LOGIN“Do you regret it?” he whispered, as he pushed my night gown above my breasts. My heart pounded as his fingers trailed down my skin, stopping just above the lace on my thighs. “I should,” I said barely above a whisper “But I can’t.” His lips curved into a wicked smirk and his hands tore my pants into shreds. “Then say it, Elise. Say you’re mine.” And I did, knowing that the man I’d just given myself to… might be the reason my mother was killed. Elise Anderson never believed in love after betrayal destroyed her world. Her fiancé and best friend planned to kill her for her inheritance, and she swore never to be weak again. So she made a deal with the devil himself, he was a man called Ravien Drayton, Verya’s most ruthless billionaire. It was supposed to be a contract marriage, as it escalated from kissed to steamy nights And when secrets began to unravel, Elise discovered the man she loved was her stepbrother, and the son of her mother’s killer. Now she’s trapped between vengeance and desire, torn between the truth that could destroy them… and a love that refuses to die.
View MoreElise's POV
"Yes... oh God, yes... harder, baby..."
That was the voice I heard that made me freeze at my own front door, key halfway to the lock. That voice sounds just like my best friend, Olivia's voice.
"You like that? Tell me how much better I am than her." I heard another, and that's Morris, my fiancee.
Wait, Morris?
My hand trembles as the key slips in clattering against the doorknob. I could hear my own heart beat at that point.
No, this can't be happening.
The sounds grow louder as I step inside. This is our apartment and the same place where Morris proposed to me six months ago.
"Baby, you're so much tighter than Elise..." I heard as my feet carried me forward, down the hallway, toward our bedroom and when the door is cracked open, through the gap, I saw them.
Olivia is on her hands and knees on my bed, and Morris is behind her, gripping her hips, thrusting into her with an urgency I haven't seen in months.
"Does she know?" Olivia gasps between moans. "Does she suspect anything?"
"About us?" Morris laughs,
"Elise? She's clueless."
"And the policy?" Olivia's voice drops lower,
"The life insurance?"
"Already done. Fifty million, baby. All mine once the accident is arranged." He said and my legs almost gave out.
"When?" She asked.
"Two weeks. Maybe less. I'm just waiting for...fuck, I'm close..."
I couldn't listen anymore as I stumble backward, my hand flying to my mouth to stop the sob coming up my throat.
I had just went to Harrington & Associates, the event planning firm where I'd worked for three years. Mr. Harrington had asked me to come in early to finalize the contract for the Montgomery wedding, a huge account, one that would finally give me the promotion I'd been working toward.
I'd been so excited and I'd even texted Morris
: "Big day today! Wish me luck!"
He'd replied: "You don't need luck, babe. You're amazing. Love you."
What a liar.
I was gathering my things, ready to head to lunch with Mr. Harrington to celebrate signing the contract, when I grabbed my bag and felt paper crinkle inside. It was off because I didn't remember putting any documents in my personal bag.
Curious, I pulled out a folded document and it turned out to be an Insurance Policy.
It says it was Insured by me and that the beneficiary was Morris James Jones, for a sum of Fifty million dollars.
My signature was at the bottom. But I'd never seen this document before, talkless of signing it.
I held it up to the light, examining the signature. It looked exactly like mine, like someone had copied my signature.
My hands started shaking, why would Morris need a life insurance policy on me? Why would he forge my signature? There had to be an explanation as maybe it was a mistake, maybe he'd gotten confused, thought I'd signed it when I hadn't.
I'd called him about three times and when there was still no answer. I'd texted though he didn't reply.
I'd left the office in a daze, barely remembering to tell Mr. Harrington I felt sick, that I needed to go home.
I'd driven home on autopilot, with my mind spinning with possibilities of what was going on as I seriously hoped that whatever it was that I was thinking of is not real.
Life hasn't been easy ever since my mom had died about four years ago. My dad had in my younger years abandoned my mom and I and she had struggled to bring me up in the best way possible, only for her to be murdered without any trace.
The murderer is still out there doing whatever, as the case remained unsolved till it was closed.
Morris and Oliva had been with me all those years without my mother, they had been the family I never had, and now... God! they're going to kill me? A sound escapes my throat, and I clap my hand over my mouth, but it's too late.
The sounds from the bedroom stop and I knew they had known I was there
"What was that?" Olivia's asked.
"Probably nothing. Stay quiet." He replied and I soon heard footsteps coming outside.
I stumble backward, and my elbow catches a picture frame on the hallway table. It crashes to the floor, and the glass shattered.
"Fuck! Someone's here!" He said before kicking the door open with his legs. Morris stands there, completely naked, his face flushed as Olivia scrambles to cover herself with my sheets.
Morris's eyes lock on mine and we just stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.
"Elise." His voice is too calm. "Baby, this isn't what it looks like."
