Monica's eyes were all red and teary. She didn't notice the man trailing behind her from a distance.
She didn’t have much left on her. All through her stay at the McKenzie's, everything she bought was billed to Liam, so she didn’t keep any money with her. The atmosphere changed and it started raining. She didn’t even stop to stand under a shade and kept dragging her boxes under the rain. Her clothes and hair were all drenched, and it wasn’t long before she started feeling cold. Her once-cheery life had gone sore. She didn’t have any more strength left. Her biological mother was dead, and she wasn’t sure anyone else was willing to accept her. A black Mercedes pulled beside her, and Spencer came down from the car and held the umbrella above her head. “Monica…” he gently called. Her ghostly pale face turned to him with shaky lips. “Liam.” Spencer’s face changed in a moment. “You came for me?” she shivered. Spencer swallowed as he grabbed her. She had a fever. She was mistaking him for Liam again. He had been a bit worried about her, so he had someone stay close and watch her. He was scared that the paparazzi might get hold of the news about her divorce and attack her. He gasped as she threw herself into his arms. Her clothes were pressed against her skin, so every curve of her body was felt by him. “Let me take you home.” He shook her gently, but she didn’t respond. He carefully checked her out, only to find that she had passed out. He carried her to the car and drove to his place. She was already shivering by the time he got back home. His maid followed him to the guest room. “Sir Spencer, why are you bringing your brother’s wife back home?” The maid, Susana, had been with him for a long time. He loved her and respected her. She had been his nanny before he knew his biological father. She had taken care of him for a long time and knew most of his deep secrets. “She was stranded, and I helped her out.” “Spencer, this girl is trouble. You have moved on from her, you should stay away from her.” Spencer carefully dropped her into the bathtub. “Aunt Suzy, I have nothing to do with her now. I just wanted to help, so please, help me change her into dry clothes.” Aunt Susana gave him a skeptical look as he left the room. Memories he had buried inside came flooding back in. --- Four Years Ago Spencer walked out of the house and picked out the latest fashion magazine from his mailbox. He flipped through the pages, and a smile graced his lips as his eyes landed on a figure of a model in the latest lingerie collection. “You are obsessed with this girl,” his nanny peeked over his shoulder as his eyes wandered on the magazine pages. “She’s so beautiful,” Spencer whispered. “You’ve been crushing on her for the past two years,” his nanny teased. He took the magazine into his room and placed it with his numerous collections. He had a few of her pictures on his walls. His mind wandered back to the present. He was beyond shocked when he returned from college to find out that his half-brother was engaged to his crush. His stepmom had everything arranged. He was really heartbroken after seeing his crush in someone else’s arms. He knew his brother didn’t love her, but he couldn’t do anything. He was cheating on her. He wanted to warn her, but before he knew it, he was arrested for murder. He went into his room and took off his clothes. He had a hectic day. While abroad, he had managed to set up a fashion company, but no one knew that he owned it. He was trying to bring a branch to his hometown without revealing his identity until he could clear his name about the fire. He got dressed in a shirt and shorts and walked back to the guest room. “How is she?” he asked. “She is running a fever,” she replied quietly. “I tried calling a doctor… but because of the heavy rain, none of them would be able to come.” Spencer stood still for a moment, staring at her on the bed. Then, he swallowed hard and slowly stepped forward. Everything he had buried inside came surging to the surface. He thought he had moved on, but it turned out that he had not. “She is still your brother’s wife. You should not be involved with her.” Spencer ignored his maid’s words and walked to the bed. She was shaking badly. He grabbed the duvet and climbed in next to her. “Sir Spencer, you shouldn’t indulge in this obsession. It almost ruined you once.” Spencer carefully pulled her into his arms. It was the only way to keep her warm. “The cold will get worse, Aunt Suzy.” Aunt Suzy didn’t want to argue anymore, so she left the room with a