“I knew she’d say something like that,” Alex suddenly blurted out.I turned to him. “Huh? Say what?”“The ‘good word’ part,”“Oh,” I mumbled, averting my gaze. Deciding it best to ignore his comment, I offered a weak smile. “Anyway, thank you for helping me last night.”He crossed his arms, leaning back against the cushions, a grin spreading across his face. “Hmm… can you remember everything that happened?”“Uh, yes, of course,” shit. I responded a touch too fast.“Really?” He leaned forward, his gaze turning serious. “Then tell me, what happened in Skyview Heights? Did you see your husband punch…?”My heart stuttered in my chest. “He did what?!”A burst of laughter erupted from him, the sound echoing through the room. I rolled my eyes as I realized I’d fallen for his trap.“You don’t remember,”Cheeks burning hot, I cleared my throat. “Well, um, honestly, yes. I… I don’t rememb
A nervous tremor ran through me as I reached for my teacup. “You seemed to know my name”Alex shrugged. "Well, let's just say powerful names tend to stick in your memory, especially at your status. Anastasia Saavedra Montreal – even before you married into the Del Valle family, that name carried a lot of weight. And now….well, let's just say marrying Regan Del Valle only amplified that power.""Are you a fan, then? You seem to know quite a bit about me.""A fan, you could say.” He chuckled a warm sound that filled the room. “I actually saw you perform once, way back when. You were 14, and I was 16. You were incredible on the piano, by the way."A soft gasp escaped my lips. "You saw that?" I breathed in disbelief."Yep. You were a prodigy, everyone knew it. But then, you just... disappeared. There were a few sightings here and there, but nothing substantial. Then, boom! The news of your wed
I busied myself in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and stirring pots. Cooking had always been a way to distract myself, and tonight was no different. As I set the table, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of loneliness. But I pushed it aside, focusing on making everything perfect.As I carefully arranged the roasted chicken on the platter, the front door creaked open, a sound so rare it made me jump. Regan stood there, framed by the evening light, looking more surprised than I felt. My heart skipped a beat. It was the first time he had come home this early in a long while."Regan?" I said, trying to keep the shock out of my voice. "You're home."He offered a curt nod, his gaze going to the laden table. "What's for dinner?"The question felt so foreign after so many evenings of empty chairs and silent meals. It was the first time he had shown interest in having dinner with me."Oh! I, uh, made roasted chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes
Regan’s POVThe final remnants of my self-control fled when I felt her lips on mine and caressed her body. My entire body was mashed up against hers. She produced the most delicate noises as we were fucking, but when I placed my hardest section against her belly, that delicate sound changed into a startled gasp.I stuck my tongue inside her mouth while it was slightly open, and the flavor was just like always.Sweet. Addicting.I lost control of myself.She moaned, “Regan,” against my mouth, and I groaned at the sexy sound of my name coming from her sweet lips.I inserted my tongue further, forcing her to rely on me. She fought back and gave me an arousing tongue-suck. My body was constantly rubbing up against hers. Her fingers were digging into my arms. With a gasp as her head tilted back, she broke off the kiss. Her desire was so strong that she continued to gaze at me with hooded eyes. I leaned down and kissed her again,
Anastasia’s POVI can feel Regan’s fingers inside of me. With his fingers firmly lodged in my pussy. Just from two of his big digits, I am stretched this far.Knowing it’s about to happen, I say, “I’m going to come.”He groans as he pushes them harder and faster, “God, so fucking tight.”And that’s it; that’s when I come. I groaned incoherently as I let forth my orgasm. My body was vibrating with pleasure, and I was panting and dizzy. With a long, leisurely lick of his tongue, he gently kissed the inside of my thigh. He took a sharp breath, then withdrew and lifted his hand. He maintained my gaze on him as he brought his finger to his lips, never letting go as he sucked them completely, causing my eyes to widen and my mouth to part even more.I was unable to look away after he had finished cleaning them. With his head slightly leaned back, his eyes closed, and his lips parted, he appeared incredibly strong. I felt all of his hardne
I stood a few meters away from the car and silently watched Regan open the car door and was about to get in when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced down, frowning when I saw it was a message from my older brother, Christopher. A sense of unease washed over me as I read the text. 'Come to the company' "Who’s that?" Regan had one hand on the car door, his blue eyes fixed on me. "It's Christopher. He's asking me to go to the company." Regan's expression hardened slightly. "Maybe it's about that inheritance you're all fighting over. Why don’t you just give it to them?” The shock and pain from his words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I managed to maintain my composure. “You think so?" I said, my smile feeling more like a grimace. "So, they can stop bothering us," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, as if the solution was that simple. My smile wavered but didn't
