Mag-log inTalia had barely finished getting dressed and hadn't even had a chance to fix her hair before Christian lost whatever patience he had left. He aimed his gun at the door, fired several shots, and then slammed his foot into it.The door crashed inward and hit the floor, and every barrier between them disappeared in an instant.Christian stepped inside, gun in hand, his dark eyes sweeping the room. Talia's clothes were wrinkled, her hair tousled, and her lips swollen and flushed. Every detail on her body was a silent reminder that something had just happened.His gaze shifted to Quentin, who stood shirtless, his tan skin catching the light with a warm, golden sheen.Something inside Christian snapped. He raised the gun and pointed it directly at Quentin's head.But before his finger could reach the trigger, Talia stepped between them and shielded Quentin with her body. Her expression was blank, her eyes completely cold.In the silence that followed, Christian broke first. His voice
The finality in Talia's expression sent Quentin's heart into a frenzy. Fear gripped him. He tightened his hold on her hand, unable to make himself let go.Talia struggled weakly. "Quentin, let go."He lowered his head and tucked his chin into the curve of her shoulder, letting his full weight settle over her. He couldn't help wondering if this was the only way to keep her from slipping out from under him.He held her as tightly as he could, but it felt like trying to hold onto the wind. She was right there beneath him, yet somehow he couldn't get a grip on her, as though she might vanish at any second.His voice shook. He had never been this vulnerable before. "Please, don't leave me."Talia didn't have the strength to push him off, so she lay still under the weight of him. She could feel his body trembling, and hers trembled right along with it.She turned her face away. Tears rolled from the corners of her eyes as she stared at the soft halo of the overhead light, her voice low
Quentin stopped caring about holding back. He closed the distance between them and swept Talia into his arms.He lifted her onto the dining table, his hands firm under her thighs, and pressed his mouth against hers without any of his usual gentleness. This time, he was urgent, almost rough.His hands tugged at her clothes without any regard for the way she pushed against him. Every other time before this, he'd asked her again and again if she was okay with it. But that night, he was past that.If he couldn't stop her from leaving with words, then this was the only way he knew to keep her. His kisses weren't really kisses anymore. He bit, grazed, and tasted her with a desperation that bordered on recklessness.Talia resisted. She pressed her hands flat against his chest to keep a distance between them. But he pulled her hands away, reaching for the buttons of her top while his lips trailed lower.She managed to get a few words out between breaths, her voice strained. "Quentin, don'
Talia and Quentin walked side by side toward the house, hand in hand, just like they had so many times before. Only this time there was no sweetness in it, because Talia knew that when she left the Henderson residence that night, they wouldn't be together anymore.Neither of them spoke as they made their way from the front gate to the main hall. The silence between them only deepened the grief hanging over the evening.The moment they were inside, Quentin turned and locked the front door behind them. Talia watched his smooth, deliberate movements without saying a single word.When he turned back around, his reddened eyes settled on hers. "Now we can talk."Talia forced a weak smile, her voice rough. "Quentin, why are you putting yourself through this?"He could tell that she wasn't playing around. Every trace of humor drained from his face, and his eyes filled with something raw and wounded. "All I know is that you're mine, Talia."Her breath caught in her throat. "Quentin, I'm n
Quentin refused to accept what Talia was saying. "Do you even hear yourself right now?""I know exactly what I'm saying," Talia told him flatly.He grabbed her hand and locked his fingers around hers so tightly that it was almost a vice grip, impossible to shake off. He stared at her for a long time before speaking. "Come back with me. Whatever this is, we'll sort it out at home."Talia tried to pull free. "Quentin, let go of me."He looked back at her and lowered his voice. "Sweetie, can we please not do this out here?"His tone was firm, but underneath it was nothing but worry and tenderness. The sound of it sent a sharp sting through Talia's chest.She hesitated for a few seconds, then gave in. "Fine."The moment she agreed, Quentin ushered her into the car. He didn't even stop to fasten her seatbelt before getting in himself, slamming the gas the second the engine turned over.Talia had no idea where they were going. She didn't say a single word the entire ride. She just tu
After Quentin finished speaking, the other end of the line went quiet for a long time before Talia's voice finally came through. Over the phone, she said, "Okay."It was barely a whisper, and even that single word carried a weight of emotion she couldn't hide.Quentin sensed something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. He stayed by the roadside, watching the complex entrance, and after about 20 minutes he finally saw Talia walking out.The moment she appeared, his face broke into a smile. He headed toward the gate to meet her, and when she stepped through, he fell into step beside her. "You were up there for a while. What did you two talk about?"Talia stopped in front of him and looked up, her gaze steady but unreadable. Something complicated stirred behind her eyes.When she didn't answer, Quentin's smile faltered. "What's wrong?"He searched her face and found nothing but sadness and hollow resignation. His heart dropped. He couldn't explain it, bu
Seeing Quentin walk toward the stage, panic rose in Talia's chest. Throwing caution aside, she called out to him, "Quentin, what are you doing? Come back down."On the other side, both Christian and Nancy heard Talia's anxious shout. Quentin heard it too, but he didn't turn around. After walking st
Upon smelling the acrid smoke of cigarettes filling the study, Talia opened the window to air out the room before turning to Garrett, asking, "What are you doing up so late, Garrett?"It was only when he heard that voice that Garrett realized that the person who walked into the study was Talia. He
"What's the matter? Did you miss me, sweetie?" Quentin's languid, playful voice came from the other end of the line, his deep voice barely audible over the loud music in the background.It was common knowledge that Quentin was a womanizer. It was said that he had countless women, changing them as o
Having departed Jubilee Manor, Talia had just absentmindedly taken her seat in her car when the front passenger door was opened from the outside and someone climbed in, frightening her. She only managed to calm down after identifying the sudden visitor.Quentin, having settled in the passenger seat







