Isla’s pov. My father never loved me. He never cared. But one thing I knew for certain—he would never allow anyone to lay a hand on me. Anyone aside from him. That explained the fury in his glare as he looked at my stepmother. And she knew it too. It was written all over her face, in the fear that widened her eyes as she stared at him, frozen in place. Like I said, my father was a man who commanded and demanded respect. From his wife to his children to everyone around him. The only man I had ever seen my father bitterly yield to was Alaric. And that was because Alaric was more ruthless than he was. Alaric could bankrupt a company overnight—my father couldn’t. Alaric could make billions in minutes—my father never could. But most of all, Alaric was a Voss. Even if he was an illegitimate child of the Voss family, he was still one of them. And that alone made all the difference. My body went deadly still, and my heart pounded heavily against my chest—so loud, so insistent, I could
Alaric pov. Daniel continued ranting as he wrapped the bandage around my hand, his frustration evident in every word. “So, seriously, how insane do you think my twin brother is? The poor girl didn’t do anything wrong, and yet he went ahead and changed her entire identity to match his late wife’s. I’ve never met anyone as crazy as he is. It’s honestly frustrating watching her live a life that isn’t even hers, but I know if I say anything, Alexander will have my head. What do you think I should do? Should I tell her or not?” I barely heard him. If you asked me, I wasn’t paying attention at all. My gaze was fixed on my phone, on the message glowing on the screen. Isla: Let’s make a deal. If you help me, I’ll give you anything you want. What do you say? The corner of my lips curled into a slow, amused smirk as I reread the message again and again. Tilting my head slightly, a dangerous glint flickered in my eyes. Anything I wanted? Did she truly understand what she was offering? Di
Isla pov. What have you done? Why are you here? Do you even know what you’re getting yourself into? Those questions echoed in my mind as I stood outside the lavish mansion before me—Alaric’s mansion. Everything in me screamed to turn around, to forget about this and drive away. I was on the verge of making a fucked-up decision, one I knew I’d regret. I thought my father was terrifying, but Alaric? He was worse. Maybe that was why I convinced myself this was a good idea—to seek help from the only man I’d ever seen my father bow to. But was it really? What if Alaric wasn’t the solution but another monster I should be running from? Damn it. There was no turning back now. I had to do this—there was no other choice. And nothing could be worse than getting married. I bit my bottom lip, hesitating for a moment before reaching out to press the doorbell. But before my fingers could even touch it, the door suddenly swung open on its own, nearly making my heart stop. I gasped, my eyes wi
Isla pov “I don’t need to know what you want, little rose. I would do anything for you. Just sign the deal, name your price, and whatever you want is yours.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at this point, but before I could do either, I needed to stop staring at Alaric in a daze—I needed to snap out of it. But I couldn’t. Instead, my eyes remained wide, my mouth slightly open in pure shock. Alaric wasn’t joking—he was completely serious. I could tell from the way his smile had disappeared, the coldness in his eyes, and the sheer intensity of his stare. It was all too overwhelming. Honestly, I could understand having to obey his every command (since he was my boss after all) or even the rule about not leaving Voss Corporation without a valid reason. But telling me to call him Daddy? That was just weird and sexual. Why on earth would he want that? “Time is ticking, Miss Ashford. Would you sign it?” He asked, one brow raised in challenge. I blinked, snapping out of my d
Isla pov My mind went blank. My body went deadly still, frozen in place as Alaric’s lips pressed against mine. His kiss wasn’t soft or tender like Leon’s—it was rough, almost bruising, filled with a possessive intensity that left me breathless. A shiver ran down my spine, my hands trembling at my sides. I should have pushed him away, should have done something, but my body refused to move. This wasn’t supposed to happen. And yet… I couldn’t seem to pull away. My eyes fluttered closed before I could stop it, and my arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him closer. My back sinks into the soft couch as Alaric moves, climbing over me, and pinning me beneath him. My breath hitched as Alaric tilted my head to the side, his lips moving in sync with mine. His hand slid up my face and he cupped it, tracing his thumb softly across my skin. A gasp escaped me, and Alaric took full advantage, deepening the kiss, his tongue brushing against mine in a way that left me d
Isla pov “Let’s make a pact—if either of our partners ever cheats on us, we’ll make sure they burn in hell.” “Oh, Suhyeon,” Esther chuckled darkly, eyes glinting with mischief. “We don’t need to send them to hell.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping into a whisper. “We’re going to bring hell to them.” I shook my head, forcing the memory away as I slammed my foot on the accelerator, weaving through traffic with reckless urgency. My heart pounded violently, my grip tightening around the steering wheel. Shit. Shit. Suhyeon and Esther were here—and they didn’t tell me. That could only mean one thing. Leon was in danger. As much as I hated that guy, I couldn’t ignore the fear creeping up my spine. This was Suhyeon and Esther we were talking about—the same girls who once sent a guy to the hospital just for making fun of my body after I rejected his advances back in university. The same girls who hacked my stalker’s laptop, sent his private browser history to his mother, and
