After dinner, Ruby followed Hector into his room, smiling because she finally got him to eat everything she made. She believed she was so close to finally gaining his trust. She had no idea that he had already made up his mind. No matter what, he had to send her away. Keeping her here… it was wrong. This wasn’t her world. She deserved something better...a life far from him, far from danger. But before she left, he wanted to give her something. Something that truly mattered to her. So when she entered the room and saw him lost in thought, she walked over and sat on his thigh, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek, her lips soft against his skin. "What’s on your mind?" she asked, her voice gentle. Hector blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "I was thinking of doing something nice for you," he admitted. Her brows lifted slightly. "Oh?" "Yeah." His gaze locked onto hers. "Tell me," he said. "Is there something you really want?" Her e
ANYA Valentine’s Day; The day of lovers, the day I had been waiting for with my heart in my throat and dreams in my eyes. Today was going to be my day. My perfect day. I rushed into the bar, my heart pounding in anticipation. The sight of Cross made my breath catch, as it always did. He was sitting there, looking effortlessly perfect. His hair was slightly messy, his smile casually charming, and his presence magnetic. I had loved him since high school, and even now, in college, that love hadn’t faded. If anything, it had only grown stronger. He was the guy all the girls wanted, yet somehow, he remained single. That was part of his charm...unreachable, mysterious, untouchable. But not to me. I believed I had a chance. I wasn’t supposed to school at Kings college. My parents had wanted me to attend a more prestigious one, but I had whined, begged, and complained until they sent me there.....where Cross was. To me, nothing mattered more than being near him. Yesterday, I had done
ANYA The sound of laughter erupted behind me, sharp and mocking. Cameras flashed, their lenses pointed at me like spotlights, capturing every humiliating second. I clenched my fists, trying to block out the noise. I knew this would happen. I knew Hunter Steele would humiliate me, but I didn’t care. If enduring this proved my love for Cross, it was worth it. I kept reminding myself: By the end of today, I’ll have my first kiss.....from the love of my life. Cross will see how much I love him, and everything will be perfect. But then Hunter’s annoyed expression softened. A chuckle escaped his lips, sending a chill down my spine. Before I could process it, his face turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer. My heart raced as he loomed over me, his presence suffocating. “Why is he so close?” I thought, frozen in place. He reached out, his hand catching my chin. His grip was firm but not painful, and his intense gaze seemed to dissect every inch of my face. “Is he going to
ANYA I couldn’t decide what was worse: the fact that Cross wanted nothing to do with me or that Hunter Steele, of all people, had decided I was going to be his wife. My chest tightened as the memory of Hunter’s kiss flashed through my mind. I wiped my lips again, as though I could erase the feeling. "Oh, Cross," I thought miserably. "What can I do to win you back? You were the one who told me to approach Hunter Steele. I only did it for you, but now I’m the one paying the price." My phone felt heavy in my hand as I scrolled to Cross’s number. Desperation gnawed at me. I just needed to explain, to tell him what really happened. Maybe if he listened, he would forgive me. But when I called, the automated voice informed me that my number had been blocked. The rejection hit me like a slap. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. I still remembered the look on his face before he walked out of the bar....the disgust in his eyes, the finality in his voice. And the stares of e
HUNTER I can’t remember the last time I willingly let a woman get close to me. To me, they were a necessary evil—useful when needed, but never trusted. If it weren’t for my father constantly nagging me to settle down, I wouldn’t have entertained the idea of marriage at all. I was only twenty-six. What was the rush? That was before last night. When I walked into one of my bars, planning to inspect it before gifting it to a friend, I expected nothing more than the usual. The place was buzzing, people minding their drinks and business—until her. A young woman, trembling yet determined, stepped in front of me and asked the most ridiculous question I’d ever heard: “Will you marry me?” Women had thrown themselves at me countless times—clinging, scheming, desperate. But no one had ever dared to ask me to marry them outright. At first, I was annoyed, but her fear-stricken face caught my attention. There was something strangely compelling about her bravery. She looked so fragile, y
ANYAI finally understood why people said Hunter Steele was ruthless. He didn’t just make threats; he acted on them without hesitation. The fear in my mother’s eyes, my father collapsing on the floor, my brother trying to stay strong....it was all my fault. I had dragged my family into this nightmare.As I stared at Hunter, who stood tall and unyielding, I hated him more than I’d ever hated anyone. But despite my hatred, a few hours later, I found myself standing beside him in court. His presence was suffocating, his control absolute.The ceremony was brief, emotionless. Before I knew it, the judge pronounced us husband and wife. My heart sank as the reality of my new life hit me. This wasn’t a fairytale. This was a cage.Once we stepped outside the court, Hunter pulled out his phone and made a call. “Send a hundred-billion-dollar contract to Blake Enterprise,” he ordered. “They’re my in-laws now.”I stared at him, shocked. A hundred billion dollars? My family’s company had been teete
