Mag-log in5An hour later... Ethan's study.I stared at the black-and-white text printed on the papers before me, a suffocating coldness spreading through my veins.I lifted my gaze, staring across the heavy mahogany desk at Ethan with utter disbelief."I cheated? I'm an addict who has repeatedly refused rehab?" I whispered, my voice trembling with disgust."You just have to confirm those statements to the press, and I'll wire $100,000 to your account immediately," Ethan replied casually, leaning back in his leather chair. "Don't tell me you don't want to save your mother?""Why on earth would I agree to destroy my own life?" I hissed, clutching the edge of the desk. "Do you take me for a complete fool? After three years of marriage, this is how you repay me? By dragging my name through the mud just to pave a clean path for “her”?""Oh, don't be so dramatic," Ethan scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm paying you to put on a show for the public. In a few weeks, I'll release another PR dis
4The ride to Premier Care Hospital passed in a blur. All I could think of was my mother.'Why had she relapsed so suddenly? Was she going to make it? Should I call my father? Would he even care?’My thoughts were in such complete disarray that I didn't even realize we had pulled up to the hospital entrance.I was so consumed by panic that I didn't notice Damian getting out until my side of the door swung open.He leaned into the vehicle, his broad frame blocking out the streetlights as he reached across me to unbuckle my seatbelt."Mr. Sterling—""Damian," he corrected softly, his dark eyes locking onto mine as he unlatched the belt. "Call me Damian."I didn't answer. The moment the buckle released, I stepped out of the car, deliberately avoiding his outstretched hand."Thank you for the ride, Mr. Sterling, but I'll take it from here," I said, stepping back when I realized he intended to walk me inside. "You don't need to come with me.""Arabella—""Thank you. But I'm fine... really.
3"Why?" Damian whispered, leaning down slightly so his warm breath brushed the side of my neck. "Is that why you try to shrink yourself whenever I'm around?"His gaze lingered on mine. "You weren't this afraid of me a year ago.”My heart plummeted into my stomach.Had he noticed? The lingering glances I thought I'd hidden so carefully? The secret breathlessness I'd always fought whenever he walked into a room?Did he know I'd been noticing every glance, every quiet moment between us since the night he'd saved me from Ethan's enemies a year ago, when my husband had been too busy with Sienna to even realize I was missing?"I… I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered, pulling back as much as the bar behind me would allow.How could I ever admit something like that out loud?Damian took another step forward, eliminating every inch of space between us.Unwanted heat spread through me instantly, my heart hammering against my ribs and my breath hitching in my chest."Then why di
2 For a moment, I wanted to know what was so urgent that the usually aloof Damian Sterling needed to see me at this hour. Then reality crashed back over me. 'Screw the Sterling family.'I turned on my heel, ignoring the sleek black sedan waiting down the street. I flagged down a passing cab instead. I needed to think. I needed to drown the ache in my chest. I needed to get completely numb.***The club sat on the outer edge of the city—well outside Sterling territory. It was a dim, loud, neutral sanctuary. A place where broken men came to forget and hurting women came to disappear. Perfect. The moment I stepped inside, the bass washed over me. The air smelled of expensive whiskey, heat, and reckless decisions. I slid off my coat, instantly feeling the weight of the room's attention shift toward me. They weren't looking at me as Mrs. Sterling. They were looking at a solitary woman in a mid-thigh red lace dress—an outfit meant for a surprise party with my husband that had turned
AUTHOR’S NOTE ❤️ Dear Lovelies, I want to take a moment to say thank you and sorry. Thank you for reading Cara’s story, for waiting patiently for each update, for leaving comments, sharing your thoughts, and for continuing to support me even when the updates have been slower than usual. Unfortunately, I've been trying to write Cara’s story as a standalone but the platform doesn't think it's good enough. Due to that updates on Cara and Martin’s story will be stopped from now on until the story is revised to meet the required standard. I'm sorry if you're already invested in it. The truth is you're not alone, this is one of my favourite stories that I wanted to share with my readers and it hurts me deeply. That said, I'll be updating an entirely different story from now on, titled: “My Husband's Father wants me.” This is a completely different story that is not related to Aria/Kayden's story. It's a standalone. Your messages, votes, reviews, and kind words would mean
21Cara and Lucas had barely stepped out of the luxury sedan when a figure stepped into their path near the grand stone pillars of the main entrance.It was Roman—Lucas’s cousin and his fiercest, most ruthless competitor within the Davis empire.For as long as Cara could remember, Roman had been a constant thorn in Lucas’s side, forever plotting to strip him of his standing. He leaned casually against the granite pillar, looking like a gentle scholar with his gold-rimmed glasses perched delicately on his nose, his dark eyes locked onto them. Even though he presented a harmless demeanor in his tailored charcoal suit and amiable smile, Cara knew better than to trust the snake hiding behind those polished manners.Roman’s gaze drifted slowly downward, landing squarely on Cara’s flat stomach with a glint of calculation. “I hear congratulations are in order,” Roman said, his tone dripping with condescension. “You really timed this well, Cousin. Getting your wife pregnant just as Grandfa
“Mrs. Ariana Hunt, can you repeat what you just said?” A bold reporter asked. Jayden made eye contact with James, giving him a silent instruction, to which James nodded, disappearing to the side. “Jayden and I are getting a di…” Aria's remaining words went unheard as the microphone went off. She
“What happened to my father?!” Aria exclaimed.Kayden turned and found Aria behind him with a worried look on her face. ‘Shit! When did she follow him? He didn't even hear her footsteps.’ Realizing no one was answering her question, she tried to open the door wider to ask Mike herself, but Kayden
"Is that important? I nearly lost my and the baby's life there. Shouldn't you worry about that?" After having breakfast this morning and touring the mansion, she felt bored and decided to try some recipes she had seen online to pass the time. The truth is that even though she was practically the
Trigger warning; Scenes of abuse ahead. Please skip it if you are uncomfortable…Master X’s mansion… 5 hours earlier… Samantha lay sprawled on the floor with her eyes blank…Pain—she felt pain all over. She couldn't even lift a finger; she was wrecked and used beyond limit because the monster thoug







