Chapter: Epilogue One Year Later The Barrett estate was filled with life, laughter, and warmth. It was the twins’ first birthday, and the garden had been transformed into a magical wonderland with twinkling lights, pastel-colored balloons, and flowers. The scent of freshly baked cakes and savory treats prepared for the celebration filled the air. Raven stood in front of a large mirror in her bedroom, adjusting the delicate lace dress she wore. The gown hugged her figure in all the right places, a testament to how well she'd recovered after giving birth. She had lost some of her confidence after having the babies – her body had gone through so many changes, and she had hated looking in the mirror for a long time until Mason wouldn't allow her to anymore. The thing she was most self-conscious of was the scar from the surgery she had had to have after the babies were delivered. Mason bought matching lingerie and sexy sleepwear and refused to let her question how stunning she was. Every time he saw her h
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and seven When they returned to the mansion that evening, the house was eerily quiet."What’s going on?" Raven asked. "Where'd everyone go?""What's that over there?" Blair pointed to a small bouquet on the table. Attached to it was a note that read, Come to the garden.Raven’s heart skipped a beat. She followed the note’s instructions, and when she stepped into the garden, her breath caught.The garden was transformed into a romantic paradise. Twinkling fairy lights adorned the trees, and a path of rose petals led to a small table surrounded by candles."Mason did this," Raven whispered, her heart swelling. Suddenly her aching feet had disappeared, the back pain that had hit her while they were in Victoria’s Secret and signalled the end of the trip. Her exhaustion was gone and she was smiling so much her cheeks hurt. She was already close to tears as she took it all in.Just as she took a step forward, looking for Mason, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. She grabbed her stomach and cried
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and six Later that night, Raven was on a call with Blair, discussing the transformation of Lenora’s modeling agency."I was thinking we could add a design department," Raven suggested. "That way, we can focus on both modeling and fashion."Blair’s excitement knew no bounds. "That’s a great idea! I’ll handle the modeling side, and you can oversee the designs.""Deal," Raven said.After a brief pause, Blair asked, "You sound a bit down, not yourself. What’s wrong?"Raven hesitated. "Nothing, I’m worried about Mason.""Why? You two have been great lately, you’re perfect for each other. You’re even closer than before."Raven bit her lip. "I thought he’d ask me to marry him again by now. But he hasn’t mentioned it and I'm starting to get anxious. What if he doesn’t want me? What if the babies are scaring him off? What if he thinks I’ll be like Candice? What if-"“Raven, breathe. Have you talked to him about it?" Blair asked."No. That’s not something you can just bring up," Raven said.Blair chuck
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and five The dining table was filled with different breakfast dishes: fluffy pancakes topped with berries and syrup, scrambled eggs with herbs, smoked salmon on toast, and fresh fruit bowls. In front of Raven was a large bowl full of bacon, strawberry jam, and chocolate sauce – her strangest and most intense craving.Mason sipped his coffee, stealing glances at Raven as she hummed softly, her hand occasionally resting on her baby bump. He had become more attentive than before – which was already overboard according to Julie. He was more proud, more focused, and a lot more protective. Watching her scoff down her food now, still looking as sexy as ever, made his chest hurt a little. So much had happened; she had been through so much; he just wished the worst of it hadn’t been because of him.She sighed and looked up at him, offering him a genuine smile.“What are you looking at?” she asked, but all he could do was shake his head and smile back at her. “Well, you’re being very strange.”“Yeah, bu
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and fourJustin found Mason sitting quietly in Charles’s office. He didn’t sit at the desk, rather, he sat at the sofa to the side where they had argued so many times. He stared at his father's desk as if he could still see him sitting and working as they watched when they were children. It was the only thing he and Mason had ever been able to do together without fighting. Thinking back to those moments, Justin couldn't understand why he always felt like he had to one-up Mason, why they couldn't have been friends.He turned to leave him in peace when Mason spoke up.“Remember when we'd just sit here and watched Dad working?” he asked as if he had sensed his presence.“I was just thinking about that.”Mason looked up at him with tears in his eyes, shocking Justin with the vulnerability in the other man's eyes.“Did he suffer?” Mason asked softly, trying to hide the sob that threatened.“No,” Justin said, sitting in the seat across from him. “He just sort of… went.”Mason turned back to look at