I moved to the empty chair, across from my father, keeping my expression neutral. The weight of their stares bore down on me, but I refused to show any sign of weakness. As I sat, I could feel the anger rising against my calm exterior, especially as I looked at Marianne. The woman who had wormed her way into our family, who now sat in my mother’s place, pretending to be the matriarch. "Let's get this over with. I know you don't particularly want me here, and the feelings are mutual. So, tell me, what's this charade all about?" My father remained impassive for a moment, the silence stretching into an eternity. Then, he pulled out a stack of photographs. He slammed them down on the table, the sound echoing through the opulent room like a gunshot. "Explain these" I glanced down, my heart dropping as I recognized the images. They were of me and Alex under the bridge, the day when I broke down after seeing Regan and Zarina. My jaw tense but I maintain my face neutral despite the intense
Then, an eerie silence descended upon the room. Everyone stood frozen. My father, his face pale and contorted with a mixture of shock and guilt, stared at me, the figurine still clutched in his trembling hand before his face hardened again.“Is that what you learned all this time? To be ungrateful?!” he added.Ignoring the sting, I reacted on autopilot. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out a handkerchief, the crisp white fabric already stained crimson as I pressed it against the wound. With trembling hands, I fished out my phone, the screen illuminating the stunned faces around me. Quickly, I snapped a series of pictures – the shattered porcelain fragments scattered on the floor, the incriminating evidence of their staged photos lying on the table, and finally, a close-up of my bleeding cheek.“What the fuck are you doing?“ Christopher spat.A bitter smile twisted my lips. They hadn't even bothered to ask if I was alright. "Evidence,"
The days blurred into each other, each one more unbearable than the last. It had been nearly a week since Regan last stepped foot in the house. I went through the motions like a ghost. Mornings began with waking up to an empty bed, the sheets on his side still perfectly smooth. I would wander down to the dining room, where Susan and the others set out breakfast, their expressions carefully neutral. Most of the time, I didn’t touch the food. The taste of anything felt foreign to me, and my stomach churned at the thought of eating.I spent hours trying to distract myself, but everything I did felt hollow. The books I picked up went unread after a few pages. The TV droned on in the background. Even music, which had always been my escape, felt unbearable.Every evening, I found myself sitting by the living room window, staring out at the driveway. My phone was always within arm’s reach, its screen lighting up every now and then with messages or calls from people I couldn’t bring myself to
The morning light filtered through the curtains, too bright and too cruel for someone like me. I groaned softly as I woke up on the couch in one of the guest rooms, my neck stiff and my body aching from the awkward position I had slept in. I had no courage to see Regan last night.A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I managed, my voice hoarse.The door creaked open to reveal Susan, one of the maids.“Good morning, Miss”I sat up slowly, running a hand through my tangled hair. “Morning, Susan.”“There’s someone looking for you. One of Mr. Regan’s business associates” “Tell them I’ll contact them later”Susan nodded, stepping back toward the door. “Very well, Miss.”Just as she reached for the handle, I stopped her. “Susan,” I called softly, my throat dry. “Where’s Regan?”Her pause was telling. “Sir Regan left early this morning. He didn’t say where he was going.”Of course, he did. I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding stiffly. “Thank you, Susan.”She lingered f
The moment he was gone, I faced Regan, my anger rising to meet his. Pulling my hand free, I marched past him and into the house, slamming the door shut behind me."What was that Anastasia?!" Regan bellowed, his voice echoing through the hallway. "Are you having an affair with him now?!"His accusation stung, but it was the fear in his voice that truly confused me. "You're insane," I spat back, whirling around to face him."Insane?!" he roared. "You're the one who's lost your mind! Don't you realize what people will say if they find out? It'll be all over the tabloids – 'Anastasia cheating with some low-life chef!'"And that was my last straw. Fueled by long-suppressed emotions, I did something I never thought I'd do – I slapped him. Hard.The sound echoed in the vast emptiness of the foyer. I stood there, trembling with anger. "Don't you dare compare me to you, Regan I'm not cheating on anyone."“Do you expect me to just accept that?!”“Are you afraid of your own ghost?”He re
