Lucian Ashford POV“Sir, anything more you need?” James stood at the edge of my desk, respectful but persistent.“Nothing.” I didn’t look up from the file in front of me.“It’s been a week. You haven’t gone to see Miss Winget.”I glanced up, jaw tightening. “I don’t think I’m needed there. She’s doing fine. I get updates every day. The maids are taking care of her.”Though I wanted to see her. Badly.But after what happened that night—how she cried.She didn’t know I followed her when she ran from Maris Mansion.Didn’t know I saw her break down in that park.Sobbing, shaking—utterly shattered.God, it was gut-wrenching.I just stood there in the rain, drenched to the bone.It hurt.The woman I want to protect—give everything to—hates me more than she hates herself.What the hell was I expecting?Jealousy gnawed at my ribs. Her heart still clings to Dalton.That bastard doesn’t deserve a second of her.And yet… her heart beats for him.James shifted, voice careful. “Still, sir… you sho
Janet Winget POVI turned my head and saw Lucian standing there—shocked, a little startled.He looked like a rat caught in a trap.It had been a week since I moved into this apartment. Nothing had been lacking. Comfort—that’s what I’d gotten.That day, I was sure I fainted.When I woke up, I was in this apartment. At first, I was scared—but then the maids told me Lucian had brought me here. That calmed me. A little.But this man didn’t show up. Not once. Not for the whole damn week.I waited. I don’t know why, but I did. And he never came.I had so many questions I wanted to ask. But I already knew—he wouldn’t answer any of them.And now, here he was, silently apologizing, thinking I was asleep. I’d been awake the entire time. I heard the door open.I wanted to know what he’d been doing. Where he went. Why he disappeared.This was the first time anyone had ever apologized to me for doing something wrong.Most people in my life did wrong and never said a word.“Why can’t I face you?” h
Janet Winget POV“Miss, this is your cabin. If you need anything, you can call us through the landline,” James said as he gestured toward the room. He was Lucian’s secretary.I stepped inside, stunned. I’d never seen anything like it in my life—sleek, minimal, elegant. It looked perfect.Lucian had kept his word.“I’ll take my leave,” James added before walking away.I drifted around the cabin, fingers brushing the polished wood, eyes scanning every corner.I still remembered that conversation. The way he’d looked at me—serious, steady—and promised he wouldn’t do anything that might hurt me.I hadn’t wanted the position. I hadn’t even applied for it. But I couldn’t deny it either.I was going to be his assistant.Which meant I’d be in his presence. Constantly.He’d said it was the only role he could offer. His company, Ashford, revolved around textiles. My degree was in mass communication and media. No overlap. No other openings.I couldn’t blame him for that. He gave me a job. That’s
Janet Winget POV“Why did you do this?”Lucian sat in his chair, calm and composed, as we faced each other in his office.“In the meeting, you said I’d just review what they send and give input.”My mind spun. How could he act like this was nothing?It’s my first day. He told me the job was simple—just follow him. And now this? A task I’ve never done, in a field I have no background in?“I did say that,” he said smoothly. “Because you are going to do it. Darling, why so agitated?”Was he joking?Heat surged up my neck.“Lucian, I’ve never done anything like this—and in case you forgot, I’m your assistant.” My voice sharpened, loud and clear.“How could I forget?” His brow lifted. “And everything has a first time. You just need to try harder.”That was too much.“A few hours ago, you literally said my job was to shadow you. To manage your schedule. Nothing about reviewing product briefs or textile proposals.”It had made sense back then. He’d said it himself—my degree in media had noth
Janet Winget POVHalf an hour had passed, and I was still staring at the file like it might suddenly translate itself. I’d read the same pages over and over, but they may as well have been written in another language.Which, unfortunately, they weren’t.They were in plain English. Just wrapped in numbers, charts, and terminology that bounced right off my brain.I’d searched half the terms, but even the explanations didn’t make sense. It was like falling into a black hole of data and jargon I wasn’t built to understand.The stress was building, hot and tight across my chest.And who was responsible for this?Lucian—the great and confident—who believed I could pull this off like it was nothing. Like this chaos was part of some grand learning curve.“This seat taken?”I jumped, head snapping up. Lucian stood in my doorway, already stepping inside like he owned the air around him.No knock. No warning.To be fair, he was the boss. Still—manners existed for a reason.“How did you know I wa
Janet Winget POV“After you.” Lucian opened the passenger door, and I slid in. He circled around and took the driver’s seat.Night had already fallen, and of course, I’d agreed to dinner—he asked.Not like I had much of a choice. He did help me, and I’d managed to review everything on time.But my head still buzzed from that kiss on my forehead… and the way he’d said he got hard because I cursed at him.This man had screws loose. That much was clear. No matter what I did—curse him, slap him, glare—he’d either flirt or get turned on. A normal person wouldn’t react like that.And now, he’d even refused his driver so he could take the wheel himself. Sitting beside him as he drove, sleeves rolled to his elbows, forearms flexing—I wasn’t going to lie. He was hot. Not just hot—gasoline.“What restaurant are you taking me to?” I glanced at him. His eyes stayed on the road.“The food will be great. You don’t have to worry about where I’m taking you.”Same evasive answer. He never gave a strai
Janet Winget POVThe spoon slipped from my hand, clattering against the table.“Why are you so shocked?” Lucian’s voice was maddeningly casual, like he hadn’t just bombed me with a question that knocked the breath out of me.This man. “Did you hear yourself?” I gritted out.“Of course I did. How wouldn’t I, when my ears are perfectly fine?”Sometimes it felt like he made it his mission to spike my blood pressure—and then acted like he had no idea why I was reacting.I am pissed.He kept doing things that made my heart drop, then behaved like I was the one overreacting.“Then you should think before speaking, Lucian. What do you mean, you want to stay here?”“I mean exactly what I said.” His eyes held mine, steady and unbothered. “It’s already so late. How heartless do you have to be to send me away—especially after I cooked for you?”I dug my nails into my palm. Why did his words always make it sound like I was in the wrong when it was his nonsense causing all this?“You’re an adult.
