POV: HENRYThe warmth of her lips against mine was real, intense. Her uneven breaths mixed with mine, and all it would take was a single word for me to kiss her the way we both wanted. I kept the touch light, teasing and moistening my lips before brushing the tip of my tongue against hers, testing her reaction.“Mr. Carter…” Lauren murmured, her voice low, filled with something she couldn’t quite hide.Her arms slid around my neck, her fingers grazing the back of my head. She lifted slightly onto her toes, closing the space between us. My gaze locked onto hers, trying to decipher just how far she wanted to take this.“You’re not going to seduce me into accepting the contract,” she whispered against my mouth, a challenge disguised as provocation.Before I could react, Lauren gently pushed me away and turned her back, staring out at the view. I took a d
POV: LAURENThe following days passed without me seeing Henry as often. He was buried in work, and his presence in the house became almost nonexistent. I used the mornings, while Theodor was at school, to go to my prenatal appointments. To my relief, my baby was developing well and healthy. The nausea had eased, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could finally breathe a little better.I visited my mother and Kate, hoping to find some comfort in their presence. But reality hit me hard when I went to the bank to negotiate the debt my father had left behind.“This is absurd!” My voice came out louder than I intended, but I didn’t care. I placed my hands on the desk and stared down at the manager in front of me. “These interest rates are outrageous! How do you expect me to pay the creditors when the bank is robbing me like this?”The man before me wore an expensive suit and a
POV: HENRYI had forgotten an important folder at home and had to go back to get it. I was supposed to meet some clients at the new nightclub—Lucian’s idea—who insisted on taking the French investors out for a night of fun before closing our business deal.I was just about to leave the mansion when a car pulled up in front.I stood still, watching as a tall, well-dressed man stepped out and walked over to the passenger side, opening the door with a chivalrous gesture.Then, I saw Lauren Becker step out of the car.My eyes narrowed as he took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it.Crossing my arms, I felt my fingers dig into my biceps, unable to understand why that small gesture irritated me so much.When Lauren turned around, her body tensed the moment she saw me standing there—like she had been caught in the act.
POV: LAURENHe moved forward in silence, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race. I stepped back, but it was useless. In one swift motion, Henry pulled me toward him and pinned me against the wall.His strong hands seized my wrists, holding them above my head, keeping me trapped as his face drew dangerously close. His gaze dropped to my mouth before he captured it between his teeth, biting down on my lower lip and sucking it slowly.A low moan slipped from me.He didn’t wait for anything else.He plunged into a deep, intense, and hungry kiss, exploring my mouth with no rush—but with absolute possession. His tongue moved against mine, setting the pace, while his hands released my wrists to roam my body.His firm touch slid beneath the hem of my nightgown, tracking every curve before gripping my leg and pulling it against his hip. I fe
POV: HENRY“Damn it…” I muttered as I opened my eyes, bringing a hand to my forehead, massaging the throbbing pain. My mouth was dry, my head heavy. “How the hell did I get home?”I tried to move, but I felt something pressing against my shoulder.Frowning, I turned my head to the side.Lauren.She was lying beside me, her hand resting on my chest, her head nestled against my arm. Her hair spilled over the bed—soft, fragrant, silky.My gaze traveled down her partially covered body. The thin nightgown clung to her curves, revealing just enough to make my breath hitch. One of her legs was draped over my hip, her bare thigh exposed, dangerously close to revealing more than it should.Shit.She was stunning.I swallowed hard, shifting carefully so I wouldn’t wake her.
