เข้าสู่ระบบSophia’s POV“What’s that?” Jordyn asks.“Er… nothing. Nothing.” I answer, shaking my head slowly, eyes glued to the message until it disappears in the notification panel.How does she know I’m in Paris? I didn’t even know until we arrived… “Are you sure it’s nothing?” Layla utters. “You look distracted.”“Yeah. Yeah. It’s nothing. Just a message,” I say and swipe down to tap on her message.Maybe Alexander told my parents. My mom will definitely tell Aunt Mel.“So, where’s your husband?”“Out… he’ll be back soon.”I type a response to Aunt Mel.Me: {Yep. Got to our honeymoon suite some minutes ago. How did you know I’m in Paris?}Sweet Aunt Mel: {Oh, nice. Your mom told me.}“Thought as much,” I mutter to myself.“Who’s that?” Jordyn asks.“My aunt.”“Oh, sweet, sweet aunt Mel…” Layla expresses. “It was so great to see her.”“I know, right?” Jordyn agrees.A message is added to our chat.Sweet Aunt Mel: {I miss you and I love you. Have a good time in Paris with your husband.}I smil
Sophia’s POV“Would you come shower with me?” He whispers seductively against my ear for the third time, his arms banded around my stomach as my back stays glued to his chest. We’re under the sheet. And all of him is right behind me. Yet with a conviction so strong, and with my eyes closed, I shake my head. No one’s convincing me to have sex again.“Please,” he whines, licking my ear.I shiver; still, I shake my head. What I feel behind me is enough to know what his plans are—to tear me completely to pieces, until I can’t walk. I might as well become celibate from today.“My little monkey…” he murmurs, sliding his arm to the soft swell of my chest and sucking on my lobe. “Please…”“No,” I sigh in exhaustion, shifting away. But he simply moves with me, becoming so sticky. I’m forced to smile at this new version of Alexander.“I don’t want to have sex again,” I confess, slowly putting my hand around his.He shifts my hair and kisses my neck, then my shoulder, then my back, messing with
Sophia’s POVHis hands fall, and so do mine. I bite my lip, eyes still glued to him, even when he puts his face in mine.“Are you for real?”I nod slowly, shifting closer to him. I still want to be touched, but I need to be able to see his body clearly.“So you can’t see… my face?”“Not really…”“I made myself presentable for you… And you can’t see any of my efforts?”My lips spread into a smile as I touch his chest and whisper, “You’re always presentable.”He reciprocates my touch, using both of his hands to ‘lift’ and squeeze. My hands fall. With a soft moan, my fingers clench around the sheet, and I move even closer.“Where are your contacts?”“I don’t know… I wore my glasses, and…”He chuckles. “You want me to make love to you with your glasses on?”“I just wanna see… your tattoos… and piercings…” I slide my hands to his chest again despite my cheeks flaming.“Where is it?”“In there.” I point toward a bag across the bed.He turns and flies off so fast as if he has no second to wa
Sophia Thorne’s POV~Present Day: 11.01.2025. Inside AJT Air~I’ve been married for twenty-four hours now, and we’re going on our honeymoon on this impressive private jet. I still don’t know where we’re headed.Exhaustion latches onto every muscle in my body as I scratch my eyes and go in search of Alexander. I was so sleepy when we boarded that I slept immediately. The after-party was too much fun, even though Alexander just sat throughout and forced a smile every time I turned to look at him. The guys played every possible game.My aunt didn’t stay long, but I asked him if she’d said anything to bother him. He said she only apologized, and he was just stressed out. I hope he’s in a better mood now. I think he is. I woke up to find he left something for me to wear on the king-size bed on his jet. I’m wearing it. I had a bath first, though.There was another note, too:‘Come hang out with me.’My eyes catch his crossed leg, his right foot hanging out in a silk slipper. He’s seated up
Narrator’s POV~Several years ago: 11.11.02 (yy.mm.dd)~Broken, confused, depressed, and so far away from home, having been tossed out of the only home he’s ever known, eighteen-year-old Joel Thorne walked ahead on the deserted road, earphones plugged in, and backpack strapped to his shoulders. Freshman year had begun two months ago.No friends, no close family members, especially his favorites—Hannah and little Christian. No Dad, whom he loved and always struggled to please yet failed miserably at it every time, or his graceful mom, though kind, always supported Dad in punishing him. Home was tough—constant bullying in high school for being an introvert, a weakling, and for being tardy, getting locked up, starving, and told to pray for several hours in the prayer room because his failures or mistakes were as a result of some hidden sin in his life, getting compared to other kids every time, and separation from his siblings for days for drawing and painting in secret instead of stud
☆⁓Author’s Note⁓☆My most treasured readers, this is the final chapter in the first part of the book. I love you all.~~~Sophia’s POVGasping, I shut my thighs. Alexander moves quickly, withdraws his hand, and palms his other hand over my mouth. My heart is in my throat as we both stare out the window next to us.“Sophia?” My mom’s voice echoes. “Where did she go?”My eyes spread with horror. In a blink, we watch her walk past the window, looking everywhere else but where we are. Even when she’s gone, we don’t move. Her footsteps echo. My widened eyes keep darting. “Hello, Mrs. Rose.” Hannah’s happy voice reaches our ears. “Also looking for Joel, too…” she says. But soon their voices fade. It’s quiet again.Alexander stares at me.I tremble. I’m probably white from shock. I can’t begin to imagine the horror on her face if she’d seen—Wait a minute.We’re married. Alexander nods as if he’s read my thoughts. And at the same time, laughter spews out of our mouths. I bend over, head aga
Sophia’s POVHe’s got nipple piercings, a back half-full of tattoos, smokes cigars, swore never to get married, but says he’s marrying me in October.I’m the first woman he’s invited into his penthouse and bedroom; he kisses like a sinner and promises to show me things I can’t handle yet. He lies ef
Alexander Thorne’s POVPhone in hand, I tap a slow rhythm against the steering wheel, my gaze fixed on the pristine lineup of cars in my private garage. My mind is elsewhere.Dimitri left thirty-five minutes ago. I sent Garvey home, too, yet I’ve been seated inside the darkness of this car, waiting.
Sophia’s POVAlexander’s calmness fills the elevator like gravity. I stare at my reflection against the panel—blonde hair secured in a neat bun, my teal silk skater dress falling perfectly—a 360-degree improvement from the last time I was here.He slowly holds my hand and locks our fingers with gen
Sophia’s POV⁓August 25, 2025: Dimitri & Lena’s Wedding Day⁓It’s exactly one week since my failed attempt at running away. One week since my second and best kiss ever. One week since I got reintroduced to Alexander Thorne as his fiancée. And one week of receiving large rose bouquets from him daily.







