LOGINIsabella's POV
My heart pounded so hard against my chest that I was sure Mr Blackwood could hear it. “Careful… of me.” His deep voice echoed inside my head repeatedly. The way he looked at me while saying those words made heat rush through my entire body. God. This was Amelia’s father. I needed to remember that. But standing this close to him while he looked half-naked and dripping wet was making it impossible for my brain to function properly. His phone continued ringing upstairs. Still, neither of us moved. Neither of us looked away. The tension between us felt thick enough to touch. Then finally, He stepped back slowly. The sudden distance allowed me to breathe again. “I should get that,” he said calmly. I nodded too quickly. “Y-Yes. Of course.” He stared at me for one more second before turning around and walking upstairs. And dear God… The view from behind was just as sinful. I quickly looked away and pressed my lips together. What the hell was wrong with me? I had literally caught my boyfriend cheating a few hours ago, yet here I was practically drooling over another man. A much older man. My best friend’s father. This was insane. Completely insane. I took a deep breath and tried calming myself down. The sound of His deep voice speaking quietly upstairs reached my ears faintly while I looked around the living room awkwardly. The mansion was stunning. Soft warm lights illuminated the enormous room beautifully while the sound of ocean waves crashing outside created a peaceful atmosphere. Everything smelled expensive. Fresh wood. Wine. Masculine cologne. Sebastian. I swallowed hard again. Why did he have to look like that? I had seen attractive men before. Stephen was attractive. But Sebastian Blackwood was different. There was something dangerous about him. The way he carried himself. The confidence. The power in his eyes. He looked like the kind of man who could destroy someone completely without even trying. And somehow… That made him even more attractive. “You’re staring.” I jumped slightly at the sound of his voice. Mr Blackwood stood at the bottom of the stairs again, now wearing dark gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt that hugged his muscular body perfectly. Honestly, the clothes didn’t help at all. If anything, they somehow made him look even hotter. “I wasn’t staring,” I lied immediately. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he walked toward me slowly. “Of course not.” My cheeks burned. God, this man was impossible. “I’m sorry for intruding,” I said quickly, desperate to change the subject. “Amelia didn’t mention you’d be here.” “She didn’t know.” I frowned slightly. “You came unexpectedly?” “Yes.” There was something unreadable in his expression. Something heavy. But before I could ask further, he picked up the wine bottle from the table. “Drink?” I hesitated for a second before nodding. Honestly, after the day I’d had, alcohol sounded perfect. Mr Blackwood poured wine into a clean glass and handed it to me. Our fingers brushed again. Another dangerous spark shot through my body instantly. His eyes darkened slightly. And this time… I knew I wasn’t imagining it. He felt it too. I quickly pulled my hand away and took a large sip of wine. Bad idea. The strong liquid burned down my throat immediately, making me cough softly. He chuckled deeply. “Easy.” I glared at him lightly while trying not to choke. “This wine is strong.” “It’s expensive.” “That explains it.” A low laugh escaped him. God. Even his laugh was attractive. This man seriously needed to stop. I sat carefully on the edge of the couch while Sebastian leaned casually against the kitchen counter across from me. The atmosphere suddenly felt strangely comfortable. Like we had done this before. Which was ridiculous. I barely knew him outside of occasional dinners with Amelia or when I visit their home. Though if I was being honest… I had always noticed him. How could I not? Every woman noticed Sebastian Blackwood. Even at 40 he was still devastatingly handsome. The older he got, the more attractive he became. And now, my stupid attraction on him has been triggered. Wonderful. “So,” he said quietly while sipping his wine. “You caught your boyfriend cheating.” Straight to the point. I looked down at my glass. “Ex-boyfriend.” He nodded once slowly. “How bad was it?” I laughed bitterly. “Bad enough.” I hated how emotional my voice sounded. The memories immediately came rushing back again. Stephen is touching another woman. Kissing her. Lying to me. Pain twisted sharply inside my chest. Mr Blackwood must have noticed because his expression hardened slightly. “Men like that are pathetic.” I looked up at him. “Men like what?” “Men who betray women who love them.” Something about the way he said it felt personal. Like he understood betrayal far too well. I studied him carefully. “You sound experienced.” A shadow