All Chapters of Forbidden: His Father's Desire: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

61 Chapters

Chapter 50: The First Step

KELVIN'S POVThe annual Clayton Global Charity Gala has never made me nervous before.Tonight is different.The ballroom inside the Grand Regency Hotel is already glowing beneath crystal chandeliers as politicians, investors, charity partners, business leaders, diplomats, old family friends, and reporters drift from one conversation to another with champagne in hand.Every one of them expects me to arrive alone.Instead, Sandra slips her hand into mine before the car door even opens.She glances sideways at me."You still have time to run."I laugh quietly."I was about to say that to you."She pretends to think."No…... I wore uncomfortable heels. If anyone's running, it's definitely you."The driver opens the door. Camera flashes explode instantly.Sandra looks toward the entrance, then back at me."I suddenly understand why celebrities wear sunglasses.""It's night.""I know. I'd still like some."I squeeze her hand. "Ready?"She lets out a slow breath."Ask me after we're already

Chapter 51: Wouldn't Let Go

SANDRA'S POVThe ballroom falls so quiet that I can hear Austin's footsteps against the polished marble floor.Nobody moves.Austin stops barely two feet away from us.He isn't glaring at Kelvin, he's looking at me. Like he's trying to find someone he used to know.Kelvin's fingers brush mine.Not pulling me behind him or pushing me forward, just reminding me I'm not alone.Austin notices.A tired smile touches his face before disappearing almost immediately."I should've expected that," he says quietly. "Still…... seeing it is different."My throat tightens."Austin…...""No." He shakes his head. "Actually…... wait. Maybe yes. I don't know." He laughs without humor and rubs the back of his neck. "I've rehearsed this conversation about a hundred times, and somehow every version disappeared the second I walked over here."Nobody around us pretends to continue talking anymore.The gala has become background noise.Austin exhales slowly."Just answer one thing."I nod.He looks directly

Chapter 52: Standing Beside You

KELVIN'S POVBy seven the next morning, every television inside Clayton Global is talking about my car.One channel zooms in on the word HOMEWRECKER like it's breaking economic news. Another debates whether vandalism is an understandable emotional reaction. Social media has already turned the photo into a thousand opinions from people who've never met me.I mute the television.The silence lasts exactly three seconds before my office phone rings.Rachel walks in carrying a stack of files and two coffees."Good morning," she says brightly. "You're trending again.""I've always hated being popular.""I noticed." She places a coffee on my desk. "One investor canceled breakfast, another requested an emergency meeting, and three reporters are pretending to be delivery drivers downstairs.""They're getting creative.""One came dressed as a florist."I look up."You're joking.""I wish I were. Security confiscated twelve roses."Despite myself, I laugh.Rachel points toward the coffee."Dr

Chapter 53: The Call

SANDRA'S POVSunday somehow feels familiar again enough to make me miss what used to be.The gates of the Nicholson house slide open, and before I can reach the front door, Margaret appears on the porch with both hands on her hips.She looks me up and down.Then sighs dramatically."Oh, this is unacceptable."I blink. “Good afternoon to you too.""You've lost weight.""I have not.""You absolutely have."I laugh."You said the same thing three weeks ago.""And I was right then too."Before I can defend myself, the gardener waves from the lawn."Miss Sandra! Welcome home!"Home.The word still catches me off guard.I wave back."Good morning, Mr. Lewis.""You haven't visited enough. The roses were starting to complain."Margaret nods seriously."They asked me yesterday."I stare at both of them."You're making fun of me."Mr. Lewis grins."We learned from your father."Margaret opens the front door."And from you."The house feels warmer today. The chef pokes his head out of the kitche

Chapter 54: Invited

KELVIN'S POVJoseph's name stays on my phone long after it stops ringing.I stare at the screen.Rachel walks into my office carrying a folder, notices my expression, and immediately changes direction."I'll come back.""Rachel."She stops."If I don't return in two hours…..." She blinks. “Should I call security?"I almost smile."No.""The police?""No."She thinks for a second. "Your therapist?""I don't have one.""That's becoming increasingly obvious."Despite everything, a laugh slips out.She nods toward my phone."Him?""Yes."She doesn't ask another question."I'll cancel your afternoon.""You don't know what this meeting is.""I know you're wearing that face.""What face?""The one that says you'd rather negotiate with sharks."An hour later, I pull into the private golf club where Joseph and I spent nearly twenty years closing business deals.The clubhouse hasn't changed.The lake still reflects the afternoon sun. The eighteenth green still slopes to the left.Everything lo

