Prologue
Twenty-two-year-old, Alyssa Van Every scowled angrily at her older brother, Alex, determined to fight him and his high-handed attitude. Six years older than her, Alex Van Every was a billionaire restaurateur and considered it his sole mission in life to protect his sister from all the men in the entire universe! So, Alyssa always protested his ways and whenever he was around, the atmosphere was very tense.“You won’t attend the wedding, Alyssa and that’s final.” Alyssa glared at him, her eyes flashing and rebellious. This time it was her close friend, Sienna’s wedding and she refused to bow down to her brother’s wishes. A plan to escape without his permission started forming in her mind. It was no use fighting him as he would never listen. It was different when she was younger but now at twenty-two, she didn’t need his help or permission.“What’s the big deal, Alex? I don’t stop you from doing anything and neither do mom and dad. So why is it always me? What problems could you have if I attend Sienna’s wedding?” Alex punched the nearest wall with anger, causing the paint to chip off but it didn’t scare her at all. She was used to his temper, being as short-tempered as he was.“I don’t want you around the Donnelly brothers, Alyssa. They are our sworn enemies!” he gritted out, his eyes daring her to disobey. Anger bubbled inside her and she glared back at her brother refusing to be intimidated by him.“They may be your sworn enemies, Alex, not mine. I will do what my heart desires.” She tossed her waist-long golden hair and walked out of her brother’s apartment, leaving him fuming after her. With her apartment located on the fourth floor of the same building, she took the elevator from her brother’s penthouse to her three-bedroomed home that belonged to her dad, Daniel Van Every.Although Alyssa’s friends, Eva, Sienna, Hayley, and Skylar were all career-oriented and working at reputable places, she was the only one who had no career goals. However, it didn’t bother her at all. After somehow graduating in finance, she continued enjoying her life with no rush to look for a job. Being born with a golden spoon, Alyssa didn’t need to earn a living. Her dad wanted to pass the reins of his Finance company to her since her brother refused but she wasn’t at all interested, splurging his money on a luxurious lifestyle instead. Everyone was tired of her ways, yet for Alyssa, parties, friends, clubs, and weddings, were everything. She didn’t have time to ponder over anything else other than her own enjoyment.She rang the doorbell of her apartment and her friend Eva opened the door with an inquisitive look on her face. “What happened? What did he have to say?” Alyssa groaned and slumped onto a couch knowing that now there was only one way out for them. To sneak out when Alex went to work!“You know what he can possibly say! He doesn’t want me to go and I’m sure he won’t let you either.” Alyssa rolled her eyes knowing how whipped her brother was with Eva although he would rather die than acknowledge it.“Why should he care about me? I’ll definitely go." Eva walked towards her room to pack while Alyssa followed her to discuss their plans of escaping.“I don’t know what enmity Alex has with Lucas Donnelly and his brothers but I definitely will attend Sienna’s wedding. So let’s sneak out tomorrow in his absence, without informing him. What do you say?” Eva gaped at her friend and her eyes widened realizing what they were about to do.“What if Alex follows us there and creates trouble for Sienna?”“We'll deal with it when it happens.”Eva didn’t say a word further knowing fully well what enraging Alexander Van Every meant but Alyssa was no less stubborn and she sighed as she continued to pack up. Alyssa too packed and the two friends made dinner afterward, waiting for Alex to storm into their apartment anytime soon to continue the fight where they had left off.Alyssa knew Alex would complain to her dad when he fails to convince her. It had been the norm since she had been born. Her parents always supported him, favored him, and compared her to him. It inflamed Alyssa further and she strove to be exactly the opposite of what Alex was. He was her dad’s favorite and only when he declined to take over the reins of the business did her dad consider her as his last choice. It angered her and she went out of her way to prove how worthless she was, annoying her dad more.The doorbell rang and Eva went to get it while Alyssa continued with her packing, unperturbed, knowing fully well that it would either be her dad or her brother. Just as she had expected, her dad walked into the apartment and looked around for her. It angered Alyssa more that Alex could stoop so low and complain to him about such a minor issue.“Alyssa, I expect you to listen to your older brother. After all, he’s looking out for you. If he thinks that the Donnelly’s are dangerous, you should refrain from attending the wedding.” Alyssa stood up, her teeth clenched with fury but she took deep breaths to calm herself down.“They aren’t dangerous, dad. They’re just businessmen but I won’t interact with them at all. I’m just going as Sienna’s bridesmaid. You know how close we all are. I can’t miss this wedding, just because they happen to be Alex’s enemies.” Daniel Van Every massaged his temples completely at a loss now, witnessing the rebellious streak in his daughter which increased with every passing second.“What if they harm you?” Her dad seemed to be at his wit’s end. Eva walked quietly into the room and stood in one corner, knowing that Daniel Van Every didn’t approve of her much. She wasn’t a billionaire’s daughter and neither did she belong to their status. Just as always, Alyssa’s dad ignored her very existence and glared at his rebellious daughter instead.