Chapter: Chapter 136BrittneyThe steady beeping of the monitors was what woke me up.My eyelids felt like lead, heavy and full, but when I managed to pry them open, the pale, antiseptic-white ceiling greeted me again.I'm at the hospital.I shifted around in bed, turning this way and that.Maybe it was the position I slept in, but my throat was dry, my lips cracked, and my body ached in places I couldn’t even name anymore.I turned my head to the side and for a moment, I expected Andre’s tall frame to be by my bedside, his dark eyes locked on me, arms folded in that protective but frustrating way of his.But the chair beside me was empty, a rumpled crease on the cushion which was the only proof that he’d been there.“Where… where is he?” I tried to sit up, my voice was scratchy and weaker than I’d like, but the nurse bustling around with a chart at the foot of the bed looked up with a practiced, professional smile.“Oh, Mr. DeMarco had to leave rather suddenly,” she said, as if she’d anticipated the ques
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 135AndreThe boardroom was empty, but it felt like the arguments were still hanging in the air, bouncing off the polished walls and into my head.I sat at the end of the long table, my jacket thrown over the back of the chair, my sleeves rolled up, but every part of me was vibrating with tension.Which is why I couldn't sit still or get my mind off the impending crisis happening in the company.As soon as the board meeting disbanded, I dove straight into the files.They were currently spread in front of me looking harmless enough…. A series of numbers, percentages, transactions.Yet I couldn't find anything in them. That might point me to where the errors were.I’ve dealt with hostile takeover attempts before.When you grow your company into something as big as mine was, vultures always circle around, hoping to cut a bite off the piece of the cake.But this one… this one was different.This one was too coordinated, too precise, too damn good.I should have gone home hours ago, but the th
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 134AndreThe jet touched down on the private airstrip with a soft jolt that pulled me from a restless half-sleep.Throughout the short flight, I couldn't calm my anxious nerves for some reason.I rubbed at my temple, the weight of the last forty-eight hours still pressing against me.Unlike what Marcus promised, he couldn't secure a flight in the next hour.I had to wait five hours, and then technical issues happened, which only lengthened the time frame.Brittany’s face flashed in my mind… her pale skin in that hospital bed, the way her chest rose and fell in slow, ragged breaths.Leaving her was another type of agony as every moment away from her was one that I couldn't ascertain if she was safe or not, but sadly, I didn’t have the luxury of staying.Not when someone was orchestrating a rather elaborate plan to take down my company.As the hostess grabbed my bag, leading me out of the plane, I spotted a black SUV already waiting by the steps of the plane.Marcus stood near it, phone in
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-25
Chapter: Chapter 133AndreThe steady rhythm of the monitor was the only thing cutting through the silence of Brittany’s hospital room.It took several hours before she dozed off, the nurses pumping her full of drugs when the pain became too much.It was a bit disconcerting, facing the quiet all alone but I’d gotten used to it… the faint beeping of the monitors, the low hum of the fluorescent lights overhead.It was strange, the comfort it gave me, even though it reminded me how fragile everything was right now.Especially Brittney..My eyes moved to where she lay peacefully on the hospital bed.She was sleeping, the drugs still dragging her under. Her face looked softer in sleep, less weighed down by fear, suspicion, or that warmth she always tried to keep hidden when she looked at me.A strand of hair slipped over her cheek, and before I could think twice, I leaned forward and brushed it back with my fingers.My hand lingered longer than it should have, the warmth of her skin grounding me.God, it's fun
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-25
Chapter: Chapter 132LeilaThe hotel room we were in smelled of old money and secrets.Whoever had decorated it clearly thought velvet curtains and heavy carpets whispered luxury, but to me it reeked of cheapness…. The kind of decoration that was common in a low-class brothel.It also stank of desperation.The kind that brought me here, sitting across from Adam Willis at a polished mahogany table, pretending that a half-drunk glass of wine steadied my nerves.It didn’t.Claire lounged on the loveseat near the window, her posture hunched with annoyance, as if she’d been dragged into a business meeting she had no patience for.I stared at her, the light flutter of pride I felt whenever I looked at her present.My beautiful daughter.The one Andre had sidelined.She was supposed to be at the forefront of the company, running it behind the scenes not doing whatever she currently was.She had so much potential that should be exploited instead, but it lay dormant.And I hated Andre more for it.Because it was a
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-24
Chapter: Chapter 131BrittneyWhen Andre burst into the room, he wasn’t the composed businessman who wore quiet suits and quieter smiles.He came in like a storm… hair mussed from the run, shirt collar undone, the lines around his mouth carved hard from fear.He went straight to my bedside and didn’t bother with small talk; he dropped to the chair beside me and braced his hands on the rail as if clinging to something that might otherwise fly away.“Brittany,” he breathed, like he’d been rehearsing that name against some private horror he witnessed.His voice shoo slightly.For the first time, I thought I might actually see fear in his eyes.Relief hit me harder than I expected.He was here. He was real. He was standing in the room, and I could breathe a bit easier knowing that he was around.It wasn't until he said the first stupid, inevitable thing.“You should have called me!” he said, too loud in the calm room. “You knew how dangerous it was and yet you snuck out of the house! At the first sign of dang
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-24
THE MARRIAGE GAME
Meet Emma Hart, 24, drowned in debt all her life, from bills to bills, and loans to pay off, the cycle never seems to end. Fresh out of college, she manages to get a few jobs, saving up to clear her debts, until her mother falls sick… lung cancer. Destitute and helpless, she must learn to shake the hand of Liam Caruso. Liam, 35, known for his cold demeanor and controlling act, he's a perfectionist, and, what he wants, he gets. Reluctantly, she shakes hands with the devil himself, after all, she needs to save her mom. Emma must learn to accept Liam's life, including his dark past and unwelcoming mother. With time, Liam must understand, that mutual connections do matter. Will she be able to break through Liam's icy heart? Or, will they be engulfed within their flames? Within the heat, they generate?
