BrandonYearning for a run, I arose early and left the house, seeking to clear my head by venturing out. Amidst various contemplations, my foremost concern was unraveling the path that led my life to its current state. Despite being the second son of the nation's wealthiest individual, my existence turned out differently from my brother's after our mother's demise.After her demise, she, the adhesive binding us men, was no longer present, and we drifted apart. I veered into the company of the wrong crowd in high school, engaging in drugs, promiscuity, and various activities that would not have made my mother proud.I didn't consider how she would feel about my actions, and I persisted in that lifestyle. While my father and brother remained indifferent, although Adrien attempted to guide me, I consistently dismissed his efforts until he eventually conceded, leaving me to my fate; at that point, I saw no reason to care either.Reflecting on the past, I had craved my father's attention,
Adrien Two weeks have passed since Yvette vowed to retaliate for her mother's death. While I didn't dismiss her empty threats, I also didn't ignore them. Concerned, I increased security at the hospital for Rosalie, unsure if Yvette would return to finally carry out her revenge or not, and unwilling to take any chances. Despite my efforts to persuade my dad to stay in Italy, he grew weary of the country and opted to return to Aldovia to be with his grandchildren. He maintained a strong belief that Brandon wouldn't harm him, even as I reminded him of the past threat involving a gun. Disregarding my concerns, he brushed them off, and I reluctantly let the matter go. The sound of a knock on my office door interrupted my thoughts, prompting me to turn away from the window and invite the person in, and the door swung open, revealing Emerson. "Ah, Emerson, any news?" I questioned. "Still the same, sir." He replied. "They're still in the country." "I see." I nodded. "I wonder what they
Brandon "It's regrettable that I had to resort to this," I confided in Renner, observing my brother's kids, who were visibly frightened. "I mean, they're innocent." "I have a soft spot for children, but sadly, I can't have any of my own," Renner remarked with feigned sadness. "Maybe I'll adopt them. What do you think?" He grinned. "I give you my blessing," I stated, chuckling. "Now that we have them, what's next?" He questioned. "Now... I call my brother," I said triumphantly, pulling out my phone and dialing his number. "Make sure you tell him to come alone," Renner cautioned, adding, "If he involves the police, his children will die." "Of course," I snorted. The call connected immediately, and I laughed. "Hey, bro. What's up?" I greeted him. "You bastard!" He bellowed, causing me to pull my phone from my ear. "Where are my children?" "No need to be so upset, brother," I retorted. "They're unharmed." "I want to hear their voices," He ordered. "I give the orders here, bro,"
Brandon "You're adopted, Brandon." His words hit me like a shockwave, and I stumbled back, staring at him as if he were crazy. Did I hear him correctly? I knew Adrien disliked me, but I hadn't realized it extended to the point of fabricating lies about my identity. "You're lying!" I exclaimed. "That's not true." "My father didn't tell me. I had a DNA test conducted to see if we were related because you didn't look like my dad or my mother, and I was right," Adrien said. "You're not my brother." "How... What the hell?" I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you messing with me right now? You better take it back if it's a joke." I ordered. "Your biological father, Brandon Ritchie, was a criminal whose favorite place in the world was the state penitentiary. He was arrested for drug dealing, rape, and murder but escaped from prison at twenty two, got a girlfriend named Hilary Kale, and got her pregnant." "I still don't believe you." I muttered, shaking my head. "Hilary wasn't a saint
Adrien Arriving at the hospital, I rushed to Rosalie's room, wearing a huge smile on my face and clutching a bouquet of roses in my hand. Aware that she might still harbor resentment from our last conversation before her accident, where I blamed her for ruining my company's image, I hoped the flowers and a sincere smile would mend things. I encountered Norman seated on the recliners outside her room in the hallway, engrossed in a conversation with Ariadne. Spotting me, he cut the conversation short and promptly ended the call. "Sir." Norman stood up, grinning. "I just sat there, watching her when her eyes suddenly opened. I was so shocked, frozen, thinking it was a dream. Then, she turned to look at me, she blinked and I almost cried. The doctor is checking on her now." He stated. "Thank you." I smiled, patting him on the back. "Finally." I breathed. "Your father is on his way." Norman informed me, smiling sheepishly. "And her friends." "You were that excited, weren't you?" I c
RosalieDespite Dr. Simmons asserting that I was married to someone like Adrien Vasanten, I couldn't accept it. How could I be married to him while he was dating my stepsister, Yvette? Although I once had feelings for him in high school, they faded when he humiliated me in front of everyone in the school cafeteria.Two years after our high school graduation, he began dating Yvette, and they have been together ever since. Adrien Vasanten, who was the bane of my existence, was not someone I could have agreed to marry under any circumstances.As the door to my hospital room swung open, the devil himself entered, closing it behind him. His suit jacket was discarded, and his white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing impressive forearms. The coiffed hair from earlier was now tousled, adding to his charm, and I had to admit he looked like he belonged on the front cover of a GQ magazine."Hi," He greeted, pausing three feet from my bed, an evident nervousness in his demeano
