"I've got a surprise for you," Sebastian murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips as his fingers played lazily with Kaira’s hair. They were lying on the bed, Kaira straddling his thigh, the intimacy of their conversation weaving through the quiet of the room.Kaira’s lips curved into a playful smile as she turned to face him. "You really need to stop spoiling me, Seb." Her tone was teasing, but the flicker of curiosity in her eyes betrayed her interest."And if I stop, who else would take care of my princess?" he replied, his voice warm and rhetorical.She chuckled softly before asking, "So, what’s this surprise, baby?" Her excitement was clear, her gaze bright with anticipation.Sebastian smirked knowingly. "You’ll see tomorrow.""Sebastian!" she exclaimed in mock annoyance, her hand lightly slapping his chest. "Why tell me you have a surprise if you don’t plan to show me right now?" A small pout formed on her lips as she glared at him.He chuckled, enjoying her playful frustratio
“Don’t open your eyes until I tell you to, princess,” Sebastian ordered as he freed his hands from Kaira’s eyes.“Alright, boss,” she responded sarcastically, smiling as she anticipated the surprise. She was blindfolded, and Sebastian had driven them from the house to a secret location. He had covered her eyes with his hands when they got out of the car, claiming she might see through the blindfold.Sebastian backed away, standing in front of her with a key in his hand. He pulled it from his suit pocket and jiggled it in front of her. “You may open your eyes now,” he whispered.“I’m blindfolded, remember?” she said with a laugh. He chuckled as he moved to remove the thin cloth covering her eyes.Kaira adjusted to the light, blinking after having her eyes shut for so long. The first thing she noticed was the key he held up close to her face, gleaming under the sunlight. Her expression turned to confusion and curiosity as she took the key from him.“What is this for, Seb?” she asked, ar
“Hello, Everyone. My name is Julian Stone. You all probably know me. I’m the Director of Blackwood company.” Julian’s voice echoed around the hall, different broadcasting stations were present, wanting to get the first hand information.The press conference the Blackwood family had discussed was held today with the family press watching him intently while nodding their head in approval in what he had just said. “There’s been alot of chaos because of what happened the past week, putting the Blackwood company in a tight spot and I sincerely apologize for that.” He continued looking at Evelyn as they both shared a smile for a brief moment having rehearsed his words before looking back at the camera. “Firstly, I will love to address the scandal that broke out between I, and my sister in law, Kaira Blackwood. Yes it is true I did everything that was said about me and I sincerely apologize for it. Honestly I was under the influence of alcohol that night because our team had a party that d
It was agonizing to stand beside the man she once believed would be her forever, watching him vow his life to another woman—her own sister, Evelyn. As the maid of honor, Kaira was painfully close, each vow and whispered promise a knife twisting deeper. She could feel her heart splintering with each passing moment, a suffocating ache in her chest as if her entire world had fractured beyond repair.Kaira had known heartbreak before, but discovering that Julian had been unfaithful was an agony she hadn’t anticipated. She had trusted him, seen him as the one stable, loving force in her life. The betrayal alone had been devastating, but to learn it was with her own sister—the sister who had taken so much from her—was a torment that left her feeling stripped bare, like her very identity had been torn away.Finding out through a wedding invitation was a new level of humiliation. It was a double blow, the kind that left her questioning everything she thought she knew about loyalty and love. H
The comfortable sheets cocooned Kaira as she snuggled deeper into the bed, the intoxicating scent of cologne filling her senses. She almost didn’t want to open her eyes, but as she rolled to her side, her hand brushed against something solid—a strong, masculine body. Realization hit, and her eyes flew open, meeting the intense gaze of a stunning man with piercing blue eyes that seemed to look straight through her. She gasped and bolted upright, putting as much distance between them as possible.The man’s warm smile, though friendly, only unsettled her further. Panic and regret flooded her thoughts. If she hadn’t drunk herself into a stupor, she wouldn’t be in this situation, waking up next to a stranger. She tried to recall the events of the previous night, but her memory was foggy, cut off at the last drink. Any attempt to remember only made her head throb painfully.“Did… anything happen?” she asked carefully, praying for an answer that would reassure her.Sebastian tilted his head,
As Kaira entered the house, she was met with a hard slap across the cheek from her stepmother, Claudia. The stinging pain snapped her back to the harsh reality of her life here. She’d been foolish to decline the food offered to her that morning; the slap reminded her that she’d likely be starved today as punishment. Across the room, her sister Evelyn was watching the scene with obvious satisfaction, a smug grin playing on her lips. Julian, her former lover and now Evelyn’s husband, sat beside her, his expression unreadable but his gaze fixed on Kaira.“What was that stunt you pulled at the wedding yesterday, huh?” Claudia’s voice was shrill with anger as she practically shouted into Kaira’s ear. She threw two newspapers onto the coffee table, and Kaira’s eyes widened slightly when she saw the headlines. It was the first time she’d ever made it into the news—she, the forgotten daughter, had actually captured the public’s attention, and on two front pages, no less. *Wow, I’m quite the c
