Is Alaric right? Is family defined by those who share your blood, feed, clothe, and train you, or by those who truly care for your well-being, even if they donât share your blood? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
âThe Voss family has done it again, securing their place as the wealthiest family in the country. Power, connections, moneyâ what donât they have?â "Breaking News: The Voss Enterprise Acquires a $30 Billion AI Defense Contract, Cementing Its Place as a Global Tech Giant" âThe CEO of Voss Enterprise, Magnus Voss, has donated over 100 million to the Clearbrookes Orphanage. In his interview, he stated, âChildren should never go hungry; they deserve to be fed and happy. Whenever I see them, Iâm reminded of my own children when they were young. Now that my grandchildren are all grown up too, this old man just enjoys being around kids.ââ Interviewer: "Which family would you love to marry into?" Show Guest: "Oh, definitely the Voss family! Have you seen their two grandsons? Theyâre not just rich, theyâre insanely hot too, especially Alaric Voss. That man could step on me, and Iâd still thank him. Since weâre on the topic... Mr. Alaric Voss, if youâre watching this, please call me! I
Alaric pov I walked out of the house, twirling the car keys around my fingers as I whistled, a smug smile playing on my lips. I could feel Emmanuelâs and the maids' heated gazes on me, but I ignored them and reached for the car door. Just as my fingers brushed the handle, a cold voice sliced through the air behind me, stopping me in place. âYou didn't come to really fight for the project, did you?â My eyes narrowed, fingers instinctively tightening around the door handle and I couldn't help as my grin stretched as I turned around. James stood there, dressed in a simple sweater and trousers, hands tucked into his pockets, a frown tugging at his lips as he stared at me. My eyes met his, and there it wasâ an all-too-familiar emotion that I knew too well. Hatred. I smirked, and continued twirling the keys between my fingers as I leaned against the door, tilting my head slightly to the side while casually stroking my chin. "Hmm, what might you be talking about? I have no idea what
Isla pov "Zzzzz..." "Zzzzz..." "Zzzzzâ" I groaned, licking my lips as I raised a hand to block the sunlight streaming through the window. Turning to the other side, I swung my arms and legs to the left, trying to escape the brightness but the moment I did, I froze. My heart stopped. With my eyes still closed, I suddenly let out a laugh at the absurd thoughtâ the idea that someone, a man no less, and not just any man, but him was in the same bed as me right now. It was impossible. It couldn't be. Right? But the steady rise and fall of someone's bare chest beneath my hand proved otherwise and not to mention the fact that my leg was draped over him like a clingy koala. Shit. Slowly and cautiously, I cracked my left eye open, my pulse hammering in my ears as I desperately prayed that this wasnât really happening. But to my utter dismay, the moment my vision adjusted, I saw himâ Alaric, in all his handsome glory, asleep beside me. Even without my glasses, I knew it
Alaric pov âIâ I want to apologize⊠I got you involved in that situation with the video, but I promise Iâll do everything I can to make sure it doesnât affect you in any way. Iâm so sorry, Alaric. I will resign, I am so stupid⊠I always drag everyone into my mess.â That was what she had said last night as she cried. But that wasnât why I had been mad. The reason was the redness of her cheek, an unmistakable mark of a slap, and the blood trickling down her leg. Someone had done that to her and at that moment, I wanted to kill the bastard and even though she wouldn't tell me who it was, I wanted to make them bleed in the worst possible way. To take everything they loved, to break them until they had nothing left, until they were on their knees, begging for mercy from her. And I would. âY-you erased the videos?â she stammered, her voice shaky. She looked flustered, disbelief written all over her face. A deep shade of red crept up her neck, her mesmerizing eyes locked onto
Isla pov Did I trust him? I barely knew Alaric. We had hardly crossed paths before all of this because I had always avoided him. So how could he ask me that? No, that wasnât the real question. The real question was, why had I answered so easily? Why couldnât I push him away? Why hadnât I just walked out and stopped whatever was happening? And more than anything⊠why had I said yes without hesitation? Why? Why? Why? I had so many questions racing through my mind, but my thoughts felt hazy, unable to focus on anything except the way Alaric's fingers plunged deep inside me, the way his tongue worked me over. Every stroke, every flick sent me spiraling over the edge, my body arching instinctively, desperate for more. "Fuck!" My head fell back against the sheets as he found that unfamiliar perfect spot again, sending pleasure rippling through me. My senses blurred, drowning in the ecstasy he mercilessly dragged me into. âOh God! Alaric, right thereâ pleaseâ I pleaded, my
Isla pov I stared blankly, my mind clouded with emotions all at once. Mortification, shock and fear all suffocated me at once. "What did I just do⊠What the hell did I just do?!" I groaned, gripping the steering wheel tighter before dropping my head against it with a dull thud, trying to wrap my head at what just happened with Alaric. I practically embarrassed myself, begging Alaric to make me cum, and when I finally did, it was unlike anything I had ever felt, it was intense and intoxicating. The pleasure was so consuming that I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to take the real thing. But just as I was about to give in, ready to finally cross that line, Alaric caught my hand when I was about to reach for his pants, his grip firm yet gentle. "Youâre not ready yet, little rose," he murmured, his voice rich with amusement. Then, as if he hadnât just unraveled me completely, he leaned back, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Now, how about I make you bre