“They aren’t criminals, dad. The wedding will have their family members and children and I’ll just stick with my group of friends. How can they harm me?” Her dad snorted angrily and just gave up.“Do what you want. I don’t have the time to waste with you.” He strode angrily out of the apartment, banging the door shut after him, making Eva release the breath she was holding. Alyssa was unaffected by it all and continued with her packing.The next day, Alex left for Paris early in the morning before sunrise on a business trip and Alyssa jumped with joy. After he left, they locked up their apartment and sneaked out with their luggage to go to Preston Island where the wedding would be held.“Finally, we’re free!” exclaimed Alyssa as she drove her Ferrari all the way towards Alexandria Bay from where they would take a boat to Preston Island. It was ten o’clock in the morning when Alyssa and Eva arrived on a speedboat and gasped seeing the beautiful, secluded Island with a dreamy house with picturesque views of the St Lawrence River from Alexandria Bay. The Island had a fully-powered deep-water dock for ships and the house was equipped with it’s own boat.“I wish I could live on an island like this far away from Alex!” exclaimed Alyssa while Eva looked away since she had thoughts opposite to hers. She wanted to in fact live with Alexander Van Every on such a secluded Island and seduce him to submission!Soon the door opened and they squealed with delight on seeing Sienna who welcomed them with open arms.“Hey, girl! Oh my gosh! You’re glowing! By the way, who marries at such short notice?” complained Alyssa. Sienna told them the reason for her sudden wedding. Her ex-fiancé was creating problems in her life and she had no other option left.“So, where’s the hot Donnelly? Won’t you introduce us?” asked Alyssa.“He’s gone to talk to the caretaker about the wedding preparations. Let him come, I’ll introduce him to you,” said Sienna. “I’ll show you to your room. You both have to share since there’ll be more guests arriving soon,” said Sienna.“Sure, don’t worry about that,” said Eva.“So, did you guys sneak out? How did Alex allow you to come here?” asked Sienna curiously.“We fought with him to come here. He’s mad at me. He might drop in anytime, he said,” said Alyssa with an eye roll.“I just hope he doesn’t. I can’t take in any more drama in my life. I want a peaceful wedding!” said Sienna. She led them to their room and sat down with them on the bed. They showed her the dresses that they bought for her as well as for themselves. After a while, Lucas walked into the room to summon Sienna downstairs since his family had arrived. She introduced Lucas to Alyssa since Eva had already met him before.“I hope Alexander and Ashton aren’t coming to fight with us!” asked Lucas with a grin. Alyssa rolled her eyes at the mention of her brother and his best friend.“I hope not! We escaped without informing him, actually,” she informed him. Lucas looked at her with dread.“Knowing Alexander all my life, I’m hundred percent sure that he’ll come here hunting for you two,” said Lucas. All of them groaned with dread.“What made you and Alex sworn enemies? You don’t seem to hate my brother with a vengeance as he does?” she asked curiously while Lucas grinned.“Hasn’t your brother told you why we fought?” Alyssa shook her head slowly.“He was a good friend of mine actually. My younger brothers, Marcus and Nicholas, and Alexander share an enmity, not me! You’ll meet them soon.”The whole day Alyssa dreaded meeting the other two Donnelly brothers but when they didn’t arrive, she relaxed. She didn’t feel any awkwardness in the enemy territory as her brother had predicted but there were two more enemies whom she hadn’t met yet. Wasn’t it too early to predict?Sienna, Eva, and Alyssa took a quick tour of the luxurious mansion located inside a gated compound. The main house was a three-story structure handcrafted out of native stone. The interiors were lavishly decorated with an open stairway as well as a glass cubicle elevator that provided easy access to all the floors. Alyssa was totally in love with the entire place and checked everything out minutely, intending to buy a place like this of her own one day. The spacious great room included a professional-grade kitchen and an open terrace attached to a wet bar. The huge dining area could accommodate nearly thirty people with ease with provisions for al fresco dining as well. The whole place opened up to the staircase and elevator with the master bedroom and six bedrooms located upstairs. The ground floor had 2 bedrooms, a banquet hall for gatherings, two swimming pools, and an indoor games area but it was the swimming pools that attracted her like a magnet. “This place is so romantic, Sie
Brushing the feeling away, Alyssa couldn’t help but feel deeply conscious of his piercing gaze, permanently fixed upon her. It unnerved her, a feeling totally new to her since she was used to receiving male attention wherever she went. Annoyed at her own reaction to the handsome devil who looked more like the Donnelly brothers, she swam to the edge of the pool. She realized that he was the one and only Nicholas Donnelly, her brother’s sworn enemy and therefore hers as well. “None of your business!” she said, as she emerged from the pool to make a dash for the house but her skin flushed with color, feeling his intense gaze, checking her out. Feeling totally exposed despite being clad in a turquoise bikini that clung to her like a second skin, Alyssa 3as eager to get away from the man and her reaction to him. “Of course, it is my business! I wouldn’t want our guests to be electrocuted during a storm!” Alyssa noted his husky tone, but strangely his voice didn’t have any warmth in it. O