POV: HENRYMy voice came out firm, unhurried. My eyes traveled over her body, taking in every detail of the thin nightgown that clung to her curves.Damn it… why did she have to look so irresistible?“We’re already done here,” she countered, her voice steady but her gaze hesitant. She tried to pull her arm free, but I tightened my grip slightly, keeping her in place.“There was nothing.”I raised an eyebrow, assessing her tense expression.“Nothing?” I repeated slowly, leaning in slightly.“Nothing,” she insisted, averting her gaze.“Then why are you running from me?” I stepped closer, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Why are you looking at me like that if nothing happened?”Becker p
POV: LAURENBeing around Henry was becoming dangerous.I touched my lips, still tasting him, the vivid memory of his kiss burning against my skin. My body felt branded by the firm grip of his hands, as if he were still there, holding me, provoking me.I bit my lip, trying to push the sensations away. Running my hands over my face, I let out a frustrated sigh.“What am I doing?” I muttered, staring at my reflection in the mirror.My eyes looked brighter than usual, and my cheeks were flushed.I couldn’t keep doing this.“This is already complicated enough.”I exhaled slowly, trying to rearrange my thoughts.“But why did he come here last night?” I murmured, remembering the knock on the door, the way his gaze devoured me, and the kiss he stole without hesitation.“Damn it!”The worst part?I liked it.No one had ever kissed me like that.No one had ever touched me with that kind of intensity, as if I were something precious and forbidden all at once.Not even Ethan—my ex-husband—had eve
POV: LAURENA soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. When I opened it, the housekeeper stood there, holding an elegant box out to me.“This arrived for you,” she said with a slight smile.I hesitantly took the box, feeling the weight of what it meant.“Did Mr. Carter send it?” I asked, suspicious.“Yes, he asked you to get ready for dinner—without delays,” she confirmed before stepping away.I took a deep breath and carried the box to the bed. Undoing the ribbon, I slowly lifted the lid.Inside, a white dress lay neatly folded—delicate and sophisticated. The lace details made it even more refined, and for a moment, I swallowed hard.“He’s got to be joking.” I murmured.The dress was stunning—almost too stunning. There was something about it that reminded me of a wedding gown. My fingers glided over the fabric, and the thought of what Henry might be planning settled in my mind.Was this a date?I shook my head, pushing the thought away. No… He was practical and calculated.
POV: LAUREN“It's going to work,” Henry declared with such raw, intense firmness that I found myself trembling with emotion and fear. His gaze burned into me, holding me captive. “Alice is my daughter. I’m going to legally register her as mine. You and your mother are now part of my family. And we love each other, Becker. I intend to spend the rest of my life with you.”Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them. My lips trembled, and a fragile, disbelieving smile escaped.“I want to spend the rest of my life by your side too, Henry,” I whispered, my voice breaking with emotion.Unable to resist, I threw myself into his arms. He held me tightly, his hand cradling the back of my neck as he pressed his forehead against mine. I felt his heavy breathing, his chest vibrating against mine. My fingers dug into his shoulders as our bodies adjusted, recognizing each other.
POV: LAURENHis lips trailed down my neck until they reached my breasts, sucking with intensity. I threw my head back, moaning loudly, grabbing his hair and pulling him closer, completely surrendered.His massage grew more intense, his kisses deeper, and my body started to tremble under the overwhelming pleasure. I gasped, my nails digging into his back, damp with steam.“Henry, please…” I begged, my voice breaking between moans. “I need you, my love.”“Your wish is my command,” he whispered in a husky voice against my skin, his hot breath sending shivers all over me.I felt his fingers making way, and soon after, his body invaded me all at once, with firmness and precision. I gasped loudly, clutching his shoulders, my fingers sinking into his hot skin. Henry let out a low groan as he pulled me closer to the edge of the sink, gripping my hips tightly.
