I forced myself to meet Santiago’s gaze, schooling my expression into something unreadable. If he was here, breaking into my penthouse in the middle of the night, it wasn’t just to chat.He wants something.I wasn’t going to give it to him.“You have about ten seconds to explain why you’re here before I call security,” I said, gripping the wine bottle so tightly my knuckles ached.Santiago smirked, the kind of lazy, self-assured grin that made my stomach twist. He took a slow step forward, completely unfazed by my threat. “Security?” he mused. “Mmm… You could call them. But we both know they won’t get here in time, mi amor.”His voice was smooth, practiced, laced with the kind of confidence that came from knowing he held all the cards.I refused to let him see the flicker of unease tightening in my chest.“I don’t have time for games, Santiago.”“I know,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Which is why I’ll get to the point.”In one fluid motion, he reached inside his suit jacket. I
The elegant ballroom shimmered with chandeliers and buzzed with animated chatter as it was turned into a splendid venue for commemorating my father's real estate company's tenth anniversary. The hall was crowded, and people sipped their drinks while enjoying the music of a live band playing soft tunes in the background. A scene full of charm and elegance that somehow couldn't fill the void I felt deep inside me despite all the beauty and luxury around. Amidst the crowd, I found myself wandering aimlessly as my steps took me in no particular direction. A gentle smile graced my lips, concealing the fatigue that weighed heavily on me as I warmly welcomed my father’s guests. Meanwhile, I scanned the crowd but couldn't spot my husband, Derick, anywhere. It felt like he was intentionally distancing himself from me, especially ever since he learned about my struggle to give him the one thing he longed for the most—a child. It was distressing for me, but it became even more painful when
THE NEXT MORNING, the sound of my phone startled me awake. I squinted at the screen and groggly groped for it. The name flashing across it caused my blood to stop—Romeo, my Dad.Heart thumping, I jumped off the bed, fumbling to respond, but the ringing stopped just before I could swipe the screen. Two seconds later a text alert showed up.**COME HOME RIGHT AWAY** In all caps locked.There was no space for justification or explanation for his calling of me. Simply as usual, just an order.I hurriedly got up, still wondering why my father suddenly wanted me to go home right away. But what made me suddenly confused what what on earth was I even doing in an unfamiliar room?I was so certain, this wasn’t my hotel room. My head still hurts due to hangover but I know that I must get up and come home right away. And as my feet nearly tripped from the scattered clothes on the floor, that was the only time when everything else came flooding my memories about what happened last night.“Shit.” I
I skirted through the crowd of people in the ballroom while attempting to concentrate on my goal. It was a whirlwind of color and laughter. I had to look for someone who could assist me in securing my future. But my confidence started to falter as I looked around the room. Each of these men exuded confidence and elegance.What if I wasn't enough? What would happen if I was unable to find someone who could help me?My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a bartender’s voice, low and smooth. “You look like you could use a drink.”I turned to find the bartender standing before me, holding out a glass of wine and pouring me some. He was dressed impeccably in a black and white uniform.I forced a smile, taking the glass from him. “Thank you. I suppose I do.”He raised the bottle to pour some on my glass. “This might be quite hard on you”“I can manage,” I echoed, clinking my glass before taking a sip. The wine was crisp and cold, but it did little to calm the nerves fluttering in my s
The man and I moved our conversation to a more secluded place away from the loud noise of the ball. And before I knew it, I found myself already escorted inside his hotel room. “I have about three questions before we begin with our deal.” He suddenly uttered, pushing me against the long, creamy white bed.I was certain that if my eyes were shut now, then I was probably dreaming.There was no other possible explanation for the way my body tingled, the way my breath hitched in my throat, and the way my mind raced with thoughts that I had never dared to entertain before.It all seemed so too good to be true, as the man lurred his body before me. He was like a walking, breathing embodiment of desire. His dark, tousled hair framed a face that could have been chiseled by the gods themselves, his piercing eyes a shade of blue that bordered on ethereal.He was close, too close, his presence consuming the air between us. His broad shoulders seemed to block out the rest of the world, leaving o
When I opened my eyes again, the room was already bathed in the warm embrace of morning light, as if the sun itself had been waiting patiently for me to join the world. My head pounded slightly, fragments of what happened last night lurking just beyond my memory's grasp. Yet, the first thing I did was quickly check my clothes. And I felt some sort of ease knowing they were still intact, although messy from lying on the bed all night. Some relief washed over me—I guess nothing had happened with that blonde stranger and me again. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed to make another escape, but the door creaked open just as I was about to do so. My heart skipped a beat. There he stood—the same blonde from the night before was walking in, carefree and undressed in just a bathrobe that hung loosely, revealing his toned abs and chest, and a towel tied around his waist. He didn’t seem surprised to see me awake."And where do you think you’re going, damsel?" he asked, a smirk playi
