Share

41. Don’t test me

Author: Anne Joyce
last update Last Updated: 2025-02-06 21:51:50

SERA

I blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the darkness of the room that was only lit by the desk lamp. My gaze immediately fell on Ace at the desk, still struggling with the documents scattered before him. The clock on the nightstand read three in the morning.

An old habit of mine that I couldn't quite shake—waking up at this hour.

I moved, pushing my body to sit up straight, and that was apparently enough to get her attention.

“Sera? Why are you awake?” His voice was deep, a little rough from exhaustion.

I leaned back against the headboard, watching him, still so straight-backed despite how clearly drained he was. “Why aren't you asleep, Ace?”

“Almost done,” he replied casually, without looking at me.

I sighed, my gaze fixed on him, the silent words probably speaking louder than anything I could say. He was still in the same clothes he’d worn earlier today. “Ace…”

He closed the file in his hands and leaned back in his chair. His eyes looked even darker under the dim light, a si
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   42. You wanna play rough?

    SERAI held my breath as he stood in front of me, so close I could feel the heat of his body. His fingers rose, touching my chin, tilting my face toward him.“Don’t test me,” he said quietly, but with a warning in his voice. “You will what?”And before I could think twice, I grabbed his neck and kissed him—hard.I felt his body tense, like he was fighting something inside himself. But it took just a second for his restraint to snap, and then he was kissing me back with a force that was almost terrifying.His lips were rough, nearly brutal, like his anger had shifted into something raw and consuming. His fingers dug into my waist too tightly, his breath hot, ragged, dripping with frustration.When he pulled away, his eyes burned with a mess of emotions—the anger he was hiding and the desire he was trying to fight. “God damn it, Sera,” he rasped, his voice almost shaking. “What the hell have you done to me?”His jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscles flexing, like he was holding

    Last Updated : 2025-02-09
  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   43. Tell me who owns you tonight

    DAMON“I told you I was never afraid of you, Wolfe.” Her voice dripped with that sweet poison she always fed me.Fuck. I wanted to tear apart every last shred of confidence she had, make her see that she couldn’t win.My hand gripped her chin, holding her in place. Her lips were wet and swollen, her chest rising and falling, her pupils blown wide. She wanted me just as much as I wanted her.I smirked. "That’s because you haven’t really seen me lose control yet."And tonight, I was going to give her that.One hard pull, and she was trapped beneath me. I pinned both her wrists to the mattress, my body caging her in like a beast finally capturing its prey. I could feel her heartbeat hammering beneath my chest, her warmth seeping into my skin, sending my blood boiling.I dragged my lips along her throat, biting down hard until I heard a sharp gasp mixed with a moan. "Tell me, Sera," I murmured, my breath hot against her skin. "Did he ever touch you like this?"She writhed, trying to catc

    Last Updated : 2025-02-11
  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   44. You look like you didn’t sleep

    BECKThat morning, the scent of freshly brewed coffee still lingered in my cup as I stepped into the living room. The air in this house was cooler than what I was used to. Sunlight filtered in through the large windows, casting soft shadows across the space. Damon was sprawled out on the couch in a position that looked anything but comfortable, Ace was absorbed in his tablet, and Cal stood near the door in his workout gear, clearly getting ready for a morning run.Leaning against the couch where Damon was still fast asleep, I raised an eyebrow, took a slow sip of my coffee, and asked, “Why is Damon sleeping here?”Cal stretched his arms, chuckling. “I saw Damon getting ready for a run earlier, so I told him to wait up while I grabbed my stuff. When I came back… well, this is what I found.”I let out a quiet laugh, glancing at Damon. He looked like a man who had just lost a long battle against gravity. His head was nearly slipping off the armrest, his hair was a complete mess, and ther

    Last Updated : 2025-02-12
  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   45. Pretend I never asked

