RECKLESS

BILLIONAIRE’S
RUTHLESS CLAIM

Ava Selwyn
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 OBSESSED
BILLIONAIRES,
CHERISHED BRIDES
SERIES
Book Four

Ava Selwyn

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 Copyright © 2025 Ava Selwyn

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living
or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written
permission of the publisher.

ASIN: B0DSGNZ1T9

Cover design by: facebook/ Instagram : @skydesignsofficial

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To the girl who dreams of a love that owns her,
Where her every laugh has him falling harder—
Turn the page, Love, this is your story.

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 SYNOPSIS
He thought she was hopelessly in love with him—turns out, she was in
love with his bank account.

“Why are you here again? Didn’t I tell you to stop following me?” Sawyer
Stark is convinced Ellie Madden is hopelessly in love with him.

For three years, she’s been his girlfriend, bound by a convenient deal to
maintain appearances until his childhood love, Olivia, returns. But Ellie
didn’t get the memo. Every time he turns around, there she is, looking at
him like he’s her world.

“Here’s ten thousand dollars. Is that enough to make you disappear?” he

scoffs, offering cash as if it’s a solution. What he doesn’t realize is that Ellie
isn’t there for love—she’s there for his wallet.

A fire stole her identity and left her drowning in debt, and Sawyer’s money
is her lifeline. When Olivia finally returns, Ellie doesn’t wait to be thrown
out—she vanishes on her own, leaving Sawyer stunned.

Suddenly, it’s not Olivia he wants—it’s the ‘gold digger’ who’s caught
another man’s attention. Seeing Ellie with someone else ignites something
Sawyer never expected.

Now he’s not just jealous; he’s furious.

For the first time, he’s not sure what hurts more—losing Ellie or realizing
she might not have cared about him at all.
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 WARNING

The author is Asian, not British or American, and the book is written in
Third-Person POV.

The writing style may differ from what you might be used to with western
romance authors (First-Person POV). When leaving a review, please
remember that Amazon is a global platform that embraces diverse voices
and writing styles. The platform isn’t limited to just one type of writer, and
the author greatly appreciates a positive response focused on the story itself
rather than criticism of the writing style.

If you enjoyed the story and found it engaging, the author would be very
grateful (and honestly in tears) for a positive review.

Pretty please.
Love, Ava Selwyn

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 CONTENTS

Title Page
Obsessed Billionaires, Cherished Brides Series
Copyright
Dedication
Synopsis
Warning
Chapter 1 A Temporary Replacement
Chapter 2 Husband
Chapter 3 Olivia
Chapter 4 A Surprise
Chapter 5 An Accident
Chapter 6 A Deal
Chapter 7 Lily
Chapter 8 Greedy and Lustful
Chapter 9 Jealousy
Chapter 10 Burn Her
Chapter 11 Stalker
Chapter 12 Boyfriend
Chapter 13 Stark Entertainment
Chapter 14 Girlfriend
Chapter 15 The Whitlock Residence
Chapter 16 The Real One
Chapter 17 A Call
Chapter 18 A Rich Guy
Chapter 19 Pleasing Sawyer
Chapter 20 Scared
Chapter 21 Options
Chapter 22 A Betrayal
Chapter 23 A Little Joke
Chapter 24 A Servant
Epilogue
Bonus Chapter
Book 6 : Exclusive First Look!
Books In This Series
Become a VIP Reader!
Keep in touch with Ava Selwyn
Acknowledgement
About The Author

