Williams barely had time to react as Elodie’s lips brushed against his. It was soft, hesitant...yet desperate. A plea. A need.
His entire body stiffened. Her warmth was intoxicating, her scent faintly sweet, utterly familiar..wrapped around him, making his blood run hotter. He had spent so many nights trying to erase her from his mind, but here she was, pressed against him, pulling him back into a past he had fought so hard to forget. She murmured his name, her voice weak but filled with yearning. Something inside him snapped. His hands moved on their own, gripping her waist, pulling her against him. His lips crashed into hers, not gentle, not hesitant this time. His kiss was rough, demanding, filled with pent-up frustration and unspoken emotions. Elodie gasped into his mouth, and he swallowed the sound, his fingers digging into her hips. He pushed her back against the couch, his weight pressing into her, his body acting on instincts he had spent years suppressing. 'Damn it. I shouldn’t be doing this.' He thought But he couldn’t stop. His hands roamed her sides, feeling the curve of her waist, the shudder of her breath beneath his touch. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and a growl rumbled from deep in his chest. 'I need to stop.' His lips traveled to her jaw, down to the delicate skin of her neck. She gasped again, her back arching slightly. His hands fondled her breasts through the fabric of her bra, his lips filling her neck with kisses. Her nipples hardened and her panties got soaked with her juice. She cried out his name again and Williams felt his last shred of control slipping. 'This is wrong.' He wanted her. God, he wanted her. But then... The memory of her in a wedding dress flashed into his mind and his body went rigid. Reality slammed into him like a cold wave. Elodie was married. His breathing was ragged as he pulled away, his hands shaking. She whimpered in protest, her fingers still clutching his shirt, her eyes dazed. ' No.' Williams clenched his jaw and shoved himself off her. He was panting, his entire body tense, his hands still burning from where he had touched her. “Elodie.” His voice was rough. Almost a growl. She looked at him, confusion clouding her gaze. His fists tightened as he thought. "You’re not in your right mind right now. I’m not going to take advantage of that.” She swayed, barely conscious, her pupils blown wide. Cursing under his breath, Williams picked up his coat and covered her. Afterward, he scooped her into his arms and stormed out of the bar. Minutes later, Williams paced back and forth outside the hospital room, his hands buried in his pockets. His mind was still racing, still filled with the feel of her against him, the sound of her gasps, the way she had melted into him so perfectly... He gritted his teeth, forcing those thoughts away. She had been drugged. He had almost... His fingers tightened into fists. Damn it. He had prided himself on being a man of control, but one taste of Elodie and he had almost lost himself. The doctor finally stepped out. “She’s stable now,” the man said. “She needs rest, but she’ll be fine.” Williams exhaled, relief flooding through him. He stepped inside quietly, his gaze falling on her sleeping form. She looked small beneath the hospital sheets, her breathing even, her face peaceful. Staring at her, he felt an ache deep inside his chest. He pulled the chair beside him closer and sank into the seat, his gaze locked on her. 'Why does it still hurt like this?' After a long moment, he ran a hand down his face, stood up, and left. ——— Williams woke up early the next morning, his body sore with exhaustion. The night had been restless. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Elodie beneath him, gasping, trembling...his. Except she wasn’t. She never would be. He turned the shower on, stepping under the spray, hoping the hot water would wash away the lingering traces of last night. Then... Arms wrapped around his waist. Williams stiffened. Soft fingers trailed across his chest, pressing against his skin. His stomach twisted in irritation. Mandy. She leaned against him, her breasts pressing against his back. Her voice was low, sultry. “Good morning, baby.” His jaw clenched. “How did you get in?” She chuckled. “I made a key.” He turned instantly, his brows furrowing. “You what?” His eyes slowly took in her completely naked body. Mandy ignored his anger. She slid her hands over his shoulders, gazing up at him. “We’ve never had sex, Williams. Why?” Her lips brushed against his collarbone, her hands trailing lower. His body reacted on instinct. He grabbed her waist, tilting her head up, pressing a firm kiss against her lips. Mandy moaned into his mouth, pressing closer. But then.. Nothing. No fire. No ache. Williams pulled back abruptly. Mandy’s expression changed. “Williams?” He stared at her, his hands dropping from her waist. She frowned. “What is it, baby?” Williams didn’t speak. Mandy’s jaw tightened. “Since the music festival, you’ve been cold toward me. Is it because of her....the lady in the mascot uniform?” He picked up his towel, tied it and walked out of the bathroom. His silence was answer enough. Mandy followed behind him, letting out a bitter laugh as she stood in front of him. “I should’ve known.” Williams turned away. “I never wanted to hurt you.” “But you did.” Her voice shook as she spoke. “Tell me the truth. From the beginning, did you ever love me?” Williams exhaled heavily. “I tried,” he admitted. “I really tried to move on. When I met you, I thought...maybe. You reminded me of her. And I convinced myself it could work. But…” He looked at her then, his voice final. “I don’t love you, Mandy. I never did.” Mandy took a step back, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her eyes burned with anger, but there was pain there too, intense pain. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I guess I should applaud your honesty, huh!" Williams reached into his drawer, pulled out a check, and placed it on the counter. “Five million dollars. And I promise, I’ll keep covering your mother’s medical expenses.” Mandy’s throat bobbed as she stared at the check. Then, she looked at him. “Do you think money can fix this?” she whispered. “No.” His voice was firm. “But it’s the least I can do.” "What about my heart, Williams?" She cried. "What about my love for you?" "I'm very sorry, Mandy," Williams replied. "You need to leave now." She shook her head..."But I.. Just then, his phone buzzed. A call from the hospital. He picked up immediately. “What is it?” “Sir,” the doctor’s voice sounded tense. “There’s a problem here, and you told me to inform you if anything happened.” Williams was already picking out his clothes. “What happened?” “A man came here looking for her. I refused but he's insisting on seeing her, saying he is her boss.” Williams’ blood ran cold. He didn't believe Elodie's boss' would visit her at the hospital. “I’m on my way.” He grabbed his keys and stormed out, without another word to Mandy. Unknown to Williams, while he was getting dressed, Mandy was doing the same. Just as he left his house, she picked up the check he had given her, got into her car and carefully began to follow him.The first thing Elodie noticed was the stillness. The sterile scent of antiseptics filled the air, and the morning light filtering through the thin curtains cast a faint glow over the pale hospital walls. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the brightness, but for a moment, she remained still. 'Where am I?' Then, reality crashed over her. Williams. The bar. The kiss. Elodie sucked in a sharp breath, pressing her hands against her burning cheeks. 'What was I thinking?' The memory of Williams' touch, his rough desperation, the way he had held her..it all came flooding back, making her stomach twist. She shut her eyes tightly. 'I have to leave here. Now.' Pushing back the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. The cold floor sent a shiver up her spine as she stood, her body still a little weak from whatever had been in that drink. She reached for her clothes, neatly folded on the chair beside her. Just as she reached for them, the door creaked open. Elodie turn
Elodie sat on the hospital bed, staring at the door Williams had just walked through. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed them against her lap. Why did it feel like she had let him down? A sharp sigh left her lips. 'No. This is for the best.' She shook off the lingering emotions and pushed herself up. There was no point in thinking about him. She had other problems to deal with...like the fact that this was a private hospital, and every second she spent here was adding to a bill she couldn’t afford. She needed to leave. Fast. She reached for her folded clothes, but as she moved, something heavy slid from the chair and landed on the floor. She looked down. Williams' coat. She quickly bent down and picked it up. The fabric was warm against her fingers, his scent lingering in every fiber—clean, crisp, expensive. She hesitated for a second before shaking her head. 'I’ll return it to him. It’s just a coat.' After changing into her clothes, she went to the fron
Elodie stared at her belongings as she thought of what to do. Finally, she called her second job, the one where she sometimes worked events, hoping for any sliver of hope. But the voice on the other end was curt. "Elodie, didn't you get the termination email? And your last pay went toward replacing the mascot uniform you ruined. It wasn't even enough." The line went dead before Elodie could argue. She felt like the ground beneath her was crumbling. Everything was slipping away. She sighed, picked up her stuff and began to walk away. Minutes later, Elodie sat on the creaky bed of a budget motel, staring at the peeling wallpaper. The room smelled of cheap air freshener, trying and failing to mask the scent of dampness. She dropped her bag onto the floor, exhaling slowly. 'This is it. This is my new life.' Her fingers brushed against the ring pendant hanging from her necklace, a painful reminder of the past. She had once lived in luxury, surrounded by wealth and privilege.
