เข้าสู่ระบบ"What if..."Violet's voice was barely above a whisper."What if you're already in love with her?"I froze.Was I?Could I have fallen for Genesis in such a short time?When I didn't even believe in love?No.That was impossible.I barely knew her.So why...Why did the word no refuse to leave my mouth?Why did saying it suddenly feel like I was betraying Genesis?My hand remained on the doorknob.Before I could answer, I felt Violet move closer.Her arms slipped around my waist from behind, her cheek resting lightly against my back."I know you hate it when I'm clingy," she murmured."But you have to understand."Her fingers tightened slightly."This is the only life I've ever known.""From the day I was born, everyone decided we'd get married.""Our families.""Our companies.""Our future.""We were supposed to merge everything.""And rule together.""Remember our deal?" she asked softly.That one sentence settled over my shoulders like a weight.It always had.The words dragged me
The Winslow mansion was already awake by the time I arrived.One of the maids looked up the moment I stepped inside."Good morning, Mr. Thorne."She offered a polite smile."You just missed Mr. and Mrs. Winslow by a few minutes. But if you're here to see them, I can let them know you're waiting.""No."I took off my sunglasses."I'm here to see Violet."The smile on her face faltered."Y-Yes, sir. I'll go get her.""There won't be any need."I was already walking toward the staircase."I know where her room is."The maid quickly stepped aside.My footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway as I made my way to her door.I knocked once.Then again."Come in."I pushed the door open.Violet was sitting by her vanity, brushing her hair.The moment she saw me, her eyes widened.She immediately stood."August?"She frowned."What are you doing here?"I shut the door behind me."You know exactly why I'm here."Her expression hardened."What the fuck was that stunt your friend pulled with Gene
"Genesis, what happened?"The look on her face went from shock to anger instantly.She avoided my gaze."It's nothing.""Genesis.""Esme, I think we should leave now."She grabbed Esme's hand.I quickly stopped her.She tried to pull free, but my hold tightened."August, what are you doing?" Esme snapped."Let her go."I ignored her.My eyes stayed on Genesis."Talk to me."She laughed.A bitter laugh."Oh, talk about what?""Genesis"She shook her head."There's nothing to talk about."Then she turned to Esme."I need to leave now.""I'm not leaving Genesis here." Esme folded her arms. "She's upset. I'll take her in my car and drive her home."I held out my hand."The keys."Esme narrowed her eyes."No.""The keys."She stared at me for a second.Then tossed them over.I caught them."Axel take her home.""Excuse me?" Axel called from somewhere behind us.Nobody paid attention.I turned and walked toward the parking lot before either woman could argue anymore.By the time I got there
After dinner, we got back into the car.I thought we were heading home.Instead, Esme stopped in front of a nightclub."Esme?"I looked at her."I thought we were going home.""We are."She grinned."Eventually."I groaned."We had a big dinner. We need to dance it off.""Seriously?"She laughed."I mean, look at you."Her eyes swept over me dramatically."You look beautiful tonight. You should let the world appreciate you."I rolled my eyes."I think you have to be the only sister-in-law who wants other men gawking at her brother's wife.""Oh?"She smirked."Now you're claiming him as your husband?""You know what I mean."I felt my cheeks warm.She laughed."I was teasing."I settled back into my seat.“Besides, like you said before, August and you are only husband and wife on paper.”Nobody here knew that."Come on, we'll stay for only thirty minutes" Esme said."Tw
"Bro, how are you sulking right now."Axel leaned back against the booth, raising his voice over the music blasting through the club.I rubbed a hand over my face."I'm not.""Then why do you look like someone just shot your dog?"I exhaled."I've just got a lot on my mind."Axel laughed."If you came all the way out here just to think, you could've stayed home."I shook my head.Then he smirked."Let me guess.""Don't.""Genesis."I rolled my eyes."No."The annoying thing was that she hadn't actually been on my mind.Well.Not until he said her name.I took a sip of my drink."I just... worry about her sometimes."Axel shrugged."That's normal.""Why?""Because she's kind of your responsibility now."I frowned."That's not even it.""What is it then?"I hesitated.Then sighed."Esme said something today.""What did she say?"I stared into my glass."S
"Get your hands off her. Now."Everything stopped.The receptionist froze.The security guards immediately let go of me.I closed my eyes tightly.Ashamed.Humiliated.Did being poor mean people could treat me like this?"It's okay. I got you."I knew that voice.My eyes flew open."Esme?"She rushed toward me."What are you doing here?"Before she answered, she slipped off her jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.Only then did I notice the man standing behind her.John.August's head of security, with a few others standing behind him.My stomach twisted.How were they here?Esme's expression darkened."John tracked the accounts bullying you online and ended up here"She glanced toward the blonde woman.Then she smiled coldly."When he told me, I decided to come with him."Her gaze landed on the blonde."To slap some senses into Maddie Reynolds."The girl visibly paled.
“I own you.”The words hit so hard my stomach twisted.He blocked my path completely, both hands against the wall beside my head, his body too close, too warm.I opened my mouth, ready to snap back. Tell him nobody owned me. Not him. Not my father. Not anybody.But my voice could only come out bare
“What… a divorce?”My expression mirrored everyone else in the courtroom."You can’t possibly suggest a divorce,” Violet snapped, stepping forward again.“Miss,” the judge said calmly, “I can and I will if that is what the parties involved agree to.”“So you’re saying August becomes a divorcee?” sh
I had always been careful, so waking up naked beside my boss that morning, my boss who wasn’t even my type, felt like the beginning of a disaster I wouldn’t survive.After everything that followed, I convinced myself I could forget him. Forget Vegas. Forget that night ever happened.Now it was all
Then silence after I knocked stretched painfully long. Then, a second later, the door creaked open. I froze. There she was, Genesis Michaelson, the very woman I’d spent over twenty-four hours trying to find, while finding out things about her I never thought off. For a moment, neither of us spok







