*****“Apart from Grandmother and my parents, I always knew… deep down that no one else cared. They never treated me like one of them. I had always felt I was the outsider.” Grace’s voice cracked, another tear slipping down her cheek.“I tried my best, Xavier,” she whispered, her hands clenching weakly against his chest. “I did everything I could for the sake of the family. I worked hard, sacrificed my peace, and tried to prove that I cared for them… for the family. But they always treated me like I was the problem, like I was in the way.”Her breath hitched as her next words broke out like a confession. “But now… to find out that they were never truly family at all? To learn that Grandfather had been an impostor, and that the real one had died long before my father was even born…”Her words strangled in her throat.Before Grace even realized it, she had already clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms, her shoulders shaking.Her eyes shimmered with red-rimmed fury

*****Xavier had always known that Grace was a top belle… the kind of woman who could make heads turn even in a crowded ballroom, but he had never really seen her like this before… never this close and never this still.Now, under the soft spill of the morning sunlight filtering through the car window, it felt as if he were looking at her for the very first time.His chest tightened, his heartbeat drumming fast and uneven as his gaze lingered on her face.Grace was his wife… his woman, yet even he couldn’t help the absurd wave of envy that washed over him.‘How the hell did I get this lucky?’ he thought, his lips twitching in quiet disbelief.He had faced ruthless men, stared down death itself, and outsmarted devils in human form, but Grace… Grace was the one thing that made him feel weak.Still, the reason his words died in his throat was far simpler.Grace had completely fallen asleep in his arms, her breathing soft and uneven, her lashes trembling now and then as if she wer

*****“Should I pick it?” Xavier muttered to himself, frowning slightly as he stared at the cell phone in his hand. “Or should I put the phone on silent and just let her keep calling till her fingers cramp?”His gaze flicked toward Grace again… she remained perfectly still, lost in her much-needed slumber.The rise and fall of her chest was both steady and serene… proof that exhaustion had completely won over her stubborn willpower.On one hand, he didn’t want anything to disturb her. But on the other hand, Dorothy wasn’t exactly the type to give up easily.If she had called once, she would call again, and again… and maybe even show up at the gate demanding answers if she had to, after all, she knows his house. They had come here together the very first time.Xavier rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. “Knowing that woman, she’s probably panicking already because her almighty boss hasn’t shown up for work.”Then his eyes widened slightly as realization dawned on him. “Wait a m

*****Without any forewarning, the atmosphere inside Villa Number One suddenly plummeted, the air growing so cold it could have been mistaken for the dead of winter in the blink of an eye.Then, following this, a suffocating stillness settled over the grand mansion… thick, heavy, and humming with an undercurrent of rage so palpable it felt alive.Even the polished marble floors seemed to tense under it.In the living room, Laura couldn’t help but suddenly shudder violently, hugging her arms across her chest.“Did you just turn down the AC again?” she asked, her voice half-whisper and half-accusation.David frowned, rubbing his forearms as a chill also snaked through his spine. “I didn’t touch anything,” he muttered, rising to check.But before he could take a step, the temperature snapped back to normal… as abruptly as it had dropped.And realizing this, the Husband and wife couldn’t help but exchange bewildered looks, each of them silently wondering if the other had imagined

*****Before now, Xavier had been ready for a full-blown argument, for Dorothy to unleash that infamous tongue of hers… but instead, she had just… agreed.If only he knew why.She hadn’t agreed out of submission, fear, or because the pressure was too much for her to handle.It was trust… grudging and reluctant trust. Because no matter how much she rolled her eyes at Xavier, she knew he always came through for Grace. And deep down, she also knew her boss would have done the same: trusted him without question.Xavier, oblivious to the flicker of respect in her silence, let out a small sigh of relief. “Good,” he said quietly, ready to end the call. But just as he moved to hang up…“Xavier.”Her voice stopped him.It wasn’t sharp this time.It wasn’t defensive or irritated.It was… soft and earnest.He blinked, caught off guard. Dorothy had never used his name to call him before, so it wasn’t just unusual… it was downright startling.And to this, his brow furrowed slightly. “Y