The house had been unusually peaceful since Evelyn left. With her sister gone, everyone seemed too occupied with preparations for the grand dinner party in two days to pay much attention to Kaira. It was a relief, really. She wasn’t particularly fond of these lavish social events, and she already planned her escape from the evening’s watchful and judgmental eyes. She’d perfected the art of slipping into the background, avoiding unnecessary attention.Today, though, her mind was elsewhere. Kaira slipped into a modest but stylish outfit, soft and unassuming, yet put together. She carefully added a touch of makeup, hoping to make a slightly better impression than last time. She was returning Sebastian’s clothes, and though she told herself it was a simple errand, her heart thumped with anticipation.Once outside, she flagged down a taxi and, within minutes, found herself standing in front of his mansion. As she gazed up at the towering structure, Kaira felt small. The building was easily
Kaira sat at the bar on the edge of the party her father had insisted she attend. He claimed it would seem suspicious if she didn’t make an appearance, so here she was, with a glass of wine in hand, enjoying one of the few indulgences she allowed herself. She noticed the servants casting judgmental glances her way as she munched on a cookie, but she couldn’t care less about their opinions tonight.Her gaze drifted to her father, Mathias, along with Evelyn and Julian, laughing together over something their business partner was saying. So much for “making an appearance,” she thought, shaking her head. Her stepmother was nearby, deep in conversation with a law firm owner. Kaira knew well enough that this party was just a network of favors, disguised as a celebration. A soft melody played in the background, briefly drawing everyone's attention to the father and daughter on the dance floor.Evelyn and Mathias were the first to dance. Evelyn was skilled, and her movements impressed the gues
“Hello, Everyone. My name is Julian Stone. You all probably know me. I’m the Director of Blackwood company.” Julian’s voice echoed around the hall, different broadcasting stations were present, wanting to get the first hand information.The press conference the Blackwood family had discussed was held today with the family press watching him intently while nodding their head in approval in what he had just said. “There’s been alot of chaos because of what happened the past week, putting the Blackwood company in a tight spot and I sincerely apologize for that.” He continued looking at Evelyn as they both shared a smile for a brief moment having rehearsed his words before looking back at the camera. “Firstly, I will love to address the scandal that broke out between I, and my sister in law, Kaira Blackwood. Yes it is true I did everything that was said about me and I sincerely apologize for it. Honestly I was under the influence of alcohol that night because our team had a party that d
“Don’t open your eyes until I tell you to, princess,” Sebastian ordered as he freed his hands from Kaira’s eyes.“Alright, boss,” she responded sarcastically, smiling as she anticipated the surprise. She was blindfolded, and Sebastian had driven them from the house to a secret location. He had covered her eyes with his hands when they got out of the car, claiming she might see through the blindfold.Sebastian backed away, standing in front of her with a key in his hand. He pulled it from his suit pocket and jiggled it in front of her. “You may open your eyes now,” he whispered.“I’m blindfolded, remember?” she said with a laugh. He chuckled as he moved to remove the thin cloth covering her eyes.Kaira adjusted to the light, blinking after having her eyes shut for so long. The first thing she noticed was the key he held up close to her face, gleaming under the sunlight. Her expression turned to confusion and curiosity as she took the key from him.“What is this for, Seb?” she asked, ar
"I've got a surprise for you," Sebastian murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips as his fingers played lazily with Kaira’s hair. They were lying on the bed, Kaira straddling his thigh, the intimacy of their conversation weaving through the quiet of the room.Kaira’s lips curved into a playful smile as she turned to face him. "You really need to stop spoiling me, Seb." Her tone was teasing, but the flicker of curiosity in her eyes betrayed her interest."And if I stop, who else would take care of my princess?" he replied, his voice warm and rhetorical.She chuckled softly before asking, "So, what’s this surprise, baby?" Her excitement was clear, her gaze bright with anticipation.Sebastian smirked knowingly. "You’ll see tomorrow.""Sebastian!" she exclaimed in mock annoyance, her hand lightly slapping his chest. "Why tell me you have a surprise if you don’t plan to show me right now?" A small pout formed on her lips as she glared at him.He chuckled, enjoying her playful frustratio
