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Our Beginning
Last Updated:
2024-02-10 03:28:28
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The Rich and the Loved At Any Cost
I hid in one of the alcoves as Alim Nassar stormed out of the patio and headed to the exit. Then I waited there until Amelia emerged, rubbing her neck and cursing under her breath.“Fine friends you have there, Amelia.” I stepped out of the alcove, a smirk curving my lips.She flinched and stepped back, her lips peeling back in a snarl. “What the fuck are you doing here?”I shrugged and inched closer. “You didn't reply to my texts, and you should have. I brought a deed to your building after all.”She scoffed. “I don't give a damn about that deed.”My brows rose. “I thought you wanted to have your New York headquarters. You'll need it when you launch your magazine's American edition.”“Please, don't pretend you don't know about my financial problems,” she strained through her teeth.“Is that why you decided to sell your soul to Alim Nassar and whoever his boss is?”A grim smirk twisted her lips. “You know nothing about the deal I made, and, for your own good, it'll be better if it sta
Last Updated : 2024-02-10The Rich and the Loved In the Courtroom Again
LILLYThe concern Callan had shown when I had been kidnapped must have evaporated as soon as he returned to New York. A day after we arrived, I received documents stating that Hayes Global had officially nullified the license agreement I had signed with my father. Additionally, there were claims concerning the rights as well as an official demand that my team and I deliver the project's full data.Of course, I expected that much, and after talking to my lawyer, I wasn't peculiarly bothered by what I received. I was even relieved since the license agreement worked in our favor only if we were still working for Hayes Labs. Now all I wanted was for the judge to state that all the rights belonged solely to me and my team. Once it happened, I could start thinking about founding my own company…Unfortunately, I couldn't focus on my work just yet. Not only because I had to move out of my apartment, but because I had to show up in court... Nicolas Rogers's case was about to begin.Raven happi
Last Updated : 2024-02-11The Rich and the Loved The Daytime Nightmare
I breathed in sharply, but it felt as if no oxygen filled my lungs. I tried again and again, but it only became worse. My body began to shiver, and my hand reached for Lucien's arm, curling around it and squeezing until I caught his attention.His head finally snapped toward me. “What's wrong?” His eyes traced my features, his brows knitting.“There,” I breathed out, slowly raising my hand to point to the opposite side of the room. “The man in the black cap.”He turned around, blocking my view again. “I don't see anyone wearing a cap.”I leaned out to see. “An Asian guy…” My words faded as I found nothing but an empty space where I saw him. I swallowed, turning to Lucien. “He was here. The man who kidnapped me.”Lucien studied me for a moment. “Are you sure? Maybe you saw someone similar, or maybe it's just your mind playing tricks on you.”I shook my head. “I know what I saw.”He gave me a thin-lipped smile and nodded. “All right. Stay here while I check the corridors. If it's him, h
Last Updated : 2024-02-12The Rich and the Loved Too Close to Death
A shudder rushed throughout my body. Someone was inside the apartment. Someone was lurking in the darkness, perhaps standing a few feet away from me. I stayed still, listening to every sound, but I couldn't hear anything aside from my hammering heart. Swallowing hard, I took a cautious step toward the door.“I'm afraid I cannot let you leave,” a deep, male voice said.My head snapped to the left corner of the dark room, where the sound came from. Then I saw it—the shape of a man, emerging from the black of the night. He stepped into the part softly illuminated by light sneaking through one of the windows. He was wearing heavy boots, combat pants, and a black military-like jacket. A black cap on his head obscured most of his face from my view, but what I saw was enough to recognize him.“You tried to kidnap me,” I choked out, stumbling back.The man chuckled and stepped forward. “I had a foolish man for a partner then, but I won't fail this time.” He advanced at me and pulled out a gun
Last Updated : 2024-02-13The Rich and the Loved Healing
DARRENI refused to leave Lilly's side, even for a second, when the police finally showed up. I either had my arms around her or held her hand, silently swearing I would never leave her again.After Lucien told me that Lilly had seen one of her kidnappers in the courtroom, I had a feeling she might be in danger again. I wouldn't have been worried knowing that she was in my penthouse, but as soon as I found out that she was heading to her old apartment, I knew that something was bound to go terribly wrong.My instincts were right, but even my imagination underestimated the danger she was in. The thought that she might have been dead if I had shown up a minute later filled me with the worst kind of dread I had ever felt. I couldn't lose her. I could have lost everything else, but not her…Lilly testified at the police precincts for more than an hour. The detective thoroughly noted every detail she mentioned, but I expected the police investigation to end up with nothing. Lilly's attacke
Last Updated : 2024-02-14The Rich and the Loved Gifted
This morning certainly deserved to be marked on the calendar. It deserved to be named the best morning I could remember. I woke up with Lilly in my arms, wrapped around her. I felt her breath on my chest as her head rested there, using me as her pillow. Her lips brushed my skin as she shifted slightly, and I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face. Peace—this was how it felt.I knew I should have moved. It was time for us to leave this bed and reacquaint ourselves with the harsh reality and all the unsolved problems, but I didn't want that for her. I would have sheltered her from the danger. I would have locked her here so I could handle everything alone, but I knew she wouldn't want that, and she would hate me if I even tried to restrict her freedom and the right to choose for herself. Nonetheless, I chose to be selfish and ignorant just a little longer. I wanted to savor this moment between us for just a few more minutes…“What time is it?” she murmured, nuzzling my ch
Last Updated : 2024-02-15The Rich and the Loved Righting Wrongs
LILLYThe last thing I wanted was to feel defenseless again. I knew that Darren said that he would keep me safe, but I was sick and tired of not being able to protect myself. Of course, I was more than aware that I was not a Wonder Woman, and even months of hard training would not turn me into one, but I had to at least increase my odds. That was why I renewed my training sessions with Mr. Harada, asking him to teach me how to disarm my opponent.I spent at least three hours a day in a gym. Darren wasn't too happy about it since all my sessions were leaving me too exhausted for any other physical activity, but he understood why I needed to keep practicing. He supported me, he cared for me, and he endured my whining when my sore muscles limited my every move.After the recent events, Darren hired a driver-slash-bodyguard for me. I didn't object. I wasn't stupid enough to think that I didn't need protection. I knew that I still had a target on my back, even if our enemies stayed silent
Last Updated : 2024-02-16The Rich and the Loved Setting a Trap
DARRENI spent a few hours at the shooting range, showing Lilly how to handle her new weapon. She was a fast learner, picking up everything almost too quickly. I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed since I enjoyed correcting her posture by standing inappropriately close to her. Of course, I was proud of her. She had perfect aim, and she was able to leave perfect holes in the center of the shooting board as soon as she found the right grip to pull the trigger. Unfortunately, shooting a living person wasn't the same as shooting a floating piece of paper…Once I drove Lilly home, I went to the club to join Lucien, who had already spent hours watching the footage from the night Fen and Tim had gotten merrily drunk.“Found anything yet?” I asked, entering the security control room.Lucien glanced at me over his shoulder before turning his head back to the monitors. “I found our professor talking to at least four different women, but I doubt that any of them is the one we are looki
Last Updated : 2024-02-17
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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