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 CHAPTER 1 A
TEMPORARY
REPLACEMENT
Ellie Madden's phone dinged with a new message.
‘Hey Ellie, I just saw your boyfriend hugging a woman at a private party.
They looked really close. You should hurry to the party before he gets
seduced by another woman.’ -X
Her hand froze mid-reach for popcorn. The piece she had just eaten caught
in her throat, making her cough loudly. Slapping her chest to shove it down,
she grabbed a soda, gulping it in one go. She stared at the message, her
heart racing.
Tossing the phone aside, she leapt out of bed, grabbing a dress from the
closet and throwing it on in a frenzy. Just as she was about to leave, Ellie
hesitated, turning back to grab her makeup bag and phone.
‘Please send me the address.’ She texted back to the unknown, mysterious
texter ‘X’.
Fifteen minutes later, Ellie stood outside a grand estate, its lights spilling
out onto the driveway, indicating the lavish party within. The sight of the
sprawling mansion didn’t intimidate her despite not coming from wealth.
Dressed in a fitted black dress that hugged her slender frame, she paired it
with matching heels, exuding effortless confidence. Her wavy chestnut hair
cascaded over her shoulders, and her sharp, playful eyes gleamed under the
glow of the lights.
Marching up to the front door, she tried to enter, but a firm hand grabbed
her arm.
“Your invite, ma’am?” The security guard extended a hand, his eyes
sweeping over her from head to toe.
Ellie bit her lip, stepping aside. It was a private party of the richest elites of
the country; sneaking in would be nearly impossible. Quickly pulling out
her phone, she texted back to ‘X’ who had sent her the tip-off.
‘Hey, I can’t get in without an invite. Can you do something?’
The reply didn’t come, but within minutes, the guard’s phone buzzed. After
a brief conversation on the call with someone, he stepped aside.
“You’re free to go in, ma’am.”
Ellie grinned and rushed inside at once.
The interior was as grand as she had imagined—golden chandeliers, marble
floors, and walls adorned with expensive artwork. There were murmurs
rippling through the crowd, whispers about the opportunity to own a share
in the Cage Hospitals Group, as tonight's party celebrated the company
going public.
Yet, Ellie’s focus wasn’t on the grandeur of the event or the lavish decor
surrounding her.
Her eyes darted across the crowded main hall, scanning for the familiar
figure.
Her heart sank when she spotted Sawyer Stark. His tall, commanding
presence was impossible to miss, and his effortlessly handsome looks made
him stand out even in a sea of wealthy elites.
His jet-black hair was neatly styled, sharp gray eyes cold and unreadable.
The tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders and lean frame perfectly,
exuding power with every breath. Even in a room full of billionaires, he
was the one who looked like he owned everything—and he probably did.
But it wasn’t just him she noticed—it was the woman in a figure-hugging
green gown standing dangerously close to him. She had a glass of wine in
hand, feigning tipsiness as she reached out to touch Sawyer’s arm.
“Sawyer,” the woman purred in a breathy voice. “I feel a little lightheaded.
Can you take me upstairs to my room?”
Sawyer, who had been mid-conversation with others, turned his head
slowly, as if only now registering the woman next to himself, and her touch
on his arm.
Ellie didn’t wait another second. She stormed forward, coming to stand
right in front of him.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice trembling slightly.
Her eyes flicked to the woman’s hand still resting on his arm. “Why didn’t
you tell me you were going to a party? A private party? I would’ve come
with you.”
Sawyer’s piercing eyes turned to her, bored and cold. Without answering,
he took another sip of his whiskey and walked over to a couch where his
friends were gathered.
Ellie followed, standing awkwardly as two men and three women lounged
around Sawyer.
They were all impeccably dressed in designer clothes that screamed wealth
and privilege. The women, with their high heels, flawless makeup, and air
of arrogance, looked every bit as polished as their outfits.
One of the women at the table chimed in, her voice dripping with curiosity.
"Is this Sawyer’s girlfriend everyone talks about?" Her eyes narrowed as
she gave Ellie a scrutinizing look from head to toe. "Doesn’t Olivia look a
lot like her?" she asked, turning to the people beside her.
They nodded in agreement, one of the men murmuring, "Yeah, I just
realized. No wonder I thought she looked very familiar."
At that moment, the woman in the green dress, Alina, snapped her head
toward them. "What are you even saying? Listen to yourself." She scoffed,
glaring at Ellie with disdain. "What lookalike? My best friend and this
thing? Olivia and her only have a slight resemblance. That’s why she’s just
a temporary replacement for Olivia in Sawyer’s life."
"Replacement?" one of the black-haired men, Elliot, asked, raising a
curious brow.
"Obviously," Alina smirked, her tone sharp. "Olivia is the owner of a
massive business empire like Whitlock Industries. How could this
replacement even compare to Olivia? Does she even deserve to be
mentioned in the same sentence as her? It’s a fucking insult." She scoffed.
The group erupted in snickers, and Alina leaned back in her seat, radiating
smugness.
Ellie, however, ignored their taunts and turned her attention to Sawyer. As
he sat on the couch, she knelt beside him. Her knees pressed against the
cold floor, and she gently wrapped her hand around his arm.
Her voice was calm and soft as she said, "Husband, let’s go home now,
okay?"
Sawyer recoiled as if her touch burned him, jerking her hand away, his face
hardening into a scowl.
He took a slow sip of his whiskey, then set the glass down with a deliberate
clink.
Rising to his full height, he towered over her, his expression hard with
irritation. “I’m not your husband. I’ve told you a thousand times—stop
calling me that! Have you really started thinking of yourself as my
girlfriend?” His words were ice-cold, slicing through the noise around
them. “Don’t forget that you’re just a woman I’m having fun with. And I
pay you for that, don’t I?”
A stunned silence fell over the group, but it was quickly replaced with
smirks and whispers. Alina leaned back on the couch, arms crossed, her lips
curling into a triumphant smile.
Ellie rose back to her feet, her legs a little unsteady. She faced Sawyer, her
smaller frame barely reaching his chest, making her feel even more aware
of how close he was.
Sawyer grabbed his whiskey glass again, casually pulling a card from his
coat pocket. With a careless flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward Ellie.
“Here’s five thousand dollars. Take it and leave this place right now.”
The card landed with a soft click on the floor, and Ellie’s gaze followed it,
her heart sinking.
‘You want to get rid of me so easily?’ she thought, her face fell even further,
her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
She looked up at Sawyer, meeting his cold, dark eyes. "Do you really think
I came here for your money?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sawyer took another sip of his whiskey and scoffed, a smirk curling on his
lips. "What? It’s not enough?"
He pulled out another card from his pocket. "Here. Ten thousand. Is this
enough to get rid of you?”
Ellie stared at the card, her hand tightening into fists. Her eyes filled with
tears, but she held his gaze, struggling to keep her voice steady. “So in your
eyes, everything I do for you is just for your money?” she asked softly. "Do
you seriously think I’m a person like that?"
Sawyer’s expression didn’t change. If anything, it grew more indifferent,
more bored as he held the card extended toward her.
Just as he was about to lower it, Ellie choked out, “Alright. Fine! I’ll leave
you alone then.” Her words were thick with emotion. “I’ll take your money
and leave you alone!”
She snatched the card from his hand, wiping her tears with her other hand
as she quickly turned, heading for the door.
Sawyer’s cold gaze followed her retreating figure, uncaring.
Ellie had only taken two steps when her feet froze, her body trembling.
Behind her, Alina’s mocking voice rang out, “What happened? The money’s
still not enough for you to leave? How greedy are you?”
Ellie sniffled, her breath hitching as she wiped another tear from her face.
She turned back, her shoulders slumped in defeat. Her eyes met Sawyer’s—
hesitant, filled with care. She looked at the whiskey glass in his hand, her
fingers still clutching the card as she spoke softly.
"Don’t drink anymore," she said quietly. "Your stomach will hurt. Come
home early."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked out of the house.
Sawyer watched her retreating figure, his gaze lingering as she wiped
another tear from her face. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, and he set the
whiskey glass down without taking another sip.
‘She’s really in love with me,’ Sawyer thought, recalling the way she’d
worried about him.
Elliot broke the silence with a mocking chuckle. “Wow, even after you tore
her apart like that, she’s still worried about you.” His tone dripped with
amusement as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. Leaning back lazily,
he took another slow swig of whiskey, letting the burn settle before
smirking. “Doesn’t she have any self-respect? What is she? Blind in your
love?”
As Ellie disappeared from view, Sawyer finally took a deep breath, his jaw
tightening. His expression darkened. He turned to Elliot, muttering, “It
doesn’t matter.” His voice was low, almost detached, but there was a rough
edge to it.
He sank onto the opposite couch, far from Alina. Shadows flickered across
his face under the lighting, his fingers tapping against his knee. “I know
she’s not after my money, but I have someone else. I can’t let her have false
hopes.”
He leaned back, closing his eyes tightly for a moment before letting out
another deep sigh. “She’ll go home and cry it out, just like always,” he
murmured, shaking his head as if trying to shake off the weight of his own
words. Taking a small sip of whiskey, he let the familiar burn settle in his
chest.
Ellie stepped out of the estate, her heels clicking softly against the
pavement as she hurried along the dimly lit street, desperate to put as much
distance as possible between herself and that place. Her shoulders shook
hard, her body trembling with each step, her breathing ragged.
As the footpath ended and she reached the main road, Ellie’s trembling
grew uncontrollable. Her shoulders shaking harder, and then, without
warning, a loud splutter escaped her lips, breaking the tense silence.
Suddenly, she burst into laughter—loud, unrestrained, and almost unhinged.
Her voice echoed in the quiet night as she pulled the card out of her purse.
Holding it up, she stared at it with a strange mix of affection and
amusement, her giggles only growing louder.
“I really, really, really love money so much!” Ellie jumped up and down,
kissing the card in her hand like it was the most precious treasure in the
world. A wide grin stretched across her face, her joy almost childlike in its
intensity.
Spinning on her heel, she glanced back at the glittering lights of the
mansion where the party raged on, the sound of muffled music and laughter
seeping into the cold night air, her smile never faltering. Then, with a
playful skip in her step, she turned back toward the road.
"You treat me as a replacement for your old love, and I treat you as my
personal ATM machine," she muttered, her tone laced with mockery as she
snickered. "Good for both of us, you scumbag."
She twirled the card between her fingers and called out loudly into the
empty street, "Enjoy your delusions, Sawyer Narcissist Stark. You just paid
the price for the privilege of being fooled by me."
Huffing loudly, Ellie pressed the card to her chest, a wide grin stretching
across her face. Her laughter rang through the quiet night, light and
carefree. With a little twirl, she skipped down the sidewalk, her steps
bouncing with excitement as she made her way back home.
***
It was late at night when Sawyer finally returned home. The house was
dimly lit, but the lights in Sawyer’s bedroom still glowed softly. As his
BMW rolled into the driveway, the maids at the Stark house immediately
sprang into action, preparing to care for him.
Ada, one of the older maids who’d worked for the Stark family for years,
glanced out of the window as Sawyer exited his car, her eyes widening in
panic. Her graying hair was neatly pulled into a bun, and fine lines creased
her warm brown eyes. Dressed in a simple black uniform, her frail yet
upright posture spoke of years of discipline and quiet loyalty.
She immediately rushed to Ellie’s bedroom, peeking inside.
“Miss Ellie, SNS is home!” she said urgently.
Ada had no idea that SNS stood for ‘Sawyer Narcissist Stark’. Hearing Ellie
call Sawyer ‘SNS’ all the time when he wasn’t around, the maids in the
house had unknowingly picked up the habit themselves. While they usually
addressed him as ‘Mr. Stark’ in his presence, behind his back, the maids had
also begun calling him SNS.
None of them knew what the initials truly stood for—they simply assumed
it was a sweet, endearing, affectionate nickname or a playful shorthand for
Sawyer’s name that Ellie had created. After all, Ellie said it with such ease
and a happy smile.
Ellie, who had been lounging on her back with a tablet in hand and a bag of
chips by her side, jolted upright. She slapped her hands over her mouth to
wipe away the crumbs and sprang out of bed, dashing out of the room.
As Sawyer stepped inside, Ellie hurried to meet him with an eager smile.
“You’re back,” she said, her voice bubbling with warmth as she rushed to
help him take off his coat. “Welcome home.”
She carefully placed his coat on the couch before grabbing his hand with
both of hers, her smile never fading. “Come, I made some soup for you. It’ll
help with the stomach ache in the morning.” she added sweetly.
She led him to the dining table, her hands light on his arm as she guided
him into the chair. But before she could turn away to fetch the soup,
Sawyer’s hand shot out, gripping her arm with unexpected force. He spun
her around, pulling her in close.
His other hand slid to her face, his thumb brushing over her lips before he
cupped her jaw. His gaze locked onto hers, dark and intense, as if he was
trying to read the very depth of her soul.
“You are happy?” he muttered, his voice laced with doubt.
Ellie froze, her cheerful demeanor faltering.
‘Shit. I forgot I was supposed to look sad!’ she panicked internally.
“N-no?” she stammered, quickly softening her expression into a timid,
forced smile.
Sawyer’s grip tightened, a faint tremor in his fingers as his eyes searched
her face, studying her with a quiet intensity. ‘She loves me so much,’ he
thought bitterly, 'she's even faking a smile after the way I treated her
tonight, hiding the hurt instead of showing the sadness she must be feeling.’
His chest tightened at the thought, but he remained still, his expression cold
and unreadable.
His voice softened just enough to make her shiver, but the sharpness in it
never fully disappeared. “You should know your place by now.” He pulled
her closer, their bodies colliding in a raw, possessive press as he looked
down into her eyes. “If it weren’t for my mom forcing me to date you
because you look like the woman I love, you wouldn’t even be in this
house.”
Ellie remained silent, staring up at him. Her heart pounded, but she said
nothing.
Sawyer’s tone grew colder with every word. “So, don’t get any unrealistic
expectations out of this relationship. Don’t try to act like you are my real
girlfriend again.” His eyes searched hers, demanding a response.
Ellie’s lips thinned, her gaze dropped to the floor. After a brief pause, she
nodded obediently.
Sawyer let out a satisfied breath, releasing her face. But as he stepped back,
his eyes caught the faint imprint of his fingers on her skin, and for a brief
moment, he froze. ‘Did I hurt her?’ His hand moved instinctively toward
her face, but before he could touch her, Ellie turned quickly and headed to
the kitchen.
She busied herself with the soup, stirring it calmly to pour in the bowl as
though nothing had happened. But Sawyer was already following her
closely behind.
“I know,” she said softly, not looking at him. “I know I’m just a temporary
replacement for the woman you love. What right do I have to feel upset?”
As soon as she spoke the words, Sawyer’s hand grasped her waist, spinning
her around. He pressed her against the kitchen counter, his frown deepening
as he looked at her face.
"Don’t worry," he said, his tone softer now. "There are benefits to being
Sawyer Stark’s temporary girlfriend. After all, not everyone gets the
privilege of sharing a bedroom with me." He smirked, glancing down at the
fading imprint of his fingers on her cheek, a satisfied glint in his eyes.
“I’ll take you shopping tomorrow,” he added casually. “You can buy
whatever you want.”
Ellie’s eyes lit up briefly before she quickly masked her excitement with a
solemn expression. She gave a small, sad nod. “Alright,” she murmured.
“I can give you everything, Ellie.” Sawyer said quietly, releasing her and
stepping back, “but not my love.”
With that, he turned and walked away, tossing a final instruction over his
shoulder. “Bring the soup to my room. I’m going to shower.”
Ellie waited until he disappeared up the stairs.
The moment he was out of sight, Ellie rolled her eyes. Turning back to the
soup, she muttered under her breath, dripping with sarcasm, “Mhm, if it
weren’t for your ‘everything except love,’ I wouldn’t be dumb enough to
play ‘house’ with you in this ridiculous acting show, SNS.”
Her gaze shifted to the shiny card sitting on the counter—the very one he’d
handed her at the private party.
“I already have everything I love most about you,” she said with a smile.

