Chapter: Chapter 6Laure’s POV"Amanda, I can't cheat on my husband," I whispered, the word cheat tasting like ash in my mouth, even as my body screamed for the exact opposite."Is it really cheating if he abandoned the contract eighteen months ago?" Amanda countered, leaning in closer, her eyes flashing with a dark, persuasive intensity, she took a slow sip of her drink before dropping a casual, devastating bomb. "Think about it, Laurel, he’s in Chicago right now. You think a powerful, wealthy billionaire tycoon like Leonard Nicholson is spending his nights in a sterile hotel room just reading financial briefs? For all you know, he’s out there right now, sexing some twenty-two-year-old model or executive assistant just because he can."The words landed like a physical blow to my chest. Leonard with someone else. The thought made my stomach twist, but the alcohol twisted it into something angrier. Something venomous.If I don't know Amanda to have my best interest at heart I would have thought otherwis
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-24
Chapter: Chapter 5Laurel's POV The elevator doors parted to reveal a waiting town car, the driver holding the door open with a quiet deference that screamed of Amanda’s fastidious planning. As we slid into the leather interior, the city outside dissolved into a blur of neon streaks and taillights. Amanda was on her phone, humming to herself, entirely in her element, while I stared down at the diamond band on my left hand. Whatever happens this night, remains in this night, the phrase felt heavy, almost dangerous.Thirty minutes later, we stepped out in front of The Velvet Lounge in the heart of SoHo.It wasn't the kind of high-society establishment Leonard frequented, where conversations were conducted in hushed, transactional murmurs over vintage scotch. This place was sensory overload. The lighting inside was a low, seductive wash of deep crimson and indigo, throwing long, dramatic shadows across the plush banquettes. The air was thick with the scent of expensive bourbon, citrus twists, and the
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-24
Chapter: Chapter 4Laurel’s POVI managed to snap the lid back onto the black box with a sharp clack, sliding it behind the fruit bowl a mere millisecond before Lilibeth rounded the kitchen corner. My face was burning so hot I was certain it was glowing pink."I'm seventeen," Lilibeth continued, her school blazer slung over one shoulder, her uniform shirt missing its top button in true teenage rebellion. She reached past me to grab a green apple from the bowl, completely missing the contraband hiding right behind it. "You and Dad treat me like I'm still in middle school. Go get a drink with Auntie Amanda. Please! I actually want the penthouse to myself for once."Amanda didn't miss a beat. The wicked smirk vanished, replaced instantly by her bright, doting godmother smile. "See? The child has spoken, Laurel, and honestly, look at her… she’s practically a grown woman." Amanda reached out, pinching Lilibeth’s chin playfully. "Though if I catch you unbuttoning that blouse any further down the street, Lili
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-15
Chapter: Chapter 3Laurel’s POVThe vibration of the phone seemed to echo against the bare walls of the guest room. I stared at the flashing screen, my heart hammering against my ribs in the aftermath of my solitude.It wasn't a contact name. It was a new, unlisted number, but the moment I slid my thumb across the glass and pressed it to my ear, the voice on the other end was unmistakable."Laurel? Thank God you picked up."Amanda.My best friend. My lifeline. The woman who had spent the last eighteen months holding my hand through the darkest corridors of my grief. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, my tense shoulders dropping slightly as I sat up on the edge of the guest bed, pulling the discarded camel blazer over my bare shoulders to ward off the sudden chill."Amanda," I breathed, my voice still slightly raspy. I cleared my throat quickly, hoping she wouldn't catch the heavy, post-crying texture of it. "Hey. I didn't recognize the number.""Oh, it's a new work line I had to set up
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-15
Chapter: Chapter 2Laurel's POV The transition from Professor Leonard to Laurel the wife always felt like stepping off a cliff.By 4:30 p.m., my lectures on behavioral adaptation were finished. I had spent the day standing tall at the podium, my five-foot-eleven frame wrapped in a structured camel-hair blazer that Amanda had insisted made me look "untouchable." On campus, I was a force. Students listened; colleagues deferred. But the moment my voice or key-card sometimes turned in the lock of the penthouse door, the armor evaporated.The apartment was unnervingly loud with the sound of movement, I walked into the master bedroom and froze.Two expensive travelling bags lay open on the king-sized bed. Leonard was moving between the walk-in closet and the mattress with practiced, efficient speed, tossing silk ties and pressed shirts into the luggage."Leonard?" I closed the door behind me, my briefcase slipping from my fingers to the hardwood floor. "What's going on?""I have a flight in an hour," he sai
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-15
