Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 38

ORIONThe smirk lingering on my lips disappeared slowly, replaced by a cold, hardened glare as I turned fully toward Hector.“What the fuck did you just say about her?” Hector scoffed dismissively, too angry and arrogant to realize he had already crossed the line.“We all know the gold digging bitch,” he spat carelessly. “Just because whatever happened took place in New York doesn’t mean people don’t know the full story_”I slowly rose from my seat and straightened my jacket. “A word with you in the garden.”Hector let out a short scoff, trying poorly to regain some of his earlier confidence. “I don’t want to speak with you, Mr. Blackmoor.”My thumb lazily rolled the ring on my index finger as my eyes stayed fixed on him.“I think you’ve misunderstood something,” I replied quietly. “I wasn’t asking.”Almost immediately, my security details moved closer. They didn’t touch him, but they closed in just enough for the message to land clearly. There were only two options for him now…walk o

EUDORA“That was quick,” Aria pointed out from the other end of the phone call, one of her brows arched in suspicion as she studied me through the screen. “Did something happen?”I forced a smile, but it felt stiff on my face.Did something happen?Only the fact that my past in New York refused to stay buried.Only the fact that no matter how far I ran, the shadows of my old life always seemed to find me.Only the fact that I was once again being painted as the villain in a story where I had been the victim from the very beginning.For years, I had stayed silent. I had allowed people to believe whatever version of the story they wanted because I didn’t have the energy and resources to fight Desmond, and now, I didn’t want to be publicly fight him either for the sake of my daughter.One day she would grow up. One day she would have access to the internet. One day she would see the articles, the comments, the accusations, and the lies.And when that day came, I didn’t want her finding a

ORIONTaylor pulled up in front of Orion’s family estate driveway and I watched through the car window as he stepped out of the house and made his way toward me. The security guards stationed around the property immediately straightened and bowed their heads in greeting. Orion acknowledged them with nothing more than a brief nod before continuing in my direction.When he reached my car, he opened the door himself and held out his hand. I slipped my hand into his, allowing him to help me out.For a moment, he simply looked at me. “You look beautiful.”His gaze moved slowly over me, not with desire or scrutiny, but with appreciation, genuinely pleased by what he saw.A smile tugged at my lips. “I feel beautiful,” I admitted softly.A low chuckle escaped him. Shaking his head in amusement, he kept hold of my hand and guided me toward the entrance of the mansion.As we walked, I glanced around the property.There wasn’t a single paparazzo lurking behind bushes or waiting outside the gates

DESMOND“Who are you talking to at this hour?”The moment the question reached my ears, I pulled the phone slightly away and covered the speaker with my hand. I shot Camellia an annoyed look.“A business partner,” I answered shortly.Instead of letting it go, her gaze drifted toward the grandfather clock standing across the room. The hands pointed to three in the morning. She looked back at me with raised brows.“A business partner?” she repeated skeptically. “At three a.m.? And you're locked away in the library while taking the call?”I closed my eyes for a brief second.Good Lord.The last thing I wanted after an exhausting day was another one of her interrogations.“I am not having this conversation with you,” I said through clenched teeth.Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked farther into the library. As I did, I muttered a quick apology to the person who had been left listening to the awkward exchange on the other end of the line.The call continued for another hou