All Chapters of Gilded Hearts: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

-----------Glimpse-----------The stillness of the penthouse felt just like some gilded cage pushing me down.I still could hear my mother’s rasping breaths in my head alongside seeing a hopeful smile on my brother’s face when I told him about tuition. Survival along with books in addition to breath that is what the money represented for me.Under a man who looked directly at me as though I were some poison wrapped up in pearls, I found myself still wrapped well in silk I’d never truly own.With sleeves rolled up and jaw clenched, Damian stood on the other side of the room. A particular storm brewed within Damian's eyes.“You think I don’t see through you?” His voice was sharp, practiced cruelty.“Marrying me was just your ticket. Admit it. You got what you wanted: my name and my money. Isn’t that what gold diggers dream of?”The word seared through me. For a moment, I almost believed him. Hadn’t I signed my name on that contract,

Damian Hayes POVI have many names.The golden boy, the Hayes heir, the spoiled brat who never learned what responsibility truly is.Damien Hayes, the playboy.Damien Hayes, the spoiled brat. Different people, different opinions.It all depends on who you ask, I guess.But I prefer to be unbothered by these.I know who I am and what I am..I am on my way to university, where my Lamborghini's engine roared beneath me like a predator, sleek and anxious, as I pulled into the university gates.The cameras were already there, vultures circling for their morning meal.Paparazzi at a college?Seriously?I know it's ridiculous, but they love me beyond measure; the poor bastards won't leave me alone.Flashes went off even in broad daylight, already to catch my smirk through the tinted windows.The music exploded out from the speakers, loud as well as unapologetic, plus the bass rumbled the stone walls of academia.As before, heads always turn. Some scowled, some cheered. A couple of girls wa

Damian POVThe following morning, I had a hangover. The hangover headache made me remember what happened the night before all of a sudden.The champagne bottles were poured out on the espresso table.A line of sequined dresses was in the main guest bedroom.This is my normal morning.I rolled my eyes. I ran a hand down my face.I looked for my phone and put my hand forward to unlock my phone.I could see the messages, the alerts, the hundreds of phone calls and texts coming across the screen. That put me right back on the front page every week in the tabloids.Above all, these headlines were the most important."Golden Playboy Damian Hayes Leaves Exclusive Club in a Drunken Rage, Almost Runs Over Paparazzi.""Hayes Heir Spotted with Two Women, Again."Despite experiencing the most severe headache I have ever faced, I found myself smiling at the headlinesThey consistently portray it as more severe than it is, as if I've truly killed someoneBut the reality is, I simply had a late nigh

Sophia POVThe skyscraper of Hayes Global enterprises towered over me, so tall that it almost felt like Brooklyn could have been on another planet.The mirrored glass sheets caught the morning light, reflecting the cold Manhattan sky, polish and intimidating.I smoothed my blazer, adjusted the strap of the folder, I was carrying. Taking a deep breath, I started making my way towards the building.As I reached near the main revolving door of the Hayes Global, the world tilted or it was just me who froze there, I saw a man came walking towards me fastly, coffee cup in one hand, phone in the other, not even looking where he was going.Before I could move out of the way.Splash!!!!A hot liquid poured down on my blouse. I gasped, feeling the sting of it deep through the thin fabric as a brown stain spread across the pale material.“Oh, hell!!” he muttered, finally looking up.I blinked at him; he was tall, well dressed with dark messy hair that somehow looked perfectly intentional.His ey