ANYAI swallowed hard, tears threatening to spill from my eyes as I stared at Hunter. I felt powerless under his intense gaze, his presence suffocating. For a fleeting moment, I thought about fighting back....maybe kneeing him to escape. But fear gripped me. If I acted recklessly, my family would undoubtedly pay the price.Suddenly, his hand moved from under my dress, and he gently caressed my cheek. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, but it wasn’t from comfort....it was the unsettling control he seemed to have over me.I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to look at him.“Open your eyes when I speak to you,” he commanded, his voice cold but firm.I reluctantly obeyed, opening my eyes to find his face mere inches from mine. His lips almost brushed mine, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine with a chilling intensity.“My beautiful wife,” he whispered, his tone deceptively soft. “There’s something you need to understand. In this house, my word is law. So, when I say, ‘Go take a
ANYA I blinked several times, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. My brain was screaming at me to move, to run, to do anything....but I was frozen in place as Hunter Steele kept on holding me, his damp hair dripping water onto his shoulders, his chest bare, and a single piece of clothing—a pair of briefs—clinging to him. "Did he just take a bath?" I wondered, panicking. Then it hit me like a truck. "This is his bedroom. Oh no! How did I walk into the lion's den?" A shiver ran down my spine. Not because of the chill, but because of the way Hunter's cold, furious gaze bore into me. Then, to my utter confusion, his expression shifted. The anger faded, replaced by something else..... amusement. "I asked you a question," he said, his voice low and commanding. "What are you doing in my bedroom when I clearly warned you to stay away?" "I... I..." My voice trailed off. My mind, which should have been coming up with a brilliant excuse, decided to take a vacation. Great timing, brain
After dinner, Ruby followed Hector into his room, smiling because she finally got him to eat everything she made. She believed she was so close to finally gaining his trust. She had no idea that he had already made up his mind. No matter what, he had to send her away. Keeping her here… it was wrong. This wasn’t her world. She deserved something better...a life far from him, far from danger. But before she left, he wanted to give her something. Something that truly mattered to her. So when she entered the room and saw him lost in thought, she walked over and sat on his thigh, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek, her lips soft against his skin. "What’s on your mind?" she asked, her voice gentle. Hector blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "I was thinking of doing something nice for you," he admitted. Her brows lifted slightly. "Oh?" "Yeah." His gaze locked onto hers. "Tell me," he said. "Is there something you really want?" Her e
On the drive back home, Hector’s mind was in turmoil. Everything he had believed was a lie. Ruby had struggled...fought...to convince him that she was someone else. But he hadn’t listened. He had refused to listen. And now, he finally understood. He leaned back against the seat, eyes dark. Eduardo. That bastard. Hector had spent years perfecting the art of punishment, but what punishment could ever be enough for what Eduardo had done to Ruby? He had destroyed her life. Sold her. Framed her. Left her to rot. His fists tightened. But then, an odd thought crossed his mind. 'Why did she stop trying to convince me?' 'Why did she eventually accept it?' 'If she had stood her ground… if she had fought a little harder… Would I have figured it out sooner?' He exhaled sharply. His underling, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. “What are you going to do now?” Hector stared out of the window, expression unreadable. "The right thing," he
As soon as they got into the car, Hector turned to his underling. "Where are we headed?" he asked, his voice calm. The underling hesitated. "It's not something I can explain," he finally said. "I just need to show you." Hector's brows lifted slightly. Mysterious. He didn’t like mysteries. Especially not when they involved him. Because he had been betrayed before, Hector never fully trusted anyone. Not his enemies. Not his underlings. And definitely not the woman sleeping in his bed. Since this one refused to disclose what they were going to find, Hector decided to let him have his way. But at the same time, he discreetly prepared his weapon. If this was a trap, he would deal with it immediately. And if his underling was up to no good? Well… he wouldn’t live to see another sunrise. When the car finally came to a stop, Hector frowned. A cemetery. He stepped out slowly, scanning the area. The air was still. His underling pointed ahead. "Read what’s writt