    CALI had just finished a lap when I saw someone step out from the back door—Damon, finally showing up.I slowed down and walked toward him. He was stretching, lazily pulling his arm across his chest.“Well, look who finally woke up,” I smirked, standing beside him. “I was starting to think you’d given up on life and decided to become part of the living room couch.”Damon just grunted, clearly not in the mood to throw back his usual sarcasm. But as I got a closer look at his face, something felt... off. I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out what was bothering me.And then, I saw it.I held back a laugh. “Damon… what the hell happened to your eyebrow?”He frowned. “What?”I pointed at the slit in his brow—usually pretty noticeable, but now, it looked darker, like someone had tried to fill it in. “Looks like somebody took a marker to it.”Damon blinked, confusion flickering across his face before realization hit him like a truck. “Shit.” He immediately reached up to touch his brow, m

    Last Updated : 2025-02-14
  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   46. Reggie would finish him off

    ACEI should’ve noticed earlier.Sera was sitting across from me, but she wasn’t really there. She played with her fork, stirring her food absentmindedly. Usually, she’d have thrown some sharp remarks by now—something laced with sarcasm, something that carried that signature defiance she always took pride in.“What do you think Reggie will do to Dominic?” I asked, baiting a reaction.She turned to me with a weak smile. “Reggie would finish him off.”Something was wrong.Just this morning, Sera, with her signature style-sharp, defiant, stabbing with words—had managed to strip Dominic down. But now… she looked like she had lost half of herself.I had barely taken a single bite when Sera suddenly set down her spoon. The movement was too abrupt, too noticeable.I raised a brow, studying her face. “What’s wrong?”She didn’t answer. Her jaw tightened, fingers curling into fists on the table. Then, the next second, she stood up.“I need to use the restroom,” she muttered before walking away.

    Last Updated : 2025-02-15
  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   47. That kiss meant nothing to you

    ACEI saw her hesitate. Sera looked down for a moment, then glanced at me. It was only a split second, but I caught her weighing something.Then, with a quiet voice, she finally admitted, “I took an after-morning pill this morning.”Silence.I didn’t say anything. The doctor merely gave a small nod, jotting something down on his clipboard before giving a few instructions.I stayed quiet, feeling the muscles in my jaw tighten. My breathing was heavier than usual. I didn’t know why, but something in my chest clenched at her confession. And I didn’t like it.The doctor finally left, leaving just the two of us in a room that felt even quieter than before. I was still standing in the same spot, staring at her.Sera didn’t speak right away. She knew I was angry. It was in the way she took a breath, in the way her fingers toyed with the edge of the blanket.“You don’t have to react like that,” she finally said, looking away slightly. “I knew what I was doing.”My eyes narrowed. I didn’t like

    Last Updated : 2025-02-16
  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   48. I won't hurt her

    DAMONWhen Ace walked out, I didn’t follow him right away. I stayed where I was, feeling Beck and Cal’s eyes lock onto me. The atmosphere in the room shifted—easygoing to suffocating in an instant, tension thick in the air like a storm about to break.I could feel Sera standing at the doorway, restless. I didn’t have to turn around to know she was biting her lower lip, debating whether to speak or stay silent.Finally, I exhaled a short breath and started moving. “I’ll be fine,” I murmured, casual, before slipping past them.I followed Ace down the hall to his room. He shoved the door open, motioned me inside, then slammed it shut behind us.“Again, I have no idea why you’re pissed,” I said, leaning against his wardrobe, all ease, all nonchalance.“How old are you, huh? Fifteen?” Ace finally spoke, his voice low, cold.I narrowed my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“Do you even know Sera got sick because of you?” His voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of restrained fury.

    Last Updated : 2025-02-19
  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   49. I want someone who deserves my daughter

    BECKI sat at the edge of the bed, watching Sera’s pale face for what felt like an eternity. Her breathing was steady but heavy, like her body was fighting against something I couldn’t see. I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know what had caused this. All I knew was that she was sick, and I was here.My hand moved on its own, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear with the gentlest touch, like if I pressed too hard, she might crack and shatter into pieces.I wanted to ask. I wanted to know. But I couldn’t. Because even though my mind was drowning in questions, I couldn’t put that weight on her right now.I felt there was something between us, but did Sera think the same? Or am I just misinterpreting everything? I wanted to believe that I had a place in her heart, that I was more than just someone who happened to be by her side.My hands curled into fists on my lap, trying to push down the uncertainty gnawing at my chest. This wasn’t the time for this. Sera was sick.But