crossed his face briefly before disappearing. “Experience teaches many things.” Silence settled between us again. But this silence felt heavier. More intimate. I took another sip of wine slowly. The alcohol was beginning to warm my body pleasantly. Or maybe it was His intense stare. Probably both. “You know,” he said suddenly, “Stephen is going to regret losing you.” My heartbeat skipped. I stared at him. “What makes you say that?” His dark eyes moved slowly over my body before returning to my face. “Because only an idiot would risk losing a woman like you.” Heat flooded my cheeks instantly. God. That should not have affected me the way it did. Especially coming from him. I looked away quickly. “You don’t have to flatter me.” “I’m not flattering you.” The seriousness in his voice made my stomach tighten. Mr Blackwood pushed himself off the counter and walked toward me slowly. Every step he took seemed deliberate. Controlled. Dangerous. I suddenly forgot how to breathe again. He stopped directly in front of where I sat. Way too close. I could smell the wine on his breath now mixed with that addictive cologne. My pulse raced wildly. “You’re beautiful, Isabella,” he said quietly. The way he said my name sent chills through me. I swallowed hard. “This is wrong Mr Blackwood.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Call me Sebastian” “So what did say was wrong?” “This.” I gestured weakly between us. “You’re Amelia’s father.” “And?” My breath caught. “And I just got out of a relationship.” “That man didn’t deserve you.” The intensity in his voice made my chest tighten. I should have stood up. I should have walked away. Instead, I stayed frozen while Sebastian slowly leaned closer. Close enough that I could feel his warmth. Close enough that one small movement would make our lips touch. My entire body tingled with tension. “Sebastian…” I whispered shakily. His gaze dropped to my mouth. “Tell me to stop.” The room felt unbearably hot suddenly. I wanted to say yes. I needed to say yes. But the words refused to come out. Because deep down… I didn’t want him to stop. Not at all. His hand slowly reached up and brushed lightly against my jaw. The touch was gentle. But it set my entire body on fire instantly. A soft breath escaped my lips before I could stop it. His eyes darkened dangerously at the sound. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. The tension snapped completely. Before I could think properly, Sebastian grabbed my waist and pulled me against him. Then his mouth crashed onto mine. My wine glass nearly slipped from my hand. The kiss was rough. Hungry. Possessive. Nothing like the soft kisses Stephen used to give me. Sebastian kissed me like a man starving. And God help me… I kissed him back just as desperately. A deep groan escaped his throat as his hands tightened around my waist. Heat exploded through my body instantly. My fingers grabbed his shirt tightly while his tongue slid against mine skillfully, making my head spin completely. This was wrong. So wrong. But it felt too good to stop. The kiss grew deeper. Hotter. More dangerous. I could feel the strength in his body pressed against mine. Feel his control slowly slipping. Then suddenly— A phone started ringing loudly again. We both froze instantly. Breathing hard. Sebastian pulled back slightly while staring at me intensely. My lips felt swollen. My entire body trembled. My phone kept ringing somewhere nearby. But neither of us moved. Because the look in Sebastian’s eyes right now terrified me. Not because he regretted kissing me. But because he looked like he wanted to do far more than just kiss me. My phone screen lit up on the table beside us. And the name displayed on it made my blood run cold. It’s was Stephen. Sebastian’s jaw tightened immediately. My heart dropped straight into my stomach. Because suddenly… Nothing about this situation felt accidental anymore.Malik’s POV “You can stay,” I told Amira coldly. “But do not mess with me.” The hallway suddenly felt heavier with tension. I stepped closer to her slowly, lowering my voice into something far more dangerous. “Because I do not forgive.” Most people feared me when I spoke in that tone. Amira didn’t even blink. Instead, she smiled calmly, as if my warning meant absolutely nothing to her. “Okay, Your Highness,” she replied smoothly. “Not at all.” But her eyes told a different story. There was calculation there. A challenge. And I hated it immediately. For a few long seconds, we stared at each other silently. Then finally I stepped away from Lily’s door completely. “Enjoy your stay,” I said flatly before walking off. The moment I turned the corner, Omar approached quietly. “You do not trust her,” he observed. “No.” The answer came instantly. Amira was intelligent. Too intelligent. Women raised in royal households learned very early how to smile while
