Linda merely scoffed and shook her head, her lips curling. "After all that stupid girl's lies and keeping your son from you, how did she manage to convince you so easily?" She spat the words, her voice dripping with disdain. "When did you become so gullible, Kris? That woman has you wrapped around her finger." Kris let out a short, humorless laugh. "Would you rather I was wrapped around yourz?" His gaze turned colder as he spoke, anger mixed with pain simmering just beneath the surface. "I prefer a thousand times for Thalassa to have me wrapped around her finger, because all she makes me feel is happiness. But when you had me wrapped around your finger, you used it to control me, manipulate me... You used it to destroy my life and take my happiness from me all in the name of what you thought was best for me." Linda's eyes flashed. "I only did what was right, Kris. Everything I did was to protect you." "Protect me?" His voice grew louder, each word laced with bitter disbelief.
“Lassa?”“Lassa?”“Hey, Thalassa!”The sound of fingers snapping in front of her face jolted Thalassa out of her thoughts, snapping her back to reality. She blinked to find Luisa watching her, brows furrowed with concern.“Thalassa, I’ve been calling your name over and over! You didn’t even notice when I walked in,” Luisa said, her voice edged with worry. “Oh… sorry,” Thalassa murmured, running a hand over her hair with a sigh. Luisa tilted her head. “You’re still thinking about Kris?”Thalassa nodded slowly. “He still hasn’t called. It feels like he’s upset with me,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.Last night, after Kris had announced the news that his mother was going to be transferred to prison, he'd tried hard to act like everything was alright, which had made her realize that nothing was alright.Every time he'd glanced at her, she could swear that she could see some resentment in his eyes. She knew she was imagining it, but she also couldn't help but feel that
Thalassa lay sprawled on the pavement, her mind whirling, piecing together what had just happened. She could still feel the brush of air as the car had sped toward her.It should've hit her. It had been too damn close. Whoever had shoved her away hadn’t had a chance to get clear themselves.“Juana!” Luisa’s sharp, panicked scream cut through her fog.Thalassa’s heart dropped as she turned, her gaze landing on Juana, lying just a few feet away on the road. Blood oozed from the side of Juana’s head, staining her hair and spreading across the pavement. Her body lay at an unnatural angle, motionless, and her eyes were closed. "No, no, no," Thalassa whispered as she scrambled towards her secretary, her voice cracking. She crawled forward, her knees scraping against the rough road, ignoring the sting. Her mind was racing, unwilling to process what she was seeing.Luisa was kneeling beside Juana, frantically tapping her cheek. “Juana, please! Wake up!” Her voice was raw, bordering on hyste
Thalassa was sitting in the cold waiting area, her hands clasped tightly together, her body stiff.In front of her, Luisa paced back and forth, her steps restless and her hands trembling. Every now and then, she would pause, cast a glance toward the double doors of the emergency room, then continue her anxious pacing.Two hours. It had been two agonizing hours since Juana had been rushed into surgery, and they still hadn’t heard a word. The silence was unbearable.Luisa suddenly stopped pacing and turned to Thalassa, her eyes glistening with tears. “This… this is all my fault,” she whispered, her voice raw with guilt. “Juana said she wanted to stay behind. She said she had work to finish, but I pushed her to come with us. If I had just let her stay to work, this wouldn’t have happened.”Thalassa’s gaze lifted slowly. “Luisa,” she said, trying to be as calm as she could, “if you’re blaming yourself for this… then what am I supposed to feel?” Her voice broke slightly. “Juana saved my
At the Miller mansion, the twins and their aunt were at the dining table having dinner together. Tyler could barely eat, his hands shaking every time he brought the fork to his lips. Every other minute, Susan would glare at him, ordering him to compose himself.“I just don’t understand,” Cynthia said, her brow furrowed in confusion. “How could Tyler’s car just get stolen? Did you leave the keys in it or something? Didn't you lock the doors?" Susan sighed sharply, her perfectly manicured nails tapping impatiently against the table. “For the last time, Aunt Cynthia, we don’t know! We parked it, and when we came back, it was gone. Stop asking stupid questions." Cynthia was offended by her niece's tone. “There’s no need to be so rude, young lady. I’m just concerned. That car was very expensive! I hope the police catch those thieves soon and—" The doorbell rang, cutting her off mid-sentence. Cynthia turned her head toward the sound, her lips tightening.“Who is that now?” she muttered.
