Vengeance is her's, not God's. Andrea Campbell's world is shattered when Thane, her ruthless CEO husband, divorces her. Left with nothing, she has no family, no money, no identity. But as fate would have it, she is reunited with her billionaire birth father, Mr. Campbell. Five years later, Andrea returns as a stunning, sassy businesswoman, fueled by a burning desire for revenge. She plans to pull Thane into a high-stakes business collaboration and then destroy him. Thane, consumed by his ex-wife's transformation, will stop at nothing to reclaim her. Unaware of their hidden twin children and Andrea's secret game. He becomes increasingly obsessed. As they dance around their explosive past, Andrea struggles to keep her emotions in check. Thane's determination ignites a risky game of cat and mouse, where old feelings resurface and new flames ignite. Will Thane's all-consuming love be enough to quench Andrea's fury, or will her thirst for revenge destroy them both? Can Andrea resist Thane's relentless chase, or will she succumb to the passion that once bound them?
Lihat lebih banyakAndrea's pov
The pen fell from my hands again. " Just sign the goddamn papers, would you? " Mother ordered, eyeing me with disgust as she did. " Andera can't even hold on to a pen, it's not surprising you couldn't hold your husband's heart, too. It's a wonder how my big brother tolerated you this long." Anna hissed. I took a look at the papers spread in front of me, one signature, and I'd be back to the place I was all those years ago. The place of helplessness. " I...I can't. " I stammered. They both groaned. The hate and disgust on their faces was palpable. I know they have always despised me but I couldn't do it. I would rather face their hatred than be alone on the streets. Hot tears trickled down my face; my body convulsed with my persistent sobs. " For the love of God, is that the only thing you can do Andera, cry? Yuck, look at your face; it's covered in snort; you're so disgusting. We don't want you as a part of our family anymore; so just get this divorce over with!" Imogen, the eldest of the siblings thundered. More than anything, I love Thane. He hasn't been the best of my husband, but the love I have for him runs deep in me; I've loved him from the first day I steeped my mud-covered shoes into this house. Thane walked back into the living room, and I got on my knees to beg him. "Thane, please don't do this to us. I love you, Thane. I don't have a life outside the one you've given me. Thane please, I'll do anything you want." Tears flowed from my eyes in torrents while I begged him on my knees. I prayed to every holy being that Thane would be compassionate with me today. Just today. " You can keep your useless love to yourself, Andera; it's done me no good. " He spat. Seems like there's no one willing to answer the prayers of an orphan today. I might as well help myself. " No Thane, I won't. Thane I......" The words were lost on my lips as he reached for my hair and pulled it roughly. So tight was his grip, my scalp hurt. My teary eyes met Thane's scornful stare; his gray eyes were filled with burning hatred. Not to be surprised though, he's never looked at me with anything but that in our two years of marriage. " Andrea, you should be lucky we're doing this the easy way. You preyed on my late father's weakness and forced your way into my life you cunning thief." He hissed, his words sliced through me. "No, I swear, Thane, I didn't steal your family heirloom." "Lair." Imogen cut me. " It was found in your bag, Andera." They were accusing me wrongly; I didn't steal anything. I'm not foolish enough to jeopardize my stand in this family. I would never steal. Pa Eugene raised me better than that. " if you could just check the security footage you'd find the real culprit. " I tried to convince Thane while his fingers still held their tight grip on my hair, staring daggers at me from those gray orbs " Andrea you disgusting b!tch! Now you're trying to accuse one of us? Just admit to your crimes and we won't turn you over to the police. " Anna, the youngest spat. " Oh Andrea, we won't put you in jail because of the blind love my husband had for you but don't test us. Sign the divorce papers and leave our family! Heaven's forbid my son would stay married to a thief! Just imagine if this gets on the News. The wife of the renowned CEO of Renihardt's infrastructures steals a family heirloom worth millions; that would be terrible; do you know all