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2024-12-04
Chapter: One hundred and threeMason pulled up to the Barrett mansion early that morning. He had deliberately left his penthouse early, avoiding Candice while she packed her belongings. The last thing he wanted was another confrontation. He wanted no part in her theatrics, they just made his headaches even worse than the blinding migraines he often suffered with.He exited the car and made his way inside.He had barely entered the living room when he spotted Justin coming down the stairs as if he owned the place. He looked… smug.Smug?Or something else?Mason couldn’t quite place it, but it rubbed him the wrong way to see him in his father's house. Justin had never been anything more than a snake in the grass, always waiting to take what Mason had."What the hell are you doing here?" Mason demanded, narrowing his eyes and letting the door close louder than necessary behind him. "Here to gloat about your little affair with Candice? Or measuring the curtains – you know you’re not inheriting the place, right? I’m sti
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2024-12-04
Chapter: Chapter 37She jumped to her feet. Her eyes immediately fixed on him. “Y-Yes. I’m feeling much better, sir. Thank you… for saving me.” Her voice was small, trembling slightly with gratitude and fear.He gave a curt nod. “Good. My driver will take you home.” His tone held no emotion. He had helped her, and now his involvement was over.But before he could turn and walk away. She reached out, her hand clutched his with surprising desperation. Her head was bowed, her shoulders hunched, and her fingers trembled against his skin.“Please,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Don’t send me away. I have nowhere else to go. I can work for you. I know how to cook, clean… anything. Just… Please don’t send me back out there.” Her words tumbled out.Vincenzo pulled his hand away, slowly but firmly, creating a clear boundary. “Don’t touch me again,” he said coldly, his voice devoid of empathy. Then he tilted his head, his gaze piercing, scrutinizing her. “Who were those men? Why don’t you have anywhere
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-15
Chapter: Chapter 36Vincenzo was in his study, a large, quiet room filled with books. He sat behind his big desk, a cigarette held loosely between his fingers, its tip glowing red and burning slowly. The air in the room was filled with the faint scent of tobacco. Daisy walked in, but he didn't look up right away. Only the soft scrape of her shoes on the shiny hardwood floor made him slowly lift his head.“I’m heading out,” she said, her arms loosely crossed in front of her. She stood a little nervously, waiting for his reaction. “My brother, Dante, just got back from a trip, and I haven’t seen him in a long time.” Her voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension, as if she was bracing herself for his response.Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of her brother’s name. “Dante,” he muttered, almost like a curse, the name tasting bitter on his tongue. Then, he spoke louder, “That brother of yours… Did he do anything to help you when your father treated you like garbage?” The sudden, hars
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-15
Chapter: Chapter 35“Talk?” he scoffed. His eyes, or rather, his one visible eye, finally met hers, and in them, she saw a profound fear. “I don’t need more trouble, Daisy. I don’t need him showing up again.”That last sentence, those few words, made it click. A horrifying realization dawned on Daisy. Vincenzo’s sudden coldness, the brutal accusations… it all made sense.Daisy’s blood went cold.“You mean Vincenzo… did this to you?” Her voice was barely a whisper.Marco didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. The way his jaw set, the fear in his eyes, they were all the confirmation she needed.She stared at him, suddenly ashamed, a crushing guilt that she was somehow responsible for his suffering. And beneath the shame, she felt a sudden anger at Vincenzo’s cruelty. “I’m so sorry, Marco. I swear I never meant for any of this…” she stammered, her voice filled with genuine remorse.“Go home,” Marco said softly, he wasn’t angry, he just looked completely drained. “I don’t want any more trouble.”And with that, wi
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-13
