The Frosts' family name glittered like the icy diamonds they were known for, and Selena embodied it all. She ascended the stage at the Frost Theater, her sheer golden gown shimmering under the spotlights, hugging her figure in all the right ways. Her cascading, dark hair framed a face so delicate and radiant, it made every pair of eyes in the room linger."Ladies and gentlemen," the presenter announced, voice charged with admiration, "the award for Best Actress goes to...Selena Frost!"Selena Frost, the reigning princess of the big screen, had just been announced as the Actress of the Year, and the audience was on its feet, cheering wildly as she ascended the stage.Selena’s beauty was a spell, and it worked on everyone. Men craned their necks for a better view as she glided up the stairs, their gazes pausing too long on the gentle sway of her hips or the confidence in her stride. Even women, some with envy and others with genuine admiration, couldn’t help but acknowledge her star po
After hearing the man speak on the phone just moments ago, Julian had no doubts. The girl Harrison had been frantically trying to protect, referred to as “S,” was none other than Selena Frost.For years, the memory of that day haunted him—the phone call, the nameless man, and the revelation that turned his world upside down.It had been a warm autumn afternoon six years ago when Julian received the call. At the time, he was nothing—a struggling assistant in the chaotic world of commercial photography. He lived paycheck to paycheck, his dreams of making it big buried beneath the weight of grief after his parents’ tragic deaths.The unknown number that flashed on his cracked phone screen was a distraction he almost ignored. But something compelled him to answer.“Hello?” he’d said, voice weary.“Julian Mathers?” the voice on the other end was low, gruff.“Yes. Who’s this?”“I have information about your mother’s accident,” the man said bluntly.Julian froze. For years, he’d told himself
Selena Frost sat in the sterile detention room, her arms crossed over the cold metal table. She hated every second of this—the cold, the humiliation, the constant buzz of her thoughts. The world outside had turned against her overnight, and now, her life and career dangled by a thread.The sound of the door unlocking broke her train of thought. She looked up as two men walked in. One was tall and lean, with a professional demeanor and a clipboard in hand—clearly an assistant. But the other man? Selena’s heart skipped a beat.Julian Mathers.She recognized him instantly. As the CEO of Grant Entertainment Inc., one of the most powerful media conglomerates in the world, his face was often splashed across business magazines and TV interviews. Seeing him in person was an entirely different experience. Dressed impeccably in a tailored charcoal suit, he oozed authority. His sharp jawline and piercing gray eyes held a vigor that made the small room feel even smaller.Julian’s lips curved in
The next morning, Julian sat in his office, staring at his phone. He knew what he had to do. The plan had been to destroy the Frosts completely, to leave them with nothing. But now, he couldn’t decide if he wanted to continue or stop.He picked up the phone and dialed. When the person on the other end answered, Julian’s voice was curt. “I want the financial pressure on Frost Corporation eased. Temporarily.”The person hesitated. “Sir, are you sure? This could—”“Just do it,” Julian snapped, hanging up.He leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. He couldn’t afford to lose focus now. He had waited too long for this. But for the first time, doubt had crept into his carefully laid plans, and it refused to leave.Julian was in his office, reviewing the latest financial reports, when his secretary’s voice came through the intercom.“Mr. Mathers, Miss Selena Frost is here to see you.”He froze for a moment, surprised by her audacity, but then a flicker of curiosity crossed his face.
Selena stood frozen in the middle of the luxurious bedroom, her breaths shallow and uneven. She felt like a rabbit caught in a hunter’s gaze, and the hunter was Julian Mathers. He stood by the window with his tall frame. The sleeves of his crisp white shirt were rolled up, exposing strong forearms, and the top buttons were undone, revealing a hint of his toned chest. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, and his intense, almost predatory gaze was locked on her. Selena’s heart pounded in her chest as he took a slow, deliberate step toward her. She felt the heat of his presence before he even touched her. “Why are you trembling?” Julian asked, his voice a low, velvety drawl. He smirked, a wicked glint in his dark eyes. “Are you afraid of me?” She swallowed hard, her throat becoming dry. “I’m not afraid of you,” she lied because her voice was barely above a whisper. Julian’s smirk deepened as he closed the distance between them. He tilted his head, studying her with the intens
Julian stormed into his study, slamming the door shut behind him. His chest heaved with labored breaths as he ripped off his tie, tossing it carelessly onto the floor. His jaw clenched tightly, and his usually composed demeanor was nowhere to be found. “Damn it!” he growled, his voice echoing in the quiet room. He raked his hand through his disheveled hair, his fingers trembling slightly. The memory of her—of Selena, standing in front of him, vulnerable, nervous, and undeniably beautiful—was seared into his mind. He slammed his fist onto the desk, the sound reverberating through the room. “What the hell is wrong with me?” Julian leaned forward, gripping the back of his chair so tightly his knuckles turned white. His dark eyes closed, but instead of finding peace, they conjured her image with maddening clarity. Her scent lingered on him—soft, sweet, and utterly intoxicating. He sucked in a sharp breath, his nostrils flaring as if her presence was still surrounding him. His gr
Julian was reviewing documents in his office, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood of his desk. The silence was interrupted by the buzzing of his phone. He picked it up, his brow furrowing when he saw the call was from one of the guards stationed at the gate. “What is it?” Julian asked, his voice sharp. “Sir,” the guard began hesitantly, “you’re not going to believe this… but Mrs. Mathersis actually climbing the gate.” Julian froze, his eyes narrowing. “What did you just say?” “We tried to stop her, sir, but she’s not listening to us. We even sent you a photo.” Julian quickly opened the attached image. Sure enough, there was Selena, mid-climb, her dress bunched up awkwardly, her expression a mixture of defiance and determination. He stared at the photo for a long moment, disbelief mingling with something dangerously close to amusement. His assistant, standing nearby, glanced at the phone and barely suppressed a laugh. “She’s persistent, I’ll give her
Selena sighed in relief the moment Julian disappeared down the hallway. She had expected him to flip out about her climbing the gate or make some harsh remark that would cut through her like a blade, but instead, he had been almost… calm. Calm in a way that made her skin crawl with unease. She bit her lip as her father’s words echoed in her mind: You’ll be forgotten. Your career will end. The thought of losing everything she had worked so hard for made her chest tighten. “Should I talk to him?” she whispered to herself, glancing toward the direction he’d gone. “Would he even listen?” Before she could overthink it, her feet moved on their own, following him down the hallway. She hesitated at his door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open slightly. Her heart skipped a beat. Julian stood in the middle of the room, his back to her, unbuttoning his shirt. The fabric slid down his shoulders, revealing taut muscles and smooth skin. Selena’s face heated as she froze, unable t
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
Selena’s face burned with heat as she pushed Julian’s chest, attempting to create some space between them. Her heart was pounding too fast, her breath uneven. 'What am I doing?' she thought, panic and desire warring within her. 'This is too much. Too fast. I need to go.' “I need to go,” she muttered, trying to rise from the couch.But Julian was quicker.Before she could escape, his strong arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back against him. Selena gasped as her back met the firm wall of his chest. 'Why does he have to feel so good?' she wondered, her mind spinning. 'Why does his touch make me forget every reason I should leave?'“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was low, deep, teasing—but laced with something darker, something that made her pulse quicken. 'That tone. It’s like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me,' she thought, her resolve wavering.Selena turned her head slightly, intending to glare at him, but when she met his gaze, she faltered. His eyes burned