Selena sat on the bench by the river, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as the cold night air bit into her skin. Her tears had dried, leaving her face streaked and her eyes puffy. She felt numb, the kind of numbness that comes after crying so hard you have nothing left to give. She didn’t know how long she had been sitting there, lost in her thoughts, when a shadow fell over her. “Miss Frost?” The voice was deep, authoritative, but not unkind. Selena looked up, startled, to see a tall, broad-shouldered man standing a few feet away. He was dressed in a dark suit, his expression neutral but his eyes sharp and observant. She tensed, her heart racing. “Who are you?” The man took a step closer, holding up his hands in a gesture of reassurance. “My name is Marcus. I work for Mr. Mathers. He sent me to find you.” Selena’s breath hitched. Julian. Of course. She shook her head, her voice trembling. “I don’t want to see him. Tell him to leave me alone.” Marcus hesitated, h
Clara, Julian’s trusted assistant and confidante, stood in his office, her expression a mix of concern and frustration. She had just finished recounting everything she had witnessed between Ann and Selena for a few days on set now, the snide remarks, the deliberate attempts to undermine Selena’s confidence, and the outright bullying that had been going on for weeks. Julian sat behind his desk, his jaw clenched and his eyes dark with anger. He had always known Ann was ambitious, even ruthless, but he hadn’t realized the extent of her cruelty. “Why didn’t Selena tell me about this?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. Clara hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “I think she didn’t want to bother you, sir. She’s been trying to handle it on her own.” Julian’s hands tightened into fists. “Handle it on her own? She shouldn’t have to. She’s my—” He stopped himself, the words catching in his throat. ‘She’s my wife.’ But he couldn’t say it, not out loud. Not when their relationsh
It had been a long day on set, and Selena was exhausted. Her feet ached from hours of standing, and her mind was still reeling from the tension with Ann and the unexpected lunch with Julian. She just wanted to go home, collapse into bed, and forget about the world for a few hours. Julian, on the other hand, seemed unusually energized. He had been quiet during the drive back to the office, but there was a restlessness about him, a tension in the way he held himself that made Selena uneasy. They stepped into the elevator together, the doors closing with a soft *ding*. Selena pressed the button for the top floor, then leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on the floor. Julian stood a few feet away, his hands in his pockets and his eyes focused on the numbers above the door as they lit up one by one. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Then, without warning, the elevator jerked to a stop. Selena stumbled
Julian sat in his office, his fingers steepled as he stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. The morning sun streamed in, casting a golden glow over the room, but his mind was far from peaceful. The events of the past few weeks had left him feeling restless, his thoughts constantly drifting to Selena and the mess he had inadvertently created. A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. “Come in,” he called, his voice calm but firm. One of his assistants, a young man named Ethan, stepped inside, holding a tablet in his hands. His expression was a mix of relief and satisfaction. “Sir, I have some news,” Ethan said, his tone respectful but eager. Julian turned to face him, his brow furrowing slightly. “What is it?” “Grayson has been arrested,” Ethan announced, a hint of triumph in his voice. “Several actors have come forward with old cases of harassment against him. Their statements were enough to get him taken into custody.” Julian’s eyes n
The film studio was alive with energy, the air buzzing with the hum of activity as the crew prepared for the next scene. Selena stood at the edge of the set, her script in hand, her eyes scanning the lines one last time. The scene was an emotional one—a reunion between her character and the male lead, played by Ryder, after a long absence. It was a pivotal moment in the movie, one that required vulnerability and chemistry. Selena took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She had worked hard to get to this point, and she wasn’t about to let her insecurities get the better of her. “Selena,” Emily, her manager, approached her, a warm smile on her face. “You’ve got this. Just stay focused and trust yourself.” Selena nodded, her expression determined. “Thanks, Emily. I’ll do my best.” As she stepped onto the set, she noticed Ryder for the first time. He was standing a few feet away, his tall, athletic frame commanding attention even in the crowded room. His dark hair was per
“Cut!”The word echoed across the set, freezing everyone in place. Selena blinked, startled, as Ryder pulled back, his expression darkening. All eyes turned to the source of the interruption.Julian stood at the edge of the set, his presence commanding and his expression unreadable. He strode forward, his sharp suit and polished demeanor a stark contrast to the casual chaos of the film set. The director, a middle-aged man with a perpetual look of stress, hurried over to him.“Mr. Mathers,” the director said, his tone a mix of surprise and apprehension. “What brings you here?”Julian’s gaze swept over the set before landing on Selena. His eyes softened for a fraction of a second before hardening again as he turned to the director. “The kissing take is canceled. I’m taking Selena with me now.”The director, a man in his late fifties with salt-and-pepper hair, frowned. "Julian, what is the meaning of this?""As I said. The kissing scene is canceled," Julian declared, his tone brooking no
