I gasped, startled, as I saw Josh standing in the middle of the room. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively clutched the towel tighter around my body. "Josh?" I breathed, trying to sound calm despite the rapid pounding of my chest. "I thought you went out."He didn't respond immediately. His gaze swept over me, dark and intense, sending a shiver down my spine. "I… I came to pick up something," he finally said, his voice rougher than usual.My pulse hammered as I struggled to keep my composure. "What did you forget?" I asked, attempting to sound casual, but my voice wavered."My phone charger," he muttered, but the way his eyes burned into me made it clear he wasn’t really thinking about the charger.The air thickened between us, heavy and charged. I could feel the heat radiating off him, and my legs felt like they would give out. "You're dripping," Josh murmured, his voice low, husky.I glanced down. Water trickled down my thighs, pooling at my feet. My cheeks flushed hot as I
I slipped into a simple sundress, the thin fabric clinging to my still-damp skin. My hair hung loose around my shoulders, air-drying as I padded barefoot across the marble floor of the hotel suite. I needed space. Air. Something to clear my head after what had just happened in the bathroom. Josh's lips still felt like they were on mine. The kiss had been intense and passionate, like he was trying to prove something. It was almost too much to handle... it was like being drunk on emotions. And yet, it was all so confusing.I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. I grabbed my phone and headed out of the suite. The hotel was even bigger than I’d realized, with tall ceilings and golden chandeliers that reflected light across the polished floors. The place oozed wealth and luxury, but I barely noticed it. My thoughts were tangled in a loop of Josh. I walked through the hallways until I ended up in the courtyard garden outside. The cool breeze felt nice on my skin as I stro
The car rolls to a smooth stop in front of Lumière Luxe Spa, and I barely manage to keep my jaw from dropping. The place looks like it was pulled straight out of a luxury travel magazine it has sleek glass walls, marble steps, and an entrance so polished it practically sparkles under the sunlight.I step out, smoothing my hands down my dress, suddenly feeling a little underdressed for a place like this. As if reading my mind, Josh appears beside me, calm and composed like he walks into places like this every day. Which, knowing him, he probably does.A line of perfectly dressed staff bows as we approach. It’s so formal that it makes me straighten my posture a little more. I catch a glimpse of myself in the glass doors—hair slightly messy from the ride, skin a little dull under the bright sun—and I quickly look away.“Welcome, Mr. Williams,” the manager greets with a warm, polished smile. Then his eyes shift to me, softening. “Miss… you are already beautiful. With just a little touch,
I shifted my gaze to the window, pretending to be fascinated by the streetlights flickering past. But I wasn’t. Not really.What caught my attention was the way he smirked and adjusted his suit, as if he hadn’t just said something so casually dismissive.He wasn’t looking at me anymore—he was looking at his phone.Josh had left the moment we arrived. A murmured “Don’t wait up,” and he was gone, offering no explanation or even a glance back.Probably off to meet his friend.I sat at the edge of the couch, fingers tangled in the hem of my dress, eyes drawn to the reflection staring back at me from the mirror.The spa treatment had done wonders—my skin glowed, lips slightly plumper, lashes darker. I’m really feeling myself because I am super beautiful.The room was silent. I stared at the clock: 8:46 p.m. I reached for my phone. No missed calls. Just Silver’s chat bubble at the top of our thread—probably busy living her usual life.My stomach growled loudly. Of course I was hungry. I had
Nothing I murmured and he left me while smirking.I pulled my robe tighter around me, crossing my legs as I stole a glance at Josh. He looked effortlessly relaxed, sitting back against the headboard in a plain white tee and dark sweats, fingers lazily swirling the wine in his glass.His gaze flickered to me, sharp and knowing.“You’re staring,” he murmured.I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on my drink. “I wasn’t.”“You were.” His smirk deepened, and he shifted slightly, stretching his legs out. “You do that a lot when you think I’m not watching.”A flush crept up my neck. “You’re imagining things.”Josh chuckled, the low sound making my stomach flutter. “Am I?” He took a slow sip of his wine, then tilted his head. “Let’s play a game.”I raised a brow. “A game?”“Truth or dare,” he said, setting his glass aside. “Since we’re leaving tomorrow, let’s make it interesting.”I hesitated. But his gaze held mine, challenging.I sighed, leaning back. “Fine. You first.”“Truth,” he s
Josh opens his mouth, but the words refuse to come out. A sharp breath fills his lungs before he clamps them shut, forcing himself to swallow the storm of emotions threatening to spill over. His fingers twitch against his thigh, a barely perceptible movement, but one that betrays the internal war raging inside him.I watch him silently. I can feel the tension radiating off him. I shift my gaze from him.We left the hotel and soon we arrived at the airport, the ride was peaceful but I was feeling tired.We came down from the car and entered the airport.Soon we settled in Josh private Jet.Josh shifts beside me. I see it in my peripheral—the slight movement of his hands, the way he grips the armrest as if grounding himself. I should look at him, should acknowledge his presence, but I can’t bring myself to. Because the moment I meet his eyes, the moment I allow myself to see whatever emotion lingers there, I know I’ll break.A soft sigh escapes my lips, almost too quiet to hear. Almost
