Winston POV“Ten Billion?" He sounded stunned. But I had expected him to be. I knew just how greedy my son was. He'd been greedy since he was a little boy. I knew him. I knew just how far he'd gone to betray me and his brother just to make wealth. “Is this cheque even real?” Killian stared at the slip in his hand, his brows furrowed in disbelief. I let out a sigh impatiently. “Killian, have I ever given anyone a fake cheque?”He didn't answer immediately. Of course he didn’t. He was too busy trying to read between lines that didn’t exist. That’s the problem with Killian, he assumed everything was a game, a manipulation, because that’s the way he operated.When he remained silent, still gripping the cheque like it might vanish if he blinked, I lost my temper.I snatched the cheque from his hand and threw it to the marble floor between us. “Take it,” I snapped, “or keep dreaming that she'll ever want you again." He hesitated, then bent down and picked it up slowly. The smirk that
Sansa's POVI sat at the large dining table, staring at the untouched trays before me.It was the perfect night, there were scented candle lights, plates of lobster, steak, and roasted vegetables and these were all of Killian’s favorites.Everything was perfect except for the empty chair across me. I sighed heavily as I stared at the antique clock.“Where is he," I mumbled uneasily and tightened my grip around my fork.At this same time, a soft shuffle of footsteps broke my thoughts and I looked up eagerly.But it wasn't him.Madeline, the head maid, was coming with another plate of steaming bacon and our anniversary cake.“The cake has arrived, ma'am," she smiled at me.I nodded, looking at the four tier cake with a smile. It was chocolate and sweet cream, Killian's favorite."Madeline, is master Killian back?" I asked hopefully. Her eyes lowered and she shook her head. "No, ma’am. There’s been no sign of him." The hope deflated but I swallowed, forcing a small smile. “Alright."“
Sansa's POVI stood frozen in the doorway, my heart hammering so loudly it drowned out every other sound in the room. My hands were shaking, my feet could barely hold me up.I couldn't breathe.Astrid. My best friend. Her unmistakable golden hair was splayed out around her, her eyes rolled back in the back of her head as she gripped his biceps like her life depended on it.My stomach turned and a strangled gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it.Killian's head snapped toward me at the sound and that's when he pulled away from her. Slowly.Then he looked at me with an expression of pure irritation. Annoyance. Like he was mad that I was disrupting his fun.Astrid, who was struggling to pull down her dress, simply smirked. “Oh, look,” she purred, sitting up lazily on the mahogany desk. “The dutiful little housewife has arrived.” My breath came in ragged gasps and the room spun around me. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real. This had to be a nightmare.I took a shaky step for
Sansa's POVI sat curled in my first-class seat on the airplane, my body trembling as I stared out the window, watching the city lights vanishing into the vast darkness of the night. Tears kept slipping down my cheeks. No matter how many times I wiped them away, it wouldn't stop.The two people that made my world. My husband and my best friend.“They've never loved me, both of them,” I mumbled dejectedly.Who could I blame? Astrid for sleeping with my man or Killian for betraying me with my best friend after three years together?I clutched my arms around myself, trying to hold myself together, but it was useless. I felt like I was falling apart in front of a cabin full of strangers on the airplane.Somehow, I wished this flight would never land.“Miss?” I flinched at the voice, startled from my miserable thoughts.“Huh?" I replied, lost.He was older, possibly in his early or mid forties.Tall, broad-shouldered, and elegant in a way that screamed power and class.He had brown hair
Winston's POVIf my dreams could come to life, then I wouldn't be out of bed this morning.The morning was a disaster. I stared at the reports spread across my desk, the words blurring together into a meaningless mess.Nothing made sense.My assistant had come in twice to remind me about my schedule for the day, but I barely acknowledged her. My mind was elsewhere. She haunted me. Miss Stranger.The woman with the sad eyes. The taste of her skin still lingered on my tongue, the scent of her perfume clinging to my memory like a brand I couldn't shake.A week had passed since she slipped out of my life without a word, without a name, without a trace. I had told myself it was for the best. No strings, no expectations. But here I was, restless, distracted, tormented by the ghost of a woman I had no way of finding. “Shit!" I mumbled helplessly and swiveled on the chair.I wasn't a weak man. No. I had women fall at my feet. But she was different. She haunted my night.I couldn't sleep.
