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1,778,930	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778979}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	440326031879746	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	1,956,479,791,475,997	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Novellove read	120208491370590660	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 05:05	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440772216_797811108960523_1166852929925437371_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Kf9wwLeu2yYQ7kNvgE5TIsI&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCxj5_ytBGouUSB6lFVC15gJWRxVjazTa-EwKPIUg8KpA&oe=6641DC93	person_profile	moboreader	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438118991_358120657263976_4581959374668935499_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aHH76tf_BigQ7kNvgFr4yRf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCfzv6DHG5muoiGZCkdgoHdfPw191NXtG3ciVk_C0xkoA&oe=6641E293	3	Novellove read	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
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1,778,982	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778933}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	1599077967545844	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	106206892171576	Love Story City	https://facebook.com/100083614308933	17,592	2	1,458,911,894,711,161	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Love Story City	120208853544790493	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	image		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-FB_CONTACT-ENJ57_9-Core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=961225&accid=1325826931416330&jump=1	2024-05-07 22:19	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438304145_1481152566137236_5531851361634825939_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LvurZV4jtZYQ7kNvgH4FVlt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBojPC-ZRzq0l_dGd3C3k1CptLxvgipBWorJUgZzz-VGg&oe=6641EC5A	person_profile	moboreader	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438264434_1119714319241644_2076576365716393243_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2umSZ_PYOakQ7kNvgFS1HmT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfANjD9XxSvhNxKICRqS6YSDarzw3NgbLZTTxFEXkEzVLA&oe=6641E5D2	3	Love Story City	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,356	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778317}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	2347715365439726	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	I turn and meet his gaze.<br /> It’s at that moment, as I stare into the blue eyes of one of the biggest rockstars in the world, I realize my life is going to change forever.<br /> I don’t know how, but instinct tells me, by the end of this wedding, Eric and Addie won’t be the only ones making love.<br /> Ace Flanagan, I wonder. Do you feel the same?<br /> --<br /> The bride and groom are onto me. Sure, I’m here to enjoy their wedding, but who says I can’t enjoy my time here as well? <br /> All I did was switch seats at the party to be next to Addie’s sister—what’s the big deal?<br /> Laney’s a grown woman who can take care of herself. Laney Michaels. Just the sound of her name gets my mouth watering.<br /> She’s exactly my type. Artsy, intelligent, and hot . The fact she’s a little shy only makes me more intrigued.<br /> I know I promised Addie I wouldn’t pursue her sister, but so far, I’m not breaking any promises.<br /> Just being friendly.<br /> And if Laney decides she’d like to pursue me…well, that’s a whole ’nother story.<br /> ————————<br /> <br /> "Addie, help!There’s blood everywhere"<br /> "what are you talking about?"<br /> "What if it’s the baby?It’s too early!!I’m freaking out!"<br /> "your gonna be ok, sis!“<br /> ”i’m calling an ambulance rn.“<br /> ”call ace.he needs to know.“<br /> ”NO! Anyone but Ace!"<br /> "laney.he’s the father."<br /> "I thinaasdk im’ gokjn to faintt"<br /> "laney!"<br /> "laney?!?!"<br /> "laney!!!! answer me!!!!"<br /> I’ve been preparing for this moment for the past six months. But it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.<br /> Instead of my water breaking, I’m lying in a pool of my own blood on a creaky staircase.<br /> Instead of nine months, it’s only been seven and a half.<br /> Instead of having the father by my side, I’m completely and totally alone.<br /> I’m terrified. Black dots obscure my vision. I don’t know if it’s the blood or something else, but I can feel my consciousness slipping.<br /> I can’t believe it’s come to this. What if my baby doesn’t make it? What if our baby doesn’t make it?<br /> I think of Ace, I think of how we met, I think of how we sleep and, in turn, made this inevitable future unfold. And I think, as my eyes roll back…<br /> Would Ace care if we lost it all?<br /> What is one baby to the biggest rockstar in the world?<br /> Where are you, Ace Flanagan, father of my child?<br /> Where are you?<br /> --<br /> ^SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER^<br /> So, this is how a rockstar marries a supermodel.<br /> I’m hiking up a small trail, following fifty guests to a private reception in the California mountains. Even in October, the weather is sweltering. Way too hot for a Chicago girl like me.<br /> I worry I’m going to sweat right through this bridesmaid’s dress. But for Addie? For my twin sister? I’ll do anything.<br /> When we finally reach the clearing, my mouth drops in awe. Shimmering lights hang from the towering redwoods all around us, illuminating the tree line with a pink glow. An altar decorated with hundreds of flowers waits at the end of an ivory-blanketed aisle.<br /> If ever there was a fairy tale wedding, this must be it.<br /> When Addie told me the wedding was going to be private, I didn’t realize she meant this private. The cost of being famous, I suppose.<br /> I see Melody, Addie’s personal assistant, best friend, and maid of honor.<br /> “Melody, everything looks amazing!”<br /> “Thanks, Laney,” she says, grinning nervously. “I just hope Addie is satisfied. It really should be you giving the toast, not me.”<br /> I shrug, bashful. The truth is, I’m beyond grateful Melody is taking that responsibility. I’ve always suffered from stage fright. Shied away from the spotlight. That kind of attention?<br /> It’s just not for me.<br /> Which is funny, considering my sister’s face is plastered across magazines, internet gossip blogs, and entertainment news 24/7. She was famous before she got engaged to Eric Flanagan, lead singer of Vagabond, America’s biggest rock band. But now?<br /> The two of them can’t go anywhere without someone snapping their photo.<br /> That’s why they’re having their wedding here, in the middle of the forest, with only fifty guests. Still, even this kind of celebrity wedding, with movie stars and singers and influencers left and right, is a lot for an introverted artist like me.<br /> As I sit down in the front aisle, I find myself dreaming of my Chicago studio and the paintings I’m dying to finish. Which is when I hear his Brooklyn-accented voice for the first time beside me.<br /> “Mind if I sit here?”<br /> I turn to see a dark-haired, muscular, drop-dead gorgeous specimen of a man with a slightly reddish beard and eyes so deep and blue, you could swim in them.<br /> Somehow, his voice and face strike me as familiar. But how? I’m not sure.<br /> “Go ahead,” I say, realizing I’m staring.<br /> He sits down beside me in his fitted black suit, and I can’t help but admire his figure. Tall, fit, the kind of man who gets whatever he wants, I can just tell.<br /> “Do you know the bride or groom?” he asks.<br /> I look into his eyes and see how they wander over me, from my short, black lace dress to my legs to my pink suede ankle boots.<br /> “Well,” I say, “Addie and I are very close.”<br /> “How close?”<br /> “So close we actually shared a womb… We’re twins.”<br /> He looks surprised, so I elaborate a little bit. “Fraternal.”<br /> A lot of people give us that look when Addie and I say we’re twins. With her brown hair, green eyes, and tall supermodel body, and my strawberry blonde hair, grey eyes, and curvy hourglass body, we couldn’t look more different.<br /> Now, I find myself curious about this handsome stranger beside me. How does he know the bride or groom?<br /> “You must be a friend of Eric’s?” I ask.<br /> “You’re joking, right?” he responds, taken aback.<br /> “I’m sorry?”<br /> “I’m in Vagabond with Eric,” he explains, grinning. “I play lead guitar and sing backup mostly, occasionally lead vocals.”<br /> That’s how I recognized him. ~Of course~. I’ve been so behind the times, barely watching TV, listening to the radio, or using my iPhone for anything but making calls and taking photos, I didn’t notice.<br /> I blush, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m a complete idiot.”<br /> “Not at all,” he says. “It’s refreshing. To actually meet someone.”<br /> “So, you’re…”<br /> “Ace Flanagan, Eric’s cousin.”<br /> We shake hands, and at the feel of his calloused fingertips, I can tell how dedicated he is to his craft. I wonder what else he can do with those hands.<br /> “And your name is…?”<br /> “Oh, I’m Laney,” I say, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Laney Michaels.”<br /> “Laney Michaels,” he says, testing it on his tongue. “Has a nice ring to it.”<br /> He’s flirting. That much is obvious. But, for some reason I can’t fathom, I don’t mind. I know I should tread carefully. Rockstars have their reputations for a reason. And yet…<br /> “So, you know what I do,” he says. “What do you do, Laney?”<br /> “I’m an artist.”<br /> “Anything I’d know?”<br /> I shake my head. “Probably not. I do a lot of murals for schools and other buildings around the area where I live.”<br /> Something about this answer seems to light up his eyes. It’s hard to stare into them for too long. Like staring into the sun.<br /> I look away just as a bell is rung, and we turn to see Eric, the groom, walking down the aisle.<br /> “Here we go,” Ace says.<br /> I let out a deep breath, grateful the wedding has interrupted our conversation. As much as I’m enjoying talking to Ace, something about the way he carries himself, his fame—it intimidates me.<br /> And I’m not here to be intimidated. I’m here for my sister. I’m here to be her only family on the day she’s about to marry the love of her life and start a whole new kind of family.<br /> As Eric walks down the aisle, he looks every bit the rockstar, even in a tux. His blonde hair, slicked back, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. He winks at me as he walks by, and I wonder how it is I’ve never met his cousin, Ace, before now.<br /> Then, I see my sister walking down the aisle and my heart feels like it’s going to burst I’m so happy for her. In her white designer dress, a mix of retro and chic, Addie’s never looked so beautiful. The smile on her face is one of pure joy.<br /> Holding her arm, walking her down the aisle, is Michael, our social worker from when we were kids. That difficult childhood, full of foster homes after our mother left us outside the firehouse with nothing but a note, feels so far away now.<br /> Were it not for Michael and his kindness, who knows if we would’ve ended up here?<br /> At last, as Addie takes Eric’s hand, the ceremony begins.<br /> It feels like it goes by in a flash. Before I know what’s happening, she’s leaning in to peck Eric, they’re husband and wife, and it’s over, just like that.<br /> I can’t believe it.<br /> “ those two are beautiful,” I hear that Brooklyn accent mutter to my left.<br /> I turn to look at Ace Flanagan. To my surprise, the man has tears in his eyes. A rockstar, crying at a wedding? I never thought I’d see the day.<br /> I hand him a tissue from my purse, and he laughs, shaking his head.<br /> “I must look ridiculous.”<br /> “Far from it,” I say. “Like you said. It’s refreshing.”<br /> “To see a grown man crying?”<br /> “To see someone not afraid to show emotion in public.”<br /> “That’s what I do for a living, Laney,” he says. “That’s what we both do. We’re artists.”<br /> “I suppose that’s true.”<br /> I turn back to look at Eric and Addie holding onto each other, grinning like there’s no one in the world but them. He spins her around, and I feel my heart flutter.<br /> I wonder if there’ll ever be a man who looks at me the way Eric looks at Addie.<br /> Which is when I realize Ace Flanagan is still staring at me.<br /> I turn and meet his gaze. It’s at that moment, as I stare into the blue eyes of one of the biggest rockstars in the world, I realize my life is going to change forever.<br /> I don’t know how, but instinct tells me, by the end of this wedding, Eric and Addie won’t be the only ones making love.<br /> Ace Flanagan, I wonder. Do you feel the same?<br /> --<br /> ACE<br /> The bride and groom are onto me. Sure, I’m here to enjoy their wedding, but who says I can’t enjoy my time here as well? All I did was switch seats at the party to be next to Addie’s sister—what’s the big deal?<br /> Laney’s a grown woman who can take care of herself. Laney Michaels. Just the sound of her name gets my mouth watering.<br /> She’s exactly my type. Artsy, intelligent, and charming as all. The fact she’s a little shy only makes me more intrigued.<br /> I know I promised Addie I wouldn’t pursue her sister, but so far, I’m not breaking any promises.<br /> Just being friendly.<br /> And if Laney decides she’d like to pursue me…well, that’s a whole ’nother story.<br /> She sits back down with a stiff drink—bourbon, by the looks of it—and I raise an eyebrow, impressed. “Good taste,” I say, nodding.<br /> She shrugs. “I hate sweet drinks.”<br /> “That makes two of us.”<br /> I raise a glass—straight gin in mine—and we toast, both taking a sip, eyes lingering on each other.<br /> “So, what does a rockstar think of a boring party like this?” she asks.<br /> I look around. The band’s playing Sinatra. People are swaying on the dancefloor. It’s typical wedding stuff and, Laney’s right, not my kind of thing. But I don’t mind it right now.<br /> “Can’t always be partying hard,” I say. “People think that’s all we do on the road. But it’s a lot of physical, grueling work.”<br /> “Yeah, you got it so bad,” she teases, and I find myself laughing.<br /> “What about you, Laney?”<br /> “Oh, I don’t go out much at all. I prefer to be painting.”<br /> “So, how do you find time to date?”<br /> She blushes, taking another sip. And I know I’m pushing it regarding my promise to Addie. So I hit the brakes.<br /> “My bad,” I say, shaking my head. “Sometimes, I can’t help myself.”<br /> “From flirting?”<br /> I stop, eyeing Laney up and down. This is forward, especially for an introvert like her. She seems just as surprised by her own nerve.<br /> “Is that what I’m doing?” I ask.<br /> “I wouldn’t know,” she admits. “But I wouldn’t…take offense…if you were.”<br /> That’s about as bold an invitation as I’m gonna get when it comes to this girl. I scoot a little bit closer toward her, feeling her body stiffen in response.<br /> “So, if you don’t take offense,” I respond quietly, “why not answer my question? How do you find time to date?”<br /> “I don’t,” she says. “Not often.”<br /> “Because you don’t want—”<br /> “No,” she cuts me off. “Because I haven’t found the right person.”<br /> And now, from the way her eyes meet mine, I understand what she’s saying. Just because she’s shy doesn’t make her prude. And those eyes are screaming to be taken.<br /> “What about you?” she asks. “Many girlfriends?”<br /> Again, I am surprised by how little Laney knows about me. No, I don’t have girlfriends. I have “friends” who happen to be women and who I happen to please occasionally. And vice versa.<br /> You would think Laney would know that. The media’s always circulating photos of every new side-piece on my arm. Especially now that Vagabond is selling out stadiums around the world.<br /> A girl this oblivious is rare to come by. In fact, she may just be one-of-a-kind.<br /> “I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment,” I reply, watching her carefully.<br /> Laney bites her lip, and, I can feel myself hardening just at the implication of that bite. Oh my lord, am I in trouble.<br /> “Do you want to maybe…?” I start, and I don’t need to finish, because Laney’s grabbing my hand and we’re hurrying out of the party as fast as we can.<br /> Don’t hate me, Addie, I think. But how can I help myself?<br /> laney<br /> where are you<br /> you better not be where i think you are<br /> LANEY<br /> I had a feeling this was going to happen. From the first second I laid eyes on Ace Flanagan, I knew…he wasn’t just another guy.<br /> Now, as he pushes me against the hotel door, blue eyes looking wild, I can see what makes him a rockstar, all right. The man is absolutely magnetic.<br /> And, does he know how to keep a girl in suspense. He keeps teasing me with his lips, pecking me anywhere but my mouth. I finally grab him by the neck.<br /> “peck me already,” I demand.<br /> And thankfully, this time, Ace does.<br /> ACE<br /> Nothing in the world has ever felt as good as Laney’s lips on mine. As I peck her softly, I look into those gray, endless eyes, knowing I could write a million songs about ’em, and they still wouldn’t do her justice.<br /> While I peck her, I fumble with the hotel key, sliding it in, unlocking the door, and pushing both our bodies inside. She presses me against the wall, a more proactive partner than I could have possibly imagined from her shy girl act.<br /> And now, she’s pecking me fiercely, gripping my arms, moaning softly as she presses against me, rubbing and fondling everywhere a man wants to be touched.<br /> Laney yelps in surprise as I pick her up and throw her on my king-size bed.<br /> LANEY<br /> As I land on the bed, every thought in my mind disappears, and all there is this moment, here and now.<br /> I need him.<br /> I want him.<br /> Now.<br /> “Take off your shirt,” I tell him.<br /> Ace, aiming to please, unbuttons his dress shirt. Slowly. Too slowly. I sit up to help him, racing to finish with the buttons, unbuckling his belt next. I am restless for him, and he can sense it.<br /> “Your turn,” he says, in a low, raspy breath. “Take that dress off before I rip it off.”<br /> I like that tone of voice and smile slyly. I sit up on my knees and slowly, sexily, pull up my black dress. He helps me remove it completely.<br /> ACE<br /> This can’t just be another one-night stand, can it?<br /> As I finally roll off of Laney, both of us breathing profusely, laughing, still in complete and total ecstasy, I realize only now, too late, I didn’t wear protection.<br /> Not that I’m worried. Laney doesn’t strike me as the kind of girl I’d have to worry about. And I’m assuming, she would’ve told me if she’s not on the pill or something, right?<br /> Whatever. Right now, none of that matters. All that matters is, Laney Michaels just gave this rockstar the best intercourse of his entire life. I cannot wait to see her beside me in the morning.<br /> We may even have time for a round two.<br /> With that happy thought on my mind, I feel my eyelids lowering…slipping…fading into the most peaceful sleep imaginable.<br /> When I wake up in the morning, Laney’s gone.<br /> <br /> ACE<br /> I’m not a big fan of surprises. When someone has something to say to me, I prefer they just spit it out. But ever since Eric called me and told me to fly out to Chicago, I can just tell something is up.<br /> The question is: what?<br /> Eric claims he needs me to record some vocals for our new album. But then, why is Addie so involved in my visit? She’s been arranging everything from what I can tell.<br /> I step out of the airport, and Eric is waiting for me in the car. I realize I underpacked the minute I step outside. Autumn in LA is a joke compared to Chicago.<br /> How could I forget? The truth is, after that insane night I spent with Laney, my day-to-day life has felt a little…off. I can’t explain it exactly.<br /> I know it was just a one-night stand. I’m not delusional. But the way our bodies connected, the way her lips felt against mine, her heat…<br /> It’s enough to make a man hard in public.<br /> I shake off the thought and get into Eric’s car. It’s not like I’m going to be seeing Laney anyway.<br /> She made it abundantly clear when she left in the morning that she never wants to see me again. Right?<br /> “Hey, man!” I say, reaching out to hug my cousin. But I immediately stop when I see the expression on Eric’s face. He looks…nervous.<br /> “What’s up?”<br /> “Nothing.”<br /> We talk a little bit about the band on the way to Eric’s, but I can still sense he’s distracted. Whatever the secret is, it’s starting to eat at me.<br /> Goddamnit, will somebody just talk?<br /> We finally pull up to an old brown building in a busy neighborhood. Definitely not Eric and Addie’s home.<br /> “Did you guys move?”<br /> “No,” he says, parking. “It’ll all make sense when we get upstairs.”<br /> I shake my head, growing more frustrated and confused with every second. But I follow Eric out of the car, into the building, and up the elevator to the sixth floor.<br /> As we step into a loft, I notice there are canvases and paint everywhere. An art studio. Huh.<br /> And the art, I notice, is good. Definitely not created by an amateur. I notice one attempt, over and over, in different ways. Two colors clashing, almost like two personalities.<br /> It stirs something in me for reasons I can’t explain.<br /> “Eric,” I turn to him. “Who painted these?”<br /> We round a corner and that’s when I see her. A strawberry blonde in overalls, throwing paint at the canvas, wearing headphones, lost in her own world. Unaware I’m even here.<br /> It’s Laney Michaels. This is her studio.<br /> I feel my stomach twist into a shocked knot.<br /> “What am I doing here?” I ask Eric. That’s when the front door opens and Laney’s twin, Eric’s wife, and my worst enemy right now, apparently, storms inside, furious.<br /> “I asked one thing of you, Ace,” she shouts. “I told you not to sleep with my sister!”<br /> Addie pushes me, and I barely move. Was it really such a big deal? And I’m even more surprised Laney would say something. I thought we had a mutual agreement to keep it a secret.<br /> “You’re such a prick!” Addie screams.<br /> “Jesus, I mean, it was just sleep.”<br /> “Just?” she cries, shaking her head disbelievingly. “You have no idea, do you?”<br /> “Addie, stop it!”<br /> We both turn to see Laney standing there, headphones cast aside, looking mortified. There’s a trail of blue paint on her cheek.<br /> “Do you mind?” Laney asks her sister.<br /> Addie shoots me one last glare, then storms out with Eric, offering a grim shrug.<br /> When we’re alone, I turn to Laney, surprised.<br /> “I’m really sorry if I did something wrong,” I say. “I really thought we had a nice—”<br /> “Ace,” she cuts me off. “It’s not that.”<br /> I frown. “What are you talking about?”<br /> Then, eyes watering, one lonely teardrop trailing down her cheek through the blue paint, Laney says the last words in the world I expect to hear.<br /> “I’m pregnant, Ace. And the baby is yours.”	LEARN_MORE	https://a.read4funs.com/ad/ZmFuY3lOb3ZlbC8xNzE2Mjc	136560499545717	ForFun-105	https://facebook.com/61552095643555	38	1	459,206,666,473,770	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	ForFun-105	120208292051010019	a.read4funs.com	NONE	video		https://a.read4funs.com/ad/ZmFuY3lOb3ZlbC8xNzE2MjcvMjAyNDA1MDgwOTI3MzYvcGFnZQ==?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 20:31	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442467717_354937070928388_1526508866238176182_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F-QR8JR0BlsQ7kNvgEfvg1N&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBiQZ295yHloqb8GEfxsknsTfj9N_oLvpXp2Zxt_eT-VA&oe=6641DC8C	person_profile	ForFun-105	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441304203_1161217884887264_3479821665542398106_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KuDDJ4bZDUcQ7kNvgHVi1gM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC9vd6kRIp8GbWf9S4WVnKv5ox14-BsrEKe3M8VShhJOA&oe=6641D48C	3	ForFun-105	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,265	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-05-08 18:36	active	760	1116077126277569	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	“You’ve earned yourself a nickname.”<br /> I groaned. “Whatever you’re going to say, don’t.”<br /> “Kitten. You’re cute, but you scratch and bite.” He laughed at the sound I made. “It’s okay. You also lick after you bite.”<br /> I grunted. “If I could move, I’d hit you.”<br /> "My control is worse right now, and if you don’t stop, we’re going to end up killing Jace by way of him finding my shaft buried as deep in you as I can get.”<br /> ————————<br /> Jenny pov<br /> “I’ll stay in a corner somewhere, Jason. Just for tonight.”<br /> “Was it a guy, Jenny?” Jason frowned at me with my same amber colored eyes.<br /> “Does it matter?” <br /> “Does it matter if a guy made you cry like this?” Jason put my glasses back on my face awkwardly and moved away as I straightened them. “Did he hurt you? Did he touch you?”