Chapter: Officially one The day of the wedding was a study in deliberate contrast. Outside the perimeter of the St. James Mansion gardens, chaos reigned. The highly-publicized "Charity Gala"—the brilliant decoy orchestrated by Kent—had successfully drawn every camera crew, socialite, and corporate climber away from the small, significant event taking place within the mansion's walls. Inside the quiet sanctuary of the garden, a profound peace settled. The air was fragrant with simple white roses, exactly the color of hope, and the soft strains of acoustic music—played by Noah—drifted from beneath the old oak tree. There were no grand decorations, no elaborate seating arrangements, just two elegant chairs for the couple and three small benches for the rest of the family: Sylvester, Lola, Kent, and baby Gill. Benita stood in the master suite, her nerves strangely absent. Her dress was simple, elegant silk, chosen for its comfort, not its volume. She wore no excessive jewelry, letting the sapphire engagement r
Last Updated: 2025-10-31
Chapter: Full veto The morning after the celebratory reunion, the villa’s grand living room transformed into the most unusual planning session of their collective careers. Instead of balance sheets and market reports, the central focus was a single, blank mood board and a strict mandate: simplicity and absolute secrecy. Cillian and Benita sat at the head of the table, their engagement rings—the sapphire and the diamond—glinting in the morning light. They were flanked by Lola and Sylvester, while Kent set up his high-security satellite link, already looking stressed by the lack of complexity. "We have to approach this like a covert operation," Cillian stated, his demeanor exactly as it would be before a hostile acquisition. "The goal is a beautiful wedding with zero media footprint and zero drama. This, ironically, is the hardest project we've ever taken on." "And it has to feel like us," Benita added, folding her hands neatly. "Not a PR event. We want the antithesis of a society wedding." The challe
Last Updated: 2025-10-31
Chapter: The lengths I’d go for you The moment Benita whispered, "Absolutely and irrevocably, yes," was the final punctuation mark on years of chaos. As Cillian slid the bespoke, deep-blue sapphire onto her finger, the simple action carried the weight of every past battle and future promise. They stayed kneeling in the warm sand for a long time, the silence broken only by the sound of the ocean and the frantic, happy thumping of their own hearts. When they finally stood, Benita looked at the ring, then back at Cillian, her eyes reflecting the last, fiery light of the tropical sunset. "I can't believe the lengths you went to," Benita whispered, her voice still thick with emotion. "The lie, the seaplane, the chaos and confusion you caused just to give me this peace." Cillian pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers. "It was the only way to prove my term of the contract, Benni. Protection. I needed to protect this moment from everything else. I needed to prove that my strategic mind is now entirely dedicated
Last Updated: 2025-10-31
Chapter: Will you marry me? The sleek, corporate jet was a sanctuary, carrying Cillian and Benita high above the world. The flight had begun with the comforting chaos of Sylvester and Lola performing their roles: exaggerated discussions of mooring fees in Sardinia, loud complaints about the slow progress of the alleged yacht charter. But hours into the flight, the feigned commotion had ceased. Sylvester and Lola had retreated to a separate cabin, and a deep, unnerving quiet settled over the main cabin. Benita was looking at her tablet, but Cillian watched her brow furrow, knowing her keen mind was detecting the deception. "We passed the standard point of no return for Europe hours ago, Cill," Benita stated calmly, without looking up. "We're flying due south, not east. If the yacht in Sardinia had a systems failure, we would have rerouted to an airport in France or Spain. We are currently heading toward the equator. Where are we really going?" Cillian put down his drink, meeting her gaze with a controlled cal
Last Updated: 2025-10-30
Chapter: No more lies The sun was high when Cillian finally pulled Benita aside. The manor was quiet, Sylvester and Lola having left early for their respective cover stories—Sylvester to coordinate the settlement details, and Lola to ensure her cousin was moved to a private room. Cillian found Benita in the sunroom, looking over her personal tablet. She looked relaxed, but Cillian knew her mind would soon register the significant unauthorized withdrawal he had made. He couldn't risk her hearing about the money through a corporate report or a leak. He needed to confess the plan immediately. He walked over and pulled up a chair, taking both of her hands in his. "Before you look at the Bellington ledgers this morning, we need to talk," Cillian said, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "I need to tell you the full truth about what happened with Lola yesterday." Benita’s gaze sharpened instantly. She put the tablet down, giving him her full, unwavering attention. "I already know about the settlement,
Last Updated: 2025-10-30
Chapter: IntimateThe intimate birthday party had been a spectacular success, ending in a cascade of laughter and genuine affection. Around midnight, the celebration naturally dissolved. Cillian and Benita ascended the grand staircase, their hands linked, promising a lifetime of intentionally joyful moments. Kent was already calling a cab, his mind clearly back on the markets. Lola and Sylvester lingered in the ballroom, sharing a final glass of champagne, watching the bartender discreetly pack up. Lola was relaxed and beautiful, her scarlet dress shimmering in the low light. "That was the best night of my life, Syl," Lola whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder. "No strategies, no contracts, just... family." Sylvester kissed the top of her head. "It's what you deserve, Lola. Forever." Just then, her phone, which had been silent all evening, gave a sudden, insistent trill. Lola glanced at the screen, and her smile instantly dimmed. The light in her eyes, so vibrant moments before, flickere
Last Updated: 2025-10-29