Chapter: Chapter 34The next day unfolded like a quiet aftermath of a storm. Daisy felt it first in the way Vincenzo's gaze avoided hers, as if she were a ghost. That morning she went into his office to deliver the final reports from the recent hotel tour.“Here are the files you asked for, sir.” She announced, her voice was calm.He didn't even acknowledge her presence. His head remained bent over the papers spread before him. He didn’t look up from his desk, didn’t offer a customary thank you, didn’t even spare her a fleeting glance. It was as if she were invisible.“That will be all,” he said flatly.And just like that, the invisible wall between them grew taller.Daisy walked out slowly, the door shutting softly behind her, but the sound of it echoed in her chest like a slam.It didn’t take long for the whispers to start.Whispers began to trail behind her wherever she went. The mocking glances now lingered, transforming into giggles as she passed by. It wasn't just the awkward silence anymore… it wa
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-13
Chapter: Chapter 33The next evening, Vincenzo and Daisy sat in the back seat of his car. They were en route to the site of his newly commissioned hotel. The building was a magnificent display of modern architecture… tall, elegant, all clean lines of gleaming glass and polished steel.As they arrived at the construction site, a man in a crisp suit walked up briskly. He handed Vincenzo a folder. Vincenzo took it, his long fingers flipping it open with ease, his eyes quickly skimming its contents. A moment later, he shut it with an angry snap.His jaw tightened, a clear sign of displeasure.“What is it?” Daisy asked. “Bad numbers? Trouble with a supplier?”“It’s nothing,” he said flatly.She blinked, surprised by the abrupt dismissal. “Are you sure? I could help. If it’s about the hotel, I’ve been keeping tabs on…”“I said it’s nothing.” His voice cut clean and cold.Then he walked back to his car with Daisy following behind, he opened the door for her. Get in,” he instructed, his voice low and firm. He th
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-10
Chapter: Chapter 32 The week that followed Daisy’s request for time off unfolded like a suffocating storm. Every single waking moment of Daisy's existence seemed to be mercilessly swallowed whole by the insatiable demands of her work. Meetings piled upon meetings, each one more urgent than the last, and errands, no matter how trivial, were tossed her way by Vincenzo Marino. It was as if her simple, entirely reasonable request for a brief reprieve had triggered some deeply hidden switch within him.“Mr. Marino,” she finally dared one morning, her voice cautious, nearly drowned out by the rustle of files as she organized his schedule, “about the reunion I mentioned last week…”Vincenzo didn’t even bother to look up. His pen scratched against the pristine white paper. He was absorbed, utterly oblivious to the quiet plea in her voice, or perhaps, simply indifferent.She waited. Every second felt like an eternity, her heart thudding nervously against her ribs. She watched the movements of his hand as he conti
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-10
Chapter: Chapter 32Ariel stared at him, her mouth slightly agape, completely taken aback. “Are you serious?” she breathed, unable to fully process the magnitude of his sudden change of heart.“Yeah. Invite him over for dinner or something. I’ll play nice. I promise.” A faint smile touched his lips.“Wow. That’s… I don’t know what to say.”“Say you won’t cook.” Daniel teased. “Or at least try to help Susan in the kitchen so you don't burn everything.” He nudged her playfully with his elbow.She laughed, leaning against him. “Hey, I’m not that bad. You’re serious about this. Aren’t you?” she asked, a flicker of doubt still lingering, this was almost too good to be true.He nodded. “Completely.”When they got home after lectures, the aroma of Susan’s cooking was already wafting from the kitchen. Daniel went straight to the kitchen where Susan was busily preparing dinner.“Hey, Susan. Just a heads-up, Ethan’s coming over tonight. For dinner.” Daniel announced casually, reaching for an apple from the fruit b
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-14
Chapter: Chapter 31The men’s locker room buzzed with the familiar sounds of after-practice activity. The whoosh of running showers filled the air, mixing with the metallic clang of locker doors as athletes changed. Ethan stood near one of the long wooden benches, a towel slung over his shoulder, toweling off the sweat that still glistened on his skin after an intense basketball practice. His body was present, but his mind was miles away, lost in thoughts about Ariel. Specifically, the kiss. He hadn’t seen her since the party, and her sudden departure had left him in a state of debate. Should he bring up the kiss? Or should he pretend it never happened? The idea of pushing her away, of making her uncomfortable, was the last thing he wanted. He valued their friendship, and the thought of jeopardizing it with an ill-timed conversation about a kiss filled him with so much dread. He wanted to understand what it meant to her, but he was terrified of the answer, terrified of scaring her off.“Hey, Ethan. Got a