<br /> I wrapped my arms around myself and shook my head. “Jason,please.”<br /> “He touched her.” Axel’s commentary wasn’t helping but when I darted a glance his way, he looked as annoyed as Jason. “Who is he? Do we know him?”<br /> Hudson was so helpful in filling their last roommate in. “Some prick hurt Baby Ramsey and she wants to stay here tonight. She won’t say who it was. Jason’s going King Kong. Axel’s helping ask questions. The party’s going to be awkward with Baby Ramsey crying in the middle of the living room.”<br /> “Sorry. I’ll go.”<br /> “No. No, Jenny. You can stay. I’m sorry.” Jason tugged me into his arms and hugged me tight. “You’re not getting out of talking to me about this, though. I need to know what happened and who to knock out.”<br /> “Thank you.”<br /> “Hud. The place smells like a gas station bathroom. That’ll be the real party killer.” Ryder’s voice faded as he stomped away.<br /> Hudson snorted. “You act like you’ve never left a plate of food sitting out for a week or two.”<br /> “This place is going to be swarming with people in about an hour, Jenny. Loud, drunk people. Can you handle that?” Jason held me out at arm’s length and searched my face. Apparently what he saw concerned him. “Jesus, Jen. You’re not okay, are you?”<br /> I looked down and shook my head. More tears threatened to fall and I blinked quickly to fight them. “It’s just for tonight. I’ll find a new apartment tomorrow.”<br /> “She can stay in my room tonight.”<br /> Jason and I both snapped around to look at Axel. Jason didn’t take as long as I did to recover. “What, Fitzgerald? That’s my little sister you’re talking about.”<br /> I made the mistake of looking up at Axel and watched as he wagged his brows at me. My entire face warmed and I turned away, embarrassed.<br /> “She’s not that little, Jace.” Axel’s voice was dangerously flirty and I could feel Jason tense. Thankfully, Axel finally laughed. “We’ve all had the talk, bud. We know. Baby Ramsey is off limits.”<br /> I was too mentally and emotionally exhausted to deal with them teasing each other. I just wanted to change out of my wet clothes and go to sleep for the next forty years. I didn’t even know how I was standing.<br /> “She can have my room for the night. That’s what I was saying before you perverts all took it wrong. We all know I’m not going back to my bed tonight.” Axel and Hudson did a handshake that just felt misogynistic and then Axel turned his focus on me. “Come on, Baby Ramsey. You can crash in my room. Lucky for you, the sheets are clean.”<br /> Jason hugged me tighter and then gently pushed me towards Axel. “Lock the door. It’ll still be loud, but at least you’ll have privacy. We’ll talk tomorrow. Okay, kid?”<br /> I wanted to cling to him for comfort but I just nodded and moved towards Axel. I saw that Axel still had my backpack and reached for it, just to have him throw it over his shoulder and grab my wrist. He was at least a foot taller than me and I had to race up the stairs to avoid him dragging me.<br /> He led me to a room at the end of the hall and pushed open the door to reveal a space that didn’t smell like anything terrible, thank god. His room was clean, minus a few notebooks and books stacked on his desk. The bed was even made.<br /> Axel set my backpack down next to his bed and went to his dresser. He pulled out a few things and tossed them on the bed before walking into the bathroom and flipping on the light. “The shower gets hot, so be careful. There’s towels in the bathroom closet. I’m assuming your clothes are wet if they’re in that backpack, so you can wear what I put on the bed.”<br /> I just wanted to be alone. “Thank you.”<br /> He stopped next to me at the door and tucked his finger under my chin. Lifting my face so I had to look at him, he looked me over and shook his head. “You’re going to have to tell Jason what happened or he’ll lose his mind. If you haven’t noticed, he thinks he’s your father.”<br /> “I can’t.”<br /> “You won’t. There’s a difference.” His slight accent made him disagreeing with me easier to handle. “Get some rest. You’ll need your energy to fight off Jason tomorrow. Try not to get too comfy in my bed, Jenny.”<br /> He waited until I lifted my eyes to his again and winked as he walked out of the room. I shut the door and locked it. I appreciated him being nice and I knew Jason’s friends were always kind, if uninterested in me.<br /> I pulled on Axel’s clothes without thinking about it and climbed into his bed.<br /> Just yesterday, I remembered the day before and where exactly I was. My brother’s house. Axel’s bed.<br /> I pushed open the bathroom door and rushed inside. The tiles and air were so much warmer that I instantly shut my eyes and sighed. That was so much better. It didn’t occur to me that I was feeling moisture in the air or that I was hearing running water until it was too late. It didn’t make sense to me. The bedroom door was locked. Why would there be anyone in the bathroom?<br /> When I opened my eyes, however, I got more than an eyeful. On the other side of the glass shower door stood Axel. Undressed as the day he was born, he stood tall with one thick arm braced on the tiled wall and his muscled legs spread wide. His head was tipped back, his lips parted, and his hand was working his shaft with long, hard strokes. Very long strokes, I noted unconsciously.<br /> I was frozen. My brain shouted at my body to move, but my body wasn’t budging. I’d never seen anything so erotic as the sight in front of me. Axel, with his hair dripping wet and his muscles tense, was art. He was deeply tanned everywhere except the exact spot his briefs would’ve been and I found myself deeply interested in the paler shade of his hip, along with the fullness of it.<br /> The way the water ran over his thick thighs and strong calves stole my gaze. Even his feet were somehow erotic. The indent of his abs as he slightly arched his hips into his hand, the fullness of his shoulders, the way his tongue stroked over his lips, it all sent heat racing through my body in a way I’d never experienced. I’d seen porn before, but watching Axel was…exhilarating.<br /> I had to leave. What I was doing was wrong. I gaze up to his face, desperate to see the pleasure there, and instead found myself staring straight into Axel’s heated gaze. I gasped but Axel didn’t stop moving his hand.<br /> My heart hammered but it was nothing compared to the throbbing between my thighs as he ran that gaze from the top of my head down to my toes. I ran my tongue over my lips, I’d swear later it was in an attempt to wet my dry mouth, and felt the force of Axel’s eyes landing on my mouth almost physically. I watched as his hand moved faster and clasped the front of my shirt, breathless.<br /> Axel did something next that crossed even more lines than I thought possible. He growled my name in that accented, throaty voice and came on the shower wall while I watched every detail. I’d only been with one man but I was shocked by the force and amount of his come. My core gave a deep ache, and I squeezed my thighs together and sucked in a sharp breath.<br /> And then my haze broke and I gasped as I realized what I’d just done. Without waiting to see if Axel was going to say anything, I turned and rushed back into the bedroom. I heard the water shut off but I was already jumping into my pants and grabbing my backpack. Whatever I missed I didn’t need, I figured. Still wearing Axel’s shirt and shoving my feet into my shoes, I ran out of the front door and nearly plowed over a couple of women coming up the steps with caddies of cleaning supplies.<br /> “Sorry! So sorry!” I stumbled and went down hard just before I reached my car but the burning pain I felt on my palm was nothing compared to the burning shame I felt on my face.<br /> Even in my harried state I pulled away from the curb safely and drove the speed limit away from their house. I wanted to burn rubber and leave a cartoon size trail of dust in my tracks but I was a rule follower. At least…I had been. <br /> When I was closer to campus, I found my phone where I’d left it in the center console and turned it on. I stopped in the parking lot of a donut shop and tried not to cry as message after message from Landon chimed. My phone buzzed nonstop with missed calls and voicemails for almost a minute straight while I watched it with dread. I didn’t want to see anything from Landon. My entire car was filled with everything I owned in the world. That was reason enough. My strange feelings of guilt and shame over watching Axel didn’t help.<br /> When the last message came in, I saw that it was from Jason.<br /> I’m heading to the gym this morning with the guys. See you in class. Don’t think you’re avoiding me, kid. You’re talking to me today.<br /> My stomach fell straight to my feet as I thought about sitting in the class he’d mentioned. The class that Landon taught and I TA’ed. The class that Jason, Hudson, and Axel all sat in the back of and tried to pretend to be awake.<br /> I couldn’t go to that class. I tried calling Jason but his phone was off. I had to find him and explain that I was looking for apartments or I knew he’d blow a gasket about me not being in class. I blew out a deep breath and headed towards the gym, the one place on campus I’d made it a priority to never go.<br /> Ryder pov<br /> I found Jenny Ramsey standing in the doorway of the locker room, eyes wide and face bright red. She was making direct eye contact with my shaft. Her giant whiskey-colored eyes were even larger than normal behind her black framed glasses and her pouty bottom lip was pinched between her teeth hard. Her hair was a wild mess of tangles that looked like it was trying to attack her face and she was wearing Axel’s championship T-shirt.<br /> Jason had a lot of nerve bringing his little sister into our house. Jenny had a lot of nerve walking into the locker room like she had. The same way it always did when I thought about Jenny Ramsey, I felt a wave of aggravation and desire threaten to take out my carefully curated control. It pissed me off that the unaware woman was in my space. <br /> “Well, Baby Ramsey. Does big bro know you’ve got a kink for watching?” Hudson grunted when I elbowed him in the chest. “What?”<br /> The guys around us had all the ammunition they needed. I watched Grayson whip his towel off and circle it over his head. “Baby Ramsey? Oh, Jason’s been hiding you from us!”<br /> I growled and marched towards Jenny. “Out.”<br /> She squeaked as she watched my shaft swing and then spun around. “Oh, god. I’m so sorry! I was looking for Jason.”<br /> “Well, he isn’t on my shaft, Jenny.” My voice was rougher than I meant it to be, but I was using every ounce of energy to stop my blood from rushing to my shaft. <br /> She hunched in on herself. “No, no. Sorry. I’m… I’m sorry!”<br /> I watched as she rushed out of the room and then turned to the rest of the team who were still watching and making crude jokes. “Let Jason hear you saying you’ll lose your teeth.”<br /> Hudson met my gaze and grinned. “Did Axel sneak into his room last night?”<br /> Anger crawled up my spine. “Why would I care?”<br /> “Well, if Jason is going to murder Axel, it might affect the team.” Hud wrapped his towel around his waist and then chuckled. “Do you think she saw that my shaft is bigger than yours?”<br /> I snorted, caught off guard, and shoved him away. “She’s blind, but she’s not that blind, Hud. Now get away from me so I can get dressed and go to class.”<br /> He rubbed his hands together, looking every bit like the rich villain he was working on becoming. “I think I’m excited about Intro to Psych for the first time.”<br /> “Jesus, Hud.” I refused to admit, even to myself, I was jealous that while I sat in Psych 441: Health Psychology, Hudson would be taking an easy class like Intro to Psych, staring at Jenny’s hip.<br /> Jenny pov<br /> “Jenny.” The sound of Landon’s voice pierced through all other thoughts. Without turning to look at him, I started into the building.<br /> “Jenny, please. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all night. I haven’t slept.” Landon fell into step beside me, talking just under his breath so I’d be the only one to hear him. <br /> “Stop, Jenny. Talk to me. Meet me after class, okay? Meet me at my apartment-” He stopped short as he realized what he’d said and I stopped to cast an incredulous look at him.<br /> “No, thanks, Professor Hall. I’ll be busy today looking for an apartment. Since, you know, I’m homeless.” <br /> I’d spent so much time worshiping Landon. I’d fallen for him so fast and he’d known right away. Within a month of being in his class, we were making out on his desk. I thought he loved me, too, but he’d let me get rid of my apartment so I could move in with him, just to change his mind. I was homeless because he’d gotten cold feet.<br /> I hadn’t looked in a mirror all day and I knew I looked rough. I was still in Axel’s shirt and the pants I’d worn the day before.<br /> “Ms. Ramsey, please make a copy of this and drop it by my office after class.” Landon dropped a manilla folder on my lap and went up to the podium to get his laptop set up.<br /> I’d just started to open the folder when big hands grabbed my shoulders from behind. Looking back, I saw Jason and breathed out a sigh. “You scared me!”<br /> He climbed over the row of seats and settled next to me. “Yeah, well, you scared me first. Ready to talk to me, yet?”<br /> I looked around and saw that Axel and Hudson were sitting just behind us.“Not here, Jason.”<br /> He stretched out his legs and threw his arm around my shoulders. “Kid, you’re giving me heartburn.”<br /> “You’re just two years older than me. You realize that, right?”<br /> Hudson leaned forward. “Is that Axel’s shirt?”<br /> Jason looked me over and turned to glare at his friends. “Not funny. Take that off, Jenny.”<br /> I realized Jason was reaching for me. I slapped his hands away and scowled at my brother. “Stop it. I can’t take it off.”<br /> “Excuse me. Is there a problem?” Landon’s voice rang out loud and clear through the lecture hall. “Ms. Ramsey, why don’t you come up here and work through the slides for me? The remote isn’t working.”<br /> I glared at Jason and hugged my backpack as I walked in front of the room to sit at Landon’s desk, facing everyone. <br /> Sitting in front of everyone and forcing myself to keep a straight face was hard. He’d hurt me deeper than I knew how to express, and I just wanted him to leave me alone.<br /> I just waited desperately for it to all be over.<br /> I was lost in thought, nervously thinking of where to start my search, when I noticed everyone standing up to leave. I jumped to my feet and was so close to escaping when Jason stopped me.<br /> “You’ve got office hours now, right? That means you can talk to me.” He leaned down to look me in the eyes and smiled. “I’m not going to give up until you tell me, Jenny.”<br /> “Can I help you with anything?” Landon moved to my side and looked down at Jason until Jason stood up straight again. “Ms. Ramsey’s got to take care of something for me, so I can help if you have anything to ask about class.”<br /> Jason frowned and pulled me into a hug. “Nope. I don’t need anything from you, Professor Hall.”<br /> Axel and Hudson chose that moment to walk up to our miserable little party. Hudson, unaware of the building tension, winked at me and then looked at Jason. “I will say, Jace, she looks good in Axel’s shirt.”<br /> I slipped out of Jason’s arms and ducked out of his reach. <br /> I didn’t breathe normally again until I was in my car and miles away from campus.<br /> Come back to the house. We need to talk. <br /> I stared down at the message from Jason and then back up at their house. I didn’t want to go inside. I didn’t know what he wanted to talk about. I thought of how I’d left him with Landon and my chest grew tight at the idea of them talking, of Landon telling Jason everything. <br /> I really didn’t have a place to go. I’d promised Jason that I only needed to stay for one night, but I was going to break that promise if I went into their house and admitted the truth.<br /> “I’m sorry. I… I was on the phone. I didn’t mean for you to have to get up. Why do you want to talk? Is everything okay? I’m feeling much better so I hope this isn’t about me. I even found an apartment.”<br /> Jason had been leading me into the living room, but he stopped and looked back at me. He stared at me in the way he’d learned to do when we were still kids, the way that made me squirm when I was lying. He grunted and shook his head. “Liar.”<br /> “I’m not lying…”<br /> “What exactly were you going to do tonight, Jen?” Jason had his disapproving older brother voice on and I hated it.<br /> Hudson was on my right and he rested his arm along the couch behind me. “You’re going to make Jason’s blood pressure go up, sweetheart.”<br /> “Don’t call my sister that, prick” Jason rubbed his face aggressively. “But he’s right. If you lie to me, my blood pressure will go up and then I’ll be more at risk of a heart attack. Do you want that?”<br /> “That’s not fair.” I met his unwavering gaze and sighed. “I don’t know. I was just going to sleep in my car until I figured something out.”<br /> They all reacted like I’d just told them their favorite pro football team had been disbanded. Even Ryder looked like he wanted to strangle me. I withered under all the attention and dramatics.<br /> “Enough!” Ryder’s voice silenced the other three. “You three fools aren’t making her feel any better.”<br /> Jason knelt in front of me and held my hands. “Jenny… That was an incredibly bad idea. You’re supposed to be the smart one in the family, so I know you know better.”<br /> Emotion burned my throat but I refused to cry again. In front of them, at least. Instead, I met my brother’s eyes and told him as much of the truth as I could. “I was supposed to move in with someone.”<br /> “Okay, that’s a good start. Are they not ready yet, or…?” He looked at my face . “They wouldn’t let you move in?”<br /> “He let me give up my apartment and show up with all my things.”<br /> “Maybe it was a bad idea, anyway. I mean… Yeah, it obviously was. If he could do this, he didn’t love me. It’s better that I found out earlier. Although, finding out almost two years ago would’ve been a lot easier. I wouldn’t be homeless.”<br /> Jason’s head snapped back. “Two years? You’ve been dating someone for two years?”<br /> I hugged myself tight and nodded. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s over.”<br /> “It matters, Jenny!” He stopped and took a deep breath before starting over. “Sorry for yelling, but it matters. Why didn’t you tell me?”<br /> I silently begged for him to be okay with never knowing. “I can’t.”<br /> Axel seemed just as angry as Jason. “Why don’t you whisper it to me and I just handle it?”<br /> That brought a smile to my lips but Jason’s frustration bubbled over and erased it as if it’d never been there. “Who is it, Jen? Does Mom know? I’ll call her right now and have her tell me.”<br /> I grabbed his arm and shook my head. “Please, Jason. She doesn’t know. No one does. I don’t want anyone to ever know. Okay? Can’t that be enough? I just want to move on. I don’t want to ever think about him again. I was an idiot and now I know. Lesson learned. We can all move on. Okay? Okay, Jason? Please.”<br /> He stood up and walked to the other side of the room. He paced near Ryder and I fought to keep my eyes away. Jason finally sank onto the couch next to Ryder and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “I won’t push right now. That’s all I can give you.”<br /> I nodded and stood up. I felt like we’d covered all our bases and I could go.<br /> “Where do you think you’re going?” Jason stood up again and glared at me. “If you think you’re actually going to sleep in your car, you’ve lost your mind.”<br /> Anger finally slipped into my voice. “I don’t have anywhere else to go, Jason!”<br /> “You do.Some of us need tutoring. Well, three of us need tutoring if we want to stay on the field. We talked about it earlier and if you’re willing to tutor a few days a week, you can stay here until you find somewhere else.”<br /> “You’ll let me stay until I have somewhere to go?”<br /> He nodded.“Maybe I should’ve led with that.”<br /> Axel pov<br /> Before I could stop myself, I reached out and caught her wrist. My grip was too tight and I had to make myself let up. “I shower every morning.”<br /> She looked up at me but didn’t say anything. We both knew what I was saying.<br /> “I’d rather not share a bathroom with Hudson, so I’m just going to keep my things in here and shower here.” I watched for any signs of hesitation. “I should be better at locking the door when I shower, but I never learn.”<br /> Her lips parted and her tongue slipped out to wet her lips.<br /> “This morning’s shower was the best shower I’ve ever taken.” The words hung between us. Taking an even bigger risk with the door wide open, I stepped closer and pressed my mouth as close to her ear as I dared. “Feel free to come back, Jenny.”	LEARN_MORE	https://a.mobobooks.com/ad/TW9ib29rcy8xNzE5NzMvMjA	159425727259379	Mob002	https://facebook.com/61553462169358	58	1	1,442,397,803,336,574	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Mob002	120209884041860676	a.mobobooks.com	NONE	video		https://a.mobobooks.com/ad/TW9ib29rcy8xNzE5NzMvMjAyNDA1MDgxMTEwMjcvcGFnZQ==?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 22:12	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440424997_1546786582901046_7162054286847417263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Kgz3tZYrryAQ7kNvgFZmpqc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDbsxmXAfeGuwMShM5jmW-okTJy2K5PryAUpHpwOw7QVg&oe=6641EC90	person_profile	Mob002	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441156816_1507507693480262_1818802328181931737_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IKK8coLT78UQ7kNvgGJzb4I&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDZ-79c5hbu9ScErlb1eNkFkkwLx3ejLdxO2rCrrstoag&oe=6641F3FB	3	Mob002	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,310	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778144}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	1512295173059463	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	I was her father's best assistant, and he didn't leave me any inheritance.<br /> Jean was a billionaire heiress, and she didn't know it. I'm gonna use her to get my part of inheritance.<br /> “It doesn’t matter if you’re the real deal. The point is that you’re the spitting image of him and his family is looking for the lost heiress.”<br /> “All I need is a girl who’s the right age and fits the description.”Colin continues.<br /> “And what exactly makes you qualified to pull this off over one of the richest people in America?Take your scams somewhere else, Stranger.”Jean says.<br /> ————————<br /> Jean stopped in her tracks when she saw the man in front of her. He didn’t belong here.<br /> He met her eyes and smiled at her, a quick friendly grin of a stranger who just wanted to get a seat and a cup of warm coffee, but it took a second for Jean to snap herself out of her daze.<br /> She was used to strangers at the busy truck stop and twenty-four-hour diner where she worked, but something about this guy had all the hair on the back of her neck standing up. She realized he was still waiting for her to say something. “Have a seat wherever.” She motioned around the small seating area with the pot of coffee she was carrying. “I’ll be right there with a menu.”<br /> The man nodded before he headed to the last table in the corner, sitting with his back to the wall. Even though she knew she’d stared for too long, Jean couldn’t tear her gaze away, trying to figure out what about him threw up all her inner alarms. He was dressed casually enough in black jeans, boots, and t-shirt. But he moved differently than the other truckers and plant workers who wandered in during the day. Usually exhausted from long shifts or sleepless nights on the road, the normal crowd would shuffle or stumble to a table.<br /> This stranger moved gracefully, as though in control of every muscle. And his clothes, although casual, weren’t dirty or ripped or worn looking at all.<br /> His face was clean-shaven, and his short brown hair was shorn in a severe cut. Not the scraggily manes of the guys she was used to serving.<br /> She shook her head and forced herself to focus on her own job, turning away from the handsome stranger to top off the coffee cups of the two truckers eating the largest breakfast the small roadside truck stop served.<br /> As soon as she had them taken care of, she pulled a menu out from behind the checkout stand and walked over to the stranger’s table. “Hi there.” She smiled, trying to make sure none of her curiosity showed in her voice. “Can I start you out with anything to drink?”<br /> “Just water today, Jean.”