LOGINThe next evening, the Knight family's old mansion blazed with light.
The car passed through the gated security and stopped in front of the estate. A house built on generations of power. I stepped out. I'd chosen a soft lilac off-shoulder silk gown tonight. Simple lines. But the fabric made my skin glow. Elegant. Understated. Not flashy, but impossible to ignore. Respectful enough for a junior. Confident enough to demand respect in return. Alexander came around the carAlexander's words hit Gerald where it hurt. His face darkened. His breathing grew heavier. He stared at his grandson. The heir he'd groomed himself. Trading the family empire for a woman's freedom and status. Absurd. Unacceptable. But he had no choice. Not now. This grandson would burn it all down for her. He couldn't win that fight. Stabilize the situation. Then plan the next move. After a long moment, Gerald exhaled slowly. "The appointment letter will be on your desk tomorrow." Alexander stood. Adjusted his cuffs. "Grandfather. Partnership requires trust." "You invited Lisa tonight. You acknowledged her place." "When I go back, I expect everyone at Knight Group—everyone in this family—to remember that." "From now on, she's me. Treat her accordingly." "Anyone who disrespects her? Anyone who whispers behind her back? They answer to me." "That's my line." He walked to the door. His hand rested on th
The next evening, the Knight family's old mansion blazed with light. The car passed through the gated security and stopped in front of the estate. A house built on generations of power. I stepped out. I'd chosen a soft lilac off-shoulder silk gown tonight. Simple lines. But the fabric made my skin glow. Elegant. Understated. Not flashy, but impossible to ignore. Respectful enough for a junior. Confident enough to demand respect in return. Alexander came around the car. His hand found mine. Warm. Solid. "Nervous?" "No." I met his eyes. There was light in them. "You're running interference. I'm just here for the show." He laughed softly. Led me inside. "If anyone's not worth your time, just smile and nod." The door was heavy. A servant bowed and led the way. We passed through courtyard after courtyard before reaching the main hall. Light flooded the space. People everywhere. The head of the table was empty. Ger
Elena looked at the agreement, then at me.I was radiant. Confident. My eyes held nothing but ambition and genuine warmth.The weight of being trusted hit Elena like a floodlight, cutting through the years of darkness she'd locked herself in.Her heart pounded. Blood warmed in her veins.She took a deep breath. Closed the folder. When she looked up, there was no hesitation left. Only resolve."How long do I have to get up to speed?"My lips curved. I picked up my coffee."Start now."Elena picked up the pen. She didn't ask another question. She signed her name cleanly at the bottom of the agreement.The strokes were sharp. Confident. Nothing like the soft, hesitant girl she'd been.I watched her sign. Something flickered in my eyes. Respect."Welcome aboard."Elena set down the pen. She reached out. Our hands met in a firm shake."Looking forward to working with you, Ms. White."Sunlight caught our joined hands. L
Sophia's voice was soft, tentative."Consider it a celebration. For your wedding.""I'm busy."My reply was crisp. I walked to the window, watching the traffic crawl below."His schedule's packed. I've got a mountain of things to handle."A beat of silence on the other end."What about this weekend?"Sophia wouldn't give up. Her voice softened further."It's my birthday this weekend. No one else. Just family. We could have cake together?""You could stay in your old room. I've kept it ready."She added the last part deliberately, layering on the nostalgia."That window seat you loved as a child. The sun coming in, warming everything up."Something pricked at my chest. Small. Sharp.That room. That window seat. Sophia knew exactly which scars to press.There was a time when I would have given anything to hear those words from her. "Come home for dinner." Even the simplest meal would have made me happy for days.
Ethan's throat constricted.Blood rushed to his head, then drained away just as fast.He saw me leaning lazily against Alexander's side.My slip dress was rumpled, fresh hickeys dark against my collarbone.Every detail was a knife, carving away the last shreds of his dignity.He'd promised himself he could do it.Face me and call me what I was now.His stepmother.He thought he could handle it.But now, with the words right there, they stuck in his throat like broken glass.Six years.The woman who had once been his girlfriend was now claimed, marked, owned by another man.His adoptive father.The irony gutted him.He tried to force the sound out.All that came was a strangled whisper.Alexander's palm rested on my lower back.His gaze was flat, dismissive."Can't say it?"His voice was calm.It carried no heat.But it pressed down like a weight on Ethan's spine."You had pl
Alexander didn't bother with an answer.To prove his theory, he suddenly swept me off my feet, carrying me bridal-style toward the master suite."Alexander! It's the middle of the day!"I kicked my legs in protest, but I was pinned firmly against his broad, solid chest."Daylight is better," he murmured, his voice a low vibration against my ribs.He kicked the bedroom door open and tossed me onto the plush, oversized mattress before pinning me down with the full, delicious weight of his body."I can see you more clearly this way.""Wait... Alexander..."I tried to protest, but he caught my lips in a bruising, hungry kiss that stole the very air from my lungs."Tell me first... what exactly...""After we're done."The afternoon sun blazed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, turning the air in the room thick and sweltering.He was more intense than usual—more desperate, more obsessed.His hands were everywhere, s
The sun dipped toward the horizon, bathing the small courtyard in a warm, amber glow.With our flight scheduled for eight that evening, Alexander and I were getting ready to head to the airport.Sir Arthur stood at the gate, his rough, calloused palm landing on Alexander's shoulder with
I tossed my words out lightly, slicing through the thin, delicate tension between the two Knight men.Alexander Knight turned slowly.A cold, mocking smile tugged at his lips."Always finding ways to put me to work, Miss White.""What’s your advice? Go on.""It&rsqu
Alexander's palm closed around hers, steadying the fishing rod firmly between her fingers."Mermaid?""Not in this sea."His voice brushed her ear, laced with quiet amusement."But there's a disobedient one on this boat."I opened my mouth to reply.The warm pad of h
The white yacht sliced through the azure sea, its engines humming a steady, low purr. A briny wind, sharp with the tang of the open sea, swept into the cabin.I leaned against the porthole, watching the pier shrink into a cluster of colorful blocks in the distance.Alexander sat opposit







