로그인Elena“Is that your bridesmaid dress?” Mom grimaced at the lavender dress I held. “Yeah, isn’t the dress code lavender for the bridesmaids?” I glanced half-heartedly at the rest of the dresses. Alecia, Ashley, and Serenity had already selected theirs while I was helping Mom choose her wedding trousseau. “But this one’s too simple. Allow me!” Uncle Stephen smiled and sorted through the entire store for the perfect dress for me. I watched him fuss over something so trivial. My dad had never accompanied me to a shop, let alone buy something for me. “I like these two, Ellie. We can take both.” He placed them into the shopping cart without listening to my protests. “They’re beautiful, Uncle Stephen. Thank you. But I don’t need two, please.” He turned a deaf ear to me. “I’m sure you’ll get plenty of chances to wear them. Wear them on your dates. Right?” I laughed at the joke. “Who’ll date me?” “I’m sure there are many dying to date such a charming girl like you.” I laughed, shaking
Elena“What a pleasant surprise, Elli! Did you get leave from university, finally?” Mom hugged me close with tears of happiness in her eyes.“I quit, Mom. I can’t live there for two years. You were right. I shouldn’t have left home.” My throat choked with emotions I couldn’t control. After what I went through, my mother’s embrace felt like heaven. It erased my bitterness momentarily. I hugged her back, resting my heavy head on her shoulders.“Hush, sweetheart. I’m glad you returned home.” Then she felt my forehead and released me. “You’re burning with fever, Ellie. Why did you drive so far in these conditions? Where’s Damien?” She frowned, searching for Damien behind me.“He’s busy with Everly. I couldn’t take her insults, Mom.” I was tired of hiding my emotions from my mom.She gasped in surprise. “Oh, I should’ve known.”Mom fussed over me, taking care of me as no one had ever done in my life. With the family by my side, fussing over me, I was better in a day.“Uncle Stephen is comi
Elena The next morning, my body burned, and I had no strength to raise my head from the bed. With no strength left to prepare my breakfast, I lay in my room trembling as the temperature soared. Not once did Damien or Everly come inside to inquire about me? Maybe I deserved their indifference after the way I behaved with them last night. I could hear Everly’s laughter and non-stop rambling as she sailed around the house, as if she owned it. But strangely, I didn’t hear Damien even once after breakfast. Wasn’t he at home? Where did he go? My head reeled, and I rose to prepare something for myself. I had to fight to regain my strength and flee from here. I staggered to the kitchen and warmed some milk to go with the cereal. High heels clicked behind me, and I knew Everly had entered the kitchen. Panic settled in my heart. I wasn’t in a condition to face her. She stopped behind me and snickered. “Stop the act, bitch. You can fool Damien, but not me. I knew you would get up after Dami
Elena I stilled, paling at the sight of them. Everly gasped in surprise as her judgmental glare swept over me. She turned to face Damien. “What the fu*k is she doing here, Damien?” She trembled with fury as she entered the apartment and circled me. “I explained to you. I saved Elena from some crooks and sheltered her here.” Damien glared at me, his gaze dropping to the luggage on the floor. “So you were planning to escape again!” He sounded furious, as if I had committed a crime. I looked at him, ready to face his wrath. “Yes, I was going home.” Did he expect me to stay and watch them together? When he couldn’t tolerate Cayden near me, how could he expect me to see Everly with him? Cayden had just been my friend while he slept with Everly every night. His jaw clenched as he entered the room. “You’re going nowhere. Get yourself an education first. It doesn’t come free.” He picked up my luggage and strode towards my room with Everly following him. “Let her go, Damien. Stop being an
Elena A gasp of horror escaped my lips. What did he do? Before I could confront him, he strode towards the last bench, avoiding eye contact with me. The professor walked into the class, and I had to abort my plan. Maybe I would confront him after the class. I was sure he had picked a fight with Cayden and canceled my internship at his office. But how could he do that? Throughout the class, I could feel his heated gaze pinned on me. I didn’t need to turn and check. It penetrated my skin, making goosebumps erupt all over my body. This guy would be the death of me. I had been a fool to agree to stay in the lion’s den. The class was over, and I rose to march towards Damien. I needed my answers. But the next class started, and I had to postpone my plan once again. “Hey, are you Cayden’s friend?” whispered the girl sitting with me. I nodded with wide eyes. “Yes, I’m Elena Meier, and you?” She smiled. “Liz Bradley. Nice to connect, Ellie. Can I call you that?” I smiled back, glad to
Elena“What the f*ck! No...” My voice trailed off as he leaned forward, closing the distance between us. I swallowed a lusty gasp when he pinned his muscular legs against mine. With his body pressed to mine, I could feel him, every part of him. His mussed hair and five o’clock shadow drew me towards him like a magnet. His eyes were dark as thunderclouds, holding me captive. ‘Oh God! He’s going to kiss me!’ chanted my inner mind.His fingers cupped my nape while the heavy wall of his chest pressed into my sensitive breasts. His eyes heated, and he rubbed himself against me - slowly, sensuously, making me delirious. My heart pounded as I waited for his lips to descend on mine. I had craved this moment for years! At last, he pressed his lips against mine in a lingering kiss, making my eyes glaze with passion. I could feel my pulse throb with wild abandon. Closing my eyes, I sank into him, into his warmth as his fiery mouth teased me, promising me more. A soft, breathy moan escaped my