Isla pov âWhat?â The word barely escaped my lips as I stared at my father in disbelief, my heart pounding so hard it echoed in my ears. I didnât hear that correctly⊠right? There was no way my father had just told me to resignâ no way he had just informed me that I was getting married. Yet⊠the man before me barely spared me a glance as he continued eating. âYouâre not deaf. You heard me right, youâre getting married in a month. Resign from Voss Corporation. Isolde will be taking your place.â It felt like a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped over me. I blinked, stumbling back. âY-youââ My voice wavered, but I forced the words out. âWhat are you saying? Get married?â My fatherâs hand paused on his cutlery as he lifted his gaze, fixing me with a sharp glare. His lips tugged downward into a frown, and I instantly knew why. He hated repeating himself. But right now? I couldnât care less. I took a step forward, my fists clenching at my sides as I met his gaze. Eve
Alaric pov "Liam, do you know that popular quote?" I asked, drumming my fingers mindlessly against the desk as I took a bite of the apple in my hand. "They say when life gives you lemons, squeeze them into your enemy's eyes." I tilted my head, a smirk curling on my lips as I watched him sigh and shake his head. "Boss, you got it wrong. The quote is 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'" I chuckled, leaning back. "Yeah? Well, I prefer my version." He didn't say anything; instead, he stepped forward and placed the file on the table before giving me a slight bow. "This is the information you requested on Ashford Corporation, particularly Mr. Desmond Ashford. I was able to uncover everything you asked for, including details from the businesses he's involved with and evidence of his mismanagement of funds and other things you need to know about his relationship with his daughter, Miss Isla Ashfordâ. I glanced at the file on the table, a slow smile spreading across my l
Alaric pov "Liam, do you know that popular quote?" I asked, drumming my fingers mindlessly against the desk as I took a bite of the apple in my hand. "They say when life gives you lemons, squeeze them into your enemy's eyes." I tilted my head, a smirk curling on my lips as I watched him sigh and shake his head. "Boss, you got it wrong. The quote is 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'" I chuckled, leaning back. "Yeah? Well, I prefer my version." He didn't say anything; instead, he stepped forward and placed the file on the table before giving me a slight bow. "This is the information you requested on Ashford Corporation, particularly Mr. Desmond Ashford. I was able to uncover everything you asked for, including details from the businesses he's involved with and evidence of his mismanagement of funds and other things you need to know about his relationship with his daughter, Miss Isla Ashfordâ. I glanced at the file on the table, a slow smile spreading across my l
Isla pov âWhat?â The word barely escaped my lips as I stared at my father in disbelief, my heart pounding so hard it echoed in my ears. I didnât hear that correctly⊠right? There was no way my father had just told me to resignâ no way he had just informed me that I was getting married. Yet⊠the man before me barely spared me a glance as he continued eating. âYouâre not deaf. You heard me right, youâre getting married in a month. Resign from Voss Corporation. Isolde will be taking your place.â It felt like a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped over me. I blinked, stumbling back. âY-youââ My voice wavered, but I forced the words out. âWhat are you saying? Get married?â My fatherâs hand paused on his cutlery as he lifted his gaze, fixing me with a sharp glare. His lips tugged downward into a frown, and I instantly knew why. He hated repeating himself. But right now? I couldnât care less. I took a step forward, my fists clenching at my sides as I met his gaze. Eve
Isla pov I stared blankly, my mind clouded with emotions all at once. Mortification, shock and fear all suffocated me at once. "What did I just do⊠What the hell did I just do?!" I groaned, gripping the steering wheel tighter before dropping my head against it with a dull thud, trying to wrap my head at what just happened with Alaric. I practically embarrassed myself, begging Alaric to make me cum, and when I finally did, it was unlike anything I had ever felt, it was intense and intoxicating. The pleasure was so consuming that I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to take the real thing. But just as I was about to give in, ready to finally cross that line, Alaric caught my hand when I was about to reach for his pants, his grip firm yet gentle. "Youâre not ready yet, little rose," he murmured, his voice rich with amusement. Then, as if he hadnât just unraveled me completely, he leaned back, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Now, how about I make you bre
