Skylar “Let’s break up.” “Why?!” “Just stop asking and let’s end it with dignity.” Just like that, he ended our three-year relationship with those three words on our third anniversary. I stared at the beautiful meal on the table, now cold—just like our relationship, which had once seemed perfect but was now lacking warmth. I decided to head to Neon Nights, the most famous bar, because of the high price of drinks and strict security, it was also the safest bar in the city. I couldn't help but smile bitterly. To think that the first time I indulged myself in my life was because I got dumped. I grew up carefully within the safety net of my mother all my life, and never crossed the line. The good thing was that my life had been smooth sailing so far; but the bad thing was that I was boring, not attractive enough, and couldn't even think of a way to release my emotions. I could only learn from those girls on TV and go to bars to get drunk. Even when getting drunk, I still had to cho
Skylar My stomach churned. I moaned, burying my face in my hands for a second before sitting up abruptly. My clothes were sprawled across the floor, a silent reminder of the mistake I’d just made. A passionate night with a stranger. The thought made my skin crawl. I laughed at myself and thought that I seemed to have become a trendy girl, but why couldn’t I be happy? I glanced at the bed. He was still fast asleep, his face half-buried in the pillow. Without a sound, I slipped out of bed and gathered my clothes as quickly as I could. My heart pounded as I dressed. Grabbing my bag, I left the room, closing the door softly behind me. The cool morning air hit me like a slap as I stepped outside, but I couldn’t stop to feel it. I needed to get to the hospital. The taxi ride felt like an eternity. My phone buzzed with a message from Mum, reminding me of the hospital room number. My stomach twisted in knots. Dad. The thought of him lying there, helpless, terrified me. He was
Cole Returning to the Buckman Corporation was inevitable. Since childhood, I’d been groomed for this—the long hours of training, the calculated lessons on how to outmaneuver enemies in a world where the weak are devoured. I learned early on that weakness had no place in my life, and I hardened myself accordingly. Smiling became unnecessary, and as for women throwing themselves at me? They were distractions, chasing the prestige of the Buckman name and fortune. Love was nothing but a vulnerability, and I had no intention of being weak. The warm water flowed down my shoulders, washing away the tension that had built up since my return. I stood under the stream, letting the heat soothe my muscles while my thoughts wandered. But the moment of calm didn’t last. A sharp knock at the door jolted me out of my haze. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I stepped out of the shower and walked toward the door. Opening it, I found Xavier, my secretary standing there, his usual composed expression
Skylar “I'm sorry Mrs. McLair, you can't see Mr. Buckman without an appointment,” the butler announced when we got to the Buckman Mansion. After saying this, he was going to close the door. Today, we finally came to visit the Buckman mansion and my mom had told me to make sure I was on my best behavior, but we were turned away and didn't even get to meet Mr. Buckman. But in the next second, the butler's movement stopped at the sight of the envelope my mother suddenly took out. I had no idea what was in that envelope, and I couldn't even see what was so special about it, except for some special patterns and lacquer stamps with special totems. But I remembered that Mum had told me that with this envelope, I would definitely be able to marry into the Buckman family. Seeing the butler's expression grow progressively more solemn since he received the envelope from my mother, I guessed she was right. She was always right…so I guess she was right to let me marry a stranger. Before lon
Cole I could feel the weight of her gaze even before I saw her. She was the same woman I had spent a fleeting night with at the hotel, and she was standing in front of me with wide, nervous eyes. Her legs wobbled slightly as she descended the stairs, looking every bit like she was about to fall. It was all I could do not to reach out, though I knew I’d only make it worse. Instead, I just watched, my face a mask of indifference as she regained her balance. The atmosphere seemed tense, and She wasn’t the only one who seemed to be struggling. I could see it in the way she nervously adjusted her clothes, trying to avoid meeting my eyes. It was clear she had no idea what I was thinking, just as I had no clue what she was thinking. But I did know one thing—I was furious. Furious that she had shown up here at my grandfather’s house, under these circumstances. Furious at the idea that she might have some ulterior motive, that she could be part of some scheme orchestrated by my stepmothe
Skylar I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand. My mind was still hazy. It took me a moment to gather my thoughts, but as my eyes adjusted to the morning light coming through the curtains, I noticed a neatly wrapped box resting at the foot of my bed. Frowning slightly, I pushed myself up and reached for it. The deep blue ribbon was tied with some kind of expertise, the paper smooth and elegant. I was about to call my mom to ask who owned the package, but mom beat me to it and knocked on my door. As she walked in, I greeted. “Good morning Mom. Who-” She cut me off before I could finish. “Cole Buckman sent it earlier this morning.” Cole Buckman sent me a package? She left shortly after, giving me a small smile. Curious, I pulled the package apart, my breath hitching as I lifted the lid. Inside lay a breathtaking white dress—simple yet refined, with delicate embroidery adorning the edges. The fabric felt soft beneath my fingertips. He actually sent this?! T
