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
“Good evening. I’m here for Mr. Joel Asante. Is he around?” Thalassa said to the lady at the front desk of the Astoria Hotel.She felt so tense that she didn’t realize she was tapping her fingers loudly on the desk until a woman standing beside her hissed and glared at her.Flashing an apologetic smile, Thalassa brought her gaze back to the receptionist who was done checking the appointment.“Yes, he is. And he’s expecting you. Suite 13. Take the elevator to the seventh floor and turn to your left.”“Thank you.” Thalassa said as she turned to go, her unease increasing with every step she took towards the elevator.Why did she feel like something was amiss?She had been sent to meet this Joel Asante by her mother in law, Linda Miller. Linda Miller had never liked Thalassa since she began dating her son, Kris Miller, and the dislike had increased even more since Kris and Thalassa got married a year ago.So today when her mother in law had called her and told her to deliver some document
Tears streamed down Thalassa’s face as one of the officers stepped behind her and took her hands, placing her wrists in cuffs. She stared pleadingly at Kris, hoping he would realize his mistake and save her from this humiliation, but he merely stared at her with nothing but coldness as she was led out of the room.As if this humiliation wasn’t enough, when they got outside, several reporters instantly rushed towards her, flashing cameras as they came.“Thalassa, is it really true that you married Kris Miller all for his money?”“How do you feel after your theft was discovered?”Thalassa had never felt this humiliated in her life, with people staring at her and reporters asking all sorts of questions as she was led into the police car.“Wait! Please, this is a mistake. I’m innocent. You’ve got to believe me,” she pleaded with the police officer who led her into the holding cell.The officer laughed as he locked the gate to the cell. “That’s what they all say. You really should’ve thoug
Thalassa’s hands shook as her eyes repeatedly ran over the bold words: DIVORCE AGREEMENT.Agreement? She certainly didn’t remember sitting down to talk about anything. This surely had to be a mistake.She turned her panicked eyes to the lawyer. “Is this a joke?”“I don’t remember ‘comedian’ being in my job description, Miss Thompson,” the lawyer said, sounding offended.“Then what is this?” Thalassa demanded, her voice louder than she intended, laden with frustration.The lawyer’s nostrils flared as he looked around at the people staring at them. “It’s exactly what you’re looking at, Miss Thompson. Kris wants a divorce.”Thalassa noted how he kept referring to her by her maiden name, as if she and Kris were already divorced.The lawyer took a step closer. “Look, don’t make this complicated. You’re lucky to be walking away with just a divorce. You could’ve spent several years rotting in jail. You should be thankful to Kris that he convinced his mother to drop the charges.”Just like th
The hall turned silent. So silent that you could hear a pin drop as everyone stared at Thalassa in shock, but the only reaction she cared about was Kris’s.His nostrils flared, his eyes widening as if demanding to know if she was telling the truth.“Yes,” she nodded earnestly. “It’s true. I found out yesterday. That’s why I called you so many times; I wanted to give you the good news, but you never picked up. And when I texted, saying I had something important to tell you, that’s what I wanted to share.”Her breath caught as she gauged Kris’s reaction, anxiously waiting for his response. His eyes scanned her face as if looking for any hint of lying, his gaze turning conflicted.Just as Thalassa began to think that he believed her, his mother appeared. “Son, you can’t possibly believe anything that comes out of this whore’s mouth after everything she has done. She’s lying! She’s obviously telling you this so that you won’t divorce her.”“I am not lying!” Thalassa declared fiercely. “Wh
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’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 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
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 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 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
Three days had passed since Karen and Linda’s deaths, but the memories refused to leave Thalassa. They lived in her head, vivid and relentless, surfacing at the worst times—when she tried to sleep, when she played with Tessa, or even when she sat in silence.The fire. The screams. The burnt remains.By the time the authorities had arrived twenty minutes later, there had been nothing left but blackened skeletons. The fire had consumed everything. Linda’s body was charred, a shell of the powerful woman she had once been. Karen’s body, too, had been unrecognizable, save for the remnants of her frame.Thalassa had felt a strange mix of emotions when the autopsy report confirmed that Karen’s death had been caused by the gunshots, not the fire. Most of all, she'd been relieved. It meant that Karen hadn’t suffered through the flames. Despite everything Karen had done—the lies, the betrayal—Thalassa couldn’t forget the woman Karen had once been. Her best friend. Her confidant. The person who
Kris, Thalassa, Smoke, and his men emerged from the warehouse just as the flames roared behind them. The heat from the inferno cast an eerie glow on their faces. They stopped a safe distance away, each of them turning to stare at the warehouse engulfed in flames. Thalassa’s heart was racing, but it wasn’t just from the run—it was from the blood-curdling scream that ripped through the air.Linda.The sound sent a shiver down her spine, and she instinctively leaned closer to Kris. She felt his arms tighten around her, his grip almost bruising. He stood rigid, his jaw clenched as he stared at the flames. She didn’t need to see his face to know how much this moment was affecting him.The scream continued, rising in pitch, and then... silence.The absence of sound was almost louder than the scream itself. The crackling of the flames and the collapse of the warehouse’s wooden beams filled the silence. Thalassa glanced up at Kris, whose face remained stoic, but his eyes betrayed him. "Kris
The bullet hit Linda square in the shoulder. Linda crumpled to the floor, clutching her arm. She groaned in pain as the blood seeped through her fingers, mixing with the gasoline pooling beneath her. Karen didn’t hesitate. She immediately rushed towards Thalassa’s chair, her movements frantic but determined. “Hold still,” she muttered, her trembling hands fumbling with the ropes binding Thalassa’s wrists. After some seconds, the ropes finally loosened. Thalassa pulled her hands free and immediately bent down to help Karen untie her legs. The knot slipped, and she finally stood, her heart pounding wildly. “We need to leave, Karen,” she said, her voice sharp with urgency. “Yes.” Karen nodded, breathless. “Let’s go.” Neither of them saw Linda reaching into her handbag and pulling out a pistol. Just as they turned to run, a gunshot exploded in the air. Thalassa froze as Karen let out a gasp of pain. “Karen!” she screamed. Karen staggered, her hand clutching her stomach where blood