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 CHAPTER 2 HUSBAND
It was late in the day when Ellie stepped into the jewelry store ‘Satire’,
located in the heart of Max Mall—one of Manhattan’s most luxurious malls
in Manhattan. Despite there being other high-end shopping centers, Max
Mall stood out—not only for its elite clientele but also because it was
owned by the prominent Empire family, one of the wealthiest in the world.
If you were to shop here, you were among the elite, and Ellie was no
exception, thanks to Sawyer.
As she walked through the polished glass doors of Satire, her eyes roamed
over the glistening gold and diamonds on display, their beauty almost
overwhelming. Her gaze wandered over the fine pieces, an almost dream-
like glaze in her eyes as they swept over the shiny things
Spotting an assistant near the counter, Ellie walked up, her purse tucked
under her arm. "Hi," she greeted with a smile, her voice soft but confident.
"I booked a necklace last month when I came here with my boyfriend. I’d
like to pick it up now, please."
The assistant’s smile faltered for a brief moment, hesitation flashing across
her face. “Oh, yes, Ms. Madden. I remember,” she said carefully. But her
eyes darted past Ellie’s shoulder, her voice dropping slightly. “The necklace
was kept aside for you, but it seems one of the other assistants didn’t notice
the hold and allowed another customer to try it on.”
Ellie turned, following the assistant's gaze.
There, Alina stood in front of a full-length mirror, the very necklace Ellie
had reserved draped elegantly around her neck. Alina turned her head this
way and that, her fingers brushing the diamonds as she admired her
reflection from every angle, completely absorbed in herself.
Ellie clenched her jaw, her hand tightening around the strap of her handbag.
She closed her eyes for a moment, forcing herself to take a deep breath.
When she opened them again, her frustration was clear, but her steps were
quick as she marched straight toward Alina.
"That’s mine. Give it back." Ellie said coldly, barely sparing Alina a glance.
Alina’s attention shifted to Ellie.
Her eyes raked over Ellie with disdain before her lips twisted into a
disgusted sneer. “What the hell are you doing here?” she spat, her voice
dripping with annoyance. She turned her glare toward the assistant. “Since
when do you let beggars shop at Satire?”
Ellie’s eyes narrowed. She exhaled a frustrated breath, her patience running
thin. "You’re the beggar, you brainless bimbo. I booked that necklace a
month ago. Unless you want to be arrested for theft, give it back."
Alina’s face flushed with rage, her eyes bulging. "What did you just call
me?"
“A brainless bimbo,” Ellie replied casually, as if it were the most natural
thing in the world. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “Should I
say it slower so your brain can process the words?”
Alina’s face turned an alarming shade of green, her expression twisting with
anger so exaggerated it was almost comical—like a cartoon character ready
to explode.
But then, with a forced smile that looked more like a grimace, Alina
adjusted the necklace on her neck. Her lips curled into an arrogant smirk as
she turned fully to face Ellie.
“Can you even afford the cab fare to get here on your own?” she taunted.
“Just because Olivia left for overseas and isn’t with Sawyer anymore,
doesn’t mean you’ll ever be able to really replace her. You’re nothing!"
Ellie rolled her eyes, letting out a bored sigh. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever,” she
muttered, her tone dismissive. “Give me the necklace already. I don’t have
time for your yapping.”
“You—!” Alina’s eyes blazed with rage, her voice dripping with venom.
“You’re just jealous! Olivia is a rich heiress, and you? You’re nothing but a
filthy street rat Sawyer picked up out of pity!”
Ellie’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “And you’re jealous because you
can’t even manage to be that street rat. Face it, Alina. You’re angry because
Sawyer doesn’t even look at you.” Ellie shot back with a smirk, cutting
through Alina’s composure like a knife. “Or is it Olivia you’re scared of?
Worried she’ll ruin you once she’s back if she finds out that you’re trying to
seduce her ex-boyfriend?”
Alina’s lips twisted into a snarl. “Olivia is my best friend. I have no fucking
desire to seduce her boyfriend! Olivia is rich and beautiful—everything
you’ll never be. Sawyer deserves someone like her to stand next to him, not
you! When she returns, you’ll be thrown out like trash. I’ll make sure of it!
Then we’ll see if you can still look at me with that smug little face!”
“Oh, shut up!” Ellie snapped, her patience snapping like a brittle thread.
She lunged forward and grabbed the necklace around Alina’s neck. “Give
me my necklace back! Now!”
The two women got into a scuffle as Ellie yanked at the necklace. With a
sharp tug, she ripped it from Alina’s neck, leaving a red mark behind.
Holding the necklace tightly in her fist, Ellie stepped back, her victorious
smirk daring Alina to make another move.
“Now, go cry to Olivia,” Ellie taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.
“You two can fight over him. I have no interest in your ridiculous drama.”
Alina’s face turned green with fury, but then her lips curved into a sly smile
as she glanced over Ellie’s shoulder. “Sawyer!” she suddenly yelled,
making Ellie freeze in her tracks.
Ellie’s head snapped around, panic flaring in her eyes as she spotted Sawyer
walking toward them, sliding his phone into his pant’s pocket.
Ellie’s grip on the necklace tightened as she quickly hid it behind her back.
Her mind raced in alarm. ‘Did he hear me? Does he… know?’
As soon as he entered Satire, Alina rushed and latched onto his arm as
though staking her claim.
“Sawyer, look at her!” she whined. “She was badmouthing Olivia and me. I
just picked this necklace for myself, and she attacked me for it! How can
someone like her belong in a place like this?” Alina clung to him tighter, her
voice growing louder with every word. “She doesn’t care about you. She
even said she doesn’t mind Olivia taking you back as long as she gets paid
for it.”
Ellie’s heart pounded in her chest. Her fingers tightened around the
necklace as her gaze darted nervously to Sawyer. His eyes, cold and
calculating, met hers for a moment, making her stomach churn with unease.
Alina, emboldened by Sawyer’s silence, leaned closer to him, her voice
dripping with fake sweetness. “Olivia is smarter, prettier, and better in every
way. You should get rid of this... this thing before Olivia gets upset. You
wouldn’t want to lose Olivia over her, would you?”
Finally, Sawyer shifted his gaze to Alina. He looked down at her clinging to
his arm as though noticing her for the first time. With a sharp movement, he
shrugged her off as if she were nothing more than an annoying fly.
“When did I ever give you the right to question my choices, Alina?” he
asked icily.
From his sudden push, Alina stumbled, nearly falling, but the assistant
quickly steadied her. Flustered and humiliated, Alina’s voice rose. “Sawyer,
how can you insult me like this? I’m Olivia’s best friend!”
“Do you really think I care?” His voice was cold, each word like a slap to
her face. “You aren’t Olivia.”
“But—she broke the necklace! She attacked me, Sawyer!” Alina wailed,
pointing at Ellie. “She’s pretending to be innocent now, but she’s nothing
but a cunning wenc—”
“Enough.” Sawyer’s icy tone cut her off. His eyes slid to Ellie, who quickly
put on a pitiful, vulnerable, wide-eyed expression.
“Ban her,” Sawyer said coolly, shoving his hands into his pockets. He
turned and began walking away.
Alina’s face lit up with triumph. “Did you hear that? Ban this bitch from
this store right now!” She ordered the assistant.
But instead of grabbing Ellie, the assistant snatched Alina’s store card and
broke it in half.
“Ms. Glenn,” the assistant said firmly, “you are no longer welcome here.”
“What?!” Alina shrieked, her voice echoing through the store. “Are you
deaf? He meant that beggar bitch, not me! What are you doing?!”
The assistant didn’t flinch, merely signaling for security to escort her out.
Sawyer was one of the owners of Satire. He had already made it clear that
Ellie was his girlfriend. How could he harm his own girlfriend for the sake
of another woman? The assistant quickly understood exactly who he was
referring to when he mentioned the ban.
Alina’s horrified gaze darted to Sawyer, who stood near the exit, watching
the scene with a cold, detached expression.
“You’re doing this because of her?!” Alina screamed, her gaze desperate as
it landed on Sawyer. “You’re going to upset Olivia over this goddamn
replacement?! She’s just a fucking fling! Only your plaything!”
Sawyer paused mid-step, turning slightly. His eyes were darker than before,
his voice sharp enough to cut.
“Even if she is a plaything, she’s my plaything. Who told you that you can
insult and hurt her?” he said coldly.
Alina’s face turned red with rage. “You’re insane!” she screamed. “Sawyer,
Olivia will be furious when she hears about this! She’ll throw this slut out,
and you’ll regret—”
Sawyer’s expression darkened, his patience clearly gone. “Stop using such
vulgar language in front of me,” he said icily. “With those manners, you
don’t even deserve to claim you come from a decent family. Do I need to
speak to your parents to teach you how to behave with Sawyer Stark’s
girlfriend?”
Sawyer owned one of the largest entertainment companies in the country.
Despite being one of the richest elites, he rarely interacted with anyone
regarding business matters. A direct call from Sawyer to Alina’s family
could only mean two things: either their family business would cease to
exist in the country within the next 24 hours, or they would disown Alina
completely to save themselves. There was no middle ground.
And Sawyer using that as a threat only ignited Alina’s simmering rage.
She had known Sawyer for years and had seen his life up close. Olivia, his
childhood sweetheart, had always been the woman by his side. Her place in
his life had always been untouchable.
Alina envied Olivia endlessly, watching them together jealously from the
sidelines for years. But everything changed the day a fire destroyed Olivia’s
home, with Olivia inside. Olivia was burnt badly and had to be hospitalized
for a very long time to heal.
After that incident, Olivia's demeanor shifted drastically. The once playful,
happy and annoyingly kind girl became someone quick to anger, consumed
by ego, pride, and a reckless display of power through her senseless
handling of money.
Alina saw her chance and slid into Olivia’s life as her new ‘best friend’ just
to be closer to Sawyer. When Olivia unexpectedly moved overseas, Alina
thought her time had finally come. She was ready to seduce Sawyer in any
way possible.
But just as her path to Sawyer seemed clear, a new woman, Ellie appeared
out of nowhere, stealing his attention—and shattering Alina’s dreams in an
instant and taking her place as Sawyer’s girlfriend.
Alina’s fury simmered. She had waited years for this moment, and Ellie had
snatched it right out of her hands!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. To Alina, it was
unfair—she was supposed to be with him. She had been the closest to him
after Olivia left and had been patiently waiting for her opportunity.
Consumed by rage, Alina growled, her voice trembling. "I’m vulgar? I
don’t have manners? And she does?" Her finger pointed accusingly at Ellie.
"She just snatched a necklace right off my neck in front of everyone and
had the nerve to fight me over it!"
Sawyer’s gaze shifted to Ellie. Caught off guard, Ellie avoided his piercing
eyes, staring at the walls like they suddenly held the most interesting secrets
in the world.
Unmoved by the tension, Sawyer stepped closer to Ellie. Ellie’s heart
thundered in her chest. ‘Is he going to figure out I’m not as innocent as he
thinks? Where will I find another money bag like this if he throws me out?’
“Ellie, did you snatch the necklace off her neck?” Sawyer’s voice was firm
as he frowned at Ellie. “Show me your hands.”
Alina smiled smugly, practically tasting victory. ‘Now this faker will get
what she deserves.’
Ellie’s hands trembled slightly as she extended them toward Sawyer. One
hand held the necklace, and the other was empty. The hand gripping the
