“Doesn’t it feel better to let out what you feel than to bottle it in you?” Dante asked as we took our seats on the couch. “Yes, it does.” I nodded and smiled. Talking to him really did make me feel a whole lot better. It was like I was no longer being crushed like a grape under an invincible weight of worry. “Thank you for being someone I can talk to, Dante. It’s really relieving.” “I’m glad you trust me enough to confide in me.” He smiled back at me. “And I hope you would tell me anything that’s bothering you instead of shutting yourself up. I’ll always be here to listen to you.” “Anything bothering me…” I mumbled under my breath. ‘It seems like a good moment to tell him about Laura and the messages she sent to me, but is it really necessary? I don’t think so. I think my threat is more than enough to scare her off. I don’t think she would try anything stupid now that she knows, I know, that she’s behind those messages. And she was most likely bluffing when she said she would get
“Dante!” My whole face, from the tip of my ears to my neck, turned the reddest, brightest shade of red known to the entire human race, and my head jerked towards him. “Don’t say that! No flirty-flirty, remember.” “Can it be qualified as flirting if I’m saying the truth?” Dante grinned, and I wasn’t surprised by the amusement shining on his face. “And it’s not my fault you look like a cute little newlywed wife, shy and flustered because she’s giving her husband lunch to work for the first time. And I don’t mind being the lucky man.” “Dante! Enough!” I squeaked, praying to disappear from his presence before I died from embarrassment or insufficient blood flow to other parts of my body because of the excessive amount on my face. ‘How the heck can he say all that without being flustered?’ “I-I only did this because your eating schedule is not nice. Not because I’m trying to act like a newlywed wife or whatever your weird fantasy is coming up with.” I puffed my cheeks and drew the lunc
“Really? You want to learn how to bake?” I blink and cock my head to the side. I didn’t know whether I was supposed to be surprised, but I was. I was surprised that he wanted to learn how to bake. He had never hinted his interest in it before, so his just suddenly wanting to learn by eleven p.m. was very shocking. “Yes.” Dante nodded. “Why?” I squinted my eyes at him. “Because I want to. Why are you suddenly suspicious?” He frowned, mimicking my facial expression, and the corner of my lips tipped to a small smile. “Nothing. I’m just surprised, but sure, I’ll teach you.” I stood up from the couch and stretched my body. “Thank you.” His frown turned to a small smile, and I didn’t miss the happiness in his face. ‘Wow, he must really be excited about learning how to bake, which seems so strange.’ “But I’m curious; I never thought you were interested in cooking stuff. So why the sudden want to learn?” I asked him as we walked out of the library. “I have always had an interest, but
‘Oh my…’ My breath stuck in my throat as I took in Dante’s gloriously tanned body, which looked like it glowed in the kitchen light.My leery gaze travelled from his broad shoulders, which I wanted to throw my arms on, pass his firm chest covered with light chest hair, which I so wanted to snuggle into. To his abs and packs that seemed to beg me to run my hands over them.Everything about him called out to me, and a wild heat prickled every sensitive part of my body. My legs pressed together, trying to quench the desire pooling in them.I knew I was supposed to look away. I wasn’t supposed to be drinking in his figure like a tall glass of the finest wine. He was my baby papa and friend. And friends don’t ogle at and get all hot and bothered by their friends bodies, no matter how drop dead gorgeous they looked. But sheep! He was too irresistible to stop looking at.My attention went a little bit lower to the large tent on his shorts, and a small, quiet gasp escaped my lips.‘Oh! Sheep!
