Quinn's POV:I woke up, feeling utterly drained and exhausted, both physically and emotionally.The events of the past few days weighed heavily on me.I needed a chance to escape. A break that I hoped this new week would give me.So, I made a decision and called in sick to work, turned off my phone, and went into solitude. No notifications, no calls and no texts.Just silence.At first the silence became frightening, but as hours passed,Quinn's POV:I woke up, feeling utterly drained and exhausted, both physically and emotionally.The events of the past few days weighed heavily on me.I needed a chance to escape. A break that I hoped this new week would give me.So, I made a decision and called in sick to work, turned off my phone, and went into solitude. No notifications, no calls and no texts.Just silence.At first, the silence became frightening, but as hours passed, the stillness cleared my mind and I realized I'd been living my life according to other people’s expectations.It w
Bryan's POV:I watched Quinn from the security feed in my room as she stormed upstairs in annoyance.Every step seemed to be calculated to kill. Her anger was so obvious that even through the screen I shuddered, feigning fear.“Oh… I’m so scared” I whispered sarcastically.She should be thankful that my driver had arrived just in time, whisking her away from the chaos outside her workplace.Now, as she approached my location, I composed myself, settling my scotch on the table. I knew Quinn's temper very well and her anger could be explosive, so I needed to thread carefully.I took a deep breath, preparing for the confrontation. My eyes never left the door as it swung open.She stood before me, her eyes blazing red-hot from anger. She stood silent for minutes just observing me, so I proceeded to pour her a glass.I handed her the glass, my eyes locked on hers."Scotch," I said, my voice neutral. "It'll calm your nerves."Quinn's gaze never wavered as she took the glass. She gulped the h
QUINNS POVI woke up to the usual gentle caress of Bryan's fingers on my skin. I felt a shiver run down her spine as his touch sent waves of pleasure throughout my body.At first, i thought it was just another one of Bryan's romantic gestures. But as she opened her eyes, she realized that something was different. Bryan was lying beside me, with his eyes fixed on mine.Without a word, I reached out and gently pushed Bryan onto his back. I straddled him, her legs wrapping around his hips as she took control.Bryan's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't resist. Instead, he let out a low groan as I began to kiss his neck, my lips tracing the path down to his chest.I continued to roam my hands over Bryan's body, exploring every inch of his skin. It was incredulous because I felt a sense of power and freedom that I had never experienced before.As I kissed and touched Bryan, I realized that I was unleashing a part of herself that i had kept hidden for too long. It was exhilarating and
QUINN'S POVAs the day wore on, the lounge area grew busier. I was typing away on my computer when a woman walked in with her friend. She was dressed to the nines in designer clothing and jewelry, exuding an air of confidence and wealth.As I watched the woman settle into her seat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was something about her that didn't sit right with me. She scanned the environment until her eyes landed on me.They settled in, and I cleared my table, moving to attend to her."Hello," the woman called, her voice dripping with disdain. "I need to place an order.""Of course," I replied, my tone neutral. "What can I help you with, ma’am ?"She scanned the menu, her eyes settling on every item before she finally settled on a drink. “Oh, I'll have a cosmopolitan.”I nodded, taking note of their order. As I handed her her drink, our hands slightly met, with her eyes fixed onto mine."You're quite familiar, aren’t you?" She asked. “You’re the lady who’s been s
I stood before Mr. Jenkins, feeling awful.knew I was in for a scolding, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. I looked down at my clothes, which were still damp from the drink the woman had poured on me. The memory of the incident is still fresh in my mind."I see you're still wet from the incident," Mr. Jenkins added. "I'm surprised you didn't think about changing your clothes before coming to see me."I shrugged, feeling a sense of embarrassment. "I didn't have time," I explained. "You asked me to come see you right away."Mr. Jenkins nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes, I did. Because I wanted to talk to you about what happened. I've received complaints about your behavior today, Quinn. Complaints that you were rude to a customer, and that you seemed completely unprofessional."I felt a surge of defensiveness, but I tried to keep my cool. "That's not fair," I said, trying to explain. "The woman was being completely unreasonable. She was insulting me and making terrible comm
QUINN'S POVI walked into my apartment, feeling exhausted and drained. I didn't even bother to change out of my clothes. I just walked straight into the shower, letting the warm water wash away all my worries and stress.I stayed there for a long time, just letting the water gush over me.Finally, when I felt refreshed and rejuvenated. I got out of the shower and dried myself off, then walked into my bedroom to change into something comfortable.I put on a pair of soft pajama pants and a cozy sweater, and climbed into bed. Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep. But just as I was starting to relax, I heard a knock at the door.I groggily got out of bed and made my way to the door. I looked through the peephole and saw Bryan standing there, looking concerned.I felt a surge of annoyance. What was he doing here? I didn't invite him over, and I wasn't in the mood to deal with him right now.I opened the door regardless, trying to look calm and composed. "Hey, Bryan, What brings you here
