Zekeโs jaw tightened. โWhat bothers me is that youโre harassing Thalassa. Itโs obvious she doesnโt want you around.โโHarassing her?โ Kris raised an eyebrow. โAnd what makes you think Iโm โharassingโ her?โโWhen someone wants nothing to do with you and you keep trying to insert yourself into their life, thatโs called harassment.โ Zeke took his time to explain like he was speaking to a child.Kris smiled in amusement, but before he could respond, Zeke turned to Luisa, his voice rising slightly in frustration. โAnd you! Why would you even think of bringing him here, Luisa? What were you thinking?โLuisa let out a sigh. โZeke, have you forgotten that it was Kris who saved my life? Iโm just trying to do something in return. Heโs injured because of me, and Iโm helping him out until his wound heals a little.โThe cold look on Zekeโs face faltered for a moment, his shoulders dropping slightly as he turned back to Kris, clearing his throat.โEr...I havenโt properly thanked you for that. But I
Krisโs good mood evaporated the moment he stepped out of the kitchen; Zeke hadnโt left the house. And, to Krisโs further annoyance, he didnโt look like he had any intention of leaving.He was sitting in the living room beside Thalassa, and they were talking. Krisโs jaw clenched.To make matters worse, Thalassa was smiling. Krisโs chest tightened as jealousy reared its head.He knew he should be happy to see that beautiful smile of hers, but it hurt that she was only smiling in Zekeโs presence even though with him, she was nothing but cold.Swallowing the bitterness rising in his throat, he forced himself to walk to the dining table, knowing Thalassa wouldnโt like it if he went to the living room.A few minutes later, Luisa came out of the kitchen and announced, โBreakfast is ready. Kris, can you help me set the table?โNodding, Kris got up and helped her. Once they were done, Zeke and Thalassa moved to the table.Kris could barely focus on his food as they ate. Zeke kept talking about
To Kris's annoyance, Zeke refused to leave Thalassa alone for the rest of the day. Even after they finished discussing business in the study, the man stayed through lunch and dinner. He only left when both Thalassa and Luisa told him they wanted to call it a night.Kris went to bed in a very bad mood. It had been three days since he started living in the house, and yet he felt like he had made zero progress with Thalassa, even without Zeke standing in his way.The following day was a Monday, which meant Thalassa and Luisa had to go to work.Kris was sitting at the dining table working on his laptop which Alden had carried along for him. He'd come to sit there early hoping to catch some time with Thalassa before she left for work, but she'd walked right out of the house after telling Luisa that she was going to get breakfast at a cafe on her way to the Fashion House. Luisa had also left after making him some pancakes and helping him with his bandage and sling. So now Kris was alone in
Thalassa immediately morphed her laughter into coughs, grabbing a glass of water from the table to cover it up."Are you okay?" Kris asked."Yes. I just had something in my throat," she replied, waving him off as she set the glass back down.Kris fought the urge to smile, not fooled in the slightest. What he had heard was definitely a laugh, and the fact that she tried to disguise it as a cough confirmed that it had something to do with him. His heart swelled with hope."So, shall we begin?" he asked, taking the seat to her right and pulling the lid off his own plate. "Oh, and in case you're wondering how a one-armed man managed to cook this very sumptuous food, I did have help from one of your security guys. He helped move things and chopped the pork cheeks for me, but I swear the actual cooking was all me.""I didn't ask," Thalassa said tersely. She was still annoyed at herself for laughing.Despite her irritation, her mouth watered as the aroma of the carbonara hit her senses. But
Thalassa's heart lurched painfully at his wordsโwords she wanted to believe, but sheโd been hurt before. She would be a fool to let herself fall for it again. "Trust you with my heart?" she scoffed, tilting her head toward the ceiling before meeting his eyes. "You must have forgotten. I trusted you with my heart four years ago when we got married, Kris. I trusted you to make me the happiest woman in the world, just like you promised. But instead, you worked hard to make me the most miserable." She snorted bitterly. "And you say you want to be there for me? Where were you, Kris, when I lost our child?" Her voice cracked, a mix of anger and pain seeping through. "Where were you when I lay in that cold hospital bed, grieving, scared, alone, and wondering what I had done for life to be so cruel to me?" Kris opened his mouth to respond, but she held up her free hand to silence him. "What are you going to say? That you didn't know? That you weren't sure the child was even yours? What diff
Before their lips could touch, the jarring sound of the doorbell shattered the moment, snapping Thalassa out of whatever daze she had been in.She quickly pulled back her head. What the hell was wrong with her? Why had she almost allowed Kris to kiss her?Irritated with herself, she gritted her teeth. "I'm almost done," she muttered, continuing to dab at his wound to clear as much blood as possible.The doorbell kept ringing incessantly, causing them both to frown."Who the hell is that?" Kris asked, gripping the edge of his chair in annoyance. Whoever was at the door had deprived him of his moment with Thalassa just when he thought he'd been able to get through to her heart.Once finished tending to his wound, Thalassa gathered the bloodied cotton into a plastic bag. The bleeding had stopped, but there was still a small gap where the stitches had ripped."You need to get that checked at the hospital.""I'll beโ" Kris started, but another round of doorbell rings cut him off."I'm goin
