Double update schedule resumes on 4th April.
" ‘Yes’, said the big hairy fox. He did not want to share his food but-" I stop reading the picture book when I notice Marigold and Luca’s small arms that should be tapping the pictures excitedly aren’t moving. They were sleepy, perhaps jetlagged. Ah, to be young and allowed to rest. I press my lips against each of their foreheads and expertly lift my body from the small bed they are sharing. It was cramped with me there. "Are you okay?" Daniel asks from the door and I press a finger to my lips before heading towards him and turning off the lights, leaving only the night lights on. Daniel closes the door behind me and guides me by my waist down the hall. We have grown used to the contact that sometimes came naturally. I don’t know why I feel my cheeks heat at times like this, perhaps because it feels as if we are a family. I sigh to dismiss the thought, but I would definitely miss him after he leaves. "Where are you guiding me?" "Our room." "I could have slept with the kids.
LGBTQ+ is banned in Devnia, thanks to President Livingston. The bill to pass same-sex marriages has been ignored because that was his entire first campaign. For him to have a ‘pansexual’ son itself would be a scandal, but for him to have sex with his son’s lover on film is groundbreaking. Everything will finally be over if we leak the USB to the press…but I can understand Danel’s hesitation. After all, Neil was the man he’d loved through every hell his father made him endure. His wanting to hear the full story isn’t unreasonable. My hand reached for the USB, but Daniel grabbed it before I did. “Wouldn’t it be better to keep a copy?” “A copy for what? We aren’t leaking the story.” “Daniel.” I call, and he frowns. “Even if we are leaking it, I need it to be on my terms.” With that, I raise my hands in surrender. ** "Thank you for coming." The head of the cancer institute, Vanessa Willoby and Park Ki-Tae shake our hands with a wide smile. "It's so lovely to see you here." "T
“You should get treated as well.”Daniel says as he touches the stitches on his head."I feel fine, though."I say as I hand him his jacket and some Jello from the cafeteria."Well, sure, but your cheek is starting to get some colour, and I don’t want to lose a few ‘fingernails’.”I want to roll my eyes and dismiss Matteo’s warning, but I'm not sure how to when I can't read him as well as I could before.“I’ll take some anti-inflammatories when we get home. Don’t worry too much.”"Oh, no, I am well beyond worrying. Livy, he is terrifying. I thought I would die when that bottle crashed in my head, but I couldn’t make a sound because it felt like he would throw me off the ledge for interrupting you two. God, he is just as terrifying as Mari!”A sudden laugh escapes me at the comparison."What?""Didn't I tell you there was one time she made me give her and Luca piggyback rides for three hours straight?""Why didn’t you say no? They have that wooden pony thing that my mum sent.""She sai
"What the hell?"I exclaim as soon as I open the door.Daniel's lip is busted, one of his eyes is swollen, his hand is in a cast, and his neck is bruised with what seems like strangulation marks."The president did this, didn't he?"I ask as I brush my fingers faintly against his cheek.He nuzzles his hand into mine and smiles."I’m fine; it’s just a scratch.""Daniel."I call sadly, and he sighs."I asked him about Neil, and he freaked out. It's fi-""No, it's not fine."My arms wrap around his body softly, trying my best not to hurt him."He wants us to attend the campaign tonight; well, he wants you to attend. I'm too injured. How is your cheek?"For him to ask me about my cheek when he looks miserable is something else.“This isn’t your fault, Danny.”A choked sound leaves his lips before warm droplets fall on my shoulders.“No, it is I-…he said I made him that way and that I made him ‘gay’ by bringing Neil to meet him… Livy, my boyfriend fucked my father.”My hands rub circles on
“Hmm, when?”Matteo asks the nurse.Realising that this might take a while, I click my tongue, grab the finger I gave, and walk past her. Only then does she speak to me."Excuse me, ma'am.""Shove it up your ass."I curse rudely to the nurse, and Matteo’s laugh echoes through the halls, causing the nurse to flush a bright red. "Excuse me; I need a doctor for room six-o-four. The patient is scheduled for surgery, and I have his missing finger."I utter the words to a doctor walking across the hall.“Oh? I can make sure it gets in the right hands.”The doctor says with her lips smiling brightly despite the bags underneath her eyes.With that exchange done, I feel myself relax a little.I don’t want to be in the same space as Matteo, so I turn to leave, but he grabs my arm before I can move past him.“Let go of my hand, Mr D’Amico.”I say candidly and turn my gaze to the nurse, who now looks uncomfortable.“Where are you going?”He asks, and there is no trace of the humour he had displa
"No."This time, Daniel beats me in the rejection, causing Matteo to scoff."I don't think you have the right to refuse me; well, you certainly have the right, but not the privilege.”He says the words to Daniel, then turns his gaze to me as if speaking this time only to me.“I'll give you one last try. I want a night. Tomorrow night. I'll pick you up at six; we'll have dinner at my house-""Or a restaurant."I add, but he chuckles."My house. And well, the rest of the night will be a surprise."He says with a smile."I'm engaged, Matteo; I'm not about to cheat on my fiancé.""Are you really engaged?'Neil...goddammit, Neil!"I gave you a company worth billions; we had a deal to let go so what more could you possibly want from me?"I ask emotions that I would much rather keep hidden leaking into my voice.“A reason as t-.”He begins but takes a deep breath; when he doesn’t continue, I press.“A reason as to what? You said, no, you guaranteed that you will tire of me, so what are you d