    Last Updated : 2025-02-20

Latest chapter

  • 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

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   67. I won't forget

    ACEI set my alarm for 2:40. Three nights in a row. Not because I had insomnia. I just … needed to make sure of something.The first night, I just sat here. Nothing happened.The second night, I made chamomile tea. Still nothing.The third night—tonight—I sat on the old leather couch facing the door, turned on the dim reading lamp, and opened a book I wasn’t really reading. The tea I made was still steaming on the little side table next to me. Two cups. I didn’t even drink tea, but I kept putting it there. Some kind of ritual I made up for myself. The reading lamp cast a soft glow, lighting up a random stack of books I picked just to make it look like I was reading. And the door … I left it open. Just a crack. Just enough for someone walking by to see the light inside. Just enough to be a quiet invitation.Until I finally heard it—the bedroom door creaking open, then light footsteps in the hallway at 3 a.m.And there she was.Sera stood in the library doorway. Her hair was messily ti

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   66. Is it okay if I do this?

    SERA“For you, I would.”I froze. Breath catching. Before I could say anything, he turned back to the screen—as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t just dropped a line that made my heart skip a whole damn beat.A few minutes passed in a comfortable silence, until suddenly, I heard him speak softly. “Thank you.”I frowned and turned a little. “For what?”He didn’t look at me right away. His eyes were still on the screen, like he was trying to find the right words. “For not asking.”And just like that, the mood shifted. I knew what he meant. That scar I saw at the gym. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way he said it. The way his shoulders tensed, the way his breathing slowed—controlled. Cal, who was usually so gentle and relaxed, now felt … intense.“Because I know what that feels like,” I said softly.He finally looked at me. Our eyes met, and this time, neither of us looked away. His eyes were darker than usual, like they were holding in way more than he’d ever say out loud.I

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   65. For you, I would

    SERAThe moment Beck disappeared past the door, I knew Ace would go right after him. His shoulders were stiff, his jaw clenched like someone holding back a whole ocean of rage.Before he could leave, I grabbed his hand. “Come here,” I said softly, pulling him closer and giving him a quick kiss on the lips—gentle, light, just enough to cut through the tension between us.“I know you can handle this,” I whispered, still close enough to feel his breath. “I trust you, Ace.”For a second, something in his eyes softened. Just for a second. His gaze stayed sharp, still like Ace's—never fully readable. “I’ll be good. Because you

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   64. I missed you

    BECKToday, the first class after the announcement felt heavier than usual. Not because of the material, but because my chest felt … tight. Like Reggie didn’t just leave behind a legacy, but also left a weight way too big for me to carry.Legacy. It sounds like a gift, right? But it feels more like a curse. Like a crown of thorns handed to us not out of hope, but as a reminder that we’re never really free. That now we all have something we’re supposed to protect.And the truth was … I still didn’t know what it means to be a Blackwood. Even I was not sure I deserved to carry that name.My steps were heavy as I crossed to the pavilion to grab my favorite leather jacket. The plan was to grab my stuff and leave with Ace. We were supposed to go driving.Yeah, Ace insisted on teaching me how to drive. He said, “A grown man who can’t drive is embarrassing. What, you think you’ll survive an emergency driving with crayons?”Which was dumb. I didn’t even use crayons. (Anymore.)Then I heard so

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   63. There you are

    SERAI never questioned Reggie's decisions.He must had his reasons.That was the line I kept replaying in my head, like some mantra, every time that stubborn old man made a decision I couldn’t fully accept. But today—tonight—that line felt like poison slowly tightening around my chest.I sat at the edge of his bed, right where I always sat whenever we talked. My spot. From there, I could look at him across the room, lounging on that worn-out leather sofa, complaining about corporate politics. I could still feel him there somehow. Like a ghost that refused to leave.My hand clutched a letter. Edward had given each of us—me and the Blackwood brothers—a personal letter from Reggie.The edges were already crumpling under my shaking fingers, but I couldn’t let go. This wasn’t a contract, or some company memo, or a blood-chilling will. It was just a letter. In Reggie’s handwriting, I knew those strokes by heart.I had read it twice. Maybe three times? I wasn’t sure anymore.***Dearest Ser

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status