Skylar I stayed in bed longer than usual, pretending I needed more sleep. But in reality, I was just avoiding Cole. After what happened last night, facing him felt impossible. My heart still raced when I thought about it—the weight of his body, the heat of his breath so close to mine, the way his lips had barely brushed against the corner of my mouth. Just thinking about it made my face burn. I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. Maybe if I stayed here longer, he would have gone to work and I wouldn’t have to see him. I waited, watching as time slowly passed by, but my stomach betrayed me, grumbling loud enough to remind me that I needed food. With a sigh, I finally got up and freshened myself before heading downstairs, telling myself that he must have left for work by now.I came to an abrupt stop at the bottom of the stairs. My eyes widened, and a soft gasp escaped before I could stop it. He was seated by the counter, casually scrolling through his tablet as if he had
Skylar “Finally! I was starting to think you had disappeared off the face of the earth,” Amber exclaimed the moment she saw me and pulled me into a tight hug.After spending some time with my father, I decided to meet up with Amber, my close friend. It had been too long since we last caught up. I needed a distraction, and spending time with Amber was the perfect way to clear my mind.I laughed. “I’ve been… busy.”We found a table and sat down, and the moment they did, Amber gave me a curious look. “Busy with what? Work?”But before I could respond, Amber’s gaze turned to Xaiver, standing a few steps behind me. Her eyes lingered on him a little too long, and she leaned in, whispering, "Who’s that?""Oh, that's Xaiver…"Amber's lips curled into a mischievous smile as she studied him. “Wait a second… When did you change boyfriends?” I blinked, caught off guard. “What? No, Xavier isn’t—” But she wasn’t listening. Instead, she crossed her arms and nodded in approval, a smug grin sp
Skylar"I can't believe you’re wasting your beauty like this, Sky! You have such a great figure, yet you insist on dressing like you’re some boring secretary in a dull office drama,” Amber rolled her eyes as she pushed me toward a high-end clothing store. She had been nagging me for nearly twenty minutes after we met at the Cafe. Ever since she found out I was married to Cole, she had been criticizing my lack of effort in dressing up as a ‘billionaire’s wife'.I let out a tired sigh, already knowing this conversation was going nowhere. "Amber, I really don’t see the big deal. They’re just clothes." Amber gasped, placing a hand over her chest like I had just uttered something blasphemous. "Just clothes? Sky, that’s an insult to someone like me! Fashion is an art, a language. It tells the world who you are before you even open your mouth. And right now, you’re practically telling people you don’t exist!" She flipped her hair dramatically and gestured to herself. "Look at me! Do y
Cole"How long do you plan to stay in my arms?” I asked in a cold, stern tone. Skylar briefly met my eyes before quickly pulling away as she regained her composure.I'd just left the building where I went to see a client when I saw Skylar heading toward the busy street. In an instant, a car came speeding down the road. I didn’t think twice. I ran after her and reached her just in time. I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the danger. The truck roared past us, and for a moment, my heart pounded with relief, as well as anger. I couldn’t believe that Skylar would run into traffic like that. It felt as if she did not care about her own safety at all.Without wasting time, I carried Skylar into my car. As I pulled her inside, my eyes burned with both worry and anger. Did she even know how close she was to being hit by the truck?! The thought made my heart pound as my hand tightened on the steering wheel. She had no idea—no idea how one small mistake could have cost her life!“What
Skylar Ever since that incident, Cole hardly allowed me to go out. He arranged all kinds of etiquette training to ‘prepare me’ for the family banquet. But deep down, I knew that he was using these lessons as a way to stall me, keeping me too busy to have any time to go out. Days blur together, and I passed the time from one training session to the next, until the anticipated day was finally here. I was awoken early in the morning by a series of sounds coming from downstairs. Groggily, I got out of bed and made my way down, wondering what could be happening at this hour. As I stepped into the living room, I was met with a surprising sight: a group of people bustling about, each holding tool boxes or carefully arranged rows of clothes. The room was bustling with activity, and I could hear soft murmurs and the rustle of fabric everywhere. What in the world is going on?! I approached Ingrid and asked, “Ingrid, what’s all this about?” She looked up from what she was doin
ColeWhen we arrived at my grandfather’s house, a crowd of relatives and family friends had gathered in the front yard. The house buzzed with energy, and I could tell tonight’s dinner would be a big event.Whenever the Buckman family was having any event, especially one that involved my grandfather, no one took it lightly. I pulled the car to a stop and helped Skylar out. We stepped onto the lawn, and I led her into the house one by one to greet our guests.As we walked through the busy foyer, I introduced Skylar to many of my family members. Their smiles were genuine, and I could see that they were pleased to meet her. Then, as we moved through the crowd, Skylar’s eyes widened in surprise when she spotted someone familiar near the staircase. I noticed her reaction and smiled reassuringly. “Skylar, I want you to officially meet Xavier,” I said casually. “He’s actually my cousin—my uncle’s child.”Skylar was shocked—she probably hadn’t expected that Xavier and I were related. She qu
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
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
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