LOGINShare
034: San Francisco (I)
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Gushes of cold wind blew by her hair, turning them into a tangled mess. Ayla was regretting not tying her hair up into a bun as soon as she stepped out of the private jet.
When Claude had mentioned about the getaway, she had agreed to it right away. She knew that there was nothing for her to be afraid of. He had done nothing so far to break her trust. And she believed that he would not attempt to do anything of the sort.
Moreover, she was supposed to make some public appearances with him anyway. Hence, Ayla didn't find any harm in tagging along. It was a much better alternative than having to spend her weekend back at the mansion listening to her mother-in-law.
But never did she think about it being out of the city. They had to take the company's jet to arrive at their destination: San Francisco. Though it only took them almost an hour and a half to reach, Ayla could feel the flight's tiredness creeping up her back. All she wanted was to jum
dumdum007Don't forget to check out my social media pages. Thank you for you support all my lovely readers.
Related chapters
The Heartless Bride 035: San Francisco (II)
"Ayla?" Claude called her out as he tried to catch up to her steps, climbing up the stairs. "Hey, hey, hey…." He grabbed her elbow and tugged at it to bring her close. "I know what we talked about, and I meant every single word of it." He used his free hand to brush away the stray locks of her hair. "There's no one in my life, and there will never be one as long as you are with me." He didn't know why, but her words affected her more than he let on. Every last one of it serves as a jab to his soul. It made him wonder about the depth of his feelings for her. So far, he used to believe that he was attracted to her because of reasons he didn't know yet. "That's not what I mean." Ayla was no less confused by her sudden outburst. Why did she make a big deal out of it? There he was, trying his best to give her a good life. And she was doing nothing but to ruin their trip. "I am so sorry." She shook her head as an apology left
The Heartless Bride 036: San Francisco (III)
"By the way, if you don't mind me asking, how exactly are you two related? Claude kept on saying that it's a surprise and refused to tell me anything." She rolled her eyes at Claude first before giving Katherine a smile.Ayla didn't find it comfortable to be poking her nose in their private matters, but she had to know for sure."This little fool hasn't told you about me?" Katherine was a little baffled by the sudden revelation. "Don't tell me that you haven't told her anything?" She shifted her eyes to throw Claude a deadly stare, only to see him shaking his head."For real?" Katherine was clearly having a hard time believing her ears, but all Ayla could do was to watch it all from the sidelines."I didn't get the chance to do it." This time Claude spoke up in his defence. "Everything happened so fast, and I wanted her to get settled down first before disclosing anything about the family's secret. More so, I couldn't do it with Mo
The Heartless Bride 037: San Francisco (IV)
"Name the devils and here they are. Come on Ayla, I'll introduce you to them." Given no other choice, Ayla followed Katherine out of the living room with Claude walking closely behind her. As soon as she was out and about, her eyes landed on three children—two boys and one girl—and a man following behind them with a couple of plastic bags in his hands. "Noah!" Katherine threw him a glare before giving him a warning out loud. "You better have not let them overshop that sugary junk. Or else, be prepared to sleep on the couch tonight." Ayla found the whole scene a bit hilarious as her eyes darted around the entrance hall which was now filled with loud chattering. "Kids, behave!" Katherine yelled once again, but this time it was directed at the three children who had their eyes focused on Ayla. Their eyes shifted back and forth between her and Claude as they exchanged a few words every now and then. "Is that our new aunt?" The gi
The Heartless Bride 038: San Francisco (V)
"It's already midnight." Claude spoke up as he looked up to meet her gaze. "Do we really have to go?""It'd be rude." Ayla rolled her eyes before picking up her denim jacket and pulled it over her shoulders. "Kathie looked eager to spend time with you." She added with a shake of her head."No! She is eager to spend time with you." Claude corrected her before burying his face into the pillow. "And there's no way we'll be able to come back inside before the sun is up. You don't know her like I do.""It's not like you are an early sleeper anyway." Ayla interrupted him. "And you don't have to wake up early either tomorrow." She added, trying to persuade the man who was refusing to get out of the bed.Claude, on the other hand, found himself to be in a dilemma. As much as he wanted to spend time with his family, he needed the rest more. He agreed completely with what Ayla said about his sleeping habits, but there were certain things she
The Heartless Bride 039: San Francisco (VI)
"Claude…""What is it?" He muttered a reply under his breath as he took a step closer to her. Bringing his free hand up to her face. He slowly tucked away a few stray strands of her hair which had managed to slip out of the bun that rested on top of her head.A sharp breath left her trembling lips and she shook her head."N-nothing.""Talk to me." He refused to let go of it. He wanted to know if any of his actions bothered her. Because if they did, he would respect her space and take a step back no matter how badly he wanted to feel her in his arms."Kathie must be waiting for us." Ayla forced herself to reply to him. She lacked the courage to say anything else to him even if she wanted to. Hence, she chose to make the safer bet and brought his attention back to the matter at hand. But what she didn't know was that he could be a lot more persistent than he seemed."She can wait." His thumb moved over the
