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EXCERPT.
Huling Na-update:
2025-03-29 01:28:23HAWTHORNE EMPIRE
"Where were you?," his low and hoarse rough voice—barely a whisper shattered the stillness as he asked.
My breath pauses as my heart raced. That tone-before now, it had always eluded me. As I ran my gaze around the faintly lit room, my eyes went to the fireplace. Seeing him in his leather armchair, a wine glass in hand whilst fixing his gaze on me. The shadows cast by the flames around the fireplace added to his enigma.
“I'm sorry," I murmured, throat tight. "It took longer than I expected, I was occupied.
Blake set his glass down and rose from his seat, moving toward me with slow, deliberate steps. Each movement was controlled, precise-like a predator closing in on its prey.
“Occupied with what,” his tone was calm, extremely messed up.
I felt the weight of his presence before he even reached me. My back stiffened.
"You know you have a job," he continued, his tone deceptively calm. "A job that requires your full attention-twenty-four hours a day."
"I know" I whispered
“Then why make me wait, Ms. White?”
The formality of it stung—Ms. White, like we were strangers. I swallowed, forcing steadiness into my voice. "Switching to back formalities now, are we?" I said already getting pissed.
"Not really, formalities bore me,"* he murmured, "but i'm not in the mood for sweet names now am i?
Then without warning he reached out, his hand rose with no hesitation— Calloused fingertips brushed my jaw, too gentle for the storm in his eyes. I stopped breathing. God, even after everything, my skin still kept trembling whenever he touches me that way.
Then before I knew what was happening, his hands slid around my waist, pulling me against him gently.
I gasped.
His lips grazed my ear - too intimate for the threat in his whisper. "I never want you coming in late again. We've talked about this." Hot breath spilled down my neck, raising goosebumps despite the warmth.
"Sir, I-" The word choked off as he stepped forward, his body herding me backward until cold wall met my shoulder blades. My pulse hammered where his fingers dug into my waist. Too close. Too familiar.
"What are you doing?" My voice barely held steady. "This isn’t—professional."
His chuckle wasn’t amusement—just air stirring the hair at my nape. Calloused fingers traced my hipbone through the fabric.
"Samantha." He let my name linger like a fingerprint on glass. "Don’t pretend you don’t feel this. Don’t pretend you don’t feel the tension between us."
"You’re drunk." The words ash in my mouth. His pupils were black holes, but his fingers—Christ, his fingers knew exactly where to press to make my breath stutter.
His eyes darkened—that particular shade of amusement that always made my stomach flip. "Oh, love." His lips brushed my earlobe, the barest graze that somehow burned. The words came out rough, like he’d been holding them back too long: "I'm definitely sober." His exhale warmed my ear lobe as he added, "And how many times have I warned you not to call me sir?"
His fingers skimmed my waist, the touch so light it burned. My chest rose and fell too fast, air scraping my throat.—God, not this. Not again.
He leaned in until his mouth hovered over mine, close enough to taste. His gaze dropped to my lips, lingered. The quiet between us thickened with every uneven breath we shared.
For one terrible, endless second—nothing existed but the warmth of him, the way my traitor body leaned in before my mind could stop it.
His fingers dug into my hip—claiming, not asking. A rough exhale hit my neck. "Do you like this? Huh? Tell me you want me to stop." The challenge in his voice sent ice through my veins. "Say it."
I swallowed. The lie stuck in my throat.
"That’s what I thought," he murmured. His thumb stroked the hollow beneath my ribcage—once, twice—before dragging upward. My breath shattered.
Then, just as suddenly, he let go.
The absence hit me first—cold where his hands had been. I swayed, just slightly, my body protesting the loss of contact before my mind caught up. He watched me, silent, that look I could never decipher. Then one deliberate step back.
"Next time," his voice low, almost conversational as his head tilted—that predator’s considering angle, "don’t make me come looking for you. Or wait."
Not a threat. Not a plea. Just fact.
And God help me, I already knew how this would end……
Kaugnay na kabanata
Torn inbetween millions Chapter 1: A NEW LIFE BEGINS.