The moment the scene ended, Julian felt an unfamiliar weight in his chest. He had walked onto that set with the intention of keeping control, of reminding Selena exactly who held the power in their twisted dynamic. But when she whispered that soft thank you in his ear, everything wavered for a split second.He should have ignored it.He should have brushed it off as nothing.But the warmth of her breath, the sincerity in her tone—it made something in him pause.Damn her.Julian wasn’t supposed to feel anything but resentment. He had spent years perfecting that hatred, sharpening it into something unbreakable. Yet, as he looked at her now, glowing under the praise of the crew, confidence lighting up her features like a long-lost ember reigniting… he felt something else entirely.He had to get her out of there.Without a word, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her off the set. He didn’t look back to see how many people were whispering. He didn’t need to.The moment they ste
The moment the rumors spread, social media erupted like wildfire.#SelenaSeducesJulian#Julian’sMistress#GoldenBachelorTaken?Every news outlet, every gossip page, and every anonymous account had something to say. The internet was flooded with speculation, jealousy, and hate."She’s just another gold digger.""Of course, she’s using him! He’s Julian Mathers!""I never liked her anyway. She’s too full of herself.""Disgusting. He could have any woman, why her?"Selena sat on the couch in her hotel room, scrolling through the endless comments. Her expression was unreadable, but her fingers clenched the phone tightly. The accusations didn’t hurt—she had been through worse in this industry. But the sheer absurdity of it all irritated her.She had never tried to seduce Julian.If anything, he was the one controlling her.The way the media twisted the narrative, turning her into the villain, was nothing new. The world loved to tear down successful women, especially when they were linked to
Julian sat alone in his office, the dim glow of his desk lamp casting long, jagged shadows across his face. The room was silent, save for the faint hum of the city outside, but the quiet did nothing to soothe the tempest raging within him. His hands, clenched into tight fists, rested on the polished surface of his desk, the knuckles white with tension. His chest felt like it was being crushed under an invisible weight, each breath shallow and labored, as if the air itself had turned against him. The divorce papers lay in front of him, signed and finalized. She was gone. It was what he had wanted—wasn’t it? Then why did it feel like his entire world had just been ripped apart? He leaned back in his chair, his head falling heavily against the leather headrest. His eyes, bloodshot and weary, stared blankly at the ceiling. The room seemed to close in around him, the walls pressing closer with every passing second. His mind was a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts, each one sharper an
Selena’s hands trembled as she folded the last piece of clothing into her suitcase. The divorce papers lay abandoned on the bed, the inked words blurring in her tear-filled vision. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but the tears kept coming. This was really happening. Julian was releasing her. She had lost him. Not that she ever truly had him in the first place. Dragging her suitcase behind her, she stepped out of the room that had once been theirs. The hallways of Julian’s mansion felt colder, emptier than ever before. Every step away from this place felt like a dagger twisting deeper into her chest. She had thought she had found love. But all she had found was pain. The servants looked away, some whispering amongst themselves. No one stopped her. No one said a word. It was as if she had never belonged here. Julian had made sure of that. Outside, the driver stood waiting. His gaze was somber, but he didn’t question why she was leaving with nothing but
Selena sat on the cold floor of Julian’s study, her entire body trembling as silent sobs wracked her frame. The weight of his words still echoed in her mind, suffocating her. "Did you really think I fell in love with you? That I wanted you for anything other than revenge?" The man she had loved, the man she had foolishly given her heart to, had never once seen her as anything other than a target. A means to an end. Her chest ached, a deep, unbearable pain that wouldn’t go away. She wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to scream that she wasn’t the one who had killed his parents. But she couldn’t. Because if she did, then Samantha— Her phone suddenly rang, the sharp sound cutting through the suffocating silence. With shaky hands, she reached for it, barely able to see the screen through her tear-filled eyes. Samantha. For a moment, Selena hesitated before answering. "S-Sam…" Her voice was broken, barely above a whisper. "Did you tell him?" Samantha’s voice c