The Heartless Bride 040: San Francisco (VII)
Claude finally forced his eyes open and looked in her direction only to find her staring back at him. Her face was shadowed by a threatening frown. "I'll be fine here." He mumbled once again, hoping that she would give up this time. "Alright then. I'll just go and ask Katherine to arrange another room for you." Ayla shrugged her shoulders casually and was about to get out of the covers when she was interrupted. "Fine." Claude got up on his feet and walked to the other side of the bed. "Don't you ever threaten me like that again though." He grumpily added before throwing himself on the mattress. He didn't forget to pick one of the pillows from behind and placed it between them. "I will threaten you again if I want to, Mister." Ayla mumbled with her half droopy eyes. "If that's what is going to take to make you have a good sleep." She pushed herself under the covers, snuggling against the pillow behind her. "Have a
The Heartless Bride 041: San Francisco (VIII)
"How are you feeling now?" Ayla decided to break the eerie silence which was lingering in between the two as the couple was left to enjoy their food."Well, the tiredness is gone now." Claude spoke up, briefly looking at her. "So, I am feeling much better. What about you? Did you sleep well?" It felt a bit weird for him to just act so casual before her without mentioning the elephant in the room."Ummm… kinda. It was okay, I guess." Ayla replied to her, keeping her eyes glued to her plate while her fork dances around the omelette, poking it slightly every now and then. "It just takes me a little while to get settled in new places. Too used to sleeping in my own bed." She cleared it to him before taking a small bite out of her toast."I didn't know that." Claude mumbled a reply, stealing another glance at her. "Is there something on your mind?" He could see it on her face. Something was definitely troubling her, and he wanted to know. He wanted her t
The Heartless Bride 042: San Francisco (IX)
"I don't want an apology from you, Claude. I want to know what you see. What could possibly make you feel so terrified in your sleep? Because from the looks of it, I can tell it wasn't the first time…."Claude saw her looking back at him intently. She was waiting for him to start talking, but he didn't know where to even begin. He knew that one day he would have to share things with her, things that he never mentioned before anyone else. He just didn't expect it to be this sooner.He drew in a sharp breath before turning his eyes away from her."Would you mind if we finish our food and our conversation in the garden at the back?" He briefly looked up at her and saw her reply in the form of a nod. A faint smile slowly made its way on his face as he picked up their plates and started walking out of the kitchen.Ayla followed him out, holding their coffee mugs. Her eyes were strained over his back. She could make out his taut muscles
Latest chapter
The Heartless Bride Epilogue
[Three years later…]"Breathe in… breathe out…" Ayla was mumbling to herself as she tried to calm down her jittery nerves.She was standing before a floor length mirror, her eyes focused on her own reflection as her dress glinted under the warm lighting of her new room. Bringing her palms to the front of the dress, she ran them down in attempts to smoothen down the nonexisting creases. She couldn't help the worrying thoughts resonating at the back of her mind, her frown only deepening. But before she could delve down further, a knock at the door brought her out."Is anyone inside?"The voice was so familiar to her that a sigh of relief left her lips unconsciously."It's just me in here." Ayla breathed out as a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She had sent everyone out including the make-up artist and her team once they had
The Heartless Bride 191: Desires (II)*
[The following chapter includes mention of R-18 content. Kindly read at your own discretion.] Claude sucked onto the soft spot as his finger moved inside her, earning her moans in return which were not less than a siren's call for him, luring him to continue. He felt her insides tightening around his finger as he moved it relentlessly. He knew that she was close to finding her release and deliberately slowed down his movements. Ayla could feel her orgasm building up, inching closer to the edge. She let out a frustrated groan when Claude slowed down his movements. "D-don't st-op." She managed to say in between her gasps for air. "Oh! I am not planning to, my love, not tonight." Claude murmured against her skin and moved his lips to her cleavage, biting and sucking on her fair, smooth skin. "This might hurt a bit." He said as he inserted
The Heartless Bride 190: Desires (I)*
[The following chapter includes mention of R-18 content. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "You don't think that it makes me unworthy of you?" She managed to mutter out as she held Claude's gaze. "You must have hit your brain if that's what's going through your brain." Claude scoffed as he leaned down to capture her lips in a passionate kiss. This time she didn't push him away but responded with the same passion. It wasn't until both of them ran out of their breaths did they pull back. "Do you understand now how much you mean to me?" Claude flicked her forehead as if he was reprimanding a small child. "I do… you mean no less to me." She smiled for the first time today and it was enough for Claude to know that everything was going to be just fine. All she needed was a little time and his love. "I love you." Claude mumbled