“I said I find you attractive, ok!” I blurted out, tired of our little games. “I find you really, really attractive. Heck, attractive can’t even cut it. You’re fricken gorgeous. A fine piece of male specimen So yes, I was staring at you because you were magnetising my attention no matter how hard I tried because you’re too good-looking for your own darn good, so please put on your shirt so I can get rid of all these dirty pictures in my mind.” ‘Geez Olly. You were just supposed to tell him he was attractive, not blurt out a whole epistle about him.’ I scolded myself, not knowing if I wanted to face palm myself for saying too much or hide my face in chronic embarrassment. ‘I can’t believe I said all that. A piece of male specimen, really Olly?’ And the look on his face didn’t make me feel better. I wasn’t surprised to see satisfaction and pride radiating from him. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Dante winked, giving me a cheeky grin, and I want to claw at his eyes. “Have I told
“As a young girl, I always thought my family was the most perfect family in the world, every other came second to mine. I always loved boasting to my friends about how much my parents loved each other and how much they loved me too.” I started and a small smile bloomed on my face as heavy nostalgia washed through me.“They were the most hopelessly in love couple I had ever seen, even though they had completely contrasting characters. Dad was gentle, cool, and temperate, while Mom was loud, outgoing, and wild, yet they were still perfect together. I was an only child, and I was their pride and joy, and gosh, they gave me all their love and attention, especially my dad. I’m sure I would have ended up being a spoilt brat if my mom let him pamper me as much as he wanted.”“So you’re a daddy’s girl?” The corner of Dante’s lips curled up the slightest bit.“Just a teensy, tiny little bit.” I chuckled, which didn’t help make my lie seem less than a lie.“Really? Just a teensy, tiny little bi
Love.That was the only thing that could explain all the jumbled and wild yet fluttery and beautiful things I was feeling.I was in love with Dante Romero.When Laura had asked if I had ever been so crazy about someone that it seemed my world revolved around them. That my soul constantly called out to them. My answer was no. But now, some months later, I understood what she was saying because I had fallen for Dante. The man who I swore to myself that I would avoid like a plague on the first day I arrived at his mansion—the man I was sure was heartless and cruel— I had fallen in love with him.A part of me told me to fight it. To rebel against this new found feeling I had for the man, but no. I wasn’t going to. I was going to embrace it instead. Even though I know it may forever be unrequited love, I was still going to enjoy every second of it.“Because you what?” Dante asked, curiosity burning in his eyes.“Because I…” My voice waned.There was no way I would ever confess my feelings
I knew I should have backed down the moment Dante’s voice changed and the dark look crossed his face, but I desperately wanted to see where our conversation would lead. A part of me warned me to chicken out and stop this drama, but I shut it down. Just this night, I was going to throw caution away and indulge in the sexual tension spiralling around us.“Take it however you wish, Mr. Romero.” I said, holding his gaze without flinching. “I’ve had three months to build my defences against you, so there is nothing you can do that would affect me.”Another big lie. There were many things he would do that would turn me into a flustered and squirming mess on his lap. And I wanted him to do them— a lot of them. So what better way to get what I wanted than by pushing his buttons? Dante loved challenges and the hunt; there was no way he wouldn’t try to prove himself, and that was what I was banking on.“So the little bunny is trying to show she has grown steel skin. Isn’t that adorable?” His de
We did it, guys! We reached the end of The Billionaire’s Baby Mama.🥳🥳🥳🥳I feel like crying right now. 🥲🥲Thank you, my lovely readers, for your support. I couldn’t have done it without you. Your lovely comments and gems were my motivation. 😘😘Please drop a review; I love knowing what you think. And also give more gems; it helps promote my books to other readers. Thanks a lot for everything, guys. You’ve been wonderful. See you in the next book. Lots of love, Lumi Lite. 🥰🥰(~‾▿‾)~(~‾▿‾)~ ヾ(・ω・*)ノヾ(・ω・*)ノ \(๑╹◡╹๑)ノ♬\(๑╹◡╹๑)ノ♬
‘Mum, Dad, I did it. I made our dream come true.’ I smiled as I sat at my table; my gaze swept through the room and pride washed over me. I finally did it; I finally realised my parents’ and my dreams. I opened my own restaurant. Regal Haven was having her grand opening ceremony, and from the look on everyone’s face, they were enjoying the party. Soft, classy music on the piano and harp strummed through the air, giving the room not only a sophisticated aura but also setting a relaxing mood. It went perfectly well with the theme of the restaurant: Victorian-era style with a modern twist, made to feel elegant but not too stuffy and up tight. The reviews of the foods I had gotten from a few of the guests I had talked to as I strolled around was all praise about how wonderful they were. I knew a minority view wouldn’t match against the populace, but from how hearty and chatty everyone else was, it was safe to conclude they thought so too. Regal Haven was having the most perfect openi
My eyes flickered open, squinting at the sudden change from darkness to white light. The smell of antiseptics and other irritating chemicals hit my nose, and I scrunched my face. It was a dead give away that I was in the hospital. That, and the vital sign monitor and drip I saw from the corner of my gaze connected to my wrist. A dull ache trembled through my body, not unbearable but still uncomfortable to deal with, but hey, I was alive. ‘What happened? The last thing I remember was Alice pointing a gun at Dante, me jumping to save him, then a sharp pain and darkness… Wait, was I shot?’ I slowly lifted my hand, which felt like it weighed a lot more than it was supposed to and slid it under the cosy duvet I was covered with. It ran across my side, where I felt a little bit of pain and discomfort. Through the light fabric of my hospital dress, my fingers glided against the bandage, and I hissed at the sharp sting that jolted through me. Yup, I was shot. Alice had tried to kill Dant
