LOGINSilence took over again. A minute later, Ace lifted his face from the crook of her neck."Got any Vodka?" Ace spoke up again, his voice back to normal now. His sharp eyes scanned the room, hoping to spot a liquor cabinet to burn the chill out of his bones."No," Sierra said bluntly without looking at him, draining the last drop of her hot chocolate. The hopeful look on Ace's face instantly died.Ace slowly let go of her and leaned his heavy frame back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling with his eyes closed and squeezing them shut. He didn't even touch the ginger tea Sierra had made specifically for him. To him, the taste of ginger was nothing. Only hard Vodka could heat his blood and bring him comfort— he wasn't the type to drink something as herbal as tea."But... my dad keeps a few bottles in his room," she chimed in suddenly, her tone as blunt and icy as ever. "If you want it, go get it upstairs yourself. I don't drink that damn alcohol. It'll just make me age faster and
Ace and Sierra were still in the same room, trapped in a silence that felt suffocating yet strangely intimate. She hadn't moved, her body trembling in the circle of his strong arms, her face buried deep against his broad chest. Ace gently stroked the crown of her head, his fingers tangling softly in her messy hair as he tried to pour back into her every sense of safety that had been stripped from her life over the past year."Feeling better now?" Ace whispered, his voice low and rough, chin resting on top of her head.She didn't answer. She just kept sobbing quietly, her shoulders trembling pitifully. God knew why the tears just wouldn't stop. Her chest felt tight, crushed. Maybe it was Lucas's shocking betrayal, or maybe it was because of Ace... this arrogant bastard who had hurt her so badly, only to reveal he'd never actually agreed to the divorce in the first place. The fact that she was still, legally, Ace Valentino's wife flipped her already messy world upside down all over agai
The ruthless billionaire buried his face in her lap. His broad shoulders trembled slightly as he let out the emotions he'd been holding back. He looked completely wrecked, bowing down to the woman he loved. He didn't care if he had to grovel at her feet; he'd do it in a heartbeat for that precious second chance."You don't seem well. Go home, Ace." Sierra put her mug down, totally tuning out his breakdown. Her voice was terrifyingly controlled, even though her fingers were trembling. "I have things to do. The snow has stopped, and your car engine probably hasn't frozen over yet."Ignoring all his words and how he’d acted towards her, she got up and brushed aside the thick blanket that wrapped her. Deep down, her feelings were running wildly out of hand, a battle raging within her between logic and the lingering emotions she still held for the man kneeling before her.Just as she was about to walk away, she froze. Ace's large hands clamped around her right ankle. His grip was tight, de
Sierra rushed across the front doorstep, totally tuning out the roar of the engine pulling into her driveway. The crunch of tires tearing through the thin layer of snow got louder, instantly followed by the heavy, frantic thud of boots chasing her down."Sierra, wait! Just fucking listen to me. You didn't even let me finish explaining when I—" Ace yelled from a distance. His voice was rough, almost swallowed by the freezing, howling wind.Sierra’s hand was about to touch the doorknob; however, she hesitated and pulled back. She whipped around to face Ace, who was panting, his chest heaving from having run after her from the parking lot. Her green eyes locked onto him standing out there in the pouring snow, his dark hair soaked and his broad shoulders dusted with white flakes that were melting into his coat.A brief moment of dead awkwardness hung between them, as if time had stopped flowing. Sierra let out a long sigh, trying to calm the sudden flutter in her chest."Get in," she said
Pulling her heavy winter coat tighter around her body, Sierra locked her green eyes straight ahead at the restaurant they were about to enter. She let out a quiet sigh before stepping out of the car, not even bothering to wait for Lucas, who was still busy fiddling with his phone.The loud slam of the car door snapped Lucas back to look up. He muttered a curse under his breath when he looked at Sierra already walking away from the car. He quickly moved to follow her, but the moment he stepped out, his phone buzzed in his pocket again. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, staring at the screen as it kept buzzing, leaving Sierra to enter the place alone.Her green eyes swept across the restaurant as she stepped farther inside, looking for an empty table. But the deeper she went, the more her brows furrowed in utter shock.There he was— Ace Valentino. The exact same man who had just cornered her in her classroom and the man who had just l
Ace kept his steely gray eyes locked onto Sierra, making her roll her eyes in complete annoyance. She was currently teaching the senior class since the junior high session had been taken over by Larissa and the other staff. She kept explaining the material on the board, trying her absolute best to brush off the intense, piercing stare Ace was directing at her from the back of the room."Hey, is he a new teacher or a student? He looks way too old for high school," a girl sitting a few desks away from Ace whispered."Shh, can you just shut up?" her seatmate hissed."Well, at least... he's way hotter and sinfully yummy than your boyfriend David," another girl chimed in. She kept stealing thirsty glances at the billionaire, even boldly winking and puckering her lips, trying to flirt with him."Are you planning to stay in this classroom until the lesson is completely over, Mr. Valentino?" Sierra finally snapped, slipping her glasses down and perched them on top of her head. Her green eyes
She stretched out both arms to relieve the stiffness she was beginning to feel, her forehead furrowed deeply. Her green eyes fluttered open slightly, and she groaned as she found herself having slept for quite some time.She woke up, but her still-dazed state left her feeling groggy. Even glancing
Sierra rolled her eyes at Ace, who was always smiling at her. Who knows how many times she had let out those tiresome sighs. She knew his smile was fake. Her husband's acting skills were beyond any doubt.“So, Miss Carlson is married?” Lucas chimed in, breaking the dead air.His face held a curious
It had been three days since Sierra was finally allowed to leave the hospital. And today, she decided to visit the Valentino Enterprise office.Standing in front of the massive mirror in her room, Sierra was wearing a silky maroon backless dress that revealed her alluring bare back. The fabric wrap
Ace walked leisurely down the hospital corridor, radiating a calm and confident aura. All the people's eyes followed his every step, especially the women. His sharp features, broad shoulders, and quiet elegance made him hard to ignore. On top of that, his extraordinary amount of money made it no wo







