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“Welcome home!” I greet with a broad smile when Brandon steps into his penthouse. Behind him is Oliver, accompanied by a gorgeous honey-blonde-haired woman, I assumed his fiancée, and Cassius, who looks as stylish as ever. However, I am much more delighted when Casey appears.“Case!” I scream.“Alayna!” Her eyes widen, dropping her suitcase and running towards me. She squeezes me against her. “Oh my God, it’s really you! I’ve missed you goddamn much.”I sob on her shoulder. “You’re here!”“Of course, I wouldn’t miss this vacation Brandon offered me as soon as he called two days ago!” She releases me but holds my face and stares at me. “You still look so anxious. Damn, are you still getting enough sleep?”“Of course I am!” I chuckle.“You better be. I’m so worried about you!” Casey shakes her head. “I heard about it, you know. How are you?”“I’m fine. Especially when you’re all here now.” I look at everyone’s faces. My gaze stops at Brandon, watching us with a blank expression. God, it
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Arianna has already set the table when we come to the kitchen. We prepared an entire course of French dinner tonight since I assumed everyone wanted something else. I’ve always cooked Italian at the restaurant, and I’d always love to try something new.Brandon quietly sits at the head of the table, and I settle on his right side, so I’ll be close to the prep area and if he wants me to get something else.I ask Arianna to sit with me because I don’t wish to be more awkward, and having her here and Casey makes me feel less anxious.We silently start putting food on our plates and then begin the feast. It also doesn’t help the tension with Arianna since she sits across from Cassius, so I opened up a subject.“Guys, um, how’s the dinner?” I ask.“Delicious as always.” Ollie smiles at me as he chews, then takes another bite. “And you’ve improved even more.”“We made seventeen percent more of our monthly proceeds in the restaurant, Ollie,” I inform proudly. “And more patrons for us.”“Wow.”
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“Hey, Mom. I won’t be home tonight, and Arianna, of course. She’s with me,” I say on the phone, with Brandon watching me while standing by his bedroom window.“Even without your sister, I know you’d be there,” she points, then puffs a sharp breath. “Darling, I know you like that man, but I’d like you to be extra careful.”I look up at Brandon’s dead serious expression. “I understand where you’re coming from, but I’m okay. More than okay. Can you trust me?”“I trust you, of course. I’m just being cautious,” she mumbles.“Mom, he’s not the guy you should be concerned about,” Jason speaks from the other line. “You should be more concerned about me.” He chuckles pleasantly. “But seriously, give them a chance. Laynie knows more of what she’s doing than the rest of us. Plus, Brandon Lucien is super-rich.”“Jason! You know I don’t care about any of those as long as she is happy!” Mom scolds.“I am happy,” I declare without hesitation. “That’s all that matters, right?”I see a little gleam in
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I feel Brandon’s presence, sitting on the sofa across from me. It’s just like every time we speak of something serious. “I’m listening.”“Drake… He was my, um, first love,” I begin.“I’m aware,” Brandon whispers roughly.“Well, he was very different from when I first met him. He was pure, very kind, and optimistic—a man full of dreams. He was in my class. I saw him every day, watched him eat, how he spoke in front of the class, and how he was so smart. So basically, everyone liked him.“Of course, including me. It was easy to fall for him. I was crazy about him, and since he was also close to Jason, I had enough time to be with him. He’d walk me every day after school, but he didn’t talk much about his life until I saw it with my own eyes. The turning point. His father was physically abusing him. That was when I knew I always wanted to be there with him. I confessed my feelings, and he felt the same about me.”Honestly, those are the moments I still cherish in my memory. It was the wa
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I rush out of Brandon’s room with tears blocking my eyes. My mind is clouded by the last words he said.Leave.I’m so focused on the door, marching towards it to escape, that I didn’t notice bumping into someone’s chest as I try to reach the handle.“Hey,” says a smooth, deep voice. I look up and find Ollie’s face gazing down at me.“Oh.” I immediately wipe my tears and scan the space around me. Casey, Arianna, and Cassius are looking my way, concerned.“What is it, Alayna?” Ollie asks softly.“It’s nothing. Can you let me through?” I reach for the door handle again, but Ollie doesn’t let me.“Please, just let me leave. I need to leave.”Ollie signals Cassius with a finger snap, then points to the door. His brother nods, though he’s looking at my face. He has never spoken to me yet or even greeted me. I’m not sure what his problem is, but he certainly looks like he has something to say.“I’m coming with you,” Ollie says, then Cassius throws him his jacket and wears it on.“What? No, i
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I walk by the beach for a short while to catch up with Chris. Oliver and Jason are following us from behind at a distance as we stroll by the shore.“I didn’t want to leave. We had no other choice,” Chris explains.“I heard. Your parents left you quite a fortune you didn’t know about until Arianna reached the legal age.”“It’s not that our dad’s lawyer hid it.” He shrugs. “He needed no complications. He waited for Arianna to turn eighteen. Of course, there’s no point in complaining. We thought it was for the best. You should have your future too.”I chuckle. “Well, I did. At least.”“You have your own restaurant now.”“Yes, but it doesn’t mean it won’t happen if you don’t leave. Chris, you could’ve tried to contact me, but you cut off all communications,” I defend. “I got over it. I know what happened. Are you not a part of the gang?”“Hell no.” His eyes slightly dilate. “I can never pull that off. I wasn’t in favor of Jason’s schemes at first, especially if Drake’s the one who influe
