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11. I'm not intense

Penulis: Anne Joyce
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-01-03 19:00:14
DAMON

It had been almost a week since that whole garage thing—me and Sera, we were so close but felt so far. She seemed to be dodging me more these days, and every time I got closer, there was a distance that seemed to widen between us-a space that I couldn't cross. It felt like she wanted to run away. I idn't know what from—from me, or from herself.

I never tried to force it, but the frustration built up, thicker and thicker, every day. I knew the reason behind her behavior, or at least, I suspected it. My presence bothered her, whether in a good or bad way.

Teasing her that night … this was not what I expected as a result.

And the worst part, Sera seemed to be closer to Beck. I suppressed the anger that curled up inside me when I saw them talking, laughing together.

I needed some quiet. And the wine cellar was the perfect place. It was my escape—separate, cold, away from the hustle and bustle of this family. In this dark, silent room, I sat with a half-full glass of wine in my hand,
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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   76. It’s cute when you’re flustered

    CAL“If you miss this place, we could stay the night.”I fell silent, staring at the wall across from me. The offer was simple, but it echoed—like she knew what I hadn’t even admitted to myself.I turned to look at her. “You sure?”Sera gave a small nod. “Yeah. I mean … you brought me all the way here. I don’t mind staying if you need time here.”I hesitated. A part of me worried it might make her uncomfortable. This house was full of shadows, not the kind you easily share. But she kept looking at me with that calm, open expression. Sincerely, without any hesitation.“Okay,” I murmured at last.We headed upstairs. My old bedroom was still at the end of the hall. Everything looked just like it used to—the gray curtains I liked, the small bookshelf, the bed with the wooden headboard I built in high school.She stepped in, her fingers brushing along the shelves, pausing at a photo frame on the desk. It was a picture of me and my mother, standing in front of the hospital where I did my fi

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   75. You miss her

    CALI’d just stepped out of the arrivals gate, suitcase in my left hand, shoulders tight from too little sleep. Paul’s smile when he handed me that tiny baby was still playing on repeat in my head.I glanced down to pull my phone from my jacket pocket, and when I looked up—I saw her.“Sera?” I barely believed it.Her hair was still tied back, her work blazer a little rumpled, and her face—God, she smiled like I’d just come back from war. Not that polite, careful smile she usually wore. This one was pure relief. Like she needed to see me. And before I could even process it, she started running.My heart stopped.The next second was a blur. She crashed into my chest with a hug that nearly knocked me off balance. My suitcase slipped from my grip. “Whoa—”Her arms wrapped around me tight, and I stood there frozen for a second, until my body caught up with the moment and I hugged her back.I could feel her breath tremble against my neck. “You’re here,” she whispered, like she needed to say

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   74. Fries and feelings it is

    SERAI opened Damon’s bedroom door slowly, wearing his hoodie that was way too big on me—its long sleeves falling past my fingers. That familiar scent of his—darkly masculine, faint smoke, and worn leather—still clung to the fabric. Still clung to me. My bare feet padded across the cold marble floor, hair still messy from the night before.I thought the house was still quiet.But just as I crossed into the left wing—so close to my room—my steps halted when a tall figure with tousled blond hair emerged from the room right next to mine.Beck. Holding a mug of coffee, dressed in a loose shirt and crumpled pants. He lifted his head, his eyes meeting mine. Just for a moment, but long enough to see the way his pupils widened. How his smile flickered for the briefest second, before slowly fading away.There was silence for a few seconds. I tried to speak. Say something. Anything.But Beck spoke first. “Morning,” he said, his voice calm and soft. Almost too calm.I bit my lip. “Beck, I—”“It’

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   73. Who did this to you?

    DAMONI woke up to a soft sound. A choked whimper from the side of the bed. Sera was squirming restlessly under the blanket, her face drenched in sweat. Her brow furrowed, her breaths shallow as if she were drowning in something I couldn't see, something terrifying her.My hand moved instinctively to her shoulder. “Sera?” I whispered. She didn’t wake. My fingers brushed down her arm, gave a gentle shake. “Wake up, baby. You’re dreaming.”Her body stiffened all at once. In a heartbeat, her eyes snapped open so wide, terrified. I froze. It was like she wasn’t seeing me—like she was still trapped in a place I couldn’t reach.“Sera,” I repeated softly, but her breathing grew more frantic. Her chest rose and fell in sharp, broken rhythms. She sat up fast, clutching the sheets like they were the only thing keeping her tethered to this world.My heart clenched. My breath caught in my throat seeing her like this. Minutes ago, I had her curled against me, gasping my name like it was the only w