Lucian Ashford POV“Roger, boss.” I smiled.She didn’t know she was walking straight into my trap, no matter how much she wanted to deny it.The plan hadn’t been for me to stay here. The idea had come to me suddenly.And it would work better this way. I wasn’t about to let the Maris family find any excuse to insult me—or Janet.She didn’t realize I was the only well-wisher she’d ever had.I loved it that way, even if it hurt sometimes that she didn’t remember me. Didn’t remember the promises we’d made together.Still, it was better than having nothing at all.Dalton had come into her life before me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t erase his existence.I would be the last—and only—man in Janet’s life.“I cooked, so don’t you think you should wash the dishes?” I pointed toward her as she started to leave.I didn’t actually want her to wash them. I could’ve done it myself. But this way, I’d get a little more time with her.I wanted to spend every second I could—her cute reactions always
Janet Winget POV“It’s not our mistake. We treated you equally, yet you always acted like you were still in that shabby orphanage.” My mother refused to admit her fault.Equally? Then why did it never feel that way? They only ever listened to one side—and bent over backwards to please their precious Lia.Calling the orphanage shabby… how low can they sink?Didn’t Lia come from the same place? Yet somehow she became the princess, and I… the discard. But no, favoritism doesn’t exist. Not according to them. They still have the nerve to play innocent.“How many more excuses are you going to make? Is it really so hard to admit you favor your adopted daughter more than your own blood?”Years had passed. I used to think—hope—that one day they’d love me the way they loved Lia. Looking back now, it was nothing more than wishful thinking.“Hic! Hic! Is this what you think of me, Janet?” Lia’s voice cracked as she stepped closer to my mother and clung to her like a child.“Oh, my sweet girl, don
Janet Winget POVHow could I forget they never cared about anything but their precious reputation?They were the ones who sent me to prison—for a ring. A damn ring. When I wasn’t even the culprit.And now I’m the one who spoiled everything?As for the pregnancy—it’s a lie. But I won’t correct them.Lucian made that claim, and I won’t deny it. Not to them.“The prison thing—you tried to bury it, didn’t you?” My voice cracked through the silence. “So why is it my fault? You threw a birthday party on the same day I got out. You think I asked to be released then? You think I informed the media?” I laughed bitterly. “They dug it up themselves.”I’d had enough. Enough of the blame, the accusations, the rewriting of history.I regretted coming here the moment I stepped through the door. What was I thinking? That maybe, somehow, they’d see me? Hear me?Useless.“What about your disgusting pregnancy?” Lia snapped, voice sharp as glass.Her words hit harder than I expected. Even though I wasn’t
Janet Winget POVTring… tring…I stirred, catching myself before I slipped again—exhaustion rubbing me raw.My eyes cracked open as I grabbed the phone beside me. “Janet.”A chill shot down my spine. I bolted upright. “Yes, Dad.”Of course I recognized his voice—the man who might be the reason I exist, yet never cared if I did.“Come to the Winget mansion. We have something that needs to be discussed,” he said.I didn’t know if I wanted to go. But I knew one thing—saying no wasn’t an option.“Okay.” The line went dead.Did he find out about what happened between me and Lia two days ago? I know Lia wouldn’t have let it slide.I was the one who ended up injured, yet knowing my parents, they’d still take Lia’s side.And here I thought things were finally steady. Lucian had given me the day, and I’d been working fine these past two days.The entire company was off today because of some public holiday.Guess my rest was about to be ruined anyway.It was already evening.But something didn’
Janet Winget POV“Tell me one thing—why were you the one on the floor? You let her bully you again?”Lucian’s anger radiated from every word as we sat on his couch, the air between us tight with tension.He dabbed antiseptic on the split in my lip, the sting sharp enough to make my eyes flutter shut.Tears still streamed down my cheeks. I felt like exactly what Lia wanted me to feel—filthy. Small. Pathetic.Worse, Lucian had to see me like this.“Are you going to answer me, Janet?”He didn’t need to raise his voice. The force behind it hit just the same.“Why are you so cruel?” I choked on the sob that caught in my throat. “You think I like getting bullied?”Pain already crawled under my skin, thick and unrelenting. His words only pressed it deeper.Why does he sound like I’m the problem?Because I am. I let Lia get away with too much for too long. But today—I gave it all back to her. Every vicious ounce.Yet I’m the one sitting here, catching the brunt of his wrath.“Of course I’m an