Julian noticed something was off the moment Selena stepped into his study.Her face was pale, her hands trembled slightly as she clenched the fabric of her dress. She looked like she had seen a ghost.His brows furrowed."What’s wrong?" His voice was softer than usual, concern flickering in his dark eyes.Selena opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her throat was too dry.Julian stood up from his chair and slowly walked toward her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle."Selena, say something." His concern deepened.Selena gulped, gathering her courage. I have to do this… for Samantha."I… I need to tell you something," she finally whispered.“Okay,” Julian’s gaze sharpened, sensing the weight of her words. "What is it?"She hesitated, her lips trembling. "It's about the accident," she forced out. "The accident of your parents."The air in the room changed instantly.Julian’s expression hardened, his grip on her shoulder tightening unconsciously."Go on,"
Selena sat curled up on the couch, her knees drawn tightly to her chest, as if the physical act of folding herself into a smaller shape could somehow shield her from the storm raging inside her. The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting long, jagged shadows across the room, but Selena barely noticed. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear, doubt, and betrayal, each thought colliding with the next until she felt like she might drown in the chaos.When her phone rang, the sound was like a gunshot in the silence. She flinched, her heart lurching painfully in her chest. The name on the screen—Samantha—sent a fresh wave of dread crashing over her. She hesitated, her finger hovering over the answer button, as if by ignoring the call she could somehow delay the inevitable. But she couldn’t. She never could.“Samantha?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to unleash the torrent on the other end of the line."Selena! Help me!" Samantha’s voice was raw, desperate, and
The moment she stepped inside, her face lit up with a practiced, dazzling smile.“Julian!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with warmth.Before Selena could even greet her, Samantha had already thrown herself at Julian, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug that lingered far too long to be considered appropriate.Julian stiffened instantly.His sharp gaze flickered with irritation as he felt Samantha pressing against him just a little too closely. He didn't return the hug, instead letting his arms hang by his sides, cold and unwelcoming.Selena, however, was used to her sister’s affectionate nature—or at least, that was what she had always believed.“Samantha,” Selena said gently, her voice laced with affection, “you didn’t tell me you were coming today.”Only then did Samantha finally acknowledge her. She turned and offered Selena a small, innocent smile, her eyes blinking as if she hadn’t just ignored her completely.“Oh, Selena! You know how much I missed you,” she cooed swee
The phone cracked against the wall, its shattered pieces scattered across the floor like her broken plans. Samantha Frost stood frozen in her penthouse, breathing heavily as she stared at the news article glaring back at her from the TV screen. ''"Julian Mathers, CEO of Grand Entertainment Inc., Publicly Announces His Marriage to Selena Frost."'' Her fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms so hard they nearly drew blood. 'Married?' Julian Mathers—the ruthless, unattainable billionaire. The man every woman in the country wanted. And her perfect, golden sister had gotten him. Samantha let out a bitter, humorless laugh, but there was no amusement in her expression. Her eyes burned with pure rage. '"Again. Again, she takes everything from me."' Selena, the golden child. Selena, the perfect daughter. Selena, the one who had stolen their father’s love. And now, she had stolen Julian too. Samantha’s mind spun back to the past, to the years she spent locked a
The sound of keys jingling at the front door signaled Julian’s return from work. Selena glanced up from where she was setting the table, her hands still slightly wet from washing the last dish. She saw his tall frame enter the house, his sharp eyes scanning the room until they landed on an unexpected sight—Grandma, sitting at the dining table with a satisfied smile on her face.Julian arched a brow. “Grandma, what are you doing here?”Grandma scoffed. “What kind of greeting is that? Do I need a reason to visit my grandson?”Selena stifled a smile at the way Grandma always managed to put Julian in his place. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, before walking over to kiss Grandma’s cheek.“You’re always welcome here,” he said, before his gaze flickered to Selena. “But I didn’t expect you to cook.”Selena shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious. “Grandma helped.”Grandma beamed proudly. “We made your favorite. Sit down, eat, and don’t complain.”Julian smirked, taking a seat at the h
The warm aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the air as Selena set the tray down on the coffee table. She smiled, feeling a rare moment of peace as she poured the tea into delicate porcelain cups. Across from her, Julian’s grandmother sat comfortably on the plush couch, her wrinkled hands resting on her lap as she observed Selena with warm, knowing eyes. Grandma had come specifically to visit her today, and Selena couldn't deny how happy that made her. She had always liked Grandma—her presence was soothing, her words wise, and despite the sharpness she sometimes directed at Julian, it was clear she loved him deeply. Selena settled down next to her, offering her a cup. “I’m so glad you came, Grandma. It’s been a while since we last saw you.” Grandma accepted the tea with a gentle nod. “Of course, dear. I had to see how you were doing.” She took a sip, her sharp gaze flicking over Selena’s face before she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “Now, tell me honestly, are you pregn