Josh’s grip tightens around his phone, his knuckles turning white as his eyes scan the screen. His breath is steady, but the fury burning in his gaze is unmistakable. He puts his phone inside his pocket.I reach for my phone, my fingers shaking as I unlock it. My stomach plummets when I see the notifications flooding in. The screen is a blur of headlines, each one more cruel than the last. My heart skips a beat as I open the first post. My breath catches in my throat.The anonymous post, which has already gone viral, is a fake congratulatory message that twists the truth with venom. It’s not just aimed at Josh, but at me as well. Mocking, belittling, and exposing things I’ve always feared would come to light."Congratulations, Josh, on your engagement to Ivanna. Though, I must say, it’s surprising. Not because she’s not lovely, but because we all know the truth. How can someone who doesn’t even know how to read be worthy of the Williams name? But then again, Josh has always had a thin
He didn’t answer right away. His fingers drummed against his knee, his gaze fixed out the window as if searching for something beyond the glass. Finally, he turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable."What if it is?" His tone was sharp, daring. "Will you still go ahead with the marriage contract… or will you leave?"My breath hitched. He wasn’t asking for my understanding. He was testing me, wanting to see if I would look at him differently now.The scandal was everywhere—the revelation that he wasn't a legitimate son of the Williams family. Everything he had built, everything he had fought for, was now under fire. But beneath his composed exterior, I saw a storm raging inside him.I felt pity for him, but I needed help more than he did. What did it matter to me whether I was dealing with the legitimate son or not?"Not really," I said, my voice steady. "Let’s forget about it."Josh’s grip on his phone tightened. His piercing gaze stayed on me, watching, as if trying to figure out wh
"Yes, what do you want?" I asked as I opened the door."Hmm, I will be going out by 7:00 p.m. I just wanted to let you know on time. Don’t bother waiting for me for dinner; you can eat.""Have I ever waited for you before eating dinner?""No.""Then why are you telling me that?" I asked, a bit angry. You could hear it in my tone."Okay," he said as he walked to his room. I shut the door behind me again and covered my eyes for a while. I needed someone to talk to.I brought out my phone and called Silver. She picked up on the first ring, as if she had been expecting my call all this while."Hello, pretty.""Yes," I replied slowly."Hope you're okay? Hope the Williams aren't troubling you. If they are, let me know so we can deal with both brothers ruthlessly." I smiled as she spoke."I just called to check on you. Hope everyone is fine.""Yes, my pretty. I visited your mom yesterday, and she’s looking very beautiful as always. Your father must be a lucky man to have married such a prett
"Hmmm, I think it’s best we talk later."The words slipped out of my mouth, light and almost detached, but inside, everything was tangled and messy. I wasn’t avoiding him because I had nothing to say — God knew I had a thousand things clawing at my throat, demanding to be spoken. But not now.Not when anger still simmered under his skin like hot coals.Not when one wrong word could shatter what little calm we had left.Josh didn't argue. He simply nodded once. A sharp, tired movement."Okay," he said, almost under his breath.The car hummed quietly around us, the low vibration filling the silence I was too scared to break.Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him shift slightly in his seat, fingers tapping an agitated rhythm against his thigh.Then, almost casually, he said, still avoiding my gaze, "In case you have anything to say, you can just say it. Don’t hesitate, and don’t be afraid.And for our marriage… how do you want it? Big or just normal?"My heart stumbled.Even though
Josh's father leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a mockery of a smile. He laced his fingers together and stared straight at Josh, his voice slicing through the heavy air."You have always been in love with Yvonne, right?"The words dropped into the room like a stone thrown into still water, sending shockwaves through everything. I stood there, frozen. Yvonne. The name rang in my ears louder than anything else.For a second, I forgot how to breathe. Where… where had I heard that name before? It tickled the back of my mind, taunting me. Some old memory, some conversation I hadn’t cared enough about. Now it felt like that name was pulling the ground out from under my feet.My stomach twisted into a tight, painful knot. I tried to swallow, but it was like trying to swallow a rock. My palms went clammy. My fingers shook slightly where they hung by my sides.Who is she to him? Was Josh really in love with her? Why am I hurt?I know our relationship is just a contract, but I'm b