We zipped through the city streets, the wind whipping through my hair and the rumble of the motorcycle engine filling my ears. The world blurred past in a kaleidoscope of lights and colors, a welcome distraction. We rode for what felt like an eternity, the city slowly giving way to the outskirts, dotted with twinkling lights and quiet neighborhoods.Finally, Alex pulled over in front of a small, unassuming diner tucked away on a side street. Relief washed over me as we dismounted, my legs slightly shaky from the unfamiliar ride. Alex took the helmet from my grasp, his touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary."How was your first motorcycle ride?""Exhilarating," A genuine smile spreading across my face. It was the first time I'd felt truly alive in what felt like forever. "But where exactly are we?""Thought you might need a break from all that fancy French food," he explained, leading me towards the diner entrance. "This place has the best comfort food in town, trust me
The city lights began to twinkle as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Exhausted and emotionally drained, I craved a moment of peace. With a sigh, I decided to visit Le Ciel Bleu."Marlon, can we go to Le Ciel Bleu.""Certainly, Ma'am," he replied. He pulled away from the curb, the familiar route to the restaurant a blur as I leaned my head against the cool glass window.Le Ciel Bleu exuded a certain Parisian charm. A wrought-iron fence adorned with climbing ivy surrounded a small patio.As we arrived, Marlon opened the car door for me with his usual courtesy."You can go home, Marlon," I said, turning to my driver. "I'll call you when I'm ready.""Are you sure, Ma'am?""Yes, thank you," I replied and walked towards the restaurant, taking a seat at a corner table near the large glass wall.I opted for a quiet table in the corner, away from the main crow
The next day, Regan was still not coming home, and the day stretched before me. By the time I woke, the day had reached its peak. As the afternoon sun cast its golden rays through the window, a notification buzzed on my phone. Pulling it out of my pocket, I glanced at the screen. It was a text from Gerard. His message was simple – a request to meet.Despite the fatigue that weighed me down, and the nausea churning in my stomach, I knew I couldn't ignore him. With a deep breath, I pushed myself off the couch. Moving on autopilot, I made my way to my room. The reflection in the mirror startled me. My usually bright green eyes were dull and shadowed. Choosing a red maxi dress, I slipped it on. The long sleeves offered a welcome layer of comfort, hiding the fading bruise blooming on my arm. The one I received from where Regan shoved me in a staff room. The red color felt like a shield, a way to mask the vulnerability I still felt.Reachi
When I woke up, Regan was not by my side. He also hadn't slept beside me, but I heard him take clothes from his closet during the night. I sighed, feeling the emptiness of the bed. I came down, feeling lazy and not quite ready to face the day. I sank into the couch in the living room. Susan, one of the maids, brought me a tray of breakfast. I nibbled on the food, my appetite barely there. Sheila's sudden appearance startled me out of my thoughts. Her face, usually alight with a friendly smile, was etched with concern. She hurried over, her movements quick and worried, and sank down onto the couch beside me. "You look dead. Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for answers. I forced a weak smile, the kind that didn't quite reach my eyes. "I'm fine, Sheila," I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just tired." Sheila wasn't convinced. She scrutinized me with a knowing look, her brow furrowed in worry. "Don't try to play it off, Anastasia. What happened? Tell me everythi
Anastasia's POVThe towering cityscape of the city finally rose into view bringing a sliver of relief. My eyes felt gritty and raw like sandpaper had been rubbed across them. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest with each movement. Pulling into the familiar driveway of our mansion, I practically tumbled out of the taxi, my legs shaky.Susan practically ran our household, and rushed out the front door, her face etched with a mixture of surprise and concern. "Miss Anastasia? My goodness, what are you doing here? And why are you taking a taxi?"Behind her, the other maids peeked out from the doorway, their faces mirroring Susan's astonishment. I plastered a weak smile on my face, but I could feel the exhaustion radiating off me in waves. "Hey, Susan," I mumbled in a hoarse whisper. "Long story,""But... but where is Sir Regan..." Susan stammered, confusion clouding her features. She clearly expected me to be with Regan and the family at th
Regan's POV The car ride home was tense and silent. My family and I sat in the dimly lit vehicle, each lost in our thoughts. I couldn't shake the image of Anastasia's eyes, filled with pain and betrayal, from my mind. I hadn’t known she was there. My father had left first, and one of my cousins had stayed behind with Zarina, who thankfully seemed fine now. But the frustration gnawed at me, knowing I had somehow failed Anastasia again. As we drove, I finally broke the silence. "Does anyone know where Anastasia went? It's already 10 in the evening." My mother, sitting beside me, glanced at me with concern. "She might be at the house by now," We pulled into the driveway, and Dad was waiting outside, his face etched with concern. "Is Anastasia with you?" he asked the moment I stepped out of the car. "No," I replied, a knot of dread forming in my stomach. Just the