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
Selena dragged her tired body down the dimly lit hotel corridor, exhaustion weighing on her shoulders. The day had been long—whispers on set, rumors swirling in the media, and the constant pressure of maintaining her image. Yet, she had endured. She always did.The party had ended and she was tired. She thought Julian might ask her to come home with him but when she saw him leaving alone she decided to stay back in the hotel. Pushing open her hotel room door, she froze.A figure sat slouched in the armchair near the window, bathed in the glow of the city lights. The unmistakable scent of alcohol and expensive cologne filled the air."Ryder?" she breathed, confusion laced in her voice.He looked up, his hazy, bloodshot eyes locking onto her. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, and the glass in his hand wobbled as he tilted it toward her in greeting."Finally," he slurred. "Took you long enough, sweetheart."Selena's heart pounded. "What are you doing here? This isn't your room."Ryder chuc
Julian had left the set that evening, just as he told himself he would. He had stormed out, convincing himself he was done watching her. Done being affected by her.And yet—Less than an hour later, he was back.Not at the studio, but at the hotel where the cast and crew were staying.He told himself it was purely coincidental, that he just needed a quiet place for the night. But the moment he stepped into the grand lobby, he knew he was lying to himself. His fingers clenched at his sides as he booked the suite at the top floor—far from the noise, far from her.Or so he thought.Sleep didn’t come. He tossed and turned, his thoughts restless, his mind circling the same thing over and over again. Selena.His nails dug into his palm when he remembered Ryder’s lingering gaze on her earlier that day. He recalled the way that bastard looked at her, like he had already claimed her in his mind.And then, Julian overheard a casual conversation from the floor below, a few crew members chatting
A month later - Selena sat on the couch in her room, the dim glow of her laptop screen casting eerie shadows on her face. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind, with Julian suddenly reappearing in her life, marrying her under mysterious circumstances, and now, saving her from Ryder’s assault. Her mind was a tangled web of emotions—gratitude, confusion, fear, and an inexplicable pull toward Julian that she couldn’t quite understand. He was an enigma, a man who seemed to harbor both hatred and protectiveness toward her in equal measure. She couldn’t understand him.At times, she saw nothing but hatred in his dark eyes, as if he resented her very existence. And yet, he always came for her, always protected her. Why? The question had been gnawing at her for days, keeping her awake at night, haunting her every thought. Julian was a man of power, influence, and terrifying control. But there was something else beneath his cold exterior—something deeply personal, something that tied him t
Ann sat in her luxurious penthouse, her manicured fingers trembling as she scrolled through the latest headlines. Her morning had started with excitement—she had been eagerly waiting for the news of Selena’s downfall. The paparazzi had received her tip-off, and Ryder had taken the bait. She had envisioned Selena’s career crumbling, her reputation in tatters, and her face plastered across every tabloid as the scandal unfolded. But instead of scandal, she was greeted with two shocking headlines that sent her world crashing down."Hollywood Actor Ryder Bennett Hospitalized After Mysterious Beating—Role Recast with A-List Star."And worse—"Grand Entertainment Inc. CEO Julian Mathers Announces Marriage—Wife Revealed to Be Actress Selena Frost!"Ann’s breath hitched, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. Julian is married?! To Selena?!Her grip on her phone tightened, her nails digging into the sleek surface. Then, in a fit of uncontrollable rage, she threw the phone across
Next day, after work Julian and Selena we're returning home. The storm had come out of nowhere, a furious tempest that seemed to rise from the earth itself. The rain lashed against the car windows in relentless sheets, the wind howling like a wounded beast as Julian gripped the steering wheel, his jaw tight with concentration. Selena sat beside him, her hands clutching the edges of her seat, her heart pounding in sync with the thunder that rumbled overhead.“We can’t keep driving in this,” Julian said, his voice low but firm. “The roads are flooding, and visibility is zero. We need to find shelter.”Selena nodded, though her stomach churned with unease. The storm had turned the world into a chaotic blur, and the thought of being stranded in the middle of nowhere was unnerving. But Julian’s calm demeanor steadied her, even as the car hydroplaned slightly on the slick road.“There,” Julian said suddenly, his sharp eyes catching sight of a faint light in the distance. “That’s a cabin. W
The storm outside raged on, its fury unrelenting as rain lashed against the windows and wind howled through the trees. Inside the cabin, the fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The air was thick with tension, charged with an electricity that had been building between them for weeks, months, maybe even longer. Julian’s jacket hung loosely around Selena’s shoulders, but it did little to shield her from the heat of his gaze as he stared at her, his dark eyes filled with a hunger that made her pulse race.Julian’s hands were still on her hips, his grip firm and possessive, as if he was afraid she might slip away if he let go. Selena’s breath came in shallow gasps, her body trembling with a mixture of anticipation and desire. She could feel the heat of his body through the thin fabric of his shirt, and it sent a shiver down her spine.“Julian,” she whispered, her voice trembling, though she wasn’t sure if it was from fear or desire. His name felt like a pl
Few days later - Selena had expected their home to remain as cold and silent as ever. Their marriage had always been a transaction—an unspoken war of tension and unanswered questions. But lately, something had changed.It started with small things.One morning, she woke up to find breakfast already set on the dining table. Julian, dressed in his usual sharp suit, was sipping his coffee while flipping through the morning news.“You made breakfast?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.Julian didn’t even look up. “No. I told the chef to make something you’d like.”Selena’s lips twitched. Of course, he didn’t cook.Still, she sat down and took a bite of the eggs. They were seasoned just how she liked them.She stole a glance at Julian, noticing how relaxed he looked. His usual cold aura wasn’t as suffocating as before.It was… comfortable.She didn't say thank you, but she didn't need to. Julian simply continued drinking his coffee, as if this small gesture was nothing at all.—Later that ev
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