Chapter 55: One Table

SANDRA'S POVI spend the entire drive to my childhood home wondering if this is a terrible idea.Kelvin glances at me before stopping at a red light."You've sighed six times.""I counted five.""I missed one while driving.""I appreciate your commitment to accuracy."He smiles."You can still change your mind.""So can you.""I've already worn the uncomfortable suit.""I picked that suit.""I know.""If tonight goes badly...""I'm blaming your fashion choices."A laugh escapes me before I can stop it."That's better.""What is?""You laughed.""I also feel like throwing up.""We can multitask."I roll my eyes."I forgot how annoying you are.""No, you got used to it."When the car stops outside the Nicholson house, neither of us reaches for the door.The porch light glows softly.Everything looks exactly the same, everything feels completely different.Kelvin quietly clears his throat."If your dad throws me out...""I'll leave with you.""If he throws both of us out?""We'll order p

Chapter 56: The Photograph

KELVIN'S POVMarcus smiles one last time before climbing into his SUV.The engine starts.The taillights disappear beyond the gates. Only then do I look down at the photograph still resting on my car.Sandra steps beside me."What is it?"I don't answer immediately.Not because I'm hiding it but because I'm already exhausted. I hand her the photograph.She studies it, her expression changes almost instantly.It's subtle, just a flicker.Confusion.Then something sharper.The picture shows me sitting inside a quiet restaurant with a woman around sixty years old. She's holding my hand across the table while I'm leaning forward, saying something the camera can't hear.Without context, it looks intimate.Sandra stares at it a second longer than I expected.Then she quietly asks,"Who is she?"The question isn't angry.It's careful.I look at her."You thought…..."She immediately groans. "I know. I know how this looks.""You were jealous.""I was not.""You absolutely were.""It lasted f

Chapter 57: Second Chances

SANDRA'S POVWalking across campus doesn't feel like walking into a courtroom anymore. It finally feels like a campus again, where not everyone stares, though some still do, some still whisper, and others pretend they aren't whispering at all. It's progress, and for now, I can live with that.Lena catches up beside me carrying two iced coffees and an expression that promises trouble."I bought you caffeine.""You also bought yourself caffeine.""I'm generous.""You're addicted.""I can be both."She hands me a cup."You look lighter.""I slept.""With eight pillows and anxiety?""Seven pillows."She nods."That's growth."I laugh, and a group of classmates passing us glance over.One of them smiles."Hey, Sandra. Good luck on your presentation."I blink. "Thanks."They keep walking.Lena nudges my shoulder. "See?""I almost forgot what normal people sound like.""They're overrated."Our marketing lecture begins ten minutes later. Professor Mitchell walks in carrying his laptop."Pre

Chapter 58: The Shareholders

KELVIN'S POVThe boardroom is already full when I walk in, with shareholders, senior executives, legal advisers, and board members filling every seat, and not a single person bothering to pretend this is just another ordinary meeting.Rachel slides into step beside me carrying a tablet."You've got this.""You sound unconvinced.""I am unconvinced."I glance at her. "That's not encouraging.""I believe in honesty.""You could've chosen optimism.""I tried." She shrugs. "It didn't suit me."Despite everything, I smile.The room notices.Whispers immediately begin.Rachel clears her throat."Ladies and gentlemen, unless anyone intends to solve the global economy before breakfast, shall we begin?"A few nervous laughs ripple through the room, the tension eases slightly.I take my seat at the head of the table.Mr. Hanley, one of the older shareholders, wastes no time."We'll speak plainly.""I'd prefer that.""Your personal life has become a corporate liability."Across the table, Direct

Chapter 59: The Chosen Truth

SANDRA'S POVClayton Global's annual charity reception looks exactly the way wealthy people think hope should look.Crystal chandeliers, live string music and Champagne flowing like water.Politicians chatting with investors. Business executives pretending they aren't secretly watching one another.Tonight, they're watching us instead.Kelvin offers me his arm before we enter the ballroom."You still have time to run."I glance at him."Is that your idea of romance?""It's my idea of an emergency exit."I slip my hand through his arm."Too late.""You've decided?""I decided a long time ago."His smile reaches his eyes."Good."The ballroom doors open.Conversations pause. Not all of them, just enough.People look.Some smile politely and some don't bother hiding their curiosity.A few months ago, I would've shrunk beneath those stares.Tonight, I smile back.Rachel appears almost immediately, carrying a champagne flute she clearly has no intention of drinking."There you are."Kelvin

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP