The room fell into a suffocating silence after Thalassa pressed play on her phone and the voice recording started.*THALASSA: Do you remember when I was arrested? You and your accomplice framed me and had me jailed. I spent three days in the same cold, bare cell. Not a single person came to visit me. KAREN: I had nothing to do with your arrest! That was all Linda’s doing. THALASSA: Just like what you did to me on my wedding night was also Linda’s plan?KAREN: Yes. You’ve got to believe me, Lassa. I didn’t want to do it because I never wanted to hurt you, but she made me. I don’t know how she convinced me. Thalassa, I could have let that man rape you. That’s what Linda wanted, but I didn’t. I strictly warned him not to because, despite everything, you were still my friend, and I didn’t want to harm you.The room grew Impossibly colder as the recording played on. Henry’s eyes darted between the two women his expression as tense as Karen’s.Thalassa stood tall and resolute, her voice
Henry looked at Karen, his mind racing. Karen stared back, her eyes pleading, her face twisted in fear and desperation.Thalassa waited patiently, her expression calm, confident, and completely in control.Henry’s teeth ground together, and through gritted teeth, he spat, “You bitch.”Thalassa rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You already called me that, Henry. Try something new next time.” She crossed her arms, her gaze never leaving his battered face. “Now hurry up and make a decision.”Karen stood frozen beside the bed as she stared at Henry. Why was he taking so long to decide? “Henry?”He looked at her, his jaw clenched. “What? What do you want me to do, Karen? Just let Kris go scot-free after he did this to me?” He pointed at his bruised face. His voice rose, filled with anger and frustration. “I can barely breathe. He destroyed my face. You want me to just let that slide?”Karen’s hands trembled as she clenched them into fists at her sides. “But they’ll put me
Henry curled his hands into tight fists, feeling trapped with Thalassa gaze on him.“Y-yeah,” he stammered, his eyes darting between Officer Swartz and Thalassa. “She... she can stay.”Karen opened her mouth to protest, but a sharp, pointed look from Thalassa made the words die on Karen's tongue. Begrudgingly, she turned and walked out of the room. Thalassa smiled with satisfaction. “You can go on taking his statement officer.”The officer cleared his throat and looked at Henry. "Mr. Fitz, could you describe what happened in your office?"Henry felt a surge of irritation rising in him, his fists clenching even tighter. Thalassa stood just behind the officer, her eyebrow arched, her gaze piercing into him. He gritted his teeth, but remembering all the information she had that could ruin him, he knew he had no choice."I don't plan to press charges," he muttered.The officer blinked in surprise. "Really? I was told you were nearly killed.""That's an exaggeration.” Henry said. “Kris an
“Where are you taking me? Your house?” Kris questioned as he sat in the front passenger seat of Thalassa’s car while she sat behind the wheel.“Nope.” She shook her head. “I have never seen your penthouse so your penthouse it is.”Kris smiled. Even though it was something small, it reminded him of the day she kicked him out of her house. Only Luisa had accompanied him to his penthouse because Thalassa had wanted nothing more to do with him. The fact that things were so different now pleased him so much.After Thalassa had parked in one of the two underground parking spots reserved for Kris, they made their way into the elevator.Thalassa had every plan of pinning Kris against the elevator wall, but her plans were derailed when they found an older woman already in it. And to make it more annoying, the woman’s floor was only two floors beneath Kris’s penthouse.She couldn’t wait for them to be all alone again.She managed to hold herself back long enough, but as soon as Kris unlocked hi
“Oh fuck, Lassa.” Kris gasped from the sheer pleasure of her heated tongue.Encouraged, Thalassa wrapped her mouth around him and let him slide into her mouth. As she expected, she could only get half of his dick in without gagging, so she decided to work within her limits, pulling back and letting him back in, letting her tongue caress the underside of his dick.It had been years since the last time she did this, so she wasn’t sure she was doing it right, but Kris’s moans with every move she made gave her her answer. Kris’s hips bucked slowly and hesitantly. Thalassa looked up to meet his dazed eyes, giving him an encouraging smile.Kris tangled his fingers in her hair as he began to thrust lightly, hitting her throat every time he went in. Thalassa could sense that he was making a conscious effort not to go too hard, and she appreciated that.“Fuck, I can’t take this anymore.” Kris groaned after some seconds.Within a heartbeat, his dick was out of her mouth, and she was pulled ont
After the storm of pleasure had calmed, Kris set Thalassa back on her feet. Their lips didn't pull apart, but this time the kiss was slow and passionate, making the aftermath even better. When they broke apart, Thalassa finally let her gaze wander over the penthouse, now that the haze of passion had cleared. The space was expansive, with a floor-to-ceiling window on one side that looked out over the city, welcoming the stream of sunlight. The furniture was modern but lacked any real personality, with black leather couches and a sleek, chrome coffee table. That was all. “Nice place,” she commented slowly. Kris chuckled and hugged her from behind, nuzzling her neck. “I think what you mean is that I still haven’t learned a thing about decor. Even after all these years.” A chuckle bubbled out of her as she leaned back against his chest. “That too,” she teased, glancing up at him with a playful smile. But before she could get comfortable, Kris sighed and let his head rest against
