CHAPTER 1.At twenty-three, I feel like I’ve achieved everything I ever wanted in life. Ever since I was twelve, I knew my dreams, to marry Lucas, the love of my life, and start a family with him while becoming the heiress to my family’s conglomerate.Peeking through the window, a wide grin spread across my face as I made eye contact with the dedicated workers down the hall. They were busy decorating for my big day tomorrow. I was about to kill two birds with one stone: I could not wait to become the heiress of my family’s empire and also Lucas' wife.I felt an urge to run around, my excitement was overwhelming. I had waited for this day my entire life. Quickly dressing in something casual, I walked out of my room. I realized I hadn’t seen my fiancé in the last twelve hours, so I decided to give him a call. The phone rang five times before he picked up.“Hey, soon-to-be wife,” he greeted softly, making me blush.“Are you missing me already?” he asked, like he was reading my mind.“Yea
CHAPTER 2.Samantha's eyes crinkled into a radiant smile for a moment, but as soon as she noticed my gaze, her expression shifted to a sharp frown. She gently helped me off the floor, and I settled onto the bed while she caressed my back softly.“It’s okay, sis. Daddy is just angry that your naked pictures are all over the internet,” she said solemnly.I paused my crying and took a deep breath. “How did my pictures get out into the world? That’s my privacy, Sam.”Samantha cradled my head, rubbing my back gently. “Daddy is just upset. Maybe you should see him later while I help you talk to Lucas.”“He seems to be very disappointed in you,” she added.“How did this even happen, sis? You should have been more careful. If you wanted to be with someone else, you could have told me, and I would have looked out for you.”I turned to her, taking her hands in mine and fixing my tear-filled eyes on her. “Please help me tell Lucas it isn’t true. Everything he saw online is a lie. I’m being set u
CHAPTER 3 ALESSANDRO POV.“How many more minutes until we reach the hall?” I asked Zack, my personal driver, glancing at my watch.“About two—” he began to reply, but his words were abruptly cut off as a car from the opposite direction collided with ours. The impact sent our vehicle screeching and swerving violently while Zack struggled to regain control. His hands trembled on the steering wheel as he fought to avoid crashing into the row of cars next to us.Finally, Zack hit the brakes and managed to steer us to safety, but I could tell my car had sustained some damages. The loud thud of the collision echoed in my ears. I quickly opened my door and stormed toward the reckless driver who had hit us.As I approached the car, my anger flared, and I clenched my fists, ready to confront whoever was inside. But as I drew closer, my fury shifted to deep concern. I saw a woman slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious.Fortunately, the windows were wide open, so I reached in and gently c
CHAPTER 4 OLIVIA'S POV.My eyes finally flipped open after a long sleep, and I darted around, taking in the atmosphere of the environment I was in. My heart raced as I tried to stand up from the bed.This is a damn hospital! How did I get here? I threw off the mattress cover that was draped over me and sat up in bed. The only thing I could remember was my sister and her fiancé drugging my drink and leaking my photos to the press. And then I drove off recklessly...The door swung open, and a man wearing a white coat walked in, followed closely by another man. My gaze shifted to the man following the doctor, and I couldn't help but gasp. He was notoriously handsome, with a chiseled jaw, grayish beard, and abs that looked like they were sculpted. He wore an expensive Gucci suit, leaving me wondering who he was.The doctor approached me with a soft smile. “Thank God you're awake. Your husband is here to see you.”My eyes went wide, disbelief washing over me as I raised my head. “Hus... h
CHAPTER 5 ALESSANDRO POV. I leaned in, pressing my lips against hers as I pulled her closer, carefully carrying her to the bed. If this was what she wanted, then I didn’t mind giving her one of the best memories of her life.Putting her on the bed, I broke off the kiss, staring blankly at her. I asked again, “Are you sure you want to do this?”She nodded urgently and breathlessly, “I’m sure.”I quickly pinned her against the bed and ravaged her lips while my hands moved to grab her sweaty, succulent breasts. I knew she said she just wanted to take her mind off something, but I was doing it diligently. I had been drawn to that curvy body since I carried her to the hospital. It had been years since I touched a woman this way, and that was because I didn’t usually enjoy it.But there was something about how this woman’s body aroused me. Was it the way she kissed me? It made me want to risk everything for her. As she kissed me, she slowly unzipped my pants and carefully forced her way t
CHAPTER 6OLIVIA POV. What did the doctor just say to me?!I’m pregnant? I shook my head, blinking rapidly as I tried to process what that meant. This can’t be happening. I can’t be pregnant, right?I glanced over at Alessandro, and he looked just as shocked as I felt. Yet, there was a flicker of amusement on his face that I couldn’t quite understand. This can’t be a good thing! In fact, it’s a terrible thing. Getting pregnant at a time like this, when I can barely feed myself?The doctor gently packed up and left, with Alessandro’s driver escorting him out, leaving just the two of us alone. My hands trembled as I swallowed hard, desperately trying not to look at him. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze.Or maybe the doctor made a mistake… right?I should consult another doctor or use a pregnancy test. I can’t believe him. Nervously, I chewed my fingernails, the uneven edges grazing my teeth. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I was pregnant with a man I barely even kn
