Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 101 - Chapitre 110

DominicIt’s been a few minutes since Seraphina shut the door behind her.I stand there with my hand still on it, staring at the wood like if I look long enough she’ll come back through it.She won’t.“Should I go?” Candice’s voice comes from behind me.I turn. She’s standing in the middle of the living room, purse in hand, looking uncertain for the first time since I’ve known her.“No.” I run my hand through my hair. “No, I’m sorry. For that. For the interruption.”“Don’t be.” She sets her purse back down and sits on the couch. “It’s fine.”“It’s not fine. That was—” I don’t even know what to call it.“That was her acting her age,” Candice says it matter-of-factly, not cruelly, just stating a fact.I look at her sharply. “What?”“Younger women.” She crosses her legs, completely relaxed. “It’s what you get. Tantrums. Emotional outbursts. Lack of perspective. Can’t really blame her for it.”The casual dismissal of Seraphina’s pain makes something tighten in my chest.“Seraphina is sma

SeraphinaI wake up to sunlight.Not the soft, filtered glow from Dominic’s bedroom in Zurich. This light is harsh. Unforgiving. Streaming through thin curtains that barely block it.For a moment, I don’t remember where I am.Then it comes back in pieces.The airport. Kael’s blue jacket. Nadia’s cold stare. The sound of their argument through the bedroom door. This guest room is where I cried myself to sleep.Dominic’s messages that I didn’t answer.My phone is still on the nightstand where I left it—still powered off.I leave it there.My stomach growls. Loud enough that I actually hear it in the quiet room. When was the last time I ate? The airport in Zurich? Before that? I can’t remember.I sit up slowly. My head throbs. That fever I felt yesterday hasn’t broken—if anything, I feel worse. Achy. Heavy. Like gravity has doubled overnight.The bathroom is across the hall like Kael said. I make my way there, careful to be quiet. I don’t know if Nadia and Kael are awake yet. Don’t know

Dominic “You think you know me,” she continues. “Because we dated ten years ago. Because I was sweet and understanding and let you break my heart when you chose your career over me.” She picks up her fork. Cuts into her food like we’re having a normal conversation. “I’m not that girl anymore. I’m the woman who destroyed a man who tried to use me. And I’ll do the same to you if you cross me.”“You want me to be your weapon.”“I want you to be my partner. Equal stakes. Equal rewards.” She takes a bite. Chews. Swallows. “But if you take my money and run, you’ll wish you’d stayed in debt to Volkov. Because he would have just killed you quickly. I’ll make sure you live to regret it.”The worst part is I believe her.“How did you call off Volkov’s men yesterday?” I ask. “How did you even know I owed him?”“I’ve known about your debt for weeks. Since before I contacted you.”“How?”She sets down her fork. Meets my eyes. Smiles slightly like she’s been waiting for me to ask this ques

Dominic“So?” Candice walks in without waiting for an invitation. Dressed in a black suit. Hair perfect. Ready to fly to New York and start her war against Adrian. “What’s your answer?”I hand her the check and she stares at it. Then at me.“You’re refusing.”“Yes.”“You’re refusing five million dollars.”“I’m refusing to help you destroy Adrian. Find someone else.”She doesn’t take the check. Just looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.“You realize Volkov will come for you.”“I know.”“You realize you’ll have nothing. No money. No protection. No future.”“I know that too.”“Then why?” She’s not angry yet. Just genuinely confused. “Why would you throw this away?”“Because I can’t do it. I can’t aid in the destruction of another man just so you can get revenge on your ex.”Now the anger starts. I see it flash in her eyes.“This isn’t about revenge.”“Yes, it is. This is about Adrian leaving you. About him getting fifteen million in the settlement. About you not being able to let go.”“He

Dominic We kissed like we’re both starving and the only thing that can fill the emptiness is each other. Like days of separation have built up inside us and now it’s all pouring out in this kiss, in the way our bodies press together, in the desperate sounds she’s making against my mouth. We stumble toward the bed. I’m trying to slow down, trying to remember she’s pregnant, trying to be careful. But she’s pulling at my shirt with shaking hands, yanking the fabric up and over my head like she can’t get it off fast enough. Her nails scrape down my chest and I hiss at the sharp pleasure of it. “Seraphina.” I catch her wrists, hold them still. “We should talk. About the baby. About what happens next.” “Later.” She twists free of my grip, goes straight for my belt with single-minded determination. “Right now I don’t want to talk. I just need you.” “I don’t want to hurt you.” My voice comes out rougher than I intend. “Or the baby.” “You won’t.” She gets my belt open, pops the butt