Chapter: Wrecking My Marriage With My Neighbour {007}He looks rougher than I’ve ever seen him. The sharp, polished edges are gone, replaced by a raw, unshaven scruff and shadows under his bloodshot eyes. The refusal to sign the papers in Vegas, the no-show at the hearing—I met his stubbornness with silence. I cut all contact. My father is still a silent figure in a hospital bed. Zayne is awake, trapped in a body that doesn’t obey him, and I owe him my presence. That’s the debt I’m paying.It’s been almost a month. Gayle called off her wedding to Carlos. She said the accident made her see clearly—she never loved him. Maybe the crash gave us all a brutal sort of clarity. I don’t know. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, a nervous habit, as Paul steps back to let me into the penthouse.The space is a ghost of itself. Everything is packed into cardboard boxes, taped shut and labeled. The furniture is still here, but it feels empty, waiting. The only thing that isn’t packed, the only thing hanging on the vast living room wall, is our wedd
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Wrecking My Marriage With My Neighbour {006}"How could you do this, Penny?" My mother hisses through her sobs, the sound raw and broken, each gasp like a physical blow. Gayle stands beside her, aggressively wiping at her own face, her movements sharp with anger and disbelief. Carlos holds her from behind, his grip tight as if he’s the only thing keeping her upright. My father lies in a coma. Zayne’s legs are shattered. The doctors say it will take a miracle for him to ever walk again. All because of a crash on the way back from the airport, a stupid accident that shouldn’t have happened. I’ve never felt more horrible in my life, a hollow, nauseous pit where my heart should be. Paul is driving us to the hotel, his knuckles white on the steering wheel, his face a mask of stern concentration as he talks low and fast into his phone. He’s arranging everything—doctors, private rooms for my mother and sister to stay overnight, specialists flying in. The efficiency of it should be comforting, but it just makes me feel worse. I am pa
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Wrecking My Marriage With My Neighbour {005}When the flight lands in Vegas, I'm completely tired, my bones are aching and I could barely move. He lifts me up after helping me change in a knitted turtle neck dress and a jacket. I cling to him, breathing in his scent as the crew members gives us a knowing look.I know that sooner or later, we'd have to get it done with.I fall asleep at the back of the Bentley that drives us to where my parents are, he's more active than me and it makes me extremely jealous especially since he's the one that did this to me.My thighs are burning and sore, vision blurry but I can feel myself getting carried and I can hear my ringtone that comes to a stop.The next morning, I get up with a stretch. My eyes widen when I see a large frame of our wedding photo at the center of a room I recognize well. It's the room we had our wedding night in, the same hotel he took my virginity. He didn't take me to my parents.I hear footsteps approaching, then he appears from the doors with two coffee mugs in han
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Wrecking My Marriage With My Neighbour {004}The single, gritted-out word was a promise and a punctuation mark. Two. The sound of it, heavy with his satisfaction, seemed to hang in the air of the private cabin, thicker than the jet’s own hum.He didn’t pull out. He stayed buried inside me, a solid, unmoving anchor as the last tremors of my second climax finally subsided. My forehead rested on the cool leather of the seat, my entire body lax and humming, held up only by the cage of his arms and the relentless press of him within me. I was utterly spent, a vessel filled and overflowing. I thought, dimly, that we might be finished. That the storm had passed.I was wrong.With a low grunt, he withdrew. The sudden emptiness was a shock, a cold void where there had been heat and fullness. A weak sound of protest escaped my lips.A dark chuckle was his only reply. His hands, large and inescapable, gripped my hips, his thumbs digging into the soft flesh. He didn’t let me collapse. Instead, he lifted me.It was effortless. The sheer phys
