Falling For The Father
Love and revenge don't mix well in the dark streets of Milan.
When Daisy Fontana stepped into her engagement party at the Marino mansion, she thought she had it all. A handsome fiancé from one of Milan's most powerful families, a bright future ahead, and a perfect life far from her father's reach. But that dream shattered in a single night when her sister Sofia exposed her family's little secret... she wasn’t really a Fontana at all.
Daisy was humiliated and cast aside by her fiancé Antonio, so she came up with what she thought was the perfect revenge. She'd get close to Antonio’s father, the feared Don Vincenzo Marino, by becoming his assistant. In her mind, it was simple: make Antonio jealous by becoming important to his father's empire. Then hopefully that would make him realise he made a mistake by letting her go.
But what Daisy didn't know was that Vincenzo had watched her for a while, hoping for a chance. While she plotted her little revenge against the son, she had no idea she was walking straight into the arms of a man who had craved her for a while. She was supposed to get back at the son, but didn't expect she'd be falling for the father.
Read
Chapter: Chapter 107Time went by very fast in the Marino mansion. Daisy’s belly had grown very big. She was so big that she could not see her own feet anymore, and was struggling with simple tasks. Her body was not as easy to move as it was before. It was hard for her to bend over to pick up things that she dropped. Just the other day, she had tried to tie her shoes. She sat down on the bed and leaned forward slowly, trying to reach the lace. But she could not reach it. Her big stomach was in the way. She tried again but she felt a sharp pull in her back.“Ouch, my back!” she whispered. “It hurts so much. I cannot do this anymore.” She gave up. She just sat there, looking at the shoe in frustration. The other time, she had tried to get out of the bed, but it seemed impossible. She tried to push herself up with her arms. But it was too hard. Luckily, Maria arrived just in time to assist her. “Why didn’t you call me, dear?”“You think I want anyone to see me like this? It’s so embarrassing. I had to wait
Last Updated: 2025-10-04
Chapter: Chapter 106Daisy and Vincenzo arrive back at the Marino mansion. The big, black cars pulled up to the huge front door. The house felt different now. It felt like home.The big doors opened, and the house was ready for them. Maria was standing right there. She had a big, warm smile on her face. Many of the guards and maids were also standing there. Maria walked forward fast. She hugged Daisy very tight. “Welcome home, Donna,” Maria said. “We missed you so much. We have been waiting for you. The house is ready for you both.”“Oh I missed you too, Maria.” Daisy hugged her tightly.“Welcome home, sir.” She turned to Vincenzo. “I hope you enjoyed your trip?”Vincenzo nodded. He put his hand on Daisy’s lower back and smiled at Maria. “Thank you, Maria. The trip was perfect. But it is good to be home.”Maria had prepared a very warm welcome for them. The house was decorated. There were fresh flowers everywhere and candles in the halls. It smelled so good. She knew Daisy would like them.“Oh my goodnes
Last Updated: 2025-10-03
Chapter: Chapter 106It was the last day on the beautiful island. Daisy knew this was the end of their perfect time. But she was happy because she had such a good time with Vincenzo. It was sad because they had to leave this place.Daisy walked slowly along the shore. She wanted to remember everything. She wanted to put every small detail of the island into her memory. She looked at the blue water, watching the small waves come in and then go out. She watched the little sea birds flying high in the bright sky. She felt the cool breeze on her skin, and closed her eyes for a long moment, taking a very deep breath. This was the last time she would see this beauty for a long time. She walked a few more steps, hearing nothing but the waves. It was so peaceful.Then, she felt two strong arms wrap around her from behind. She didn't need to open her eyes to know who it was. She knew the strong arms belonged to only one man. Vincenzo.He leaned down and kissed the back of her head.“Are you making a memory, amore
