completely forgot I haven't updated today, so I decided to just update 4 chapters and disappear tomorrow! enjoy!!
I stare at the bed.The one bed.The undeniably soft, luxurious, way-too-small-for-this-situation bed.But it’s still just one bed.I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.Logically, I should have expected this. It makes no sense for them to give us separate beds, but my cheeks still heat up at the thought of…Of…Sharing a bed with Liam.No matter how natural and easy things have felt between us, it doesn’t change the fact that this relationship is fake. Just words on paper. A contract.So why does that thought make my stomach twist in a way I can’t explain?Liam, of course, is completely unbothered. He scans the room, taking in the luxury like he actually expected something worse. Then, to my absolute horror, he leans against the doorway, grinning like this is the funniest thing to ever happen.“They really went all out, huh?” He chuckles. “Maybe we should send them a thank-you card. This surpassed my every expectation.”I gape at him. We are not thinking about the same thing right no
Who’s real? Who’s not? Emilia Janice Carter, the poor bakery owner, or Emily Margaux Vanderbilt, the estranged daughter of billionaire couple Genevieve and Andrew Vanderbilt?The headline loops in my mind, over and over, like a bad dream I can’t wake up from.My stomach twists violently, and I hunch over the toilet, retching.Liam is right beside me, one hand rubbing slow, soothing circles on my back, the other holding my hair away from my face. His touch is steady and reassuring, but I can hear the worry in his voice.“Breathe, love. Just breathe.”I squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t breathe.Because it’s out now.The truth.The secret I’ve spent years protecting.Exposed for the whole world to see.Liam helps me up and I stand in front of the mirror, leaning onto the sink for support. I open the tap, rinse my mouth and face. My movements are automated and I can vaguely feel Liam let go of me.Then I hear the sound of the toilet flush.My chest tightens.The air feels too thick, too heav
LIAMIs this what people mean by saved by the bell?Because in no universe do I want to talk about what Jess means to me right now. Not with Emilia. Not when I can’t even explain the dark, ugly feeling that sank its claws into my chest the second I saw that headline. The second Emilia broke down in my arms.Like there wasn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do to make whoever wrote that article pay.And they will pay. Even if it’s the last thing I do.I push off the bed and grab the chocolate-stained containers from Emilia’s hands. I can’t help but smirk. She eats like a chipmunk, cheeks puffed, a little smear of chocolate at the corner of her mouth. The sight makes something tight in my chest loosen just a little.Knock. Knock.The sound cuts through the room. Again. I can already feel a headache coming. Hopefully, the intruder will realise they’re really not wanted and turn back around or whatever.I sigh. “How about you go wash up? I’ll get the door.”She nods, looking almost relieved that
BECCASometimes, I wonder why I even try.A year and a half ago, I stared down at those two pink lines, my hands shaking, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. I was finally going to be a mother. Just like I’d always dreamed of.But dreams are funny things, aren’t they?Because the reality was nothing like the fairytale I’d imagined.The father of my baby — the man I loved — wasn't the man I thought he was. He hadn’t just broken up with his girlfriend of ten years like he’d claimed. No, he was still with her. Still choosing her.But he had an excuse, of course. She’s fragile, he told me. If I leave too soon, she might do something to herself. Just be patient, Becca. Just wait.So I did.I counted the days, the weeks, the months, waiting for the moment he’d finally be mine.But when my belly grew and my career stalled, when I had to disappear from the world to hide my pregnancy — where was he then?Not with me.I gave up job offers. I went on a year-long hiatus. I spent m
EMILIALiam has been gone longer than I expected.I frown. Didn’t he just go to get the door? It shouldn’t take this long.I try not to let my mind spiral, but it’s hard when everything seems to be crashing down around me.First, Stone and all the memories he dragged back into my life. Now, this — my family’s name, plastered across the internet like a headline in some twisted fairy tale.I force myself to move. I slip into the bathroom, letting the hot water run over me, washing away the weight in my chest. I focus on breathing, on standing still, on the small victory of not collapsing under the pressure of everything that’s gone wrong.I try not to think about the last time I spoke to my family.My mother’s voice, sharp and unrelenting. My father’s heavy silence, his disappointment louder than any words he could have said. My younger sister’s glare, filled with a resentment I fully understand.I shut my eyes. Think of the good things, Em. Don’t drown in everything that’s happened.By
EMILIAThe pool is packed by the time we arrive. The sun hangs high in the sky, casting a golden glow over everything. Laughter and splashes echo through the air, mingling with the scent of chlorine and coconut sunscreen.Lacey spots us first, waving wildly from a lounge chair. “There you are! I was about to send a search party.”She’s lying, of course. Lacey wouldn’t have moved from that chair if her life depended on it. But I appreciate the sentiment.I smile, more aware of Liam’s hand on the small of my back than ever. I ditched wearing the sundress over my swimsuit, it has an open back, stopping right above my ass and exactly where his hand stops. “Of course you were.”Liam chuckles beside me, his fingers skimming lightly against my bare skin before he drops his hand entirely. I should be relieved, but instead, my skin feels colder without his touch.“About time you got here,” Lacey says, adjusting her sunglasses. “I need backup. Some guy in blue trunks won’t stop flexing at me.”