Thalassa's words were like a comfort blanket that Kris had needed to be wrapped around for a long time.His eyes glistened as he whispered, "Thank you." His voice cracked with emotion. "You have no idea how much those words mean to me."A single tear fell from his eyes, and Thalassa’s reached up, brushing it away. “So, when am I finally going to get an official introduction to Tessa?”Kris blinked, caught off guard. “You… you actually want to meet her?”Thalassa laughed, a warm, genuine sound that filled the room. “Kris, what did you expect? Of course I want to meet your sweet angel.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement and sincerity.Kris’s heart melted. He cupped her face and kissed her, pouring all his gratitude and relief into it.༺❀༻༺❀༻༺❀༻At the Miller mansion, little Tessa was curled up in her room, sitting on the plush rug with her nanny. She was supposed to be playing a block game on her tablet, but the colorful blocks on the screen moved aimlessly.Boatemaa noticed Tessa's dow
Susan swallowed hard, her eyes wide as she stammered, “You’re already out of jail?”Kris’s gaze was sharp, sweeping over the suitcases stacked in the living room. “What the hell is going on here?” His voice was low, deadly.Susan recovered quickly, folding her arms defensively. “We’re doing what should’ve been done a long time ago,” she replied coldly. “We’re kicking Karen and her daughter out of the house.”Kris’s jaw clenched. “What made you think you had the right to do that?”Susan looked at him in disbelief, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice rising. “We all know the truth now. Tessa isn’t our blood. She’s not part of this family, Kris. She doesn’t belong here.”Before Kris could answer, he felt a small body crash into him. Tessa had run straight to him, clinging to his leg, whimpering, “Daddy…” Kris dropped to one knee and wrapped her in a fierce hug. He pressed his lips to the top of her head, whispering, “It’s okay, baby. Daddy’s here.” He lifted his he
"I don't want anything more than a fling with Gendry either!"Maya seemed taken aback by Tessa's tone, but she didn't let that deter her. "Even after the truth that came out yesterday about what really happened at prom?"Tessa's face scrunched. "What does that have to do with anything, Maya?""I mean, if your brother hadn't played those tricks, you and Gendry would've dated, and who knows what could've come out of it?""Oh, please, Maya." Tessa nearly rolled her eyes in exasperation.As far as she knew, none of their classmates who had been couples—even the most popular ones—had gotten into anything serious after high school.Maya and Jace were no exception because they'd barely known each other back in school. They'd only met and fallen in love years after they'd graduated.Had Tessa and Gendry dated, it probably would've ended just like the rest of the couples in the school"What if Gendry wants more?" Maya asked, cutting into Tessa's thoughts.Tessa's heart raced inside her chest,
“When were you going to tell me about you and Gendry?”Tessa stiffened at Maya's unexpected question. She wracked her brain, trying to remember if it had been mentioned during their heated confrontation with Alex, but no such memory surfaced. So how did Maya find out?Her only conclusion was that Gendry had probably told Jace about it, even though they'd agreed not to say anything to their friends yet.“No, Gendry didn't tell Jace anything,” Maya said as if she could read Tessa's mind. When Tessa looked at her with a blank expression, she burst out laughing. “Girl, I'm not sure what you and Gendry were trying to do, but if you were trying to keep your affair a secret, you didn’t do a very good job.”Tessa shrugged, averting her gaze. “I don't know what you're talking about.”Maya gave her an amused look as if silently saying, Are we really going to play this game?“Okay, let's see,” Maya began. “I noticed immediately when something changed between you two. For the past three days, you
By the time they got to the villa, Tessa knew sleep wasn’t going to be kind to her, and she was right.In the middle of the night, she lay in bed, staring into the darkness, tracing the faint outlines of the ceiling designs while her mind raced with thoughts.Needless to say, after the confrontation outside, no one had been in the mood to return to the dinner venue and continue talking. So, they’d all agreed to head back.On the way to the rehearsal, Tessa had ridden with Maya and Jace’s parents while Jace, Gendry, and Jace’s cousin had taken another car. They returned to the villa the same way. Tessa and Gendry hadn’t exchanged a single glance. If he had been looking at her, she hadn’t noticed because she’d been too busy avoiding his gaze.They didn’t speak a word, either. It was the strangest feeling. On one hand, Tessa felt like they had so much to say to each other. But on the other hand, what was the point?It wasn’t like they could change the past. And even if they could… then
