Mag-log in“You are useless!” Evelyn screamed at her daughter.“What did I tell you before you left? You went all the way to New York and wasted the beauty I gave you.” She threw her hands into the air dramatically. “Look at that Selene. Do you even know who that man is, or should I remind you, you silly child?”“Mom, why are you so jealous?” Danielle shot back. “Even if I don't end up with a Draven Valerio, I can find another man. Just admit you're greedy for money. What exactly do you want that Ava doesn't already provide?”“So you want to spend the rest of your life being provided for?” Evelyn fired back. “Didn't you see how Nancy stood her ground? She doesn't want handouts forever. Imagine having a wealthy son-in-law.”“I am homeee!” Maddie announced as she walked into her sister's room.She paused the moment she noticed the tension in the air and the anger burning in their mother's eyes.“What's going on?” she asked.“Look at your sister over here.” Evelyn pointed accusingly at Danielle. “S
Draven rose to his feet with a smile."Hi, Mummy," he greeted in that deep voice of his.Bella stared at him. "What's this, Draven?"Beside her, Evelyn shot her a nasty side-eye.Draven merely smiled and gestured for his guards to leave the room.The men immediately obeyed.Once they were gone, he slipped one hand into his pocket.“I’m here to take something,” he said casually. “As you can see, I’m not here as a consort.” His smile turned cunning. “Do I have your permission now?”Bella folded her arms. "So you lied to me."There was disappointment in her voice.“How exactly did you end up coming back with me as a consort if you’re the hidden CEO of Valerio Empire?” she asked. “The company didn’t send you at all, did they?”Draven smirked. "Let's just say I got lucky."His gaze swept across the room, settling on Selene."You see, I developed an interest in one of the daughters of this beautiful household." His smile deepened. "So I followed you."He tilted his head slightly. "Love does
"Relax. She won't tell anyone. I told her it happened once, we hated it, and we were just drunk when it happened." "And she believed that?" Danielle asked."Apparently."Danielle shook her head. "Okay... good."There was an awkward silence for a few seconds."So...uhm" Danielle cleared her throat for the second time. "Goodnight?""Yeah. Goodnight." Kate got to her feet and turned toward the door.But before she could leave, Danielle reached out and caught her wrist.Kate looked back."Sorry for avoiding you, I just..." Danielle exhaled. "The moment it happened, I knew I'd want more. And that scared me."For a second, neither of them moved.Then Kate stepped closer and pressed a soft kiss to her lips, but the second Danielle kissed her back, self control flew out the window. Kate’s hand came up to cup her jaw as the kiss deepened, they were hungry. Danielle’s fingers curled into Kate’s shoulder, pulling her closer. Their mouths moved together in desperation they’d both been pretendin
Nolan sat beside his grandmother late into the night. Out of everyone in the family, she was the only person who still brought him a sense of peace. She smiled at him the way she always did…like he was still her little boy, no matter how tall he’d grown."My dear, are you alright?" she asked gently. "I thought you would come to see me with your wife.”Nolan stared at the floor for a long moment before answering. “I want to marry someone I actually want, Grandma.”She reached over and patted his cheek with a wrinkled hand. “Then do it. I only want your happiness, my boy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”He swallowed hard, eyes burning. “But that person doesn’t want me.”His grandmother frowned."Doesn't want you? Who is this woman? How could she reject my golden boy?”"Someone who's practically standing at the edge of her grave. Just like you."Beatrice's voice cut through the room.Nolan’s head snapped toward his mother. “Shut your mouth.His grandmother's eyes widened."You don't get t
Lucian didn’t need to be told twice. He dropped to his knees, lifting his gaze to meet hers. His eyes were open , offering her the full weight of his vulnerability and surrender.Bella released his throat. The sharp crack of her palm across his face echoed in the room.He took the slap without a sound, not a flinch nor a twitch.She let her fingers brush over the burning skin of his cheek, tenderly. “This is exactly how you made me feel back then,” she whispered. “You’d hurt me, then apologize like the words could erase the damage. You still feel the sting of this slap, don’t you?”Tears slipped down his face. “Yes… I feel it.”Bella grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him closer, forcing him to look straight into her eyes.Then she crushed her mouth against his.Lucian stiffened at first, caught off guard. But when she bit down hard on his lower lip, drawing blood, a groan escaped his lips. Slowly, he gave in, kissing her back with the same desperate hunger. She tasted the blo
Bella noticed the pain in his eyes but said nothing.Instead, she turned to the twins."And no more running around like that, okay?""Okay, Mommy!" they chorused.The twins hugged their new teddy bears and headed upstairs together, already chatting excitedly about where the bears would sleep.Lucian had expected Bella to tell the girls the truth. That he was their father.But she didn't and truth be told, he understood why.Years ago, he didn't want kids…which gives him no right to expect that privilege now.Bella sat down beside him."You came late," she pointed out. "I said nine o'clock."Lucian nodded. “Sorry” He had no argument for that.He was late."Anyway, I'll be leaving for Australia tomorrow," Bella continued. "So if there's anything you want to say, say it now."Lucian felt his heart tighten."Bella..." He swallowed. "Life hasn't been good without you. Every day feels empty. I just want a chance to make things right again. That's all. I promise I—""Stop."The single word
“What is Lucian’s nanny doing, stopping her boss’s wedding?” murmurs spread through the hall.“Don’t tell me he got her pregnant too,” someone whispered.Vanessa turned sharply toward Bella, irritation flashing across her face.“What is the meaning of this, Bella?”“You’ll understand the meaning on
“A death certificate?” Bella whispered, eyes wide.“If she’s still alive, then why the hell is there a death certificate with her name on it?” she asked herself.Her fingers shook a little as she snatched the paper fast… before the doctor could turn around and see. She folded it twice and slipped i
Vivian stepped out of the bathroom, smiling brightly at everyone.“Oh…I forgot something in the car,” she whispered to Lucian, though he barely reacted.A reporter hurried forward. “Hold on, soon-to-be Mrs. Rodriguez…we’d love a quick kiss for the cameras.”Bella glanced at Lucian, waiting to see w
“There is no survival rate for that level of cancer,” Margaret said quietly. “I was once admitted to the hospital myself when I fell ill. That’s when I overheard the doctors talking about a rare case, the only one in the ward. A pregnant woman who needed an emergency C-section while struggling wit