<br /> She frowned at his use of her name but then she remembered that she wore a nametag just above her right chest. The final piece to her customary uniform of black shorts and a black t-shirt. Now that she thought about it, she was dressed pretty similar to him. Except his pristine, soft-looking shirt probably didn’t have remnants of powdered egg on it.<br /> “Coming right up.” She gave him a quick smile before she started to turn away, expecting him to pull out his phone or turn to the menu in dismissal as all her other customers did.<br /> But he stared intently at her. No smile, no annoyance. It was as though he studied her for something.<br /> She opened her mouth to ask him what he wanted but stopped herself. He was just a weirdo passing through. No need to find out what made him tick. Finally she turned away to work on getting him his drink. As she passed by the other trucker sitting alone at a table, Dickie, one of the three plant workers at the only other occupied table, reached up a hand and snapped his fingers at her.<br /> Jean forced herself to hide her annoyed scowl. Dickie liked it when she got annoyed at his antics. Instead, she turned on her honed waitress smile as she headed over to his table. “Hey, Dickie. Anything I can get you?”<br /> Dickie and his two buddies, Justin and Brent, were regulars here. They all worked night shifts at the local steel galvanizing plant up the road and liked to top things off with a breakfast before heading home. Some days they were all too tired to cause much trouble, but it had been apparent from the second Dickie and his crew walked in that they were extra rowdy today. Which meant it was probably their day off tomorrow and they were celebrating, and they wanted to do it over grits and sausage with her.<br /> Yay for her.<br /> “Yeah, sweetness, can you get me a refill?” He held up his spirit.<br /> The entire idea of breakfast food with spirit churned her stomach, but it was the end of the day for these guys so she didn’t judge. She did judge them for calling her “sweetness.” Back when she’d first gotten the job here at Striker’s Truck Stop, she’d asked a few of the regulars to just call her Jean, but listening wasn’t one of Dickie’s strong suits.<br /> But this was a fight she’d already lost one too many times, so instead of pointing out how well he lived up to his namesake, she leaned forward to grab the spirit, trying not to notice that he held it just a bit farther than necessary so she had to lean over extra far to grab the glass, giving him a better view than he deserved of her breasts pressed against her t-shirt.<br /> A disgusted shiver went through her as she snatched the glass away, her calm, happy facade dropping as she turned to get him his spirit and Stranger his water. She slammed Dickie’s spirit on the table slightly harder than necessary, but it didn’t spill, so she just kept on moving.<br /> “Here you go.” She set Stranger’s water down next to the untouched menu. “Did you know what you want?”<br /> The stranger looked up at her, silent for a mome nt, wearing the same disconcerting expression he’d had on earlier. “Who’s that?” he asked finally, motioning to Dickie’s table.<br /> Jean glanced over her shoulder to where the three men were laughing about something with open mouthfuls of food. “Just a few regulars. You know ’em?” she asked, probing for what he was doing in town.<br /> “Nope.” He didn’t give her any personal information at all. “Just wondering if there was any reason for them to treat you like dog.”<br /> Oh Lord, it was a white knight. The last thing she needed. “Don’t worry about them. Did you know what you wanted?”<br /> “Meat lover’s skillet.” He brought the water to his lips, no straw.<br /> She watched his throat work as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as the cords in his throat moved. She bet he’d be better defined beneath that black t-shirt than any of the lifelong plant workers in this town.<br /> Where were these thoughts coming from? “I’ll get that skillet right out for you.” She retreated back to the kitchen before she could do or say anything to embarrass herself. She didn’t think he’d noticed her staring, but who knew? She already had to be careful. Probably ninety percent of the guys who wandered into Striker’s at odd hours of the night were decent, hardworking guys just looking for a quick meal or caffeine hit before going back to work or hitting the road. But the ten percent like Dickie were a pain in the hip.<br /> If she smiled too much or laughed at their jokes too loud, it was somehow an invitation to touch her and flirt full-on. When she’d first gotten her job at Striker’s two years ago, she’d tried to go along with it, hoping the tips would make up for the skeevey feeling, but apparently the perverts were cheap. Figured.<br /> So now she had to play it extra safe with the new guys to make sure she didn’t accidentally give them the green light to make a move.<br /> “Hey, Richie, can I get a meat lover’s?”<br /> The line cook, an army vet in his fifties with more of his skin covered in tattoos than empty and a burly beard that had somehow never gotten into the food, gave her a nod. “Will do. Is Dickie giving you a hard time?”<br /> “Dickie’s a wanker,” she said softly enough that none of the guests would overhear. “Nothing I can’t handle.”<br /> “Well, you let me know if I need to go out there.”<br /> More white knights. Great. “Really, he’s just annoying. You’re the first one on my list to call if it gets out of hand. Promise.” Richie was nice and all, but she’d never ask him to start anything on her behalf. The owner, Striker himself, had made himself very clear that customers came first when she’d first complained about handsy clientele. Waitresses came and went, but the people who manned these routes were his honored guests. His honored guests he served watered-down spirit and coffee to, but he didn’t care about them as much when it came to what was coming out of his bottom line.<br /> And if Richie caused trouble, they’d both be out on their hip and neither of them would be much use to each other.<br /> “One meat lover’s coming up.” He grabbed ingredients, mixing everything together on the same stovetop where the bacon and sausage were cooked up, ensuring that everything would have a great flavor. There were plenty of things to complain about working here, but the quality of the food was not one of them.<br /> She moved back to the dining area and scanned over her tables. Dickie and his crew seemed to be doing okay. The trucker was pushing away his plates, so she took them for him while discreetly setting his bill on the table, and Stranger should be fine until his food was ready.<br /> But before that could happen, Dickie snapped his fingers at her again. Jean rolled her eyes and started to turn around when she saw that Stranger was staring at her again. It made it so much worse when Dickie was like this in front of other customers. Especially ones who set her on edge like Stranger did.<br /> She’d have to deal with his opinion of her later. For now, she had to answer the call of the snapping. Glancing down at the plates not nearly clear of food, she took a hopeful guess at what they wanted. “Should I grab a few to-go boxes for y’all?”<br /> “Actually, I was hoping for another spirit, hun.”<br /> He was empty already. She wasn’t sure whether she was more annoyed at herself for missing that he needed a refill or at him for drinking so fast when she knew he’d probably be driving himself home. People just didn’t watch out for drunk drivers at nine in the morning.<br /> But he’d only had two so far. Maybe if the next one was his last, it wouldn’t be too bad... “Coming right up.” She reached for the glass.<br /> Except he didn’t hand it to her. Once again, she had to lean across the table in front of Dickie, but this time he didn’t just stare. His hand came out and copped a feel of her hip, squeezing her hard as she yelped in surprise and jumped back.<br /> “Dickie?”<br /> He gave her a mock innocent expression as his little buddies all snickered. “Well, it was right there in front of me. I’m only human.”<br /> “You’re a human piece of—” Jean snapped her mouth shut before she said something that would get her fired. Worse, the angrier she got, the more Dickie enjoyed himself. But that didn’t mean she was going to do nothing. “If you do that again, Striker is going to hear about it.” Striker wouldn’t do a terrible thing, but it was a worthwhile threat.<br /> He held up his hands. “Fine, fine. But I do need another spirit.”<br /> Jean tightened her lips as she waited to see whether he was really done or just gearing up for round two. But if Striker found out she’d refused to get a paying customer more spirit. Namely, she’d be out on the job market again. It had taken her forever to even get this waitressing gig, so she wasn’t ready to be out on the unemployment market, no matter how terrible it was right now.<br /> Ten minutes. She could do this for ten minutes more. And then she’d do it for another ten. And she’d keep on with it until her shift was over and she could relax at home.<br /> Jean held out her hand. “Give me your glass,” she said sharply, not wanting to play any more of his stupid games.<br /> “I don’t know what has you in such a terrible mood. I was just joking around.” Dickie started to hand her his empty glass.<br /> “I guess I don’t get the joke,” she bit out as she reached for the glass. At the last second, he dropped it, and out of instinct, she jerked forward to grab it before it fell on all the food. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dickie rear to go for another feel, but his hand never made contact. Jean started to back away as quick as possible, glass in hand, and Stranger was already there. He stood between her and Dickie, holding Dickie’s wrist at an awkward angle as he stared down dispassionately at the man.<br /> “I think it’s time for you to leave,” he said in a calm voice. As though everyone should listen to the orders he gave.<br /> Of course, Dickie wasn’t easy to order around. “Who do you think you—”<br /> Stranger bent Dickie’s hand at an unnatural angle. The sickening sounds of cracking filled the diner. Dickie’s face immediately went ashen as Jean stumbled back, covering her mouth with her hand.<br /> “I’m the man who thinks you should leave.”<br /> The blood rushed from Jean’s face. Even though it wasn’t directed at her, the words were so calm and he seemed so...sure of himself. As though he knew he could follow through on any threats he made.<br /> Dickie’s two friends both started to stand, and visions of the fight that would happen on her watch raced through her mind. No way. She reached forward and grabbed the stranger’s arm as she tried to pull him back to his table.<br /> The second she touched him, she became aware of two things. One was that his arm was rock hard. Two, there was no way she could move him anywhere if he didn’t want to go.<br /> But she tugged him and he allowed her to move him until they were in the back corner of the restaurant. “You need to leave.” She looked over Stranger’s shoulder to where Dickie’s friends stood around him, taking stock of his broken hand. Belatedly, she realized she was still touching the man, and she jerked her hand away.<br /> Stranger shrugged, obviously not worried about the three-to-one odds. “He needed to learn some manners.”<br /> “It’s not your job to teach him anything.”<br /> “You obviously weren’t going to tell him to keep his hands to himself. Only fair I give him a taste of his own medicine.”<br /> “Well, if word of your medicine reaches my boss, I’ll be out of a job. So you need to get out of here before Dickie and his buddies get their nerve up.”<br /> “If you’re worried about a job, I can take care of that.”<br /> Jean’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”<br /> “It’s why I’m here. I have an opportunity for you that could set you up for life.”<br /> Dickie stood and walked over. Somehow Stranger knew. “Let’s go somewhere more private to talk about it.” He reached for her and Jean jumped away.<br /> “What? No. This is your last warning. You need to leave or I’m going to call the cops.”<br /> He glanced over his shoulder, and even though Jean couldn’t see his face, it must’ve been terrifying since all three of the approaching men stopped in their tracks.<br /> “Fine. This obviously wasn’t a good time. I’ll be talking to you later,” he warned as he plopped a twenty down on his table and, while shooting a glare at Dickie, walked out. The door slammed shut behind him.<br /> ...<br /> Colin parked his truck at the gas station next to the diner where he could still see through the large windows. Jean was saying something to the three wankers who had been giving her a hard time, but he couldn’t tell what. Probably apologizing for him.<br /> Well,he shouldn’t have gotten in the middle of anything. This entire trip had been a scouting mission. To check up on Jean and see whether she was anything like her mother or father. So far she’d seemed perfectly pleasant, which meant she was nothing like either of her parents.<br /> Admittedly, he had much more experience with one parent th an the other. Her father had been a lying wanker who left a trail of misery wherever he went. For some stupid reason, Colin thought he’d be the exception to this rule. But once Walter Farrell had died, he’d given Colin the ultimate middle finger by leaving him nothing in his will. The wanker had billions and he didn’t leave Colin a single penny.<br /> Colin had fought for that man. Bled for him. Not to mention making others bleed... Now it was time to get what was owed to him, and Jean was the key to doing that.<br /> After a few minutes, the guys who had been giving Jean a hard time stormed out of the diner. From the way the main one, the one with the now broken hand, slammed the door, they were still pissed. But the fact that they were leaving meant they probably hadn’t called the cops, which was a good sign. He had things to do in this small town, and getting the attention of the police wouldn’t make things easier.<br /> As the men drove off and Colin determined they weren’t an immediate threat, he hopped back into the driver’s seat of the shiny new rental pickup truck and grabbed his file on Jean. He’d read it at least a dozen times before, but now that he’d seen her in person, he wanted to scan through the pages again.<br /> Jean Hill was born January 3, 1986, which made her younger than all four of her brothers from the Farrell side of the family. Walter had mentioned that he’d met her mother when she was working in Vegas as a bartender during one of the worse moments of his third marriage. Though, from what Colin picked up on, every moment of Walter’s marriages was bad. Mainly from him doing stupid thing like sleeping with bartenders in Vegas.<br /> After getting pregnant, Jean’s mother, Katherine, moved back home to Arkansas, probably to get family to help raise Jean. Except she burned through the payout Walter gave her to keep quiet in record time, and after a series of fights, Katherine was kicked out and Jean was raised by her grandmother until she died ten years ago, leaving Jean back with her deadbeat mother.<br /> Between the school system in Katherine’s hometown and the empty bank accounts of everyone involved, Jean never stood much chance of getting anywhere. So she’d bounced around the small town of Winslow, Arkansas ever since graduating from high school. Worked as a waitress at a few places and even as a receptionist/bookkeeper at a smaller manufacturing company one town over. But when that went out of business, she was right back to waitressing. She’d inherited her grandmother’s trailer that, although being kept up well over the years, was still in need of repairs.<br /> Really, her situation was perfect for him. She was stuck in a hard place and he was going to be her answer. He was going to offer her a solution to all her problems and give her the life of her dreams. She’d be so swept away by this windfall of good luck that she’d never realize he was stealing five hundred million dollars from her.<br /> ...<br /> Jean<br /> Except the peace outside of her home was broken when a pickup she didn’t recognize drove in front and parked. Her heart sunk as the stranger from earlier that morning stepped out and immediately met her eyes.<br /> Jean tensed and wished he wasn’t standing between her and her trailer. Especially considering her handy shotgun was kept loaded and ready to go right next to the door. Girl living alone had to be prepared. She was caught unprepared and cursed herself for it.<br /> “What are you doing here?” she asked as she approached.<br /> Stranger walked around until he leaned against the passenger door to his truck and crossed his arms over his chest. “Lookin’ for you. Figured that would be obvious by where I parked.”<br /> Great. A violent smart wanker at her front door. Just what this day needed. “And I thought the annoyed expression on my face would make it obvious that you’re not wanted here.”<br /> He smiled at her, but his eyes were shielded by dark sunglasses, making it impossible to determine his true expression. “Like I said earlier, I want to talk to you. I’m assuming now that you’re off work you have a few minutes?”<br /> Unease raced down her spine as she remembered that she’d only gotten home a fe w minutes ago. Either him getting to her place right now was a coincidence or he’d been following her. “How did you know I’d be here? Where did you even get my address?”<br /> “I searched you out after I saw this.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.<br /> Jean stared warily at his outstretched hand, not sure how close she wanted to get. It was broad daylight and there were plenty of people around, but even so, something held her back. Based off what she’d seen this morning, this wasn’t the kind of guy who let a little thing like witnesses stop him from doing anything.<br /> Stranger must’ve picked up on her wariness. “I won’t bite. Promise.”<br /> Jean didn’t believe him for a minute, but she forced herself to move forward just far enough to snatch the paper from his hand. She turned it over and studied it. He’d handed her a printout of an Internet article about Striker’s Truck Stop. The photo with the write-up showed Striker himself and all the waitresses, smiling as if they enjoyed their jobs. To be fair, some of them did. She was just more negative than most.<br /> Jean looked back up at Stranger. “So you’re pissed about not getting your meat lover’s omelet? Because I don’t think you’re allowed to come back there any time soon.”<br /> The corner of his mouth hooked up. “Yeah. That was probably a mistake.”<br /> “Breaking a guy’s hand is normally a mistake.”<br /> “He deserved it.”<br /> “And it’s your job to give people what they deserve?”<br /> “Only when it’s fun. And, trust me, Jean, that was fun.”<br /> Jean took a nervous gulp as she fought the urge to step back. “But none of this tells me what you’re doing here. Are you worried about me talking to the cops? Because I’m going to tell them what I saw, no more and no less, okay?”<br /> “I’m sure I’ll be long gone before that jackass gets the balls to report me.”<br /> “So you saw an article I was in the background of and came all the way out here to my home in order to...what?”<br /> “Have you ever heard of Walter Farrell?”<br /> “Umm...he’s some rich dude, right? The one who just died?”<br /> “Yep. Made billons in real estate and left his entire fortune to his family.”<br /> She stared at him blankly, trying really hard to follow but she had no idea where he was going with this. “Must be nice to be his family.”<br /> “That’s what I’m here about. Here’s a picture of his family.” He pulled another piece of paper out of his back pocket.<br /> Jean took the picture from him easier this time, less convinced he was about to pounce at any minute. She still believed he was more than dangerous, but if he’d wanted to hurt her, he’d had more than one chance already.<br /> The picture was of five men, one older and the rest younger. They looked to all be related. The older one had white hair, but his distinctive cheekbones and blue eyes matched the four men standing around him. She was willing to bet that the older one, Walter Farrell probably, had dark hair like the other guys when he was younger.<br /> “Okay, I’m starting to get annoyed by this. What’s your point?”	LEARN_MORE	https://a.shepherdsapp.com/ad/Zmljd29ybGQvMTcxNzAx	110620302003689	Pop001	https://facebook.com/100092038763039	397	1	976,075,710,804,741	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Pop001	120208869338770338	a.shepherdsapp.com	NONE	video		https://a.shepherdsapp.com/ad/Zmljd29ybGQvMTcxNzAxLzIwMjQwNTA4MTA1MDM1L3BhZ2U=?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 21:55	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440368789_463594166336555_8457073757042189099_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hAfw7cSgH20Q7kNvgEl6jIT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAO0C4u7_z3puGlqyNMn6qL8wPEXLZMDsDEoniYEVHIzg&oe=6641D517	person_profile	Pop001	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441910376_1671497366956235_2915928900136882955_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LqYTCG0YAhkQ7kNvgF3-L_v&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9vTvh-qYQlwPpFJDsYMiyyQgKy-JW7zvFnK51oFop_g&oe=6641E2CC	3	Pop001	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,262	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778356}'	No	2024-05-08 18:36	active	760	1105740227392316	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	I turn and meet his gaze.<br /> It’s at that moment, as I stare into the blue eyes of one of the biggest rockstars in the world, I realize my life is going to change forever.<br /> I don’t know how, but instinct tells me, by the end of this wedding, Eric and Addie won’t be the only ones making love.<br /> Ace Flanagan, I wonder. Do you feel the same?<br /> --<br /> The bride and groom are onto me. Sure, I’m here to enjoy their wedding, but who says I can’t enjoy my time here as well? <br /> All I did was switch seats at the party to be next to Addie’s sister—what’s the big deal?<br /> Laney’s a grown woman who can take care of herself. Laney Michaels. Just the sound of her name gets my mouth watering.<br /> She’s exactly my type. Artsy, intelligent, and hot . The fact she’s a little shy only makes me more intrigued.<br /> I know I promised Addie I wouldn’t pursue her sister, but so far, I’m not breaking any promises.<br /> Just being friendly.<br /> And if Laney decides she’d like to pursue me…well, that’s a whole ’nother story.<br /> ————————<br /> <br /> "Addie, help!There’s blood everywhere"<br /> "what are you talking about?"<br /> "What if it’s the baby?It’s too early!!I’m freaking out!"<br /> "your gonna be ok, sis!“<br /> ”i’m calling an ambulance rn.“<br /> ”call ace.he needs to know.“<br /> ”NO! Anyone but Ace!"<br /> "laney.he’s the father."<br /> "I thinaasdk im’ gokjn to faintt"<br /> "laney!"<br /> "laney?!?!"<br /> "laney!!!! answer me!!!!"<br /> I’ve been preparing for this moment for the past six months. But it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.<br /> Instead of my water breaking, I’m lying in a pool of my own blood on a creaky staircase.<br /> Instead of nine months, it’s only been seven and a half.<br /> Instead of having the father by my side, I’m completely and totally alone.<br /> I’m terrified. Black dots obscure my vision. I don’t know if it’s the blood or something else, but I can feel my consciousness slipping.<br /> I can’t believe it’s come to this. What if my baby doesn’t make it? What if our baby doesn’t make it?<br /> I think of Ace, I think of how we met, I think of how we sleep and, in turn, made this inevitable future unfold. And I think, as my eyes roll back…<br /> Would Ace care if we lost it all?<br /> What is one baby to the biggest rockstar in the world?<br /> Where are you, Ace Flanagan, father of my child?<br /> Where are you?<br /> --<br /> ^SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER^<br /> So, this is how a rockstar marries a supermodel.<br /> I’m hiking up a small trail, following fifty guests to a private reception in the California mountains. Even in October, the weather is sweltering. Way too hot for a Chicago girl like me.<br /> I worry I’m going to sweat right through this bridesmaid’s dress. But for Addie? For my twin sister? I’ll do anything.<br /> When we finally reach the clearing, my mouth drops in awe. Shimmering lights hang from the towering redwoods all around us, illuminating the tree line with a pink glow. An altar decorated with hundreds of flowers waits at the end of an ivory-blanketed aisle.<br /> If ever there was a fairy tale wedding, this must be it.<br /> When Addie told me the wedding was going to be private, I didn’t realize she meant this private. The cost of being famous, I suppose.<br /> I see Melody, Addie’s personal assistant, best friend, and maid of honor.<br /> “Melody, everything looks amazing!”<br /> “Thanks, Laney,” she says, grinning nervously. “I just hope Addie is satisfied. It really should be you giving the toast, not me.”<br /> I shrug, bashful. The truth is, I’m beyond grateful Melody is taking that responsibility. I’ve always suffered from stage fright. Shied away from the spotlight. That kind of attention?