“So, I changed my approach. I played the role of a sweet, supportive best friend, no matter how disgusted I was about it, and I wormed my way into your parents’ hearts. They were jolly fools like you, and they accepted me into their open arms. For years, I kept my façade perfectly, though I caused little issue on the side—not much to make you suspect me but enough to trouble you. I’m sure you remember some of them. Those mean letters you found in your locker. Messing up your science projects and homework… Ah, good old days.” Alice sighed; a small, soft smile was on her lips, and her eyes had a faraway look, like she was reminiscing about happy memories. I glared at her, utterly disgusted. They were definitely not good times for me. Those letters said really hurtful things, like body-shaming me about my height, my acne, and how dumb I was. I was depressed about that thing and felt worse that the culprit always found a way to not be caught. Who knew she was sitting down by my side, supp
“What!” The word fell from my mouth as a breathless whisper, and my brows furrowed. I would have thought she was joking if anger and malice weren’t burning in her eyes.“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about, you bi.tch.” Alice snarled, tightening the grip on my hair, and I yelped.“But… I… I don’t…” I winced at the searing pain running through my scalp.I honestly didn’t know what she was talking about. When did I ever have everything she wanted? Never; that was when. The conversation was supposed to be the other way around. I was the one who was supposed to be jealous that she had everything I ever wanted because she did. All the times I had known her, she had always had better, nicer stuff than me.Her parents weren’t super rich, but they had a lot more money than mine. She could afford nice clothes, and shoes, and literally anything she wanted that was considered a luxury for me. She was prettier than me; ten guys would have looked her way in admiration before one e
‘I’m hallucinating. That’s it. I’m having a fricken hallucination right now. The drug they used to knock me out is making my brain wonky and think cray cray stuff. I might even still be sleeping, and my overthinking, worried brain came up with this wacko dream. Wake up, Olly. It’s time to return to reality.’ I told myself, taking in deep breaths to steady my uneven breathing. But the stinging pain on my cheek and that of the rope binding my hands and legs behind me, was stronger than any imagination I wanted to force myself to believe. It was real. Everything. Alice had slapped me and laughed—no, not laughed—cackled like a witch, and said that she had always wanted to do that. Alice, my best friend. It was like she was a completely different person. “I-I don’t… I don’t u-understand.” I breathed. Though my voice trembled, I continued. “W-why did you do that? Why did y-you say that?” “Dee, could you give us some time alone? We need to have a little girl-to-girl talk.” Alice threw a s
“This isn’t fricken happening! Sheep! Sheep! Sheep!” I hissed under my breath and sat up straight. My eyes raked over the picture, as if it would disappear, and the whole thing would be a figment of my imagination.‘Darn it, I was fricken careless; now Alice is caught in a mess she doesn’t know anything about.’•Leave her out of this. This is against you and I, it has nothing to do with herI typed and hit send. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t fricken believe it. Laura got Alice. That sneaky bish. I should have known, since she couldn’t harm me or my sons, that she would go to the only other person I cared so much about in LA. My fricken best friend.you answered earlier than I expected no fair. I wanted to have a little fun with hermy guys think she’s beautiful, and I wanted them to have some fun with her every ten minutes, I don’t receive a reply from youOh well there’s always next time•Let her go your problem is with me not her•What the heck do you wantI squirmed in
“W-what do you mean?” The lady stuttered and took a step back. “Exactly. What do you mean, Dante?” I frowned, not understanding his animosity towards an innocent, frightened girl. “I mean exactly what I said, Olivia.” He replied, but his brutal gaze was still on her. “Who sent you to give her this drink?” “It’s her job, Dante. She said I was picked to try a new brand of champagne, just like some of the other guests. Nothing else.” I explained to him, hoping it would calm him down and maybe he would also help her. “And you need to hear what she said about her boss. I think he’s treating his staff inhumanely.” “I heard a good amount of what she told you, but you see, Olivia, the story she was spewing is a complete lie. There’s nothing like a sample test of a new brand of champagne going on at this event, nor is her boss as wicked as she paints him. And if everything she says is a lie, then why exactly is she trying to make you take the drink? Unless…” Dante sneered at her, and I gas
Oh sheep! This was happening. I was standing before the father of the woman who wanted to ruin my life. Never had I thought I would run into him, but he was standing before me, right in the flesh. My eyes took a quick sweep of him, surprised by how he looked. He was nothing like I had pictured when he came to mind. I had always imagined a tall, broody, mafia-don-looking man; he was the opposite. He was a few inches shorter than me—and I was already short—with a bald head that the light bounced off. He had almost no similarities with his daughter apart from their eyes, and I almost doubted he was actually her father. Laura was a beauty queen, while he was just ordinary. “I’ve told you to call me father or papa instead of Mr. Kingsley. You almost got married to my daughter.” He gripped Dante’s hand and shook it so hard that I feared he was going to pop it. “But I didn’t marry your daughter, so I don’t have to call you that, Mr. Kingsley.” Dante put emphasis on his name, but the older