Williams stood outside the luxury shoe store, gripping his coat so tightly his knuckles turned white. He shouldn’t be here. After his receptionist informed him that Elodie had dropped off his coat, he picked it up to dump it in the trash. But somehow, somehow, he had ended up following Elodie instead with the coat in his hand. And now, he stood outside like a fool, watching through the glass as Elodie worked. She had changed. The confident, powerful CEO was gone. In her place was a woman kneeling before customers, helping them slip on overpriced shoes like a servant. His teeth clenched. He had almost walked in when that so-called "friend" from her past mocked her. He had almost intervened. But then... That man appeared. Williams’ entire body stiffened as he listened. How could he forget the face of Bryce Tanner, the man who took everything from him? And then... "No wonder… you’re my wife." Williams felt like something snapped inside him. His chest tightened as if som
Elodie stood before Williams, her white wedding dress gleaming in the soft afternoon light. She could barely breathe, every fiber of her being screaming for her to stop, to choose him. But she forced herself to stay rooted, her decision set like a stone wall between them. “Please,” Williams said, his voice cracking as he stepped closer. His desperation was palpable, his words heavy with anguish. “Don’t do this. Don’t marry him. I love you, Elodie. You’re my life.....how am I supposed to live without you?” Her chest tightened painfully, her heart pounding against her ribcage like it was trying to escape. She clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as she fought to hold herself together. One more minute. Just one more minute, and she’d be free of this moment, free of the pain in his voice that was breaking her apart piece by piece. His hands reached out, trembling as they gripped her arms. “Say something,” he pleaded. His voice was raw, filled with a desperation she’d n
Elodie changed into her regular clothes after finishing her long shift at the bar. Her legs ached from standing all day, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her. But she had no time to rest. Her rent was overdue by two months, and her landlord had given her only twenty-four hours to pay up or face eviction. No matter how tired she was, she had to head to her second job. When she got home, she let out a deep sigh, the familiar warmth of her small apartment offering little comfort. It was quiet, a stark contrast to the noise and chaos of her life. After a quick shower, she sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at her phone. Her body begged for sleep, but her mind wouldn’t let her relax. Tonight was going to be hard, and she knew it. The sudden ring of her phone startled her. She picked up quickly, recognizing her boss’s impatient voice. “Why aren’t you here yet?” he barked. “Good evening, sir,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m on my way to the festival. I’
EARLIER IN THE DAY “I love you, Williams.” “You are my soulmate.” “Take your stupid ring. And don’t ever come near me again.” _______ Williams’ eyes shot open, his heart racing as fragments of the dream lingered in his mind. He sat up, his breaths heavy, and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Reaching for his wallet on the nightstand, he pulled out a small, worn photo tucked inside. His fingers traced the edges, the image a cruel reminder of a past he couldn’t escape. His grip tightened as his emotions surged. He stared at the picture, bitterness welling up in his chest. “Why are you still in my dreams, Elodie?” he muttered through clenched teeth. In a sudden burst of frustration, he tore the photo into tiny pieces, letting them scatter onto the floor. It had been three years since she walked out of his life, yet the pain felt fresh, as if no time had passed. Her betrayal, her cutting words...they haunted him. No matter how hard he tried to bury the memories, they always
"Why did the mascot run away?" Mandy, the girl with Williams asked, her tone laced with curiosity. Her wide eyes darted between the crowd and the retreating figure. Williams frowned, his sharp gaze following where the mascot had disappeared. He didn’t usually concern himself with trivial matters, yet something felt off. The image of the clumsy mascot colliding with the cake lingered in his mind, and an inexplicable pull urged him to investigate why. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, a ripple of gossip spreading through the air. Meanwhile, the man holding the ruined cake turned on the mascot, his face red with anger. Elodie stood frozen, her heart pounding like a drum. Her vision was obscured by the frosting smeared across the mascot head. Trapped and humiliated, she realized there was only one way out. With trembling hands, she slowly lifted the oversized head, revealing her flushed, tear-streaked face. “I-I’m so sorry,” she began, her voice trembling as she faced the furio