Last Updated: 2025-10-02
Chapter: Chapter 105The days on the island had flown by quite quickly. Every single moment had been perfect. But now, as the honeymoon was coming to its end, a nervous feeling started to form inside Daisy’s heart. They were going back to Milan soon. They were going back to the world of the mafia. And she was not just going back as Vincenzo’s girl anymore. She was going back as his wife, Donna Marino, and the mother of his child.She sat on the big balcony, watching the sea. The blue color was so calming, but her mind was not calm. She was thinking about all the eyes that would be on her. All the men and women who would judge her. She felt small and so worried about stepping into the role of Donna while carrying a child. It felt like too much to carry. She didn’t know if she was going to fit into her role.Soon, Vincenzo found her there. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. He could feel the tension in her shoulders. He knew she was worrying ag
Last Updated: 2025-10-01
Chapter: Chapter 104Daisy and Vincenzo were sleeping close together, wrapped up in soft blankets. Suddenly, Daisy jerked awake. Her eyes flew open. She was breathing very fast, and her body was shaking. She was covered in sweat, the sheets were sticking to her skin. In her dream, she had been running, running in the dark forest but she couldn’t get away.She had seen herself back in that horrible room where Madonna kept her. She managed to run away but Madonna was right behind her. She saw herself trip and fall, and saw Madonna raise her hand, ready to stab her with the knife she was holding, a terrifying smile on her face. And just as the pain was about to hit her again, she woke up.Daisy cried quietly. She didn't want to wake Vincenzo. She tried to stop the tears, pushing her face into the pillow so he wouldn’t hear the small, shaking sounds coming from her throat. But the tears just kept coming, hot and fast.Vincenzo, a man who only slept with one ear off, heard her tiny sobs. His eyes opened right
Last Updated: 2025-09-30
Chapter: Chapter 103Daisy and Vincenzo decided to go out to the small town. They walked hand in hand, looking at the beautiful scenery. The people of the town were so friendly. They were walking past a small house when a couple came out, smiling. The man was holding a guitar, while the woman was holding a bottle of wine. “Hello!” the woman said. “You two look so beautiful together. You look like you're on your honeymoon.” Daisy blushed slightly. “Thank you, and yes, we are on our honeymoon.”“You chose the right place to spend your honeymoon. We are having a small party here with some friends. Just some music and some food. It’s just a small gathering we hold once in a while for the locals. You both should come. It would be so much fun.” The woman invited them.“Umm,” Daisy turned to Vincenzo, as if seeking his approval.Vincenzo was about to decline. But Daisy kept looking at him with those pretty eyes of hers, pouting.“Please, come. It’ll be so much fun. You’ll get to meet other people there as well
Last Updated: 2025-09-29
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
Last Updated: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and sevenWhen 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 2024-12-04