sigh. She didn’t want history to repeat itself. Spencer pulled Monica into his arms, and she flushed against his body, trying to bury herself in the warmth. “You will be fine,” he whispered. She flushed again and murmured softly, “Liam.” Spencer’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t pull away. Rain drummed softly against the window as he tucked the duvet tighter around her. He had her in his arms, but she still belonged to someone else. Spencer pulled Monica into his arms, and she flushed against his body, trying to bury herself in the warmth. “You will be fine,” he whispered. She flushed again and murmured softly, “Liam.” Spencer’s heart sank. She still couldn’t see him. Rain battered the windows harder now, almost as if the skies themselves were echoing his turmoil. He pulled the duvet tighter around her, fighting every instinct to pull her even closer. Then her lips moved again—barely audible. But this time, it wasn’t Liam’s name. His breath caught. He leaned in slowly. “What did you say?” She mumbled something once more, her brows furrowing like she was fighting a memory. And then, her eyes slowly fluttered open—locking with his for the briefest moment. “…Spencer?” He froze. She opened her eyes weakly and looked at him for a second before closing them again. His heart thudded. She saw him. Just for a moment—she saw him.Monica sneezed and opened her eyes in the dimly lit room. She jumped up and glanced frantically at the oddly familiar room. Her eyes widened as she saw the unfamiliar clothes she was wearing. "Shit!" she cursed. How did she end up in Spencer's house again? Did Spencer change her clothes? She got out of bed and left the bedroom. A voice was humming, and she followed the sound until she saw Spencer in the kitchen making pancakes and watching TV. "You are awake," Spencer commented, flipping over the pancake then dropping it on a plate. "I thought you were going to sleep till tomorrow." "Rude." Monica folded her arms across her chest. "What happened to my clothes?" He turned and spared her a smile, then turned off the cooker. He picked up the pancakes and dropped them on the counter. "I'm talking to you." "I shouldn't even be here," she muttered to herself, her forehead creased in confusion. "What am I even doing here?" The last time she recalled was getting into an argument with h
Her heart was completely shattered, but pushing open the door and walking out of the entrance, she saw Brie's picture being put on a large board in front of the company. Brie was officially the Brand Ambassador for McKenzies' group. She was completely numb. A black Mercedes pulled into the company and the driver opened the door and Brie stepped out of the car. Monica took a step back as Brie walked closer and gave her a menacing scrutiny, "You look like you are about to have a funeral, sister." The tone came out as mocking and sarcastic. Monica clenched her fist, but several bodyguards were readily protective of Brie. "You could really use a change of clothes and some food because you look like a beggar." Brie added and dismissed the bodyguards, "I can handle this filth." Monica wiped her face, "Why are you doing this Brie?" She laughed, "Because I hate you so much." And leaned in, her lips close to Monica's ear, "It was so easy to steal the things you had." "What are you talking
The next day, Monica got dressed to meet Manager Harry. An hour later, the car parked in front of a tall building. Monica placed her hands over her stomach and took deep breaths. "You have to give in your all, your future depends on this." The manager grasps her palms. Monica nodded, but a part of her still felt like she was walking into a trap. "Okay." "I have talked to my person inside and all you have to do is talk to the CEO to secure the post." She nodded and attempted to leave the car, but he held her hand again. "I knew back then you were scared that no decent man would marry you because of what you did but...." "I knew the truth, but I still went ahead to marry Liam," she muttered, the bitterness almost choking her. "Who would want a girl who dresses provocatively in the pages of magazines as their wife?" "Monica...." She hastily shook her head, "It's fine, I'm done with men. I'll try my best inside." She got out of the car and headed into the building. The interior w
