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1,778,668	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:41	active	760	1139510647173252	🔞🔥Click to Read more about📜The Alpha Abandoned Bride📜	ISABEL<br /> 🥵🥵🔞🔞<br /> “Congratulations to Logan and Jade on their wedding.”<br /> <br /> I read inaudibly as I stared at the wedding poster of my mate and another woman. <br /> <br /> I took in a deep breath and exhaled as I continued to stare at the poster photo of them. It couldn’t be, I thought to myself but it was more like an affirmation thought but the reality was in front of me.<br /> <br /> “They’ve started already, let’s hurry.” Two ladies walked beside me, one of their arms brushed hard against mine and I almost lost my balance.<br /> <br /> I managed to stand firmly and slowly walked into the garden, surprised by the turn of things. My breath hitched with each step I took. <br /> <br /> Rose petals were on the pathway that led to the podium and there my mate was with another woman and the Lotus pack priest standing in between them. <br /> <br /> Tonight was supposed to be my wedding with my mate, Logan Smith, soon-to-be Alpha of the Lotus pack but instead, I saw him standing with another at the podium. I was getting prepared for my own wedding with him when I overheard someone's conversation about Logan getting married to Jade.<br /> <br /> I wanted to dismiss it at first but I couldn’t. It was until I arrived at the garden myself that I had seen it for myself that Logan was indeed going to marry Jade instead of me. <br /> <br /> I walked slowly, ignoring the stares I got from the people in the audience while moving closer to the podium.<br /> <br /> “Is that Isabel? What is she doing here and why is she in a wedding dress?” I heard someone utter in a hushed tone from the crowd but I couldn’t care about that.<br /> <br /> “She must be a fool thinking that Logan would get married to her because they are each other’s mates. The fact a lowly omega like her who is nothing but a slave imagined that much,” another remarked.<br /> <br /> I felt my chest tightened from those words but they didn’t stop me from making my way closer. I was still in shock.<br /> <br /> “Why is she in a wedding dress and what is she doing here?” I heard another person say but my eyes were fixated on Jade, the woman who was standing next to Logan on the podium. That was supposed to be me. I was supposed to be the one standing close to him.<br /> <br /> Jade Armstrong, daughter and heiress of the Blue Moon pack. The woman Logan's father had always wanted for him. The woman he vowed to never marry and worse she was the woman who bullied me the most, the woman who despised my very existence. <br /> <br /> The Lotus pack and Blue Moon pack have been friends and allies and the Alphas of both packs have always looked forward to getting their children married but Logan has always been against it. <br /> <br /> They've always wanted Jade and Logan to get married to strengthen their pack bond but things didn't go as they wanted when Logan and I found out we were each other's mates. <br /> <br /> As I walked almost lifeless and closer to where Logan was, my eyes blurred with tears and I could see from my peripheral view the scornful look on the face of the people in the audience.<br /> <br /> “I can’t stand her! Where are the guards? She needs to be thrown out!” I heard another voice. <br /> <br /> Was it my fault that I was born a slave and the moon goddess had decided to mate me with a soon-to-be alpha? I recalled Logan's vows to me the further I walked to the podium. <br /> <br /> “I love you Isabel and I promise to protect you, care for you, love you, and be yours forever. The moon and the stars bear witness to this vow of mine to you.”<br /> <br /> What have I done to Logan for him to jilt me on the day of our wedding? I didn’t want to conclude just yet and that was why I kept walking. I wanted to hear from him. I believed in his love for me so I felt there was an explanation to all of this.<br /> <br /> “Logan loves you. I know it.” My wolf Esme said to me. <br /> <br /> “Someone get her out of here! What is someone with a low status like her doing in a place like this and worse in a wedding dress! How ridiculous can she be! Does she think we are here for some drama? The effrontery of an omega slave,” I heard someone harshly say in a whisper but all of their words meant nothing to me.<br /> <br /> It was nothing that I wasn’t used to. I have been humiliated, cursed at, spat on, beaten, and done worse to. These were just mere words. <br /> <br /> “Do you Jade Armstrong take Logan Smith as your husband, in sickness and health, for rich and for poor, till death do you part?” The Lotus Priest pack asked. <br /> <br /> "I do," she replied and it felt like something had struck my chest. I couldn't move my feet anymore. I froze in shock, the knots in my stomach tightened and my heart clenched. <br /> <br /> The words of Logan's father rang free in my head, the day he proposed to me at the solstice ball in front of millions.<br /> <br /> "You can have your fun but you will never marry anyone I don't choose. You will never be the future Luna of the pack. Someone as weak and low as you can’t be my son mate,” he had said and laughed before walking away.<br /> <br /> It was then I felt someone grip on me. It was my father. I stared at him, my eyes filled with tears and my body almost trembling. My knees were starting to give up on me.<br /> <br /> I was short of breath and I had zoned out completely and I began to gasp for air. Why was this happening? What sort of sick joke was this? None of it made sense. I wanted to let out a scream, to protest to everyone present about how absurd all this was but my mouth had failed, my body had completely failed and all I could do was stare at Logan.<br /> <br /> "Do you Logan Smith take Jade Armstrong as your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for rich and for poor, until death do you apart?" The priest asked and it was then Logan's eyes had met mine.<br /> <br /> Logan took a glance at me and I could see the coldness in his eyes. Those lovely silver eyes of his that melted my heart each time I looked at them weren't lovely anymore.<br /> <br /> He wasn’t looking like the man I loved. I tried to read him but I couldn’t. He had a blank expression on his face and he seemed so indifferent.<br /> <br /> Logan's eyes were still locked with mine and I was pleading for answers, expecting everything to be a dream and a fake. I expected him to leave the Podium, come up to me and kiss me, to tell me that it’s still me and this was all an act.<br /> <br /> Just as I waited to hear what Logan's response would be, I felt an arm around me and I was forcefully pulled away. “Let me go!” <br /> <br /> I struggled to get off the grip of the men that were rough-handling me, my eyes still on Logan and he was doing nothing, those cold eyes of his were still present. <br /> <br /> I heard the sound of my dress tear and their strong grip on me hurt me. I was still looking at Logan, expecting him to fight for me like he usually does but with his eyes still locked with mine, he replied, "I do."<br /> <br /> I felt my whole world crumbling around me. It wasn't an imagination. It was all real and Logan was at the podium with Jade and they had just agreed to get married to each other. <br /> <br /> "It's done. With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The priest said.<br /> <br /> "No!" I screamed out loud before I could think of it and just then, I blacked out from the shock of everything.<br /> <br /> ..............................................................................<br /> ISABEL<br /> <br /> “Where am I?” I uttered in a whisper as I slowly gazed around in a blurry vision. <br /> <br /> I tried to decipher where I was when I heard voices. “Can you hear me, princess? Can you see me?”<br /> <br /> That was the voice of my father. I opened my eyes to see my father and I responded to him. <br /> <br /> “Where is this place?” I asked but before he could reply, I realized where I was and what had happened to me.<br /> <br /> My eyes widened and I felt a pang of pain in my chest as I recalled having to witness Logan marry Jade on the day of our wedding.<br /> <br /> “Where is Logan's dad?” I asked, tears streaming down my cheek before I could complete my words.<br /> <br /> How could he? Why did he? <br /> <br /> “It’s going to be alright princess. It’s going to be fine,” he whispered to me as he pulled me close, consoling me.<br /> <br /> “Where is he dad? Did he come to check on me?” I asked, hoping he was at least somewhere waiting for me to wake up.<br /> <br /> It couldn’t have happened. There was no way Logan would leave me and marry another and I refused to believe that. I needed an explanation. Until I hear from him why he married Jade instead of me, I won’t understand.<br /> <br /> “It’s good to see that you are awake Miss Payne,” the doctor said as he walked up to me.<br /> <br /> “How is she, Doctor?” My father questioned.<br /> <br /> “She’s fine. The baby is fine and she just had to be extra cautious to not engage in stressful activities for her health and the baby,” he replied.<br /> <br /> I creased my brows in confusion. What was he talking about but before I could ask that, my father beat me to it.<br /> <br /> “What do you mean?”<br /> <br /> “You don’t know?” The doctor remarked.<br /> <br /> Of course, I don’t know what he’s talking about or else I won’t be curious.<br /> <br /> “You are pregnant. She’s six weeks pregnant,” the doctor replied and I gasped in shock.<br /> <br /> Of course, engaging in sexual activities only results in the female getting pregnant and each time we had sex, it was never like we ever used protection. <br /> <br /> I placed my palm on my mouth as the reality dawned on me.<br /> <br /> “Six weeks pregnant?” I heard my father say.<br /> <br /> “Yes. She’s pregnant. She’s fine and she can be discharged now. I will leave you both as you were,” the doctor said before leaving.<br /> <br /> I was still in shock at Logan getting married to Jade, curious to know why he had shattered my heart and broken his vows and now I realize I’m pregnant?<br /> <br /> Maybe this is it! A bright thought occurred to me as I thought of going to speak to Logan. I had to speak to him and tell him about our baby.<br /> <br /> He has always spoken about wanting lots of children and I know he’d be excited to know that I’m pregnant.<br /> <br /> “What are you doing princess?” My father asked as I got off the bed.<br /> <br /> I had just realized that I was still in my wedding dress.<br /> <br /> “How long did I pass out?” I asked, the pain not leaving my voice<br /> <br /> “Some hours and what are you doing?” He asked as he watched me pull out the IV inserted in my hand. I need answers and Logan is the only one who can give them to me. <br /> <br /> “I’m going to speak to Logan,” I said with excitement laced in my tone but my father's facial expression doesn’t seem to be in support.<br /> <br /> “What do you mean?” He questioned.<br /> <br /> “It’s just as you have heard, Dad. I’m going to speak to Logan. I have to tell him about our baby,” I replied.<br /> <br /> “Do you even hear yourself? Logan got married to Jade and you want to go and tell him you are pregnant for him? What do you think he’d do? Jump up in joy and get married to you? And it’s midnight.” My father uttered, he sounded irritated.<br /> <br /> “I…”<br /> <br /> “You what princess? He jilted you on the day of your wedding. Like on the day of your wedding and you think telling him you are pregnant would make him come back to you? He got married to another woman!” He had said that a little harshly that I couldn’t hold the tears that streamed down my cheek.<br /> <br /> “But why? Why did he leave me? There must be some explanation. I still have to speak to him. To let him know of our baby and until I do so, I don’t think I can let it go. I mean I’m his mate and he’s my mate and he hasn’t rejected me. I can still feel our bond regardless,” I cried out.<br /> <br /> My father moved closer to me. He wrapped his arms around me. “I get you princess but he’s married and tonight is his wedding night. He’s with another woman. He got married to another woman and you just have to…”<br /> <br /> “No!” I screamed, refusing to accept it.<br /> <br /> “Until Logan tells me why he has gotten married to another, I am not going to accept and I won’t leave him! He loves me! He vowed to be with me alone. He told me I was the one for him. He fought for me when everyone was against me and chose me regardless! I have to hear from him! My Logan isn’t that type of man and I know he loves me,” I cried out. <br /> <br /> “He’s married to another. I don’t know what other explanation you need to hear other than the reality in front of you,” my dad replied.<br /> <br /> “But…” I sniffled. “There has got to be a reason. He… you know he loves me dad. You know he does. He didn’t just say it but he also showed it.” I cried.<br /> <br /> My father said nothing other than patting my arms as he held me close.<br /> <br /> ———-<br /> <br /> Here I was standing at the golden gate of the Lotus pack mansion, looking for a means to enter the mansion, find Logan, and hear from his side. I had not come to the mansion last night as I intended and waited for tonight. <br /> <br /> I also had to tell him about our baby and I was affirmative that he’d be happy just like I was.<br /> <br /> A mini Logan was growing inside of me. That thought made me excited. <br /> <br /> I had managed to sneak into the mansion. My mission was to find Logan and the moon goddess seemed to be on my side as I saw him, standing at the same garden we first met. <br /> <br /> The garden where we found out that we were each other's mates. <br /> <br /> I quickly wiped the drop of tears that escaped my eyes as I walked to him with eagerness and excitement. <br /> <br /> “Logan,” I called out as I walked to him.<br /> <br /> He turned to me and although it was dark, I could still see his handsome face thanks to the light of the moon that cascaded on him.<br /> <br /> I wrapped my arms around him when I got to him, feeling at ease to be in his arms once again.<br /> <br /> He didn’t hug me back. He stood firm and stiff. I pulled back a little to look at him with a bright smile on my face.<br /> <br /> I just had to tell him. “Logan I am…”<br /> <br /> He pushed me away. “What the is wrong with you and how the did you get in here?”<br /> <br /> I was surprised by the cold tone he spoke with and how he had pushed me. I was hurt. <br /> <br /> “I…”<br /> <br /> “Leave.” He uttered in a firm and stern tone.<br /> <br /> This couldn’t be right. It doesn’t seem right. This wasn’t my Logan. Something must be wrong because he has always spoken to me gently and calmly.<br /> <br /> “Why…”<br /> <br /> “If you are here for some explanation then you should leave before I ask the guards to throw you out,” he cuts me off.<br /> <br /> I felt a pang of pain in my chest as my stomach clenched from his cold tone and his words. Did Logan just ask me to leave? <br /> <br /> “So…”<br /> <br /> I trailed off when I saw Jade come into the garden in a night dress. <br /> <br /> “Babe, what are you doing out here and why don’t you…” she trailed off when she saw me, and the smile on her face had vanished and was replaced with a glare.<br /> <br /> “What the are you doing here and how did you get in here?” She questioned. <br /> <br /> “So this is it? You promised me, Logan! You vowed to me under the moon and the stars and this is what I get? You married another on the day of our wedding and instead of explaining to me so that I can understand, you ask me to leave?” I couldn’t control my burst of reaction and the tears in my eyes.<br /> <br /> My heart was hurting, my stomach churned and my head banged. <br /> <br /> “Leave.” He said in a firm tone and I wanted to scream and so I did.<br /> <br /> “Leave? How dare you! You promised me, Logan. You said I’m the only one and you’ve always fought for me so what happened? Why! Why did you ask me to marry you only for you to betray me? Just why!” I chided.<br /> <br /> I stretched my ring finger out for him to see. “You gave this to me. You remember? You vowed to love me and only me and why aren’t you looking at me!” I shouted when I realized that he wasn’t looking at me all the while I was speaking.<br /> <br /> Was it that hard to stare at me now? <br /> <br /> “Leave this instance or I’ll make you regret not leaving while I’m being nice,” Jade interjected but I couldn’t care less about her because the only person that I wanted to hear from was Logan. I wanted an explanation.<br /> <br /> “Why did you leave me? Why did you marry her and why did you…” I was cut off with a slap on my cheek.<br /> <br /> Jade just hit me and Logan was present. “I will do worse if you don’t leave. Leave!” <br /> <br /> “Log…” She hit me again.<br /> <br /> That hurt I wouldn’t lie but it didn’t hurt as much as my heart did. <br /> <br /> “Guards!” Jade called and immediately two men came.<br /> <br /> “Throw this bitch outside,” she ordered.<br /> <br /> “Don’t touch me!” I spat out as I struggled to get out of their grip.<br /> <br /> “Are you now a coward that you can’t speak Logan? Speak to me! Just why!” I shouted.<br /> <br /> “Stop.” I heard Logan's voice.<br /> <br /> The guards had let me go and Logan walked up to me. He had a stoic facial expression and my heart raced in curiosity and pain.<br /> <br /> “You want to know why? Then listen and listen carefully,” he was looking into my eyes when he said that.<br /> <br /> “I have never loved you, Isabel. I can’t. I mean why would I? A weak and useless omega like you? How could you even imagine being with me? Someone of my status with you? You dreamt too big,” he remarked to my face.<br /> <br /> If my heart was shattered already, I doubt it was there now because I couldn’t feel it from the burning pain I felt in my chest and stomach. <br /> <br /> “You… You said you loved me. You vowed to protect… me. You asked me to marry you under the moon and the stars asking the moon goddess to bear witness,” I replied, I couldn’t even hear my voice.<br /> <br /> He let out a small dry laugh. “I don’t. I won’t and it will never happen and so under the moon and stars with the moon goddess bearing witness, I, Logan Smith, reject you, Isabel Payne as my mate.”<br /> <br /> I was already hurt and broken but this made it even worse. I suddenly couldn’t breathe. It hurts so much. This is the worst type of pain I’ve ever felt.<br /> <br /> “Guards, throw her out.” He ordered.<br /> <br /> I was taken away by the guards, almost lifeless. Logan had betrayed me. He jilted me. I never saw this betrayal coming. <br /> <br /> Just when I thought that life was starting to be fair to me.<br /> <br /> ..............................................................................<br /> FOUR YEARS LATER <br /> <br /> ISABEL<br /> <br /> Today might be the day that Leah would finally fire me.<br /> <br /> Leah Campbell had been a culinary agent for a year straight now. She was the best agent anyone could ever ask for, fixing me in different places at different schedules, arranging my deals, and working on my finances. She was the best of the best and I was very lucky to have her.<br /> <br /> But she might fire me tonight if she could do that.<br /> <br /> My phone hadn't stopped chiming with messages and notifications from the moment I opened my eyes a few seconds ago. I didn't like to hurry out of bed seconds after opening them. I liked to process my environment even if it wasn't something I'd seen all the time.<br /> <br /> Reaching for my phone, I plucked it from where it was stuck in the flower vase from where I had tossed it hours ago. Taking it out from there, I stared at the screen of the phone, wincing at the ten messages I had gotten from Leah.<br /> <br /> Scrolling quickly through the messages, I recognized the important ones and read through them.<br /> <br /> Leah: Isabel, where are you? <br /> <br /> Leah: Oh my God, Isabel don't tell me that you are still sleeping.<br /> <br /> Leah: ! You are sleeping, aren't you? <br /> <br /> Leah: Pick up the goddamn call, Chef! People are waiting to eat your tasty delicacies. You cannot mess this up!<br /> <br /> Letting out a very loud groan, I tossed my phone aside and forced myself to sit up on my bed. I loved my job but it was times like this that made me abhor it. Times and moments when I had to get out of bed and prepare for work. I had been on a break in the past few days, just tending to my kids and my loved ones, attending the events I'd been invited to.<br /> <br /> The door creaked open and my fiery doe-eyed girl walked in, her smile wide and bright when she saw that I was awake. <br /> <br /> Four years ago, I had thought that the moon goddess had blessed me with a bundle of joy but I was wrong, she had given me two blessings. Two beautiful blessings.<br /> <br /> "Mama!" <br /> <br /> Emma Payne-Smith was a beautiful replica of me, her tongue sharp and unbridled. A wild firecracker unlike her twin brother, the gentle, quiet, and reserved version of her. Together, they complemented each other.<br /> <br /> "My little angel," I smiled with pride as I pressed kisses all over her face while she giggled. The door creaked open widely and Ethan in the company of their Nanny, Lillian strolled into the room.<br /> <br /> "She slipped past me," Lillian sighed, glaring at my daughter who only giggled. I couldn't fault her. After all, no one could try to tame the hyperactive Emma Payne-Smith.<br /> <br /> "I understand," I said as I put Emma down and stretched my hand to take my little boy. He wrapped his hand around me, not saying a word while I kissed his forehead. He giggled softly and I let them go.<br /> <br /> "Go put their clothes on. And pack their overnight bag, Lillian. I gotta prepare." I ordered before moving toward my bathroom.<br /> <br /> I had the quickest shower of my life in a few minutes, I stepped into my walk-in closet with a towel wrapped around me. Seeing the picture frame of my Papa resting on a shelf there, I walked in and kissed the picture, shutting my eyes briefly and imagining that he was physically there with me.<br /> <br /> Even after a few years, the pain and scars were still fresh.<br /> <br /> Each time I looked at his picture, I couldn’t help but be grateful that he was the reason I am here right now and in the position that I’m in.<br /> <br /> Four years ago after Logan had abandoned me, betrayed me, and rejected me as his mate, I thought it was the end of the world. I felt our mate bond breaking and for weeks I tried to nurse my pain but it wasn’t easy.<br /> <br /> My father and I had to relocate and he tried his best to help me in my pregnant state until he passed away in a hit-and-run accident. <br /> <br /> The fact that the case of my father's accident was closed off and there was nothing I could do hurts me till today.<br /> <br /> I know there was more to it but it was suspicious and one day, the truth will be revealed. <br /> <br /> "I have another job, dad. Your daughter is doing it. The most sought-after chef in the country now. Chef Payne.” I kissed the frame again and set it aside. <br /> <br /> I quickly put on a polished outfit and wrapped my red hair into a bun. When I walked out of my room, my kids were ready to go. I put them in my luxury car and allowed them to bid Lillian farewell. She wasn't watching them for the night.<br /> <br /> They chattered all through the drive to Adeline's house. Adeline, a lone wolf.<br /> <br /> Adeline was a friend I met two years ago thanks to the moon goddess and she has been nothing but the best friend anyone could ask for. <br /> <br /> Occasionally, they included me in their conversation which I adhered to. Adeline was already waiting outside her apartment building for me and she was quick to wrap the twins in a hug.<br /> <br /> "Mama will be back in twenty-four hours, okay?" I kissed their cheeks and hugged them one more time. That was what I always told them. Twenty-four hours even if it always took longer than that.<br /> <br /> I wasn't due for a break in twenty-four hours but for them, I would find time. Even if it meant asking Lillian or Adeline to bring them to me.<br /> <br /> "Be safe," Adeline kissed my cheeks and I smiled at her before darting for my car.<br /> <br /> Claudine was the name of the restaurant I was working at tonight. A highly profiled and very expensive restaurant owned by the renowned chef Genevieve Martins, a woman whom I adored. Chef Martins just wasn't good, she was the best among the best. Yet when she asked for my help with the work in her restaurant this season, I couldn't turn down the chef I had always wanted to work with.<br /> <br /> Just last month, I won the title of the Legendary Chef of the Year. It wasn't an easy feat and the media hadn't treated it like one. They had made sure the whole world who was concerned with cooking knew my name which had made me very popular and an enigma in the sight of the world.<br /> <br /> Over the drive, I thought about all the delicacies I had assembled in my mind over the past few days for Chef Martin's restaurant. When I arrived, I was treated as any Legendary chef would be treated and immediately shown to my kitchen. I had been there to meet with the crew last week so they were all familiar with me. I set to work and didn't take a break for hours.<br /> <br /> Working, making delicacies nobody had ever created before, and basking in the adoration of the people around me.<br /> <br /> "Chef Payne," <br /> <br /> I whisked around at the call of my name, turning toward the older woman I had always admired. The smile on her face was loud and my face mirrored hers.<br /> <br /> "Some of the guests at the private party whose food you had made tonight would like to see you. They want to praise the chef who had made them such tasty meals." She was grinning. It was an honor to even get a smile from Chef Martins and here she was, grinning at me.<br /> <br /> "It would be my honor," I smiled wider as I wiped my hand clean with a napkin. Quickly buttoning up my white attire, I followed her through the place, listening to her impressive talks and compliments while my pride grew. She led me to a little group that settled around one of the tables in the very busy and occupied room.<br /> <br /> "Sir, ma'am, tonight, I present to you..." Chef Martins was talking, going on and on while I stood there staring.<br /> <br /> Something had caught my attention.<br /> <br /> No, not something. Someone had caught my attention.<br /> <br /> Black hair wrapped in a man bun, head buried in a phone but those fingers, those builds...they were familiar. My fingers started sweating, and I felt a lump in my throat.<br /> <br /> "...Chef Payne, everyone." Chef Martins pointed to me, my cue to step forward.<br /> <br /> The black-haired man slowly raised his head, my heart beating faster. I opened my mouth to say something to the group of people who had demanded my attention but all I did was stare, words failing me.<br /> <br /> He raised his head and his eyes ensnared mine.<br /> <br /> My chest tightened, heart-stopping as my body went numb in place.<br /> <br /> Because seated right there was the silver-eyed man who haunted my dreams in more ways than I could count in the last few years. The man I saw in my son every time I stared at him. The man I dreamt of being with forever. The man who had abandoned me at the altar. The man who broke me and my heart to pieces. <br /> <br /> It was Logan.	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1,778,965	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778979}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	980310419752201	Enjoy Romance🥰Read More 👉	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> <br /> &13&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e	108744435202789	Novellove read	https://facebook.com/100083283215376	4,076	1	1,491,186,204,943,290	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Novellove read	120208491482670660	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	image		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=216543&accid=1910509592737470	2024-05-06 05:07	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441290443_2460135837509136_1787823310084831308_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RBrb3iTuEAAQ7kNvgH0jBoB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCaA_fkSerSb4EuYE6hdDiMLhNXKchiV1rqCO5NZ2XAFA&oe=6641F325	person_profile	moboreader	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441278955_992714575538871_8521513989987177363_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MQCSrUQt_54Q7kNvgH5kENY&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBYwJKTn-U4in3dxoGfcyiVnTwcQhzhDy1WaSarPubdaA&oe=6641E5C1	3	Novellove read	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,885	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778886}'	No	2024-05-08 18:43	active	760	415625767936895	This Astronaut Hack worked so fast for me!	It all began with a slight flakiness on the skin... then those disgusting yellow toenails appeared... but it was the awful smell emanating from my feet and shoes, driving away my loved ones, that really messed me up... When I retired, I finally got to live by the ocean like I always wanted. But the joy of going barefoot was crushed by one big problem... Everyone staring at my embarrassing yellow toenails! At first, I blamed it on years of wearing closed-toe shoes for work. But it turned out to be more than just some weird discoloration – soon enough, my feet started smelling rank too. I was so embarrassed by people's reactions that I kept my socks on all the time. And as time went on, my feet just got worse. I tried everything – soaking my feet in apple cider vinegar, slathering them in tea tree oil, even using expensive creams and sleeping with bags on my feet. But that dang foot fungus wouldn't quit, it just kept getting worse. All I wanted was to feel the sand between my toes, but I was too ashamed to show my feet. I even avoided the beach altogether. But when my granddaughter got the same problem, I knew I had to find a solution... I finally spilled the beans to a friend, and she knew exactly what I needed. She shared this eye-opening video below. It revealed the surprising cause of my foot fungus, thanks to some awesome researchers who knew their stuff. And guess what? The video taught me a simple astronaut hack that totally changed how my feet looked. And the best part? It only takes a minute out of my day, and it's all-natural too. Just two weeks later, I was walking barefoot on the beach like a champ. Finally living the dream! And the best part? It saved my granddaughter from the same mess! I can't thank this method enough. Seriously, it was an answer to my prayers! 🙏	LEARN_MORE	https://doctor-news.pro/vsfgnd2/?utm_source={{site	101958609459282	Luisa Adam	https://facebook.com/100089261858620	6	5	7,570,454,493,013,635	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn More	Luisa Adam	120208154359030766	doctor-news.pro	NONE	dco		https://doctor-news.pro/vsfgnd2/?utm_source={{site_source_name}}&utm_medium={{placement}}&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_term={{adset.name}}&subid2={{ad.name}}	2024-05-07 20:48	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438300114_836596244952180_3199819390087540077_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hKEv_bKSNLQQ7kNvgFWkxYw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBU1wBhct2lr79GZIqQwJawv6FSMJVY3AG1geAVDrQO-A&oe=6641EC87	person_profile	Luisa Adam	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438302958_429095263066984_6536150692670913298_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c85M_Zh_M3EQ7kNvgGP7ne8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfArF6dfw9fCfNWCmemSNHFxrZqehwRgzmIlLa5-aUDw9A&oe=6641CA86	3	Luisa Adam	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,520	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778521}'	No	2024-05-08 18:39	active	760	796445935468005	No More Shoulder Pain	Top physical therapists have developed a breakthrough Compression Shoulder Brace designed to provide support precisely where it's required to ease frozen shoulder pain, rotator cuff pain, arthritic shoulder, and general shoulder pain.<br /> <br /> Get your first time customers discount today -> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.healthylabco.com%2Fshoulder-brace-visual-advertorial&h=AT0W07Lj2pihs8f1kmyAkG3mxQV8slX6hwBxkJf-oWqb7v6VAXhKgiP51j4bBEO8xNAOoIYRtvPPqcl-ZSalu6B71_300e0ZbtHzPswDkuGa2-eBzkoHASUL42D08SvLPe8qMv0EclVR7Q" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://secure.healthylabco.com/shoulder-brace-visual-advertorial</a>	LEARN_MORE	https://secure.healthylabco.com/shoulder-brace-vis	102542762731233	Shoulder Pain Relief Compression Brace	https://facebook.com/100089123592491	4,101	1	927,314,362,509,660	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Shoulder Pain Relief Compression Brace	120209317063430364	secure.healthylabco.com	NONE	video	Guaranteed Shoulder Pain Relief Or Your Money Back	https://secure.healthylabco.com/shoulder-brace-visual-advertorial?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium={{campaign.name}}&utm_campaign={{adset.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}	2024-05-08 04:44	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438222100_477530128036333_4821761256951224106_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-CLIQEv1dkwQ7kNvgE36UUH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB3uyU6SJFgxzlCl69HFEZ6AW6_8qFfnn9IpfNvX-XJBw&oe=6641E10C	person_profile	Shoulder Pain Relief Compressi	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440930902_479013161225773_1429129103871762201_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sRK9Y7OrnxMQ7kNvgFcb7IC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5qmNKtDNHpi9tT5fNYfsMdFsu3tUkcv_l2yHXfLTGJA&oe=6641DE26	3	Shoulder Pain Relief Compression Brace	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,127	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-05-08 18:34	active	760	420951197406207	📚📚Title "Surrogate for Alpha Dom"🥰👉	“I’m sorry Ella.” My physician says gently. “I’m afraid you have very few viable eggs remaining. Frankly, I normally see these numbers in women ten or fifteen years your senior.”<br /> <br /> “What?” I murmur, not believing my ears. I’ve been trying to get pregnant for years. I’m only 30, I should have plenty of eggs left.<br /> <br /> “In terms of fertility, you have very little time left.” She continues. “If you want to conceive, you need to do so before your next cycle begins.”