Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

The North Ridge villa was quiet and vast, looking out over the dark waters of the island bay.Inside the living room, four maids carefully moved Genevieve’s leather luggage toward the master suite. Genevieve stood by the high glass windows, her arms crossed tight over her chest, staring down at the bright lights of the main estate in the distance. The isolation of this house felt like a slap in the face. She had spent months planning her arrival as the mistress of the southern estate, only to end up banished to a windy cliff."Leave the small cases near the vanity," a steady voice said from the entryway.Julian walked in. He had removed his dark suit jacket and loosened his collar. He carried a warm ceramic cup of herbal tea from the kitchen, setting it down on a low table near where Genevieve stood."The kitchen made some mint tea for you," Julian said, his tone polite and level. "You had a long flight, and you need to keep your strength up for the baby. Sit down and rest."Genevieve

"Open the package, Sienna." Alec stood near the edge of the bathroom door, his arms crossed over his dark chest. The morning sun was just starting to peek through the large master bedroom windows, casting long, soft shadows across the wooden floor. Sienna sat on the edge of the large marble bathtub. She wore a soft white bathrobe the maids had left for her. In her trembling hands, she held a small white plastic box with a pink strip on the side.  "Is it not too early?" Sienna asked, her voice small and raspy. "It has only been five days since the clinic in the city." "The doctor said to check early," Alec said, his voice flat and steady. "If the body took it, the levels start showing now. Go on. I will wait out here." Alec stepped back into the bedroom and closed the bathroom door with a quiet click. Sienna took a deep breath. Her lungs still had a dull,

"Step away from that door, Sienna."Alec’s voice cut through the dark hallway. He stood at the top of the wide stairs. His tie was undone, hanging loose around his collar. His dark jacket hung over one arm. He looked tired, with dark shadows under his eyes, but his gaze was sharp and locked right onto her.Sienna froze. Her hand stayed on the brass door handle."I asked Julian for the key," she said, keeping her voice level. "I only wanted some fresh air on the terrace.""Julian does not run my wing of the house," Alec said. He walked down the hall toward her, his heavy dress shoes quiet against the thick carpet. "And you do not wander through this estate in the middle of the night. Especially not while Genevieve is staying on the property."Sienna took her hand off the handle. She pulled the belt of her simple robe tighter around her waist."I heard her screaming in Julian's office an hour ago, Alec. She said you are only using me to hide from the media. She said the moment your shi

 The breeze off the bay lifted loose strands of dark hair around Sienna’s face. She tucked them behind her ear, trying to look comfortable on the wide wicker lounge.  "Stop gripping the cushion like it is going to float away," Chloe said, setting down her tall glass of iced tea with a bright smile. "Drink your lemonade. You look like a million bucks, Sienna. Own it." Sienna took a small sip from the frosted glass. The cold lemon juice helped soothe the dry tickle in her throat.  "I feel like everyone is staring at my hips, Chloe." "They are staring because you look incredible," Chloe said, waving a hand toward the open water. "Most of the women here spend twenty thousand dollars a month on personal trainers and starvation diets to look like stick figures. You have real curves, smooth skin, and an actual waistline. Let them look." Across the wooden dec

The car door shut with a heavy click. Sienna stood at the base of the wide stone steps, the sea wind whipping the hem of her terracotta knit dress against her calves. Her pulse was still hammering from what Alec had said in the car.  Alec came around the hood of the Mercedes in three fast strides. He didn't say a word. His large hand clamped around her fingers, pulling her up the front steps toward the heavy double oak doors of the main house. "Alec, let go," Sienna said, struggling to keep her footing in her heels. "The staff are inside." "Let them look," Alec replied, his voice rough and low. He pushed the front door open, pulling her inside the cool, marble foyer.  The lock clicked shut behind them. Alec turned, backing her right up against the heavy wood of the closed door. His hands came down flat against the panels on eith