necklace had a deep red mark and a scratch from when she had pulled at the
necklace.
Sawyer’s frown deepened. “Why are you arguing with others over a
necklace? I would’ve bought you a better one. Look at your hand—you’ve
injured yourself over something so worthless.”
Ellie’s breath caught as she watched his expression shift to concern.
That necklace cost over three hundred thousand dollars—a fortune for most
—but for Sawyer, it wasn’t even a fraction of a drop in his ocean of wealth.
Alina’s jaw dropped in disbelief as she stared at him. ‘Instead of scolding
Ellie for hurting me or getting angry at her for nearly breaking a necklace
worth a fortune, he’s worrying about a scratch on her damn hand?!’ Alina
could barely breathe through her rage.
Without a care for her reaction, Sawyer grabbed Ellie’s arm and began
leading her out of the store. As they walked past Alina, Ellie flashed her a
cheeky grin and stuck her tongue out playfully, further fueling Alina’s
already blazing fury.
“I won’t let you get away with this!” Alina shrieked, her voice echoing
through the mall. But before she could do anything more, security clamped
a hand over her mouth and dragged her out.
Meanwhile, Sawyer took Ellie straight home. He guided Ellie to the bed,
disappearing into the bathroom and returning with a first-aid kit.
He sat beside her, his touch surprisingly gentle as he cleaned the cut on her
hand. Ellie winced as the alcohol stung her wound.
“You’re such a child. What were you thinking, fighting over a necklace?”
Sawyer scolded her gently, pressing a bandage onto her injury. “Next time,
call me before you get into trouble. I’ll handle it. Don’t involve yourself in
pointless arguments.”
Ellie stared at him, her emotions churning. She couldn’t believe he had
thrown Alina out and banned her from his stores—all for her. Alina was
Olivia’s best friend. Wouldn’t this offend Olivia?
“Husband,” she said quietly, drawing his attention.
“Don’t call me that.” His piercing gaze met hers, and she steeled herself.
“Sawyer, Aren’t you worried this will upset Olivia?” she asked,
straightening her shoulders. “I mean, you love her the most, and if Alina
badmouths you to her—”
“Alina isn’t Olivia. I am not going to cater to every fucking friend that
exists around my people,” Sawyer interrupted firmly, cutting her off. “And I
didn’t ban her for you. I banned her because of her behavior. She
disrespected me. This has nothing to do with you.”
Ellie’s chest tightened, as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over her
head.
She forced a laugh to hide the embarrassment creeping onto her face. “Of
course,” she muttered. “I knew it. Why would you care about me?”
But then Sawyer released her hand and leaned closer, his intense eyes
locking onto hers. He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. His
face was closer than ever, his voice a low murmur.
“Are you jealous?”
Ellie blinked, caught off guard. She laughed again, this time genuinely.
“Jealous? No, I’m not.”
Sawyer’s expression remained unconvinced. “You aren’t allowed to be
jealous of Olivia. You already know I’m waiting for her to come back,
there’s no need to feel jealous. Otherwise, I might have to throw money at
you again—and that would be rude.”
Ellie’s eyes sparkled as she stood up abruptly, her voice almost too eager.
Turning toward Sawyer, she immediately insisted, “No, it won’t be rude.
Really. Please, throw money at me.”
Sawyer’s gaze sharpened, a skeptical frown forming as he stood up.
Caught off guard, Ellie quickly hid her excitement and her face changed,
taking on a sad expression.
Her voice trembled as she spoke, and a single tear fell dramatically down
her cheek.
“I mean, I understand,” she whispered, her voice quivering. “Olivia is your
one true love. It’s okay if you don’t love me. I don’t mind. I’ll just take the
money you give me and pretend it’s love, just to fill the emptiness
somehow.” She took a shaky breath, her voice soft but earnest. “I just want
to see you every day, please. That’s all I want. Just a glimpse of you. Is that
okay?”
She could barely hide the thrill in her voice. ‘If I see him every day, I can
keep getting more money from him.’ She thought excitedly.
Sawyer nodded, his expression solemn. He stepped closer, his gaze
softening as he looked at her. Without a word, he gently wiped the tear from
her cheek.
“I’ll do that,” he said, his voice low and gruff. “As long as you don’t cause
trouble for me. Live obediently in my house, and I’ll make sure you’re
happy as long as you’re with me.”
“Yes,” she replied eagerly, nodding. “That’s all I want.”
Sawyer’s eyes lingered on her, noting the way she stared at him with an
intensity that took him by surprise. There was something in the way she
looked at him—like he was the center of her universe, the only thing that
mattered. She gazed at him as though him coming home every day was the
only thing that she had ever wanted in life.
This girl was so consumed by love for him that he could feel the weight of
it—he could barely breathe without feeling the pressure of her longing
filled, affectionate gaze.
Sawyer stepped closer, his hand gently cupping her face. His head dipped
slightly, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “I can’t give you
my love, Ellie, but I can give you something more precious.”
Ellie’s eyes brightened, her heart racing with excitement. ‘What could be
more precious? Bags? Diamonds? A villa? More cash?’ She felt like she
might burst from the anticipation.
“Really?” she asked, her voice trembling with eagerness. “What is it?”
He locked eyes with her, a brief moment of silence between them before he
answered, “My body.”
Before she could process his words, his lips crashed against hers in a deep
kiss. His hand gripped the back of her neck, and the other slid around her
waist, pulling her close.
Ellie froze for a moment, shocked by the suddenness of the kiss. The
unfamiliar sensation overwhelmed her, and she struggled to breathe as his
lips pressed harder against hers.
‘She loves me so much, she must be devastated that I keep pushing her
away,’ Sawyer thought, a flicker of guilt clouding his mind. ‘I have nothing
else to give her—nothing she deserves. The only compensation I can offer
for all these years of unreciprocated love is my body. Let her take out her
pain on me, to calm her down and help her forget about me.’
Ellie gasped for breath, but as the kiss deepened, a strange heat spread
through her. His tongue slithered over her soft lips, licking and sucking on
them before thrusting inside to taste more of her nectar. His scent was all
over her, thick and intoxicating, and the only sound she could hear was the
ragged breaths between their kisses.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 3 OLIVIA
There was a strangeness in his touch that didn’t feel strange—like his
fingers belonged on her skin, on her body. It was a familiar sensation, one
she couldn’t get enough of.
His fingers gripped her dress, yanking it off in one swift motion. The
moment his hands found her bare skin, a deep groan rumbled against her
lips in satisfaction. Soft, delicate flesh slipped beneath his fingers, and his
rough, calloused hands found her waist, pressing her down into the bed. His
fingers worked quickly, unfastening his tie before throwing his coat to the
ground. He tore open the top buttons of his shirt, then ripped it off entirely
in unrestrained eagerness. All the while, his lips never left hers—kissing her
breathless, his tongue sweeping over her.
“Mmhmm…” she moaned, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him
back slightly.
Impatiently, Sawyer pulled back just enough to see her face.
“I…” she muttered, her breath heavy. “Wait… I need… to breathe…” she
croaked out.
He licked his lips hungrily, his eyes dropping to her reddened lips, still wet
from their kiss. Then lower—where her flush traveled from her cheeks
down her neck, down her chest, disappearing beneath her black lace bra.
His girth hardened painfully at the sight, his need for her growing
unbearable.
“I can’t,” he muttered, his head immediately diving back to her lips. “I can’t
hold back anymore.” His voice was hoarse against her mouth as he
devoured her.
Sawyer’s rough fingers slid from her wrists to her underarms, his touch
teasing over the delicate flesh before trailing down her sides. The sudden
tingle made her flinch under his firm grip. Then, his fingers slipped to her
back, and with one quick snap, her bra came undone.
Her body tensed beneath him, and he pulled back slightly—only to drag the
straps down her arms and throw the flimsy fabric away. Ellie’s gaze locked
onto Sawyer’s, and for the first time, she saw him completely unraveled,
lost in frenzy and madness, as if the only thing he had ever craved in his
entire life was touching her, kissing her.
His hand shot out, grabbing her by the back of her neck and pulling her
forward. His tongue trailed from her ear down to her earlobe, then slowly
down the side of her neck.
Her breath quickened. The wet softness of his tongue clashed with the firm
pressure of his grip, sending a wild shiver through her.
Sawyer wasn’t gentle. He didn’t care about being careful. Every move was
rough, ruthless—unlike any touch she had ever known. His fingers hooked
into her panties, yanking them down her legs before ripping them off
completely, leaving her bare for him.
He flipped her over effortlessly, her body landing face-first on the bed. His
fingers traced the curve of her spine, slowly moving downward until
reaching the small of her back.
Then, without warning, he bent down and sank his teeth into her ass, biting
down on the delicate flesh roughly.
“Mhhmmmm…” she whimpered, her body trembling beneath him. She
instinctively tried to move, but his firm grip pinned her in place.
Sawyer flipped her onto her back again, his hands pushing her legs up into
the air, spreading her open just enough to see the soft, swollen flesh
between them. The deep blush on her face was the same shade as the one
below, and the thought of tasting her made his body shudder with
anticipation.
His fingers brushed over her slit, a single stroke making her pussy damp.
“Ah!” Ellie whimpered softly, her fingers clutching the sheets beneath her.
Sawyer lowered his mouth to her navel, his tongue tracing lazy circles on
her skin. He licked one side of her waist, then the other, then dipped his
tongue into the center of her navel, teasing her. His fingers never left her
slit, gliding over her folds in slow, tormenting strokes.
“Saw… hahh…” she whimpered, her body tightening under his touch.
The teasing was unbearable—his fingers rubbing fast, then slowing to a
crawl, keeping her on the edge but never letting her fall. The constant denial
made her body desperate for more, each stolen climax making her moans
more needy, more pleading.
Her soft cries only made him hungrier.
Sawyer’s lips moved higher, his mouth no longer kissing but licking,
devouring—his tongue trailing over every inch of her skin. It slid from the
curve of her waist to the side of her breast, then up to her armpit, where his
fingers playfully tickled the sensitive skin before pressing in more firmly.
Then, he did it again.
“Sawyer!” she whimpered.
But instead of stopping, he buried his face into the curve of her armpit, his
tongue flickering over the soft skin.
His fingers trailed down again, slipping from her breast to her navel, his
index finger pressing down and rubbing in slow, steady circles. The
pressure sent shivers through her, making the nerve running from that spot
to her core pulse with intense, unexpected pleasure.
Her legs jerked, her body twitching beneath him as the sensation
overwhelmed her. She buried her face in her arm, trying to suppress the
scream building in her throat.
She knew—if he heard her desperate cries, he would only push her further.
He would torment her harder.
Even as she tried to keep quiet, a small moan still slipped past her lips,
leaving her breathless.
“That’s what I wanted to hear from this mouth of yours.” Sawyer’s
excitement was clear in his voice, trembling slightly, unable to contain the
intensity of his desire.
His face moved from her armpits and buried itself into her breasts. His teeth
attacked her nipple, gripping it harshly before pulling at it.
Ellie’s body jolted as the stretch from his bite sent a wave of pleasure
