Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

“Andrew, you’re hurting me,” Juliette whispered.She pulled the blanket over herself, seeking to shield her aching body from the world. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly where the pain was coming from. In the past, Andrew’s touch had always sent waves of pleasure through her, igniting a passion that left her breathless. But not tonight. Tonight, his touch felt as though it were searing her skin, burning her from the inside out.Then, as the realization dawned on her that the deepest pain wasn’t in her body but in her heart, Juliette reached for Andrew’s arm. He lay rigidly beside her, his body stiff and unyielding, as though he wanted nothing to do with her.Instead of letting her hold him, he brushed her hand away.“Go to sleep. I’m taking a shower.” Andrew climbed out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom without sparing her a single glance.“Andrew! What the hell is wrong with you?” Juliette cried out in frustration.The only answer she received was the sound of the bathroom door sh

“What have you done to Anastasia!? Have you betrayed her?”Marianne’s face was contorted with fury.That night, she had deliberately stayed awake, waiting for Andrew to return from the office. In the days since his wedding, Andrew had buried himself in an endless mountain of work. He left the house at the crack of dawn, often without so much as a bite of breakfast, and did not return until well past midnight.Meanwhile, Juliette had been busy with a life entirely of her own, surrounded by her celebrity friends and socialite companions. Gatherings, galas, photoshoots, brand endorsements. Her days were filled with one glamorous affair after another.Marianne, for her part, had little to no interest in Juliette’s activities. Though they had crossed paths several times at Rutherford Manor, their interactions had never gone beyond a perfunctory good morning.“What do you mean, Mom?” Andrew stared at his mother, bewilderment written all over his face.“You were engaged to Anastasia all this

“Is the hot dog good?” Anastasia asked Tristan, who sat beside her.Tristan nodded, then replied, “It’s delicious!”They were sitting on the white sands of the beach, facing the vast Atlantic Ocean. Each held a hot dog that had cost no more than five dollars. The spring breeze teased the wisps of Anastasia’s hair that had escaped the confines of her ponytail.“Darling, do you like coming here?” Tristan asked after swallowing a generous bite of his hot dog.“I used to. It feels like forever since I last came here.”“Who did you usually come with, Darling?”“My mother. But she passed away more than a decade ago.”Memory carried Anastasia back to the moments she had spent with Vivian. To those quiet afternoons when they sat side by side, gazing out at the endless sea, sharing hot dogs or glasses of lemonade. They would talk about the most trivial things, free from the fear of being judged for their unbranded shoes or the simplicity of their clothes.Anastasia had been so young when Vivia

Juliette and parties were inseparable. Her life revolved from one glittering affair to the next, each lavish gathering serving as yet another affirmation of her place among the social elite. The Laurent name, which she had acquired when her mother married Henry, had done wonders for her social standing. And Juliette relished every bit of it. The preparations for Marianne’s birthday celebration were no exception.Despite the recent quarrel she had had with her mother-in-law, Juliette was more than happy to take an active role in organizing the festivities, which were to be held at Rutherford Manor the following weekend. She had already seen to nearly every detail, particularly the gown and jewelry she intended to wear. Her guest list included A-list celebrities, renowned actors, and chart-topping singers. Several film producers and talent management executives had also made the cut.“Babe, I saw a jewelry set in your wardrobe. That’s for me, isn’t it?”Juliette was admiring herself in

Andrew had always known Charles as Tristan’s fiercely loyal secretary. Before Tristan’s accident, Charles had been a constant presence at his side, never straying far from him, no matter the occasion or the business at hand. And now, that very same man was standing in Andrew’s way in the lobby on the twenty-seventh floor of the Westwood Building.“I’ve reviewed Mrs. Anastasia Westwood’s schedule, Mr. Rutherford, and I’m afraid you don’t have an appointment with her,” Charles said with unwavering confidence.“Then tell her I want to see her. Now.” Andrew refused to back down.“I’m sorry, Mr. Rutherford, but appointments must be made at least a day in advance.”Back when Tristan was still actively involved in running the company, he had been notoriously difficult to get hold of as well. Anyone fortunate enough to secure a face-to-face meeting with him and negotiate directly was considered lucky. Westwood Holding Company had earned a formidable reputation for its unwavering loyalty to it