VIV’S POVThe Blackwood Mansion has always been magnificent up close. It had the kind of beauty that slapped you in the face, then dared you to be worthy of it. But I knew better than to go close to it.Kaelon might think that I was here to steal and might use that against me. I sighed.I walked with Martha towards the sidewalk leading up to the main estate. It was as if she was treading with caution too. But the walk still felt longer than it should have, mostly because I was waddling like a penguin and trying to keep the tension in my chest from boiling over. Martha Rhys walked in front of me, measured and composed, the kind of woman who had probably learned to weaponize silence before she learned to speak.We didn’t talk until we entered the shaded terrace far away from any of the cameras that might be watching. Kaelon was smart, he will know about this meeting, but what he won’t know, is what it was about.The common idea would be that I want to tell her that I’m carrying Aaron’s
Aaron’s POVThe late afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows of my study, painting golden lines across the hardwood floor. I leaned back in my leather chair, a tumbler of bourbon in hand, not because I needed it, but because it added something familiar to the space. Ryan and Dante sat across from me, both perched on the edge of the couch like they were waiting for news I hadn’t yet dropped."You sure about this, man?" Ryan asked, fingers laced behind his head. "Moving out? This place is like a palace. You own it.""Yeah," Dante chimed in. "Why the hell would you want to leave this mansion and go to a condo?"I sipped slowly, eyes drifting to the quiet street below. "It’s not about the size or the damn view. It’s about peace. About space. About not constantly being haunted."Ryan snorted. "Haunted? Please don’t say you mean Liv."I didn’t answer immediately. The silence in the room thickened."Look," I finally said, setting my glass down. "Being here... it reminds m
Liv“Fuck! I'm cumming Aaron.." My steps slowed and I could hear my heartbeat ringing in my ears.Wasn't that Vivi’s voice?All I wanted to get from our suite was a breather from the fake smiles and loud music of the hall. I never expected to be greeted by such a heart wrenching sight. You might be wondering what the hell is going right? Well, it's supposed to be my fucking bachelorette party. As well as his bachelor party.We are SUPPOSED to be married by morning.Aaron had been adamant—we weren’t going to do separate parties like everyone else. He didn’t want a bachelor party without me.I also didn't want a bachelorette party where I would have to plaster on an unwilling smile, wave and say, “Thanks for coming," to strangers.So here we were, throwing a joint party, dancing among his friends and family, in the glamorous ballroom of his father’s hotel. I continued down towards the suite and stopped in front of the door. My heart raced as I got closer, and then I heard Vivi’s
KaelonThe moment her lips crashed into mine, I was stunned. I hadn’t seen it coming, not from her—the woman I had just found up on the rooftop, screaming her lungs out like her world had come crashing down. I stood there, frozen for a beat, feeling her hands grip my collar, pulling me closer. I could taste the alcohol on her lips, bitter and sharp, but beneath it... there was something else. I pulled away. “Whatever caused you to be like this is not worth it. After tonight, trust me you'll feel better." I wasn't going to have someone kill herself at my hotel and worse on my son's wedding day. She smiled, said nothing but leaned in again and continued assaulting my lips with the most stimulating kiss I have had in a long time.I knew I should push her away. Hell, I wanted to push her away, but something about the way she kissed me—the desperation, the raw emotion—tugged at something deep inside me. I hadn’t kissed anyone like this in years. Decades, even. It wasn’t just about lus
LivFuck me!I would love to live in my dreams and never wake up. But that was not going to be possible in any way. I had the most amazing sex of my life in my dreams. The man did look older, almost a bit familiar, but I could not exactly place where I had met him before.But I do wish I could find him again.My thoughts were disturbed by the light that streamed through the curtains, burning through my eyelids and dragging me back to reality. My head pounded like someone had taken a hammer to it. But that did not bother me as much as what I was about to do today.As I blinked my eyes open, the first thing I noticed was the unfamiliar sheets, the coolness of the fabric beneath my skin. Panic surged through me.I sat up, my heart racing as memories from last night began to flood my mind. The rooftop. The kiss. Him.It was not a fucking dream!“Oh, God...” I muttered, my voice thick with the remnants of sleep and regret. How did I end up here?I scrambled out of bed, the world spinning s
LivI slammed the trunk of my car shut, my hands trembling as the weight of my decision settled in. The sun had barely begun to rise, casting long shadows across the hotel parking lot. I stood there for a moment, staring at the car Aaron had given me for my birthday last year. One of the things he loved to do was shower me with expensive gifts. I hated them all, but loved the red ferrari portofino he got me last year. Now I bet I love this car thrice as much as I hate his cheating ass!I pulled my phone from my pocket, the screen lighting up with another call from my mother. Not again. I sighed and answered, knowing exactly what was coming.“Liv! What the hell do you think you're doing?!” she barked, her voice already frantic. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Everyone’s talking about it! The embarrassment—God, the embarrassment you’ve caused me, your father, everyone!”“My father has nothing to do with this!” I replied coldly as I placed my little travel box into the car trun
