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CHAPTER 42
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2024-11-04 17:22:43Related chapters
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 43
ARIANA I woke up slowly, feeling the weight of exhaustion that had settled into my bones after the long journey. Blinking, I sat up and glanced around, realizing I must have fallen asleep the moment I set foot in this room. The familiar surroundings seemed both comforting and strange after so much time away. I stretched, my muscles tight, then slipped out of bed and padded over to the window.The room was dim, the shadows stretching across the walls as I reached for the heavy curtains. Sliding them aside, I was met with a view of the vast grounds outside, bathed in the silvery light of the moon. It was already night.I let out a quiet sigh, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Who would ever think I’d miss this place?” I murmured to myself. But as much as I didn’t want to admit it, there was a strange comfort in being here again—despite everything that had happened, despite the fear and tension this place held for me.I headed into the bathroom, the cool tiles ben
Last Updated : 2024-11-05UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 44
ARIANA My heart sank, and my body went rigid, unable to process the scene before me. A whirlwind of emotions surged within me—confusion, hurt, anger—all crashing together like waves in a storm. The bitter taste of betrayal filled my mouth as I watched them, their shadows tangled in the dim light.Skyler’s gaze flickered toward me, her lips curling in a smug smile, and she didn’t even attempt to hide her satisfaction. She wanted me to see this, to feel the sting of seeing Grayson’s loyalty slip through my fingers. She wanted me to hurt.Grayson finally broke away, his head turning slightly as he sensed my presence. When he spotted me, his eyes widened with shock. He stepped back from Skyler, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of guilt in his expression. But then his face hardened, his gaze a steely mask that shut me out.“Ariana,” he said, his voice low and steady, though I could sense the tension simmering beneath the surface. “This isn’t what it looks like.”A humourl
Last Updated : 2024-11-06UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 45
GRAYSON I stormed out of the room, my steps heavy with anger, frustration, and something else I couldn’t quite name. How the hell did everything slip so far out of control? One minute, I was trying to patch things up with Ariana, and the next, I was choking her. My own hands—my own damn hands—had nearly killed her.The echo of her gasps, the terror in her eyes—it cut through me like a knife. I wanted to go back to make it right, but a part of me knew it wasn’t that simple. I wasn’t that simple.I couldn’t just let her walk away from everything I was. She wanted to control it, control me. That much was clear. She wanted me to change, to drop my past, but I wasn’t sure if I could do that—not for anyone. Especially not for her.I couldn’t breathe. The weight of everything I’d done, everything I was, pressed down on me like a crushing force. My hands were still trembling as I stepped into the hallway, the air thick with the lingering tension between Ariana and me. Her eyes haunted me, wi
Last Updated : 2024-11-07UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 46
GRAYSON I stared into her eyes, the walls I’d built around myself wavering, almost crumbling under her gaze. I wanted to let her in—to let her pull me out of this twisted prison I’d trapped myself in. But what if it was too late? What if the anger and the darkness had become a part of me, too ingrained to ever escape?“I don’t know if I can,” I whispered, my voice thick with the weight of everything I felt. “I’ve spent so long being… this. Keeping control by pushing everything else away. It’s what I know, Ariana. It’s what’s kept me alive.”Her eyes softened, her fingers tracing along my jawline, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in years. “You don’t have to be alone in this anymore. I’m here, Grayson. I’m right here with you, and I’m not leaving, no matter how hard you push.”A surge of something unfamiliar and unsettling stirred in me—hope, maybe, or some distant thread of trust that I’d long buried. I wanted to believe her, to let myself imagine a life where I wasn’t bound by th
Last Updated : 2024-11-12UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 47
ARIANA In that moment, my heart skipped a beat. The words he spoke were raw, vulnerable in a way I hadn’t expected. The man standing beside me, the one who had everything—power, wealth, control—was now revealing a side of himself I hadn’t known existed. His voice trembled slightly, and I noticed how his hands gripped the railing, his knuckles whitening as if he was holding himself back from something deeper. His confession hung between us like a heavy fog, thick and suffocating.I stood still, trying to process everything he’d just shared. I’d always known there was more to Grayson than what he let on, but this… this was different. He wasn’t just the intimidating man I’d met. He wasn’t just the cold billionaire. He was someone who had carried the weight of his past for so long, someone who was afraid to let anyone close enough to see the truth.My heart ached for him, more than I could put into words. I couldn’t imagine living with the burden of those words of that past. I didn’t kn
Last Updated : 2024-11-12UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 48
ARIANA I sat at the small dining table in the kitchen, watching Grayson with wide eyes as he moved around the room with surprising ease. The soft scent of garlic, rosemary, and onions filled the air, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him wearing an apron, his normally pristine attire now replaced by something more... domestic. He was flipping the steak in a pan, his brow furrowed in concentration, but there was a certain grace in his movements, a calmness I hadn’t expected from a man who usually exuded power and control.The sight of him in such an ordinary setting—cooking, of all things—had me mesmerised. I leaned back slightly in my chair, my hands folded in my lap, taking in the unexpected beauty of the moment. "You’re full of surprises," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. My voice was light, but there was an undercurrent of genuine admiration in it. "I never knew you could even cook."Grayson turned to face me, and for a moment, our eyes locked.