Chapter: الفصل الثاني والخمسونوجهة نظر جوليلم أظن أن ميسون سيتخلى عن رايفن بهذه السهولة. ولم أتوقع أبداً أن أرى أخي حزيناً ومكسوراً إلى هذا الحد... وأن أعرف أنني ساهمتُ في كسر كبريائه. لقد كان مخطئاً بأذيته لرايفن، لكنني أذيته في المقابل. لم أكن مجبرة على الموافقة على تصرفاته، لكن كان بإمكاني ألا أكون بهذه القسوة معه.حنحنتُ وعدّلتُ جلستي، وأنا غير متأكدة من كيفية فتح الموضوع التالي، لكنني كانت لدي رغبة عارمة للتخلص من تلك المحادثة الكئيبة.بدأتُ بجهد وتردد: "لديّ شيء أود إخباركَ به".رفع ميسون حاجبه، مشعوراً بالارتياح لأن دائرة الضوء ابتعدت عنه: "تفضلي، كلي آذان صاغية".ابتلعتُ ريقي بصعوبة، ودقات قلبي تتسارع داخل صدري: "أنا... أنا في علاقة عاطفية... مع فتاة".ساد الصمت لبرهة، ثم ارتسمت ابتسامة على وجه ميسون وقال: "أنا سعيد لأجلكِ يا جولي. إذاً، متى ستحضرينها لتسليمها للعائلة؟ هذا رائع، الآن حان دوري لأضايقكِ بشأن علاقتكِ العاطفية!".رمشتُ بعينيّ في مزيج من الذهول والارتياح: "لحظة... ألم تصدمك الفكرة؟".ضحك ميسون بخفة: "ولماذا أُصدم؟ ليس وكأنني لم أكن أعلم أنكِ تنجذبين للنساء".قطعتُ حاجبيّ: "نعم، ولكنك لم تعبر ل
Last Updated: 2026-09-13
Chapter: الفصل الحادي والخمسونوجهة نظر جوليكان الضوء الخافت المنبعث من شاشة التلفاز يملأ الغرفة بينما كنتُ مستلقية على الأريكة، وساقاي ممددتان على حجر إيميلي. كانت أصابع إيميلي تتحرك بحركات بطيئة ومريحة على عضلة ساقي. لقد أمضينا معظم الليالي بهذه الطريقة؛ نتابع الأفلام، ونتجاذب أطراف الحديث، ونستمتع برفقة بعضنا البعض.تنهدتُ بارتياح: "أنتِ تملكين يداً ساحرة يا إم".ضحكت إيميلي بصوت خافت، بينما يضغط إبهامها على موضع ألم خفيف: "أبذل قصارى جهدي". صمتت لبرهة، وانحرف بصره بعيداً عن التلفاز لتركز عليّ. وبعد لحظة، عضت على شفتها وقالت: "جولز، متى ستعرفينني على عائلتكِ؟".تصلبتُ في مكاني، وتحركتُ بعدم راحلة لأجلس قليلاً: "أنا... لستُ متأكدة بعد".توقفت يد إيميلي عن الحركة، وتذبذب الشك في عينيها."ألا تحبين التواجد معي؟ لا يعجبني أننا نبقي علاقتنا سراً".شحذتُ بنظري بعيداً وشعور الذنب ينهكني. لم تكن إيميلي مخطئة؛ فنحن معاً منذ فترة ليست بالقليلة، وحتى الآن لم أعلن عن الأمر بشكل رسمي أمام عائلتي. كان ميسون يعلم، لكننا لم نتحدث في الأمر حقاً. أما بالنسبة لوالدي... فإن مجرد التفكير في إخباره يثير التوتر في نفسي.اعترفتُ لها:
Last Updated: 2026-09-13
Chapter: الفصل الخمسونفي وقت لاحق من ذلك المساء، واصلت كانديس إلحاحها عليه ليأخذها إلى مكان ما لترويح عن نفسها. لم يمتلك ميسون الطاقة للرفض؛ فقد كانت متشبثة به منذ حادثة الإجهاض، ولم يطاوعه قلبه لصدّها... ليس بعد.اختارت كانديس واحداً من أغلى المطاعم في المدينة. وما إن جلسا على الطاولة، حتى أحضر النادل زجاجة نبيذ كانت قد طلبتها مسبقاً.رفعت كانديس كاسها بابتسامة وقالت: "في نخبنا". قرع ميسون كأسه بكأسها لكنه ظل صامتاً، إذ لم يستطع التوقف عن المقارنة بين كانديس ورايفن.رايفن... كانت تملك ابتسامة عفوية وبريقاً ساحراً في عينيها. كانت مشاعرها مرتسمة دوماً على وجهها، وعندما علمت بليلتِه مع كانديس، كانت نظرتها رغم الألم جليلة وجميلة... جميلة بدرجة ممزقة. الأذى، الوجع، والخيبة؛ كل ذلك حطمه تماماً بالقدر الذي تخيل أنه حطم به قلبها.تساءل في سره عما إذا كانت قد تجاوزته، وهل هي سعيدة دونه؟اخترق صوت كانديس أفكاره: "ميسون، هل تسمعني أصلاً؟". رمش بعينيه وهو يدرك أنه كان غارقا في غيبوبة أفكاره بالكامل.تمتم وهو يفرك مؤخرة عنقه: "آسف، ماذا كنتِ تقولين؟".تنهدت كانديس بإحباط واضح، لكنها حاولت تجاوز الأمر: "كنتُ أتحدث عنا.
Last Updated: 2026-09-12
Chapter: الفصل التاسع والأربعونملأ صوت آلات الخياطة أرجاء الغرفة بينما كانت رايفن تعمل جنباً إلى جنب مع برايان، لوضع اللمسات الأخيرة على التصاميم الجديدة لعلامتهما التجارية للنسيج. كانت الموسيقى تنساب في الغرفة بهدوء، بدرجة لا تزعج أو تعوق الحديث، بل بدت وكأنها تزيد من تركيزهما. كان برايان قد اعتاد العمل في صمت تام، لكن هذه كانت مجرد تفصيلة أخرى من الطرق التي غيّر بها حياته للأفضل.لقد سمع الموظفين في المكتب يتحدثون عنهما، قائلين إنهم يلاحظون يقضائهما وقتاً أطول معاً مؤخراً، وكان الجميع يرون أن التناغم بينهما لا يمكن إنكاره. وهو كان يشعر بذلك أيضاً، لكنه حسّ بتردد رايفن في الخوض مجدداً في علاقة عاطفية.كانت رايفن مركزة في فحص عينة من القماش الجديد عندما اقترب برايان منها—كان قريباً بدرجة كافية لكي تشعر بدفء بشرته، ورائحته التي طالما ارتبطت في ذاكرتها به وحده. ألقى نظرة على كراسة الرسم المستقرة على فخذيها.وقال ممازحاً وهو يميط خصلة شعر عن وجهها قبل أن يلتقط الكراسة من حجرها: "أنتِ دائماً تجعلين العمل يبدو ممتعاً أكثر بكثير مما هو عليه في الواقع"، ليرد بابتسامة شوكاء على النظرة العتابية الهادئة التي وجهتها له."ربما
Last Updated: 2026-09-12
