAUREN“Becker, Becker, what a surprise to see you here,” James said in a mocking tone, leaning in to whisper near my ear. “Have you become Henry’s pet now, going everywhere he takes you?”“Hello, James,” I replied, trying to maintain my composure as unease crawled up my spine. I took a step back, forcing a polite smile. “I’m here accompanying Mr. Carter because I’m his nephew’s nanny, and Theodor is also attending the party,” I added, standing from my chair. “Speaking of Theodor, I should go check on him.”“Nonsense!” Margareth intervened, gently holding my hand. “Let the boy enjoy himself a little without supervision. Why don’t you and James go dance? I’ve always admired your friendship. I thought you two might end up getting married one day.”“Why would you think that?” I aske
POV: LAUREN“Whoever got you to dance first and managed to take you home would win. I was heading your way that night, but then I heard your father felt unwell, and you left the ball with Ethan. What a surprise, huh?” James mocked, a malicious glint in his eyes.“How do you know that?” I asked, my voice faltering. James leaned in provocatively, grazing his teeth over the tip of my ear.“Oh, darling, Ethan bragged about it afterward,” he said with a laugh. “Your father’s 'illness' was caused by Ethan during that 'urgent meeting' they had earlier that day.” James laughed louder, clearly enjoying himself. “And you fell for it. His attention, his concern for your father—it was all part of the plan.”“That’s impossible,” I murmured, a knot tightening in my throat as my body began to tremble. I couldn’t hide the wave of tensi
POV: LAURENI raised my gaze to him, confused, but followed in silence to the railing. The view before us was breathtaking: a river reflected the soft glow of the moon, surrounded by trees that seemed to whisper in the quiet night.“What a beautiful view,” I remarked, mesmerized. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the fresh night air fill my senses. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the emotions that were so close to the surface.When I opened my eyes again, I found him fixed on me. He was watching me intently, as if he were trying to uncover every hidden thought in my mind.“Do you feel better?” he asked, his voice low and soft but no less intense. His fingers brushed a strand of hair that had fallen over my face, tucking it gently behind my ear.“Better?” I murmured, still confused, frowning slightly.“Yes, weren’t you t
POV: LAURENMy hands worked in sync with my mouth, sliding up and down in the same rhythm as my suckers, while my tongue played with precise movements, stimulating every sensitive spot. His length throbbed against my tongue—hot, rigid, utterly delicious.Henry threw his head back, his breathing ragged. The pace quickened, and with my other hand, I cupped his balls, massaging them gently, feeling his body tremble under my touch.“Fuck, Lauren…” he growled, his voice thick with raw pleasure. “If you keep this up, I won’t last, and I want to feel you around me.”In one swift, determined motion, Henry yanked me up, his lips crashing against mine with desperate hunger. My body pressed against his, and I felt his erection pulsing between us. I kept my hand wrapped around him, continuing my movements as he devoured my mouth.He groaned against my lips, bitin
POV: LAURENA gasp escaped me. My entire body throbbed, my breathing became uneven, and the heat between my legs was unbearable.Henry knew exactly what he was doing to me. And I didn’t want him to stop.“So ready for me, my Becker.” Henry’s voice came out hoarse, thick with desire and possession. His dark gaze devoured me as his fingers slowly slid over the thin fabric of my pants, shifting them just enough to expose my intimacy to his touch.The mere brush of his fingertip against my skin made me gasp, and a shaky moan slipped past my lips. A low, satisfied chuckle rumbled in his chest as he registered my immediate reaction.“Easy, little one,” he murmured, his lips curling into a smirk dripping with mischief. “We’re just getting started. I want to taste every inch of you.”“Henry…” His name spilled
POV: LAURENThe air between us grew thick, charged with electricity and desire. My heart pounded against my ribs, and my breath turned ragged as the heat of his body fused with mine. The rich, masculine scent of Henry surrounded me, igniting an insatiable longing that made my skin burn.“Henry…” My voice came out in a shaky whisper, caught between hesitation and surrender.His gaze, intense and filled with raw lust, locked onto mine. It was like an inescapable fire, consuming any last shred of resistance I might have had. My body pulsed under his touch, every inch of my skin sensitized by the searing path of his fingers. His strong hands slid along the curve of my waist, pulling me even closer against him, and a delicious shiver ran down my spine.“Stop running from what you want, Lauren.” His voice was low, husky, and intoxicating. His mouth hovered dangerously close to mine, and the promise in his words made me hold my breath. “You want me just as much as I want you. Say yes… and be