Chapter: Chapter 1Author's NoteDear Reader,Welcome to Beautifully Unfaithful.This is a story about betrayal, but perhaps not in the way you expect.It is about a woman who spent years carrying everyone else's expectations while quietly starving inside. It is about grief that was never healed, love that became a weapon, and the devastating loneliness that can exist inside a marriage long before anyone walks away from it.Laurel Cruz Leonard is not a perfect heroine. She makes choices that many will question. Some will judge her. Others may understand her far too well.This story explores complicated emotions, forbidden desires, family fractures, power imbalances, and the desperate human need to be seen. It is about the cost of silence and the courage required to reclaim your life after years of shrinking yourself for the comfort of others.At its heart, Beautifully Unfaithful asks a simple question:What happens when the person who vowed to love you stops seeing you?And what happens when someone con
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-15
Chapter: Chapter 4Suzan’s POV"Mommy, this city smells like hot metal and hurry."Emerald pressed her small nose against the cool glass of the town car’s window, her grey eyes reflecting the towering, glittering grid of Manhattan. We had just crossed the Bridge, entering the heart of the grid that had once been my cage."That's just the smell of too many taxis, sweetie," I said, reaching over to smooth down the collar of her forest-green velvet coat."And angry people," Emerald added, not looking away from the bustling streets. "The lady on the sidewalk just shook her fist at a bus. Why is everyone in such a rush to go nowhere?"I let out a soft, dry laugh. Emerald’s observational skills were terrifyingly sharp. At just five years old, she possessed a quiet, analytical mind that dissected her surroundings with clinical precision. It was a trait she had inherited from both of her parents, though only one of us had raised her to use it for good."They are rushing because they think time is money," I expl
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-21
Chapter: Chapter 3Suzan’s POVFive years later.The coastal winds of Spruce Harbor, Maine, were relentless, but they no longer cold-shouldered me. For five years, the salt air had been my sanctuary, a place where the noise of New York and the suffocating shadow of the Sterling name couldn't reach me.In this quiet haven, I had shed the skin of the neglected, broken wife. To the scientific community and the global market, I was no longer Suzan Roland. I had legally taken my late mother’s maiden name.I was Dr. Suzan Wells.And right now, Dr. Suzan Wells was the most sought-after woman in the pharmaceutical world.My breakthrough, the Wells Targeted Delivery Protocol, had done what no other research team in the world could achieve. It was a highly specialized cellular delivery system that could safely transport cancer-destroying agents directly to tumors without destroying healthy tissue. It was a medical miracle, the very same research Draven had once dismissed as "clumsy" on the night of the gala."Mo
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-21
Chapter: Chapter 2Suzan’s POVThe rhythmic hum of the sedan's tires against the wet asphalt was the only sound cutting through the dim interior of the car. Outside, the highway stretched into the grey, early morning mist, swallowing the distance between me and the prison I had finally escaped.I leaned my head against the cold glass of the window, staring out at the passing trees. My body was exhausted, but my mind was a raging storm of memories. Now that the adrenaline of my escape was beginning to fade, the absolute weight of the last few years came crashing down on me, dragging me back into the dark.For as long as I could remember, my life had been defined by a quiet, suffocating warfare.When my mother passed away, my father remarried a cold, ambitious woman who brought her own daughter, Cassandra, into our home. Because I was my father’s biological daughter and the rightful heir to our family's modest legacy, Cassandra’s jealousy took root early, growing into something truly venomous. She and
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-21
Chapter: Chapter 1Suzan’s POVThe double doors of the grand library were left slightly ajar, a thin sliver of warm, amber light cutting across the dark hallway of the Sterling estate.I stopped dead in my tracks, the porcelain teacup in my hands rattling against its saucer. I had only come downstairs to get some hot water to soothe my restless stomach, a stomach that had been turning with a faint, persistent nausea for the past week."You are throwing away a diamond for a piece of glass, Draven!" Grandma Eleanor’s voice was uncharacteristically sharp, echoing with fierce disappointment. I had never heard her speak to her grandson with such venom."Suzan is a brilliant, gentle girl," Eleanor continued, her cane tapping aggressively against the hardwood floor. "She has stood by you for two years, endured your absolute neglect, and protected this family's reputation while you treated her like a ghost in her own home! How can you stand there and tell me you want to end this?"I held my breath, my chest tig
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-07-21
Chapter: Chapter 80Jacqueline’s POVAbout a month later, the door swung open and Allison walked in, luggage in one hand and sunglasses perched dramatically on her head like some Hollywood diva. Only Allison could pull off airport chic with that level of arrogance and charm.“My God, Jac,” she said, dropping her bag and striding toward me. “I leave you for two weeks and you don’t even look like a heartbroken woman anymore. What did I miss?”I laughed, standing to hug her, inhaling the faint trace of her perfume mixed with airplane scent. God, I missed her. She’d been gone for what felt like forever, off being the face of a luxury brand campaign in Milan while my life flipped upside down in the best way possible.“You missed… everything,” I said with a grin, tugging her into the living room. “Sit. We need to talk.”She raised a brow and flopped on the couch like a queen returning to her throne. “Well, spill. Judging by the smile on your face, I’m guessing this has something to do with a certain broody jud
