LOGINLiora's The small cellar room was pitch black, trapped in a deep, absolute quiet that felt completely separate from the rest of the grand estate above. I was sleeping fitfully, but for the first time since my collapse on the design floor boards, my body felt entirely warm and safe. I was completely cuddled up in Adrian's large, powerful arms. One of his heavy hands was wrapped tightly around mine, our fingers locked together in a firm, protective grip on the mattress, while his other hand was laying gently on my lower stomach, his thumb resting over the slight, firm curve where our child was growing. The blistering heat radiating from his broad chest pressed right into my back, his slow, rhythmic breathing fluttering against the nape of my neck. Suddenly, a harsh, violent buzzing shattered the silence. Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz. My heart violently leaped straight into my throat, a sudden jolt of pure panic paralyzing my limbs as the sound rattled aggressively against the old wooden nig
Adrian's Liora let out a short, jagged gasp against my palm, her skin blistering hot against my cold fingers. "Adrian... please. This is inappropriate. We signed a contract, but this... this isn't part of the transaction." I didn't answer her. My focus was entirely consumed by the sight of her plump, trembling lips parted in mid-sentence. The memory of how they tasted on the silk sheets the night before completely short-circuited my brain, wiping out every single boundary I had built to protect my pride. I couldn't control myself for another second. I leaned down and captured her lips.The kiss was an absolute explosion of intense desire, a fierce, desperate hunger that hit our systems like a physical force. My mouth slammed against hers with a raw, possessive urgency, my tongue sliding past her teeth to deepen the contact instantly. Liora let out a soft, muffled whimper into my mouth, her body going completely rigid as she tried to resist me at first. Her small hands came up
Adrian's I lay completely still in the dark, my ears straining against the heavy, suffocating silence of the master bedroom. The clock on the nightstand glowed a sharp, cold blue—2:14 a.m. Beside me, the faint, shallow rhythm of Rusali’s breathing had finally leveled out into a deep, consistent pattern. She was completely dead to the world, exhausted from the long flight and secure in the belief that she had successfully reasserted her dominance over my space, my home, and my life. Slowly, with an agonizingly deliberate precision, I slid the heavy down cover off my legs. The mattress barely rustled. I stood up from the edge of the bed, my bare feet sinking into the plush dark carpet. The sight of her emerald silk nightgown draped over my furniture made my stomach twist with a sharp, burning resentment. I grabbed my robe from the armchair, slipping my arms through the sleeves without tieing it, leaving the white fabric hanging completely open over my chest. I turned the brass
Adrian's I shoved the heavy doors of the master bedroom open, the wood clicking shut behind us with a loud, final thud. I didn't say a single word to her as I marched straight past the rows of white leather luxury luggage she had already moved into my space, stripped off my charcoal suit jacket, and threw it onto the nearest armchair. I lay down on the absolute edge of the mattress, pulling the thick, heavy down cover completely over my frame, staring directly into the dark velvet curtains to completely block her out. A moment later, the mattress dipped. The suffocating scent of jasmine filled the space as Rusali slid under the sheets, her hand reaching out to touch my bare shoulder. I stood up suddenly, throwing the heavy blanket off my legs in one sharp, aggressive motion. "Adrian, what is the meaning of that?" Rusali snapped, sitting up in the bed, her face contorted with pure irritation. "Why are you getting out of bed?" I crossed the room to the wardrobe in long, rigid s
Adrian's I stared down at the open pages of my leather journal on the dark wood desk, the gold pen frozen in my hand. The ink was completely dry, but my mind was stuck in a chaotic maze of thoughts that had nothing to do with my shipping records or the winter line logistics. My thoughts kept violently pulling back to the kitchen scene from the previous evening. When I had heard Rusali screaming those insults, accusing Liora of taking the diamond necklace, I hadn't even hesitated. I did not know what prompted me to stand up to Rusali like that, throwing my chair back and stepping directly between her and the shivering, weeping girl. I always tried to avoid anything that would make Rusali feel insecure or prompt her to cause an elite scene. I knew that standing up for the worker where Rusali was concerned would mean actual, deep trouble because Rusali was a woman who wouldn't take any perceived slight lightly. Yet, in that heated kitchen, I had completely forgotten about upper-
Liora's I pushed myself up from the velvet chair, my flat servant boots skidding slightly against the polished floorboards as I turned toward the door. I walked rapidly, my head firmly bowed as I hurried up the grand staircase and slipped into the massive, dark master wing. The room was entirely transformed, filled with Rusali's expensive luxury perfumes, designer dresses, and matching white leather luggage. The scent of her jasmine was everywhere, completely obliterating the aroma of hot ash and sandalwood that used to linger on the silk sheets. My hands shook violently as I found the small white bottle on the marble vanity, clutched it against my apron, and hurried back downstairs to deliver it to a senior footman at the dining room entrance Once the errand was done, I couldn't bring myself to go back to that table. I retreated straight into the heavy, humid air of the mansion kitchen, my limbs feeling like lead weights as the silent fatigue of the early pregnancy settled
Adrian's PovI stared at him, my mouth opening to speak, but the sheer shock of the question made the words completely die in my throat. My face burned with a sudden, suffocating heat as my mind violently flashed back to thag previous night—the smell of vanilla and lavender on her skin, the liquid
Liora's Pov "Liora! Where have you been?" I had barely stepped through the servants' entrance when Maya rushed toward me from the shadows of the pantry. She looked so anxious that my heart immediately sank into my throat. Before I could even set my medical bag down, she grabbed my wrist, her f
Liora's Pov I needed to know who this monster was. I needed to know the face of the man who had just taken my first time. The morning sun was just beginning to peek through the heavy velvet drapes, cutting a thin, sharp sliver of golden light directly across the chaise lounge. I turned back and f
Liora's Pov "Liora! If I catch you slacking off again, I will personally see to it that your wages are docked this month!" Mrs. Gable’s voice cut through the damp basement air, rattling the iron pots hanging overhead and completely shattering my focus. I flinched, my fingers slipping against the







