LOGIN“I shouldn't want you, but I do,” Carter whispered into her ears, his hands grabbing her waist tightly. “This should be a marriage without feelings. What have you done to me?” Iris tried to break free from his grasp. “We can't do this. I was married to your cousin.” “Yes,” his eyes glimmered with desire. “But you're mine now.” ***************** When Carter proposes a contract marriage to Iris, his cousin’s ex-wife, he is sure he will never fall for her. After all, he only needed her to claim his grandmother’s company and to take revenge on his cousin. But Iris was more than he bargained for, and with her, his decision to never fall in love became a torment to his soul.
View MoreAnna's POV
I tilted my neck back, giving in to the delicious feeling of weightlessness as my body was lifted and dropped in a rhythm so fierce it almost felt violent. Amid the haze of pleasure, a sobering thought sliced through my mind: I, Anna Shaw, who once swore Jack Simpson would be my first and only man, was now tangled in the hotel with a total stranger. What shocked me even more? I fucking loved every second of it. His technique was flawless-skilled, confident. His cock thrust into me, each stroke carrying a raw power, hard and thick like he was trying to break me apart and piece me back together as someone new. My mind started to blur, but one thought stayed sharp: next time, I'd pick someone gentler to fuck me. My nails dug into his shoulders, muscles shifting under my fingertips like colliding plates. The room spun as I closed my eyes, letting myself drown in the tidal wave of pleasure I'd denied myself for too long. His dick pounded me deep and fast, my pussy clenching tight around him, every thrust making my stomach spasm as my juices dripped down my thighs. This is what freedom tastes like, I thought, right before the orgasm hit me so hard I blacked out. The shrill ring of my phone pierced through my dreams, dragging me reluctantly back to reality. I opened my eyes, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar ceiling above me. "Ms. Shaw, don't forget about the wine tasting this afternoon at three. The social committee will be expecting you. "Rachel's crisp, professional voice came through the speaker with unwelcome clarity. I frowned slightly. Of course they would organize something right after my divorce was finalized. Those vultures weren't gathering to support me they wanted front-row seats to the spectacle of Anna Shaw falling apart without a man. How disappointingly predictable. "Got it," I replied, ending the call before glancing at the time. One o'clock already.I'd slept far longer than intended. As I moved to sit up, a strong arm tightened around my waist, pulling me back against a warm chest. I froze, momentarily stunned by the intimate contact. The unfamiliar feeling of skin against skin during daylight hours felt oddly invasive in a way that last night's activities hadn't. "Let go," I said, pushing against the arm that held me. My fingers traced the definition of his muscles involuntarily, triggering flashbacks from the night before-those same arms hoisting me effortlessly, suspending me in air as gravity temporarily lost its hold on me. Heat flooded my cheeks as I finally broke free and slipped out of bed. The man remained asleep, half his face buried in the pillow. All I could see was the strong arch of his eyebrows and the aristocratic line of his nose. I hurried to the bathroom, eager to wash away the evidence of my indulgence. When I emerged freshly showered and dressed, he was awake, standing by the window with just a towel wrapped around his waist. Smoke curled from the cigarette between his fingers as he gazed out at the Skyview City skyline. I allowed myself a moment to appreciate the view-broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist and firm, sculpted buttocks. The Olympus Club certainly hadn't exaggerated his physical assets. I quickly scribbled out a check and placed it on the table. "Last night was satisfying. I'll give you five stars." After a brief pause, I added, "And next time, don't smoke in front of me."I didn't wait for his response, heading straight for the door. Rachel was already waiting with the car when I stepped out of the hotel. Her eyes widened comically as they landed on my neck. "Ms. Shaw, your neck..." I knew exactly what I looked like. It wasn't just my neck—my entire body was a canvas of red marks and subtle bruises. He had certainly been thorough in his attentions. *Note to self: explicitly prohibit marking next time.