All Chapters of A Whole New World: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

LUCIAN I sat behind my desk, staring at the photo of Essence on my phone. My jaw clenched as I fought back the wave of guilt rising in my chest. I blamed myself for the state she was in. If only I had come back sooner, she wouldn’t have ended up with that sorry excuse for a man. His viral sex tape

“I need to get married.” I blinked again. “Excuse me?” “My family has been pressuring me to settle down for years. I’m thirty-five. And I'm not getting any younger." He stepped closer again, but not too close. Just enough to make my skin tingle. “I’ve seen a lot of women. Models. Actresses. H

LUCIAN I nodded slowly, watching Essence, the corners of my lips lifting with a calm sort of confidence. “Yeah… we’ll get married today. And after that, you’ll move in with me.” She blinked at me like she hadn't quite heard me right. Her eyes darted across the modest living room, then at the bar

LUCIAN "That is completely ridiculous, baby. You absolutely can't think that way." I said softly, watching Essence pout as she shifted in her seat. "Food is important, and I think your body is more than okay. You're beautiful, Essence. I have a gym at home. If you're worried about your weight, w

ALEX I was exhausted. The entire day had been a mess. My employees could barely meet my eyes, whispering behind my back like I’d grown a second head. The tension in the office was suffocating, and I lost my temper more times than I could count. I’d already fired three staff before my assistant had