All Chapters of Belonging to Lockhart: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“This has to be a nightmare,” I muttered beneath my breath as I stepped into the reception hall through the revolving doors.A semi-circle of my colleagues stood clustered around my ex-boyfriend, their faces plastered with smiles as he made a theatrical show of handing out wedding invitations. They congratulated him like he’d just won a Nobel Prize, feeding the ego I had once made the mistake of nurturing. He looked smug in a gray, custom-tailored suit that clearly cost more than he could afford unless his wealthy fiancée had picked up the bill, which was almost certainly the case.His face was freshly shaved, his ash-blond hair neatly slicked back, and even his nails shone with manicured precision. A walking, talking makeover. Courtesy of his ridiculously rich bride-to-be, no doubt. I’d hated him before, but now? My disgust had skyrocketed.Muttering another curse, I veered right, hugging the wall in an effort to disappear into the shadows before that pompous bastard noticed me. The

"What a fucking asshole," Romilly snarled, snatching one of the neon vodka shots from the table and throwing it back like a pro.I didn’t have the energy to fuel her fury anymore.We were huddled around the small kitchen table in her apartment, a dozen or so colorful shot glasses lined up like soldiers ready for battle our attempt at emotional triage, though it was probably the unhealthiest coping mechanism we could’ve chosen. I traced the rim of my own glass with a finger, staring into the clear liquid as if it held answers. I wished it could fix everything, or at least numb the chaos storming through my head. But it didn’t. Even after six shots, I wasn’t buzzed, let alone drunk. Just... stubbornly sober.We had taken the CEO’s challenge head-on hell, we’d put our hearts into it. But the result? Failure. Catastrophic and humiliating failure. Deep down, I think we knew we were being set up from the beginning. He had never meant to give us a real shot. It was just a power play.Romilly

Two hours later, I was still trying to wrap my head around what had happened.Restlessness clung to me like a second skin, refusing to let go. I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting Theron to appear out of nowhere his handsome mask slipping to reveal a far more sinister intent behind his so-called help.His whispered words haunted me, curling through my mind like a ghostly echo, sending fresh chills down my spine. What did he want from me? Did he know who I truly was?I shook the thought away, determined not to spiral. I wouldn’t let myself drown in fear, not now. I was surrounded by friends, sipping ridiculously expensive wine and savoring gourmet dishes I could never afford on my own. This cruise was a temporary taste of luxury, and I’d promised myself I wouldn't let memories of the past poison it.Thankfully, Ansel had decided to keep his distance just in case there was even a hint of truth to the connection between me and Theron Lockhart. He wasn’t alone in his suspicion

THERON POV“The door’s open,” I called, stepping into my study without looking back.Behind me, I heard the faint creak of the door and the soft click as it shut. I didn’t need to turn around to know Manny had followed, bottle of scotch in hand. This had become something of a ritual drinking in my penthouse whenever life decided to throw a punch. Tonight, it had hit below the belt.I stopped in front of my three-piece suite and gestured toward the sofa. Manny sat without a word while I went to retrieve two glasses from the cabinet.By the time I returned, he had already uncorked the bottle and was ready to pour. I slumped into the chair opposite him and pinched the bridge of my nose.“That bad?” Manny asked, chuckling as he handed me a full glass.“My father is probably plotting my slow, dramatic demise right now,” I muttered, taking a long sip. “I gave him my word—no more scandals.”Manny offered a crooked smile. “Hugging a girl doesn’t really qualify as scandalous. Honestly, that’s

Amaris' POV“He’s a world-class jerk!” I shouted, throwing back the last of my wine like it was water. Third glass, and counting not that it mattered. I had no job interviews lined up, no pressing obligations, and definitely no reason not to get drunk. Honestly, getting drunk sounded like the only reasonable thing left to do. Maybe it would numb the fire raging through my veins, the kind of rage that felt like I had a nest of angry wasps crawling under my skin.“Selfish, arrogant bastard!”“Don’t forget he’s rich as sin and hot as hell,” Osric added with a smirk, grabbing the bottle from the counter to top off my glass.“Not funny,” Romilly snapped, shooting her brother a glare sharp enough to cut steel.Osric shrugged. “Just stating facts. The guy’s loaded, and he’s undeniably attractive.”He dropped into the seat next to mine at the kitchen table, eyes locking onto mine with a seriousness that only made me want to punch him. “Look, if he’s offering to pay you to play his girlfriend,