The Heartless Bride 189: The Most Precious Thing to Me*
[The following chapter includes mention of self harm. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "Ayla?" Claude knocked at the door as he glanced at the clock. "Are you done, love?" He made sure that he was loud enough for his voice to go through the thick door. It had already been an hour. But she hadn't come out yet. Claude was starting to get worried. "Ayla?" He called out her name again only to be met with the same reply—silence. Though he could hear the water running constantly, he wasn't able to hear her voice. "Ayla?" He tried it one more time before making his way to the other side of the room. Claude searched through a drawer and then moved to another one. If only he could remember where he kept it. "Found it." He mumbled under his breath as soon as his eyes landed on a golden key. It was the master key
The Heartless Bride 188: The Culprit (II)
"Take your hands off her!"Ayla's eyes flickered to the owner of the voice and a long sigh of relief left her trembling lips."Claude…"In between the chaos, Claude could only see her lips moving before her eyes rolled up and she fainted."Ayla!" He didn't waste another second and rushed to her, not paying any attention to the culprit. He would have plenty of time for him later. At the moment, the only thing which mattered to her was the wellbeing of his girl.With hurried steps, Claude walked to where she was and started to untie the ropes which were holding her in place."How the hell are you here? Where are my men?" Gavin kept babbling but even then, Claude paid him no attention. He was so busy sheeting with rage that he didn't bother paying attention to anything else. Not the men, who were dressed in black from head to
The Heartless Bride 187: The Culprit (I)*
[The following chapter includes mention of sexual assault. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "Let me tell you a story, kitten." He pushed himself off the wall, dusting his coat in the process. Gavin walked to the other side of the room to pick a chair and dragged it to the centre of the room. He settled down on it so that he was facing Ayla. "What story?" Despite the fact that she was scared for her life, she didn't show it on her face. She knew that she had to put up a brave front until Claude could reach her. He would realize sooner or later that she was missing. With a smile, Gavin began. "My father and a friend of his started a business together. The kind which was to grow into a big one over time. But the old man got played by his so-called friend. My father spent everything we had or owned on his dream. When our family w
The Heartless Bride 186: Suspicions (II)
[Three weeks later…]With a jump in her step, Ayla made her way to her favourite store. Things were going great with Claude finally. Everything in her life seemed to be on track. Well, almost everything.Though Claude and her were spending more and more time together with each passing day as if they were in a relationship. They kind of were, but the man never asked her to be his girlfriend despite the fact that's how he had been introducing her to everyone who saw them together.There was one other thing which was bugging her at the back of her mind. Because of peer pressure about them dating—if it could be called that—the two of them inadvertently started using black masks whenever they were in public. Neither of the two wanted to let others throw in their unwanted opinions about their relationship. Though somewhere deep inside her heart, she wanted the whole world to know that Claud
The Heartless Bride 185: Suspicions (I)
"So…"Ayla dragged it out as she turned around to stare at the man who was still standing by the doors."Mr. D'Souza?""Call me Gavin, please." He still has the same charming smile playing across his face as he walked further into the room"Umm… I am pretty sure I can not do that." Ayla let out a nervous chuckle. There was something ominous about the way he stared back at her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she was sure that it wasn't only her mind playing with her. Something about him had shifted since the moment they walked in."Oh, please. Claude and I may not be the best of friends, but we are on our way there. It would mean a lot to me if you'd call me without any formalities." He paused before adding after a while. "Only when it's us… three."'What the f*ck!'Ala
The Heartless Bride 184: I was Missing you (II)
"Because it looks like I interrupted something important."Her frown was the only thing which Claude could see but the helplessness which filled her eyes was enough of a giveaway for him. She was feeling guilty for interrupting their meeting. Well, it was more of a tour now. The actual meeting had already been wrapped up a while ago. It was what had Claude believing that her interruption was not going to have any repercussions. Even if there were any, he didn't care."It's fine. Don't worry." Claude rubbed his hand up and down her back to calm her down. Turning his attention to the group, he began. "Apologies for the interruption everyone, but let me introduce you all to my girlfriend." He was smart enough to not announce her name to the team. Though he wondered where Ayla was going with the secrecy."I am sure she must have a name." It was Mr. D'Souza who spoke up. There was a small smile playing acros
