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The Beginning of the Hunt
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-04-26 13:59:26"Cynthia…"
Lucien stared hard at the photo on his phone screen, his knuckles turning white from the force of his grip. His jaw clenched, and he forced her name out between gritted teeth. His eyes burned red with fury, as if he were on the verge of completely losing control.
Just then, Simon hurried over and said in a low voice, "Thomas called. He says he knows where Cynthia is—but he wants you to meet him in person."
Lucien's gaze sharpened. Without a word, he spun around and strode out the door. Simon followed closely, and they drove straight toward the estate.
Inside the grand hall, Janet was clinging excitedly to Selena's hand, barely able to conceal her glee. "That bitch is finally gone! Why doesn't my brother see it? She was never good enough for him—"
Before she could finish, the front doors slammed open.
Lucien walked in, a storm of cold fury radiating from him. He didn't spare them a single glance and headed straig
Bab terkait
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband The Return
Smoke curled through the bar like a living thing, and the neon lights cast shifting reflections across the rims of half-empty glasses.Hogan refilled the whiskey without asking, the amber liquid catching cold glints in the dim light. "Drink up. At least alcohol never lies."He raised his own glass, the clink of ice breaking the silence.Stephen reached out, stopping Hogan's hand. "That's enough. He's had too much.""So what?"Hogan chuckled darkly, his eyes drifting to the silent man across from him. "Better drunk than drowning in pain."He leaned closer to Stephen and muttered, "Have you ever seen a man stay sane after losing his wife?"Lucien seemed detached from the world around him. He downed the whiskey in one mechanical motion, the burn doing nothing to soothe the aching void in his chest. The glass in his hand fractured the bar's lights into twisted patterns—just like the broken state of his mind.Suddenly, his phone buz
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-26A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband What Was It All For?
The glass doors to the balcony rattled softly in the night breeze.Lucien turned around, the cigarette between his fingers flaring faintly in the dark. Moonlight outlined his sharp features, but his eyes were darker than the night, locked intensely on her. When he caught sight of the angry red mark on her neck, his pupils contracted."That boy… is he your son?" His voice sounded like it came from a long way off.Cynthia walked straight into the room, tossing two bank cards onto the table with a crisp thud."Twenty-five million. Not a cent less," she said coldly. "I'll be taking Harley with me tomorrow."The cigarette burned out in his palm, but the sting didn't reach his heart. He strode forward and gripped her wrist hard enough to turn her knuckles white. "And the interest?"The stack of bills hit his face. Paper fluttered to the floor like a snowfall of blood-red leaves. Lucien let out a low, bitter laugh before yanking her into his arms. Their lips crashed together, copper and heat
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-27A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband A Stranger in the Family
Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.A soft, sticky voice called from outside the door. "Mommy!"Cynthia snapped awake. In a panic, she shoved the man beside her. "Hide, now!"Lucien groaned, his voice still thick with sleep. "What time is it...?""Who cares!" she hissed, pushing him off the bed.Caught off guard, Lucien hit the floor with a loud thud. Just as he opened his mouth to protest, a blanket landed squarely on his head."Not a sound!"Cynthia winced at the ache in her waist as she opened the door. There stood Harley, barefoot, squatting on the floor, carefully folding a paper airplane out of a hundred-dollar bill."Why aren't you wearing shoes?" She scooped him up, brushing the dust from his tiny feet."Look, Mommy!" Harley beamed, holding up a red plane. "It's flying money!"Cynthia rubbed her temples as she surveyed the room littered with money-made airplanes. Last night with Lucien had clearly gotten out of hand."Sweetheart,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-27A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband A Name That Says Everything
