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CHAPTER 12
publish date:
2026-04-23 23:14:49
Latest chapter
Tempting Uncle Alaric CHAPTER 14
ELARA POV The monitor on the wall showed Julian standing in the lobby, looking casual but impatient. He was wearing a light jacket, a contrast to the sharp suits he usually wore at the office. "What is he doing here?" I whispered, my heart hammering against my ribs. The blue folder on the bar felt like it was glowing, a neon sign of our betrayal. "Checking his investment," Alaric said. He grabbed the folder and shoved it into a hidden drawer behind the bar. He turned to me, his hands gripping my shoulders. "Elara, listen to me. You have to be perfect. If he sees even a hint of what we just talked about, the whole thing falls apart. Can you do that?" I took a deep breath, trying to steady my shaking hands. "I... I think so." "Don't think. Know." He brushed a stray hair from my face, his touch briefly softening before he stepped back and pressed the intercom. "Send him up." We stood in the living room as the elevator chimed. When the doors opened, Julian stepped out with a wide, e
Tempting Uncle Alaric CHAPTER 13
ELARA POV The morning after Alaric’s revelation about Julian felt like walking through a minefield. I sat in the dining area, staring at a piece of toast I couldn’t bring myself to eat. The documents Alaric had mentioned—the supposed proof of Julian’s betrayal—were all I could think about. Alaric entered the room, already wearing his suit jacket, though his tie was draped loosely around his neck. He looked at my untouched plate and then at me. "You’re not eating," he noted, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "I’m thinking about what you said," I replied, looking up. "If Julian really leaked that information, why haven't you shown the press? Why hasn't he been sued?" Alaric sat across from me, the steam from his coffee rising between us. "Because in the world of high finance, proving intent is nearly impossible. He didn't send a press release from his official email, Elara. He used middle-men. It takes months to trace that kind of paper trail. If I move too early, he’ll just sl
Tempting Uncle Alaric CHAPTER 12
ELARA POV Monday morning felt different. Usually, I woke up to the quiet hum of the penthouse and the looming shadow of Alaric’s expectations. But today, I had a destination that wasn't dictated by him. I dressed carefully in a navy blue dress and a blazer, checking my reflection one last time. I looked like someone who had a purpose. When I stepped into the kitchen, Alaric was already there, leaning against the island with a cup of coffee. He didn't have his usual tablet or newspapers. He was just watching the door. "The driver is waiting," he said. His voice was flat, devoid of the heat from our argument two days ago. "I’m taking the subway," I replied, grabbing my bag. "If I’m paying rent and working for a paycheck, I’m not using your private car to get there." Alaric set his coffee down. "It’s raining, Elara. Don't be difficult for the sake of being difficult." "It’s called being independent. You should be happy. It’s one less thing for you to manage." I walked toward the f
Tempting Uncle Alaric CHAPTER 11
ELARA POV The ringing tone was short. "Julian Sterling," a voice answered on the other end, sounding crisp and alert despite the late hour. "It’s Elara Thorne," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I stood by the window, watching the reflection of the silver envelope on the coffee table. There was a brief pause, followed by a low, pleasant chuckle. "I didn't expect you to call so soon, Elara. I take it you received my package?" "I did. Thank you." I paced the length of the living room, my heels clicking softly on the marble. "Is the offer actually real? Alaric said you were only doing it to get back at him." "Alaric thinks the world revolves around his boardroom," Julian replied smoothly. "Does it matter why I offered it if the opportunity is good for you? My firm handles some of the biggest estate transitions in the city. You have the Thorne name and, I assume, the Thorne brains. You’d be an asset, not a charity case." I stopped pacing. "He won't like it. He’s already told
Tempting Uncle Alaric CHAPTER 10
ELARA POVThe drive back from the estate was different. The silence wasn’t a battle anymore; it was heavy with the finality of what had just happened. I held the tin box of letters in my lap like it was made of glass. Alaric drove with his eyes fixed on the road, his grip on the steering wheel tight enough to make his knuckles white. When we entered the penthouse, the air-conditioned chill felt sharper than usual. Alaric went straight to the bar and poured himself a drink, the clinking of ice the only sound in the room. "I have a dinner meeting in an hour," he said, his back to me. "There’s a list of tutors for your economics course on the tablet. Pick one by tomorrow." I set the tin box on the coffee table. "I don't want a tutor, Alaric. I want to talk about what you said at the house." He took a long sip of his drink before turning around. "I said I didn't want you to watch it rot. It’s a practical stance, Elara. There’s nothing more to discuss." "You said you did it for me," I
Tempting Uncle Alaric CHAPTER 9
ELARA POVThe following morning, the atmosphere in the penthouse was thick with the residue of the night before. Sarah’s interruption had been a bucket of ice water, snapping the tether that had briefly pulled us together. Alaric had buried himself in his study until the early hours, and I had retreated to my room, the heat of his hand still ghosting against my skin. I found him in the dining area, but he wasn’t alone. A man in a tailored grey suit was sitting across from him, sipping coffee while looking over a series of legal documents spread out on the table. "Elara, you’re up," Alaric said. His tone was clipped, stripped of the raw vulnerability he’d shown by the window. "This is Mr. Halloway. He’s the lead appraiser for the Thorne estate." I stopped at the edge of the rug, my hand gripping the strap of my bag. "The appraiser? Already?" Mr. Halloway looked up and offered a polite, professional smile. "Good morning, Ms. Thorne. We’re just finalizing the inventory for the auctio
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