Liv's POV Hell seemed to have caught me on its damned radar for the weekend!Aaron’s house stood like a jewel at the heart of Dreamville Town, an architectural masterpiece that always felt foreign to me every time.Yes. Even after my fucking engagement to him.He isn't the owner of this beautiful estate, he is but only a son to Kaelon Blackwood, the richest man in all of Dreamville and beyond. I paused for a moment on the steps, clutching my keys tightly. The house had never felt like home, more like a stage where Aaron played the role of a loving fiancé, and I pretended to be a part of his elite world. But today, everything was different. I wasn’t here to play a part or indulge his whims. He has done enough harm. All I wanted now, more than ever, was to pack up my life and leave all this behind. I rolled my eyes over the white room I found myself in. The foyer was as grand as ever, with its marble floors gleaming under the light of a crystal chandelier. But something felt…
Liv’s POVI took hurried steps down the hallway, my footsteps muffled by the plush carpet beneath me. My mind was a storm of confusion and disbelief, replaying the chaos that had erupted downstairs. What the hell just happened?How could Aaron’s father be the man I slept with last night? Kaelon Blackwood. The name alone sent a shiver down my spine. His presence was enough to set my body on fire and make everything stand still. He held that kind of power. He was magnetic, overwhelming, and utterly infuriating. And last night, I had been so swept up in the moment, so blinded by the haze of alcohol and my shattered heart, that I hadn’t even recognized him. How had I not realized it was him? His face, his voice, it all felt so obvious now. And yet, I had been too caught up in the moment, in the heat of his touch, to notice. But what about him? Had he recognized me? Did he know I was his son’s fiancée when he kissed me, touched me, took me apart piece by piece? The thought mad
Aaron’s POVThe late afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows of my study, painting golden lines across the hardwood floor. I leaned back in my leather chair, a tumbler of bourbon in hand, not because I needed it, but because it added something familiar to the space. Ryan and Dante sat across from me, both perched on the edge of the couch like they were waiting for news I hadn’t yet dropped."You sure about this, man?" Ryan asked, fingers laced behind his head. "Moving out? This place is like a palace. You own it.""Yeah," Dante chimed in. "Why the hell would you want to leave this mansion and go to a condo?"I sipped slowly, eyes drifting to the quiet street below. "It’s not about the size or the damn view. It’s about peace. About space. About not constantly being haunted."Ryan snorted. "Haunted? Please don’t say you mean Liv."I didn’t answer immediately. The silence in the room thickened."Look," I finally said, setting my glass down. "Being here... it reminds m
VIV’S POVThe Blackwood Mansion has always been magnificent up close. It had the kind of beauty that slapped you in the face, then dared you to be worthy of it. But I knew better than to go close to it.Kaelon might think that I was here to steal and might use that against me. I sighed.I walked with Martha towards the sidewalk leading up to the main estate. It was as if she was treading with caution too. But the walk still felt longer than it should have, mostly because I was waddling like a penguin and trying to keep the tension in my chest from boiling over. Martha Rhys walked in front of me, measured and composed, the kind of woman who had probably learned to weaponize silence before she learned to speak.We didn’t talk until we entered the shaded terrace far away from any of the cameras that might be watching. Kaelon was smart, he will know about this meeting, but what he won’t know, is what it was about.The common idea would be that I want to tell her that I’m carrying Aaron’s
VIV’S POVThe curtains in my room barely let in the light these days, but I liked it that way. The dimness suited the dull ache that lived inside my chest. I lay curled up on the bed, my hand instinctively resting on my slightly rounded belly. It wasn’t too obvious yet, but it was undeniable now. The second trimester had crept up on me like a quiet storm. I couldn’t wear half of my old clothes anymore. My heels were beginning to pinch, and I had long since traded out my wine nights for long, empty hours of silence and sleep.The wine bottle on the nightstand still had some left in it, from weeks ago. I hadn’t touched it. Not since the doctor reminded me that alcohol was a no-go if I cared even a bit about the baby. I did. Despite everything, I did. Even if its father didn’t want me. Even if he now walked the earth with his heart given to someone else. I winced, my hand clutching my middle. The pain wasn’t physical. Not yet, anyway.Aaron.He was like a wound that wouldn’t close, f