Sansa's POVI wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole.I couldn't speak, I stayed dumb throughout the meeting, barely hearing or comprehending anything.Mr. Mysterious was to be my new business partner?Was this some sick joke?Somehow, I managed to get through the meeting, promising to get back to his company and see if we could work together.But I'd be damned if I agreed.There was no way I was getting entangled with him in business, nig after having the hottest sex of my life with the same man.I sat in the plush leather chair of Ellen Whitmore’s office, my fingers lightly tapping against the armrest.A plan. That's what I needed. I needed a plan to get rid of him and act like nothing ever happened between us.“You should really start socializing more, Sansa,” Ellen said, closing the file on her desk. “It’s been weeks since everything happened. Hiding away isn’t going to help you move forward.” I exhaled sharply, crossing my legs. “I told you, I’m not ready.” “And I
Winston’s POV“Who is causing a scene at my daughter-in-law’s funeral?” I barked as I stepped forward. This was Richard Gaines' fault. I should never have listened to that lawyer. He was too polite! Now I had to play daddy to a boy who didn't give two shits about me. A boy who was a mess. “Sir, she is causing quite the show," one of the guards beside me replied. I wasn't expecting another drama here. It was bad enough that Killian was burying a woman that was probably not dead. “Don't tell me one of his toys has showed me here during such an important event!" I hissed, disappointed as ever in my son. But the moment I saw her, I froze. Her eyes whipped toward me and goodness, they were still that same fierce shade of stormcloud gray. She was beautiful. She was everything like I recalled on that hotel bed. “Sir?" One of the guards called out, shaking me out of my dazed state. I clenched my jaw and looked at Killian. I had to play cold. I couldn't act like I knew her. What we
Sansa’s POV “What we had was nothing," the words rang in my head. And he was right. A night tucked away in some five star hotel in Italy was nothing. We were strangers lost in each other. It didn't matter that we didn't know each other's names. I'd begged him to stay with me. He'd wanted me badly as I did him. We made love. The best sex I'd ever had. Killian was the only other man I'd ever been with. And Winston was a much better lover. He'd worshipped my body. He'd made sure I cried out in pleasure until my throat became sore. And then I'd left before he could wake up. The shame was overwhelming. I couldn't face it. But now, watching him say those words and walk away, watching him defend his monstrous son, I was happy I left. Winston was a scum. Just like his son. “I should have known," I couldn't help the tears that rolled down my eyes as I hurried from the exit. The cameras were running wild. Everyone wanted a glimpse of the supposedly dead heiress. They wanted a gli
Winston POV“Ten Billion?" He sounded stunned. But I had expected him to be. I knew just how greedy my son was. He'd been greedy since he was a little boy. I knew him. I knew just how far he'd gone to betray me and his brother just to make wealth. “Is this cheque even real?” Killian stared at the slip in his hand, his brows furrowed in disbelief. I let out a sigh impatiently. “Killian, have I ever given anyone a fake cheque?”He didn't answer immediately. Of course he didn’t. He was too busy trying to read between lines that didn’t exist. That’s the problem with Killian, he assumed everything was a game, a manipulation, because that’s the way he operated.When he remained silent, still gripping the cheque like it might vanish if he blinked, I lost my temper.I snatched the cheque from his hand and threw it to the marble floor between us. “Take it,” I snapped, “or keep dreaming that she'll ever want you again." He hesitated, then bent down and picked it up slowly. The smirk that
Winston's POVI couldn’t concentrate.I sat at the head of the glass conference table in my office, elbows resting on the polished surface with my eyes focused on the screen. My laptop screen hadn’t changed in the last ten minutes, but I barely noticed. My mind wasn’t here, it was replaying a moment I wished I could erase.Sansa.She was trembling, her back pressed to the floor of that damn club bathroom. That bastard’s hands were too close to her. What if I hadn't come on time? I hated to think of what would happen. I could still see the terror in her eyes, the way her lips parted in shock before I yanked him off her. Damn, if I had arrived a second later.I should have killed the bastard. I wanted to kill him.“Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, slamming the laptop shut.She could’ve just stayed at the estate where she was safe. “Everything was being provided there for her.” Why was she so stubborn?“Provided for who?”The voice jolted me. My head snapped up, and I met Simon’
Sansa’s POV Five billion?! My fingers trembled above it, hovering, not quite brave enough to touch it again. “This can't be real, it's fake," I mumbled. But even as I said it, I could see the city bank stamp. This was real. I couldn’t move. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the edge of the bed, suddenly feeling lightheaded. “What do I do?" I muttered in utter confusion. That cheque could change everything. I could disappear. Start over. Build an empire. Buy a new name. Become someone without all this shame and heartache clinging to me.I would forget Killian and the entire Wolfe family for life. I could build a company despite what Killian had stolen from me and finally reclaim my father's hidden inheritance. But could I really take the money? Could I sell off my dignity like a garage sale item? I wasn't ready to let go of whatever madness Winston and I shared. No matter how insane. No matter how absurd. I wanted it. Why?He wasn’t mine. He never was. He had a wife
Sansa's POV I couldn't breathe. How did he get here? How did Winston know I was here? How did he find me? The moment Winston burst into that bathroom, my heart stopped. I was pinned to the cold tiled floor, my hair scattered around me like I was being dragged around like a rag doll. My dress was torn at the neckline, barely clinging to my chest, and I could feel the weight of the drunken man pressing down on me, his breath reeking of alcohol and mouth odor. I kicked, I screamed, but my voice had gone hoarse. I was drowning in panic.Until I heard him. The voice of my knight in suit. "Touch her again and die."His voice didn’t sound real. It was low, guttural, feral.He didn't sound human. He sounded like a wounded animal in heat. The man atop me froze.My eyes turned to the door and there he was. Clothed in a gray shirt and pair of slacks, with his sleeves rolled up, a crimson coat thrown over his outfit. Damn, he looked every bit like the knight I thought he was. All he ne
Winston's POV The halls of the Wolfe estate echoed with the sound of my footsteps as I stormed down the corridor. My heart was beating pretty fast with unease. I had to be sure. I had to confirm it with my own eyes. Sansa couldn’t have left. She wouldn’t just walk out of this house without saying a word. Not after everything that happened. Was she crazy? “She has a fucking death wish!" I hissed in disbelief. Could she possibly leave the estate unescorted after the attack at her place? I couldn't believe it. Yet, that call from her friend, the panic in her voice, wasn’t something I could ignore.I took the staircase two steps at a time and when I reached her room, I didn’t bother knocking. I pushed the door open and scanned the room.It was empty.The bed was neatly made. Her robe hung over the chair, her makeup untouched on the vanity. But the closet door hung open slightly, and I could smell lavender. Her shampoo. She'd bathed and left for a night club?! My fists clenched.
