Cathleen's presence in the room drew Xavier's gaze like a magnet, her confident stride contrasting with the delicate morning light that enveloped her. The subtle hues of dawn played on her features, accentuating the faint scars that adorned her skin—a testament to battles fought and hidden pains endured. Xavier longed to offer her sustenance, a silent plea echoing in his mind to nourish her resilience. Yet the echoes of their heated exchange lingered, stifling any words he might have spoken. Thus, he remained a silent observer, a veil of remorse shrouding his emotions as she paused at the door, sensing the weight of his unspoken sentiments lingering in the space between them.The door clicked shut behind her, and the room seemed to hold its breath before Olivia's presence pierced the silence. Her frown was a wrinkle etched between perfectly plucked brows, but she knew questioning Xavier about his lingering stare at Cathleen—that would be crossing an unseen line."Xa—" she ventured, on

Avery's hands trembled on the steering wheel, each breathing a shallow gasp as she navigated the familiar streets through a veil of tears. Her mind reeled with the overwhelming impossibility—Cathleen had taken her place at the altar—Cathleen, who was supposed to be nothing more than a footnote in Avery's grand life plan. The sting of betrayal burned hot within her, like salt rubbed vigorously into an open wound. Avery's heart pounded in her chest in a frantic attempt to escape the suffocating weight of it all. She'd fled from the restaurant, the taste of humiliation heavy on her tongue and threatening to choke her with every swallow.The gravel driveway echoed under her tires as she raced back to the house. Each pebble seemed to mock her, a cruel reminder of the shattered illusions that awaited her inside. Her fingers trembled as she yanked out the keys, snatched her purse, and carelessly flung off her high heels, discarding them near the car. The shoes felt like shackles, symbols of

Avery snapped the suitcase shut, a sharp click echoing off the sparse bedroom walls. "All set," she declared, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and malice.From across the room, Dora ended her call with a flourish. "Thank you so much, Mr. Knight," she purred into the phone before fixing Avery with a calculated gaze. "We got the address. I will send a driver to take you there." It didn’t take long for the driver to arrive.The sleek black car arrived with an elegance that matched the scheme unfolding in their minds. Avery, with a predatory grace, hauled her luggage into the trunk and sank into the leather embrace of the back seat. The city blurred past, but Avery's thoughts were razor-sharp, fixated on the prize at the journey's end.Forty-five minutes evaporated like mist, and the imposing gates of Cathleen's estate loomed. Avery's smile was a slash of triumph. "What are you here for?" The guard's challenge was perfunctory."I am here to see Mrs. Knight; she's my sister." Her

The grand hall was full of fancy lights and rich people having fun. Olivia, in her tight dress, moved gracefully through the room. She stopped when she saw Avery, who was just standing there, not doing anything important. Olivia thought Avery was worthless and quietly called her useless with a mean look on her face.Avery, the stepsister with opportunistic veins where blood should have been, hadn't even managed the simplest task: infiltrating Xavier's fortress of solitude. Olivia's lips twisted in annoyance—how hard was it to seduce a man who wore his infidelity like a badge of honor?She looked around and saw Finn Knight in the distance. He seemed small next to his dad, Mr. Knight. Olivia didn't like him and felt happy that he had lost his job at Xavier's company. She knew it was mean, but she felt a little pleased inside. She rolled her eyes again and quietly wished for better people around her."Champagne," she demanded more than she requested, snatching a flute from a passing wait

Upon returning from the Glow Girl event with Cathleen, Xavier swiftly exited his car. Circling around to the passenger side, he lifted Cathleen in a bridal style. Unexpectedly, she tensed, tightly crossing her legs and biting her lip until it started to swell. Ignoring the uneasy feeling creeping into his mind, Xavier proceeded inside with her.As though the clenching of her legs wasn’t enough, Cathleen turned as Xavier carried her, and her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, pulling him closer and increasing the intensity of their embrace. her wet panties brushing against Xavier’s pants. A low, seductive moan escaped her lips, causing Xavier to pause in his tracks. The sound sent shivers down his spine, and he shook his head to try and clear his thoughts.With a determined look on his face, he continued to climb the stairs towards Cathleen's room. As he pushed open the door, he gently placed her on the bed and stood back for a moment, taking in the sight of her lying there before