บททั้งหมดของ Forbidden Ties : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

The brutal, unforgiving crack of dawn bled through the heavy velvet drapes of the Aethelgard Boutique Inn, painting the dark mahogany room in a cold, slate-gray light. The furious storm of the night before had finally subsided, leaving behind a stark, quiet reality that felt entirely too heavy to breathe. Claudia woke up slowly, her senses returning in waves. The distinct, intoxicating scent of jasmine and rain-soaked silk filled her lungs, and her arm was securely wrapped around a soft, warm waist. For a brief, fleeting second, a profound sense of peace washed over her. She tightened her grip, burying her face into the curve of Hailey’s neck, wishing she could freeze time right there. But the sharp, mechanical buzz of a phone vibrating on the wooden nightstand shattered the illusion. Beside her, Hailey stirred instantly. A sharp, ragged breath escaped her lips as her eyes snapped open, taking in the unfamiliar room, the tangled sheets, and the dark-haired woman holding her c

Every word out of Amorcio’s mouth fell like a crushing weight on Hailey’s remaining composure, but the psychological warfare was about to take an even more dangerous turn. "Oh, I almost forgot," Amorcio said, his voice dripping with that familiar, booming pride as he shifted his gaze to his right, pointing directly to where Hailey sat rigid in her chair. "Let me introduce to you my future wife. And Claudia’s soon-to-be stepmother." Daniella turned her head, her polite, high-society smile ready. But the moment her eyes locked onto Hailey’s pale face, her posture stiffened. For a long, agonizing moment, Daniella’s mind completely halted. Her gaze fixated on Hailey, scanning the sharp jawline, the light brown hair, and the distinct, unmistakable aura of the woman who had violently grabbed Claudia’s wrist at The Nocturne just hours ago. The pieces of the puzzle violently crashed together in Daniella’s mind. A flicker of recognition flashed in her eyes, followed by a slow

The brutal, unyielding reality of Hailey’s words fell between them like a heavy steel blade, cutting through the thick, suffocating air of the locked restroom. "I'm so sorry, but I can't," Hailey said, her voice cracking as a single, hot tear spilled over her eyelashes. She looked at Claudia, her amber eyes pooling with a mixture of raw grief and absolute necessity. "I don't wanna see you marrying another woman, Claudia, but I can't be your bride either. I have to marry your father. It's already written in the sky. I can't do anything about it anymore. It was decided." "Fuck! This is bullshit, Hailey!" Claudia hissed out, her voice dropping into a dangerous, harsh whisper that vibrated with absolute fury. She stepped back into Hailey's space, her expression a mix of fierce devotion and sheer panic. Claudia was entirely in her desperate mode now, her chest heaving violently against her midnight-black dress. "Don't be mad. You are going to ruin your life." "I have had

The air inside Claudia’s warehouse studio was heavy with the scent of rain, damp concrete, and the sharp tang of graphite. At exactly eight o'clock, the relentless morning downpour hammered against the high, unwashed windows, creating a dull roar that failed to drown out the suffocating silence settled over the drafting table.The land surveys and blank vellum sheets for the new coastal property were spread out like a battle plan between them. Nachoz had left minutes earlier to coordinate with the site surveyors, leaving Claudia and Hailey entirely alone in the cavernous, minimalist space.Claudia stood over the table, her dark hair pinned back loosely with a wooden drafting stylus. Her midnight-black silk dress had been replaced by a pair of faded denim jeans and an oversized black canvas work shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal her forearms. Wrapped tightly around her right wrist was Hailey’s white linen handkerchief. The crimson bloodstain had dried into a deep, rust-colored kno

For two agonizing hours, the drafting table remained a psychological minefield. Daniella had extracted every ounce of satisfaction she could from the arrangement, dropping laced comments and heavy touches, while Hailey endured the slow-motion execution of her own soul. But high-society games needed an audience, and eventually the warehouse's suffocating atmosphere grew too dense even for a Silvantez. "Well," Daniella said, sliding her leather folder off the desk with a smooth, synchronized movement. She checked her diamond-encrusted watch, her eyes throwing a final, predatory glance between the two women. "I think the preliminary parameters are perfectly understood. I’ll report back to Tito Amorcio that we are making... exceptional progress. See you tonight, Claud." She leaned in, deliberately pressing a lingering kiss to Claudia’s jawline—one that Claudia allowed solely to keep her gaze anchored on Hailey’s shattering composure—before spinning on her heel. The heavy metal studi