Nicholas' voice was husky, with a hint of danger lurking beneath. I stiffened immediately, my body reacting sharply to his touch. His fingertip trailed down my spine, sending a warmth through me. I couldn't suppress a gasp as he delicately pressed against the small of my back. Then, I heard the fai
"Say that again!" Mom's arm shot up as if ready to strike me, but Nicholas intervened from across the room."Brenda, Ariana and I have had some disagreements lately. I'll talk to her about it.""Oh! Was I interrupting your call? I'll go now. I didn't mean to keep you both." Mom hadn't expected Nicho
I first reinforced Nicholas' psychological defenses, then lowered his expectations to gain agreement. True to form, he agreed in a detached tone."I wouldn't lay a finger on you again even if you begged me to."I smiled triumphantly, though inside, I felt less than pleased. My smile faded and I quie
I should thank these two women. They'd given me a new perspective on my marriage. What I possessed, which was something others admired, wasn't what I truly desired. Despite my efforts to explain, they never trusted me and kept their distance.I gazed at them, realizing that words were futile, and as
Claudia and I didn't budge. Nicholas frowned and said icily, "You two sit at the back."I wondered silently if he truly wanted to reconcile with Claudia. His tone was surprisingly harsh. Since I had accepted his terms the day before, I withheld my anger to ensure I could live separately from him and
I had already run out of patience with today's conversation. The task was already completed, and it was time to bring this pointless dialogue to an end. "Don't worry, I've already spoken with Nicholas about—""Ariana!" Nicholas interrupted sharply."About what?" Claudia asked."We're almost there,"
I wasn't accustomed to handling such a large SUV. It felt unwieldy. Even though not everyone recognized the brand, the luxury of the Hawks' vehicle was unmistakable as it cruised down the road. I floored the pedal, and other cars started to veer aside. My attention was solely on the road ahead."Cl
In the bustling hospital, Nicholas stood out effortlessly. Tall and strikingly handsome, his presence commanded attention even as bloodstains marked his attire. Keeping a low profile was out of the question. I had always believed Nicholas treated me with respect. His manners were impeccable, especi
Just as I was about to turn Nicholas down, the waiter knocked and brought in the dishes I ordered.I frowned. "Did you bring the wrong dishes? This isn't what I ordered."I was starving and had ordered butter-poached lobster tails, seared scallops, sous vide short ribs, and king crab legs with herb
I got into the car and saw Nicholas outside through the window, kicking at a patch of grass with a gloomy look on his face.Douglas glanced at me. "Ms. Jones, did you and Mr. Hawk make up?"Upon hearing that, I lifted my gaze and caught the confusion in his eyes through the rearview mirror. I shook
Christopher trembled as I stepped toward him. Although each of my steps was graceful and unhurried, they seemed to fill him with dread.At that moment, I felt like I was some kind of demon. Why else would it take so many bodyguards to hold Christopher down? I did not doubt that, if they let him go,
"Christopher?" I gasped.I had planned to slip away quietly, but Christopher's desperate cries were so loud they drew a crowd. It was then I realized Coral Villa looked the same as before, yet it had changed in so many ways. Otherwise, where did all these people come from?A guard in black kicked C
Nicholas needed some time alone, and my mood did not ease from the heavy pain as I pushed open the door.Just a door between us, and we were each steeped in our own pain."Ah! Ah!"The sound of a little voice pulled me from my thoughts. I practiced my smile twice before I leaned over the railing. "
Nicholas lifted his gaze, shock and wonder filling his eyes."Tabitha… She really is my child. My child… Tabitha… Tabitha Hawk…"Suddenly, I was enveloped in a powerful embrace, his body trembling against mine. His heart thudded in rhythm with his shaking voice."My child… I really have a child…"I
"Alright. Let's eat first," Nicholas said.Considering my condition, Nicholas gestured for the maid to bring the meal in. In truth, he was nearly certain that Tabitha was his daughter. Her eyes mirrored his own, far more so than Pete's could ever. Back at the airport, when Nicholas was rushing back
Nicholas wasn't done yet. He kept adding more details. "This morning when I was trying to sleep, she wouldn't stop yelling. The whole house was trying to calm her down, and no one could. I got fed up and shoved her out the door. She has probably really been picked up by the garbage truck by now.""
The doctor smiled kindly as if he didn't notice anything."Mrs. Hawk, your head may still feel a little dizzy today, but it's nothing to worry about. After a light meal to regain some strength, you should take a walk and get some fresh air. You'll be feeling fully recovered soon."As he spoke, he st