LOGIN“Why are you like this, Axel?” she asked in a low voice, her tone slightly breaking. “Why won't you just leave me alone?” For a moment, something inside me stirred. I reached out slowly and placed my fingers under her chin, lifting her face. She tried to look away, but I wouldn’t let her. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she bit her lower lip stubbornly, trying to keep them from falling. But that tiny act of defiance… God, it did something to me. I wanted to pull her closer, to claim her, to make her mine and never let anyone else touch her. “One year,” I said finally. She frowned. “What?” “I want you,” I said clearly. “For one year, you’ll be my woman. In exchange, I’ll take care of you, your needs, your family’s protection, your brother’s freedom. Everything.” *** After catching her scumbag boyfriend in bed with her coworker, Olivia Brooks did what any heartbroken woman might… she drowned her sorrows at a club. One too many drinks later, she ended up in the arms of a dangerously handsome stranger. What she didn’t know was that the man she mistook for a gigolo was Axel Reynolds, a ruthless billionaire with a taste for control. Olivia tried to move on and bury the memory of that reckless night… until fate delivered a cruel twist. Axel Reynolds wasn’t just anyone—he was her step sister’s soon-to-be husband. Now, trapped between guilt and desire, Olivia wants to hide the truth. But Axel has already found her, and the devil never lets go of what he claims.
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“Are you out of your damn mind, Aiden?!” My voice echoed through the staircase as I stormed out of my boyfriend’s crappy apartment. Aiden stumbled after me, half-naked, wearing only a brief. “Babe, wait! Please, let me explain…” Before he could finish, I swung my bag hard at him. “Explain what?!” I snapped. “That you slept with Eve, my coworker? Three years together, and you betray me with someone you’ve known for just three weeks?!” He flinched. “I swear, I don’t know what came over me! It just happened…” “Oh, save it!” I cut him off bitterly. “You said the same thing last time, with your ‘childhood best friend,’ and before that, your coworker. Three women in three years, Aiden! How stupid do you think I am?” He opened his mouth, but no words came. My chest burned with anger and hurt. How could he do this to me? Furious, I yanked off the thin silver ring he’d given me — the same cheap ring he’d used to apologize over and over again, and each time, I forgave him. Not this time. I threw it at his chest. “Take your lies back. I’m done, Aiden. Don’t come near me again.” “Babe…” he tried again, but I was already gone, storming down the stairs. I ran out under the drizzling rain to my old golf car and sped off into the street. My breath caught, and against my will, a single hot tear slid down my cheek again. “Damn it,” I whispered harshly, wiping it away quickly. I focused on the road as I grabbed my phone and connected it to my car’s bluetooth. I needed to drown out the noise in my head and the ache in my heart. The familiar voice of Linda Gabriel, the famous relationship expert, filled my ears. “Ladies, if a man doesn’t value you, if you always have to beg for his attention or excuse his wrongs, you are not in a relationship; you are in a prison of your own making. Love should not feel like punishment. Walk away when you must, and walk away with your dignity.” I took a deep breath, letting the words wash over me. They felt like both salt and healing on my wounded heart. Maybe I had been blind, tolerating far too much from Aiden. Maybe this was the wake-up call I needed. Suddenly, my car coughed, groaned, and stopped in the middle of a lonely street. “No… no… no!” I cried, desperately trying to start my car again, but the engine gave a single, hopeless noise. “Ahhhh!” I screamed in frustration and gripped the steering wheel hard. Rain began to pour harder. “Damn it.” I pulled out my phone and called Ella, my best friend. The moment she picked up, I couldn’t hold back the tears. “Aiden did it again, Ella,” I said painfully. “God, I feel like a fool.” “What?! I knew it! I told you that bastard doesn’t deserve you!” Ella yelled in anger. She continued to rant about how she knew I was way too good for him and deserved better. “Where are you now? The rain is crazy,” she finally asked. “My car broke down in the middle of your street,” I muttered. “I don’t even know what to do anymore.” “Stay there. I’m coming to pick you up right now,” she said, then added, “And don’t think for a second that you’re going home to mope! My man’s boss is