Williams stood outside the luxury shoe store, gripping his coat so tightly his knuckles turned white. He shouldn’t be here. After his receptionist informed him that Elodie had dropped off his coat, he picked it up to dump it in the trash. But somehow, somehow, he had ended up following Elodie instead with the coat in his hand. And now, he stood outside like a fool, watching through the glass as Elodie worked. She had changed. The confident, powerful CEO was gone. In her place was a woman kneeling before customers, helping them slip on overpriced shoes like a servant. His teeth clenched. He had almost walked in when that so-called "friend" from her past mocked her. He had almost intervened. But then... That man appeared. Williams’ entire body stiffened as he listened. How could he forget the face of Bryce Tanner, the man who took everything from him? And then... "No wonder… you’re my wife." Williams felt like something snapped inside him. His chest tightened as if som
Elodie stared at her belongings as she thought of what to do. Finally, she called her second job, the one where she sometimes worked events, hoping for any sliver of hope. But the voice on the other end was curt. "Elodie, didn't you get the termination email? And your last pay went toward replacing the mascot uniform you ruined. It wasn't even enough." The line went dead before Elodie could argue. She felt like the ground beneath her was crumbling. Everything was slipping away. She sighed, picked up her stuff and began to walk away. Minutes later, Elodie sat on the creaky bed of a budget motel, staring at the peeling wallpaper. The room smelled of cheap air freshener, trying and failing to mask the scent of dampness. She dropped her bag onto the floor, exhaling slowly. 'This is it. This is my new life.' Her fingers brushed against the ring pendant hanging from her necklace, a painful reminder of the past. She had once lived in luxury, surrounded by wealth and privilege.
Elodie sat on the hospital bed, staring at the door Williams had just walked through. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed them against her lap. Why did it feel like she had let him down? A sharp sigh left her lips. 'No. This is for the best.' She shook off the lingering emotions and pushed herself up. There was no point in thinking about him. She had other problems to deal with...like the fact that this was a private hospital, and every second she spent here was adding to a bill she couldn’t afford. She needed to leave. Fast. She reached for her folded clothes, but as she moved, something heavy slid from the chair and landed on the floor. She looked down. Williams' coat. She quickly bent down and picked it up. The fabric was warm against her fingers, his scent lingering in every fiber—clean, crisp, expensive. She hesitated for a second before shaking her head. 'I’ll return it to him. It’s just a coat.' After changing into her clothes, she went to the fron
The first thing Elodie noticed was the stillness. The sterile scent of antiseptics filled the air, and the morning light filtering through the thin curtains cast a faint glow over the pale hospital walls. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the brightness, but for a moment, she remained still. 'Where am I?' Then, reality crashed over her. Williams. The bar. The kiss. Elodie sucked in a sharp breath, pressing her hands against her burning cheeks. 'What was I thinking?' The memory of Williams' touch, his rough desperation, the way he had held her..it all came flooding back, making her stomach twist. She shut her eyes tightly. 'I have to leave here. Now.' Pushing back the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. The cold floor sent a shiver up her spine as she stood, her body still a little weak from whatever had been in that drink. She reached for her clothes, neatly folded on the chair beside her. Just as she reached for them, the door creaked open. Elodie turn
Williams barely had time to react as Elodie’s lips brushed against his. It was soft, hesitant...yet desperate. A plea. A need. His entire body stiffened. Her warmth was intoxicating, her scent faintly sweet, utterly familiar..wrapped around him, making his blood run hotter. He had spent so many nights trying to erase her from his mind, but here she was, pressed against him, pulling him back into a past he had fought so hard to forget. She murmured his name, her voice weak but filled with yearning. Something inside him snapped. His hands moved on their own, gripping her waist, pulling her against him. His lips crashed into hers, not gentle, not hesitant this time. His kiss was rough, demanding, filled with pent-up frustration and unspoken emotions. Elodie gasped into his mouth, and he swallowed the sound, his fingers digging into her hips. He pushed her back against the couch, his weight pressing into her, his body acting on instincts he had spent years suppressing. 'Damn it.
