FAZER LOGINMADELINE“Can’t complain. Expanding in a few areas. You?”“Solid. We’ll have to compare notes sometime. And there was a new proposal that landed on my tab. I'm thinking of a collaboration” I replied honestly. “Awesome. Guess I'll be expecting you when you're back in state?” I nodded. They moved on after a few minutes, blending into the crowd. I turned back to Valerie. “You handled that smoothly.”She shrugged. “Had to. She’s testing me and I can't break character. But we’re good.” We continued circulating, the role of the perfect couple slipping on like a second skin. I introduced her to more people like distant relatives, a few business associates invited for optics. Valerie charmed them with questions about their lives, remembering small details I’d mentioned earlier. “Your grandmother said you used to sail with your uncle every summer,” she said to one cousin. “That sounds amazing. I'd always wanted to but I'm hopeless on water.”The cousin laughed. “You cshould get Dominic to te
DOMINIC “Gentlemen, we’re aligned on the quarterly targets. I expect those reports on my desk by end of week. Any questions?” A couple of them muttered agreements, one or two asked minor clarifications on timelines, which I handled quickly. “Good. Meeting adjourned.” I ended the call and exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck. I wrapped up the video call with a firm nod, leaning back in my chair in the quiet study. The screen showed the last of the board members signing off and I did too. Business as usual. But today my mind kept drifting elsewhere. To the reunion dinner and to Valerie. Not that I was nervous but, the board would be there. If Valerie and I don’t pull off our act right then it would all be for nothing.I refreshed my news feed out of habit, and there it was, the headlines and social mentions popping up everywhere about the Cantrell family throwing a private reunion dinner. “Cantrell Family Welcomes New Member in Exclusive Affair,” one outlet read. Another: “Old Mon
MADELINEHe looked surprised but relieved, patting my shoulder gently. “Good girl. Think carefully. You’ll see I’m right.”I hurried out of the study, pulling my phone out before I even reached the hallway. My fingers flew across the screen as I dialed Ethan fast, heart racing with new, dangerous energy. The plan was already taking shape in my mind. I don't need dad or his final random judgements. I need Ethan.He picked up on the third ring, his voice cautious. “Madeline?”“Hey, are you at your company?” I asked immediately. “Yeah I am. What’s wrong?” he sounded genuinely worried. “It’s urgent. I’m on my way to your company right now. Don’t go anywhere.”“Wait I thought you were at the old Cantrell villa?” he asked. “I was. Now I'm coming to you." He sighed, sounding tired and wary. “Okay.”The drive across town felt too long, every red light a personal insult. I tapped my nails against the steering wheel, replaying Dad’s words and Dominic’s casual dismissal at the dinner. By the t
MADELINE I stormed through the front doors of Ross Manor, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor with every furious step. I felt humiliated. Angered. Of all astonished because the bitch was actually a slut! Grandmother Eleanor made her findings herself and found out about this only to what? Not kick her stupid ass out the very second? What the hell happened to "prestigious" family name. One of the maids stepped forward with that same fake sweet smile they always wore when I returned home. Staring at me all stupid with that submissive posture.“Welcome home, Miss Ross. Would you like—”“Shut up,” I snapped, not even sparing her a glance. “I don’t need your fake cheerfulness today. Just stay the fuck out of my way. Got it?”She shrank back immediately, bowing her head and murmuring apologies as she retreated. Good. I didn’t have time for servants pretending they cared about my day or my mood. They were paid to serve, not to offer comfort. I marched straight to my father’
MADELINE I stormed through the front doors of Ross Manor, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor with every furious step. I felt humiliated. Angered. Of all astonished because the bitch was actually a slut! Grandmother Eleanor made her findings herself and found out about this only to what? Not kick her stupid ass out the very second? What the hell happened to "prestigious" family name. One of the maids stepped forward with that same fake sweet smile they always wore when I returned home. Staring at me all stupid with that submissive posture.“Welcome home, Miss Ross. Would you like—”“Shut up,” I snapped, not even sparing her a glance. “I don’t need your fake cheerfulness today. Just stay the fuck out of my way. Got it?”She shrank back immediately, bowing her head and murmuring apologies as she retreated. Good. I didn’t have time for servants pretending they cared about my day or my mood. They were paid to serve, not to offer comfort. I marched straight to my father’
VALERIEMy face heated up instantly, a flush creeping up my neck. I glanced quickly at the front seats, but Hawthorne and the other man remained perfectly still, eyes forward like they were trained not to hear a thing. “That’s not the point.”“It is very much the entire point,” he countered, his hand finding my thigh under the privacy of the center console. The touch was light but intense, sending sparks racing up my leg. “I haven’t looked at anyone else since this started. And I have no plans to because my wife is quite good enough.”We went back and forth the whole drive, the argument filling the car like a live wire. “This isn’t just about appearances, Dominic. What if someone asks questions? What if they dig into how sudden this all was? Your grandmother already grilled me. The whole family is going to do the same but worse.”He squeezed my thigh gently. “Let them ask. We’ll handle it together. That’s what husbands and wives do, right?”“Fake husbands and wives,” I muttered, but t
VALERIE“If it makes his life easier, yes.” Hawthorne didn't even blink before replying.I stared at him for a second, trying to figure out if he was serious or just extremely dedicated to whatever job description Dominic had forced on him, but his expression didn’t change, not even a flicker. “…Yo
VALARIEThere it was. I exhaled slowly, nodding once even though my chest felt tight again. “I know.”“Good,” he said quickly, like that settled everything. “Then help me out a little.” I straightened slightly. “First of all, you need to promise me something.”He blinked. “What?”“No gambling,” I s
DOMINIC I watched as Valerie stilled, just for a second, and I saw it, the flicker of something softer behind all that fire she carried around like armor.But then it was gone, replaced with that same stubborn spark I had come to expect from her, and her hand moved, slowly caressing, trailing down
VALERIEI can't help myself anymore, I pull away from the kiss with much effort and pulled her closer, still straddling me.She holds my gaze as my fingers began to trail south till it got to the thin linen caging her tight cunt. I expertly part the linen and place a finger into her already wet and