——— The car rumbled along the quiet road, tires screening over ancient cobblestones. I sat straight in the backseat, fingers knotting themselves in my lap until the knuckles turned white. My stomach churned — that acidic, pre-interview feeling, except this interview couldn't be rescheduled. America felt lifetimes away. The passport in my bag might as well have been someone else's. Every unfamiliar street sign, every snatch of Italian from passing pedestrians hammered it home: you don't belong here.The driver's silence wasn't just quiet - it was the thick, loaded kind that makes you wonder what he knows that you don't. As the city lights faded, so did the crowds, until it was just us and these absurdly high walls scrolling past like some aristocratic prison perimeter. What kind of people needed walls like that? My fingers found a hangnail to worry at.Then the car slowed.My lungs seized—don’t hyperventilate, don’t you dare—I warned myself, before my eyes caught on the gates— t
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-29Torn inbetween millions CHAPTER 2: THE PAST.
I'm Samantha White. Twenty-two years old—No family, no memories of parents who wanted me. Just the orphanage —and trust me, that place wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy. I was that kid nobody noticed. The one who ate alone, played alone, cried alone. Some nights I'd stare at the ceiling wondering —did my parents leave me because I wasn't good enough? Or were they gone before they even got the chance to know me?I was found as a newborn on a chilly night, left at a police station before being sent to the orphanage. There, I grew up with few friends—if any at all. No one really talked to me. No one liked me.I was inconspicuous.And those who did notice me? They only brought pain.The orphanage was a cruel place. The way they treated me made pain inevitable. Some nights, I curled up in bed and cried, praying for something—anything—to change. But the more I prayed, the worse things seemed to get.Then there was Lisa. My one bright spot in all that gray. Beautiful Lisa with her sunshine
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-29Torn inbetween millions Chapter 3: HIM
Seeing him from my window had been one thing. But up close? He was on a whole other level.I'd only gotten a quick look before, but now, standing right in front of me, he demanded attention just by existing. Not handsome in the pretty-boy way, but the kind of man who made your breath catch without even trying. The kind who didn't need to speak to own a room—just walk in and suddenly the air itself rearranged around him.Those black almond shaped eyes locked onto me with terrifying focus, the kind that made my skin prickle like he was deciding if he will ruin me. And that face —Christ, it should've been illegal. Smooth brown skin pulled taut over razor-sharp cheekbones, lips that looked soft in sleep but were now pressed into a hard line. His jawline—clean shaven and perfect was so sharp I could've papercut myself on it—literally.His black hair, slicked back perfectly, and mussed like he'd spent the night wrestling with some unsolvable problem, fingers dragging through it over
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-29Torn inbetween millions Chapter 4: DOUBTS
Waking up to birdsong wasn't something I was used to—only something I thought happened only in movies. The sound was not the usual city sounds of honking cars and shouting neighbors—actual birds. seconds past, and I just kept laying on the bed, blinking at the ceiling, wondering if I was still dreaming. The heavy curtains kept the room dark, like it was still night.I dragged myself up, arms stretching over my head with a yawn and went for the window. Pulling the curtains apart, I unlatched the glass and pushed it open, As I shoved the glass open, sunlight came flooding in, so sudden and bright I had to blink. The morning air rushed at me - warm and thick with that briny ocean smell that immediately made me think of fish and chips by the pier. And there it was—endless blue water glittering under the sunrise, so close I could almost taste it. My fingers tightened on the windowsill. Places like this only existed in travel magazines, not in my life.I’d slept like the dead for
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-29Torn inbetween millions Chapter 5: HER
Hey, everyone!Before we dive into the next chapter, I just wanted to give you a quick heads-up. This part of the story offers a glimpse into Blake’s point of view—not the full picture, just a peek inside his mind.Enjoy, my darlings!————Blake's POV (Later that night).Samantha White. A name that had never crossed my mind before. Seeing her last night, wandering aimlessly on my way back from the gym, was something I hadn’t expected. She looked lost—like a little girl out of place.I froze, staring at her for what felt like an eternity, trying to compose myself before finally stepping forward to find out who she was.The moment I spoke, she turned, startled yet undeniably intrigued.She studied me, her gaze sweeping from head to toe, taking her time. I let her. I had seen this before—the silent scrutiny, the unspoken curiosity.And then I saw it. The flicker of desire in her hazel eyes, the kind that betrayed whatever fantasy she was crafting in her mind—just like so many women befor
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-22Torn inbetween millions Chapter 6: FEELINGS.
