All Chapters of Forbidden Desires : Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Joey walked in, still wearing her work smock and looking completely wiped. She leaned against the doorframe, letting out a heavy sigh that told me she already knew."She called, didn't she?""She’s married, Joey. To a Sterling."Joey let out a long, low whistle. "Well. She always did have a thing for the fancy life. What’s she after this time?""She wants me to move to London. There’s an internship... it pays for my school and everything. She even said Arthur would ‘invest’ in the salon if I went." I looked up at her, my eyes starting to sting. "She’s literally using you to force me to go."Joey walked over and sat next to me, throwing an arm around my shoulders. She smelled like hairspray and peppermint tea. "Bel, listen to me. You don't owe me a thing. Not a single cent. I didn't take you in because I wanted a paycheck later.""But the salon—""The salon has been struggling since before you were born, kid. It’ll keep struggling with or without some billionaire’s pity money. But you?

The alarm clock on my nightstand didn't just beep; it sounded like a literal siren for my own execution. 5:45 AM.I rolled out of the silk sheets—which felt way too smooth and expensive, like they were making fun of my dry, New York skin—and stood in the middle of a walk-in closet the size of my old apartment. My eyes landed on the dark floral dress hanging there. I reached for it, my fingers just brushing the fabric, before William’s voice hissed in my head: Take this off and burn it.I pulled out a stiff charcoal blazer and a crisp white shirt from my suitcase instead. It was professional, uncomfortable, and felt like wearing a suit of armor.By 6:55 AM, I was standing in the grand hallway. The marble floors were polished so bright I could see my own nervous face reflecting back at me. I checked my watch. 6:58."Punctual. That’s a new one for your family."William was leaning against the doorway of the study, a silver espresso cup in one hand and a leather briefcase in the other. He

The hallway felt way too quiet after William walked away. I stood there for a long time, leaning against the cold stone wall, just trying to remember how to breathe. The fancy blue silk dress my mom had been so excited about? It didn’t feel like a gift anymore. It felt like a costume I was forced to wear—a constant reminder that William thought I was just a "gold-digger" in a disguise. I looked down at my shoes. They were just plain, worn-out flats I’d polished until the scuffs almost disappeared. They were the same ones that had gotten me through twelve-hour shifts back in Brooklyn. In this house of marble and glass, they looked like trash. When I finally made it to my room, my fingers fumbled with the tiny silk buttons on the back. They felt like traps. As soon as the fabric hit the floor, I stepped out of it like it was on fire. I yanked on my massive, oversized college hoodie and a pair of faded leggings my real skin, the type of clothing I feel most comfortable in. I stared at

A reporter in the front row, a woman with a sharp bob and a notebook that looked like a weapon, stood up first."Miss Mayfield, let’s be real. Sterling Global has a history of Community beautification projects that just end up being excuses for luxury condos.” “Why should the people of this neighborhood believe a single tree is actually going to be planted?"I leaned into the mic, my voice steady "Because this isn't a charity project; it’s a self-sustaining ecosystem. We’re using the underground parking as a hidden engine. The revenue from those spaces doesn't go into a CEO’s pocket, it goes back into the soil. It pays for the gardeners, the lights, and the security. If the park dies, the project fails. “We need it to thrive as much as the neighborhood does."I saw a few reporters actually stop mid-scribble. They liked that. It made sense. It was smart.But then, a guy in the back, a total shark with a voice that sounded like gravel, stood up. He didn't look impressed."That’s a ni