All Chapters of Sweet Temptation: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

(Richard's POV)I sat inside the car, holding the steering wheel very tightly until my fingers became white.My heart was beating very fast. My shirt was wet with sweat even though the car air conditioner was on.My breathing came out ragged as the image of Jessica being dragged away replayed in my head over and over again.Her terrified eyes and the muffled screams as she struggled.I clenched my jaw painfully.“Damn it…”My voice sounded rough and unfamiliar.I started the car and drove off in haste like a crazy man.The city lights blurred past me, but I barely noticed them.All I could hear was my own heartbeat pounding violently inside my ears.I pressed harder on the accelerator.What had I done?No.This isn't my fault.I had no choice. Jessica forced me into this. This is all her fault.She threatened me.She was ready to destroy everything, my company, my marriage. Everything I had worked years to build.What else was I supposed to do?Just sit back and let her destroy my li

(Anna's POV)The soft morning light coming through my curtains were the first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes.Warm blankets were wrapped around me and a dull ache throbbed in my ankle.And then the memory of last night crashed over me like a wave.My eyes flew open and I sat up quickly, looking around the room.Alex was not there.I was alone in my bed, still wearing yesterday's clothes, and Alex was nowhere to be seen.Panic fluttered inside my chest.He had promised he would not leave while I was sleeping.Had last night been too much for him? Had he woken up this morning, realized what a terrible mistake we were making, and decided to go?Was he packing his bags right now to leave for New York?That thought made my chest tighten with anxiety.Just then, the door opened.And there was Alex, carrying a tray full of food.He stopped when he saw me sitting up, and a warm smile spread across his face."Good morning," he said. "I was hoping to have this ready before you woke up."

(Anna's POV)The drive home felt longer than usual.Alex and I had spent hours working out a plan for the conference. We weren't sure if it would work. But it was all we had.Now, as we pulled up to the estate, I felt the familiar knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach.Going home to Richard. Pretending everything was normal and acting as though I had not spent the entire day with the man I was actually in love with.Alex parked the car, and I noticed his hands were gripping the steering wheel very tightly."Are you okay?" I asked."Fine," he said, but his voice was strained. "Just... be careful tonight. With Richard.""I will," I promised.He helped me out of the car, and we made our way to the front door.The moment we stepped inside, I noticed something was different.Soft music was playing. Something classical and romantic. And there were rose petals scattered across the marble floor of the entrance hall forming a path.Alex and I looked at each other, both of us confused."What

(Anna's POV)I woke up to sunlight streaming through the window curtains.I sat up slowly trying to remember what happened last night.Oh God.I had pretended to faint.Heat rushed to my face as I remembered the stunt I had pulled the previous night.I had actually pretended to pass out to avoid being intimate with my husband.I closed my eyes tightly in embarrassment.What was wrong with me?At that moment, it had felt like the only way out. Richard had been touching me, kissing me, trying to make love to me, and all I could think about was Alex.The disgust I felt whenever Richard touched me now.It had all become too much.So I panicked and collapsed.I honestly had not expected Richard to react that seriously. I thought he would simply panic for a few minutes and put me to bed.But no.He had actually called a doctor.A whole doctor.I groaned softly and covered my face with my hands.Thankfully, the doctor had not found anything suspicious. He had only said I passed out from s

(Anna's POV)The room suddenly became so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat pounding loudly inside my chest.Richard froze completely.His eyes widened in shock as though he genuinely did not expect that question from me.For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.Then suddenly he dropped the shirt he was holding.“Anna…” His voice came out low and stunned.He immediately walked toward me quickly.“No,” he said firmly. “No, you got everything wrong.”Before I could say anything else, he sat beside me on the bed and grabbed both my hands tightly in his.His palms were warm and slightly shaky.“Listen to me carefully,” he said softly. “It’s not what you think.""Then explain it to me," I said. "Because from where I am sitting, it looks very much like you are hiding something."Richard took a deep breath, his thumbs moving in gentle circles on the backs of my hands."You are right that Jessica has been calling," he admitted. "But it is not what you think."I stared at him silently, se