Thalassa stood in front of Kris’s penthouse, her finger hovering over the doorbell. She hesitated. Should she have waited until tomorrow? She pressed the doorbell again.Finally, the door opened. Kris stood there, tall and broad-shouldered, his expression unreadable. A half-empty bottle of whiskey dangled loosely in his hand, and her chest squeezed painfully at the sight. "Thalassa," his brows pulled together. "Is something wrong? Did something else happen?"She quickly shook her head, her hands fluttering nervously at her sides. "No, nothing like that," she assured him, her tone soft, almost hesitant. "I just… I wanted to see you."Kris frowned. "I told you I had things to take care of."Thalassa stepped in, closing the door behind her. "Are you upset with me?"His frown deepened. "What? No," he said, looking genuinely confused. "Why would I be upset with you?""Then why won’t you talk to me?" she pressed, her voice trembling slightly. "Why won’t you tell me how you feel? Why won’t
Kris stared at Thalassa, his body frozen as her words replayed in his head like a broken record. I accept to marry you again...if you’ll have me.He blinked slowly, unsure if he had misheard her or if his mind was playing tricks on him. His hands grew clammy. She was right there in front of him, gazing at him with those beautiful, earnest eyes, yet he felt as though he was dreaming.Seconds ticked by, and Kris didn’t say a word. Thalassa’s expression faltered. The soft smile that had graced her lips disappeared, and her eyes dimmed with regret. She lowered her gaze, biting her bottom lip.“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “I'm so insensitive. You’re going through so much right now, and here I am, talking about marriage like it’s nothing. This obviously isn’t the right time. I'm so sorry.”Her words jolted Kris out of his daze. His brows furrowed as he reached for her hand. “What?” he croaked. “No. No, it can never be the wrong time to make me the happiest
Thalassa sighed blissfully as she stirred awake, her body instinctively curling closer into Kris’s side. His warmth and steady heartbeat beneath her cheek filled her with a peace she hadn’t known in a while. Her lips curved into a soft smile as she let herself bask in the quiet comfort of the moment. She finally opened her eyes and looked up at him, her voice still heavy with sleep as she murmured, “Good morning.”Kris’s lips curved into a tender smile, his hand brushing her hair away from her face. “Good morning,” he whispered, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. He lingered there, and Thalassa’s eyes fluttered closed again, soaking in the warmth of his touch.When he pulled back, he asked softly, “How’d you sleep?”She grinned lazily, her voice teasing. “I’d say wonderful, but ‘exquisite’ seems more fitting.”How could she describe it as anything less when the crux of her thighs still ached from the uncountable number of orgasms Kris had given her through the nigh
Kris knelt down in front of Tessa, his heart breaking as her big, innocent eyes stared up at him, waiting for an answer. Her question hung heavily in the air.He took a deep breath, struggling to find the words. How could he explain something so permanent, so cruel, to someone so little? How was he supposed to take her bright, innocent world and shatter it with words? He had rehearsed this moment countless times during the car ride, but every version left him feeling more inadequate.He glanced at Thalassa, who gave him an encouraging nod, her hand resting on his shoulder. He placed his large hands gently on Tessa’s tiny ones, his voice trembling as he began."Tessa, sweetheart," he said softly, his voice tender but pained, "Mummy loved you very much. More than anything in the whole world."Tessa tilted her head, her brows furrowing. "Then why won’t she come back to see me?"Kris felt his throat tighten, his vision blurring. "Mummy… Mummy can’t come back, Tessa." He paused, searching
Kris’s body went rigid at Henry’s words, his jaw tightening as his hands curled into fists at his sides. His voice, low and icy, sliced through the tense air. “What did you just say?”Henry’s smirk widened, his tone smug. “You heard me, Miller. I’m here to take my daughter with me.”The room fell silent except for the sound of Tessa’s soft breathing as she clung to Kris. Henry’s gaze shifted to the little girl hiding behind her father’s leg, and his tone took on a faux warmth.“Hey, sweetheart,” he cooed, stepping forward slightly. “You remember me, don’t you? I didn’t tell you before, but I’m your daddy. You’re my daughter.”Tessa stiffened, her tiny hands clutching at Kris’s pants. Her voice, small but defiant, piped up. “That’s not true! My daddy is him!” She buried her face against Kris’s leg.Thalassa stepped forward, her face a mask of cold fury as she addressed the officers standing behind Henry. “What is this about? What are you doing here?”One of the officers showed his badg
Kris shook his head slowly, his lips curling with disgust as he stared down the man in front of me. He couldn't believe he'd once thought of this scoundrel as a friend.“You’ve always been nothing but a snake. It’s always been about the money with you, hasn’t it?”Henry shrugged nonchalantly, though the smirk on his face betrayed his arrogance. “Spare me the lecture, Kris. Money makes the world go round. You, of all people, should know that by now.”Thalassa stepped forward, narrowing her eyes. “You’re willing to sell your own daughter for a billion dollars? That’s what you think she’s worth?”Henry shrugged, completely unbothered. “Well,” he said, stroking his chin mockingly, “now that you mention it… I wouldn’t mind if you upped the offer. Let’s call it two billion. I want two billion now.” His smirk widened as if he’d just struck the deal of a lifetime.Kris’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. The restraint it took not to punch Henry again made his muscles ache.“You’re out o
Kris was in Tessa's room, leaning against the doorframe, his gaze fixed on the small figure curled up in bed. Her breathing was soft and even, her chest rising and falling rhythmically under the fluffy pink comforter. Moments ago, she had clung to him, her small hands gripping his shirt as she begged him to promise over and over again that he was her daddy, her only daddy, and that he would never let the bad man take her away.Now, she slept peacefully, her expression serene, as though the weight of her fears had finally been lifted after his promises.The sound of soft footsteps behind him pulled Kris from his thoughts. He turned to see Thalassa standing in the doorway, a faint smile on her lips.“It’s done,” she said simply. stepping beside him. “That coward is in jail.”“Good." Kris gritted his teeth together, feeling a surge of relief. That scoundrel was finally where he belonged. But he was confused about one thing.“Why now?” he asked. “You had evidence against him all this tim
Kris and Thalassa both knelt as Alex barreled into their arms, his small frame colliding with Thalassa first. His tiny arms wrapped tightly around her neck as he exclaimed, "Mummy! I missed you, Mummy!"Thalassa’s arms encircled him, her voice trembling as she whispered, "I missed you too, sweetheart. So much." Her fingers gently stroked his hair as their joy filled the room. Despite himself, Kris suddenly felt a slight wave of anxiety.He had only spent a few days in New York with Alex weeks ago. Sure, they spoke on video calls almost daily, but what if the boy didn’t greet him with the same joy? What if Alex still felt distant toward him?But as if sensing his hesitation, Alex, while still hugging Thalassa, stretched one small arm toward Kris.“Daddy, come!” he said, his voice warm and inviting.Kris felt his chest swell with emotion. A grin broke across his face as he leaned into the embrace, his arms encircling both Thalassa and Alex. Together, the three of them shared a family h
“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