ANMELDENChloe's POV
This man was tall and very cute, with a sharp jawline and dark eyes that seemed to see right through the dark. Even in a dim alley, he looked incredibly handsome and expensive. He didn't have a single scratch on him. "Are you okay?" he asked. His voice was deep, and completely calm. I didn't answer. I just shook my head, my chest heaving as I tried to stop crying. Damn it, I really thought I would die, from Nathan and Naomi's betrayal and now these weirdos? I reached down, grabbed my purse from the dirty ground, and tried to push past him. My legs were still shaking, but I just wanted to get away from this alley, away from the club, away from everything. Before I could take two steps, his hand wrapped around my wrist. His grip wasn't hurtful, but it was tight. "Let go of me," I snapped, my old sharp tongue trying to kick back in. "I need to get outta here." "My Princess, you can barely even stand," he said, his eyes locking onto mine. There was something totally commanding about him, like he was used to everyone doing exactly what he said. "Look at your knees. You're shaking. I'm not letting you walk out like this." "Like what?" I flared out. "You don't know me! Listen, Just let me go!" I yelled, pulling against his grip. But the movement made my head spinviolentl, my eyes blurring the scenary in front of me. The mix of the club music, the attack, the alcohol, and that horrible white pill finally crashed into my brain all at once. My filters were completely gone. The anger boiled over, and I just snapped. "My best friend is fucking with my husband!" I screamed right at his face, tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn't care that he was a stranger. I just had to get it out. "Husband of three years! Well, they've actually been together since college. They're still here somewhere and I can't let them see me like this!" The man didn't move. He just watched me, his dark eyes narrowing. "And you know what the best part is?" I laughed, a bitter, shaking sound that turned into another sob. "I can't even have a baby! I thought something was wrong with me. But they've been drugging me all this while. My best friend forces me to take pills every single week so I don't get pregnant. They want to steal my mom's empire from me. They want everything." My legs gave out completely this time. I started to fall, but he caught me instantly. He pulled my body tight against his chest, his strong arms wrapping around me so securely that I couldn't move even if I wanted to. He was like a wall of solid heat. "Shh," he murmured near my ear, his voice dropping into a low, possessive tone. "I've got you, my princess. You're safe now." I didn't even have the strength to confront him. His princess? What the hell was that? He carried me up effortlessly, lifting me right off the cold ground, down the alley to a sleek black car that was waiting outside. The driver quickly opened the back door, and the man slid inside, keeping me close against his chest. "Drive, Javi." His voice was deep and commanding. I leaned my head against his expensive suit jacket. I was still crying, my face wet against the smooth fabric. The car was warm and quiet, a total contrast to the chaotic club and the dark alley. He took a clean handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the tears from my cheeks. "My name is Derek," he said, looking down at me. "Your husband must be completely blind. And your friend is definitely pure evil." I looked up at him, my vision still a little blurry from the drugs and alcohol. But I found myself laughing at that. "Cheers to that, my man." I laughed out again. "You are beautiful, my princess," Derek said, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "You are worth so much more than what they did to you. He is a fool for not seeing what he had." Hearing those words made something break inside me. For three years, Nathan had ignored me. He made me feel like an object, a checkbox on his daily schedule. He never looked at me like I mattered. But Derek was looking at me like I was the only thing in the room. Under his steady gaze and his warm comfort, I felt genuinely appreciated. I felt desired for the very first time in my life. A sudden, sharp wave of anger and pain washed over me, mixed with the strange heat of the drugs in my system. Nathan was out there with Naomi right now, making a misery of my life. I didn't want to be the sad, tricked wife anymore. I wanted revenge…I had to feel alive. I threw myself at him, grabbing his shirt, and he gave a start. "Tell me I'm sexy, and you would love to fuck me nice and good." The words I'd been thinking in my head slipped out without any filter and I almost regretted it. Almost. Derek froze. His eyes darkened, becoming incredibly intense. He stared at me for a long moment, scanning my face to see if I meant it. The air inside the car felt thick and heavy…Then, he breathed hard. "Oh my princess, you have no idea what you're asking me." My chest was beating fast, though my sharp voice did not betray me. "I'm serious, handsome. I'm damn serious." His presence was so close, almost suffocating but then in a good way. Derek didn't hesitate anymore. He wrapped his strong arms around my neck, not applying any pressure, just holding me as he pulled me against his body. His lips slammed into mine, kissing me hard. Shaky breaths left my trembling lips as I clung on to him tighter. He made his way down, pressing kisses