Pregnancy hormones are clearly making me reckless, and watching him try to stay composed is just too amusing. “Out, Jordan,” Lincoln finally says, his tone clipped. “What?” the other man asks, clearly confused. “You heard me,” Lincoln deadpans. “Okay, okay. Sheesh. See you after lunch,” Jordan mutters before the door clicks shut. It takes all of two seconds for Lincoln to grab me and lift me out from under the desk. I land on his lap with a startled yelp. “Jesus. Arella” His voice is filled with disbelief. “it’s really you?” I nod meekly, feeling a blush creep up my neck. “Sorry for teasing you,” I mumble. He palms my cheeks, his hands warm and firm, as if he can’t quite believe I’m here. “What are you doing here?” “I…” My words falter as I notice something that has been blushing a deep red, something hard poking my backside. He gives me a smirk. “You can't do what you did and not expect a reaction from me, Ella,” he deadpans. Great, just what I needed—a smirk from Lincoln
[Arella]Tugging at my dress for the umpteenth time, I swallow hard, holding onto Lincoln's hand as the nerves eat away at me like an insatiable beast. My stomach feels like it’s been invaded by a swarm of butterflies, all fighting for dominance. I’ve been repeating my mantra over and over in my head, clinging to it like a lifeline. You’ve got this, Arella. You’re fine. It’s just people. Judgy, rich people… but still just people.I must have squeezed Lincoln’s hand too tightly because he turns his gaze to me, his brows furrowing with concern, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand in a way that nearly undoes me. "You okay?" His voice is gentle, yet firm, like he’s holding me together with those two words. I nod, letting out a shaky breath that barely makes it past the lump in my throat. "Yeah, just nervous." He stops walking and gently cups my cheek, the warmth of his palm grounding me as his thumb strokes my skin in soft, soothing circles. The air between us feels cha
[Arella]“Lincoln!”The older lady chirps out his name before I can even fathom what’s happening or what to say. She stands up, taking a few steps toward him and hugging him. The faint scent of her floral perfume lingers as they embrace.“Happy birthday,” Lincoln mutters softly.“Thank you, child.”“Happy birthday, ma’am,” I add, tearing my gaze away from the middle-aged lady still seated.Play it cool, Arella. Don’t look too awkward. Breathe.As they separate, her eyes finally land on me. She doesn’t say anything at first, just scrutinizes me, her gaze sharp and assessing.Her piercing gaze feels like it’s stripping away every layer of pretense I’ve ever built. I clutch the hem of my dress, trying not to fidget, but it feels like she’s peering into my soul.“This is Arella, my date,” Lincoln says simply, his hand encircling my waist in a possessive manner as he draws me to him.Her eyes are still locked on me, dissecting every fiber of my existence like she’s deciding if I’m worthy o
[Lincoln]Suddenly, the air feels heavy and almost suffocating as Clement Thompson approaches, his polished shoes clicking sharply with each step.His smile is sharp, like a blade ready to shatter the fragile peace of the evening. My jaw clenches so tight it feels like my teeth might break.“Clement,” Grandma says, her voice chirpy but carrying an unmistakable edge. Strained, almost… scared.I shift my gaze to Dad, who stands rigid like a statue, his fists clenched at his sides. He doesn’t move to stop Clement, though the tension radiating from him is palpable.“My, my, Bertha. I really can’t believe you let this young man here get married,” Clement says, his tone oozing mockery.“It’s not…what it looks like,” Grandma replies quickly, her voice betraying a flicker of panic.“Isn’t it now?” Clement stops in front of me, but his gaze slides past me as though I’m insignificant, zeroing in on Arella like a predator sizing up prey.“What a pretty wife you got here,” he sneers, his voice dr
[Arella]Lincoln’s mother reaches us, her breath labored as if she’d been chasing us down. I glance at Lincoln, whose grip on my hand tightens briefly before he releases it.“I just want to have a word with her,” “Mom, you–” “Please.”Her single word is almost a plea, and he relents with a nod, stepping away and sliding into the car.Turning to face her, I brace myself for the onslaught of judgment or accusations. My heart pounds, a mixture of defensiveness and fatigue swirling within me.“Ma’am, I—”“Mother-in-law,” she interjects, her tone soft but insistent.“Call me mother-in-law.”Her hands come up, cupping my cheeks in a gesture so tender it almost undoes me. The cool night air brushes against my skin, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming jasmine.“I know you must be hurt and sad over what happened,” she begins, her voice warm and earnest, “but trust me, it’ll all be fine. Mother in law will come around.”I nod mechanically, the words barely registering. I feel hollo
[Arella]Lincoln’s lips crash down on mine again, hunger-filled, like a man starved for years. I feel the heat radiating off his body, his need pressing against me, demanding my surrender. His hands grip my waist possessively, as though letting go would shatter him. I give in—totally and freely—to my husband. The intensity of his kiss burns through me, melting every coherent thought. His grip tightens, lifting me with ease, and the world blurs around us. My back meets the bed with a soft thud, the plush mattress barely cushioning the force of our passion. “Were you thinking of leaving me, Ella?” he asks, his voice rough and low, the sound vibrating straight to my core. He unbuckles his belt with deliberate slowness, his dark eyes locking with mine. I shake my head fervently, my breath hitching as the tension in the room thickens. As he inches closer, my dress—once so carefully chosen—is now forgotten on the floor, a mere casualty of our feverish need. “No, I just—” His hand