<br /> <br /> “My next cycle?” I repeat, my mouth hanging open in shock. I love kids more than anything, and though it might not be everyone’s ambition, I want nothing more than to be a mother.<br /> <br /> I have to get home and tell my boyfriend this news, and there’s not a moment to waste.<br /> <br /> I make it home in record time, bursting through the door and opening my mouth to call for Mike, but stopping dead in my tracks. As soon as I walk inside I see a pair of high heels and a handbag by the door – neither of which belong to me.<br /> <br /> I cock my ears towards the bedroom, and my stomach churns when I hear the unmistakable sound of moaning, accompanied by a steady thump thump thump, as the bed collides with the wall. Worse even than realizing that Mike is clearly in there with another woman, is realizing who he’s with. I know that handbag, and I know those shoes – they belong to my best friend, Kate. <br /> <br /> “Fuck, Ella is so stupid.” Mike laughs, “can you believe she actually expects me to have a baby with her?”<br /> <br /> Kate snorts, “she’s delusional. I don’t know how you put up with her for so long in the first place.”<br /> <br /> “If she wasn’t so beautiful I never would have given her the time of day.” Mike scoffs. “Thankfully daily doses of plan B kept her from ever conceiving.”<br /> <br /> “The morning after pill?” Kate asks, “how did you manage to give it to her without her realizing?”<br /> <br /> “I put it in her morning coffee.” Mike chortles, sounding far too proud of himself. <br /> <br /> My vision goes completely red as everything finally falls into place. Suddenly it’s clear why I’ve never been able to get pregnant, despite having unprotected sex multiple times a week for years. It’s even clear how I could have the eggs of a 45-year-old, if my despicable partner has been secretly feeding me emergency contraceptives every day – there’s no telling what other damage that might have done to my reproductive system. <br /> <br /> Before I can think better of it, I pull the smoke alarm on the wall, wanting to frighten and punish the pair in the bedroom so fiercely that I fear I might attack them when they emerge. Water immediately sprays down from the sprinkler system mounted to the ceiling as a shrill siren fills the air, and I hear Mike and Kate cry out in surprise. <br /> <br /> A few moments later they come rushing out of the bedroom, stopping in their tracks when they see me looming in the doorway. Mike’s eyes go comically wide, “What are you doing home so early?” The snake has the nerve to sound affronted that I surprised him, when he’s the one who’s been sneaking around behind my back for God knows how long. He seems to realize how suspicious it looks that he and Kate are standing there in their underwear and quickly adds, “Kate came to see me so we could plan a surprise for your birthday, but then we spilled coffee all over our clothes so we had to change.”<br /> <br /> Fire blazes in my veins, he must truly believe I’m an idiot if he expects me to buy such a feeble excuse. <br /> <br /> It’s a testament to their horrifically low opinion of me that they buy my act, and I vow to get my revenge one way or another. I can’t believe I wasted so many years – my best years – on this scumbag. And now he may have cost me my future too. As soon as the thought enters my head, I know I can’t afford to waste another moment on Mike, I have more important things to take care of. <br /> <br /> I make my excuses and rush across town for the second time that afternoon, running to the comforting arms of my surrogate sister, Cora. Not only did we grow up together in the orphanage, but she became an OBGYN and now works for the most exclusive sperm bank in the city. I’ve never gone to her before because I always imagined Mike and I would eventually conceive the natural way, but that clearly isn’t an option anymore. <br /> <br /> Even if I could find a man willing to have a baby with me in time, I’m not eager to trust anyone after Mike’s betrayal. I’m going to have to do this on my own, and I know Cora can help me. I don’t have much money, but I have enough savings to pay for the insemination, especially since I basically have one shot and one shot only. <br /> <br /> When I arrive, all my plans to lay out my situation for Cora clearly and concisely go out the window, because the moment I see my sister I fall to pieces. She hugs and kisses me until my tears subside, slowly extracting the story from me piece by piece. When she hears about Mike and Kate she swears up a storm, but that’s nothing compared to her reaction when I explain about my fertility. <br /> <br /> “That little shit! I’ll kill him!” She fumes, studying me with a worried expression. “Ella, if your doctor was right this means you only have one chance to conceive.”<br /> <br /> “I know.” I sniffle. “And if this is going to be my only baby, I don’t want to take any chances. I want the best donor we can find.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t you worry about that.” Cora assures me, “We’ve got donations from actors, models, scientists – it’s only the creme de la creme here.” She glances at the door and lowers her voice. “You didn’t hear it from me, but even Dominic Sinclair sent his samples here for testing.”<br /> <br /> “Dominic Sinclair? I repeat, “the billionaire?” I’ve seen the man around town, but we don’t exactly run in the same circles. He lives in the same neighborhood as my wealthy employer and often says hello to the children I nanny, but he’s always surrounded by bodyguards and is so intimidating I get goosebumps just thinking about him. <br /> <br /> “Oh my god!.” Cora slaps her hand over her mouth. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you that! I don’t know what I was thinking. Apparently he’s no stranger to fertility issues himself, and he trusted us to handle his swimmers over every other lab in the country. I’ve got his sperm in the other room at this very moment.” She frets, “But Ella you can’t tell anyone, you have to promise me.”<br /> <br /> “Of course!” I agree immediately. “I know how important confidentiality is here.”<br /> <br /> “Thank you,” Cora breathes. “Now, I’m going to give you a dossier of our clients so you can pick a donor, and once you’ve chosen we’ll get you knocked up before you can even blink.” <br /> <br /> It’s not an easy decision, but eventually I choose a handsome surgeon whose photo practically makes me swoon. Cora leaves the room only long enough to prepare the sample, and though she looks a bit flustered when she returns, she quickly and professionally completes the insemination, holding my hand when the procedure is finished. “It’s all take care of now, Ella.” She promises, “You can come back in ten days to see if it worked.”<br /> <br /> Ten days. I think dazedly. Ten days to decide my entire future.<br /> <br /> If only I’d known that by the time those ten days were up, my future would no longer belong to me – but to Dominic Sinclair himself. <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 - Be Fired<br /> <br /> Ella<br /> <br /> Six days to go. I think, staring at the date circled on my calendar. Six days until I find out if my dreams are finally going to come true… or if I have to figure out an entirely different plan for my life. <br /> <br /> I’ve thought about nothing else since Cora inseminated me last week, I’m so anxious to find out if I’m pregnant I haven’t even begun to process Mike’s betrayal. <br /> <br /> I’m trying to keep a level head, yet I can’t help but imagine my future with this new baby. Try as I might, I catch myself daydreaming about it constantly. I even find myself humming as I get ready for work in the morning. <br /> <br /> When I arrive at my employer’s estate in the most exclusive neighborhood in Moon Valley – which basically makes it the most exclusive neighborhood in the world, since Moon Valley is one of the most expensive cities on the planet – I’m immediately greeted by two little voices shouting my name in excitement. “Ella!”<br /> <br /> The next thing I know, 3-year-old Millie is hugging my legs while her older brother, Jake, wraps his arms around my middle. “Good morning love puddles!” I exclaim, returning their hugs. “Are you ready for the museum?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah!” They cheer, racing out the door without even stopping to put on coats. It takes a bit of wrangling to get them back inside and bundled up for the cold winter day, but before long we set out into the snow.<br /> <br /> Jake races ahead of Millie and I, impatient to get to the science museum and not seeming to notice that his sister’s tiny legs simply don’t move that fast. Chuckling, I lift Millie into my arms and settle her on my hip. “Goodness, you’re getting too big for this, munchkin.”<br /> <br /> “Nuh-uh,” Millie grins, “You’re justs too little.” <br /> <br /> She might have a point. At five foot one, I don’t exactly have the kind of build suited to heavy lifting. I’m in great shape, but I’ve never been particularly strong. “Smarty pants.” I tease, laughing with the little girl. <br /> <br /> When I look back towards Jake, I realize he’s stopped a few feet ahead of us. My heart skips a beat when I realize why. We’re in front of the Sinclair mansion, and its owner is currently standing in the middle of the sidewalk, his gaze searing me like a firebrand as I approach with Millie. Dominic Sinclair is just about the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, but he’s also one of the most terrifying. <br /> <br /> With dark hair and piercing green eyes, chiseled features and a body so muscular I could swoon, it doesn’t seem fair he gets to look so good and also be so rich. If I didn’t know better I might think it was his wealth or imposing height that makes him so intimidating, after all he’s at least six foot four, which means he towers over me and everyone else around him. However it’s neither of those things, there’s simply an indefinable quality about the man that I can’t put my finger on, one which screams danger. He gives off this energy that’s so raw and animalistic one forgets there’s anyone else in the room. <br /> <br /> Taking a steadying breath, I close the distance between us so Millie can say hello. When she greets him, Dominic drags his attention from me and offers her a smile so genuine that it tugs at my heartstrings. As I watch him talk to my two young charges, I remember what Cora told me about his infertility struggles. He clearly loves children, and I feel a wave of empathy for him. If anyone knows what it’s like to yearn for a family of their own, it’s me. <br /> <br /> Jake is currently showing Dominic his new toy airplane, pulling the matchbox model from his pocket and demonstrating how far it can fly. With a great heave, he sends the toy gliding through the air, only to land in the middle of the street. Before any of us can say a word, Jake races after it, right into the busy road.<br /> <br /> “Jake no, be careful!” I cry, watching him dart out into the path of an oncoming car but feeling frozen by my fear. Before I can contemplate putting Millie down to go after him, a blur of movement whirrs past my vision. I’ve never seen anyone move so fast in my life. Dominic became little more than a hazy outline of himself, chasing after Jake and pulling him out of the way just before the car slams into them. The vehicle’s tires are still screeching when Dominic sets Jake down beside me, his expression suddenly very stern. <br /> <br /> “That was very dangerous.” He scolds gently. “You should never go into the street without looking both ways first.”<br /> <br /> Jake hangs his head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want my plane to get runned over.” <br /> <br /> “You are a million times more important than a toy.” Dominic tells him firmly, “and you scared your nanny half to death.”<br /> <br /> “I’m sorry, Ella.” Jake sniffles, looking up at me with wide eyes. <br /> <br /> “I know sweetheart, just don’t ever do that again.” I breathe, cuddling him against my side. “Thank you so much.” I say to Dominic, feeling more grateful than I can express. “I have no idea how you moved so fast! It was like something out of a superhero film.”<br /> <br /> “Must have been the adrenaline.” Dominic shrugs, giving Millie another smile before taking his leave. “Enjoy the rest of your day, and stay out of the road young man!”<br /> <br /> “Yes sir!” Jake calls after him, pocketing his airplane. “I really am sorry.” He adds to me. <br /> <br /> “It’s forgotten.” I tell him softly, though I take his hand so that he can’t run off again. <br /> <br /> “It all happened so fast.” I tell Cora later that night. “I mean the more I think about it, the more amazing it seems. One moment he was there, and the next he was gone. It was like magic.”<br /> <br /> “Thank goodness Jake is alright.” She replies, but rather than looking relieved, her face is twisted into a deep grimace.<br /> <br /> Studying my sister’s expression, I realize her grim demeanor is not just about Jake’s near miss. Something else is wrong, and I actually feel guilty for not noticing sooner. “Is everything okay?”<br /> <br /> Cora frowns, “Not really. But you’ve got so much going on right now, it’s not important.”<br /> <br /> “Cora, don’t be ridiculous.” I admonish. “What’s going on?”<br /> <br /> “Well, speaking of Dominic Sinclair,” She begins cryptically, “you know that sperm he sent to us for testing?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah,” I confirm, wondering where on earth this was going. <br /> <br /> “It’s gone missing… and I’m the last person who saw it, not to mention it was in my custody.” She explains, her voice becoming thick with emotion. “Ella, I think… I think I’m going to be fired. And if there’s an investigation I could lose my medical license.”<br /> <br /> “What?” I exclaim. “What do you mean it’s missing? A vial of sperm can’t just get up and walk away.”<br /> <br /> “I know, I think someone had to steal it, but there’s no way of knowing who’s responsible. And it looks like I’m going to have to take the blame.” She shares, her eyes shining with tears. <br /> <br /> “Cora, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this sooner!” I lament, “They can’t fire you, it isn’t fair.”<br /> <br /> “You don’t understand, Dominic is one of our biggest donors.” Cora explains. “And he’s furious, he basically wants my head on a platter.”<br /> <br /> A week ago I might have believed there was no hope for Cora, but seeing how kind and understanding Dominic was with the kids today makes me wonder if he could really be so heartless. Surely if he understood that Cora would never be so irresponsible he’d show some leniency? I have to try and help her, I would do anything for my sister – even begging a ruthless billionaire for mercy.<br /> <br /> Chapter 3 - Request<br /> <br /> Ella<br /> <br /> Three days to go.<br /> <br /> I repeat these words to myself as I walk down the street, still preoccupied with my possible pregnancy, even as I prepare to go to bat for my sister. In some ways it's a coping mechanism: I’m about to beg Dominic Sinclair to save Cora’s job, and I need a comforting thought to help me get through this. <br /> <br /> His bodyguards see me first, and I can see their mouths moving as they watch me move closer, no doubt notifying him of my presence. Approaching nervously behind Dominic, I wonder for the hundredth time if this is a mistake. Who am I to ask a favor from one of the most powerful men on the planet? Shaking myself, I tell the little voice in the back of my mind to shut up – this is for Cora. I might not be brave for myself, but I can be brave for her. <br /> <br /> “Mr. Sinclair?” I ask hesitantly, feeling my heart pound violently against my ribcage. <br /> <br /> He turns around and gazes imperiously down at me. “Yes?”<br /> <br /> “I’m Ella Reina, I nanny for Jake and Millie Graves.” I begin, gnawing on my lower lip. <br /> <br /> His dark eyes catch on my mouth, and suddenly I feel like a frightened rabbit in front of a hungry wolf. “I know who you are, Ella.” The sound of my name on his lips sends a shiver down my spine. He speaks the familiar syllables with so much purpose, as if they truly mean something to him.<br /> <br /> “Oh… well, I don’t mean to be impertinent, but I’m friends with Dr Cora Daniels…”As soon as I say her name, his expression closes off, and some unidentified emotion flashes in his eyes. <br /> <br /> “She told me she’s in trouble at work, and I know you’re one of the bank’s donors.” I improvise. “I don’t know what Cora is being accused of, but I’m sure she’s innocent. She takes her job incredibly seriously, and she would never do anything to risk her career.”<br /> <br /> “And what do you expect me to do about it?” Dominic asks ominously. I can tell he doesn’t believe my weak story, his body language has changed completely, and I can feel his rising anger vibrating in the air around us. <br /> <br /> “I just thought… I hoped that if you had any sway there, you might be able to put in a good word for her.” I finish, feeling color flood my cheeks. I’m both ashamed of myself for such a feeble attempt, but unsure how else to handle such a delicate topic. The last thing I want is to get Cora in even more trouble than before. <br /> <br /> Dominic’s jaw ticks as he watches me, and the voice in the back of my head urges me to run for it. “From what I’ve heard, your friend made a very serious mistake, and the consequences have been more than appropriate. The best thing she can do now is take responsibility for her mistakes, not sending you to do her dirty work for her.”<br /> <br /> “I – she didn’t, she doesn’t even know I’m here! I swear.” I plead. <br /> <br /> “I’ve said all I’m going to say on this matter.” Dominic declares, turning away from me and striding into his house. The door slams shut behind him, and I’m left with his various bodyguards. <br /> <br /> “You need to leave now, miss.” One of the men announces sharply. <br /> <br /> “I can’t.” I moan, “he has to understand, she’s going to lose everything!” <br /> <br /> “We’re not going to ask you again.” A second guard growls, a clear threat in his words. <br /> <br /> “Please, she’s innocent.” I beg, “you have to –” before I can say anything more, the men grab me by the arms and begin trying to lead me off the property. Feeling truly desperate, I dig in my heels, deciding that my dignity is worth Cora’s entire future. “I’m begging you, if I could just talk to Mr. Sinclair.” <br /> <br /> “You’ve already talked to him.” The first guard grumbles, “and frankly you’re lucky he was as generous to you as he was. Your friend clearly told you things she shouldn’t.”<br /> <br /> The next thing I know, they’ve thrown me off the property and onto the sidewalk so forcefully that I lose my balance, tumbling to the ground as tears spark in my eyes. The iron gates slam shut behind me, and I have no choice but to slink off before I can embarrass myself further. <br /> <br /> Of course, this was only the beginning of my misfortune. When I arrived at work the next day, I found that my keys no longer fit the locks on the front door. I knocked, overwhelmed with confusion, and a few minutes later the door swung open to reveal Jake and Millie’s furious mother. <br /> <br /> “My keys aren’t working.” I tell her, wondering why she’s glaring at me so fiercely.<br /> <br /> “They’re not meant to.” She answers coldly, “as of yesterday afternoon, your services were no longer required.”<br /> <br /> “I… you’re firing me?” I squeak, not believing my ears. “Why?”<br /> <br /> “We got a call from the neighbors.” She explains haughtily, “apparently you let Jake run into the road the other day where he was almost hit by a car! And then yesterday you were seen making a fool of yourself at Dominic Sinclair’s home – they said his bodyguards had to drag you off the grounds like a common criminal.”<br /> <br /> “That isn’t fair, that isn’t what happened!” I plead. “Jake through his toy into the road and ran after it, I didn’t let it happen, and what happened with Mr. Sinclair was a misunderstanding.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t want to hear it.” She hisses. “Now leave before I call the police.”<br /> <br /> “Please, can’t I at least say goodbye to the kids?” I request, praying she’ll grant me this one kindness.<br /> <br /> “I’m dialing.” She tells me simply, pulling her cell phone from her pocket. <br /> <br /> “No!” I raise my palms in supplication, “It’s okay, I’ll go.”<br /> <br /> For the second time this week, I find myself shamefully retreating through this opulent neighborhood with tears streaming down my face. What hurts even worse than losing my job is the fact I didn't get to explain the situation to Jake and Millie, or see them one last time. I’m sure their mother will tell them horrible things about me, despite the fact that I’ve been lovingly raising for them for the last two years.<br /> <br /> I know Dominic Sinclair is responsible for this. I don’t believe my ex-boss’s story about the neighbors for one moment. He clearly wanted to punish me, just like he’s having Cora punished. A rush of fury takes hold of me, and suddenly I wish I could punish him somehow. It’s not like me to be so vindictive, but right now it truly feels like my entire life is falling apart, and it’s partly his fault. <br /> <br /> I spent all my money on the insemination, and without a job I have almost nothing. How am I ever going to afford to have a baby now? I guarantee I’m not going to get a good reference from Jake and Millie’s mother. <br /> <br /> As if things weren’t already bad enough, when I return home I find a stack of bills in the mailbox and I don’t even recognize half the senders. I open them one by one, feeling my confusion and disbelief grow by the minute.<br /> <br /> As I look at the stores on the breakdown of charges, my suspicion grows: they’re all Mike’s favorite places. Is it possible he did this behind my back? That he’s been hiding the bills from me for months… or years? I know he’ll deny it if I confront him, which leaves me only one option. <br /> <br /> I have to call Kate. My former best friend might have betrayed me completely with her affair, but if anyone knows what Mike has been up to, it’s her. <br /> <br /> Chapter 4 - Desperation<br /> <br /> Ella<br /> <br /> My hands are shaking as I dial Kate’s number. Have I ever been this angry? If I have I certainly can’t remember it now.<br /> <br /> “Hello?” Kate answers almost immediately, using a sickly sweet tone that screams of fakeness. <br /> <br /> “Kate?” I state bluntly. “Are you with Mike right now?”<br /> <br /> There’s a pregnant pause on the other end of the line, before she weakly responds, “What? Of course not.” <br /> <br /> “Come off it Kate, do you really think I don't know about your shit?” I demand. “I’m not a complete idiot.”<br /> <br /> “Ella listen–” She begins, obviously gearing up to give me some sort of excuse. <br /> <br /> “No, I don’t even care about your little affair anymore – but I need to talk to him right now.” I declare fiercely. <br /> <br /> There’s another pause, and then Kate’s voice drops its innocent tone. “You don’t care?” She repeats, sounding truly shocked. “ You know I’m already pregnant?” <br /> <br /> I wasn’t prepared for that particular piece of news. I clench my hands into fists, feeling so furious I think I might actually break the phone with my tight grip, “And what, you think that’s some sort of victory?” I bite. <br /> <br /> “Does he know you’re pregnant?” I ask sharply, “because a man who’s so afraid of responsibility that he’d poison me for years is probably willing to do it to anyone.”<br /> <br /> “Well no, but he loves me, he would never –” She tried to explain. <br /> <br /> “He loved me too once.” I cut her off. “At least he said he did. It’s amazing how charming he can be, considering what a bastard he truly is. How do you think he’s going to support you and your child? He doesn’t even have a job.”<br /> <br /> “Of course he does!” She objects, “He just didn’t tell you about it because he didn’t want you to bleed him dry. He’s a stock broker.”<br /> <br /> “Oh Kate,” I sigh, “Poor, gullible, stupid Kate. He’s as much a stock broker as I am a wizard.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t talk to me like that! He’s got money, he lavishes it on me all the time!” She insists.<br /> <br /> “With fraudulent credit cards he took out in my name!” I shout, losing my temper completely.<br /> <br /> “What?” She squeaks. <br /> <br /> “That’s right. I’ve only just found out – he’s completely bankrupted me. I’m calling the police and if I were you, I’d check your own credit rating immediately, because I’d be willing to be you’re next.” I snap.<br /> <br /> “No,” she repeats weakly, “you’re wrong, it’s different with me.”<br /> <br /> My voice is getting thick with emotion now, but I can’t help it. “And frankly I don’t really care what happens to you Kate, but if you’re really pregnant then your baby deserves better than to be raised in a homeless shelter, and that’s exactly where Mike will land you.”<br /> <br /> I hang up before I start crying, not giving her a chance to respond. Why did I buy his lies about looking for work for so long? He crushed me little by little, all the while pretending to be so nice, and I let it happen. <br /> <br /> Never again. I decide. I won’t ever let myself be fooled that way again. <br /> <br /> I still want to get my revenge on Mike, but first I’ve got to try and salvage what’s left of my life. I have to go to the police and see if I can resolve these financial issues… I can’t have a baby if I’m bankrupt, and I can only pray the police will help. <br /> <br /> ________________________<br /> <br /> “I’m very sorry Miss. Reina, but if your ex-partner has left the area, there’s not much we can do about this.” The police officer breaks this news to me about as gently as he might smash an ant beneath his boot. “I’ll give you the police report to send to the credit card company, but that’s the most help you’re going to get from us.”<br /> <br /> Anger fills me to the brim. I guarantee he’d never treat my case with so little consideration or respect if I wasn’t an impoverished nanny. If I was a wealthy man like Dominic Sinclair, he’d be fawning at my feet, offering to go to any lengths to solve my problems. I storm out of the station before I can lose my temper and verbally assault the man, immediately calling the credit card companies. <br /> <br /> One by one they crush my hopes, telling me in no uncertain terms that unless a culprit is arrested in my case, I’ll be held responsible for the charges. <br /> <br /> As I hang up on the final call, I can feel the earth crumbling beneath my feet. How did it come to this? I literally have nothing. No one will hire me without a recommendation from my previous employer, which means I won’t be able to pay rent or keep food on the table. Normally I might turn to Cora in such a time, but I can’t burden her with this when she’s in the same boat. <br /> <br /> Tomorrow I’ll finally find out whether or not I’m pregnant, and up until now the strange sensation I’ve been experiencing the last few days has been a comfort and source of hope. I don’t know how to explain it: it’s as if I’m suddenly different somehow – even though I can’t see any changes, I just have this intense knowing that I’m no longer the same woman I was a week ago. <br /> <br /> I thought it was a sign the insemination worked, but now I’m praying that it’s my imagination going overboard. <br /> <br /> At first I try to distract myself, turning on the TV and freezing when I see Dominic Sinclair on the news talking about all his good will initiatives in the community. “When our work is finished, the Moon Valley children’s home will be a place of love and community, motivated to find the best homes for every child in need. Our initiative not only ensures that the permanent residents in the home have the best possible conditions, but that there is continuous follow up with children placed with adoptive families to ensure they thrive in their new homes.”<br /> <br /> So much for the supposed philanthropist, I think bitterly. Turning a blind eye to the lives he’s selfishly ruining all the while pretending to be a friend of the downtrodden. A week ago I might have been touched by such a broadcast. I grew up in an orphanage just like the one he’s describing, and I know just how terrible the conditions can be. Now however, I see nothing but his hypocrisy. Cora was an orphan too, she didn’t do anything wrong – where is his compassion for her? Clearly it’s only for the TV cameras. It’s a shame. He’s very convincing… then again, so was Mike. <br /> <br /> Of course Mike was never as handsome as Dominic Sinclair, nor did he ever have his charisma or imposing presence. I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone like him. Even while he was refusing to help me, scolding me and having me thrown out the door, part of me was still taken in by his handsome features and pure magnetism. <br /> <br /> Shaking myself, I turn the TV off. What the hell is wrong with me? The man is a heartless billionaire and I’m still sitting here mooning over him like a silly schoolgirl. <br /> <br /> I end up going to bed early, trying not to think about tomorrow. Of course, I still lie awake late into the night – I know what it means to grow up an orphan, and I can’t countenance bringing a child into the world just to abandon it to that bleak existence. The more my life unravels, the more stark my options become. <br /> <br /> If I am pregnant… Am I going to abort the child? Even though it’s what I’ve wanted my entire life!<br /> <br /> Chapter 5 - Pregnancy Test<br /> <br /> Ella<br /> <br /> “No, I understand.” I murmur into the phone. “Thanks for listening at least.”<br /> <br /> I wearily hang up the line, burying my head in my hands. I spent all morning calling in every favor and loan I possibly could, throwing my dignity right out the window to beg my friends and acquaintances in my time of need. <br /> <br /> I’ve never thought of myself as a proud woman, but begging this way was more of a challenge than I could have imagined. <br /> <br /> I only wish I could help Cora as well as myself. She’s still waiting to hear if she’ll be fired, and while she’s not supposed to be handling any samples, she got permission to do my tests this afternoon. After all, I’ve already been inseminated, so her supervisor didn’t see any risk of further negligence.<br /> <br /> Still, I’m far from excited when I walk through the front doors of the sperm bank. Ten days ago I was heartsore but optimistic for the future, yearning for a baby more than anything else in the world. Now I’m dreading the exam. <br /> <br /> However my trepidation soon gives way to surprise, because as soon as I enter the facility I have the strangest feeling that Dominic Sinclair is near. It takes me a while to actually find him, behind closed doors with Cora’s bosses in a luxurious, glass-walled conference room, but I don’t have the faintest idea how I knew he was present. I also don’t understand why I feel drawn to him: after all, he’s ruined both my sister’s and my own life. I shouldn’t be excited to see him. <br /> <br /> It was dumb luck that I stumbled across his path, the conference room is on the way to Cora’s office, but I find myself stopping to observe the meeting inside. I’m struck speechless when I lay eyes on him. Is it possible that he’s gotten more attractive since the last time I saw him? It was already unfair that somebody that powerful and intelligent could be so handsome, but now it truly just feels like being kicked while I’m down. The bastard has a heart of stone, and still the universe has rained endless gifts upon him while people like Cora and I have nothing. <br /> <br /> Shaking myself out of my trance, I continue down the hall, though I feel the weight of dark eyes on my back as I retreat. Cora has clearly been crying when I arrive. Her eyes are red and her cheeks splotchy, though she tries to hide it. <br /> <br /> “Hey.” I greet her gently, wrapping her up in a hug. She leans into me, squeezing tight and lingering far longer than she usually would. “Is there any news?”<br /> <br /> “Sinclair is in there finalizing it all now. I’m going to be given formal termination notice this afternoon.” She shares, sniffling slightly. <br /> <br /> “I’m so sorry, honey.” I croon, rubbing her back. <br /> <br /> “It’s okay.” She lies, pulling away. “How are you hanging in there?”<br /> <br /> “Not very well.” I confess. “I’m sort of dreading this, to be honest.”<br /> <br /> “It’s amazing how fast things can change, huh?” She asks, looking as though she might burst into tears. “I mean, what are we going to do, Elle?” <br /> <br /> “Well figure it out.” I promise. “We’ve been in tight spots before.” I remind her, “remember the summer we slept in boxes on the street after we ran away from the orphanage?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah,” She nods with a sad smile. “But it’s winter now, I don’t think we’ll last long in the elements. And you weren’t pregnant then.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah well, if I’m pregnant now….” I can’t look her in the eyes as I say this, “I don’t think I’m going to stay that way.”<br /> <br /> “What?” Cora exclaims, looking horrified. “But this is your only chance! And we aren’t completely hopeless, you’ve got time to try to figure out a plan B.”<br /> <br /> That phrase alone reminds me of Mike, and I realize I haven’t shared my latest news with Cora. “I can’t afford a baby even if I do find a job. I’m going to be paying off my debts for years to come.” I share, filling her in on the details of Mike and Kate’s latest betrayal. <br /> <br /> “I can’t believe this!” She bursts out when I’m finished. “It just isn’t fair, Ella! I mean, I thought we paid our dues, I thought we were done with suffering. After everything we’ve been through, we deserve a better future than this! You deserve to be a mom – no one loves children more than you do.”<br /> <br /> “And you deserve to be a doctor.” I reply. “You worked so hard.”<br /> <br /> “I still don’t think you should give up yet.” She frowns. “You can terminate the pregnancy up until the end of the first trimester. It would be a tragedy if you aborted it, then pulled off a miracle and it turned out you could have kept it. Don’t take that risk. Keep the baby until the very last moment.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t think miracles happen to people like me.” I remark softly. “Besides that seems kind of like it’s own form of torture – the longer I carry the baby the more attached I’m going to get. I don’t want this to hurt any worse than it has to.”<br /> <br /> “It’s going to hurt no matter what.” Cora reasons, “You ought to give yourself a chance – keep the door open. Don’t give up hope completely.”