Selena sat in her car, her hands gripping the steering wheel as she tried to steady her breathing. The humiliation of being publicly degraded by Derek still burned in her chest, but beneath the anger and shame, there was a strange sense of relief. She didn’t mind being out of the movie. In fact, she was almost glad. Working with Grayson had been a nightmare, and she had no desire to endure his exploitation any longer. She had always prided herself on her integrity, and the thought of compromising her values for a role made her stomach churn. “It’s better this way,” she muttered to herself, her voice low but firm. “I don’t need that bastard’s movie.” But despite her resolve, the humiliation still stung. She had worked hard to build her career, and to have it torn down so publicly, so viciously, was a blow to her pride. She had always been a fighter, but even fighters had their limits. Meanwhile, Grayson sat in his office, a smug smile on his face as he sipped his whiskey. He ha
"She already said she’s not interested."The deep, commanding voice sliced through the tense atmosphere like a knife.Selena stiffened. Her breath hitched as she turned her head sharply.Julian.He stood at the entrance of the private lounge, towering over everyone in the room. His dark, sharp gaze was locked onto Grayson, his expression unreadable yet exuding an undeniable menace. Clad in a perfectly tailored black suit, he looked like a man who owned the entire world—and in some ways, he did.But what struck Selena the most wasn’t just his presence. It was the cold fury radiating off him in waves, barely restrained.He was watching?Grayson, however, smirked lazily, completely unfazed. He leaned back against the plush leather seat, swirling the whiskey in his glass."Julian Mathers himself. What an unexpected surprise."Julian took slow, deliberate steps forward, his every movement calculated, predatory. His lips curled into a sneer."Is it?" His voice was eerily calm, which somehow
Julian dropped into his chair, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled sharply. His white dress shirt clung to his back slightly, damp with sweat.Selena frowned as she watched him. Why is he sweating?Julian Mathers was always composed, always carrying himself with an air of untouchable confidence. Yet now, he looked rushed—his breathing uneven, his normally pristine suit slightly disheveled. She had never seen him like this before.It didn’t make sense.Though she was unaware that he came rushing into the office as soon as he got out of the airport when she received a text from Clara letting him know that Grayson is harassing Selena again. Thank God, he got in at the right time. Before she could ask, his sharp gaze locked onto her, making her tense."Why the hell didn’t you tell me about Grayson?"Selena flinched at the sharpness of his tone."I…" She hesitated, looking away. "I just didn’t think it mattered."Julian scoffed. "Didn’t matter?" His voice was dangerously low, h
After the confrontation with Grayson and Julian’s unexpected intervention, Selena found herself in a whirlwind of emotions. She sat in her office that evening, staring out the window as the city lights flickered in the distance. Her mind was a storm of thoughts, each one more confusing than the last. Julian had been cold, distant, and almost cruel in his dismissal of her gratitude. Yet, he had also stood up for her in a way that no one else had. He had canceled a multi-million-dollar project just to put Grayson in his place. Was it really just about business, as he had claimed? Or was there something more to it? Selena sighed, running a hand through her hair as she tried to make sense of her feelings. She had always thought of Julian as arrogant, icy, and unapproachable. But the man she had seen today—the man who had stepped in without hesitation to protect her—was someone entirely different. “Why does he hate me?” Selena whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the qui
Julian sat in his private bar, a glass of whiskey in his hand, staring out at the city skyline. The lights of New York twinkled like distant stars, but they offered no comfort. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions, each one more frustrating than the last. He hated this. He hated how Selena had invaded his thoughts, his dreams, his very being. No matter how hard he tried to push her away, she always found a way back in. Julian took a long sip of his whiskey, the burn doing little to calm his nerves. He had always prided himself on his control—over his emotions, his desires, his life. But Selena had shattered that control, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable. It started with a woman named Vanessa. She was stunning—tall, with long legs and a smile that could melt any man’s resolve. Julian had met her at a charity gala, and she had made her intentions clear from the start. “You look like you could use some company,” Vanessa had purred, her hand resting lightly on hi
Julian stumbled through the door, his tie loosened and his shirt half-unbuttoned. He was drunk—not just from the alcohol, but from the frustration and longing that had been consuming him for weeks. Selena was sitting on the couch, a book in her hands, when she heard the door slam shut. She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Julian leaning against the wall, his breathing heavy and his eyes dark with something she couldn’t quite place. “Julian?” she said, her voice soft with concern. “Are you okay?” He didn’t respond, his gaze locked on her as if she were the only thing in the room. His eyes traveled over her—her loose hair cascading over her shoulders, the way her simple nightgown clung to her curves, the innocence in her eyes that only made her more irresistible. Selena stood up, setting her book aside. “Are you drunk? Let me get you some water.” She turned to head to the kitchen, but before she could take a step, Julian’s hand shot out, grabbing her wrist
But he cut her off with another kiss, this one even more demanding than the last. His hands roamed over her body, exploring every curve as if he were memorizing her.As Julian's fingers slipped under Selena's nightgown and traced along the edge of her panties. Her cheeks flushed at the sensation as he then boldly slipped a finger between the fabric and skin."Tell me you want this," Julian demanded huskily. “Or don't. I'll stop.” With a mix of hesitation and growing passion in Selena's voice she whispered "Yes. I want this.” This was the only permission he needed. Julian's hand moved down to Selena's center, finding her wet with desire. Her breath hitched in her throat as he began to rub her clit slowly and gently, a quiet moan escaping her lips as waves of pleasure began to ripple through her. She closed her eyes, losing herself in the intoxicating mix of warmth and urgency that filled the air between them. Julian watched her reaction closely, his dark eyes smoldering with hunger
With a sudden surge of urgency, Julian's fingers moved with purpose, plunging deeper into the warmth of her body as she gasped against his mouth. The kiss deepened, a collision of hungry lips and soft sighs, as he explored every inch of her with unrelenting fervor. Selena gasped as he hit a spot that made her toes curl, each thrust sending waves of pleasure crashing through her.“Look at you. So damn gullible. You act like you hate me, but your body? It listens to me like it was made for this.” he murmured between kisses, his breath warm on her skin. The rhythm of his fingers matched the frantic beat of her heart, each stroke igniting the fire within her and pushing her closer to the edge.Selena writhed beneath him, each movement drawing out an exquisite mixture of pleasure and desperation. She felt as if she were floating on a cloud, completely lost in the electric connection that surged between them. Her nails dug into his shoulders, urging him to keep going, to never stop.She di
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