The event at the auction had been nothing short of chaotic. The tension in the room was so thick it felt like I could slice through it with a knife. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat reverberating in my ears as I tried to make sense of everything that had just happened. As the event organizers attempted to calm the storm, Thiago leaned in close to me, so close that I could feel his breath against my ear. “We need to leave. Now,” he whispered, his tone urgent, almost desperate. “Before your former family decides to do something against us.” The way Thiago had spoken to me, the intensity in his gaze—it left me reeling, completely off-balance.A shiver ran down my spine at the urgency in his voice. Without a second thought, I followed him, my mind racing with a million questions. Who was this man, really? Why had he kept silent for so long about his connection to Cynthia, my former mother-in-law? And what was it about Thiago that made my father speak to him as if they were old a
The soft click of the attache case echoed in the otherwise silent room as Thiago set it on the table between us. The tension was palpable, and I found myself holding my breath, unsure of what to expect next. With a practiced ease, he flipped open the case, revealing a stack of documents neatly tucked inside a long brown envelope. His movements were deliberate, almost predatory, as he withdrew the papers and slid them across the table toward me."Read it carefully, damsel," Thiago's voice was smooth, yet it held an undercurrent of command that made my skin prickle. "This contract is binding, and I expect you to understand every clause."I hesitated, my fingers trembling slightly as I reached for the documents. Thiago's eyes were fixed on me, his gaze intense, almost as if he was stripping away every layer of my defenses. It was unnerving, the way he looked at me, and I found it hard to meet his eyes for more than a few seconds. Instead, I focused on the papers before me, hoping that re
I forced myself to meet Santiago’s gaze, schooling my expression into something unreadable. If he was here, breaking into my penthouse in the middle of the night, it wasn’t just to chat.He wants something.I wasn’t going to give it to him.“You have about ten seconds to explain why you’re here before I call security,” I said, gripping the wine bottle so tightly my knuckles ached.Santiago smirked, the kind of lazy, self-assured grin that made my stomach twist. He took a slow step forward, completely unfazed by my threat. “Security?” he mused. “Mmm… You could call them. But we both know they won’t get here in time, mi amor.”His voice was smooth, practiced, laced with the kind of confidence that came from knowing he held all the cards.I refused to let him see the flicker of unease tightening in my chest.“I don’t have time for games, Santiago.”“I know,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Which is why I’ll get to the point.”In one fluid motion, he reached inside his suit jacket. I
His lips moved against mine with a slow, deliberate hunger, as if he was savoring every second of my surrender. I should have pushed him away. I should have turned and walked out of this penthouse, out of his life, like I swore I would.But the second his hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, every ounce of resistance melted away.Thiago knew my body too well. He knew exactly how to unravel me with a single touch, how to make me forget logic and consequences. His fingers trailed down my spine, sending a shiver through me, his kiss deepening until I was breathless.I tore away, gasping, my palms flat against his chest. “Thiago—”His forehead rested against mine, his breathing just as uneven. “Don’t tell me you don’t want this.”My fingers curled into his shirt, torn between desire and the storm raging in my mind. “It’s not about what I want.”He exhaled, a humorless chuckle escaping him. “Then what is it about, Wifey?”That nickname. The way it rolled off his tongue like a promise
The hallway felt too small, too suffocating with both men standing there—Victor rigid with frustration, Thiago exuding that quiet, commanding presence that had always been my undoing.I should tell him to leave. I should push past this moment and pretend my heart wasn’t beating too fast, that I wasn’t already losing this battle.But I didn’t.Instead, I met Thiago’s gaze head-on. “What do you want?”He tilted his head slightly, studying me, before stepping closer. Too close. The scent of him—expensive cologne, faint whiskey, something distinctly him—wrapped around me like a noose.Victor shifted beside me, his tension palpable. “You’re wasting your time, Bermudez. She’s done with whatever game you’re playing.”Thiago let out a quiet chuckle, his eyes never leaving mine. “That so?” His fingers twitched at his side, like he was resisting the urge to touch me. “Because she hasn’t told me to leave yet.”Damn him.Victor exhaled sharply. “Bridgette.” His voice was low, a warning.I swallow