<br /> <br /> “Let’s just find out if I have to make that decision in the first place.” I state, changing the subject. “I may not even be pregnant.” Yet even as I say it, I can feel in my heart that I am. <br /> <br /> “Okay.” Cora agrees, pulling a sterile cup wrapped in plastic from one of her cabinets. “You know what to do.”<br /> <br /> I take the cup and quickly duck into the bathroom to provide a urine sample, returning it to her almost immediately. I pace back and forth across the office as Cora runs the tests. “Well?” I press, seeing the results pop up on her computer screen. <br /> <br /> She offers me a sad smile. “Congratulations little sister, you’re going to have a baby.”<br /> <br /> I told myself that I wouldn’t fall to pieces no matter the results, but as soon as the words are out of her mouth I’m crying. I’ve been waiting to hear those words for years and was beginning to think I never would. It’s both unimaginable joy, and unimaginable pain. I never knew my heart could hold such conflicting emotions at the same time, let alone in such extremes. “Really?”<br /> <br /> “Really.” Cora confirms, hugging me. “Come on, let’s do an ultrasound. You can hear the heartbeat.”<br /> <br /> “Isn’t it too early?” I squeak. <br /> <br /> “Just one of the benefits of being at the finest lab in the country.” Cora quips, the words bittersweet on her tongue. “Our technology is years ahead of what’s available in public hospitals.”<br /> <br /> Climbing onto the raised exam table, I lay back and lift my top, not bothering to change into a gown or cover my clothes with a sheet, I simply expose my flat belly as Cora wheels in an ultrasound on a cart. Within minutes the machine is emitting a strange whoosh woosh woosh, and Cora squirts a dollop of jelly on my tummy. She pressed the wand to my skin, and before long a tiny heartbeat sounds – making me cry all over again.<br /> <br /> However Cora is frowning deeply. “This is so strange, the baby seems awfully large, but we tested you at your last visit to be sure you weren’t already pregnant.”<br /> <br /> “What does that mean?” I ask anxiously. “Is the father just a big guy?”<br /> <br /> “I don’t just mean size – I mean development.” Cora purses her lips and furrows her brows as she studies the images, suddenly looking very worried. She’s whispering now, speaking to herself more than to me. “It doesn’t look human… but that can’t be… it’s not possible.”<br /> <br /> “What are you talking about?” I inquire, “How can you tell? Isn’t it just a tiny blob?”<br /> <br /> “As I said, our tech is state of the art. It doesn’t just highlight shapes - it analyzes the molecular structure.” Before she can say another word, the door bursts open, startling us both. To my shock and horror, Dominic Sinclair is standing in the doorframe, glaring at us as if we’ve done something terrible. “What’s the meaning of this?” He demands.<br /> <br /> “What’s the meaning of this? I repeat in shock, “what’s the meaning of you barging into a private exam?!”<br /> <br /> “Because,” He declares fiercely, and I swear his eyes are almost glowing with rage. “I can smell my pup.”<br /> <br /> Chapter 6 - He's A Werewolf<br /> <br /> “Your pup?” I parrot, realizing I must sound like an idiot the way I keep repeating him – but it’s all too strange and surreal. I feel like I’m having a dream......<br /> __________________<br /> <br /> Click to READ more 👉👉 Title: Surrogate for Alpha Dom	LEARN_MORE	https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share-custom4	106077262240533	The novel	https://facebook.com/100085523883301	19,182	3	375,191,545,066,130	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	The novel	120204314137990310	page.joyreadings.com	NONE	video		https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share-custom4.html?lang=en&id=5747&brand=2&app=0&ppid=1637&pid=FBW2A&campaign=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&utm_source=FBW2A&utm_medium=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&utm_campaign=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&utm_term=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&utm_content=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ori_campaign_id=120204262467030310&ori_adset_id=120204262467220310&ori_ad_id=120204262477980310	2023-12-27 03:14	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/414715479_2448687308668672_1584230679640044314_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GPfisr4AWGEQ7kNvgFgze7-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYp0R5jflred2wdV8RKAde96O-fX6Qe1oeEILzcCuVBg&oe=6641EEC5	person_profile	The novel	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/414720660_3218826121754545_1180494988222704930_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LTB4mwTnBTMQ7kNvgENHWAY&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDdsLPXorKf5l-goHedE48hm0yrL-Vh2c8e3JcL589kAA&oe=6641D65F	3	The novel	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,327	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	1687228591811281	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	He is not the male I thought he was. I refuse to fight for someone who can spit on all the effort I put into making him great.<br /> "Don't walk away from me, Zell," Kosta yelled.<br /> "Why not? You don't need me. You have Khalis here to take care of all your needs. She is welcome to you. I hope you all will be very happy together. As for me, I'm done. Good luck to you and this pack. I hope you can handle the fallout for you and your bimbo's actions."<br /> ____________<br /> <br /> "So Kay, what did you want to talk to me about?" I ask.<br /> Sapphire sits up. She is really interested in what Khalis has to say. I can feel her unease. Whatever this is about is not going to be good. Sapphire has been a little jumpy lately and is very protective. We just found out that we are pregnant after trying for the past 6 months. Kosta and I finally feel like we were in a good place since our pack is now ranked number 3 in the nation. I guess I should give Khalis my undivided attention and hear whatever it is she is pressed to talk to me about.<br /> "Well Zel, I just wanted to let you know that I plan on being the Luna of this pack, and your days as Kosta's mate and luna are numbered. I have decided that I deserve to be luna of the third strongest pack in the nation. I mean why should you get everything and I get stuck with nothing?" Khalis says.<br /> Is this bimbo serious? I just sat there staring at her for a few seconds. Not much shocks me, but this is something else. I knew Khalis was selfish, but this is on a whole other level. There have been rumors about Khalis sleeping with mated males, but I always gave her the benefit of the doubt. I never thought we would be having this kind of conversation. We have been friends since elementary school. Her father and brothers are elite warriors in my father's pack. <br /> She was with me when Kosta declared we were mates. She even encouraged me to go with him when he begged me and my father to let me come to his pack with him before I turned 18. She moved to this pack with me, hoping to meet her own mate. She knows Kosta is my fated mate. The moon goddess chose for him me. We both have known Kosta for most of our lives. <br /> Kosta is one of my brother's best friends. I keep thinking about everything we have done together and now this bimbo is sitting in my office telling me she plans to take my mate. I'm really speechless. This is a new low, even for her.<br /> "Just so that I am clear, what exactly do you mean that you want my goddess-given mate and title," I asked.<br /> "I mean exactly what I said. I want Kosta. I want to be his luna and I am going to make that happen. I've already started the process. I deserve to be a luna."<br /> "So you just want to come in here and tell me that you want my mate? What about your own mate? Have you thought about that? If the goddess meant for you to be a luna, you would have been fated to an alpha."<br /> "I waited for my mate. I gave the goddess a chance to do right by me. She gave everyone around me an Alpha. My sister got one, my little ugly cousin got one and even you got one, but what did I get? I got a lowly elite warrior as a mate." She spat.<br /> "How can you speak like that about elite warriors? Your father and your brother are elite warriors."<br /> "I know, and I deserve better than that. I deserve to be a luna. I deserve to have people respect me and cater to me."<br /> "Well, obviously the goddess did not agree with you," I said. "Just to clarify, you're saying that even though you found your destined mate, the one that was made specifically for you by the goddess, you're still interested in my mate? You are unbelievable. What is wrong with you?"<br /> "It's simple. I'm not meant to be the mate of a warrior. I am meant to be a luna. The moon goddess got it wrong and I am correcting her mistake. As soon as I scented my fated mate and realized he was a warrior, I rejected him and he accepted my rejection. Good riddance."<br /> "So you think you know better than the goddess?" I asked.<br /> I am still somewhat shocked. I have a hard time reconciling this cold-blooded bimbo to the person that has been my best friend for over a decade.<br /> "Zell, I told you a long time ago not to trust her. She has always been this person. She just pretended with you." Sapphire said.<br /> "This isn't personal, Zell. It's simple since the moon goddess did not give me an alpha, I'm going to take one."<br /> This bimbo is sitting here calmly telling me she is going to take my mate from me like we are talking about going shopping. She actually thinks this is ok. How could I have been so blind for so long? Everyone tried to warn me about her, but she was my only friend and I just didn't want to believe that about her. I convinced myself that the others were just jealous of her.<br /> "Do you really think it is ok to try to break your best friend's mate bond?" I say.<br /> "Oh Honey, I'm not going to try. I'm going to do it. He will be mine. I'm just giving you the courtesy of walking away with your dignity. You might as well start making arrangements for yourself because once I am the luna, there is no way that I will let you remain in my pack. He may keep some tender feelings for you. After all, you are fated."<br /> "You got one thing right; Kosta and I are fated. You are not the first she-wolf to try to break our mate bond and since he is an alpha, I'm sure you won't be the last. I will tell you what I tell them all, If you can get Kosta to cheat on our bond, you can have him. If he can do that, then he is not the man I have believed him to be and wouldn't deserve me. You would be welcome to him. Just remember, it is because of me and my family that this pack is ranked third. All of that goes with me, but you would be more than welcome to whatever is left." I say.<br /> "It's not an if, it's a when it happens. And when you leave, Kosta will still be the alpha of this pack. You will just be the ex-luna of the pack. I will be the luna."<br /> "That's where you are wrong. I am alpha born; a pure-blooded alpha. If I leave, I will still be an alpha and you will still be that bimbo on the side. Some males may be dumb enough to sleep with you, but I have not seen any of the mate men you've been accused of leaving their mates for you. Even the ones who got rejected didn't choose to be with you. Now I suggest you leave my office while I am still being nice or else you will find out why I am feared by others. And if you are successful, don't think for a minute that my family will let either of you go."<br /> "I will leave for now. Enjoy this office while it is still yours. Your arrogance will be your downfall. Why should I fear you or your family? They have not even been around since your luna ceremony. I'll give you 1 week to make arrangements for yourself. In 7 days, all of this will be mine and you will be out. I will break you and completely disgrace you.<br /> I have to thank you for working so hard to build this pack up for me to take over. I will be sure to enjoy the fruit of your labor. I and my children will enjoy this. I am glad he listened to me early on when I told him to wait to have children so you could live your life first. I had to set the groundwork just in case. Now it's time for you to go before you give him an heir." Khalis says and walks out of my office like nothing happened.<br /> "What do you think, Sapphi? Do you think she really will get Kosta to cheat on our mate bond? Do you think Emil will let it happen?"<br /> "I honestly don't know Zell. Last year I would have said that our bond was solid, but Kosta has been acting funny lately. Emil has been a little distant as well. Khalis is a little too confident. She is definitely up to something and Kosta isn't acting like our mate right now. Also, Jen, Khalis' wolf is mad at her about something that she won't tell me about."<br /> "I'm sorry I didn't listen to all the warnings you were giving me about her. I should have never moved her with us. I invited that snake into our home. I open the door for her to get her paws on Kosta, but if he allows it, he does not deserve us."<br /> "I Feel sorry for her mate and her wolf. They did not deserve what she did to them. But at least her fated mate will get a second chance mate. One much better."<br /> "Zell, I think we should wait and see what happens before will tell Kosta about our pup. I would burn this whole pack if something happened to our pup."<br /> "I agree Sapphy. We will do whatever we have to do to protect our pup."<br /> Kosta has been questioning me a lot lately. It's like he woke up a different person one day. He suddenly lost trust in me, but I have never given him a reason to doubt me. I have found him outside of my door listening to business phone calls, which is crazy because he could just walk in at any time and join the conversation. I have never hidden anything I was doing from him.<br /> The worse thing is that our sexual life is now nonexistent. Kosta is always too busy or too tired. His behavior has led me to believe that he is not attracted to me anymore. He had the nerve to ask me why I have been trying so hard to seduce him lately. Like he didn't just stop making love to me cold turkey all of a sudden. We went from making love every day, sometime multiple times a day, to nothing in over a month. <br /> Seems like he should have been worried if I didn't try to seduce him. I don't know any mated pair that has gone this long without being intimate with each other. I don't know what the issue is. If we were not marked, I would wonder if he was cheating, but I know he is not. I would have felt it. Why did all of this suddenly become so hard? <br /> Why do I even need to seduce my goddess-given mate? It was never supposed to be this way. At least not yet. I'm only 20 years old. Much too young to be going through a dry spell while mated.<br /> I got so desperate at one time I asked our friends what was going on with him. Kosta tells his beta and gamma everything. I figured if there was a problem, they would tell me and I could fix it, but they just said that he was under a lot of stress. What exactly does he have to stress about?<br /> The pack is doing better than it has been in years. In half a year, the pack will be self-sufficient again and won't need to depend on my finances to keep it afloat. I have everything set in motion for the pack to have more disposable cash and residual income. I have a feeling this has Khalis written all over it. Kosta appears to have fallen in line with her already.<br /> Maybe this was their plan all along. Kosta needed me to get his pack back on track and now that they are almost completely independent, they don't need me anymore. If that's the case, they are in for a rude awakening. My six-month plan depends on me closing several more deals. All of these deals are allies with my father, uncle, and grandfather. They will not work with Kosta if our bond falls apart. He would erase everything that I have done over the past three years. Well, that would be his problem.<br /> Since he has not been showing me any care, they are not either. That really hurts. I sacrificed a lot for this pack. I thought they cared more than this for me. I should just go back to my room. I don't know if I want to be around this pack right now, especially if they could turn their backs on me this quickly. Were they all just using me for my family's wealth?<br /> "We need to eat Zell. Remember, we are eating for our pup as well. Don't let them win. We are better than this. If they show us they don't want us here, we will leave. Remember, we are alpha born. We will rise above this. We will go back to where we are celebrated. If they turn against us, they don't deserve us. We will sit back and let them destroy themselves."<br /> "You are right Sapphire. Let's go eat. Our pup needs sustenance."<br /> I went and cleaned myself up and walked to the dining room. As soon as I walked through the door, all the talking stopped. The whole place went silent. As I walked all the way in, I saw why everyone went silent. <br /> Khalis was sitting in my seat, putting food on Kosta's plate like she is the luna. When she saw me, she just smirked and kept doing what she was doing. Kosta just keep eating like I was not standing there. Sapphire stared, pushing forward. She wanted blood. I did too, but I have to think about our pup.<br /> "What is going on, Kosta? Why is she sitting in my seat feeding you?" I growled.<br /> "I meant no harm, Zell. You were busy, so I decided to take care of Kosta for you. Someone needs to care for him while you are caring for other things. "<br /> "I was speaking to my mate, not his bimbo on the side."<br /> "You were not here for your mate, so I have been taking care of his needs."<br /> Sapphire pushed forward and growled loudly. Everyone in the room bowed their neck to her.<br /> "I could kill you in less than 30 seconds, Khalis. I would advise you not to keep crossing my line and you will find yourself very dead. You obviously have forgotten who I am. Don't make me remind you what my family name is," Sapphire said.<br /> I regained control and looked at Kosta. He didn't even appear to be concerned. He didn't show an ounce of regret or remorse. That took a little of the fight out of me. Khalis can only do what Kosta allows her to do.<br /> "Kosta, I asked you a question. What is going on?"<br /> "As Khalis said, you were busy, so she came to do your job for you. If you spent more time catering to me, your mate, and less time working or whatever you are doing, Khalis wouldn't have to step in and take care of my needs." Kosta said.<br /> I and every pack member gasped. I could not believe he openly disrespected me like that after everything I have done for him and this pack. I did all of that for him. This ungrateful prick.<br /> "So now I'm working too much, making your pack financially secure? You were not complaining when the pack was bankrupted and I worked day and night just so you could feed the pack another day. I was working too hard then.<br /> It's only now that you think the pack is out of the woods that I am working too hard. Now that everyone is comfortable and not at risk of starving, you want to change. <br /> Ok, I see who you are now. So instead of appreciating the sacrifices I made for us and the pack, you are sitting here with your bimbo, enjoying the feast that my hard work made possible. I am glad I finally understand where your priorities lie. Trust me, I will never make the same mistake twice." I said and walked away.<br /> I need to get out of here before I wolf out and kill one of them. After tonight, Khalis can have him. He is not the male I thought he was. I refuse to fight for someone who can spit on all the effort I put into making him great.<br /> "Don't walk away from me, Zell," Kosta yelled.<br /> "Why not? You don't need me. You have Khalis here to take care of all your needs. She is welcome to you. I hope you all will be very happy together. As for me, I'm done. Good luck to you and this pack. I hope you can handle the fallout for you and your bimbo's actions."<br /> "Mind how you talk to me, Zell. I may be your mate, but I am still the alpha. As a matter of fact, as of right now, I am stripping you of all of your luna privileges."<br /> "Alpha, what are you doing?" Beta James asked<br /> "Mind your business Beta. This is my pack." Kosta says.<br /> "Yes, and as your beta and friend, it is my job to tell you when you are making a mistake. Alpha, you are dangerously close to crossing the line of no return. Let's all calm down and discuss this later." Beta James said.<br /> "Beta, my word stands. Zel, until you learn to respect me as your alpha, you can forget about representing this pack in any aspect. I will be instructing the security team to restrict all of your access. You are no longer the COO of our businesses. As of now, you are just a regular pact member with no power."<br /> "First of all Alpha." I spat. "Respect is earned. While you are trying to throw your weight around, you can have the luna title back. I no longer want it. As for the business, have you forgotten that I own 51% of every business we have? I also provide 60% of the pack budget from my personal accounts. So while you can restrict my duties as Luna, you cannot touch the business, but I'll do you a solid. You can buy me out of the business and I will withdraw all of my personal finances from the pack."<br /> I can see that he had forgotten how dependent his pack was on me, but oh well. He made his bed. Now he and his bimbo can lie in it.<br /> "Oh, and Alpha, if you try to strong-arm me, I will have to call in the full loan that I gave this pack when we mated. Remember, we signed a contract for the loan. You have only paid me a small portion of the loan and I have not pushed the issue, but the contract is legal and binding. Don't push me, Kosta. You, of all people, know how ruthless I can be if pushed."<br /> I walked off again and made it as far as the stairs. I realized that I could not stay in my current room anymore. There is no way on this goddess-green earth that I want to be in a room with Kosta. Not that he has really shared it with me lately. Now I know why. Khalis has been feeding him and he has been eating it up. They both miscalculated. They thought I would be leaving here with nothing. The jokes on them. I may have been in love, but there is no love in business. I may have put my all into saving this pack and making it independently wealthy, but my parents did not raise a fool and I protected my finances. I invested millions in this company and pack. Did he really think I would protect my money? Does he not remember the prenup my father made him sign since I was a minor when he brought me to this pack? He never gained control over my finances.<br /> Khalis just showed her hand. After what I just saw, she has a right to be confident. Kosta has completely changed. He is not the man that I mated. He is not the boy that I followed around when I was younger. I don't know what happened or when he changed. Maybe this is who he really is and, like with Khalis, I just never saw his true self. He must have hidden it from my father and brother as well. There is no way they would have let me come here when I was 17 if they knew this was how he would end up treating me. I can see now that it is over between Kosta and me. I need to start planning my exit. I pulled up my computer and moved all of my finances from the pack accounts. I closed all the joint accounts I had with Kosta. It was mostly my money that financed them. I left the ones that he financed in his name. I don't want anything from him at all. After I handle business, I call my brother. I will need his help to leave here safely. Now that Kosta knows that all the money is still tied up with me, I doubt he will let me leave easily. I'm sure he and the bimbo are plotting up something.<br /> I have all of my stuff moved to a guest room. Once I get settled, I pick up my phone and call my brother.<br /> 'Hi, baby sister." My brother says.<br /> That's all it takes for the dam to finally break. I start crying my heart out. Zach keeps trying to ask me what is wrong, but I can't stop crying. After a few minutes, my crying finally slows down.<br /> "What's wrong Zell? Who do I need to kill? I can call Uncle Jerry and we can be to you in 30 minutes. No one makes my baby sister cry. Where is Kosta?"<br /> I pull myself together so that I can actually talk to Zach and let him know what I need from him.<br /> "Sorry, big brother. It just hurts so much. Don't come right now. I'm ok. I just had to get that out. I have been holding it in for a while. Kosta stripped me of all my Luna privileges tonight after I walked into the dining room and saw Khalis sitting in the Luna chair feeding him. She apparently is taking care of all of his needs because I have been working too much and neglecting him."<br /> "What the heck." Zach yelled, "I will kill them both!"<br /> "Not yet Zach. I want to see how this plays out. Khalis told me that she wants Kosta and the luna position. She and Kosta are planning something to discredit me in the eyes of the pack. Zach, I'm pregnant and I have to think about my pup's future. I need to see this through and expose them for the low lives they are. I recorded my conversation with Khalis. The recording is on the private server you installed for me. I am keeping the camera's in my office even though I have been stripped. I need to gather as much evidence as I can get so that when this blows up, I can take my case to the council. He will either try to use my pup to get back at me or use him or her for personal gain, and I can't let any of that happen."<br /> "So what's the plan, baby sis?"<br /> "Well, I have already moved all of my personal money from the pack accounts. They are now responsible for themselves. I'm not sure how that is going to go over. I was covering most of the pack's budget. Tomorrow, I will contact my attorneys to protect all of my other assets. I also plan to call our allies and let them know that I am no longer associated with the pack. I am erasing everything I've done over the past three years. They will need to start over from scratch and rebuild it all on their own. There is no way they will get to enjoy my hard work. No, sir."<br /> "Very smart Zell. What do you need me to do?"<br /> "I'm going to need you, Uncle Jerry, and a few elite warriors here to help me leave safely. Khalis said she will have him in seven days. I don't know if I will be able to stay here for the whole seven days, but I need to stay for now. I want to give Kosta the benefit of the doubt. I want to know if there is any hope of us working it out in the future. Don't get me wrong, I am leaving no matter what because he completely disrespected me, but as of now, he has not broken our bond. As long as he doesn't, the door will be open for us to work through this in the future, but if she gets him to cheat on me, it is 100% over."<br /> "Ok Zell, I will get with Uncle Jerry and we will have everything ready. You need to be ready to move at a moment's notice. I'm going to send a few of my elite warriors close to that pack in case something happens. They can keep you safe until I can get to you. I can promise you Kosta will regret hurting my baby sister. He has known me long enough to know that I will kill anything that hurts you. He better hope mom does not get to him before I do."<br /> "I have already had all of my things moved to a guest room. All of the things I want are packed and ready to go. I may ship a few things ahead. Sapphire and I are both ready to leave.'<br /> "I'm surprised Sapphire does not want to fight for her mate. Is she ready to leave Emil?"<br /> "We are giving both of them a chance by still being here. Honestly, Zach, we have not had a relationship in over a month. Emil has not connected with Sapphire in just as long. Our bond is weakened already. If I wasn't with pup, I wouldn't even try."<br /> "I understand, sis. I am so disappointed in Kosta. He was one of my closest friends. I entrusted my baby sister to him and he greatly let me down. I thought you were safe with him. He will pay for every tear that you shed. I promise you that. I'm going to call Uncle Jerry and get everything set up. I have six warriors already on their way to you. They will keep an eye on things and let me know what's happening."<br /> "Ok. Love you, big brother."<br /> "Love you muffin. Get some rest."<br /> We get off the phone, and I finish doing all my business transactions. I need to make sure that my finances and shares are protected. I feel sorry for the pack members who will have to suffer because of a selfish she-wolf and a prick alpha. I wonder if Kosta knows how close the pack is to being bankrupt without the support of my family and my personal finances? I'm just glad that they showed their hands now before I had completely gotten them out of the hole. I guess since they were living better and had more luxuries; they thought the pack was in the black. Jokes on them.	LEARN_MORE	https://a.menovels.com/ad/ZmljZnVuLzE3MjE2Mi8yMDI0	194306507097556	MeNo003	https://facebook.com/61554215147080	37	1	743,186,324,694,243	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	MeNo003	120208168951020307	a.menovels.com	NONE	video		https://a.menovels.com/ad/ZmljZnVuLzE3MjE2Mi8yMDI0MDUwODExMTkyNi9wYWdl?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 22:25	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440941530_1471444297103389_2240535718660799524_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nZR9dBc62mkQ7kNvgEp5Wf-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIolTZJ_giFWTEZe3jZCyqyjCGZw6XucIyjL_sx0EHaw&oe=6641EF35	person_profile	MeNo003	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441076422_1186481929192041_384561920081201832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RM3i5uCqdR8Q7kNvgE5J_Rz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDenRcmJJtLQJWwDyiRTvopn0yAeh4RyeJC0uMvYL6YNg&oe=6641E9FB	3	MeNo003	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,176	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":0.9375,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:35	active	760	783967553523951	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	What’s more embarrassing than a butt dial? Butt dialing your boss… And leaving a dirty voicemail when you’re uhh… “thinking” about them.<br /> Just had a sexual fantasy with my boss. I stand on legs that are just as shaky as he said they’d be. My throat hurts from moaning and I’m sore as all get-out. As I stand, my phone clatters to the floor.<br /> I reach down to pick it up—<br /> And freeze in horror.<br /> Ruslan’s name is lighting up my screen.<br /> And the call is active.<br /> For seven minutes and thirty-two seconds, I’ve been masturbating to the absolute filthiest fantasy I’ve ever had, starring Ruslan Oryolov.<br /> ————————<br /> Emma<br /> If anyone has a reason to cry, it’s me. My boss is an arrogant prick and my sister is dead and her husband is more of a burden than a help and I have three innocent kids I’m doing my best to raise right but I can’t seem to catch a break and I need sleep and food and more coffee and a vacation and a fresh start and—the list just goes on. One reason for each of my thousand tears.<br /> “Auntie Em! Auntie Em, wake up.”<br /> I come to with a start. The sun is slanting in through the blinds and I have absolutely no freaking idea what planet I’m on. I feel a sharp line of pain on my cheek. It takes me a long moment to realize that it’s because I have a shoelace plastered to my skin. I peel it off with a wince and look up to see Josh standing over me.<br /> “Auntie Em, it’s 7:45. We’re late for school.”<br /> The next fifteen minutes are a blur. I get the girls up and dressed in the least coordinated outfits in the history of terrible parenting. I hurl random food into their lunchboxes with no regard for nutritional value. And then we’re all sprinting out the door.<br /> Ben, needless to say, doesn’t so much as lift a finger to help.<br /> I get the evil eye from the receptionist at the kids’ school when I drop them off well into first period. I just pop a peck on each of their foreheads and then turn to Bane.<br /> I get another evil eye from the lobby receptionist there, too, but I don’t quite realize why until I’m in the elevator up to the thirtieth floor and I catch sight of my reflection in the polished bronze.<br /> I look like an absolute shitshow. My hair is a rat’s nest on my head and my blouse is on backwards. The fashionable one-shoulder cutout is framing my frayed bra strap instead of a tasteful slice of arm.<br /> Wet street dogs are more put-together than I am.<br /> It’s way too late to go back now, though. I can already imagine Ruslan’s eyebrow. It’s probably halfway up his scalp by now. His voice is going to be absolutely frigid when he hears me come stumbling in. Something like:<br /> “You have got to be kidding me.”<br /> Wait. That wasn’t my imagination. That was actually his voice.<br /> I open my eyes and turn around to realize that the elevator doors have opened—and who should be standing there but my beloved, benevolent boss?<br /> Sure enough, his eyebrow is locked and loaded and that cruelly sharp jaw of his clenched so tight that I wonder idly if he has a good dentist on speed dial.<br /> I open my mouth to defend myself, but what is there even to say? “I’m sorry,” I blurt. “I fell asleep after—It was a long night and—I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”<br /> He doesn’t so much as blink. “I expect you to dress appropriately for your job, Ms. Carson,” he growls. “Not do the walk of shame through my building.”<br /> I frown. “The walk of—? Hold on. No, that’s not what this is. I didn’t—”<br /> “You’re wearing yesterday’s skirt and flaunting your undergarments like you think you can seduce your way out of being—” He checks his watch. “—two and a half hours late. I’m not sure if you think I’m stupid or easy. I’m also not sure which of those two would offend me more.”<br /> One word snags my attention. “Seduce?” I parrot stupidly.<br /> Out of nowhere, thoughts of what it would look like to seduce Ruslan Oryolov come prancing through my head.<br /> Wrapping his tie around my fist and bringing that smirking snarl down to my lips for a taste.<br /> Lying back on his desk, pencil skirt hiked above my hips, while he shoves my panties to the side and devours me like his last meal.<br /> On my knees on his office carpet as he stands over me and—<br /> “Ms. Carson, I’m not interested in your explanations. Go do your job. Before I find someone else to do it for you.”<br /> With that, he brushes past me and gets on the elevator. I turn and look dumbly at him as the doors close on his face. The last thing I see is the arrogant slant of his mouth.