LOGINMADELINE I stormed through the front doors of Ross Manor, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor with every furious step. I felt humiliated. Angered. Of all astonished because the bitch was actually a slut! Grandmother Eleanor made her findings herself and found out about this only to what? Not kick her stupid ass out the very second? What the hell happened to "prestigious" family name. One of the maids stepped forward with that same fake sweet smile they always wore when I returned home. Staring at me all stupid with that submissive posture.“Welcome home, Miss Ross. Would you like—”“Shut up,” I snapped, not even sparing her a glance. “I don’t need your fake cheerfulness today. Just stay the fuck out of my way. Got it?”She shrank back immediately, bowing her head and murmuring apologies as she retreated. Good. I didn’t have time for servants pretending they cared about my day or my mood. They were paid to serve, not to offer comfort. I marched straight to my father’
VALERIEMy face heated up instantly, a flush creeping up my neck. I glanced quickly at the front seats, but Hawthorne and the other man remained perfectly still, eyes forward like they were trained not to hear a thing. “That’s not the point.”“It is very much the entire point,” he countered, his hand finding my thigh under the privacy of the center console. The touch was light but intense, sending sparks racing up my leg. “I haven’t looked at anyone else since this started. And I have no plans to because my wife is quite good enough.”We went back and forth the whole drive, the argument filling the car like a live wire. “This isn’t just about appearances, Dominic. What if someone asks questions? What if they dig into how sudden this all was? Your grandmother already grilled me. The whole family is going to do the same but worse.”He squeezed my thigh gently. “Let them ask. We’ll handle it together. That’s what husbands and wives do, right?”“Fake husbands and wives,” I muttered, but t
VALERIE I was still looking at Dominic across the breakfast table, my fork paused halfway to my mouth, when Grandmother Eleanor dropped the bomb without any warning. I waited for Dominic to say something against it. Not that I fully understood what the hell it was about but given the name I might have a vague idea. One that I fear. Still Dominic sat there looking effortlessly composed and sipping his coffee like he didn't hear what she had just said. A family reunion.“Family reunion?” I repeated, blinking hard as the words sank in. My stomach did a little flip, the kind that had nothing to do with the perfectly prepared eggs on my plate.Grandmother Eleanor nodded once, decisive as ever, her posture straight as a ruler even in her chair. “It is tradition. We are a prestigious family. We cannot accept a new member without the proper formalities. And so, as per our tradition everyone will be there. Dominic's uncles, aunts, cousins from every branch.” this isn't good. “They all need
VALERIE My eyes moved to Grandmother Eleanor who was staring at me now like I was a puzzle she couldn't understand. She was probably wondering what he saw in me. The same thought I was having as well. "Are you sure about this girl, Dominic?" She asked, turning back to him. "You know I don't make wrong choices, grandma. Trust me." "Mn. Fair enough. Get dressed immediately. I've seen enough nudity for the day, thank you." She said and turned to leave the room. I was beyond stunned. I couldn't even explain what had just happened. Madeline was still shocked at what she heard. She wasn't alone anyways. But I could feel her growing hate. "You're not falling for this bullshit, right, grandma?" She asked, stopping the old woman on her tracks. "Come, Madeline. Let's go." She called but Madeline shook her head. "No-""Madeline." She calls in stern voice, cutting her off from saying any other thing. She fumes and walks out angrily. The door is finally shut close after his grandmother leaves
VALERIE I fluttered my eyes open to the sight of a bare, chiseled chest right in front of me. My hands were wrapped around his bare back as he slept on his side and his around my head, his fingers in my hair. The sides of my lips stretched as I remembered last night. The scent of us still lingered and it made me smile even more. I slowly moved my head back a little so I could look up at his face. His lips looked just as sexy as it had always been, even in his sleep. Probably the opposite of mine which must be all swollen and red at the moment. I could feel my cheeks flushing at every thought coming to my head. It felt like I was reliving it all again. Our passionate kisses, his hands in my hair and mine in his. I couldn't push it aside no matter how I tried. But I also couldn't push away the thought of our contract ending soon. It felt like a beautiful dream but I was fully aware it would all end soon. I couldn't push away something else as well. Something that has been growing ev
VALERIE“You confuse me so much,” I whispered, my voice still raw from crying and the cold. “One second you’re defending me at dinner. Then you rescue me, touch me, hold me. I cant figure you out Dominic. What do you want from me?” I rocked against him slowly, feeling him twitch and harden further. The jacuzzi jets pulsed around us, adding layers of sensation that made everything more intense.His hands gripped my hips firmly, pulling me closer, guiding my movements. “I’m sorry. I’m bad at putting labels to things. You scare the shit out of me, Valerie. Admitting you’re falling for me? It was too sudden. Because I…” He trailed off, choosing instead to kiss my neck, sucking lightly at the sensitive skin. “I don’t know what to do with that. But I know I don’t want you out in the cold. I don’t want you crying because of me. I don’t want— fuck.”I moaned softly as his mouth moved lower, trailing to my collarbone and then to my breasts. The water made everything slick and hypersensitive. H
VALERIE “What were you doing in there all alone?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “I'm not crippled.” He sarcastically said as he sat down on the couch beside me and leaned against it.“You didn't finish you meal.” I pointed out but his eyes were closed and it seemed like the drugs were working al
VALERIE For a second, Madeline just stared at Dominic like she was trying to figure out if pushing more would work. Then she stared at me and back at him. What followed was a huff, clearly annoyed, her expression slipping into something more childish than composed.“Fine,” she muttered, turning sh
VALERIE I pulled it out and froze slightly when I saw it. A bank receipt. Five hundred thousand dollars transferred to my account. My name on it clean and clear. And one word under description. Gift. I stared at it longer than I meant to, my grip tightening slightly because I wasn’t expecting that
VALERIE My thighs pressed together instinctively before I forced them apart again, forcing myself to stand still, to not give him more than I already had, but it was getting harder, way harder than I expected.Then It finally pressed down on my clit. Right over the fabric and my entire body reacte