* My skin was always so prone to showing every little touch. "What's the big deal? Did you bring the clothes?" I asked, maintaining my composure. Rachel quickly handed me the paper bag from the passenger seat. I changed into my outfit right there in the car, then expertly applied a flawless face of makeup. As I fastened the diamond tassel earrings, I felt my power returning, crystallizing around me like armor. I caught Rachel watching me with concern in the rearview mirror. I'd been fighting to keep my eyes open, the fatigue of last night's exertions finally catching up to me. "Ms. Shaw, maybe you should skip this," she suggested carefully. "Those women are just waiting to gossip about you anyway." I closed my eyes momentarily, but my voice remained firm and clear. "Go? Of course I'm going. They're the ones who can't survive without a man. I'm going to educate them a little." A small smile played at the corners of my mouth. Let them see me not just surviving, but thriving. The newly single Anna Shaw wasn't broken-she was liberated. An hour later, I stepped out of the car in front of the private club. My strappy black dress hugged every curve of my body, with a tailored black blazer draped casually over my shoulders. The moment I entered the venue, the buzz of conversation dimmed noticeably. Several pairs of eyes scanned me from head to toe, filled with undisguised scrutiny and speculation. "Anna Shaw? How did she have the nerve to show up? Isn't she just divorced?" a woman with ostentatious pearl earrings whispered, her voice carefully calibrated to reach my ears. "The beauty queen of Skyview City? So what? She still got dumped by her husband. I don't know what she's so proud of," her companion replied with a disdainful wrinkle of her nose. I pretended not to hear as they continued their whispered assessment of my life. "I heard Jack Simpson left her for that project manager... what's her name? Lucy something? Apparently, he'd been seeing her for months before filing for divorce." "Well, what did she expect? All work and no play. I always said she was too ambitious for her own good. Men don't like women who are always buried in their work." A middle-aged woman with an expensive fan partially covering her mouth spoke with deliberate volume: "I heard she couldn't satisfy him in bed. That's why he had to look elsewhere." This prompted titters from the surrounding women, their laughter like breaking glass in my ears. Internally, I laughed coldly at their pathetic attempts to wound me, but my expression remained unchanged. I picked up a champagne flute and made my way through the room, commanding attention wherever I went. "I'm in a good mood today," I announced. "This round is on me, ladies. Enjoy yourselves." Another voice chimed in: "Ms. Shaw, what's the occasion? Why so happy?" A slow, satisfied smile spread across my face as I raised my glass. "Freedom regained. Isn't that worth celebrating? Some of you might want to try it sometime." These women stood on their moral high ground judging me while ignoring the reality of their own marriages crumbling beneath the weight of infidelity and indifference. As I was navigating through another round of barbed pleasantries, Rachel approached with my phone in hand. "Ms. Shaw, Mr. Simpson is calling."Iris leaned against the kitchen counter, nursing a glass of water and staring at the reflection of the moonlight on the tiled floor. The events of the evening replayed in her mind, but one moment in particular had stuck with her—the strange conversation with Grandma Martha after everyone had left the party.It had started innocently enough. They’d sat on the mansion’s balcony, sipping wine and gazing at the stars. Iris had felt relaxed for the first time all evening.“You’ve done well tonight,” Grandma Martha said, her voice softer than usual.“Thank you,” Iris replied. “I couldn’t have done it without your trust in me.”Grandma Martha smirked. “I trusted you because I knew you could rise to the occasion. And I must say, you’ve surpassed my expectations.”Iris blushed. Compliments from Grandma Martha were rare and hard-earned.They sat in silence for a while, the stillness of the night settling over them. Then Grandma Martha broke it with an unexpected question.“So, how is your marri