Lucien stood in the shadowy hallway, the corner of his mouth twitching. Did she really just call him a "pitiful man kicked out of his house for being disobedient"? But thinking about it... she wasn't entirely wrong. Over the past month, every visit to the old estate meant facing his mother's meticulously arranged "matchmaking dinners," Selena's fake modesty, and Janet's over-the-top enthusiasm. No wonder he kept his distance.He glanced toward the kitchen, where Cynthia was bending down to talk to Harley. Under the warm yellow light, her eyes and brows were softened by maternal tenderness—and somehow, she looked even more captivating than before.Harley suddenly peeked his head out of the room, his wide eyes locking with Lucien's. After a moment's hesitation, he quickly ducked back inside. Cynthia walked over and whispered, "He's shy around strangers. But once he warms up to you, he's a total whirlwind.""I'm pitiful, huh?" Lucien raised an eyebrow.Cynthia was about to laugh when he
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband The Weight of a Lie
Cynthia's heart skipped a beat. Some lies, once told, were like spilled water—impossible to gather back. She didn't know how Lucien would react if she told him the truth. And no matter how strong she might be, she still felt a lingering fear of the madness he could unleash when enraged.Now was not the right time. She told herself that. And so, one lie would have to patch up another."My son can't take my last name?" she shot back.Her tone was sharp again, her usual weapon of defense. That toughness was the wall she used to protect herself—because she'd come to believe that weakness only invited cruelty. Better to be all sharp edges than to lie down and be carved up.Lucien stared at her a moment longer before finally rising to his feet. Only then did Cynthia feel like she could breathe again.He stepped forward, casting a shadow that enveloped her. "So, you brought your son back to the country. What about your husband? He's not coming back?""He's working overseas.""So you two agre
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband A Secret Too Heavy to Carry
"Looking for me?"Lucien's voice cut through the air like ice. He stared at her, his gaze seemingly calm but laced with something darker beneath the surface."Did Harley say something to you?" Cynthia forced herself not to retreat, knowing running wouldn't solve anything."He's your son. What do you think he might say?" Lucien's tone was laced with thorns.Cynthia opened her mouth, trying to respond, but Lucien had already lost interest. "I'm tired," he muttered, then brushed past her into the bedroom. He stripped off his clothes and collapsed onto the bed, shutting his eyes as if she no longer existed.When Cynthia entered, the sight hit her like a wave. She'd seen him naked countless times, but under the bedroom light, Lucien's muscular frame still had the power to make her heart skip a beat.She looked away quickly, turned off the light, and climbed into bed beside him. They lay back to back in silence, pretending to sleep.Not a word passed between them that night.The next mornin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-29A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband A Day at the Beach
In the break room of F.E. Magazine, the coffee machine was humming loudly.Gina grabbed Cynthia's wrist and widened her eyes dramatically. "You're finally back! Do you know how worried we were?" She made a throat-slitting gesture. "Especially when Lucien stormed into the office demanding to see you—"Pearl leaned in, lowering her voice. "He went straight to Ollie's office that day. The pressure on the whole floor dropped to freezing. We didn't even dare to breathe too loud.""I had it the worst!" Gina thumped her chest, vividly describing the scene. "When his bodyguard 'invited' me into the car, my legs turned to jelly! Lucien was sitting there, his eyes sharp as knives—‘Tell me, where's Cynthia.'" She mimicked Lucien's deep voice. "I swear to God, I had no idea!"Pearl nodded furiously. "Gina came back shaking like she'd seen a ghost."Cynthia stirred her coffee, watching the milk foam swirl in the cup. She could easily imagine the scene—Lucien's tense jawline, his eyes darkening int
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-29A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband No Turning Back
Lucien's kiss crashed down like wildfire, and they tumbled onto the bed in a messy tangle. Cynthia lay against his chest, feeling the frantic pounding of his heart."Say it again," he rasped, his fingers tracing the curve of her lips.Her fingertips brushed his burning earlobe. "Welcome back."Before she could react, he had pinned her firmly beneath him. Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows over the tense lines of his muscles. Cynthia closed her eyes, surrendering to the overwhelming tide of pleasure.Afterwards, resting on his arm, she stared out at the dense darkness beyond the window and whispered, "Lucien... I'm sorry I didn't contact you for the past month."Erica had once said that Cynthia was far happier with Lucien than she had ever been with Edric. Thinking back now, maybe it was true. But that chapter of her life had long been buried under the scars of six years ago.Lucien pulled her closer. "That