Last Updated : 2024-11-13UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 49
MATHEW I stepped out of the bathroom, drying my hair with a small towel. Ethan was still by the window, his gaze fixed outside just as I had left him before my shower. "That won't help," I said, walking over to join him. My eyes followed his line of sight, landing on Florence—the woman he believed to be our aunt. "If she really was our aunt, she would’ve recognized me the day I arrived. But she didn’t. Not even you, Ethan. She didn’t seem to know you either." "She’s pretending," Ethan said firmly, his tone laced with conviction. "I know her. That’s exactly how she is." I sighed, shaking my head as I moved away to get dressed. "People can look alike. Just look at Ari—how much she resembles that girl." Ethan ignored me, his posture rigid as he remained glued to the window. Once I was dressed, I returned and pulled him away, practically dragging him toward the stairs. "What are you doing, Matthew?" he protested, his voice edged with confusion. "Talking to Florence," I replie
Last Updated : 2024-11-22UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 50
ARIANA I wandered around the house slowly, hugging myself as I took one last look at the place that had somehow transformed into a haven of warmth and memories. Each corner seemed to hold a story—the way the sunlight filtered through the windows in the mornings, the cosy evenings by the fire, and the quiet moments where everything felt… perfect. A small smile curved on my lips as I thought about how much I had enjoyed every moment in this place. As I lingered by the door, Grayson came into view, carrying the last of our bags. His stride was confident, as always, but there was something softer in his expression when he spotted me standing there. “You’re not in the car,” he remarked, stopping to set the bags down near the trunk. I turned to him, still smiling. “I was just… enjoying the view one last time.” He studied me for a moment before a tender smile graced his face. He moved to the trunk, carefully placing the bags inside before closing it with a quiet thud. Then, w
Last Updated : 2024-11-23
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UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 59
ARIANA Grayson’s steady presence over the past few days had been a balm to my frayed emotions. He wasn’t overly affectionate or smothering, but he stayed by my side in quiet solidarity, offering comfort in ways only he could. Whether it was the small gestures, like ensuring I ate or sitting with me during my sleepless nights, his presence had become a lifeline.It was after one of those long, quiet nights, with dawn breaking and spilling soft light into the room, that I realized I was ready to let go of the past—or at least try. Clinging to the pain wouldn’t change what had happened. And Grayson, in his own way, had shown me that moving forward was the only way to truly live.Grayson and I hadn’t spoken much about Florence or Skyler since that explosive confrontation. But I knew he’d made his decision, prompted, no doubt, by my brothers. Gabriel had insisted he let them go, arguing that the cycle of anger and vengeance had to end somewhere. To my surprise, Grayson agreed—not because
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 58
ARIANA The tension in the car was thick enough to cut with a knife. Grayson drove in silence, his grip on the steering wheel firm. Gabriel sat in the passenger seat, his usual stoic demeanour intact. In the back, Ethan on my left stared out the window, while Mathew on my right leaned back, his eyes darting between me and the others. I couldn’t sit still, my thoughts spinning wildly after everything Gabriel had told me.Florence, our aunt. Skyler, her daughter. And yet, I still had questions. Questions Gabriel hadn’t fully answered.Unable to stay silent any longer, I leaned forward, poking my head between the front seats. My eyes fixed on Gabriel. “Are you absolutely sure you had no clue that Skyler was her daughter?” Gabriel sighed, his expression as unreadable as ever. “No, Ariana,” he said firmly. “I didn’t.” I looked ahead at the road, my mind spinning. Then, almost involuntarily, my gaze flicked back to Gabriel. “But why does she look so much like…” My voice trailed off befo
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 57
ARIANA Gabriel's sharp gaze softened unexpectedly, catching me off guard. "As much as I want to break you two apart, I won't," he said, his voice calm, almost resigned. "I'm not here to do that. I just wanted to check on all of you, but it looks like you're much better than I thought." My mouth fell open. Had I heard him, right? Was this some sort of trick? My heart raced even faster than when he had first walked through the door. I tried to read his face, but his expression was maddeningly neutral. Gabriel wasn’t the kind of man to sugarcoat his words or play games. If he wanted to make his disapproval known, he would. But now...he was standing here, saying he wouldn’t tear me and Grayson apart. My chest tightened, confusion swirling with a strange relief. "Y-you’re serious?" I managed to say, my voice cracking slightly. Before Gabriel could respond, Mathew—never one to stay silent—opened his mouth. "She and I nearly—" Panic shot through me like lightning. Without thinking
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 56