Scarlet's mouth widened, and she took a double step back, "What the heck?" Spencer smirked and took slow steps towards her, "Hi, Kitten. Nice to see you again after leaving without a simple thank you." "What are you doing here?" she questioned. He raised a brow at her, "You know the answer to that." Monica laughed. She didn't want to believe it. "So, you are the CEO of Mo's Fashion Empire?" Spencer shrugged. "Why are you so shocked, Kitten?" "Don't call me Kitten! How come no one has ever mentioned it?" Her gaze lingered on Spencer's figure. He looked different—more mature, more dangerous, more... magnetic. "Because no one related to me knows I own Mo's Fashion Empire," he replied. "Why?" Monica couldn’t grasp the reason. "I didn’t think you were someone that could own a fashion company." She was suddenly suffocated. Running away from Liam McKenzie, only to end up with Spencer McKenzie as an option. "This is crazy! I'm out." She turned to leave. "Kitten—" "Don't call me tha
"What the heck is wrong with you, Spencer? Don't drag me in the middle of your family mess." She breathed out. He was acting different from what she knew—more dangerous, more deliberate. Spencer smirked and lifted his hands in surrender, a mocking calm in his expression. He moved away from Monica, who finally let out a shaky sigh of relief. "I can help you take revenge on Liam and your sister." Spencer kept backing away, but his eyes didn’t stray from her face, watching every breath she took, every twitch of hesitation. Monica closed her eyes and exhaled again, trying to regain control. "I don't need your help," she said quietly, keeping her tone calm even though her chest rose and fell with unease. Spencer tilted his head, his tone dipping lower. "I don't understand why you dislike me." "I don't dislike you," she countered, "but people will talk if we get too close, and I don’t want to be in the middle of a family mess." "You think I’m a mess..." Spencer said slowly, folding his
Immediately she walked into the office, Spencer lifted his gaze from the laptop he was working on. "Took you long enough," he closed his laptop and leaned back in the chair, relaxed like he had all day. "Did you do it? Did you have something to do with Harry's misfortune?" she snapped. Spencer chuckled, watching her with a calculated expression. "That pretty mouth of yours could be useful for things other than accusing me all day." Monica's face twisted instantly. "You think I don’t know? I rejected your selfish offer, and now you want to take it out on Manager Harry? He’s a good man." "I didn’t do anything," he scoffed. "Don’t look at me like that. You should ask your husband." "What are you talking about?" Her voice wavered. She hated being in the dark with him, hated how confident he always looked when she didn’t know something. "Liam is making sure that all the brands and companies won’t work with you. He’s making sure you get rejected." She shook her head, stepping back. "
Monica fell on the bed after dropping the contract Spencer gave her on the bed. She was still skeptical about signing it. Her phone rang and she picked it up. "Hello Manager Harry?" She called. "I don't know how you did it, but everything is fine now." "Really?" she asked. "I made some findings and realized that your husband is behind this. I think it's a warning," Manager Harry said. Monica nodded as the call ended. He was doing all of this for Brie. She picked up her phone and contacted her lawyer and, after that, she glanced at the contract between her and Mo's Fashion Empire and, without a second thought, she signed the contract. She picked up her phone and sent a message to Manager Harry. I have signed the contract with the Mo's Fashion Empire. She was done playing soft, "Game on, Liam." She murmured. --- The next day, Monica was accompanied by Manager Harry to the Mo's Fashion Empire. Immediately she reached the lobby, her expression dampened as her eyes landed on Angel
Spencer stared down at her. He couldn't believe the words that left her lips. He took off his hat and mask. She was now clouded with hatred. Her dress had risen, exposing her thighs. "Did you change your mind? I thought you wanted to marry me. I'm giving myself to you now." Tears pooled into her eyes as she struggled to hold her emotions. Liam was going to destroy everything she held dear all because he loved Brie, who wasn't even her biological sister. Spencer stood from his seat and walked to the counter and poured a glass of wine. "You don't know what you are saying, you are just blinded by hatred." "I know what I want, and I want Liam to suffer for everything I have lost." Spencer took a drink from the glass of wine, "You need to go home and think things through." "I don't want to think anything through anymore," she snapped. Spencer poured more wine into the glass and drowned it. "Trust me, you need to think it through." Monica stomped to him and snatched the glass of wine
Lake squirmed, but Max only tightened his grip around his waist, locking him in place."Stop being such a whiny baby and listen to Daddy," Max said with a wink, clearly enjoying every second of Lake's discomfort."You're a maniac," Lake growled, his head starting to spin.Max's playful grin faded. "Hey... are you okay?""Let go of me first," Lake muttered, his voice strained."You’re hungry. Eat," Max said, picking up the plate of steamed mushroom soup. Lake had stopped fighting and was leaning weakly against Max’s chest."Leave me alone," Lake muttered, his voice faint, but Max wasn’t moved. He scooped up some soup and brought it to his lips."Eat," Max repeated softly. Lake stayed silent, eyes closed, refusing to respond."Please," Max added, his voice quieter now, the word almost a whisper.Lake blinked, surprised by the calm but pleading tone. Slowly, he opened his mouth and let the warmth of the soup slide down his throat.Max’s eyes locked on Lake as he lazily dragged his tongue
Then Max reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Lake’s ear. The touch sent a shiver down Lake’s spine, and without meaning to, he leaned in.“I know you probably don’t care whether I’m around or not,” Max whispered, “but I’m happy for you.”Lake’s eyes lingered on Max’s face, mesmerized.“Damn, you look good,” Max added softly, then pulled back like touching Lake any longer might burn him.He started the engine and drove off, and Lake turned to the window, a quiet, genuine smile spreading across his lips.When Max stopped in front of a grand building, Lake’s eyes widened in awe.“Whoa,” he breathed, staring at the mansion.Max grinned as he stepped out. “You look starstruck. This is my place.”He walked around and opened the door for Lake, who stepped out slowly. “This is insane. Kinda my dream house.”Max leaned closer, playful. “Marry me, and it’s yours.”The smile faded from Lake’s face. “Don’t say stuff like that. Why would I marry you?”“Why not?” Max winked.
He caught Lake just before he could fall to the ground, supporting him with one arm around his waist.Lake blinked, his vision blurry. “What the hell...” he mumbled, still disoriented.Max’s grip tightened on his waist, holding him steady. “Lake, are you okay? What just happened?”“I’m fine,” Lake muttered, though he didn’t feel fine at all. His heart raced, but the dizziness still hadn't passed. He pushed Max’s arm away, trying to regain his composure.Max didn’t let go, though. “You sure about that? You nearly passed out.”Lake tried to push him off again, but this time, his mom intervened. “Max, let him go. He needs to sit down.”Max hesitated but released his hold. Lake steadied himself with a hand on the chair, his mom’s concerned gaze following him closely.“You scared me,” his mother said softly, her voice laced with worry. “You need to take care of yourself, Lake.”“I’m fine,” Lake snapped a little too sharply, still feeling dizzy.Max crossed his arms, raising a brow. “Doesn'
Lake pushed open the door, and a nurse who had been attending to his mother stood up with a polite smile. “I’ll leave you two alone,” she said, giving Lake’s mom a quick glance before exiting the room.His mother’s eyes lit up when she saw them. “Well, you came earlier than I expected, I was even beginning to think of ways to convince you.”Lake smiled, but the tension in his posture didn’t go unnoticed. “Hi, Mom. How are you feeling today?”“I’m feeling fine,” she said, then her gaze shifted to Max. A playful grin spread across her face. “Hold on,” she said, her eyes narrowing mischievously, “you didn’t tell me your friend was this good-looking, Lake.”Lake flushed slightly, his hand instinctively rubbing the back of his neck. “Mom, stop, you are going to make his ego burst.”Max stepped forward, offering a confident smile and the bouquet of flowers he had brought. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am, I have always wanted to meet my future...”Before he could complete, Lake hit his a
Monica twirled a pen between her fingers as she waited for Spencer to return from the bathroom. The soft sound of the faucet shutting off was followed by his footsteps and then—he reappeared, casually dressed in a new outfit and then put a big old jacket over it.Her eyes darted to his jaw, then quickly away. Why did he always have to look that good? It was becoming distracting. Dangerous as she was beginning to notice too “Are you okay?” Spencer asked, noticing her flushed expression as he took his seat.Monica nodded too quickly, brushing it off.A knock cut through the air before the door creaked open and Diane peeked in. “Sir, Liam McKenzie is here to see you. Should I send him away or…?”Spencer paused, then said calmly, “You can send him in after a few minutes.”Monica’s body stiffened at the name. She stood and walked to Spencer, who was already slipping into character, putting his usual cold mask as he turned his chair to face away from the door.“You can stay in that room,”
A grin slowly tugged at the corners of his lips. “You’re acting like…”Monica clamped her mouth shut, cheeks burning. Her gaze betrayed her though—it dipped to his lips, lingering just a second too long. Like they had betrayed her. Like she wanted to erase the memory of Adriana’s kiss with her own.Monica didn’t answer. She turned away, but not before he caught the ghost of a smile playing at her lips.****“Good,” the Coach called out, nodding with approval as the male model strutted confidently from one end of the hall to the other, sharp and composed.Lake stepped aside, wiping sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. He grabbed a water bottle, took a long sip, and exhaled. The air inside the studio was thick with heat and tension—everyone was pushing to be flawless.After a brief moment, he tossed the bottle aside and rejoined the line, slipping seamlessly into place.Practice stretched on for another thirty minutes. The room echoed with the clack of shoes, the barked
Lake rushed into the elevator at the Mo’s Fashion Empire just before the doors slid shut. His breath came in short puffs from the quick dash, but it wasn’t just the sprint that made his pulse race.Max was already inside.Their eyes met for a brief second—sharp, loaded. Max's jaw tightened as he looked away and folded his arms across his chest. The cold shoulder was unmistakable.Lake swallowed and shifted awkwardly, glancing at the glowing floor numbers before finally gathering the nerve to speak.“Max…”No response.Lake clenched and unclenched his hands, fingers fidgeting at the hem of his shirt. The silence between them was deafening.“I know you don’t want to talk to me right now,” he said, his voice low, almost hesitant. “But... I really need you to come to breakfast tomorrow. With my mom.”Max didn’t move at first. Then, he let out a quiet scoff and shook his head slightly, still staring at the elevator doors."Max, please," Lake said, stepping closer as the elevator hummed sof
"The internet has been buzzing with news of the upcoming fashion show, barely a few days away," a bright-eyed reporter chirped from the television screen.Brie’s fingers curled into a tight fist.Smash.The remote control slammed against the wall, shattering into pieces.She stood frozen in front of the screen, seething."The wife of billionaire hotshot Spencer Reid was recently spotted wearing the mysterious Monalisa Collection outside Pasisi Hotel alongside her colleagues..."Brie’s nostrils flared."Why her again?" she hissed. "I’ve clawed my way this far—I won’t let Monica steal what’s mine."She reached for the TV button, about to turn it off, but the reporter’s next words made her freeze."The Mo Corporation has remained mysterious about their anonymous CEO, leading the public to speculate about his true identity. But exclusive intel suggests that he has a tender spot for model Monica Banks... even personally designing the dress she’ll debut on the runway—”Click.Brie killed th
Lake dropped off at the hospital after his last gig. He wanted to see his mom before going back to the house. As he pushed open the door to her ward, his heart sank at the sight of her fragile figure on the bed. She still looked weak—too weak.Thanks to Max, the surgery was going to take place in two days.He took the seat by her bedside and gently took her hand.“Lake, my beautiful boy,” she murmured weakly, opening her eyes.“Mom.” Lake gave her a soft, heartbreakingly proud smile at the sound of her voice.“It’s really you... I’ve missed you,” she whispered, lifting her trembling hand to touch his head. He leaned forward so she could.“I’ve missed you too, Mom.”She scanned his face and frowned. “You look lean. Haven’t you been eating?”He shook his head. “I’m fine, Mom. The doctors are going to perform your surgery soon. I just need you to be strong for me, okay?”Her eyes fluttered shut for a second before she blinked them open again. “Where did you get the money? I know we were