<br /> It’s just not for me.<br /> Which is funny, considering my sister’s face is plastered across magazines, internet gossip blogs, and entertainment news 24/7. She was famous before she got engaged to Eric Flanagan, lead singer of Vagabond, America’s biggest rock band. But now?<br /> The two of them can’t go anywhere without someone snapping their photo.<br /> That’s why they’re having their wedding here, in the middle of the forest, with only fifty guests. Still, even this kind of celebrity wedding, with movie stars and singers and influencers left and right, is a lot for an introverted artist like me.<br /> As I sit down in the front aisle, I find myself dreaming of my Chicago studio and the paintings I’m dying to finish. Which is when I hear his Brooklyn-accented voice for the first time beside me.<br /> “Mind if I sit here?”<br /> I turn to see a dark-haired, muscular, drop-dead gorgeous specimen of a man with a slightly reddish beard and eyes so deep and blue, you could swim in them.<br /> Somehow, his voice and face strike me as familiar. But how? I’m not sure.<br /> “Go ahead,” I say, realizing I’m staring.<br /> He sits down beside me in his fitted black suit, and I can’t help but admire his figure. Tall, fit, the kind of man who gets whatever he wants, I can just tell.<br /> “Do you know the bride or groom?” he asks.<br /> I look into his eyes and see how they wander over me, from my short, black lace dress to my legs to my pink suede ankle boots.<br /> “Well,” I say, “Addie and I are very close.”<br /> “How close?”<br /> “So close we actually shared a womb… We’re twins.”<br /> He looks surprised, so I elaborate a little bit. “Fraternal.”<br /> A lot of people give us that look when Addie and I say we’re twins. With her brown hair, green eyes, and tall supermodel body, and my strawberry blonde hair, grey eyes, and curvy hourglass body, we couldn’t look more different.<br /> Now, I find myself curious about this handsome stranger beside me. How does he know the bride or groom?<br /> “You must be a friend of Eric’s?” I ask.<br /> “You’re joking, right?” he responds, taken aback.<br /> “I’m sorry?”<br /> “I’m in Vagabond with Eric,” he explains, grinning. “I play lead guitar and sing backup mostly, occasionally lead vocals.”<br /> That’s how I recognized him. ~Of course~. I’ve been so behind the times, barely watching TV, listening to the radio, or using my iPhone for anything but making calls and taking photos, I didn’t notice.<br /> I blush, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m a complete idiot.”<br /> “Not at all,” he says. “It’s refreshing. To actually meet someone.”<br /> “So, you’re…”<br /> “Ace Flanagan, Eric’s cousin.”<br /> We shake hands, and at the feel of his calloused fingertips, I can tell how dedicated he is to his craft. I wonder what else he can do with those hands.<br /> “And your name is…?”<br /> “Oh, I’m Laney,” I say, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Laney Michaels.”<br /> “Laney Michaels,” he says, testing it on his tongue. “Has a nice ring to it.”<br /> He’s flirting. That much is obvious. But, for some reason I can’t fathom, I don’t mind. I know I should tread carefully. Rockstars have their reputations for a reason. And yet…<br /> “So, you know what I do,” he says. “What do you do, Laney?”<br /> “I’m an artist.”<br /> “Anything I’d know?”<br /> I shake my head. “Probably not. I do a lot of murals for schools and other buildings around the area where I live.”<br /> Something about this answer seems to light up his eyes. It’s hard to stare into them for too long. Like staring into the sun.<br /> I look away just as a bell is rung, and we turn to see Eric, the groom, walking down the aisle.<br /> “Here we go,” Ace says.<br /> I let out a deep breath, grateful the wedding has interrupted our conversation. As much as I’m enjoying talking to Ace, something about the way he carries himself, his fame—it intimidates me.<br /> And I’m not here to be intimidated. I’m here for my sister. I’m here to be her only family on the day she’s about to marry the love of her life and start a whole new kind of family.<br /> As Eric walks down the aisle, he looks every bit the rockstar, even in a tux. His blonde hair, slicked back, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. He winks at me as he walks by, and I wonder how it is I’ve never met his cousin, Ace, before now.<br /> Then, I see my sister walking down the aisle and my heart feels like it’s going to burst I’m so happy for her. In her white designer dress, a mix of retro and chic, Addie’s never looked so beautiful. The smile on her face is one of pure joy.<br /> Holding her arm, walking her down the aisle, is Michael, our social worker from when we were kids. That difficult childhood, full of foster homes after our mother left us outside the firehouse with nothing but a note, feels so far away now.<br /> Were it not for Michael and his kindness, who knows if we would’ve ended up here?<br /> At last, as Addie takes Eric’s hand, the ceremony begins.<br /> It feels like it goes by in a flash. Before I know what’s happening, she’s leaning in to peck Eric, they’re husband and wife, and it’s over, just like that.<br /> I can’t believe it.<br /> “ those two are beautiful,” I hear that Brooklyn accent mutter to my left.<br /> I turn to look at Ace Flanagan. To my surprise, the man has tears in his eyes. A rockstar, crying at a wedding? I never thought I’d see the day.<br /> I hand him a tissue from my purse, and he laughs, shaking his head.<br /> “I must look ridiculous.”<br /> “Far from it,” I say. “Like you said. It’s refreshing.”<br /> “To see a grown man crying?”<br /> “To see someone not afraid to show emotion in public.”<br /> “That’s what I do for a living, Laney,” he says. “That’s what we both do. We’re artists.”<br /> “I suppose that’s true.”<br /> I turn back to look at Eric and Addie holding onto each other, grinning like there’s no one in the world but them. He spins her around, and I feel my heart flutter.<br /> I wonder if there’ll ever be a man who looks at me the way Eric looks at Addie.<br /> Which is when I realize Ace Flanagan is still staring at me.<br /> I turn and meet his gaze. It’s at that moment, as I stare into the blue eyes of one of the biggest rockstars in the world, I realize my life is going to change forever.<br /> I don’t know how, but instinct tells me, by the end of this wedding, Eric and Addie won’t be the only ones making love.<br /> Ace Flanagan, I wonder. Do you feel the same?<br /> --<br /> ACE<br /> The bride and groom are onto me. Sure, I’m here to enjoy their wedding, but who says I can’t enjoy my time here as well? All I did was switch seats at the party to be next to Addie’s sister—what’s the big deal?<br /> Laney’s a grown woman who can take care of herself. Laney Michaels. Just the sound of her name gets my mouth watering.<br /> She’s exactly my type. Artsy, intelligent, and charming as all. The fact she’s a little shy only makes me more intrigued.<br /> I know I promised Addie I wouldn’t pursue her sister, but so far, I’m not breaking any promises.<br /> Just being friendly.<br /> And if Laney decides she’d like to pursue me…well, that’s a whole ’nother story.<br /> She sits back down with a stiff drink—bourbon, by the looks of it—and I raise an eyebrow, impressed. “Good taste,” I say, nodding.<br /> She shrugs. “I hate sweet drinks.”<br /> “That makes two of us.”<br /> I raise a glass—straight gin in mine—and we toast, both taking a sip, eyes lingering on each other.<br /> “So, what does a rockstar think of a boring party like this?” she asks.<br /> I look around. The band’s playing Sinatra. People are swaying on the dancefloor. It’s typical wedding stuff and, Laney’s right, not my kind of thing. But I don’t mind it right now.<br /> “Can’t always be partying hard,” I say. “People think that’s all we do on the road. But it’s a lot of physical, grueling work.”<br /> “Yeah, you got it so bad,” she teases, and I find myself laughing.<br /> “What about you, Laney?”<br /> “Oh, I don’t go out much at all. I prefer to be painting.”<br /> “So, how do you find time to date?”<br /> She blushes, taking another sip. And I know I’m pushing it regarding my promise to Addie. So I hit the brakes.<br /> “My bad,” I say, shaking my head. “Sometimes, I can’t help myself.”<br /> “From flirting?”<br /> I stop, eyeing Laney up and down. This is forward, especially for an introvert like her. She seems just as surprised by her own nerve.<br /> “Is that what I’m doing?” I ask.<br /> “I wouldn’t know,” she admits. “But I wouldn’t…take offense…if you were.”<br /> That’s about as bold an invitation as I’m gonna get when it comes to this girl. I scoot a little bit closer toward her, feeling her body stiffen in response.<br /> “So, if you don’t take offense,” I respond quietly, “why not answer my question? How do you find time to date?”<br /> “I don’t,” she says. “Not often.”<br /> “Because you don’t want—”<br /> “No,” she cuts me off. “Because I haven’t found the right person.”<br /> And now, from the way her eyes meet mine, I understand what she’s saying. Just because she’s shy doesn’t make her prude. And those eyes are screaming to be taken.<br /> “What about you?” she asks. “Many girlfriends?”<br /> Again, I am surprised by how little Laney knows about me. No, I don’t have girlfriends. I have “friends” who happen to be women and who I happen to please occasionally. And vice versa.<br /> You would think Laney would know that. The media’s always circulating photos of every new side-piece on my arm. Especially now that Vagabond is selling out stadiums around the world.<br /> A girl this oblivious is rare to come by. In fact, she may just be one-of-a-kind.<br /> “I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment,” I reply, watching her carefully.<br /> Laney bites her lip, and, I can feel myself hardening just at the implication of that bite. Oh my lord, am I in trouble.<br /> “Do you want to maybe…?” I start, and I don’t need to finish, because Laney’s grabbing my hand and we’re hurrying out of the party as fast as we can.<br /> Don’t hate me, Addie, I think. But how can I help myself?<br /> laney<br /> where are you<br /> you better not be where i think you are<br /> LANEY<br /> I had a feeling this was going to happen. From the first second I laid eyes on Ace Flanagan, I knew…he wasn’t just another guy.<br /> Now, as he pushes me against the hotel door, blue eyes looking wild, I can see what makes him a rockstar, all right. The man is absolutely magnetic.<br /> And, does he know how to keep a girl in suspense. He keeps teasing me with his lips, pecking me anywhere but my mouth. I finally grab him by the neck.<br /> “peck me already,” I demand.<br /> And thankfully, this time, Ace does.<br /> ACE<br /> Nothing in the world has ever felt as good as Laney’s lips on mine. As I peck her softly, I look into those gray, endless eyes, knowing I could write a million songs about ’em, and they still wouldn’t do her justice.<br /> While I peck her, I fumble with the hotel key, sliding it in, unlocking the door, and pushing both our bodies inside. She presses me against the wall, a more proactive partner than I could have possibly imagined from her shy girl act.<br /> And now, she’s pecking me fiercely, gripping my arms, moaning softly as she presses against me, rubbing and fondling everywhere a man wants to be touched.<br /> Laney yelps in surprise as I pick her up and throw her on my king-size bed.<br /> LANEY<br /> As I land on the bed, every thought in my mind disappears, and all there is this moment, here and now.<br /> I need him.<br /> I want him.<br /> Now.<br /> “Take off your shirt,” I tell him.<br /> Ace, aiming to please, unbuttons his dress shirt. Slowly. Too slowly. I sit up to help him, racing to finish with the buttons, unbuckling his belt next. I am restless for him, and he can sense it.<br /> “Your turn,” he says, in a low, raspy breath. “Take that dress off before I rip it off.”<br /> I like that tone of voice and smile slyly. I sit up on my knees and slowly, sexily, pull up my black dress. He helps me remove it completely.<br /> ACE<br /> This can’t just be another one-night stand, can it?<br /> As I finally roll off of Laney, both of us breathing profusely, laughing, still in complete and total ecstasy, I realize only now, too late, I didn’t wear protection.<br /> Not that I’m worried. Laney doesn’t strike me as the kind of girl I’d have to worry about. And I’m assuming, she would’ve told me if she’s not on the pill or something, right?<br /> Whatever. Right now, none of that matters. All that matters is, Laney Michaels just gave this rockstar the best intercourse of his entire life. I cannot wait to see her beside me in the morning.<br /> We may even have time for a round two.<br /> With that happy thought on my mind, I feel my eyelids lowering…slipping…fading into the most peaceful sleep imaginable.<br /> When I wake up in the morning, Laney’s gone.<br /> <br /> ACE<br /> I’m not a big fan of surprises. When someone has something to say to me, I prefer they just spit it out. But ever since Eric called me and told me to fly out to Chicago, I can just tell something is up.<br /> The question is: what?<br /> Eric claims he needs me to record some vocals for our new album. But then, why is Addie so involved in my visit? She’s been arranging everything from what I can tell.<br /> I step out of the airport, and Eric is waiting for me in the car. I realize I underpacked the minute I step outside. Autumn in LA is a joke compared to Chicago.<br /> How could I forget? The truth is, after that insane night I spent with Laney, my day-to-day life has felt a little…off. I can’t explain it exactly.<br /> I know it was just a one-night stand. I’m not delusional. But the way our bodies connected, the way her lips felt against mine, her heat…<br /> It’s enough to make a man hard in public.<br /> I shake off the thought and get into Eric’s car. It’s not like I’m going to be seeing Laney anyway.<br /> She made it abundantly clear when she left in the morning that she never wants to see me again. Right?<br /> “Hey, man!” I say, reaching out to hug my cousin. But I immediately stop when I see the expression on Eric’s face. He looks…nervous.<br /> “What’s up?”<br /> “Nothing.”<br /> We talk a little bit about the band on the way to Eric’s, but I can still sense he’s distracted. Whatever the secret is, it’s starting to eat at me.<br /> Goddamnit, will somebody just talk?<br /> We finally pull up to an old brown building in a busy neighborhood. Definitely not Eric and Addie’s home.<br /> “Did you guys move?”<br /> “No,” he says, parking. “It’ll all make sense when we get upstairs.”<br /> I shake my head, growing more frustrated and confused with every second. But I follow Eric out of the car, into the building, and up the elevator to the sixth floor.<br /> As we step into a loft, I notice there are canvases and paint everywhere. An art studio. Huh.<br /> And the art, I notice, is good. Definitely not created by an amateur. I notice one attempt, over and over, in different ways. Two colors clashing, almost like two personalities.<br /> It stirs something in me for reasons I can’t explain.<br /> “Eric,” I turn to him. “Who painted these?”<br /> We round a corner and that’s when I see her. A strawberry blonde in overalls, throwing paint at the canvas, wearing headphones, lost in her own world. Unaware I’m even here.<br /> It’s Laney Michaels. This is her studio.<br /> I feel my stomach twist into a shocked knot.<br /> “What am I doing here?” I ask Eric. That’s when the front door opens and Laney’s twin, Eric’s wife, and my worst enemy right now, apparently, storms inside, furious.<br /> “I asked one thing of you, Ace,” she shouts. “I told you not to sleep with my sister!”<br /> Addie pushes me, and I barely move. Was it really such a big deal? And I’m even more surprised Laney would say something. I thought we had a mutual agreement to keep it a secret.<br /> “You’re such a prick!” Addie screams.<br /> “Jesus, I mean, it was just sleep.”<br /> “Just?” she cries, shaking her head disbelievingly. “You have no idea, do you?”<br /> “Addie, stop it!”<br /> We both turn to see Laney standing there, headphones cast aside, looking mortified. There’s a trail of blue paint on her cheek.<br /> “Do you mind?” Laney asks her sister.<br /> Addie shoots me one last glare, then storms out with Eric, offering a grim shrug.<br /> When we’re alone, I turn to Laney, surprised.<br /> “I’m really sorry if I did something wrong,” I say. “I really thought we had a nice—”<br /> “Ace,” she cuts me off. “It’s not that.”<br /> I frown. “What are you talking about?”<br /> Then, eyes watering, one lonely teardrop trailing down her cheek through the blue paint, Laney says the last words in the world I expect to hear.<br /> “I’m pregnant, Ace. And the baby is yours.”	LEARN_MORE	https://a.read4funs.com/ad/ZmFuY3lOb3ZlbC8xNzE2Mjc	136560499545717	ForFun-105	https://facebook.com/61552095643555	38	1	1,475,290,759,750,570	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	ForFun-105	120208292057560019	a.read4funs.com	NONE	video		https://a.read4funs.com/ad/ZmFuY3lOb3ZlbC8xNzE2MjcvMjAyNDA1MDgwOTI3MzYvcGFnZQ==?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 20:31	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438165823_1465020367780798_1960030284303318272_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TS4E-aQ2ZqQQ7kNvgGzrZJY&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbqI5Ez1uoEWqkdKkFTJ9q6wx41WY2x4h_CbnSLu19zQ&oe=6641C7DC	person_profile	ForFun-105	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438161742_811283647734161_2237717165695569641_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VdI06rztqVwQ7kNvgEFjsci&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBDLQ8VlQU00DjKFQayaxRyH5Q7iC1lqPKwuysqhx0hrA&oe=6641EC23	3	ForFun-105	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,200	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778367}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:35	active	760	828131799355010	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	My husband had been having an affair with his assistant. I could hear the sounds of moans pouring from our bedroom before I opened the door.<br /> When I heard the wailing moans of my soon to be ex husband's "secretary" I walked my undressed hip directly to them.<br /> I took a deep breath clearing the visual of them having intercourse from my head. Oh, I had grand plans for these two adulterers.<br /> I opened the door, walking in and pausing to watch them. <br /> I walked right past both of their startled figures, to my dresser where my phone was with a smirk. "Hey guys, smile for the camera!"<br /> I turned on my camera, snapping pictures of them on the bed still frozen, both staring at me in shock.<br /> "Nice.Please forgive the intrusion, I'll be on my way in just a sec."<br /> ————————<br /> Vivian<br /> I took a deep breath compose myself as the my introduction to the crowd began. My heart felt as if it was in my throat right now. It felt like the weight of the world was centered on my shoulders.<br /> If I was successful, not only would it launch my modeling career at age 28, but I would increase funding for this campaign.<br /> Since majority of the crowd outside of these curtains did not have my skin tone, I had to impress them.<br /> Today is the beginning of a campaign launching models with brown skin into the dominantly pale skinned model industry. I will be the face of the campaign and in order to be successful, I must make these rich people want to fund this campaign.<br /> And I will succeed.<br /> There has never been a fashion show like this, where I haven't had my hair straightened, my make up has not been contoured on my face to match those around me, and I am not walking fiercely down the walkway as if I'm walking on fire.<br /> I had always been confident in myself as a black woman yet I still found myself getting stage fright before my shows. Even more so with the bold campaign I was now launching.<br /> And after many failed seductive attempts with my husband lately, I wasn't sure if I could seduce the crowd before me.<br /> Instead I am to walk slowly, very seductively. My natural kinky curls framed my face, I have little to no make up on so that I appear soft as I am, completely naturally.<br /> The curtains are pulled back and as I began my walk down the aisle, it is not hard at all to seduce the crowd.<br /> I capture everybody's attention and when I pass them, the from the corner of my eye, I can see the effect I have on them and I couldn't help how it boosted my confidence.<br /> My walk is so natural and graceful that I practically glide down the run way. The bronze light is soft and makes my brown skin glow in the dark like highlight. The sway of my hips is mesmerizing to the crowd, so I pause and I turn slowly looking at all the faces to give them my best seductive smile.<br /> Many have lost their composure, becoming flustered by my attention. I hold my smirk, this is my crowd now.<br /> I almost falter when I see that my husband is not among the crowd. Once upon a time, he was always the first face that I graced with my smiles. He had never missed one of my shows in the beginning, looking up at me just as entranced as the rest of the crowd.<br /> I can feel my eyes watering so I quickly look away from them and continue making my way down the runway.<br /> When I finish with the crowd, I walk back up the runway and into the darkness hiding me from the crowd as they all cheer. In the darkness I hold my face, I can't help the excitement that overcomes me. I did it!<br /> My husband had promised to be here today. If he wasn't behind stage with the rest of my crew then I didn't know what this would mean for our marriage. I could worry about all that tomorrow though.<br /> Tonight, I fuccccckkking owned that crowd and I was sure going to celebrate my success on my birthday.<br /> I let out the breath that I had been holding and recompose myself then I walk behind stage to the small group gathered for me. I grin victoriously, strutting up to them saucily.<br /> "You did it, Vi! They all looked like they wanted to eat you up." My best friend and manager Naomi screams running up to me to hug me while all my co-workers clap and shout congrats. "How about some birthday cake before the next show?"<br /> I give Naomi the biggest hug and nod.<br /> "What's wrong girl?" She asks noticing something is wrong right away.<br /> I want to be happy but I have this really terrible feeling in my chest. I hug her back trying not to smile awkwardly as I ask her if my husband Richard made an appearance tonight.<br /> "No, I didn't see him? Was he supposed to be here?" She asked.<br /> "Yes." I replied. I could see the look of pity on her face as she shook her head, it had been about 4 years since he had been to one of my modeling gigs. And what type of message did that send? He was my husband and should've been here to support me.<br /> Part of me isn't really surprised, I knew when I refused to quit modeling and depend fully on Richard financially that our marriage would change.<br /> But this job is what helped get his business up and running when we graduated college with no immediate careers in sight. So I decided to keep modeling even after Richard became financially stable, despite it not being anything closely related to what I'd majored in.<br /> Naomi attempts to cheer me up with the double chocolate layer cake she baked me for my birthday and I grin at her trying my best not to let my intuition eat away at my happiness, nobody wanted an unhappy campaign model right?<br /> I finally manage to escape Naomi and her devil addicting double chocolate cake, making my way out front to the crowd to make my appearances and answer questions for those who had attended the opening show before the next show started.<br /> Afterwards when it was time for the second show, I made my way backstage to my booth to check my phone for any messages from Richard. He was a very successful business man that had recently become the owner of the company he had worked for, thanks to me, why shouldn't he take days off to support my career? Why else was his secretary always around for then?<br /> The bad feeling in my chest only increase at that point, and I recognized it as my intuition. Something was up and I was so angry that I seemed like the only one who wanted our marriage so I was gonna confront Richard about it. After not locating my phone, I realized that I had left my phone at home and since this was the second show I could afford to leave. I was only required to show my face at the after party that started in 6 hours and I would be back by then.<br /> I grabbed my bag and dipped before anyone noticed, sneaking another slice of Naomi's cake as I went.<br /> When I finally made it home I sat in the car for a moment smashing on the piece of cake because Richard hated when I ate sweets. It was my birthday, I deserved to smash my face in it!