All Chapters of Our Affairs : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The next morning, I drove home early enough to change and get ready for work. I was already at the gate when I spotted an envelope lying on the ground. I stepped out of the car, picked it up, and slid back inside as the gate swung open. I pulled into the parking area and stopped, surprised to see Richard's car already there. Was he actually home? I hadn't expected that.I walked slowly toward the house, opening the envelope as I went. Inside was the official investigation report from the fire incident three years ago—the one that killed our daughter, Mia. My heart stopped as I read the conclusion: it wasn't my fault. The fire had started from faulty wiring in the refrigerator, the exact issue I'd warned Richard about repeatedly, to get it fixed.Tears blurred my vision. All these years, I'd carried the crushing guilt, convinced my negligence had cost us everything—our home, our baby, our marriage. I'd replayed that day endlessly, torturing myself with what-ifs. And Richard... he had k

The private room was mine alone—soundproofed walls, dim amber lighting, a wide bed draped in black silk, restraints tucked discreetly in the headboard, every toy, tool arranged exactly where I liked them. No interruptions. No rules but the ones I set. Amanda had taught me most of what I knew here: how to command, how to make a woman melt into complete submission, how to stay superior in every way that mattered. She’d molded me into this version of myself, and I’d always been grateful.But Payton… Payton was different.Even in the photos—even married, grieving, broken—she looked untouched. Innocent. Like her husband had been the only man to ever lay hands on her. Something primal twisted inside me at the thought. I wanted to ruin that innocence slowly, carefully. I wanted to fuck her hard enough to make her forget her own name, yet gentle enough that she’d beg for more instead of running. I remembered her in the rain that day, tears mixing with water, body trembling—not from cold, bu

A year passed quicker than I expected. Work was relentless—I traveled constantly and never had the chance to spy on my pretty Payton the way I wanted. But her photo stayed with me everywhere I went, tucked in my bags, in my mind.Then Elizabeth finally showed up with the news I’d been dying to hear: she was officially with Richard now, distracting him in every possible way.Months later, a report Eric handed me changed everything. The company Payton worked for was in free fall. Profits had been declining for years, debts were piling up, and investors were quietly slipping away. And the employees had no idea how bad it had gotten.This was the opportunity I have been waiting for. To finally be with Payton.All I needed to do was invest enough to take control—which I did.Within weeks I owned enough shares to force the board’s attention. When I laid out my plan to restructure the entire company, they barely pushed back. They were desperate, and they knew exactly how good I was at turn

We sat facing each other on the leather sofa in my office. Amanda reached into her bag, pulled out a small compact mirror and her favorite lipstick, and began touching up her lips with slow, deliberate strokes. She added the barest hint of blush, snapped the compact shut, and dropped both items back into her purse. Then her eyes locked onto mine.“You disappoint me, Teddy,” she said quietly. “After everything… all for what? That woman? I made you, Teddy.”“Enough, Amanda.” I stood up abruptly. “I’m tired of your constant nagging. Face reality for once. I’m in love with Payton—completely, head-over-heels in love. There’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it.” I tapped my temple hard. “Get that through your head.”She rose slowly, a thin smile curling her lips. She clapped twice, softly, mockingly.“Like I said before… you’ll get bored of her soon enough. And when you do, you’ll come crawling back to me.”“We’ll see about that.” My voice was flat. “And for the record—you don’t own

Three years agoRichard’s POVAfter the incident.I’d just brought Payton home from the hospital. She was shattered—completely broken—when the doctor told her our baby hadn’t made it. So was I. But one of us had to stay strong, so I buried my grief deep and focused on her.I guided her gently into our bedroom. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks. I eased her onto the bed and sat beside her, brushing damp hair from her face.“Babe… please stop crying,” I whispered.“Mia is gone,” she said, voice cracking. “My Mia…”“I know.” My throat tightened. “But you’re still here. We’re still here. We can… we can try again. We can make more—”“Don’t say that, Richard.” Her eyes flashed with sudden anger. “She was too precious for you to replace her like that.”The words stung because she was right. I hadn’t meant it that way, but it came out wrong. I lay down beside her and pulled her into my arms. She clung to me, sobs shaking her whole body. I held her tighter, breathing slowly through my o