LIV’S POVJust as I finished dressing up, Kaelon took a few steps towards me and cradled my face in his large, warm hands and kissed my forehead. There was something different in the way he looked at me then. It wasn’t lust. It wasn't a possession. It was something deeper, raw, intense, almost frightening in its honesty.I couldn’t say a word. My lips were swollen. My thoughts were jumbled. My legs barely held me up as he pulled me into his arms, whispering against my hair, "Come upstairs with me. Let me show you your room."His room.Our room?I followed him, barefoot and a little dizzy from what just happened. He opened the door to a guest room, but it looked like nothing like that. The pale ivory walls were soft and feminine, and the bed was large and inviting, with velvet throw pillows arranged like a royal display. Sunlight streamed in through sheer curtains. It smelled like lavender and Kaelon."You’ll stay here," he said, watching me for my reaction. "I want you here. With m
KAELON’S POVI stood in the silence of my study, every breath labored, as if air itself had turned against me. My hands were clenched at my sides, and the burn of suppressed rage simmered beneath my skin.Martha fucking Rhys. Her name echoed through my skull like a curse I couldn’t outrun. And Liv. Liv stood a few feet away, her eyes wide and searching, trying to find her footing in the mess I hadn't yet begun to unpack.I looked at her, those hazel eyes laced with concern, confusion, and something dangerously close to understanding."She left me," I started, voice low, hoarse. "Martha. Years ago. I was supposed to marry her. Everything was ready. My entire fucking life was lined up for that one moment, and she vanished just few moments after giving birth to Aaron. Just like that. No note. No phone call. Nothing."Liv's expression softened, and I hated how it made the lump in my throat swell."I didn’t hear from her until months later. My investigation led me to France. She had marri
LIV’S POVThey resumed arguing after Martha said something. It was like walking into a conversation that had started long before I even existed.I stood there, numb and uninvited, watching the chaos unfold around me. Everyone was talking at once. Aaron, the security team, and the woman I now knew as Martha Rhys. Their voices overlapped and were thick with accusation and pain. None of them noticed me. I might as well have been wallpaper."What the hell were you thinking, calling her?" Kaelon's voice was a low growl, dangerous and sharp.Aaron crossed his arms, unbothered. "Calling who?"Kaelon's hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Don't play dumb with me, Aaron! How long have you been talking to her behind my back?" He asked through gritted teeth."Oh, for Christ's sake!" Martha suddenly snapped, stepping forward, her heels clicking sharply on the marble. "Stop scolding my son like he's some disobedient child!"Kaelon turned to her, his jaw tight and eyes blazing. He looked read
LIV’S POVI stood there, staring at Kaelon, waiting for him to say something or anything. His entire demeanor had changed in the blink of an eye. One minute, he was intense and possessive; the next, he was distant, cold, and distracted. It felt like someone had flipped a switch inside him.“I will be right back.” I said to him as I stood up to get freshened up in his private restroom.I returned after a while, brushing invisible wrinkles off my skirt.He was lost in his pc typing away. I felt the frustration rising in my chest. “Who the fuck was on the phone with you, Kaelon?”His eyes snapped to mine, unreadable as always, but now tinged with something I couldn't place. I rolled my eyes, not wanting to think about why he wanted to withhold whatever information it was from me. “Evelyn,” he said, as if that explained anything.I arched my brow. “And what did Evelyn say?”He looked away briefly, jaw tightening. Then he took a step forward, voice calm but urgent. “Go freshen up in the
Kaelon's POVThe antique clock on the wall ticked louder than usual, each second dragging its heels like it was in on some twisted joke. I sat behind my desk, elbows braced on the armrests of the leather chair, my fingers drumming a slow, erratic rhythm on the polished mahogany surface.She’d been up there too long.The room was quiet except for the occasional pop of the fire in the hearth and the whisper of the wind nudging the tall windows. My study—usually a place of control, of solitude—felt tight, suffocating. Like the walls had crept a few inches closer while I wasn’t looking.I clenched my jaw and stopped tapping for a beat. Then started again.What the hell could they still be talking about?My mind spun in restless circles. She said she needed to see Aaron alone. I agreed, albeit reluctantly. I trusted her—hell, I trusted her more than anyone at this point—but it didn’t mean the idea of her being alone in a room with him didn’t twist something uncomfortable in my chest.A
LIV’S POVThe sun filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm golden hue over the room and gently kissing my bare skin. I shifted slightly, stretching as my eyes blinked open, adjusting to the soft morning light. Kaelon's arms were wrapped around me like a cocoon, his solid body curled protectively behind mine. The heat he radiated felt like a second blanket, comforting and familiar. His scent—woodsy, masculine, and unmistakably his—lingered in the sheets, on the pillow, and in the air that filled my lungs.I felt his lips press tenderly against the back of my shoulder, a soft brush that sent a shiver through me."You awake?" he murmured, his voice still hoarse with sleep and intimacy.A smile tugged at my lips as I whispered, "Barely."Another kiss, this time just beneath my ear. "I like waking up with you," he murmured against my skin, his breath warm.I turned to face him, propping myself up on my elbow. His dark hair was tousled in every direction, his eyes still heavy