Share

The Setup

Penulis: Timmie A.
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-13 12:39:00
{Vanessa’s POV}

It happened on a night when the mansion was buzzing with guests. Lisa and Lady Sinclair were both in silk gowns, sipping wine, whispering in corners, their eyes flicking toward me more than once. I felt the weight of it, but ignored it, clinging to the fragile happiness Vincent and I had built.

Later that night, Diana pulled me aside. “Be careful, Nessa,” she warned, her brows furrowed. “I don’t like the way they’re watching you.”

I smiled faintly, brushing it off. “I’ll be
Lanjutkan membaca buku ini secara gratis
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi
Bab Terkunci

Bab terbaru

  • My Teenage Sweetheart    His Presence

    {Vanessa’s POV} The studio buzzed with chaos—producers waving clipboards, assistants dragging cables across the floor, cameras being adjusted for the perfect angle. My apron was tied neatly, my script in hand, but my heart raced faster than the lights flickering overhead. “All right, Chef Vanessa ,” the director said, voice brisk. “We’ll start simple. Just focus on the dish, speak naturally, look up when we cue you. Don’t worry about the cameras. Ready?” I nodded, even though my palms were damp. This wasn’t my world. I wasn’t trained for flashing lights and booming commands. But I reminded myself why I was here—I earned this. I moved behind the counter, inhaled deeply, and began. “Food isn’t just what we eat,” I said, dicing vegetables with steady hands. “It’s who we are. At Marshall Foods International, we believe every meal tells a story—one that begins at home.” The crew nodded approvingly. The camera panned closer. Then suddenly— “The CEO is on his way!” a stage man

  • My Teenage Sweetheart    The Reveal

    (Vanessa’s POV) When I saw him, my entire body froze. The world seemed to tilt for a moment, the polished floor beneath me threatening to swallow me whole. Sitting at the far end of the table, dressed in a navy suit that looked like it had been cut to his very soul, was the same man from my restaurant. The arrogant customer who had ordered me to “impress him” and tossed money on the table like it was nothing. Only now… I realized why he looked so untouchable, why even his silence demanded attention. He wasn’t just some arrogant stranger. He was Alexander Marshall—heir to the Marshall Group empire, the man whose company’s invitation had landed in my inbox. A billionaire. A titan. And the person who now held my future in his hands. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. I couldn’t afford to show weakness. Not here, not now. “Miss Taylor,” one of the executives said, breaking the heavy silence. “Please, come sit.” I nodded, but my legs felt like they were made of sto

  • My Teenage Sweetheart    The Invitation

    (Vanessa’s POV) The morning had started like any other—busy, chaotic, full of noise. Hearth & Home was already alive with the smell of fresh bread and coffee, servers rushing between tables, customers chatting over their breakfasts. I was in the kitchen, checking the stock list and muttering about late deliveries, when my younger sister, Crystal, came bursting in like a hurricane. “Vanessa! You have to see this right now!” she cried, waving the company’s phone as if it were a winning lottery ticket. I looked up, flour dusting my hands. “Crystal, please tell me this isn’t another TikTok trend.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not a TikTok video. Look!” She shoved the phone in front of me. My breath caught as my eyes landed on the bold header: Invitation: Culinary Partnership Presentation – Marshall Foods International. My heart skipped. Once. Twice. I blinked at the words, convinced it had to be some elaborate prank. I let out a nervous laugh. “This isn’t real.” Fo

  • My Teenage Sweetheart    The Rude Stranger

    {Vanessa’s POV} The lunch rush had hit Hearth & Home, and the place buzzed with energy. Servers hurried past with trays, customers leaned in close over meals, and the smell of garlic butter and rosemary hung thick in the air. I was wiping down the counter myself—sometimes the only way to make sure it was done right—when the door opened, and the whole room seemed to pause for just a second. Three men walked in, dressed too perfectly to blend in. The one in the middle caught my eye immediately. Tall. Immaculate. He carried the kind of confidence that made people move aside without a word. He looked like a man who’d never stood in line, never worried about rent, never lifted anything heavier than a pen. Wealth clung to him like a second skin Still, I didn’t know who he was. Maybe some businessman, maybe some politician’s son. All I knew was that he looked like trouble—the arrogant kind. “Hello,” I said with a polite smile as they slid into a booth by the window. “Welcome to Hear

  • My Teenage Sweetheart    Hearth & Home

    {Vincent’s POV} I couldn’t get her out of my head. Every meeting, every contract, every glass of scotch reminded me of what I had destroyed. It had been one thing to leave her years ago. But to see her again, thriving, beautiful, unstoppable… it felt like punishment for every selfish decision I had ever made. I tried to reach her, again and again, but every attempt fell into silence. She shut me out completely. And Diane—my cousin, the only one who knew where she was—chose to keep her secret, afraid I’d only break her heart all over again. I wanted to apologize. I wanted to tell her the truth—that I had learned it was all a setup, that Lisa and my mother had orchestrated her downfall—but I was too scared. Too proud. Too ashamed. I watched her from afar, studying her every move on social media, in interviews, in the press. The girl I had loved was no longer a girl. She was a force of nature. And I feared that my presence would only shatter her once more. But before I could f

  • My Teenage Sweetheart    The Silence After

    {Vincent’s POV} It had been three weeks since that heartbreaking incident. The mansion was filled with silence; the corridors felt colder, emptier than before. The staff avoided my eyes, their whispers dying whenever I passed. It was as though even the walls themselves judged me. I was pouring a drink in my study when a hesitant knock broke the silence. “Come in,” I said sharply. The door creaked open and Mrs. Alder, the house manager, stepped inside. Her hands trembled as she clutched her apron. “Sir… can I have a word with you,” she began, her voice low, almost fearful. “I can’t carry this guilt any longer.” My brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?” Her eyes filled with tears. “That night… with Vanessa. It wasn’t what it seemed. Lady Sinclair and Miss Lisa… they drugged her. Paid that man to stage it. I—I helped serve the drink, but I didn’t know until it was too late.” Her words crashed over me like thunder, tearing the ground from under my feet. “What did y

Bab Lainnya
Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
DMCA.com Protection Status