The moment Nicholas toppled and landed on top of Alyssa, she realized her mistake. Despite the mud splashing around them, all over them, there was no denying the fire crackling between them. With his body molded to hers, his ocean-hued eyes gazing into hers, Alyssa forgot to breathe. “Nice try but you can’t seduce me with your muddy appearance. I prefer them fragrant and clean.” Alyssa’s jaws dropped to the mud and she gaped at his insolence. Did he really think that she was trying to seduce him? Anger boiled inside her and she pushed him off her. “High hopes! I don’t need to seduce anyone. If I ever will, it’ll be a real man.” She struggled to get up as fast as possible but slipped every time. “What are you trying to insinuate? Are you challenging me to prove to you that I’m a real man?” Nicholas’s eyes blazed with fire as if accepting the challenge already.“God! You’re so full of yourself!” She finally got up and stomped away angrily forgetting her mud-splattered appearance. Nic
Marcus’s words penetrated deep inside Nicholas’s heart and it made him determined that this time he would make a lasting impression on Alyssa’s mind. This time she wouldn’t be able to forget him so easily. He and Marcus joined the others and dinner was served. The topic of discussion was Lucas and Sienna’s honeymoon plans in which Nicholas had no interest. His concentration was on Alyssa who sat opposite him and tried her best to ignore him but was it so easy? He wasn’t the wiry, young, unsure teenager anymore and his unwavering gaze upon Alyssa totally unnerved her. What was up with the guy? Why couldn’t he keep his eyes to himself? Reaching her limit, Alyssa glared back at him, muttering curses in her mind but to her immense frustration, Nicholas just grinned at her. It seemed as if he was totally unaffected and enjoyed the ongoing drama instead. Hayley elbowed her from one side while Eva pinched her thigh from the other, both enjoying the clash between the two rivals. “Stop,” she
Scared, Alyssa looked up at the silhouette of the man she collided with and instantly knew he was none other than Nicholas. “Can’t sleep?” said Nicholas’s husky voice that seemed too near for her liking. “Good night.” She wanted to dash off to her bedroom and not face him in her pajamas but with his arm around her waist, escape was almost impossible. “I just came for water.” Nicholas gave her a look of disbelief instead and leaned down closer to her. “Really? Maybe that’s just an excuse. You followed me here, didn’t you?” Alyssa’s jaws dropped at his implication. Was he out of his mind? Why would she follow him? She hardly knew he was here! “Why should I follow you? You’re disgusting!” She wrenched herself free and dashed off only to be caught and pulled back into his hard chest. “Am I disgusting? Then why did you kiss me?” Alyssa’s mouth hung open hearing his low whisper and she stared at him completely at a loss for words. When did she kiss him? Was he hallucinating? Now it was
They were all taken aback by Alexander’s announcement to stay. How did he accept defeat that soon? Was he planning something to create trouble during the wedding? “Fine but if you create any trouble, I’ll do the same to you at your wedding!” threatened Lucas. Sienna curbed the grin that was trying to break free on her face. What sort of threatening was that? Were they really enemies? “Done, give us a room and we’ll stay out of your way,” said Alexander while Alyssa grimaced at her brother’s words. She knew she would feel claustrophobic with him breathing fire down her neck all the time. Eva on the other hand stood a little farther away from them and refused to even look at Alexander. She could feel his gaze upon her every now and then but she knew better. She now knew what exactly he thought about her, how much he hated her. “Or you can enjoy it with us,” said Nicholas. Alexander gritted his teeth and glared at him with hatred.“The lesser you talk to me the better, Nicholas,” he g
“You heard me, Alexander!” taunted Nicholas, looking him straight in the eyes, challenging him to react. He wasn’t the puny little boy anymore and could give Alexander a taste of his own medicine if he tried to harm him. Alexander looked stunned to see this rebellious side to his nature and seemed dumbstruck for the first time in his life. “Stay away from Alyssa, I’m warning you,” hissed Alexander, going closer to threaten him. Nicholas was no less and stood up too, and glared at him angrily. Alyssa clutched at her heart with horror seeing her brother again start the same thing as always. Why couldn’t he mind his own business and stop meddling in her affairs? Couldn’t he realize that she didn’t need his protection? “What if I don’t? You can’t do a thing this time, Alexander. Go get a life!” said Nicholas, making Alexander seethe with fury. Alyssa’s eyes widened with panic and she rushed towards her brother, trying to pull him backward. She hadn’t expected Nicholas to confront him fe
“Stop playing mind games with me, Nicholas. I know that we hadn’t met before. So stop this immediately,” said Alyssa, anger building up inside her. She was now sure that Nicholas was getting her worked up on purpose for his own entertainment. It might be a game for him but she wasn’t going to get so affected. “I don’t play games. Think again, Alyssa.” He released her and opened the door and stormed out of the room leaving her confused. She knew that ten years ago she was sent to her grandparents' house in California. So how could she have kissed him? She would have remembered him if she had kissed a hot guy like him, wouldn’t she? Frowning she tried hard to remember what happened ten years ago. She was sent away because of Alexander. He had complained to his dad that she couldn’t attend his school where his enemies could attack her anytime. He had suggested that she be sent far away from New York for her own safety and Daniel Van Every had listened to him. He didn’t think it necessa