Adrien "Daddy?" Mason called."Yes, son?" I replied, turning my head to look down at him. He was nestled in my side, while Maya was on my lap and Alessandra on my other side. We've been like this since we started their favorite animated film, which was right after dinner."Will Mama ever remember us?" He inquired."Yes, daddy, will she?" Maya chimed in. "I don't want to live without Mama.""Me too." Alessandra pouted."We won't live without Mama," I said. "It'll take time, but she'll definitely remember us one day.""You promise?" All three of them lifted their pinky fingers.I chuckled softly, shaking my head. Making promises with kids was tricky and it meant keeping them at all costs to avoid disappointment, but this was one promise I wasn't sure I could keep."I can't make that promise because it's up to Mama's brain to remember us." I explained. "If it doesn't want to remember us, then we can't force it.""But, it's not fair." They whined."It's not." I agreed. "But, look on the
Rosalie "What? No!" He exclaimed, indignation filling his voice. Rising to his feet, he began pacing, a habit that I've noticed surfaces whenever frustration overcomes him. Running his fingers through his hair was another quirk, almost enough to make me swoon. Almost. "Why not?" I arched my brow. "It's within my rights to ask for a divorce, right?" I asserted. "You're not allowed to refuse me." "It'll never happen." He firmly asserted, impressing me by saying "no" in thirty different languages. "I'm impressed," I remarked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "But that won't stop me from filing for a divorce. It'd be in your best interests to sign the papers when served." "I won't let you do this," He insisted. "You won't leave me." "I was never by your side to begin with," I snorted. "I don't want to be married to you." "Because you have this idea that I belong to Yvette?" He spat, his fists clenched by his side. "You're correct," I replied, smirking. "The two of you are cut from
Rosalie A week later Upon opening my eyes, I was surprised to find myself in a hospital room. The last memory I had was standing before the fridge with the door open, ready to grab the freshly squeezed orange juice I'd made earlier. Suddenly, a screeching sound inside my head made me clutch it, and the events that followed were a mystery. "Baby?" Adrien's anxious voice made me turn towards him. His hair was tousled, evidence of him running his fingers through it, and he appeared as if he had aged ten years since this morning when I last saw him. "What am I doing here?" I inquired, attempting to prop myself up using my elbows, but he insisted I rest. "You need to rest," He urged. "I found you unconscious in the kitchen, panicked, and brought you to the hospital. The doctor explained it as fainting due to stress." "I'm fine," I reassured him. I studied his face in silence, making him uneasy, yet he didn't avert his gaze as I expected. "What?" He grumbled, arching a delicate eyebr
Rosalie Wet heat flooded my core the moment I felt his soft, warm, silken lips touch mine. Adrien's desire for me permeated the air, his passion evident as he consumed my mouth as if it were the sole sustenance necessary for his survival. As my hands delved into his hair, I opened myself up to him, sensing that all the elusive fragments of my life had finally aligned. There was an unexplainable sense of déjà vu in this room, in this country, as if we had traveled this path before. Months ago, when he casually inquired about our honeymoon destination, I mentioned France without surprising him. It felt like he already knew my choice, and now, in this moment, I realize I never pondered on it until now. Despite never having visited France, its familiarity eludes me, leaving me unable to pinpoint the source of its recognition. I gasped as his mouth came down to my breast and he bit lightly on my hardened nipple. I sucked in another breath as he soothed it with his tongue and teased the
AdrienDespite promising myself not to propose to her in front of a crowd to avoid potential humiliation if she said no, my mind decided otherwise as soon as I stepped onto the stage. She appeared stunning in the white halter neck dress she wore, complemented by the platinum teardrop earrings I had gifted her.The first time we got married, I hadn't proposed, and the second time, despite my sincere words, she took them skeptically. Now, I'm confident that every word I express in front of this crowd will be wholeheartedly embraced by her, as we embark on this third and final marriage rooted in genuine love. I couldn't be happier.Feeling a sense of commitment, I couldn't leave what I'd begun unfinished. Her gaze, as if I were her entire world, fueled my determination and fostering hope that she would agree. Her expressive look conveyed a shared desire; she wouldn't regard me this way if she didn't want it too."For as long as I can recall, Rosalie, you've been the only consistent presen
