✿♡ JAZZLENE ♡✿I was aware of what happened after Adam and I showered together. We lay down on the bed after I dried my hair using the hair dryer he bought for me here. I was aware that nearly an hour later, he carefully got up to answer his phone, which had started ringing. I was aware that he left the penthouse after taking the call.He left without saying goodbye, probably assuming I was already asleep. But I wasn't. My eyes were closed, but my mind was awake, so I felt everything. He was gone for almost an hour. Feeling a bit dizzy from the alcohol, I remained lying on the bed alone.When he returned an hour later, he lay back down beside me on the bed. I could still feel his embrace from behind, and we stayed like that until we both fell asleep.The next morning, he woke up before me. I found out because his side of the bed was empty when I tried to reach for him. He was already out of the room by the time I opened my eyes.Despite a slight headache from the hangover, I pushed my
✧ADAM MEADOWS✧"Are you really going to wait for Jake to admit that he's the mastermind behind what happened to your family before you take him down? Is that it?" Uncle Win asked, disappointment evident in his tone.I felt disappointed in myself too, because, honestly, I could have ended him anytime, especially since I've been with him every day since I became his driver.I’d labored over my revenge plan for more than a decade, moving and manipulating every piece until I had them where I wanted them. Always play the long game.But even I had to admit I’d gotten . . . distracted these past few months. Jazzlene had swept into my life like a sunrise after dark, awakening creatures within my soul that I thought had died a long time ago: guilt. Conscience. Remorse. Making me question whether the ends justified the means.Around her, my thirst for vengeance waned, and I almost—almost—gave it up. It all began when Uncle Win suggested I use Jake's daughter to get closer to the Crystal family.
✿♡ JAZZLENE ♡✿I STOOD AT THE FRONT DESK, my fingers trembling slightly as I tapped on the keyboard, searching desperately for the reservation. The couple in front of us looked increasingly impatient, and the woman’s face was turning a deep shade of red. She was yelling, her voice echoing across the huge lobby and drawing stares from other guests.Not only am I feeling flustered, but so is Violet, as we're the only ones manning the front desk right now. Brianna is on her day off, and our other regular receptionist, who's with us, has been in and out of the restroom since earlier because it's the first day of her period, and she's in considerable discomfort. She needs to change her napkin frequently due to heavy flow. As a result, Violet and I are currently bearing the brunt of the workload. It's also our first time encountering a guest who doesn't seem to grasp the concept of 'CALM'. Despite Violet's repeated attempts to reassure her and ask her to wait for our receptionist, she doesn
✿♡ JAZZLENE ♡✿“Get in.”I hesitated, glancing back at Violet and Leigh, who were still deep in their argument about who they were with the night we went to Castillano Club and where they slept. The idea of spending time with Adam was appealing, especially since we hadn't seen each other in a week, but the suddenness of the invitation and my unfamiliarity with his uncle made me cautious."That’s very kind of you, but I’m not sure," I began. I glanced at my watch and pretended to check the time. "Dad is on his way to pick me up.""Is that so?" He pursed his lips, appearing thoughtful. "It's my wife's birthday today. Auntie Cassandra, Adam's aunt. We don't have any other guests besides Adam, so I wanted to invite you to meet my wife. She would be happy to meet you, especially since I mentioned you to her. I told her you're like a sister to Adam," he explained. "But okay. If you're heading home now, maybe next time?" He smiled gently at me.Aunt Cassandra, Adam's only relative? His dad's
Five Years Ago . . . PROLOGUE ✿♡ JAZZLENE ♡✿"Jazzlene! Jazzlene, wait!"I sprinted through the familiar paths, tears blurring my vision. Somehow, I managed to avoid stumbling, guided by instinct down these well-trodden routes."Jazzlene!"Still, I refused to halt. My feet pounded the ground relentlessly. I couldn't bear to face him, to confront the pain that seared through me. Was this the reason I hadn't been invited to Jenna's birthday party?Jenna, my best friend—or rather, she used to be. Starting today, I couldn't even bring myself to look at her. We're both fifteen, friends for five years, along with Sheena and Abigail. They weren't just friends; they were family. Especially Jenna. She had been like an older sister to me. So today, on her sixteenth birthday, I wondered why she hadn't extended an invitation to me.Last week, my friends Abigail, Sheena, and I discussed Jenna's upcoming birthday. She had mentioned that she wouldn't be having a party since her parents were still i
Six years later . . . Present time. JAZZLENE'S POV I sat silently at the bus stop shelter, clutching my phone, debating whether I should call my brother, Zane, to come get me. Tears streamed down my face, and my body shivered from the cold because I was drenched. Not from rain—there wasn't any. It’s just that I was wearing a two-piece swimsuit, soaked, with only a T-shirt over it because my friends and I had a get-together. Camille, Violet, Leigh, and I had this tradition of bonding after exams to unwind from the stress. We checked into a lesser-known hotel and resort, preferring places less frequented by people because Camille, being a famous actress, couldn't be exposed to the public. [FLASHBACK] The four of us were dressed and already in the swimming pool when I noticed someone nearby. The pool was surrounded by tall plants, about waist-high, but through a gap, I saw Dominic. my boyfriend, and here's the worst part: he was flirting with someone I never imagined he’d go for. G
✧ADAM MEADOWS✧ADAM Meadows. My intuition was right. He was the one picking me up. Now I wasn’t sure if I should go with him or muster the courage to return to the hotel. Because he wasn't an 'I'll-do-my-buddy-a-favor-and-pick-his-sister-up type of guy. He was a look-at-me-wrong-or-say-anything-to-me-I-don't-like-and-I'll-kill-you-with-my-hands kinda guy, and he's doing it looking so calm and gorgeous you wouldn't notice your world crashing down.I looked down briefly at my dirty feet since I was barefoot when I came here. I swiped my tongue over my dry lips as the passenger seat window rolled down."Get in." His voice wasn't loud, nor was it angry. It was just loud enough for me to hear. "Or do you want me to open the door for you?" His tone was so cold that I felt my body freeze.Reluctantly, I stood up and walked toward him. I didn’t care if I dirtied his car. He was rich enough to have it cleaned anyway.Once inside, I glanced at him briefly before looking away because I couldn't h
✧ADAM MEADOWS✧"So? Is she your type?" Henry asked as I stared at his mobile screen.It was a picture of a woman. The third one, actually. I didn't like the first two. I didn't even look at them for more than two seconds. But this third picture held my gaze for a bit longer, not because I liked her, but because I recognized her. She was the sister of Jazzlene's former friend. Jenna's sister. The ones who had betrayed Jazzlene when she was just fifteen.The reason they were showing me pictures of women was that they wanted me to have a girlfriend. I don't do girlfriends. But that doesn't mean my sex life is dry. I still hook up when I need to release some steam. But I'm selective, and if a woman doesn't pass my taste, I won't touch her.Like these pictures Henry was showing me. None of them passed my standards. Especially this sister of Jazzlene's ex-friend. Despite her revealing dress, she looked like the type who expected sweet nothings and lovemaking in bed.I didn't do sweet nothin