The silence stretched between us, thick with words left unsaid. Victor's gaze remained steady, unwavering, as if he could will me into understanding the danger I was walking into. Maybe he could see the fracture lines forming beneath my skin, the way I was slowly unraveling under the weight of my own choices.But what choice did I have? Thiago was a shadow I couldn’t outrun. No matter how far I went, how fiercely I tried to carve out a life separate from him, he was always there. And worst of all, some part of me still wanted him to be.I exhaled sharply, shoving past Victor toward the kitchen, needing space—needing something to ground me before I lost myself completely in this never-ending push and pull. I reached for the half-empty wine bottle on the counter and poured myself a glass. My hand trembled slightly as I took a sip, the bitter liquid burning down my throat.Victor followed but didn’t say anything right away. He just leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest,
The silence between Victor and me stretched, taut and suffocating. He watched me like I was a puzzle he had almost solved but was too frustrated to finish.“Bridge,” he finally said, his voice softer now. “You don’t have to do this alone. You know that, right?”I swallowed against the lump in my throat. Victor had always been my safety net, the one person who saw the mess I was and still chose to stand by me. But even he couldn’t save me from myself.I turned away, rubbing my arms as though that could shake off the cold creeping into my bones. “I’m tired, Vic. Can we just—can we not do this tonight?”His eyes darkened, but he nodded once, reluctant. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him. I waited, standing frozen in place until I heard his footsteps fade down the hallway. Then, with a shaky breath, I turned and pressed my forehead against the door, letting my eyes close.Not five minutes later, my phone vibrated on the counter.I didn’t wan
The weight of Lucia’s words lingered long after she was gone, settling over me like an unwelcome shroud. The air in my apartment felt heavier, thick with the ghost of Thiago’s presence.I set the wine glass down with a soft clink, pressing my fingers against my temples. My head throbbed, not from the alcohol but from the war waging inside me. Thiago was a storm—unrelenting, consuming, and I was the fool who kept stepping into the rain without an umbrella.I forced myself to move, needing to shake off the static thrumming in my veins. One step, then another, until I was standing before my bedroom mirror. The woman staring back at me looked like a stranger. There was defiance in her eyes, yes, but beneath it, something else lurked—uncertainty.My gaze dropped to the ring, still snug on my finger. I could almost feel the phantom trace of Thiago’s touch lingering there. My hands curled into fists. I should take it off. I should have done it the second he walked out that door.With a sharp
The elevator ride to my apartment was silent except for the dull hum of the machinery. My fingers hovered over the ring on my hand, debating whether to rip it off before I stepped through the door. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I stepped out into the hallway, my heels clicking against the polished floor, my pulse a steady drumbeat in my ears. As I neared my door, a whisper of hesitation curled in my chest, but I ignored it. My fingers trembled only slightly as I unlocked the door and stepped inside.The lights were already on.I froze.And then…“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind.”Thiago’s voice curled through the space, rich and smooth, wrapping around me like a silk noose. He was there, lounging in my living room like he belonged. A bottle of wine sat open on the table, two glasses half-poured. Like he’d planned for this. Like he knew I’d come.My breath stuttered. “You broke into my apartment.”Thiago smirked, tilting his head. “Now, now, wifey. You gave me a key, reme
The night air was thick with the scent of the ocean, the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore a stark contrast to the storm still raging inside me. Lucia’s grip on my wrist didn’t loosen until we were a good distance away from the bar, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she all but dragged me down the sidewalk.I let her.Because if I didn’t, I wasn’t sure if I’d turn back.Lucia finally stopped near the edge of the boardwalk, whirling around to face me. “What the hell was that?”I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. “Lucia—”“No.” She held up a finger, her eyes blazing. “No, don’t you Lucia me. You just stood there and let him put that ring back on your finger. Do you want to keep playing his little games?”I didn’t answer.Because I didn’t know.Lucia groaned, running a hand through her hair. “I swear to God, Bridge, I love you, but you’re killing me.”I let out a humorless laugh. “You think I don’t know that?”She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms.
I should have walked away.Should have left him standing there in the dim glow of the city lights, his arrogance hanging in the air like the scent of his cologne—rich, dark, and impossible to ignore.But my feet wouldn’t move.Thiago was waiting. Watching. That infuriating smirk still curled at the corner of his lips, like he had already won.Like he knew I wouldn’t leave.I lifted my hand again, staring at the ring on my finger. It looked the same as before, but now it felt… different. He had put it back on me. Not a question. Not an offer. A statement.I clenched my fist. “I should take this off.”His smirk didn’t waver. “But you won’t.”I exhaled sharply. “You’re so sure of yourself.”Thiago stepped closer, and just like that, the space between us disappeared. His fingers brushed against my wrist, featherlight but firm enough to make my pulse jump.“I don’t need to be sure of myself, Wifey.” His voice was low, dark, coaxing. “I just need to be sure of you.”I hated the way my body