Isla pov Did I trust him? I barely knew Alaric. We had hardly crossed paths before all of this because I had always avoided him. So how could he ask me that? No, that wasnât the real question. The real question was, why had I answered so easily? Why couldnât I push him away? Why hadnât I just walked out and stopped whatever was happening? And more than anything⊠why had I said yes without hesitation? Why? Why? Why? I had so many questions racing through my mind, but my thoughts felt hazy, unable to focus on anything except the way Alaric's fingers plunged deep inside me, the way his tongue worked me over. Every stroke, every flick sent me spiraling over the edge, my body arching instinctively, desperate for more. "Fuck!" My head fell back against the sheets as he found that unfamiliar perfect spot again, sending pleasure rippling through me. My senses blurred, drowning in the ecstasy he mercilessly dragged me into. âOh God! Alaric, right thereâ pleaseâ I pleaded, my
Alaric pov âIâ I want to apologize⊠I got you involved in that situation with the video, but I promise Iâll do everything I can to make sure it doesnât affect you in any way. Iâm so sorry, Alaric. I will resign, I am so stupid⊠I always drag everyone into my mess.â That was what she had said last night as she cried. But that wasnât why I had been mad. The reason was the redness of her cheek, an unmistakable mark of a slap, and the blood trickling down her leg. Someone had done that to her and at that moment, I wanted to kill the bastard and even though she wouldn't tell me who it was, I wanted to make them bleed in the worst possible way. To take everything they loved, to break them until they had nothing left, until they were on their knees, begging for mercy from her. And I would. âY-you erased the videos?â she stammered, her voice shaky. She looked flustered, disbelief written all over her face. A deep shade of red crept up her neck, her mesmerizing eyes locked onto
Isla pov "Zzzzz..." "Zzzzz..." "Zzzzzâ" I groaned, licking my lips as I raised a hand to block the sunlight streaming through the window. Turning to the other side, I swung my arms and legs to the left, trying to escape the brightness but the moment I did, I froze. My heart stopped. With my eyes still closed, I suddenly let out a laugh at the absurd thoughtâ the idea that someone, a man no less, and not just any man, but him was in the same bed as me right now. It was impossible. It couldn't be. Right? But the steady rise and fall of someone's bare chest beneath my hand proved otherwise and not to mention the fact that my leg was draped over him like a clingy koala. Shit. Slowly and cautiously, I cracked my left eye open, my pulse hammering in my ears as I desperately prayed that this wasnât really happening. But to my utter dismay, the moment my vision adjusted, I saw himâ Alaric, in all his handsome glory, asleep beside me. Even without my glasses, I knew it
Alaric pov I walked out of the house, twirling the car keys around my fingers as I whistled, a smug smile playing on my lips. I could feel Emmanuelâs and the maids' heated gazes on me, but I ignored them and reached for the car door. Just as my fingers brushed the handle, a cold voice sliced through the air behind me, stopping me in place. âYou didn't come to really fight for the project, did you?â My eyes narrowed, fingers instinctively tightening around the door handle and I couldn't help as my grin stretched as I turned around. James stood there, dressed in a simple sweater and trousers, hands tucked into his pockets, a frown tugging at his lips as he stared at me. My eyes met his, and there it wasâ an all-too-familiar emotion that I knew too well. Hatred. I smirked, and continued twirling the keys between my fingers as I leaned against the door, tilting my head slightly to the side while casually stroking my chin. "Hmm, what might you be talking about? I have no idea what
âThe Voss family has done it again, securing their place as the wealthiest family in the country. Power, connections, moneyâ what donât they have?â "Breaking News: The Voss Enterprise Acquires a $30 Billion AI Defense Contract, Cementing Its Place as a Global Tech Giant" âThe CEO of Voss Enterprise, Magnus Voss, has donated over 100 million to the Clearbrookes Orphanage. In his interview, he stated, âChildren should never go hungry; they deserve to be fed and happy. Whenever I see them, Iâm reminded of my own children when they were young. Now that my grandchildren are all grown up too, this old man just enjoys being around kids.ââ Interviewer: "Which family would you love to marry into?" Show Guest: "Oh, definitely the Voss family! Have you seen their two grandsons? Theyâre not just rich, theyâre insanely hot too, especially Alaric Voss. That man could step on me, and Iâd still thank him. Since weâre on the topic... Mr. Alaric Voss, if youâre watching this, please call me! I
Alaric pov Ding! My eyes slowly fluttered open as I reached for my phone, staring at the bright screen. A new message from Adam. Adam: Hey Alaric, itâs your favorite therapist here ( actually, your only LIVING therapist, but letâs not dwell on that). Anyway, remember that session where we talked about controlling your anger and, more specifically, not hitting people with the first object you see? Yeah⊠we might need to revisit that. Look, I know youâre probably furious about me walking in on your⊠uh, âsessionâ with Isla. But I swear, I didnât see anything! And even if I did, I would take that secret to my grave. Literally. Which, judging by your temper, might be sooner than Iâd like. So, please, letâs not make today the day you kill me. Okay? I stared at the message, and a dry scoff escaped my lips. "Idiot." "Boss, you're awake. Did you sleep well? We're almost there," Liam said from the driverâs seat. My gaze shifted to him before I exhaled, tapping my foot against th