through her, her skin reddening where he’d touched. His tongue swirled
over the sensitive skin, licking and sucking with force, making her breath
catch in her throat.
His fingers were relentless, pressing against her navel before slipping lower
to rub against her most sensitive spot, a teasing, persistent pressure.
Everything about him was urgent, demanding, relentless.
“AHHHHHHHHH!!”
Ellie’s cry tore through the air, her legs twisting as the intensity of the
orgasm overwhelmed her. Sawyer gripped her thighs, forcing her legs
wider, refusing to give her any space to recover.
He dove between her legs, his mouth finding her clit, making the already
intense orgasm burn deeper, pushing her body to the edge.
“Oh goddd… pleaseeee… oh my goddddd…” Ellie sobbed, her voice
trembling with each desperate plea, every syllable a desperate mixture of
pleasure and need.
Sawyer’s arm slipped under her waist, holding her still as his fingers trailed
down her spine to where her body ached for him. The tips of his other
hand’s fingers brushed against her nub, sending a jolt of electricity through
her. Ellie buried her face in her arm, gripping the bedsheet in a desperate,
shaky hold.
Without warning, those fingers thrust inside her, deep and forceful, the
movement too much to bear. His rhythm was unrelenting, each thrust
pushing deeper, each movement a steady invasion, filling her in ways that
seemed to stretch her limits.
“Aghhhhhh…” Ellie’s voice cracked, her face wet with tears of pleasure,
her body grinding against the sheets as Sawyer’s fingers worked
relentlessly, making her feel more alive, more consumed than ever before.
Sawyer didn’t stop. His fingers slid in and out, fucking her with a need that
matched his hunger. His touch was almost too much, his pace a constant
reminder of the depth of his control over her body. Ellie’s body responded
instantly, shaking, her breath coming out in shallow bursts.
The intensity of it made her skin burn. The pleasure, the pressure, it didn’t
let up, and all she could do was let herself be consumed by it.
“Now you’ve started to get wet,” Sawyer groaned in satisfaction, his voice
low and guttural. He didn’t slow down. His fingers continued their
punishing rhythm, pushing Ellie further, until she came again, trembling,
her body strung tight as she lost herself to the pleasure.
“Ahhh… hahhhh… hhahhh…” Ellie breathed out heavily, her voice
breaking, every part of her body caught in the sensation. But Sawyer wasn’t
finished. He continued to press her, to push her past the point where she
could hold on.
Her body felt like it belonged to him entirely now, unable to escape, unable
to resist. She couldn’t even move, just lying there, taking what he gave her.
The pleasure was all-consuming, and she was powerless to stop it.
Finally, Sawyer pulled away, letting her body collapse onto the bed,
exhausted and trembling. But even as she lay there, spent, his own body
was still burning with need. He stood, his chest heaving as he looked down
at her, his gaze hungry, filled with unrelenting desire.
Ellie’s eyes fluttered open, watching him, stunned by the raw intensity in
his gaze. His muscles flexed as he unfastened his pants, pushing them down
along with his underwear, freeing himself from the restraint. His rod was
rock hard, thick and heavy, veins bulging, showing just how much control
he’d lost.
Climbing back onto the bed, his knee pressing into the mattress, he reached
for her, pulling her hands to him, making her cling to him. Her arms
wrapped around his neck, her face buried against his skin, her breath hot
against his throat, making his arousal flare even more.
Just as her body started to calm down, he leaned forward, making her fall
on the bed on her back. He then found a place between her legs, on his
knees. Grabbing her ankles, he pushed her legs high up to her head. And
then, going up on his knees, he angled his thick shaft at her entrance and
pushed in. Her back arched as the man slid his rod little by little inside her.
“You have no idea of the things I want to do to you right now, Ellie,” he
groaned, his voice husky, the words full of desire and satisfaction. His
thrusts grew faster within seconds, his rhythm quickening, as he lost
himself in the moment.
“Oh god… oh goddddd,” she cried out, her hands reaching up, her nails
scratching his back as if trying to ground herself. “It’s too deep!”
He slowed his thrusts, his movements growing softer, but there was an
urgency in his eyes. “I… can’t wait anymore for you,” he growled, his
breath deep and impatient. He gripped her hips, arching up on his knees so
that her body was almost folded in half, her lower body exposed to him in a
way that made him ache. He slid inside her again, reaching the deepest part
of her, and started thrusting in relentlessly.
“Fuckkk!” she screamed, tears falling from her eyes as her arms wrapped
around his neck. Her body arched and clung to his hard one, unable to
escape him. The force of his thrusts left her breathless, her throat tightening
with each powerful movement. She had nowhere to hide, nowhere to run.
“Sawyer… oh god!” she whimpered as his thrusts didn’t just stimulate her
walls and her G-spot—they slid deeper than ever, hitting places inside her
she didn’t know could feel this good.
He slowed down slightly at her cry, his thrusts growing lighter, but he never
stopped, still fucking her with intensity. Her insides burned with every
movement, a pleasurable burn that left her body trembling, each thrust
pulling another moan from her lips.
“Hahhhhh… ahhhhh!!” His voice grew louder, the sounds of their
connection echoing in the room as he fucked her harder, faster. His member
was wet with her juices, and the warmth of it brought him closer to his own
release. The intensity of her body drove him mad with need.
He fucked her deeper, harder, growing faster, until she was nothing but a
trembling mess beneath him. Her body gave in to his demands, her moans
softening as she couldn’t take much more.
“Only when I’m inside you, are you this fucking tame,” Sawyer whispered
in her ear, his breath hot against her skin as he continued to take he. His
thick girth slid in and out of her, relishing the feel of her soft breaths and the
tremors coursing through her body. She wasn’t moving anymore, but her
walls would clench every time she came, tightening around him.
His teeth grazed her throat, the sensation sending a wave of electricity
through her. He felt her pulse throb against his mouth, and without thinking,
he slowly dug his teeth in, savoring the moment, the taste of her skin
sending fire through him. He sucked harder, drawing her into him.
She clenched around his rod in a vice grip, sucking him in deep, making
him groan.
“Oh… sh… Sawyer!” she moaned, her body igniting with the heat of his
bite, burning her from the inside out.
She turned around, her body moving against him instinctively. She climbed
over him, sinking down onto his shaft, her knees on the bed as she began to
ride him, her body moving in rhythm with his. Her hands gripped his
shoulders as she moved, each thrust making her gasp.
Sawyer’s eyes were locked on her breasts, and he couldn’t help but be
drawn to them. He arched up, trying to capture them with his mouth, but
just as his tongue would touch her nipple, it slipped away. Greed swelled
inside him, and he tried again, his hunger growing. He finally latched on to
one, his mouth sucking and biting it with intensity.
“Ahhhh… Oh fuck…!” she gasped, the sensation of him biting down on her
nipple making her entire body tremble. His manhood, thick and deep, filled
her completely, and the tightness of her drove him wild.
He flicked his tongue on her nipple right after the harsh bites, and Ellie
arched her back, pushing herself deeper into him, her moans filling the
room.
“Fuck. Fuck…!” Sawyer groaned, his movements becoming more frantic as
he took control once again. He threw her back to the bed, his body covering
hers as he climbed over her, slamming into her at his pace—ruthless and
hard, unlike her little, quick thrusts.
Almost instantly, Ellie came again, her body shaking as she screamed, her
voice hoarse from the pleasure, her throat dry. Sawyer’s hands were
everywhere, claiming her, forcing her to submit to the unrelenting rhythm.
He shifted again, turning her onto her side, his body pressing against hers as
he pushed inside from behind. A deep, guttural groan escaped his lips. All
he wanted was to stay buried in her, to feel the way she clenched around
him as they moved together.
Within moments, a shudder ran through him as he released, his body
tensing, muscles straining. The very moment he spilled inside her, she
followed, her body gripping him so tightly it sent another wave of pleasure
coursing through him.
“God… fucking… hell,” he growled, his breath hot against her ear, his body
still trembling as her walls gripped him like a fist.
The high hadn’t even faded when he started moving again, his thrusts slow
but deep, each one stretching her, filling her. His breath was warm against
the side of her neck, heat pooling between them. Soft, lingering kisses
followed—featherlight, teasing—trailing down her skin.
She stirred, her breathing turning uneven, her body instinctively arching to
escape the ticklish sensation. But a firm hand cupped her face, holding her
still as his tongue traced a slow, deliberate path along her neck from behind.
The kisses grew more demanding, more insistent. Within seconds of that
slow torment, she was flooding harder than ever around his rock-hard girth.
Feeling her body stiffen and the warmth coating him, his pace quickened
instantly, thrusting deeper with quick, relentless strokes.
“Oh…” Ellie sobbed, her face burying into the pillow as another wave of
orgasm crashed over her, yet he still didn’t stop. Her body had become so
sensitive that every thrust sent another shuddering climax ripping through
her.
Finally, after several minutes, his grip on her waist tightened, his arm
sliding under her knee to lift her leg and pull it up to her chest, angling
himself to thrust even deeper, hitting her most sensitive spots. She came
again, her body trembling as pleasure wracked her, and then, with a deep
groan, he finally released himself inside her.
Before she could catch her breath, a hard body pinned her to the bed once
more. Soft moans slipped from her lips as kisses rained down her throat and
neckline, making her breath hitch.
Then, those kisses trailed lower, down her chest, her stomach, and finally,
she felt those lips between her legs.
Her eyes snapped open, and her hands shot down to touch muscular
shoulders. “Ah,” she whispered at the tickling sensation that made her
writhe beneath him.
Sawyer’s eyes met hers, burning with an unspoken promise, before his
mouth lowered, taking her swollen nub into his mouth.
Ellie’s hips slid back instinctively, trying to get away, but Sawyer followed,
his mouth devouring her, taking in her scent and taste.
“It’s been… an entire night… ahh…” her voice broke, her throat raw from
the screams earlier. “Please… Sawyer…”
Sawyer’s tongue flicked her clit faster. His hot mouth was attached to her
while his tongue quickly rubbed her sensitive nub.
“Mhhhhh… ahhnnnghhhh…” Her trembling voice barely slipped out, her
body already on the edge.
Within minutes, she came. His tongue slid down immediately, licking her
up, and his hand slid under her hips, arching them higher. His tongue slid
inside her hole, his teeth grazing her. His tongue fucked her repeatedly until
she came again.
But Sawyer was still not satisfied. Her legs wrapped around his neck,
tightening more.
“Ah!” she cried, her hands clenched into fists.
He ate her harder, his tongue flicking over the soft nub and sucking it. His
manhood throbbed, the more he licked her, the more it grew thicker..
“Hahh… hahhhh… ahhhhhhh, Sawyer, wait. Gosh... wait…” her core
throbbed, and she could barely breathe. She was already sensitive from
everything he’d done to her, and now his bite had burned her more.
She came in his mouth, but his tongue still continued to devour her. Her
body twisted, but his hands kept her lower body pinned as he continued.
For hours, he kept his face buried between her legs. She wanted it to end,
yet she didn’t—every time he bit her, every moment she became lost in
him, she gave herself to him more. She was helpless, lost in the pleasure to
resist.