POV: LAURENThe hairs on my arms stood on end the instant I felt a gentle caress slide over my bare skin. I slowly opened my eyes, still drowsy, my body heavy and completely relaxed, as if every muscle had melted after the intense night we had spent together. I sighed, smiling as I found Henry sitting beside me, his eyes fixed on me. His fingers traced light circles on my skin, and there was something hypnotizing about the way he watched me.“Were you watching me sleep?” I asked in a lazy tone as I stretched, feeling a slight, pleasurable soreness in my aching muscles. Our physical connection had been intense and intimate, and my body still carried the marks of it. “Or were you guarding me to make sure I didn’t run away?”“A little of both,” he replied with a wide smile, his voice low and drawn out, making my stomach tighten. Then he handed me a cup of hot tea. I sat up slowly, yawning, and hi
POV: VIOLETI froze for a second. My stomach twisted. A chill ran down my spine, followed by a hot, acidic wave rising to my face.“What?!” I screamed, my voice cracking, the shock unraveling me from the inside. “That’s a lie! That bitch is trying to fool everyone again!”“It’s not a lie.” Ravi kept chewing slowly, savoring every second of my reaction. “I saw the first ultrasound. I was around at the beginning of the pregnancy. And, by the timing, she and Henry weren’t together yet.” He let out a short, soulless laugh. “When I hinted that I knew the truth, Lauren freaked out. She cried, stuttered, and totally lost it.”My fingers started tingling. Rage blinded me. That filthy whore could destroy all our plans and ruin my comfortable life.“That damn bitch… pretending to be fragile, innocent, sweet&hellip
POV: VIOLET“Talk, Ravi… I heard you wanted to see me.” My voice came out impatient, forced, as I removed the damn cucumber slices from my eyes and kept my hands extended, fingers stiff, waiting for the manicurist to finish applying the polish.He walked in like he owned the place. That smug smile, his eyes scanning every corner of my living room with a kind of contempt so well-disguised it almost looked like charm. Almost.“You really moved up in life, cousin,” he muttered, his voice slow, dripping with sarcasm, like poison seeping through. “When you said you’d manage to rope in a billionaire, I thought it was just one of your delusions. But you pulled it off. What a pathetic show.”I rolled my eyes and scoffed.“Did you come here to be jealous?” I shot back, with a mocking smile I knew would trigger the same fury in him that he stirred in me. I
POV: LAUREN“Forget about it, Lauren,” Henry murmured in a low, husky voice, caressing my bare arms with firm fingers, sending immediate shivers all over my body. “Mia didn’t get what she wanted that night. And she’s going to pay for every damn second of it. I’ve already filed a lawsuit against her and James. The media may have bought that manipulative liar’s story, but I have enough evidence to destroy them both.”I closed my eyes for a second, feeling the weight of reality mix with everything I feared. I opened my mouth, hesitant, trying to find steadiness in my voice.“And you think she won’t fight back?” I asked, sitting up in bed, sliding my fingers across his bare chest. The touch felt natural yet full of tension. My fingers trembled slightly, and still, he shuddered under the contact, as if every gesture of mine still affected him deeply.“That doesn’t matter to me,” he replied firmly, and in one swift move
POV: LAURENI closed my eyes, biting my lips, trying to catch my breath, but the words slipped out in a trembling whisper, full of emotion:“I accept...” I managed to say in a breathy, needy murmur.I rested my head on his shoulder, searching for his face. Our eyes met for a brief second before his lips crashed into mine with raw hunger. The kiss was wet, deep, desperate. We moaned at the same time, and in that moment, he thrust into me all at once, filling me completely. I let out a long, drawn-out moan, pushing my hips back, wanting more, wanting everything.“I love you, Henry Carter,” I confessed without fear, between heavy breaths, feeling my body open entirely for him.He turned me to face him with ease, lifted me off the floor like I weighed nothing, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. Our bodies were pressed together—skin to skin, sweat to sweat. When h
POV: LAURENI took a step back, but he moved forward too, until he pinned me against the cold wall of the room. The contrast between his warm touch and the hard plaster behind me sent a shiver through my entire body.His eyes were dark, intense, almost wild. Lust, desire, passion, anger, pain—all mixed in a stare that pierced right through me.“Do you love me?” the question came out dry, direct.“Henry, that doesn’t matter right now. This is crazy.” I tried to argue, but my voice came out weak, hesitant.“Do you love me?” he repeated, even more firmly. The tone was commanding, impossible to ignore. I felt a tremor run through my body. The wall behind me seemed to vanish under the weight of his presence.I closed my eyes for a second. The knot in my throat tightened even more. I couldn’t lie anymore. Not to myself. Not t
POV: LAUREN“What I should have done on the night of our date… when everything went wrong,” Henry replied, his voice heavy with intensity.I frowned, confused, watching as he opened a small box. Inside, there was a ring with a brilliant blue stone that reflected the light in the room. It was mesmerizing. Beside it, a folded note with my handwriting.“What is this?” I exclaimed, a lump forming in my throat. My hands visibly trembled as I brought them to my lips, in shock.“Our marriage was forged through a contract,” he began, his voice now lower but steady. “But I want it to be real, Lauren. I had this ring made especially for you. These stones are rare and unique, just like you.”My tears started falling uncontrollably, burning my eyes. There was so much about him that confused me: the provocative touch, the almost cruel desire, the domin