Chapter: الفصل الثامن والأربعونوجهة نظر لينوراشعرتُ وكأنني تلقيتُ صفعة مدوية على وجهي. رمشتُ بعيني محاولة جعل عقلي يستوعب كلماته، صريعة الصدمة من رفضه. كبيرة في السن؟ أنا؟ كنتُ أتوقع أن يكون ملهوفاً على أخذ ما أقدمه له، ومستعدة لذلك الوحش العجوز المتصبب عرقاً ليلقيني على السرير ويفعل ببدني ما يشاء. وبدلاً من ذلك، أهانني بنعتي بالعجوز!من يكون هو حتى ينعتني بالعجوز؟! إنه رجل عجوز قذر ومقزز!"كيف تجرؤ على نعتي بالعجوز؟ قد لا أكون كما كنتُ سابقاً، ولكن هل نظرتَ في المرآة مؤخراً؟ أنت لستَ عارض أزياء بحال من الأحوال!".هز السيد كلينتون رأسه، ويبدو عليه جلياً عدم الاكتراث."نعم، ولكنني لستُ من يلقي بنفسه على أحدهم متوسلاً للحصول على الجسد لأنه يعجز عن نيله بطريقة أخرى! لقد أضعتِ وقتي".ودون أن ينبس بكلمة أخرى، استدار وخرج من الغرفة، خابطاً الباب خلفه بقوة.وقفتُ متجمدة في مكاني وأنا أُحدق بالباب. لم أكد أصدق ما حدث للتو. هل تُم رفض؟ ومن مَن؟ من ذلك العجوز المجعد؟ رجل عجوز مثله يملك الجرأة لينعتني بالعجوز؟ انقبضت يداي على جانبيّ، وانغرست أظافري في راحتيّ.ولكن الرسائل... لقد قال إنه لا يعلم عنها شيئاً.ارتميتُ على السرير
Last Updated: 2026-09-10
Chapter: الفصل السابع والأربعونوجهة نظر لينوراكنتُ أذرع مكتبي جيئة وذهاباً، وذهني يعج بالأفكار التي كانت تؤرقني لأسابيع متواصلة.لقد كنتُ أتلقى رسائل...رسائل تهديد.لا أملك أدنى فكرة عمن يرسلها، لكن شيئاً واحداً كان مؤكداً: أياً كان هذا الشخص، فهو يعرف عني كل شيء... كل سر، كل أمر لا أستطيع تحمّل تسريبه للعلن. لقد وعد هذا الشخص بفضحي، ومجرد التفكير في كشف كل شيء جعل معدتي تعتصر أليماً.كنتُ أحاول الحفاظ على هدوئي، لكن الرسالة التي تلقيتها قبل لحظات فقط جعلتني أسيرة الشك والذعر. الشخص الوحيد الذي أستطيع التفكير فيه ممن قد يعرف هذه الأمور ولديه دافع لمضايقتي هو السيد كلينتون. لقد كان يهددني بالفعل، غاضباً لأنه لم يتمكن من الحصول على رايفن، لكنه لم يكن يعرف كل شيء. ولكن ماذا لو كان يعرف؟ ماذا لو اكتشف الأمر بطريقة ما؟ إذا كان هو صاحب الرسائل، فسيتوجب عليّ إيجاد طريقة لتهدئته واستعطافه. وبما أنه لا يستطيع الحصول على رايفن، فالخيار الوحيد الآخر كان بلير، لكنني لم أستطع فعل ذلك. لم أستطع تقديمه بلير له.أعلم أنها كانت تعتاد إعطاءه كل ما يريد لتحصل على ما تريده، لكنها أصبحت حرة الآن من ذلك الاتفاق المثير للضحك، ولم أكن ل
Last Updated: 2026-09-10
Chapter: Chapter 100EPILOGUE Three Years Later Paris was everything Nadia had imagined it would be, and also nothing like she had imagined it would be, which was the thing about Paris that nobody could really prepare you for until you were actually standing in it. She had imagined it from photographs as a child, from travel books she had bought and kept on her shelves long before she had any real reason to think she would ever go. The reality was louder. More alive. More everything. And backstage at Paris Fashion Week, with thirty minutes to go before her collection walked, it was also the most concentrated version of chaos Nadia had ever personally occupied. Models moved in every direction. Stylists applied final touches. A translator was speaking rapidly near the door to a French production assistant who was speaking equally rapidly back, neither of them apparently arriving at an agreement but both of them clearly committed to the attempt. Nadia stood at the edge of all of it, looking at the co
Last Updated: 2026-08-26
Chapter: Chapter 99Nadia’s POV I walked toward him, Richard’s arm steady under my hand, and the whole thing felt so different from the last time I had done something like this that it wasn’t even a useful comparison. Richard placed my hand in Callum’s. He looked at Callum steadily for a moment, just one moment, and said quietly, “Take care of her.” Callum looked at him and answered without a second’s hesitation. “I will.” Richard nodded once. Then he stepped back. Callum looked at me. “Hi,” he said, very quietly, just for me. I smiled. “Hi.” The officiant welcomed everyone and began the ceremony. Then it was time for the vows we had written ourselves. Callum went first. He looked at me and said, “I promise to stand beside you. Not in front of you, not behind you. Beside you. As your equal, in every room, in every decision, in every version of this life we’re building.” He paused. “I promise to never ask you to make yourself smaller so that I can feel larger. I’ve watched you fight your wa
Last Updated: 2026-08-26
