Sarah In an attempt to melt away the stress crushing me, I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my back against the tanning bed. My heart hammered in my chest, and sweat beaded on my forehead. Then, a wave of dizziness slammed into me as the room began to whirl. "Are you alright?" Josh asked, noticing the change in my demeanor. His brow was furrowed with worry. "Yeah, I'm fine!" I smiled at him, though the stress was overwhelming. My phone rang, snapping me back to reality. I needed to keep it together and finish this job. Seeing Trey's name on the caller ID, I answered and put the call on speakerphone. "Trey?" Josh and the others listened intently, awaiting his report about the man who took the van out of the cruise. "We've caught Madam Cornell's man who drove the van out. He claimed his mother was in an emergency, which is why the staff allowed him to leave. Chairman's men were waiting at the gate and alerted the authorities to retrieve the money. The cruise is about to depart,
Philip Sarah's anguished cries reverberated through my consciousness, her voice distorted as if echoing inside a vast, hollow drum. I yearned to chase after it, to pinpoint its source and find her. Her confession about the baby filled her voice with fear, and I wanted to hug her, but I was being pulled back into darkness until her voice disappeared. After what felt like an eternity suspended in silent darkness, a searing light began to pull at the edges of my awareness. Gradually, painfully, my eyelids flickered open. Sensations immediately assaulted me. A hundred thousand needles seemed to pierce my back while the room blazed with an intense brightness. My head throbbed with pain, and I winced, wanting to curse, but it felt like something was lodged in my throat. "B-boss!" a voice called out. It had to be Erwan. He quickly went to the door. "D-Dr. Ethan! Boss Philip has regained consciousness!" A rush of footsteps and urgent voices filled the hallway outside. I looked around
Sarah I regained consciousness lying in bed. The room was dark, with only a faint light from outside reflecting within. I touched my forehead and glanced around, realizing I was in a guest room at Serenity Pines Estate. Exhaling slowly, I recalled arms catching me and Philip's scent before I blacked out. Exhaustion must have overwhelmed me. Suddenly, a wave of panic hit me. "Oh no! Jane!" I shouted, remembering my friend was in trouble. As soon as my hand touched the cool metal of the doorknob, a deep voice from the open balcony made me freeze. "Where do you think you're going?" The unexpected sound sent a shiver down my spine. I spun around my heart racing, and saw Philip's tall figure against the starry night sky. The moonlight highlighted his broad shoulders and messy hair. “P-Philip?” I stammered. He walked towards me confidently, commanding the room with his presence. As he came closer, I saw the intensity in his deep, dark eyes—a blend of concern and a hint of somethin
EmilySeven years ago; when I first met Bronn...
Bronn Emily Carter... the woman who lingered in my thoughts long after we last saw each other. Her natural scent, plump lips with a touch of mayonnaise, dark coffee-colored hair, tiny waist, and even the curve of her breast beneath a thick top—all of her simplicity haunted my mind like a persistent virus. Perhaps I was a werewolf in a past life. "Bronn, I know my granddaughter is still too young for you, but it's fine. Sarah is a nice young woman. She's working hard on different things," Grandpa Mitchell interrupted, his weathered face creasing with a knowing smile. As my longtime mentor in finance and stock market strategy, his words held significant influence. "Bronn is doing really well, too. He's made a name for himself in the tech industry. You don't need to worry about either of them," my mom said, smiling nicely. "Thank you for accepting us, Grandpa Mitchell," I simply said. "I will send a thoughtful gift to Sarah," my dad added. Sarah was just sixteen, a detail that ev
Emily Notifying the coffee shop of my emergency, I informed them that I couldn't make it to The Grind. Immediately, I hurried to the hospital where my mom had been admitted. It was there that I encountered Dr. Vanderbilt, my mother's surgeon. Despite his salt and pepper hair, his face defied his age, exuding a handsome charm. "I apologize for reaching out to you so suddenly, Miss Carter," he began gently. "You are listed as the immediate contact for your mother after... your father passed away last month." I sensed Dr. Vanderbilt struggling to maintain composure. My lips quivered. "W-what's going on, doctor?" He guided me to a quiet corner. "Your mother's condition is stable, but we've encountered a different issue. The monthly funds supporting her admission have ceased since last month. As of now, your family owes the hospital twenty thousand dollars." Mixed emotions surged within me—fear, resentment, self-pity... This must be related to my dad's death. Erica must have stoppe
Emily My heart pounded as Mr. Bronn Martin and I stood in the elevator. His fingers had been tracing patterns on my waist for a while, their touch warm and burning against my exposed skin. I remembered his whispers in my ear, "Would you like to join me in my room?" I nodded, meeting his gaze and bringing us to the elevator. Robert accompanied us, calmly carrying his boss's things. When the suite door opened, I was greeted by a beautiful unit. It featured a spacious living area, a kitchen, several rooms, and an outdoor pool surrounded by lush Bermuda grass. I walked to the glass wall, taking in the breathtaking view of the city below. It was hard to believe such a place existed inside a hotel. As I feasted my eyes on the glittering lights outside, I suddenly felt hands squeezing my waist, followed by the warmth of his presence behind me. Mr. Martin's lips brushed against the sensitive curve of my ear, and I closed my eyes, gasping at the heat of his breath against my skin. As I
Emily Bronn's personality was always different whenever we were in bed. The way his dark blue eyes gazed at me, the way he showered my body with kisses, or the way he felt inside me—each moment was uniquely intense. Two years had slipped by almost unnoticed, like sand through an hourglass. My relationship with Bronn is hard to define. Despite lingering doubts, I often convince myself that our arrangement is normal. But I have no right to complain. This is in exchange for the hundred thousand dollars, a luxurious lifestyle, and the prestige of being Bronn Martin's chosen woman! Mr. Thompson, his butler, eyed me curiously while I was reviewing for my finals in the garden. "Is there a problem?" I asked. He cleared his throat. "Nothing to worry about, Miss Emily. Robert informed me that Mr. Martin will be away for another two days due to important business meetings." I nodded, trying to mask my disappointment with a shrug, accustomed as I was to Bronn often being away on business