<br /> Then that, too, disappears.<br /> My cheeks are burning red for the rest of the day. Luckily, I have an extra cardigan at my desk, so I’m able to cover up the worst of my wardrobe malfunction.<br /> But my phone keeps pinging all day long with messages from Ruslan. Do this. Send that. Fax this. Email that. He’s as unbearable as ever. Everything from the expiration date on his coffee creamer to the status of the conference room chairs he’s so anal about merits yet another scathing comment from him. And after yesterday’s nightmare, I’m running on fumes.<br /> My only saving grace is that he has a gala tonight, so he’s scheduled to leave the office at 5:00 P.M. sharp. I’m counting down the last ten seconds until the clock strikes five like I’m a Times Square partier on New Year’s Eve.<br /> “Seven… Six… Five… Four… Three… Two… One…”<br /> Ping. Another text. I moan and look down to see the devil’s name pop up on my phone.<br /> RUSLAN: My office. Now.<br /> Goddammit. I was so close.<br /> Sighing, I get up and slink inside.<br /> “Shut the door,” he orders. It’s dark in here. The curtains are sealed tight and the temperature is Arctic. He’s a mass of shadows behind his desk, huge and fragrant. The only thing I can see is the sharp light of his amber eyes.<br /> “Sit.” A shadowy hand points at the chair across from his desk.<br /> I perch at the edge of the seat in question. My nerves are buzzing and frayed. I’m so, so tired. But I can’t show him that. Matter of fact, I refuse to show him that.<br /> I won’t give the smug prick the satisfaction of thinking he’s outlasted me.<br /> “I asked you yesterday if I had your full attention,” he begins. “I’m not so sure I do. So let me say this: if your priorities lie anywhere other than this company, then I will find a new assistant. I’m not a nice man, Ms. Carson. So believe me when I tell you that this is not the kind of place where you get three strikes before something bad happens. You mess up once—you’re gone. Am I making myself clear?”<br /> I swallow. “Yes, sir.”<br /> He nods. “Good. Be here on time tomorrow. Dress like you intend to keep your job. Now, if you’ll excuse me… there’s the door.”<br /> He looks down at his phone and poof, it’s like I don’t exist anymore.<br /> But I. Am. Pissed.<br /> He doesn’t know what I’m going through. He doesn’t know Ben is snoring and farting in my living room, or that three little kids are waiting on me to pick them up from after-school care. He doesn’t know that I buried my sister or that I’m barely keeping my head above water. He doesn’t know anything.<br /> “No.” I blurt it before I can think better of it. “No. No. I’m not some little worm under your shoe, Mr. Oryolov. I’m a—I mean, screw you, I’m a person! I have a life and hobbies and people who depend on me. I’m real! So I’d appreciate it very much if you’d pull your smug head out of your smug prick and treat me with some respect for once.”<br /> Ruslan blinks.<br /> Blinks.<br /> Blinks.<br /> “Is there something else, Ms. Carson?”<br /> That’s when I realize that my whole little tirade took place entirely in my head. It wasn’t real. All imagined. Just a pleasant little detour to a fantasy land where I give him my two cents and then some.<br /> I swallow past the nasty taste in my throat and stand. “No, sir,” I say quietly. “Nothing at all.”<br /> -<br /> I ended the call with my best friend, Phoebe.<br /> Then a face pops up on the black screen of my mind’s eye.<br /> It’s Ruslan because, like I told Pheebs, he haunts me even when I’m off the clock. He’s smiling that smile she described. That come-to-bed-and-let-me-show-you-what-I-can-do-to-you smile. The camera of my imagination pulls back and floats down.<br /> Imaginary Ruslan is wearing an ivory white button-down shirt with the top two buttons undone. Enough to see a dusting of dark chest hair and the edge of a tattoo I can’t quite make out. He flexes his forearms in front of him. Those knuckles crack, louder than I expected, and I let out a surprised little gasp.<br /> I like when you make that noise, he croons. Shall I see if I can make you do it again?<br /> I’m nodding before I’m even realizing what I’m doing. “Make me moan,” I plead.<br /> I’m also touching the inside of my knee before I realize what I’m doing. But it’s not my hands that are doing it—or at least, it doesn’t feel like it’s my hands. It’s Ruslan’s hands, huge and powerful, palming my thigh and drifting up under the edge of my pencil skirt.<br /> You’ve been a naughty assistant, he growls, breath minty in my face where it mingles with the woodsy spice of his cologne. There’s a faint laugh on the edge of his voice, like he knows that this whole thing is crazy but he’s just going with it because it’s hotter than it is ridiculous. You’ve been so very, very bad. Step into my office and shut the door.<br /> The rest of the world disappears like I just followed his orders. Gone is my messy apartment and the lingering smell of burrito cheese. Ruslan is all I smell now.<br /> That cologne.<br /> That breath.<br /> Beneath it, that musk that sets my nerve endings on fire.<br /> “Are you going to punish me, Ruslan?” I whisper.<br /> I’m on the literal edge of my seat, grinding and bucking against my fingers. Imaginary Ruslan has me eating out of the palm of his hand. I’d do anything for him. Say anything. Be anything.<br /> Imaginary Ruslan is every bit the cruel prick that real Ruslan is. He said he’d keep my orgasms to himself, but I feel like I stole this one from him. The euphoria of it rips through me in one endless lightning bolt after the next, until finally, what feels like an hour later, I come back to something like normal consciousness with drool on my lips and my fingers wet and sticky with my own desire.<br /> I stand on legs that are just as shaky as he said they’d be. My throat hurts from moaning and I’m sore as all get-out. As I stand, my phone clatters to the floor.<br /> I reach down to pick it up—<br /> And freeze in horror.<br /> Ruslan’s name is lighting up my screen.<br /> And the call is active.<br /> The reality of what is happening clicks in my gut immediately, but it takes a few delayed moments before my head comes to terms with it.<br /> For seven minutes and thirty-two seconds, I’ve been on a call with Ruslan Oryolov.<br /> For seven minutes and thirty-two seconds, I’ve been masturbating to the absolute filthiest fantasy I’ve ever had, starring Ruslan Oryolov.<br /> For seven minutes and thirty-two seconds, my phone has been recording every last moan and gasp and breath and twitch I made while I begged for his mercy and pleaded for him to make me come.<br /> Did Ruslan hear the whole thing?<br /> -<br /> “It’s over. My life as I know it is over. R.I.P. to me.”<br /> “I’m sorry, who is this?”<br /> “Pheebs!”<br /> She chuckles while I stare at my reflection in the mirror and try not to throw up. My phone is lying on the bathroom counter on speakerphone, mostly because my palms have been sweating since I saw the meeting invite in my calendar for today.<br /> 9:00 A.M. – 09:07:32 A.M.: Emma Carson 1-on-1 with Ruslan Oryolov.<br /> “Sorry. Couldn’t resist. Anyway, rewind, take a deep breath, then tell me what’s going on in your big girl voice. Unburden yourself. Take all the time you need. Just make it quick because I have a 9 o’clock appointment.”<br /> I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet now, the same way that Reagan does when she needs to pee really bad. “Yeah, so do I. With him.”<br /> “Ah. Oh, wait—oh.”<br /> I first called Phoebe last night right after realizing what I’d done. Her reaction was a dizzying mixture of pride and horror. I believe her exact words were, “Sure, it’s mortifying, but I’m glad you got your rocks off. Knew you had it in you.”<br /> She’s a little more reassuring now that things are escalating out of control. “That doesn’t necessarily mean he heard the voicemail, Em. Maybe this is just a standard, no-big-deal, super-boring-business-stuff Thursday morning meeting.”<br /> “It’s scheduled for seven minutes and thirty-two seconds. Precisely.”<br /> “Hm.” There’s a beat of silence. “Doesn’t look good, does it?”<br /> “Seriously? That’s all you’ve got for me? I’m gonna lose my job, Phoebe!”<br /> “You don’t know that for sure. Just take a deep breath and go in there, see what he wants. Play it cool, y’know?”<br /> “And what if what he wants is to kick my arse to the curb with a recommendation letter that claims I’m a dirty bimbo?”<br /> “I mean, there’s probably a market for that.” I moan as Phoebe’s laughter fades into a serious tone. “Listen, boo: whatever happens, you’re a strong, smart, confident woman and you’re gonna land on your feet. And until you do, I’ve got your back.”<br /> Her words mean everything to me, but I know that Phoebe doesn’t have much margin for error in her life, either. She struggles just as hard as I do. If she is able to help, it still wouldn’t put a dent in all the bills and loans looming over me.<br /> “Thanks for the pep talk. I’ve gotta go to my doom now.”<br /> “Keep your pecker up!”<br /> I blink. “Huh?”<br /> “Oklahoma talk. It means, like, ‘break a leg,’ but for Midwesterners.”<br /> If I weren’t worried about losing my job and ending up homeless on the street with three kids, I’d laugh. Instead, I say one more miserable goodbye, then spend a solid three minutes dry-heaving into one of the empty bathroom stalls.<br /> Once I’ve sufficiently bruised my stomach lining, I slink out of the bathroom and waste the remaining two minutes before the meeting standing outside of Ruslan’s door, watching the clock steal my life away one second at a time.<br /> “You okay, Emma?” asks Katie Miller, another of the executive assistants on this floor, as she passes by.<br /> “Dandy,” I mumble. “Just waiting for the noose.”<br /> “What was that?”<br /> “Nothing. I like your earrings. Have a good day.”<br /> She raises her brow a smidge. I’m not usually so dismissive, but I can’t concentrate on small talk right now. Not when I’m T-minus thirty seconds away from the end of my career.<br /> Dear God, I know I don’t pray to you often. Or, well, ever. But please help me out today and I’ll definitely consider starting on a more semi-regular basis.<br /> Great. Now, I’m bargaining with God. New low, Emma. New low.<br /> I take a deep breath and walk into his office. The shades are tight, snuffing out all the light of the Manhattan morning beyond. It’s like a bear cave in here—and the grizzly in question is sitting at his desk, scrolling through his phone. He doesn’t acknowledge me until I’m standing in front of his desk.<br /> “Sit.”<br /> The moment my rear end is parked, he puts his phone down and looks at me. Just looks at me.<br /> In the eighteen months that I’ve worked for him, he’s never once given me the benefit of his full attention. Even during our morning meetings, he’s either on his phone, flipping through files, or typing away on his laptop. I used to be annoyed about it. I’m only now realizing I should have been grateful.<br /> Should I say something?<br /> Maybe he wants me to break the silence. Maybe I’m supposed to give him an explanation, an apology, something. But the more the silence stretches on, the less I’m capable of breaking it.<br /> I decide once again that those amber eyes of his should be outlawed.<br /> “I heard the voicemail,” he says at last.<br /> I can’t place his tone. Amusement? Anger? Disbelief?<br /> “Do you have anything to say, Ms. Carson?”<br /> I launch into the apology I spent most of last night practicing in the mirror. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Mr. Oryolov. I have no idea what I was thinking. The whole thing was an accident; I didn’t realize I’d dialed you. I was so tired and out of it and… I can assure you that it will never happen again. I swear.”<br /> My cheeks are flushed with embarrassment, but I try to keep my voice steady. I can’t sound too desperate, although that’s exactly what I am.<br /> “Tell me, Ms. Carson: what would you do in my place?”<br /> “I would give the plucky, hard-working assistant another chance, maybe?” It’s a long shot, but I figure, what the heck? I just wish I’d asked it without my voice rising to an Alvin and the Chipmunks pipsqueak at the end.<br /> His mouth twitches with the promise of a smile, but it’s gone as quick as it came. “I know what you sound like when you climax, Emma. Is that the soundtrack you want running through all our interactions from now on?”<br /> Flushing the brightest of reds, I shake my head. “If we could maybe just forget this whole thing—”<br /> “The way I see it, there are only two options here.”<br /> I hold my breath.<br /> “One, I fire you.”<br /> There it is. I knew it. I’m done for. I’m going to need to call the welfare office and see what—<br /> “Or two… I give you exactly what you want.”<br /> I almost choke on my own saliva. What little is left in my gaping mouth. “W-what?”<br /> Silently, Ruslan offers me the blue folder lying in front of him. I pick it up with shaky hands and open the cover. It takes me a few long moments to figure out what on earth I’m looking at.<br /> A… contract?<br /> I read through the first page, feeling a strange sensation bubble up in my chest.Then, since I’m clearly misunderstanding something, I read through the first page again. And again. And again.<br /> Only then do I look up. “Is this a joke?”<br /> He doesn’t blink. “I never joke.”<br /> “It’s just that, it seems like, from what I read, um—”<br /> “I will offer you money and security in exchange for live encores of the little performance you sent me last night. In addition to meeting my other needs.”<br /> “And by ‘needs,’ you mean…intercourse?”<br /> He tilts his chin down and regards me solemnly. “How explicit would you like me to be, Ms. Carson?”<br /> What.<br /> “So this—” I raise the blue folder in my hand. “—is a sugar daddy contract?”<br /> His brow furrows. “I’d prefer to call it a ‘Friend With Benefits’ contract.”<br /> “But we’re not friends.”<br /> He smirks. “Fair enough. No, we’re not.”<br /> There’s a throbbing in my head that reminds me of the first time I got drunk. Sienna and I had snuck into Dad’s study the eve of my sixteenth birthday and stolen a 1984 Chateau Latour. We passed it back and forth, taking turns sipping from the bottle like it was cheap bagged drink until the whole thing was gone.<br /> For a moment, I think about what Sienna would say if she were here. Would she be outraged or intrigued? Would she slap the smug prick and storm out?<br /> Or would she grin and say, Double the price and I’m in.<br /> What would you do, Si?<br /> And then it hits me, a bolt of lightning straight to the chest, almost like she’s speaking to me herself. I miss her so much, it hurts. But she left little bits of herself behind, in all three of her children. The same kids I’m working off to protect.<br /> That right there is the answer.<br /> Sienna would have done whatever was best for her children.<br /> So I don’t slap him. I don’t storm out. I sit there and stare at my arrogant, prick boss who always gets exactly what he wants.<br /> And what he wants… is me.<br /> I meet Ruslan’s steely gaze. “What happens if I say no?”	LEARN_MORE	https://a.crazynovelapp.com/ad/TXlsaWIvMTcyNTYwLzI	101567746344602	Cra0003	https://facebook.com/100094651747378	76	1	2,666,994,853,462,523	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Cra0003	120212740572690679	a.crazynovelapp.com	NONE	video		https://a.crazynovelapp.com/ad/TXlsaWIvMTcyNTYwLzIwMjQwNTA4MTYxMzE0L3BhZ2U=?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-08 03:18	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438159546_1259012485059846_8077221137706382895_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bkW8tCMK9ygQ7kNvgH_ivEN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC6zZuugKWbGM0xG1dsAYTGTmq5Gk7M57HkcQa4grI-HQ&oe=6641EE66	person_profile	Cra0003	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440451253_376682365372737_448660092137861119_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zP2vzBwsfh4Q7kNvgHiECPx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDYZxi4ivpanoG0MuS1ancwHrF0lXbH2-L9InXUypdnfg&oe=6641F654	3	Cra0003	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,773	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":0.995521123350684,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	No	2024-05-08 18:43	active	760	329409043505966	Click to continue watching 👉👉👉	When i was sick and hospitalized My husband had sex with another woman in the hospita!	WATCH_MORE	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.e	275572858968276	Eashort skit	https://facebook.com/61557988040582	30	1	967,714,057,907,114	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Watch more	Eashort skit	120208462267900472	play.google.com	NONE	video		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esbook.dk	2024-05-08 02:55	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441524314_2553552781489637_5136324210310099517_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iDEhjUeWIeIQ7kNvgGmom_2&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD8o_RXEK7xd2dY1OYvQu6QBjlP5vzWkS4XZcCwBbDAKg&oe=6641D825	person_profile	Eashort skit	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440357175_416507401290327_8817219202234069850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ctvBLaEJpjAQ7kNvgH0ABgb&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfByUcRWMQJByr5VyiNcC_-8oDJ2ecT4uZcylrWyDXiLaQ&oe=6641D0B2	3	Eashort skit	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
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1,778,312	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778385}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	1542985592926098	Read with Your Ears➤➤	"I, Silas Morgan, future alpha of the South Texas Pack reject Lilith Conner as my mate!" <br /> "I, Lilith Conner, leave the South Texas Pack in body and mind!" There was shock all around the dining room as what I said sunk in, and I felt the pack bond break.<br /> ********<br /> As the alarm went off I rolled over to hit the snooze button then realized it was 3 AM. I jumped out of bed and headed to the restroom in my hut. After being kicked out of the pack house I was shunned to this small hut in pack lands. The hut was my home even though everyone basically saw it as me sleeping in a cardboard box. It had a open room and a tiny restroom with a shower. It was built for me because no one wanted me around or to use the pack house facilities. I am the disgrace of the South Texas Pack. I have my duties to hold my place in this pack, I cook all the meals for the 300 pack members. I have to stay out of everybody's way considering that is my only way I can stay and have a home if it was even considered that. When I was five the pack found me curled in a ball in the corner of my families old house. My parents layed on the floor in their own blood. The alpha was outraged that his beta was dead. Even though I was a child the pack has blamed me, not once trying to find out the truth behind my parents death. All I remember from that night was waking up to a loud sound, running down the stairs to find my parents already gone. That night still haunts me. Being seventeen and having to raise myself has not been easy. With being punished every chance the pack got I was already ready to give up. There was always a little voice in the back of my mind pushing me not to, and for some reason I have listened to it for the past twelve years. "Lilith" I turned to see one of the pack warriors coming down the stairs getting ready for shift change guarding the land. I recognized him right away, "I'm sorry, Adam, I will go cook breakfast now". I didn't realize I was standing in front of the mirror for so long. As I walked past him I didn't dare look up as I knew by the way he said my name how he would look, disgusted. When I was done with breakfast I made my way to grab a piece of bread since that was what I was allowed. I was expected to survive off of three pieces a day. The reason for my poor nutrition, and nobody cared. I have a feeling that this is what they wanted a slow death. As I was walking out the door before anyone noticed me I ran into somebody. I glanced up only to see who it was and automatically dropped my gaze and head. At six foot tall and built the way every woman dreamed about. Silas, the alpha's son, stood there and said, "How about you get a move on and next time don't ruin my clothes with your disgrace". He shoved me hard so that I fell to the floor and had to scramble up clumsily. Noticing he moved out from the door I ran as fast as I could to my home. I graduated the previous year. Yes, I know i'm a little young to already have graduated high school, but I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I didn't have the money to go to the community college like a lot of the pack, so I stayed and worked here for the little they gave me which isn't much at all. I flopped down on my bed and realized tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday. I didn't realize how much time has passed. With not being able to shift into my wolf and turning eighteen means finding your mate, but I don't think it's possible for me. I fear if I was to find him he wouldn't want me and would reject me. Before I noticed I was waking up again to banging on my door. I walked over and pulled the door open revealing my alpha.<br /> "Lilith, tomorrow is your birthday and I have come up with two options for you", he said with distaste. "Yes, alpha", I replied with my head bowed showing respect.<br /> "Option one, You leave the pack and move on with your life, which is the kindest thing I can offer you at the moment", he paused, "Option two, You continue to do what you do for the pack and when the time comes you will break and nobody will mourn you", he announced.<br /> "I will let you know tomorrow of what I choose, but I have no where to go, and at that y'all are who I know", I paused before finishing, "I will announce my decision in front of the whole Pack before breakfast".<br /> I could feel his eyes on me as he thought about what to say, and I was afraid he would slap me for wanting to wait until the morning. All he said was, "Fine", and walked out slamming my door in my face. And than that's when I realized I had the most important decision in my life to make tonight. As I lay awake from thinking about my options and trying to decide what I should do there was a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't decide and it was already 2 AM with no sleep I forced myself to sit up and really think about my future. Where would I go if I left, and would I even be able to survive long. If I was to stay I would either be beat or starved to death. What if I was to find my soulmate here tomorrow and I left before I knew who it was, would he even want me? After I showered and started walking out of my hut I fell to my knees from a sharp pain in my stomach. Thinking it's from not eating anything but a piece of bread yesterday I got up and glanced back at the small room I've lived in for twelve years making my decision. The weird sensation never left even after the pain I felt as I arrived at the pack house. I opened the doors to the kitchen and started pulling out all the ingredients I needed to start cooking. I was going to make the pack the best breakfast they ever had because even though I don't get to celebrate my birthday they will. As I prepared everything possible there was a bang on the kitchen door followed by someone coming in. I turned around to find Silas staring at me with anger, his crystal blue eyes seemed to have fire in them and his slightly curled black hair was messy. I lowered my gaze to the floor instantly.<br /> "Why is it you!?" he yelled. "What do you mean I always prepare the breakfast," I mumbled not looking up from the floor. "You don't feel anything, how could you not I'm standing so close to you but I felt it when you walked into the house" he said calmer but still angry. "All I feel is hunger pains", but as I said it I did feel a pull towards him I didn't want. What he said next I expected but I was not prepared. "I, Silas Morgan, future alpha of the South Texas Pack reject Lilith Conner as my mate!" he announced it with such anger as he turned and left, I felt every ounce as the mate bond broke. At that moment I was in such pain I thanked the goddess herself for letting me finish the food before this happened. I ran as far as I could and when I reached where I felt was safe I fell to my knees and my whole body shook from the tears and pain that I was experiencing. I didn't want the mate bond to be with him, and I also knew if it was someone from this pack they would reject me immediately. It hurt a lot but I managed to stop the tears and gather myself to look slightly normal as I made my way to the pack house to let them know my decision. I walked in and made my way to the dining hall everyone stopped what they where doing as soon as I stepped in. Walking rather quickly to stand in front of the alpha and his family's table I said, " I, Lilith Conner, leave the South Texas Pack in body and mind!" There was shock all around the dining room as what I said sunk in, and I felt the pack bond break. After what felt like a long while the alpha finally spoke, "Lilith Conner, you are officially released from all pack responsibility and bond. You are to leave pack lands immediately!" I finally had the nerve to look at everyone as I walked out and realized the shock was still there mixed with disgust. I never felt love from them after my parents died and I didn't think I ever would, and I didn't want them to have the pleasure of my death so that is why I made the decision I did. I honestly felt a little relieved as I walked out with my head held high. I've never imagined myself packing my life away and heading into the unknown but here I am, as I look around one last time I remind myself that everything happens for a reason. Shutting the door to the hut and throwing my bag over my shoulder I began to walk off pack lands and into the city. As I got to a bench I sat down and counted the little bit of money I have. It turns out I had just enough to find somewhere to stay for a little while. The money I have is what is left from my parents after the pack took the rest to support me as they said. They didn't know I still had this little bit I hid it well in the floor of the hut. I walked to a Motel 6 and got a room and decided to take a long hot shower. Laying on the motel bed I started thinking about getting a job and staying under the radar so no other pack can find me. It is a law not to be a rogue wolf in a packs territory they will have the right to decide your punishment, and most decide to kill you instead of torture. Finally feeling the loneliness of not being in a pack and missing the connection, I have to snap myself out of this, so I decide to put on my hoodie and go to try to find some food close by. Walking into a small gas station that was a block away from the motel I find some cheap food I can use the microwave in the motel room to cook. I pay for everything and start walking back to the motel when I bump into someone, cursing myself I glance up and get a quick glance at a woman around my age. All I find myself saying is, "I'm so sorry, please forgive me". She smiled and said, "It's okay", and then inhaled deeply. Realizing my mistake I took off as fast as I can not looking back to see if she was following. Reaching my motel room and bolting all the locks as soon as I get in I mentally yell at myself for not watching my surroundings, because other wolves can smell a rouge wolf instantly. I only pray she didn't follow me and report back to whoever is alpha of her pack. The weird feeling I was having in my stomach was growing stronger even though I ate. I couldn't blame it on not eating enough because I ate more than I should have. I needed to find a healer and soon, they would hopefully know what is wrong with me. I know they have to have rogue healers somewhere close. I had a feeling I was being followed as I entered a forest on the other side of the city. I didn't want to slow down in fear of being captured which I think is what was going to happen soon. I was running past a huge rock when I was tackled to the ground. I looked up to see who or what was pinning me to the ground, and I was staring into bright green eyes. It was a woman that was holding me down, she had curly red hair that framed her pale, freckled face like a mane. "Who are you?", she said in a calm-stern voice. "I'm sorry to trespass on your lands, my name is Lilith Conner, and I'm trying to find a healer", I replied quickly trying to remain calm. She was still pinning me down and I finally noticed how strong she was. I can tell she was a wolf but I wasn't strong enough to sense whether she was a rogue or in a pack, so I was going to take my chances since I couldn't get away. "Okay Lilith, but tell me why you are out here by yourself I can sense that you are not in a pack, so why should I trust you?" She was looking at me with such curiosity and distrust that I knew I needed to tell her my story if I wanted to make it to a healer in time since the feeling I was having was not disappearing. "I left my pack since I was given the option. They mistreated me ever since my parents died, and blamed me for it. I was also rejected by my mate who was the alpha's son." I went into more detail with her about the hut I was living in, the punishments and how I was basically starving to death.<br /> "So how was I supposed to stay and give them the pleasure of my death, that is why I had to leave", I said with not looking away from her eyes, so she could see I was telling the truth. She was just staring at me and I didn't know what to say or how to act so she wouldn't see me as a threat, even though with her strength I doubt I would be a threat with my overly skinny, malnutritioned self. All of a sudden there was the sharp pain again and I couldn't stop myself from crying out, and I could feel the tears flowing down my face. "Are you okay!?", she was panicking and jumped off of me, pulling me to my feet. "I need to see a healer, and soon, I don't know what is wrong with me", I replied through shallow breaths. I stood as she held on to my wrist, but I felt as if I was going to crumble to my knees at any moment. I didn't have the energy to ask her where we were going. There was a small voice in the back of my mind through all the pain I was feeling that said we could trust her, I hope that was true. I don't know how long we were walking for but we ended up coming to a small village. There was at least ten or more log cabins scattered around the wide openening we were standing in. The cabins had a homey look to them with different colored rose bushes in the front, and there was a large fire pit in the center of it all with wood benches around it. I took this moment to look at her and ask where we were going. She didn't reply and just kept walking until we ended up in front of a cabin with white roses out front. Without looking at me she raised her free hand and knocked four times before I heard shuffling from the inside. The door opened to reveal a elderly looking woman with soft brown eyes and braided silver hair. She looked startled to see me but once she saw that I was clenching my stomach with my free hand she opened the door wider and told us to hurry in. As we were led to a room that had a bed and medical supplies throughout it I realized this was their healer. The woman supporting me helped me lay on the bed and explained to the woman how she found me and what happened. "Now dear, can you tell me what is going on", the healer asked me. "Yes ma'am, it started with a weird sensation in the pit of my stomach a few days ago. Then I get these sharp pains randomly that have me falling to my knees."<br /> She looked at me for a long moment before asking me, "Have you shifted yet, and if you don't mind me asking how old are you?"<br /> "No ma'am I haven't shifted yet, and I turned eighteen a few nights ago." She looked at me with sadness in her eyes. She started gathering multiple things I tried to see what they were but couldn't catch a glimpse as she was moving too fast. She shuffled her way towards me with everything she gathered and set it on a table that was by the bed. I was starting to feel extremely nervous as she lifted the bottom of my shirt halfway up stopping when it reached my ribs. She started pressing on my stomach moving in a circle. She stopped and looked at me suddenly asking,"Can you tell me a little bit about who your parents were?" "I don't know much I was only five when everything happened, I remember that my father was the beta of my old pack and my mother was always with me." She seemed to be in a daze then snapped out of it asking what my parents names were. I replied, "Jay and Emily Conner, I'm afraid I don't know my mother's maiden name." "Well dear, I'm just going to say that there is magic holding your wolf in and I won't be able to help you with that, i'm sorry, but I can tell you that your wolf is fighting against the magic and that is why you are having pain. I can give you some herbs to help with the pain but you will need to find a witch to help you with the magic", she said with pity in her eyes.<br /> She walked to a cabinet on the wall across from the bed and grabbed a jar and needle. Coming back to the bed she said, " I am going to give you some pain medicine through a injection to help for now." The lady with the red hair was still here sitting at the end of the bed, her head shot up to the healer and the needle pierced my arm and before I could say anything I slipped into blackness.<br /> <br /> <br /> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br /> Wanna listen more? download our App and check more! Novel ID: 91595!	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1,778,287	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	No	2024-05-08 18:36	active	760	1212115139810883	Click to Read More Chapters👉	Chapter 1<br /> After winning yet another lawsuit, Jasmine Black was having a drink with her colleagues at the bar.<br /> <br /> She was hammered when she noticed her rival, Diego Cooper, sitting at the opposite table.<br /> <br /> Diego was a prominent lawyer worldwide. He was regarded as the industry's formidable devil. He had never once lost a case.<br /> <br /> He's also the bastard that Jasmine had pursued from high school until she graduated from university.<br /> <br /> She had pursued him for seven long years, yet he remained indifferent and heartless toward her.<br /> <br /> Jasmine abruptly sprang up from her seat and staggered toward Diego. With one flop, she sat straight on his lap.