LOGINShare
Chapter 49: Awkward Dinner
publish date:
2026-06-28 20:03:01
Latest chapter
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 54: Invited
KELVIN'S POVJoseph's name stays on my phone long after it stops ringing.I stare at the screen.Rachel walks into my office carrying a folder, notices my expression, and immediately changes direction."I'll come back.""Rachel."She stops."If I don't return in two hours…..." She blinks. “Should I call security?"I almost smile."No.""The police?""No."She thinks for a second. "Your therapist?""I don't have one.""That's becoming increasingly obvious."Despite everything, a laugh slips out.She nods toward my phone."Him?""Yes."She doesn't ask another question."I'll cancel your afternoon.""You don't know what this meeting is.""I know you're wearing that face.""What face?""The one that says you'd rather negotiate with sharks."An hour later, I pull into the private golf club where Joseph and I spent nearly twenty years closing business deals.The clubhouse hasn't changed.The lake still reflects the afternoon sun. The eighteenth green still slopes to the left.Everything lo
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 53: The Call
SANDRA'S POVSunday somehow feels familiar again enough to make me miss what used to be.The gates of the Nicholson house slide open, and before I can reach the front door, Margaret appears on the porch with both hands on her hips.She looks me up and down.Then sighs dramatically."Oh, this is unacceptable."I blink. “Good afternoon to you too.""You've lost weight.""I have not.""You absolutely have."I laugh."You said the same thing three weeks ago.""And I was right then too."Before I can defend myself, the gardener waves from the lawn."Miss Sandra! Welcome home!"Home.The word still catches me off guard.I wave back."Good morning, Mr. Lewis.""You haven't visited enough. The roses were starting to complain."Margaret nods seriously."They asked me yesterday."I stare at both of them."You're making fun of me."Mr. Lewis grins."We learned from your father."Margaret opens the front door."And from you."The house feels warmer today. The chef pokes his head out of the kitche
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 52: Standing Beside You
KELVIN'S POVBy seven the next morning, every television inside Clayton Global is talking about my car.One channel zooms in on the word HOMEWRECKER like it's breaking economic news. Another debates whether vandalism is an understandable emotional reaction. Social media has already turned the photo into a thousand opinions from people who've never met me.I mute the television.The silence lasts exactly three seconds before my office phone rings.Rachel walks in carrying a stack of files and two coffees."Good morning," she says brightly. "You're trending again.""I've always hated being popular.""I noticed." She places a coffee on my desk. "One investor canceled breakfast, another requested an emergency meeting, and three reporters are pretending to be delivery drivers downstairs.""They're getting creative.""One came dressed as a florist."I look up."You're joking.""I wish I were. Security confiscated twelve roses."Despite myself, I laugh.Rachel points toward the coffee."Dr
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 51: Wouldn't Let Go
SANDRA'S POVThe ballroom falls so quiet that I can hear Austin's footsteps against the polished marble floor.Nobody moves.Austin stops barely two feet away from us.He isn't glaring at Kelvin, he's looking at me. Like he's trying to find someone he used to know.Kelvin's fingers brush mine.Not pulling me behind him or pushing me forward, just reminding me I'm not alone.Austin notices.A tired smile touches his face before disappearing almost immediately."I should've expected that," he says quietly. "Still…... seeing it is different."My throat tightens."Austin…...""No." He shakes his head. "Actually…... wait. Maybe yes. I don't know." He laughs without humor and rubs the back of his neck. "I've rehearsed this conversation about a hundred times, and somehow every version disappeared the second I walked over here."Nobody around us pretends to continue talking anymore.The gala has become background noise.Austin exhales slowly."Just answer one thing."I nod.He looks directly
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 50: The First Step
KELVIN'S POVThe annual Clayton Global Charity Gala has never made me nervous before.Tonight is different.The ballroom inside the Grand Regency Hotel is already glowing beneath crystal chandeliers as politicians, investors, charity partners, business leaders, diplomats, old family friends, and reporters drift from one conversation to another with champagne in hand.Every one of them expects me to arrive alone.Instead, Sandra slips her hand into mine before the car door even opens.She glances sideways at me."You still have time to run."I laugh quietly."I was about to say that to you."She pretends to think."No…... I wore uncomfortable heels. If anyone's running, it's definitely you."The driver opens the door. Camera flashes explode instantly.Sandra looks toward the entrance, then back at me."I suddenly understand why celebrities wear sunglasses.""It's night.""I know. I'd still like some."I squeeze her hand. "Ready?"She lets out a slow breath."Ask me after we're already
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 49: Awkward Dinner
SANDRA'S POVI spend half the drive wondering if Dad changed his mind. The other half wondering if I should.By the time my car rolls through the Nicholson gates, my stomach has tied itself into a knot.Margaret opens the front door before I even reach it. The moment she sees me, her face lights up with relief."Oh, thank goodness."I blink."For…... arriving on time?"She laughs softly and shakes her head."For coming at all."Before I can answer, another housekeeper walks past the hallway carrying fresh flowers.She notices me and smiles."It's nice to see you home again, Miss Sandra."The word catches me off guard.Margaret gently touches my arm. "Your father's in the dining room."I nod, suddenly nervous all over again.The dining room feels strangely familiar.Dad is already sitting at the table, reading something on his tablet. He looks up when I walk in, and for a second neither of us knows whether we're supposed to smile.I try first.He tries second.Neither of us does a very
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 28: Twenty-Three Years
SANDRA'S POVTwenty-three years shouldn't matter this much.The problem is that it does.Because every time I start forgetting, every time I catch myself replaying one of Kelvin's messages or remembering the way he looked at me in the gallery, the number crashes back into my head hard enough to mak
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 27: The Investigation
KELVIN'S POVThe acquisition should be consuming every second of my attention.Eight months of negotiations, hundreds of millions of dollars, three companies waiting for final approval, and a boardroom full of executives expecting me to lead them through the most important deal Clayton Global has h
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 26: Pieces of the Truth
SANDRA'S POVPamela stands at the entrance of the gallery staring at us, and the look on her face makes my stomach drop because she didn't walk in at the wrong moment, she walked in at exactly the right one.Kelvin's hand leaves my face immediately.Too late.Way too late.Pamela saw enough."What e
Forbidden: His Father's Desire Chapter 24: Father and Son
KELVIN'S POVI should have declined the invitation.The thought follows me all the way to the restaurant and settles somewhere uncomfortable the moment I spot Austin already waiting at our table because lately spending time with my son feels like walking willingly into a punishment I earned myself.
You may also like
To Be Yours Again
Taylor1.0M viewsLet Me Go, Mr. Hill!
Shallow South6.5M viewsEx-Husband's Regret
Evelyn M.M4.8M viewsPowerful Papa with Triplet Babies
Pink Dolphin635.4K viewsMy Billionaire DOM Wants Me Back
unusualdee113 viewsThe Bride He Refused to Lose
Josephine 42 viewsDEAR MY EX-HUSBAND, YOUR REGRET IS IN VAIN
Wednesday Adaire23 viewsVeiled In Velvet Chains
Pearl.x.111 views
