Chapter: CHAPTER 38: The Unexpected ContractionEMELYThat afternoon I tried to find some peace in the backyard garden, the place that used to be my escape. The roses I’d planted myself two years ago were still blooming, even though I’d barely touched them lately. I held the hose, watering them slowly, letting the steady trickle drown out the chaos in my head that had been building since morning.I brushed my hand gently over my belly. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I turned off the hose, pulled it out, and saw the name on the screen.Naya.Alexander’s secretary at the company, the woman who’d worked for him for years and sometimes quietly tipped me off when he was “working too late.” I opened the message, hoping for something routine.It wasn’t.Naya: [Ma’am, sorry to bother you this afternoon. I just reviewed the CCTV footage from Mr. Alex’s office today. I’ve already deleted it from the company server, but I’m sending it to you first in case you want to see it yourself. I couldn’t stand watching him with Miss Lorian…]Below it, a
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-08
Chapter: CHAPTER 37: His Office, His RulesLORIANThe door to Alexander’s office clicked shut behind me, soft but enough to make my heart race faster. I’d felt his gaze the moment I walked in: hungry, dark, like a predator finally uncaged.“Alex…” I started, half-teasing, but before I could finish, he pulled me into his arms. His body was hard, burning against mine, hands gripping my waist tight, as if I might slip away.He lifted me effortlessly and set me on the wide desk. Papers scattered to the floor; he didn’t care. His mouth crashed onto mine, rough, demanding, no hesitation.I moaned quietly into the kiss, hands instinctively clutching his shoulders. God, I’d missed this. Missed the way he claimed me completely.Deep down, I knew it was wrong. Back in college, I’d been the one to leave him, the one who cheated with someone else because I thought Alexander was too intense, too controlling. I regretted it now, regretted almost losing him forever.But who cared about regret anymore?I was carrying his child. And I hoped wi
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-07
Chapter: CHAPTER 36: Control and DesireALEXANDERI don’t understand what’s going through Emely’s head.How could she even think of forging a partnership with Steven Hale, the very rival who’s been circling Winchester Media Group like a shark, waiting for any sign of blood? What does she take me for? A husband she doesn’t respect? One she can simply ignore?Steven isn’t some amateur. He’s sharp, cunning, always one step ahead if you don’t watch him closely. And Emely, my wife, pregnant with my child, meets him alone. For a “script discussion,” she claims. I warned her clearly: no deals without my approval. She’d better listen. Because if she doesn’t, I’ll lose my temper. And I hate losing control.“Alex, what’s on your mind? You’ve looked restless all evening.”Lorian’s soft voice pulled me back. She sat beside me in the back of the car, her fingers brushing my cheek gently. We were on our way to the house, my house. I’d decided that afternoon, right after dropping Emely off from her little “meeting.” I went straight to Lor
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-06
Chapter: CHAPTER 35: A Forced MoveEMELYThat afternoon felt like a nightmare that refused to end.After Alexander said those words, as if my private room were nothing more than borrowed property, I could only stand frozen on the stairs. Below me, Lorian smiled wide, her eyes gleaming with victory. Alexander had already turned away, walking toward his study as if nothing at all were wrong.I went back up to the bedroom on unsteady legs. I closed the door softly and leaned against the wall. My breathing came out uneven, my eyes burned, but no tears fell. Not yet.Alexander appeared at the doorway not long after, without knocking.“Start packing this afternoon,” he said flatly. “Lorian will move in tonight so it’s done quickly. The guest room at the end of the corridor is ready.”I stared at him, my voice barely there. “Today?”“Yes.” His answer was short. “Don’t take too long. I’ll help Lorian move her things later.”Then he left. The door closed again.I stood in the middle of the room that had been my place to breathe
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-06
Chapter: CHAPTER 34: A Home That Slipped AwayEMELY“Oh? Didn’t Alexander tell you that starting today, I’ll be living in this house too?”The world seemed to grind to a halt. I stared at Lorian, my mouth hanging open, but no sound came out. It was still broad daylight, sunlight spilling through the corridor windows, yet the room suddenly felt dark, airless, as if the walls were closing in on me.“What… what do you mean?” My voice finally broke through, barely a whisper, trembling so badly it almost disappeared.Lorian’s smile widened. She stepped farther inside without waiting for an invitation and sat down at the edge of my bed as if she belonged there. She crossed her legs gracefully, one hand stroking her rounded belly, the other braced against the mattress, right where I usually slept.“Alexander said it would be more practical if I stayed here until I give birth,” she said lightly, her tone sweet, as though she were talking about planning a picnic. “Our pregnancies are so close together, Em. Your baby and mine will be born
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-05
Chapter: CHAPTER 33: Two Slaps in One DayEMELY“Who was the man you were just meeting?”Alexander’s voice was flat, but loud enough to draw the attention of several people on the sidewalk. He was already standing directly in front of me, one hand tucked into his coat pocket, his eyes narrowed and sharp like knives. His black car was parked crookedly behind him. He must have stopped abruptly the moment he saw me walk out of the café.My heart slammed violently against my ribs. Panic surged up my throat, making it hard to breathe.“Alex…” I stammered, stepping back half a pace. “What are you doing here?”“Answer me first,” he said coldly, stepping closer until barely a meter separated us. “Who was the man who walked you to the door? And don’t tell me he was just an old friend. I saw his face clearly.”I swallowed, my fingers tightening around my bag. Steven was still faintly visible through the café window, and I silently prayed he wouldn’t come outside.“It was Steven Hale,” I said at last, my voice barely steady. “He—”“Stev