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Wrecking My Marriage With My Neighbour {003}He climbs up my body, his own breathing still uneven. He hovers over me, propped on his elbows, his dark eyes searching my face. I’m still floating, my limbs heavy, my mind pleasantly blank. The hum of the jet feels like a lullaby.He leans down and kisses me softly, letting me taste myself on his lips. It’s intimate, grounding.“You okay?” he murmurs, brushing a damp strand of hair from my forehead.I manage a weak nod. “More than.”His smile is tender, but there’s a familiar heat still smoldering in his gaze. The tenderness is a brief reprieve; I know him too well to think we’re finished. He is a man who takes his time, who enjoys every stage of unraveling me.He shifts his weight, his hands moving to my hips. “Turn over,” he says, his voice a quiet command.The fog of my first release clears a little, replaced by a fresh spark of anticipation. I push myself up, my body still humming, and roll onto my stomach. The bed is cool against my flushed skin. I get onto my hands and knees, f
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Wrecking My Marriage With My Neighbour {002}I hold my luggage, swallowing deeply as my mother chats about something that I don't pay attention to. We're heading for my sister's Vegas wedding,I suddenly regret having her invite Paul few days ago.The next one week was going to be tougher than I thought, he hasn't been responding to my messages since our last encounter three days ago.He's been genuinely busy, the book finally launched and he was away for a premier of one of his books that got a movie adaptation. He took an actress as his date. I should be next to him, not her but I know better.I roll my eyes at the irony just as Zayne pats my back gently and leads me through the front desk to get my boarding pass and check in. My heart drops when the woman at the table says the words that throws my family in panic."I'm sorry but Ms. Samson, you can't get on the plane," She starts citing issues with the system verifying me, my guts twist as my dad comes to desk."What do you mean? We all got our tickets online?""Yes, I did and
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: 166| Burning Cacophony (4)E L E A N O R"He'll kill you if he finds you,” I seethe, my voice raw as I struggle against the cuffs that bound my hands against the bed frame. My wrists were bruised and scraped from the constant, frantic movements as I fought back the tears that dared to spill. The metal bit into my skin with every pull, a constant, physical reminder of my captivity. My muscles screamed in protest, but I kept twisting, kept pulling, refusing to accept the helplessness. Every inch of skin that rubbed raw was a testament to my resistance, a small, defiant act against the brutal reality of my situation.George had me locked up and bound me in my own room for no reason at all, or so I thought. He kept watching me, his eyes never leaving my form, scanning through me, waiting for answers to questions I didn't even know. He was a silent, looming presence, his gaze a physical weight that pressed down on me. I was in nothing but my nightdress, a frail, flimsy fabric that clung to my skin. I felt disgust se
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: 165| Burning Cacophony (3)A U T H O R “It’s nice of you to come here,” Athena smirked, twirling a dandelion between her fingers. Her voice was light, almost playful, but her eyes stayed sharp and calculating. “But I’m afraid Perseus isn’t here.” “What?” Severus and Bernadette said in unison, their voices tight with disbelief. Behind them, their troops stood tense and ready, having surrounded the serpent colony the moment they arrived. They hadn’t taken any chances. Every soldier was poised to attack at the first sign of a signal. They needed to find Perseus, and they needed to do it fast. Athena’s reception had been unusually warm, almost friendly, which put everyone even more on edge. She led them into her throne room—a cold, echoing space lined with polished stone and intricate carvings of serpents. The air felt still and heavy. Severus exchanged a quick, wary glance with Bernadette. He could feel the tension tightening his shoulders. This wasn’t going to be easy. “He went to find me a groom,” Athena c
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: 164| Burning Cacophony (2)P E R S E U S When we finally reach Eretria, the town is slowly stitching itself back together after the war. People are everywhere—repairing roofs, repainting signs, sweeping debris from the cracked streets. The air smells of fresh sawdust and damp stone, a weird mix of ruin and renewal. Thomas and I keep our hoods up, hiding our faces. We don’t need anyone recognizing us now, not when we’re this close to pulling this off. I walk quickly, my focus sharp and narrow. Every second counts. We need to find the prince, convince him to marry Athena, and get back before her deadline runs out. People glance our way as we pass—not with recognition, but with wariness. They sense it—the danger that clings to us like a second skin. I’ve never actually been here before, not in person. But I’ve studied maps, read reports from spies like Bernadette. Now, walking these streets, I can’t help but wonder about my mother. How did she sneak in and out during her affair with Thomas? How did she slip pas