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-14
Chapter: Chapter 30Ariel’s POV Later that evening, during my shift at the bar, I was surprised to see Ethan and his teammates walk in. The place was already buzzing with energy, the air thick with anticipation for the night ahead. He approached me with a casual smile, leaning against the counter as I wiped down a glass.“Hey, I didn’t see you on campus today,” he said.I nodded, continuing to polish the glass. “Yeah, I had a bunch of classes back to back today, and then a mountain of assignments to get through. You know how it is, there's always something to do when you’re a student.”“So it’s not because you’re trying to avoid me?”“Of course not. I’ve just been busy.”“Great.” Ethan gestured towards his friends who were already staking out a corner. “One of my teammates is moving to another country, so we wanted to have a little fun before he leaves. We’re having a send-off party for him.”“Here?” I asked, a hint of surprise in my voice. It wasn't uncommon for small gatherings, but a full-blown party
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-01
Chapter: Chapter 29Ariel's POVStacy sat across from me in the noisy cafeteria, she had just returned from a long trip. I couldn’t contain my joy. Her presence was like watching the sun rise after a week of relentless rain.We sat across from each other, our lunch trays forgotten, laughing like we were the only two people in the room. I watched her as she animatedly recounted the mundane events of her trip. It hit me then how long it had been since I’d genuinely smiled, let alone laughed, like this. It felt good, the lightness of it, the easy camaraderie that only a best friend could bring.“So, tell me everything about the wedding!” I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the table, my eyes wide with anticipation. I was eager to hear every detail, every magical moment she’d witnessed.Stacy’s eyes lit up, reflecting the fairy lights she was about to describe. “It was magical, Ariel. Like, truly magical. The venue was this beautiful garden, filled with fairy lights everywhere. You should have seen it! My
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-01
Chapter: Chapter 28The gym vibrated with a powerful energy. The rhythmic thump of basketballs against the polished hardwood floor echoed loudly, creating a steady beat that was nearly drowned out by the enthusiastic, wild cheers erupting from the students packed into the bleachers. Ariel, standing among her cheer squad, felt the adrenaline surge through her veins. Her arms were raised high, the pom-poms flying as she shouted the familiar chant, her voice joining the collective roar:“Let’s go Panthers! Let’s go!”On the court, Ethan was absolutely in top form tonight. It was as if he was playing in a different league entirely. His movements were fast and precise, his shots incredibly accurate, leaving the opposing team bewildered and constantly scrambling to keep up. Every time he managed to get his hands on the ball, the entire audience leaned forward, holding their breath in eager anticipation. And when he scored, which he did with astonishing regularity, the whole gym erupted into a deafening roar. T
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-05-30
Chapter: Chapter 27Professor Luther sat in his office, the video playing again and again on the screen of his phone like a cursed loop that refused to break. Ariel’s soft moan echoed through the tiny speakers, a sound that had once been intimate and precious, now weaponized against them both. The way he had kissed her neck desperately, the raw, unguarded emotion that had flickered in her eyes as he fingered her… it all played repeatedly on his phone screen, each replay driving the knife of guilt and longing deeper into his chest. His jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in his face began to ache.The message accompanying the video was brief but chilling: “Stay away from her, or things will get ugly.”He had read the words so many times they were etched in his mind. He placed the phone face-down on his desk, leaning back in his chair. He had cruelly rejected Ariel, using the most hurtful words he could think of. He pretended their intimate moments meant nothing, and he vividly remembered the disbeli
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-05-29
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