Earlier...โLuisa, weโve been going out for some time now, and in case I havenโt shown it clearly enough, I want you to know that I like you. I like you so damn much. I havenโt known you for long, but spending time with you always becomes the best part of my day. I am absolutely bedazzled by you. Your beauty, your charisma...What Iโm trying to ask isโฆโโYes.โAlden paused. โI didnโt even finish.โโI already know. And my answer is yes,โ Luisa said.An amused smile tugged at Aldenโs lips. โSo that means youโll marry me?โLuisaโs eyes widened, almost bulging out of their sockets. โAldenโฆIโฆyouโฆโโYou should see your face,โ Alden burst into laughter. โI was joking, gorgeous. I mean, itโs definitely not a bad idea, but even I know itโs too quick for you.โLuisa let out a breath, trying to look annoyed, but the smile she was fighting won out, and she smacked him on the chest. โYou clown.โAlden chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. โSo, what do you say? Would y
Luisa's heart pounded inside her chest, her mind ringing with disbelief as she and the woman stared at each other.Alden's face fell. "Vanessa?"Luisa had hoped this was all a mistakeโthat in their haste to make love, Alden had accidentally brought her to the wrong penthouse. But the fact that he recognized the woman shattered her heart."Who is this bitch, Alden?" the woman demanded, her face scrunching up with jealousy."Don't you dare call her that," Alden hissed.Luisa forced a smile, her voice cold. "Don't worry, Vanessa. This bitch is leaving." She slid the straps of her dress back onto her shoulders and turned to Alden. "I didn't know you were already occupied. Sorry."Panic flashed through Alden's eyes. "Luisa, no. I'm not. I don't know what she's doing here." He turned to Vanessa, glaring at her. "What the hell are you doing here, Vanessa?"โBecause I wanted to see you, what else?" Vanessa got up from the bed, not even bothering to cover naked body. She was absolutely gorgeo
My dear supercalifragilisticexpialidocious readers, I won't ever get tired of expressing my gratitude for all the support you guys have given to this book. I know the way I write isn't always similar to the most popular books on the app, but I'm so glad you guys love it nevertheless. This is my most successful book yet, and it's all thanks to you guys. Love you so very much. Now, for those interested in what I plan to write the next, we're done with these characters. The next book will be about completely different characters. It's so hard to let these characters go, but we need a fresh start. No, wait. I was only joking. Don't bite my head off! Haha. (Really wish this app allows emojis so I can show you how I'm grinning like an idiot, lol) I don't intend to desert Alex like some of you fear. The next story will be about him and his lovestory. Will he ever get over the betrayal and allow himself to love and trust again? After some discussions with my editor, we came to the agreeme
Tessa stood frozen for several seconds before her hands flew to her mouth in shock. โOh my Godโฆโ she whispered. She didn't even have to ask if he was sure because she could tell he was. Guilt clawed at her chest. Alex had told her before how most of the women who came onto him were only after his wealth which was also part of the reason he'd always been so careful about dating. And now it seemed he had been proven right. Tessa felt like it was her fault because she was the one who had set Alex on that blind date with Hillary. โAlex,โ she whispered. โIโm so sorry. I had no idea she was that kind of woman.โ He shook his head. โItโs okay,โ he said, his voice calmer, his expression blank. โYou were just trying to look out for me. But donโt do it again, Tessa.โ There was no anger in his tone toward her, but she could sense the bitterness. Tessa swallowed hard, guilt still pressing down on her. She watched as Alex turned toward one of the cabinets, moving like he already knew exactl
After breakfast, the whole family moved to the shores to enjoy the beach. the whole family moved to the beach where a variety of games and fun had been set up.Tessa took a deep breath, feeling at peace.But peace never really lasted long when when her mischievous twins were around.The four-year-olds were balls of energy, running up and down the sandy shore, splashing water at people, and playfully disturbing anyone who looked too relaxed.โGirls!โ Tessa called after them as they ran past, giggling. โDonโt bother grandpa Zeke!โToo late.Zeke had been lying on a lounger, sunglasses on, probably dozing off, until a handful of sand landed on his chest.His head snapped up. โHey!โThe twins burst into laughter and ran away before he could catch them.Gendry, sitting next to Tessa, shook his head. โYour daughters indeed.โTessa turned to him with a dry look. โExcuse me?โโThe mischief? Thatโs all you. I'm sure that's exactly how you were at their age.โShe huffed, crossing her arms. โAnd
