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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN

Author: Ari's Quill
last update publish date: 2026-09-29 23:37:50

The mahogany-paneled study of the Hale estate smelled of stale scotch and burnt tobacco. Rain lashed against the tall bay windows, blurring the lights of the city into long, yellow streaks.

Mariano stood by the marble fireplace, his hands thrust deep into the pockets of his dark trousers. He had not slept in four days. The sharp, immaculate lines of his suit were gone; his collar was unbuttoned, his tie loosened, and the dark circles beneath his eyes looked like bruises carved into his pale ski
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  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT

    "We did it to protect you, Mr. Hale!" Mariano insisted, his composure finally cracking as he took a step toward the desk, his hands open in desperate pleading. "Your wife was ruthless! She threatened Gabriella's life! She threatened my life! She told me directly that if I brought the police into this, or if I told you the full extent of her reach, she would ensure Gabriella ended up in a federal prison for the rest of her life—or in a grave! I thought if I controlled the board, if I handled the threat myself, I could keep Gabriella safe without terrifying her!""And look where your control got her!" Raphael interjected bitterly, glaring at Mariano. "She hates us! She told me to my face today that she doesn't trust either of us! She said neither of us is trustworthy!"Mariano closed his eyes as a sharp, physical pain pierced his heart. I love you too. But love is not enough. It never has been. Her final words on the phone echoed through his mind, destroying what little strength he had

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN

    The mahogany-paneled study of the Hale estate smelled of stale scotch and burnt tobacco. Rain lashed against the tall bay windows, blurring the lights of the city into long, yellow streaks.Mariano stood by the marble fireplace, his hands thrust deep into the pockets of his dark trousers. He had not slept in four days. The sharp, immaculate lines of his suit were gone; his collar was unbuttoned, his tie loosened, and the dark circles beneath his eyes looked like bruises carved into his pale skin. Every second that ticked by on the grandfather clock in the corner felt like a physical blow to his ribs.Gabriella was gone.Across the room, Mr. Hale sat behind his massive mahogany desk. The old man looked broken. His shoulders were slumped, his face grey, and his hands trembled as he stared at the blank screen of his phone resting on the leather blotter.The heavy double doors of the study burst open, slamming hard against the wood paneling.Raphael stumbled into the room, his clothes soa

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX

    Gabriella's POVPain was the first thing that returned to me. It came back in slow, heavy waves, throbbing behind my eyes, pulsating in my chest, and burning through my right ankle.My eyelids felt like lead. I forced them open, but it made almost no difference. Darkness enveloped me, absolute and thick. The sharp, bitter smell of gasoline and burnt rubber was gone, replaced by the damp, stagnant odor of concrete, rust, and mold.I tried to reach up to touch my head, but my arms would not move.I jerked my wrists, and the sharp metal of cold handcuffs bit deep into my skin. My arms were pulled back behind my torso, secured tightly to the iron frame of a heavy chair. I tried to shift my legs, but thick, coarse ropes bound my ankles to the wooden chair legs, pulling the fabric of my pants tight against my swollen, injured right joint. Pain shot straight up my spine, forcing a sharp gasp from my throat.Memory slammed into me like the bumper of the truck that had run me off the road—the

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE

    Gabriella's POVThe road ahead was a long, dark stretch of asphalt. The yellow beams of my headlights cut through the deep blackness of the night, illuminating the gravel on the shoulder and the dark trees lining the edge of the route. The speedometer needle sat steadily at seventy miles per hour. My hands were planted tightly on the steering wheel, my fingers gripped around the worn leather cover.Pain throbbed continuously in my right ankle. Every time the car hit a small bump in the pavement, a sharp, burning sensation shot straight up my leg, making my breath hitch. My right foot was stiff and swollen inside my shoe, resting heavily against the gas pedal. I ignored the throbbing. I ignored the exhaustion that pulled at my eyes and the tightness in my stomach. The single goal of finding my mother burned hotter than any physical pain.I reached over with my right hand, picked up my phone from the passenger seat, and unlocked the screen. The bright blue light flickered across my face

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR

    Gabriella's POVIt had been three days.I sat at the wooden desk in the corner of my bedroom, surrounded by stacks of white paper. Pages were scattered across the floor, draped over the edge of the bed, and piled high around my laptop. The continuous hum of the small desktop printer vibrated through the room as it spit out another set of property records, public deeds, and financial disclosures.My eyes burned from staring at the bright screen in the dim lighting. My stomach was a tight, painful knot of empty air, but I ignored it. I had not eaten a bite of food in seventy-two hours. I had not left this room. My entire world had shrunk down to these four walls, the ink on these pages, and the relentless search for my mother.The bedroom door clicked open.Raphael walked into the room carrying a porcelain plate loaded with hot food. Steam rose from the meal, filling the room with the smell of meat and vegetables. He stepped over a pile of printed documents on the rug and walked over to

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE

    GABRIELLA POV"Why?" My voice was shaking now, the anger bubbling up behind the shock. "Why would she do this? Why would she try to destroy her own family?"Levi walked closer to me. His eyes were full of a deep, aching pain. "She is not trying to destroy her family. She is trying to take back what was taken from her.""What was taken from her?""I do not know the full story," Levi said. "She never told me everything. But I know that something happened to her a long time ago. Something that broke her. Something that made her the way she is today.""And Mariano?" I asked, my heart racing. "What does he have to do with this?""Mariano is the obstacle," Levi said plainly. "He is the one who stands in her way. He is the one who has what she wants."I felt the tears start to prick at the back of my eyes. "I do not understand. I do not understand any of this."Levi reached out and took my hand. His fingers were freezing cold against my skin."I am sorry," he said again, his voice breaking.

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    FIVE

    Gabriella's POV"—and then Darius came along to claim the proposal but I beat him to it and got the patent." Davis droned on"Nice." I said half-heartedly "Nice? I just told you how I worked hard during my travels and all I get is 'Nice'?" He turned to me annoyed that I was fawning over him like b

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    FOUR

    Gabriella's POVI woke up to a knock. Groggily I tossed around the bed, swinging my arm to the space beside me. I patted it twice but didn't feel the figure that should have been there.I opened my eyes to see an empty room. Where was Mariano?The knocks came again. I sat up searching for my dress

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    THREE

    Gabriella's POVIn one swoop I was in his arms as he walked towards a different door. I helped him open it and there was an inner room with a more simple yet luxurious decor.He dropped me on the bed, towering over me as he threw his shirt to a corner of the room and then his hands moved to his bel

  • One Night Stand With My Future Uncle In Law    TWO

    Gabriella's POV "Excuse me?" His voice snapped me out of my daze. "Huh?" I looked up at him. God he was more handsome up closer. His eyes were deep like whirlpools slowly dragging me in. "I believe you must be in the wrong place." He said, his voice was deep but the sound slid through m

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