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-05
Chapter: CHAPTER 57But Cedric didn’t care—not even a little. He only grew more savage, thrusting into her again and again like a massive hammer pounding without mercy. Each brutal impact jolted Renata’s body violently, her breasts bouncing painfully with the force. He sank his teeth deep into her neck, sharp and unrelenting, leaving angry red marks that would bloom into dark bruises by morning. His left hand squeezed her breast with cruel brutality, fingers pinching her nipple so hard she screamed louder, the pain shooting straight through her like a blade to the bone.“This is your punishment, Ren,” he hissed against her ear, his breath hot and heavy, thick with hellish heat. “You like it rough, don’t you? Just like you did with my father. You’re nothing but a cheap slut who craves a big cock, aren’t you?”Renata sobbed without end, tears soaking the crumpled pillow until it was drenched. Her body tried weakly to resist, hips twisting away on instinct, but Cedric was too strong, too merciless. With a r
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-05
Chapter: CHAPTER 56Her legs unsteady, Renata felt like a broken doll being dragged mercilessly by Cedric. The cold night air bit into her skin as they stepped out of the apartment building, sharp enough to pierce bone, but it was nothing compared to the icy dread that had frozen her heart solid. She didn’t dare scream—the thought of Selly hearing, of dragging her best friend deeper into this nightmare, sealed her lips shut. Cedric’s grip on her wrist felt like a burning iron shackle: no visible bruises, but it seared straight into her soul, making every second feel like eternal torment. She tried tugging her hand away, gently at first, but he only tightened his hold, his dark eyes flashing a silent, chilling warning that made her tremble.Cedric’s car—a sleek black sedan that still carried the sharp scent of new leather—waited in the dimly lit, damp underground garage. The stench of engine oil and exhaust fumes stung Renata’s nose until she thought she might be sick, but fear clamped everything down. He
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-05
Chapter: CHAPTER 55That morning, the campus café they usually went to felt colder than usual. Not because of the air conditioning, but because of the uneasy tension hanging thick in the air. Selly sat at a corner table by the window, her back straight but her shoulders tight, one hand wrapped around a cup of coffee that had long since lost its warmth. She had deliberately chosen a quieter spot—far enough from the crowd, yet still within view of others.For safety.So there would be witnesses if Cedric decided to lose control.Cedric arrived right on time, as always. He looked worn down, his eyes red and sunken, as if he hadn’t slept at all the night before. He took the seat across from Selly and offered the familiar faint smile that used to melt her heart every time. But now she knew better—that smile was hollow, stripped of sincerity.“Hey, Sel,” he greeted softly, reaching out as if to take her hand across the table. “Are you okay? I was really worried last night when you just walked away like that.”
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-04
Chapter: CHAPTER 54That morning, Selly couldn’t wait any longer.She woke with red, swollen eyes from lack of sleep. Her body was exhausted, but her resolve was firm. After what had happened the night before—the lipstick stain on Cedric’s shirt, the familiar scent of Renata’s perfume clinging to him, and the lies that had been far too obvious—Selly knew she needed the truth. And she needed it directly from Renata.She didn’t text. She didn’t call.She showered quickly, changed her clothes, grabbed her bag, and ordered a ride to Renata’s apartment. It was barely eight in the morning, but Selly didn’t care.When she reached Renata’s door, Selly knocked softly but firmly. No answer.She knocked again, louder this time.“Ren… I know you’re inside. Open the door. We need to talk.”A few seconds later, the door opened slowly.Renata stood there with a face drained of color, her eyes badly swollen, her hair a mess. She was still wearing the same loose clothes as yesterday. The marks on her neck were even clear
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-03
Chapter: CHAPTER 53Selly sat in the passenger seat of Cedric’s car, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her eyes fixed on the dark road stretching ahead. The car rolled slowly toward their favorite twenty-four-hour café, but something had shifted since the last red light. The air between them felt heavier, as if an invisible wall had suddenly risen, quietly but unmistakably, dividing the space they once shared so easily.The smear of red lipstick on Cedric’s shirt collar lingered in Selly’s mind. Not her shade. Not a color Cedric ever wore when he met Aunt Helena or his mother. And that perfume—too familiar, far too similar to the one Renata had been wearing lately. Selly remembered it clearly. Renata had just bought a new bottle last week, a sweet but sharp scent she’d said made her feel confident.Selly drew a slow breath, trying to steady herself. But suspicion had already taken root, a small spark beginning to grow, quietly scorching every tender memory she had with Cedric.Cedric turned the radio o
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-31
Chapter: CHAPTER 52That night, true to his word, Dominic showed up at Renata’s apartment again. But what stopped him dead in his tracks wasn’t the sight of her opening the door—it was the faint, unmistakable sound of a woman crying softly behind the bathroom door. He knew exactly who it was. Who else could it be but Renata?She stood there in the doorway, face pale, eyes swollen and red, wearing an oversized shirt that hung loosely on her frame. The moment she saw him, she reached back and quickly pulled the bathroom door shut behind her, as if trying to hide something. Dominic didn’t speak right away. He just looked at her for a long moment, his chest tightening at how fragile she seemed—the girl who had been unraveling his heart for far too long.“Ren,” he said softly, voice low and thick with worry. He stepped inside and closed the apartment door carefully behind him. “I heard you crying.”Renata dropped her gaze, fists clenched at her sides, shoulders still trembling. “I’m… I’m fine, Daddy,” she lie
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-30
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