The grand ballroom radiated luxury, its intricate gold mouldings and cascading chandeliers reflecting the evening’s energy. The event Grandma Martha had been chosen to host was the highlight of the season, drawing in the most influential names in the city. Weeks of meticulous planning had culminated on this night, and Iris found herself at the epicentre of it all.As she stood near the entrance, greeting guests alongside Grandma Martha, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. The older woman was a picture of poise, her emerald gown shimmering as she extended polite nods and brief smiles to the city’s elite. Iris, on the other hand, felt like a child pretending to belong in a world far removed from her own.“You’re doing fine,” Grandma Martha said quietly, sensing Iris’s tension.Iris forced a smile. “I hope so. I just don’t want to mess this up.”“You won’t,” Grandma Martha replied with certainty. “Tonight is about showcasing what the Windsors can do, and you’ve done an exceptional jo
The warm afternoon sunlight bathed the lush gardens of the Windsor estate, casting golden rays across the pristine lawns. Carter leaned against a stone column near the main mansion, his phone in hand, half-listening to a podcast while keeping one eye on the driveway. He had just finished a meeting when the butler interrupted him with a request from his grandmother.“She wants me to what?” Carter asked incredulously.“Take a stroll with her in the park,” the butler repeated, his expression neutral.Carter sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t have time for a stroll. Tell her I—”“Carter Windsor,” Grandma Martha’s sharp voice rang from the entrance. She was already approaching, her cane tapping rhythmically against the stone steps. “You do not refuse me.”Carter straightened instinctively, pocketing his phone. “Grandma, I was just—”“No excuses,” she interrupted, her tone firm. “We’re going for a walk, and you’re coming with me. Let’s go.”There was no room for argument. Res
Carter sat in the living room, his leg bouncing anxiously as the soft ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to mock him. The house was quiet, too quiet, except for his own restless movements. The image of his grandmother’s sharp gaze lingered in his mind, the way she had looked at him and Iris after Loretta had been dragged away.“Nothing happens in this family without my knowledge.”Her words had been calm, but the implication had shaken him to his core.He ran his hands through his hair for what felt like the hundredth time that night, frustration bubbling just under the surface. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Grandma Martha knew about his and Iris’s sham marriage. If she knew, what would she do? Would she expose them? Cut him off? Destroy everything he’d built?“Carter?” Iris’s soft voice broke the silence. She stood in the doorway, her robe tied loosely around her waist, her hair slightly tousled as if she’d been asleep—or trying to sleep.He looked up, his expression strain
Carter sat across from Ollie in Hugh’s dimly lit apartment, the tension so thick it felt like the air could shatter. Ollie’s hands were trembling as he stared at his phone. The guilt was written all over his face, but he kept avoiding Carter’s eyes.“You’re not telling me everything,” Carter said, his tone low and cutting.Ollie flinched. “I am!”Carter leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “No, you’re not. You said she has pictures, videos, and an audio recording. That doesn’t just happen by accident. What exactly did you do, Ollie?”Ollie shifted uncomfortably, looking to Hugh for some kind of backup, but Hugh just raised an eyebrow and waited.“I didn’t sleep with her,” Ollie finally mumbled.“Didn’t you?” Carter’s voice was sharp now. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re in just as deep as I am—if not worse.”“I didn’t!” Ollie snapped, his voice breaking. “We… we hung out a few times, okay? She recorded us talking and took pictures without my knowledge. I don’t know
Carter Windsor paced Hugh’s apartment, the tension in his shoulders evident. Hugh leaned against the kitchen counter, watching his friend with a mix of concern and intrigue.“You know,” Hugh began, breaking the silence, “you can’t keep letting this Loretta woman rattle you. You need to get ahead of her.”Carter stopped pacing and turned to Hugh. “You think I don’t know that? She’s holding fake pictures over my head, and if Iris ever sees them…”Hugh smirked, crossing his arms. “If Iris ever sees them, you’ll be in a hell of a mess.”“That’s not funny,” Carter snapped.“I’m not laughing,” Hugh replied calmly. “Look, we need a plan, and I think I know just the person to help us.”Carter raised an eyebrow. “Who?”Hugh grinned and pulled out his phone. “Jake. He’s still with the police, right? Let’s see what dirt he can dig up on Loretta.”About an hour later, Jake, their mutual friend from the police department, called back. Carter and Hugh were on speakerphone, anxiously waiting.“You g






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