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-06-12
Chapter: Chapter 79Jacqueline’s POVAs I walked to my office, my legs felt weak, my heels barely making a sound over the pounding in my ears. Whispers rippled through the hallway like wildfire, fragments of disbelief and awe clinging to every word.Blackwood. The president. All along.“You know, I always suspected,” someone murmured as I passed.I shut my office door and leaned against it, trying to steady my breath. My mind spun in circles. The president of Phoenix Group. He’s been sitting behind the curtain this entire time… and I never saw it.First, the son Allison mentioned, the nursery, the eight-month-old boy he never told me about, and now this? How many versions of Henson Blackwood exist that I’ve never met? How much more is buried beneath that perfect suit and calm, commanding tone?Clara. Of course. She wasn’t just some intern with charm and wit. That confidence, that subtle edge of authority… She was always in on it. Playing her role. Helping me. Watching me.My stomach twisted as the softer
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-06-12
Chapter: Chapter 78Jacqueline's POV Allison raised an eyebrow, reading the flicker of determination on my face. “You’re going back to work?”“Yes,” I said, grabbing the phone and scrolling through the email like it was a lifeline. “I have to. This… this changes everything.”“Jac,” Allison said, her tone heavy with caution, “don’t use work as a way to avoid dealing with this.”I paused, fingers trembling over the glass screen. She wasn’t wrong, but what choice did I have? Sitting here drowning in questions about Blackwood wouldn’t give me answers. Facing Monday, facing the Phoenix president, at least that was something I could control.“I’m not avoiding it,” I lied, forcing a tight smile. “I just… I need a distraction.”Her gaze softened with sympathy, but she didn’t push further. Instead, she glanced toward the untouched mug of coffee on my table, then back at me. “Fine. But promise me you’ll think about what I said.”I nodded, though the weight of her words sat heavy on my chest. Eight months. A baby
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-06-12
Chapter: Chapter 77Blackwood’s POV I stared at my phone for the third time in an hour, her name glowing on the screen like an accusation. Jacqueline.I had typed and deleted half a dozen messages already. Everything sounded wrong. Too formal. Too desperate. Too… heavy.Finally, I settled on:We need to talk. Please.Simple. Direct. No pressure.I hit send. Then waited.Nothing.Minutes dragged into an hour. Then two. I called once, twice, letting it ring long enough for hope to flicker before voicemail cut through like cold steel.Her voice on the recording was calm, warm, how it had sounded just days ago when she was here, in this house, in my arms. That memory was now a blade.I tried again the next day. This time, I softened it.Jacqueline… I owe you an explanation. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll come to you.Read. No reply.The silence was worse than anger. Anger, I could work with. Silence meant walls were being built brick by brick, higher every hour I didn’t reach her.I found myself pacing the stu
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-06-12
Chapter: Chapter 76Jacqueline's POVThe drive to Allison’s place was quiet. I let the city blur past the windshield, each red light and honking horn echoing the chaos in my chest. By the time I pulled up in front of her building, my emotions had settled into a tense, simmering mix. I wasn’t crying, not yet, but I felt fragile, like a vase just narrowly held together by thin threads.Allison opened the door before I even knocked, a knowing look on her face. “Hey,” she said softly, pulling me inside. “Coffee? You look like you need it.”I nodded, handing her my bag. “Yeah… thanks.” My voice sounded foreign even to me, hushed and uncertain.We settled into the kitchen, steaming mugs in hand. The aroma of roasted coffee beans and the quiet hum of her apartment were grounding. I wanted to tell her everything, to spill out the whirlwind of emotions, but even as I started, the words felt heavy. I finally exhaled, leaning back in my chair.“Alli… Blackwood…” I began, swallowing hard. “He… he has a son.”Her eye
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-06-12
Chapter: Chapter 75Jacqueline’s POV Sunlight filtered gently through the curtains, painting the room in soft golds and warm shadows. I stirred beneath the sheets, stretching lazily, still wrapped in the lingering warmth of Blackwood’s arms. The apartment was quiet, too quiet, except for the subtle sound of his steady breathing.I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, but he stirred anyway, pressing his forehead lightly against mine. “Morning,” he murmured, voice rough with sleep.“Morning,” I whispered back, a soft smile tugging at my lips. The events of last night felt both surreal and grounding at once. We had reclaimed a piece of ourselves, of us, that the chaos of the past weeks had tried to take away.He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple, his fingers tracing lazy patterns along my arm. “Sleep well?” he asked.“I did,” I admitted, letting my hand find his. “Better than I expected.”We lay there for a while, wrapped in the safety of one another, letting the quiet intimacy speak. No words were
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-06-12
เข้าสู่ระบบ