<br /> When I finished, I walked into the house instantly noticing the clothing littered the floor. There were female clothing scattered among the trail that led upstairs. A sickening feeling overcame me at that moment but I forced the cake that had suddenly came up back down, following the trail of clothing up the stairs to my bedroom door slowly, quietly.<br /> I could hear the sounds of moans and groans pouring from our bedroom.<br /> My husband had grown bold, it seemed. Obviously he had no respect for me if he passed up one of the most successful campaign launches for my career to bring a bimbo to our house to have an affair.<br /> I almost turned to leave, wanting to just walk away with my heart partially intact but I knew I had to see this. I tried to mentally prepare myself for this. I wanted to know who the bimbo was.<br /> To bring a woman to our home and have intercourse with her in our bed on my birthday? He was so disrespectful and just asking to be caught. As I stepped closer to the door, I could hear her telling him how much she loved him through the door.<br /> He responded, telling her that he loved her too. I closed my eyes counting to ten and gathering what remained of my resolve.<br /> I can do this, I thought. I must see this.<br /> I forced myself to open the door, my eyes widening as I saw them in the act up close and personal.<br /> I realized that he had been having an affair with his assistant, Emily. The sad part is that this did not appear to be just a regular experience. They were making love and the familiarity of it told me that it had been happening for quite a while. I couldn't have prepared myself for the pain that I felt slicing through my heart in a thousand years.<br /> My soul was in agony, this was not something that the mind couldn't rationalize for the sake of saving my heart from breaking into pieces. It had been in my face all along and I had been blind to it because we had started attending marriage counseling together. What a joke the marriage counselling must have been to both of them.<br /> My marriage was over. And that one thought kept repeating inside my head like a broken record.<br /> It's over.<br /> I dropped my bag at the door, turning to run away from the sight of them. I couldn't take the pain of watching them anymore. My marriage to Richard had meant everything to me, we had been married 10 years.<br /> I managed to hold my sobs as I ran outside of my home, past my car, and down the streets of our beautiful neighborhood. I just let myself run freely, trying to run myself to exertion to exchange the pain from my heart to the pain in my legs. My silk dress had ripped all up my thighs exposing my lace panties, too delicate for the strain that my pumping legs made. I did not care at all, not pausing to cover myself or look if anybody was looking at me.<br /> When I finally stopped to catch my breath and look around I was just at the local park 10 minutes away from my home. I finally let my sobs out, breaking down completely as I saw that the park was empty.<br /> Richard had been my high-school best friend turned sweetheart after prom, when I gave him my first time. I had always loved him, just fell in love our senior year. I had wanted to have children with him and grow old with him, I did everything right to keep him happy. I had never looked back and regretted anything until now. I knew that we were never supposed to be more than friends but I still married him after high-school because he had been the only guy I wanted to be with.<br /> Richard had cheated once before in college but that was just a one time at a party. He hadn't came back to our dorm that night and that next morning, I had just knew. I forgave him since we were still basically kids in college, told him he was still who I wanted and that I wouldn't dream of sleeping with another man. But still once a cheater, always a cheater.<br /> He destroyed me..<br /> Everything else I could deal with. Marriage was about forgiveness and making sacrifices, right?But sharing intimacy with another? That was the worst type of betrayal. I couldn't stay with him after this. I couldn't forgive him for this, but I was too weak to walk away. Love didn't just fade away, the hurt was still there stabbing me in my chest. I wanted him to hurt, I knew that he loved me. I was the real mastermind behind his company. He couldn't afford to lose me.<br /> But I had nothing left to give. I had put everything including my soul into my marriage, only for it to shatter before my eyes. I couldn't stand another thought of being on this Earth without him after this, either.<br /> He was my only best friend after all.<br /> How would I end it?<br /> My LIFE.<br /> How would I commit suicide?<br /> Pills? Hanging? Knife? Bridge?<br /> I could have a peaceful death. I would drown myself, let the water end the anguish that brewed inside my heart. And when they found my body, he would know.<br /> He did this. He lost me, forever.<br /> ---<br /> Vivian<br /> Silence makes many people very uncomfortable. It's non existence is deafening, it can be insistent and unable to escape. People cannot stand the thought of being alone in silence. People crave interaction with people, they crave attention.<br /> I, however, craved intimacy. And I was not just talking about intercourse.<br /> Intimacy wasn't about who could touch my body, it was about who could touch my soul.<br /> Intimacy was the purest form of connection, something I lacked in my marriage.<br /> Now I wished that I could capture that silence for myself. I wanted to bottle that silence, preserve it just for me so that I could release it every time my thoughts overwhelmed my head.<br /> I studied the ripples that my legs made in the pond.<br /> Beautiful, I thought, tilting my head up to look up into the dark sky. I closed my eyes, if I waited any longer I would lose my nerve. I sucked in my breath, desperately trying to taste the sweetness of summer one last time but it was too late. I tasted bitterness on my tongue and I felt it engulfing me, tainting the taste that I had wanted to savor. I gasped, inhaling fresh air, despair filled me at the thought that I would leave this world with my soul not at peace. I forced myself to believe that I could taste the final sweet taste of summer and it subdued my mind as I gently stretched my legs side to side before sliding into the water allowing the water to close over my face without panicking.<br /> The water was colder as I floated underneath it. My dress seems tighter, constricting my gentle movements so I removed it, ripping it off my body before I really started to panic.<br /> Peaceful. Peaceful. Peaceful. I chanted inside my head, all I wanted was to die peacefully. Something inside me won't allow that though, something rebels. I am rebelling.<br /> I've never been a coward, why should I start now?<br /> Because it hurts...<br /> Suddenly loud ringing starts in my ears and I gasp stupidly, releasing the the little air that I had been holding onto. The water has changed, becoming insistent and dragging me down. The fear consumes me, I am really terrified to die. What happened to dying peacefully?<br /> Just fight for your life. My conscience screams.<br /> I desperately fling my arms back and forth, pumping my legs to swim to the surface of the water. I swim until I can see a glimmer of light in the dark water, the surface was just there but my body is weaker now. I can barely move because I've driven my body to exertion.<br /> I am just about to reach the surface when my breath finally gives out and I am forced to swallow the water.<br /> I've tempted Satan with my soul, now he is going to make me drown.<br /> You were almost there, I couldn't help thinking as I began to jerk uncontrollably, the water inducing spasms of my larynx. Within 30 seconds, the laryngospasms begin to weaken and I'm losing consciousness. My life begins flashing before my eyes and as my brain skims through my wonderful childhood, it isn't long before I see Richard. He was my first best friend. My first love. My first everything and my life with him flashed.<br /> Realizing that I loved him. Marrying him after high school graduation. The discovery of his infidelity in college. Choosing to stay and work through our problems. Graduating college with honors with him at my side. Pursuing a modeling career to help support us while he became stable. Then finally coming home tonight to discover that that infidelity had never ceased.<br /> The pain of knowing that 10 years of my life had been wasted in a one-sided loveless marriage with a cheating prick did not hit me as hard as earlier. The pain was just gone, I had not loss much with Richard... only time.<br /> Then my flashes stop and I see what could be, my life starting anew. Dating, a faithful relationship with the man of my dreams, having children in my little farm house. I want it so bad but it is just out of my grasp. The water is pulling me down, refusing to allow me to float just under the waterline anyone. I am sinking like a stone.<br /> I know that brain failure is imminent but I also know that there is one last chance to survive.<br /> My body forces me to inhale again and with that force, I propel myself upwards. I finally break the surface of the water, spitting up all that awful tasting water that I had pretended tasted so sweet. I climb out of the pond, looking down at the misleading peaceful looking waves.<br /> I ripped off the remainder of my underwear hating the feeling of wet clothing on my skin, decidi<br /> ng right then and there that I would never step foot in any large body of water ever again. I start my walk back to my home.<br /> When I opened the door to the house and made my way pass the clothing, I smiled a very dark smile.<br /> When I heard the wailing moans of my soon to be ex husband's "secretary" I walked my undressed hip directly to them.<br /> I took a deep breath clearing the visual of them making love from my head. Oh, I had grand plans for these two adulterers.<br /> And now I would not go silently.<br /> I opened the door, walking in and pausing to watch them. They were making love, it was no question.<br /> The door smacked the wall hard alerting them that I was here. Emily's shocked gasp filled the air.<br /> I walked right past both of their startled figures, to my dresser where my phone was with a smirk. "Hey guys, smile for the camera!"<br /> I turned on my camera, snapping pictures of them on the bed still frozen, both staring at me in shock.<br /> "Nice." I commented before making my way to my walk in closet. "Please forgive the intrusion, I'll be on my way in just a sec." I grabbed a dress for the after party that I was now late for and made my way to the bathroom humming happily.<br /> At the angle that I took the pictures, the affair was unmistakable. I smiled at them again when I passed. Emily now scrambled to grab the covers that they had kicked on the floor. I chuckled, I had already saw everything she had to offer, with the comforter out of her reach she was now using Richard to shield her and neither of them would make eye contact with me.<br /> "At least own up to what y'all were doing, be adults about it. I'm not mad." I said.<br /> "Vivian, I can-" Richard began to try to make that dumb hip excuse, with that dumb hip look on his face pissing me off. The nasal sound of his voice was pissing me off. Everything about him was pissing me off. What did I ever see in him? Love sure blinded the outta me if I was just noticing this now.<br /> "Explain? No need to Richard, I see you both right now. Again, continue if you wish, I'll be on my way in a minute." I said, shutting the bathroom door and showering.<br /> I thanked fate for allowing me to leave my phone home in order to discover the affair. I took my sweet time, going all out with my routine and appreciating the warm water after I had been floating in that cold hip water for close to 3 hours. I even started to sing, ignoring Richard when he knocked on the door calling my name.<br /> After I got done I continued ignoring him while I dried, lathered myself with oils, and did my hair. my time was all my own again. My days of answering to him were over.<br /> "Freedom," I sang, opening the door and pushing past him. "Why were you undressed? What do you mean you're not mad?" He was frowning at the dress that I had on. "Where are you going Vivian?" He asked.<br /> "Not today, Richard." I said, ignoring his question. Both of them were now dressed and she sat on the perfectly made as if the affair had never happened.<br /> "Vivian, I would like to apologize," She began as we made eye- contact. I could almost respect her, but she was the worst type of person. They both were. <br /> "How long?" I asked her.<br /> "About-" She began.<br /> "Emily shut it, Vivian its not what you think. We-"<br /> "Save it, Richard. I was speaking to Emily, woman to woman. Now, how long?" I said looking at her. I saw his disbelief that I had just cut him off. I had never did it before but then again, I had never disrespected him by cheating or even entertaining the thought either.<br /> "About 4 years." Longer than I thought initially, but now that I thought back he had stopped attending my shows around that time.<br /> "Wow, I hope you both have a good night. <br /> I'm out." From the corner of my eye I notice Richard eyeing me. I turned getting him a 360 view of my dress and his face turned red. "Where are you going, Vivian?" He said it possessively.<br /> "To have passionate intercourse with a random stranger, Richard." I could feel a hysterical laugh building inside me but I manage to hold in in, smiling instead. "Its only fair that I make up for all the intercourse I've been missing out on due to your negligence. Enjoy your secretary, husband. When we're divorced, feel free to marry her because when I'm done with you, nobody will come near either of you again." I said, leaving them dumbfounded.<br /> I made a show of bending to grab my purse at the doorway, turning back to smile seductively at Richard.<br /> I giggled, standing and holding my head high as I walked out of the house to my car. I had never been insecure of my body but since Richard treated me as if I'd been invincible, and not from a lack of trying on my part, for the past two years I had been questioning myself. I mean slowly losing my self confidence as the significant other.<br /> Never again... Near death experiences had a way of making you see what really mattered.<br /> My happiness.<br /> Call me selfish or whatever. I have missed out and tonight I was going to make up for it.<br /> Nothing could make me stay to work things out at this point, I was divorcing him. With the proof I had, I would destroy him then take everything that he had. I wasn't walking away from this 10- year investment empty handed.<br /> Once, he told me that he would give me the world.<br /> But I could settle with his bank account.	LEARN_MORE	https://a.read4funs.com/ad/ZmFuY3lOb3ZlbC8xNzE3MTU	123823310705302	ForFun-100	https://facebook.com/100094441775812	96	1	3,693,606,567,577,932	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	ForFun-100	120210542296420361	a.read4funs.com	NONE	video		https://a.read4funs.com/ad/ZmFuY3lOb3ZlbC8xNzE3MTUvMjAyNDA1MDgxMDUyMzgvcGFnZQ==?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 21:57	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440107656_400511796184092_5122645682506229906_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HkzC0cgxU2kQ7kNvgFf9dlA&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD91zO05p-ED9RQDmGUXYjdXmj1kPSagrPFUHTAMPfGBA&oe=6641C75D	person_profile	ForFun-100	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440441619_7414903791931127_5048105317826027179_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jIGVwl1du2gQ7kNvgFoevIv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA3RweCZN9r2zs6NaodqSkz-KeomiB33EGuI5PMv7GwnQ&oe=6641F454	3	ForFun-100	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,149	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778296}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:34	active	760	463676179521321	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	"Xavier, you’d better get this straight: it's me who's dumping you, not the other way round." It took all her willpower not to lash out at the cheating couple. <br /> "I hope you two have a long, 'happy' life together," she spat.<br /> Her boyfriend of three years, the one she had been with through thick and thin, was now engaged to her elder sister.<br /> "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that I’m here to help." Charles tapped his cufflink, his gaze steady and serene as he watched Noelle.<br /> He was her guardian angel in her darkest hour. "Marry me. I'll bring you unimaginable happiness!"<br /> ————————<br /> <br /> Autumn had painted Brookville in shades of gold and crimson when Noelle Shaw stepped off the plane. She grabbed her suitcase and walked out into the crisp air, a familiar sense of home wrapping around her.<br /> A whole year had passed since she left to pursue a corporate training program overseas, and now, she was back just in time.<br /> Her third anniversary with her boyfriend Xavier Harris was just days away, and she had been working nonstop to make it back early enough to surprise him.<br /> She hailed a cab and headed straight for Xavier's office. The moment she walked through the front doors, Alice, the receptionist, gave her a look of total shock. "Ms. Shaw? You’re back? Are you here for the CEO's engagement party?"<br /> Noelle's brow creased in confusion. "The CEO's engagement party? What are you talking about, Alice?"<br /> "It's Mr. Harris's engagement party with your sister!"<br /> "What?" Noelle's heart skipped a beat, and the happiness drained from her face. "Whose engagement party?"<br /> Alice seemed to realize she had dropped a bombshell and nervously swallowed. "The CEO... and your sister..."<br /> "Where is it happening?"<br /> "The... Golden Oasis Hotel."<br /> It felt like a punch to the gut. Noelle spun on her heel and rushed out. "Driver, take me to the Golden Oasis Hotel, please."<br /> She had not even made it inside the hotel when she saw a huge photo by the entrance. There Xavier was with his arm around Winter Shaw, who looked stunning in her elegant dress. They were gazing into each other's eyes, lost in a world of love.<br /> On her way over, Noelle was psyching herself up. Xavier was her boyfriend. He was hers! The idea of him getting engaged to her sister was just too bizarre. As she arrived, however, reality hit her like a ton of bricks.<br /> She walked in just in time to catch Xavier whispering sweet nothings into Winter's ear, making her cheeks turn a rosy pink.<br /> Noelle felt a surge of anger, her eyes blazing with fury.<br /> How ludicrous it was. Her boyfriend of three years, the one she had been with through thick and thin, was now cozying up to her elder sister while she had been miles away.<br /> Winter Shaw was mingling and toasting with the guests arm in arm with Xavier when she spotted Noelle. Her face drained of color, and her grip on Xavier's hand tightened without her even realizing it.<br /> Xavier's eyes met Noelle's. He paused for a split second, then flashed Winter a comforting smile before walking over to Noelle. "Hey Noelle, did you come to celebrate me and your sister's big day?"<br /> His voice, which was usually so warm and gentle, felt like a knife twisting in her heart. Noelle clenched her jaw. "Celebrate? Celebrate you stabbing me in the back? And Winter, really? Are you that desperate for a man? You knew he was mine, and you... you both..."<br /> Before she could finish, a slap snapped her head to the side, leaving her cheek throbbing.<br /> Holding her face, tears brimming in her eyes, she looked up in disbelief. "Mom!"<br /> "Don't you dare call me 'mom' right now! What kind of daughter or sister acts the way you're acting? It's your sister's engagement, and you can't even be happy for her? Instead, you show up here to make a scene. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Jade Jones was fuming, her eyes shooting daggers at Noelle.<br /> Noelle's heart clenched. "Mom, what are you even saying? Xavier's my boyfriend."<br /> "Your boyfriend? Xavier is your sister's husband. Why do you have to challenge your sister for everything? I’m so disappointed in you."<br /> Noelle could not help but laugh. She stared at her mother, Jade, who had the nerve to twist the truth so blatantly. She turned to Xavier. "Xavier, come on. Tell us who you're really dating."<br /> His brow creased, his gaze on Noelle filled with uncertainty. The firm grip he felt, however, brought him back to the moment. "Noelle, I'm sorry, but there's only ever been one person for me, and that's your sister."<br /> Noelle's heart felt like it was being sliced open as she listened to Xavier's emotionless confession.<br /> What a joke! What bitter irony!<br /> "Xavier, you’d better get this straight: it's me who's dumping you, not the other way round." It took all her willpower not to lash out at the cheating couple. "I hope you two have a long, 'happy' life together," she spat.<br /> <br /> Noelle bolted from the hotel, her previously defiant face now streaked with tears.<br /> Out of nowhere, a black Cayenne screeched to a halt, its tires screaming against the pavement. Caught off guard, she tumbled to the ground.<br /> The driver gulped, his eyes darting to the man in the back seat, "Sir... Sir?"<br /> The man in the back, unfazed by the nearby accident, merely glanced at the passenger seat beside him. "Ronald, go see what happened."<br /> "Right away, sir." Ronald was out of the car in a flash, checking the front for any damage.<br /> About six feet ahead of the car, a woman sat on the ground with her eyes wide open, looking totally freaked out. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, and she had obviously been crying. "Miss? Are you okay? Do you need a ride to the hospital?"<br /> Noelle was scared out of her wits. She just gazed at Ronald, lost in shock, until she finally managed to pull herself together and stand up. Without a word, she tried to sidestep him, eager to get away.<br /> Ronald was puzzled by her reaction. "Are you sure you're alright? Do you need any..."<br /> "I... I'm fine, really, I'm okay." Noelle's eyes darted to the black Cayenne. She could not shake off the feeling that someone was watching her, and it sent shivers down her spine. She scowled, hating the feeling, and hobbled away as fast as she could.<br /> Ronald watched her go, confused. He wanted to stop her, but she was dodging him like he was bad news, leaving him speechless.<br /> Back in the car, Ronald noticed the man in the backseat craning his neck to watch the woman through the window. "Sir, we're at the hotel. Do you want to head straight in, or would you like to get out here?"<br /> The man, Charles Hoffman, did not say a word, and Ronald did not dare to make a move.<br /> Watching the petite figure disappear into the distance, Charles let out a slight smirk and tapped his finger against his knee in a steady beat. "Let's head back!"<br /> Ronald was taken aback. "But sir, isn't today..."<br /> Before he could finish, Charles cut him off with a piercing look. "The show's over. There's nothing left to see," Charles said, his words heavy with implication. "Ronald, you seem to be losing your touch."<br /> The Majestic Lounge was Brookville's hotspot, its lights blazing and music pumping every night. Noelle's friend, Rowena Smith, always said it was the prime spot for a wild time after dark.<br /> Noelle was not one for these scenes, but tonight, she was hunched over the bar, downing drinks as if there was no tomorrow. She peered at the sea of unfamiliar faces swirling around her through half-closed eyes.<br /> "Hey there. Did you come here alone?"<br /> A hand clamped onto Noelle's shoulder, the stranger's touch lingering a bit too long. Noelle jerked away, revulsion coursing through her. "Back off."<br /> The guy shot a knowing look at his buddy and smirked at Noelle. "Feisty, aren't you? Back off? Ladies like you just play hard to get, secretly hoping for some attention."<br /> He moved in as if to plant a buss on her, but Noelle shoved him back and stood up, her stance unsteady and her heart racing. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog. "I said back off! Is that so hard to understand?"<br /> She stumbled, nearly toppling over, but the man caught her, his arm snaking around her waist. "See, you’re saying no, but your body's telling a different story."<br /> <br /> Trapped in the man's grip, Noelle struggled to break free, her body refusing to cooperate. Her vision was blurry as she glared at him. "What are you trying to do?"<br /> "Just having a bit of fun..." He chuckled, his voice dripping with sleaze as he steadied her. "Let's go somewhere more entertaining, shall we?"<br /> Noelle might have been out of it, but she could still sense the danger in the man's tone. However, her whole body ached, and she knew she was no match for them. She scanned the area for anyone who could help her, but she was invisible to the passersby.