Ethan raked a hand through his hair several times, his expression murderous and his employees knew not to cross him that morning because all hell would break loose. He paced the length of his office, nostrils flaring in anger and frustration with questions. He plopped himself down on the chair thinking hard about the woman he’s met today in the elevator and the woman that fought for that contract until she won it with her sickly sweet smile, bland eyes and amazing negotiation skills that made him still. He would’ve won the whole thing but because he wanted to see her in action –for one it turned him on so fucking much– and know where her business strategy is located just in case she decides to buy the same company he wanted in the future. Ethan had no idea he was going to ever meet his ex wife. Not now. Not ever. The way she vanished from the face of earth five years ago without a single trace, he was sure she was found dead in some ally and no one knows who she was. He’s scraped t
As she settled everything into place, she extended her arms wide, allowing herself to become enveloped by the warmth of the sun. The notion of a vacation had remained distant ever since she had embarked on her business journey years ago, yet here she was at last, prompted by Aiden's insistent desire to visit Bali.Adorned in a tasteful two-piece bikini, she reclined along the secluded shore of the cottage she had secured for the week. A conscious decision had been made to shelve all things related to phones during this dedicated period with her son. The sole purpose of this time was to be fully present for him.Aiden playfully maneuvered his way to her side, his head resting gently against her chest, inducing a tender smile to grace her lips. Her fingers wove through his dark brow hair—a trait inherited from his father—as she planted a soft kiss on his forehead.Ethan had, over time, extinguished any remnants of romantic notions, leaving her heart a casualty along the way. For most, h
He found himself lying in bed, caught in a restless cycle of tossing and turning, as sleep had eluded him for several consecutive nights. Over the past few days, his slumber had become a frustrating ordeal, with him struggling to muster even a mere two hours of rest within a full day. The culprit behind this sleeplessness was painfully obvious, yet he stubbornly refused to acknowledge it. Frustration finally drove him to rise from the confines of his bed, prompting him to revisit the private beach that had initially drawn him to this cottage rental. Earlier in the day, he had inked a business deal that, on paper, represented a substantial windfall in the form of millions of dollars. However, the expected joy that should accompany such an achievement remained elusive. As he approached the serene beach, his gaze fixated on the vast expanse of the ocean, but his eyes lacked the usual spark of enthusiasm. His thoughts were in disarray, tangled in a web of conflicting emotions that lef
As Dahlia walked out of the small cottage she shared with Aiden for three days, after bumping into Ethan the first night there, she didn't risk any chance of leaving the cottage with Aiden, even though he insisted on going somewhere to have fun. Searching the clearing to make sure the beach was empty, she snuck Aiden out of the cottage, and they made their way to the rented car she had borrowed. Aiden was smiling the whole time, which warmed her heart. Her son looked like the exact replica of his father. They arrived at the park and filed inside. She had prepared so many delicacies for them for this mini picnic she had decided they should have that morning. She took sandwiches, fruit slices of apples, grapes, watermelon, baby carrots, other veggies, cheese and crackers, juice boxes, snacks, sweets, cookies, brownies, a camera, and a blanket. She wanted him to enjoy this vacation like she had promised him. Aiden grinned widely as they set up a place beneath a large tree. There were
“…I now pronounce you as husband and wife! You may kiss the bride.” The Priest say with a teasing glint in his eyes knowing he’s done that several times before. Dahlia’s eyes fell on the man in front of her who is now her legal husband. She waited patiently for him to lean in and kiss her but he didn’t, refused to obey the priest. Her heart fell to her feet but not in disappointment, anger. How dare he disrespect her in front of the so many people his father decided to invite to their wedding? Doesn’t he respect his father in the least to comply and keep the facade for the people he’s invited? She doesn’t expect much from this stoic faced cold hearted man. Instead he rushed down the three steps at the alter then vanished from the church leaving her face heated at the blatant humiliation. He should’ve at least leaned in and touched her cheek or something. Embarrassed, Dahlia slowly followed him outside, her head bent, not able to stand the humiliation with so many eyes watching the
It's been three months and Dahlia never sighted her husband in the house since the day they got married. The afternoon she's walked in and heard him fucking a woman in his room then he'd disappeared from the face of earth. She's gotten used to the housemaids in the house, Mrs. Austin and the others were very welcoming. She had nothing to do during her free time so she spent them bonding up with the workers she's going to stay with for a whole year. It shouldn't be that bad. Like the contract she's signed when Mr. Caine requested her presence in the vip section of the cafe she used to work in. He'd told her she doesn't have to work throughout her time with his son. He was going to pay her a huge amount of money and she's grateful for that. Since she's left the orphanage, she's worked her entire life from one cafe to the next restaurant or diner. There was no time to rest when she needed to feed and cloth herself. Dahlia had it bad right from the beginning because her parents decided
Ethan stood beside his sister after she's slapped his wife right in front of him. A nagging feeling touched his chest at the way his wife raised her head and eyes filled with tears and anger fell right in his. Did she think he was the one that slapped her?He watched his sister, Maxine continue to yell at her for doing something to their father. As if the man doesn't know what he was doing. He knew she was innocent in all this but why did she collect his father's money and married him?Doesn't she know just how dangerous he was? Just because he refused to acknowledge her in his life doesn't mean he isn't planning on doing something ruthless to her. She is so small and her innocence makes him want to protect her. Since that day at the wedding, the feelings within him that he's shut down long ago resurfaced when he saw the way she's looked at him. Like he was the only person in the entire world. Her eyes had so much trust in them for him that he did not deserve and he hated her for th
Dahlia has been having panic attacks for months now. Living with Ethan for eleven months and two weeks brought out the worst of her nightmares. She barely sleeps these days and is always sick. In the entire eleven months she's lived with him, they've not shared more than ten sentences and she's usually the one talking. Eventually Dahlia found herself deeply in love with her husband even though she knew he was unfaithful to her. The woman she's found him with when she went to ask whether she could leave the premises became a constant in their home. It was as though she's moved into the villa with them while acting like the mistress of the house. Dahlia let that all happen. She's always in her room, thinking and depressing herself into oblivion. Things were not looking great. Not with Alice always throwing tantrums at her. Degrading her and making sure she's started questioning her self worth. "You think Ethan is going to look at you twice? Fucking think again. My Ethan is only mine