เข้าสู่ระบบSaturday morning I woke up to the smell of bacon.Which was weird because I didn't cook bacon. Didn't really cook anything beyond cereal and toast, honestly.I stumbled out of bed in my pajamas—ratty t-shirt and shorts that had seen better days—and followed the smell to the kitchen.Damon was at the stove. Actually cooking. Wearing jeans and a t-shirt instead of his usual suit, his hair still messy from sleep.I stopped in the doorway and just... stared."You cook?" I said.He looked up, spatula in hand. "Sometimes. When I have time.""But you have Mrs. Pat.""Mrs. Pat has weekends off." He flipped a piece of bacon. "Besides, I like cooking. It's relaxing."This was the weirdest thing. Damon Sterling. Billionaire CEO. Making bacon in a t-shirt on a Saturday morning like a normal human being."Want some?" he asked. "I made extra.""Yeah. Sure. Thanks."I sat down at the kitchen counter, still trying to process this. He plated up eggs and bacon and toast and set it in front of me."Coff
AsherReluctantly, I left Loretta behind, even though every part of me wanted to stay with her. My mind was restless as I headed straight to the office. Logan had sounded unusually tense on the phone, and to make things worse, Richard had also called me moments later. Whatever was happening clearly couldn’t wait.By the time I arrived at the building, my patience was already wearing thin. I rushed to my floor, barely acknowledging anyone along the way. The moment the elevator doors slid open, Logan was standing there, as if he had been waiting the entire time.“Welcome, sir,” he said quickly, falling into step behind me as I walked briskly toward my office.I didn’t respond until I dropped into my chair, loosening my tie slightly as I looked up at him. “What on earth needed my attention so badly that I had to rush here?” I asked, my voice sharp with impatience.Logan hesitated for a second before speaking. “Sir, you’ve been trending online for over an hour now.”My head snapped up imm
AsherI stood between her thighs, close enough to feel her presence, close enough that my eyes kept drifting to her lips. I had to remind myself why we were here. This was about words that had been left unsaid for years, about wounds that never truly healed. I forced my attention back to the conversation we needed to have.“I am so sorry,” she said softly. Her voice was calm, almost too calm, “I should have listened to your side of the story back then. If I had, we wouldn’t be standing here today. But when I saw Sarah’s baby bump and she told me you were married, I felt completely betrayed. I didn’t want to hear anything else. I just shut you out.”As she spoke, her eyes wandered everywhere at the floor, the wall, anywhere but never once did she look at my face.I took a deep breath, the old pain rising again like it had never left. “I won’t lie to you,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended. “I hated you back then. I hated you so much after I found out you were pregnant and you s
Loretta It had been two weeks since everything happened at Asher’s place, the revelation that had turned my world upside down and since my mom came back into my life. I had never felt so complete, so at peace. Just having her around was refreshing, like a weight I didn’t even realize I had been carrying had finally been lifted.I still hadn’t really spoken to my dad. Even though Mom told me that she had forgiven him and that I should too, I couldn’t see myself doing that anytime soon. Some things felt too raw, too heavy to just brush aside.“You and Asher, have you made a decision about your marriage yet?” Mom asked gently, her eyes searching mine.We were sitting in Adrian’s hospital room. He had just come through a kidney transplant a few days ago and was slowly recovering. The beeping of the monitors and the faint smell of antiseptic made the room feel sterile, yet my mom’s presence brought warmth to it. She had been coming every single day since we met, supporting me in ways I di
LorettaAsher’s eyes widened in shock at my father’s words. He turned sharply to him, confusion and disbelief written all over his face.“What do you mean my mother and my brother were involved in this?” he asked, his voice tight and unsteady.My father lowered his head, avoiding Asher’s gaze, as though the weight of his confession was too heavy to carry. After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Your mother and I knew each other long before she divorced your father,” he said quietly. “Back then, our paths crossed briefly, but nothing came of it. Years later, after I was released from the grip of the loan sharks, we met again. By that time, she already knew how much hatred I still carried in my heart for your father.”He swallowed hard before continuing. “She knew I wanted revenge. She knew I wanted to make him pay for everything he had done. So she asked me if I wanted my pound of flesh.”Asher stiffened, his hands slowly curling into fists.“She told me she needed you for something,”
LorettaThe last time I went to Asher’s office, he dismissed me coldly and told me that I would know what had happened to my father in due time. Back then, my mind had gone to the darkest places. I thought maybe my dad was dead, or worse, that Asher had something to do with it. At one point, I even convinced myself that my father had been sent to prison.But now, he was standing right in front of me alive, real, and breathing. “Loretta,” he called softly. His voice cracked as he said my name. “I missed you so much. And I am so sorry for everything that happened.”My chest tightened as I stared at him, unable to move or speak. So many questions rushed through my mind at once.Then his gaze shifted, and his expression changed to shock. He turned toward Asher’s grandmother, clearly not expecting to see her there.“Mrs. Prescott,” he said, his eyes widening in surprise. “You are Loretta’s father?” she asked in shock. She turned quickly to Asher. “The same man you said attacked you?” she