Chapter: PayrollWhile Jessie gripped the bedsheets, biting into her pillow to keep her sobs from reaching her mom, Gavin was laying watch on his phone. As usual, Viktor was an excellent executor, the news had blown up as he expected.He had set the internet ablaze for the third time this year, not that he enjoyed being on the news but some things cannot be avoided especially if the public made it a point to be interested in your life.On the Sunday morning when the news had blown up, Gavin stood a few feet from his laptop on the table with a cup of black coffee in hand, his gaze unwavering on the screen.With each passing second, he watched the article explode, stirring the internet awake.On the left hand side, his phone was buzzing with calls and messages too many to reply, not that he was interested in any of them. Franklyn barged into the room, the disapproval in his expression met with Gavin's darkened eyes, and for a moment none of them spoke to the other. Tensed silence settled over the roo
Last Updated: 2024-10-09
Chapter: BaitChapter 75Gavin leaned against the kitchen counter, staring blankly at the black coffee in front of him. It was his only food for the last few days. Black coffee to keep awake, hot whiskey to keep his mind from Jessie. The closer he came to finding Remi Martin’s associate, the more tricky the case became. The events of the late fee days replayed in his mind, a relentless loop of anger and frustration. After waiting for five days (which seemed like forever to him) Gavin came up with an idea. If someone was really out to get his wife, then he had to fish him out, and what better was there to bait a fish than to use the very thing the fish wanted.What he wasn’t aware of was how deeply hurt he had made the bait. What he didn’t know was how devastated he had left the bait.The door creaked open and Franklyn walked in, his face almost scrunched up in tears. Gavin paused, observing his demeanor. “What happened?”“That was unnecessary!” Franklyn yelled, “Why do we have to do it this w
Last Updated: 2024-10-08
Chapter: Love lostGavin arrived his safe house at mid day. The house was filled with cobwebs mirroring how long it had been since he last stepped foot there. For a brief moment, he had thought his life had become stable, how wrong he was.He dropped his last luggage in the one room apartment and slumped into the dusty couch. For some reason, his head was about to explode from thinking about Jessie. He knew that leaving her behind was a risky, reckless decision, but it was for the best. Or so he wanted to believe. He thought that clinging onto Jessie was going to expose her to more danger, but if he quickly discarded her, he figured, no, hoped— he hoped that if he discarded her, they would ask him for something else. Never in his life had he ever attacked a problem without waiting it out for a few days. So his first plan here was to wait… but other than that, he came here to quietly investigate which of Remi Martin’s associates wanted his wife.And so, work began.The week passed by in such a blur
Last Updated: 2024-10-08
Chapter: Maybe it was retribution, maybe it wasn’t Jessie stood outside the gate of her mother’s house (well, technically her house because she bought it.) She never thought she’d see the day when going home felt so difficult. She in fact bought this house because she was so eager to leave Gavin. Funny how life can deceive us.A sad smile crossed her face as she thought about that day, not too long ago. Falling for Gavin had happened so suddenly, in a way she never expected. Maybe she had always loved him, or maybe it wasn’t love. Maybe it was pity, maybe it was guilt. Whatever it was, she always found herself wondering how he was doing. Whenever his name popped up in the news, she always found herself rooting for him. Maybe it was retribution. Maybe it wasn’t. But now that they had confirmed their feelings for each other, was that what he expected of her? To stand by and watch him suffer from a distance. Gavin had once mentioned that he fancied her from their first night together, but didn’t ever act on it to protect her from
Last Updated: 2024-10-07
Chapter: His first panic attackGavin had faced many oppositions in his life and every time he conquered. One time he was cursed with a hateful accountant, and that year his finances were in shambles, still he didn’t fall. The other time, he had to navigate a hostile takeover attempt by a rival company. Everyone told him he would lose it all— his business, his wealth. Even Aunt Meryl out of empathy, started cleaning his old room in the family house. Yet, despite the odds, Gavin came out successful. Despite knowing all these, despite being the same Gavin who went all in, and came out victorious. This time felt different. Like he wouldn’t survive it this time.In moments like this, normal people had the encouraging words of a friend or loved one ringing in their minds. But what did Gavin have? What played in his mind? The cruel voice of Candace Remington, telling him: “The Devil of Darion Town has something to protect, which also means he has something to lose… something that can be taken.”Painfully, she was
Last Updated: 2024-10-07
Chapter: Tragic endingChapter 71Gavin clenched his fist so tight his fingers dig into his palms. He was one breath away from punching this damn Don Corleone wannabe in the face. How dare he? But something held him back— it wasn’t fear. It was actually discipline. Jessie had once told him that violence never solved anything. Even if he was boiling inside, Gavin released a deep breath, his eyes spoke volumes but he held back. “Who is this your good friend?” He asked, his voice hoarse.“I can’t say,” Remi Martin replied, “But I can assure you, your wife will be safe.”The more Gavin tried to understand this, the harder it was for him. Was this man suggesting that he gave out his wife to service another man for the night? Is that what he was insinuating?“Unfortunately,” he said barely restraining him himself, “I don’t share, Remi.“ Remi Martin smiled a sly smile, nodding his head in agreement. “No man wants to share his wife, Mr. Pierre, I agree. I’ll go talk to my friend one more time. Like I told yo
Last Updated: 2024-09-30
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