“What do you have to say for yourself, young man?” Kris demanded when Gendry remained silent for several seconds. “Did you say those things about my daughter?”Regret flashed across Gendry’s face as he nodded. “Yes.”Kris’s jaw clenched. “So you really did mean to make a fool of my daughter after all.”“No!” Gendry’s response was immediate, his voice sharp. “That was never my intention.”“Then why did my daughter hear you saying those things about her?”Gendry hesitated. “Because I..." He swallowed hard, as if he found it hard to admit his next words. “Because I felt humiliated. I was hurt that Tessa thought so little of me after I’d gone out of my way to show her how much I liked her.”Blowing out a heavy breath, he ran a hand over his face, then dragged it through his hair. “Yes, I know what I did was wrong, but back then, I thought that if we arrived separately, people would ask questions. I thought she would tell them she sent me away for being a lowlife, and I’d become the laughi
Tension crackled in the air like an overcharged high-voltage wire waiting to snap as Tessa waited for her brother to say something.Her brother, who was most certainly not capable of doing what Gendry had accused him of.When seconds passed and he still hadn’t spoken, her heart began to sink. She shifted her stance, positioning herself so she could look him straight in the eyes.“What is he saying, Alex?” she repeated, her voice laced with urgency. “Tell me he’s wrong. He’s wrong, isn’t he? You didn’t say any of those things to him. He’s lying, right?”The longer Alex kept his silence, the more her heart plummeted, and the faster her patience wore thin. Finally, the wire snapped.“Alex!” she bit out, smacking him hard on the chest. “Answer me, damn it!”Her voice rang out louder than she intended, the sharp sound echoing back at her like a taunt. She searched her brother’s face, but his expression remained frustratingly impassive.Just seconds later, the dining hall doors swung open,
Stiffening , Gendry let out a sigh. The last thing he wanted to do was to deal with this control freak.He turned his head to glance at Alex for a second before looking away again, keeping his gaze fixed on the sky. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.Alex stepped closer, standing beside him, his posture rigid. “Whatever game you’re playing this time, it won’t work,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Stay away from my sister.”A mirthless chuckle escaped Gendry. He turned his head slightly, just enough to glance at Alex. “Isn’t Tessa old enough to decide the people she wants around her?”“Yes, she’s old enough,” Alex admitted. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop protecting her.”Gendry clenched his jaw, his temper flaring. Protect her? From who exactly?“From what, Alex?” he bit out, finally turning to face him fully. “From me? Because you still think I’m not good enough for her?”Alex met his glare without hesitation. “Yes,” he sai
The next day, Gendry adjusted the cuffs of his shirt as he stood at the edge of the altar behind Jace, watching the wedding rehearsal unfold. Maya and Jace were standing in front of the altar, holding hands while the priest explained how things would go tomorrow. Jace wore a simple button-down and slacks, while Maya was in a flowy sundress.Since this was just the rehearsal only family and those who had important roles to play in the ceremony were present. That included him and Tessa, Tessa's family, Jace's parents and aunt, and one of Maya's cousins.Gendry wasn't looking at any of them. His eyes were drawn to the maid of honor. Standing on Maya's side, Tessa was quite a sight. Her hair fell in soft waves, the light fabric of her dress clinging to her just enough to taunt him with the memory of last night. God, last night.He clenched his jaw, shifting his weight as flashes of her moans, the way her body had writhed against his, consumed him for the hundredth time that day. And y
Tessa was lying flat on her back, staring at the ceiling, her fingers clenched in the sheets. It had been two hours since she told Kevin she wanted to go to bed early, and yet here she was; wide awake, tossing and turning, unable to shut off her mind.She hated that her thoughts kept circling back to the conversation with Gendry in the car. His accusations about her thinking other people just weren’t good enough. His claim that he had firsthand experience of it years ago.What the hell had he meant by that?She should be angry. His words were baseless and unfair. And yet, instead of dwelling on that, all she could think about was everything he’d done to her body this time yesterday. And again this afternoon.A frustrated groan left her lips as a familiar ache coiled between her thighs. Damn him. Damn him and his expert tongue, his manipulative fingers, his very potent d–God, she couldn’t even finish the thought without feeling heat creep up her neck. How had she turned into this pers
The tension broke when Kevin suddenly appeared beside Tessa, a broad smile on his face as he looked at her parents. Gendry and Alex finally released their handshake, and Gendry stepped back, returning to his previous spot.After a few seconds, Kevin glanced at Tessa and arched a brow, silently prompting her for a formal introduction.Tessa cleared her throat. "Uh, Mum, Dad, this is Kevin Balthazar. Kevin is..."She trailed off, and Gendry unknowingly held his breath, waiting for what she was going to say."...a very good friend," she finally completed.Kevin beamed. "I'm very honored to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Tessa has told me a lot about you." He stretched out his hand eagerly.Both Kris and Thalassa shook his hand, looking slightly amused by his enthusiasm. Then Kevin turned his attention to Alexander."I'm a huge fan of yours, Alex." His eyes widened. "I can call you that, right?"Alex smiled and nodded. "Of course. My sister's friends are my friends."Gendry snorted. Why d