the setbacks that could cause us?! " Mother's words were enough to snap the last thread of Thane's patience. He had always been rough and aggressive in a way I found attractive, well, until now. He pulled my hair. My heart hammered in my chest, and a small voice in my head that kept repeating the same thing for two years spoke up again: 'You're nothing to him, a nobody. Did you believe Thane could love you?' I had thought that with time, my love would be reciprocated, but I was wrong. Thane pushed me forcefully towards the table, causing me to fall face flat on it. The fall sent a sharp pain coursing through me, but it was nowhere close to the damage done to my heart. If only his father hadn't died a month ago, we wouldn't be here. "You have ten seconds to sign these papers, Andrea. Ten seconds till I do my worst!" He seethed. My eyes burned. This level of hatred was something I never expected, he doesn't trust me, and all I've done is give him the entirety of myself! I held the pen again, my grip tighter this time; even if I had no one to go to, it was better than jail, and so I signed my divorce papers. Dropping the pen, I looked up at Thane. The man I dreamed about whenever I slept. The only man I let into my heart, the man who took my innocence. "Leave." He looked away from me as if the sight of me repulsed him. " We've packed your things already. " Anna announced happily. I didn't break my gaze from Thane, now my ex-husband. " You'll be happy, right? Now that I'm gone. " My voice quivered. " Yes, Andera, I feel like a burden has been taken away from me. " He answered dryly. Picking up my bags, I cast one last look at the four of them, the only family I've had for fourteen years. They had never seen me as family, and painfully, my marriage to Thane didn't make me one either. -- The emergency shelter is far from Thane's mansion, thirty minutes of walking has me weak and tired. My stomach started to churn. Barely three steps later, I fall to my knees and throw up, not before I see people hurrying towards me. Next thing I know, I'm waking up to a slow beeping sound by my side. It's so bright in here. "Where am I?" I asked weakly A woman dressed in an immaculate white gown walked to me, a big smile on her face. "You're in the hospital; you passed out, ma'am." "Hospital?" "Yes, ma'am, congratulations, you're three weeks pregnant." -- I'm Pregnant. There's a baby inside me. Thane's baby. It's all I can think about when I walk out of the hospital with nothing but a box of old clothes. Pregnant, with no home, no family, and no money but whatever I have to do to survive, I will for the sake of this child I'm already starting to love. " Miss, please wait up. " Someone calls. I turn around to see a man in a black suit running towards me. "Miss, there's someone who wants to see you." He points to the other side of the road. Another man steps out from a black Bugatti. The moment our eyes meet, he inhales loudly, and his hand flies to his chest. "My child. Andera."ASHLEY'S P.O.VThe path he led us through was beautiful.Lined with flowers and soft grass, the scent of pine in the air. I didn't understand why Kellan was so tense. He's been like this since we woke up this morning.It's like something happened during the night that he didn't tell me.The last time I had seen Kellan this nervous was during our wedding, when I read my vows. Then, he watched me as if waiting for me to bail out and run away. I tried not to think of where he was leading us, or whatever was making him this taut. Kellan's steps were deliberately slow to keep with mine, his breath was ragged, like he was contemplating something, and even though he looked down at me and smiled every two seconds, I knew he was disturbed.The sky overhead was bright but not hot as we walked down the beautiful path, lined with trees and spring birds chipping in the air, and a house came into viewIt was beautiful.Surrounded by flowers and trees and soft grass that brushed my ankles, the hous
KELLAN'S P.O.VThis was the place my life began. Truly began.I had tears in my eyes that day.For some reason, the back of my eyes prickle now. It could be from too much laughter this morning while watching Dad wince and beg Grandma to reconsider this ‘whole escape’ of getting married again.I glanced at where Dad sat behind me, waiting for Gran with a frown. Dad's friends, two of whom insisted on attending his mother's wedding, teased him for having a stepfather at forty-nine.I smiled.While the idea of Gran getting married had been odd to me at first, I've come to accept it, admire it even. To make such a decision at this age, to go this length for one person...I understood.I understood it, too.The courtroom was filling with guests, mostly Gran’s and Bob’s friends from the community board games. Bob sat at the front in a tux that somehow fit.Dinner with him was... something. Bob laughed at his own jokes, smiled, and teased her till she smacked his hand and told him not to make