Baca
Chapter: CHAPTER 115: EMMAI glance at the clock and my heart starts racing. I'm late."Okay, stop fussing!" I scold my bridesmaids, but I can't help the nervous laugh that escapes my lips as Gia fluffs my veil for the third time. Natasha is running around, making sure every single detail is perfect, while Odette is already dressed and helping the makeup artist add the final touches to my lips.And then there's Rob. He's pacing back and forth, muttering under his breath, "You're going to be late for your wedding, Emma. Of course, you are. I knew it. I knew this would happen!""Rob," I groan, rolling my eyes. "You're not helping!"He stops pacing and dramatically places his hands on his hips, his eyes full of fake indignation. "Excuse me, darling. Who has been by your side through every single dress fitting, cake tasting, and meltdown?"I chuckled despite myself, the tension easing just a little. "I love you, Rob.""Yeah, yeah, yeah," he mutters, coming over to adjust my gown. "But seriously, we need to get movi
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 114: LIAMThe darkness is heavy, but slowly, painfully, it starts to lift. I feel a strange tug in my chest, and I'm aware of the beeping sounds, the sterile scent of the hospital filling the air around me. My eyes flutter open, and the brightness of the room stings my vision. It takes a few moments for everything to come into focus.Where… where am I?"Liam?" A soft voice calls out to me, and when I blink again, I see Lilian, Emma's mother, standing by my bedside, her eyes wet with tears. "Oh my God, you're awake."I try to speak, but my throat feels like it's on fire. Instead, I groan, my hand instinctively reaching out to grasp hers. Lilian smiles through her tears, gently squeezing my hand."You've been in a coma, sweetheart," she says softly. "For a while now. But don't worry, you're okay. You're going to be okay." Her smile wavers for a moment before she adds, "Emma… she's at the station with your mother, confronting Serena. But she's fine. She's been by your side every day."My mind race
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 113: EMMAThe silence in the room is deafening. Isabella stands before us, her posture rigid, her hands clasped together tightly as if she's holding on to a secret too heavy to bear. My mom and I sit across from her, the tension thick between us, suffocating."There's something you both need to know," Isabella begins, her voice wavering slightly. I glance at my mom, who looks pale, her fingers tightly gripping the arms of the chair. "I've held onto this for years, but it's time you hear the truth. About Enzo."At the mention of my father's name, my heart skips a beat. I feel my stomach churn as I wait for her to continue. Isabella takes a deep breath, then says the words that make my world tilt off its axis."I knew him."The words hang in the air like a weight, pressing down on me. My mom's face pales even more, her lips trembling as she absorbs the shock of the revelation. Isabella presses on, her eyes filled with a mixture of shame and regret."Enzo and I… we had an affair."The room goes co
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 112: EMMAThe beeping of the heart monitor is the first thing I hear, steady and rhythmic, pulling me from the darkness that has consumed me. My body feels heavy like I'm being held down by invisible weights, and there's a dull ache spreading across my chest and limbs. The sterile smell of the hospital fills my nostrils, and it takes a moment for me to remember where I am.I blinked, squinting against the harsh fluorescent light above, trying to make sense of my surroundings. As my vision clears, I notice my mom, slumped over in a chair next to me, her head resting on her crossed arms, fast asleep. Her face looks worn, more tired than I've ever seen her.I try to sit up, but a sharp pain shoots through my ribs, forcing me to wince. The memories hit me all at once—the truck, the crash, Liam's bloodied face. Panic rises in my chest, and I gasp, "Liam."My voice is weak, barely more than a croak, but it's enough to wake my mom. Her head snaps up, her eyes widening as she sees me. "Emma!" she cries
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-16
Chapter: CHAPTER 111: EMMAWe're curled up on the couch, the flicker of the fireplace casting warm shadows on the walls. Liam has been quiet all evening, his usual playful mood replaced by a somberness I haven't seen before. I know something's wrong. The weight of his silence presses down on me, but I don't want to push him, not yet.Eventually, he breaks the silence."Emma," he says quietly, his voice strained. His eyes are red and teary, and my heart aches just seeing him like this. "We need to talk."I sit up, my chest tightening. "Liam, what's going on? You're scaring me."He doesn't look at me, his gaze fixed on the fire. His hands tremble, and I gently place mine over his, trying to calm him, to let him know I'm here, whatever it is."I'm a monster," he whispers, his voice breaking. "I've done terrible things, Emma. Things I can't undo."I freeze, my heart hammering in my chest. "Liam, what are you talking about? You're not a monster."He shakes his head, his eyes squeezed shut as if the memories are too
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-16
Chapter: CHAPTER 110: LIAMI lean back in my office chair, glancing out of the large windows that overlook the city humming with life. It's been a perfect week, just me and Emma, no distractions, no obligations. We've spent our days exploring the city, enjoying quiet dinners by candlelight, and getting lost in each other's company. For the first time in a long while, I felt completely at peace.But now, it's back to reality. Back to work. And as much as I hate to admit it, the tension in the air is thick. I've barely been at my desk for half an hour when my mother storms into the office, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floors. Right behind her, Serena follows with a face full of barely contained rage. Great. Just the pair I didn't want to see today."Liam!" my mother snaps, her voice slicing through the silence of the room. "We need to talk."I sit up, bracing myself. I knew this was coming. Ever since Emma returned, I've been waiting for the inevitable confrontation. My mother never approved of E
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-15
Masuk
