As we pulled away from Roman's mansion, I found myself relaxing a bit. Vincent had a way of putting me at ease, his easygoing nature a stark contrast to the constant tension I felt around Roman. "So," I began, fiddling with the hem of my dress, "Is there anything else I should know about your famil
I wasn't sure what I expected, but a small two story house that seemed to be a few years old wasn't it. I half expected Vincent's home to be as extravagant as the mansion he lived in. The man was loaded. As we approached the simple wooden door in front of us, I wiped my clammy palms against th
After giving countless apologies to Vincent and his family, I rushed out of their house, hoping they won't find my abrupt departure to be rude and probably see me as some sort of prude. Vincent had offered to drive me over to my family home but I had politely declined. Quite frankly, the last thin
As I approached my father's study, my heart raced. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if my body was fighting against my decision to come here. I paused at the door, taking a deep breath to steady myself before knocking. It took a few seconds. I'd even taken a step back in those short moment
I scoffed, unable to hold back my annoyance despite how wary I was of my father at that moment. "I honestly don't have a problem with Bertha leaving. The only thing I'm guilty of is stopping her from lingering around the man I am married to, which, last time I checked, isn't a crime," The sound
I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry. "This is fucking blackmail!" I said, my voice thick with suppressed emotion. Monica laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Oh, darling, don't be so dramatic. It's just
ROMAN“I will get it done as soon as possible,” Dimitri promised before the call was ended and i was left in the suffocating silence of my office, sinking into the leather seat, feeling a headache make it's presence known. Alexander was a slippery bastard, he was no where to be found, despite all
The drive back home was quiet, too quiet. I found myself thinking about the things I had pushed down, the very thing I left to work to avoid. Amelia. She was on my mind, she was plaguing my thoughts and I couldn't stop it. After that night, with her. Memories of her body wouldn't leave my th
SIX MONTHS LATER The annual Wellington Anniversary gala was in full swing, and we'd decided to host it in our home rather than the hotel it was in late year. The ballroom of our estate glittering with lights that illuminated the beauty of the hall’s interior, reflecting against the marble floors
Wolves. They were fucking wolves yet Roman acted like they simply dogs he'd raised. And in turn, they acted the same towards him. “Why wolves though?” I raised a questioning brow as I caressed Sage's soft fur and Juniper whining a few seconds after that. Roman shrugged, “Why not?” He replied w
"You should hate me," I whispered, my voice breaking. "After what I did, you should hate me." "I know," he agreed, the ghost of a smile touching his lips. "It would be so much easier if I did." A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. Roman reached out, hesitated, then gently brushed i
"What happened?" he asked, his voice gentler than I deserved. I laughed bitterly. "Nothing dramatic. No great tragedy or betrayal. Just... emptiness. Day after day of emptiness. Making decisions that affect hundreds of people, never letting anyone close enough to see that I'm terrified of making th
I woke to unfamiliar shadows dancing across an unfamiliar ceiling. For a moment, panic seized me as I forgot where I was. Until it came rushing back and I found myself sinking deeper into the mattress Roman's bed was sinfully comfortable, the sheets soft against my skin. I stretched, my muscles p
The rain continued to lash against the windows, filling the silence between us. Outside, lightning flashed, illuminating Roman's face and his even darker expression. I wasn't getting through to him. And I didn't blame him. "Two years ago, you made it very clear that you didn't need me," he said
Roman chuckled, the rich sound sending heated shivers down my abdomen. His eyes crinkled at the corners, making him look more like the man I remembered. "So did you," he replied, nodding toward my pixie cut. I reached up self-consciously to touch the ends of my damp hair. "Maybe it should be called
Roman suddenly cleared his throat and dragged his gaze away. He ran a hand through his short blonde hair, sending droplets flying. "I'll get you something dry," he said, his voice rougher than before. He disappeared down a hallway without waiting for my response. Left alone, I took the opportunity
AMELIA My mouth opened, but no sound came out. Words, which had never failed me before, suddenly evaporated from my mind like morning dew under a harsh sun. I stood there, gun still stupidly hanging from my fingers, staring at the stranger-not-stranger before me. Roman Wellington. But not my Roman