Rosalie A month later Today, November fifth, the day I gave birth to my children, would have been special if I could remember anything. Unfortunately, I don't recall anything about it. Ronald had planned a big party for our children, who were turning six years old. All their schoolmates, along with some kids from the charity foundation co-founded by Adrien and his father, were invited. With more kids than adults, one can easily imagine how loud the party would become. Children were running and screaming with excitement everywhere I turned. Adrien's backyard had been turned into a mini amusement park for their entertainment, and they appeared to be enjoying themselves to the fullest. Initially, I was unfamiliar with Alissa Dawson, but Adrien informed me that he'd invited her and her kids to celebrate with us. Notably, she had triplets also celebrating their birthday today, so I thought it was fitting. Later, Kevin revealed that Alissa, a police officer in Cardenia and one of my fr
Adrien Rosalie and I initially began as friends with benefits, but over the following months, our connection transformed into a deeper bond, leading us to start dating. Despite the initial strangeness of seeing her as my girlfriend after years of being my wife, I was grateful for the second chance she gave me to make amends for my past actions. A few weeks into our relationship, I validated my dad's suspicions, confirming it both in a personal conversation and during an interview with Urban Pulse. Despite the unfavorable reception from many, we remained indifferent, knowing that people were uninformed about our situation. I even issued warnings of legal action against anyone spreading slander about Rosalie, which effectively put an end to the online hate speeches. Rosalie became the assistant to the head of the PR department in my company, which significantly eased our relationship. However, the only drawback was the frequent and extended business trips I had to undertake. At tim
Rosalie "You're smiling an awful lot." Kevin observed, narrowing his eyes at me. "Did something happen with Adrien Vasanten?" "Like what?" I feigned ignorance. "I don't know, you tell me." He chuckled. "You have this dazed look in your eyes like you can't believe how awesome he is. Let me tell you that women only look at men like that after an amazing time in bed with them." He stated. "And you know this because it's the same way Zara looks at you?" I joked, chuckling. "Maybe." He muttered. "Don't change the subject. Tell me something new; are you back together with your ex?" "I don't know." I sighed deeply. "I asked him for forgiveness, he told me there was nothing to forgive because it's what one does when you're in love with someone; his words, not mine." I remarked. "He told me he loves me, I kissed him and one thing led to another." My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "You initiated the kiss?" Kevin looked shocked. "It was done on Impulse. I did it before I realized what
Adrien Despite knowing it was entirely wrong, I couldn't resist kissing her, and against my better judgment, I wrapped one arm around her waist, lifted her off her chair, and let her straddle my lap. I ripped my mouth from hers, my breath coming in heavy pants. She was just as breathless as she let her head fall back, giving me access to the sensitive skin at her neck as I explored it with my tongue. "Rose, we can't do this." I whispered in her ear as I nibbled at her earlobe, making her giggle. "Why not?" She asked. "I want this and you obviously do too." She let her hand trail down my chest seductively, past my belt buckle and let her fingers brush the front of my pants, making me jerk in surprise. "That is saying otherwise." "You were almost..." I paused, gritting my teeth. "I don't think it's wise." I stated. She drew nearer to me, pressing against me, her chest meeting mine. It dawned on me that she wasn't wearing a bra, and I silently groaned, pondering if she was aware of
Rosalie I was ashamed of myself for behaving like a fool. I was equally ashamed to face my ex-husband, unable to meet his judgmental gaze or endure his triumphant smile saying 'I told you so.' The signs were there last week when Adam treated me curtly and practically threw the documents I had reviewed for him in my face; I should have realized what was going on then. Initially, I believed he was just having a bad day, and his apology at the end of that day reinforced that notion. The following day, our lunch together seemed to erase the events of the previous day. He treated me fairly until today. Yesterday, after he dropped me home, he asked for assistance with a Monday presentation at the hotel, and I agreed. If only I had known it would unravel like this, I would have distanced myself from him. "I left a document in my bedroom. Can you please get it for me?" He asked. "I think it's on my nightstand." "Yes, sir," I said with a smile as I stood up and headed to his bedroom to r
Adrien "Where did you go this early?" Dad questioned as I walked into the house. "The kids were asking for you." "I went to see Rosalie." I mumbled. "Why?" Dad arched a brow. "I went to talk to her about her boss but she refused to believe me. She called me a liar, a manipulator and practically told me that if she were a magician, I would be the only person she'd erase from existence." I responded. Reflecting on our conversation, her words stung more than the slap, and I doubted I'd ever be able to erase them from my memory. It marked the instance when I felt Rosalie's unbridled hatred directed squarely at me. "She said that?" Dad was shocked. "And more." I said. "All I know is, I'm done." I dusted my hands. "I know you love her and you want her to be in this family, but I don't think I can do this. She's happier away from me and I don't want this version of her." "She probably didn't mean anything she said." Dad said in her defense. "She said and I quote; "I curse the day I