down my neck and chest causing my nipples to harden instantly. "You're driving me so insane, you don't even know." I heard him muttered, his lips next to my ear lobe. A short while later, we arrived at his private penthouse. He carried me inside, straight to his massive bed. The betrayal by Nathan and Naomi was still burning in the back of my mind, but as Derek pressed his warm weight over me, the pain started to fade. That night, driven by a need for comfort and revenge, I let go of everything.Chloe's POVI forced my voice to stay calm, trying to act like it was no big deal. I needed to set a clear boundary right now. "Bianca, this is Derek. He's... A…one of our, um, business partners."Derek let out a small, amused sound. He leaned closer to the open window. "Business partners?" he repeated, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a playful, dangerous look. "Is that what I am? Well, you could say, we're business partners indeed. I mean, we are much closer after what happened at the bar last night."My heart stopped, panic hitting me like a physical blow. Bianca was right there! If he said anything rated 18 about last night…I didn't want her to start asking questions I couldn't answer!"It's just…the way you left in a hurry—"Without thinking, I stomped on his foot, pretending like I'd slipped or something. "Oh God." I straightened up again. This man! "Fine," I snapped, cutting him off before he could say another word. I marched forward and opened the back door of the SUV. "W
Chloe's POV The sun was barely up when I got out of Derek's bed. My head still throbbed, and my entire body felt heavy. I got dressed quickly, my hands shaking as I pulled my dress back on.Derek woke up and leaned back, resting on the bed frame. "Let me have my driver take you home," he said, his voice was deep and bold. I hated to admit it but it felt like I could relax there in his arms, just for a little while. But what was I thinking!I'd just slept with a total stranger!"No," I quickly said, looking away. "Thanks, but no." I hurried out before he could stop me. Thinking he would just let me go, I slowed my pacing, admiring the beauty of that mansion. Fancy and well lit decorations, bright lighting and I was suddenly caught off guard when I found it.It was a grand picture of this man receiving an award from the president of a big business association in the world. He held a strong stance, smiling just with his lips cruvihg slightly upward but his eyes filled with so much pri
Chloe's POV This man was tall and very cute, with a sharp jawline and dark eyes that seemed to see right through the dark. Even in a dim alley, he looked incredibly handsome and expensive. He didn't have a single scratch on him."Are you okay?" he asked. His voice was deep, and completely calm.I didn't answer. I just shook my head, my chest heaving as I tried to stop crying. Damn it, I really thought I would die, from Nathan and Naomi's betrayal and now these weirdos?I reached down, grabbed my purse from the dirty ground, and tried to push past him. My legs were still shaking, but I just wanted to get away from this alley, away from the club, away from everything.Before I could take two steps, his hand wrapped around my wrist. His grip wasn't hurtful, but it was tight. "Let go of me," I snapped, my old sharp tongue trying to kick back in. "I need to get outta here.""My Princess, you can barely even stand," he said, his eyes locking onto mine. There was something totally commandi
Chloe's POV "Fuck me herder, Naomi!" He grunted, his voice filled with pure ecstacy. The kind I'd never seen in bed with him…wait? When was the last time we'd even slept together? 10 months ago? No, was it my last birthday?Nathan, my own husband. The guy who told me he was flying to Tokyo for business.I couldn't move. I couldn't even yell. Whatever was in that white pill had locked my muscles completely, "Yea,I'm damn sure it was the white pill!" I thought to myself. It was different this time. It always made me sleep, but it was as if I had triple dosage this time. I had to just lie there in the dark, staring at the dust under the nightstand, listening to my husband and my best friend fucking hard.It didn't feel real but the tears leaking from my eyes now were sure as hell real.The bed shook hard again, this time with Nathan letting out a loud groan, and Naomi made a sharp noise. "Fuck me! Arhgg, I'm gonna cum. I'm gonna cum!" "Fuck!" With Nathan groaning louder. Then it stopp
Chloe's POV They say you only live once. Well, not me. I try to live every day."Chloe. Earth to Chloe." Naomi tapped my knee, her voice soft but clear over the music. The bass vibrated right through the soles of my heels, thumping hard against my ribs. VIP lounges in downtown LA always smelled the same—expensive perfume mixed with spilled vodka and sweat.I leaned against the velvet booth, watching the crowd blur under the flashy lights. It was midnight, and I was officially twenty-six.Naomi looked like an angel in her cream silk slip dress, her blonde hair perfectly smooth despite the humidity. "Stop staring at your phone. He isn't calling."I dropped the screen face-down on the table. No missed calls. No texts. Not even a generic Happy Birthday from my husband of three years. "He's in Tokyo for a business deal. Because apparently, buying another logistics firm is more important than my birthday. Again.""He works hard, Chlo. For your family. For your mom's legacy," Naomi said g