When he finally pulled back, lifting his face, she remained limp on the bed,
breathless. Her body twitched with the aftershocks of her orgasms.
He picked her up in his arms. The first rays of sunlight poured into the room
now, warming her chilled skin after the cold of the night. Her tiny body
clung to his large frame, her face buried in his chest, almost fragile in
comparison to his strength. It was as though a giant held her delicately in
his arms. Within a few minutes, she fell asleep in his embrace.
When her eyes fluttered open again, she felt his lips still lingering on her
neck, soft kisses trailing along her skin. She turned, her sleepy gaze meeting
his lazy, smoldering eyes.
He leaned in, capturing her lips again, his tongue stroking against them,
coaxing her breath away. A soft moan slipped from her, but just as he
deepened the kiss, she bit his lip.
Sawyer pulled back slightly, amusement flickering in his gaze as he licked
the faint sting away. "Feisty," he murmured, his lips curving into a slow
smile.
Then, his low growl brushed against her ear, his voice deceptively gentle.
"As long as Olivia doesn’t come back," he whispered, his fingertips gliding
over her bare back in slow, deliberate strokes. "I’ll treat you well. Don’t
worry."
Ellie’s fingers, which had been relaxed and soft just moments before,
suddenly curled in discomfort. His words were a reminder of her position—
a reminder that she would never be the one he truly wanted. She didn’t
respond, simply keeping her eyes closed.
She had always known this was the game she was playing, but hearing it
out loud like this made it hit harder than she expected.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Sawyer whispered in her ear, planting a soft
kiss on her cheek. His scent filled the air as he leaned into her neck, but
then, just as quickly, he pulled back. He didn’t want her to think she had
him under her control all the time.
He slipped out of the bed and headed to the bathroom, leaving Ellie behind.
The moment his warmth left her body, an unexpected coldness washed over
her. It felt strange—this was the first time they had been intimate in bed,
and now that he was gone, she felt a sense of emptiness.
For the first time, the emptiness of his absence hit her hard. It was as though
a part of her had been pulled away, leaving her exposed.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. Startled, she turned her head and propped
herself up, reaching for the phone. But it wasn’t hers—it was Sawyer’s
phone.
A text message flashed across the screen.
‘Sawyer. I have come back home.’ - Olivia.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 4 A SURPRISE
Ellie’s heart skipped a beat. She gasped, jumping up and grabbing the
phone.
“Ow!” She winced as a sharp pain shot through her back. “God, has this
man never been with a woman? Who the hell lasts all night without
stopping?!”
Her eyes flickered back to the phone and she remembered about the text.
Her fingers trembled as she stared at the screen to make sure she wasn’t
imagining it.
But there it was. The message was real. Olivia’s name was clearly written
as the sender.
Olivia is back?
Ellie’s heart raced, her panic mounting as she stared at the text on Sawyer’s
phone. ‘This quickly? It’s only been two and a half years! Couldn’t she stay
just a little longer? Why is she back so soon?’
Her eyes darted to the shower, where Sawyer’s silhouette moved behind the
frosted glass. A tear rolled down her cheek, this time it was real.
"What’s going to happen to my money now? Who’s going to pay me this
much just to stay with him?"
Setting his phone back in its place, she pressed her hand to her forehead.
Tension knotted her shoulders as she slid off the bed. Grabbing the sheets
and wrapping them haphazardly around her chest, she paced the room. Her
fingers trembled as they shot up to her mouth, nails falling victim to her
nervous chewing.
"Is he going to throw me out now that Olivia’s back? That can’t be right,"
she muttered, laughing lightly to herself, a hollow attempt at reassurance.
"No, he can’t be that heartle—" Her words faltered as her eyes caught his
silhouette beyond the glass wall. She froze, nearly slapping herself.
"Stop being delusional," she scolded under her breath. "Obviously, that
Narcissist Stark isn’t going to let you stay now that his lover has returned.
Why would he keep a replacement when his original is back to please
him?"
Her lips quivered, forming a pout as tears brimmed in her eyes, threatening
to spill. The more she dwelled on it, the more hopeless it seemed. It had
been such easy money these past years.
Tears began to fall as she sniffled, whispering to herself, "Just go to him,
tell him how much I love him, and he’ll throw money at me to make me
shut up. But now, where am I going to get that kind of money? Is this really
the end of this... whatever we have?"
Her lips curled into a pout as she whispered in absolute devastation, "My
money... my ATM machine. Oh no."
Ellie was so consumed by her spiraling thoughts that she didn’t notice when
Sawyer stepped out of the bathroom. His hair still damp, the towel slung
loosely over his shoulder. Ellie, lost in her thoughts, was startled when she
turned and saw him.
“I’m leaving for the office,” he announced, grabbing his phone from the
side table without a second glance.
Ellie quickly wiped her face with her palms, pulling herself together.
Without a word, she hurried to the closet, her hands trembling slightly as
she pulled out a neatly pressed shirt and trousers. She walked over and
handed the clothes to him like she did every morning.
"Here," she said softly.
Sawyer took the clothes absentmindedly, his gaze wandering to her face. He
paused when he saw reddened eyes and tear-streaked cheeks.
He frowned, his hand reaching up to brush away a stray tear.
“Tonight, don’t drink too much,” Ellie blurted out, grabbing his hand. Her
voice wavered with concern. “Otherwise, you’ll get a stomachache again,
and I’ll end up worrying about you."
Sawyer froze at her words, his brow furrowing in confusion. His thumb
gently brushed against her cheek, wiping away the lingering wetness. He
stared at her, both puzzled and oddly touched. ‘She's crying because she
can't stand the thought of me in pain? This stupid girl,’ he thought with a
mix of exasperation and something else he couldn’t quite name.
He let out a soft sigh. "I got it. Don’t worry so much. I won’t drink tonight,
okay? Stop crying," he said gently, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it.
His words, paired with the tender way he stroked her face, left Ellie
speechless. Her chest tightened as she stared up at him, caught off guard by
the sudden softness in his eyes. There was genuine concern in his eyes, and
the warmth in his voice sent an ache through her heart.
‘Narcissist Stark looks so damn attractive when he’s gentle,’ Ellie thought,
her heart skipping a beat.
"I’m leaving now," he said, his hand lingering on her face for a moment
longer before stepping back. "You should go take a bath too."
He turned to leave but stopped at the door, glancing back at her one last
time. She was furiously wiping her face with her palms, as if trying to erase
any trace of her tears. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“This mad girl loves me way too fucking much,” he muttered under his
breath with a slight shake of head before stepping out.
Meanwhile, as the door was shutting behind him, Ellie was groaning, her
hands rubbing to her cheeks. "God damn it! My face is all wet!" she
grumbled, grabbing a tissue and dabbing at her cheeks.
"Why the hell did I cry like that just because I’m going to lose money after
we break up? It’s not like I hadn’t expected it. It was going to happen one
day or another," she mumbled, patting her chest and pacing around the
room. “We were bound to break it off sooner or later. It just... happened
earlier than I expected. No big deal.”
She paused in front of the mirror, fluffing up her hair and patting her
cheeks. Her pout deepened as she thought of Sawyer with Olivia. And then
her chest tightened.
She spun around, her expression lightening. "Now that Narcissist Stark is
out of the house, what am I going to do all day? Since his lover’s back, he’s
definitely not coming home tonight."
Suddenly, with the thought, her eyes lit up, a mischievous grin spreading
across her face.
Just then, Ada popped her head into the room. "Ms. Ellie, SNS has left for
the office."
"Thanks, Ada!" Ellie chirped, smiling sweetly.
As soon as Ada left, Ellie threw her arms up in the air and let out a squeal.
"What else is there to do?!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her feet.
"SNS is out all night, so I’m staying out all night too! It’s gonna be a
party!"
***
"Welcome to the Machoman Inn, my princess," a ridiculously attractive,
shirtless man greeted Ellie at the entrance of the restaurant. His abs gleamed
under the soft lights, and his smile was as dazzling as a toothpaste
commercial.
Ellie beamed at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Thank you very much!”
she chirped, strutting inside like she’d entered paradise.
The moment she stepped in, her eyes widened, and her jaw practically
dropped.
The restaurant was like a fantasy come to life—a dreamland crafted
exclusively for women. Shirtless, chiseled men were everywhere: serving
drinks at the bar, carrying trays, even cooking food at a live cooking station.
The chef, who looked like he’d stepped straight out of a romance novel
cover, was skillfully flipping a steak, his muscular arms flexing with every
movement.
Ellie gasped, her hands flying to her face as she gazed around with starry,
dreamy eyes. “So this is what heaven looks like,” she breathed in awe.
The sight of the chef’s muscular arm flexing sent her into a fit of
uncontrollable giggles. “Oh my god!” she whispered, her voice barely
suppressing a squeak. She couldn’t decide which was hotter—the steak or
the man flipping it.
“Hi, sweetheart, let me escort you to your seat?” The deep, smooth voice
snapped her out of her daze. She turned to find a handsome asian man with
chiseled abs and a grin so charming it should’ve been illegal. He wore
nothing but an apron and a pair of loose gray sweatpants, slung low on his
hips, the untied string hanging carelessly—leaving little to the imagination.
To top it all, he had a killer flirty smile on his lips that made Ellie’s heart
race.
Ellie blinked at him, momentarily stunned. “Y-yes, thank you,” she
stammered, her words faltering as her eyes struggled to stay above his neck.
Before she could finish, the man swept her off her feet, literally.
“Woah!” she squealed in surprise, her arms instinctively wrapping around
his neck.
The man grinned, flashing a charming smile. “There, I’ll carry you to your
seat. Can’t have you tiring out your legs already, now can we?” he said in a
deep, velvety voice.
Ellie’s mouth dropped open as she stared at him in shock. He carried her
effortlessly across the restaurant, weaving through tables and other shirtless
servers. Finally, he placed her gently onto a plush chair and reached for a
crisp white napkin from the table. Kneeling down on his knees, he laid the
napkin on her lap with a flourish, pulling a menu card from his pocket.
“Here’s something for you to look at while I’m gone,” he said with a wink,
laying the menu over the napkin. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”
And just like that, he stood up and disappeared, leaving Ellie gaping after
him. The retreating view of his toned back and playful stride kept her glued
to her seat.
“This is the best day ever!” she whispered to herself, lifting the menu to
hide her flushed face while sneaking glances at the servers around her.
As he disappeared, her gaze shifted to the other servers in the restaurant—
each one as handsome and shirtless as the last. She let out an excited breath,
rubbing her cheeks with both hands.
As more women entered the restaurant, the restaurant was abuzz with
similar scenes. Handsome men carried women to their seats, flirted
shamelessly, and left them blushing and giggling. Ellie laughed quietly as
she watched other customers getting treated like queens.
“This place is going to be the next big thing in Manhattan,” she murmured,
watching the charming servers wooing their customers.
Soon, her server returned with a plate of food, his movements smooth and
