Archer extended his hand and helped me up, pulling me into a hug despite the pounding headache I was experiencing."Archer, normal people would just cry and grieve," I grumbled through gritted teeth."Hmm..." he mumbled, and I noticed Chad standing behind him, wearing a smile."Welcome back, Mark," Chad greeted."Thanks, man," I replied."Welcome back, Mark," more of the men chimed in. I waved dismissively, then placed my hand on my throbbing forehead. Eliza must have noticed my discomfort because she hurried to my side."We need to get him back to the hospital," she said."But you said he was fine," Archer said, furrowing his eyebrows."He's bleeding and has a headache. He needs...""Nothing that aspirin couldn't fix, right, Doc?" I interjected, glancing at Eliza, urging her to agree. She nodded."Let's get out of here," Archer suggested, while Eliza wrapped an arm around my waist to support me. When she attempted to open her car door, Archer added, "No way. Mark stays with me.""Wha

The entire situation felt surreal, but I soon realized that the job was demanding. For the past months, I had been consumed with work, using it as a distraction from the intense longing I felt for Archer. He never reached out to me, and I resisted the temptation to contact him, fearing rejection and not wanting to appear desperate or immature. I didn’t have any reason to anyway. I didn’t get pregnant. My heart constricted painfully at the thought.I focused on surviving without him each day, even going on dates with men I met at work or during nights out with Jade and Tiffany and our new friends. Whenever Jade and Tiffany tried to bring up Archer in conversation after I returned to Duport, I shut it down and changed the subject. I was grateful that they quickly caught on and understood that it was a topic I wasn't ready to discuss. But their smiles were evident when they saw my customized car with my initials on the license plate.I had plans to return to my hometown of Brooks for Chr

Fernwood Lane, a vast expanse of land covering close to twenty acres, had become my latest construction project. Once dense vegetation was acquired and cleared by my construction company, this land was destined to be transformed into a bustling suburb catering to the middle class.In the world of real estate, opportunities abound for financial gains and even avenues for money laundering. Illegally acquired wealth need not pass through traditional banking channels; instead, it could be invested in construction supplies and projects. The end product, a legal business sold by legitimate means, allowed the money to be funneled back into the banks undetected. Having a reputable commercial bank as a co-investor further facilitated this process. However, there was a dark side to this business. To safeguard my identity, I relied on individuals my father referred to as 'Fronts.' These were genuine professionals in various fields who, while skilled, were also morally corrupt and greedy. They a

"Archer, I..." I started to say, my emotions swirling, but he interrupted gently."I want you to know you have that option. So think about it, okay?" he implored, giving me the space to process everything.I held his gaze for a moment before nodding. He gently guided my head to rest back on his chest, and I closed my eyes, pressing my face to the side of his neck, feeling safe in his embrace."How long was I unconscious?" I asked, trying to piece together the time I had lost."About eight hours…" Archer replied, concern evident in his voice. "Oh, my, what time is it?" I inquired, feeling disoriented. He raised his left wrist to check the gold Rolex adorning it. "Ten minutes to eleven a.m.""You stayed all night," I said, a mix of surprise and gratitude in my tone. "Hmm…." "Did you get any sleep?" I asked, worried about him as well. "I tried…." He sighed. "A nurse came earlier to check on you. I told her I would let her know when you woke up…" "Great, I think I'm going to need so

Afterward, we both remained still on the floor, wrapped in each other's arms. Our breathing was audible and labored, and I nestled my face in the nook of his neck, holding on tightly. He gently combed his fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp as he craned his neck to press a tender kiss to the corner of my lips. "Will you let me feed you now?" he rasped. In response, I tightened my hold around him, not wanting to let go. "I just want to hold you like this," I whispered with genuine emotions. "You have me now, okay?" he assured me, but I stayed silent. Sensing my hesitation, he added, "Okay, darling?" "'Kay," I finally replied in a voice that was barely above a whisper. With a gentle touch, he helped me get up and carried me to a room just down the hallway beside the kitchen area. Pressing my nose to his skin, I inhaled his comforting scent, feeling safe in his arms. He took me inside a swanky bathroom and carefully placed me on the toilet seat to help me clean up, all the wh