<br /> <br /> She grabbed his necktie with one hand while resting the other against his toned abs. <br /> <br /> "Diego Cooper… Have you become bad in bed?"<br /> <br /> Diego didn't stop her as he reclined against the back of the couch. Instead, he stared at her wordlessly.<br /> <br /> "You're not answering… So, does that mean… it's true?"<br /> <br /> Something flickered in his eyes as he quickly removed her hand. <br /> <br /> "Don't you care about your reputation anymore? All your colleagues are here." <br /> <br /> His deep voice was slightly hoarse.<br /> <br /> Their colleagues gaped at them in disbelief, impressed by Jasmine's bravery.<br /> <br /> "What reputation? I had mine ruined a long time ago because of you!" a drunk Jasmine grumbled before biting his neck.<br /> <br /> All her high school and university classmates knew she spent a lot of money to win Diego's heart, only to fail miserably in the end.<br /> <br /> After graduating from university, she was crestfallen and went abroad. She swore she would one day beat Diego in something he was best at.<br /> <br /> When she returned to the country six months ago, she was already a famous lawyer with a winning streak dating back to the beginning of her career.<br /> <br /> She was beginning to drawl.<br /> <br /> While wearing a frown, Diego pulled the back of her collar to create distance between them. <br /> <br /> His eyes were dark and indecipherable. <br /> <br /> "You've drank too much, Jasmine. Have someone take you home."<br /> <br /> "No! I want you to take me home!" <br /> <br /> She yanked his necktie. Her imperative tone sounded slightly coquettish.<br /> <br /> He removed her hands from his tie so he could loosen it. Then, he grabbed her by the arm before walking outside without saying a word.<br /> <br /> Their colleagues' eyes widened.<br /> <br /> Everyone in the legal and political world knew Jasmine and Diego were on bad terms. <br /> <br /> They tried to figure out the scene they had just witnessed.<br /> <br /> When they reached the car, Jasmine wrapped her arms around Diego's neck and planted a kiss on his neck, sending a slight tremor down his spine.<br /> <br /> He held her by the waist and shoved her away. <br /> <br /> "This is sexual harassment, Jasmine Black. Do you think I won't sue you for this?" <br /> <br /> His tone rose.<br /> <br /> "If you're really bad in bed, then forget it. I'll just find someone by the street to release my sexual frustration."<br /> <br /> She then ignored him and waved at a passing man. <br /> <br /> "Hey, hot guy! Wanna get a room together?" <br /> <br /> Jasmine seemed serious about the invitation.<br /> <br /> Diego's expression darkened as he watched her antics. He pressed her waving hand down and opened the car door to shove her in.<br /> <br /> Then, he drove the car back home.<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> The next morning, Jasmine woke up and turned her head stiffly. <br /> <br /> Diego was sitting next to her, smoking. He appeared laid-back.<br /> <br /> Despite his charming looks, he had a dominating and intimidating presence about him.<br /> <br /> The grogginess that clouded her mind disappeared in a heartbeat.<br /> <br /> Did she finally manage to have sex with him after almost seven years?<br /> <br /> "Morning, Mr. Cooper," she said.<br /> <br /> Jasmine propped herself up, returning to her professional composure as a lawyer.<br /> <br /> "Wash up. Someone will serve breakfast in a while." <br /> <br /> Diego discarded his cigarette into the ashtray. <br /> <br /> "I'll forgo it. I have a client to meet in the morning." <br /> <br /> Aloofness seeped into her voice.<br /> <br /> She lifted the sheets and was about to get out of bed when an idea crossed her mind. <br /> <br /> She suddenly grabbed her phone from the headboard, smiling mischievously. <br /> <br /> "How about a picture for memory's sake?"<br /> <br /> Before Diego could say anything, Jasmine quickly launched the camera app on her phone and lay her head against his sturdy chest.<br /> <br /> She flashed a triumphant smile, raised the phone high, and took a selfie of her and Diego.<br /> <br /> The picture was rather suggestive as they were naked and were only covered with a blanket. <br /> <br /> She sent it to her best friend alongside a voice message. <br /> <br /> "Becky Dobbs, tell those people to wire the money to me. I won the bet. Oh, and the payment should include ten years of interest."<br /> <br /> Since she had lost her reputation, she thought she should make some money to make up for it.<br /> <br /> The shrewd Diego caught the point of the message. <br /> <br /> He asked with a smirk, "The bet was about me?"<br /> <br /> Turning around, she plastered herself to his chest while drawing circles on his abs with her finger. She couldn't resist it.<br /> <br /> Jasmine looked at Diego with beady eyes. <br /> <br /> "Why are you so surprised? I thought you've known all this while. Oh, and about what happened last night, it was consensual. It was simply an adult game. You don't have to take any responsibility."<br /> <br /> She felt the years she spent pursuing him were a loop of disappointment and heartbreaks. Continuing to be his devoted admirer would be a foolish decision.<br /> <br /> Sleeping and then dumping Diego had always been on her wishlist.<br /> <br /> "You're wild, Ms. Black." <br /> <br /> Chuckling, he glanced at her and pushed her away.<br /> <br /> Due to his handsome looks, a mere glance from him was enough to paralyze her with a tingling sensation.<br /> <br /> Jasmine thought Diego was a bastard who was good at seducing.<br /> <br /> His push caused her to fall backward, but she managed to support herself with both palms on the bed.<br /> <br /> Her tress cascaded over her shoulders, revealing her exposed body and seductive curves. <br /> <br /> Jasmine had a stunning body.<br /> <br /> Diego's eyes studied her up and down. The fact that his heart skipped a beat made him frown.<br /> <br /> "Did you sleep with me because you might like me?" <br /> <br /> She casually brushed her slightly curled hair. Picking up her shirt and bra, she began to take her time to dress herself.<br /> <br /> "Do you think that's even possible?" <br /> <br /> He cast a cold glance at her.<br /> <br /> Diego's answer didn't surprise her one bit. Regardless, it didn't bother her because she was determined to be the one who dumped him this time.<br /> <br /> Right then, her phone began ringing from the flood of incoming messages. Jasmine checked her phone. They were from Becky. <br /> <br /> "Did you really sleep with Mr. Cooper? How? This is too sudden. You failed to take him down in those ten years, though." <br /> <br /> Becky was more excited than Jasmine was.<br /> <br /> Smiling, Jasmine quickly replied, "I'll feed you the details later."<br /> <br /> Diego's phone kept ringing as well. He grabbed it and opened his WhatsApp. <br /> <br /> His high school and university group chats exploded with texts. <br /> <br /> Everyone was mind-blown by the news. <br /> <br /> "Jasmine Black had sex with Diego Cooper?"<br /> <br /> Jasmine's body stiffened when she saw the message in the group chat. She didn't expect it to have such a huge impact.<br /> <br /> Fortunately, she was close with the people in the group chats. There were only about 30 people in each group, which wasn't many.<br /> <br /> She replied to the message, "It was just a one-night stand. Those who had made a bet with me—you know who you are—wire the money to me."<br /> <br /> Her response elicited a faint smile from Diego, but his eyes reflected coldness as he watched her.<br /> <br /> She glimpsed at him—that alone was enough to cause a chill to run down her spine.<br /> <br /> "I bet you can't sleep with him for a second time. I'm betting double the amount on this." <br /> <br /> Their university friends copied and pasted the exact message.<br /> <br /> The situation was crazy.<br /> <br /> "Not only can I sleep with him twice, but thrice. Players, be prepared with your money!" she texted back with gusto.<br /> <br /> Backing off? Not a chance! She'd never do that to embarrass herself.<br /> <br /> The smile on Diego's face widened, but he looked like he was going to devour her alive.<br /> <br /> His best friend, Jesse Taylor, sent a text message. <br /> <br /> "Mr. Cooper sent a lawyer to prison a few days ago. Mark my words—it was a 20-year sentence! Good luck, Ms. Black."<br /> <br /> Jasmine read that message and looked at Diego, who began smoking on the bed again. She couldn't read his emotions because the cloud of smoke covered his features.<br /> <br /> Arching her brow, she replied to Jesse, "Oh really? I'm looking forward to the day when I meet Mr. Cooper in court."<br /> <br /> She then shifted her attention away from the chat, smiling and waving at Diego. <br /> <br /> "I should get going, Mr. Cooper. Thanks for the hard work last night. Get some rest."<br /> <br /> Despite his faint smile, Diego suddenly pinched the cigarette between his fingers.<br /> Chapter 2<br /> In the afternoon, Jasmine noticed Diego as soon as she entered the cafe.<br /> <br /> The surprise was brief as she immediately wore a professional smile. <br /> <br /> "What are the odds, Mr. Cooper?"<br /> <br /> "Zero. I'm simply granting your wish." <br /> <br /> Smiling, he placed his cup of coffee on the table before reclining on the couch with his legs crossed. <br /> <br /> "Wow… Thank you for your service?" <br /> <br /> She gladly took a seat opposite him.<br /> <br /> Jasmine's client was a university friend who was also in the group chat they shared. <br /> <br /> The case was about a prestigious family in the city that went bankrupt due to internal conflicts.<br /> <br /> Diego's expression remained the same. He didn't respond to her remarks either.<br /> <br /> "Be a man, Fabian Dawson. We divorced three years ago, and you want half of my money?" Daisy Freeman, dressed in a sexy red dress, growled at Fabian.<br /> <br /> "You've only managed to come this far because of the huge sum of money I spent on you. Don't you even feel guilty about it?" he questioned.<br /> <br /> Fabian needed the money to rise again.<br /> <br /> "Why must I—"<br /> <br /> Before Daisy could finish her thought, Jasmine crossed her legs and interrupted, "If you guys think a fight can get you somewhere, what's the use of hiring a lawyer?"<br /> <br /> The dispute stopped. <br /> <br /> Jasmine looked at Diego indifferently. <br /> <br /> "Mr. Cooper, as you know, although it was signed, the divorce agreement won't be effective as long as the divorce procedures have not proceeded. The law states that a divorced couple should split matrimonial assets in half. The same goes for the debts."<br /> <br /> Diego asked, "Mr. Dawson, is it true that you had an affair while still married and had sex with your mistress many times?"<br /> <br /> Fabian smirked and shook his leg, completely unbothered. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Jasmine turned to look at Fabian in surprise. He hadn't told her any of that.<br /> <br /> Fabian blurted, "Fuck! What kind of man—"<br /> <br /> Jasmine gave him a look and averted the question.<br /> <br /> "Evidence, Mr. Cooper?"<br /> <br /> Jasmine had clearly informed Fabian before this that the conversation would be recorded whenever the lawyers met. <br /> <br /> She wondered if he was out of his mind as he almost let this tongue slip.<br /> <br /> Daisy huffed, "I witnessed him get a room with a model."<br /> <br /> "Ms. Freeman, did Mr. Cooper not explain what evidence is?" <br /> <br /> Jasmine smiled, relieved at the thought that the other party didn't have proof.<br /> <br /> Fabian snorted. <br /> <br /> "I have a mistress? You're talking as though you don't have a boy toy. I also wonder how many businessmen you have slept with all these years."<br /> <br /> "It was after we signed the divorce agreement that I—" <br /> <br /> Diego glimpsed at the foolish Daisy before interrupting her, "Please show the evidence before you speak."<br /> <br /> As mentioned at the beginning of the conversation, the divorce agreement was null and void. How could Daisy admit that she had a boy toy? <br /> <br /> Was she trying to divorce without getting a single penny out of it? Diego thought Daisy was an idiot.<br /> <br /> Jasmine's judging eyes landed on Fabian, who knew that his wife had someone on the side but didn't gather any evidence about it.<br /> <br /> She massaged her forehead, fully aware of the road ahead.<br /> <br /> Diego questioned, "Mr. Dawson, you and my client have been living separately for three years. You didn't fulfill your duty as a husband. What have you been doing all these years?"<br /> <br /> "I—"<br /> <br /> Jasmine shrewdly replied, "He has been working hard to give Ms. Freeman a better life. However, his legal wife withholds the matrimonial assets. He doesn't have any money while going through a rough patch. Ultimately, his business announced its bankruptcy. If this case is brought to court, don't think of taking a single penny, Mr. Cooper."<br /> <br /> Diego retorted, "Is this a threat, Ms. Black? His bankruptcy has nothing to do with my client. You can look into it." <br /> <br /> He looked at Daisy, who also didn't share the information with him.<br /> <br /> This was the first time he was going against Jasmine at work, and it was a surprising case at that.<br /> <br /> "Speaking of, you can also look into this, Mr. Cooper. My client bought his wife multiple houses and luxury cars worth millions of dollars altogether. Ms. Freeman didn't fork up a single penny before and after his business went bankrupt.<br /> <br /> "Controlling the matrimonial assets, refusing to pay off shared debts, and having a male companion… Mr. Cooper, you and your client should seriously consider splitting the assets equally or taking this matter to court." <br /> <br /> Jasmine slightly leaned forward, smiling at Diego.<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> "Before the divorce is settled, keep those women at arm's length. Don't give Diego or your wife any other ammunition. Also, eliminate any records, pictures, messages of hotel room bookings, and whatnot," Jasmine reminded Fabian while driving the car.<br /> <br /> "Got it." <br /> <br /> Fabian was deeply impressed by her. <br /> <br /> The thought of meeting Daisy to obtain funds was humiliating to him, but the way Jasmine bombarded the opposing party gave him confidence. <br /> <br /> He was all puffed up.<br /> <br /> "Is your wife living with her boy toy?" Jasmine inquired.<br /> <br /> "Yeah, it's been three years." <br /> <br /> He crossed his arms, snorting.<br /> <br /> "That's good news for us." <br /> <br /> She smirked as she suddenly pulled over by the road. <br /> <br /> "Get back home and install a surveillance camera at her place. Tell her that it's to… prevent burglary."<br /> <br /> "I don't think she'll let me in." <br /> <br /> The couple had been living separately for three years. Daisy had bought that mansion herself.<br /> <br /> "Idiot! You're still her husband on paper. Is it wrong to return to your home? Plus, she should currently be with Diego."<br /> <br /> "Alright, I'll go now." <br /> <br /> Fabian thought, "Don't blame me for this, Daisy. I've treated you so well and spent so much money on you. How could you be this cruel to me!"<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> That night, Jasmine received a call from Fabian after she finished showering. <br /> <br /> "Diego is going to sue me for bribing him!" <br /> <br /> His words came out in a rush.<br /> <br /> Jasmine rolled her eyes. <br /> <br /> "Well, did you do that?"<br /> <br /> "He called me at night and told me he found that model. I was so scared. I met him, hoping he would cut me some slack for old times' sake. I even gave him a check of one million dollars—"<br /> <br /> "You idiot! That's a trap! He could bring a woman over and accuse you of having slept with her before, but no one would buy it as long as he doesn't have evidence. <br /> <br /> "Oh Lord, someone like you will surely lose everything before you take the divorce case to the courthouse. An idiotic teammate is definitely more harmful than a powerful opponent." <br /> <br /> Jasmine crossed her arms and shook her head.<br /> <br /> "Yes, yes, yes, I'm an idiot. You gotta save me, Jasmine! That jerk, Diego, doesn't even care that we were once friends. Gosh, I'm livid!"<br /> <br /> "You can be sentenced up to 15 years for bribing a lawyer. It's almost impossible to be announced not guilty of this charge. How am I supposed to help you?"<br /> <br /> "W-Well, I don't mind going to prison. But the main thing is, your first loss will be because of Diego! Not only is your reputation at stake, but other lawyers and your friends will never let you live it down!" <br /> <br /> Fabian attempted to earn her pity.<br /> <br /> Jasmine paced back and forth in her room while reminding him seriously, "I repeat, do not meet your wife's lawyer without my presence. Think before you speak whenever you talk to her. Don't fall for her schemes. Got it?"<br /> <br /> "I'll keep that in mind. But how are you going to—" <br /> <br /> He was about to ask her about the possible bribery lawsuit, but the call was terminated.<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> The next morning, Jasmine headed to Cooper, Taylor & Associates.<br /> <br /> The receptionist asked, "Ms. Black, what—" <br /> <br /> "I'm Mr. Cooper's girlfriend," blurted Jasmine without stopping in her tracks.<br /> <br /> The employees were stunned to see her there. Rumors about her and Diego had been circling within the law firm for the past two days.<br /> <br /> She read the sign on the door before knocking and opening it without waiting for Diego's signal.<br /> <br /> Diego, who was reading some documents, looked up at her expressionlessly.<br /> <br /> "Is there anything, Ms. Black?" <br /> <br /> He sounded aloof.<br /> <br /> Jasmine's hair was let loose over her black professional attire. Her three-inch black high heels were supposed to add more professionalism to her appearance, but it made her look alluring instead.<br /> <br /> She walked up next to him before flopping onto his office table seductively. With one hand, she easily grabbed his necktie.<br /> <br /> "Giving me the cold treatment already? We just slept together two days ago, though."<br /> Chapter 3<br /> Diego snatched back his tie from Jasmine's hands while chuckling. <br /> <br /> "You must be here because of Fabian's bribery."<br /> <br /> "Of course not. I'm here to… talk about our relationship, not work." <br /> <br /> She pulled at his necktie again, playing with it while faking a smile. <br /> <br /> "You want me to sleep with you again? So you can brag about it in the group and rake in big money?" <br /> <br /> He slapped her hand away.<br /> <br /> He crossed his arms to lean against the back of his chair and arched a brow at her.<br /> <br /> Jasmine slid down from the table to sit on his lap. The transition she made was smooth.<br /> <br /> Her warm breath brushed against his ears as she giggled. <br /> <br /> "Honestly, I was too drunk to remember what happened that night. I kind of want to relive it again…"<br /> <br /> Diego's ears turned red. He pushed Jasmine and stared at her. He thought she was shameless. <br /> <br /> "Uphold your dignity, Jasmine Black."<br /> <br /> "I've misplaced it. Mind finding it for me?" <br /> <br /> Jasmine rested against his chest lazily. <br /> <br /> Her finger traced along his perfect neckline. <br /> <br /> "I never knew that you were this pretentious, Mr. Cooper. You were so mean that night, as if it was your first time seeing a woman. Why are you pretending to be free from lust now?"<br /> <br /> The cheeky movement of her finger gave him a faint jolt of electricity, and he slapped her hand away. <br /> <br /> "What are you trying to imply right now? Who was the one who said that it was a mere game so heartlessly that day?"<br /> <br /> Jasmine wished she could slap herself—no, Fabian—at this moment. She felt that it was all that idiot's fault.<br /> <br /> Had it not been for him, she wouldn't have needed to flatter Diego.<br /> <br /> "Why take it to the heart when those were mere heartless words? Since we've slept together, why don't we just date?" <br /> <br /> She took shamelessness to a whole new level.<br /> <br /> "Sorry, but I don't date heartless people. Torturing myself is not my thing." <br /> <br /> Diego shoved Jasmine off his lap.<br /> <br /> Jasmine gnashed her teeth in rage. How dare he claim that dating her was torture!<br /> <br /> It took everything in her to build up her reputation and the confidence to stand before him with pride.<br /> <br /> But why must she debase herself for him again?<br /> <br /> She thought Diego was one merciless and stubborn man.<br /> <br /> Given her pretty looks, voluptuous body, elite profession, and background, men lined up to be her partner.<br /> <br /> Yet, she had to work hard to wear him down.<br /> <br /> She stood up straight and massaged her forehead to regain her cool momentarily. <br /> <br /> Then, she made a graceful turn and crossed her arms, smiling. <br /> <br /> "Are you sure you want that, jerk?"<br /> <br /> Diego ignored her and pressed a button on his landline. <br /> <br /> "Callie, come in and escort Ms. Black to make payment."<br /> <br /> He pointed and glanced at the door. <br /> <br /> "Ms. Black, I charge ten thousand dollars per consultation hour. Please make the payment outside."<br /> <br /> She nodded before suddenly removing and tossing her black coat onto his table. She strode toward the door while unbuttoning her shirt and ruffling her hair. <br /> <br /> "It's only ten thousand dollars. Don't worry. I will pay and ask your secretary to… buy something."<br /> <br /> Diego finally showed traces of uneasiness at her actions. He sprang up from his seat and ran over to the door.<br /> <br /> When she opened the door, he quickly slammed it shut again by caging her against it. <br /> <br /> His eyelids fluttered at the pleasing view before him, and he looked away. <br /> <br /> "Why are you here?"<br /> <br /> Jasmine scanned the office, concerned that he would record the conversation secretly. After all, no one knew what he had up his sleeves, considering how cautious he was.<br /> <br /> Daisy was at a disadvantage, which was why Diego set Fabian up. <br /> <br /> If Jasmine fell for Diego's trap, too, she would lose the case and be sent to prison. She would be the joke of the century if that came to pass.<br /> <br /> "I'm here to talk about us." <br /> <br /> She flashed him a smile, attempting to have him wrapped around her finger first.<br /> <br /> Right then, the door suddenly opened. Callie turned her head only to see the duo engaged in an intimate scene. Her jaw almost fell to the floor.<br /> <br /> Diego, who wielded impactful influence in the political and business worlds, always prioritized work over anything else.<br /> <br /> His methods were ruthless and shrewd. Nothing could make him bat an eye, not even a murder.<br /> <br /> On the subject of chivalry and love, he didn't have the emotional intelligence for either of those.<br /> <br /> Callie couldn't believe what she was witnessing.<br /> <br /> "Get out," Diego instructed Callie.<br /> <br /> "Y-Yes. Don't worry, Mr. Cooper. I saw absolutely nothing." <br /> <br /> Callie covered her eyes.<br /> <br /> When he was about to close the door, Jasmine deliberately called out to her. <br /> <br /> "Don't leave so quickly. Could you help us buy something we really need right now?"<br /> <br /> She gave her a meaningful look. <br /> <br /> "Huh?" <br /> <br /> The baffled expression on Callie's face gave way to shock and awkwardness once she comprehended the situation. <br /> <br /> "S-Sure. I'll go right now." <br /> <br /> She slid out of the door and closed it.<br /> <br /> Jasmine chuckled. <br /> <br /> "Your secretary is sensible and funny."<br /> <br /> Diego pulled away from her to get her coat. A crease knitted between his brows. <br /> <br /> "Enough fooling around. Are you going to leave dressed or naked? If you want the latter, I'm happy to lend you a helping hand."<br /> <br /> "Try me." <br /> <br /> She cocked her brow as she didn't believe Diego's words.<br /> <br /> As soon as she finished speaking, Diego threw the coat to one side and stripped her of her shirt.<br /> <br /> Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms and trailed his fingers on her back.<br /> <br /> Completely flustered, she covered her chest. <br /> <br /> "What are you doing, jerk? Do you think you're the only one with guts here?"<br /> <br /> She became agitated and caught the secret pin of his belt and pressed it. The belt dangled in midair. <br /> <br /> Something dark was churning in his eyes as he stared at her.<br /> <br /> Right then, a knock resounded on the door, and the doorknob twisted.<br /> <br /> Before the person could open the door, Diego pushed back against it. <br /> <br /> "Don't come in!"<br /> <br /> He withdrew his hand to wear his belt. <br /> <br /> "Get dressed already!"<br /> <br /> "I thought you wanted me to leave naked. Why are you stopping me now? Because you don't want others to see?"<br /> Chapter 4<br /> Diego was rendered speechless. He gave Jasmine a cold look before returning to his table to bury himself in the documents, ignoring her.<br /> <br /> Jasmine swiftly dressed herself and opened the door to leave. <br /> <br /> But Jesse Taylor—their old friend—was holding some documents by the door.<br /> <br /> He arched his brows at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you let me in? What… were you guys doing in there?"<br /> <br /> "Take a guess." <br /> <br /> Jasmine put on a serious face while brushing her hair. <br /> <br /> "Did you sleep with him again? I will only pay when I see the proof!"<br /> <br /> "Knock on the door at the right time next time." <br /> <br /> She said that intentionally before leaving.<br /> <br /> Diego raised his head to watch her leave. Her antics frustrated him.<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> Jasmine returned to her office in the afternoon. <br /> <br /> An offer came in. It was a request for her to represent a huge company. She would be paid handsomely for the job.<br /> <br /> When the boss left, Fabian, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately entered her office. <br /> <br /> "Be honest with me. How much do you earn annually? You have so many clients."<br /> <br /> "Have you installed the surveillance camera?" <br /> <br /> Jasmine watered the orchids in her office nonchalantly. She thought it was a bad idea to reveal her income to outsiders.<br /> <br /> "I've done it. But Daisy's boy toy hasn't visited her mansion for two days. I bet Diego has reminded her about it."<br /> <br /> "There's no rush in this." <br /> <br /> Jasmine was calm.<br /> <br /> "Do you have any solutions to resolve the bribery incident?" Fabian asked concernedly.<br /> <br /> She fell silent.<br /> <br /> Diego had the evidence that could prove Fabian's bribery attempt, but he didn't file a lawsuit for it.<br /> <br /> She wondered what Diego was up to. Was he trying to play with her more?<br /> <br /> If so, she didn't mind joining the game.<br /> <br /> "I'll buy us some time for now. Didn't you say that your wife slept with other men?"<br /> <br /> "I'm very sure about it. I ran into her a few times when she was having a meal with different businessmen. From the look in their eyes, I knew there was something going on between them. I wouldn't have married her if I had known she was this kind of woman!"<br /> <br /> "Hire a reliable private investigator. It'll be best to have pictures of her having an affair with another man," Jasmine stated.<br /> <br /> With such evidence, she could negotiate with Diego to reclaim the evidence of Fabian's bribery attempt.<br /> <br /> If Diego still refuses to compromise, she'd need to see him in court first for the bribery case.<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> Diego and Jesse were enjoying their time in the bar at night.<br /> <br /> A woman in a white strap dress showed up. Her makeup was light, and she let her hair loose. She looked stunning.<br /> <br /> The woman walked toward them, and Diego noticed.<br /> <br /> "What a coincidence! Are you guys here for a drink, too?" <br /> <br /> Although there was an empty seat beside Diego, Jasmine chose to sit next to Jesse.<br /> <br /> "You look like a doll today… Are you trying to seduce Mr. Cooper again?" <br /> <br /> Jesse grinned. <br /> <br /> Jasmine ordered a bottle of whiskey from the barista and filled half of her glass with it. <br /> <br /> After taking a sip, she deliberately hung her arm over his shoulders with a smile. <br /> <br /> "I think you're hot, too. You're also funny and nice."<br /> <br /> Diego glanced at her and took a sip of his drink. <br /> <br /> "Jesse, do you know why callous people can appear flirty?" <br /> <br /> He looked serious.<br /> <br /> Jasmine almost choked over her drink. He was chiding her once again.<br /> <br /> She thought he was a jerk for doing so.<br /> <br /> "Because they flirt with different people?" <br /> <br /> Jesse was flabbergasted. <br /> <br /> "Why the question all of a sudden?"<br /> <br /> Sometimes, Jesse swore that he couldn't follow Diego's thoughts.<br /> <br /> "That's right. We should never stoop to that level." <br /> <br /> Diego's tone remained serious.<br /> <br /> Jasmine felt he was being pretentious. <br /> <br /> People might have perceived him as a righteous man, but he was rotten on the inside.<br /> <br /> She sighed.<br /> <br /> "I guess people can stoop that low sometimes." <br /> <br /> She flashed a smile at him while propping her chin on her hand, and he arched his brow in response.<br /> <br /> Jesse choked on his drink and spilled alcohol all over. <br /> <br /> Her face flushed red. It seemed like she had lost this time. <br /> <br /> Agitated, she kicked his shin with her heels and shoved him away.<br /> <br /> Then, she walked over to Diego's seat, bending over to lift his chin and bite his lips.<br /> <br /> Her posture exerted dominance. It was as if a lady boss was forcing a kiss on her submissive boyfriend. <br /> <br /> His expression darkened. He was about to push her away when she pulled herself from him. <br /> <br /> She crossed her arms, satisfied with the mark she left on his lips. <br /> <br /> "Mr. Cooper, please lay the evidence on the table before you speak. If you spout nonsense, I will have to—"<br /> <br /> Halfway through her declaration, he suddenly stood up and towered over her. <br /> <br /> Grabbing her by the waist, Diego pinned her against the counter and bit Jasmine's lips back.<br /> <br /> She moaned in pain.<br /> <br /> Before Jasmine could hit Diego, he withdrew and placed his hands behind his back. <br /> <br /> She massaged her hurting waist and touched her lips, which were bleeding because of his bite.<br /> <br /> Her opinion of him being a jerk strengthened. <br /> <br /> She was so annoyed that she barked a laugh. <br /> <br /> "Diego Cooper, I will make you kneel and beg for mercy one day!" <br /> <br /> "Is that so?" <br /> <br /> He chuckled.<br /> <br /> "I swear to God!" Jasmine waged a challenge.<br /> <br /> He smiled faintly while watching her.<br /> <br /> A thrilled Jesse was grinning ear-to-ear. <br /> <br /> "Holy moly, you're going to make him kneel and beg for mercy? You have guts, Ms. Black! But… I love it! I'm betting ten thousand dollars!"<br /> <br /> He would love to see Diego do that. After all, Diego had always been the epitome of arrogance.<br /> <br /> Jesse quickly repeated Jasmine's words in the group chat, which sent everyone wild. <br /> <br /> Such bliss should be shared for the greater good.<br /> <br /> Everyone in the group chat began placing their bets, and her phone kept ringing from the influx of messages.<br /> <br /> She checked the notifications and rolled her eyes at Jesse. <br /> <br /> "Wow, thanks."<br /> <br /> "My pleasure. The more, the merrier, right?" <br /> <br /> He grinned sheepishly while brushing the tip of his nose.<br /> <br /> Jasmine filled her glass and downed it all to regain her composure. Then, she headed to the restroom. <br /> <br /> Some suspicious men were following her from behind.<br /> <br /> When they reached the corridor to the restroom, someone said to her, "Jasmine Black from Black, Murphy & Associates?"<br /> <br /> She spun around and questioned the six sceptical-looking men, "Who are you working for?"<br /> <br /> "That's none of your business. Anyway, someone wants you crippled to ruin your career," said the leading man with red hair. <br /> <br /> He brandished the metal bar from his shirt and signaled his men to charge at her. They were all holding the same weapon.<br /> <br /> "Fuck. You've just underestimated me there."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> The six suspicious-looking men had approached her at the right time.<br /> <br /> Jasmine coincidentally needed to vent her frustrations.<br /> <br /> She warmed up her legs before suddenly kicking the red-haired guy, sending him flying and landing on three other men.<br /> <br /> A few minutes later, Diego, who also had to use the restroom, noticed a bunch of guys surrounding Jasmine. <br /> <br /> An icy, intimidating air emanated from her.<br /> <br /> He joined the fray, easily taking down those men with a few punches and kicks. The blows he dealt were clean-cut.<br /> <br /> He might appear to be a level-headed and calm person, but his combat skills were fatal.<br /> <br /> "Who are you working for?" Diego interrogated while stepping on one of the men's faces.<br /> <br /> "It's…" <br /> <br /> The man had an idea and lied, "It's Mrs. Cannon from Cannon Group! Ms. Black sent her husband to prison, so she wanted us to teach Ms. Black a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Jesse, call the cops." <br /> <br /> Diego kicked the man and approached Jasmine. <br /> <br /> "Are you alright?"<br /> <br /> A quick-witted Jasmine clutched her abdomen, feigning pain. <br /> <br /> "They hit my stomach with a stick. It hurts…" <br /> <br /> Diego wordlessly scooped her up and headed outside. Jasmine was very confused. <br /> <br /> She wondered if he was worried about her, even though he said she was heartless and kept angering her.<br /> <br /> She considered if he was suffering from dissociative identity disorder.<br /> <br /> Jesse called to them, "Hey! Are you leaving so soon? Why am I cleaning up the mess for you guys again?"<br /> <br /> However, the ungrateful duo didn't respond to him.<br /> <br /> In the car, Diego asked, "Do you want to go to the hospital?"