Okay, so this chapter we are back to Samantha's POV and it will be like that for a long time in the story.—————Damn. That scent.It filled the room instantly, driving my senses wild. The sharp, clean fragrance of aftershave lingered in the air as he stepped toward me. My breath hitched as he finally stood behind me, his presence overwhelming. I could feel the heat of his body, the raw masculinity radiating from him.I turned to face him, my head lowered before I slowly lifted it, meeting his gaze.And there he was.He wasn’t angry. In fact, he looked calm—serene, even. That unexpected expression momentarily eased my tension.I closed my eyes for a second, allowing myself to take him in. Even with his hair unkempt from his shower, he was undeniably attractive.His torso was damp, droplets of water trailing down his skin, his hair messy from his shower. Yesterday, it had been slicked back, but now, in its natural, slightly unruly state, he looked even more... devastating.I caught mys
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-24Torn inbetween millions Chapter 7: TREADING CAREFULLY
As I delved deeper into my writing, the rest of the world faded away. The only thing that existed was the story unfolding on my laptop’s screen.Hours passed, my mind completely consumed by the characters I was bringing to life. My fingers flew across the keyboard, weaving their stories, until exhaustion overtook me.I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep until I jolted awake, my eyes darting to the clock on my laptop.Past midday.Panic surged through me.Mr. Blake.I hadn’t prepared his meal.“Oh my God, he’s going to be furious,” I whispered, scrambling out of bed in a daze. This was the last thing I needed. I had to do everything perfectly if I wanted to keep this job.Heart racing, I rushed out of my room, my feet instinctively guiding me to the kitchen—finding my way was easier now than before.The kitchen was empty, as expected. It was just the two of us in the house.I moved quickly, preparing a meal with frantic determination, my thoughts flooded with apologies I would of
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-24
Pinakabagong kabanata
Torn inbetween millions Chapter 7: TREADING CAREFULLY
As I delved deeper into my writing, the rest of the world faded away. The only thing that existed was the story unfolding on my laptop’s screen.Hours passed, my mind completely consumed by the characters I was bringing to life. My fingers flew across the keyboard, weaving their stories, until exhaustion overtook me.I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep until I jolted awake, my eyes darting to the clock on my laptop.Past midday.Panic surged through me.Mr. Blake.I hadn’t prepared his meal.“Oh my God, he’s going to be furious,” I whispered, scrambling out of bed in a daze. This was the last thing I needed. I had to do everything perfectly if I wanted to keep this job.Heart racing, I rushed out of my room, my feet instinctively guiding me to the kitchen—finding my way was easier now than before.The kitchen was empty, as expected. It was just the two of us in the house.I moved quickly, preparing a meal with frantic determination, my thoughts flooded with apologies I would of
Torn inbetween millions Chapter 6: FEELINGS.
Okay, so this chapter we are back to Samantha's POV and it will be like that for a long time in the story.—————Damn. That scent.It filled the room instantly, driving my senses wild. The sharp, clean fragrance of aftershave lingered in the air as he stepped toward me. My breath hitched as he finally stood behind me, his presence overwhelming. I could feel the heat of his body, the raw masculinity radiating from him.I turned to face him, my head lowered before I slowly lifted it, meeting his gaze.And there he was.He wasn’t angry. In fact, he looked calm—serene, even. That unexpected expression momentarily eased my tension.I closed my eyes for a second, allowing myself to take him in. Even with his hair unkempt from his shower, he was undeniably attractive.His torso was damp, droplets of water trailing down his skin, his hair messy from his shower. Yesterday, it had been slicked back, but now, in its natural, slightly unruly state, he looked even more... devastating.I caught mys
Torn inbetween millions Chapter 5: HER
Hey, everyone!Before we dive into the next chapter, I just wanted to give you a quick heads-up. This part of the story offers a glimpse into Blake’s point of view—not the full picture, just a peek inside his mind.Enjoy, my darlings!————Blake's POV (Later that night).Samantha White. A name that had never crossed my mind before. Seeing her last night, wandering aimlessly on my way back from the gym, was something I hadn’t expected. She looked lost—like a little girl out of place.I froze, staring at her for what felt like an eternity, trying to compose myself before finally stepping forward to find out who she was.The moment I spoke, she turned, startled yet undeniably intrigued.She studied me, her gaze sweeping from head to toe, taking her time. I let her. I had seen this before—the silent scrutiny, the unspoken curiosity.And then I saw it. The flicker of desire in her hazel eyes, the kind that betrayed whatever fantasy she was crafting in her mind—just like so many women befor