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Facing Brandon’s cold side reminds me of the first time I met him—the man I thought couldn’t be defied. Especially now.We’re sitting on what feels like miles apart in the backseat of his Mercedes without talking, but the tension between us is thick and palpable. I ache to reach out to him, run my fingers over his chest, embrace him, and ask him what I can do for him, but I’m afraid he will reject me.I watch the window quietly, wondering where we are going. A couple of minutes later, we stop by a towering building in the middle of the city. Brandon steps out of the car first and lets John open the door for me.“What are we going to do here, exactly?” I ask, but John doesn’t answer and lets me walk first. Brandon waits for me patiently and unexpectedly holds my hand possessively.“I want you to be on your best behavior today. Can I count on that?”I swallow dryly. “Yes. I think I can do that.”“Good.”When we walk to the building, several men in suits approach him immediately, and Bra
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“Lydia,” Brandon greets the elderly woman standing at the villa’s front door with three attendants behind her.“I thought this wasn’t planned,” I remark, frowning at Brandon.“Alayna, it’s great to see you again,” she greets me first, smiling so sweetly, then answers my question, “Master Brandon called us only a few hours ago.”I hug her immediately. “I’ve missed you, too, Lydia! It’s been a long time.”She strokes my back before releasing me. “Very well. Dinner will be served shortly, but we’ve already prepared your room. I think you should rest first,” she suggests politely. “And if you need something else, just ask the maids.”“That’s all for now, Lydia. Thank you.” Brandon then grabs my hand. “Come.”“I’ll see you later.” I smile at Lydia.Brandon isn’t talking and is still tugging me along with him to the stairs, toward the room we used before. A lot has changed in the house. The bed is new, the furniture and lighting are brighter than before, and all curtains are open; I can see
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BRANDON They said nothing lasts forever, but that phrase might not be entirely true. Yes, I’ve lived a wretched life in the past. I was driven by guilt, anger, and revenge for as long as I could remember. I couldn’t do anything because I thought I was weak. I thought it was how I was going to die. Hopeless and a failure. Until she came into my life and changed everything. Alayna turned my world upside down and showed me a different side of reality I hadn’t yet seen. She made me realize it wasn’t too late to hope or win—the exact opposite of what I had lived for all along. For when I was hopeless, she showed me hope. I felt despair; she granted me peace. I thought I had more guilt than anyone else in the world, but she gave me her love. With her, my journey truly begins. Our marriage. My forever. We should enjoy every second of it now in a summer townhouse resort in Varkiza, one of the estates we owned in Athens. I am now tangling my wife’s hair as she devours my shaft by the
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I walk them to the end of the venue, greeting the guests as we pass. Then I meet up with Cary and Stan by the garden’s exit. The twins step aside to introduce me to a man of nearly sixty—who did his best to appear formal with the suit I sent him. I immediately recognize the features of his face.The man opens his arms. “Brandon, my favorite boy…”I approach him immediately and briefly drape my arm around his shoulder. “Uncle Basil, you came.”“Of course. I won’t miss your special day.”“Um, hello?” Casey steps forward and joins in.“Ah, it must be you now. You’re Elysia,” Uncle Basil says. I step back, giving them space.Casey blushes. “I go with a different name now, um… but…”“No, you are Elysia. Elga’s younger sister. I held you as a baby.” He smiles in awe. “You look so much like your brother and your father—Oh!”Casey instantly embraces him. “Brandon said you look like him too.”Our uncle nods, stroking her back. “I’m sorry for what happened to you, child.”She snivels. “I alread
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BRANDON“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride…”My wife selected a garden house by the beach in East Hampton for our wedding. Her dream wedding. She looked exceptionally royal in her white long trail wedding dress today. Omar did a remarkable job, as usual. I honestly can’t wait for this celebration to end, so I can finally have my wife for myself.Alayna wanted an intimate celebration with our families, but some press always finds a way to invite themselves. At least a hundred people are present today to witness our most awaited union compared to the five hundred who attended our engagement party.My beautiful wife is now in my arms, having our first dance as a married couple.“Hello, husband. You look very handsome.” She traces the line of my suit with her fingertips, and the diamond wrap around her finger flickers.“You look like I’m ready to eat you.”She giggles, and I always love the sound of it. “Behave,” she says, but her smile says otherwise.I raise a
