Chapter 40Liora's POV“No, Evren. I can't take this. We agreed on what I'll benefit from our arrangement. This wasn't a part of the plan.” Despite saying this outwardly, I can't take my eyes off the buildings before me.My mind goes back to the thoughts I had a while back about what kind of building I'd like to put here. Arianna had begun working on it already, telling me she knows one day I'll achieve my dream and either get this place for Aunt, or buy another piece of land.Now Evren is doing it for me at no cost? Or maybe, there's something for him to gain from this. Yes! That's it.Squinting my eyes, I turn to the man whose hand is placed in his pocket, his eyes trained on me without blinking. For a second, I'm unable to say a word as my cheeks redden.There is a certain intensity in his gaze that doesn't waver even for a second, despite me catching him staring at me. Goosebumps erupt on my skin–not out of fear, but out of desire.A desire I don't want to deny so badly, but it is
39Liora's POV“She's six.Six years old.Tell me how she comes up with something like that if she wasn't influenced, Evren. You're in on this.”He huffs, running a hand through his hair. “I am not in on this. You're very correct, she was indeed influenced. By your best friend and my brother. Not me.”He seems to be telling me the truth. But no. This is like something someone so controlling would do. Marek is a sweetheart. He won't send me out with his annoying younger brother. Ariana, on the other hand, had to be the one who invented the idea.I blame myself. If I hadn't been too trusting. If I hadn't been anticipating such a moment with Evren, I wouldn't have walked straight into this trap.But why am I complaining? Maybe because I know the closer I get to him, the more my heart also goes towards its ruin. And I can't let that happen.“If you're saying the truth, which I know you aren't, why didn't you just cancel the date?”We are currently in his car, heading towards the restauran
Chapter 38Liora's POVBy the time I'm emerging from the bathroom, Arianna is the only one left in my room, lying comfortably on the sofa and manipulating her phone.She raises her head when she sees me, then wiggles her brows. I let out a sigh and pick up my clutch, planning to ignore her.Mission impossible!“Whoever thought you’d be going out on dates with baby daddy so soon? You're just a month in, girl. Damn, you move fast.”I bite back the urge to knock her on the head. Can't she see I have no option? “Ari, I can't refuse going out with him. I'm doing this for Selina.”“Yes, yes, for Selina. Totally. You, who used to tell the same Selina you had urgent work to do sometimes when she wanted to go to the park. Girl, you could still say no now. I'm sure she'd understand if you lied about being unwell.”Having nothing else to say, I keep quiet. She's right. I hate going out. But for some reason, knowing Evren will be there too makes me change my mind without a second thought. But of
Chapter 37 Liora's POV Evren Valesca could be anything to me from what I'd read in magazines, watched on gossip shows, and seen for myself, but a clingy man was way down the list. These past two days since he left the hospital, which I still don't know why he wasn't admitted, he hasn't left my side for more than three hours at a time. First, he went to his office, and less than an hour later, walked back in with his suitcase and Levi following him with a sheet-ton of folders. They entered his study, and an hour later, he came out to meet me where I sat in the living room watching TV. After making sure I had eaten, he went right back in and came back an hour later. Since then, he has been hanging around my side, even to the point of cuddling with me in bed. It's not like I'm complaining. It's what I've always wanted, right? And he has the sweetest smell and... the most beautiful body a woman could want. But his actions are still strange. And the stubborn man won't talk to me. “B
Chapter 36Evren's POVOh, that's why he's here? I thought it'd be for the other thing I'd done. Guess that's still to be a surprise to him.“Tada. Ronan, how did you like my surprise? Was it as unexpected as I imagined?” I wink, knowing my every action is infuriating him more.“You bastard!” He roars, skipping towards me with a tightened fist. I don't move, but before his hand can make any form of contact with my face, he's held back by my bodyguards.They came in as soon as my receptionist left. Ronan is still a threat after all.“Let me go or you'll regret it!” The idiot still tries to fight. He should know by now, there's nothing he can do to me in my office.“Grandmother won't be pleased to find out her favorite Callistar son is acting like this in the public eye, Ronan. Have you forgotten you're supposed to put on the best grandson image? Although we all know what a cunning fool you are.”He finally shrugs himself free and turns towards the door. Once he gets there, he casts one
35 Evren's POV “Wait... you're mad that I touched her? I only held her waist briefly and she's my sister-in-law!” Marek shouts, running a hand through his hair while staring wide-eyed at me. “And she's my woman,” I respond without blinking. “Tell me something, Marek. Will you allow me touch Arianna in the way you held my woman?” I'm met with a glare and his glass being slammed against the counter. “What the hell are you talking about? Why won't I allow that? It's not like I care about her or anything. You can do whatever you please and I'll—” “Tsk tsk tsk, brother. I asked a yes or no question. Why the fuss?” I smirk, watching as his jaw tightens with frustration as he realizes that I've caught onto him. “But since you don't care about her, I'll just tell Levi to shoot his shot. You know he has a crush on her. They'd look so good together. Levi and Arianna sitting in a tree, k-i-s—” “If you dare finish that sentence, I'll murder you,” Marek growls, breaking the glass he holds w
34 Liora's POV It is only when Marek clears his throat behind me that I finally detach myself from his brother’s body where I'd been hanging onto like a leech. Only I don't do it softly, but in my embarrassed state, I push him with a lot of strength. He staggers backward, almost falling if not for the wall behind him which he uses to support himself. Oops! I smile sheepishly. Marek chuckles. Evren glares. “Damn woman, I should have just died earlier if I knew you'd try to murder me out here like this.” “Oh, come on, brother. Don't tell me it's that little push that has you whining like an old lady. Be a man,” Marek teases his already grumpy brother. Somehow, their banter brings a small smile to my lips, as my mind runs back to my own sister. Corinne. It's been ages since we spoke. All because she has to hide to talk to me. I'm glad she's going to college under the guise of a scholarship. I'm paying. I hope Dad never finds out. Or else he could do something terrible to eith
33 Liora's POV My feet hitting hard on the hospital tiled floor brings the attention of the nurses and doctors towards me. Only when they see that it's not a patient being rushed in do they turn their eyes away from Arianna and me. I rush to the receptionist, placing my trembling hands on the counter as I wait impatiently for her to finish her call and get to me. “How can I help—” “My husband is admitted here.” My words tumble out in a rushed breath. “Please, where is Evren Valesca?” At the name, her hand freezes on the keyboard, eyes slowly lifting to my face. She turns to face her colleague, who is also looking at me from head to foot. Ignoring their gazes, I open my mouth to tell her to give me the information I'm asking about when I see Levi coming out from a hallway with a private label on it. He is on the phone, but with how fast I bound towards him, it doesn't take long for him to raise his eyes and meet mine. He freezes, gulps, and slowly ends the call. “Miss Wil—Mrs. V
Chapter 32 Liora's POV Something is Wrong And by wrong, I mean terribly wrong. For the whole day after leaving Evren’s office, I locked myself in my room, only taking food because I couldn't bear the thought of starving my baby. Around evening, however, Levi rushed to my room, telling me we had to leave. It was almost as if there was an attack. My heart lurched as I ran out, opening the door to see him pacing the corridor with Selina by his side. I asked what was going on, but he told me nothing too serious—we just had to leave because Evren had an emergency at the office to attend to. Since then, it's been a whole 24 hours, and I'm sitting in the living room in the city without any sight of Evren. If not for Arianna keeping me company, I would have lost my mind. “What is he keeping from me?“ I ask, placing my head in my palms. A sharp, throbbing pain hits me, and I relax back on the couch, signaling for a maid to bring me water. "Girl, you need to calm down. They said he ha