[Lincoln]My eyes peel open to the soft sunlight filtering through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. It feels warm and peaceful, the kind of morning that tempts you to stay in bed forever. I feel groggy, my limbs heavy, but there’s a comforting weight pressed against me on my right side.I glance down and find the source—a smile spreads across my face like the sun hitting the horizon. Arella, curled up against me, her head resting on my chest, her soft breaths tickling my skin. She’s completely wrapped in my embrace, her wild dark hair fanned across the pillow, and honestly, I can’t think of a better sight to wake up to.With a sense of possessiveness I can’t quite shake, I tighten my arms around her waist. She stirs, her body shifting slightly, and the way her lips brush against my jaw sends a ripple of warmth coursing through me. Her eyes flutter open, hazy and drowsy, and damn, I’ll never get tired of looking into those stormy blue orbs.“What a way to wake up
[Arella]We’re stopped at the door, and I turn back to the doctor. Please don’t say anything about last night, I scream in my head. Internally, I cringe at the memory. It’s already bad enough that I fainted because I was "overworked," and Lincoln, being Lincoln, had to make such a big fuss about it. I can still feel the flames on my cheeks, a heat that refuses to die down.The doctor’s office smells faintly of antiseptic, mingling with the soft hum of machinery in the corner. Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting long shadows on the polished floors. Her eyes twinkle with mischief as she scribbles something on a notepad.“Get this down at the pharmacy,” she says, handing me the sheet. “It’ll help your, uh, libido since your husband here has quite a large amount of it. I don’t want you fainting again, okay?”Libido? Oh, God. I stare at the paper in horror, willing the ground to swallow me whole.“Okay, thank you,” I mutter quickly, trying to mask my embarrassment. My voice is ba
[Lincoln]My drive to the hospital is a blur of passing speed limits and tightly coiled tension. Zach has been texting me updates every five minutes—says she's fine, says she's getting first aid, says she didn’t suffer any major injuries, says she’s okay. But I’ll believe that when I see it. When I see her.A photo of the explosion was forwarded to me, and I grit my teeth so hard I can almost feel them cracking. When I find out who did this... Dread fills me at the thought of what could’ve happened if I hadn’t reinforced all my vehicles with impact-resistant designs. The thought of losing her gnaws at my mind, sharp and unrelenting. She could’ve been gone. Just like that. The universe seems to enjoy tossing curveballs at me—like it lives to stir up trouble, to see how much more I can take before I snap.“Where’s she?” I ask immediately, stepping out of the car and tossing my keys to Zach.“At the highest floor, sir. Getting her treatment,” he says.I nod gravely, my footsteps carryi
[Arella]Twenty minutes earlier.Pushing open the car door, the acrid smell of smoke fills my nostrils. My legs tremble beneath me, shaky and unsteady, as I step out into the chaos. A dull ache pulses in my head like a relentless drumbeat. The driver exits too, a small gash on his forehead oozing blood. Relief floods me as I see he’s otherwise unharmed.“Madam, are you okay?” His voice is frantic, his eyes wide with panic.“Yes, yes, I’m fine. The car?” I mutter, brushing off his worry as I briskly approach our vehicle.Our car seems almost untouched, only minor scrapes visible. But the other car... it’s a crumpled wreck, metal twisted and mangled as if it were paper. The stark contrast makes my stomach churn.A cough breaks through the heavy silence, dragging my attention to the smashed vehicle. Then it hits me—there are people in there.“There are people inside!” I yell, panic lacing my voice as I race toward the wreckage. My driver hurries behind me, and together we struggle to pry
The whole feel of Sawyer estate changes as soon as my car pulls up to the curb. The air feels thicker here, a stale, heavy weight pressing down like it's been waiting for me. My long, heavy steps echo through the quiet, each one carrying me closer to what feels like an inevitable confrontation. I barely nod at the staff's greetings, too focused, too restless, as I make my way upstairs. My mind races, an angry storm brewing inside me.I turn quickly at the top of the stairs, pushing open the door with little care. The heavy wood groans in protest."S-sir," the Albert stutters, his voice high-pitched with anxiety. He’s startled, practically jumping out of his skin, when I push open the inner tea room. The sound of the tray he’s holding crashing to the floor."Where's she?" I growl at him and he looks back up at me, stunned."Don't act fucking dumb today, Albert. Open that door."My voice comes out cold, too calm for the anger that roils under the surface. I want to choke the life out o