Elodie trailed behind Williams, her trembling fingers clutching her torn blouse together. Each step behind him felt like a countdown to something she wasn’t prepared for. The air was filled with unspoken words and bitter memories for him. Williams didn’t slow his pace, his broad shoulders squared, his every movement controlled and precise. He walked ahead as if she weren’t even there, as if leading her somewhere was just an unfortunate errand he had to run. Elodie bit her lip, her mind racing. Williams had saved her, yes...but she believed it was not out of kindness. There was no kindness in the way he had looked at her, no softness in his cold, detached expression. She could tell that he still hated her.What surprised her was the fact that he had a VIP room. She had been working at the bar for a while but had never seen him there before. When they reached the VIP room, Williams pushed the door open without sparing her a glance. "Go on," he said, his voice impatient. Elodie h
“I’ve never seen this person before.” Elodie smiled bitterly as Williams' words replayed over and over in her head. "You deserved that and more, Elodie," she told herself. As she made her way home, she recalled the events of the past and sighed. Life had become much harder since then. Now, she scraped by, living paycheck to paycheck, her once grand aspirations replaced by the desperate need to survive. "None of this compares to the pain I caused Williams," she told herself. "It's a good thing he's found someone who makes him happy." When she finally reached her tiny apartment, she collapsed onto the sagging bed, staring at the cracked ceiling. Memories came rushing back...the laughter she and Williams had shared, and his earnest dreams. Now, someone else had restored what she had broken. By morning, her body ached from exhaustion, but she forced herself to get ready. Today was critical. If she didn’t get paid for her shift at the bar, she wouldn’t have enough to complete
"Why did the mascot run away?" Mandy, the girl with Williams asked, her tone laced with curiosity. Her wide eyes darted between the crowd and the retreating figure. Williams frowned, his sharp gaze following where the mascot had disappeared. He didn’t usually concern himself with trivial matters, yet something felt off. The image of the clumsy mascot colliding with the cake lingered in his mind, and an inexplicable pull urged him to investigate why. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, a ripple of gossip spreading through the air. Meanwhile, the man holding the ruined cake turned on the mascot, his face red with anger. Elodie stood frozen, her heart pounding like a drum. Her vision was obscured by the frosting smeared across the mascot head. Trapped and humiliated, she realized there was only one way out. With trembling hands, she slowly lifted the oversized head, revealing her flushed, tear-streaked face. “I-I’m so sorry,” she began, her voice trembling as she faced the furio
EARLIER IN THE DAY “I love you, Williams.” “You are my soulmate.” “Take your stupid ring. And don’t ever come near me again.” _______ Williams’ eyes shot open, his heart racing as fragments of the dream lingered in his mind. He sat up, his breaths heavy, and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Reaching for his wallet on the nightstand, he pulled out a small, worn photo tucked inside. His fingers traced the edges, the image a cruel reminder of a past he couldn’t escape. His grip tightened as his emotions surged. He stared at the picture, bitterness welling up in his chest. “Why are you still in my dreams, Elodie?” he muttered through clenched teeth. In a sudden burst of frustration, he tore the photo into tiny pieces, letting them scatter onto the floor. It had been three years since she walked out of his life, yet the pain felt fresh, as if no time had passed. Her betrayal, her cutting words...they haunted him. No matter how hard he tried to bury the memories, they always