Mag-log inCara stood on the curb outside Martin’s building, staring at her phone as it vibrated in her palm.Madam Davis: “Did you leave the clinic? Where are you? The doctor is waiting.”She closed her eyes as the cold wind swept over her face. Taking a few seconds to stabilize her thoughts, she typed out a reply:Cara: “I returned to the agency. I'm on my way back to the mansion.”She switched off her phone after sending that message. She wasn't in the mood to be interrogated by her mother-in-law.Cara didn’t remember the drive home. Her lips still tingled from Martin’s kisses; her skin still burned where his hands had explored.About forty-five minutes later, she straightened her clothes in the car mirror, smoothed her hair, and tried to school her expression into something neutral before stepping into the Davis mansion.It was after nine. The house was quiet, but Lucas was still up, waiting in the living room with a glass of whiskey.“You’re working late again,” he chastised, but his gaze w
The city lights glittered like a sea of diamonds far below as Cara stepped into Martin’s penthouse.The space was sleek and unapologetically masculine—soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, rich dark wood, and modern art.It screamed power and wealth, a far cry from the modest, minimal apartment she remembered from his days as head of security.Yet despite the luxurious redesign, every corner invoked memories. Ghostly recollections of laughter, late-night conversations, and touches she had tried so hard to bury surged to the surface.Cara forced them down.She wasn't here to reminisce. She was on a mission.Martin stood near the wet bar, pouring two glasses of wine. He wore a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing the strong muscle of his forearms.When he turned to face her, his dark eyes burned with a dangerous mix of concern and hunger.“You look like you’re about to run,” he said quietly, crossing the room to hand her a glass.Cara took it, her fingers trembling a
The next morning, Cara sat at her office desk, her mind buzzing with a frantic, static noise.She had practically fled from the Davis mansion at dawn. The previous evening, after returning from her chaotic encounter with Martin, she had used the excuse of being exhausted to hide away in the guest room... again.Now, the reality of her situation sat in her chest like a ticking bomb. Her ovulation window began tomorrow.By mid-morning, Madam Davis had already sent two short text messages reminding her of the private clinic appointment scheduled for that afternoon—“discreet, efficient, and necessary.”By 11:00 AM, Cara was spiraling. She had tried to convince herself she could handle this clinical transaction, but the sheer weight of it was suffocating her.At 11:30 AM, her intercom buzzed, shattering the silence.“Mrs. Davis,” her secretary’s voice filtered through. “Your driver is here for you.”“Give me a minute. I’ll be out soon,” Cara replied, internally surprised at how steady her
Cara stared at Martin, tongue-tied and caught entirely off guard.Her heart hammered frantically against her ribs. Should she just come clean? The thought flickered through her mind like a wild flare in the dark.‘Should she grab this opportunity to test the waters? Would Martin ever agree to be her donor?’All these questions flashed through her mind in a matter of seconds, heavy with desperation.However, the sheer absurdity of the situation—the location, the locked door, the secrets suffocating her—forced her survival instincts to take over.When she opened her mouth, her voice was surprisingly steady. Firm.“The Old Master of the Davis family needs a bone marrow transplant.”Martin’s dark eyes didn't soften; if anything, his brow furrowed deeper, his sharp gaze analyzing every micro-expression on her face.“What does that have to do with what I just heard?” he pressed, his voice a dangerous rumble. “She was talking about a clinic. Donor profiles.”“Because we’re looking for a matc
The bright lights of the agency’s main boardroom felt blinding.Cara sat at the head of the polished mahogany table, staring at the glossy mood boards for the new high-end fashion line.Beside her, Natalie, the agency's top model, was animatedly discussing the vision for the upcoming campaign.“I think the theme of ‘Pure Elegance’ really resonates,” Natalie said, flashing a flawless smile. “It’s all about looking perfect on the outside, no matter the chaos behind the scenes. What we wear usually speaks volumes…”Natalie kept talking, but Cara wasn't paying attention anymore. Her mind kept repeating Natalie's earlier words, “Perfect on the outside.”It described her current situation exactly.Cara’s hand drifted instinctively toward her abdomen. A stay-at-home nurse was currently unpacking her bags at the Davis mansion. Her mother-in-law was counting down the hours of her ovulation window.And Lucas was out there, proudly telling the world a lie that would destroy them all if it came t
Cara barely touched her supper. The memory of Martin’s thumb brushing her lip in the hotel lounge kept replaying in her mind, sending unwelcome heat through her body. Lucas hadn't returned from work, which she was grateful for. The thought of seeing him after she and Martin nearly kissed made a knot form in her stomach. “Why aren’t you eating?” Madam Davis asked from across the table, bringing Cara to the present. She noticed her father-in-law's gaze on her too. Cara let out a small cough. “Nothing, my appetite has been bad lately.” “If you're craving something else, you can tell the cook to prepare it for you; don't be so reserved,” her father-in-law said, making Cara give him an uncomfortable nod. She could hear the double meaning of the man's words. Since she was pregnant, she'd have cravings, and she had to alert the kitchen. “I'll do that when the need arises, Father," Cara said quietly. “You should; we're hoping for you to have a healthy baby.” Cara nearly choked on her
Kayden stared at his grandfather's aged face, which was full of cunningness, and began to wonder when the old master's intelligence had begun to dwindle. When Kayden was younger, he held his grandfather in high regard for his intelligence and wisdom, but it seems old age had made him an “old fool.
Martin stared at the woman, who was acting like an entirely different person from what he remembered, in confusion.“Madam, is something the matter? The boss instructed that you shouldn't leave the ward,” Martin said, respectfully. “Why can't I leave? I'm not your prisoner, so move out of my way,”
“Dr. Jason?”“Whoa, it's really you; it's been a long time. You look even more dashing than I remember,” Aria genuinely complimented, peeking her head underneath Kayden's hand to talk to the doctor. Even though Aria had pushed Kayden away, he didn't budge and remained as immovable as a mountain, h
“Why are you speaking about yourself as if you're talking about another person?” “Because he is not me!” Kayden growled. “I know we're identical, but couldn't you tell the difference? We're nothing alike!” Aria didn't even know what Kayden was talking about. He was raving mad, and he wasn't makin







