They all gathered in the grand hall, where Jeremy stood before the priest, his back to the crowd. As solemn music filled the air, the towering gates swung open.Everyone rose to their feet as Ivy entered, a bouquet in hand, her bridesmaid carefully lifting the train of her dress. All eyes turned to her as she moved gracefully down the aisle, each step slow.At the front, Isla and Jaxon stood beside their mother, while Alex and Ray occupied the row behind them. Jaxon’s grip on Isla’s hand tightened the moment he caught Jeremy glancing in her direction.Their eyes locked. Jaxon held his gaze, sending an unmistakable warning. Jeremy hesitated, then looked away, refocusing on the priest.As Ivy reached the altar, the music faded, and the guests took their seats.Jeremy turned slightly, his gaze settling on Ivy, her face hidden beneath a delicate veil. With a faint smile, he stepped closer and carefully lifted the fabric.As her face was revealed, a wave of applause rippled through the con
By the time Jaxon and Isla returned home that evening, it was already late. Mrs. Bennett had persuaded them to stay for dinner at her house, and they had happily agreed.Ray pulled into the driveway, bringing the car to a stop in front of Jaxon’s sprawling mansion. As usual, Alex was the first to step out, moving swiftly to open the door for Jaxon and Isla.“Go inside, baby. I’ll be right behind you,” Jaxon murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. Isla gave him a small smile before heading toward the entrance.Ray hopped out of the car, leaning casually against it with his head peeking from the other side.“Great work today, guys,” Jaxon said with a grin. Both men nodded in acknowledgment.“And great makeup,” Ray quipped, his eyes twinkling mischievously. The group erupted into laughter.“It’s not that bad, right, Alex?” Jaxon turned to Alex, expecting backup.Alex let out a scoff. “You want the truth?”“Of course.”“It’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever done. Crossing the
He planted soft kisses down her chest, to her belly and when he got to her hips, he stopped for a minute. Widending her legs so he could access her wet opening well. “You… you didn’t do this that night.” Isla whispered, almost moaning as she felt his breath against her sensitive clit. “I know.” The tip of his tingue brushed her wetness, extracting another moan from her. “I used my finger that night. I want to use my tongue this night.” He said and he didn’t give roam for her to catch her breath before he buried his face in her spot. His tongue worked tirelessly to hit every wet corner. “Ahh… Jaxon” Isla moaned a little louder, grabbing his hair and pulling on it softly. He opened his mouth wide, eating her like it was his favorite candy. Her hips kept rising off the bed as a response to the intense pleasure she was feeling. All of a sudden, he moved his mouth from her core and moved up to kiss her. Their mouths met again and Isla could taste herself in his mouth. While their kis
"You should at least consider it," Alex said, settling into the chair across from Jaxon’s desk. Jaxon sat behind it, his glasses resting on his nose as he stared at his open PC."You’re the perfect fit for this. Even Carveli thinks so. What’s holding you back?" Alex pressed.Jaxon exhaled heavily. "It’s not that simple, Alex. Taking charge of the family means spending even more time away from home." His voice carried a weight of concern.Alex frowned. "Since when has that ever been an issue for you?"Jaxon leaned forward, his expression serious. "I’ve got someone in my life now. If I start disappearing every night, she’ll know something’s off."Alex let out a sigh. "But she doesn’t live with you yet, does she? It’s not like she’ll notice right away. Just tell her you’re working on a new business venture—it’s not even a lie, technically."Jaxon shrugged. "That’s the problem. I don’t want to lie to her. Not even by omission."Alex didn’t miss a beat. "It’s not lying," he argued. "You’re
Michael lounged in his living room, drowning in boredom despite the hum of the television. Restless, he grabbed his phone and scrolled through his chat with Alex for the fifth time.The urge to call him was almost unbearable, but he knew Alex would be at work, probably too busy to talk. And going out to have fun? That would only burn a deeper hole in his wallet.“I need another job. I can’t just sit around all day like this,” he muttered, shaking his head in frustration.But the thought of working another random gig made his skin crawl. He was done with odd jobs. He wanted stability—an actual corporate job that wouldn’t drain him the way his last one did.He had a degree in business administration, always dreaming of an office job, not shifts at bars or restaurants. Yet, despite his good grades, finding a decent-paying white-collar job had been nothing short of impossible.“Maybe I should just talk to Alex… see if he can help,” he thought, his thumb hovering over his phone screen as h
Ivy gently placed baby Ella, who was sound asleep in her cradle, beneath the soft, cozy sheets before quietly leaving the room.In the living room, Jeremy was dressed as if preparing to leave. As he adjusted his tie, Ivy appeared behind him."Why do you keep doing this?" she asked, shaking her head as she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, just a few steps away.He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head in frustration, and didn’t bother to glance at her. “I don’t have the energy to argue with you this morning, Ivy,” he muttered, clearly uninterested in any conversation.As he bent down to grab his car keys from the coffee table, he realized they were gone. His jaw clenched as he looked up at Ivy, who was now holding the keys up high, dangling them in the air.“You’re not leaving until we talk, Jeremy,” she said firmly, her hand closed tightly around the keys.“I don’t have anything to say to you. Give me the damn—”“Oh, you do!” she cut him off, her tone sharp and defensive
