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76 — TROUBLESOME CARNATIONS

Author: Blaq
last update Last Updated: 2025-08-10 23:01:02

ASTRID

After I escaped the Montessori family three years ago, I deliberately taught myself to develop a heart of stone.

And I succeeded. People’s words and actions no longer hurt me like they used to in the past. Anyone who acted out of order around me was shoved in their place immediately.

I thought I developed thick skin… until I returned to New York and Silvan Rourke barged into my world once again.

Every single word he utters pricks my skin like heated glass. All his actions leave me fighting for breath and my damned sanity.

Watching him climb that stage hand in hand with Claire ignites a fire inside my chest and fills my lungs with poisonous fumes.

I know exactly what he’s doing.

The two-faced bastard is trying to torture me. He's pushing for a reaction, desperate to provoke me.

Silvan is trying his best to test my limits. He and the rest of his horrible family are desperate to see how far I can go before I finally explode.

Too bad that I vowed two nights ago that Silvan Rour
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  • Dear Ex-husband, My Stepbrother is Your Replacement.   90 — WHAT DO YOU WANT?

    SILVAN“Sir, Ms. Montessori is here to see you.”I look up from the documents splayed on my table, the words “tell her to get lost” already on the tip of my tongue when the door slams open and Claire sashays into the room.I take one look at her six inch heels, red, puckered lips and strip club dress, my lips tightening with distaste. She’s here to stir up trouble. I just know it.“Silvan!” She whines. “Your assistant kept me outside for nearly thirty minutes.” She shoots Michael a venomous glare.When she refocuses her attention on me, her face is twisted in a childlike frown. She folds her arms underneath her breasts in a huff, exposing the barely clad bosoms even more.I have no idea why this woman thinks acting like a five year old around me would instantly have me wrapped around her little finger.My grip on my fountain pen tightens so hard, the plastic almost explodes.Claire Montessori is an anomaly in my life. Her presence only means my already stressful night is about to get

  • Dear Ex-husband, My Stepbrother is Your Replacement.   89 — MICHAEL’S PROTECTION

    ASTRIDMy heart digs painfully against my chest as I climb out of the car and race to the nearest officer.“Ma’am, you shouldn’t be here. The fumes are dangerous for your health.” The fumes are the last thing I care about, trust me.“Officer, what happened?!” I ask, my voice a harsh whisper. He must sense the urgency in my tone because he finally relents;“We got a call ten minutes ago from an anonymous whistle blower that the orchard caught fire. Thank God nobody was in there.”I move closer, holding on tight to his arm. The poor officer must think I’m crazy.“Officer, are you sure the place is empty?”His eyes slant in my direction, narrowing with suspicion.“Yes, ma’am. Our rescue team conducted a thorough search. It’s empty.”I thank him and almost trip over my own feet in my rush to get back to the car. I dial the kidnapper’s number ten more times, my sanity and resolve slipping each time I’m notified that the number is blocked.I promised myself that I wouldn’t cry until I fo

  • Dear Ex-husband, My Stepbrother is Your Replacement.   88 — DISCOVERING HIS BETRAYAL…

    ASTRIDIt was Mr. Rourke…It was Mr. Rourke…!For a moment, I go stock still, staring at Mary like she’s some exotic creature. A loud, shrill sound explodes somewhere deep in my head. It’s the sound of my inner mind screaming in disbelief, tearing out chunks of my hair.In real time, my fingers turn to mush, falling from Mary’s shoulders and hanging aimlessly by my sides. My body goes rigid with shock. My eyes are wide and vacant as I take in her crumpled face and red-rimmed eyes, searching for evidence that she might be joking.“Mary,” I say gently, “are you sure of what you’re saying? Let’s calm down. Maybe you’re shocked. You’re definitely mistaken.”“Ma’am, I’m not joking!” Mary cries hysterically. “I took the girls out for a stroll and we were attacked by the same men Mr. Rourke sent to protect us!”My veins turn icy with shock. I know Silvan can be a bastard sometimes, but I have seen him with Zoey and Zara. He would never hurt them. Right? Right…?But it’s already too late. T

  • Dear Ex-husband, My Stepbrother is Your Replacement.   87 — WHERE ARE THE GIRLS??!

    ASTRIDRight now, I feel like the pampered girlfriend of a rich sugar daddy. Only that my sugar daddy is in his early thirties and a gorgeous, sexy-as-sin mini god.“I’m really sorry that Silvan put you up to this.” I say, meaning it. I know that Michael would much rather swallow a whale than cater to my every whim. He doesn’t seem to like me very much.“It’s okay.” He says, brushing it off. “It’s my duty to do the boss’ bidding. What would you like?”“Nothing,” I lie, desperate to put him out of his misery. “I’m perfectly fine.”Michael takes a step forward, his serious eyes darkening.“Ms. Machiavelli, lying would only hinder me from doing my job which will make the boss incredibly upset. Once again, what would you like?”Completely caught off guard, I blurt; “a sundae. Vanilla and chocolate flavoured if it’s not too much trouble.”His expression eases and he straightens, brushing down his suit once again.“Thank you for your honesty. I’ll see you in a bit.”As I watch him go, it d

  • Dear Ex-husband, My Stepbrother is Your Replacement.   86 — PERIOD GOODIES.

    ASTRIDTrue to his words, Silvan doesn’t show up until I’m done having breakfast and it’s time to leave.I may have lingered around, making idle talk with Martha in hopes that I’d get a glimpse of him before I have to go into the office. At some point, I even contemplated faking a faint just to check if he’ll come running.Martha does take good care of me, no doubts there. She even offered to rub my swollen feet, bless her heart! But while she putted and faffed around the kitchen, all I could imagine was a buff, six foot, grumpy Greek god in her place, catering to my every need, sneaking me kisses and asking if I was okay. Ugh! I’m in too deep. Way too deep.After waiting for nearly an hour and he doesn’t show up, I take that as my cue to leave. Dejection curls through my heart like a deadly spring wire. I have several meetings today but all I can think about is a man I’m not supposed to be thinking about. “You must really be something special, Ms. Machiavelli.” Martha says though

  • Dear Ex-husband, My Stepbrother is Your Replacement.   85 — IS HE UPSET?

    ASTRIDStephanie scampers away, but not before I catch the panic twisting her features. The silence that follows is long and tense. Finally, I take a deep breath of courage and turn around. I have to crane my neck to meet Silvan’s hooded eyes. “Are you letting her go?”“Yes.”“Um… may I ask why?” I’m sure he isn’t firing her just because she was rude to me.He opens his mouth, as if to say something, then he stops and leans in closer, wrapping one arm around my waist.“And what will I get in return if I spill my secrets, Angel?”Standing so close like this, his scent teases my senses, turning my brain to mush. Memories from the previous night in his car filter into my mind and my cheeks redden furiously.Clearing my throat, I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and step back.“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. I don’t have anything to give you in exchange.”Except money, I add quietly. And he already has loads of that.Silvan doesn’t relent. He comes after me, pressing his ch

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