LOGINAVA POV. My mind got stuck as I looked into Matthew’s eyes. Trying to say something but nothing at the same time. Inside, I could feel myself breaking piece by piece, into a million tiny bits of shame, resentment regret, but amidst my havoc, I felt rage coating every cell of my body, every tissue on my bones. Because, as I looked at my husband, I couldn’t help but compare him to the demon I left upstairs, Matthew was my husband, the man I had built a life with, the steady sweet love that was supposed to be my anchor but there was Serge too now, a man who had fully derailed my entire existence, a man who was suddenly starting to say all the wrong words I wanted to hear, even if his cruel actions never matched his words, he was a demon by nature but I wanted succumb in submission for him, to suffer from his fury to become his Lilith and him mine. I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing my voice to steady as i spun out the only lie that could save us both tonight. ."Ma
AVA POV As soon as the VIP green room door closed shut behind us, cutting off any noise of the ballroom, I snapped. Remembering the look of shock on Matthews’ face just made the internal panic and anxiety in me finally break loose from my chest and throughout my body. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I screamed tears bursting past my mascaraed eyelashes and down my face as I aggressively pulled my arm out of his grip. "You humiliated him! You barked into the microphone in front of hundreds of people just for catching me! He is my husband, Serge!” “You set this whole thing up just to destroy us, didn't you? You brought him back from upstate early for this event just to torture me!" "I didn't set a damn thing up, woman!" Serge barked back, his deep voice booming through the walls of the small room. He reached into his pocket and pulled out my silver wedding band, tossing it carelessly onto the mahogany table. "Stop acting like I mapped out my entire gala arou
AVA POV. The gold doors at the entrance of the hall slammed shut behind us, cutting off the deafening paparazzi from entering, creating some much needed silence but still the silence inside did nothing to calm the panic building up in me. The air conditioned air of the grand foyer hit my face, cold and welcoming but I could almost barely breathe, my lungs burned. Every cell in my body screamed at me to rip off this gown or tear off the lace mask from my face, and run for the hills until my feet bled. Matthew. He was here. He was standing right outside those doors. His absence had left me feeling confused yet here he was wearing that uniform of Sterling security team, here to protect I and the man who currently owned me. My heart crushed against my ribs to the point that made my head spin. Serge walked around, pulling me along with him everywhere he paused. "You're shaking, Ava." Serge’s deep voice whispered against my ear, snapping me back to reality. His
The morning sun was blinding when I finally opened my eyes, the cold space beside me on the mattress instantly bringing me back to reality. He was gone. The sheets on his side of the bed were completely smoothed out, leaving nothing behind but that faint, lingering scent all over. I lay there for a minute, staring at the ceiling, my chest aching. “I can’t control how much I need you, Ava” That whisper from the dark echoed in my head, making my heart do a sickening backflip. Had he actually said it? Or was it just a vivid, desperate hallucination cooked up by my own stressed out brain? I shook my head, forcing myself out of bed before the nausea could hit me again. I couldn't afford to get sick. Not today. After a quick shower, I padded down the quiet hallway, trying not to get lost in the process. I didn't see Abby or the baby anywhere, but the heavy doors to Serge’s home office were slightly ajar. I pushed the door open, trying to look confident. Serge was
I spent ten minutes in front of the bathroom sink, scrubbing off the scent of Serge’s mint and tobacco off my skin, but nothing could wash away that heat of his fingers. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I forced my swollen lips to stay flat as I pulled my damp hair into a loose bun, and threw on a simple grey oversized shirt to hide the pink marks on my neck. Walking down the grand staircase, I almost felt like I was marching toward an execution but when I stepped into the dining room, crispy smell of roasted chicken and garlic hit my nose. My stomach immediately rolled, a sharp wave of leftover nausea hitting the back of my throat, but I forced it down. I couldn't throw up. Not again. .“Oh, Ava! Come, sit down,” Abby’s sweet voice cut through to me. She was already seated at the massive marble table, pouring water into the crystal glasses. Serge was sitting at the head, of course. He had changed into a cotton black t-shirt, looking completely relaxed, as if he hadn
AVA POV Serge lets out a deep growl against my mouth, his large hands immediately flying out to wrap around my wet waist, lifting me off the floor as he pressed his mouth back into mine with a force that almost shattered whatever sanity I had left in me. The hot water from the shower head was burning against our skins, but I couldn't feel the chill of reality anymore. My fingers clutched desperately at the now damp fabric of his white shirt, tearing at the buttons as I pulled him closer, drowning in the taste of him. It was heavy. Brutal. I didn’t know what was happening to me lately but he seemed to be the only solution. I had this chaotic rush of adrenaline that made my head spin out of control every damn time he was next to me and in these seconds, of us like this, nothing ever mattered to me, not my husband, not Leo or even the burning sensation of my wedding ring on my finger because it all didn't exist. All I knew and needed right now was this bruising pressure
AVA POVMy fingers were trembling so as I pulled the file open, desperate to see what was under but horrified at the thought of it all together. From where I am standing, I could hear crushing thunder, an indication of a heavy storm coming up.An all took familiar sense of nostalgia hit me. Serge
LEO STERLING POV “Let’s go, buddy,” I grunted as I helped Matthew up, throwing his heavy arm over my shoulder to stabilize his weight. He was such a complete light head!!Four glasses of cheap whiskey at the casino and he was already completely out of it, his words slurring into incoherent mess w
MATURE CONTENT!!!! “Mr. Sterling…What are you doing?” I whisper, turning around to face him, cutting off the trail his hand was making towards my lower thighs. My heart is hammering like a wildfire in my chest ever since I saw Matthew in the room across from us. Through the quiet dark corner
“Matthew,” Leo called out, reaching a hand to my husband. Matthew staggered directly into his arms, completely ignoring my presence after Serge practically commanded them to leave. “Babe... Mr. Sterling here is a really good boss,” Matthew purred, a sharp hiccup cutting him off mid sentence. “S