Torn inbetween millions Chapter 4: DOUBTS
Waking up to birdsong wasn't something I was used to—only something I thought happened only in movies. The sound was not the usual city sounds of honking cars and shouting neighbors—actual birds. seconds past, and I just kept laying on the bed, blinking at the ceiling, wondering if I was still dreaming. The heavy curtains kept the room dark, like it was still night.I dragged myself up, arms stretching over my head with a yawn and went for the window. Pulling the curtains apart, I unlatched the glass and pushed it open, As I shoved the glass open, sunlight came flooding in, so sudden and bright I had to blink. The morning air rushed at me - warm and thick with that briny ocean smell that immediately made me think of fish and chips by the pier. And there it was—endless blue water glittering under the sunrise, so close I could almost taste it. My fingers tightened on the windowsill. Places like this only existed in travel magazines, not in my life.I’d slept like the dead for
Torn inbetween millions Chapter 3: HIM
Seeing him from my window had been one thing. But up close? He was on a whole other level.I'd only gotten a quick look before, but now, standing right in front of me, he demanded attention just by existing. Not handsome in the pretty-boy way, but the kind of man who made your breath catch without even trying. The kind who didn't need to speak to own a room—just walk in and suddenly the air itself rearranged around him.Those black almond shaped eyes locked onto me with terrifying focus, the kind that made my skin prickle like he was deciding if he will ruin me. And that face —Christ, it should've been illegal. Smooth brown skin pulled taut over razor-sharp cheekbones, lips that looked soft in sleep but were now pressed into a hard line. His jawline—clean shaven and perfect was so sharp I could've papercut myself on it—literally.His black hair, slicked back perfectly, and mussed like he'd spent the night wrestling with some unsolvable problem, fingers dragging through it over
Torn inbetween millions CHAPTER 2: THE PAST.
I'm Samantha White. Twenty-two years old—No family, no memories of parents who wanted me. Just the orphanage —and trust me, that place wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy. I was that kid nobody noticed. The one who ate alone, played alone, cried alone. Some nights I'd stare at the ceiling wondering —did my parents leave me because I wasn't good enough? Or were they gone before they even got the chance to know me?I was found as a newborn on a chilly night, left at a police station before being sent to the orphanage. There, I grew up with few friends—if any at all. No one really talked to me. No one liked me.I was inconspicuous.And those who did notice me? They only brought pain.The orphanage was a cruel place. The way they treated me made pain inevitable. Some nights, I curled up in bed and cried, praying for something—anything—to change. But the more I prayed, the worse things seemed to get.Then there was Lisa. My one bright spot in all that gray. Beautiful Lisa with her sunshine
Torn inbetween millions Chapter 1: A NEW LIFE BEGINS.
——— The car rumbled along the quiet road, tires screening over ancient cobblestones. I sat straight in the backseat, fingers knotting themselves in my lap until the knuckles turned white. My stomach churned — that acidic, pre-interview feeling, except this interview couldn't be rescheduled. America felt lifetimes away. The passport in my bag might as well have been someone else's. Every unfamiliar street sign, every snatch of Italian from passing pedestrians hammered it home: you don't belong here.The driver's silence wasn't just quiet - it was the thick, loaded kind that makes you wonder what he knows that you don't. As the city lights faded, so did the crowds, until it was just us and these absurdly high walls scrolling past like some aristocratic prison perimeter. What kind of people needed walls like that? My fingers found a hangnail to worry at.Then the car slowed.My lungs seized—don’t hyperventilate, don’t you dare—I warned myself, before my eyes caught on the gates— t
Torn inbetween millions EXCERPT.
HAWTHORNE EMPIRE"Where were you?," his low and hoarse rough voice—barely a whisper shattered the stillness as he asked.My breath pauses as my heart raced. That tone-before now, it had always eluded me. As I ran my gaze around the faintly lit room, my eyes went to the fireplace. Seeing him in his leather armchair, a wine glass in hand whilst fixing his gaze on me. The shadows cast by the flames around the fireplace added to his enigma.“I'm sorry," I murmured, throat tight. "It took longer than I expected, I was occupied. Blake set his glass down and rose from his seat, moving toward me with slow, deliberate steps. Each movement was controlled, precise-like a predator closing in on its prey.“Occupied with what,” his tone was calm, extremely messed up. I felt the weight of his presence before he even reached me. My back stiffened."You know you have a job," he continued, his tone deceptively calm. "A job that requires your full attention-twenty-four hours a day.""I know" I whispe
