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Ciara Mendes

I glare at the caller ID that has appeared on my phone screen for the fifth time. I know that if I don't answer soon, my mother will show up at my door, and that's the last thing I want—right up there with the end of the world.

"Hello."

"Don't 'hello' me, Ciara! I've been trying to reach you repeatedly," she scolds.

"What do you want, Mother?" I ask lazily, scrolling through Amazon in search of a new dining table.

After a dramatic sigh, she replies, "Bridget and I are having dinner at 7 PM tomorrow at her favorite restaurant, Golden Palace, and we expect you to join us."

"Oh, as much as I'd love to join you both, I'm afraid I can’t make it," I say, sarcasm dripping from my tone. "I'm leaving LA for work tomorrow."

"It's always work with you; you're just like your father," she retorts. "Never had time to do anything with the family."

"What family, Mother? We haven't been a family since Dad and I caught you cheating on him—just like your daughter di
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  • The Billionaire's Obsession (His Addiction)   Epilogue

    A.N: I want to thank all my beautiful readers for making it this far. Thank you so much for all your support, please believe me when I say you literally mean the world to me❤️ I hope you enjoyed all chapters.Ciara Mendes "I hate this one. It makes my butt seem nonexistent," Eve frowned as she glared at her reflection in the mirror on the platform she was standing on. Bridget, unfazed and casually sipping the wine the boutique's manager had offered, replied, "That's your sixth dress—you're the most insatiable woman I have ever met." She smirked, enjoying the spectacle while Eve continued to experiment with styles, eager to find the perfect fit that would make her feel fabulous.Eve muttered something inscrutable before turning toward us with a look of exasperation. "Who designed this anyway? I thought it was supposed to be a wedding dress, not something my grandma would wear to bed." "I see what you mean," I chimed in, nodding thoughtfully. "That bow does nothing

  • The Billionaire's Obsession (His Addiction)   40

    Ciara Mendes Six months have passed, and I still find myself reminiscing about those words. As I absorb the scene before me, I reflect on my sister's remarks. Initially, Bridget opposed my decision, insisting that I would be throwing my life away; however, Dad was supportive, and surprisingly, so was Mom. Despite the time that has gone by, I still grapple with whether I made the right choice and if Bridget’s concerns were valid. Can I truly embrace the role of the good stepmom while the biological mother pursues a better life for herself and her the children in her life?Giovanni's brown eyes gleam with happiness as he cautiously approaches me outside the hospital room where Rhea is settled after giving birth to a baby girl, cradling the little bundle in his arms. Witnessing his elation transforms my despondency into something brighter—contentment. I remember how apprehensive he was about becoming a father, initially paralyzed by the fear of falling short; but over t

  • The Billionaire's Obsession (His Addiction)   39

    Ciara Mendes "You can't be serious," Eve says."What did you expect me to do? Can you genuinely expect me to feel bitter towards someone who is sincerely sorry for her actions? I wanted to hate her; believe me, I did. But after learning nearly everything about her, I realized that hating her would just be petty. Besides, all of that happened before I started dating Giovanni.""She's pregnant with your boyfriend's baby," Eve argues, trying to make me see reason."The same boyfriend you slept with to get back at his own cousin. Don't make me regret meeting you, Eve."After everything she did, she has no right to judge my choices. I only decided to meet with her because she has always been there for me, and I can't let what happened years ago destroy our friendship. I forgave my mom and sister; I can forgive her too. "I guess I deserve that. I had no right," she said, looking down at the burger that surprised me a bit when she ordered it. "It's your life, and I should jus

  • The Billionaire's Obsession (His Addiction)   38

    Ciara Mendes "What do you want to talk about?" Yesterday, after Rhea requested a conversation, she received a phone call and quickly excused herself with a hasty apology. Now, here we are, just one hour away from receiving the results, sitting in my kitchen and munching on French fries. She appeared less anxious after I mentioned that my sister had personal matters to handle and that my mother had gone home to participate in an art festival where she would be showcasing her work. However, Rhea's anxiety resurfaced when I asked the question.She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before her eyes met mine. "I want to apologize for getting involved in your relationship. I know you might not believe me, but I never intended for any of this to happen. I was stupid and naive—" "We're only human, Rhea," I replied. "I know I should probably hate you, but I don't. Besides, babies are blessings."She snorted, glancing down at her empty plate. "Yeah, a baby that I can't e

  • The Billionaire's Obsession (His Addiction)   37

    Ciara Mendes I never imagined I would remain so composed the day I met the woman who is supposedly carrying the child of the man I envision my future with. Rhea Rivera didn’t seem like a bad person; her demeanor was nothing like that of the women I knew Giovanni typically pursued. To be honest, that genuinely unnerved me. Her blue hair, transitioning to a natural auburn color, sat atop her head in a messy bun. Her hazel eyes were fixed on the frayed edges of her ripped jeans, which she had paired with an oversized blue shirt that looked like it could fit two more people.Rhea appeared pleasant despite her silence; she didn't flaunt herself and seemed shy, which made me question whether Giovanni had truly met her at a club or if he had been mistaken. The young woman sitting across from me didn’t seem like someone who would even visit a club, let alone dance half-naked on a pole in front of eager men.At first, I suspected her demeanor was an act, a pretense, bu

  • The Billionaire's Obsession (His Addiction)   36

    Giovanni Haynes "You have reached the voicemail of..." "Still no luck?" Matt asked, strolling in just as I tossed my phone onto the leather couch across from me. "Come on, man, you did say she asked for space.""Yeah, well, tell that to Haylie." The child has been incessantly asking when she'll get to meet Ciara, and it's getting on my last nerve. He chuckles. "That's on you. I'm taking them out for ice cream, though; you should come along. Who knows, it might help take your mind off things."That's the last thing I want to do. These kids are like small hexenbiest, and the thought of potentially fathering one of my own is inconceivable. "No, I'm good," I replied."Please, Uncle," the kids chant, their eyes shining with excitement. I gave a smile to Luca, who had started to call me "Uncle" just like his cousins. "Alright," I said, getting up to grab my keys from the kitchen. But before I could head out the door, the doorbell rang. "Get that for me, will yo

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