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ALAYNAOne week later“Senator Donovan Mallory is arrested for child trafficking, distributing child pornography, and the murder of Dr. Richard Hart, the former chair of Lifeline Foundation. The trial for his case will begin in two weeks…”The report switches the frame over to a desperate old man being hauled by the cops.“Let me go! This is not over yet! The mayor of Seattle is mentally sick! Do you hear me? I cannot accept this! He is lying!” he yells over the reporters surrounding him in front of the courthouse.“This is Luis Crawford from AAC News, reporting.”Cassius shuts off the news. We are now gathered in the living room, silently waiting for someone to speak.Last week, Cassius and Carmelo visited the senator to let him know Drake abducted me, but he only chased them away and denied his son. He told them he had no business in Drake’s escapades. However, during Drake’s interview, he disclosed everything he knew about his father and apologized to me in public.“Drake didn’t me
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Brandon returns with a bare torso, flaunting his delicious abs and toned muscles. He’s changed into gray sweatpants. I watch him turn off some lights, raise the thermostat, and turn the stereo on.“Get onto the bed and lie down,” he says while heading toward me.We now have pleasant room temperature, dim, romantic lights, and a mellow piece of music.Okay. I’m not getting dressed then.I slide my buttocks along the bed’s cushion and move over the middle. I swallow dryly.Brandon crawls on the bed. Gradually, he positions himself on top of me and snatches off my robe.“Let me just remind you…” he whispers. “You asked for this. You’re too persistent that I have to do something about it.” He pushes himself up then yanks down his pants and boxers without breaking eye contact. His erect shaft swells up.No matter how many times I see him in this state, I just can’t get enough. Everything about him is just too beautiful. At times, I find him hard to handle.He lowers himself again. “Spread
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ALAYNAMy body aches everywhere, but I stiffen. It hurts too much to move.I’m still alive.Right, yes. I remembered being saved, and I saw Oliver’s face. He told me Brandon came.Around me, I smell antiseptic and undertones of the artificial fragrance. Judging by the scent of my surroundings, I’m aware of where I am. Bit by bit, I blink my eyes and try to open them.My beautiful man’s face is the first thing I see.“Hi…”He kisses my knuckles and brings my palm to his face. “Hey.”I force a smile. “I love you.”His eyes redden and start to swell. “I love you too.”“Oh, don’t cry. I can still feel my limbs—no broken bones. No sign of permanent damage,” I manage a joke, chuckling.“Don’t,” he says gruffly. “You scared me back there.”I grunt, adjusting my back. “But you saved me. Like always. What is it about restrooms? Dangerous place.”“Very.” He frowns hard, remembering the past. “Back then, it was different. Next time, you don’t leave alone, okay?”I nod. “Next time.” I brush away
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BRANDONReporters disperse in front of the hospital when I arrive after a call from Oliver, but I’m more anxious about Alayna’s state. What did this son of a bitch do to her? I still have no idea what happened because Ollie and Stan don’t have time to explain everything.I break through the crowd that won’t let us pass. Some reporters ask about me, that fucker Drake, and his crime, but most are random; I can’t understand them. My mind is somewhere else to even try to fucking understand, so I couldn’t care less. I need to see my fiancée right away.“Just keep going. I’m right behind you,” Jason instructs, then he and some security block the reporters and let me through.“We are not answering questions for now, please. Give my family some privacy!” he yells, and his voice trails off as I go further.Oliver is impatiently treading back and forth in front of the emergency room while on the phone. Stan, on the other hand, is sitting quietly on the bench as if in deep thought.“Oliver. Stan
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ALAYNAI have fallen asleep on the couch. It’s already morning. I’m not in my bed, nor Brandon’s penthouse, but in an unfamiliar room somewhere in Wichita. It turns out I’m not dreaming. The devil who’s asleep on the bed right now really kidnapped me.He’s sleeping! Maybe I can get away…I cover my mouth from squealing at the possible opportunity to get away from Drake.I take light steps toward the bed to make sure he’s unconscious. Drake’s forehead is wrinkled, and exhaustion is marked on the lines of his face. He must be unsettled with all this bullshit he got himself into, but he’s clearly tired because no matter how difficult the nightmares are, he doesn’t wake. I know because I’ve seen him in this state in the past. Whenever he was anxious, he’d just sleep it out.I instantly think of making a call, so I need a phone. Brandon has to know where I am. So bravely, I sneak back to the living room and open Drake’s stuff. I dig inside his suitcase to look for his phone and money. I ne
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I knock on the door of an old townhouse, then a dark-blonde-haired woman appears at the door. She smiles when she sees us, but the bliss on her face quickly fades and turns into confusion.“Jason?” she says.Jason frowns. “Mariel?”“You know her?” I ask him.“Yes, she’s in the gang with me. I mean, was. Mariel Miller. What are you doing here?”The woman’s face turns red. “I don’t know why you’re here, but you need to leave.” She glances at me but then attempts to shut the door. However, Jason is swift. He shoves himself to the door and steps inside.“Mariel. I am asking you a question. Why are you here?” Jason questions as he steps further. I follow him.“She’s his sister. The twins found out in the family records,” I say. I see quite a resemblance.Jason nods, then shifts his attention back to the woman. “Where is Drake, Mariel?”She steps back. “He’s not here.”“But you’re expecting him.”She doesn’t answer.“You vanished, and now you’re here? You’re Drake’s sister?”She nods.Jason
