Chapter: Chapter 20"Mum, please don't cry. Whatever you heard, I promise I can explain…""What? No, I'm not crying because of the news," she said, sniffling into the phone. "I'm crying because I'm cutting onions."I blinked. "You're what?""Onions, Ava. For dinner. I'm standing in my kitchen trying to feed this family, and then your sister shows me your face on the television during a commercial break. So forgive me if my eyes are doing several jobs at once right now."There was a pause, followed by the sound of a knife tapping against a cutting board."And another thing. You disappear on me for days, don't answer my calls, and then I find out what's going on in your life from the evening news, like I'm a stranger. Do you know what that felt like?"The guilt hit harder than the panic had."Mum, I'm sorry. It's been a lot, and I didn't know how to explain it over the phone."I'm just glad she hasn't had to deal with Collins verbally abusing her again or something. From the way she sounds, you'd know he'd
Last Updated: 2026-10-21
Chapter: Chapter 19I stared at the headline until the letters stopped making sense as actual words and became nothing more than shapes swimming in front of my eyes.ADRIAN BLACKWELL HAS AN AFFAIR WITH A FEMALE EMPLOYEE AND DEFENDS HER AFTER SHE STOLE HER EX-BOYFRIEND'S PROJECT."No," I said to nobody in particular. "No, no, no. Absolutely not. Today was supposed to be the good day.""Let me see that," Sarah said, snatching my phone out of my hand before I could even protest.Her eyes scanned the screen, and I watched her expression change from confusion to pure fury in about two seconds."Oh, he did NOT!"I slumped into the nearest chair. Again.Was my life some form of entertainment to someone? Because if it wasn't, why couldn't I just live a life free of drama for once?My phone buzzed in Sarah's hand before she could even return it. Then it buzzed again. And again.Three times in a row, a small avalanche of notifications stacked up on the screen."Ava, your phone is having a seizure," Sarah said, han
Last Updated: 2026-10-20
Chapter: Chapter 18"No matter how much this looks like an accident, I still think Victor planned this," I whispered to the person I believed was Sarah."Ava, baby, don't be scared. Mama's got you. Ouch! But where in God's name are you?" Sarah screamed, bumping into a desk somewhere in the dark.If Sarah was over there, then whose arm was I currently holding?"Ahem. Miss Collins, I believe you have the wrong person.""Geez, that scared me, Mr. Dave!"I let go of him so fast I nearly dislocated something. One hand smacked his arm while the other clutched my chest like an old woman who had just seen a ghost."I would prefer you stay away from me, ma'am. I still love my work," he said, already putting some careful distance between us.I genuinely did not understand what went on in that man's head sometimes."Nobody move," Adrian said, his voice cold enough to lower the temperature of the entire room. "Dave.""On it, sir."Dave's fingers were already moving somewhere in the dark, and within a minute, the lig
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: Chapter 17I walked into the Meeting room or should I call it the court room shaking like a leaf about to fall because of the harsh wind. Every eye turned toward me at once. They'd arranged the chairs so I sat at the far end of the table, facing eight people who had clearly already reached a verdict and were just waiting for me to catch up.I hadn't even opened my mouth yet and I was already guilty. Impressive, honestly. Some people take years to build that kind of reputation.Stay calm, Ava. Just get through this, I told myself, with the confidence of someone who did not believe a single word she was saying.Victor sat directly across from me, folder resting in front of him like a man who'd already written his victory speech. The directors beside him kept their faces carefully blank, the kind of blank that wasn't neutral so much as it was patient, waiting for me to trip over my own story."Miss Collins," the silver-haired director began, tapping his pen against the table, "walk us through exact
Last Updated: 2026-10-17
Chapter: Chapter 16I hung up on Sarah mid-scream, which she was going to make me pay for later, but right now I had bigger problems than my best friend's blood pressure.Stolen. My idea. The one I stayed up three nights straight polishing until my eyes crossed. The one I cried actual, undignified tears over at that award ceremony I'd begged Sarah to attend in my place, and she'd refused, the traitor.Was Victor nuts? Just because he sat there with me while I was sorting it out, handed me a cup of coffee here and there, did that suddenly make it his project now? By that logic my landlord built it too, since he at least kept the lights on."Where are you going?" Adrian asked, watching me snatch my jacket off the chair."To kill that bastard. How dare he try to claim what's mine. And so much for having the best directors in New York, just because he's family they bought his word without blinking." I was already halfway to the door.He let out a short laugh, tapping his fingers against the armrest like he w
Last Updated: 2026-10-17
Chapter: Chapter 15I stared at Adrian, still trying to figure him out. My brain refused to process anything.My room… but not my house.My bed… but not my street.My posters… but definitely not my peeling ceiling.It felt like stepping into a parallel universe sponsored by a billionaire with too much money and absolutely zero boundaries.I slowly turned back to Adrian.He looked annoyingly calm, like people reconstructed entire bedrooms from memory every day.“Mr Blackwell, we are not close enough for me to invite you into my room, right? So how do you know what my room looks like?”If I’m being honest, the whole situation was terrifying.He just stared at me. No explanation. No blink. Nothing.“So,” I tried again, “let me get this straight. You… recreated my entire room. In your house.”“Yes,” he answered like he was reading a weather update. “You got hurt on our way, so I made this one identical. I didn’t want you panicking when you woke up.”“You said I was fine back then.”“I lied.”“You LIED about
Last Updated: 2025-12-07
Chapter: Chapter Nine : The Cost of Getting CloseCassianHer heels clicked down the corridor, quick and sharp, then stopped outside the door.She's deciding whether to run.I kept my eyes on the window.Below, trucks moved around the loading docks while workers in orange vests went about their business. I'd spent forty minutes that morning on the phone with Northgate's sales director, arranging a contract that had been sitting untouched for a year.It had cost me four calls and very little effort.Julian had looked at me as though I'd lost my mind.He called it reckless. I called it calculating.Either way, it had given me a reason to be here, and I'd learned a long time ago that when an opportunity presented itself, I didn't waste it."Mr. Rooke."I turned at the sound of her voice.She stood in the doorway wearing a gray blazer, her hair pinned up, and a folder held against her chest. Her expression was composed, but I noticed the way her eyes moved to mine before quickly shifting away."Ms. Veyne." I kept my expression neutral. "
Last Updated: 2026-10-18
Chapter: Chapter Eight : DistanceElaraNobody moved.Cassian was still holding my hand beneath the running tap, his thumb pressed against the cut. Behind me, Lucien's chair rocked slightly from where he'd shoved it back.Then Cassian let go.He turned off the tap, pulled a dish towel from the oven door, and placed it in my palm."Hold that," he said. "Press down."His voice was flat, almost bored. It was the same tone I'd heard him use at countless dinners, and somehow, that made it hurt more.My hand was shaking. My eyes burned, though I couldn't explain why."Relax, Lucien." Cassian turned to face him, wiping his fingers with a paper towel. "She cut her hand. I'm not a monster.""You don't even like her," Lucien replied."I don't have to like someone to stop them from bleeding all over your floor." He dropped the paper towel into the bin. "Next time, keep her away from the knives."It was exactly the sort of thing he'd have said to me a week ago. The same dismissive tone, the same suggestion that I was a nuisance.
Last Updated: 2026-10-17
Chapter: Chapter Seven: A Little Too CloseCassian Lucien's car was turning into the driveway when I parked at the curb. Adrian stepped out and opened the back door before it had fully stopped. Lucien climbed out tugging his tie, and froze when he saw me."Cass?" He checked his watch. "We left your office an hour ago.""Legal sent revisions. The bank wants ink tonight.""You could have sent a courier.""Julian said it couldn't wait."Lucien studied me a moment too long. Something moved behind his smile, curiosity or suspicion, I couldn't tell. Then he laughed."Fine. Elara's in the kitchen. Make yourself at home. I'll change. Adrian.""Sir." Adrian took Lucien's coat and bag and followed him up the steps.I walked down the hall alone. The kitchen light was on. A knife thudded softly against a board.She stood at the counter with her back to me. Her hair was pinned up, and a scarf was wound high around her neck. A basket of fruit sat beside her, and she was cutting a strawberry as if it had insulted her.I knew exactly what th
Last Updated: 2026-10-16
Chapter: Chapter Six : Not Tonight.ElaraI stood in the quiet kitchen with smoke drifting through the open door, my pulse racing, a slow shiver crawling down my spine.*Take today, Elara. But you won't forget last night, and I won't let you.*I read it once. Then twice. By the fifth time I wasn't reading it anymore. I was just staring at it.I didn't type anything. If I answered, it would turn into a conversation, and I wasn't ready for that. I turned the phone face down on the counter. A moment later I turned it over and looked again.Ten years of cold looks. Ten years of nods aimed at the wall. And last night, the gentlest hands I had ever felt, and two words whispered against my ear.Happy birthday.My lips still felt like his. I pressed the back of my hand against them, then pulled it away like I'd touched a hot stove."Ellie!" Mara called from the patio. "Is it rude to roast marshmallows over a dead handbag?"I shoved the phone into my pocket and went outside.The fire had burned down to glowing embers. Mara sat o
Last Updated: 2026-10-15
Chapter: Chapter Five : Ashes of YesterdayChapter 5 The doorbell rang at ten.I had showered twice. I had scrubbed my skin pink and pulled on the loosest clothes I owned and changed the sheets, and none of it had helped. When I opened the door, my stomach dropped through the floor.Lucien stood on the porch in yesterday's shirt, wrinkled and open at the collar. He had two shopping bags in one hand and a bouquet tucked under the other arm."There she is," he said brightly. "Morning."I couldn't speak.He strolled past me into the house like he owned it, which he did, and dropped the bags on the dining table beside the melted candles. He didn't look at the candles. He didn't look at the table at all."I can't stay long. I've got a meeting at eleven. But I wanted to swing by.""Lucien.""About last night." He turned, rubbing the back of his neck with a boyish, rueful smile. "I was drunk. You saw me. I was completely out of it. You know how I get when the guys drag me out.""You kissed her," I said. "In front of me.""I was drun
Last Updated: 2026-10-03
Chapter: Chapter Four : One DemandCassianI didn't give her time to answer.My mouth crushed hers, and she answered with a sound that tore straight through me. Fingers dug into my shoulders, then tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, desperate as if afraid I'd vanish. I lifted her onto the counter; the cake slid sideways, forgotten."Cassian," she gasped."Again."Her hands slipped under my shirt, tracing my bare skin. I swore into her neck, her skin burning beneath my lips, her pulse racing. Ten years of longing, now here she was wild, trembling, calling my name like it was hers."Bedroom," she whispered."Hold me."Her legs locked tight around me as I carried her upstairs, teeth grazing my jaw. Halfway up, she bit my earlobe, and I stumbled, laughing rough and hard. Her breathless laugh filled the space between us real, raw.Lucien's house. His bed. His wife.I set her beside the bed, moonlight catching her wild hair, swollen lips, dark eyes.The voice inside faded."Turn."I slid the zipper down, inch by slow inch,
Last Updated: 2026-10-03
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