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Independence
Last Updated:
2024-01-25 22:42:41
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The Rich and the Loved Sue Me
I didn't have to wait long for Callan's move. My father called me to his office three days later. Certainly, it was his secretary who made the call, as if he were trying to emphasize that this had nothing to do with me being his daughter. But that was all right. I expected that much.My father wasn't alone when I entered his office. Callan was there as well, leaning against the front of my father's desk with his arms crossed. Gone was the pleasant smile he had offered me during our dates or even during Sunday dinner at the residence. The Callan standing before me was a calculated businessman, prepared for a fight. Well, I was also ready for a battle.“Two against one, I see?” I sneered at my father and saw his throat working on a swallow."Why don't we all sit down,” proposed my father, his voice strangled.I gave him and Callan a look before sitting comfortably on a sofa. My father and Callan took the armchairs on either side of my seat. A faint smirk tugged at my lips as I turned to
Last Updated : 2024-01-26The Rich and the Loved Against All Logic
DARRENFor the last two weeks, I had been waking up restless, as if some ominous force had been lurking around every corner. That gut feeling grew stronger, and I tended to rely on my instincts in business. Cautiously, I checked the news on the markets and the most recent trends, trying not to miss anything, but I kept finding nothing. Lucien told me that I was beginning to develop paranoia, yet I knew that I was right. Some kind of significant shift was about to happen.“I hate to admit it, but I think you were right.” Lucien's lips formed a thin line as he entered my office in Eques Gold and walked over to my desk. “Something is definitely up.”“For once, you admitting that I was right gives me no satisfaction,” I grunted.“It's about Holloway and William Hayes,” he said. “I heard a rumor or two about the merger.”“Son of a…” I clenched my fists and drew a deep breath. “What about Lilly?”He smiled wryly and scratched his head. “I heard something about a possible marriage. Nothing c
Last Updated : 2024-01-26The Rich and the Loved Heat
LILLYDarren's words caused my breath to hitch. I hadn't expected to hear them from him. Nor did I expect to see those blue eyes darken as they pierced right through me. A shiver coursed throughout my body, forcing me to take a step back as if I felt that distance was the only way I could keep my sanity.“Come in,” I rasped, gesturing at him, and I didn't miss the faint smile curving his lips. Pretending to know exactly what I was doing, I led him into my living room. For a moment, it felt like a reasonable idea until I realized that most of the room had been covered by all sorts of documents. Gasping, I lurched forward and hurriedly grabbed half of the files to clean up at least a part of the sofa. “Have a seat,” I muttered nervously.He nodded and sat down, but kept his eyes on me as I stashed the rest of the printed reports and contracts on the coffee table.“Sorry,” I murmured. “I did not expect guests today.”"I apologize for coming late… and unannounced,” he said.I studied him,
Last Updated : 2024-01-27The Rich and the Loved The Call
Darren offered to drive me to the clinic, and I was thankful that he did. My mind was too occupied figuring out the best treatment option to focus on driving the car or even calling for a cab. My whole body rattled as I was getting dressed, so concentrated on my task that I almost ignored the fact that Darren was watching every move I made.“Let me,” he said, taking my coat and helping my shaking hands find their way into the sleeves. This caring side of him felt strange. It slightly reminded me of him from the day he saved me and brought me to his penthouse, but that was mostly an act. The Darren I saw before me at that moment was… genuine and sincere… and it seemed more than just a little terrifying.He parked the car in front of the clinic's main entrance and then followed me inside. I was too consumed by analyzing data in my head to process what our showing up together would look like. The realization came as soon as I saw Sakura, Suraj, and Tim waiting for me in the main hall. Th
Last Updated : 2024-01-27The Rich and the Loved Relief
I had woken up from a nightmare. It was the third night it happened and the third night since I had made my decision. These nightmares were new. In those dreams, I saw myself handing a syringe to the doctor. He injected it into Josie's arm, and then she started dying, turning into dust… Every time I woke up screaming.It was obvious what triggered those dreams. I kept telling myself that Josie would die if we didn't treat her. That argument seemed to be acknowledged and accepted by every part of me. Then there was a matter of choosing the right gene combination. Perhaps the version that had given worse results in our trials would have turned out to be more suitable for Josie's young body. Perhaps there were other aspects I should have thought about before making the final call.All the what-ifs were killing me. Surely, I hadn't made this decision alone. Josie's doctors had accepted the treatment and agreed with my choice. I kept hearing that this was the only reasonable way, but that
Last Updated : 2024-01-28The Rich and the Loved Beginning of the War
I could feel my wildly pounding heart long hours after our call ended. Darren's words were like a warm blanket tightly wrapped around my body. A dumb smile curled my lips and stayed there for—I wasn't sure how long. This wasn't a confession, but it was the beginning—the beginning of us. It was a sign that he wanted this… thing between us to progress. And I was beyond happy he had chosen this way.Certainly, my blissful state lasted only until I arrived in front of the clinic the next day and saw Callan's car. Muttering a curse, I entered the building and strode straight to Josie's room. I found Callan outside, talking to Kathrine and her father.“Lilly, so lovely to see you,” Callan called out, his smile satiated in pure mockery.“I wish I could say the same.” I smiled back at him before glancing at Kathrine. She seemed confused, perhaps even intimidated. My hands fisted. “What do you want, Callan?” I snarled.His cold smile widened. “I'm only here to congratulate you on your success.