sexy. He leaned on the table with one hand to give her a very good view of
his body, his other hand gracefully serving her food.
“I hope you find this ravioli just as ravishing as me,” a cunning smirk
played on his lips, pouring the sauce with an almost sinful flair. Then, he
picked up a knife and fork, slicing the steak on her plate with exaggerated
care, his muscles flexing with every movement. The erotic undertone of his
actions made Ellie’s face flush deep red.
“Here,” he said in a low, rough voice, sliding the plate in front of her. His
lips curved into a smirk as he licked them slowly. “Enjoy all of it.”
Ellie barely managed a nod, too flustered to respond. He licked his lips, his
movements almost too sensual for a simple meal. The server then walked
away, leaving Ellie to savor her meal—and the attention. Unbeknownst to
her, someone else’s gaze had been fixed on her all along.
Five minutes ago, Sawyer had just stepped out of his BMW, his secretary,
Henry, trailing behind him. Henry was rattling off details about the day's
schedule, his eyes glued to his phone.
“Mr. Stark, after this meeting, we’ll head to Mayang Street for the new
actress signing. It should only take one hour—”
Henry’s voice faded into the background as Sawyer’s attention was drawn
elsewhere. His sharp eyes, hidden behind designer sunglasses, caught sight
of a familiar figure entering a restaurant. The door was held open by a very
shirtless man.
Sawyer ripped off his sunglasses, glaring to get a better look. His jaw
tightened as he read the sign above the door: Machoman Inn.
“Was that Ellie?” he barked.
Henry looked up in confusion. “Sorry, Mr. Stark? What did you say?”
Sawyer’s eyes were glued to the entrance of the restaurant. His teeth
clenched.
Henry followed his boss’s gaze, his brows raising slightly at the sight of the
shirtless doorman. The bold name of the restaurant made him blink.
Then, Henry chuckled nervously. “No, Mr. Stark. How could Miss Ellie be
here? She doesn’t even think about anyone or anything other than you.”
Sawyer took a deep breath, Henry’s words making his jaw loosen. He let
out a short laugh, though it lacked humor. “Right?” he said, though his eyes
remained fixed on the entrance.
Henry nodded earnestly, a grin on his face. “Of course! Miss Ellie is shy
and timid. She’d turn red just thinking about a place like this.”
Sawyer frowned, his gut twisting uneasily. “Yeah. Ellie’s shy. She
wouldn’t…” His words trailed off, but the image of her stepping inside
refused to leave his mind.
Henry nodded with a small smile and pointed at the same restaurant. “By
the way, Mr. Stark, that’s Mr. Elliot’s new business. We’re meeting him
inside.”
Sawyer’s head snapped to Henry. “Seriously?” His raised brow showed
both disbelief and irritation.
Henry offered an apologetic grin. “That’s what Mr. Elliot requested.”
Sawyer closed his eyes, exhaling through gritted teeth. “For fuck’s sake. Of
all places, he picks this for a work meeting?” Muttering a curse under his
breath, he marched toward the restaurant.
As the doors opened, Sawyer froze momentarily, his eyes scanning the
room. Naked men were everywhere, serving tables with confident smirks.
The clientele consisted almost entirely of women, and the restaurant was
packed. For a place that had just opened, Elliot’s business was already
booming.
Sawyer turned to Henry as they walked further inside. "I asked you to make
a perfume for Ellie. Is it ready?"
"Yes, Mr. Stark," Henry replied promptly. "Exactly as per your design. It’s
customized to your exact instructions. The perfumer also said he’d be happy
to make any changes if needed." He pulled a small box from his pocket and
handed it over.
Sawyer flipped open the box. Inside was a stunning baby pink perfume
bottle with a black bow cap. The scent hit him instantly—an intoxicating
blend of jasmine and orange, sultry yet soft.
Ellie wore a perfume similar to this every day, but she constantly talked
about wanting a specific scent just for herself, one that no one else had. He
had memorized every little detail she mentioned.
And now, this scent—intense yet delicate, seductive yet familiar—was
unmistakably Ellie.
“She’s going to kiss me out of happiness when she sees this.” A soft smile
tugged at the corners of his lips as he imagined her reaction.
Closing the box, he slid it into his pocket. As he looked up, Elliot descended
the stairs with his signature wide grin.
“You’re here! I thought you’d show up around midnight or something. It’s
already past dinner time.”
“Busy with work,” Sawyer muttered, offering a faint smile.
"I get it." Elliot rolled his eyes, gesturing to the bustling restaurant. "What
do you think? Is this place gonna make some girls go crazy or gonna be a
fail soon?"
Sawyer glanced around the packed room. “Do you even need my answer
after an opening night like this?”
Elliot shoved his hands in his pockets, his grin widening. "Being gay has its
perks—knowing exactly what girls want to see."
"Anything else you want to discuss about business?" Sawyer asked,
glancing briefly at Henry. "If it’s about finances or other details, just tell
Henry, and he’ll handle it."
Elliot chuckled, stepping closer. "Yeah, there’s that. But I’ve got a surprise
for you, too."
Sawyer’s brows knitted. “What surprise?”
“Look over there.” Elliot’s grin turned mischievous as he pointed at the
second set of stairs toward the end of the restaurant.
Sawyer followed Elliot’s gesture.
A stunning woman descended from the stairs gracefully, dressed in tight
jeans and a plunging top with a chic jacket. She carried a Chanel bag on her
arm and dripped wealth from her sparkling necklace to her diamond-
studded earrings.
It was Olivia.
Sawyer stared blankly at the crowd for a moment before his lips parted, and
eyes widened in shock. At once, he strode toward the busy center of the
restaurant, his hands leaving his pockets.
Olivia’s smile brightened as she saw him approach. She opened her arms,
ready to greet him. But Sawyer walked right past her without so much as a
glance.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 5 AN
ACCIDENT
Confused, Olivia’s arms dropped mid-motion, her expression faltering.
Sawyer headed straight to a table where a waiter had just served food. Ellie
sat there, her face still alight with a dreamy smile as she stared at the
retreating waiter’s muscular back.
"Ellie?!" Sawyer’s sharp voice snapped through the noise.
Ellie jumped in shock, the fork slipping from her fingers and clattering to
the floor. Her heart leapt to her throat as she looked up, startled to find
Sawyer towering over her.
‘Shit. How’d Narcissist Stark know that I’m here?!’ She panicked instantly.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sawyer growled, grabbing her wrist
and pulling her up from her seat. His brows were drawn tightly, his eyes
narrowing. He glanced toward the waiter Ellie had been watching moments
ago, his jaw clenching. "Are you having fun? Enjoying another man serving
you? Fucking naked?"
Ellie shook her head quickly, her earlier grin wiped clean from her face.
"No! Of course not. How could I—" she stammered, her voice meek as she
looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. "It’s just… uh… an accident."
“What accident?” Sawyer growled, his voice low and seething with anger.
He took a step closer, his burning gaze locking onto her, piercing through
her with an intensity that made her heart race.
“Ellie Madden, how dare you look at other naked men and let them flirt
with you when you already have a boyfriend like me?!” he spat, each word
dripping with fury. “What kind of accident made you sit here and let that
naked bastard serve himself to you on a fucking platter?!”
Ellie shook her head immediately, her face now completely devoid of the
playful giggles that had been there earlier. "No, no. Sawyer, how could I?"
Her voice was soft, almost pleading, as she stepped closer to him.
Her expression turned sullen, her tone soft and full of longing. She gripped
his hand gently.
"You know how much I miss you all the time, don’t you?" she whispered,
her eyes meeting his with an innocent, hurt gaze. "Every time you leave, I
just keep missing you. When you left this morning, I didn’t see you at lunch
either. I was losing my mind. So when I heard about this new restaurant
opening nearby, I thought I’d just come here for dinner. I didn’t know…"
She leaned in, as though whispering a secret. "I didn’t know there’d be
naked men here." She trembled slightly, as if horrified at the mere thought.
"I was so embarrassed. And I was too shy to leave. I just thought I’d finish
my meal as soon as possible and go back home immediately. I didn’t want
to be rude."
Sawyer stared at her for a beat too long, his eyes searching hers for any
trace of deception. But all he saw were those doe eyes, looking up at him
with an innocent, almost intimidated gaze, her hand still gripping his with a
subtle, nervous shake.
He let out a long breath, his anger waning slightly.
"This is not a good place for girls like you," he muttered, his frown
deepening. "What would have happened if I hadn’t shown up and seen you?
Look at you—you're all red in the face."
‘If you hadn’t come, I would’ve had a great night, you scumbag!’ Ellie
thought bitterly, glancing at her now-cold dinner. The hot waiter babe was
long gone.
Before Sawyer could respond, a woman’s voice interrupted them.
"Is this the famous girl I’ve heard about?" Olivia’s voice echoed through the
restaurant, making both Ellie and Sawyer freeze, turning toward her. "Is this
the replacement you found, Sawyer?"
Ellie’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘What the hell is she doing here?’ she
thought, her gaze flicking between Sawyer and Olivia. Had they come here
together? But then her frown deepened. ‘Why would he bring his lover to a
place like this? With naked men everywhere? Oh my god… is Narcissist
Stark into some weird kind of fetishes?’ She shot a suspicious glance at
Sawyer.
Sawyer blinked, finally registering Olivia’s presence.
"Olivia?" He looked at her, frowning. "What are you doing here? When did
you come back? Why so suddenly?"
Olivia’s smile faltered instantly. She had expected Sawyer to be overjoyed
at seeing her, but instead, he looked... disappointed? His tone, more curious
and confused than happy, made her heart sink a little.
Her gaze shifted quickly from Sawyer’s face to Ellie’s hand still clutched in
his.
"Aren’t you happy to see me?" Olivia asked, a forced smile tugging at her
lips. "I’m back for good! Aren’t you happy to see me, finally back for you?"
Her eyes moved from Ellie’s wrist to Sawyer’s face, her smile now laced
with thinly veiled jealousy.
Sawyer let go of Ellie’s hand, straightening up as he focused on Olivia. "Of
course I’m happy to see you after so long. I’m just surprised to see you
return so suddenly."
“I heard that you found someone who looks just like me to be your
girlfriend. Is it her?” Olivia pointed at Ellie. Though her tone wasn’t overtly
rude, it carried a condescending undertone that was impossible to miss.
Ellie glanced between Sawyer and Olivia, feeling the tension in the air.
Olivia was Sawyer’s childhood love, the girl who had flown overseas three
years ago without a word to Sawyer, only to return now, as if nothing had
changed. Sawyer must be thrilled to have her back.
But it was obvious—he wasn’t happy having Olivia and Ellie in the same
room.
‘These two are about to get back together. What the hell am I still doing
here?’ Ellie thought, her heart heavy. She stole a glance at Sawyer's face.
'I’m probably getting fired anyway. Before these two throw me out, I might
as well quickly leave on my own.’
Ellie glanced at Sawyer, her expression unreadable as she grabbed a napkin
from the table and wiped her hands absently. She kept her voice low, but
there was an undeniable edge of hurt as she looked between him and Olivia.
"So, you didn’t come home for dinner tonight because you were busy on a
date with Olivia?" she murmured softly. "You’re not coming home tonight,
are you?"
Sawyer stiffened at her words, his brows knitting together. He was about to
speak, but Ellie raised her hand, cutting him off. Her voice dropped to a
dramatically sad, almost resigned tone as she continued.
"You should have just called and told me. I understand that your true love is
back. I won’t make things hard for you." she said softly. Just for added