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   72. Say you’re mine

    DAMONSera’s body felt so small, so light in my arms. Her skin was warm, soft, but ever since that agreement, I couldn’t leave marks on her anymore. Not like before. Not as deep. Not as many. Even if sometimes, I still lost control.I stroked her back slowly, fingers combing through her hair, letting the weight of our breathing settle into something quiet, something steady.The silence broke when she spoke with a low voice, heavy with sleepiness. “There’s a gala next month. It’s also supposed to be Ace’s birthday party,” she said, catching my hand and resting it over her waist. “You’re going public. All four of you. Tomorrow, Grant’s gonna brief everyone—once Cal’s back.”I hummed in response, nodding, fingers still trailing lazily along her spine. Of course Grant would start laying out the plan—Reggie’s plan. Our fight wasn’t over. Maybe it hadn’t even started yet.To be honest, I never took it seriously in the beginning. I never wanted to be the heir to anything. I just wanted out.

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   71. Stay still, baby

    DAMONShe really went full bad girl when she barged into my room wearing nothing but a black T-shirt—my T-shirt. Somehow, that was even hotter than if she’d walked in naked.“Is this how you study? Half-naked and dangerously hot?” she asked, arm crossed.I was actually trying to be a better man for once, doing some homework on the Blackwood Group. But the second I saw her standing there—bare legs, messy hair, those big challenging eyes like a sin straight out of hell—I lost it.My body moved before my brain caught up. One breath and I already had her in my arms, kissing her hard, hungry, with an urge I couldn’t fake if I tried.“You really want me to lose my mind tonight, huh, princess?” I murmured against her mouth.She just let out this low, dirty laugh—one that made me instantly harder—and ran her fingers down my bare chest, like she knew exactly how easy it was to make me fall apart.“You’re not scared of me at all, are you?” I whispered, my hand wrapped around her neck.She looke

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   70. You know where to find me, baby

    SERAAfter Grant left, taking his ambitious ideas with him, I was about to refill my tea when I noticed something out the front window. Something mildly alarming. Or mildly hilarious. Or both.Ace was standing in the driveway—sleeves rolled up, jaw clenched, looking like a man on the brink of a very controlled meltdown. Beside him, Beck sat behind the wheel of a car that I’d known, since their arrival, would end up being Beck’s. And from the way Beck gripped the steering wheel like it was a giant paintbrush, I knew this was going to be entertaining.I stepped outside, leaning against the doorframe, secretly wondering how long Ace could last before losing it.“Brake’s on the left, Beckett,” Ace said flatly, the use of Beckett and that tone suggesting his patience was hanging by 12%.Beck nodded, fully committed—and promptly stomped on the pedal, launching the car forward like a wild horse out of its stable. Ace jumped to the side with a sharp curse. “That’s the gas, you idiot!”Beck p

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   69. I have to go

    SERAI was on my third email, fourth sip of cold coffee, and possibly my hundredth sigh when a knock landed on my door—soft, polite, but too familiar to ignore.Before I could say anything, the door creaked open just enough to let Cal’s head peek through.“Hey,” he said, a little grin on his face. I automatically stood up. "Cal? What are you—"“Tell me you haven’t eaten.”I blinked. “Is that a trick question?”He opened the door wider, revealing a brown paper bag in one hand. “Didn’t think so.”“You’re ridiculous.”“And you’re predictable.”He walked in, and the smell hit me before he even sat down: grilled chicken, something spicy. My stomach betrayed me with a growl.“God, that smells unfairly good,” kataku, menyusulnya duduk di sofa.He set the bag on the table, pulled out a container, then handed me a fork like this was some scheduled meeting on my calendar. “Eat first. You can hate me later.”I gave him a look. “I don’t hate you.”“Not even a little?”I tried not to smile. Faile

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   68. I’ll stay here

    ACEI didn’t know who started it. But the second our lips met again, I stopped thinking.This kiss was deeper—bolder. Her breath hitched, and her body shifted a little in my lap, like she was trying to find a more comfortable position … or maybe something closer. Something more.I let out a quiet sigh as my fingers slipped under the collar of her pajama shirt, brushing against her warm skin. She tensed for a second, but didn’t pull away. Instead, she reached up, grabbed the back of my neck, and kissed me harder. Her lips demanding, her tongue tracing mine in a rhythm that made my thoughts go static.My sanity was almost gone.She moved again—arched her hips, sliding in closer. Her knees were braced beside my waist now, bodies aligned. Her chest pressed to mine, her stomach against me. I could feel her heartbeat, wild and uneven.My hand slipped under her shirt, finding the smooth line of her back. I traced her spine slowly, deliberately.And yeah—I’d been hard for a while now.She kne

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