POV: HENRY
Since the kiss, Lauren hadn't shown up in my room again. I knew she had already been discharged because Theodor told me when he arrived with Lucian to visit me.
“Did you scare off your nanny?” Lucian teased with a playful smile, leaning back in the chair beside my bed.
I huffed, irritated by Lauren’s absence.
“She’s the one who kissed me,” I replied flatly.
Lucian raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms.
“Oh, so now women run away after kissing you? Interesting.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe it’s because you’re a bad kisser.”
I shot him a sharp look.
“I am not a bad kisser,” I replied, my tone edged with irritation.
“If you're so sure, then why did she run?” Lucian taunted, pretending to stifle a lau
POV: HENRYThis wasn’t part of the plan.I stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed but still frustrated with my own thoughts. Stopping in front of the mirror, I ran my fingers along the side of the wound on my abdomen.The stitches were holding well.“Could have been worse,” I muttered, letting out a long sigh.The truth was, I had almost died that night.And what bothered me the most wasn’t the fear for myself—but for her.The situation was slipping out of control. How many more clients wronged by Lauren’s father would show up demanding revenge?I instructed Lucian to contact the bank and conduct a deep investigation into Becker Enterprises, including all its debts. The answer came quickly.“The company’s system was hacked,” Lucian reported, his expression serious. &
POV: LAURENI threw myself onto the bed, feeling my chest rise and fall rapidly. My heart was still pounding.“This can’t be happening,” I murmured to myself, squeezing my eyes shut.My skin still tingled from Henry’s touch. The way he held me, the way his body pressed against mine… My body had reacted in a way I didn’t want to admit.I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.“It must be the pregnancy hormones,” I repeated, as if that were enough to justify the chaos inside me.But it wasn’t just that.I knew it wasn’t.Ever since I met Henry Carter, he has been throwing me off balance. He provokes me, challenges me, and pulls me in like no one ever has before. The problem was, this couldn’t happen. This marriage was a contract. An agreement. Nothing more.So why did I give in so easily?I turned onto my side, hugging the pillow.“I need to keep my distance,” I whispered to myself. “I need to stay in control.”But how do you stay in control around a man like Henry?The way he looks
POV: LAUREN“We already know where Theodor got his stubbornness from, don’t we?” I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow.“Uncle Henry is getting scolded!” Theo pointed at him and started laughing, clearly amused.“Hey, Theo, you should be on my side.” Henry shot his nephew a playful look.I sighed, massaging my temples. The Carters were a problem.“Okay, someone needs to keep you two in line,” I murmured, repeating the phrase my mother used to say when my father refused to take care of himself.When I looked up, both of them were staring at me, confused.“Theo, you have five minutes to get ready. The driver is already waiting to take you to school.”“But, Fairy…” He started to argue, but my stern expression made him give up. “Fine, but keep our deal.”“You have my word.” I crossed my fingers and brought them to my lips, making him laugh.Theo ran off to get ready, and I turned my attention back to Henry.“And you, Mr. Carter, back to bed.”“You don’t actually think I’m just going to ob
POV: HENRYShe blushed.I should have pretended not to notice, but satisfaction washed over me. Lauren was trying to keep her composure, but I knew every sign of her hesitation. The way she avoided my gaze, how she bit her lip to suppress her reaction… Everything about her screamed that no matter how much she tried to pull away, she was already caught up in this.I tilted my head slightly, watching her with amusement.“Relax, Mrs. Becker. I’m just inviting you to stay and rest,” I teased, lowering my voice and drawing out each word. “Control that mischievous mind of yours.”Lauren’s eyes widened, her mouth opening as if she wanted to protest.“I’m not,” she swallowed hard, her shoulders tense. When she finally met my gaze, her skin was flushed red, and her breathing was slightly uneven. “Mr. Carter, this is
POV: HENRYLauren chewed slowly, studying me with that suspicious look she always gave me whenever I acted more considerate than I should.“If the doctor said you need to rest, then rest.” I kept my expression firm, leaving no room for arguments. “The maids can take care of Theodor; they’ve done it before.”She looked at me for a few seconds, and then something flashed in her eyes. A challenge. A hint of emotion I still couldn’t completely decipher.“Do you always have to be in control of everything?” Lauren sighed hesitantly, almost frustrated.I smirked, enjoying the subtle provocation behind her question.“I like when things go at my pace,” I replied huskily, with honesty.Lauren averted her gaze for a brief moment, fidgeting with her hands on her lap, clearly debating what to say next.
POV: HENRYI adjusted myself on the bed, pulling her closer until her head rested against my chest.Lauren gently slid her hand across my torso. The touch was light, but enough to make me shudder. I bit the inside of my cheek, controlling my reaction.“Becker?” I called her name, my voice rougher than I intended.“Yes?” she answered softly, with a lazy yawn, as if exhaustion was finally taking over.I glanced down at her hand, which continued tracing slow patterns on my skin.“If you keep touching me like that, you’re going to have to give me a lot more than just sweet kisses,” I murmured, my voice deep and husky.Lauren froze for a moment before looking up at me, surprised. Her hand stopped instantly, hesitating.A low chuckle rumbled in my chest.I caught her hand bef
POV: HENRYThe nightgown was still provocative, but much more modest than the last one I had seen.Her eyes landed on my hands.Her expression changed instantly.“Seriously? You're smoking?” She crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the cigarette between my fingers.A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth.“I would’ve preferred whiskey, but I doubt my doctor would approve alcohol with my meds.” I lifted the cigarette to my lips, but before I could take a drag, Lauren stepped forward, snatching it from my hand. Without hesitation, she threw it to the ground and stomped on it, crushing it with force.“Hey, I wasn’t done with that,” I grumbled, raising an eyebrow.“What the hell is wrong with you, Carter?” She turned to me, eyes blazing with anger. “You were stabbed, almost died, and
POV: LAURENHenry remained silent, staring at me. His dark eyes studied me intensely, as if searching for something within me. He cleared his throat and let out a long sigh before finally turning fully toward me.“I’ve been in this position before.” Henry’s voice came out low and cold, carrying something I couldn’t immediately identify.Chills ran down my spine. I lifted my eyes, frowning at his closed-off expression.“With Mia?” My own voice sounded hesitant. An uncomfortable feeling settled in my chest, like a tightness that was hard to ignore.“No.” He denied without hurry, his hand lifting to touch my hair.The gesture was deliberate. His fingers brushed a strand away from my face, gliding smoothly along my cheek until they reached my jawline. The warm contact made my heart race. When his fingers held my chin, a surge of electricity ran through my body, leaving my breath unsteady.“It was for a girl in college.” He murmured, his voice weighed down by something that rooted me in pl
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