Novel-novel oleh DearraMac

Camille's POVI returned to the penthouse three hours later, calmer but no less confused. Vincent was out, according to the housekeeper. Perfect. I needed answers, and I wasn't above snooping to find them.His study door was unlocked, surprisingly. Vincent usually kept it secured, especially lately. I slipped inside and closed the door behind me, my heart racing with equal parts guilt and determination.Medical records. That's what I needed. Proof of when his recovery actually started, what the doctors really said about his prognosis. The filing cabinet was locked, naturally. But his desk drawers weren't.I rifled through papers, trying to distinguish relevant documents from business contracts. Most of it was company related, boring financial projections and acquisition proposals. Nothing about his health, nothing about physical therapy schedules.Then I found his calendar. A leather-bound planner, the kind Vincent insisted on using despite having a digital calendar on his phone. Old

Camille's POVI didn't sleep. How could I after watching Vincent stand, after hearing him confess this entire nightmare was some twisted loyalty test? Morning light filtered through the bedroom curtains, and I'd spent the entire night replaying every moment since Kieran and Nikolai arrived.Vincent wheeled into the bedroom around eight, his face carefully neutral. "We need to talk.""You think?" I stayed on the bed, refusing to make this easier for him. "About which part? The part where you've been lying about your recovery, or the part where you pimped me out to test my devotion?""Don't use that word." His jaw tightened. "I gave you permission to find happiness since I couldn't provide it.""Permission." I laughed bitterly. "You gave me permission to betray my vows so you could what, collect evidence? Feel morally superior when you divorce me?""That's not what this was about." He wheeled closer, and I noticed how easily he maneuvered. How strong his arms looked. "I needed to know i

Camille's POV"Pass the salt, please." Vincent requested casually, as if we weren't all sitting at dinner pretending the last twenty-four hours hadn't happened.I handed him the shaker, avoiding eye contact with both Kieran and Nikolai across the table."How was everyone's day?" Vincent asked, as he picked his meat."Fine," I muttered, pushing my food around my plate."Productive," Kieran said, his eyes finding mine. The heat in his gaze made my stomach flip with the memories.Nikolai stayed silent. He'd barely looked at me since the argument where I didn't give him an answer. After he asked me to choose, I just brushed past him and went to Vincent's room.Vincent smiled like he knew exactly what was happening. "I'm glad everyone's settling in. This arrangement is working better than I hoped."My fork clattered against the plate. "Is it? Because from where I'm sitting, it feels like a disaster.""You guys will adjust." Vincent's hand found mine on the table, squeezing gently.Before I

Camille's POV"Camille, are you in there?” Kieran asked, standing outside my bedroom door.I'd been crying for the past hour, curled up on my bed with the thought of Vincent's plea. Thirty days to choose. As if any of this made sense."Go away," I managed and yelled a bit, but my voice broke on the words.The door opened anyway. Kieran stepped inside and closed it behind him, he was genuinely looking concerned."What happened?" He crossed the room and sat on the edge of my bed. "Did Vincent finally explain the choosing stuff to you?""He gave me a deadline." I sat up, wiping at my cheeks. "Thirty days to choose between you and Nikolai. Like I'm shopping for a new car.""That's not what this is." Kieran's hand found mine, his thumb stroking my knuckles. "He's just trying to help.""By forcing me to pick which of his friends I want to sleep with?" I asked laughing bitterly. "How is that helping?""Because you're miserable." He shifted closer, his free hand coming up to cup my face. "You

Camille's POV"You've been avoiding me all day." Nikolai's voice came from behind me as I stood by the pool, watching the sunset.I'd spent most of the day in my room, unable to face what had happened last night. Unable to face Kieran's knowing looks at breakfast or the way Vincent smiled at me like nothing had changed."I'm not avoiding anyone," I said without turning around. "I needed time to think.""About last night?" He moved closer, and I heard the smile in his voice. "Or about how good it felt?"Those six words made heat crept up my neck. "That shouldn't have happened.""But it did." Nikolai came to stand beside me, close enough that our arms almost touched. "And you wanted it. And I know you still do."I finally looked at him. "One night," I said firmly. "That was all it was.""Is that what you told yourself this morning?" He turned to face me fully. "Because from where I stood, it looked like you could barely walk straight. Like Kieran and I had taken you apart and put you ba

Camille's POV"You can't sleep either?" I jumped at Kieran's voice, spinning around from the kitchen counter where I'd been staring at the glass of water in my hand.The clock on the microwave read 2:47 AM. He stood in the doorway wearing only sleep pants, his chest bare and his hair messy from lying down. "I'm fine," I lied. "I was just thirsty.""Right. That's why you've been standing there for ten minutes without drinking anything." He moved into the kitchen, and suddenly the space felt too small. "We need to talk about tonight.""There's nothing to talk about." I set the glass down, preparing to leave. "Vincent made an inappropriate suggestion. End of discussion.""Inappropriate?" Kieran laughs. "Your husband is trying to save your marriage.""By offering me to his friends like some kind of party favor?""By admitting he can't give you what you need." He closed the distance between us until I had to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. "When's the last time someone touched y