ColeThe car ride back had been quiet. After signing the marriage agreement, I decided to take Skylar back to her home.Outside, the city lights flickered past in a blur, and I let myself relax against the driver’s seat, one hand on the wheel. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, it felt like a quiet understanding had settled between us.But that peace shattered in an instant.The first thing I noticed was the faint haze in the distance. At first, I thought it was just fog rolling in, but then the acrid scent of smoke drifted into the car. My throat tightened, and my grip on the wheel instinctively clenched.Skylar noticed it too. She straightened in her seat, her fingers curling against her lap.“Do you smell that?” she asked in a low, concerned voice.I didn’t answer, my eyes locked on the thickening smoke ahead. The closer we got, the more obvious it became—this wasn’t just some small fire. This was something bigger. Then, as we turned the last corner, the scene unfolded
SkylarWhen I woke up the next morning, the room felt too big, too empty. The unfamiliar ceiling above me reminded me that this was not my home. My home… The memory of the flames and smoke filled my mind again, and I felt a dull ache in my chest. Everything I had known was gone in a single night. I took a deep breath, not wanting to get emotional this early morning. Then, I remembered him- Cole. Despite all his coldness, he had taken me in last night. He hadn’t mocked me, hadn’t thrown me out, and hadn't treated me like a burden. He had simply let me stay. The memory of his arms around me, the way he had supported me when I was too numb to stand on my own, sent a strange warmth through my chest.I never expected kindness from Cole. Our marriage was nothing more than an arrangement, and he had never given me any reason to believe he cared about me. But last night… Last night had been different.I pulled the covers off and sat up. I had to do something. Cole had done so much fo
Skylar I never thought a simple night out would turn into something like this.Paul’s grip on my wrist was tight, his smug expression making my stomach twist in disgust. But what truly shocked me was the way he looked at Cole—like he was someone beneath him, someone insignificant.“And who the hell are you?” Paul sneered, his arrogance on full display.Cole didn’t respond. He just stood there, calm and composed, his dark eyes unreadable.Paul took that silence as weakness. His smirk widened as he straightened his shoulders. “Listen, pretty boy, I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but you need to mind your own business. Walk away now, or you’ll regret it.”I could feel Amber tense beside me, too stunned to even utter a word. I also wanted to speak up, but Cole’s presence kept me rooted in place. He wasn’t reacting—wasn’t angry or offended. He was just watching Paul.Then, without a word, Cole turned slightly, as if ready to take me away again, but Paul moved to block him.“Wh
ColeThe moment I stepped out of the meeting room, I let out a deep breath. That was exhausting. My friend, Justin, who had recently returned from overseas, and I, along with some board members, had been exploring a business opportunity to increase sales and expand our market presence.The meeting had taken long hours, but it had been successful.“Man, that was draining,” Justin groaned, rolling his shoulders as we exited the meeting room. “You could say that again. But I'm glad we could get everyone on board.”Justin smiled. “You’re right. Why don't we hit a bar and unwind? I really need a drink before I lose my mind.” I nodded, running a hand through my hair. “Fine. Let’s go.” We headed to one of the most exclusive bars in the city and settled in the VIP section, a place meant to keep people like us away from unnecessary attention. The dim lighting and soft music were meant to be relaxing, but
Skylar I stared at the bar manager in disbelief, my heart pounding in my chest. Did he just say two hundred thousand dollars? For a second, I thought I had misheard, but the stern expression on his face told me otherwise. My mouth went dry. I didn’t have that kind of money—not even close. Before I could react, Amber stepped forward, her voice firm. “I’ll pay for it.” I turned to her, eyes wide with both relief and concern. Amber had always been bold, never one to let anyone look down on her. I could tell she didn’t want Paul or his friend to think we were helpless. With a determined look, she pulled out her card and handed it to the bar manager. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. At least the situation was about to be resolved. But then, the manager’s expression didn’t change as he handed the card back. “Declined.” Amber frowned. “What? That’s impossible. Try again.” The manager sw
