TEN**It was Sunday, and Faith didn't have to worry about preparing for work. She pushed off her bedcovers and walked to the bathroom to do her business. She walked out of the bathroom only to hear her name being yelled aloud. "Faith! How could you not tell me?!" Natalie shouted, breaking into the bedroom. Faith shot her friend a confused stare, she was concerned about Natalie's flustered look."Tell you what?" "Don't even try to deny it, it's all over the news, I'm confused, since when did you and Dan break up and you caught the bigger fish!" Natalie exclaimed and Faith was even more confused. "What news?" Faith asked only for Natalie to shove her phone in front of Faith. It took several seconds to read through the headline. The blood drained out of her face when she saw the photos behind it. She recognized them instantly. One photo had her sitting on Sterling Hunter's thigh, from the spot it was taken, it seemed as though they were locked in an intimate kiss. The other ph
E.L.E.V.E.N**"How's it going? I'm surprised you're this patient with them, it's unlike you, but then again, love can make someone act so different." Rex poured Sterling a glass of whiskey. Love? Did he love his secretary? Did waking up every morning aroused to the wet dreams of her, wanting to explore every inch of her gorgeous body with the tip of his tongue, inhale her womanly scent and wanting to wake up to it every day of his life count as love? Perhaps or maybe not. "Fuck off!" Sterling scowled at his cousin, emptying the glass in several gulps. Rex snorted, pretending to be hurt. "That's not nice to say to someone who's been there for you every single step, why is appreciation so fucking hard to get these days?""Since when did you become so meddlesome? Get a drink, fuck a whore but just leave me alone, don't remind me to get back at you for what you did last time!" Sterling snapped and Rex rolled his eyes. "Thank me you mean? I saw what you did with those pictures, yo
T.W E.L.V.E**Faith went to work the next day and also the day after that.No one but Natalie knew about her break up with Dan, it wasn't even as though she had other friends anyway. It was important for her that Sterling Hunter knew nothing about it, she only told him about her relationship less than a week ago and now she was back to single? Would he think that she was an irresponsible person? Why should his personal opinion even matter to her? But it did. The last three days had been quite lonely for Faith, it didn't help that Natalie seemed to be distant from her all of a sudden. Faith couldn't help but miss her family. Her brother's college exams were around the corner, she didn't want to distract him in any way. Faith also talked to her mother, the poor woman was always worried about the costs of her medications, feeding, and housing solely being on Faith. Faith had to assure her that the bonus she received from the company was more than enough to cover all the fees,
T.H.I.R.T.E.E.N**Her words stirred an unquenchable desire in Sterling's veins, he was heavily aroused. Her soft breasts were cushioned against his chest, and her grip on him tightened like she didn't want to ever let him go. It had to be the drink she had taken."___Please? You said you want me, right?" She whispered again and Sterling wouldn't have been able to deny her anything then, her lush lips were parted for him, her eyes were closed. He leaned his head downward, the first brush of his lips against hers sent a jolt of lust and everything carnal through his blood. His kiss was possessive and raw, it wasn't the sweet and tender Faith was used to. His thick tongue danced with hers, exploring every part of her mouth, the blended champagne mixed between their tongues. A breathless moan escaped her mouth, her fingers curling around his arm and shoulder when he deepened the kiss, the stubbles of beard on his jaw scratching her skin raw in an electrifying way. Her whole body
F.O.U.R.T.E.EN**"Faith was in the middle of a blissful dream. "Focus on how this feels" The masculine voice whispered and Faith shuddered towards the pleasurable sensation that blasted her, every nerve in her body came alive.Each stroke of it was like water desperately needed to sate thirst. She needed this.She was desperately clinging onto it to survive. The tension gathered in her stomach, spreading lower___and lower.Then, the earth ripped open, a moan squeezing from her throat as pleasure seized her, all at once, it was everywhere. Her body clenched in ecstasy, and her breath became harsh and uneven. It was only when the pleasure slowly faded away did she experience the sudden discomforting feeling of being stretched, it was starting to sting. The dream started to float away when Faith's eyes slowly fluttered open, then her eyes widened in pure horror. That sensation hadn't been a dream at all! She was completely naked! So was he! Embarrassment flushed through he
F.I.F.T.E.E.N**A day turned into two. Faith shut her eyes closed for a moment before clicking on the button to submit her resignation letter. There, it was done! Never would she have thought this was how she would leave the company. Dan would have finally been happy since it had always been what he wanted, Faith thought with a shake of her head. Why did life feel so complicated? Was it weird that she had not been sad about her boyfriend's break up but there was a twinge in her chest as she realized that she had no reason to ever see her boss again? Why each time she closed her eyes, the memories of she and him__waking up in his bed__ the way he had completely filled her, his lips leaving sloppy kisses along the side of her neck___"Snap out of it you fool!!" Faith gritted to herself in annoyance.She had left his presence but he refused to leave her mind. He had successfully managed to take up the spaces inside her head. Starting to look for a new job would be a good idea,
