Looking around the place where those two scumbags had stayed, David felt disgusted. He figured he’d sell the apartment in a few days-he didn’t want to see it ever again.
After going through something this messed up, David decided they all needed a drink.
Merry, half-gloating, said, “Well, looks like I’m not the only one here with terrible taste in people.”
Merry looked pretty smug about it. At least she didn’t almost end up playing a mom for someone else’s child or get slapped with a cheating scandal that bad.
David rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. How many times have you been played by jerks? If you hadn’t gotten even with one of them last time, you’d still have guys lining up to scam you. And those pretty boys you’re hanging out with now? Every one of them has ‘freeloader’ written all over his face.”
Merry shrugged. “Like they could drain my wallet? Please. At least they won’t show up pregnant and tell me it’s my problem.”
David scowled. “I learned my lesson after one mistake. You? You keep falling for it. I’m way smarter than you.”
Sarah cut in, “Would you two quit arguing? You’re both acting like kids-seriously, pot calling the kettle black.”
They both turned to stare at Sarah. She paused, realizing her track record wasn’t exactly great either.
It really made sense-they were a trio of unlucky romantics, and it was no wonder things kept going sideways for all of them.
Still, David’s story seemed to be heading down a different path now.
Maybe things from the original version of his life didn’t have to stay the same.
Merry glanced at Sarah with a bit of envy. Sarah’s career was on the rise, and as her best friend, Merry knew she couldn’t keep relying on her forever. She wanted to be able to help Sarah when she needed it, even if her efforts couldn’t match Sarah’s wealthy and mysterious husband. Support from a friend, after all, was always the warmest.
As for David, getting burned like this killed any desire he had for another relationship. With his business doing well lately, he decided to stay focused on that. Maybe one day his company would outgrow Ronald’s, and he could finally stomp that jerk underfoot and get some payback.
As for Nora and William? Today was just the beginning.
They’d nearly ruined his life, and now it was their turn to taste what real hardship felt like.
Sarah raised her glass. “Here’s to the future.”
They clinked their glasses, then called drivers to take them home.
When Sarah got home, she was careful not to wake anyone up. She snuck inside and switched on a small light. Sure enough, the house was quiet, and everyone had gone to bed.
She showered and changed into comfortable clothes. She hadn’t drunk much tonight-just a little-but she was still worried she might feel it in the morning. So she made herself some warm milk to shake off any lingering buzz.
While sipping the milk, she checked the news. The buzz about her marriage had finally started to die down. With just one project under her belt so far, Sarah’s fame was still growing, but she knew the public’s attention wouldn’t stay on her for long.
She planned to take a month off before diving into her next project.
Halfway through her milk, she heard something outside.
Butler Ted was escorting Holden into the house. Holden had clearly been drinking. Dressed in a sharp suit, it was obvious he’d just come from an important event.
Butler Ted walked beside him, talking in a low voice. “Don’t take Mr. Samuel’s words too seriously, Young Master. A cornered rabbit bites, but at the end of the day, he’s still just a rabbit.”
Holden’s expression darkened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Ted, slightly nervous, continued, “Young Master, Mr. Samuel is family. Even if you handle things perfectly, people will still suspect you. The families tied to the Smith family-”
“They’re afraid I’ll end up just like my father,” Holden said with a smirk. “Isn’t that right?”
Ted didn’t respond, but his silence was confirmation enough.
Holden waved him off. “Go get some rest. Don’t worry about me.”
Sarah had a bad feeling about this and tried to sneak upstairs with her milk, but Holden spotted her immediately.
“Come here,” he said.
She glanced over at Butler Ted, hoping for backup.
But what could Ted do? He was just a regular old butler, practically ready for retirement. In a situation like this, he chose self-preservation, giving Sarah a “good luck” look before disappearing.
Reluctantly, Sarah carried her half-finished warm milk over to Holden.
He glanced down at her. “What did you just hear?”
Typically, when a villain asks that, it’s a warning they’re about to silence someone for good. Holden wasn’t a villain, but he could definitely be scarier than one.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Sarah blurted.
Holden stood tall in his sleek, perfectly tailored black suit, not a single thread out of place. Even his tie was flawlessly knotted. His height and presence made Sarah feel small, especially since she was barefoot and wearing a soft, cream-colored nightgown.
Holden’s gaze darkened. He pulled her down onto his lap on the couch, positioning her so they were face-to-face.
The faint smell of alcohol lingered on his skin, mingling with the woodsy scent of his cologne. Sarah’s legs brushed against the cool fabric of his suit pants, and without thinking, she clutched his jacket to steady herself.
“Are you scared of me right now?” he asked, tilting her chin between his fingers. His tone was casual, but there was a dangerous edge to it.
His grip hurt a little, and Sarah winced. She could tell he was drunk, and that made her even more nervous.
Damn that Butler Ted-how could he just leave her alone with a dangerous boss like this?
Before she could respond, Holden leaned in and caught her lips with his.
He was much better at this than before, clearly learning how to kiss her in ways that left her completely dazed.
Sarah’s breath hitched as her lips swelled under his kiss, flushed and tender. Holden seemed to enjoy the way she looked right now-vulnerable, helpless, and entirely his. A look that no one else could take from him.
She knew he was drunk, but his thoughts remained clear. This wasn’t the cold and erratic side of Holden she sometimes saw-this was him at his core. Stripped of his usual refined facade, Holden was calculating and distant, far from the charming man he often pretended to be.
Her heart raced, and she knew she wasn’t thinking straight, but… so what?
Sarah had long stopped pretending she still cared about Ronald in front of Holden. She might regret this later, after their marriage ended, but right now? Right now, she didn’t care.
That was enough for her.
She tilted her head, her gaze soft but steady, like the clearest lake on a calm day. Then she leaned in and kissed Holden, this time on her own terms.
Her kiss was nothing like his-no desperation or overwhelming need to claim her. It was light, soft, and almost tender.
Holden was ridiculously handsome, and his lips were just as perfectly shaped as the rest of him. The longer she stayed close to him, the warmer her ears felt.
In her head, Sarah had always imagined her first real relationship would unfold slowly-like in a romance novel. A bit of flirting, some teasing, gradually figuring out each other’s feelings, holding hands, and then maybe, eventually, kisses or sex.
But here she was, not even sure what Holden was really thinking, and they were already kissing like this.
What kind of story was this turning into?
Her thoughts spiraled.
Marriage first, love later?
Or maybe… jump straight to bed, and figure the rest out later?