<br /> She spotted a figure approaching through her haze. Acting instinctively, she shoved the two men aside and bolted, slamming right into the newcomer. "Save me!" she gasped.<br /> Her fingers dug into the fabric of the man's shirt, and she inhaled a sharp, clean scent. "Please, save me," she pleaded.<br /> Charles squinted, taking in the woman who had just collided with him. There was a flicker of something sharp in his gaze.<br /> Noelle did not let go, pressing herself against him. Her lips, tainted with the strong smell of booze, were inches from his face, and her cheeks were unnaturally rosy.<br /> "Sir..." Ronald, who was standing a few steps back, watched in disbelief. She had the nerve to approach Charles, yet he was not pushing her away?<br /> Charles shot a cold look at the two men harassing Noelle. "Time to leave, don't you think?"<br /> "You… Who do you think you are? Do you even know who I am? I had my eye on that girl," one of the men blurted out.<br /> Charles smirked and let out a soft laugh. "You laid a hand on her? Which hand was it? Show me!"<br /> The courage of the other man drained away when he met Charles's icy stare. "Uh... Mr. Hoffman, we didn't realize who you were. We... we haven't touched her, not at all," he stammered, realizing they were in deep trouble.<br /> "Ronald," Charles shot him a look before scooping Noelle into his arms like she was the heroine in some epic romance, “give these guys a lesson they won't forget. Make it clear that The Majestic Lounge isn't for scum like them."<br /> With Noelle in his arms, Charles spun on his heel and left. Ronald gave a curt nod. "Understood." A sly grin spread across his face as he faced the two troublemakers. "So, which one of you was it that touched the lady?"<br /> The two guys exchanged panicked glances, too scared to utter a word. Ronald let out a mocking scoff. "What, did both of you touch her? Mr. Hoffman wants to let you keep a little bit of your offending hand as a souvenir."<br /> They dropped to their knees with a thud, as pale as ghosts, begging, "Please, have mercy! You can't do this. My dad is a big shot at Evergreen Group..."<br /> Meanwhile, Charles, with Noelle in his arms, was like a walking iceberg.<br /> Noelle felt she was being drained of blood and eaten alive by a swarm of ants. She whimpered, overcome by a wave of dizziness, "It's so hot..."<br /> Charles glanced down at his shirt, which was now a mess thanks to Noelle, and his gaze frosted over. He held her tighter and picked up the pace to the elevator.<br /> Though she was barely conscious, she caught a glimpse of the man's strong profile. The chill from his body was oddly soothing, and she snuggled closer without thinking. Charles's eyes darkened just as the elevator doors slid open, and he stepped out into the unknown.<br /> <br /> At the top of The Majestic Lounge was a room that belonged to Charles alone. He swung the door open and carried Noelle in. She was feeling so awful that she hung onto Charles like she was trying to meld into him, her limbs all over the place with nary a hint of elegance.<br /> He managed to detach Noelle from himself with a bit of a struggle and gently placed her in the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, he dialed Ronald’s number. "I need ice, and make it quick."<br /> Once he ended the call, he saw Noelle trying to get out of the tub. He gently but firmly pushed her back down and turned on the cold tap. "Stay still!"<br /> His voice was firm and grew even more intense as he noticed how the water in the tub accentuated her figure. His gaze sharpened.<br /> Ronald was fast, arriving shortly with two buckets of ice. "Here's the ice, sir."<br /> "Hold on," Charles instructed Ronald. "Just set them down and leave, thanks." His tone was cool and detached.<br /> Ronald raised an eyebrow at Charles's unusual sternness. However, he kept his thoughts to himself and left as told.<br /> Once alone, Charles brought the ice buckets into the bathroom.<br /> Noelle was submerged in the icy water, her body shaking uncontrollably. Her mind was still foggy, and Charles's expression was grim.<br /> Noelle was burning up inside, feeling like she was on the brink of collapse. The icy water was a harsh contrast to that, enveloping her in a torturous chill. She squirmed in agony, but Charles's hands kept her steady, and his voice cut through the haze. "Hang in there. It'll pass soon."<br /> ...<br /> Noelle's eyes fluttered open, her body feeling sore and like it had forgotten how to function. She lay still, gazing up at the stark white ceiling. As the fog in her brain slowly lifted, the memories of last night started to play like a movie in her head.<br /> Her face drained of color as panic flickered across her features. She flung off the covers and was relieved to find herself in pajamas, untouched. Still, that aching... where did it come from?<br /> "You're awake?" A chilly voice cut through the silence, and Noelle's head whipped toward the door. There she saw a man clad in cool elegance and fancy threads who was obviously not your average Joe. His face was so drop-dead gorgeous that even a beauty queen would swoon at him.<br /> Noelle's brow creased in confusion. She did not know this man. As the reality of her situation hit her, she blurted out, "Who are you?" Her voice sounded so harsh and grating that it scared her. The words came out as a dry, quacking mess.<br /> Charles arched an eyebrow, not bothering with an answer. He strolled over, poured her a glass of water, and handed it to her with smooth and elegant hands.<br /> Noelle was taken aback for a second but then grabbed the glass, downing the water with an eagerness that bordered on uncouth. Once the glass was empty, she eyed Charles suspiciously. "Are you the one who rescued me?"<br /> He did not say yes or no, but Noelle let out a relieved breath. "Okay. Thanks for whatever you did last night." She glanced down at her clothes, a silent question hanging in the air, and her expression turned to one of confusion. However, her gratitude remained evident despite the puzzlement.<br /> Charles's gaze landed softly on Noelle's face, his mind replaying her stunning presence from the night before and stirring something within him. "It’s all good, Ms. Shaw. Don’t worry about it," he said, sidestepping the potential embarrassment with a smooth deflection.<br /> Noelle bit her lip, fighting the urge to say more. She would have to deal with the fallout and act like this whole mess never happened. Then, it hit her. "How did you find out my last name is Shaw?"<br /> "Surprised? There's been a lot of buzz about a Ms. Shaw today. Have you not heard?" Charles said, casually fiddling with his cufflinks, looking the picture of cool.<br /> Noelle's face drained of color. "What... What are you talking about?"<br /> "There are many versions of your story. Which one do you want to hear?"<br /> "Who are you, really? And what do you want from me?"	LEARN_MORE	https://b.penguinovels.com/ad/cGVuZ3VpbnMvMTcxMjg4	191107437419978	Guin111	https://facebook.com/61554980391363	13	1	383,389,758,034,146	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Guin111	120209095661290149	b.penguinovels.com	NONE	video		https://b.penguinovels.com/ad/cGVuZ3VpbnMvMTcxMjg4LzIwMjQwNTA3MTYxMDIxL3BhZ2U=?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 03:23	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441761824_1160823395334990_6553281327754603039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ui8RlVK5yFoQ7kNvgFBV-Ou&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAHmG5LZdBp585oXt0IsPtAVSIp35fkOW7fpuIRG6NeAQ&oe=6641F550	person_profile	Guin111	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441448374_422115153912430_8033906422813096593_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AT2BrWG5-GIQ7kNvgFle_3F&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBRBFQEUW9mWW5KFQTDobdLg02MWCuRACIo1W8T5xIWRA&oe=6641C854	3	Guin111	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,777,944	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1777945}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:31	active	760	1472053857039819	Breakthrough Neuropathy Care in Statesville - Start Living Pain Free!	Hey Statesville! 😄👋<br /> <br /> There is no need to suffer from the pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness, and tingling associated with neuropathy pain - effective, NEW solutions are available, covered under Medicare and insurance! <br /> <br /> Lake Norman Healthcare is proud to offer patients in Statesville and all surrounding communities with breakthrough, PROVEN care plans for neuropathy and nerve pain that help patients avoid surgery and start living life FREE of neuropathy and nerve pain: <br /> <br /> ✅ Neuropathy pain in the feet, legs, knees, ankles, wrists, and other areas. <br /> ✅ Treats sciatica pain. <br /> ✅ Avoid surgery and medications.<br /> ✅ Care plans available for diabetic. pre-diabetic, and non-diabetic patients. <br /> ✅ 95%+ symptom reduction for many patients. <br /> ✅ We help with diagnosis. <br /> ✅ Offering the newest, most effective treatment solutions for neuropathy pain. <br /> ✅ A top-rated medical staff with decades of combined experience. <br /> <br /> ✅ We accept Medicare and insurance! <br /> <br /> 🚫 No surgery.<br /> 🚫 No medications.<br /> 🚫 No downtime. <br /> <br /> Lake Norman Healthcare<br /> 1661 Davie Ave, Statesville, NC 28677<br /> <br /> ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rated 5-Stars by 50+ Community Members	SIGN_UP	http://fb.me/	100638069190060	Lake Norman Healthcare	https://facebook.com/100077211134669	69	1	1,133,101,738,119,443	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Sign up	Lake Norman Healthcare	120209767459070186	fb.me	NONE	video	Clinically-proven results from a trusted team!	http://fb.me/	2024-05-08 14:42	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172523_410584275235865_1311089442415372868_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MHb8wzuOBp4Q7kNvgH8Qt4K&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDGuBJlaxH627wVWZFLEUoxyvr2jCif78EUSamEaLsetQ&oe=6641F252	person_profile			3	Lake Norman Healthcare	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,050	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778474}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:33	active	760	803628351329132		Magnesium is now berrylicious! Each Viactiv magnesium soft chew consists of 125 mg of magnesium goodness with a delicious flavor and 66% less sugar than the leading gummy brand. Get the magnesium your body needs and enjoy it too.			128836000474582	Viactiv	https://facebook.com/viactiv	82,171	2	444,463,154,797,110	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1		Viactiv	120208768946400229		NONE	image			2024-05-08 11:56	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425503521_1129634625019419_8619832381652993662_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XX6vRSCzltgQ7kNvgEsANsN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBsedncIe3uuqb-b81nMnWk5oOQz127wIh13S8snNktog&oe=6641F1E1	person_profile	Viactiv	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438303904_975277117324973_7016153945878328689_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F0kcXGbJvOsQ7kNvgEMUQj3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBxvzLNYsYVN0ki6EP7JR66YnzWtMNyWGVFORhSzuHiSA&oe=6641C9D7	3	Viactiv	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,497	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778499}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:39	active	760	388988820267230	Client Acquisition So Simple It’d Make Elon Cry	“Big boy Elon ❤️’s this funnel….” Tesla did 2 million in preorders of the Cybertruck with it… Which could equate to 120 billion in sales. Holy side hustles batman And I’m gonna show you what this has to do with a lil’ selling system. That can flood your business…. 90-480+ pippin’ hot leads in the next 42 days. No cold-emailing. No DM’ing strangers. No begging for referrals. No hoping and praying. Just a calendar booked solid... With super-qualified, red-hot appointments. Watch this free video to see how we do it. Then click the link and book a call. https://go.kingkong.co/strategy P.S. This thing is unlike anything you’ve ever seen or heard about. It combines AI, Viral hooks and a ‘secret blend’ of 11 herbs and spices… that convert like crazy! Go see for yourself: https://go.kingkong.co/strategy	LEARN_MORE	https://go.kingkong.co/strategy	562378543780840	King Kong Co.	https://facebook.com/kingkongco	44,917	1	449,468,174,295,036	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn More	King Kong Co.	6609478883180	kingkong.co	NONE	dco	(Watch Carefully. Then Click)	https://go.kingkong.co/strategy	2024-04-17 02:24	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436577005_1481909866091066_1631286830041743232_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HbKE0WaKl4MQ7kNvgFpTvyI&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBO_smjXryFfVy0pEfAgtcn5AgSQQbf3ANQou_4dyps3g&oe=6641F427	person_profile	King Kong®	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436351772_798810418363163_5193333103053173715_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ICmBmh_9bPoQ7kNvgEEmZBd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBPyy5xxDRSNed3IZsLsAirQEHESE-wxLpAQRbapxa7Bw&oe=6641E2D1	3	King Kong Co.	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,070	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778071}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:33	active	760	817936289859512	Heal Trauma with Vagal Toning	Life doesn’t have to constantly feel like it’s overwhelming you.<br /> <br /> You can live without the effects of stored trauma.<br /> <br /> You can take control.<br /> <br /> Neurotoned offers you a daily exercise for your vagus nerve to release stored trauma and build resilience.<br /> <br /> Inside, you will find a somatic exercise for every day to guide you on your self-healing journey.<br /> <br /> Heal your trauma, anxiety, dissociation, fatigue, and chronic pain with Neurotoned.<br /> <br /> 🧡Free 7-day trial<br /> 💛60-day money-back guarantee<br /> 🧡Led by somatic therapists<br /> 💛10 minutes a day<br /> <br /> Try the program free now!<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neurotoned.com%2Fneuro-monthly&h=AT0lFpAdHvagsGzHabQlCOB8gMp3SMr3XiFF9Q9_7xjFhgMSKGmvbh-OtPGsfHQklh5i0haoFDlWn3gcYXewiF4cRASvdDQAUcYW4iqrLXqMwKg20tXtT1zjd6IOHbdwkZPuVA3RKkehxg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.neurotoned.com/neuro-monthly</a>	LEARN_MORE	https://www.neurotoned.com/neuro-monthly	126229817242212	Neurotoned	https://facebook.com/61551413792118	2,645	1	467,507,152,386,094	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Neurotoned	120210097034490023	www.neurotoned.com	NONE	video	Heal the mind body connection with the only at-home program that offers a NEW healing exercise every day guided by top somatic therapists	https://www.neurotoned.com/neuro-monthly	2024-05-08 11:37	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441344438_336781789422153_4276952896563663538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QRbKJfxY8ZIQ7kNvgG6VRC1&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBxuUUw3MmsIVTaZbHJImAtf1pS0fpCa_-P5cg6sm1tLg&oe=6641DE1D	person_profile	Neurotoned	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441295680_943135250872788_8187979491196198677_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OZ5KZ3LEZycQ7kNvgEwLXfz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD9HR4JmCk0tTQrcBAlVCeHgXIIOjdIm382J_K7WGL4Zg&oe=6641E418	3	Neurotoned	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,135	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778224}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:34	active	760	431984599572352	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	“I want to tie you up, Charlotte. I have ever since I saw you. I want to bind you up into a beautiful toy. I want to receive obedience from your pretty little mouth. I want to dominate and own every part of your body; I want to lay claim to your beauty as mine and mine alone. I want to hurt you a little, but within the safe confines of play.”<br /> “I want to bring you to heights of pleasure you’ve never reached, have you squirm and cry and beg for more, to the point that you will do anything just for the taste of a climax. That is my pleasure.”<br /> <br /> ————————<br /> CHARLOTTE pov<br /> “I preferred your other clothes,” Derek said quietly.<br /> “Wh-What?” I stammered out as I clutched tighter at my bag strap.<br /> “I said,” Derek said carefully, “I preferred your other clothes.”<br /> “My other . . .?”<br /> “Your other clothes, yes.” His head tilted slightly to the left, and that loose curl brushed delicately across his forehead. I was frozen, pinned in place by his intensely dark eyes.<br /> “Take your clothes off, Charlotte.”<br /> “What?” Every nerve in my body jumped on alert, and heat warmed my cheeks so fast it was as if I had been slapped. I took a single step back. “No!”<br /> “You said you wanted to try something new,” Derek continued, still as calm as ever and unfazed by my instant rejection. “I thought you were something beautiful to look at, a stunning gem in a sea of faces that didn’t care about what I was talking about. Then today, you turned up looking like a basic cut-and-dry student, and frankly, I’m a little offended.”<br /> “You can’t . . . you shouldn’t . . .” I couldn’t get my thoughts in order, caught between my sensibilities and how utterly close this was to a drawn-out fantasy. Did I fall asleep in class? Did I trip down the stairs and knock myself into some fantasy land where a handsome man like Derek could have even a drop of interest in me?<br /> “You are, of course, welcome to say no.”<br /> “No!” I blurted out, and I pushed past him, making my way to the door. This was wrong, this was so wrong. He was my teacher, and there was no way he should be asking me things like that.<br /> And yet, when I reached the door and touched the handle, something made me stop. Maybe it was the excited skip of my heart at the sound of Derek saying those words to me or the exhausted result of constantly being picked at and shoved down by Haley.<br /> The boring, sensible, good girl inside me knew that this was wrong. <br /> But . . . I didn’t want to be that good girl anymore.<br /> I wanted to be the bad girl.<br /> “Is this . . . a joke?” I asked softly, my voice trembling with how hard my heart was hammering beneath my ribs.<br /> “I would never,” Derek replied, and it was the first time I had ever heard his voice pitch up slightly as if he were throwing his entire reputation behind that word. Whether it was that or his entirely calm presence, I couldn’t decide.<br /> My bag slipped from my shoulder and landed with a heavy thud on the floor, and then I reached for the hem of my halter top.<br /> My halter top landed on the floor next to my bag, and my heart thudded so rapidly I was a little concerned I was going to pass out.<br /> What was I doing? Standing in front of the most gorgeous man I have ever seen, my teacher to boot, and following his instruction to take my clothes off because I was tired of being the boring good girl.<br /> If I got caught, my time at this university would be over. I wouldn’t be able to show my face to anyone ever again, and my mother, she would be utterly horrified. <br /> Suddenly, Derek’s hand gripped my chin, and he tilted my head up to meet his gaze.<br /> “Slowly,” Derek instructed quietly. “I want you to take your clothes off slowly. ”<br /> I nodded once, and his touch fell away. I had never done anything like this before, not even with my ex, and I had absolutely no idea how to slowly remove my clothes in a way that was alluring. I undid the button on my jeans, lowered the zipper, and slowly started to push them past my hips.<br /> “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?” Derek asked. He stood in front of me, his stance wide and his arms once again crossed. Just hearing those words flared my cheeks hotter, and a sudden small grunt came from him.<br /> “The way your cheeks are rosy tells me that maybe no one has.”<br /> “It’s . . .” I started awkwardly, but he hushed me with a click of his tongue.<br /> “If you’re going to speak,” he said, “I want clear, concise answers.”<br /> I fought the scoff in my throat. I was not a clear, concise person.<br /> “No,” I said breathlessly, leaning down to get my shoes off and kick off these impossible jeans.<br /> My hair fell forward like a heated blanket, and by the time I straightened up, my face was flushed hotter. I was terrified and excited all at the same time.<br /> “I think you are beautiful,” Derek said, and he began to pace around me in a very slow circle.<br /> “The brightness in your eyes, the beautiful way your lips come together like a heart. The apple of your cheeks, the deep curves of your body . . . all of it.”<br /> “Curves?” I repeated in disbelief. “Don’t you mean—”<br /> “Curves,” Derek interrupted. “But your instinct to correct me, to have me say a different word like . . . fat, perhaps? That is what you need to change.”<br /> He finished his circle and stopped in front of me.<br /> “Clothes don’t make a person new. Internal change does. Growing that confidence from in here . . .” Derek reached forward and gently pressed two fingers to where my heart would be. My skin jumped at his contact. I had never been touched by a man before, and here I was, standing in my underwear, getting excited because Derek’s hand was so close to my chest.<br /> This had to be some kind of dream.<br /> “Tell me,” he instructed. “What prompted this change? When I first saw you in your blouses and elegant skirts, you exuded much more comfortable confidence than you do in these jeans. Why the change now?”<br /> My heart continued to race, and my mouth ran dry as I contemplated the honesty of my answer.<br /> “It was a spur of the moment,” I replied.<br /> “Tell me the truth.”<br /> There was something about the intensity of his dark gaze that made me want to do exactly that. It was the same intensity that had me feeling calm despite the absurdity of this moment and what had me convinced this was some kind of dream.<br /> This was as far from being a good girl as I could get.<br /> “There was someone,” I began, and my voice quavered once more. “Someone who made me feel seen for the first time in . . . well, ever. And I wanted to chase that feeling just for a little bit because I . . .” I paused, and Derek raised one dark brow expectantly.<br /> “I’m tired. I’m tired of being the good girl with nothing in my life but books and grades. I’m tired of being overlooked because of my weight, and people can’t see past it. I’m tired of only being concerned with deadlines and papers, with tests and keeping everything on track that makes other people happy. I want to be happy.”<br /> The words spilled out of me like a river, and I couldn’t stop them. Maybe it was the fear of standing there in my underwear or it was the exhilaration of doing something so far out of the norm, but I was riding a high I had never even tasted before. Whatever the reason, the words came, and Derek smiled.<br /> “There it is,” he said quietly, “the real reason you didn’t walk out that door. Change is good. You just have to embrace it.” He stepped away and placed both his hands on his narrow hips. “Keep going.”<br /> My heart stilled. Taking off my top and jeans had been easier, in a way. But my underwear?<br /> Exposing myself like that to a breathtakingly handsome guy like that? My hands came together, and I clutched at my own knuckles as Derek’s gaze slowly drifted down me.<br /> “Are you uncomfortable?” Derek asked.<br /> “Yes,” I replied instantly, then I shook my head. “No . . . no, I’m . . . I’ve never done anything like this before, and I mean . . . I’m this and you’re . . .”<br /> “I’m what?”<br /> “You’re gorgeous.”<br /> “And you’re not?” Derek’s eyes narrowed. “Take your underwear off, Charlotte. I want to see all of you, but I will not ask a third time.”<br /> To my surprise, a sudden pulse of annoyance washed over me. I was annoyed at Derek because . . . because he was calling me beautiful? That almost didn’t make sense. Could he really not see how wrong he was?<br /> “I’m not,” I snapped slightly. “How can you say that when you’ve seen all the other girls—”<br /> “I didn’t ask other girls to stay behind with me, did I? I asked you,” Derek stated firmly. “I understand. You are anxious, you have a lot to unravel about how you feel about yourself, and you have never done this before. But I am here, asking you to strip so I can admire your gorgeous chest and glimpse the pretty little private part I know sits between your thighs. But if it is too much, then you are free to walk away.”<br /> Every word out of his mouth sent my heart racing harder and harder in my chest and I almost couldn’t breathe. Warmth clenched between my thighs as my chest constricted slightly.<br /> This has to be a dream, a fantasy conjured up from falling asleep in class. If this is just a dream, then what would be the harm in following it through to the end?