“Victoria, enjoy your breakfast. The nanny and I will take care of the children,” suggested Valentina.
“Okay. Thank you,” replied Victoria, smiling.
She entered the dining room and sat down. But as soon as she picked up her spoon, her cell phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
“Mrs. Carson, good morning. This is Nolan. I was wondering if you would be available for a chat this afternoon. I would like to see you.”
Victoria frowned.
Nolan?
The name sparked a distant memory.
They had only met once, months ago, in a class with Noemia.
Why did he want to see her now? What did he have to do with her?
As she tried to understand the reason, Valentina noticed that her friend was staring at her phone, distracted.
“Victoria, why aren't you eating? Did something happen?&r
“Miss, do you know if anyone has ever managed to visit her?” Maison insisted, needing any shred of hope.She let out a mocking laugh.“Of course they've tried. Many have. But from what I've heard, they all came back empty-handed. Honestly, I don't understand why so many come to see an old woman every year.” Just because they call her a ‘national treasure’?Maison ignored the ignorant mockery.“Do you know any of her preferences? Anything she likes?”“How should I know?” she snorted, finding the question ridiculous. But then, a fragment of an old rumor came to mind. "Wait. There is one thing. They say she loves fish.“Okay, thanks,” was the only useful information he could get out of her. Maison turned around, with no time to waste, and went upstairs to report to Jackson what she had discovered.Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Ellijah entered his studio.
At three thousand feet, the world seemed small, insignificant. But for Jackson, the weight of his mission crushed him against the leather seat of the private jet. After three hours of flight, Mont-Tonnerre appeared on the horizon, a stone titan piercing the clouds. The final destination.It was there, in that isolated sanctuary, that a legend lived. The greatest designer of her generation, reclusive, indifferent to the world that once revered her.Jackson didn't know if he could convince her to come down from the mountain, to return to a world she had abandoned. But he had to try. Anything to free his wife from the lingering shadow of another man.As soon as his feet touched the ground, his phone vibrated. Sofia.“Jackson, have you arrived?” His mother's voice was a mixture of hope and concern. She knew he had come in search of the impossible: to convince the great Camila Ayres to come out of retirement for Victoria.“I just lande
Victoria sat down again, anxiety consuming her. She needed to end this before anyone else showed up. “Professor Wilson, we can continue.”“Of course,” he nodded, his expression turning serious, his voice lowering to a confidential warning. “Ms. Carson, please don’t be too hard on Mr. Daniels.”The words hung in the air, meaningless. “What are you talking about?” She frowned, confusion clouding her mind. Ellijah could be persistent, but he had never crossed the line. “Professor, could you be more clear? We have a professional relationship.”“I know,” Nolan said, leaning forward slightly, his eyes fixed on hers with alarming intensity. “But in the future, please don't give him any hope. For his sake, Mrs. Carson, don't get too close.”The truth hit him with the force of a dark premonition. Ellijah was falling in love with the wrong woman, and in doing so, he would inevitably o
“Victoria, enjoy your breakfast. The nanny and I will take care of the children,” suggested Valentina.“Okay. Thank you,” replied Victoria, smiling.She entered the dining room and sat down. But as soon as she picked up her spoon, her cell phone vibrated.An unknown number.“Mrs. Carson, good morning. This is Nolan. I was wondering if you would be available for a chat this afternoon. I would like to see you.”Victoria frowned.Nolan?The name sparked a distant memory.They had only met once, months ago, in a class with Noemia.Why did he want to see her now? What did he have to do with her?As she tried to understand the reason, Valentina noticed that her friend was staring at her phone, distracted.“Victoria, why aren't you eating? Did something happen?&r
Jackson hated dull marriages.He and Victoria were young—and to him, that meant they could enjoy everything married life had to offer.Passion, desire, companionship.All of that kept love alive.Besides, Jackson believed he could teach her many things.Victoria was only allowed to blossom in front of him—to be completely womanly only in his arms.When his hands slid toward her breasts, Victoria blushed instantly.Her body reacted sensitively, even as she tried to resist.Jackson, noticing her nervousness, smiled and promised:“I won't go too far, darling.”She looked at him suspiciously, but eventually gave in.In fact, Jackson kept his promise... at least at first.But as his hands moved gently over her body—rising and falling in slow caresses—Victoria felt her face burn.The heat on her skin was like fire under his fingertips.When the mov
The smile on his face made her immediately realize what he was planning.Victoria's eyes widened, urgently pulling his hand away and whispering:“Are you crazy? You want to do that here? We're in public!”Her face burned with embarrassment.She knew that men like Jackson, rich and influential, were accustomed to all kinds of luxury and entertainment.But she never imagined that he, always so serious and restrained, had such a daring side.Now she was caught up in this dangerous mix of love, desire, and provocation.“Don't be afraid. We're a couple. It's boring to stay home all the time,” Jackson replied, leaning toward her and lightly brushing his nose against hers.“We should learn to have fun.”Victoria sighed, torn between embarrassment and excitement.She didn't know how to respond.But deep down, she felt that with Jackson, the fun was just beginning.Victoria