FIVE YEARS LATERThe morning sun peeked through the white curtains, casting golden light across the bedroom. Tessa stirred, instantly feeling the warmth pressed against her back, a familiar arm draped over her waist. A smile crept onto her lips as she blinked sleepily.She didn't have to turn around to know Gendry was awake. His slow, steady breaths against the nape of her neck gave him away.A soft kiss landed on her bare shoulder."Happy anniversary, Mrs. Graham," he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.Tessa hummed, pressing back against him. "Happy anniversary, Mr. Graham."Gendry tightened his hold on her, rolling her onto her back so he could hover over her. The intense look in his dark eyes sent a familiar shiver down her spine."Last night wasn't enough," he whispered, running his fingers down her side. "I need more."Tessa let out a soft laugh. "Didn't we exhaust ourselves already?"His lips brushed against her neck. "Not even close."They made love again, slow and deep, as
Tessaโs heart thudded as her father stared at Gendry, his brows furrowing deeper by the second. "Of course I figured that out already." her father finally scoffed, shaking his head. "It's just... Tessa is two months pregnant. Two months. Iโ" He blinked rapidly as the realization dawned. "Unless..." Tessa took pity on him. She sighed and decided to just put him out of his confusion. "Dad," she said carefully, "there wasโฆ something between Gendry and me. When we were in Jamaica." Her father's frown only deepened. "I donโt understand. Since we left Jamaica, I havenโt seen you two together until yesterday. How could there be something between you whenโโ Beside him, Thalassa let out a small chuckle and placed a hand on his chest. "Leave them alone, Kris," she said, eyes twinkling with amusement. Kris turned to her, narrowing his eyes. "You donโt seem surprised." Thalassa shrugged. Krisโs jaw dropped. "Lassa. You knew?" She gave him an innocent look. "I had my suspicions." "And yo
All eyes turned towards Tessa and Gendry as they entered. In the living room were her parents, Alex, Rita, Maya, Jace, Aunt Luisa, Uncle Alden, and their youngest 17 years old daughter, Tessa's cousin, Emma.The moment Rita spotted Gendry, she gasped. "Gendry!" she squealed, jumping up from her seat and rushing toward him.Gendry barely had time to react before Rita crashed into him. He let out a soft chuckle, crouching slightly to meet her height as he ran a hand through her hair.โMissed me that much, huh?โ he teased, the corner of his lips lifting in amusement.Rita huffed and pulled back, immediately smoothing down her hair. โYou're ruining my hair,โ she grumbled, glaring up at him.โMy bad,โ Gendry said, his voice dripping with fake remorse. His amused gaze flicked toward the others, and laughter rippled through the room, even from Alex.Despite the lighthearted moment, Tessa caught the curious look in her fatherโs eyes. There were unspoken questions swimming in his gaze.โGood e
โMarry me, Tessa.โTessa stared at him, her lips parting as she tried to process what he had just said. Her voice came out in a breathless whisper. โWhat?โGendry didnโt hesitate. He looked straight into her eyes, his expression open and sure. โMarry me, Tessa.โShe felt like her heart had stopped. Her mind raced, but no coherent thoughts came. โYouโโ She swallowed, utterly flustered.Gendry chuckled at her shock, rolling onto his side so that he was partially on top of her. His fingers traced lazy circles on her arm, his touch soothing.โHear me out,โ he murmured. โI know it sounds crazy. Maybe it is. But Iโve never been so sure of anything in my life.โTessaโs breath hitched, her pulse drumming in her ears.โWe just made things official, like, yesterday,โ he admitted, his lips curving into a small, sheepish smile. โBut it doesnโt feel new, does it? It feels like Iโve known you forever. Weโve been through so much. Hell, even we were against each other at some point. And yet, here we
โDonโt worry. Youโre not the first couple to ask that, and you definitely wonโt be the last.โ The doctor said with a teasing note in her voice.She pulled out a disposable wipe and began wiping the gel from Tessa's belly. Tessa sighed in relief.โThat should be all for today,โ The doctor said warmly. โAs I said, for the first few months, it would be best to be checked monthly, so please when you're ready, let me know when to schedule the next appointment.โShe began rearranging the equipment. โPlease wait outside for a few minutes. Your ultrasound pictures and the recording will be ready soon to take with you..โ Gendry helped Tessa sit up and adjust her clothes before they stepped out. They waited in the reception area, their happiness and excitement tangible. Ten minutes later, a nurse handed over the envelope containing the picture and the USB. Gendry took it as if it was the most precious thing in the world. They made their way out of the hospital and back to Gendry's car. Aft
In the afternoon, when it was a couple of minutes to get an appointment, Gendry arrived a few minutes earlier than he promised to pick her up.Gendry leaned against the doorframe, looking relaxed yet effortlessly gorgeous in his button down shirt. His eyes swept over her in that way that always made her feel like the only woman in the world. "You're early," she teased, walking toward him. He beamed. โI'll always be early for you, princes.โ Her heart did a little flip at that, but she rolled her eyes to keep her cool. "Such a smooth talker." He grinned and reached for her, pulling her close and covering her lips with his. When they finally broke the kiss, he took her hand. She let him take it without hesitation, their fingers interlocking. It felt so right.As they walked through the office, she felt the weight of dozens of eyes on them. Conversations momentarily halted, only to resume in hushed murmurs once they passed. She knew exactly why. One, no one had ever seen her h