Josh's father gave him a hard stare as he said, "Josh, watch your tongue. I have always cared about you."Josh scoffed, loud and bitter, like a laugh stuck in his throat."Cared about me? How?" His voice cracked, but he didn’t care. "You claim to care and my mother's death still remains a mystery. You claim to care—how many times did you even spend with me while I was growing up? You claim to care, yet you went ahead and re-marry that devil of a woman."The room felt like it had dropped ten degrees. Silence hung for a split second before it shattered with a bang."Josh, watch your tongue!" his father roared, slamming his palm hard on the table. The glass of water beside him rattled, almost ready to spill. My heart jumped at the sound, but Josh didn’t flinch. Not even a blink.I looked at Josh, my face pale, hands curled tightly by my side. I didn't say a word, but my eyes followed every twitch in Josh’s jaw, my lips parted like I wanted to stop him—but I didn’t dare.Josh stood there,
As soon as those words left his mouth, before I could even process them, he threw a file across the desk. It landed in front of Josh with a loud, accusing slap. The flap flipped open, and I caught a glimpse of the bolded words printed across the top—Deeds of Transfer.My chest tightened.Deeds of transfer?I shifted slightly, trying to peek at the contents, but Josh’s hand closed over the pages before I could get a proper look. His posture remained rigid, but the slight twitch of his jaw told me he was just as stunned as I was.His father—Mr. William—looked at me then. Really looked at me. Not like I was a person, but something else entirely. Like a stain he couldn’t scrub clean.His lips curled in distaste. He shook his head slowly."You," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear. "Still here."Josh scoffed and held the file up."So what’s this about, huh? You want me to transfer my property to Kenneth now? Is that it?"Mr. William didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. In
Josh answered the call without a word. I watched his face, waiting for some kind of reaction. He didn’t give me one. Just silence. Then, out of nowhere, he grabbed my hand tight and pulled me out of the room like we were running from something.Before we made it out the door, he turned to the stunned staff and barked, “Nobody touches those dress. And do not attend to anyone on this room without my consent .”The entire room fell dead silent. You could hear a pin drop. The energy changed in an instant—thick and cold. Everyone froze, eyes wide and confused.Sophia smirked like she knew something the rest of us didn’t. Kenneth crossed his arms and looked too smug for my liking, like he was waiting for this moment. I didn’t like the way they were acting. It made my skin crawl.As we walked out, I felt Sophia’s stare burn through my back. It wasn’t just a look—it was loaded, like she’d said a thousand things in her head and wanted me to hear them all. My heart pounded. I didn’t dare turn a
Josh rises from his seat slowly, but there’s something in the way he moves that makes everyone pause. Conversations die mid-sentence.I feel my chest tighten as I watch him. He doesn’t look at me. He’s walking—no, gliding—with that kind of quiet command that makes it feel like only he has the right to speak. His eyes are locked on Sophia.He walks toward her—not in a hurry, just calm and steady. But there’s something in his movement. Like every step carries weight, like he’s made up his mind about something big.I feel it in my chest, in the way the room seems to hold its breath. It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic.But it’s serious. Real.And it makes my skin prickle.My breath catches in my throat.Sophia turns sharply when she notices him approaching. Her smile flickers—then fades. She tries to hold her ground, but her arms cross in front of her chest.Josh stops right in front of her.His voice is calm and level—but I can hear the edge underneath.“Or maybe… one of you is just a fool
Kenneth and Sophia were standing there at the doorway.My stomach twisted in that all-too-familiar way—the one I thought I had outgrown. But no—here came another trouble. I sighed in frustration.Josh looked at them and then turned sharply to the staff. “Does anyone come in here now without my permission?”The woman froze like a deer in headlights. Before she could reply, Kenneth strode in with that effortless arrogance he wore like cologne.“Easy, bro,” he said, grinning. “Didn’t realize you were guarding the door like a bouncer now.”Josh’s nostrils flared. “Then maybe you should start realizing a lot more.”Kenneth glanced around, hands in his pockets, acting like everything Josh said was trash.I stayed where I was—halfway between stepping out and staying hidden. My breath caught in my throat. Not out of fear. Not even sadness. Just… frustration.Sophia was silent, her eyes flitting across the room like she was taking mental notes.Josh turned back to Kenneth, eyes sharp. “What ar
The woman standing in the doorway is strikingly beautiful, with a well-sculpted face that looks like it belongs in a magazine. Every angle of her features is perfectly balanced—sharp cheekbones, full lips, and eyes that seem to flicker with something just beneath the surface.Her dark hair is pulled back in a neat yet effortlessly messy bun, and she wears a simple outfit that looks expensive in the way only truly high-end clothing can. It’s casual, yet she carries it with a quiet confidence that makes it seem like she’s the one who owns this place, not the other way around.She stood on the doorway for a while, almost like someone who doesn't need an invitation to step into the room, but she still waited for one—from Josh—before she could fully come inside.From where she stood, she took a moment to glance around, her gaze moving from person to person, before looking back at Josh. I watch his body freeze, his eyes going wide for the briefest second, and then he covers it, quickly scho