Lahat ng Kabanata ng To Hate, To Love, And To Wed: Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

One week later…“Oh my God, Kate! The decor is absolutely phenomenal. The designer promised to give it her best and she hasn’t failed. I can’t wait to let Michael know we’re just a few weeks close to moving into our home!” I squeal into the phone.“And the fashion house?” Kate asks, her voice holding the same excitement.“I’m just coming from there now,” I inform her. “Everything is already in place. I have seamstresses working on the new designs I sketched and by tomorrow, the fabrics I ordered will come in. I have a meet with Mrs. Mount… we’re hoping to have a collaboration.”“Wow!” Kate’s voice booms with excitement, “everything is working out well then?”“Absolutely!” I answer with equal excitement. “I couldn’t be happier. Okay, talk to you later?”The call clicks to an end just as the elevator dings softly. I step into the penthouse, the familiar scent of bergamot and cedarwood wrapping around me like a welcome-home hug. The afternoon light spills across the marble floors, golden

I am busy with work.That’s all there is to say. I’m not thinking about my relationship with Michael or the absence thereof. I’m not thinking about the way he looked at me while I stood in front of that elevator with my suitcase.I’m not thinking about the way Michael went from a man who couldn’t breathed without seeing me or speaking to me, to a man who doesn’t care to reach out to me days after I left his penthouse, to a man who didn’t care about how I felt before inviting his stupid nephew into a place that’s meant just for us.And that stupid Austin, I’m also not thinking about his audacity, the stupid smirk that curled his lips as he challenged me.Michael is mine, there’s no doubt in that. And I’ll soon rip him away from Austin in ways that’ll break him and his fragile ego, but for now, I need to keep my focus on the most important thing.My business is my priority for now.Men can wait.Love can wait.That emotional tug of war can wait, because for now, the only days I’m coun

Tomorrow arrives quicker than I expect, and I can’t contain my nerves.I stand in front of my mirror, smoothing the soft fabric of my emerald-green dress. It fits perfectly—the neckline modest, but with just enough allure. I reach for a gold necklace and fasten it around my neck, my fingers trembling slightly. I tell myself it’s just the exhaustion from working for days on end. And maybe the excitement of the evening.I’m really anxious to see what Michael has in store, since he’s after all the king of surprises. Outside the building, Michael’s driver opens the back door of the limo and gestures for me to enter. I settle into the plush leather seat, releasing a soft sigh as my smile refuses to fade.When the driver slides into the front seat, I lean forward a little and ask, “Do you happen to know what Mr. Black has planned for tonight?”He smiles at me through the rearview mirror, eyes warm and a little amused. “How would a person like me know the details of such occasions, miss?” h

The sun hasn’t risen yet when I pull up outside the Daniels’ estate. Today, I’m just by myself, no driver, no assistant. Just me. It’s the only way I can get time alone with Adaline, even if I’m not inside yet.I’m in grey sweatpants and a black T-shirt, a baseball cap pulled low on my head. Casual. Soft. A version of myself I reserve only for her.She’s probably still curled up in bed, considering how exhausted she must be from working so hard. One thing I love about her the most. I don’t want to disturb her sleep yet, so I wait. I sit in my car for hours, watching the sky lighten, letting the silence wrap around me like a cold blanket.As I wait, my mind wanders to many places, pulling me deep into thought.I keep replaying last night. I keep thinking about how she sat across from me again, in candlelight, eyes on mine. It felt so peaceful to see her smile, laugh, gush, and tease me. And yet, the night didn’t exactly end as I had anticipated. It was an open ending—no hard feelings

The kiss is slow at first, just gentle brushes, testing, tasting like we’re rediscovering each other after months apart. It almost feels like Ada and I are afraid of letting ourselves go.I cup her face, my thumb grazing the soft curve of her cheek. She sighs against my mouth. The sound stirs something primal in me. I tilt my head, deepening the kiss.Her hands find my chest, fingers curling into my shirt. She tugs at the fabric, her lips parting to let my tongue in. My fingers thread into her hair as I angle further, devouring her mouth.“Fuck,” I groan, my cock thickening in my pants, aching to be freed.Every thread of restraint snaps. I tighten my grip on her hair. Hard. She whimpers, and the sound... fuck, the sound lights me up from the inside.I growl at the melodic sound, nipping at her bottom lip. She shudders, pressing her chest into mine as though wanting to disappear into me. Ada mewls when I bite her bottom lip again. I soothe the sting with my tongue. Her nails skim dow