We missed the presidential campaign, and since then, my phone has been blowing up. Mum's, too; we've lost business permits for six stores so far, and it's only been a few hours since the party started. Aside from that, a letter came to the house stating that our building in the city is blocking sunlight for an indigenous tree that needs to be preserved. They want us to demolish a building because of a tree. It can't be clearer that this is the president's handiwork, yet with all the turmoil, the only thing on my mind is... "Eliza, Daniel kissed me." I probably should have held on to the secret a little longer, but I couldn’t help it. "Already?" Elizabeth asks as she finishes her round of kisses on the kids and joins me in the hallway after shutting their door, shutting it as we head to my room. "What do you mean ‘already’?" "He's liked you since we were kids." “That was ages ago, and I-I don’t believe you. Anyway, he is dating Neil and…” “And Neil is a man?” “Well…yes.” “You
"Sorry, I'm la- hey!”My apology is cut short by the sight of Marigold and Luca. They are not supposed to be outside, especially with Matteo there.“Didn't I tell you two to go to your rooms?"Their faces pale when they spot me before rushing past me into the house.“Hey, no running-”Daniel's hand takes mine, and he pulls me towards him, cutting off my words to the naughty kids."You look..."Before Daniel can finish his sentence, Matteo's car door opens, and a wounded man hobbles out."Neil."Daniel whispers his name like a prayer as he turns to the peach-haired man, and his hand in mine tightens.I almost want to cancel the date so I can be there for him after their conversation, but of course, I have no choice in the matter."Hey, it'll be okay; just listen first, okay?"Daniel nods to my words, but there is no other clue on his face to say that he has heard them."Olivia."Matteo calls impatiently, so I sigh."Let's talk later."He nods to my words, but again, his eyes are only o
I feel the need to mention that, no Etienne and Anthony were harmed during the time skip in the last chapter; they were just posted away from the main family to Italy. Jokes on Christopher, they liked it because they were paid to laze around without the tension of him grumbling all over the place.I'd also like to ask your vote on a setting, would you love to read a transmigration, body switch or rebirth story?Rebirth would be when the female lead dies and goes back in time for whatever reason and purpose.A body switch would be the female lead going into another person's body. Maybe they were rich and ungrateful, and now they have entered the body of another woman who works under an obsessive billionaire, and there are consequences when they refuse to work and instead resign.Finally, transmigration would be if the female lead enters a novel they have read, whether they loved it or not. You know I love villains, so of course it’s the villain’s body that they enter. So, an example wou
Hi guys!We are finally at the end of the story!! Thank you so so much for reading, thank you for voting and thank you for loving the work and leaving a review; if you haven’t, please do.This last chapter is especially dedicated to anyone dealing with anxiety or depressive symptoms; it is a season, and it will pass. If your best is opening a window, open it. If your best is just basic self-care, taking a shower, moisturising, and putting the pyjamas right back on, do that. One step at a time. You are more loved and valued than you believe, and medication doesn't make you 'weak' or a 'failure'. Don’t be afraid to reach out, but more than that, don’t be afraid when people reach out, say 'yes' to that trip to the beach or bowling gig, or hell, to a walk just around the corner. We are all one.For my next work, it will still be a billionaire romance, and the male lead will still be a walking red flag. Aren’t they just the best? Plusss..how could I forget to mention smut will be present? I
"But-""It's fine; I'll be back soon.”I say reassuringly to Henry.I wave off his innocent concern despite half my face being covered by his hand.If he were to slap me the same way I slapped him, I'd probably end up in the ICU. Despite knowing that, I leave Henry with Etienne in the living room and follow him like a prisoner escorted to their sentencing.**"You went to the hospital. What for?"This is not the beginning of the conversation I expect, nevertheless, Christopher’s gaze as he closes the door behind me doesn’t leave my face."The headaches, but I have the medicine, so it's fine; more than that, I haven't seen Anthony in days. Did you change my guard?""Anthony?"Christopher asks with a frown, his mouth twisting as if he has eaten something rotten."Who are you calling 'Anthony'?""My- my bodyguard, with brown hair, you assigned him to me."I explain as if he doesn’t already have that information.What is this? What is he playing at?"Did I? And he told you his name? He an
