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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Last Updated:
2025-04-15 01:06:14
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A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ESSENCEI felt as though I had stepped into a whole new world. One moment I was dodging insults and nursing bruises, the next I was married to Lucian Knight and standing in his mansion like I belonged. Everything still felt surreal.Yes, I had signed the marriage documents. Yes, I had moved into his luxurious home. But it hadn’t quite sunk in yet. Was this real life, or a dream I’d soon wake up from? The maids, the respectful glances, the luxury dripping from every wall and corner—it didn’t seem like something someone like me deserved. At least not according to everything I’d been told over the years.Still, there was something else that felt even more unusual than the grandeur. Lucian. His kindness. His attentiveness. No one had ever worried about whether I’d eaten, not even on days when I hadn’t eaten at all. Yet Lucian, within the short span of time we had spent together, had done so twice.And the second time…he didn’t just ask. He had already driven halfway home before he made a
Last Updated : 2025-04-16A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ALEX I was exhausted. The entire day had been a mess. My employees could barely meet my eyes, whispering behind my back like I’d grown a second head. The tension in the office was suffocating, and I lost my temper more times than I could count. I’d already fired three staff before my assistant had the guts to tell me that if I continued, I’d be running the company solo by the end of the week. I couldn’t take it anymore. I left early. Every attempt I made to take down that damned video had failed. The posts kept multiplying—shared, reposted, commented on by faceless trolls and nosy spectators. I had a gut feeling this was no accident. Someone was making sure that video stayed alive. But who? Remi swore she had no idea. She said nothing like that should’ve existed in the first place. But the video had been filmed in her bedroom. And that raised too many questions she still hadn’t answered. I kept driving around in circles until I found myself home, angry and restless. The momen
Last Updated : 2025-04-17A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
ESSENCEFor a moment, it almost felt like I had time-traveled back to Alex’s house, back to those endless days of being humiliated by Remi. Because standing in front of me now was another version of her.... same disrespectful tone, same hourglass figure that screamed "Instagram model," same hunger for putting another woman down to feel tall.I didn’t know who this girl was or what she meant to Lucian, but the confidence she wore was dangerous. She moved like she belonged here, like she had Lucian’s name tattooed on her waistline. And judging from how the other maids were eyeing her, I was clearly the only one not clued in.But here’s the thing..... I had nothing to lose. I wasn’t going to shrink myself to avoid a repeat of my past. If Lucian wanted to divorce me after this, he was free to file the papers. But before I left this house, this girl was going to learn the hard way that I wasn’t the same woman who cowered in a corner while people called her a fat cow.The girl stepped forwa
Last Updated : 2025-04-18A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
ESSENCE I had barely taken more than three steps when a sudden yelp cut through the air like a hot knife through butter. I turned quickly, only to see Angel sprawled ungracefully on the ground, her designer bag flung to one side, and her ego bleeding more than her palms. And who, you ask, was the noble force responsible for such glorious justice? Lucian. My husband. He was already striding toward me, his eyes narrowed with purpose. I blinked, unsure if I should be mad, shocked, or flattered. Then he was standing in front of me, his voice gentle but firm. "Did you really slap her?" I looked up at him, chin raised, defiance coursing through every inch of my body. "Yes, I did. And what are you going to do about it?" For a second, silence. Then he reached for my right hand, the one I had used for the slap, and gently held it in both of his palms. "It must have been this hand," he said, his eyes focused on my palm as though it had just saved a nation. "Tell me, does it h
Last Updated : 2025-04-18A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
ESSENCE Staring at the butler who remained kneeling, his face red and his fists clenched tightly, I finally understood why he had taken Angel's side with so much intensity. It was right there in his body language. The way he burned with silent fury showed, a father, shielding his daughter. A father's love, no matter how misplaced, was something I knew could drive people to madness. Before I could process that thought fully, the six maids who had earlier stood frozen behind Angel suddenly rushed forward. They fell to their knees in front of me, their hands clasped and heads bowed in shame. "Please, Mrs. Knight," one of them begged. "We're sorry. We made a mistake. We didn't know. We swear it won't happen again." You are all fired." Lucian suddenly declared. Before the maids could fully react, he turned to face Sara. Angel's cries had dulled into weak, pitiful whimpers. Her face was a mosaic of handprints, her cheeks swollen and flushed red, her lip bleeding. Her mascara had
Last Updated : 2025-04-18A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
ESSENCE Lucian's lips pressed softly against mine, and for a few seconds, my body went completely still—like a statue that had just been struck by lightning. My knees, poor things, wobbled under me like they had just realized how little they were needed. If the wall behind me hadn’t held me up, I would have sunk to the floor like melted butter on hot pancakes. My heart thumped so hard I was scared it would pop out of my chest and hit Lucian in the face. And oh God, my panties—the fresh pair I had just changed into—were getting embarrassingly damp. My fingers curled around his shirt, gripping it like I was afraid he'd vanish. I was completely, deliciously lost until.... of course, my phone had to ring. I jumped as the sound cut through the silence, jerking me out of my fairytale trance. Gasping, I pulled away from Lucian’s lips, our breath mingling in the tiny space that remained between us. He didn’t move, just stared into my eyes with a gaze that was far too intense for my tre