EMILIAI ignore Lacey, or at least I try to. But it’s very hard to act normal when I can still feel Liam’s hands on me like a phantom touch.I need a distraction. Fast.So I swim toward Lacey’s float, reaching for the edge to flip her over.“Don’t you dare,” she warns, lifting her sunglasses just enough to glare at me.I grin. “You’re right. I’d hate to interrupt your important sunbathing time—”Before I can finish, hands grab me from behind.And suddenly, I’m airborne.I shriek, flailing for all of one second before I hit the water with a massive splash.I resurface with a gasp, wiping water from my face as Liam stands there, arms crossed over his chest, looking so damn smug.“Payback,” he announces.“Oh, you’re dead.”He only grins, backing up. “Catch me if you can, love.”Oh, it’s on.I launch myself at him, but Liam’s fast — too fast. He dodges easily, swimming just out of reach every time I get close.It turns into a game.Me, chasing him. Liam, laughing every time he escapes. Th
The music pulses through the air, the energy in the room electric. Laughter and cheers surround us as guests take turns playing the body shots game.We ditched the pool for something a little more intimate. The bar barely fits thirty of us, but that only makes everything feel more dangerous. More thrilling.The game is simple: one person in a couple sits on the floor, we spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on can either do body shots with their partner—or pick someone else.For me, it’s risky as hell.But I’d rather pretend I’m into it than end up as tomorrow’s first victim in shots roulette.A round finishes. Two guys — ridiculously hot, obviously — pull apart, their lips glistening from salt and tequila. I swear, being unfairly attractive must be a requirement to get on this guest list.“This is going to be fun,” Liam murmurs, nudging my shoulder. His voice is low, teasing.We’re perched on barstools, waiting for our turn to sit on the floor.It was Liam who did it last time, so u
TESSAGod help me.Of course it’s Aaron freaking Cobalt. Because why not?There he is — gliding across the ice like it’s an extension of his body, all smooth lines and effortless control. He isn’t just good. He was stupidly, unfairly, annoyingly good.Left winger for the NYC Titans, but honestly? If Liam is the heart of the team, Aaron is the sharp edge. Fast, unpredictable, and lethal when it counts. The kind of player that makes defence lines cry and sports commentators lose their minds.Everyone loves to compare them — Liam, the golden boy center, all power and precision. Aaron, the chaos wrapped in charm, turning plays into magic like it was no big deal. Together, they make the Titans impossible to beat. Separately? Still a damn nightmare.And of course, he’s the last person I want to see right now.I spin on my heel, making a beeline for the exit, but my stupid heels betray me. The sharp CLACK, CLACK echoes louder than his skates slicing the ice, and I hear him stop. I can practi
TESSAMy head is pounding. Like, heartbeat-in-my-skull kind of pounding.Hours spent hunched over a computer will do that to you. When the first set of migraines hit, I grabbed some Tylenol, swallowed it dry, and threw on my reading glasses like a grandma with a grudge.Ana from Legal? Probably curled up in bed, dreaming of spa days and balanced schedules — AKA she’s my polar opposite and has a life to live, probably tucked in bed, asleep by 12:58 AM — so she has no time to respond to my emails.Meanwhile, I’m still here.Alone.Again.Whatever.I stretch and let out a yawn. My desk is a disaster—coffee cups, highlighters, Post-its with half-written thoughts and tomorrow’s to-do list.1. Make amends with Emilia.2. Contact her family’s lawyers.3. Get her family photos copyrighted.I seriously do not get paid enough, as a best friend and PR manager. Sometimes, it feels like I work ten different jobs at once with absolutely nothing to show for it. Well, except in the Emilia department,
LIAMTHIRTY MINUTES AGOI have to force myself to stay put and not chase after her.Frustration knots in my chest, tightening like a fist around my ribs. It makes no sense.Why do I care this much?If Emilia wants to run back to Zane, that’s her choice. She doesn’t owe me anything.All she has to do is fix my image — turn me back into the media darling I used to be. That’s it. Simple.Hell, wouldn’t it be easier for her if she just left me in the dust and rode off into the sunset with her ex?Then why does the thought make me feel like I’ve just been checked into the boards. Hard.A million excuses race through my mind, but none of them make sense. None of them feel right.None of them are enough to make this up to Emilia.“Shit.” I run a hand through my hair, leaning against the railing. For a second, I consider throwing myself over just to escape this mess.The party is still going strong behind me, even though Becca and Zane disappeared over an hour ago. The music is loud, pounding
