เข้าสู่ระบบ~LORETTE~“What are you doing?!” I scream at him, immediately tearing my eyes away from his naked body. Heat rushes to my face like a furnace.“What do you mean by that? I want to bathe too, of course,” he says, walking even closer to me.What the hell? Is he a pervert now?I think about just leaving the bathtub for him, but I am completely naked under the water. Instead, I sink deeper to hide my skin and look away, determined not to catch another glimpse of him.My heart hammers so hard in my chest it feels like it might fail.Did he plan this? Was that why he didn’t argue when I asked him to run the bath? Because he knew he could turn things to his advantage?Ugh, stupid, Lori. Look how your plans have backfired!“Could you please pass me the towel?” I ask, never sparing him a glance. “Please?”“Didn’t you say you wanted a bath?” The sarcasm and mischief in his tone are barely concealed. “I put so much effort into this, and now you’re trying to turn it down?”To my greatest panic,
~LORETTE~“What’s the condition?” Nate asks, studying my face as though the answer might be written somewhere in it.“Well…” I arch a brow, fighting back the smug smile threatening to escape. I’m already enjoying this far more than I should. “You’ll have to make me comfortable enough before I agree to talk about anything.”He raises a brow as though he’d been expecting something far more outrageous.“That’s it?” A quiet laugh slips from him. “Trust me, you’ll be as comfortable as possible.”If only he knew.“Great.” I flash him a sweet smile and stroll over to one of the couches before settling into it. “Then let’s start with dinner.” “I want something warm, spicy, and comforting. Perfect weather for it.” I rub my stomach dramatically. “I’m starving.”“Done.” He nods without hesitation. “I’ll get the cook.”“What cook?”He pauses and turns.“The one who’s making your dinner.”I fight back a laugh.“I think you misunderstood me.” I point directly at him. “I want you to cook.”Nate’s e
~LORETTE~My eyes fly open in shock.With every ounce of strength I have, I shove Nate away from me. My lips already sting from the sheer force of that reckless, infuriating kiss.“What the hell is wrong with you, Nate?”Instead of looking ashamed, he lets out a low chuckle. A smug smile tugs at his lips as he wipes a thumb across the corner of his mouth, looking far too pleased with himself.“You know,” he says, studying me with an annoyingly knowing look, “I understand exactly what you’re doing.”I stare at him. “I’m sorry?”“That little game you’ve been playing.” He takes a step closer. “Acting cold, distant, making me chase after you...”At this point, I’m honestly wondering if he’s lost his mind.His smirk deepens.“Pretending you didn’t enjoy that kiss when it’s obvious you did.” His gaze drops briefly to my mouth before lifting again. “This is what you’ve always wanted, Lori. For me to finally pay attention to you. So why are you suddenly acting like the ice queen?”His foolish
~LORETTE~“Cheers to Lori, the newest champion in the family!” Jace’s voice booms through the dining room as he pops open a bottle of wine.Laughter immediately erupts around the table. Everyone raises their glasses.“To Lori!”The sound of crystal clinking fills the room. Warmth spreads through my chest as I look around the table. Jace is grinning from ear to ear. Lucas looks like he’s personally won the competition himself. Hunter and Ella can’t seem to stop smiling.“You’ve made us proud, Lori,” Lucas says. “Ridiculously proud.”I laugh and shake my head. “You guys are acting like I won an Oscar.”“You practically did.” Jace shoots back. “And don’t even start with the humble act. You earned this.”I feel close to tears, being surrounded by people who celebrate my victories as though they’re their own.A few minutes later, my brothers pull Marcus into a video call.His face appears on the screen almost immediately.“Congratulations, Lori.” His usual stern expression brightens with
~NATE~For a couple of seconds, Ava only stares at me. Every color drains slowly from her face, disbelief replacing the confidence she’d worn all evening.Then she lets out a shaky laugh.“Nate… what are you talking about?”“I figured you’d deny it.” Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and tap the video.The footage begins to play.The second Ava sees herself on the screen, she looks just as pale as a ghost. After asking security to delete the footage earlier, I made sure to get a copy sent to me first because I suspected she might try to lie. And she just did.So now, not only is she a manipulator, but also a liar. The two combinations I hate the most.“Nate, I…” she stutters, the words dying before they fully form.Her shoulders sag, then tears spill down her cheeks.“I messed up, didn’t I?”“You think?” The bitterness in my voice catches me off guard. “I expected better from you, Ava.”She lowers her head as sobs shake her frame.“I was insecure and scared,” she whispers
~NATE~“We believe you arrived with one of the contestants, Miss Ava Sterling, correct, sir?”The second security officer’s question only deepens the frown already pulling at my brow as I follow them into the security office.Several monitors line the walls, each displaying footage from different sections of the building.“Yes,” I answer. “Why?”The two men exchange a glance before one of them steps toward a monitor and begins rewinding the footage.“Actually, sir, there appears to be a problem.”The video stops.A hooded woman appears on the black-and-white screen. She’s inside the gallery.At first glance, nothing seems unusual. Then I notice the way she keeps looking over her shoulder before approaching one of the displayed paintings.Her movements are hurried and nervous like a thief as she lifts the artwork and quickly leaves the room.My confusion grows.“What’s this supposed to mean?”The officer turns toward me. “Does she look familiar?”I study the footage, but the hood obscu
~LORETTE~ “Mother…” Stella quickly says, visibly flustered as she tries to calm Grandma Nessa down. “Please, calm down. She’s a guest.” “A guest?” Grandma Nessa repeats sharply, sounding even more offended by the explanation. Her brows knit together in irritation as she looks between them. “I ce
~LORETTE~ We all turn at once. Grandma Nessa. She’s already making her way toward us, her walking stick tapping firmly against the floor as she walks. Even with age slowing her steps, there is still something commanding about her presence. The kind that makes people instinctively straighten up.
~LORETTE~ “Are you absolutely sure you don’t want one of us to drive you there?” Lucas asks for what feels like the hundredth time, concern written all over his face as we stand outside the house. “I’m really not comfortable with you taking a cab alone, Lori. It’s dangerous.” All of them had insis
~NATE~ Standing up abruptly, I grab my suit jacket from the back of the chair, completely ignoring the maid still apologizing behind me. I’m already in a bad mood. If I stay another second in this house, I might actually lose my temper for real. Without sparing her another glance, I storm outside