QUINN'S POV As I stepped out of the car and onto the school grounds, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. The stares hadn't reduced, if anything, they seemed to have intensified.Earlier today, I remembered that I had a meeting with the Dean of Students. He wanted to congratulate me on my scholarship personally.As I made my way towards the office, some students shot me friendly glances, and even greetings.As I walked into the office, the Dean and some other lecturers looked up at me with warm smiles. "Congratulations, Quinn, on your scholarship," the Dean said, beaming with pride. "You must be overwhelmed."I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. "Thank you, Sir. I'm still in shock, I'm really grateful."The lecturers nodded and smiled, asking me questions about my plans for the future, and how I intended to use the scholarship to further my education. They treated me with a newfound respect, one that I hadn't experienced in a long time.I smiled,
EVA'S POVI walked into our living room, flopping down onto the couch beside Quinn. She was completely absorbed in her computer, her eyes fixed intently on the screen. I assumed she was working on a school project, but I didn't bother to ask. Instead, I grabbed the remote control and began flipping through the channels, searching for something to attract my attention.As I scrolled through the channels, my eyes landed on the news. The breaking news headline flashed across the screen, and my heart skipped a beat. "Sutherland Heir Murdered in Prison" screamed the headline. I felt like I had been punched in the gut. Jason Sutherland, Quinn's older brother, was dead.Quinn looked at me with concern as I gasped, my eyes fixed on the TV screen. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.I pointed to the TV, my hand shaking uncontrollably. "It's Jason," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Her eyes widened as she read the headline, her f
Then, we both spoke at once."I think—" he started."You should—" I began.We both stopped, realizing we had spoken simultaneously. He smiled wryly. "You go first."I shook my head. "No, I think it's best I listen. Mine will come in later."His stares were becoming intense, so I lowered my gaze, unsure of what to say. He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt this pile up of emotions as he drew nearer.Without thinking, I reached out, taking his hand, feeling the spark of connection in my heart's pulse. Bryan managed to give my hand a gentle squeeze."My lawyer was able to recover my companies from Jasper," he announced. "Unfortunately, Jasper didn't put up a fight."I looked up at him. "That's good news, Bry."He nodded. "Yes, and I've also placed the companies in the hands of one of my trusted shareholders. He'll take care of them."I felt this sadness, knowing he wouldn't be there to oversee his business empire anymore. "How long will you be here?" I asked abruptly,
QUINN'S POVThe ride home was very quiet, the most reserved ride I’ve ever had. I couldn’t hear a dime. I might have been present, but everything about my spirit, soul and body was absent.It hurts so much that I blame myself for being so hard on him all this while. The times he’d drop gifts and letters at my doorstep consistently every day. It might not have been a great ride, but Bryan loved me more than anyone else in this world would have. No words, no whimpering, just my eyes flowing with unending tears. “Quinn, you need to stop crying,” Eva advised, breaking the silence.But I couldn't. "I will never get over this pain I’m feeling" I confessed. “He’s all that I have.”“Now I feel bad that you never acknowledged me. I’ve been with you through what? Thick and thin and Bryan’s all you have?” Her words struck me and I could feel the pain in her voice.“I’m sorry Eva, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that…." My tone turned apologetic but she quickly hushed me.“Shhh_ I’m here for
-----------------"Whose child?" Quinn pressed, her brow furrowed in confusion.Thornton hesitated before speaking. "Your father, Sutherland, had a romantic affair with his second cousin, which resulted in your birth."Quinn and I gasped in unison. "What?" we exclaimed, shock and disbelief laced on our faces.Thornton continued, his voice filled with sadness. "He did marry your mother, despite the families being against them. I suppose it's because he loved her. I found out about their relationship because my first wife was a friend of your mother's."Officer Maddie's eyes widened in surprise. "What in heaven's name is going on here?" she asked, her voice firm, but I could tell she was confused.Thornton's expression turned cold. "When I threatened to expose Sutherland's secret if he dared to speak a word about Braxton's murder, he was terrified. He feared for his reputation and kept quiet all these years."Quinn's face twisted in anger and hurt. "His reputation? That's all he cared ab
BRYAN'S POVWe walked into the police station, hand in hand, with Eva following close behind. "Excuse me," I said to one of the officers, "we'd like to speak with the officer in charge of Jasper Brown's investigation."The officer looked at us, obviously recognizing me, and asked us to wait. He stepped away for a minute before returning to escort us to a private room.Eva opted to wait outside, so we left her in the lobby. Inside the room, we met a lady who looked barely above middle age. "Hi, I'm Bryan Braxton, and this is _"Quinn Sutherland." She continued."We have information about Jasper Brown and his accomplice, Mr. Thornton that we would love to share with you."The officer, whose name tag read "Officer Maddie," looked at us with interest. "What kind of information?" she asked.We stared at each other and I spoke up. "We would like to be recorded."Officer Maddie nodded. "I see. Well, we've had Mr. Brown in custody, and we could use any additional information you can provide.