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-30
Bab terbaru
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband A Father's Place
"Daddy, you must've made Mommy mad," Harley crossed his arms and sighed like a little adult. "She's ignoring you." He added with a worried look, "Gerald never dares to upset Mommy. The last time he did, she didn't let him through our front door for a whole month. Do you think she'll kick you out too?"Lucien crouched down to meet his son's eyes, catching a key word with razor-sharp precision: "Gerald… Daddy?" His voice sank, and his knuckles unconsciously tightened. That title pierced his chest like a thorn."He's been around since Mommy was pregnant with me!" Harley blinked, then leaned in mysteriously, curling a finger for Lucien to come closer. When Lucien obliged, the little boy's warm breath brushed against his ear. "He really likes Mommy, but she says he always brings around ugly weirdos." Then, tugging seriously on Lucien's tie, he warned, "If you act like him, Mommy won't want you either—and then I won't have a daddy again."Lucien's pupils constricted. He gently cupped the ba
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband A Father's Name
The sound of the door closing finally faded, and Cynthia opened her eyes in the darkness. Her lashes trembled, her gaze full of conflict and struggle piercing through the night.She knew Lucien's history with Jessica came before their reunion—but the sudden appearance of a child, that line about "peaceful coexistence," and his proposal for Jessica to get an abortion all pierced her heart like thorns. In the dark, she clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.Twenty hours of being confined to the bed had left her legs numb. As she propped herself up against the headboard, she spotted a neatly folded dress nearby—its fabric carrying an unfamiliar warmth. The night outside was ink-dark, and then a child's voice suddenly pierced the silence:"Mommy! Mommy!"Staggering, Cynthia gripped the cold metal doorframe. Harley's voice, thick with sobs, crashed through the quiet. She fumbled the door open—and his small figure flung itself into her arms with such force they both tum
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband Only You
Lucien nearly crushed the steering wheel when he got Vicky's call. By the time he arrived, the scene in front of him made his blood run cold—Erica gripping a kitchen knife, dragging Cynthia behind her, Harley charging ahead with a broom, and Vicky chasing them in a panic. It looked like a total madhouse.Just as he got out of the car, he heard Harley's sharp little voice shout, "You big meanie!"A piercing screech of brakes tore through the air.A scooter came speeding from the side. Harley stood frozen in the bike lane, the broom falling from his hands with a clatter as he squeezed his eyes shut in fear."Harley!" several voices screamed in unison.Lucien moved on pure instinct. He lunged forward and scooped the child into his arms at the last possible second. They both crashed into the roadside bushes, dry branches tearing jagged scratches into his skin.Cynthia rushed over and grabbed Harley, her fingers trembling as she checked him all over. "Tell Mommy—does anything hurt?"Harley
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband The Last Straw
Cynthia raised her hand to hail a taxi to Erica's place, but before she could, a strong hand clamped around her wrist. Lucien was suddenly there behind her, his eyes a storm barely contained."You hate me that much?" he said hoarsely. "You can't even stand to stay one more minute?""Stay?" She let out a cold laugh. "What, to talk about how many mistresses you have? How many illegitimate children? Maybe we should count now, just so your grandfather won't have to bring them home one by one. That way, I'll know how many people I'm supposed to share you with!"Lucien's temple twitched with rage. "I told you, no one but you is worthy of having my child! You're the one who wanted her to keep it!""Oh, so now it's all my fault?" Cynthia's eyes turned red with unshed tears. "Should I thank you for giving me the exclusive privilege of bearing your children?"Her voice trembled. "You think an abortion makes it go away? And when the next one comes along, you'll have her abort it too, all for me?