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: 163| Burning Cacophony (1)E L E A N O R "James is scared to death of the dark, so please leave the lights on and the door open," Bernadette tells me for what feels like the tenth time, her voice rushed but sincere. I nod with a understanding smile as she gives my hand one last squeeze before turning toward the waiting carriage. "Goodbye, Daddy. Please come back soon," Eliza says, her voice soft but clear. "Of course, darling,” Severus has just set her down after giving her a playful twirl. Now he squats to meet Hildegard at eye level. She reaches out and ruffles his already messy hair with a mischievous grin. "Don't forget you have to tell me everything about your trip, especially when you get to the serpent shifters," Hildegard instructs, her tone serious despite her playful actions. "I'll keep it in mind, Hildie. Don't miss me too much," Severus replies, a fond smile touching his lips. "I should be saying that to you," she fires back without missing a beat. "I know Mama can be a bit boring, but don't
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: 162 | Be Patient Darling*A U T H O RIn the middle of the night, Bernadette woke to the sound of the bedroom door clicking shut. She blinked sleep from her eyes just as Severus yawned heavily and dragged his feet toward the bed. He looked exhausted but peaceful, his movements slow with fatigue.“Bern?” he called softly, his voice rough with sleep. He noticed her shifting under the covers and stilled, not wanting to startle her.“Yes,” she whispered, turning fully to face him as he settled onto his side of the bed. She couldn’t hold back a yawn of her own, but her eyes stayed on him, warm and awake now.He lay facing her, and a slow smile curled his lips as he watched her. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, in a way that still made his heart flutter even now. In the quiet dark, it hit him all over again: he had this woman. After everything, after all the waiting and the pain, he had her. And it was worth it. They would be together forever.“I fell asleep in the girls’ room,” he murmured, voice l
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: 161 | Help Is ComingA U T H O R"Goodnight, Mama," James mumbled sleepily, already turning to his favorite side of the bed and curling up beneath the soft blankets. His small fingers clutched the edge of the duvet, pulling it up to his chin as his eyes drifted shut."Goodnight, my love," Bernadette replied softly, a warm smile touching her lips as she smoothed his covers one last time. She lingered for a moment, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest before turning to leave. She left the door slightly ajar, just enough to hear him if he woke frightened from another nightmare, the way he sometimes did since everything had changed.She paused outside the girls' room, pushing the door open just enough to peek inside. Her heart swelled at the sight within. Severus lay fast asleep in the middle of the spacious pink bed, with Eliza and Hildegard nestled on either side of him like bookends. Both girls had their heads resting gently on his chest, their breathing deep and even. A storybook lay open in h
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: AN AFFAIR WITH MY HUSBAND (TEN)— TOBIAS —I notice her watching me as I drive, and the thought sends my heart racing at an unexplainable pace. Even though I could easily ask my assistant to fetch me coffee from the office, I don’t want her to leave just yet. Having her around feels comforting amidst my almost chaotic world.“In this world of chaos, you are my peace.” Anna’s words echo in my mind. She had lied. Marrying her turned out to be the complete opposite, and suddenly, Renee felt like a breath of fresh air.I don’t want to become the cliché husband who cheats on his wife, but perhaps Renee and I could build something devoid of romance. Maybe a friendship or mere companionship; she seems easy to talk to.I pull the car up in front of Starbucks. I get out first, but she’s already stepping out before I can hold the door for her, so we walk in together. As we reach the entrance, I feel her grip on my suit jacket. She gradually releases me when I look her way, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.“I think we shou
Last Updated: 2025-01-29