Janet Winget POVHer words did something to my heart. The ease with which she hurled such filth—like it cost her nothing. And yet she was all the things she accused me of.She was the one who stole my fiancé. Not the other way around.“Lia, we both know who the real whore is. You already have Dalton—what more do you want?” I needed to understand.She ruined everything. Took my parents. Took Dalton. And still she had to come here, spewing poison like it gave her purpose.“Because a slut like you deserves to suffer for the rest of her miserable life,” she seethed, shoving me so hard I lost my balance and hit the floor.“Ah—” Pain ripped through my spine as I landed.She crouched, leveled with me, and gripped my face, squeezing my cheeks until my jaw throbbed. “This is your place. At my feet.”I clenched my fist, spat in her face. “And this is what you deserve, Lia.”Her eyes went wide. She froze, like her brain couldn’t quite catch up with what just happened. But I had done it—finally d
Lia Winget POV“What?” Lucian frowned, confusion flickering in his eyes.Yeah, that’s right. I want to talk to this bitch Janet. Just her and me. Not with Dalton. Not with Lucian. I can’t.Lucian would just keep interfering—doing his little knight-in-shining-armor act—never letting me tear into her the way she deserves.This bitch. Years of scheming to ruin her life, and here she is, draped in pity, acting like some tragic heroine. Again, someone’s backing her. Again, she wriggled out of the gutter I shoved her into.I hated her from the start. From the moment she walked into the Winget family like she belonged—like I didn’t. She always made me feel like I wasn’t the real daughter. Which I wasn’t, so I fixed it.I took her parents. Her fiancé. Tossed her into prison. She doesn’t get happiness—not while I’m breathing.She’ll rot in misery for the sin of being the Winget family’s real daughter.I might be adopted, but even she knows I’m worth more. She’s the side piece I crush under my
Janet Winget POVEven I wanted to ask her why it mattered what I did, or why Lucian gave me the job after everything.It’s not like I took the job from Maris or the Winget family.Why can’t she just see me happy?Even though she’s the adopted daughter of my parents, they never cared for me. She never saw me as her sister.When I was a child, I used to see her as a sister—but she always made sure I remembered: even after sharing blood with my own parents, they were her parents.After spoiling my life, after putting me in jail—She really had to come here, insult me, act like I’m the problem.What did I even do to her? Nothing I can remember.And even if I did, she already ruined my whole life. What more does she need? Can’t she just leave me alone now—let me live?What wrong did I ever do to Dalton? Just loved him more than myself.And even he never once thought about how much pain he caused me.Sitting here, holding Lia in his arms, when not long ago he told me I was still his fiancée
Janet Winget POV“Miss, we are here,” the driver announced, breaking my train of thought.“Thank you.” I climbed out of the cab. Yeah, Lucian agreed to let me go alone without him.It had taken a few arguments, but in the end, he relented.With one condition—that I take a cab rather than any other means of transport.I had wanted to argue about that too, but I didn’t want to be even later or spark a bigger fight.Facing the large building in front of me, my heart hammered faster than it already was.Why wouldn’t it?I had a job now—a stable one. Happiness bloomed in my chest, boundless and bright.At least after suffering my whole life, I finally had something I could call mine.I walked inside. Yesterday, the secretary had shown me around, but now, alone, the place felt so much bigger.Lucian really was something. As far as I knew, he had no ties to the Maris family, so building this business on his own, without any support, was impressive.I clutched the strap of my bag a little tig
Janet Winget POV“Why are you not ready yet?”As I came out of my room, I saw Lucian, already dressed in a three-tiered suit, sipping something from a cup.My mind rebooted. Damn, I forgot he’s going to stay here from now on.I glanced down at myself, realizing I was still in my night suit, looking like a complete fool.He scanned me from head to toe. “You look no less than a cutie, Janet.”Why could I hear the mocking in his voice? “What are you doing?”“Are you still sleepy? Can’t you see I’m drinking coffee? We only have one hour left before we need to leave for the office.” His words snapped my brain awake.I had overslept after staying up too late last night, exhaustion dragging me down even now.Even my mind felt foggy, still trying to catch up from sleep.“I’m going to be late.” I spun around and hurried back into my room to get ready.“You won’t get late. When the boss of the company is sitting here, no matter how long you take, you can never be late,” Lucian called after me.