POV: LAURENThen, without warning, his lips captured mine.Shock hit me first.But it was the intensity of the kiss that truly disarmed me.Henry wasn’t just putting on a show. His touch was firm, demanding, as if he wanted to leave a mark—prove a point only he understood. His tongue brushed against my lips, forcing me to yield, and before I knew it, I was kissing him back.Heat spread through my body. My hands instinctively pressed against his chest, but instead of pushing him away, my fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. My heart pounded wildly, as if it were trying to escape my chest.What the hell was I doing?Before I could pull away, a bright flash followed by a clicking sound echoed around us.Flashes.The rapid snapping of cameras jolted me back to reality.I gas
POV: LAURENThe man was still trembling, his breathing heavy, and his wild eyes locked onto me. The barrel of the gun wavered between Henry and me, but Carter remained firm, unwavering.“No, it’s definitely not fair,” Henry stated calmly, taking another step forward—without hesitation, without concern for the gun aimed at his head. “But you’re committing the same injustice against Lauren. The decisions were her father’s, not hers.”The man growled, his jaw clenched in fury.“That bastard was a coward!” he spat, his face twisting with hatred. “He chose death over facing the consequences of what he did! But someone has to pay for it.”My body froze as he shifted the gun back toward me, aiming over Henry’s shoulder.“I might go to hell for this, but I’m taking the magnate’s little
POV: LAURENMy heart pounded so hard it felt like it was about to burst from my chest.“You could’ve stayed quiet, but no. Now you’re going to die first, and your wife right after!” he shouted, his eyes burning with hatred as he unlocked the safety.My mind froze for a second.But then, acting on instinct, I grabbed the nearest chair and, with all my strength, smashed it against his back.The impact sent him stumbling forward, dazed, one hand instinctively reaching for his head.“You bitch!” he snarled, turning on me in fury.The slap came fast and brutal. My head snapped to the side, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.Before I could react, I felt his fingers tangle in my hair, yanking so hard that a cry tore from my lips.“You're useless—just like your
POV: LAURENThe sound of sirens echoed inside the restaurant, coming from outside. The lights in the room seemed even brighter, reflecting off the pools of Henry’s blood spreading across the floor.Panic was evident in the few people still there. Employees watched from a distance, shocked and frozen with fear.I was kneeling on the ground, my trembling hands pressing against my belly, while my gaze remained locked on Henry’s motionless body.“Step back!” The paramedic’s voice was firm. “Give us space!”A police officer pulled me up, holding me back, trying to move me away, but I struggled, fighting with everything I had.“No! I can’t leave! He’s bleeding! He’s dying!” My voice came out broken, choked by sobs. “I can’t leave him alone… He—he saved me, he…”&n
POV: LAUREN“Friend, I am not letting you get out of this bed.” Kate crossed her arms and lifted her chin, looking at me firmly. “For God's sake, you almost lost your baby and your own life.”Guilt weighed heavily on my chest.“I know,” I murmured, lowering my head.My fingers clenched the sheets as my mind drifted back to that moment. Fear still lingered in every cell of my body.“That man…” My voice came out weak. “What happened to him? Who was he?”Kate let out a tired sigh and stepped closer.“The police arrested him. His name is William Bournes. It looks like he was one of your father’s company investors,” she explained.“He wanted to kill me.” My stomach twisted.“Yes. And I still can’t believe he
POV: HENRYThe soft touch near my wound pulled me from my sleep. I opened my eyes slowly and found Lauren murmuring apologies, her eyes filled with guilt. The relief of seeing her safe came first, but before I could say anything, she turned. To my surprise, she threw herself into my arms, her body trembling against mine in a tight embrace.She needed to feel that I was there.“I'm here, Lauren,” I whispered against her skin, close to her ear. “And I’m fine.”“Why?” Her voice broke between sobs. “Why did you do that? Why did you put yourself at risk for me?”My jaw tightened. The answer was stuck in my throat, but I lied:“I did what any man would do.”The truth weighed heavily inside me. I didn’t do it because any man would. I did it because it was her.Lauren pulled back ju
POV: HENRYI raised an eyebrow as I picked up the newspaper and read the article detailing the latest scandal fabricated by the media.“Billionaire Henry Carter was spotted at the luxurious West Gourmet restaurant with none other than the 'fallen princess' Lauren Becker. What seemed like an ordinary private dinner turned into a spectacle worthy of a high society drama when an armed man stormed the venue and threatened Lauren over a debt left by her late father.As is already well known among the elite, magnate Edward Becker chose to take his own life rather than pay his debts, leaving his daughter as the sole bearer of the family’s financial ruin. But the true shock wasn’t just the scandal surrounding the debt—it was how Henry Carter intervened.According to witnesses, the powerful CEO placed himself between the gunman and the woman, declaring for all to hear that Lauren Becker was his wife
POV: HENRY“I… I regret it, my love.” Mia suddenly lunged forward, trying to hug me.A groan of pain escaped when she pressed against my abdomen.Before I could react, Lauren noticed and grabbed Mia’s arm with force, her nails digging into her skin.“He’s injured, you damn witch!” Lauren shouted, shoveling her hard.Mia stumbled to the side, caught off guard, but her expression quickly twisted into pure hatred.“Henry, your bandage.” Lauren’s voice wavered as she noticed the blood spreading through the dressing.I looked down and saw the red stain growing. A wave of dizziness hit me, and I took an unsteady step back, bracing myself against the hospital bed.Lauren moved quickly, gripping my arm and helping me settle back onto the bed. Mia tried to step forward, but Kate b
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