After work, Alex pulled up outside Michael’s apartment, cutting the engine before grabbing his phone to call him.As the line rang, he lifted his gaze to Michael’s window, watching as he waited for him to pick up.The moment the call connected, the lights in Michael’s room flicked on, and within seconds, he appeared at the window.“Hey,” Michael said softly, peering down at Alex’s car, his eyes locking onto him through the windshield.Alex smiled. “I’m here to pick you up for that tour.”Michael’s face lit up with a wide grin, and he nodded eagerly before disappearing from the window. “I’ll be down in five.”Alex could hear the excitement in his voice, which made him chuckle as he ended the call. He exhaled deeply, sinking into his seat.His mind drifted back to their earlier conversation, a flicker of uncertainty creeping in. He just hoped Michael wouldn’t bring it up again. He liked how things were. He didn’t want to complicate them any further.Lost in thought, Alex barely noticed
Michael's mouth fell open the moment Alex pulled up to his grand mansion. He’d only ever seen places like this in movies or glimpsed them in passing, but stepping inside one? As a guest? Riding in the owner’s car? That was something he never imagined happening.As they walked in, Michael instinctively reached for Alex’s hand, his fingers curling around his as he slowly traced gentle circles on the back of his hand with his thumb. His eyes roamed the space, absorbing every detail of the opulent home.The living room was a masterpiece in itself—every piece of art exuded presence, each portrait on the wall told a silent story, and the massive golden chandelier bathed the space in a warm, regal glow. Even the couch, seemingly floating above the floor, added to the surreal elegance of it all."Here we are," Alex said with a wide smile, raising his free hand in a grand gesture.Michael blinked in awe. "This is stunning. I knew it would be beautiful and well-arranged, but I didn’t expect it
Sophie slipped into her red lingerie, draping its short robe over her shoulders. She stood before the mirror, taking herself in. The last time she wore this set with Michael, she had expected him to be all over her—but he wasn’t."Hopefully, Ray finds me sexy in this tonight. Otherwise, I’m done wasting my time," she muttered, lifting her gaze to her hair.Tilting her head, she examined her usual hairstyle. A bun or ponytail—messy, sleek, low, or high—was her everyday look. Routine. Predictable.With a quiet sigh, she reached for her hairband, tugging it loose. Her hair tumbled down, cascading over her shoulders. It changed her—softened her. She liked it.‘Let’s switch things up.’She pulled open a drawer, grabbing her Zara Red Temptation cologne, and spritzed it generously over her skin. As she slid the bottle back, a sudden knock at the door froze her in place.Her heart kicked against her ribs.Sophie’s mind screamed, He’s here! He’s here! She anxiously dusted off an invisible spec
Isla rested her head on Jaxon's shoulder as Ray drove them home. She looked completely drained, barely able to sit up on her own."This 'cause I wasn’t around till afternoon?" Jaxon teased, gently caressing her face.Isla scoffed. "You wish. I’m just a little tired," she sighed, placing her hand on his thigh."Want me to whip up a homemade meal for you?" he offered.Her head shot up as she arched a brow in disbelief. "You? Cook?"Jaxon chuckled. "Yeah, of course. I’d do anything for you, you know that." His tone was mock-serious."I know you would, but I’m exhausted, and I’d rather not risk food poisoning," she quipped, settling back against his shoulder."Wow. I’m actually offended," Jaxon said, feigning hurt. "You really think I can’t cook?""You said it yourself, remember that day at La Pergola? And your kitchen is spotless—like, suspiciously spotless. I swear you've never used it, not even for coffee," she laughed. "But don’t worry, I’ll be the one to break that curse. Good thing
Isla sat at her desk, her eyes locked on the email from Jeremy. She kept rereading it, over and over. Part of her wanted to ignore it entirely, but another part craved whatever he had to say.She wanted to hear him admit his regret, to tell her he was suffering, to confess that she had always been the better choice.Even though none of it would change anything, hearing it would give her the closure she needed to finally move on.“Argh, this is so hard,” she muttered under her breath, closing her mail app. Just as she was about to set her phone aside and refocus on work, it suddenly rang.It was an unknown caller.She let out a quiet sigh before answering. “Hello?” Her voice was soft, expectant.There was silence at the other end of the phone.“Hello?” she tried again, brows knitting together.Then, finally, a voice.“Isla.”Her breath caught. She knew that voice instantly.“Je…Jeremy?” Her heart pounded against her ribs.“Please don’t hang up.” His voice was low, almost pleading. Isla
