Masuk
Chapter 1
Stacy's pov "How dare you?" The words came out of my mouth like a broken cry. My hands were shaking as I stared at the phone. It was still buzzing softly, the bright screen showing his last text. "I'm right on my way now. I'll tell her that I was called for an unscheduled meeting. Can't wait to see you." Little love emojis followed the message. They were meant for my friend Lisa. My friend. My boyfriend. The truth hit me like a hard blow to the chest. My whole body went cold. My heart felt like it was cracking apart. I scrolled up, hoping I was wrong. Hoping I misunderstood. But every message was clear. "You were right." "Stacy sucks in bed." "I miss you." Each word felt like a knife pushed deeper into me. I wanted to scream, but the bathroom door was close, and I could hear the sound of running water. Arnold was just there, taking his shower, acting normal, while my world was falling apart. I tried to breathe. In... out... but it was hard. My chest felt tight, like someone was pressing it down. The shower stopped. Silence filled the room. Then the door opened, and Arnold walked out, water still dripping from his skin. He looked the same as always. Handsome. Confident. Calm. He even gave me that smile I used to love. The smile that always made me feel special. But this time, I felt nothing. No warmth. No love. Just pain and anger. He reached for a towel and dried his hair slowly, like nothing was wrong. I watched him, unable to believe how easy it was for him to pretend. How easy it was for him to lie. I raised the phone with trembling fingers and handed it to him. He looked at the screen. His smile faded for just a second. Then, to my shock, he smirked. A cold, cruel smirk. "Mmm hmm," he said lazily. "Yeah. Lisa is better in bed than you." My heart dropped even further. "And I'm going to her place now," he added, picking up his shirt like we were discussing the weather. My body froze, then suddenly exploded with emotion. "You have been sleeping with her all this while!" I screamed. "You cheated on me with my best friend? After everything I did for you?" He only shrugged. No apology. No regret. No shame. That silence hurt more than any lie could. I jumped off the bed and grabbed my clothes. My hands were clumsy, my vision blurry with tears. I did not care how I looked. I just wanted out. "Goodbye, Stacy," he said casually behind me, like I meant nothing. I slammed the door and ran into the night. Cold air hit my face, but it did nothing to cool the fire inside my chest. Cars passed. People laughed. Music played from nearby buildings. The world was moving on like nothing happened, but my life had just been shattered. I walked without knowing where I was going. All I could think about was Arnold. The man I gave everything to. The man I trusted with my heart, my body, my future. I had changed my whole life for him. I had waited. I had obeyed rules. I had stayed pure because I believed in true love. He was supposed to be my forever. He was my first. And now he had turned me into nothing. The shame hurt. I had given my Virginity. He told me how good I was in bed. It was my first time, but I felt so good… I wanted more, not until I saw that text. I thought he loved me? No! He only wanted to get his way through me. My self-worth felt crushed. And Lisa? My best friend. My friend since childhood. She dare betray me like this? I couldn't even think anymore. My saliva was bitter, my stomach churned in agony. I kept walking until I saw the bright lights and noisy entrance of a bar. Without thinking, I walked inside. The air was heavy with alcohol and loud music. People were dancing, talking, laughing. I felt like a ghost among the living. I walked to the counter and leaned on it. "Beer," I whispered. The bartender handed me a glass. I drank it fast. Then another. And another. I stopped counting. I just wanted the pain to disappear. With each sip, my body felt lighter, my mind foggier. The sharp pain began to soften into confusion. Soon, I felt bold. I felt careless and even reckless. "Hey beautiful," a voice whispered close to my ear. I turned slowly and saw a tall blond man standing beside me. He looked strong and confident. His eyes were intense but not unkind. He smiled slightly. "Hi," I said, my words slurred. "You’re... gorgeous." He gave a small laugh. "You already said that when you walked in," he replied. His eyes looked me over, and I knew he could see my broken state. He knew I was hurting. And he also knew I was vulnerable. "I have a car outside," he said quietly. Normally, I would never follow a strange man. But tonight, I didn’t care. I didn’t care about danger. I didn’t care about my reputation. I didn’t care about anything. I just wanted to feel something other than pain. So I followed him. The night air was cold as we walked to his car. He opened the door, and I slid inside. He got in beside me, close enough that I could feel his heat. He leaned forward and kissed me. It was sudden, fast, and full of hunger. His hands touched my waist, and I felt a strange wave move through my body. Not love. Just raw need. A need to erase Arnold from my mind. I closed my eyes. "Please..." I whispered, not even knowing what I was truly asking for. Comfort? Escape? Forgetting? He murmured something soft, and his lips brushed my neck. I grabbed his shirt, holding on like I was drowning. My whole body felt overwhelmed with mixed emotions - Pain, anger, desire and confusion. "You are a naughty girl," he laughed softly. I shook my head. I wasn’t naughty. I was just broken. The moment that followed was not about love. It was about release. About letting go of everything that had been choking me. And there it was - the earth-shattering orgasm of my life. It came not with the man I loved and saved myself for, but in the back of a strange car, with a man whose name was unknown to me. And when it finally ended, my body felt weak, tired, but strangely lighter. For the first time, I felt warmth instead of pain. I leaned back against the seat, my eyes heavy. My