CHAPTER 7ALESSANDRO POV.Approximately seven hours later, I still can't believe my kitten is pregnant with my child.It feels so awkward yet so fast. She comes from the Brown family, but thankfully, she's disowned. I’ll ensure she takes on a new identity so my family doesn’t throw tantrums about me marrying my enemy.To be clear, she isn’t going to be my wife in the traditional sense. I just need her to give birth to my child, and once our deal is settled, she can leave.It’s in my best interest to help ruin her family, and I’m genuinely excited about taking on that challenge. In fact, it’s a pleasure, and I can’t wait. As for my kitten, I’m not sure what draws me closer to her, but given her background, I can't fully trust her. That’s why I made her sign a contract to keep her in check.Nervously, I paced around my room, contemplating how my family would react.I grinned at the thought of my brothers discovering that I now have a woman—and not just any woman, but one who is carrying
CHAPTER 8OLIVIA'S POV.FIVE YEARS LATER.It's been exactly five years since I walked out of my family home and flew down to Italy with a man I barely knew and a child I knew wasn't his. But look how time flies! It's been five years now, and I can't believe that I'm back in New York with my son, Jaden!Five years ago, I didn't just leave home; I left my hometown entirely and everything it had given me over the years. Now, I was going back—not because I had any desire to confront my past or to see my ex-fiancé or my father, but because the time of reckoning is here. I wanted to show Jaden my family. At least he deserves it; he deserves something real since his whole existence has been a lie regarding who he thinks is his father.I still can't believe that I spent five years in Italy with Alessandro. Those five years were the best years of my whole life! I was treated so well, even if sometimes I had to fight for myself and defend my child from the psychos in the family. But staying in
CHAPTER 24 OLIVIA I stood frozen in one spot, slowly averting my gaze from his intense stare.Dammit, Olivia! You should have known he might be a little freaky, but he is a disciplined businessman. Only that could have made him the best candidate to rule his family conglomerate at such a young age.“I'm really sorry, Williams. I just had—”He cut me off sternly. “Just an apology? You think an apology will suffice for that? People lose millions for doing less than what you just did, and you expect me to let you off the hook?”Just like that, huh? Every muscle in my body tensed up. Is he about to cut the deal?I shoved those thoughts away. He can't do that for this silly mistake, right?“Do you know how much damage you have caused by coming in this late?” I arched my brows. Damage? Just for two hours of lateness? That sounds ridiculous, even if I can't voice my opinion. Voicing it now would be a wrong move.“I apologize. What damage was done? I might be able to make up for that,” I
CHAPTER 23 OLIVIA I can't believe I'm two freaking hours late! I quickly moved to the bathroom to take a bath so I could head to work. There's a part of me that keeps praying Williams won’t scold me or ask unnecessary questions.If he does, I have no answers. I can't tell him I came to work late because I was trying to move from my house into a hotel, hoping that one of these days he doesn’t show up out of nowhere to come see me or even Jayden.A couple of minutes later, I was done. I didn’t care to put on any makeup; I didn’t have money for that. I quickly tucked my hair back, picked up my keys, and rushed out.My mind raced with thoughts as I headed to the company. I can't believe I'm about to screw this up. What if I get in there and he fires me?Coming two hours late is a viable reason to fire someone, so I wouldn’t hold it against him if he does.Finally, I pulled into the company driveway and parked my car. Picking up my bag and phone, I slammed my door and increased my pace t
CHAPTER 22 OLIVIA."Hello, ma'am? Good afternoon. I got your number from your website. I'm calling to ask if you have any empty apartments to rent out," I said once the call connected while I continued driving."I need an apartment that is available immediately. Something I can move into first thing tomorrow morning."The lady acknowledged that they had some apartments she would love me to come see this evening, and I was more than happy that I was getting an apartment so quickly. When Alessandro comes next, I’ll lie to him about it being far from my workplace at Jerkins Headquarters.As I hung up and returned my focus to driving, Jayden piped up. "Mommy, why are we moving again?""Oh, baby, it has to do with my work. Staying here will be so stressful for Mommy to always go to work, okay?"From the rearview mirror, I saw him give a shaky nod. I knew he wasn't happy that we were moving again, but I had no choice but to find somewhere Williams wouldn't easily find me.Somewhere to star
CHAPTER 21WILLIAMSI looked down at him and gulped, my mouth dry as I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. I never expected him to ask me to play with him—at least, not so quickly.“Jayden, not today. Uncle is a bit busy, so maybe some other time.” Olivia tried to brush him away from me, but I bent down and took his hands into mine.I smiled. “Yeah, I will play with you. Let's go have some fun while Mommy is busy on her phone.”His lips curled into a smile, and his face lit up with happiness. He turned, and his steps became jerky; he seemed excited that I wanted to play with him. Just being able to hold his hands gave me a satisfaction I hadn't felt in years.Knowing he is my son made it even more appealing to me. I might hate the fact that I can't tell him that I'm his father, but I know that will happen soon when I get Olivia back into my life, and then we will live like a happy family.When we finally got to the playground, there were just a few kids left.“I want the swings!”
