Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

The loud static from the emergency speaker on the stairwell wall vanished as I woke up from my dark dream, finding myself sitting on the floral sofa in my mother's living room. The warm afternoon light filtered softly through the large glass windows.Silver trays of pastel cupcakes and delicate porcelain tea cups covered the polished wooden dining table. It was an official planning session for my bridal shower."He’s just so sweet, isn't he?" my mother gushed happily, carefully folding a white lace napkin into a neat triangle. "Joe called me early this morning just to make sure we booked the exact caterer he wanted for you. Ten years, Dara. A man who stays completely devoted for ten long years is a rare treasure."I sat on the edge of the plush sofa, keeping my knees pressed together and smiling pleasantly. My hands were folded neatly in my lap, resting on the fabric of my dress."Yes, Mom," I said, keeping my voice soft and steady. "He is very thoughtful."Beneath my high collared si

Joe marched across the terrace, his eyes locked onto us. Before he could reach us, Rafael took a calm sip of his bourbon and strolled away toward the side garden, completely unbothered."What was he saying to you, Dara?" Joe demanded, stopping in front of me with his hands shoved into his pockets."He was just asking where your father was," I lied, keeping my expression perfectly calm. "Why are you so tense?""I don't like him standing near you," Joe grumbled, looking over his shoulder. "I have to get back to my father's clients. Go grab yourself another drink."The moment Joe turned his back to rejoin his group, I slipped away from the patio. I took the narrow gravel path that led down to the lake, my heart hammering against my ribs with every step.The interior of the wood paneled boat house was dark, smelling of lake water, polished mahogany, and old rope. The muffled sound of the orchestra playing on the lawn outside sounded miles away.The moment I pushed the door shut, a pair of

Joe’s father stood at the center microphone with a dark envelope in his hand, shouting through the speakers: "Before we make the wedding toast, I have a sudden announcement regarding missing company funds!"My heart slammed against my ribs, but before Arthur could open the envelope, Rafael stepped up to the main stage and whispered something into his father's ear. Arthur’s face turned pale, and he quickly tucked the envelope into his coat pocket, laughing off the announcement as a joke about upcoming corporate investments.We had survived that night, but it bought us the precious time we needed.By the end of the week, Mia and I had constructed an ironclad dossier.We sat in my small apartment kitchen, surrounded by printed bank statements, glossy photos, and time stamped digital logs spread across the table. The smell of fresh coffee filled the air, but neither of us touched our cups."He’s been siphoning money directly from his father's firm into a shell account," Mia explained, poi

The silk gown loosened instantly, pooling around my waist and leaving me standing in my sheer white corset and stockings in front of the floor to ceiling mirrors."Rafael, don't..." I gasped, my hands flying up quickly to hold the heavy white dress against my chest."Shh," he rasped softly in my ear.He reached out, grabbing both of my wrists in one large hand and pinning them lightly above my head against the cold glass of the mirror."Look at yourself, Dara," Rafael commanded, his deep voice thick and low in the small room.I forced my eyes up to look at our reflection. Rafael was standing directly behind me, dark, broad, and completely consuming the space. His free hand slid down my bare stomach, his calloused touch sending violent shivers straight down my spine."He thinks he’s getting a pure, obedient little wife," Rafael whispered into the crook of my neck, leaning down to bite lightly on the tender curve of my shoulder. "He doesn't know that every inch of this body has been cla

Joe's face turned completely white as he stared at the dashboard screen. The urgent text message from his father glared back at him in bold letters."Is everything okay, Joe?" I asked, keeping my voice full of fake worry."I have to go," Joe stammered, his fingers fumbling with the steering wheel. "Work emergency. I need to drop you off at your apartment right now.""Of course," I said softly, looking out the window to hide the cold smile spreading across my lips.The bank auditor had arrived faster than expected. The net was closing in, but Joe managed to lie his way out of immediate arrest by blaming a computer glitch at the branch. His father gave him one final day to prove his innocence before calling the police. That meant Sunday's family event was still on schedule.By Sunday afternoon, the annual family barbecue was in full swing at Joe’s parents' estate. The scent of roasted meats and expensive wine filled the warm air as dozens of relatives and close associates mingled on the