Malik’s POV I barely slept that night. Actually, I wasn’t sure I slept at all. The large leather couch in my study had never felt uncomfortable before, but tonight every position felt wrong. My mind refused to rest. Too many thoughts crowded inside my head at once. Lily was pregnant. I was going to be a father. And somehow that single truth had changed everything about my life overnight. I stared tiredly at the untouched glass of whiskey sitting on my desk while early morning sunlight slowly filled the study. Usually, alcohol helped clear my thoughts after stressful nights. Tonight it did nothing. Because every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lily crying in my bedroom. Scared. Exhausted. Alone. Carrying my child while believing she had no one to depend on. Guilt sat heavily inside my chest. I should have been there. No matter how complicated my life was, no matter how impossible the situation seemed, Lily should never have faced this alone. A soft knock inter
Malik’s POV The moment I stepped into my private study, I loosened my tie aggressively and exhaled heavily. For the first time in years, I felt completely out of control. Lily was pregnant. Pregnant with my child. The thought still replayed endlessly inside my head like a storm refusing to calm. I walked toward the large glass window overlooking Manhattan while rubbing my jaw tiredly. The city lights below normally helped clear my mind after stressful meetings. Tonight they did nothing. Because all I could see was Lily sitting on my bed crying quietly while protecting her stomach with trembling hands. Terrified. Alone. And carrying my baby while working herself to exhaustion inside my own home. A sharp anger settled heavily inside my chest at the thought. Not toward her. Toward myself. I should have stayed that morning in the hotel. I should have at least left her a way to contact me. Instead, I walked away because it was easier. Because responsibility and
Lily Hart’s POV “You’re carrying my child.” Malik’s voice was low and filled with emotion as he stared at me. I sat frozen on the edge of his bed while tears rolled silently down my cheeks. The room suddenly felt too small for everything happening between us. The truth was finally out. No more disguises. No more lies. No more hiding. And somehow that terrified me more than before. Malik remained crouched in front of me, his dark eyes fixed on my face intensely. I could see the storm of emotions moving behind them. Shock. Anger. Fear. Confusion. But beneath all of it… something softer. Something dangerous. “Why?” he asked quietly. My throat tightened instantly. “What?” “Why didn’t you tell me?” The hurt in his voice caught me off guard. I blinked at him in disbelief. “You left before I even woke up.” His jaw tightened slightly. “That does not answer my question.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips through tears. “What exactly was I supposed to do, Mali
Lily Hart’s POV The entire ballroom spun around me. Voices became muffled. The bright golden lights above blurred together painfully while dizziness consumed my body completely. No. Not now. I tried to steady myself against the table, but my legs refused to cooperate. My breathing became uneven as panic rushed through me. Please don’t faint. Please don’t faint. But it was already too late. Strong arms caught me before I hit the floor completely. Gasps filled the ballroom around us. “Miss Hart!” someone shouted. My tray crashed loudly onto the marble floor as Malik held me tightly against him. One of his hands pressed protectively against my waist while the other supported my back. And then everything became worse. My wig slipped off completely. The large glasses fell seconds later, hitting the floor beside us. The ballroom went silent. Completely silent. Cold fear rushed through my body instantly. No. No no no. My real blonde hair spilled over
Lily Hart’s POV My hands nearly gave out beneath the silver tray I was holding. Future wife. The words echoed painfully inside my head while I stood frozen near the ballroom entrance. Sheikha Amira of Oman appeared to belong in a royal painting. Elegant posture. Perfect smile. Expensive diamonds glittered against her skin. Even the way she walked beside Malik screamed royalty. They looked perfect together. Too perfect. And suddenly I felt stupid for ever thinking the connection between Malik and me meant anything at all. Of course, a prince would marry a princess. Not some broke American girl carrying trays at his party. I lowered my eyes quickly and continued walking before anyone noticed the pain on my face. “Champagne?” I asked quietly while approaching a group of guests. My hands trembled badly. I tried not to look toward Malik again, but it was impossible. Every person in the ballroom seemed drawn toward him naturally. Powerful businessmen surrounded h
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