CHAPTER 20OLIVIA I leaned back against the leather seat of my car, holding my head in my hands as I let out a deep sigh. I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing now. What if Andro is stalking around or has one of his boys trailing me wherever I go? I mean, that’s something he could do.But at this point, I seem to be out of choices. I already signed those documents, and there was no going back from here. As I sat back in my car, my mind buzzed with the events of the day and the decisions I had made. I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was happening so fast; now I'm working with Williams, and he is about to see his son? It all seems to be moving at a crazy speed. I sat there lost in thought, my fingers clasped together, until one of Williams's boys knocked on my window.I jolted back to reality and turned my engine on. Gripping the steering wheel, I shifted gears and hit the streets, with Williams's car trailing right behind mine. As I drove, I con
CHAPTER 19OLIVIAI sat up in my chair and weighed my options. Giving him access to his child sounded crazy.But then again, now knowing he is Williams Jerkins, one of the richest and craziest bachelors in this city, there’s a huge chance he will track me down and take his son, even if I decide to run away from all of this.I contemplated my options, finding the best one that suits my interests. I can't let Alessandro find out that Jayden isn't his biological son, and I can't let him ever meet Williams Jerkins. On the other hand, I must not let Williams know that I am also married, and he must never meet Alessandro. If they ever meet each other, then I think I'm a dead woman.It felt like I was playing two powerhouse men, but what choices do I have?Run away with Alessandro? That seems almost impossible since he’s also hell-bent on helping me deal with my family for what they did to me years ago. Most of the time, he acts like he has some
CHAPTER 18WILLIAMS.I bit my lower lip, unable to contain the grin that stretched across my face.Seeing Olivia Brown sitting right in front of me felt like a late Christmas gift, but I didn't care; I would accept it either way.I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she came here willingly. Once my janitor told me he saw her, I couldn't resist. I had to send her in despite her having an official meeting with her sister, Samantha Brown.Anything in this world can wait until I'm done speaking with Olivia Brown.She shifted her gaze from the table to her clothes while fidgeting with them, trying to avoid eye contact with me.“How did you know it was me coming in here?” she asked. I chuckled as I looked at her; I couldn't help smiling; I was clearly amused by her reaction."Don't you think it's obvious?" I said. "I have cameras all over here, and I’ve had my boys looking for you all over the city for the past five years. They’ve registered your face in their minds and would
CHAPTER 17My eyes swept from her feet to her head, and I let out a resigned sigh.It was Samantha, but I didn't have time to deal with her right now. I was more focused on meeting the CEO of the Jerkins family.She glared at me as she settled down right next to me. “Hello, sis. What brings you here?”I rolled my eyes and let out a disappointed sigh. I had woken up this morning in high spirits, and I didn’t want to engage in conversation with someone who radiated negativity. So, I decided to stay silent.“This is the Jerkins company. Don’t tell me you came here looking for a job,” she said, a hint of mockery in her voice.She tucked her hair behind her ear and sighed. “Come on, sis. You can come back to the company. I’ll add you to the managerial staff. Dad is retired, so we don’t need his permission anymore. Working for the Jerkins?” She shook her head and leaned in closer, her voice softening. “Sis, you’re still a Brown. I don’t want you running around searching for some dead-end jo
CHAPTER 16.OLIVIA.I still can't believe I didn't care to tuck my baby to sleep because I was fucking Andro.A wave of embarrassment washed over me as I forced my way out of bed.When I woke up, I didn't see Alessandro on his side of the bed; I didn't bother. I know exactly where he will be by this time of the morning… Leon's room.It's barely seven in the morning, but I'm sure they'll either be drinking, smoking, or discussing Italy right now. They never catch a break.I stretched and yawned as the ordeal of last night began to rush back to my mind. I hate to admit that Alessandro just knows the exact way to pleasure me and make me feel so fucking good. I couldn't help but smile, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction fill my stomach.That was the best Christmas gift ever. He knew how to push my buttons and how to make me feel like I was the only woman in the world. Walking into the bathroom, I flipped the lights on and gazed at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a tangled mess,