Dr. West's stern expression was the final image etched into Cathleen's mind as he exited the room. She sighed heavily and turned her weary gaze toward the laptop sitting on the desk in front of her. As if on cue, a new email notification popped up, jolting her back to reality. The weight of her pain seemed to intensify as she realized that life went on, no matter how much she wished for it to pause for just a moment longer.Cathleen's fingers trembled slightly as she clicked open the message. Glow Girl's logo—a radiant face encircled by stars—filled the screen, and with it, an offer that made her heart skip a beat. The photoshoot offer landed in Cathleen's inbox like a golden ticket. The brand, known for celebrating flawless skin, coveted her natural beauty that needed no enhancement. The payment promised was extravagant, a sum that couldn't be dismissed lightly.This was a great escape from her marriage and from her husband, who thinks he can boss her around. When Cathleen was abroad
Cathleen's presence in the room drew Xavier's gaze like a magnet, her confident stride contrasting with the delicate morning light that enveloped her. The subtle hues of dawn played on her features, accentuating the faint scars that adorned her skin—a testament to battles fought and hidden pains endured. Xavier longed to offer her sustenance, a silent plea echoing in his mind to nourish her resilience. Yet the echoes of their heated exchange lingered, stifling any words he might have spoken. Thus, he remained a silent observer, a veil of remorse shrouding his emotions as she paused at the door, sensing the weight of his unspoken sentiments lingering in the space between them.The door clicked shut behind her, and the room seemed to hold its breath before Olivia's presence pierced the silence. Her frown was a wrinkle etched between perfectly plucked brows, but she knew questioning Xavier about his lingering stare at Cathleen—that would be crossing an unseen line."Xa—" she ventured, on
The crystal chandeliers of Le Lumière d'Or cast prisms across Avery Jackson's discontented face as she twirled the stem of her untouched martini. Her friends, a cadre of New York glitterati, clinked glasses and laughed with a practiced air of nonchalance. Yet amidst the opulence, Avery's facade cracked."Avy, are you okay?" Concern laced her friend's voice, slicing through the murmur of elite conversations like a scalpel. Avery's eyes flickered, a momentary pause betraying her internal cacophony before the floodgates opened."You remember, I was supposed to be married, right?" She spat out the words, her manicured fingers tightening around the glass."Yeah, I've been wanting to ask about your marriage to Finn for a while. What happened?" The query hung heavy, ripe with the scent of scandal.Avery's laugh was a bitter crescendo. "Finn was useless," she declared, flinging the words like daggers. "He is not the owner of Knight Group; can you imagine? Not even the CEO; he was the assistan
Avery's hands trembled on the steering wheel, each breathing a shallow gasp as she navigated the familiar streets through a veil of tears. Her mind reeled with the overwhelming impossibility—Cathleen had taken her place at the altar—Cathleen, who was supposed to be nothing more than a footnote in Avery's grand life plan. The sting of betrayal burned hot within her, like salt rubbed vigorously into an open wound. Avery's heart pounded in her chest in a frantic attempt to escape the suffocating weight of it all. She'd fled from the restaurant, the taste of humiliation heavy on her tongue and threatening to choke her with every swallow.The gravel driveway echoed under her tires as she raced back to the house. Each pebble seemed to mock her, a cruel reminder of the shattered illusions that awaited her inside. Her fingers trembled as she yanked out the keys, snatched her purse, and carelessly flung off her high heels, discarding them near the car. The shoes felt like shackles, symbols of
Dora's breath came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving as she sprawled on the plush carpet, the weight of betrayal anchoring her to the ground. Her mind raced, piecing together the fragments of deception that lay scattered around her. With a surge of fury, she clawed her way up from despair, her eyes locking onto the retreating figure of her husband. "William," she hissed, venom lacing her voice as she stumbled forward, driven by a force she couldn't contain. "William Jackson!"Her hand trembled as she flung open the door to William's sanctum—a study drenched in the rich scent of leather and lies. There he stood, an unmoved monolith amidst the storm of her wrath, casually nursing his whiskey as if it were any other evening. Dora’s fingers clenched at her waist, her foot tapping out an impatient rhythm on the hardwood floor. “You lied to me. You dare lie to me, William?” Her accusation sliced through the heavy air, but it fell on deaf ears.William simply tilted his glass, the amber liq
Avery snapped the suitcase shut, a sharp click echoing off the sparse bedroom walls. "All set," she declared, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and malice.From across the room, Dora ended her call with a flourish. "Thank you so much, Mr. Knight," she purred into the phone before fixing Avery with a calculated gaze. "We got the address. I will send a driver to take you there." It didn’t take long for the driver to arrive.The sleek black car arrived with an elegance that matched the scheme unfolding in their minds. Avery, with a predatory grace, hauled her luggage into the trunk and sank into the leather embrace of the back seat. The city blurred past, but Avery's thoughts were razor-sharp, fixated on the prize at the journey's end.Forty-five minutes evaporated like mist, and the imposing gates of Cathleen's estate loomed. Avery's smile was a slash of triumph. "What are you here for?" The guard's challenge was perfunctory."I am here to see Mrs. Knight; she's my sister." Her
Avery's heels clicked angrily against the pavement as she approached the familiar facade of her parents' house, dragging her luggage like a reluctant companion. The front door swung open before she could even reach for the handle."Mother!" Avery called out, her voice tinged with frustration and defeat.Dora stood at the threshold, a perfectly plucked eyebrow arched in surprise. "What is it? Why are you back with-" Her gaze dropped to the suitcase. "Your bag."With a gesture more forceful than necessary, Avery heaved the suitcase onto the welcome mat. It landed with an ominous thud, the sound reverberating through the otherwise silent hallway. "Why didn't you tell me Cathleen had grown some balls?""Ah." Dora's eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on her lips. "That girl talks back, so cheeky and sassy." But there was a hint of respect in her tone, begrudging as it might be."Did her husband see you?" Dora inquired, leaning casually against the door frame; her curiosity barely masked."Yep,
The grand hall was full of fancy lights and rich people having fun. Olivia, in her tight dress, moved gracefully through the room. She stopped when she saw Avery, who was just standing there, not doing anything important. Olivia thought Avery was worthless and quietly called her useless with a mean look on her face.Avery, the stepsister with opportunistic veins where blood should have been, hadn't even managed the simplest task: infiltrating Xavier's fortress of solitude. Olivia's lips twisted in annoyance—how hard was it to seduce a man who wore his infidelity like a badge of honor?She looked around and saw Finn Knight in the distance. He seemed small next to his dad, Mr. Knight. Olivia didn't like him and felt happy that he had lost his job at Xavier's company. She knew it was mean, but she felt a little pleased inside. She rolled her eyes again and quietly wished for better people around her."Champagne," she demanded more than she requested, snatching a flute from a passing wait