Thalassa froze the moment she saw Kris standing in the doorway. Her stomach twisted into a knot, and an uneasy tension spread through her chest. His expression was unreadable, his sharp features etched in stone, but Thalassa could tell he knew.Of course, she had known she’d have to tell him about this. But she’d decided to do it after his siblings were already in custody. For some reason, she was afraid of telling him for reasons that eluded her.Yet here he was. How did he even find out? Was he really here to save his siblings from going to jail?A triumphant smile curled Susan's lips as she turned to look at the officer gripping her arm. “I told you,” she sneered. “I told you my brother was going to come for us. Now you’d better prepare to lose your jobs.”She turned to Kris, her voice rising confidently. “Kris, tell these imbeciles to take these handcuffs off of me!”Kris stepped forward, his gait deliberate and measured. His eyes locked on Susan’s, and for a fleeting moment, her
The screams from Susan echoed through the compound as the police dragged her and Tyler toward the patrol car. “Let go of me, you imbecile!” She screeched, her wrists straining against the collars. Her hair was disheveled, her face red with fury. She turned her head sharply, glaring daggers at her older brother. “I hate you, Kris! I hate you so much! You’re a fucking traitor!" Kris stood still, his face a mask of cold indifference. “You weren’t satisfied putting Mom in jail, were you?” Susan spat, thrashing against the officer’s hold. “Now you want us there too! You’re the worst brother in the whole world! I wish you were dead!" Kris didn’t flinch, his gaze steady as he watched his sister being shoved into the backseat of the patrol car. Susan’s rage shifted like a storm cloud, her venom finding a new target. She twisted to glare at Thalassa, her face contorting with hatred. “And you,” she hissed. “You cursed witch. I cursed the day you came into our lives! You’ve destroyed ever
Thalassa’s heart ached as she looked into Kris’s tear-filled eyes, guilt and sorrow etched into every line of his face. The sight of him so broken was unbearable.Without hesitation, she unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned toward him, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She held him tightly, wishing her embrace could shield him from his self-torment. "Don't say that," she whispered fervently, her voice trembling with emotion. "It’s not your fault, Kris. You did what you thought was right. You were the best brother they could ever ask for. You’ve always tried to do the right thing. You’re one of the best men I’ve ever known." She pulled back slightly to look at him, her hands gripping his shoulders. "It’s not your fault they turned out this way. You can’t take responsibility for their choices. We’re all responsible for our own actions, and you..." She softened, her voice steady. "You are a good man, Kris." Kris leaned back just enough to meet her eyes, searching her expression.
“Don’t worry. You’re not the first couple to ask that, and you definitely won’t be the last.” The doctor said with a teasing note in her voice.She pulled out a disposable wipe and began wiping the gel from Tessa's belly. Tessa sighed in relief.“That should be all for today,” The doctor said warmly. “As I said, for the first few months, it would be best to be checked monthly, so please when you're ready, let me know when to schedule the next appointment.”She began rearranging the equipment. “Please wait outside for a few minutes. Your ultrasound pictures and the recording will be ready soon to take with you..” Gendry helped Tessa sit up and adjust her clothes before they stepped out. They waited in the reception area, their happiness and excitement tangible. Ten minutes later, a nurse handed over the envelope containing the picture and the USB. Gendry took it as if it was the most precious thing in the world. They made their way out of the hospital and back to Gendry's car. Aft
In the afternoon, when it was a couple of minutes to get an appointment, Gendry arrived a few minutes earlier than he promised to pick her up.Gendry leaned against the doorframe, looking relaxed yet effortlessly gorgeous in his button down shirt. His eyes swept over her in that way that always made her feel like the only woman in the world. "You're early," she teased, walking toward him. He beamed. “I'll always be early for you, princes.” Her heart did a little flip at that, but she rolled her eyes to keep her cool. "Such a smooth talker." He grinned and reached for her, pulling her close and covering her lips with his. When they finally broke the kiss, he took her hand. She let him take it without hesitation, their fingers interlocking. It felt so right.As they walked through the office, she felt the weight of dozens of eyes on them. Conversations momentarily halted, only to resume in hushed murmurs once they passed. She knew exactly why. One, no one had ever seen her h
A bitter smile curled Tessa’s lips as she unfolded her crossed arms. "You say you want me back in your life," she murmured, tilting her head slightly. "But let’s be honest, Henry. I was never in your life to begin with."Henry flinched at the use of his name instead of "Dad," but he quickly recovered, forcing a weak smile."Tessa, that’s not true. I’ve always—""Spare me," she interrupted coldly. "What do you really want? Me? Or money?"His face paled. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, but he quickly unclenched them. He let out a nervous chuckle, trying to maintain his composure. "I won’t lie to you. I... I am in a difficult situation right now, financially. But that’s not why I’m here—"Tessa’s expression darkened. "Don’t insult my intelligence, sir." She straightened up, placing her hands on the desk as she leaned forward slightly. "I know what you tried to do years ago, Henry. I know you tried to sell me for a couple of billion dollars."Henry’s head snapped up. His eyes