Last Updated : 2025-04-19A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ESSENCE Inspite of myself, I felt like the walls of Lucian's massive bedroom were closing in on me. The air suddenly felt thinner, like there wasn't enough of it to go around. My chest rose and fell faster than it should have, and I couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment, confusion, or the way Lucian had looked at me just a moment ago. "I.... I'm going to check if the maids have kicked Angel out," I muttered, not waiting for a response as I turned and began walking away. But before I could take another step past the door, Lucian's hand caught mine. In one swift, effortless motion, he spun me around until I was facing him again, breath catching in my throat. "Not so fast, baby," he said, eyes narrowing, not in anger, but curiosity. "Tell me something. Earlier, when you walked off during all that drama with the staff... were you about to leave me?" I blinked. "How did you know? Are you secretly telepathic or something? Have you been reading my mind this entire time and
Last Updated : 2025-04-20A Whole New World CHAPTER THIRTY
ESSENCE After hugging, Lucian and I stood there for a long while, eyes locked, bodies close enough to breathe in each other’s warmth. It was crazy how often this man made me forget what I was supposed to be doing. But as soon as the memory returned, I blinked out of the trance and cleared my throat. “The maids,” I said, touching his chest lightly. “And the butler... they’re still outside waiting for their punishment, remember?” He let out a breath and nodded. “Go on. I’ll catch up with you,” I added. He gave me a little look..... as though he didn’t quite want to leave.... but eventually turned and walked off. Once he disappeared from view, I adjusted my shirt and found myself wandering through the house like a lost tourist in a palace. The halls were quiet now, the buzz from earlier having faded, and the polished floors seemed to echo every soft step I took. The scent of jasmine and wood polish lingered in the air, and the gentle hum of the central air system felt oddly
Last Updated : 2025-04-20
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A Whole New World CHAPTER FIFTY
ALEX The hospital smelled like bleach and disappointment. I stood beside Asher's bed, his tiny hand resting in mine. I had paced the floor for hours, called Essence over and over again, but nothing. She didn’t even have the decency to call or explain. My mind was spinning, and the fury that simmered inside me was starting to boil over. The previous day, Remi had told me she saw Essence at a bar, drinking and laughing while her son was in a hospital bed. I didn't want to believe her, but when I got to that bar and didn't find Essence, it only made me angrier. I didn’t know what was going on with her anymore. She wasn’t the same woman I used to know—the woman who once adored me, who lived to make our family work. What was she playing at? I left the hospital in a haze, deciding to stop home and shower before heading back to continue my vigil beside Asher. But the moment I stepped through the door, Vesper's voice echoed from the living room. "A parcel came for you," she called.
A Whole New World CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
ESSENCE I stood frozen for a moment, blinking like a deer caught in stadium lights. Did I just hear her say fiancée? My eyes scanned her face, waiting for some twitch of a smile that would tell me this was some kind of joke. But no—this girl was dead serious. Confident, smug, beautiful, and terrifyingly calm. Her voice was syrupy sweet, like honey dripped over poison. "Your name is Essence, right?" she said, lips curled into a lazy smirk. “I’m Brittany. Brittany Dane. I just wanted to say hello.... after all, we share something in common. Lucian.” I tilted my head, pretending to be unbothered, even as my heart did that annoying somersault thing it did whenever something didn’t feel right. Did I have to keep dealing with things like this, as long as I was married to Lucian? “Yes, I am Essence. Lucian’s wife, to be exact,” I said, adding a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Nice to meet you, Brittany.” But Brittany was relentless. She let out a soft, amused laugh like I had sa
A Whole New World CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT
ESSENCE When I eventually went to bed, Lucian was still working. I lay on my side, facing the wall, pretending to be asleep even though my heart was still very much awake. Minutes later, I felt the mattress shift under his weight as he joined me in bed. Moments passed. Then I felt his arm sliding around my waist, pulling me gently toward him until my back pressed into his chest. His warmth settled over me like a blanket, and I loved it. Honestly, if blushing were a paid job, I would have been a billionaire by now. I was grinning like an idiot and hiding my face in the pillow like a teenage girl with a crush. I fought the urge to turn around and stare into his face. Maybe he was already asleep, or maybe he was just holding me for comfort, but whatever it was, I didn’t want it to stop. His breathing slowed against my neck, and mine soon matched his. Wrapped up in that stillness, I finally let go of my thoughts and drifted off into a very peaceful sleep. When morning came, I w
A Whole New World CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN
ESSENCE Oh. My. God. Lucian wanted me. No, scratch that.... Lucian was attracted to me. I wasn’t dreaming, right? His hands didn’t just glide across my skin like silk. His lips didn’t just trail over my neck like he was inhaling me. And that thing I felt...yes, that thing....pressing gently against my lower back when he leaned in, that was not my imagination. Was it? I sat frozen, my heart racing like a wild stallion, and all I could do was stare ahead and pretend that I hadn’t just felt the most beautiful, maddening, nerve-wrecking thrill of my entire life. Every insecurity I had buried under sarcasm and sass was now rising like steam. My scars. My body. My imperfections. Would he still want me if he saw them? That question alone held my heart hostage. Lucian was kind. Generous. Gorgeous beyond reason. The kind of man women used as wallpaper on their phones, not the kind of man who would ever... want someone like me. Right? But he did. The evidence was, well, visible.
