Chapter 73. Lucas smiled, slow and taunting, the corners of his mouth curling like a serpent watching its prey fall apart.“You’re surprised?” he asked, voice low and cruel. “Surprised that the man you love… is the same man whose father killed your father?”Jasmine’s chest tightened and her eyes snapped up in his direction. But Lucas wasn’t done.“The same man you gave your water and food to… on the very same day your parents were murdered?”Her eyes widened. Wide. Shaken.What?The question left her lips like a whisper. Her voice barely there — stolen by confusion, drowned by fear. Wait. How the hell did Lucas know that his father killed her father? Did she kill her family? How? Lucas chuckled again. He could see the panic rising in her eyes, the broken pieces of memory fighting to resurface.“You want clarification?” he asked softly, almost mocking her.Jasmine didn’t answer. She couldn’t.She just sat frozen in the chair, her wrists aching, her lips parted. Her head spun. It was
Chapter 72. Jasmine stirred slowly, pain slicing through her spine. That was the first thing she felt the moment her eyes opened. A dull, throbbing ache was crawling up her arms, spreading across her back. Her wrists burned where the ropes held her too tightly against the arms of the chair, and her ankles felt just as raw.Her head was heavy. Like the world around her was swaying.Then her eyes fluttered open — the light was dim, the air cold. Her breath came in short, shaky gasps as her vision adjusted.She was in a room with concrete walls. No windows. Just shadows.A single bulb hung from the ceiling, its glow flickering like a dying heartbeat.Panic surged in her chest and her heart hammered in her chest. Why was she here? Why was she tried up here in this lonely room? Her eyes darted across the room, searching — anything, anyone, something that would explain why she was here.Then a voice came in, smooth low, and cruel.“Looking for me?”Jasmine froze at the sound of that v
Chapter 71.Jasmine stood in front of her mirror that morning, quiet and still. She was dressed in a beautiful two-piece — soft, elegant, and just revealing enough to make her feel confident. She was on her way to her aunt’s house.But as she stared at her reflection, his image flashed across her mind.Jerald.The way he had spanked her. The way he had taken her. The way she had shamelessly melted into it — every sound, every movement, every part of her giving in without resistance.And the way she had loved and enjoy every inch of it. Her breath hitched and she moved her hands up pressing a palm to her forehead and rubbing gently, trying to steady herself. Her skin still tingled with the memory, with the ache he’d left behind. She let out a slow breath, lips parted, heart tapping softly beneath her ribs.How had it gotten to this?She had promised herself — sworn even — that whatever happened between them would stay where it belonged. That it would remain a simple arrangement. Nothi
Chapter 70. Jasmine’s breath came in ragged pulls as he laid her across the bed, her ass cheeks still warm from the spanking he’d given her. The sting had barely faded, and yet, her thighs trembled—wet, swollen, needy. Her body betrayed her. And Jerald saw it.Standing at the foot of the bed, Jerald’s gaze was dark, fixed on the spot between her legs.“You came,” he said, voice low and dangerous.Jasmine swallowed hard. “I—I didn’t mean to…”He cocked a brow, slowly walking around to the side of the bed, trailing two fingers up the back of her thigh. “You didn’t mean to disobey me?”Jasmine remained silent, then Jerald leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “You know the rules, cupcake. You don’t get to come without my permission.”His hand slid under her, fingers grazing her soaked folds. “And yet…” He drew a single wet finger up and held it in front of her mouth. “Look at this mess.”Jasmine whimpered, lips parting instinctively to suck on his finger, tasting herself as he pushed
Chapter 69. Jerald folded his arms slowly across his bare chest. His eyes didn’t move from hers—not even for a second.“What are you looking for?”His voice was low. Controlled. But it carried weight. Dangerous weight.Jasmine’s lips parted. She stammered. “I… I wasn’t—I didn’t mean—”Her words trailed off because in one swift move, he was in front of her.His hand wrapped around her neck and she gasped as he slammed her back into the wall.Her body jolted, the back of her head hitting lightly against the hard surface. Her breath caught in her throat, eyes wide as she stared into his, nails digging into her neck in both anger and domination. “Who told you,” he growled, “you could go through my things?”His voice wasn’t raised, but it thundered through her chest like a warning. It was the calm before the storm. The kind that swallowed everything.Her eyes watered instantly, throat tightening beneath his grip. But her gaze didn’t drop.She looked right at him.Even through the panic,
Chapter 68. Jasmine stirred slowly, her lashes fluttering open as they met with the familiar ceiling.It looked like hers… but it wasn’t.This wasn’t her room. She knew where she was, even without stressing it. She blinked, trying to sit up. The sheets were softer. The lighting was warmer. And there was a faint scent in the air—his scent. Musk and mint. Strong, but comforting.She looked around slowly, acknowledging it. It was Jerald’s room.Before she could fully gather her thoughts, his voice cut through the quiet.“You’re awake.” his voice came in, thick and heavy against the air, yet the edge of it carried a soft tenderness. She turned her head in the direction of Jerald stood by the mirror, shirtless. The soft light touched his skin, casting soft shadows on the lines of his chest. He wasn’t even looking at her directly—he was adjusting something on his wrist—but just seeing him like that made her chest pull tight.Her eyes trailed down his body. Her jaw clenched.Desire scorch