Tessa sat at her desk in her office, flipping through a few design sketches when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw Gendry’s name.Gendry: What have you done to me, Tessa Miller?A small smile tugged at her lips. She set the sketches aside and picked up her phone, quickly typing back.Tessa: What have I done?His reply came almost immediately.Gendry: I can’t concentrate on a damn thing because I can’t stop thinking about you. You left my apartment just a few hours ago, and I already miss you like crazy.Tessa felt a warm, fluttery feeling spread through her chest.Tessa: I miss you too.There was a pause of a couple of seconds, then another message came.Gendry: Waking up with you makes my mornings the most beautiful. I want to experience that forever.Tessa stared at the message for a long moment, her fingers hovering over the screen. She wasn’t sure how to respond to that. It was sweet, but she didn’t want to overthink it. Instead, she just smiled. While she was s
Gendry shook his head. “No, it's not that. It's just... I'm scared we might hurt the baby.”“No, we won’t. I heard it's safe to do it even when pregnant,” Tessa said, chasing his lips again.It had been too long. Too fucking long. And God knew how much she wanted him inside her again.Initially, Gendry kissed her back hesitantly, but his reluctance soon vanished. His lips trailed from hers and ran down her neck while he wedged his hands between them to fondle her breasts. His hard dick was pressing against her thigh, filling her with even more anticipation. But before they could undress each other, the jarring ring of her cellphone shattered the moment.Tessa tried to ignore it, but the sound was too grating. Gendry broke the kiss, and they both sighed as she reached for her phone. It was her brother calling. She answered.“Tessa!” Alex’s relieved sigh came through the phone. “Mum and Dad called me this morning and told me what happened yesterday. Are you... Okay, we know you're safe
Taking in the earnest, almost desperate look in Gendry's eyes, Tessa felt warmth spread through her chest. But she couldn't help but mess with him a bit.“Did I?” She shrugged, turning her gaze away from him. “I don't remember saying that. I must have been really tired.”“Oh.” She saw Gendry's expression sink from the corner of her eye. “I... you said... I thought…” He pursed his lips, struggling for words. “Tessa, you... I...”Tessa couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst into laughter. “Oh, Gendry...” She chuckled, finally looking back at him. “Of course, I remember, and of course, I meant every word.”The smile that crossed his face was the most beautiful thing Tessa had ever seen.“You evil woman,” he growled playfully. “Did you want to give me a heart attack?”And then he pounced, tickling her until she was on her back, peals of laughter vibrating through her.“Gendry, stop,” she pleaded between gasps, but he didn’t listen, dipping his head to nuzzle her neck and using his lips
After Tessa drifted off to sleep, Gendry slowly lifted her head from his shoulder, moving carefully so he wouldn’t wake her.Then, he gently scooped her up in his arms, carrying her bridal style to his bedroom. He laid her down softly, ensuring she remained undisturbed. She stirred slightly, scratching her chin for a second, but she didn’t wake up. Her breathing soon returned to its deep, steady rhythm.Smiling at how adorable she looked, he reached down and carefully removed her heels. She had, hands down, the most beautiful feet he had ever seen. He felt a sudden urge to suck on her toes.But not while she was sleeping. Maybe later.He let out a quiet chuckle at his own ridiculous thoughts. Was there anything about this woman he didn’t find attractive?He could worship every inch of her body for days, especially now that he knew she felt the same way.A heady thrill zapped through him.Oh, God. She loved him.She’d told him she loved him. It was the last thing he had expected. At le
When Tessa didn't respond after some seconds, Gendry pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her protectively as he guided her to the couch. The worry in his chest deepened with every shaky breath she took."Please, tell me," he urged gently, his voice low, coaxing. "What's wrong?"Tessa hesitated for a brief moment, then let it all out.She told him everything—meeting her biological father, the horrible lies he had spun about her parents, and the devastating truth that he had once tried to sell her. Her voice was steady at first, but as the words left her lips, it became raw, filled with emotions she had been holding back.By the time she finished, Gendry sat there in stunned silence. His fingers twitched as he clenched his fists on his lap. “Jesus Christ, Tessa…” His voice was hoarse with restrained anger. He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down. “If you hadn’t just told me all that, I would’ve never guessed Kris and Thalassa weren’t your biological parents. You guys a
The moment her eyes landed on Wendy, standing so close to Gendry, dressed in a sleek, skin-tight black dress that left little to the imagination, Tessa felt like she had walked into something she wasn’t supposed to see. Her stomach twisted painfully, and her throat suddenly felt tight.“I...I’m sorry,” she stammered, taking a step back. “I didn’t know you had company.”Gendry’s brows furrowed. “Tessa, wait—”But Tessa was already retreating toward the elevator. It had obviously been a mistake coming here.Just as she turned, Wendy’s voice stopped her.“There’s no need for you to leave,” she said, reaching for her purse on the couch. “The one who will be leaving is me.”Tessa stopped mid-step, glancing back warily. Wendy walked toward the door, her heels clicking softly against the floor. As she reached Gendry’s side, she turned her gaze to Tessa, her sharp eyes scanning her from head to toe.Gendry tensed, hoping that Wendy wasn't planning to say something that would offend Tessa.The