Trigger Warning: Sexual AssaultThis chapter includes a scene involving mild, non-explicit sexual assault. I’ve done my best to handle it with care, but the subject matter is still difficult. Please prioritise your well-being and read only if you feel safe doing so.EMILIAStone reaches out, fingertips grazing the air between us, but I jerk away before he can touch me.Something is wrong.I suddenly realise the bartender is gone. It’s just the two of us. The air feels thick, the silence pressing in.“What the fuck are you doing?!” My voice comes out sharper than I expect, slicing through the quiet between us. Outside, I can still hear the sounds of music and laughter, but it’s so loud I highly doubt anyone can hear a thing happening in here.I stumble off my stool, my legs wobbling beneath me. My head is fuzzy, but not enough to miss the way his smile lingers — like he expected this.Like he was waiting for this moment.Every single alarm bell in my head goes off and this time I don’t
EMILIAAnger rolls through me in thick, uncontrollable waves.Who the hell does he think he is? Judging me like he’s any better? Like I’m the one who’s screwed up here?I stalk down the deck, barely aware of where I’m going. The ocean breeze whips against my skin, but it does nothing to cool the fire in my veins.All the words I should have said claw at my throat. I should have told him exactly what I thought of him. Of his arrogance. His entitlement. His complete inability to take anything seriously unless it benefits him.At least I got over my ex. At least I didn’t leave the girl saving my career alone for two weeks while my psychotic fans harassed her.My nails dig into my palms as I turn into a corner.I pass Johnson — the tech bro from karaoke — and force myself to smile, giving him a small wave. He grins back, but I don’t stop. I can’t.Because the moment I do, my mind goes right back to him.Liam.That stupid, infuriating, reckless man-child.Why do I let him get to me like th
LIAMThe party roars on behind me — music thumping, glasses clinking, someone belting out an off-key rendition of some early 2000s pop hit.I don’t turn. I don’t care.The ocean stretches endlessly before me, dark and shifting, waves rolling in and out as if they have all the time in the world. As if they didn’t just witness Emilia press her tongue to Zane’s skin.My grip tightens around my glass.It was a game. Just a stupid drinking game.And yet my jaw is clenched, my pulse thrumming.I tell myself it’s nothing. A moment that will be forgotten by morning, buried under rounds of tequila and poor decisions.But the thought still lingers — if it was just a game, why did she look away so quickly afterward?I can still feel the heat of Emilia’s body beneath my hands. Remember every shiver a flick from my tongue pulled out of her.Then images of her hands on Zane’s chest, her tongue against his skin.The way he looked at me with that look of disbelief mixed with smugness.I could read hi
The air between us is charged.Liam doesn’t move away. Neither do I.The lime wedge is still between his teeth, his lips curved into that infuriating, knowing smirk. Like he’s already won.I try to pretend that this didn’t just send heat rolling through my veins.But his thumb is still tracing slow, lazy circles on my waist. His breath is still warm against my lips.I’m not sure I can move even if I want to.“Still think it’s just a game, love?” Liam murmurs, voice low, teasing. Sinful.I force myself to roll my eyes, despite the way my pulse is hammering. “You’re ridiculous.”His smirk deepens, eyes glinting. “I think you’re more ridiculous. Seeing as you’re still standing here.”His fingers flex against my waist, a touch so small, so subtle, but I feel it everywhere.Before I can snap back, someone whistles loudly, snapping the moment in two.“Damn, Liam, you trying to take the whole ship down with you?” Tonia calls out, laughing. A few others join in, and just like that, the spell
The music pulses through the air, the energy in the room electric. Laughter and cheers surround us as guests take turns playing the body shots game.We ditched the pool for something a little more intimate. The bar barely fits thirty of us, but that only makes everything feel more dangerous. More thrilling.The game is simple: one person in a couple sits on the floor, we spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on can either do body shots with their partner—or pick someone else.For me, it’s risky as hell.But I’d rather pretend I’m into it than end up as tomorrow’s first victim in shots roulette.A round finishes. Two guys — ridiculously hot, obviously — pull apart, their lips glistening from salt and tequila. I swear, being unfairly attractive must be a requirement to get on this guest list.“This is going to be fun,” Liam murmurs, nudging my shoulder. His voice is low, teasing.We’re perched on barstools, waiting for our turn to sit on the floor.It was Liam who did it last time, so u
EMILIAI ignore Lacey, or at least I try to. But it’s very hard to act normal when I can still feel Liam’s hands on me like a phantom touch.I need a distraction. Fast.So I swim toward Lacey’s float, reaching for the edge to flip her over.“Don’t you dare,” she warns, lifting her sunglasses just enough to glare at me.I grin. “You’re right. I’d hate to interrupt your important sunbathing time—”Before I can finish, hands grab me from behind.And suddenly, I’m airborne.I shriek, flailing for all of one second before I hit the water with a massive splash.I resurface with a gasp, wiping water from my face as Liam stands there, arms crossed over his chest, looking so damn smug.“Payback,” he announces.“Oh, you’re dead.”He only grins, backing up. “Catch me if you can, love.”Oh, it’s on.I launch myself at him, but Liam’s fast — too fast. He dodges easily, swimming just out of reach every time I get close.It turns into a game.Me, chasing him. Liam, laughing every time he escapes. Th