Skylar I frowned slightly, my eyes scanning the man who had just appeared in front of us. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place his face. He was tall, messy black hair, a lazy grin that probably worked on some women—but not on me.Where had I known him from?His smirk faltered when he noticed my blank expression. His jaw tightened, and a flicker of frustration crossed his face. “You don’t remember me?” he asked in an angry voice. Amber let out a low chuckle, crossing her arms. “Wow, this is quite unexpected. Three years of chasing after Skylar, and she doesn’t even know who you are.” Three years? The realization clicked. Paul— he was one of the men I had rejected in the past. One of the many suitors I had long forgotten. “Oh,” I murmured, finally recalling. “It's you.”He stood with his arm lazily draped around a curvy blonde woman, his gaze sharp as he shot me a pointed look. That s
Skylar I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Even though the family dinner and its drama had ended the night before, I still felt drained.The expectations, the scrutiny, and the pressure—it had all been suffocating, but Cole had handled it all.The sound of my phone ringing jolted me from my thoughts. I reached for it and saw Amber’s name flashing on the screen. A small smile tugged at my lips as I answered. “Hey.” Amber sighed loudly on the other end. “Skylar, I need a drink.” I immediately frowned, sensing something wrong. “What happened? You don't sound so good.” “I’m not,” she admitted. “My dad’s driving me insane.”That was all she needed to say. I knew how controlling and strict her father could be. “What is the matter this time?” I asked.“Can you imagine? My father wants to set me up in an arranged marriage!”I nearly sprang out of bed in shock at her words. Amber… in an arranged marriage? No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t picture it.Amber was
SkylarThe ride home was silent. Too silent. Cole drove with his usual calm demeanor, his fingers resting lightly on the steering wheel, his expression unreadable. I sat beside him, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, my heart hammering against my ribs. I stole glances at him from time to time, trying to gauge his mood, but his face remained impassive, giving nothing away. How long had he been standing there, just watching and listening to Ethan and I? Did he hear anything at all? I couldn't tell, and that really terrified me. I wanted to say something... anything. To casually ask a question that would help me gauge exactly what he knew. But what if I phrased it wrong? What if I ended up revealing more than I intended? One wrong step, one slip of the tongue, and I could make an even bigger mistake. My throat felt dry, and my palms were clammy against my lap. I clenched my fingers together, willing myself to stay still. Cole, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed.
The moment I stepped out into the garden, the cool evening breeze hit my red face, sweeping away the heat from the alcohol. I inhaled deeply, savoring the night air as it cleared my mind. The laughter and chatter from the banquet hall faded and turned distant as I walked away further into the garden. I needed this. Just a few minutes to breathe, to be away from the scrutiny of everyone watching, judging. I lowered myself onto a chair near the hedge, closing my eyes briefly. My thoughts drifted back to the banquet, to the moment Cole had taken the glass of wine meant for me and downed it without hesitation. The teasing remarks from the guests still echoed in my mind. "Cole really cares about his wife, doesn’t he?" Their laughter had filled the room, entertained by the fact that Cole had taken the glass from me. But they all had sat there in silence and had pretended not to see the way Ethan made things difficult for me. The only consolation I got was the way that scumbag’s fa
Skylar “Sorry I'm late.”The moment I heard that deep, familiar voice coming from the door, I almost forgot how to breathe. I just sat there frozen. I tried to turn to see the person who had just arrived, to confirm my doubts, but my body just wasn't cooperating. The moment he walked towards the table and stood across from me; I saw his familiar face, and every single word on my lips instantly dried up and vanished. My throat tightened, my pulse pounded in my ears, and an unbearable coldness spread through my body. Ethan. He was right there, sitting across from me. A face I never thought I would see again. A past I had buried, locked away, and sworn to forget. Yet, here he was, looking at me with those sharp, unreadable eyes. I barely heard Cole’s voice as he made the introduction. "Skylar, this is my stepbrother, Ethan." My heart stopped. My vision blurred for a second. His ste
ColeI couldn’t help but notice that Vanessa was giving Skylar a long, measuring look. She seemed to be watching Skylar’s every move, and then her eyes fixed on Skylar’s chest, lingering over the necklace that I had given to her.Vanessa was smiling, but I could see the hunger in her eyes. She kept staring at Skylar’s necklace—the Princess Victoria Rose rare and expensive jewelry piece. From my intel, I knew It was the final piece Vanessa needed to complete her royal jewelry entire collection, the very one she had been obsessed with for years. Too bad for her… she was never going to get it. I saw the exact moment Vanessa lost control. She couldn't help but reach out, her fingers grazing the necklace as if admiring it, but I knew she was trying to test its authenticity, to confirm if Skylar was actually wearing the real necklace.A warm smile played on her lips, but I wasn’t fooled. Her tone seemed light, almost playful, as she most likely asked