<br /> <br /> Hugging his neck, Jasmine leaned her head to rest on his shoulder. She stifled the urge to grin while continuing her act. <br /> <br /> "It's fine. Do you have medicine at home? You can help me tend to my wounds."<br /> <br /> "I'll send you back to your place then." <br /> <br /> He removed her hands so that she could be seated properly.<br /> <br /> "No! I want to go to your place!" <br /> <br /> She plastered herself to him, whining.<br /> <br /> Diego pushed her away and cupped Jasmine's face. <br /> <br /> "You said it was a game. Is my place a playground, then? A place you can come and go whenever you want?" <br /> <br /> "I wanna go!" <br /> <br /> She slapped off his hand and snorted.<br /> <br /> She was going to make this man fall for her one day.<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> The next morning, Jesse returned to Diego's office from the police station.<br /> <br /> "Did the cops look into it? Was it Mrs. Cannon?" inquired Diego.<br /> <br /> "Not her, but your client, Daisy Freeman." <br /> <br /> Jesse delved his hands into his pockets, smiling.<br /> <br /> Diego's expression darkened.<br /> <br /> "If Jasmine finds out it's Daisy behind this, she'll surely sue her. So, I called Jasmine and told her it was Mrs. Cannon's doing."<br /> <br /> Diego didn't respond. Instead, he contacted Daisy to arrange a meeting at his office.<br /> <br /> After the call ended, Jesse asked, "Are you still not going to file a lawsuit against Fabian? No one can ever escape from the charges of bribing a lawyer. Besides, if you file the lawsuit now, you won't have to meet Jasmine in court after that."<br /> <br /> "It's none of your business." <br /> <br /> Diego took a sip of his coffee.<br /> <br /> "This is not like you. Have you fallen for her after sleeping with her?" Jesse teased.<br /> <br /> "You must be blind," Diego retorted.<br /> <br /> "Then, why don't you want to close this divorce case as soon as possible?"<br /> <br /> "Can't I toy with her for a while longer? Look how arrogant she is." <br /> <br /> As Jasmine had said, this was simply a game. It wouldn't hurt to play along with her, would it?<br /> <br /> "Fine. But do not lose the case because of this game. I've seen how Jasmine defended her client in court several times before. She was sharp, quick-witted, and intimidating. She finished asking her questions before the opposing lawyer could react."<br /> <br /> "Do you think that I'll lose to her?" <br /> <br /> Diego cocked his brow.<br /> <br /> "What if you're blinded by love?"<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> Daisy intentionally chose a tight black dress with a deep neckline to wear to Cooper, Taylor & Associates. <br /> <br /> "Mr. Cooper, why did you call for me?" <br /> <br /> Her sexy gait carried her to his table.<br /> <br /> She had the nerve to rest her hand on his shoulder before sliding it down to his chest.<br /> <br /> Her beauty gave her the confidence to take down any man.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Diego stood up and choked her, dragging her all the way to the floor-to-ceiling window.<br /> <br /> He was forced half of her body to hang out of the window.<br /> <br /> "First of all, I'll cut your hands off if you touch me again. Secondly, I'll send you straight to prison the next time you hire someone to hurt Jasmine. You won't be able to get a single penny out of your divorce!"<br /> <br /> Daisy coughed while trying to pry his hand away.<br /> <br /> Looking at his menacing expression was already intimidating enough. When she turned her head to gaze down at the dizzying height, fear gripped her.<br /> <br /> They were on the 118th floor.<br /> <br /> "I-I won't do it again…"<br /> <br /> Only then did he lift her up and throw her to a corner. <br /> <br /> "You better see to that."<br /> <br /> The heels Daisy wore were so high that she almost lost her balance and fell. <br /> <br /> She clenched her fists and tried to regain her composure. <br /> <br /> "Why are you taking her side?" <br /> <br /> She couldn't help the question.<br /> <br /> Diego wiped his hand, which had touched her, with a few pieces of tissue paper. <br /> <br /> He spun around, pinning her with his sharp gaze. <br /> <br /> "If my reputation is ruined, will you compensate for it?"<br /> <br /> Daisy initially assumed that Diego had feelings for Jasmine. It turned out that he was simply trying to defend his reputation.<br /> <br /> "Mr. Cooper, are you confident that we can win this case? I don't want to split my assets into half for that guy without a valid reason."<br /> <br /> Over the last two days, Daisy had looked into Jasmine. <br /> <br /> Jasmine accepted various high-profile cases. She was even the defense attorney for a death-row prisoner, who was then released without charges.<br /> <br /> Diego may be able to send an innocent person to jail, but Jasmine could get a prisoner off death row.<br /> <br /> That was why Daisy was worried about seeing Jasmine in court.<br /> <br /> "With me, all I ask is whether you want to win or not because I will certainly win it." <br /> <br /> He spared Daisy a cold glance before returning to his seat.<br /> <br /> Daisy didn't say anything further and left.<br /> <br /> …<br /> <br /> Jasmine and her assistant, Addison, were on their way to the courthouse together.<br /> <br /> "Ms. Black, don't you think the plaintiff is pitiful? His daughter needs the money to receive treatment. If he loses the case and is unable to receive insurance for compensation, what's gonna happen to her?" asked Addison.<br /> <br /> As Jasmine crossed her legs, she shifted her attention from the documents in her hands to give him a brief look. <br /> <br /> "Having faith in your client and giving them the greatest advantage is the basic principle of a lawyer."	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1,778,308	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778205}'	No	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	1505331847002430	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	"God, you're so wet for me, Tinkerbell," he growls in my ear, and I shiver at the sound.<br /> "You like being drilled by a stranger in the middle of a club?"<br /> I can't deny it. The very idea both terrifies and arouses me. When I don't push him away, he smiles.<br /> ————————<br /> SUMMER<br /> Pressed against the wall of the nightclub, the good-looking stranger pecks me. Tipsy and disoriented, my heart races with a mix of uncertainty and desire. I never expected my night to take such a thrilling turn.<br /> Sweat clings to my skin as the crowded club pulsates around us on this hot summer night. Loud music drowns out any semblance of conversation while flashing lights create an electrifying atmosphere, amplifying the raw energy that courses through my veins.<br /> As we remain locked in our forbidden embrace, I'm acutely aware of how out of character this is for me. Yet, there's something so undeniably exciting about living on the edge, if only for a brief moment in time. The danger and uncertainty, combined with the allure of this mysterious stranger, have awakened a long-dormant fire.<br /> The stranger's hands greedily explore my body's curves, leaving fire trails on my flushed skin. His tall frame towers over me, dark hair framing intense blue eyes that seem to pierce my very soul. Tattoos snake their way up his muscular arms, and even though I can't hear him speak over the pounding bass, the memory of his Irish accent as he drew me into this darkened corner sends shivers down my spine.<br /> Our lips collide again, and every nerve in my body awakens with a mix of hesitation, excitement, and nervousness. The sensation is intoxicating – something I've never felt before. It's as if we're dancing on the edge of a precipice, teetering between wicked and desire, and I'm powerless to resist the pull.<br /> His fingers trace the contours of my hips, pressing into my flesh with a possessiveness that terrifies and thrills me. My breath hitches in my throat as he tugs at the hem of my dress, exposing more of my quivering skin to his ravenous touch. I should be afraid, but instead, I crave more of this deliciously wrong connection.<br /> As our pecks deepen, I find myself lost in the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. The seductive dance of our tongues mirrors the chaos in my mind, each stroke sending electric jolts through my veins.<br /> What am I doing?<br /> Is this really who I want to be?<br /> Even as these thoughts race through my head, my body betrays me, responding eagerly to his every touch. I feel my heart pounding, not just from the exertion but from the thrill of the unknown. This man, this enigma who has captured my attention and ensnared me in his web of desire, holds a power over me that I can't explain.<br /> "What's your name?" I pant, wanting to know more about this stranger who has awakened such primal urges, but the cacophony of the nightclub drowns out my voice. He only smirks in response, his eyes never leaving mine, bewitching me within their depths.<br /> I'm terrified.<br /> This dark, brooding stranger has unlocked a part of me that has long been hidden away, and as much as I know I should be afraid, all I can think about is how alive I finally feel as his fingers trail up my thigh, sending shivers down my spine. My breath catches in my throat, my heart racing with anticipation and uncertainty.<br /> "Wait," I whisper, suddenly feeling the weight of our actions through the drunken haze that has descended on me from too many glasses of cheap Chardonnay. "Your name..."<br /> Something wicked and alluring dances in his blue gaze. Without breaking eye contact, he pushes my panties aside. My body tenses at the unexpected intrusion. For a moment, I feel vulnerable, exposed, and scared, but then his fingers find their target, and my resistance melts away.<br /> "Ah!" The sensation is intense, a mix of pleasure and pain as he works his fingers inside me. I cling to him, my hands gripping his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin through the fabric of his tight black shirt. He holds me against the wall, one hand pinning me by the waist while the other sends waves of pleasure coursing through my body.<br /> I gasp, my head falling back against the wall as he picks up the pace, expertly teasing and tormenting me. My leg wraps around his waist instinctively, drawing him closer, my hips grinding against his hand in a desperate search for more of that intoxicating sensation.<br /> Raising an eyebrow in question, as if challenging me to admit just how much I crave his touch. I nod, unable to form words, and he rewards me with another delicious thrust of his fingers.<br /> Around us, the club-goers are lost in their own world of revelry, utterly oblivious to the scandalous exchange just inches from them. A tangled mass of sweaty bodies writhes on the dance floor, consumed by the pulsing beat of the music. Drinks clink, laughter rings out, and it's as if we exist in our own secret bubble, hidden from the judgmental eyes of the world.<br /> "God, you're so wet for me, Tinkerbell," he growls in my ear, and I shiver at the sound. His voice is dark and commanding, a dangerous edge that weakens my knees. "You like being drilled by a stranger in the middle of a club?"<br /> I can't deny it. The very idea both terrifies and arouses me. As much as I want to pull away, to escape this intoxicating dance of desire and danger, I find myself giving into the temptation completely.<br /> When I don't push him away, he smiles. It's sinister, and it touches a part of me that I know I should run from.<br /> But I don't.<br /> "Good girl," he purrs, sending a hot thrill down my spine. And with that, I surrender to the darkness, allowing him to take control, to push me further than I've ever dared to go before.<br /> When his body goes slack, he leans his forehead against mine, his hot breath mingling with my panting. We stay like that for a moment, him buried inside me, neither of us aware of the reality around us, time entirely lost to us.<br /> Knowing what I've just done crashes around me like a thunderstorm. I've just had unprotected with a stranger in a club in front of hundreds of people.<br /> He pulls back, that sinful smile on his face as he does up his fly.<br /> "Thanks, Tinks. I needed that."<br /> As abruptly as he entered my life, he now walks away, disappearing into the throng of club-goers without so much as a backward glance. The emptiness left in his wake engulfs me entirely, an inexplicable mixture of satisfaction and confusion swirling around inside. He had been everything I both feared and craved – and yet he vanished as quickly as a shadow in the night.<br /> My heart pounds erratically in my chest, caught between the exhilaration of what just transpired and the anguish of knowing it might never happen again. Why can't I shake this feeling? This insatiable longing for a man I don't even know?<br /> I mutter, shoving my dress down and looking around to see if anyone is looking at me.<br /> They aren't. Or if they are, they aren't doing so overtly.<br /> Wiggling my panties back into place, I feel the dampness pool, and I shudder.<br /> What have I done?<br /> Feeling nauseous with the booze and the knowledge of my actions, I lean against the cool wall, trying to catch my breath and make sense of the overwhelming mix of emotions coursing through me. The taste of him still lingers on my lips, a bittersweet reminder of what just transpired in this dim corner of the club.<br /> Tinkerbell, he'd called me, his Irish accent making the words sound like a deliciously wicked incantation. A shiver runs down my spine as I remember the way he'd looked at me, his intense blue eyes seeming to pierce through every layer of my defenses, laying my darkest desires.<br /> "Summer?" I hear my name being called faintly over the cacophony, snapping me out of my reverie. It's my friend. Her voice tinged with concern. I know she must be wondering where I've been, why I disappeared so suddenly – but how could I possibly explain the truth to her? How could I put into words the intensity of my encounter with the enigmatic stranger?<br /> "Summer, let's go home," Amelia says, finding me. "I'm way past drunk."<br /> "Same." I nod, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the club. As we make our way through the throngs of people, I glance back one last time, my eyes scanning the crowd for any glimpse of him. But he's gone, vanished like a ghost into the night.<br /> "Are you okay?" Amelia asks, her worried gaze fixed on me.<br /> I force a smile, trying to mask the turmoil within.<br /> "Fine," I lie, my voice barely audible above the din. "I'm fine."<br /> But as we step out into the cool night air, I can't shake the feeling that something has changed forever – that I've crossed a line from which there's no turning back. Part of that is fueled by beverage, hunger for the dangerous taste of forbidden desire, now awakened and impossible to ignore.<br /> ---<br /> Waking up with a raging thirst, a banging head and stiff legs, I moan against the light pouring into my bedroom through a crack in the curtains.<br /> Celebrating my twenty-fifth birthday yesterday had been a mistake. I should've stayed home, knowing I had work today.<br /> Half an hour later, and not a moment too soon, I race into the store, brushing down my clothes.<br /> "Morning, Summer," my coworker Jess greets me. "Ready for another fun-filled day?"<br /> "Thrilled," I reply sarcastically, forcing a smile. We exchange pleasantries, but my mind is elsewhere, filled with shame and lingering thoughts of Irish. That's his name now. I can't keep thinking of him as a stranger. It's unappealing and makes me edgy.<br /> "Hey, are you okay?" Jess asks concern etched on her face. "You seem off."<br /> "Long night," I admit, not wanting to divulge the details of my one-night stand. "Just need more coffee, I guess."<br /> "Ah, the hangover cure-all," she jokes, attempting to lighten the mood. "Well, hang in there. You've got this."<br /> "Thanks, Jess," I say, grateful for her support.<br /> Foregoing more coffee on my delicate stomach, I get straight to work, needing the distraction. But as I fold clothes and help customers, Irish's face haunts me. His touch lingers on my skin like a phantom caress, stirring up a risky mix of desire and guilt.<br /> I force my attention back to work, determined not to let my personal turmoil affect my performance. Customers come and go, their questions and needs pulling me out of my head for brief moments. But each time the store quiets down, the ghost of Irish returns, taunting me with his memory.<br /> As the hours drag on, my feet ache from standing, my head pounds, and I'm hungry at the same time as nauseous. I wonder if my one reckless night with the enigmatic Irishman might somehow be a twisted blessing in disguise – a chance to break free from the shackles of my mundane existence and embrace the tantalizing allure of danger and desire.<br /> As I finish restocking the shelves and return to the sales floor, I can't shake the feeling that I'm teetering on the edge of something life-changing. Despite knowing I should forget about Irish and move on with my life, part of me wonders if our paths will cross again – and what dark secrets he's hiding beneath that charming exterior.<br /> The afternoon sun casts long shadows on the store floor, and I feel like they're closing in on me. My thoughts keep drifting back to Irish, no matter how hard I try to focus on my tasks.<br /> "Excuse me," a customer says, bringing me back to reality. "Can you help me find a shirt that matches this tie?"<br /> "Of course," I reply, forcing a cheerful smile. We make our way through the maze of clothing racks, my mind racing with questions. Does Irish feel the same way I do? Or has he already moved on to someone else? He seems the type, what with seducing me and then striding off.<br /> "Here you are," I say, handing the man a perfectly matched shirt. He thanks me for my assistance before walking away, leaving me to my turbulent thoughts again.<br /> A shiver runs down my spine as I imagine Irish's eyes locked onto mine, his accent teasing every part of me. The forbidden desire bubbling up refuses to be silenced, even though I know it's dangerous to entertain these fantasies.<br /> "Summer, can you take over at the register?" Jess asks, snapping me out of my reverie.<br /> "Sure, no problem," I respond, stepping behind the counter. As I ring up customers' purchases, my heart flutters with anxiety, wondering if Irish has any regrets about our night together. I can't shake the feeling that there must be something more to him - something darker lurking beneath the surface. He is attracted, but nice guys don't do what he did.<br /> Neither do nice girls.<br /> Cringing at the thoughts, I shake it off. I'm not a yummy yukker. 'You do you' has always been my motto, but it was out of character for me to do what I did last night, and it will probably take me a while to get over the guilt I feel.<br /> Smiling at the young woman, I ring up her goods and wait for her to pay. She thanks me and leaves, her heady perfume lingering in the air like a ghostly reminder of last night's passion.<br /> "Home time!" Gary calls out, crossing over to me with a smile. "Thank, am I right?"<br /> "Yeah." Giving him a shy smile, I lower my eyes. He's my work crush. He's tall with blonde hair and green eyes that crinkle at the corners when he smiles. I always fluster when he speaks to me, even though he is the friendliest guy going. "I'm exhausted."<br /> "Partied hard last night?" he asks with a twinkle in his eye. "Sorry I couldn't make it, but I had a thing."<br /> "It's okay, and yeah, a bit too much."<br /> My cheeks are hotter than the flames of infernoinferno as I stammer my way out of this conversation with a half-hearted wave, rushing past him to the break room to gather my belongings from my locker. Hoping he didn't hear anything about anything, I will be sure to avoid him for the foreseeable future, just in case.<br /> Stepping outside the store, the evening air is hot and sweaty on my skin as the humidity levels have not dropped.<br /> Glaring at the clear blue sky, I curse it. "Where is the supposed thunderstorm?" I mutter and head for the parking lot, only to be stopped short when I remember I don't have my car; I have the bus.<br /> All I want to do is hurry home, have a cool shower and then, in incognito mode, look up places I can go to get tested, preferably somewhere out of town so no one sees me.<br /> As I walk to the bus stop, surrounded by people finishing their city jobs and leaving the stores as they close, these thoughts of Irish continue to haunt me. I know I should forget about him and move on with my life, but something inside me clings to the hope that he might be the one I've been waiting for. The taste of danger, coupled with whiskey and smoke, lingers on my lips, making it impossible to let go completely.<br /> Wondering if our paths will cross again and what sinister truths are concealed in those irresistible eyes, all I can do is keep moving forward, one step at a time, until I hear a voice behind me that freezes my blood instantly.<br /> As I glance up, my heart skips a beat. There he is—Irish.	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1,778,385	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778294}'	No	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	8140307799334906	Read with Your Ears➤➤	"I, Silas Morgan, future alpha of the South Texas Pack reject Lilith Conner as my mate!" <br /> "I, Lilith Conner, leave the South Texas Pack in body and mind!" There was shock all around the dining room as what I said sunk in, and I felt the pack bond break.<br /> ********<br /> As the alarm went off I rolled over to hit the snooze button then realized it was 3 AM. I jumped out of bed and headed to the restroom in my hut. After being kicked out of the pack house I was shunned to this small hut in pack lands. The hut was my home even though everyone basically saw it as me sleeping in a cardboard box. It had a open room and a tiny restroom with a shower. It was built for me because no one wanted me around or to use the pack house facilities. I am the disgrace of the South Texas Pack. I have my duties to hold my place in this pack, I cook all the meals for the 300 pack members. I have to stay out of everybody's way considering that is my only way I can stay and have a home if it was even considered that. When I was five the pack found me curled in a ball in the corner of my families old house. My parents layed on the floor in their own blood. The alpha was outraged that his beta was dead. Even though I was a child the pack has blamed me, not once trying to find out the truth behind my parents death. All I remember from that night was waking up to a loud sound, running down the stairs to find my parents already gone. That night still haunts me. Being seventeen and having to raise myself has not been easy. With being punished every chance the pack got I was already ready to give up. There was always a little voice in the back of my mind pushing me not to, and for some reason I have listened to it for the past twelve years. "Lilith" I turned to see one of the pack warriors coming down the stairs getting ready for shift change guarding the land. I recognized him right away, "I'm sorry, Adam, I will go cook breakfast now". I didn't realize I was standing in front of the mirror for so long. As I walked past him I didn't dare look up as I knew by the way he said my name how he would look, disgusted. When I was done with breakfast I made my way to grab a piece of bread since that was what I was allowed. I was expected to survive off of three pieces a day. The reason for my poor nutrition, and nobody cared. I have a feeling that this is what they wanted a slow death. As I was walking out the door before anyone noticed me I ran into somebody. I glanced up only to see who it was and automatically dropped my gaze and head. At six foot tall and built the way every woman dreamed about. Silas, the alpha's son, stood there and said, "How about you get a move on and next time don't ruin my clothes with your disgrace". He shoved me hard so that I fell to the floor and had to scramble up clumsily. Noticing he moved out from the door I ran as fast as I could to my home. I graduated the previous year. Yes, I know i'm a little young to already have graduated high school, but I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I didn't have the money to go to the community college like a lot of the pack, so I stayed and worked here for the little they gave me which isn't much at all. I flopped down on my bed and realized tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday. I didn't realize how much time has passed. With not being able to shift into my wolf and turning eighteen means finding your mate, but I don't think it's possible for me. I fear if I was to find him he wouldn't want me and would reject me. Before I noticed I was waking up again to banging on my door. I walked over and pulled the door open revealing my alpha.<br /> "Lilith, tomorrow is your birthday and I have come up with two options for you", he said with distaste. "Yes, alpha", I replied with my head bowed showing respect.<br /> "Option one, You leave the pack and move on with your life, which is the kindest thing I can offer you at the moment", he paused, "Option two, You continue to do what you do for the pack and when the time comes you will break and nobody will mourn you", he announced.<br /> "I will let you know tomorrow of what I choose, but I have no where to go, and at that y'all are who I know", I paused before finishing, "I will announce my decision in front of the whole Pack before breakfast".<br /> I could feel his eyes on me as he thought about what to say, and I was afraid he would slap me for wanting to wait until the morning. All he said was, "Fine", and walked out slamming my door in my face. And than that's when I realized I had the most important decision in my life to make tonight. As I lay awake from thinking about my options and trying to decide what I should do there was a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't decide and it was already 2 AM with no sleep I forced myself to sit up and really think about my future. Where would I go if I left, and would I even be able to survive long. If I was to stay I would either be beat or starved to death. What if I was to find my soulmate here tomorrow and I left before I knew who it was, would he even want me? After I showered and started walking out of my hut I fell to my knees from a sharp pain in my stomach. Thinking it's from not eating anything but a piece of bread yesterday I got up and glanced back at the small room I've lived in for twelve years making my decision. The weird sensation never left even after the pain I felt as I arrived at the pack house. I opened the doors to the kitchen and started pulling out all the ingredients I needed to start cooking. I was going to make the pack the best breakfast they ever had because even though I don't get to celebrate my birthday they will. As I prepared everything possible there was a bang on the kitchen door followed by someone coming in. I turned around to find Silas staring at me with anger, his crystal blue eyes seemed to have fire in them and his slightly curled black hair was messy. I lowered my gaze to the floor instantly.<br /> "Why is it you!?" he yelled. "What do you mean I always prepare the breakfast," I mumbled not looking up from the floor. "You don't feel anything, how could you not I'm standing so close to you but I felt it when you walked into the house" he said calmer but still angry. "All I feel is hunger pains", but as I said it I did feel a pull towards him I didn't want. What he said next I expected but I was not prepared. "I, Silas Morgan, future alpha of the South Texas Pack reject Lilith Conner as my mate!" he announced it with such anger as he turned and left, I felt every ounce as the mate bond broke. At that moment I was in such pain I thanked the goddess herself for letting me finish the food before this happened. I ran as far as I could and when I reached where I felt was safe I fell to my knees and my whole body shook from the tears and pain that I was experiencing. I didn't want the mate bond to be with him, and I also knew if it was someone from this pack they would reject me immediately. It hurt a lot but I managed to stop the tears and gather myself to look slightly normal as I made my way to the pack house to let them know my decision. I walked in and made my way to the dining hall everyone stopped what they where doing as soon as I stepped in. Walking rather quickly to stand in front of the alpha and his family's table I said, " I, Lilith Conner, leave the South Texas Pack in body and mind!" There was shock all around the dining room as what I said sunk in, and I felt the pack bond break. After what felt like a long while the alpha finally spoke, "Lilith Conner, you are officially released from all pack responsibility and bond. You are to leave pack lands immediately!" I finally had the nerve to look at everyone as I walked out and realized the shock was still there mixed with disgust. I never felt love from them after my parents died and I didn't think I ever would, and I didn't want them to have the pleasure of my death so that is why I made the decision I did. I honestly felt a little relieved as I walked out with my head held high. I've never imagined myself packing my life away and heading into the unknown but here I am, as I look around one last time I remind myself that everything happens for a reason. Shutting the door to the hut and throwing my bag over my shoulder I began to walk off pack lands and into the city. As I got to a bench I sat down and counted the little bit of money I have. It turns out I had just enough to find somewhere to stay for a little while. The money I have is what is left from my parents after the pack took the rest to support me as they said. They didn't know I still had this little bit I hid it well in the floor of the hut. I walked to a Motel 6 and got a room and decided to take a long hot shower. Laying on the motel bed I started thinking about getting a job and staying under the radar so no other pack can find me. It is a law not to be a rogue wolf in a packs territory they will have the right to decide your punishment, and most decide to kill you instead of torture. Finally feeling the loneliness of not being in a pack and missing the connection, I have to snap myself out of this, so I decide to put on my hoodie and go to try to find some food close by. Walking into a small gas station that was a block away from the motel I find some cheap food I can use the microwave in the motel room to cook. I pay for everything and start walking back to the motel when I bump into someone, cursing myself I glance up and get a quick glance at a woman around my age. All I find myself saying is, "I'm so sorry, please forgive me". She smiled and said, "It's okay", and then inhaled deeply. Realizing my mistake I took off as fast as I can not looking back to see if she was following. Reaching my motel room and bolting all the locks as soon as I get in I mentally yell at myself for not watching my surroundings, because other wolves can smell a rouge wolf instantly. I only pray she didn't follow me and report back to whoever is alpha of her pack. The weird feeling I was having in my stomach was growing stronger even though I ate. I couldn't blame it on not eating enough because I ate more than I should have. I needed to find a healer and soon, they would hopefully know what is wrong with me. I know they have to have rogue healers somewhere close. I had a feeling I was being followed as I entered a forest on the other side of the city. I didn't want to slow down in fear of being captured which I think is what was going to happen soon. I was running past a huge rock when I was tackled to the ground. I looked up to see who or what was pinning me to the ground, and I was staring into bright green eyes. It was a woman that was holding me down, she had curly red hair that framed her pale, freckled face like a mane. "Who are you?", she said in a calm-stern voice. "I'm sorry to trespass on your lands, my name is Lilith Conner, and I'm trying to find a healer", I replied quickly trying to remain calm. She was still pinning me down and I finally noticed how strong she was. I can tell she was a wolf but I wasn't strong enough to sense whether she was a rogue or in a pack, so I was going to take my chances since I couldn't get away. "Okay Lilith, but tell me why you are out here by yourself I can sense that you are not in a pack, so why should I trust you?" She was looking at me with such curiosity and distrust that I knew I needed to tell her my story if I wanted to make it to a healer in time since the feeling I was having was not disappearing. "I left my pack since I was given the option. They mistreated me ever since my parents died, and blamed me for it. I was also rejected by my mate who was the alpha's son." I went into more detail with her about the hut I was living in, the punishments and how I was basically starving to death.<br /> "So how was I supposed to stay and give them the pleasure of my death, that is why I had to leave", I said with not looking away from her eyes, so she could see I was telling the truth. She was just staring at me and I didn't know what to say or how to act so she wouldn't see me as a threat, even though with her strength I doubt I would be a threat with my overly skinny, malnutritioned self. All of a sudden there was the sharp pain again and I couldn't stop myself from crying out, and I could feel the tears flowing down my face. "Are you okay!?", she was panicking and jumped off of me, pulling me to my feet. "I need to see a healer, and soon, I don't know what is wrong with me", I replied through shallow breaths. I stood as she held on to my wrist, but I felt as if I was going to crumble to my knees at any moment. I didn't have the energy to ask her where we were going. There was a small voice in the back of my mind through all the pain I was feeling that said we could trust her, I hope that was true. I don't know how long we were walking for but we ended up coming to a small village. There was at least ten or more log cabins scattered around the wide openening we were standing in. The cabins had a homey look to them with different colored rose bushes in the front, and there was a large fire pit in the center of it all with wood benches around it. I took this moment to look at her and ask where we were going. She didn't reply and just kept walking until we ended up in front of a cabin with white roses out front. Without looking at me she raised her free hand and knocked four times before I heard shuffling from the inside. The door opened to reveal a elderly looking woman with soft brown eyes and braided silver hair. She looked startled to see me but once she saw that I was clenching my stomach with my free hand she opened the door wider and told us to hurry in. As we were led to a room that had a bed and medical supplies throughout it I realized this was their healer. The woman supporting me helped me lay on the bed and explained to the woman how she found me and what happened. "Now dear, can you tell me what is going on", the healer asked me. "Yes ma'am, it started with a weird sensation in the pit of my stomach a few days ago. Then I get these sharp pains randomly that have me falling to my knees."