<br /> “I . . .” I began, and Derek slowly moved closer. He stopped in front of me and delicately grasped my chin once more. Just like that, my mind went quiet.<br /> “Charlotte,” he purred softly, “you know what I want. I know you want to stop being a good girl, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be obedient. You haven’t left, you want to be here, so let me see.”<br /> The urge to please him, to make Derek happy that he asked me here, surged up so rapidly that I noticed that my hands were no longer shaking until I reached behind my back to unclasp my bra. His words, his very touch, had calmed me once more.<br /> Derek stepped back, and I slid my bra from my shoulders, dropping it onto the floor with the rest of my clothes. His lips parted, and a rosy pink tongue darted out to wet them. My gut clenched with nerves as I dropped my hands to my panties and Derek’s gaze followed them.<br /> In a single surge of confidence, I dropped my panties and stepped out of them. Taking a deep breath, I fought to calm the sudden wild flutter of my heart, and a nervous heat pulsed through me from head to toe. Derek, to my surprise, looked at me with such adoration that warmth prickled behind my eyes.<br /> Was I going to cry?<br /> I was emotional because he found me beautiful?<br /> “Charlotte,” Derek said softly, “I’m going to touch you now. Is that okay?”<br /> I nodded.<br /> “I need vocal consent,” he added.<br /> “Yes,” I managed after a moment, and I closed my eyes. If this was a dream, I was going to wake up the second he touched me, I just knew it. Derek’s warm presence moved around me, and he came to a stop behind me.<br /> Suddenly, his large, warm hands settled on both of my shoulders, and he kneaded into the muscles with one roll of his hands.<br /> “Relax,” he murmured, his lips so close to my ear that I felt the faintest brush of them against my skin. I couldn’t relax, but Derek’s hands never left me. They slid down both my arms, then his entire solid form pressed up against my undressed back. I gasped.<br /> He was so tall and warm, but what surprised me the most was how solid and muscular he felt. At<br /> a glance, he didn’t look like a typically well-built guy, but having him press against me changed that immediately. His hands swept from my arms to my stomach, and I fought a grimace. Having someone caress what I disliked was an alien feeling, but Derek didn’t stop. He continued to stroke over my abdomen, then his palms skimmed upward and he grasped two handfuls of my large chest.<br /> I whimpered in surprise and jolted back against him, his rough palms teasing over my papilla, and they stiffened to peaks instantly. A pulse of embarrassment shot through me, and I tried to step back once again, but I had nowhere to go. Derek was a firm statue behind me, and he used that grip on my chest to pull me back into his body.<br /> “The things I want to do to you, Charlotte,” he groaned softly, and his lips pressed against the top of my head.<br /> “Like what?” I managed to gasp out through each trembling breath escaping my lungs.<br /> “Things no one has ever done.”<br /> “No one has ever done anything,” I whimpered. “I’m a . . . a maiden.”<br /> The word escaped into the air, and Derek’s hands paused on my chest. Instantly, my world started to turn cold as if I had immediately ruined whatever this was going to be. Just as that fear started to take hold, Derek’s left hand released my left chest and slid back down to my stomach, then further still.<br /> “Then I am going to do everything to you,” Derek murmured in my ear, and his voice was so low that the gravel timbre had increased tenfold. “I’m going to take you apart and make you lose yourself in a sea of pleasure that there is no coming back from.”<br /> “Yes,” I gasped, and suddenly, he pinched my right papilla, twisting sharply enough that a sharp jolt of pain lanced through my chest. I yelped and flinched back into his hold.<br /> “All I require is your obedience,” Derek growled softly, and I nodded my head rapidly.<br /> “Yes,” I agreed quickly. “Yes!”<br /> My fantasy was so close to becoming a reality, I would do anything to keep this dream going for a little longer.<br /> DEREK pov<br /> “I know every instinct in your body is to fight this, Charlotte, that every anxiety-riddled thought and fear is to push back against this, but I am asking you to trust me. Lean into the desk.”<br /> Charlotte’s beautiful eyes flickered back and forth between mine, then she finally gave a small nod and let herself rest back against the desk.<br /> I hadn’t thought someone as stunning as her would be a maiden, but it certainly didn’t dampen my desire to own her. If anything, it fueled that heat. I could take her and mold her into the perfect little pet, teach her to lose herself in the ocean of desire I could provide for her.<br /> “Lean back a little further,” I coaxed. Charlotte clutched at the edge of the desk but obeyed. I waited until she tipped her head back, and then I gently pressed my lips to the column of her throat.<br /> The smallest little gasp escaped her rosy lips, and I smiled against the rampant flutter of her pulse I could feel against my tongue.<br /> It almost matched the excited patter of my own heart.<br /> “Have you ever touched yourself, Charlotte?” I asked while I gently pecked down to her collarbone. Was I about to give Charlotte her first-ever climax, or just her first climax coaxed out of her by another person?<br /> “Yes,” she whimpered, and a tremble darted through her entire body.<br /> “Interesting,” I teased. “Tell me about it.”<br /> The flush of her cheeks had spread down to her chest, giving her ample body an adorable full-body flush. If she reacted like this, I was curious how she would react to things such as impact play.<br /> “I–I don’t know how,” Charlotte murmured, and I paused the peckes I had delicately laid over her collarbone. If I wasn’t careful, her nerves would get the better of her.<br /> “Tell me what you use,” I instructed. “Do you like toys or do you only touch yourself with your fingers?”<br /> “Uhm . . . a t–toy,” she whined softly, and I smirked faintly, gathering her large chest in both hands and kneading the flesh. Her stiff papilla dragged against my palms, and Charlotte’s next breath sounded strained.<br /> “What kind of toy?” I dipped my face down between her chest, gently pecking every inch I could reach. Skimming my palms upward, I quickly took her left papillainto my mouth while simultaneously squeezing her right between my fingers.<br /> Charlotte jolted.<br /> “A . . . a vibrator. I’ve never been able to do anything with just my fingers,” she blurted out.<br /> Interesting.<br /> I sank my teeth into the stiff flesh of her papilla. Charlotte yelped above me, then I pulled back and stood. In a flash, I was leaning over her, one hand braced on the desk beside her to pin her down while my other teased my fingertips over her abdomen and down further toward the hidden heat between her thighs.<br /> “Never with your fingers, huh?” I asked softly. Charlotte’s entire face flushed red as she nodded.<br /> “Let me fix that.”<br /> The angle at which she was leaning on the desk meant her legs were parted, and I slid my hand against the silky soft skin of her inner thigh. It was the only warning I gave her, then I dipped further and slid two fingers through the slick, welcoming heat of her private part. My digits instantly became slicked in her juices, and I smiled down at her.<br /> “Well, well, you’re more turned on than I expected,” I teased.<br /> “I’m sorry!” Charlotte blurted out, and both of her hands rose to grasp onto my shirt.<br /> “Hush,” I soothed. “Never apologize for something like this.” Telling her to relax wouldn’t have any effect. I could see the nervous uncertainty in her eyes, so instead, I focused on stroking her with my fingers and studying the subtle changes in her expression to work out what she liked the most.<br /> “Lean into the feeling,” I whispered. “Let it guide you.”<br /> Charlotte’s head fell back, fully lying back on the desk, and I covered her with the shadow of my body. She was mine and mine alone to admire. I teased my fingertips gently through her folds, from her cherry down to her hole. My fingers were soaked in seconds, and I could only dream of how wet she would get if we had a proper session together.<br /> Back up to her cherry, I began to tease in a circular motion, changing direction each time Charlotte’s eyes fluttered up at me. Her body tensed like a wave underneath mine, and her thighs quickly closed around my wrist.<br /> “Good?”<br /> “Yes,” she whimpered softly. “Strange . . . It feels strange but good.”<br /> I could remember the first time a woman touched my shaft. Having someone else tease pleasure out of you could be a strange but welcoming sensation, so I kept my strokes slow and controlled.<br /> Charlotte’s thighs relaxed after a beat, and her hips rose up to press into my fingers as I stroked back down her folds. With gentle circles, I started to stroke just outside her entrance while my thumb took over the teasing stimulation of her cherry.<br /> “Talk to me,” I whispered down to her, and those stunning emerald eyes locked onto mine. “Tell me how it feels.”<br /> “It’s . . .” Charlotte stammered, and her eyes fluttered once more. “It’s good. It’s really good.” She was growing breathless, the flush down her body darkening a fraction, and I wanted to bury my face in her ample point just to soak up the heat of her body. I resisted for now. Doing so would interrupt my focus on her private part and her pleasure.<br /> “Tell me what you need.”<br /> “What I need?”<br /> “Do you want me inside you?” I clarified, and I leaned down to gently brush my nose against hers.<br /> It caught her attention, and her eyes focused back on me.<br /> “Yes.” Her nervous admittance was followed by my sinking my two soaked fingers into her private part and pressing my thumb down hard against her cherry.<br /> Charlotte yelped, then removed one hand from my shirt to slap it over her mouth. Her eyes were wide and her rosy cheeks shone.<br /> I began to pump my fingers in and out of her, all the while ensuring that my thumb relentlessly<br /> teased her cherry. Hard strokes of the pad, flicks of my nail, and constant friction went hand in hand with the flick of my wrist thrusting my fingers inside her.<br /> Charlotte’s entire body reacted, rolling like a wave across my desk, and once again, her thighs closed around my hand. That didn’t stop me, though, and I increased the pace of my fingers as her slick juices ran down my hand.<br /> “Oh,” Charlotte whined behind her fingers, a muffled sound that I didn’t mind right now. If we were at home, I’d make her scream.<br /> Charlotte gasped and writhed, then suddenly, she went completely still and her private part clamped down around my fingers like a hot vise. The sweetest voice suddenly spilled from her throat, and her eyes screwed closed, then the walls of her private part rippled firmly around my fingers.<br /> She came? That was fast.<br /> “Good girl,” I praised, and Charlotte whined. “Sorry, should I say bad girl?”<br /> Charlotte shook her head back and forth on the desk as I continued to pump my fingers and aid her through her climax. By the time she relaxed, panting, my hand was soaked but I was satisfied.<br /> And it wasn’t over.<br /> “My turn.” I pulled my hand free of her thighs and rounded and dropped into my seat behind my desk. Watching her, touching her, and feeling her against me had built up my arousal so quickly that my shaft was aching in my pants and I wasn’t about to go untouched.<br /> “I . . .” Charlotte gasped, then she very slowly sat up. “That was . . .”<br /> “On your knees, Charlotte,” I instructed a little sharper. “Don’t keep me waiting.”<br /> She turned to look at me over her shoulder, and her eyes were wide, slightly glazed from the pleasure still lingering in her body. I half expected her to refuse, but to my utter awe, Charlotte slid from the desk and settled her beautiful, curvaceous body right between my spread legs.<br /> “I–I’ve never—”<br /> “Just follow my instructions,” I interrupted her. “And trust me.”<br /> Charlotte nodded.<br /> I unzipped my pants and wriggled down the cotton of my boxers to free my aching shaft. Her eyes went wide the moment it sprang free, and her pink tongue darted out to swipe at her lower lip.<br /> “Open your mouth and relax your throat like you’re about to hum. Breathe when you can, not when you want to,” I instructed. “I’m going to drill your throat the way it deserves to be drilled, understand?”<br /> Charlotte glanced up at me, the green almost gone from her eyes with how wide her pupils had blown from desire.<br /> “Yes,” she whispered.<br /> The way she settled on her haunches and parted her lips was like something out of my sinful dreams. She opened her mouth wide and sat there, obediently waiting.<br /> I couldn’t resist. Her inexperience meant nothing in the wake of my desire to take her.<br /> Both hands curled into her soft blond curls, and I guided her forward, giving her a few moments to adjust to the feel of a shaft sliding past her lips. I guided her forward a couple of inches and watched as her eyes slightly lost focus, likely processing the thick weight of my shaft on her tongue.<br /> “Relax.” My last instruction to her, then I thrust forward and shoved another few inches of my shaft into her waiting mouth. She choked immediately, a raw, wet sound that sent a pulse of pleasure straight through my gut as I groaned loudly. Then I began to drill her mouth in earnest. Caution for her inexperience was the only thing stopping me from thrusting all the way deep and burying myself in her throat. I used my grip on her hair like reins and pulled her forward each time my hips rose up from the<br /> chair, drilling her mouth hard and fast.<br /> “what a treat it would be to have you under my desk every day. To feel the warmth of your mouth on my shaft every single morning, to drill your throat between classes and pump you so full of release you’re swollen by the end of the day.”<br /> A choked-off voice rose up from Charlotte, and her tongue pressed up against the underside of my shaft. If she was trying to talk, her words were lost in my barrage of thrusts. My core tightened, and heat began to swell in my gut as my climax rapidly approached. I couldn’t hold back, not after getting to admire Charlotte and feel her first climax around my fingers. My thrusts became more erratic, and I had no warning to give Charlotte when I suddenly pulled her all the way forward and buried my shaft deep into her throat.<br /> Charlotte choked sharply, and I came with a loud cry.<br /> Pulse after pulse of release poured down her throat as she struggled slightly against me. Her fingernails dug into the meat of my thigh, but she didn’t try to push herself away. She stayed there, obedient in my hold. I held her flush against me for a few long seconds as I rode out the initial waves of my climax, then I released her and sagged back into my chair.<br /> Charlotte coughing and choking slightly as she worked to swallow what release had escaped into her mouth. Her chest heaved, her chest swaying slightly, and for the first time in a long time, I was satisfied.<br /> I had taken control. I had made this happen. I had satisfied us both.<br /> “YOU SHOULD GO BACK to your old clothes,” I said gently as Charlotte buckled herself back into her jeans. She looked at me through the curtain of hair that had fallen over her left shoulder.<br /> “Really?”<br /> “You’re beautiful, but you’re stunning when you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing. The Charlotte from last week was definitely more confident than the Charlotte with me now.”<br /> “The Charlotte last week wouldn’t have done what I’d just done,” she replied quietly. Clothes sorted, Charlotte swept her hair back from her face and fixed me with an uncertain look, although the pleased glint in her eye was unmistakable.<br /> “That is true,” I agreed, “but just think about it. Confidence comes from within and enhances beauty. Remember that.”<br /> She leaned down to grab her bag, and I quietly admired the swell of her hip. Every ample curve she had was just begging for me to sink my teeth into her, and boy, was I hooked.<br /> “So . . .” Charlotte clutched at her bag strap much like she had done at the end of class.<br /> “So?” I quirked a brow. If nothing else, getting Charlotte to speak concisely would be a goal regardless of drill.<br /> “What does this mean?”<br /> “What does what mean?”<br /> “Me and you. If there is a . . . I mean . . .” Charlotte trailed off, and a dusting of pink flushed over her cheeks.<br /> I turned on my spot against the desk and reached for a scrap of paper where I quickly scribbled down my address. Turning back, I handed it to her.<br /> “If you want to know more, if you want to do more, then come and see me here.” I gave the paper<br /> a slight shake.<br /> “Do more?” Charlotte stepped forward and cautiously took the paper.<br /> “If you come there, then it means you want me to play with you. Really play with you. If not, then as soon as you walk out that door, we will act like this was nothing more than a single moment to treasure until the end of days. It’s your choice.”<br /> “Okay.” Charlotte’s head ducked as she studied the paper, then she flashed me a smile and slowly walked away.<br /> The decision was entirely hers, but a small pull of yearning rose in my heart. Now that I’d had a taste of her, I couldn’t help but desperately want more.	LEARN_MORE	https://a.crazynovelapp.com/ad/TXlsaWIvMTcxNTY2LzI	159053407284011	Cra0005	https://facebook.com/61552221517359	31	1	1,100,648,134,535,629	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Cra0005	120211740283590404	a.crazynovelapp.com	NONE	video		https://a.crazynovelapp.com/ad/TXlsaWIvMTcxNTY2LzIwMjQwNTA4MDkxMzE0L3BhZ2U=?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 20:17	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438216778_735064145191276_2159187314349170824_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XDUYUlBCeMIQ7kNvgFmQuPq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAwBntWCaE5uzuU-F951iP09xuNDzDsberxXme2xcFUcw&oe=6641DD5E	person_profile	Cra0005	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438304564_874993211057847_4554931988079952915_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_VMMXfM37dQQ7kNvgFVWhob&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDAMpUxet6ozNMssziCxA3RWn80WeXcrMsH3mgqDTyyzw&oe=6641E947	3	Cra0005	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,885	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778886}'	Yes	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
1,778,964	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778959}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	972103030978777	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	106206892171576	Love Story City	https://facebook.com/100083614308933	17,592	4	454,208,923,828,600	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Love Story City	120206676462410147	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	image		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-FB_CONTACT-ENJ57_9-C2-Core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=961225&accid=412379061191874&jump=1	2024-05-07 01:43	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441455570_461932996289017_8463430728613074482_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Twpp5FKJKbgQ7kNvgHUaIgx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDLTYjywqG5XoCIuq1zQGegZcYeqfWqOtiASPvQoKMzHQ&oe=6641C240	person_profile	ReadNow	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441868455_3840366152960359_5534843934268385845_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1tFkp_Xi8DAQ7kNvgHK_VCd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAS4fHuVdo29AVo0U8YRKcyvxdcGSVurFXLOQ3NdhoGtw&oe=6641E368	3	Love Story City	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,823	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778818}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:43	active	760	1220100019154322	Do This Now To Relieve Neuropathy Fast	When my nerve pain first started, I thought it was just a bit of tingling in my toes. No big deal, right? But then the burning kicked in, and I found myself pacing the floor at night, unable to sleep. The real kicker? When I lost all feeling in my feet and nearly took a tumble down the stairs. That's when I knew this neuropathy was taking over my life...<br /> <br /> I did what anyone would do - I went to my doctor, hoping for a solution. But all I got was a pat on the shoulder and a "You'll just have to learn to live with it." Live with it? I could barely drive, couldn't take my usual walks, and playing with my grandkids? Out of the question. I felt trapped in my own body.<br /> <br /> I tried everything - creams, cold packs, you name it. But the burning just kept coming back, worse each time. The doctors kept telling me there wasn't much hope, but they always had another expensive prescription for me to try. And when I started to push back? They started talking about amputation. That's when the whispers about me going into a care home started at home. I was feeling pretty hopeless.<br /> <br /> Just when I was about to give up, an old friend reached out. They sent me this video, created by medical researcher and neuropathy expert Dave Stevenson. It revealed the surprising root cause of my burning and tingling, something even my doctor didn't know about.<br /> <br /> Turns out, it's all due to a "brain glitch" that triggers overactive microglia cells, leading to uncontrolled neuroinflammation. <br /> <br /> It all clicked - doctors treat symptoms, not the underlying problem.<br /> <br /> But here's the kicker...<br /> <br /> The video also revealed a simple 10-second fix, something that takes less than a minute a day, right in my own home. They call it the "Microglia Reset Switch", and it's backed by studies from top universities like Harvard and the Mayo Clinic.<br /> <br /> This ritual activates the switch, calming the microglia, stopping the inflammation, and allowing the nerves to heal. And let me tell you, it's made a world of difference for my numbness and pain.<br /> <br /> Best of all? I feel like myself again. The limitations I faced every day are gone. I can feel the carpet under my feet, and I'm not relying on others just to get by. We've gone from talking about care homes to talking about me watching the grandkids again.<br /> <br /> If you're dealing with nerve pain, please, take it from someone who's been there. Don't brush it off. Over 54,000 people have already found relief with this method. Click that "Learn More" button and watch the video. It could change your life like it did mine.	LEARN_MORE	http://supersundayhealth.com/	112010435132903	Lindsay Hilton	https://facebook.com/100089561336998	2,859	1	789,347,239,786,994	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Lindsay Hilton	120208364422090052	supersundayhealth.com	NONE	video		http://supersundayhealth.com/	2024-05-03 16:24	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438299244_1175280047225745_4421455372147390404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=60Rny_XJxykQ7kNvgFVgsgu&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDHND4yMX4tbxUNI2iw2bcjFhAZcq08EyQTJQUzy2S_7A&oe=6641C522	person_profile	Lindsay Hilton	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438223883_1168603814046897_1535985280603764681_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oJPbj_bfHesQ7kNvgH0a34T&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBLpCWzB_xHKnbfM2HYCiTH30qRxZT-sMjM6QZKoDPfaw&oe=6641F3B0	3	Lindsay Hilton	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,112	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778172}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:34	active	760	377119317997303	🎬：《DO ME AGAIN! MY BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND》	🔥Billionaire but impotent man, have sex with me after taking aphrodisiacs, you can never make me climax！！<br /> <br /> 👇Life is short - make every moment thrilling with EaShort. We deliver maximum entertainment in minimum time. Satisfy your drama cravings now with our ever-expanding bite-sized library!<br /> #EaShort #Drama #DramaCravingsSolved #RelationshipGoals	WATCH_MORE	https://d.eavideo.net/w2a?p0=1b562gev&p1={{campaig	190396754167998	Eashort IOS	https://facebook.com/61556887250165	191	1	1,098,738,694,533,058	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Watch more	Eashort IOS	120209831806880536	d.eavideo.net	NONE	video		https://d.eavideo.net/w2a?p0=1b562gev&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}&p7=1716054102176369&deeplink=esvideo%3A%2F%2Fbook.easou.com%2Fta%2Fesvideo.m%3Fgid%3D300000318%26nid%3D300000318%26sort%3D0%26ch%3D182%26paytype%3Dwwppy7%26pi%3D3%26pa%3D99999	2024-05-08 01:43	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440425929_3734633856819553_4151355328934886629_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ac_vQWtdP3MQ7kNvgEaIi--&_nc_oc=AdipvI-uok9lqfeV3BGSP9wjidafP-pFYlaZNnONsXnRuYO4V-vdrETUWUOgj738hvY&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBzc419bRnD_a6fEVSPVNlYC_alSMTFIV1Zz-JFRlUtuA&oe=6641E029	person_profile	Eashort IOS	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438145569_814756053367613_2222174836810185299_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5d5Joi4WqbkQ7kNvgET49Z0&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDawtmRVBOEEabdcJx_YHKBBE6lrXn1B84XVFTcn3EZvQ&oe=6641E276	3	Eashort IOS	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,317	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778356}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	1611790502939309	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	I turn and meet his gaze.