Chapter 58 Bella had just stepped out of the bathroom, steam still clinging to her skin as water droplets slid down her shoulders. She tugged her towel tighter around herself, the soft fabric barely covering her curves. Her hair was damp, sticking to her neck, but she didn’t mind. For
Chapter 57 Chloe hadn’t slept more than three hours the night before. After the review session that ended in no decision and plenty of verbal sparring, she had marched home with a fire in her chest and a stubborn gleam in her eyes. Damian Cross would not win. Not this
Chapter 56 The next morning dawned brighter than Bella’s heart felt. She hadn’t slept well; her mind had circled endlessly around Chloe’s words, Rachel’s quiet insistence, and Timothy’s innocent declaration about finally having a daddy. The weight of it pressed heavy on her chest as she dressed for work, tugging
Chapter 55 The evening sun spilled soft amber light across the little living room when Chloe pushed the front door open. She tossed her handbag onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, the day’s stress clinging to her like a second skin. “Bella?” she called, kicking off her heels. “Where’s
Chapter 54 Bella nearly stumbled as she rushed through the school’s gates, her breath ragged from both fear and the hurried cab ride. The receptionist directed her down the hall to the infirmary, and with every step, her chest tightened. When she finally pushed the door open, her eyes landed
Chapter 53 The clock on Bella’s desk ticked too loudly in the silence of her small office. Her fingers hovered uselessly over the keyboard as she tried to concentrate on the latest report Jake had asked her to finalize. Numbers swam before her eyes, black lines blurring against white. She
Chapter 52 The next morning at StoneTech, Chloe strutted into the design floor, hiding her sleepless night behind a coat of flawless makeup and her brightest red lipstick. Her heels clicked defiantly as if daring anyone to notice the slight drag in her step. Damian was already there. Of course
Chapter 51 Chloe had just returned from her lunch break, her heels clicking against the polished tiles of StoneTech’s design floor. She tossed her bag onto her desk with a dramatic sigh, flipping through a stack of fabric swatches she had abandoned that morning. The vibrant silks and soft satins
Chapter 50 The morning was already half spent by the time Rachel slipped through the black iron gates of Mr. Camden’s estate. The house loomed, stately and dignified, but the weight of its silence pressed down on her as heavily as the day before. She hugged her tote bag closer
Chapter 49 The sun had barely crested the skyline when Bella and Chloe stepped into StoneTech’s glass tower, a neat folder tucked under her arm. The city outside was still yawning awake, but her mind was already racing with figures, graphs, and the words from the board report she had
Chapter 48 The hum of Chloe’s car filled the air as it rolled to a stop in front of the house. Bella leaned back against the seat, watching the quiet neighborhood glow under the soft hues of evening. She barely had time to open her door before a small figure
Chapter 47 After Jake left, Bella decided to go spend the rest of the day with Chloe before they go home since the time was still far from closing hours. Bella stood outside Chloe’s office, clutching her bag, thoughts of Jake filling her mind even though that was far from
Chapter 46 Jake let out a sharp exhale and pushed back his chair, his hand brushing over his jaw. His mother’s schemes were advancing faster than he had anticipated. Helena wasn’t just here for a visit. She was a message, a reminder that his mother had no intention of backing
Chapter 45 Jake who had decided to review the quarterly forecasts after Raymond left raised his head when he heard footsteps approaching. The door opened softly, and he smiled. He glanced up, expecting Bella. Perhaps she was there to give him a report, or a small reminder about something. Although
Chapter 44 The hum of the elevator carried them back up to the executive floor, the silence between Bella and Jake still heavy but no longer suffocating. They were friends now but didn’t even know how to be one. It would take some time getting used to. Bella stepped out
Chapter 43 The drive back to the company was silent, too silent even. Bella kept her gaze fixed on the window, watching the city blur by in streaks of glass, steel, and light. She didn’t trust herself to look at him. Not after what he had pulled. Not after he
Chapter 42 By the time the clock’s long hand pointed past twelve, the design floor had quieted into a low hum of keyboards, pencil scratches, and the occasional shuffle of fabric swatches. The morning meeting had already stretched everyone thin, and most of the team was eyeing the clock, ready
Chapter 41 Bella’s first instinct was to shut it down. “There’s nothing worth telling p> But the words felt too abrupt, too defensive. She softened her tone. “Besides, you already know my name and I’m working for you. Isn’t that enough p> His lips quirked faintly, but he didn’t answer.
Chapter 40 Jake’s 11 a.m. meeting wrapped with his usual efficiency. His tone was clipped, his notes precise, and when he finally closed the file, the room exhaled as if relieved to be dismissed. Bella, who had been standing by the side with her tablet in hand, waited for his
Chapter 39 The design floor at StoneTech buzzed with frantic energy. Assistants dashed between desks, fabric samples littered every surface, and printers whined as if protesting the heavy load of presentations being churned out. Chloe stood at the long glass table, her sketches neatly pinned to a board. She adjusted