<br /> She looked at me for a long moment before asking me, "Have you shifted yet, and if you don't mind me asking how old are you?"<br /> "No ma'am I haven't shifted yet, and I turned eighteen a few nights ago." She looked at me with sadness in her eyes. She started gathering multiple things I tried to see what they were but couldn't catch a glimpse as she was moving too fast. She shuffled her way towards me with everything she gathered and set it on a table that was by the bed. I was starting to feel extremely nervous as she lifted the bottom of my shirt halfway up stopping when it reached my ribs. She started pressing on my stomach moving in a circle. She stopped and looked at me suddenly asking,"Can you tell me a little bit about who your parents were?" "I don't know much I was only five when everything happened, I remember that my father was the beta of my old pack and my mother was always with me." She seemed to be in a daze then snapped out of it asking what my parents names were. I replied, "Jay and Emily Conner, I'm afraid I don't know my mother's maiden name." "Well dear, I'm just going to say that there is magic holding your wolf in and I won't be able to help you with that, i'm sorry, but I can tell you that your wolf is fighting against the magic and that is why you are having pain. I can give you some herbs to help with the pain but you will need to find a witch to help you with the magic", she said with pity in her eyes.<br /> She walked to a cabinet on the wall across from the bed and grabbed a jar and needle. Coming back to the bed she said, " I am going to give you some pain medicine through a injection to help for now." The lady with the red hair was still here sitting at the end of the bed, her head shot up to the healer and the needle pierced my arm and before I could say anything I slipped into blackness.<br /> <br /> <br /> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br /> Wanna listen more? download our App and check more! Novel ID: 91595!	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1,778,201	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-05-08 18:35	active	760	831516455459722	📚📚Title "Surrogate for Alpha Dom"🥰👉	“I’m sorry Ella.” My physician says gently. “I’m afraid you have very few viable eggs remaining. Frankly, I normally see these numbers in women ten or fifteen years your senior.”<br /> <br /> “What?” I murmur, not believing my ears. I’ve been trying to get pregnant for years. I’m only 30, I should have plenty of eggs left.<br /> <br /> “In terms of fertility, you have very little time left.” She continues. “If you want to conceive, you need to do so before your next cycle begins.”<br /> <br /> “My next cycle?” I repeat, my mouth hanging open in shock. I love kids more than anything, and though it might not be everyone’s ambition, I want nothing more than to be a mother.<br /> <br /> I have to get home and tell my boyfriend this news, and there’s not a moment to waste.<br /> <br /> I make it home in record time, bursting through the door and opening my mouth to call for Mike, but stopping dead in my tracks. As soon as I walk inside I see a pair of high heels and a handbag by the door – neither of which belong to me.<br /> <br /> I cock my ears towards the bedroom, and my stomach churns when I hear the unmistakable sound of moaning, accompanied by a steady thump thump thump, as the bed collides with the wall. Worse even than realizing that Mike is clearly in there with another woman, is realizing who he’s with. I know that handbag, and I know those shoes – they belong to my best friend, Kate. <br /> <br /> “Fuck, Ella is so stupid.” Mike laughs, “can you believe she actually expects me to have a baby with her?”<br /> <br /> Kate snorts, “she’s delusional. I don’t know how you put up with her for so long in the first place.”<br /> <br /> “If she wasn’t so beautiful I never would have given her the time of day.” Mike scoffs. “Thankfully daily doses of plan B kept her from ever conceiving.”<br /> <br /> “The morning after pill?” Kate asks, “how did you manage to give it to her without her realizing?”<br /> <br /> “I put it in her morning coffee.” Mike chortles, sounding far too proud of himself. <br /> <br /> My vision goes completely red as everything finally falls into place. Suddenly it’s clear why I’ve never been able to get pregnant, despite having unprotected sex multiple times a week for years. It’s even clear how I could have the eggs of a 45-year-old, if my despicable partner has been secretly feeding me emergency contraceptives every day – there’s no telling what other damage that might have done to my reproductive system. <br /> <br /> Before I can think better of it, I pull the smoke alarm on the wall, wanting to frighten and punish the pair in the bedroom so fiercely that I fear I might attack them when they emerge. Water immediately sprays down from the sprinkler system mounted to the ceiling as a shrill siren fills the air, and I hear Mike and Kate cry out in surprise. <br /> <br /> A few moments later they come rushing out of the bedroom, stopping in their tracks when they see me looming in the doorway. Mike’s eyes go comically wide, “What are you doing home so early?” The snake has the nerve to sound affronted that I surprised him, when he’s the one who’s been sneaking around behind my back for God knows how long. He seems to realize how suspicious it looks that he and Kate are standing there in their underwear and quickly adds, “Kate came to see me so we could plan a surprise for your birthday, but then we spilled coffee all over our clothes so we had to change.”<br /> <br /> Fire blazes in my veins, he must truly believe I’m an idiot if he expects me to buy such a feeble excuse. <br /> <br /> It’s a testament to their horrifically low opinion of me that they buy my act, and I vow to get my revenge one way or another. I can’t believe I wasted so many years – my best years – on this scumbag. And now he may have cost me my future too. As soon as the thought enters my head, I know I can’t afford to waste another moment on Mike, I have more important things to take care of. <br /> <br /> I make my excuses and rush across town for the second time that afternoon, running to the comforting arms of my surrogate sister, Cora. Not only did we grow up together in the orphanage, but she became an OBGYN and now works for the most exclusive sperm bank in the city. I’ve never gone to her before because I always imagined Mike and I would eventually conceive the natural way, but that clearly isn’t an option anymore. <br /> <br /> Even if I could find a man willing to have a baby with me in time, I’m not eager to trust anyone after Mike’s betrayal. I’m going to have to do this on my own, and I know Cora can help me. I don’t have much money, but I have enough savings to pay for the insemination, especially since I basically have one shot and one shot only. <br /> <br /> When I arrive, all my plans to lay out my situation for Cora clearly and concisely go out the window, because the moment I see my sister I fall to pieces. She hugs and kisses me until my tears subside, slowly extracting the story from me piece by piece. When she hears about Mike and Kate she swears up a storm, but that’s nothing compared to her reaction when I explain about my fertility. <br /> <br /> “That little shit! I’ll kill him!” She fumes, studying me with a worried expression. “Ella, if your doctor was right this means you only have one chance to conceive.”<br /> <br /> “I know.” I sniffle. “And if this is going to be my only baby, I don’t want to take any chances. I want the best donor we can find.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t you worry about that.” Cora assures me, “We’ve got donations from actors, models, scientists – it’s only the creme de la creme here.” She glances at the door and lowers her voice. “You didn’t hear it from me, but even Dominic Sinclair sent his samples here for testing.”<br /> <br /> “Dominic Sinclair? I repeat, “the billionaire?” I’ve seen the man around town, but we don’t exactly run in the same circles. He lives in the same neighborhood as my wealthy employer and often says hello to the children I nanny, but he’s always surrounded by bodyguards and is so intimidating I get goosebumps just thinking about him. <br /> <br /> “Oh my god!.” Cora slaps her hand over her mouth. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you that! I don’t know what I was thinking. Apparently he’s no stranger to fertility issues himself, and he trusted us to handle his swimmers over every other lab in the country. I’ve got his sperm in the other room at this very moment.” She frets, “But Ella you can’t tell anyone, you have to promise me.”<br /> <br /> “Of course!” I agree immediately. “I know how important confidentiality is here.”<br /> <br /> “Thank you,” Cora breathes. “Now, I’m going to give you a dossier of our clients so you can pick a donor, and once you’ve chosen we’ll get you knocked up before you can even blink.” <br /> <br /> It’s not an easy decision, but eventually I choose a handsome surgeon whose photo practically makes me swoon. Cora leaves the room only long enough to prepare the sample, and though she looks a bit flustered when she returns, she quickly and professionally completes the insemination, holding my hand when the procedure is finished. “It’s all take care of now, Ella.” She promises, “You can come back in ten days to see if it worked.”<br /> <br /> Ten days. I think dazedly. Ten days to decide my entire future.<br /> <br /> If only I’d known that by the time those ten days were up, my future would no longer belong to me – but to Dominic Sinclair himself. <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 - Be Fired<br /> <br /> Ella<br /> <br /> Six days to go. I think, staring at the date circled on my calendar. Six days until I find out if my dreams are finally going to come true… or if I have to figure out an entirely different plan for my life. <br /> <br /> I’ve thought about nothing else since Cora inseminated me last week, I’m so anxious to find out if I’m pregnant I haven’t even begun to process Mike’s betrayal. <br /> <br /> I’m trying to keep a level head, yet I can’t help but imagine my future with this new baby. Try as I might, I catch myself daydreaming about it constantly. I even find myself humming as I get ready for work in the morning. <br /> <br /> When I arrive at my employer’s estate in the most exclusive neighborhood in Moon Valley – which basically makes it the most exclusive neighborhood in the world, since Moon Valley is one of the most expensive cities on the planet – I’m immediately greeted by two little voices shouting my name in excitement. “Ella!”<br /> <br /> The next thing I know, 3-year-old Millie is hugging my legs while her older brother, Jake, wraps his arms around my middle. “Good morning love puddles!” I exclaim, returning their hugs. “Are you ready for the museum?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah!” They cheer, racing out the door without even stopping to put on coats. It takes a bit of wrangling to get them back inside and bundled up for the cold winter day, but before long we set out into the snow.<br /> <br /> Jake races ahead of Millie and I, impatient to get to the science museum and not seeming to notice that his sister’s tiny legs simply don’t move that fast. Chuckling, I lift Millie into my arms and settle her on my hip. “Goodness, you’re getting too big for this, munchkin.”<br /> <br /> “Nuh-uh,” Millie grins, “You’re justs too little.” <br /> <br /> She might have a point. At five foot one, I don’t exactly have the kind of build suited to heavy lifting. I’m in great shape, but I’ve never been particularly strong. “Smarty pants.” I tease, laughing with the little girl. <br /> <br /> When I look back towards Jake, I realize he’s stopped a few feet ahead of us. My heart skips a beat when I realize why. We’re in front of the Sinclair mansion, and its owner is currently standing in the middle of the sidewalk, his gaze searing me like a firebrand as I approach with Millie. Dominic Sinclair is just about the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, but he’s also one of the most terrifying. <br /> <br /> With dark hair and piercing green eyes, chiseled features and a body so muscular I could swoon, it doesn’t seem fair he gets to look so good and also be so rich. If I didn’t know better I might think it was his wealth or imposing height that makes him so intimidating, after all he’s at least six foot four, which means he towers over me and everyone else around him. However it’s neither of those things, there’s simply an indefinable quality about the man that I can’t put my finger on, one which screams danger. He gives off this energy that’s so raw and animalistic one forgets there’s anyone else in the room. <br /> <br /> Taking a steadying breath, I close the distance between us so Millie can say hello. When she greets him, Dominic drags his attention from me and offers her a smile so genuine that it tugs at my heartstrings. As I watch him talk to my two young charges, I remember what Cora told me about his infertility struggles. He clearly loves children, and I feel a wave of empathy for him. If anyone knows what it’s like to yearn for a family of their own, it’s me. <br /> <br /> Jake is currently showing Dominic his new toy airplane, pulling the matchbox model from his pocket and demonstrating how far it can fly. With a great heave, he sends the toy gliding through the air, only to land in the middle of the street. Before any of us can say a word, Jake races after it, right into the busy road.<br /> <br /> “Jake no, be careful!” I cry, watching him dart out into the path of an oncoming car but feeling frozen by my fear. Before I can contemplate putting Millie down to go after him, a blur of movement whirrs past my vision. I’ve never seen anyone move so fast in my life. Dominic became little more than a hazy outline of himself, chasing after Jake and pulling him out of the way just before the car slams into them. The vehicle’s tires are still screeching when Dominic sets Jake down beside me, his expression suddenly very stern. <br /> <br /> “That was very dangerous.” He scolds gently. “You should never go into the street without looking both ways first.”<br /> <br /> Jake hangs his head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want my plane to get runned over.” <br /> <br /> “You are a million times more important than a toy.” Dominic tells him firmly, “and you scared your nanny half to death.”<br /> <br /> “I’m sorry, Ella.” Jake sniffles, looking up at me with wide eyes. <br /> <br /> “I know sweetheart, just don’t ever do that again.” I breathe, cuddling him against my side. “Thank you so much.” I say to Dominic, feeling more grateful than I can express. “I have no idea how you moved so fast! It was like something out of a superhero film.”<br /> <br /> “Must have been the adrenaline.” Dominic shrugs, giving Millie another smile before taking his leave. “Enjoy the rest of your day, and stay out of the road young man!”<br /> <br /> “Yes sir!” Jake calls after him, pocketing his airplane. “I really am sorry.” He adds to me. <br /> <br /> “It’s forgotten.” I tell him softly, though I take his hand so that he can’t run off again. <br /> <br /> “It all happened so fast.” I tell Cora later that night. “I mean the more I think about it, the more amazing it seems. One moment he was there, and the next he was gone. It was like magic.”<br /> <br /> “Thank goodness Jake is alright.” She replies, but rather than looking relieved, her face is twisted into a deep grimace.<br /> <br /> Studying my sister’s expression, I realize her grim demeanor is not just about Jake’s near miss. Something else is wrong, and I actually feel guilty for not noticing sooner. “Is everything okay?”<br /> <br /> Cora frowns, “Not really. But you’ve got so much going on right now, it’s not important.”<br /> <br /> “Cora, don’t be ridiculous.” I admonish. “What’s going on?”<br /> <br /> “Well, speaking of Dominic Sinclair,” She begins cryptically, “you know that sperm he sent to us for testing?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah,” I confirm, wondering where on earth this was going. <br /> <br /> “It’s gone missing… and I’m the last person who saw it, not to mention it was in my custody.” She explains, her voice becoming thick with emotion. “Ella, I think… I think I’m going to be fired. And if there’s an investigation I could lose my medical license.”<br /> <br /> “What?” I exclaim. “What do you mean it’s missing? A vial of sperm can’t just get up and walk away.”<br /> <br /> “I know, I think someone had to steal it, but there’s no way of knowing who’s responsible. And it looks like I’m going to have to take the blame.” She shares, her eyes shining with tears. <br /> <br /> “Cora, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this sooner!” I lament, “They can’t fire you, it isn’t fair.”<br /> <br /> “You don’t understand, Dominic is one of our biggest donors.” Cora explains. “And he’s furious, he basically wants my head on a platter.”<br /> <br /> A week ago I might have believed there was no hope for Cora, but seeing how kind and understanding Dominic was with the kids today makes me wonder if he could really be so heartless. Surely if he understood that Cora would never be so irresponsible he’d show some leniency? I have to try and help her, I would do anything for my sister – even begging a ruthless billionaire for mercy.<br /> <br /> Chapter 3 - Request<br /> <br /> Ella<br /> <br /> Three days to go.<br /> <br /> I repeat these words to myself as I walk down the street, still preoccupied with my possible pregnancy, even as I prepare to go to bat for my sister. In some ways it's a coping mechanism: I’m about to beg Dominic Sinclair to save Cora’s job, and I need a comforting thought to help me get through this. <br /> <br /> His bodyguards see me first, and I can see their mouths moving as they watch me move closer, no doubt notifying him of my presence. Approaching nervously behind Dominic, I wonder for the hundredth time if this is a mistake. Who am I to ask a favor from one of the most powerful men on the planet? Shaking myself, I tell the little voice in the back of my mind to shut up – this is for Cora. I might not be brave for myself, but I can be brave for her. <br /> <br /> “Mr. Sinclair?” I ask hesitantly, feeling my heart pound violently against my ribcage. <br /> <br /> He turns around and gazes imperiously down at me. “Yes?”<br /> <br /> “I’m Ella Reina, I nanny for Jake and Millie Graves.” I begin, gnawing on my lower lip. <br /> <br /> His dark eyes catch on my mouth, and suddenly I feel like a frightened rabbit in front of a hungry wolf. “I know who you are, Ella.” The sound of my name on his lips sends a shiver down my spine. He speaks the familiar syllables with so much purpose, as if they truly mean something to him.<br /> <br /> “Oh… well, I don’t mean to be impertinent, but I’m friends with Dr Cora Daniels…”As soon as I say her name, his expression closes off, and some unidentified emotion flashes in his eyes. <br /> <br /> “She told me she’s in trouble at work, and I know you’re one of the bank’s donors.” I improvise. “I don’t know what Cora is being accused of, but I’m sure she’s innocent. She takes her job incredibly seriously, and she would never do anything to risk her career.”<br /> <br /> “And what do you expect me to do about it?” Dominic asks ominously. I can tell he doesn’t believe my weak story, his body language has changed completely, and I can feel his rising anger vibrating in the air around us. <br /> <br /> “I just thought… I hoped that if you had any sway there, you might be able to put in a good word for her.” I finish, feeling color flood my cheeks. I’m both ashamed of myself for such a feeble attempt, but unsure how else to handle such a delicate topic. The last thing I want is to get Cora in even more trouble than before. <br /> <br /> Dominic’s jaw ticks as he watches me, and the voice in the back of my head urges me to run for it. “From what I’ve heard, your friend made a very serious mistake, and the consequences have been more than appropriate. The best thing she can do now is take responsibility for her mistakes, not sending you to do her dirty work for her.”<br /> <br /> “I – she didn’t, she doesn’t even know I’m here! I swear.” I plead. <br /> <br /> “I’ve said all I’m going to say on this matter.” Dominic declares, turning away from me and striding into his house. The door slams shut behind him, and I’m left with his various bodyguards. <br /> <br /> “You need to leave now, miss.” One of the men announces sharply. <br /> <br /> “I can’t.” I moan, “he has to understand, she’s going to lose everything!” <br /> <br /> “We’re not going to ask you again.” A second guard growls, a clear threat in his words. <br /> <br /> “Please, she’s innocent.” I beg, “you have to –” before I can say anything more, the men grab me by the arms and begin trying to lead me off the property. Feeling truly desperate, I dig in my heels, deciding that my dignity is worth Cora’s entire future. “I’m begging you, if I could just talk to Mr. Sinclair.” <br /> <br /> “You’ve already talked to him.” The first guard grumbles, “and frankly you’re lucky he was as generous to you as he was. Your friend clearly told you things she shouldn’t.”<br /> <br /> The next thing I know, they’ve thrown me off the property and onto the sidewalk so forcefully that I lose my balance, tumbling to the ground as tears spark in my eyes. The iron gates slam shut behind me, and I have no choice but to slink off before I can embarrass myself further. <br /> <br /> Of course, this was only the beginning of my misfortune. When I arrived at work the next day, I found that my keys no longer fit the locks on the front door. I knocked, overwhelmed with confusion, and a few minutes later the door swung open to reveal Jake and Millie’s furious mother. <br /> <br /> “My keys aren’t working.” I tell her, wondering why she’s glaring at me so fiercely.<br /> <br /> “They’re not meant to.” She answers coldly, “as of yesterday afternoon, your services were no longer required.”<br /> <br /> “I… you’re firing me?” I squeak, not believing my ears. “Why?”<br /> <br /> “We got a call from the neighbors.” She explains haughtily, “apparently you let Jake run into the road the other day where he was almost hit by a car! And then yesterday you were seen making a fool of yourself at Dominic Sinclair’s home – they said his bodyguards had to drag you off the grounds like a common criminal.”<br /> <br /> “That isn’t fair, that isn’t what happened!” I plead. “Jake through his toy into the road and ran after it, I didn’t let it happen, and what happened with Mr. Sinclair was a misunderstanding.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t want to hear it.” She hisses. “Now leave before I call the police.”<br /> <br /> “Please, can’t I at least say goodbye to the kids?” I request, praying she’ll grant me this one kindness.<br /> <br /> “I’m dialing.” She tells me simply, pulling her cell phone from her pocket. <br /> <br /> “No!” I raise my palms in supplication, “It’s okay, I’ll go.”<br /> <br /> For the second time this week, I find myself shamefully retreating through this opulent neighborhood with tears streaming down my face. What hurts even worse than losing my job is the fact I didn't get to explain the situation to Jake and Millie, or see them one last time. I’m sure their mother will tell them horrible things about me, despite the fact that I’ve been lovingly raising for them for the last two years.<br /> <br /> I know Dominic Sinclair is responsible for this. I don’t believe my ex-boss’s story about the neighbors for one moment. He clearly wanted to punish me, just like he’s having Cora punished. A rush of fury takes hold of me, and suddenly I wish I could punish him somehow. It’s not like me to be so vindictive, but right now it truly feels like my entire life is falling apart, and it’s partly his fault. <br /> <br /> I spent all my money on the insemination, and without a job I have almost nothing. How am I ever going to afford to have a baby now? I guarantee I’m not going to get a good reference from Jake and Millie’s mother. <br /> <br /> As if things weren’t already bad enough, when I return home I find a stack of bills in the mailbox and I don’t even recognize half the senders. I open them one by one, feeling my confusion and disbelief grow by the minute.<br /> <br /> As I look at the stores on the breakdown of charges, my suspicion grows: they’re all Mike’s favorite places. Is it possible he did this behind my back? That he’s been hiding the bills from me for months… or years? I know he’ll deny it if I confront him, which leaves me only one option. <br /> <br /> I have to call Kate. My former best friend might have betrayed me completely with her affair, but if anyone knows what Mike has been up to, it’s her. <br /> <br /> Chapter 4 - Desperation<br /> <br /> Ella<br /> <br /> My hands are shaking as I dial Kate’s number. Have I ever been this angry? If I have I certainly can’t remember it now.<br /> <br /> “Hello?” Kate answers almost immediately, using a sickly sweet tone that screams of fakeness. <br /> <br /> “Kate?” I state bluntly. “Are you with Mike right now?”<br /> <br /> There’s a pregnant pause on the other end of the line, before she weakly responds, “What? Of course not.” <br /> <br /> “Come off it Kate, do you really think I don't know about your shit?” I demand. “I’m not a complete idiot.”<br /> <br /> “Ella listen–” She begins, obviously gearing up to give me some sort of excuse. <br /> <br /> “No, I don’t even care about your little affair anymore – but I need to talk to him right now.” I declare fiercely. <br /> <br /> There’s another pause, and then Kate’s voice drops its innocent tone. “You don’t care?” She repeats, sounding truly shocked. “ You know I’m already pregnant?” <br /> <br /> I wasn’t prepared for that particular piece of news. I clench my hands into fists, feeling so furious I think I might actually break the phone with my tight grip, “And what, you think that’s some sort of victory?” I bite. <br /> <br /> “Does he know you’re pregnant?” I ask sharply, “because a man who’s so afraid of responsibility that he’d poison me for years is probably willing to do it to anyone.”<br /> <br /> “Well no, but he loves me, he would never –” She tried to explain. <br /> <br /> “He loved me too once.” I cut her off. “At least he said he did. It’s amazing how charming he can be, considering what a bastard he truly is. How do you think he’s going to support you and your child? He doesn’t even have a job.”<br /> <br /> “Of course he does!” She objects, “He just didn’t tell you about it because he didn’t want you to bleed him dry. He’s a stock broker.”<br /> <br /> “Oh Kate,” I sigh, “Poor, gullible, stupid Kate. He’s as much a stock broker as I am a wizard.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t talk to me like that! He’s got money, he lavishes it on me all the time!” She insists.<br /> <br /> “With fraudulent credit cards he took out in my name!” I shout, losing my temper completely.<br /> <br /> “What?” She squeaks. <br /> <br /> “That’s right. I’ve only just found out – he’s completely bankrupted me. I’m calling the police and if I were you, I’d check your own credit rating immediately, because I’d be willing to be you’re next.” I snap.<br /> <br /> “No,” she repeats weakly, “you’re wrong, it’s different with me.”<br /> <br /> My voice is getting thick with emotion now, but I can’t help it. “And frankly I don’t really care what happens to you Kate, but if you’re really pregnant then your baby deserves better than to be raised in a homeless shelter, and that’s exactly where Mike will land you.”<br /> <br /> I hang up before I start crying, not giving her a chance to respond. Why did I buy his lies about looking for work for so long? He crushed me little by little, all the while pretending to be so nice, and I let it happen. <br /> <br /> Never again. I decide. I won’t ever let myself be fooled that way again. <br /> <br /> I still want to get my revenge on Mike, but first I’ve got to try and salvage what’s left of my life. I have to go to the police and see if I can resolve these financial issues… I can’t have a baby if I’m bankrupt, and I can only pray the police will help. <br /> <br /> ________________________<br /> <br /> “I’m very sorry Miss. Reina, but if your ex-partner has left the area, there’s not much we can do about this.” The police officer breaks this news to me about as gently as he might smash an ant beneath his boot. “I’ll give you the police report to send to the credit card company, but that’s the most help you’re going to get from us.”<br /> <br /> Anger fills me to the brim. I guarantee he’d never treat my case with so little consideration or respect if I wasn’t an impoverished nanny. If I was a wealthy man like Dominic Sinclair, he’d be fawning at my feet, offering to go to any lengths to solve my problems. I storm out of the station before I can lose my temper and verbally assault the man, immediately calling the credit card companies. <br /> <br /> One by one they crush my hopes, telling me in no uncertain terms that unless a culprit is arrested in my case, I’ll be held responsible for the charges. <br /> <br /> As I hang up on the final call, I can feel the earth crumbling beneath my feet. How did it come to this? I literally have nothing. No one will hire me without a recommendation from my previous employer, which means I won’t be able to pay rent or keep food on the table. Normally I might turn to Cora in such a time, but I can’t burden her with this when she’s in the same boat. <br /> <br /> Tomorrow I’ll finally find out whether or not I’m pregnant, and up until now the strange sensation I’ve been experiencing the last few days has been a comfort and source of hope. I don’t know how to explain it: it’s as if I’m suddenly different somehow – even though I can’t see any changes, I just have this intense knowing that I’m no longer the same woman I was a week ago. <br /> <br /> I thought it was a sign the insemination worked, but now I’m praying that it’s my imagination going overboard. <br /> <br /> At first I try to distract myself, turning on the TV and freezing when I see Dominic Sinclair on the news talking about all his good will initiatives in the community. “When our work is finished, the Moon Valley children’s home will be a place of love and community, motivated to find the best homes for every child in need. Our initiative not only ensures that the permanent residents in the home have the best possible conditions, but that there is continuous follow up with children placed with adoptive families to ensure they thrive in their new homes.”<br /> <br /> So much for the supposed philanthropist, I think bitterly. Turning a blind eye to the lives he’s selfishly ruining all the while pretending to be a friend of the downtrodden. A week ago I might have been touched by such a broadcast. I grew up in an orphanage just like the one he’s describing, and I know just how terrible the conditions can be. Now however, I see nothing but his hypocrisy. Cora was an orphan too, she didn’t do anything wrong – where is his compassion for her? Clearly it’s only for the TV cameras. It’s a shame. He’s very convincing… then again, so was Mike. <br /> <br /> Of course Mike was never as handsome as Dominic Sinclair, nor did he ever have his charisma or imposing presence. I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone like him. Even while he was refusing to help me, scolding me and having me thrown out the door, part of me was still taken in by his handsome features and pure magnetism. <br /> <br /> Shaking myself, I turn the TV off. What the hell is wrong with me? The man is a heartless billionaire and I’m still sitting here mooning over him like a silly schoolgirl. <br /> <br /> I end up going to bed early, trying not to think about tomorrow. Of course, I still lie awake late into the night – I know what it means to grow up an orphan, and I can’t countenance bringing a child into the world just to abandon it to that bleak existence. The more my life unravels, the more stark my options become. <br /> <br /> If I am pregnant… Am I going to abort the child? Even though it’s what I’ve wanted my entire life!<br /> <br /> Chapter 5 - Pregnancy Test<br /> <br /> Ella<br /> <br /> “No, I understand.” I murmur into the phone. “Thanks for listening at least.”<br /> <br /> I wearily hang up the line, burying my head in my hands. I spent all morning calling in every favor and loan I possibly could, throwing my dignity right out the window to beg my friends and acquaintances in my time of need. <br /> <br /> I’ve never thought of myself as a proud woman, but begging this way was more of a challenge than I could have imagined. <br /> <br /> I only wish I could help Cora as well as myself. She’s still waiting to hear if she’ll be fired, and while she’s not supposed to be handling any samples, she got permission to do my tests this afternoon. After all, I’ve already been inseminated, so her supervisor didn’t see any risk of further negligence.