Semua Bab Falling into the devil's bed: Bab 1 - Bab 10

Penelope's POV:In three hours I had two breakdowns, drank a full bottle of wine, and got divorce papers drawn up. Seraphina was adamant. “I have two billion. I can take some extra jobs, anything at all to raise more. How much do you have now?”I tell her it's pointless, I can't take her money. But she's not listening. Her mom's lawyer showed up minutes later and ran down everything I needed to know. I didn't tell him about the contract. I smiled and took the papers. And I couldn't tell her everything. That contract saved my family. It took us out of the hands of loan sharks and catapulted us into luxury. There's no telling what the Halsteads would do if I try to divorce their golden son. They'll kill me, that's for sure. Currently, I'm back home. I lay in bed in the guest room, reading through the divorce agreements, and wondering what Charles was doing. He was gone when I returned, same with Calypso. The house was void of any evidence of them. Our bedroom had the sheets change

Penelope's POV“She can't marry that Thalorian. How are you so calm about this?! She's your sister!”“Why are you more worried than I am? She's my sister, not yours.”It's been thirty minutes since Calypso broke the news, drank some wine and left. Leila fell asleep and I made a makeshift bed out of my fluffiest blankets. Right now, I stare at my frantic husband, and a part of me finds this all amusing. Deeply sad, but amusing. He's pacing our bedroom floor like a headless chicken, clearly losing his mind over Calypso's marriage. A part of me wonders how he'd react if I tell him I know he's fucking her. My mind goes back to the divorce papers. He rounds on me as if he's discovered the mysteries of the universe. “Thalorians are terrible people, Pen. Those people lack morality, basic decency. You don't understand what I'm saying. She can't marry one of them!”Sure, I know of the Thalorians. Who doesn't? For almost fifty years they've been at the number one spot in the business world.

Penelope's POV:The moment my mother hangs up, my phone rings again. I pick it without glancing at the screen. “Miss Verdant,” a husky feminine voice says. A sigh of relief escapes my lips and I close my eyes. “Athena, thank goodness.”Athena Blaine. My bodyguard of ten years. She's the only one that calls me Miss Verdant even though I've been Mrs Halstead for four years. For the past week she's been out of the country. I forgot she was returning today. I hear wheels rolling on pavement, probably her suitcase. “You don't sound good, Miss Verdant. Where are you? Is everything okay?”I force myself to stand. My head swirls and I feel sick. I swallow it down and nod, even though she can't see it. “I'll send you an address. Meet me there, please. I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up from the airport.”“Don’t apologize, that's my job. I'll meet you soon,” she says and hangs up. My mother's frantic scream rings on repeat in my head. I'm able to take a quick shower. Watching the water turn r

Penelope's POV:When I'm not staring into his eyes, my tongue can form words and speak them out loud. “You have a beautiful place,” Vincent says the moment he steps into the house. His tone is dry, and he doesn't seem to find the space beautiful at all. “Thanks. I decorated it,” I reply and turn to him. I find him staring at me and I quickly look away. “Coffee?”He sits on the couch, his legs and arms spread out without a care in the world. “That would be lovely, thank you.” Our house is not small by any chance. But being in here with Vincent makes the place seem smaller. Cramped. Hard to breathe in. As if he's taking up the entire space just by sitting on the couch. He's a large man, sure. Tall and well built. But it's not just his size. It's as if even his shadow has weight. It's terrifying. He's terrifying. And shivers course up the back of my legs. I've never felt such an aura from someone before. And that's saying a lot, because I've spent most of life surrounded by dangerous

Penelope's POV:"Baby, good news! I've sent the money to you. Bad news, it's not enough to get you a divorce."My fingers freeze over my keyboard. At the back of my mind, I remember Vincent's card. I shove the image out of my mind as soon as it comes. “Alright Sera, thank you,” “It's been a week now. Are you sure you're alright?” Seraphina asks, her voice soft and mellow. A week. A full week since Charles slammed my head into the wall and came clean of his affair with my sister. Footsteps approaching make me raise my head up from my computer screen. “What are you doing here?” “Pen?” Sera asks over the speaker. “Is everything —”“I'll call you back,” I say and end the call, not taking my eyes off my visitor. Vincent Halstead stands in front of me, a lazy smile on his lips and amusement dancing in his eyes. He's dressed in a navy suit and tie, and I hate how my eyes roam over his body. He looks around my office, nodding to himself as he takes in the decor. “I must say, you reall