GRAYSON I stood frozen, my mind reeling as I tried to process what he had just said. He was there? My father had done unspeakable things in his life, but the idea that Gabriel had witnessed one of those horrors firsthand made my stomach churn.“You were… there?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, struggling to keep my composure.Gabriel’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he nodded slowly. "I was there. I saw everything," he said, his voice low but steady. "I was in the car with my father that day. He took me with him but when we arrived at his destination he left me in the car and went inside the building. That's when I noticed another boy around my age. He was sitting in a nearby car, looking bored and tired. And recently I just found out that he was your brother." He paused, the memory sharpening in his eyes. "As kids do, we got caught up in our little world, talking and laughing like nothing else mattered. Then
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 55
GRAYSON I sat in the chair beside Ariana’s bed, watching her sleep, her face still pale, her breath shallow but steady. The quiet of the room wrapped around me like a shroud, the soft hum of the mansion's night air only adding to the stillness. I felt the weight of every hour that had passed, the clock ticking relentlessly toward dawn, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to move. It was as though time had slowed just for me, granting me a moment of respite to reflect on everything that had happened and the broken pieces of my life that seemed to be multiplying with each passing second.The doctor had come earlier, gave them both some medication, and thankfully, there were no major injuries or anything more serious. Florence... she had always been there for me. I had trusted her with everything. When I had lost my way, when I thought I needed guidance, she was the one I leaned on. She had become like a mother to me. But now, sitting here, with every
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 54
GRAYSON I pushed myself off the bed, the heaviness of the night and the weight of Ariana’s tense reaction pressing down on me like a suffocating smoke. The unease was unbearable, clawing at my insides. I couldn’t stay here any longer. Quietly, I grabbed my phone and left the room, making my way to my home office. The moment I stepped inside, I shut the door behind me, the silence of the space offering no solace. I reached for the whiskey bottle sitting on the corner of my desk, poured myself a shot, and downed it in one gulp. The burn seared down my throat, bringing a fleeting sense of relief—temporary, but it was something. I pulled out my phone and stared at it for a moment before scrolling to Lucian’s contact. It was late, but I knew my brother well enough—he would still be awake. I pressed the call button, bringing the phone to my ear. Lucian answered after the second ring, his voice low and indifferent. “Did you make up your mind already?” I ignored the question, my grip
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 53
GRAYSON The drive to Lord Andre’s estate felt endless, the weight of the envelope on the passenger seat an unbearable presence. My knuckles ached from gripping the steering wheel too tightly, my thoughts spinning in chaotic circles. Every photograph, every name, every signature—it all pointed to him. The man I’d spent my entire life trying to outshine, to escape from under his shadow. When I arrived, the towering gates loomed like the bars of a prison. I punched in the code, barely waiting for the gates to swing open before speeding through the driveway. The tires screeched as I parked haphazardly near the front steps. The house, always a symbol of his power, now felt like a fortress of secrets. I stormed through the entrance, my footsteps echoing against the marble floors. A few of his staff glanced my way but wisely stayed silent. My destination was clear—his office. I shoved the double doors open, expecting to find him beh
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 52
GRAYSON The car came to a halt in front of Lucian’s hotel, the sleek black facade gleaming under evening night lights. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, jaw clenching as I stared at the building’s entrance. Lucian always had a way of orchestrating his theatrics, and the thought of dealing with him only made my patience wear thinner. I stepped out, the cool night air doing little to ease the heat simmering beneath my skin. With purposeful strides, I made my way to the entrance. The doorman nodded, opening the grand glass doors as I walked inside. A polished worker greeted me immediately, bowing slightly before speaking. "Mr. Anderson, Mr. Lucian is waiting for you in the VIP private lounge. Please, this way." I followed him silently, the muffled sounds of classical music and faint chatter growing distant as we ascended to the exclusive floor. The plush carpet absorbed the sound of my footsteps, the hallway eerily quiet until the worker stopped in front of an intricately
UNBIDDEN DESIRES CHAPTER 51
ARIANA I stormed out of the room, the sharp sound of the door closing behind me echoing through the hall. My mind raced as I leaned against the door, pressing my ear to the wooden surface. Whatever Ethan and Florence were discussing, it was intense enough for him to shut me out. My curiosity burned like a flame. Their voices were muffled, but I could catch faint snippets of words—nothing clear enough to make sense of, just tones of urgency and frustration. I pressed closer, determined to hear more, when suddenly, the door flew open. I stumbled back, nearly losing my footing as Ethan stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “I knew you’d be eavesdropping, Ariana,” he said, his tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. “Do me a favour and head downstairs.” I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “What business do you have with that woman, Ethan? You barely know her, yet suddenly you’re h