As the plane soared through the skies, Ruby stayed close to Hector. She blamed herself. She had made a mistake. She had allowed too many emotions to slip through. And because of that, Hector hadn’t fallen completely into her hands yet. She needed to fix it. She needed to convince him that she was hopelessly, unconditionally in love with him. So, she adjusted. She rested her hands on his shoulder, leaned into him, laughed at everything he said...even the things that weren’t funny. She hugged him whenever she had the chance, looked at him with admiration, and spoke to him in the softest, sweetest tone. Hector watched her carefully, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he let her play her game. When they made their first stop to refuel, Ruby turned to him with a small smile. "I need to take you somewhere," she said. Hector raised a brow. "Where?" She simply smiled. "Just trust me." Hector leaned back in his seat, smirking. Trust? That was something he was n
Ruby stood frozen, her entire world shrinking to the sight of Eduardo and Selina. Her mind raced. Every betrayal. Every lie. Every moment they had crushed her. She could still hear the cold way Eduardo had spoken to her the last time they met. She could still remember the way she had received the news of her father’s death. And now he was here. Laughing. Holding Selena like she was the love of his life. Like she hadn't destroyed everything Ruby ever had. Her fingers dug deeper into Hector’s hand, unaware of the blood that had begun to surface. Hector, on the other hand, remained composed. He turned slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping the beach before he gestured for one of his men to approach. As the underling leaned in, Hector spoke in a low voice. “See the man in white? The one looking lovingly at the woman in the pink playsuit?” The underling nodded. “Get close to them. Find out his name. Take a picture of him...discreetly.” The man gave a subtle nod befor
The silence in the room stretched for minutes. Hector sat on the edge of the bed, watching Ruby carefully. Then, without a word, he picked up the plate. He held out a spoonful of food. “Eat.” Ruby hesitated, shaking her head. “I meant what I said...I really don’t have much of an appetite.” Hector didn’t budge. “I’m not asking, Ruby. Just eat a little. You’re going to break down if you keep this up.” She sighed, looking away. He exhaled. “You know, I left an important meeting for you. I don’t do things like this. I don’t sit by anyone’s bedside and care for them. But here I am.” She looked at him, eyes soft. “Thank you.” His jaw clenched. “I don’t want your thanks, Ruby. I want your honesty.” His gaze locked onto hers. “Are you still hurt by Don Gray’s death?” She frowned. “No.” “Were you in love with him?” She stiffened at the question. Then, without hesitation, she swore on her life. “I despised that man, Hector. With a passion. And now that he’s dead?” Sh
Hector had barely been gone an hour when Ruby stirred from sleep. She sat up slowly, hugging her knees to her chest. She felt a sadness so deep, so consuming, that it left her breathless. She didn't know how long she stayed like that, curled up on the bed, lost in thoughts. But then a soft knock came at the door. The housekeeper entered, carrying a warm smile. “Good, you’re awake,” she said gently before turning to leave. A few minutes later, she returned with a tray of food. The aroma filled the air, rich and inviting, but Ruby barely glanced at it. "I don’t really have much of an appetite," she murmured. The housekeeper placed the tray in front of her and gave her a knowing look. "You should try it. It’s nice.” Ruby sighed, feeling too tired to argue. "Thank you," she said quietly. She picked up the spoon and had a taste. And then a memory hit her. She was sick. Feverish. Weak. She had been lying in bed, waiting for the family doctor to arrive. At that ti
After watching Don Gray’s body disappear, Ruby turned and walked away. She didn’t look back. She made her way to Hector’s room. Hector followed her, his sharp gaze fixed on her back. He expected something....a reaction, a flicker of emotion. But she was quiet. Too quiet. Hector prided himself on understanding people. He could break them, twist them, strip them down to their very core and know what made them tick. But her? She was an enigma. What was she thinking? Was she disturbed by Don Gray’s death? Did she regret anything? He hated this uncertainty. Hated that he even cared. In the past, he would have used pain to get the answers he wanted. A knife. A whip. A gun to the temple. But now? The thought of hurting her made him sick. The realization burned inside him like a slow fire. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to speak. "Are you okay?" Ruby looked at him, her expression calm. “I’m fine.” A lie. But he didn’t push. Instead, he changed
Ruby watched in silence as Don Gray's screams faded into nothing. His body twisted and convulsed in agony until the fire consumed him completely. His last movement was a desperate, futile roll across the floor....then stillness. The room smelled of burning flesh and smoke. Hector took one last glance at the charred corpse, then waved his hand. “Dump him in the river,” he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. The men moved at once, hauling what was left of Don Gray away. But Camila was not there to witness it. She sat in her bathtub, submerged in warm water, yet feeling no warmth at all. Her mind was miles away, trapped in the past. She saw it again...the gun in her hand, her finger pulling the trigger, Hector flinching as the bullet grazed his hand. She had tried to stop him. Tried to save Ruby. But then Ruby had fallen at Hector's feet begging to be his dog, just to spare Camila. Camila squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the edges of the bathtub as nausea threate