"I can't believe you're actually leaving me to move in with Jaxon," Sophie muttered, adjusting her black dress in the mirror."Don't make it sound like that." Isla chuckled, watching Sophie get ready for her date with Ray."How else am I supposed to say it?" Sophie turned to face her. "A few months ago, the idea of being in a relationship terrified you, and now you're moving in with him? Ugh, I’m so jealous!" She shook her head, making Isla blush."I… I didn’t know how to say no when he asked, okay? He just looked so happy, I couldn't do it." Isla shrugged. "Besides, I thought about you and Ray…" she added with a teasing grin.Sophie scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, don’t start.""Come on, we both know you’ve been into him since the day you spoke. Sooner or later, he’s gonna end up at your place—and I won’t be here to interrupt." Isla smirked.Sophie grabbed a comb from the drawer and ran it through her hair. "Nah, I think it’s gonna be the other way around now. No more guys hanging ar
Michael's mouth fell open the moment Alex pulled up to his grand mansion. He’d only ever seen places like this in movies or glimpsed them in passing, but stepping inside one? As a guest? Riding in the owner’s car? That was something he never imagined happening.As they walked in, Michael instinctively reached for Alex’s hand, his fingers curling around his as he slowly traced gentle circles on the back of his hand with his thumb. His eyes roamed the space, absorbing every detail of the opulent home.The living room was a masterpiece in itself—every piece of art exuded presence, each portrait on the wall told a silent story, and the massive golden chandelier bathed the space in a warm, regal glow. Even the couch, seemingly floating above the floor, added to the surreal elegance of it all."Here we are," Alex said with a wide smile, raising his free hand in a grand gesture.Michael blinked in awe. "This is stunning. I knew it would be beautiful and well-arranged, but I didn’t expect it
After work, Alex pulled up outside Michael’s apartment, cutting the engine before grabbing his phone to call him.As the line rang, he lifted his gaze to Michael’s window, watching as he waited for him to pick up.The moment the call connected, the lights in Michael’s room flicked on, and within seconds, he appeared at the window.“Hey,” Michael said softly, peering down at Alex’s car, his eyes locking onto him through the windshield.Alex smiled. “I’m here to pick you up for that tour.”Michael’s face lit up with a wide grin, and he nodded eagerly before disappearing from the window. “I’ll be down in five.”Alex could hear the excitement in his voice, which made him chuckle as he ended the call. He exhaled deeply, sinking into his seat.His mind drifted back to their earlier conversation, a flicker of uncertainty creeping in. He just hoped Michael wouldn’t bring it up again. He liked how things were. He didn’t want to complicate them any further.Lost in thought, Alex barely noticed
Ivy gently placed baby Ella, who was sound asleep in her cradle, beneath the soft, cozy sheets before quietly leaving the room.In the living room, Jeremy was dressed as if preparing to leave. As he adjusted his tie, Ivy appeared behind him."Why do you keep doing this?" she asked, shaking her head as she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, just a few steps away.He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head in frustration, and didn’t bother to glance at her. “I don’t have the energy to argue with you this morning, Ivy,” he muttered, clearly uninterested in any conversation.As he bent down to grab his car keys from the coffee table, he realized they were gone. His jaw clenched as he looked up at Ivy, who was now holding the keys up high, dangling them in the air.“You’re not leaving until we talk, Jeremy,” she said firmly, her hand closed tightly around the keys.“I don’t have anything to say to you. Give me the damn—”“Oh, you do!” she cut him off, her tone sharp and defensive
Michael lounged in his living room, drowning in boredom despite the hum of the television. Restless, he grabbed his phone and scrolled through his chat with Alex for the fifth time.The urge to call him was almost unbearable, but he knew Alex would be at work, probably too busy to talk. And going out to have fun? That would only burn a deeper hole in his wallet.“I need another job. I can’t just sit around all day like this,” he muttered, shaking his head in frustration.But the thought of working another random gig made his skin crawl. He was done with odd jobs. He wanted stability—an actual corporate job that wouldn’t drain him the way his last one did.He had a degree in business administration, always dreaming of an office job, not shifts at bars or restaurants. Yet, despite his good grades, finding a decent-paying white-collar job had been nothing short of impossible.“Maybe I should just talk to Alex… see if he can help,” he thought, his thumb hovering over his phone screen as h
"You should at least consider it," Alex said, settling into the chair across from Jaxon’s desk. Jaxon sat behind it, his glasses resting on his nose as he stared at his open PC."You’re the perfect fit for this. Even Carveli thinks so. What’s holding you back?" Alex pressed.Jaxon exhaled heavily. "It’s not that simple, Alex. Taking charge of the family means spending even more time away from home." His voice carried a weight of concern.Alex frowned. "Since when has that ever been an issue for you?"Jaxon leaned forward, his expression serious. "I’ve got someone in my life now. If I start disappearing every night, she’ll know something’s off."Alex let out a sigh. "But she doesn’t live with you yet, does she? It’s not like she’ll notice right away. Just tell her you’re working on a new business venture—it’s not even a lie, technically."Jaxon shrugged. "That’s the problem. I don’t want to lie to her. Not even by omission."Alex didn’t miss a beat. "It’s not lying," he argued. "You’re