I place a palm on my chest to calm my frenzied breathing. How did she know that? How much more does she know? How safe am I?My mother, can't handle the media, the paparazzi, what if they've uncovered her location?Liam is on the phone, furious, speaking some French and pacing up and down, today is meant to be a charitable, happy day, but now I'm huddled up in this corner, still panting.I need to move my mother. If they know all this, if all this is now public knowledge, then, it won't take long for them to uncover er location, or, maybe…they have.I run my fingers through my hair and sigh. What was I expecting? This would've happened sooner or later, and now it has. I just didn't think it would come this suddenly, quite unexpectedly.All the information she had, and they now have, how did she get access to it? How deep did she dig? Or was I ratted out? Probably Isabella, or Serena.I wouldn't be surprised if it were that witch, that hag, I hate her. Humiliating me last night wasn't
She's so stubborn.I've told her several times we don't need to attend this evening's event, the All White pool party, but, she insists on going.I'm not sure why but she's so adamant."Help me zip this up please," she turns her bare back to me.I'm in her room to persuade her not to go, only to meet her almost ready, still insisting on attending.They'll be raw on her, they'll devour her, and I'll try my best to protect her, but, at the end of the day, some damage will still be done.Now, I've gotten some annoyingly concerning texts and calls regarding Emma's background, and, of course, some unreasonable, blatant rumors, and lies that sound too stupid to be believed. But, of course, people believe what they want to.Even though that may be some poorly conceived lie, too obvious to be true. As long as it fits their foolish narrative they gobble it up.Yes, this may be quite hypocritical of me. These are people I was raised among, people I was raised to interact with, raised with the s
"Liam has been looking your way all evening, are you guys fighting?" Odette asks."When are we not?" I chuckle awkwardly.He pisses me off most of the time, to be honest."What did he do this time?" She asks, genuinely intrigued.I shrug, "Nothing worse than before."She laughs and I join her.Out of curiosity, I can't help but ask, "What was his name?""Julian, if you're talking about my bodyguard, now ex-bodyguard," she smiles softly."What was it like?" I peer."Bliss, anger, passion, fear for what the future holds, altogether, it wasn't a bad experience," she reminisces, her face lights up.I nod and urge her to go on, "Talking about it might make you feel better.""He...he was assigned to me about two years ago. I hated having bodyguards, so, when my dad got rid of my former one, I thought that was it, because, I was free for a while. Julian was too serious, he took his job too seriously," she laughs."So, it was hard coming to terms with him, he was too damn stubborn, but, it tu
"What were you thinking?" Emma asks, still pressing on even after I told her I don't want to talk.I keep her silent throughout the whole ride, even in the helicopter, on the way back to the Hotel in Bora Bora.She eventually stops asking and I hate to admit, I'm glad.I'm glad because I also don't know why I reacted like that, because of something he said about her.The asshole was proud, satisfied with my reaction, that's what he wanted and I gave it to him. I've always hated that motherfucker, and I always will, I'll never believe a word that comes from that fucker's mouth.Fucking piece of shit.At the hotel, Emma doesn't stop at her door, rather she keeps following me."Emma," I warn. "Not now.""Bullshit, I won't leave till you tell me what's going on," she insists.Sometimes I forget how bullheaded she is.I ignore her and open my room with the key card, she comes in after me and I turn to face her."It's been a long evening, we both should get some rest," I suggest.She shakes
Liam and I decided to leave early, not staying for the last day and event of the Summer Soiree. I'm glad we made that decision, there was too much toxicity around.Now, back home, our plan to teach Marco and Serena a lesson begins to unfold. Is it safe to admit that I'm enjoying this and it feels like we're getting along? Like partners in crime? Perhaps that's the best type of relationship for us."What are you thinking about?" Liam asks, pulling me out of my thoughts."Nothing," I lie, trying to suppress a small smile creeping up my face."Anyway, I've pulled some strings with the investors I sought out, I used some blackmailing methods of course." He sips from his glass of wine, "I am my mother's son after all."I choke on my rice, that's funny, coming from him."I'm sorry," I apologize and wipe my mouth with a napkin after coughing into it."I just didn't expect you to have a sense of humor, that's all," I admit.He tilts his head, "Just being honest, sometimes, although it's a pai
She doesn't know about the plan I have for Serena. I've gotten some incriminating evidence that will pull Serena down for good, her pompous father, for a while maybe, or as long as I need it to to teach them a lesson.But, it may jeopardize Emma's newfound friendship with Odette, a friendship that seems to have blossomed too fast, and unexpectedly at that.But, Serena's downfall is a priority to her, one she's always wanted, it's obvious she detests her a lot, so maybe she'll come to accept my plan.I sigh into the steering wheel.Where am I driving to?The care center, to see Emma's mother. Yes, I know.I feel like a dutiful son-in-law, the backseat is filled with flowers and a gift basket.But, this is nothing too special. Regardless, she's still my mother-in-law, so I have to play the part. Although I take care of everything, a visit would tick off any suspicions.So, I step on the gas before I regret my decision."Sir," I am greeted by some of the staff who recognize me. Some movi
I agreed to this, so why does my heart still beat like this?Odette is my…friend, I guess. She has gone through some recent misfortune, but there's no guarantee that this could add to her catastrophe.I look like a fancy French mademoiselle. I even have fur draped over my shoulders, my hair styled by one of the best, in a pixie kinda do, encrusted with real rubies.Liam took my appearance tonight to the extreme, and, yes, I'm wearing red. There was no other color to choose from anyway. I was presented with five options, all red, and although what I had on wasn't my initial choice, the V-cut open-back dress suited me better, according to my stylist, Alberta Ferretti.Yes, I was styled by Alberta, the Alberta Ferretti, a prominent face of European fashion. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever meet her, not even be styled by her."You look elegant," Liam complements the moment our limo arrives at the destination.I give him a small smile, "Thank you."It's too late to change p
I didn't have to come to Marco, the arrogant asshole made his way to me instead. I conceal my small smile by raising my glass to my lips, oh, I hope I'll be able to hold my laugh when he hears the news. "Surprised to see you here," he begins, flashing me his Cassanova smile. I cringe internally at the sight of it. "I thought this wasn't your kind of event," he finishes. "You're right," I admit. "But, I have to be by my husband's side." "You two get along now huh?" He hints at an obvious poke to see if Liam told me about what triggered the event of late between them. "We just fight less, a called for a truce of some sort," I moderate. He says, "I guess nothing is impossible." I laugh softly, "So, you and Serena? What's that about?" I can't help but ask. "It's something alright. I enjoy her company, as she does mine," he glances at Serena, who's glued to her father's side like a kid to their parent in the mall on Christmas morning. I smirk, he thinks I'm some fool. Regardless