<br /> It’s at that moment, as I stare into the blue eyes of one of the biggest rockstars in the world, I realize my life is going to change forever.<br /> I don’t know how, but instinct tells me, by the end of this wedding, Eric and Addie won’t be the only ones making love.<br /> Ace Flanagan, I wonder. Do you feel the same?<br /> --<br /> The bride and groom are onto me. Sure, I’m here to enjoy their wedding, but who says I can’t enjoy my time here as well? <br /> All I did was switch seats at the party to be next to Addie’s sister—what’s the big deal?<br /> Laney’s a grown woman who can take care of herself. Laney Michaels. Just the sound of her name gets my mouth watering.<br /> She’s exactly my type. Artsy, intelligent, and hot . The fact she’s a little shy only makes me more intrigued.<br /> I know I promised Addie I wouldn’t pursue her sister, but so far, I’m not breaking any promises.<br /> Just being friendly.<br /> And if Laney decides she’d like to pursue me…well, that’s a whole ’nother story.<br /> ————————<br /> <br /> "Addie, help!There’s blood everywhere"<br /> "what are you talking about?"<br /> "What if it’s the baby?It’s too early!!I’m freaking out!"<br /> "your gonna be ok, sis!“<br /> ”i’m calling an ambulance rn.“<br /> ”call ace.he needs to know.“<br /> ”NO! Anyone but Ace!"<br /> "laney.he’s the father."<br /> "I thinaasdk im’ gokjn to faintt"<br /> "laney!"<br /> "laney?!?!"<br /> "laney!!!! answer me!!!!"<br /> I’ve been preparing for this moment for the past six months. But it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.<br /> Instead of my water breaking, I’m lying in a pool of my own blood on a creaky staircase.<br /> Instead of nine months, it’s only been seven and a half.<br /> Instead of having the father by my side, I’m completely and totally alone.<br /> I’m terrified. Black dots obscure my vision. I don’t know if it’s the blood or something else, but I can feel my consciousness slipping.<br /> I can’t believe it’s come to this. What if my baby doesn’t make it? What if our baby doesn’t make it?<br /> I think of Ace, I think of how we met, I think of how we sleep and, in turn, made this inevitable future unfold. And I think, as my eyes roll back…<br /> Would Ace care if we lost it all?<br /> What is one baby to the biggest rockstar in the world?<br /> Where are you, Ace Flanagan, father of my child?<br /> Where are you?<br /> --<br /> ^SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER^<br /> So, this is how a rockstar marries a supermodel.<br /> I’m hiking up a small trail, following fifty guests to a private reception in the California mountains. Even in October, the weather is sweltering. Way too hot for a Chicago girl like me.<br /> I worry I’m going to sweat right through this bridesmaid’s dress. But for Addie? For my twin sister? I’ll do anything.<br /> When we finally reach the clearing, my mouth drops in awe. Shimmering lights hang from the towering redwoods all around us, illuminating the tree line with a pink glow. An altar decorated with hundreds of flowers waits at the end of an ivory-blanketed aisle.<br /> If ever there was a fairy tale wedding, this must be it.<br /> When Addie told me the wedding was going to be private, I didn’t realize she meant this private. The cost of being famous, I suppose.<br /> I see Melody, Addie’s personal assistant, best friend, and maid of honor.<br /> “Melody, everything looks amazing!”<br /> “Thanks, Laney,” she says, grinning nervously. “I just hope Addie is satisfied. It really should be you giving the toast, not me.”<br /> I shrug, bashful. The truth is, I’m beyond grateful Melody is taking that responsibility. I’ve always suffered from stage fright. Shied away from the spotlight. That kind of attention?<br /> It’s just not for me.<br /> Which is funny, considering my sister’s face is plastered across magazines, internet gossip blogs, and entertainment news 24/7. She was famous before she got engaged to Eric Flanagan, lead singer of Vagabond, America’s biggest rock band. But now?<br /> The two of them can’t go anywhere without someone snapping their photo.<br /> That’s why they’re having their wedding here, in the middle of the forest, with only fifty guests. Still, even this kind of celebrity wedding, with movie stars and singers and influencers left and right, is a lot for an introverted artist like me.<br /> As I sit down in the front aisle, I find myself dreaming of my Chicago studio and the paintings I’m dying to finish. Which is when I hear his Brooklyn-accented voice for the first time beside me.<br /> “Mind if I sit here?”<br /> I turn to see a dark-haired, muscular, drop-dead gorgeous specimen of a man with a slightly reddish beard and eyes so deep and blue, you could swim in them.<br /> Somehow, his voice and face strike me as familiar. But how? I’m not sure.<br /> “Go ahead,” I say, realizing I’m staring.<br /> He sits down beside me in his fitted black suit, and I can’t help but admire his figure. Tall, fit, the kind of man who gets whatever he wants, I can just tell.<br /> “Do you know the bride or groom?” he asks.<br /> I look into his eyes and see how they wander over me, from my short, black lace dress to my legs to my pink suede ankle boots.<br /> “Well,” I say, “Addie and I are very close.”<br /> “How close?”<br /> “So close we actually shared a womb… We’re twins.”<br /> He looks surprised, so I elaborate a little bit. “Fraternal.”<br /> A lot of people give us that look when Addie and I say we’re twins. With her brown hair, green eyes, and tall supermodel body, and my strawberry blonde hair, grey eyes, and curvy hourglass body, we couldn’t look more different.<br /> Now, I find myself curious about this handsome stranger beside me. How does he know the bride or groom?<br /> “You must be a friend of Eric’s?” I ask.<br /> “You’re joking, right?” he responds, taken aback.<br /> “I’m sorry?”<br /> “I’m in Vagabond with Eric,” he explains, grinning. “I play lead guitar and sing backup mostly, occasionally lead vocals.”<br /> That’s how I recognized him. ~Of course~. I’ve been so behind the times, barely watching TV, listening to the radio, or using my iPhone for anything but making calls and taking photos, I didn’t notice.<br /> I blush, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m a complete idiot.”<br /> “Not at all,” he says. “It’s refreshing. To actually meet someone.”<br /> “So, you’re…”<br /> “Ace Flanagan, Eric’s cousin.”<br /> We shake hands, and at the feel of his calloused fingertips, I can tell how dedicated he is to his craft. I wonder what else he can do with those hands.<br /> “And your name is…?”<br /> “Oh, I’m Laney,” I say, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Laney Michaels.”<br /> “Laney Michaels,” he says, testing it on his tongue. “Has a nice ring to it.”<br /> He’s flirting. That much is obvious. But, for some reason I can’t fathom, I don’t mind. I know I should tread carefully. Rockstars have their reputations for a reason. And yet…<br /> “So, you know what I do,” he says. “What do you do, Laney?”<br /> “I’m an artist.”<br /> “Anything I’d know?”<br /> I shake my head. “Probably not. I do a lot of murals for schools and other buildings around the area where I live.”<br /> Something about this answer seems to light up his eyes. It’s hard to stare into them for too long. Like staring into the sun.<br /> I look away just as a bell is rung, and we turn to see Eric, the groom, walking down the aisle.<br /> “Here we go,” Ace says.<br /> I let out a deep breath, grateful the wedding has interrupted our conversation. As much as I’m enjoying talking to Ace, something about the way he carries himself, his fame—it intimidates me.<br /> And I’m not here to be intimidated. I’m here for my sister. I’m here to be her only family on the day she’s about to marry the love of her life and start a whole new kind of family.<br /> As Eric walks down the aisle, he looks every bit the rockstar, even in a tux. His blonde hair, slicked back, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. He winks at me as he walks by, and I wonder how it is I’ve never met his cousin, Ace, before now.<br /> Then, I see my sister walking down the aisle and my heart feels like it’s going to burst I’m so happy for her. In her white designer dress, a mix of retro and chic, Addie’s never looked so beautiful. The smile on her face is one of pure joy.<br /> Holding her arm, walking her down the aisle, is Michael, our social worker from when we were kids. That difficult childhood, full of foster homes after our mother left us outside the firehouse with nothing but a note, feels so far away now.<br /> Were it not for Michael and his kindness, who knows if we would’ve ended up here?<br /> At last, as Addie takes Eric’s hand, the ceremony begins.<br /> It feels like it goes by in a flash. Before I know what’s happening, she’s leaning in to peck Eric, they’re husband and wife, and it’s over, just like that.<br /> I can’t believe it.<br /> “ those two are beautiful,” I hear that Brooklyn accent mutter to my left.<br /> I turn to look at Ace Flanagan. To my surprise, the man has tears in his eyes. A rockstar, crying at a wedding? I never thought I’d see the day.<br /> I hand him a tissue from my purse, and he laughs, shaking his head.<br /> “I must look ridiculous.”<br /> “Far from it,” I say. “Like you said. It’s refreshing.”<br /> “To see a grown man crying?”<br /> “To see someone not afraid to show emotion in public.”<br /> “That’s what I do for a living, Laney,” he says. “That’s what we both do. We’re artists.”<br /> “I suppose that’s true.”<br /> I turn back to look at Eric and Addie holding onto each other, grinning like there’s no one in the world but them. He spins her around, and I feel my heart flutter.<br /> I wonder if there’ll ever be a man who looks at me the way Eric looks at Addie.<br /> Which is when I realize Ace Flanagan is still staring at me.<br /> I turn and meet his gaze. It’s at that moment, as I stare into the blue eyes of one of the biggest rockstars in the world, I realize my life is going to change forever.<br /> I don’t know how, but instinct tells me, by the end of this wedding, Eric and Addie won’t be the only ones making love.<br /> Ace Flanagan, I wonder. Do you feel the same?<br /> --<br /> ACE<br /> The bride and groom are onto me. Sure, I’m here to enjoy their wedding, but who says I can’t enjoy my time here as well? All I did was switch seats at the party to be next to Addie’s sister—what’s the big deal?<br /> Laney’s a grown woman who can take care of herself. Laney Michaels. Just the sound of her name gets my mouth watering.<br /> She’s exactly my type. Artsy, intelligent, and charming as all. The fact she’s a little shy only makes me more intrigued.<br /> I know I promised Addie I wouldn’t pursue her sister, but so far, I’m not breaking any promises.<br /> Just being friendly.<br /> And if Laney decides she’d like to pursue me…well, that’s a whole ’nother story.<br /> She sits back down with a stiff drink—bourbon, by the looks of it—and I raise an eyebrow, impressed. “Good taste,” I say, nodding.<br /> She shrugs. “I hate sweet drinks.”<br /> “That makes two of us.”<br /> I raise a glass—straight gin in mine—and we toast, both taking a sip, eyes lingering on each other.<br /> “So, what does a rockstar think of a boring party like this?” she asks.<br /> I look around. The band’s playing Sinatra. People are swaying on the dancefloor. It’s typical wedding stuff and, Laney’s right, not my kind of thing. But I don’t mind it right now.<br /> “Can’t always be partying hard,” I say. “People think that’s all we do on the road. But it’s a lot of physical, grueling work.”<br /> “Yeah, you got it so bad,” she teases, and I find myself laughing.<br /> “What about you, Laney?”<br /> “Oh, I don’t go out much at all. I prefer to be painting.”<br /> “So, how do you find time to date?”<br /> She blushes, taking another sip. And I know I’m pushing it regarding my promise to Addie. So I hit the brakes.<br /> “My bad,” I say, shaking my head. “Sometimes, I can’t help myself.”<br /> “From flirting?”<br /> I stop, eyeing Laney up and down. This is forward, especially for an introvert like her. She seems just as surprised by her own nerve.<br /> “Is that what I’m doing?” I ask.<br /> “I wouldn’t know,” she admits. “But I wouldn’t…take offense…if you were.”<br /> That’s about as bold an invitation as I’m gonna get when it comes to this girl. I scoot a little bit closer toward her, feeling her body stiffen in response.<br /> “So, if you don’t take offense,” I respond quietly, “why not answer my question? How do you find time to date?”<br /> “I don’t,” she says. “Not often.”<br /> “Because you don’t want—”<br /> “No,” she cuts me off. “Because I haven’t found the right person.”<br /> And now, from the way her eyes meet mine, I understand what she’s saying. Just because she’s shy doesn’t make her prude. And those eyes are screaming to be taken.<br /> “What about you?” she asks. “Many girlfriends?”<br /> Again, I am surprised by how little Laney knows about me. No, I don’t have girlfriends. I have “friends” who happen to be women and who I happen to please occasionally. And vice versa.<br /> You would think Laney would know that. The media’s always circulating photos of every new side-piece on my arm. Especially now that Vagabond is selling out stadiums around the world.<br /> A girl this oblivious is rare to come by. In fact, she may just be one-of-a-kind.<br /> “I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment,” I reply, watching her carefully.<br /> Laney bites her lip, and, I can feel myself hardening just at the implication of that bite. Oh my lord, am I in trouble.<br /> “Do you want to maybe…?” I start, and I don’t need to finish, because Laney’s grabbing my hand and we’re hurrying out of the party as fast as we can.<br /> Don’t hate me, Addie, I think. But how can I help myself?<br /> laney<br /> where are you<br /> you better not be where i think you are<br /> LANEY<br /> I had a feeling this was going to happen. From the first second I laid eyes on Ace Flanagan, I knew…he wasn’t just another guy.<br /> Now, as he pushes me against the hotel door, blue eyes looking wild, I can see what makes him a rockstar, all right. The man is absolutely magnetic.<br /> And, does he know how to keep a girl in suspense. He keeps teasing me with his lips, pecking me anywhere but my mouth. I finally grab him by the neck.<br /> “peck me already,” I demand.<br /> And thankfully, this time, Ace does.<br /> ACE<br /> Nothing in the world has ever felt as good as Laney’s lips on mine. As I peck her softly, I look into those gray, endless eyes, knowing I could write a million songs about ’em, and they still wouldn’t do her justice.<br /> While I peck her, I fumble with the hotel key, sliding it in, unlocking the door, and pushing both our bodies inside. She presses me against the wall, a more proactive partner than I could have possibly imagined from her shy girl act.<br /> And now, she’s pecking me fiercely, gripping my arms, moaning softly as she presses against me, rubbing and fondling everywhere a man wants to be touched.<br /> Laney yelps in surprise as I pick her up and throw her on my king-size bed.<br /> LANEY<br /> As I land on the bed, every thought in my mind disappears, and all there is this moment, here and now.<br /> I need him.<br /> I want him.<br /> Now.<br /> “Take off your shirt,” I tell him.<br /> Ace, aiming to please, unbuttons his dress shirt. Slowly. Too slowly. I sit up to help him, racing to finish with the buttons, unbuckling his belt next. I am restless for him, and he can sense it.<br /> “Your turn,” he says, in a low, raspy breath. “Take that dress off before I rip it off.”<br /> I like that tone of voice and smile slyly. I sit up on my knees and slowly, sexily, pull up my black dress. He helps me remove it completely.<br /> ACE<br /> This can’t just be another one-night stand, can it?<br /> As I finally roll off of Laney, both of us breathing profusely, laughing, still in complete and total ecstasy, I realize only now, too late, I didn’t wear protection.<br /> Not that I’m worried. Laney doesn’t strike me as the kind of girl I’d have to worry about. And I’m assuming, she would’ve told me if she’s not on the pill or something, right?<br /> Whatever. Right now, none of that matters. All that matters is, Laney Michaels just gave this rockstar the best intercourse of his entire life. I cannot wait to see her beside me in the morning.<br /> We may even have time for a round two.<br /> With that happy thought on my mind, I feel my eyelids lowering…slipping…fading into the most peaceful sleep imaginable.<br /> When I wake up in the morning, Laney’s gone.<br /> <br /> ACE<br /> I’m not a big fan of surprises. When someone has something to say to me, I prefer they just spit it out. But ever since Eric called me and told me to fly out to Chicago, I can just tell something is up.<br /> The question is: what?<br /> Eric claims he needs me to record some vocals for our new album. But then, why is Addie so involved in my visit? She’s been arranging everything from what I can tell.<br /> I step out of the airport, and Eric is waiting for me in the car. I realize I underpacked the minute I step outside. Autumn in LA is a joke compared to Chicago.<br /> How could I forget? The truth is, after that insane night I spent with Laney, my day-to-day life has felt a little…off. I can’t explain it exactly.<br /> I know it was just a one-night stand. I’m not delusional. But the way our bodies connected, the way her lips felt against mine, her heat…<br /> It’s enough to make a man hard in public.<br /> I shake off the thought and get into Eric’s car. It’s not like I’m going to be seeing Laney anyway.<br /> She made it abundantly clear when she left in the morning that she never wants to see me again. Right?<br /> “Hey, man!” I say, reaching out to hug my cousin. But I immediately stop when I see the expression on Eric’s face. He looks…nervous.<br /> “What’s up?”<br /> “Nothing.”<br /> We talk a little bit about the band on the way to Eric’s, but I can still sense he’s distracted. Whatever the secret is, it’s starting to eat at me.<br /> Goddamnit, will somebody just talk?<br /> We finally pull up to an old brown building in a busy neighborhood. Definitely not Eric and Addie’s home.<br /> “Did you guys move?”<br /> “No,” he says, parking. “It’ll all make sense when we get upstairs.”<br /> I shake my head, growing more frustrated and confused with every second. But I follow Eric out of the car, into the building, and up the elevator to the sixth floor.<br /> As we step into a loft, I notice there are canvases and paint everywhere. An art studio. Huh.<br /> And the art, I notice, is good. Definitely not created by an amateur. I notice one attempt, over and over, in different ways. Two colors clashing, almost like two personalities.<br /> It stirs something in me for reasons I can’t explain.<br /> “Eric,” I turn to him. “Who painted these?”<br /> We round a corner and that’s when I see her. A strawberry blonde in overalls, throwing paint at the canvas, wearing headphones, lost in her own world. Unaware I’m even here.<br /> It’s Laney Michaels. This is her studio.<br /> I feel my stomach twist into a shocked knot.<br /> “What am I doing here?” I ask Eric. That’s when the front door opens and Laney’s twin, Eric’s wife, and my worst enemy right now, apparently, storms inside, furious.<br /> “I asked one thing of you, Ace,” she shouts. “I told you not to sleep with my sister!”<br /> Addie pushes me, and I barely move. Was it really such a big deal? And I’m even more surprised Laney would say something. I thought we had a mutual agreement to keep it a secret.<br /> “You’re such a prick!” Addie screams.<br /> “Jesus, I mean, it was just sleep.”<br /> “Just?” she cries, shaking her head disbelievingly. “You have no idea, do you?”<br /> “Addie, stop it!”<br /> We both turn to see Laney standing there, headphones cast aside, looking mortified. There’s a trail of blue paint on her cheek.<br /> “Do you mind?” Laney asks her sister.<br /> Addie shoots me one last glare, then storms out with Eric, offering a grim shrug.<br /> When we’re alone, I turn to Laney, surprised.<br /> “I’m really sorry if I did something wrong,” I say. “I really thought we had a nice—”<br /> “Ace,” she cuts me off. “It’s not that.”<br /> I frown. “What are you talking about?”<br /> Then, eyes watering, one lonely teardrop trailing down her cheek through the blue paint, Laney says the last words in the world I expect to hear.<br /> “I’m pregnant, Ace. And the baby is yours.”	LEARN_MORE	https://a.read4funs.com/ad/ZmFuY3lOb3ZlbC8xNzE2Mjc	136560499545717	ForFun-105	https://facebook.com/61552095643555	38	1	3,754,732,118,185,660	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	ForFun-105	120208292044290019	a.read4funs.com	NONE	video		https://a.read4funs.com/ad/ZmFuY3lOb3ZlbC8xNzE2MjcvMjAyNDA1MDgwOTI3MzYvcGFnZQ==?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 20:31	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440855836_763568865928739_622065769755628869_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w8JOlA0pVbgQ7kNvgHVWIEd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAUthW6Fj7AdjMk3VhSUE8yNr5yFh_viJK4OoVw3N825w&oe=6641F66E	person_profile	ForFun-105	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441168913_1092148501861316_8696905026759435557_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UP-ro7wAa6cQ7kNvgEF_wpc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD568khwXZqvbh597Bl-3KYioZGUsVKUMANOnK6JLVcjA&oe=6641E9DD	3	ForFun-105	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,021	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-05-08 18:32	active	760	431822076213882		🚗 Want to learn to drive? Need help with your Road Test? 🚗<br /> <br /> BR Driving School is your ally on this driving journey:<br /> <br /> 🟢 Specialized Road Test Training: Want to ace your driving test? We offer practical training right at the test site, boosting your safety and confidence for the big day!<br /> <br /> 🟡 Driving Lessons for All Levels: Whether you've never driven before or have some experience and want to improve; we have the best instructors to assist you. If you're looking for a more personalized approach, we also have dedicated female instructors to guide you step by step.<br /> <br /> 🔵 Full Support on Road Test Day, with Car and Sponsor/Translator: We know test day can be nerve-wracking, so we offer not just a suitable car for the test, but also the support of a sponsor/translator to make communication the least of your worries.<br /> <br /> 🚀 Convenience an issue? No worries, we've got it covered: we'll come to you, whether you're at home or work!<br /> <br /> 📞 Ready to accelerate towards your driver's license? Contact us now!<br /> <br /> 📱 Phone/WhatsApp: <span>(774) 478-6095</span> <br /> 👍 Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/brdrivingschool.ma" rel="nofollow">www.facebook.com/brdrivingschool.ma</a><br /> 📸 Instagram: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fbrdrivingschool.ma&h=AT2xNfHCDprm0EGbxBkBUANOB5Dz-doC0LSTw9xFjqOlOgm2EtC_RvAijlQfpRJajOdlv2YdcDERKAxRpUDRSiCeTqs1hezm-uzT7gfTZEVVFMSkRMlSsPdRqt6kSV_OxEw1YMYnHS1PwQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.instagram.com/brdrivingschool.ma</a><br /> <br /> BR Driving School - Driving with Confidence! 🚗🛣️<br /> <br /> #BRDrivingSchool #driverslicense #LearnToDrive #RoadTest #DrivingTest #DrivingSchool #DriveWithConfidence #DriverLicense #DrivingLessons #DrivingTraining #DrivingInstructor #Massachusetts #SafeDriving #DrivingExam #DriveConfidently #GetLicensed #Driving	WHATSAPP_MESSAGE	https://api.whatsapp.com/send	165602356935868	BR Driving School	https://facebook.com/brdrivingschoolma	2,017	1	1,350,948,025,599,754	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Send WhatsApp message	BR Driving School	120209319464140078		NONE	image		https://api.whatsapp.com/send	2024-05-08 12:51	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440780406_2440147316174677_6909481203258035973_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xxJHyTqWvpcQ7kNvgE4fPBv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBrrbGEGWyJF1EhYUKUZbp6BRSWhb4Aq4UGewFAEjoXTw&oe=6641F2B3	person_profile			3	BR Driving School	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete

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