Chapter: Chapter 98Nadia POV I woke up on the morning of my wedding and lay still for a moment, looking at the ceiling. The room was quiet. Early light was just beginning to come through the curtains, before the noise started. I stayed there for a little while, just breathing. Then I got up and went to the window. Standing there, looking out at the city in the early morning light, a memory came back to me. Another morning, years ago. The morning of my first wedding. I had woken up early that day too. I had believed, that morning, that love meant someone would always choose you. That a person who loved you would stand beside you in every room, without question. I had been wrong about all of it. Not wrong to want those things. Just wrong about where I was going to find them. I stood at the window this morning and felt certain. I smiled at the window. Then I went to make coffee. Mara arrived at eight-thirty, carrying a bag large enough to suggest she was planning an extended stay rather than a
Last Updated: 2026-08-26
Chapter: Chapter 97Callum’s POV I started from scratch that same afternoon. I called the penthouse staff and told them what I needed, which was help without taking over. I spent three hours deciding what to use and what to leave out. Candles, because Nadia had once mentioned, casually, in the middle of a completely unrelated conversation, that she found candles more comfortable than overhead lighting when she was somewhere she wanted to relax. Flowers, but not the elaborate arrangement kind, just simple ones in colors she actually wore, the colors she gravitated toward in her collection, which I had paid close enough attention to that I knew them without having to look anything up. I found the photograph from her first fashion showcase. I had taken it myself on my phone, without telling her, from across the room, right at the moment she had walked onto the runway and the applause had started and her face had done that particular thing where the feeling she was having was too big to contain and it s
Last Updated: 2026-08-26
Chapter: Chapter 96Callum POV I had closed deals worth more money than most people would see in several lifetimes. I had sat across tables from men who used silence as a weapon and had stayed quieter than them. I had walked into rooms where the entire energy was designed to make me feel like the smaller person and had walked out with what I came for. I had built my business from nothing but a set of blueprints, a belief that it was going to work, and a stubborn refusal to accept any version of the answer that wasn’t yes. None of that had prepared me for buying an engagement ring. The box was sitting on my kitchen counter, small and dark blue, it was completely unremarkable from the outside. I had picked it up from the jeweler two days ago and had opened it approximately fourteen times since then. Not because I was worried about the ring itself. But because opening it and looking at it was the only thing that made the whole plan feel real rather than something I had constructed in my own head. I ope
Last Updated: 2026-08-25
Chapter: Chapter 95Nadia’s POV I looked at her for a long moment then I said, quietly, “I heard you’ve been selling your jewelry.” She went very still. “I also heard most of your friends have stopped answering your calls,” I said. “The charity boards. The Galas. Those lunch invitations.” I paused. “Tell me, how are you enjoying going broke?” The words landed exactly where I intended them to. “I didn’t destroy you, Vivienne.” She looked at me. “You destroyed yourself,” I said. “This was bound to happen anyway.” Suddenly, she did something very unexpected. She cried. I hadn’t expected that, but I wasn’t particularly moved by it either. Not because I didn’t understand that she was suffering. I did understand it. I just also understood that the suffering was the consequence of choices she had made freely, across years, toward people who had never done anything to deserve them. Her voice shook when she finally spoke again. “Congratulations,” she said. “You finally succeeded. You took everything.
Last Updated: 2026-08-25
LOGIN