A Whole New World CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
LUCIAN Being married to Essence was a lot more beautiful and surprisingly thrilling than I ever imagined. She was not just funny in a way that disarmed me, she was also fragile and incredibly brave at the same time. And God, she was clueless about the effect she had on me. The way her eyes lit up when she was trying not to smile, the soft lines around her mouth when she pouted... I couldn’t stop watching her. That night, I had watched her struggle against sleep like a soldier on the battlefield. All in an effort to hide her snoring from me. She tried everything...cold showers, counting into her phone, even whispering to herself like some sweet, sleepy child who had sworn not to disappoint herself. But of course, sleep won. When I woke up the next morning to the unmistakable sound of her snoring.... a strong, melodic buzz that filled the room.... I couldn’t help it. I laughed. Not out of mockery, but sheer affection. It was oddly comforting. She was finally letting her guard down
A Whole New World CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
ESSENCE I didn’t even know how to breathe. Was Lucian serious? Did he really mean what I thought he meant? He was offering to bring my son, Asher, into our home. Into our life. Into this new, strange, beautiful chapter I didn’t even fully understand yet. I blinked at him, trying to piece his words together in my mind like a broken puzzle. How could he be so willing? So open? So... good? No man had ever done that. Not even Asher’s own father had ever stood by me with this kind of gentle determination. And yet here was Lucian, a man who owed me nothing, a man who married me under the most unconventional circumstances, offering me something I’d never dared to wish for out loud. But I couldn’t accept it. I just couldn’t. I lowered my eyes, my voice soft and bitter. “It’s not worth it, Lucian. Don’t worry yourself.” He tilted his head, concern etched into every line of his face. “Why would you say that? You’re clearly worried about him.” “I am,” I admitted, even though it h
A Whole New World CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ESSENCE The words just wouldn't compute. "Your... stepson?" I asked again, even though my ears had done a perfectly fine job the first time. Sky gave me a little shrug, the kind someone gives when they just admitted to borrowing your lipstick without asking and hoped you wouldn’t make a big deal out of it. Not when what she’d said was equivalent to dropping a whole-ass scandal in the middle of a crowded marketplace. "Yes, technically," she replied, looking as calm as a cucumber dipped in audacity. "He’s the son of my late husband. We didn’t really talk until after the funeral. And one thing led to another..." I almost dropped my purse. "Sky, that’s not 'one thing.' That’s a whole damn novella! You went from widow to wicked stepmother in under a year." She snorted. "Oh, please. He’s older than me by like five years, and my husband was practically a century old. Besides, it’s not like I raised him or anything." I stared at her. "Sky. You literally just boned your dead hu
A Whole New World CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
ESSENCE Slapping Vesper felt better than I imagined. Scratch that... it felt glorious. It wasn't the first time, yes, but it was different. I didn't just slap her for myself; I slapped her for every insult she ever threw at me, every time she laughed when Alex humiliated me, and every single second I spent in that house feeling like I was less. My hand stung, but my soul? Oh, it sang. For a second, the entire bar went silent, like the slap had echoed into the souls of everyone watching. Vesper stumbled back, one hand pressed to her cheek as she fell, her mouth slightly open in shock. The crimson outline of my palm started to blossom across her face, and for the first time since I met her, she looked genuinely stunned. She touched her lips, then looked at her fingers. Blood. Oh yes, I split that lip. The satisfaction that rolled through me was sinful. I didn’t even try to hide my smirk. But of course, Remi wasn't one to just stand there. She immediately raised her hand, aiming
A Whole New World CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
REMI Alex had been spiraling since the moment we arrived at the hospital. I watched as he paced back and forth like a caged lion, muttering curses under his breath. Every time the doctor walked past without stopping, his fury intensified. I wanted to reach out, to soothe him, to remind him that I was just trying to help.... but the moment I opened my mouth, he shoved my hand away. “Don’t touch me,” he snapped. “You’re the root of every damn problem in my life.” The words hit me like a slap. My throat tightened as tears stung my eyes. “How can you say that?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I love you, Alex. I love Asher like my own. He calls me Mommy. I was just trying to make him breakfast. How was I supposed to know he was allergic to peanut butter?” He whirled on me. “That’s exactly the point, Remi!” His voice was sharp enough to cut through glass. “You claim to love him but you don’t even know what he can or can’t eat? Have you ever seen Essence feed him peanut butter? Ever?
