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How Long

Author: Graceyink
last update publish date: 2026-02-26 17:06:38

Jose didn't try to punish the man, he was putting on a show for her. It was a calculated display of dominance, a way to remind her that in his world, mercy was a currency he chose whether or not to spend. Brandy stood by the road, her vision blurred and her gaze unfocused. The neon lights of the city danced in the puddles at her feet, distorted and shimmering like her own fractured reality. The air was thick with the scent of rain and exhaust, a suffocating mixture that seemed to mirror the pan
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  • My Pain, his gain   you actually enjoy this

    The air in the private suite of the Elite City club was thick with the scent of expensive tobacco, the sharp tang of spilled vintage wine, and the heavy, metallic presence of fear. Jose Williams stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his silhouette cutting a jagged, imposing figure against the shimmering, uncaring skyline of the city he essentially owned. He didn't look like a man who had just systematically stripped a woman of her last shred of dignity; he looked like a god who had just rearranged a piece of his universe and found the new alignment slightly more to his liking.Martin remained frozen on the plush Persian rug, his breath coming in ragged, shallow gasps as he clutched his aching stomach. The bodyguard’s blow had been surgical—designed to incapacitate without leaving a permanent mark that might embarrass the Williams family name. "You’re a monster, Jose," Martin managed to wheeze out, his voice cracking with a mixture of physical pain and moral revulsion. "You know that?

  • My Pain, his gain   Get ride of fantasy

    As Brandy answered, Jose's dark eyes bored into her, filled with a chilling, predatory rage.Her breathing became rapid, her face turned pale, and her inner nervousness and fear overwhelmed her body.She repeated to herself over and over again, *"I can't let Jose find out about the children! I can't let him know about Emily, Ella, Kenzo and Kelvin!"*"Hello, Brandy? Why did you hang up?" Aunt Charlotte's voice was laced with concern.Jose seemed dissatisfied with the unfamiliar woman's voice. He flicked his eyes toward Brandy, a silent command to speak."I... I'm fine. I was just about to go back. I called to tell you that I won't be returning right away... I'll transfer the money I owe you later..." Brandy struggled to speak through her trembling voice."You silly girl, the money doesn't matter. It's you not coming back that worries me. My health is failing every day," Aunt Charlotte replied.Brandy was slightly surprised by Aunt Charlotte's acting. She knew her aunt was trying to he

  • My Pain, his gain   why are you nice

    They had evening appointments, so they needed to work overtime.At six o'clock, Brandy was about to eat the bread she'd brought for dinner when her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and answered, "I'm working late.""So I'm bringing you something to eat."Brandy walked into the reception room and saw Martin sitting inside waiting for her.She walked over and asked, "Didn't I say you didn't have to do this?""Can't I just do something nice for you once in a while?" Martin saw her standing there, seemingly frozen. He gently took her wrist and pulled her closer.Brandy tensed at the touch, awkwardly sitting down in the chair. She stared at the gourmet meal in front of her."Why are you being so nice to me?" Brandy asked.Martin's eyes were warm and gentle. "I want to be. If you're okay with it, that's all that matters. No pressure, just like back at the Johnson Family. If it makes you happy, call me brother."Brother... Brandy lowered her gaze. Calling Jose "brother" had unleashed

  • My Pain, his gain   The Illusion of Distance

    The move from the Regal Garden to the small studio apartment felt less like a transition and more like a tactical retreat. Brandy packed her few belongings into a single suitcase, her hands moving with a frantic energy. She didn't want to give Jose a single second to change his mind. Every moment she spent under the roof of the Regal Garden felt like another layer of lead being added to her soul.When she finally turned the key in the lock of her new home, the silence that greeted her wasn't the heavy, suffocating silence of the mansion. It was empty, hollow, and hers.She spent her first evening sitting on the floor of the 50-square-meter space. The apartment was located in a gray stone building on the edge of the financial district, close enough to the clinic that she could walk to work in ten minutes. It was a far cry from the luxury of the Regal Garden—the walls were thin, and the window overlooked a narrow alleyway—but as she watched the sunset paint the brick walls outside in sh

  • My Pain, his gain   The Predator’s Permission

    Brandy lowered her gaze, a faint, weary smile playing on her lips as she looked at the steam rising from her tea."Really?" she whispered, more to herself than to him."I heard... my brother also went to the Johnson family’s wedding anniversary banquet. He didn't do anything to you, did he?" Martin asked, his concern cutting through the ambient noise of the restaurant."No, I didn't stay long..." Brandy replied quickly, her voice dropping an octave. She didn't want to talk about anything related to Jose. To speak his name was to make him manifest in the room, and she had already spent enough of her life under his shadow.It was as if she were a frightened bird; merely mentioning him was enough to fill her with a paralyzing anxiety and a sense of suffocation. She could still feel the phantom weight of his gaze from the night before, a heavy pressure that seemed to linger on her skin like a stain."If he bothers you, tell me, I'll help you," Martin said, his voice firm and sincere.A wa

  • My Pain, his gain   The Gilded Leash

    After Brandy finally recovered from the grueling fever that had kept her bedridden, she began to venture out of her room. The first few days were spent in a daze, her body still weak but her mind racing with the need for a plan. When she eventually went downstairs to the dining room for meals, she noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere. The expensive seafood platters that had been prominently displayed on the table—those reminders of Jose’s overwhelming wealth and control—had been removed. In their place were normal, simpler dishes that didn't feel like a silent interrogation.She tested the boundaries of her confinement with a trembling heart. One morning, she tried to walk toward the main gates of the Regal Garden, fully expecting a hand to drop on her shoulder or a voice to bark an order. To her shock, no one stopped her. The guards stood like statues, their eyes fixed forward, seemingly indifferent to her movement. It was as if the Regal Garden had no rules at all, allowing her

  • My Pain, his gain   The Gilded Cage of Elite City

    Brandy rarely allowed herself the luxury of being sick. In the harsh, unforgiving world she navigated, illness was a weakness she couldn't afford—especially not for the sake of her four children. Emily, Ella, Kenzo, and Kevin were her heartbeat, the only reason she kept her head above water in the

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17
  • My Pain, his gain   meeting my Ex

    The bathroom door was thrown open without warning, and Brandy stood frozen, staring nervously at the man, whose sudden appearance emitted a chilling aura. Jose's gaze was like ice. "Locking doors in my place? By whose permission?" Brandy was powerless to argue. This space could hardly be considered

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17
  • My Pain, his gain   The plaything

    The bathroom door was thrown open without warning, and Brandy stood frozen, staring nervously at the man, whose sudden appearance emitted a chilling aura. Jose's gaze was like ice. "Locking doors in my place? By whose permission?" Brandy was powerless to argue. This space could hardly be considered

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17
  • My Pain, his gain   Too terrified

    Brandy's face flushed. _This is Jose's goal, isn't it? To humiliate me?_ she thought. She suspected this was just the beginning. As expected, James's expression changed. "What does he mean?" "Is this your new client? No wonder I haven't seen you in a while. Does he pay more than me?" the man contin

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17
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