"Mr. Montgomery, I'm afraid there's been a grave mistake of some kind," came the voice of a woman - the county clerk. "Ms. Bolting's name is indeed registered with her parents listed as the official witnesses and guarantors for the marriage contract. However...there is no name listed whatsoever for her intended spouse. The other party's signature line is simply...blank."The clerk's voice trembled with a combination of confusion and outright curiosity as she continued. "I cannot simply add your name to that document. That would be highly unethical at best and very likely an illegal falsification of an official government record. I'm sorry, but I absolutely cannot do that under any circumstances."There was a pause that seemed to stretch on interminably before Alex's smooth, cultured tones came through the speakers. "Listen very closely, you pathetic little bureaucrat. You're going to find a way to make my marriage to Serena Bolting officially registered and legally binding, or I'l
Judge Grayson exited the courtroom through the private door reserved for officials, and burly bodyguards flanked him like stone sentries. A sleek, limited edition Bentley idled at the curb outside, its engine purring like a contented feline.He slipped into the backseat, and one of the bodyguards held the door open for him in a smooth, choreographed movement. Another hurriedly moved to take the driver's seat. His phone buzzed insistently in the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He fished it out with an irritated sigh, glancing at the caller ID before bringing it to his ear."Speak!" His terse response betrayed no hint of emotion, not even annoyance.There was a pause as the person at the other end of the line spoke. His expression remained utterly impassive and unreadable throughout, giving no clues as to the subject of the conversation."We'll discuss it at the office," he stated flatly before abruptly disconnecting the call.The face that had been disguised as the severe
The blacked-out Bentley glided past the seething mob gathered outside the imposing granite edifice of the courthouse, their raucous chants and shouts reduced to a dull, muffled roar behind the heavily tinted glass. Knox's steel-flinted gaze flickered momentarily toward the mayhem, catching a fleeting glimpse of Serena's slender figure beside her lawyer while a woman in a tailored suit barked out terse responses to the hungry media scrum swarming around them like flies drawn to rot. There she stood with her shoulders squared and chin raised in defiant poise as the incessant barrage of camera flashbulbs illuminated her delicate features in staccato bursts, casting her fine bone structure into stark relief one moment only to plunge her into inky shadow the next. Amid the incessant throng of curious onlookers and chattering parasites competing for their next juicy nugget of information to sell, Knox savored the sight of her regal and uncowed manner. Her full crimson lips parted
Knox allowed the faintest smirk to ghost across his lips at the thought and a sense of masculine pride swelled in his chest at her fearless defiance in the face of such unrelenting scrutiny.Just as swiftly as the vision of her had captured his roving attention, he forced his gaze away with an almost physical wrench of will. “Drive!” Knox spoke through the car com. “Roger that boss!” Came the driver’s response. Knox stared unseeingly through the tinted partition as the roar of the rabid crowd faded into the distance. A muscle ticked in his clenched jaw while he ruthlessly tamped down the warring impulses raging within like a tempest begging for release.The primal urge to shield her from their withering judgment and scathing condemnation battled with the bone-deep longing to gather her into his arms, to possess her fully as he'd dreamed of for so long. To claim her as his own in every sense of the word, damn the consequences. And simmering beneath it all like the molten co
~A little while earlier~Jenkins put a soft hand on Serena's shoulder, his touch comforting in the middle of all the craziness that had taken over their life. He guided her and Kate towards the black luxury car parked just a few steps away from the courthouse after the announcement of Serena's acquittal. The vehicle evoked a whirlwind of emotions within Jenkins – a tangible reminder of his harrowing brush with death and his first encounter with the enigmatic masked man... the devil himself, whose presence still lingered in his mind with dread.Jenkins turned to face Kate as they got closer to the car and offered to drop her off at her house, which was only a few blocks away. He didn't know when those dangerous people would come to claim Serena now that the court trial was over. Nor did he have a clue where to take Serena himself, as a safe haven seemed increasingly elusive. A lot had transpired in the past couple of days, and Jenkins wasn't sure when would be the right momen
Killian ended the call with a flick of his thumb and slid his phone back into the inner pocket of his impeccably tailored suit jacket. He turned his attention to the two figures approaching him, his sharp gaze missing nothing as he took in every detail with the scrutinizing eyes of a predator evaluating its prey. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips – a smile that held a hint of mischief.As Jenkins opened the rear door of the luxury sedan, revealing Serena, Killian's smile broadened into a genuine beam of excitement and anticipation, lighting up his chiseled features with an almost feral gleam. His eyes drank her in hungrily, devouring every inch of her delicate beauty as if committing her to memory.Serena felt her mind whirling in a dizzying vortex the instant her eyes landed on Killian for the first time. A flurry of questions and uncertainties raced through her thoughts like a hurricane, threatening to sweep her away in their turbulence. Was this the mysterious hus
Killian cradled Serena's unconscious form tenderly in his arms and lifted his gaze towards the car's inner roof. He knew there was a camera hidden there, and he was certain that Knox was watching his every move. A slow and wicked grin spread across Killian's lips as he wondered what Knox's reaction looked right now on seeing his precious new bride held so closely by another man.Killian knew he was treading dangerous waters by intentionally provoking Knox, but he couldn't resist the temptation to draw a jealous reaction from the man who was as cold and impassive as the Arctic ice. There was a certain thrill in poking the bear…. in testing the boundaries of his dear Friend's legendary self-control.A soft chuckle rumbled from deep within Killian's chest. He knew that Knox hadn't been quick to save Serena; the only reason she wasn't currently rotting in a cell was thanks to the intervention of the one person Knox couldn't refuse. If it had been left up to Knox alone, Serena wo
Serena stirred awake, her eyes fluttering open as she slowly emerged from the depths of a dreamless slumber. For a moment, she felt completely disoriented, her mind struggling to catch up with her unfamiliar surroundings. The room she found herself in exuded a sense of grandeur and masculinity that left her feeling slightly out of place yet filled with warmth.The walls were adorned with rich, dark colors that seemed to absorb the soft light filtering in through the heavy curtains framing the large windows. The room had a chilly, almost somber feel to it, like a mausoleum of sorts, and Serena shivered slightly.The bed she lay in was massive, a four-poster monstrosity with intricately carved posts that loomed over her like sentinels. The sheets and duvet were a luxurious blend of silk and satin that caressed her skin like a lover's touch, but instead of feeling comforted, Serena felt a sense of unease creep up her spine.She pushed away the cozy duvet and realized with a start