S.I.X.T.E.E.N**"Unfortunately, the house was built on government property which hadn't been addressed until now."Faith stared at the lawyers in confusion, she was only trying to sell her house, and this is what she got? "What are you trying to say? The house belongs to my family! I have all the papers to prove it!" Faith was still trying to grasp the meaning of the situation. "We are sorry to tell you that your father built this house illegally on government land which is a crime, as a matter of fact, your family doesn't own the house which is why you are not allowed to sell it, try to be understanding.""What am I supposed to understand? I'm not about to lose my house!"Faith could only stare at them in shock as the news continued to crush her hopes. How could it be?It couldn't be true!Why wasn't the situation addressed years ago? Why wait until now when she desperately needed the money? Selling the house was her only hope to gather the money, they had to be joking. Why w
SEVENTEEN**"You went too far this time! Are you not worried she would grow to despise you if she finds out? Or are you going to manipulate her emotions too?" Rex shook his head at his cousin. "You shouldn't have involved her brother in your selfish games! You weren't there to witness the scene, she will definitely not forgive you for this!" Rex spoke again, successfully managing to get a reaction from Sterling who narrowed his gaze at him."She'll only get to find out of you don't fucking keep your mouth shut!" He growled.If he knew Rex won't let him hear a word about it, had would never have asked him for the favor! Sterling thought, glancing at his wristwatch. She still wasn't here. What the hell was keeping her! He was growing impatient and restless. Did she prefer her family to suffer than to come to him for help? Sterling didn't believe that. He knew her more than enough, she would readily put others' happiness before hers. Sterling knew he was a bastard for using her
EPILOGUE**"Ma_ma! Flour!" Maya squealed the moment Faith stepped into the kitchen. Faith was shocked to see that the bowl of flour that was meant for baking was covering her daughter's hair down to her toes. "I leave you alone for just two seconds and what did you do!" She couldn't help but laugh at the sight."I'm a cake now!" Maya giggled. "No, you are not. You need a bath right now__" Faith started and Maya crossed her arms, pouting. "No, I'm cake! Cake don't bathe!" She started to run around the kitchen, spreading flour and making a further mess of the kitchen. "Maya Hunter! What did I tell you about running around? Stop it!""No, Ma_ma chase me." The toddler giggled and ran out of the kitchen, Faith sighed to herself. Maya was already a handful, stubborn as her father, and seemed to only listen to him as well. Was it only yesterday that her baby was still crawling around the house, Faith was still amazed at how rapidly she had grown, it happened right before her eyes "
CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE**“Do you still hate me?” He murmured into her ears, smoothing back her sweaty hair from her face.She met his smug look and muttered.“Yes”Her body was still weak with the after effects of her orgasm.Sterling's laughter was absolutely wicked. “No, you don’t.” She wanted so badly to hate him, he was not good for her and they both knew it, but still, he was unwilling to let her go.He would never change. He was deadly. It didn't matter how much he loved her, he wouldn't hesitate to use any means to ensure that she remained trapped in his world. She was the bunny, and he was the wicked wolf. Could she ever allow herself to completely love a man like that? Not that any of these mattered anymore. She was certain that after what happened tonight, she wouldn't be going anywhere for a very long time, and if he decided to lock her here in his mansion forever___Faith shuddered at the thought. She wouldn't contact the reporter anymore, perhaps it was time she final
CHAPTER SEVENTY**Sterling and Faith, both were still drenched to the skin, they had just returned from the hospital. It turned out that Maya was fine, she had just been asleep and Faith had been too panicked to even realize that. While Faith was relieved, her body still trembled at the thought of what could have easily happened. She glanced at her husband, trying to get a read on his mood.Husband?Where the hell had that thought come from? She wanted to speak, but her mouth was glued shut, she still remembered the horror and panic in his eyes when he first arrived at the accident scene, when he thought she and Maya had been hurt. Now, his guard was up his cold-blooded mask in place. She couldn’t get a read on how furious he was, which made her fearful. "Sterling I__"Sterling walked forward, his eyes staring into Faith's with a strange intensity that had her heart pounding in both fear and excitement.Excitement? Perhaps it was that brief flash of moment when she thought she