My eyes fluttered open, only to immediately shut again as a dull, throbbing headache overwhelmed my senses, making me groan from the pain. “Fucking hell,” I muttered under my breath, my hands instinctively clutching my head, hoping it would somehow stop the pain. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. If anything, the pain only intensified, pounding against my temples like a relentless drumbeat. And the worst part? My entire body ached. Everywhere. “What happened? How much did I drink last night?” I muttered, asking no one in particular as I opened my eyes, trying to take in my surroundings. But without my glasses, I could barely make anything out. One thing was clear, though—I wasn’t in my room, and I couldn't remember anything, not even where I was. I sighed and reached out for my glasses, hoping I hadn’t broken them. But instead of the familiar frame I expected to feel, my hands brushed something else—something hard, like a human body. I stiffened, my breath catching in my throat as I blin
Where do you go when you're at your lowest? When you have no one by your side? Or maybe when you've just run away from your own wedding?For me, the answer was simple. The only place that made sense—the one spot where you could drown your sorrows in alcohol, cry your heart out, and let the music blast away the thoughts clawing at your mind.A club. Not just any club, mind you—one of the most exclusive in New York, owned by none other than the infamous and dangerous business man, Alaric Voss.My father’s friend.To be honest, I wasn’t even sure why I had come here. There were plenty of clubs in the city, but perhaps it had something to do with the fact that, deep down, I wanted to see him. To see someone familiar, someone who could offer me even the slightest sense of comfort. My ruthless father was practically out of the picture, so maybe, in some twisted way, I sought out his annoying friend instead.“More, pour me everything you have. Since all I have is fucking money, I’ll drink ev
Isla pov “Let’s make a pact—if either of our partners ever cheats on us, we’ll make sure they burn in hell.” “Oh, Suhyeon,” Esther chuckled darkly, eyes glinting with mischief. “We don’t need to send them to hell.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping into a whisper. “We’re going to bring hell to them.” I shook my head, forcing the memory away as I slammed my foot on the accelerator, weaving through traffic with reckless urgency. My heart pounded violently, my grip tightening around the steering wheel. Shit. Shit. Suhyeon and Esther were here—and they didn’t tell me. That could only mean one thing. Leon was in danger. As much as I hated that guy, I couldn’t ignore the fear creeping up my spine. This was Suhyeon and Esther we were talking about—the same girls who once sent a guy to the hospital just for making fun of my body after I rejected his advances back in university. The same girls who hacked my stalker’s laptop, sent his private browser history to his mother, and
Isla pov My mind went blank. My body went deadly still, frozen in place as Alaric’s lips pressed against mine. His kiss wasn’t soft or tender like Leon’s—it was rough, almost bruising, filled with a possessive intensity that left me breathless. A shiver ran down my spine, my hands trembling at my sides. I should have pushed him away, should have done something, but my body refused to move. This wasn’t supposed to happen. And yet… I couldn’t seem to pull away. My eyes fluttered closed before I could stop it, and my arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him closer. My back sinks into the soft couch as Alaric moves, climbing over me, and pinning me beneath him. My breath hitched as Alaric tilted my head to the side, his lips moving in sync with mine. His hand slid up my face and he cupped it, tracing his thumb softly across my skin. A gasp escaped me, and Alaric took full advantage, deepening the kiss, his tongue brushing against mine in a way that left me d
Isla pov “I don’t need to know what you want, little rose. I would do anything for you. Just sign the deal, name your price, and whatever you want is yours.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at this point, but before I could do either, I needed to stop staring at Alaric in a daze—I needed to snap out of it. But I couldn’t. Instead, my eyes remained wide, my mouth slightly open in pure shock. Alaric wasn’t joking—he was completely serious. I could tell from the way his smile had disappeared, the coldness in his eyes, and the sheer intensity of his stare. It was all too overwhelming. Honestly, I could understand having to obey his every command (since he was my boss after all) or even the rule about not leaving Voss Corporation without a valid reason. But telling me to call him Daddy? That was just weird and sexual. Why on earth would he want that? “Time is ticking, Miss Ashford. Would you sign it?” He asked, one brow raised in challenge. I blinked, snapping out of my d