opening a new club tonight. You’re coming with us, Olivia. You need to get your head out of heartbreak mode. Tonight, you’re drinking, dancing, and forgetting that idiot exists.” “What? No, Ella, I just want to go home and…” “Listen to Linda Gabriel’s podcast with a box of tissues and a bucket of ice cream?” she interrupted sharply. “Not gonna happen.” I groaned softly, running my hand through my damp hair. Knowing Ella, there was no winning this argument. She wasn’t the type to take no for an answer. *** Three hours later, here I was, in a tight red dress and high heels, courtesy of Ella, standing in one of the most luxurious clubs I’d ever seen. “Ladies, enjoy yourselves,” Ted, Ella’s boyfriend, said with a wink. “Drinks are on me tonight. And if any guy gives you trouble, come find me. I’ll be right over there with my boss.” “Thanks, baby,” Ella cooed, leaning in to kiss him on the lips. Ted smiled before heading off toward a private VIP section. The moment he disappeared, Ella dragged me toward the bar. “Two shots of the strongest stuff you’ve got,” she told the bartender. I frowned. “Ella, I don’t think—” “Nope,” she said, cutting me off again. “No thinking tonight.” The bartender slid two glasses toward us. I picked up my glass hesitantly. Ella clinked her glass against mine. “To freedom,” she said. I sighed, then smiled faintly. “To freedom.” The first shot burned down my throat like molten lava, but the warmth that followed spread through my chest, melting away a bit of my pain. Ella grinned victoriously. “See? Not so bad.” A few more shots later, the heaviness in my heart began to fade. The club seemed lighter, warmer, even brighter. Ella leaned in close. “Let’s dance!” I blinked, half-dazed. “Dance?” “Yes! Come on!” She pulled me onto the dance floor and started dancing. I moved to the beat slowly at first, letting the rhythm take over. As I danced, memories of Aiden flooded my mind — how I’d supported him through everything: helping with his work proposals, editing his reports when he was too lazy to do them himself, even cooking and cleaning his messy apartment when he was too tired. Hell, I was more like an unpaid housemaid who serviced her boss with her body. But not anymore. I was done being anyone’s fool. The realization sent a rush of energy through me. I moved my hips freely, swaying to the rhythm, letting every beat wash away the pain. Ella cheered and danced beside me, laughing as we moved in sync. Men started approaching, but Ella, protective as always, waved them off with sharp glares. “Not tonight, boys,” she said. I laughed, feeling bolder and freer by the minute. But soon, the shots and dancing left me breathless. “I need a drink.” Ella nodded, twirling around before disappearing into the crowd. I made my way back to the bar. The bartender saw me coming and raised an eyebrow. “Back already?” “Just one more,” I said. He chuckled and poured me another shot. As I picked it up, he leaned closer and whispered with a teasing grin, “It seems you’ve already caught the attention of a shark.” I paused, confused. “A shark?” He nodded, tilting his head toward the far side of the room. Curious, I turned my head and froze. Standing a few meters away was a man who didn’t look real. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and effortlessly handsome. His dark green eyes locked directly on me. A few buttons of his black shirt were undone, revealing smooth skin and a glimpse of hard muscle beneath. Gosh… he was hot! I licked my dry lips unconsciously and turned back to the bartender with a playful smirk. “But I’m not the prey tonight.” With that, I downed the shot in one swift gulp and walked toward the hot stuff, deliberately swaying my hips seductively, my eyes locked on his. When I finally reached him, he looked at me slowly, his lips curving just slightly. “You shouldn’t play with fire, sweetheart,” he said in a low, husky voice. I smiled sweetly, leaning a little closer. “Who says I’m playing?” He raised a brow, looking amused. I licked my lips again and tilted my head. “Tell me… how much for the night?”Olivia A few hours later…The room had become quieter.The storm outside had finally begun to settle, leaving the world beyond the windows strangely peaceful.My little girl rested comfortably in my arms as I gently breastfed her. Her tiny fingers curled against me, her small face peaceful as she fed.I couldn't stop looking at her. She was so beautiful.The door opened, and Axel stepped inside.“I just got off the phone with your family.”I looked up. “They're coming?”He nodded. “I sent my private helicopter to bring them here. They're already on their way.”I instantly felt so relieved. “Thank you.”He walked closer, and stopped beside my bed. His arms gently wrapped around me, careful not to disturb the baby, and his lips brushed against my hair.I closed my eyes as that familiar scent immediately surrounded me… Axel's scent.For nine long months, I had missed it more than I could ever explain. My body instinctively relaxed against him.Nine months.Nine entire months without him