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband Shadows of the Past
Back at the apartment, Cynthia walked straight to the bedroom without so much as glancing at Hogan."I'll find you some clean clothes,"she said."Um…"Hogan rubbed his nose, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "If you've got any... new underwear..."Cynthia paused. "Take a shower first. I'll bring it over when I find some."Throughout the exchange, neither of them acknowledged Lucien, even though his shirtfront was just as soaked.Sensing the tension radiating from Lucien, Hogan raised his voice deliberately. "Lucien, I'm going to shower now~ Where are the slippers?""Let Stephen bring the underwear,"Lucien said coldly. "The only ones I have are ones I've worn."Hogan blinked. "There's a supermarket downstairs. They probably sell them—"Before he could finish, someone grabbed the back of his collar. Lucien was already dragging him toward the door."Go dry off outside.""She's
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband Blood and Betrayal
Lucien's expression shifted subtly as he stepped toward her. "We do have a son. His name is Harley."His gaze never left Cynthia's face, but she wouldn't spare him even a glance."Impossible!"Janet shrieked, springing to her feet. "You've been divorced for six years! That bastard could be anyone's—""Janet."Cynthia's glare was sharper than any knife. "You'll regret saying that."She turned to Lucien, her tone calm as if speaking of someone else's life. "I found out I was pregnant after the divorce. I gave birth to him alone… raised him alone..."Her voice finally trembled. "I never planned to let you know."Lucien recalled the strange sense of closeness he'd felt when he first met Harley. His heart was struck like a gong. She had borne all of this—alone."I know."He pulled her into his arms, his voice hoarse. "Harley is my son."Mandy approached slowly. Cynthia immediately noticed the brui
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband The Ultimate Betrayal
Cynthia had just stepped out of the kitchen when she nearly collided with Marcus, who stood at the doorway with a frail-looking girl. The girl kept her head down, her steps hesitant."Come in,"Marcus said, stepping aside. But when he looked up and saw Cynthia, his expression shifted dramatically.The girl slowly lifted her head, and the moment their eyes met, both she and Cynthia froze in place.That face—it looked so much like hers. Even more than Jacqueline ever had. Put them side by side, and no one would doubt they were sisters."Dinner's ready..."Lucien's voice came from behind, but at this moment, it sounded sharp and jarring."Lucien..."Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as she stared longingly at the man behind Cynthia, yet she didn't dare take a step closer.Cynthia turned and saw Lucien's face clouded with dark fury. She said softly, "She's here for you."His pupils contracted. He reached out for her,
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband Ties That Bind
Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains. Cynthia carefully helped Lucien slip into a T-shirt, her fingers pausing for a moment when they brushed against the bruises on his back."You should really get checked out at the hospital," she said softly."You'll come with me?" Lucien pulled her into his arms like a child asking for candy."Mm-hmm." She agreed without hesitation, lifting her gaze to meet his deep, intense eyes. On impulse, she rose onto her toes and brushed a light kiss against the corner of his mouth. "Good morning."The sudden kiss lit up Lucien's entire face, so radiant it was almost blinding. Cynthia's ears burned red as she hurriedly pushed him away."We should get going."He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. "Okay."Every small act of tenderness from her was a priceless gift to him. He had all the patience in the world to wait—until she opened her heart completely.When they stepp
A One-Night Stand With Her Ex-Husband Second Chances
"Mommy can't come home tonight, okay? Be good and listen to your auntie,"Cynthia said gently into the phone.From the other end came Harley's exaggerated wail, "That uncle tricked you again! I'm never talking to him again! Hmph!"Erica took the phone from Harley. "You're staying at the Brown estate tonight? They accepted you back this fast?"Cynthia looked out at the night sky, her voice tinged with fatigue. "Not exactly. Lucien got beaten half to death by his grandfather just to bring me back. If you had seen it…""What?!"Erica shrieked. "And you? Are you okay? I swear, what kind of century are we living in where people still solve things with violence? Should I call the police?"Cynthia instinctively rubbed the red marks on her arm. "I'm fine. He took all the hits for me.""That's a relief,"Erica muttered, then lowered her voice, "That scumbag didn't give you any trouble, did he? If he so much as touches you, just
