Delilah’s POVI screamed, and in a blink the shadow at the window vanished into the rain. Fucking Caleb!! My stomach twisted violently, and for a second I thought I might vomit right there.Thorne’s head snapped up. “Delilah?” His voice was laced with panic, but when his gaze swept over me, he saw the terror in my eyes and instantly softened. He released my wrists, cradling my face in his hands. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”I shook my head too fast. “No. I just… I need air. Please.”I just need to murder someone.The pounding in my temples was unbearable. A headache? No, more like a thousand knives stabbing at once. “Air?” He frowned, already reaching for the towel I’d discarded, draping it back around me like I was made of glass. “Baby, you’re trembling. Talk to me.”I swallowed hard, forcing a weak smile. “It’s nothing. Just… a little too much. The storm, dinner, coming here. Not to talk of Naomi's disappearance…maybe even you.“ My lips twitched, but the humor didn’t reach my
Delilah’s POV Where's Naomi?I was in the bathroom, tensed as hell. Steam still clung to the mirrors, curling around the edges of the bathroom glass as I stood in front of it, towel cinched around me, blow dryer in hand. The hum filled the silence, but it didn’t drown out the ache in my chest.For the tenth time that night, I checked my phone. Still nothing. There was no missed calls, no new texts — just the same cryptic message I’d stared at for days: >>I’ll talk to you later, Dee. Once I get settled.That was all. Settled where? With who? She just disappeared and she once made me promise never to call her parents, no matter what. But is this disappearance part of that ‘no matter what’?”I bit down on my lip, heart pounding as the memory resurfaced. Days ago, panic clawed up my throat when the hotel clerk in China said Naomi had checked out. But here's the thing, there wasn't any forwarding address. No note. Just… gone.The blow dryer slipped from my grip, catching on the edge o
Jon’s POVLater that night…The silk slid from my shoulders pooling at my feet as I reached for the wine. The taste was a bit sharp and sweet, just the way I liked it—like power itself. Dinner had been chaos, everyone too disturbed to eat. God, wasn’t that the fun of it?The door creaked, and Estelle glided in, looking hot as always. My young wife, beautiful and poisonous. I raised my glass. “My beautiful wife,” I murmured, smirking “Drink with me.”She came closer, lips curved but eyes curious as they always were when she sensed I was in one of my moods. “I’ve never understood,” she purred, lifting her glass to mine, “why you got my boy tangled up with Delilah. I’ve always thought her unfit.”The word my snagged like a thorn in my chest. My boy. No—Agatha’s boy. Not hers. Never hers. I hid my grimace behind a sip of wine, letting the burn steady me. Caleb was my first wife's child, but Estelle had always adored him. Mostly because she was unable to have a child of her own.Well I w
Delilah’s POV PARIS….“Oh, the bitch is back.”I froze in the doorway, hand still clutching the strap of my bag. Estelle’s words slithered across the grand dining hall like poison. it was already late and the maids were serving dinner.I should have been used to it by now—the way she always spat venom the moment she saw me—but something about Paris made it sting sharper. The last time I saw her was at Caleb's party. God, I forgot she'd be here in Paris. I'm in no mood for her bullshit.I squeezed my face, forcing it into something like composure. Pretend, Delilah. Pretend. That’s how you survive here with your in laws.Thorne’s towering presence at my side felt like a huge relief. We walked in, slowly. Maxwell Jon Weston sat at the head of the table, eyes gleaming like a man who knew he owned every soul in the room. He’d been that way since the day he met me—since my mother died and my aunt nearly crumbled under the weight of it all. Jon had extended a hand, offered her a “job,” a p
Delilah’s POV >>A BEACH IN CHINAThe sun burned against my skin, hot enough to sting, but Thorne’s hands were hotter, so I didn't really mind.His palms branded my bare thighs as I shifted on his lap, the thin strings of my bikini threatening to come undone with the slightest pull. I could feel his hard dick on my ass.He leaned back in the chair like a king, sunglasses low on his nose, gaze locked shamelessly on my breasts. “Cheers,” I murmured, raising my glass.“Cheers,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that made my stomach clench. Our glasses clinked, and I tipped mine, letting champagne spill cool down my throat.Thorne’s eyes followed the movement of my mouth. His tongue slid across his bottom lip slowly, and I felt heat lick between my legs. How easy it'd be to just flip me over and fuck me senseless.But this is a public beach.. let's keep things respectful, yeah?“You’re staring,” I teased, twirling the stem of my glass between my fingers.“I’m memorizing,” he shot back,
Trigger Warning: This chapter alternates between Cheryse’s and Caleb’s POVs.Cheryse’s POVThe satin gown itched at my shoulders, no matter how many times I snapped at the maids to adjust it.“Don’t drag the veil,” I hissed, slapping one’s hand away when she fumbled with the lace. “Do you know how much this costs? Idiots.”My reflection stared back at me from the mirror—perfect curls, blood-red lips, diamonds catching the light. This was supposed to be my day. My triumph. And yet, every polished surface reflected not only my beauty, but the gnawing fear that something, someone, would ruin it. But I'd kill them before they could.“Enough,” Mother’s voice said from behind. Daphne stood at the doorway, calm as a queen, her eyes sweeping over me with pride. The maids are doing their best. A bride should glow, not snarl.”I rolled my eyes, turning back to my reflection. “A bride should be obeyed, Mother.” “You’ve done well, Cheryse. You’ve secured him. When you left, I didn't know how yo