Chapter: AN AFFAIR WITH MY HUSBAND (NINE)— GIANNA (RENEE) —I’m trying to stay calm, taking deep breaths like I did this morning when I first saw him. Pictures hardly did him justice—he’s a walking masterpiece, as though sculpted for a world more elegant than this one. He makes me sound poetic, which I’m not, but it’s his fault—his voice is deep and velvety, soaked in an intoxicating British accent, laced with effortless charm.I came here to seduce him, to control the situation. But at this rate, he might as well be the one doing the seducing. The turquoise of his eyes is a striking contrast to his sharply defined features, like some forbidden god descended to earth. And worse, there’s something familiar about him—his voice, his presence. But that must be my mind playing cruel tricks on me. Right?When he commented on my outfit earlier, the urge to grab a handful of his perfectly styled hair and remind him who he was talking to was overwhelming. But no, I can’t risk showing my hand. The plan demands subtlety, and until I fi
Last Updated: 2025-01-23
Chapter: AN AFFAIR WITH MY HUSBAND (EIGHT)— TOBIAS —I decide to step outside for a short drive to clear my head. The clanking of plates from the dining table catches my attention, and I see Renee setting it up.My heart skips a beat, despite the anger bubbling in my chest. She’s dressed up now, still alluring; her lips are pursed as she completes her task.I quickly look away from her, turning to leave.“Mr. Whitlock?” Renee calls, her faint Spanish accent making my surname sound almost thrilling.“Yes? Umm…”“Renee,” she supplies, though I feign forgetfulness. “Dinner’s ready, Mr. Whitlock.” She gestures to the table.I nod slowly. “You can call Mrs. Whitlock; I’m not hungry,” I say, hoping to end this interaction.She frowns slightly. “Mrs. Whitlock already had dinner and asked me to prepare this for you.”“Oh. Well, I’m not hungry. You can clear the table and toss it away,” I reply dismissively, eager to escape. Her eyes make me feel vulnerable, and my instincts urge me to grab her and kiss her. I sound like a jerk.Renee
Last Updated: 2025-01-23
Chapter: AN AFFAIR WITH MY HUSBAND (SEVEN)— TOBIAS—I adjust my tie before slipping on my wristwatch. Anna is still asleep, turning with a loud yawn, so I decide against waking her. I put on my suit jacket, grab my suitcase, and leave the room.“You're leaving?” Her voice makes me pause, and I turn to look at her.“Yes, I’ll see you when I get back.” I smile at her.“Good luck.” She groans and pulls the duvet over her face.I take my leave, not bothering to initiate conversation or kiss her cheek. We weren't that lovey-dovey couple, anyway. She often complained about my distance.Over the past year, I wouldn’t say I regret marrying her, but I can’t deny it hasn’t been what I hoped it would be after that first day. Flash marriages aren't something I’d recommend, especially if your wife is intent on changing her entire personality to please you.We lived more like strangers, and I supported her in launching a clothing line just to keep her busy, preventing her from wasting her years on a marriage where I’m hardly present.My mi
Last Updated: 2025-01-15
Chapter: AN AFFAIR WITH MY HUSBAND (SIX)— GIANNA (RENEE) —Fifty million was a significant amount for me; I needed the money without a doubt, and I yearned for my freedom. I accepted the deal without hesitation, rendering Carl's attempts to alter the narrative useless.The memory of him cornering me, my back pressed against the wall, was bitter to recall. He had tried to kiss me, and I slapped him twice. That explained his frown and why he turned down Sergio's request to escort me to Tobias' house for the interview.The car that had brought me pulled up in front of a large, modern chateau that matched Tobias' aesthetics.It was challenging to read him. From my research, he was extremely private and uptight. The news of his anniversary a few weeks ago had come as a shock to everyone, and within hours, it had vanished as if it were an error. The underground cyber team of the Abyss had that information up their sleeves, making access relatively easy.His wife, Gianna Whitlock. The name sounded familiar—too familiar—but I brush
Last Updated: 2025-01-11
Chapter: AN AFFAIR WITH MY HUSBAND (FIVE)ONE YEAR LATER.—GIANNA (RENEE)—I yawned slightly, attempting to turn, only to be restrained by a man's hands on my waist. My eyes widened. “Shit. Shit. Shit!” I cursed, hurriedly buttoning my shirt and searching for my shoes. When I couldn't locate them, I stepped out barefoot, draping his coat over my body for modesty.After a few minutes of searching, I finally found a taxi and jumped in, struggling to organize my racing thoughts. I ran my fingers through my hair, my mind drifting back to him. I couldn't just leave him without an explanation—not after everything we'd been through. He didn't deserve that, and deep down, I knew I wanted him.“Turn around,” I instructed the taxi driver.“Huh?”“Take me back to where you picked me up,” I clarified.“You’ll still pay me, right?” “Yeah, yeah, just go!” I rolled my eyes, nibbling on my fingers in agitation.The driver shifted the car into reverse, but in an instant, from the corner of my eye, I spotted a truck barreling toward us. Boom!
Last Updated: 2025-01-09