Julian showed up in court, just as Sebastian had planned. Mathias hadn’t responded, proving he was too greedy to let go of the contract. But Mathias had no idea he was walking right into Sebastian’s trap. Sebastian handed Julian a bill for $20 million—a ridiculous amount meant to force the Blackwoods, desperate to avoid scandal, to pay. The case had turned public opinion in Kaira’s favor, and the media now saw her as the true victim. People even dug up Julian’s past, uncovering his relationship with Kaira, his later marriage to Evelyn, and how the family had ignored Kaira for years.“Please, Kaira, lower the bill,” Mathias begged over the phone. He had already asked her to drop the case, but she refused.“I won’t, Mr. Blackwood,” Kaira replied firmly. “I’ve told you what I need. Pay up, or I’ll make sure Julian goes to jail. I doubt you’d want that, would you?” Her tone was sharp, full of satisfaction. She remembered begging them for basic needs once, and they never listened.“Why are
Claudia returned from Sebastian’s home, her heart pounding with the weight of her actions. She prayed silently that neither Mathias nor Evelyn would uncover her schemes. Entering the house cautiously, she attempted to slip into her room unnoticed but froze when she found Evelyn standing in front of her door.“Why are you sneaking around, Mother? What have you done this time?” Evelyn asked, arms crossed. Her mind was already preoccupied with solving the problem surrounding Julian, and the last thing she needed was another complication.Claudia feigned irritation, masking her fear. “What?! Why would you assume I’ve done anything wrong, Evelyn?”Evelyn smiled knowingly, she could tell her mother was lying. Years of scheming with her mother had made her an expert in recognizing Claudia’s lies. “I don’t know, Mother. Why don’t you enlighten me?” Evelyn pressed, her tone serious.Claudia gulped but quickly masked her nervousness with indignation. “You have no right to interrogate me like th
“Nice to have you, Mrs. Blackwood,” Sebastian said with a stoic expression, his piercing gaze fixed on Claudia. It was a Saturday, and he was home when his mother-in-law unexpectedly called, insisting on checking up on them. Oddly, she’d first asked if Kaira was around, which immediately raised his suspicions. The lawsuit was only two days away, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that Claudia was here to convince him to drop it. “Oh, please, no need to be so formal, Sebastian. We’re family, aren’t we?” she replied with a chirpy tone, settling onto the couch as though she owned the place. Sebastian offered her a faint, sarcastic smile. “Yes, of course we are. What can I offer you?” he asked politely, standing in front of her like a sentinel. “Juice, preferably,” she answered, her eyes darting around the room like a thief surveying a target. She was clearly verifying his earlier claim that Kaira wasn’t home. And she wasn’t—Kaira had gone shopping with Nora after being persistently
“Mrs. Ashford, you have a visitor,” Butler James announced, his tone as formal as ever.Kaira raised a brow, curious about who would visit her unannounced. She had been laying low for the past two days, avoiding the outside world since her last visit to the Ashford estate. She was determined not to be the cause of Sebastian losing everything he had worked so hard to build. Despite Sebastian’s insistence on keeping her at the company, Kaira was equally resolute about stepping away. The internet buzz surrounding the scandal had died down slightly, though whispers still lingered.“It’s Mr. Stone, in particular,” Butler James clarified.Kaira’s expression darkened instantly. Julian Stone. She hadn’t wanted to see his face ever again, not after everything he’d done. Yet, on second thought, her curiosity got the better of her. Why had he come all the way here?“Let him in,” she said, her voice cold and detached. Turning her attention back to the television, she sipped her wine, pretending n
Julian was still recovering from the wounds he had sustained, but his heart was filled with hatred for Sebastian for putting him in such state, while also hating himself for allowing his wants surpass his mental reasoning to have harassed Kaira like that. He stared at the news which was headline, while he wanted Kaira all to himself, the news did him no good, because it was ruining his own reputation. He suspected Sebastian was the one who created such frenzy news so as to ruin him. “You see were all your crazy has landed you right?” Evelyn snapped angrily as she entered the room, holding a file in her hand. She was already over the edge because of headline news which was ruining Julian and Kaira’s reputation while skyrocketing hers and Sebastian’s. She won’t have cared about it if it were only Kaira involved but with Julian now in it, she wanted to clear the mess as soon as possible. “What do you want now?” He spat out, placing his phone down by the side table close to the bed. E
“Wake up, princess.” Sebastian whispered tapping Kaira who lay on the bed. He had just returned from work to find her asleep. There was no doubt she was tired from the whole stress and everything going on in her relationship with Sebastian. Kaira stirred awake, rubbing the sleep off her eyes as she stared at Sebastian now fully awake. “Sebastian.” She called out with a small smile as she sat up from the bed. She had glanced at the clock every one minute, waiting for him to return so they could finally talk. She had fallen asleep while trying to wait for his return so she could ease the turmoil in her heart. “Where you waiting for me, princess?” He asked casually, as though he had not snapped at earlier that day, while Kaira was happy he was back to his usual self as it seemed she also wondered if he couldn’t turn to a different person whenever they had a slight dispute. She took a good look at him to see he was dressed in his casual wear, seemingly ready to go out. Was he running