Isla pov. What have you done? Why are you here? Do you even know what you’re getting yourself into? Those questions echoed in my mind as I stood outside the lavish mansion before me—Alaric’s mansion. Everything in me screamed to turn around, to forget about this and drive away. I was on the verge of making a fucked-up decision, one I knew I’d regret. I thought my father was terrifying, but Alaric? He was worse. Maybe that was why I convinced myself this was a good idea—to seek help from the only man I’d ever seen my father bow to. But was it really? What if Alaric wasn’t the solution but another monster I should be running from? Damn it. There was no turning back now. I had to do this—there was no other choice. And nothing could be worse than getting married. I bit my bottom lip, hesitating for a moment before reaching out to press the doorbell. But before my fingers could even touch it, the door suddenly swung open on its own, nearly making my heart stop. I gasped, my eyes wi
Alaric pov. Daniel continued ranting as he wrapped the bandage around my hand, his frustration evident in every word. “So, seriously, how insane do you think my twin brother is? The poor girl didn’t do anything wrong, and yet he went ahead and changed her entire identity to match his late wife’s. I’ve never met anyone as crazy as he is. It’s honestly frustrating watching her live a life that isn’t even hers, but I know if I say anything, Alexander will have my head. What do you think I should do? Should I tell her or not?” I barely heard him. If you asked me, I wasn’t paying attention at all. My gaze was fixed on my phone, on the message glowing on the screen. Isla: Let’s make a deal. If you help me, I’ll give you anything you want. What do you say? The corner of my lips curled into a slow, amused smirk as I reread the message again and again. Tilting my head slightly, a dangerous glint flickered in my eyes. Anything I wanted? Did she truly understand what she was offering? Di
Isla’s pov. My father never loved me. He never cared. But one thing I knew for certain—he would never allow anyone to lay a hand on me. Anyone aside from him. That explained the fury in his glare as he looked at my stepmother. And she knew it too. It was written all over her face, in the fear that widened her eyes as she stared at him, frozen in place. Like I said, my father was a man who commanded and demanded respect. From his wife to his children to everyone around him. The only man I had ever seen my father bitterly yield to was Alaric. And that was because Alaric was more ruthless than he was. Alaric could bankrupt a company overnight—my father couldn’t. Alaric could make billions in minutes—my father never could. But most of all, Alaric was a Voss. Even if he was an illegitimate child of the Voss family, he was still one of them. And that alone made all the difference. My body went deadly still, and my heart pounded heavily against my chest—so loud, so insistent, I could
isla’s pov. I should have done it on my wedding day. I should have slapped him. I should have acted like a crazed woman, clawed at his face, or better yet, aimed straight for his dick. Instead, I cried. Instead, I let myself be weak. I should have gone full-on crazy. But I hadn’t. Because back then, the pain had drowned out the anger. It had clouded my mind, made it impossible to think straight. Now, though? Now the anger burned through me like wildfire. And all I could think about were his lies. His fake promises. His fake smiles. His relentless persistence just to get inside my pants. It was all so painfully clear now. But Isla? Why are you hurt? You should have been used to this from day one. You should have known that no one would ever truly love you, that no one would ever care. Even… My gaze darkened as I glared at Leon, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. Even the man you once loved. Silence. “Oh. My. Fucking. God.” Kieran was the first to break the suff
Isla’s pov.I stopped the car in front of the grand mansion, my heart pounding against my chest as I clutched my phone, rereading the messages Suhyeon and Esther had sent while I was driving.Suhyeon: Korea or Nigeria? You’re exaggerating, Isla. Even if your father is evil, I doubt he’d actually sell his only biological child to some man twice your age. You should calm down and think carefully before doing anything stupid again.Esther: Hmm, we seem to have diverted from something important. Isla fucked Alaric Voss! She lost her virginity to him! Man, I don’t know if I should be scared for her or proud. Either way, I’m just happy she didn’t lose it to that dickhead.Esther: Anyway, tell me, Isla. How did it feel to spend the night with the man everyone wants to fuck? Is it true? I heard his dick is at least nine inches. You gotta tell me everything!Suhyeon: Esther! This is not the time for sex talk. Isla wants to flee to either Korea or Nigeria because she’s afraid her father will se
Isla’s pov. Everything seemed to freeze at that moment. No one moved. It was like pressing the pause button on a movie at its most intense scene. My mouth is hung open in shock, eyes wide with disbelief. Alaric, however, remained still, his gaze locked onto his burnt hand. His eyes narrowed as if trying to process what had just happened, the faint wisps of smoke curling from his scorched skin the only movement in the heavy silence. My heart dropped—no, my everything dropped. Shit. There was no way out of this. I was smart enough to know what came next—I was getting fired. And if I lost this job, my father wouldn’t hesitate to marry me off to that old man. But at least I’d still be alive. Getting killed by Alaric Voss over a spilled coffee? Now that would be the worst possible outcome. So… “I am so sorry,” I whispered, barely audible, before spinning on my heel and bolting for the door. Survival mode had officially kicked in. But I didn’t make it far. Before I could take a si