"Really?" My voice cracks. "Because it looks like you're fucking my best friend in our bed while planning to murder me for fifty million dollars."
His expression doesn't change, neither did he act like he was ashamed, that's when I know, this isn't the man I thought I loved.
"You weren't supposed to be home yet," he says, and starts walking toward me slowly.
And before I knew what was happening, he reaches for the kitchen doorway and he comes back holding a knife.
"Morris?" My voice is barely a whisper.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry, Elise. I really am." He doesn't sound sorry.
"But you've left me no choice. We needed more time. The accident was supposed to look natural. But now..."
He takes another step forward.
"Now we have to improvise." He said slowly.
"Morris, please..."
"It'll be quick. I promise." He said and he lunges at me.
Instinct takes over. I see the knife coming toward me, and my body moves before my brain can catch up. I kicked his balls and he immediately fell on his knees, holding them in agony.
"You bitch!" Olivia screams, finally wrapping the sheet around herself and rushing to his side.
"You fucking bitch!"
I didn't wait to hear more, I just ran away. I didn't even care if he was still chasing me or not.
When I got out the door,I just had to keep running.
It was already at night, and since our estate gets very silent even at night, no one was outside.
I was getting very scared and could hear footsteps approaching from my house. That was when I spotted a black car parked not too far from where I was standing.
The headlights were still on and I could see someone sitting in it and about starting the car. I immediately ran towards it and got in.
"Drive, please." I said to the driver as soon as I got in, not even bothering to look at his face.
Elise’s POVThe pasta bowls sat empty between us, but neither of us moved to clear them.The silence wasn’t empty anymore. It was thick with everything we hadn’t said yet...about the photo, about the threat, and about the fact that in three days we would stand in front of a clerk and sign papers that would bind us in the eyes of the law, even if the truth between us was still a tangle of half-formed trust and unspoken want.Ravien’s phone vibrated again in his pocket. He ignored it the same way he ignored the first one. His eyes stayed on me.“You’re thinking too hard,” he said quietly.“I’m thinking exactly the right amount.” I traced the rim of my water glass with one finger. “Someone knows. About my mother. About your father. About us. And they’re watching close enough to time that message perfectly.”He nodded once. “Which means they’re either inside the family or they have someone who is.”“Your mother?”“Possible.” His jaw tightened. “But she’s not subtle. If she wanted to scar
Ravien’s POV While she opened cabinets looking for something simple, I leaned against the island and watched her. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear. The way her fingers hesitated over the box of pasta like she was remembering something. “My mother used to make spaghetti when I was sick,” she said suddenly. “Not fancy. Just butter and parmesan. She said it fixed everything.” I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything. She glanced over her shoulder. “Did your mother ever cook for you?” “Evelyn?” The name tasted sour. “She hired people for that. She said the kitchen was no place for a Drayton.” Elise made a soft sound...not quite a laugh, not quite a scoff. “Figures.” She filled a pot with water, and set it on the stove. The simple domesticity of it felt obscene after everything that had happened today. I pushed off the island. “Let me.” She stepped aside without argument. I found olive oil, garlic, and dried chilli. Nothing fancy, but enough. While t
Ravien’s POV The elevator chime had barely faded when Elise’s phone buzzed again in her pocket. She flinched a little bit, almost imperceptible...but I caught it. The way her shoulders drew up, the quick press of her lips together. Something was wrong. Something had been wrong since the hallway outside my grandfather’s office. I crossed the room in four strides. “Who is it?” She pulled the phone out slowly, as if it might bite. The screen lit her face in cold blue. I saw the color drain from her cheeks before she could steady her expression. “Unknown,” she said. Too quickly. “Show me.” For a second I thought she would refuse. Then she turned the screen toward me. The photo first, was grainy, old, and unmistakable. Catherine Morgan walked beside my father, the younger versions of both, their fingers laced on each other like they had never planned to let go. Then the messages below. They never stopped looking. You’re next unless you walk away from him. Tonight. My blood tu
Elise’s POVRavien didn’t let go of my hand until we reached the private elevator.The doors slid shut, sealing us inside a mirrored box that looked like it reflected every fractured piece of what we’d just become.Step-siblings.The word kept repeating in my head like a broken record, each syllable felt heavier.I stared at our joined hands in the reflection...his fingers were long and strong, mine was smaller, my knuckles white from gripping too hard. I should pull away. The contract had rules. The truth had just rewritten every single one of them.But I didn’t.Neither did he.When the elevator opened onto the underground parking level, he finally released me, but only to open the passenger door of the black SUV waiting there. Camden stood beside it, his expression was carefully blank.“Straight home, sir?” he asked.“Yes,” Ravien answered. “And clear my schedule for the rest of the day.”Camden nodded once and disappeared toward the security booth.We drove out of the garage in si












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