LOGINHe pressed his forehead to hers as he held her close. “I can't stop myself.” She gasped softly. “You don't have to stop then.” She whispered with her fingers in his hair, feeling the shiver that ran through him as their bodies. Ava Sinclair never meant to fall for her boss. One stormy night at the Hale's Mansion changed everything for her. One touch, a kiss and a one-night stand with Ethan Hale, her cold and untouchable boss. A mistake that should never happen. He pushes her away the next morning warning her not to get familiar. But fate has other plans installed for them. Ava's sick father's life depends on a liver transplant. She is forced to live under Ethan's roof as a condition to pay her father's medical bills. Buried secrets resurfaces, her rival for Ethan’s heart is introduced, Miranda Dobrev, Ethan's girlfriend, including Lucas Hale, Ava's ex boyfriend and Ethan's alienated brother. Soon desire tangles with danger as family lies, corporate wars and betrayal threaten to destroy them all. Ethan's love could ruin his hardwork. Lucas' revenge could end her. When the past “back from the dead.” return Ava must decide if love is worth the ruin or if she'll become the next casualty of the Hale legacy.
View MoreTHE COST OF DEPENDING Ava stood still even after the woman disappeared. Her breathing was uneven and her fingers were shaking from uncertainty.The voice and the warning still repeated in her head.Ava swallowed hard. “He must never know I’m here… and you may be their next target.”Those words kept repeating in her head.Her hands went weak. She leaned against the wall, pressing her palm over her racing heart as she forced herself back into the penthouse, shutting the door with trembling fingers.“What just happened?” she whispered.She searched for her phone and scrolled through it. Notifications flooded her screen thousands of them.Dozens of comments.Her video defending Ethan was everywhere.THE EMPLOYEE SPEAKS… CAN WE BELIEVE HER?HOW TRUE IS THIS? HOW DOES SHE KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT ETHAN HALE?She scrolled again, heart pounding loudly and her hands shaking uncontrollably.LIAR.IMPOSSIBLE.HOW MUCH DID HE PAY HER?Her chest tightened. She dropped the phone on the table like i
Ava barely slept.Her mind kept replaying the previous day's event. The shock in her eyes when she saw the news online. Then she thought, what if Susan had orchestrated the humiliation? What if she had struck Ethan's unexpectedly, when he least expected it?All these thoughts raced through her mind, but she suddenly fell asleep.The morning sun slid through the curtains. Ava rubbed her eyes and pushed herself off the bed. Ethan was already awake, standing by the window in a wrinkled shirt. Facially he looked tired; from everything that had happened. “Morning,” Ava said softly.He didn't really respond, he just muttered a response. Her chest tightened. “Ethan…”“I’m fine.” He lied, voice too quiet, he didn't let her finish her sentence.She wanted to argue, to tell him she could help him fight, but he looked very distant.Like he wasn't ready or willing to say anything.He finally turned toward her, exhaustion clinging to his features. He lifted a hand toward her face, then lowe
Ethan left Lucas's condo and drove back to his penthouse.He stepped into his penthouse looking like someone who was at the verge of losing a battle. His tie was roughly undone and his hair scattered.Ava rushed to him immediately as he came fully into the room.“Ethan.” She whispered.He didn't speak. He just walked towards the couch and collapsed on it.He exhaled, a long breath that explained how tired he had been.His hands were still shaking, from the rage he barely contained at Lucas's condo.“I just need to get some rest.” He said. “Ethan…” She called him. “You'll be fine, okay?”She felt he needed to hear those words at that moment.“Thank you.” He murmured and walked to his room.THE NEXT MORNING Across the city, Susan Hale sat exquisitely in a five star restaurant, she wore a black blazer, hair styled to perfection. She was looking too elegant for a woman of her age.She dialed a number on her phone.A male voice answered from the other end. “Mrs. Hale.”“It's time,” she
Ethan didn't wait for her to finish her sentence. The moment she mentioned his stepmother, he took his car keys and stormed out of his office.He immediately drove to the Hale Mansion at a dangerous speed.THE HALE MANSIONSusan sat prestigiously in the dim lounge with a glass of wine. She wasn't surprised at all when Ethan came in furiously.“So,” she said, swirling her drink. “You finally came home to Mama.”“Do not play with her,” Ethan growled, referring to Ava.Susan's eyebrow lifted, amused. “Your secretary, Ava Sinclair? Gentle girl, isn't she? But she's just at the wrong place and at the wrong time.”She stood and approached him, her heels clicking on the floor.“She's a pawn in a dangerous game of ambition and power, Ethan. She'll get hurt, she'll cry, she'll take the fall…” she paused and tapped his shoulders lightly. “And you'll break alongside her.”Ethan's expression hardened. “If you want a fight, take it with me. Leave her out of it.”“Tsk… that's too late,” she said.






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