[Arella]"What's wrong?" Lincoln pulls me closer, his strong arms encircling me like a fortress. My head finds solace against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounding me."She's getting better, Linc. She's actually getting better." My voice cracks with emotion, and my fingers clutch at his shirt as if holding onto this moment will make it last forever.I feel his smile, warm and reassuring, as his jaw rests gently on my forehead."Is that why you're crying?" he asks softly, his deep voice laced with curiosity and a hint of amusement.A small laugh escapes my lips, shaky and tear-streaked, as I lift my head. "It's the damn pregnancy hormones. I'm actually very happy. Too happy." I sniffle, swiping at my cheeks, embarrassed but too overcome to care."You're adorable," he says, his eyes glimmering with an emotion so intense it steals my breath.Heat floods my cheeks, and I look away, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze. Why does he always manage to look at me like I’m t
[Arella] "Ouch!" My yelp is instant as the burning sensation spreads through my finger, sharp and biting. The sting blooms, leaving a fiery trail across my skin. My thumb immediately finds my lips, and I nibble on it, desperate to soothe the hot pain. Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back, annoyed at my clumsiness. "Ella, what's wrong?" Lincoln’s voice calls out. He’s by my side in an instant, his large hands gripping my shoulders and cradling my face. His sharp, honey brown eyes dart over me, searching worriedly. "Are you okay? Are you fine?" His concern is so raw, so palpable, that it cracks my heart a little. The kitchen, with its warm lighting and faint aroma of bacon, feels suddenly stifling under his intense worry. I turn off the stove with and face him, cupping his cheeks. A chuckle escapes me, soft but genuine. "I'm fine, Linc. Just a little scalding here and there." "Are you sure?" he presses, his brows knitting tightly. He takes my ha
"Yes, you did all that!" Vivian yells, her voice cracking, then clenches my shirt tightly, her knuckles turning white. There’s a slightly crazed look in her eyes, a mix of desperation and something darker that makes my stomach twist. "Remember what you t-told me. Remember what you promised, Deric! You can only be with me, okay? Please… please don't go back to her. I can't live without you. I won't!" Her chest heaves, rising and falling so fast it looks like she might collapse any second."It's okay, Vivi. Come here."I pull her against me, her trembling body fitting awkwardly against mine. My mind flashes back to the crazed look in her eyes, and a shiver skates down my spine. That look… it clings to me, like an unwanted ghost in the back of my head."Nothing of that sort will happen," I say, forcing my voice to stay even. "I'm all yours, okay? Just yours."She sniffles, her tears soaking into my chest like raindrops on parched earth. For the first time, irritation sparks somewhere
[Deric]“What do you mean by he’s having flashbacks?”“Yes, ma’am, that can be the only reason behind his violent behavior.”“What can I do to...you know, stop them?”Their words blur together, echoing like a distant hum in my ears. The pounding in my head grows unbearable, each throb feeling like a hammer against my skull. My chest feels heavy, like someone is sitting on it, as I fight to pull myself back to consciousness.A sliver of light seeps through my eyelids. I force them open, but the brightness sends sharp pain shooting through my temples.“Ow, fuck.” My voice comes out hoarse, barely above a whisper.“Deric!”Vivian’s voice rings out, sharp and frantic, cutting through the haze. I hear the rustle of hurried footsteps before her hands grip my arms, warm and trembling. She pulls me up gently, her scent, vanilla and cherries, wafting into my nose.“What happened to me?” I manage to rasp, blinking at her blurry figure. Her face freezes, the usual softness in her features replac
[Lincoln]“C'mon, Ella, open your eyes,” I plead, shaking her slightly. My voice cracks, betraying the panic clawing at my chest. Her face is so pale, so unnervingly still, I almost feel like I’m holding a lifeless doll.“Drive faster!” My voice thunders, raw with urgency, urging the driver on. The air in the car feels suffocating, thick with tension and the metallic scent of blood. My hands tremble as I cradle her closer.She’s bleeding. She’s fucking bleeding! What had they done to her?My mind is a whirlwind, flashing back to the vision of her in Deric’s arms. My blood boils in my veins, rage simmering just below the surface. What had they planned? What the hell kind of sick game were they playing?Gritting my teeth, I whisper more to myself than to her, “C'mon, Ella, stay with me.”Her head lolls against my chest, her warmth slipping away by the second. A small part of me is screaming that I’m losing her, and that terrifies me more than I’ll ever admit.“You’ll be fine, Ella. You’
[Arella]My blurry gaze shifts to the man storming toward us, his sharp footsteps echoing in the tense atmosphere. His expression is thunderous, a storm of rage written on his face. Not just any man, but… Deric Smith? You've got to be kidding me.For a second, I’m too stunned to move. The scent of spilled soup mingles with the faint aroma of soy sauce from nearby tables. My wet hair clings to my face, soup trickling down my neck, adding to my humiliation.His eyes don’t meet mine; they’re laser-focused on Lincoln’s grandmother, burning with fury."Why the fuck would you do that to her?" he yells, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. Heads turn at the commotion. I feel the weight of their stares, making the heat on my cheeks even worse.Lincoln’s grandmother freezes, her lips parting in surprise before she recovers with a smirk. She turns her sharp gaze back to me, her smile venomous."Is this one of your lackeys?" she sneers.I want to retort, but my throat tightens. Before