ASHLEY'S P O VI forgot how chilly the cabin could be at night.Especially windy nights. Nights like these It was windy on our first night here too.“I've missed it here” Kellan muttered beside me, A soft smile broke through my face at the way he said those words. I adjusted my eyes to the faint glow of Gran's old lanterns. “Yeah?”Besides me, the bed dipped as he shifted to his side. I dragged my eyes away from the wooden ceiling and met his, in the dim light, Kellan's green eyes were darker, unguarded.Sparks shot through every nerve in my body, it's been months since we shared a bed. Months since I felt that living tension between us.Kellan propped his head on one hand, his elbow sinking into the mattress, studying me like he was trying to memorize my face in the half-light, I felt my heavy, tender breasts push against my nightdress. His eyes darkened a shade further, noticing too. “Yes,” I really love the quiet and the sound of the lake, plus...”My breathing fluttered when he
ASHLEY'S P.O.VSeb—Kellan's father, arrived a minute laterAfter a warm hug to me and an unreadable glance at Kellan, both men leaned by the wall and wordlessly stared at Gran's engagement ring like it might come to life.Despite myself, despite knowing that Seb was fully aware of Kellan's and my failing marriage, even though I was lying to Margery through my teeth, I smiled.I've never seen both men so fazed.Gran totally ignored them while she ushered me to sit down and gave me one of her crocheted throw blankets. The scent of butter and apple pie made my mouth water.Margery made the best pies.“That's too much” I protested when she kept heaping my plate like a mountain.Her lips pulled into a mock frown. “Too much? You're eating too much, Ashley."Pressure built behind my eyes, and I blinked it away, focusing on the food in front of me. Later I can wallow in guilt, but not now. Not here Gran threw a pointed look at Kellan, “You better be feeding my granddaughter-in-law well. I do
ASHLEY'S POVBeing in Dallas again should have freaked me out. It should have, not when I still have nightmares of Genevieve's threats, not when her icy words and death promise were what held me back from telling Kelena the truth.But somehow I wasn't scared. I was not afraid.How could I be, when Kellan's been by my side like he was bound on protecting me at all times. We'd left Austin immediately, taking his private jet here and all the while, he gave me these sweet foot rubs that made the heaviness in my lower back lessen I was already dozing off when we landed, a car waiting for us too, and Kellan took the wheel, driving straight to his Gran's home— Margery.I loved the woman, she's sweet and kind with a sense of humor that has me cackling each time. My throat tightened at the lie Kellan and I had agreed to tell her, the facade that we promised to keep.Play husband and wife. Simple I had no doubt that Kellan's father— Seb, already knows of our fallout, and my heart ached at
KELLAN'S P.O.VMy fingers loosened by my side, and my body went liquid and tight all at once.I just stared and stared.I didn't know how or when I crossed over, but I soon found myself standing in front of a nursery.A pink nursery Something in my heart leaped, then shark then exploded.A girl.The little crib, the blush pink curtains, and the pink and white walls all began to blur. I swallowed the lump in my throat, willing myself to breathe.I hadn't expected it to hit me like this. I didn't know my heart would constrict this tight at the sight of a room. No. It wasn't just any room. It was more. I didn't know how long I stood there at the doorway of Ashley's nursery, but I felt her when she came to my side, felt her soft fingers thread through mine, and squeezed tightly Then I looked—at her. I looked as if I could already see the daughter she was carrying.Ashley's eyes were a mirror to mine—glassy too. Her lip quivered a bit and her expression bordered on sadness and something
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