Christopher D’Amico "Spare me."It took three hours to track Alessio and four hours to corner him like this.Yet this was the nonsense he was spewing?"No."Christopher answered.The gun in his hand had no more bullets, so he hit the back of Alessio's head, causing him to fall to the ground. Of course, Alessio didn't come easily, so the blood he tasted from his lips was his.Hopefully, it wouldn’t leave a mark, but even if it did, the wound was inside his mouth, so Elizabeth would not see it.Still, it didn't matter.Everything would end today, and he could head back to Italy to find another man to take his position.Positions in the mafia could only be replaced through death; there was no such thing as a fair trial, only retirement, that was hard-earned.Alessio held his head at the point of impact as if he thought his skull had shattered. There was blood coming from his head, but Christopher heard nothing crack, at least not yet.Still, there was little he could do to guarantee the
Blood. He smells like blood. No, not just smells; he has blood on his clothes.Closing my eyes and opening them, I focus on the bouncing bunny on the screen while Henry bobs his head to the tune.Before long, his little head sways left and right before falling to my stomach as he was resting between my legs, and a soft snore follows.Aww... how precious.His little hands curl against the fabric of my clothes.I should take him to bed; I think Christopher has eaten by now or should be eating, so there should be an interruption.My hands move to scoop him up, but a voice stops me."Is there a reason you are both on the floor when there are perfectly suitable seats next to you?""Henry and I used to sit like this in the old house.”I explain without turning back to him."Are you thinking of the good old times?”His words seem pointed, so I lift Henry in my arms and turn to him with a frown."What is that supposed to mean?”I ask, noticing the curls in his poorly dried hair.Wait, wasn’t
My gaze lingers on the orange glow of the streetlights while my mind centres on the sounds of the cars whooshing past us.My sex is fine now. Other than mild tickling sensations that will go away after three or four rinses in the shower. I am fine.Well, I guess the dull ache choking my throat is something else entirely."You've been quiet for a while now."Christopher comments as he makes a turn to the estate.Of course, I have been quiet. Yesterday, I went to bed and woke up believing that he liked me, that I could have him wrapped around my finger if I tried, and that gave me the confidence to say no to him at the club, and now, I realise that I had gotten ahead of myself.I almost ruined the marriage.There is no divorce, but if perchance he changes his mind, I'll have nothing. I'll lose the one thing I came into the marriage with—Henry.He doesn't like or love me; he is curious about me. Is that even the best way to describe it?Maybe it's more he thinks he likes me.Fuck... if I
"No. Never. Not when I am with you. No-"“Not anymore, right? That’s what you want to say next, isn’t it?”I ask as the grip I had on Alessio’s leash lessens.Christopher’s lips seal as if he had no answer to my question.“I…I really can’t believe you even know what love is- ah, that’s why you said you don’t have feelings… ah, I got ahead of myself.”My voice grows smaller as I mumble the new findings."Elizabeth, please...please."“Please, what? That's so vague, considering you need me to call you the way another woman does to get you to orgasm.”I ask as I turn to face him.I think I should leave now; this…this is enough to break any ‘soft’ girl’s heart."Please... believe me. Not with you. I never think of anyone but you."He repeats as if sensing my mood."I'm half out of my mind because of the lube they applied on me, and you can't cum until I call you the nickname the 'love of your life’ called you.""You are the love of my life."Does... he even know what that means?“Then why d
"God damn it, Elizabeth!"Christopher yells as he rattles the cuffs binding him.“I said, let's talk about this later. I didn’t say ‘no’.”"You shut me down twice. I don't trust you not to lock me up somewhere and shut me down a thirty time when there are no consequences.""I won't-""Yeah...see now, I don't trust easily. That's kind of the problem with us... what did you call me? 'broken? Soft?”"Elizabeth.""Let's move on to the third round."I yell, and as if on cue, the announcer produces a tune to signal the entrance to the third round."He can choose. He can choose what he wants! He can choose, but he needs to have the full picture."Christopher finally gives in."I want it in writing.""Done. I'll get it to you by Monday morning. I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I'm sorry that I shut you down and made you feel that this was the only way to communicate. Please...please stop this.""Why? Aren't you having fun? You even left me at the store to get dragged here.""That bastard Taz-""Yes, th
"Bu-but I've lost."Participant One defended as if he took Christopher’s words seriously."You touched what is mine."The answer came back coldly.The blindfold covering my eyes feels like a burden. I want to see the expression on Christopher’s face. No, I want to see the expression on everyone’s face.I can still feel the echoes of Participant One’s fingers on my nipples. This is going to be harder than I thought."Hey, this thing has consent written all over it; she consented. So why are you threatening me?"The man asks, his desperate voice bordering on whiney."I didn't consent to you touching my wife.""Yes, you did, Taz-""Ah yes, mentioning another dead man."Christopher says in a light tone; one could almost think he is joking. Almost."Bu-""Next Participant."The announcer announced, perhaps bored with the back and forth."I'm out.""Wait, but..."The familiar voice of Participant One hesitates, perhaps hating that a participant backed down instead of doubling down like him.