CHAPTER SIXTY NINE**Faith's lips still tingled from his forceful kiss, her mind was trapped in a turmoil of emotions. The wedding band now encircling her fingers made her certain that this wasn't some nightmare. They were back in his mansion which had never felt so much like a prison to Faith as it did now.Her devastated eyes followed him like a hawk as he prepared Maya for bed, they hadn't uttered a word to each other since he forced her to return with him.His wife_The dreadful word continued to ring in her head like an alarm, she was yet to recover from the shock and still didn't want to believe that he'd won so easily. She was a loser yet again, but if he thought she was going to be 'An obedient little girl__Their gazes clashed briefly, then he completely ignored her as he walked out of the nursery. In his eyes, She was probably no more than a child throwing a tantrum, She fumed at the thought and watched as he disappeared into his room and presumed he went to take a show
CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT**Her eyes were haunting, she trembled, still shaken in disbelief.The court had sent her own copy of the divorce papers after it had been finalized. If those copies weren't from the court then__Sterling had managed to play his crooked game somehow. They were still legally married! She was still his wife__The thought left her cold, the sharp stab of anger and betrayal made her eyes burn with the salty liquid. This was too much, she should be used to his cruelty when he wanted something, but he always left her dumbstruck each time. Faith suddenly recalled the number of times he'd referred to her as his wife, even Rex had called her that.She had been naive to think it was merely a slip of the tongue. She should have known that there was no mistake with Sterling. Why was it that each time she tried to fight him, he was always a thousand steps ahead of the ways he could hurt her? Faith suddenly thought how Sterling knew about her plan, and also the reaso
CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN**Sterling entered the dimly lit building. His eyes glimmered with purpose as he stood tall above the man who was cowering in fear. A deep bruise covered the man's forehead, he tried to stand but his broken bones made him scream in agony. Sterling tapped his chin with his index finger."Now, what am I going to do with you?" He murmured and watched the man's eyes dazzle with fear. "P_please, let me go, I p_promise to stay away from your family, I'll leave, I s_swear!" "I already gave you that chance, didn't I? But what did you do?" Unrestrained anger made Sterling's voice harsher. For the sake of his wife, he'd informed Rex to provide this man enough money to get out of the city and start a new life, but the mother fucker was greedy, he made the mistake to think that Sterling was a pushover and was demanding more money."The biggest mistake in your entire life was that you ever knew my wife, You could've lived the rest of your life peacefully, anyone who come
CHAPTER SIXTY SIX**Faith found it difficult to enter the large building. She hadn't been here in so long, but today, she had to do this. Maya was securely bound to her by the baby carrier. Faith couldn't help but stare around the company she had once worked for, it brought sensations of nostalgia.She greeted some of the familiar employees who seemed shocked to see her. As she headed into Sterling's office, she greeted Rex who greeted her with a broad smile, Stacy by his side. "Long time no see, oh look what we have here." He averted his gaze to Maya who was gawking at the new stranger. "She's beautiful and looks so much like my cousin __and you of course, can I touch her?"Faith didn't realize how hostile her expression was, she still hadn't forgiven him for reporting her pregnancy to Sterling, She might be living peacefully with Maya somewhere, but instead, she was stuck with a crazy man.To her greatest satisfaction, when he lifted his hand to touch Maya, she burst into a fi
CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE**"Where the hell did you go!" Sterling's eyes were a mix of anger and relief the moment she stepped through the door.Faith's eyes wandered across the house, it seemed Stacy had left. She had only been gone for about ten minutes but the whole residence and beyond was crammed with security, all were searching for her. It would be a miracle if Dan managed to escape. Sterling moved quickly, closing the distance between them, his hawk-like eyes scouring her body, looking for signs of her being hurt. "Nowhere!" Faith answered too quickly, his rigid scowl told her he knew she was hiding things from him and that he wasn't liking it one bit. She met his deep frown stubbornly, she didn't want his concern.He had gone too far framing Dan for a crime he never committed, but why did Dan feel that he was entitled to her help?She didn't owe both men anything. Sterling only wanted to control her in the name of love and Dan was just being unreasonable. Any sympathy Faith h
CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR**Faith tried not to wander too far, but she couldn't fight the negative thoughts swimming through her mind about Sterling and Stacy. She should be joyous that he found another woman, he would let go of his obsession with her, wasn't that what she always wanted? Faith sighed quietly wondering if fate was also laughing at her predicament, she was in love with a person who was infatuated with her, but she couldn't be with him because she knew how scheming and dangerous he was, she planned to take over his wealth so she could defend herself and Maya against him but she also didn't want him to be involved with another woman, to forget about her and their daughter which was exactly what she desired in the first place? A loud frustrated groan escaped her mouth, why couldn't life be kinder to her? Buried in her thoughts, Faith didn't hear the movements behind her until it was almost too late.She turned around, but as fast as lightning a hand pressed against her mouth,