<br /> <br /> Still, I’m far from excited when I walk through the front doors of the sperm bank. Ten days ago I was heartsore but optimistic for the future, yearning for a baby more than anything else in the world. Now I’m dreading the exam. <br /> <br /> However my trepidation soon gives way to surprise, because as soon as I enter the facility I have the strangest feeling that Dominic Sinclair is near. It takes me a while to actually find him, behind closed doors with Cora’s bosses in a luxurious, glass-walled conference room, but I don’t have the faintest idea how I knew he was present. I also don’t understand why I feel drawn to him: after all, he’s ruined both my sister’s and my own life. I shouldn’t be excited to see him. <br /> <br /> It was dumb luck that I stumbled across his path, the conference room is on the way to Cora’s office, but I find myself stopping to observe the meeting inside. I’m struck speechless when I lay eyes on him. Is it possible that he’s gotten more attractive since the last time I saw him? It was already unfair that somebody that powerful and intelligent could be so handsome, but now it truly just feels like being kicked while I’m down. The bastard has a heart of stone, and still the universe has rained endless gifts upon him while people like Cora and I have nothing. <br /> <br /> Shaking myself out of my trance, I continue down the hall, though I feel the weight of dark eyes on my back as I retreat. Cora has clearly been crying when I arrive. Her eyes are red and her cheeks splotchy, though she tries to hide it. <br /> <br /> “Hey.” I greet her gently, wrapping her up in a hug. She leans into me, squeezing tight and lingering far longer than she usually would. “Is there any news?”<br /> <br /> “Sinclair is in there finalizing it all now. I’m going to be given formal termination notice this afternoon.” She shares, sniffling slightly. <br /> <br /> “I’m so sorry, honey.” I croon, rubbing her back. <br /> <br /> “It’s okay.” She lies, pulling away. “How are you hanging in there?”<br /> <br /> “Not very well.” I confess. “I’m sort of dreading this, to be honest.”<br /> <br /> “It’s amazing how fast things can change, huh?” She asks, looking as though she might burst into tears. “I mean, what are we going to do, Elle?” <br /> <br /> “Well figure it out.” I promise. “We’ve been in tight spots before.” I remind her, “remember the summer we slept in boxes on the street after we ran away from the orphanage?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah,” She nods with a sad smile. “But it’s winter now, I don’t think we’ll last long in the elements. And you weren’t pregnant then.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah well, if I’m pregnant now….” I can’t look her in the eyes as I say this, “I don’t think I’m going to stay that way.”<br /> <br /> “What?” Cora exclaims, looking horrified. “But this is your only chance! And we aren’t completely hopeless, you’ve got time to try to figure out a plan B.”<br /> <br /> That phrase alone reminds me of Mike, and I realize I haven’t shared my latest news with Cora. “I can’t afford a baby even if I do find a job. I’m going to be paying off my debts for years to come.” I share, filling her in on the details of Mike and Kate’s latest betrayal. <br /> <br /> “I can’t believe this!” She bursts out when I’m finished. “It just isn’t fair, Ella! I mean, I thought we paid our dues, I thought we were done with suffering. After everything we’ve been through, we deserve a better future than this! You deserve to be a mom – no one loves children more than you do.”<br /> <br /> “And you deserve to be a doctor.” I reply. “You worked so hard.”<br /> <br /> “I still don’t think you should give up yet.” She frowns. “You can terminate the pregnancy up until the end of the first trimester. It would be a tragedy if you aborted it, then pulled off a miracle and it turned out you could have kept it. Don’t take that risk. Keep the baby until the very last moment.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t think miracles happen to people like me.” I remark softly. “Besides that seems kind of like it’s own form of torture – the longer I carry the baby the more attached I’m going to get. I don’t want this to hurt any worse than it has to.”<br /> <br /> “It’s going to hurt no matter what.” Cora reasons, “You ought to give yourself a chance – keep the door open. Don’t give up hope completely.”<br /> <br /> “Let’s just find out if I have to make that decision in the first place.” I state, changing the subject. “I may not even be pregnant.” Yet even as I say it, I can feel in my heart that I am. <br /> <br /> “Okay.” Cora agrees, pulling a sterile cup wrapped in plastic from one of her cabinets. “You know what to do.”<br /> <br /> I take the cup and quickly duck into the bathroom to provide a urine sample, returning it to her almost immediately. I pace back and forth across the office as Cora runs the tests. “Well?” I press, seeing the results pop up on her computer screen. <br /> <br /> She offers me a sad smile. “Congratulations little sister, you’re going to have a baby.”<br /> <br /> I told myself that I wouldn’t fall to pieces no matter the results, but as soon as the words are out of her mouth I’m crying. I’ve been waiting to hear those words for years and was beginning to think I never would. It’s both unimaginable joy, and unimaginable pain. I never knew my heart could hold such conflicting emotions at the same time, let alone in such extremes. “Really?”<br /> <br /> “Really.” Cora confirms, hugging me. “Come on, let’s do an ultrasound. You can hear the heartbeat.”<br /> <br /> “Isn’t it too early?” I squeak. <br /> <br /> “Just one of the benefits of being at the finest lab in the country.” Cora quips, the words bittersweet on her tongue. “Our technology is years ahead of what’s available in public hospitals.”<br /> <br /> Climbing onto the raised exam table, I lay back and lift my top, not bothering to change into a gown or cover my clothes with a sheet, I simply expose my flat belly as Cora wheels in an ultrasound on a cart. Within minutes the machine is emitting a strange whoosh woosh woosh, and Cora squirts a dollop of jelly on my tummy. She pressed the wand to my skin, and before long a tiny heartbeat sounds – making me cry all over again.<br /> <br /> However Cora is frowning deeply. “This is so strange, the baby seems awfully large, but we tested you at your last visit to be sure you weren’t already pregnant.”<br /> <br /> “What does that mean?” I ask anxiously. “Is the father just a big guy?”<br /> <br /> “I don’t just mean size – I mean development.” Cora purses her lips and furrows her brows as she studies the images, suddenly looking very worried. She’s whispering now, speaking to herself more than to me. “It doesn’t look human… but that can’t be… it’s not possible.”<br /> <br /> “What are you talking about?” I inquire, “How can you tell? Isn’t it just a tiny blob?”<br /> <br /> “As I said, our tech is state of the art. It doesn’t just highlight shapes - it analyzes the molecular structure.” Before she can say another word, the door bursts open, startling us both. To my shock and horror, Dominic Sinclair is standing in the doorframe, glaring at us as if we’ve done something terrible. “What’s the meaning of this?” He demands.<br /> <br /> “What’s the meaning of this? I repeat in shock, “what’s the meaning of you barging into a private exam?!”<br /> <br /> “Because,” He declares fiercely, and I swear his eyes are almost glowing with rage. “I can smell my pup.”<br /> <br /> Chapter 6 - He's A Werewolf<br /> <br /> “Your pup?” I parrot, realizing I must sound like an idiot the way I keep repeating him – but it’s all too strange and surreal. I feel like I’m having a dream......<br /> __________________<br /> <br /> Click to READ more 👉👉 Title: Surrogate for Alpha Dom	LEARN_MORE	https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share-custom4	106077262240533	The novel	https://facebook.com/100085523883301	19,182	3	893,116,842,268,511	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	The novel	120204314137930310	page.joyreadings.com	NONE	video		https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share-custom4.html?lang=en&id=5747&brand=2&app=0&ppid=1637&pid=FBW2A&campaign=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&utm_source=FBW2A&utm_medium=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&utm_campaign=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&utm_term=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&utm_content=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ori_campaign_id=120204262467030310&ori_adset_id=120204262467220310&ori_ad_id=120204262468280310	2023-12-27 03:14	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/415194450_735830854774959_6346220921795589417_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NAHPguWruroQ7kNvgHbZqVh&_nc_oc=AdjXL4VLMEo0U-EmIkoM2WPP4zcVNDOC_JQ6BioJH4LoxzEZw2s91VsJ5dE4oZ_dM6Q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB7huwfjirOD7FUQ2yCBH3yq_ku9jRzWt2bbBnXXKHPqA&oe=6641D408	person_profile	The novel	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/415205438_366853606031194_7678051728342973407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RuCYLu4iElQQ7kNvgHqhk48&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD7DzLTwhDpheKcOX9zRMX2hexLgv1p1Rtatn5-fcG4Tw&oe=6641CC9F	3	The novel	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
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1,778,985	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778979}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	1670353043369003	Enjoy Romance🥰Read More 👉	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> <br /> &13&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e	108744435202789	Novellove read	https://facebook.com/100083283215376	4,076	1	1,197,646,518,024,522	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Novellove read	120208491498460660	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	video		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=216543&accid=1910509592737470	2024-05-06 05:07	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438301042_417910694430179_5950105905484856993_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=f-spqgyDXRoQ7kNvgHnaXMK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC1w1npHej0n6Md-ZgJQH47t-dFRl63fATm6pGZ2VdINg&oe=6641EF2B	person_profile	moboreader	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438260244_453733897063574_3778833007064673070_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Koq2n8e2DC8Q7kNvgEbUkTn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBeJZiZO0RtCb3YiVBPP5CAzbRd62BzcI3K3GgSz-Dxcg&oe=6641D9D3	3	Novellove read	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,724	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778723}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:42	active	760	1102316951038024	🚀 💪Ignite Your Passion: Explore Limitless Possibilities!	Unlock Your Full Potential<br /> 🔥 Elevate your confidence <br /> 💪 Experience heightened pleasure and satisfaction like never before<br /> 🚀 Unleash your inner prowess<br /> 🌟 Embrace a new level of virility today!	LEARN_MORE	https://info.organicprowess.com/wednesday	112370045164983	Jennifer Romina	https://facebook.com/100091656771770	469	1	936,053,674,868,589	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Jennifer Romina	120209655260910588	info.organicprowess.com	NONE	video		https://info.organicprowess.com/wednesday	2024-05-04 02:35	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439231756_979602076482693_9140312487277162958_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dXf2hSwikmgQ7kNvgEp2QLZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBxroYdPQubfSEIViTFUw-fRue7jozy55hVWdx-zfIiew&oe=6641CE98	person_profile	Jennifer Romina	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439203711_737942801754186_498591420836522185_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FZaI3DALdJEQ7kNvgExpJsB&_nc_oc=Adi-OOeYDrk4lfXDg8PkDJBCjLSUUpOdV7ATjHXTa6bA1-k7Vw7O7OIOTn5wb4drLII&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAw2sIxIxLos49UkY5PAWaPwZa0XP2x-4MIHSmoxYnQzw&oe=6641CF80	3	Jennifer Romina	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,110	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778362}'	No	2024-05-08 18:34	active	760	372916225122279	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	So many nights I watched his dad instead. Nothing hot, except for the way he makes walking through a room look hot, but those are my little secrets.<br /> I settle in at the perfect angle where I can see Jayce, and get comfortable enough to take care of myself. I swear he keeps looking at my window. Can he see me?<br /> Swallowing hard, I slide my hand into the waistband of my shorts. My fingers brush over my curls. This is probably illegal. I'll blame it on emotional scarring from Brett denying me se.x while he was boning someone else.<br /> Hand, tongue, shaft...so many orgasms...I stir myself into a frenzy. Another moan escapes my lips, my eyes fall shut, and I drop my head back as I draw myself closer.<br /> Light streams into my consciousness. Is it the start of my climax? I'm so close. It's not my climax though. What's happening?<br /> I blink hard against the brightness coming from the hallway as I take in my dad's voice, "Madi, you okay?"<br /> ————————<br /> Madison<br /> Crossingthemountainridge into Eggplant Canyon, I can't believe I'm moving back to my dad's house on the eve of my first job. But when a last-minute position to teach kindergarten was offered, I spent the morning packing my tiny apartment, made the six-hour drive, and now I'm ready to tuck myself into bed.<br /> I want to be well-rested for the mandatory district training day tomorrow.<br /> The house is dark as I make the familiar turn into the driveway. My dad texted to let me know that he got called into the hospital. Nothing new there.<br /> Carrying a couple suitcases with my essentials inside, I don't bother to call my boyfriend, who was my next-door neighbor growing up. I haven't been able to get hold of him for the last few days, but I chalked it up to him being busy with his med school application. The disconnect is symbolic of how well our long-distance relationship has worked out while we attended different universities. Dating was so much easier when we just walked across the grass to see each other.<br /> If he listened to the series of four voice messages I left, he would know that I had a sudden change of plans. It's not that I expected him to drop everything and come back to see me since he's only an hour away, I just wanted to share my excitement.<br /> As I open the curtains in my bedroom to enjoy the moonlight over the mountains, I'm certain he didn't listen.<br /> Otherwise, he would have at least had the decency to close his blinds...I hope.<br /> My phone falls from my hand. I don't bother to pick it up.<br /> My heart breaks as everything I thought I knew about the cute, ambitious, and respectful boy next door, who I've saved my first time for, bangs some chick.<br /> He was the one to say we shouldn't have intercourse until we're married. That's not something you just forget. Is it something against me personally? We were supposed to have a future. How long has this been going on?<br /> Dreams shatter far easier than they're built. I can't tear my eyes off the undressed tangle of their bodies. How long have I been a fool?<br /> Brett, my suddenly ex-boyfriend, hadn't wanted to risk either of our careers with an unplanned pregnancy.<br /> My dad had talked to him about the rigors of med school and how it was really hard to raise a child while going through it. Waiting made sense. Watch out for our futures. A little ridiculous since all I wanted to do was be a mom, but my dad insisted I plan on a career since relationships can go wrong.<br /> Like right now.<br /> My heart splits in two.<br /> The fatigue from my long day channels into anger.<br /> All of my pent-up sexual frustration has been for naught. What's his endgame? I would have screwed him. I'd begged actually. Not a proud moment, but I had. And he'd had the nerve to tell me I should be able to control my urges better.<br /> I'd thought I was an over-sexed freak for all of my naughty thoughts he refused to entertain. And for the ones he didn't know about, like the ones that involved his dad.<br /> It looks like we both had secrets, but mine didn't hurt anyone.<br /> I force myself to look away. This is over. And I'm going to make sure he doesn't have any wiggle room to sweet talk his way out of it.<br /> I rush downstairs and out of my house, across the grass to his front door, and don't bother knocking.<br /> "Madison?" Brett's father, Jayce, calls out as I storm past his office, which is just off the entry. I don't have to look to know that he's at his desk, he almost always is. Concern has replaced the swoon-worthiness of the wealthy CEO's usual deep voice. I don't care. If he, in any way, taught his son to be a cheater, he's as despicable as his spawn.<br /> As I stride through their living room, I question how I was able to forget his dad could be home. Apparently, I'm drunk on the toxic cocktail of exhaustion, anger, and tunnel vision, and it's served with a blanket of shame. I never forget about his dad—the lingering glances I sometimes catch him sneaking, the tension in his jaw every time I gave Brett a peck on the cheek, or my imaginary belief that he made himself scarce when I was around because he secretly wanted me too—which are all more reasons I thought something was wrong with me.<br /> I would never cheat on my boyfriend. Especially not with his dad.<br /> But if anyone had read my mind... Every time Jayce called me Madison, never the nickname Madi that everyone else used, it made me feel so hot, so desirable. Not the girl-next-door his son dated, but the woman...never mind. It's my given name, not a seduction. More proof that I'm not wired quite right.<br /> I quicken my pace to get up the stairs when I hear Jayce behind me.<br /> "Wait...I thought you two broke up." So he does know what Brett's doing.<br /> "We are now." My blanket of shame is starting to suffocate me. It's hard enough to find out my boyfriend is a loser, much less reveal it in front of my secret crush. But my freight train of anger is in motion.<br /> Throwing Brett's bedroom door open, I want to vomit. Seeing him with another woman from my window was one thing, but up close...it's far too real. What had I planned on doing? Pieces of thoughts form a maelstrom of hurt and chaos in my mind.<br /> Brett and his buddy realize I'm in the room. They break their peck to look at me. The other part of them stays together. Gag. I need a plan, and fast. I've done, or not done, everything Brett asked. Look where that got me. I won't be the victim.<br /> Think. Think. Think.<br /> "Madi?" Brett lifts up. My urge to vomit heightens.<br /> The thinking train derails. I rush forward, shrugging my blanket of shame. I'm not the one at fault. There are a million things I want to say to him but words fail me as I rear my fist back.<br /> When I thrust it forward, a primal scream erupts from me, sparing me from having to hear his nose break. Wow! That felt good. Like I'm doing all women a favor by standing up for myself.<br /> Brett falls onto the girl, making a horrible sound as he grips his face and rolls off. Thankfully the sheet spares me the details that are no longer my business.<br /> He doesn't deserve a chance to explain.<br /> Before anyone can say anything coherent, I spin around and rush out of the room as quickly as I entered, not bothering to close the door.<br /> Turning the corner, tears blur my vision. I plow into Jayce. His hard body becomes a wall supporting me. His hands circle my waist and for way longer than a split second, I hope Brett comes out of his room and catches his father holding me.<br /> Maybe there is something wrong with me. I'm not usually the type of person to want revenge.<br /> I shift my eyes to the stairwell past Jayce. "Umm, sorry, I need to go."<br /> His grip tightens.<br /> "I've got you." His tone has never been so low and possessive. "Let's go downstairs."<br /> "I'm fine." I try to move but not enough to convince him that's what I want. I give in to his grip, his protection. My se.x tingles. My entire body tingles. And when he pulls me into his chest, his arms firm around my back, and if I can believe myself, his lips in my hair, and something very hard against my belly. For the first time ever, I question that being wired wrong might not be such a bad thing.<br /> "You deserve to be treated better than that." His words. His tone. His belief in me. They're turning me to mush. They're giving me hope for something I know better than to believe in.<br /> "A real man would treat me better." It's supposed to be a jab at his son, his child, but as I angle my head up and get lost in Jayce's possessive gaze, I can't be sure of my intent. My momentary bravado lures me into the forbidden.<br /> The sincerity in his gaze penetrates me. It's how a man should look at a woman he loves. Not that I've experienced it until this moment. But it's clear. It has me questioning everything.<br /> It's too much. I'm hurt. I'm mad. I'm making things up.<br /> Before I embarrass myself, I pull away from his comfort and warmth. I drift my hands down both handrails, and stride to the front door. The cold metal of the handle is my ticket to freedom, but movement in Jayce's office catches my attention.<br /> Is someone else here? I have the door in motion as I turn my face to see.<br /> The handsome stranger is chiseled in all of the right ways. Enough to make me misstep. To crack the door into the side of my head.<br /> "Oomph." I stumble back, unsure if I've lost balance from the collision or if the ravenous look in his eyes, which I certainly made up, made my legs go weak.<br /> He circles the desk. The look intensifies. I can't let him touch me. I still can't breathe from Jayce's contact. Why am I thinking he would do that? I must have hit my head harder than I thought.<br /> Steadying myself, I run out of the Hampton household as fast as possible.<br /> That should be it. Brett and I are done. I'm not going to pretend that Mister Hampton or his friend lust after me. I'm going to give myself a minute for an impromptu pity party then do my best to get some sleep before the school district's training day for new hires.<br /> But this night can't go wrong enough.<br /> When I get home, my curtains are still open. My house still faces the Hampton's house, because despite it feeling like the entire world shifted on its axis and everything tilted out of whack, nothing has changed.<br /> I'm still wildly turned on by Brett's dad. And his friend. It's not just in the lingering sensation of his fingers wrapped around my waist like he didn't want to let go, or the incredible hardness of his body as he held me tightly. Or the way both of them looked at me like I was theirs.<br /> I'm standing at my floor-to-ceiling window, my hands gripped on the curtains on either side ready to pull them closed, and once again, I can't move.<br /> Jayce's silhouette is in his window, one that I know to be their entertainment room. He's backlit by a lamp. His hands are braced just above shoulder height on either side of the window. If I can trust my eyes, he's staring at me.<br /> Or more accurately, he's staring at my window, because up until a split second ago, I wasn't in it.<br /> But now that I am, he's not moving, so I guess that makes my first assumption correct...he's staring at me.<br /> I like it.<br /> And when his friend walks up behind him, I like it even more.<br /> -<br /> Mydad and I were hanging out but he had somewhere to go. I suppose that was his way of avoiding saying he had something to do at the hospital. Why bother hiding it?<br /> It's fine. I'm exhausted, so I retreat to my bedroom.<br /> For the last three days, I've been swamped with district training and revamping my lesson plans.<br /> It's been a wild, exhausting ride. The training alone would have been enough since I had to switch gears from first grade to kindergarten to take this position, which meant revamping my lesson plans. But I'd also taken on the after-school program, which meant extra long days and an entire other lesson plan.<br /> All of the hecticness aside, I'm glad I made a last-minute change to accept the teaching position close to where I grew up. Once I settle into a routine, I ought to be able to see old friends. Or am I putting it off because I'm a chicken?<br /> My former best friend, Calli, is here and I really want to make amends. I need to apologize for dismissing her concerns years before and being a pretty horrific best friend.<br /> What if her number changed? I'll just think she's ghosting me. Which I would deserve. Plus, I must have left my phone downstairs. I'll text her tomorrow. Bawk<br /> Slipping my silky robe over my pajama set, a tank top and short shorts, I stare at my closed curtains. I could easily say that I've been too busy to bother opening them...for three days.<br /> The truth is that I'm worried what I'll see if I do. Bawk. Bawk.<br /> It's not Brett's window that worries me anymore. He left town the day after someone broke his nose. Word travels fast in a small town, but thankfully the detail about me is missing.<br /> Each night when I've crawled into bed, I've stared at the curtains, pretending that if I open them Jayce will still be in his window, hands braced on the edges, waiting on me. Wanting to make sure I'm okay. Desperate to show me how a man should treat a woman.<br /> This is when his friend usually enters the fantasy, and I let both men tend to the needs I've been denied.<br /> I've gone off the deep end.<br /> I thought it was a twisted rebound fantasy...wanting my ex's dad and his friend. The truth is that I've always wanted Jayce. I kept trying to force the desire into an inaccessible part of my brain since I was dating his son.<br /> Now that I'm single, I'd hoped to get Jayce and his friend out of my system by letting my fantasies run wild while I pleasured myself.<br /> That took things the wrong direction. Thoughts of them morphed into what I can only describe as an obsession. It's clouding my ability to think, even when I'm at work.<br /> And that's too much. I can't lose this job.<br /> I moved back home not only because my tough-love dad developed a soft spot and let me stay for free, but I want to work on our relationship. I'd felt alone when I was away at school. Now that I'm an adult with a job, I think he'll be able to relate to me more—thus the added reason not to lose it. While I was growing up, he'd been so busy with patients and creating new programs at the hospital that I hardly knew him.<br /> Which is why when he got a text and said he needed to leave tonight, I wasn't surprised.<br /> I laugh out loud. Considering how many hours of the day I'm putting into my job, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. At least we spend time together each evening since he agreed he could do better.<br /> It's weird recognizing that my dad's obsession with work is rooted in wanting to bring better healthcare to our little neck of the woods. Too bad it came with the sacrifice of not being around much when I was little. Not so different than my love of kids and wanting to give them the best start possible.<br /> My thoughts deviate back to Jayce. This can't be healthy. Perhaps Brett was right, my interest in intercourse is—No. No more of that thinking. He lied to me. He cheated on me. He made me feel dirty for wanting intercourse.<br /> But wanting intercourse with his dad...that has to qualify as dirty.<br /> Perhaps if I open my curtains, I'll find out just how dirty he is.<br /> I rub my hands over my face. No. I'll pull the curtains back so I can accept that he doesn't brood in his window each night. My fantasy is clearly out of control. I need to find someone else to fantasize about.<br /> I tamp down the idea of his friend. Too awkward. Too old. Actually, the friend is younger. And I'm back down one of my lust spirals.<br /> Pushing both panels back a few inches, my breath hitches when the light is on in the Hampton's game room.<br /> Curling my fingers around the edges of my curtains, I tuck the fabric to my chest. The flutters and tingles rushing through me are wrong.<br /> I force my gaze to Brett's window. Nothing. No light. No Brett. No feelings. Yay? Shouldn't I feel something?<br /> Movement pulls my attention back to the illuminated window. Jayce enters the room.<br /> My skin tickles every time he looks my way. I'm sure it's all in my head. With my lights off, he can't see me anyway.<br /> Angling one thigh into the other, I shift my hips to ease the mounting tension. I'll have to throw myself back into the dating scene. Find a guy who doesn't criticize me for wanting to have intercourse. Should I list on my profile that I'm looking for real men? I snicker at my misstep...looking for a real man. Maybe someone older?<br /> My heartbeat quickens as I consider what it would be like to have more than one. Is that a deviant thought? Maybe if Brett hadn't deprived me, I wouldn't be so wound up.<br /> Drawing the curtains to have a couple feet of opening, I sit on the plush chaise that faces the window from only a few feet away. Growing up, I used it for relaxing and reading, staring out at the mountains, and yes, staring at Brett. He never did the same. And when he caught me in my window one night, he texted to tell me it wasn't polite to watch people through their windows.<br /> It was one of many desires I had that he didn't share. He'd made me feel naughty for the things I wanted.<br /> But with my lights off, no one in their house can see into my room. I know from leaving my stuffed animals on the chaise then trying to see them from Brett's window. He may not have wanted to watch, but that didn't stop me. So many nights I'd willed my dirty thoughts would go away. So many nights they didn't.<br /> So many nights I watched his dad instead. Nothing hot, except for the way he makes walking through a room look hot, but those are my little secrets.<br /> I settle in at the perfect angle where I can see Jayce, and get comfortable enough to take care of myself. I swear he keeps looking at my window. Can he see me?<br /> Nearly breathless, I monitor his glances. Four more pauses on my window give no indication he can see in. But he's looking. I like that.<br /> Swallowing hard, I slide my hand into the waistband of my shorts. My fingers brush over my curls. This is probably illegal. I'll blame it on emotional scarring from Brett denying me se.x while he was boning someone else.<br /> Lazily dragging my finger through my juices, I let out a sigh. I'm so wet it's ridiculous. Not sure my thing for older guys would translate well into real-life dating, but it's good fantasy fodder.<br /> You deserve to be treated better than that. Jayce's words carry so loudly through my mind that I look around my room. Not here. He's still safely two panes of glass and lawns away.<br /> I relax into the seat. Jayce moves back and forth across the room, around the pool table, occasionally stepping out of sight, but never for long.<br /> Succumbing to my imagination, I pretend I'm on the pool table. He's circling me. Studying me the way I've watched him study the angle for a pool shot.<br /> Jayce's gaze lands on my window, a little longer this time. My breath catches in my throat. I don't breathe again until he looks away. If he could see, there's no way he would have looked away. Right?<br /> A hint of guilt niggles in my mind...unless he wishes his son's ex-girlfriend would get control of herself, and quit being a lewd little voyeur. Or is it a naughty exhibitionist? Is it possible to be both? It seems wrong that I think of myself as naughty and lewd, but that turns me on too.<br /> He studies the table, rakes a hand through his hair, and leans over. I double-down circling my cherry. How good would his tongue feel?<br /> I moan and sink my fingers inside of me. Forget his tongue. What would his shaft feel like? Instead of telling me he wants to wait until we're married, he'd show me how a real man pleases a woman.<br /> Hand, tongue, shaft...so many orgasms...I stir myself into a frenzy. Another moan escapes my lips, my eyes fall shut, and I drop my head back as I draw myself closer.<br /> Light streams into my consciousness. Is it the start of my climax? I'm so close. It's not my climax though. What's happening?<br /> I blink hard against the brightness coming from the hallway as I take in my dad's voice, "Madi, you okay?"<br /> He was supposed to leave already.<br /> I scramble to pull my robe over myself, get my hand out of my shorts, and rectify my spread-eagle position.<br /> "I'm fine," I blurt. Please don't let him realize what I'm doing. He can't see Jayce's window from where my door is. Tempering my voice with annoyance, I shift so I'm facing over the back of the chaise and continue, "I was looking at the stars, relaxing."<br /> Feigning a glance outside, my sights catch on Jayce standing squarely in his window. This can't be happening.<br /> "Hmm, didn't know you liked to do that." My dad steps into my room, extending his hand and my phone. "You left this downstairs."<br /> No. No. No. I can't let him come over.<br /> "Set it on my dresser." I point to the other side of the door. "Thanks, Dad. Catch you in the morning."<br /> He follows my cue—problem one solved.<br /> "You know. It's nice having you home and getting to spend quality time with you. I love you, Madi."<br /> "Love you too, Dad." I don't have time for a trip down memory lane or correcting him that I don't want to use that nickname anymore. And I don't dare look out the window.<br /> "You worked hard this week. You deserve some R and R. I'm proud of you."<br /> Maybe not if you knew what you just interrupted. My stomach is in knots waiting as he steps out and closes the door. Darkness cloaks my room once again.<br /> A second passes before I turn to the window. Nothing could prepare me for what I see. Jayce is waiting for me. Exactly the way I imagined in my fantasies—his hands braced on either side of the window.<br /> I draw a slow breath. He must have seen me. He can't see me now. What do I do?<br /> Do I want to find out how a real man treats a woman?	LEARN_MORE	https://a.weblibriapp.com/ad/dGFib3VzdG9yaWVzLzE3M	133203739870328	Webli010	https://facebook.com/61551288208360	34	1	369,785,189,405,726	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Webli010	120208455202270008	a.weblibriapp.com	NONE	video		https://a.weblibriapp.com/ad/dGFib3VzdG9yaWVzLzE3MTI0OS8yMDI0MDUwNzE2MDgxOS9wYWdl?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 03:19	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441278237_1168514504187454_3935971429270266812_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NhkABLTM0l8Q7kNvgHweGG5&_nc_oc=AdiIhRQXuF0u91xvQqhiAKfP_cCbJYUdnebn0S5bzVkRSTxqkmKyN3pwusLWmB3bn0I&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCh-F1hQDfS5cHm5IOVywT-amU_y_pB_0t2R4ovRCNU8w&oe=6641D657	person_profile	Webli010	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441288408_448745894475033_5298406260093410257_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sUjZ0jVjSisQ7kNvgFUffu6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAQf4CBM1V6r2RXHUjWCRuGttjNveFQDYLrGqcLEUUp-g&oe=6641C0FA	3	Webli010	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete

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