Last Updated : 2024-01-29The Rich and the Loved Another Piece of the Truth
Our celebration after winning the first battle didn't last long, or, more accurately, it was over as soon as we returned to our lab, filled with research documents spread like litter all over the floor.“We need to get all the data and the special equipment we bought for this project out of here,” I said. “This lab is no longer safe.”Suraj frowned. “Why? Isn't it like you said? This place belongs to you, doesn't it?”I pulled out one of the chairs and sat down, looking at my team. “My father didn't really have a place for me in this company, but I wanted to work, and he agreed to my terms. When I studied, my father kept sending me monthly allowances, which were almost impossible to spend. I invested that money instead. Then, after graduation, he agreed to give me a part of Hayes Labs, which used to be a warehouse, and I used the money I invested to buy the equipment I needed. The problem was that hardly anyone knew about it, and, back then, I didn't think I'd need any legal documents
Last Updated : 2024-01-29The Rich and the Loved The Opening
Mr. Dawson ran me through our strategy for the final time. I was supposed to focus solely on the night Kenneth attacked me. Certainly, I was ready to tell the judge and the jury about everything that had happened during my five-year marriage, but Mr. Dawson insisted I didn't say a word about it.“If you mentioned anything about your life together, his lawyer is going to say that it's irrelevant to the case. That is why we will wait for the other side to make an opening for us,” Dawson explained. “I'm convinced that they're going to try to prove that you provoked the attack yourself. Their lawyer will say that you were vengeful, vicious, and hell-bent on destroying the Welch family.”Anger buzzed in my veins. “That would be a low move,” I said.“Of course,” Dawson agreed, “but they will hold on to whatever is able to sway the jury's emotions.”I ground my teeth. “I will not let that happen.”Dawson patted me on the shoulder. “Let's hope that everything goes smoothly.”Twenty minutes la
Last Updated : 2024-01-30
Latest chapter
The Rich and the Loved The Wealth of Love
LILLY Four Months Later “One more signature at the bottom, Ms. Hayes.” The smiling lawyer pointed at the empty dotted line on the last page. “Of course.” I drew a deep breath and signed my name where he wanted me to. Then I rose to my feet, and so did the man sitting in front of me—Doctor John Pearson. “Congratulations,” he said, not without a hint of sadness in his voice, before extending his hand toward me. “The clinic is officially yours.” “Thank you, Doctor Pearson. I promise I will take good care of this facility,” I told him. A soft smile appeared on his lips. “I do not doubt that you will.” I still couldn't believe it happened. John Pearson Clinic—soon Lillian Hayes Clinic—finally belonged to me. Of course, it was going to take a while before I would implement my plan and make the necessary changes, but I was already madly excited… and so was Raven. “I've never been friends with my boss before.” She chuckled, catching me as soon as I walked out of the meeting room where
The Rich and the Loved For Her
DARRENI didn't want to believe what that son of a bitch had told me. I had to trust that Lilly was alive. Nonetheless, after Almarri's confession, I told Chris to leave the room. I gave Almarri a moment to recollect himself until I beat the shit out of him, breaking at least five of six of his bones in the process. He was still breathing until I left the room. Chris had friends in the CIA, and we promised to try delivering Almarri to them in exchange for covering whatever was going to happen at his casino. It took most of my willpower to stop myself before I delivered the final blow. It had nothing to do with being merciful; Chris assured me that the CIA had no intention of granting him anything but torment.Once I wiped Almarri's blood off my knuckles, I stormed through the long corridors. I swore that I would find Lilly, and only seeing her lifeless body would have stopped me from burning everything in my way to get to her.Chris caught me at the end of one of the corridors. “We ch
The Rich and the Loved Run
LILLYI couldn't move. My body's exhaustion turned opening my eyes into an almost unbearable struggle. It took me a while before I lifted my eyelids and instantly winced at the light filling the room. I blinked several times before I established what I was looking at… Ceiling. A bright, well-lit ceiling.I needed an additional minute or two to acknowledge that this wasn't a dream. I was lying on a bed with an IV drip connected to my arm. The bed had multiple pillows and fluffy sheets, as if someone cruelly decided to give me a moment of questionable luxury before turning me into a slave.Another white cotton dress replaced the old, stained one. My body had been cleaned from all the sweat and dirt. I didn't have the strength to wonder who bathed me and dressed me. I felt violated enough without acknowledging how many hands touched my body.I could have died. Perhaps it would have been a blessing if that had happened. Now I was lying numbly on a bed, waiting for more torment to come. Sl
The Rich and the Loved Rage
