Se connecterELENAI didn’t know what time it was exactly.All I knew was that the moment the guest room door closed behind us, Cedric’s lips were already on mine again. The kiss was full of hunger—deep, demanding, and left no room to think. I kissed him back just as fiercely, my fingers clutching the collar of his robe as if I was afraid he might disappear.Unlike the dark corridor earlier, the lights in the guest room were still on, bright and unforgiving. The light made everything feel more real. I could see Cedric’s face clearly as he kissed me—his dark eyes full of desire, his jaw tight, and his lips slightly wet from our kiss.He slowly pushed me backward until the back of my legs touched the edge of the bed. Without breaking the kiss, Cedric lowered one hand to my waist while the other held the back of my neck, keeping our mouths locked together.Our breaths collided. The air between us felt hot.I knew this was wrong. But in that moment, the only thing I could feel was Cedric’s demanding m
ELENAThe moment I heard the hinges of the master bedroom door, I froze. The world suddenly spun.Before I could even process what was happening, my body was yanked roughly backward. My back slammed against the cold corridor wall, and a dark shadow immediately covered me. Cedric pinned me there, making my eyes widen in shock. Instinctively, I pressed my own palm over my mouth, holding back the sound that nearly escaped.In the dim light, I could see Cedric staring at me sharply through the darkness. One finger rose in front of his lips, giving me a clear signal to stay silent. I nodded slightly, even though my body was still trembling. My heart pounded so hard I was afraid the sound would carry all the way upstairs. Cedric kept pressing me against the wall with one hand beside my head, ready to cover my mouth again if I made any noise.Terrified of being discovered, I squeezed my eyes shut tightly. Cedric didn’t move either. Our bodies were nearly touching, yet neither of us dared shi
CEDRICI pushed open the door to the guest room at the end of the corridor.The moment it swung open, a female servant who had just finished preparing the room stepped out. She looked slightly startled to see me, then quickly bowed.“The room is ready, Mr. Cedric,” she said softly. “I’ve prepared a few changes of clothes in the wardrobe, as well as toiletries in the bathroom. If you need anything else, please press the bell beside the bed.”I gave a short nod. “Thank you.”The servant bowed once more before leaving. The door closed with a quiet click, and suddenly the room felt very still.I stood motionless for a moment, letting my eyes sweep over the space. A king-sized bed with dark gray sheets, a small sofa by the window, and a wooden wardrobe left slightly ajar. Inside, I could see several shirts and loose pants that had clearly been prepared for me.I let out a long breath, then walked toward the bathroom.The warm water running over my body should have been calming, but it had
CEDRICI nearly ran out of my office.The documents Gavin had handed me still felt heavy in my hands as I strode quickly down the corridor. My heart hadn’t settled since Rabbit’s last message. Every word she had written kept looping through my mind, making my breath come shorter than it should. The moment I reached the parking basement, I yanked open the car door and tossed the stack of papers onto the passenger seat with a rough, impatient motion. I didn’t care if the edges got crumpled. All that mattered was that the documents were inside the car.I slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and shoved the gear into drive. The tires gave a soft screech as I accelerated out of the office building. The night had grown darker. Streetlights reflected across the windshield, but I barely noticed them. My mind was fixed on only one place.Edward’s mansion.I pressed harder on the gas. The speed climbed steadily, as if reaching there faster would somehow give me an answer. But to what
CEDRICThat day, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.Even after Elena stepped out of the car and started walking away, my gaze followed every step. The slender line of her back, her hair slightly tousled by the wind, the way she hurried through the gates as if she were fleeing from me.I only stopped staring once her figure completely vanished behind the high walls of the mansion.My heart was still pounding harder than usual. I let out a quiet breath and leaned my head back against the headrest. My hands remained on the steering wheel, but my fingers had gone tense.I wouldn’t deny it—I wanted to relive that kiss of ours from the café all those months ago. I wanted to feel again how her lips had trembled beneath mine, how her body, which had first resisted, had slowly given in, and how that soft little sigh had escaped her when I deepened the kiss.I scrubbed a hand roughly over my face.Damn it.I knew this was wrong. I knew she was my brother’s wife. I knew she was carrying his child.
ELENA“Are you okay?”Cedric’s voice was so close. I could still feel his warm, steady breath against the back of my neck. I flinched, suddenly realizing I was still in his arms. Both of his hands were firmly holding my waist, keeping me from falling.I quickly pushed his hands away and shoved at his chest. But instead of steadying myself, I lost my balance again when my flat shoes slipped slightly on the smooth floor.“Ah!”Before I could fall a second time, Cedric moved even faster. His hands caught my waist again and pulled me forward. This time our bodies pressed closer together. And accidentally… the corner of his lips brushed against the corner of mine.It lasted only a fraction of a second. But it was enough to freeze my entire body.I went rigid. My heart pounded wildly. Cedric also froze. His eyes widened slightly, as if he had only just realized what had happened.Behind us, Dr. Lucy let out a small laugh.“My, how intimate,” she teased lightly. “Be careful, Mrs. Elena. Don’
ELENAThe next morning, the Ashford mansion felt far livelier than usual.Several maids moved back and forth through the dining room, placing dishes one after another onto the long table. The rich aroma of food filled the air, yet somehow it only made my stomach turn again.I took a slow breath bef
ELENAI wasn’t sure if I had truly woken up or if part of me was still trapped in the night I desperately wanted to forget.All I knew was that my body felt unfamiliar the moment I opened my eyes. When I turned my head, Cedric was sleeping soundly beside me. For a few seconds, I could only stare at
ELENAIt was already six in the evening when I finally returned from the hospital.The moment I stepped into the bedroom, the first thing I saw was that dress. I picked it up slowly. The fabric was thin and light, revealing far more skin than I was ever comfortable showing.Edward hadn’t only given
ELENAI didn’t sleep at all that night.After leaving Edward’s study, I sat motionless at the edge of the bed. It was already two in the morning, yet his words still echoed relentlessly inside my head.Divorce me… or sleep with another man to give me an heir.I squeezed my eyes shut.The cruel part







