POV: HENRY
Lauren 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: LAUREN“I thought life was paying me back for what she did, but it seems fate has a cruel sense of humor.”My throat tightened.“Henry, I didn’t.” I started, but he cut me off with a small shake of his head, his expression hard.“What hurt me the most was believing that she saw me as more than just status and money.” He wrinkled his nose, letting out a heavy sigh. Then he groaned softly, pressing the area around his stitches.My chest tightened.“You’re right, Mrs. Becker. I need to maintain my reputation, so the contract will not be revoked. That was already specified.”My stomach twisted.“W-what?” My voice came out as a whisper, my hands trembling.Henry showed no hesitation.“You will fulfill one year of our fake marriage. We will be the perfect couple in front of everyone until the agreement ends.” His tone was cold, controlled, like a CEO laying down unbreakable rules. “But don’t worry about the kisses.”My body tensed as he closed the small distance between us.His presenc
POV: HENRYShe held her breath.I liked that.“Sleep,” I whispered, burying my face in her hair, inhaling her scent, letting my touch linger at the curve of her waist before pulling back slightly. But not completely.It took her a while to relax, to let her body fully sink into the mattress. But eventually, it happened. Her breathing became more steady, though I knew she wasn’t asleep.Neither of us was truly resting.I felt the slight tremor in her body, the way her fingers clutched the sheets, and how her breath faltered every time my chest brushed against her back.And then I did the unforgivable.My fingers traced slowly along her arm, exploring her skin in a deliberate, firm stroke. When I reached her wrist, I pressed gently, feeling the rapid pulse beneath my fingertips.She let out a quiet, shaky sigh, as if trying to swallow any reaction.“You’re tense,” I murmured against her neck, my mouth close enough to catch the sweet scent of her skin. “Do you want me to move away?”Laur
POV: HENRYI asked Charlotte, my secretary and right hand, to bring the company’s documents and proposals. My laptop came along with them. She knocked on the door before stepping in, a broad smile spreading across her face as she saw me.“Boss, I see you're doing better.” She smiled, her voice sweet and slightly suggestive. “How are you feeling? I was so worried when I heard what happened.”I adjusted myself against the pillows, pulling the table closer to start working.“I'm fine; it was just a scare,” I replied, not paying much attention. “Give me an update.”Charlotte nodded, shifting to a more professional tone.“The contracts you sent are in their final stages. The negotiation team has kept up with your agenda, and I rescheduled the most important meetings for next month so you can fully recover.” She p
POV: HENRYI didn’t see Lauren for the rest of the day. I preferred to keep my distance—or at least, that’s what I told myself. The truth was, I needed to push her away. I was getting too involved.Time passed without me noticing. A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. The housekeeper entered, carrying a dinner tray, and Theodor followed close behind, holding my medication with a displeased expression.“Thank you,” I said, taking the pills.The housekeeper hesitated, wringing her hands as if she wanted to say something. I sighed and tilted my head.“What is it?”“Forgive me, Mr. Carter. I don’t usually interfere, but.” She glanced quickly at Theo before looking back at me, uncertain.My mood was already sour.“Just say it,” I muttered, swallowing
POV: LAURENI woke up feeling awful. My body was exhausted, my head throbbed, and my stomach still felt unsettled from the night before. I could barely process why Henry had come to my room. Yesterday had been a nightmare—I spent hours throwing up, and now the dizziness made it a battle just to get out of bed.But what worried me the most were the cramps in my lower abdomen. They had intensified, and my stomach kept tightening from time to time. I bit the corner of my lip, nervous. Was my baby okay?I grabbed my phone and dialed Dr. Ravi’s number.“Hello, Dr. Ravi?” I whispered, afraid someone in the house might hear me. “It’s me, Lauren Becker. Do you have a minute?”“Mrs. Becker, it’s always a pleasure to hear from you,” his voice came through, cheerful. “Are you alright? You sound a bit off.”I sigh
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