MasukELENAThe moment Cedric finished speaking, he gently drew me closer by the nape of my neck, and we kissed again. This time, the kiss was far deeper, filled with hunger, longing, and complete surrender. Somehow, as if he could read every subtle movement of my body, Cedric seemed to know that every breathless sigh and every kiss I returned was an unequivocal answer to his offer.I was willing. I was choosing him, and I was ready to follow wherever he might take me.And the next morning...Soft morning sunlight slipped through the gap in the penthouse bedroom curtains, warming my bare skin as I lay exposed beneath the sheets of the king-size bed.I blinked slowly, allowing my eyes to adjust before my consciousness fully returned. Just as I was about to move, I felt a warm weight around my waist and froze. Cedric's strong arm was wrapped tightly around me, keeping me nestled against his body.I held my breath for a moment before lowering my gaze to peek beneath the blanket covering us. A
ELENACedric and I had been staying in his luxurious penthouse in his hometown for three days now. The place felt like an impenetrable fortress, far beyond Edward's reach and the dark shadows of a past that had nearly driven me insane. It had everything Leon needed, and the staff treated us with the utmost respect, almost as if I were the lady of the house.But the luxury wasn't what made my heart race every day.It was the man who owned this place.Throughout the three days we'd spent under the same roof, Cedric had never once brought up what he'd said that night—not his insistence that I come with him, let alone his offer of marriage. He had treated me with remarkable patience, always respecting my boundaries. He gave me time to adjust, allowed Leon to settle in peacefully, and devoted whatever time he had left to recovering from his surgery.Today, the penthouse was unusually quiet. The late-afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing the sprawling c
CEDRICThe black sedan Gavin was driving sped through the city streets, still slick from the recent rain. I leaned back in the passenger seat, wincing slightly as I tried to endure the lingering pain in my back following the bone marrow donation surgery. My eyes were fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, but my mind was anything but at ease.Up front, Gavin glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his brow deeply furrowed. It was obvious he had his doubts."Are you sure you want to see Elena right now, Cedric?" Gavin asked, his voice tinged with concern and protest. "Didn't she already turn down your offer yesterday? Besides, you were only just discharged from the hospital. You're nowhere near fully recovered.""Not only did she turn me down yesterday, she rejected me again just now over WhatsApp," I replied casually.That, however, did nothing to change my mind about seeing her."And you're still insisting on going? Aren't you afraid she'll throw you out?""Didn't Elena
ELENAEver since that brief, unexpected encounter in the hospital corridor, I hadn't been able to find peace. Edward Ashford's cold expression, his piercing gaze, and the contemptuous tone of his voice kept replaying in my mind like a nightmare I couldn't escape.I paced back and forth in the living room of my modest little flat, nervously wringing my cold fingers. My heart raced every time I heard a noise outside in the hallway. I knew that man wouldn't simply let things go if he found out I was living in the same city as him—especially if he discovered my child's existence.My phone suddenly vibrated on the table, breaking the suffocating silence. A message had arrived from a number I knew by heart.Cedric:Elena, are you okay? Edward came to the hospital and caused quite a scene. I'm worried he might be looking for you. You should come stay with me somewhere safer, at least for the time being.I stared at the screen for a long moment, an ache of guilt and sorrow swelling in my ches
EDWARD"Elmo," I hissed, my voice low and laced with a menace that could tear anyone in this room apart. "Find out which room my brother is being kept in. Now."The hospital director standing before me stiffened, his face turning deathly pale at the sound of my furious command. Before Elmo could step forward and grab the man by the collar, the middle-aged director hurriedly bowed, trembling with fear."M-Mr. Edward! Please, just a moment!" he stammered. "I... I'll take you there myself! Mr. Cedric is in the exclusive VIP ward on the top floor."My long strides struck the hospital's marble floors in a steady, ominous rhythm. Elmo followed closely behind me, while the director hurried ahead, practically running and struggling to keep up with my furious pace.It didn't take long for us to reach a pair of imposing double wooden doors at the exclusive VIP ward on the top floor. The director immediately bowed and rushed to open them for me before scurrying away, clearly unwilling to get cau
EDWARDAfter an hour-long flight aboard my private jet, I arrived at the hospital where Cedric was being treated. My footsteps echoed authoritatively through the corridors of the town's most prestigious private hospital. The sharp smell of disinfectant stung my nostrils, disrupting the comfort and luxury I was accustomed to. Still, my curiosity far outweighed my discomfort.I was about to turn toward the VIP ward when my steps suddenly came to a halt.A woman in modest clothing had just stepped out of one of the rooms. Her body went rigid the moment our eyes met.Elena.After all this time, here we were, staring at each other in mutual disbelief.Yes, she was considerably thinner than the last time I'd seen her.Her face turned deathly pale, and her eyes widened, unmistakable fear flashing across them. She stood frozen for a moment before abruptly turning around and hurrying away, as though desperate to escape me."Why are you acting as if you've just seen a ghost, Elena?" My cold voi
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







