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148. The Crown Collection Gala
publish date:
2026-09-13 15:26:06
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Don’t Beg for Love 148. The Crown Collection Gala
Annalise’s POVPhoenix Hotel lit up the entire block like it belonged to some other, richer world.Every window along its towering glass front glowed gold, and a fountain out front sent water arcing up in slow, deliberate patterns choreographed to music I couldn’t quite place. Luxury cars rolled up one after another along the main drive, valets rushing between them in matching uniforms, while photographers packed shoulder to shoulder behind velvet ropes shouted names I recognized from magazine covers and awards shows. Tonight the hotel belonged entirely to the Crown Collection Gala, and it seemed like half the fashion world, along with anyone with enough money or influence to matter, had shown up to claim a piece of it.I stepped out of my car and took it all in for a second, the noise and the lights pressing in from every direction at once.Tania appeared at my side almost immediately, practically bouncing on her heels. “Can you believe this? Everyone’s here just to watch you take th
Don’t Beg for Love 147. Nothing More
Andrew’s POVThe days were running out, and with every one that passed, the tightness in my chest only grew worse.One moment she’d let me hold her hand without pulling away. The next she’d gone cold enough that I felt like a stranger standing in my own villa. How long was this supposed to continue? Until the contract itself expired and took whatever we had left with it?I paced the length of the living room for what felt like the hundredth time that week.This couldn’t keep going on like this. If it did, everything I’d worked toward these past few weeks would collapse into nothing.I’d never actually planned to let her walk away once that month was up. That had only ever been the opening move. But I was learning, slowly and painfully, that understanding Annalise took far more patience than closing even the messiest business deal I’d ever handled.I dropped onto the couch and tried to think my way toward some kind of solution. Nothing came. My mind just kept circling the same dead end
Don’t Beg for Love 146. His Arrogance
By the time we pulled back into the mansion, every last guest had gone.The transformation from a few hours ago still stood untouched, almost mocking in how perfect it looked with nobody left to enjoy it. String lights still glowed gold along the trees. The band’s instruments sat abandoned on the small stage, a forgotten violin propped against a stand like the musician had simply vanished mid-song. Half-finished glasses of wine dotted every table, and the white tent over the garden rippled faintly in the breeze, empty chairs arranged in perfect rows for a celebration that had ended before it properly began.Cassandra climbed out of the car first, shoulders slumped, looking thoroughly defeated. “This is all my fault,” she murmured, staring at the wreckage of the evening. “So much money spent, and if I hadn’t fainted, everyone would still be here enjoying themselves.”“Don’t be silly.” My mother wrapped an arm around her immediately. “None of this is your fault, sweetheart.”“Money isn’
Don’t Beg for Love 145. Their Engagement
Annalise’s POVI caught the exact moment Cassandra let her foot catch on nothing at all, stumbling just enough to grab Andrew’s arm again. He didn’t shrug her off. He just stood there, rigid, like a man bracing for something.She didn’t look like someone who’d fainted and bounced right back either. Her hair stuck to her forehead, damp with sweat, and there was a strain around her eyes that didn’t match her soft, apologetic smile at all. More like someone who’d been fighting against something only seconds ago.I told myself it didn’t matter. Whatever had actually happened in that car wasn’t my business anymore, even if Andrew’s behavior tonight made absolutely no sense to me. He’d panicked hard enough to scoop an unconscious woman off a stage and race off into the night with her, and now he stood there looking like he’d swallowed his own tongue.Cassandra pulled away from him and crossed straight to me instead, wrapping both hands around mine. “Big sis, you must have been so worried.”
Don’t Beg for Love 144. Her Blood Sister
Andrew’s POV“Go faster!”The driver’s shoulders jumped. “Yes, Mr. Hale!”My heart wouldn’t slow down. It kept slamming against my ribs while I held her against my chest, too tight probably, but I couldn’t make myself loosen my grip.Annie.She hadn’t fully recovered yet. I was sure of it. She needed more time, more rest, and instead she’d dragged herself out to some garden party just to keep herself away from me. She’d ignored every call, every text, all day long, and I still couldn’t figure out what I’d done to earn that kind of silence.When I first spotted her on that stage, the only thing running through my head was how much thinner she looked. Like the last few days had carved something out of her.I didn’t even get a full second to process it before she dropped.The car swerved onto the main road, and somewhere in the middle of the noise and the panic, my heartbeat finally started to even out. I forced a breath through my chest.Why was I even reacting like this? What exactly d
Don’t Beg for Love 143. His Panic
The chatter cut off all at once, replaced by a kind of stunned quiet that pulled every head toward the mansion’s entrance.A line of black cars rolled up the long driveway, headlights sweeping across the fountain before coming to a smooth stop. Five of them in total, sleek and matching, the kind of fleet that didn’t belong to anyone who needed to save money on gas. The lead car alone looked like it cost more than most of the houses on this street, its paint catching the string lights overhead like dark water.Then the whispers turned into gasps.“Wait. Is that actually Andrew Hale’s car?”“It has to be. Look at the emblem on the hood.”“What in the world is he doing here?”“Did he come for Amelia? For the new heiress?”“That can’t be right. Andrew Hale doesn’t attend parties like this. I’ve heard he’s turned down royal weddings.”“Maybe he’s here for business. The Sterlings do have ties to half the companies in this city.”“No, look how everyone’s staring. Something’s off.”I felt my
Don’t Beg for Love 2. Big Sis, Please Come Home
The next day, I discharged myself from the hospital.Standing across the bustling street outside the hospital’s skyscraper, my eyes squinted at the burning sun.For thirty minutes, not a single taxi stopped.Then, suddenly, a convoy of black luxury cars swept onto the street, instantly drawing ever
Don’t Beg for Love 1. The Twentieth Time He Chose Her
“We are sorry, Miss. We tried our best, but the fetus was gone. We had to evacuate it to prevent damage to your womb.”The word “it” echoed through my mind, cutting through my last strand of hope.Yet, the doctor’s words, along with the beeping of the heart’s monitor and every noise inside the hosp
Don’t Beg for Love 5. The Place I Swore to Leave
I only glanced at the device once then went about my morning routine.After I was done, I picked up my phone to find several messages piled up.[Annalise, where are you? Why aren't you answering my calls?][Where did you sleep last night, Annalise?][What is going on between you and Alexander Sterl
Don’t Beg for Love 4. Designer X Has Returned
My fingers instinctively tightened around the phone, hearing Tania’s words.I didn't hear her wrong, did I?“I checked your marriage certificate, Anna. It was fake!” Tania groaned. “Don’t tell me the scumbag tricked you!”Tricked me…Aiden himself asked me to marry him.Three years ago, he’d knocke
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