QUINN'S POVEva and I were still reeling from the shock of Matt's betrayal, lost in our own thoughts, when the doorbell rang again. I let out a frustrated sigh and made my way to the front door angrily."I thought I asked you to leave, Matt!" I yelled, but my voice trailed off as I took in the figure standing before me. It was Bryan."Matt?" he repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Matt was here?"I nodded silently, still trying to process the sudden change in events. As I gazed at Bryan, I couldn't help but notice how worn out he looked. His eyes seemed sunken, and his face was laced with deep lines. This wasn't the stern, looking Bryan I had grown accustomed to; this was the Bryan I remembered from my childhood.I gulped down the huge form of saliva in my mouth. It took everything in me to not jump on him right now and hug him so tightly. I missed him so much. Bryan's eyes scanned me from head to toe, taking in my almost invisible baby bump. I felt a flutter in my chest as our
QUINN'S POVEva's voice broke the silence. "Did you know Jasper was involved in such terrible things?"I paused, thinking back to the times Jasper and I spent together. He had been so charming and perfect, leaving no hints about his dark secrets.I shook my head, "I had no idea," I replied. "He seemed like the perfect gentleman."Eva nodded in approval. "Exactly! That's what makes it so scary. He is so good at hiding his true nature. However, when he spiked your drink and food, that was a sign of a drug dealer. Trying to force himself on you was also a sign of a rapist. I'm glad you had nothing to do with him in the end. I can't imagine _"I felt a shiver run down my spine as I remembered that night. "I did sleep with him," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper cutting her short.Eva's eyes widened in shock. "Are you saying...," she gasped, "Is he the father of your baby?" she asked, her voice trembling.I quickly shook my head. "No, no, it's not that. It's just that... I don't r
BRYAN'S POVI lounged on my couch, crunching on a crispy snack, when my attention drifted to the TV screen that flickered with breaking news. The anchor's serious tone caught my eyes."Breaking news: A high-profile sting operation has led to the arrest of Jasper Brown, the newly appointed CEO of Aurora's conglomerate, on charges of sex trafficking and distribution of hard drugs. The investigation carried on by a journalist, spanning several months, has uncovered a complex web of illicit activities involving some of the city's most influential figures."The anchor's words hung in the air, as the screen behind her displayed a mugshot of Jasper, his usual smirk being replaced by a scowl followed by blurry footage and photos from the club, taken by the undercover photographer. "The evidence, obtained through a daring undercover operation, reveals shocking scenes of exploitation and abuse. Photos and videos, taken from within the club, show victims being coerced into sex work and patrons
JASPER'S POVI stepped into the dimly lit club, the pounding music and throbbing lights enveloping me like a warm embrace. This was my domain, my sanctuary. The place where I could let my guard down and be myself. Most especially, it maintained its aura of exclusivity.I made my way through the crowded room, nodding to familiar faces and exchanging brief hello's. The smell of smoke and sweat filled the atmosphere and I breathed it in deeply. I felt alive.I spotted one of my girls, a stunning blonde, dancing on stage. She caught my eye, winked and smiled, and I giggled. She was mine, one of my best earners, Stella.I continued to make my way towards the VIP section, where my partners and I conducted our... business. We deal with more than just drinks and music here. We dealt in secrets, in desires, and in the forbidden.I made it all happen.The Devil's Kiss was my pride and joy, a massive facility with over 80 rooms, each one designed to cater to a specific desire or fantasy. We had r
MATT'S POVIt's been two months since everything changed. Two months since the turn of events and Bryan has been all over the news, his saga with Eva at the hospital, news about his health and his resignation as CEO of Aurora corporation. It's not been easy for anyone seeing his constant appearance on the television.I myself have been working tirelessly behind the scenes, gathering evidence and building a case to ease his feelings. I've had a few close calls. Like the last time I was snooping around the warehouse, I almost got caught. But I didn't give up. I couldn't give up. Not after everything I've seen and everything I've learned.Jasper's treatment of those around him has been horrifying. He manipulated, used, and hurt people without a second thought. And Quinn...I knocked on the door, and she opened it, looking more beautiful than ever in this pregn glow. This newfound peace definitely agrees with her, and it's amazing to see. "Hey Matt! It's good to see you," she snapped, ope