mind stopped racing. My chest stopped aching so sharply. The noise of the world faded, and I let sleep take me.Chapter 32 Stacy's Pov The rest of the afternoon dragged on endlessly. I tried to concentrate on my work, but my mind kept returning to what had just happened. Every time I glanced toward Arnold's closed office door, I felt another wave of humiliation wash over me. Eventually, the office began to empty. One employee after another packed up their belongings and headed home. The conversations gradually died down, leaving the executive floor unusually quiet. I was shutting down my computer and sliding my notebook into my bag when my phone suddenly buzzed against the wooden desktop. A message notification. The number wasn't saved in my contacts, but I didn't need to see a name to know who it was. My thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before I finally tapped the notification. Three image files appeared, followed by a block of text. The moment the pictures loaded, my breath caught in my throat. The blood drained from my face. They were clear. Unfiltered. And painfully r
Chapter 31Stacy's Pov The next morning….By the time we arrived at RealTech, I had already reminded myself several times why I was there.I wasn't returning to work because I missed the office or because I wanted to spend more time with Arnold. I was there because I had made a decision. If I was going to survive the life I had found myself trapped in, I needed to learn how to play my part without allowing every insult or betrayal to destroy me.So, when Arnold and I stepped out of his sleek black sedan and walked into the building side by side, I wore my calmest expression.To anyone watching, we probably looked like the picture-perfect young power couple. We were dressed in matching tailored coats, carried ourselves with quiet confidence, and gave no indication that our marriage was anything but happy.I played the part effortlessly.We walked through the grand lobby, my posture straight and my head held high. I even managed a small smile when a few employees greeted us. By the tim
Chapter 30Stacy's Pov Arnold looked down at the chair I was holding before slowly lifting his eyes to mine.The suspicion on his face deepened, giving way to something closer to bewilderment.He approached the table and sat down, but even then, his eyes remained fixed on me."After the way things have been between us, after everything that happened, you're making me dinner?"His voice was sharp, as though he expected me to reveal the real reason behind my sudden change of attitude."What's going on, Stacy? Are you playing some kind of game?"I took a quiet breath and stepped back to stand on the opposite side of the table.I knew what I had to do.If I wanted this to work, even temporarily, I couldn't afford to let my pride get in the way. Arnold had an enormous ego, and the easiest way to reach him was to make him believe he had finally gotten what he wanted.I had to swallow my pride entirely."I wanted to apologize," I said.The words felt slightly bitter as they left my mouth, b
Chapter 29Stacy's Pov The silence inside the grand glass-and-steel fortress felt different now.It wasn't just cold anymore. It felt final.I stood beside the floor-to-ceiling kitchen island, my hands submerged in warm, soapy water as I scrubbed a single ceramic plate. Beyond the massive glass walls, the lights of Sacramento glittered in the distance, looking like tiny, indifferent stars.A full week had passed since Kirk left for Paris.He was across the Atlantic now, building the new life he had always wanted. He was meeting people, probably signing contracts, and stepping into a world completely removed from the toxic shadow of the Devon family.And he had left without even saying a final goodbye.At first, the thought had hit me like a physical blow. I remembered standing in an empty room, struggling to breathe as the reality settled over me. But as the days passed, the sharpness of that initial pain gradually faded, hardening into something closer to numb acceptance.I couldn't
Chapter 28Kirk's pov I turned my head slightly to look at her.In the soft lighting, she looked genuinely happy. There was something almost disarming about the way she smiled at me, as though everything she had worked for was finally falling into place.She had fought for me. She had brought me to Paris, arranged my accommodation, helped me establish my business, and stood beside me while everything back in America was falling apart.She was offering me a fresh start, a partner who wanted to be with me, and a future that seemed full of possibilities."Lisa..." I began, but the words trailed off before I could finish."Don't say anything."She cut me off gently.Then she moved closer, swinging her legs over mine until she was straddling my hips. Her green eyes held mine, and there was an intensity in them that made it difficult to look away."Just let me be happy tonight. I've missed you, Kirk. God, I've missed you so much."Before I could find the words to respond, she leaned forwar
Chapter 27Kirk's pov The morning sun streamed through the tall French doors of the Paris apartment, casting sharp geometric patterns across the polished hardwood floors.Jet lag was still pounding behind my eyes, but the heavy fog of yesterday's grief had been pushed somewhere into the back of my mind. At least for now. There was too much to do, and too much riding on today for me to sit around drowning in my thoughts.Today was the real test.Lisa was already up, moving around the kitchen with the sharp click of her heels and an energy that seemed to fill every corner of the apartment. She wore a tailored charcoal blazer over a crisp silk blouse, looking every bit like the confident, well-connected European talent scout she had always been."Drink your espresso, Kirk."She slid a small white porcelain cup across the marble island toward me."The investors are old-school Parisians. They don't just buy blueprints; they buy the person standing in front of them. You need to look sharp