POV: HENRYLauren was visibly better after a few weeks of rest. The test results showed that everything was within normal parameters, which brought us immense relief. Theodor had grown even closer to her, reading to her belly every night, telling stories filled with promises for the future sibling, describing the games and mischief they would share.Since Becker’s bleeding incident, I simply hadn’t allowed her to sleep alone anymore. This change in our routine brought us closer in an intense and unexpected way. Her mind was fascinating—brilliant, full of ideas and suggestions that made our business conversations not only productive but also enjoyable. Without realizing it, she lifted a great weight off my shoulders, and I found myself eager to share every detail with her.“It's official—I think I've found my replacement.” My voice carried a teasing, playful tone, just enough to make her lift her blue eyes from the report and stare at me, surprised.“What did you say?” Her expression s
POV: LAUREN“Mom, please! Henry is going to freak out when he finds out what you did!” I exclaimed, watching another batch of cupcakes come out of the oven while Theo, covered in frosting from head to toe, worked on his masterpiece with chocolate and colorful sprinkles. “He’s already had way too much sugar!”“Oh, Lauren, let the boy be a kid!” My mom huffed, rolling her eyes as she tidied up the counter. “I raised you the same way, spoiled you with love and sugar, and look at you now—a grown, healthy woman. So let me spoil this little angel my way.”Theo looked up at me, his eyes shining with happiness, the tip of his nose smudged with whipped cream.“Grandma is amazing, Fairy!” the little one chimed in.I sighed, already defeated.“See?” My mom smiled triumphantly, winking at me. “I&
POV: ETHANThat damn billionaire looked at me with an air of superiority, certain that he had already won this battle. His threatening tone left no doubt—he knew about the embezzlement, and those incompetent fools in my finance department had miserably failed to cover up the evidence. I’d have to deal with this mess later.I drummed my fingers against the desk, calculating my options. So this was what it was about? Henry Carter was here to reclaim what his dear wife had lost. Lauren always had a knack for attracting trouble. Even after the divorce, she was still a nuisance. If I had gotten rid of her at the right time—an accident carefully planned—no one would have suspected a thing.The thought amused me for a moment, but I had to regain control. Carter was still in front of me, impatient, waiting for my answer.“So, what will it be?” he asked, his jaw clenched, his eyes locked
POV: HENRYEthan leaned slightly over the desk, his eyes filled with provocation, as if savoring each word before letting them out.“Mr. Carter…” He spoke slowly, dragging out his tone, feeding off the tension. “Man to man… I know you married my ex-wife.”I kept my expression impassive, though hearing Lauren’s name from his mouth was enough to irritate me. He noticed—and continued.“I also heard she’s expecting your heir,” Ethan added.My jaw tightened, and my fingers flexed slightly against the fabric of my suit, but I remained still, staring at him.He paused dramatically, his eyes analyzing every minute reaction, as if searching for a weakness to exploit.“But there’s no need to come here and mark your territory,” he said, a malicious glint in his eyes. “I ha
POV: HENRY“Where to, sir?” the driver looked at me through the rearview mirror.“PharmaCare Industries.” I ran a hand over my neatly trimmed beard, casting one last glance at the mansion. The life I was building there needed to be protected.I grabbed my phone and sent a message to Lucian. I needed him to meet me at Lauren’s ex-husband’s company with the financial documents detailing the embezzlement. Furthermore, I never understood my brother’s interest in doing business with PharmaCare. There were more solid companies and hospitals we had strategic partnerships with, expanding branches and investing in medical technologies far more profitable than Ethan’s ventures.The car glided smoothly into the parking lot. Checking my watch as I stepped out, I scanned the surroundings. No sign of Lucian.“Always late…” I muttered, massag
POV: LAUREN“Daughter, is that how you greet your mother?” My mom frowned, placing her hands firmly on her hips as she stared at me with disapproval. “This handsome man called me, saying my little girl needed me. You're pregnant, you need rest, and maybe a little motherly love would help you feel better.”My eyes widened, and I immediately turned to Henry, glaring at him as if I could set him on fire with my stare.“You called my mother?” I asked through clenched teeth, feeling my body heat with indignation. “And you told her about the pregnancy?!”He remained calm, as imposing as ever.“Actually, your mother saw the news about your dramatic entrance to the hospital in the arms of CEO Henry Carter,” Kate interjected, holding my mom's purse and trying to ease the tension. “So, let’s just say she kind of threatened to storm