OliviaSix months later…“Push, Olivia! You need to push harder!”The nurse's urgent voice echoed through the delivery room.My forehead was drenched in sweat, strands of damp hair clinging to my skin as I lay exhausted on the hospital bed. My fingers gripped the sheets so tightly that my knuckles had turned white, while my entire body trembled beneath the unbearable strain of labor.Another contraction tore through me.A cry escaped my lips.“Ah!”“That's it! Push, Olivia! please just a little more!”I squeezed my eyes shut and gathered whatever strength I had left.Then I pushed harder.The pain intensified until it felt like my entire body was being torn apart from the inside. My breathing came out in ragged gasps. Every muscle in my body felt exhausted, and yet I knew I couldn't stop.My baby was coming.I had to keep going.My eyes instinctively wandered around the room. The nurses were beside me. Mrs. Johnson was somewhere nearby, anxiously waiting, but there was no familiar fac
Olivia My heart began pounding violently as the memory became clearer. Carl walked toward me, and Jasmine followed him.They were coming toward me to save me… At least, that was what I had believed. Hope had filled my heart. With the last of my strength, I had reached toward Jasmine. “Jasmine…” My little hand had stretched toward her. I had expected her to help me. Instead, she had looked down at me with an expression I could never have imagined seeing on her face. Then she had slapped my hand away. “You don't deserve good things, Anna.” She had stepped closer. “I deserve the better life because I'll always be better and prettier than you.” Her eyes had been filled with jealousy. “I'll take the life that should have been yours. I'll have the education. I'll have the things you were supposed to have because you don't deserve to be better than me. You will never be greater than me, Anna.” And then the memory blurred. My hand flew over my mouth as I let out a horrified gasp.
Olivia “Axel, you dare come late today? I've been waiting for you.” “I'm sorry, Anna. My doctor stopped by the house to check on my eyes… I couldn't leave the house on time.” “It's alright. Come on, let's go to the swing so that you can tell me all about your day… Watch your steps.” *** My eyes slowly opened. For several seconds, I simply stared at the unfamiliar white ceiling above me, my mind completely blank. Where was I? I glanced around and saw the medical equipment beside me, the white walls, and the scent of disinfectant… A hospital? Then everything came rushing back. My hand immediately flew to my stomach. My heart hammered against my ribs as I felt the hard, familiar roundness beneath my palm. My baby… My baby was safe. A trembling sigh of relief escaped my lips. “Thank you, Lord…” Slowly, I tried to push myself upright. The moment I lifted my upper body, however, a wave of dizziness washed over me, and black dots danced across my vision. I immediately closed my ey
OliviaI didn’t remember the drive or the traffic lights or even the turns.All that kept replaying in my mind was the image of blood pooling beneath the dim dock lights.When we reached my apartment building, I stepped out of the car on unsteady legs. We didn’t speak as we walked upstairs.I unloc
AxelI had lost count of how many times I had walked from one end of my office to the other.The day was finally here.The day the final decision would be made.The day I would know exactly where I stood in the Reynolds Group.My stomach tightened at the thought.Years of work. Years of sacrifice.
Jasmine My eyes instantly widened in shock. Did I hear that right? Did she really just say that? Vincent’s… first wife? Wait... No. That couldn’t be right. That had to be some kind of a joke, right? I looked at the woman standing in front of Axel… Sarah, who looked far too calm for someone wh
Axel The hospital lights were the first thing I noticed when I pushed through the revolving doors and rushed forward. Derek and Jose were right behind me, walking as fast as I was as I thought of one person… My father. The call had come last night when I was in an urgent meeting with some of our
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