DARREN I paced around the hotel room in Doha, waiting for Naila to arrive and deliver what she promised. The adrenaline kept pumping in my veins, increasing the restlessness that kept me awake the entire night. Unlike me, Lucien was napping on the sofa whenever he found a moment of silence. I couldn't even close my eyes without seeing Lilly locked up somewhere, tormented, scared… “God…” I dragged my hands down my face before glancing at the time. It was seven in the morning, which meant that we had fourteen hours before the auction started. I kept telling myself that they needed her alive and unharmed to sell her, but what if I was wrong? Those what-ifs were driving me insane, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that, even at that moment, she was greatly suffering. The soft knocking on the door snapped my head toward it. Lucien's opened his eyes and instantly leaped to his feet. He nodded my way and cautiously opened the door. Naila silently sneaked inside, and he closed it behind
The Rich and the Loved Agony
I lost count of how many times I had been stabbed with a needle, and I wasn't sure my veins could withstand another injection. I quickly realized how pathetic my relief was after Callan told me I wouldn't be beaten, cut, or burned. The torture he had designed for me went far beyond the physical pain…Every inch of my body burned from within. My blood turned into a living flame, scorching my veins. My skin covered with an itching rash I couldn't scratch. It lasted for hours. I didn't want to give Callan satisfaction, so I remained silent, biting my lips until they bled. But the third or fourth dose of the drug broke the final restraint… A scream tore through my throat, and I kept screaming until my vocal cords gave up. I quietly begged Callan to stop. I thought he would if I told him I was ready to give him what he wanted. I thought that if I pretended I wanted to cooperate, he would give my tormented body a break… He didn't. He just walked closer and served me another drug dose.I los
The Rich and the Loved On His Mercy
LILLY“Wake up, sleepyhead.” The voice I heard filled me with nausea, and the soft laughter that followed sent chills down my spine.Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking until the sight adjusted to the dim light. Every inch of my body felt sore, and I quickly realized why. I was sitting on a chair with my legs tied with a rope to its wooden ones and my hands restrained at the back. Another rope was tied around my waist, keeping me in a still position most likely through the long hours I had been unconscious.I was cold. The freezing concrete hurt my bare feet with the slightest touch and the simple cotton dress resembling a cheap nightgown formed no barrier against the low temperature and humidity of the room I was in. I didn't even want to think who dressed me and if I was naked underneath…Drawing a shaky breath, I looked to the sides. This place must have been some kind of a basement. The room seemed to be nearly empty, or at least I couldn't see any furniture from my limited perspec
The Rich and the Loved Running Out of Time
DARRENMy lungs filled with a greedy push of air. My eyes opened wide and roamed around, hectically trying to process my situation. The car, I was inside the car… My car was upside down, and I…Everything hurt, including my weak attempts to breathe, but I knew I had to ignore the pain. I had to live. I had to get out of there.My consciousness gathered the pieces of memory together. Someone had rammed me, pushing me off the road while I had been driving to the residence. The fuckers had chosen a part of a perfectly secluded road to do it. Perhaps it was fortunate that they hadn't been as thorough as to check whether I had been dead or not.My limbs weren't broken, although at least one of my ribs was. I clenched my teeth and crawled out through the broken side window. My car lay in a ditch on the side of the road, with not a single building around.How long had I been out cold? The returning memories painted an ominous picture that slowly filled me with dread. Lilly had been waiting f
The Rich and the Loved Trapped
LILLYIt had been three days since Uncle Norton's funeral and the fight with my father. My heart still ached whenever I thought about it, but I finally felt that my chest had loosened, allowing me to breathe.Darren's presence had become my remedy. His touch and warmth soothed me, healed me, and filled the hollowness that appeared after Uncle Norton's death. I didn't even want to think about what I would have become without having him close.Since the danger had become more palpable than ever, each member of my team was assigned their own security team. Of course, Darren organized two new bodyguards for me as well. I hadn't protested, even if I hated buying groceries accompanied by two men in black suits.My mood significantly improved after Kenneth's and Doctor Rogers's trials finally ended. Kenneth had been sentenced to fifteen years in prison for assault and attempting murder, and another five years for terminating the pregnancy against my will. For all his deeds, Rogers received t
The Rich and the Loved Her Anchor
DARRENI found Lilly sitting in the precinct's corridor, staring down at her hands that limply rested on her lap. Dried blood covered the sides of her palms and fingertips. My chest tightened as I saw her in her numb state. I rushed forward, pushing through the policemen standing in the way, until I pulled her up from her seat and wrapped her in my arms. Only then did she start crying, and her tears kept falling long after I brought her back to the penthouse.Rage filled every inch of me. I wanted to kill everyone responsible for Lilly's state. If only I could get to New York sooner. If only I could somehow prevent this, protect her better, spare her from the pain and anguish...I left Lucien in Qatar to deal with our end of the bargain with Naila. He wasn't happy about it, but I gathered enough people and resources for him to plan a flawless rescue mission. Getting Naila's brother out of Almarri's residence wasn't going to be easy, but I knew that Lucien would figure out how to do it