Winston's POV This was a nightmare. A nightmare I couldn't wait to escape from. The Wolfe Estate had never felt more like a freaking porn site. Sansa had choked on her food. I knew she was uncomfortable. I knew she wanted to be anywhere but near Eleanor. But what could I possibly do to help? Nothing. I had to watch her struggle with dinner and then flee to her bedroom. Damn, was she okay? What was Eleanor playing at? Why was she back at my house? I was still trying to digest what had just happened when Eleanor suddenly said, “Have you lost appetite for food? I know you can't wait to unwrap me." I hissed, “You're being shameless, Eleanor." But she chuckled like she didn't mind being heard. "What’s there to be ashamed about? I had the man with the best dick in the world."I set my fork down at once. This was it. I was done being civil with this crazy woman. "I’m done with dinner," I said, standing up calmly."What? What did I do?" Eleanor called behind me, voice filled with
Sansa's POV I felt it before I saw it. I could feel the unmistakable heat of someone standing too close behind me. And then a hand moving up my thigh.I froze.What the hell?My body stiffened and I spun around instantly. I came face to face with a man. He looked to be in his mid-thirties with drunken eyes and a predatory smile. “Don’t touch me!" I snapped angrily. I was just a little tipsy but I sure didn't want to be groped by some random drunk man. "Whoa, easy there, sexy," he slurred, stepping closer. “Don’t be shy now. I saw the way you were looking around. You want this.”I could feel bile roll up my throat. “Touch me again,” I said, “and you’ll regret it.”He reached out like he hadn’t heard a word I’d said, the annoying smirk still plastered on his face. Big mistake.I didn’t hesitate. I brought my knee up and landed it right between his legs.He crumpled with a pained gasp, arms wrapping around his groin as he staggered backward, eyes bulging in shock.“Oh my God!” on
Sansa’s POVMy eyes almost fell out of the socket. What did she just say? I coughed, sputtering on the table shamelessly. “Are you okay?" One of the kids asked as he handed me a paper towel. “Are you alright, dear?" Eleanor asked and pretended like she didn't know why I'd almost choked on the pork. “I'm fine," I mumbled, clearing my throat. Winston at least had the decency to look mortified “Wouldn't you like that?" She purred right into his eyes. I could see his jaw tighten from across the table. “Stop it, Eleanor," he hissed. It was the voice of a strained tiger. Almost like he was barely holding it in. Even I felt a shiver run down my spine from the table. But Eleanor wasn't affected, she just laughed at him. Like he was throwing a joke and not warning her with his sneer. “You know,” she said, glancing at me with a smirk before turning to Winston, “we used to eat like this every evening. Just the two of us. With a little something extra for dessert which we'd lick off
Sansa's POVDamn. She was stunning.Tall, elegant, and dressed like she’d just walked off the cover of a fashion magazine. Her cream coat clung to her figure perfectly, and those ridiculously high stiletto heels clicked against the marble floor loudly. Announcing each step she took. Her hair was swept into a sleek chignon, not a strand out of place. She looked expensive, sexy, classy and wealthy. I stared, feeling about three inches tall. The shock on Winston's face said everything I needed to know, this wasn't some old flame or a distant memory. This woman meant something. Something deep and relevant. “Eleanor," he breathed her name. Just the same way he often did mine. Before I could speak, before I could even breathe, she walked toward us. Her eyes barely flicked in my direction. Almost like I was invisible. Like I didn't exist. Then, like a scene from some dramatic soap opera, she leaned in and kissed Winston on the lips. Full on the lips. Not a peck. A kiss that lingered.