touch, she even added a sniffle in between to sound devastated. She took a
deep breath, grabbed her purse, and looked at Sawyer one last time. "I’m
happy as long as it makes you happy. I’ll leave now. You two can enjoy
your evening together."
Without waiting for a response, Ellie walked briskly past Sawyer.
Her footsteps were quick, but they felt heavy with the weight of her
emotions. As she pushed open the restaurant door and stepped outside, the
cool night air hit her face, but it did little to numb the tightness in her chest.
She didn’t look back at first, maintaining her composed mask, her emotions
remained hidden. But then she stopped. Slowly, she glanced back at the
closed door of the restaurant, her shoulders slumping.
No one followed her out.
Of course, he wouldn’t. She was nothing more than an inconvenient
presence in their loving reunion.
"All men are the same," she whispered under her breath, the words bitter on
her tongue.
It felt like a slap to the face. She had been with Sawyer for almost three
years, had done so much for him, and yet, as soon as his lover returned, he
cast her aside like she was nothing. Not even a glance when she walked
away.
She turned around again, her lips trembling as she took a shuddering breath.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. But the image
of Olivia and Sawyer standing together wouldn’t leave her mind. The anger
and bitterness burned inside her, her heart aching.
Quickly, Ellie walked away, her purse tucked under her arm, her steps brisk
as she distanced herself from the restaurant.
In the restaurant, when Sawyer realised Ellie was leaving, he immediately
tried to follow her, but Olivia grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Sawyer, why are you chasing after her?" Olivia's voice was sharp.
Sawyer turned, his pissed off gaze shifting to her hand on his arm before
slowly meeting her eyes. Olivia flinched. Instinctively, she let go of his arm
at once.
But then, composing herself, she took a step closer, her hands reaching up
to rest on his chest as she spoke, her eyes searching his. "Sawyer, we've
been together since we were kids. Didn’t you always say that you love me
more than anyone else in the world? Then why..." she glanced at the door,
her frown deepening. "Why are you running after that girl? I’m right here.
Isn’t that enough?"
Sawyer took a frustrated breath, his shoulders tense as he glanced around,
seeing the still-present half-naked servers. "Let’s talk outside," he muttered,
storming out of the restaurant.
The night air was crisp and bitter as they stood outside, the noise of the
restaurant’s clamor fading behind them. Sawyer adjusted his coat, his other
hand shoved in his pocket, and turned to face Olivia. His expression was
unreadable.
He stood there for a moment, collecting his thoughts before speaking. "I
have a question for you, too," he said, his voice more controlled now. "You
never answered me. You left me three years ago without so much as a text.
So why are you back now?"
"Sawyer." Olivia frowned, stepping closer to him and reaching out to touch
his arm, but he raised his hand, stopping her in her tracks. His brows
furrowed deeply as he took a subtle step back, creating a barrier between
them. Ever since the fire at her home, every time she touched him, an
uncomfortable tension coiled in his chest, one he couldn’t explain.
They had known each other since childhood, had once been so deeply in
love that everyone assumed they were destined for forever. But now, no
matter how much he tried, standing close to her felt suffocating.
Olivia’s jaw tightened at his rejection, her teeth clenching briefly as
irritation flickered across her face. But she quickly masked it, forcing a
strained smile as she took a calming breath and spoke patiently, her tone
soft yet calculated.
"Sawyer, you know how bad things were after the fire. Our business was
crumbling, and someone had to step in to save it. That’s why I had to leave
out of the blue, to live overseas and take care of everything. I didn’t have a
choice," she explained, her voice trembling slightly. "How else could I
protect my parents and everything they built? I had to do it—for us, for our
future."
His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "So, you left without a word?"
Olivia’s face softened into a sad expression, a hint of forced vulnerability
seeping into her voice. "My parents made me do it," she replied, her gaze
darting to the floor. "I told them I didn’t want to go, but they insisted. They
forced me to leave."
She was lying.
Sawyer’s gaze lingered on her face, searching for even a sliver of the
woman he had loved for so many years. The woman he had grown up with,
who had been his entire world since childhood. But no matter how hard he
looked, she wasn’t there.
He had known her family for years. He had a good relationship with them,
and they had told him the truth the very day she had left. They had tried to
stop Olivia from leaving, but she’d insisted on going overseas the moment
the news broke about the power struggle in Sawyer’s family business.
When the speculations were flying around the country that Sawyer might
not be the next CEO of Stark Entertainment, she booked a flight and left the
country even when her parents begged her to stay.
And now she was blaming them for it?
“Did it really have nothing to do with me not taking the CEO position back
then?” Sawyer’s brow arched, his tone clipped.
Olivia froze for a moment, startled by the question, but she quickly shook
her head, forcing a calm smile. “Of course not. What are you talking about?
How could I be petty like that? You know I’ve always loved you. How
could I ever leave you over something so stupid?”
Sawyer took a deep breath, his hand instinctively rising to scratch his nose
as irritation flickered across his face.
Then, with visible effort, he pushed the feeling aside and looked at her
again. This time, his eyes had softened—no longer cold, but distant, almost
resigned. After all, she had been with him for many years. They had loved
each other since they were kids. He couldn’t completely dismiss that.
“Alright. It’s good to see you’ve come back, Olivia.” he murmured.
Olivia’s face lit up, and she eagerly reached out to grab his hand. “Yes! I’m
never going back again. I’m going to live here—and be with you.”
Sawyer simply nodded, his movements stiff as he pulled his hand out of
hers. “I’m going to leave now. Get home early,” he said abruptly.
He turned and walked away, his back straight as he headed toward his car.
Olivia stood there, stunned, her eyes following him as he drove off without
a second glance.
He was a man who would never leave Olivia alone. Wherever she was, he
was there.
But now, after all these years, she had returned, and he had left her standing
on the street?
Olivia watched in disbelief as Sawyer got into his car, and drove off without
a second glance. Her hands clenched into fists as her anger boiled over.
Her angry eyes shot daggers as she stared after the car, fuming with
frustration.
Then, with a sharp flip of her heels, she marched back inside the restaurant.
Not finding Elliot there, she stormed into his office.
Elliot jumped from his seat in surprise. "What’s wrong?"
She continued marching until she was standing right in front of him.
“Didn’t you keep saying over the phone all these years that he’s still madly
in love with me? Then what the hell is going on? Why is he acting like I’m
a stranger?"
Elliot took a calming breath, his hand patting her shoulder in an attempt to
reassure her. "He must still be in shock," he said gently, sensing the rising
anger in her. "You came back out of the blue. He’s probably still processing
it. Give him some time."
Olivia breathed heavily, unable to shake off the humiliation. She closed her
eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself, then looked back at Elliot. “I’m
just shocked. He loved me so much... why would he defend another woman
in front of me?”
“It’s probably his coping mechanism,” Elliot explained. “What else can he
do? He loved you, but you weren’t here. Now he’s trying to move forward.
He’s still processing that past between you two."
Olivia didn’t fully believe him, but she didn’t have any other choice but to
accept it for now. She needed to find a way to get Sawyer back on her side,
no matter what it took.
Meanwhile, Sawyer sat in his car, staring at the picture on his phone. Two
children stood hand in hand, smiling. The boy wore green striped pajamas,
while the girl was dressed in pink. Her face lit up with a wide, joyful grin,
while the boy simply gazed at her, his eyes filled with quiet affection. This
was him and Olivia when they were ten years old. They had known each
other their whole lives. Their parents were business partners and close
friends. At sixteen, Sawyer had asked Olivia to be his girlfriend and they
were together since then.
Until the fire happened and burnt Olivia.
"Mr. Stark," Henry’s voice broke through the quiet, pulling Sawyer out of
his trance. "Congratulations. Ms. Olivia has returned."
Sawyer glanced at Henry through the rearview mirror and nodded without
much expression.
“You don’t look as happy as I expected,” Henry remarked quietly, meeting
Sawyer’s gaze. “Mr. Stark, can I just say…” he hesitated for a moment.
“Ever since the fire at Miss Olivia’s house three years ago, her temperament
has changed so much. I don’t even recognize her anymore. The way she
behaves…” Henry trailed off, unwilling to speak the words ‘cunning’ or
‘vindictive’ aloud, but it was clear what he meant. “She’s become someone
completely different.”
Sawyer closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, his mind racing. “At
first, I thought it was just the trauma from the fire. She was burned so badly.
But now, it’s been over three years. She’s not the same person anymore.”
Henry drove in silence for a while. Sawyer pressed the button to lower the
window, feeling the cold night air rush against his face.
Henry glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “Mr. Stark, now that Ms.
Olivia is back, what about Miss Ellie?” he asked carefully. “Are you really
going to give her money and send her away?”
Sawyer remained silent for a moment, his gaze drifting back to the photo of
Olivia on his phone.
"Yes," he replied quietly. “That’s the deal I made with her. She had agreed
to leave once Olivia is back."
“But, Mr. Stark,” Henry’s voice faltered, almost concerned. “Miss Ellie
loves you so much. She’s going to be devastated when she hears this. We all
have seen how much she’s in love with you. She’s going to be so
heartbroken. I’m worried she might even fall into depression after leaving
you.”
Sawyer’s hand reached for his chest, the sudden ache making it harder for
him to breathe.
He cleared his throat, his eyes shifting back to the photo of Olivia on his
phone. Then the memories of their childhood love flashed in his mind.
“That’s the only thing that can happen between her and me,” Sawyer
answered coldly. “There’s no other option.”

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 6 A DEAL
Ellie entered the Stark house with a loud yawn, her stomach growling in
protest. It had been a long, exhausting night. She hadn’t even had dinner
yet. After literally running away from the restaurant, she came straight
home.
“Ada, I’m so hungry! Please, give me anything to eat, I’ll literally eat these
walls…” she trailed off, but then screamed and jumped back, dropping her
bag to the floor as her heart raced in her chest.
“Jenelia?” she gasped, blinking quickly as her pulse hammered in her ears.
"Wh-What... are you doing here?"
On the couch sat a woman who radiated sophistication, her arms folded
over her chest. Her eyes were cold, staring directly at Ellie like she was an
annoying fly that had buzzed into her house uninvited.
Ellie immediately turned around, making a dash upstairs to hide. "You must
be here for Sawyer, right? I’ll leave you—"
"Get back here!" Jenelia snapped coldly.
Ellie halted in her steps, her heart jumping once more. Forcing a fake smile
onto her face, she slowly turned around and walked toward Jenelia.
The woman was Sawyer’s sister, barely a few years older than him, but one
look from her made Ellie feel like she might wet her pants. She was
terrifyingly cold, and sharp and the way she stared at Ellie almost made her
feel as if she should disappear from this world. Like Jenelia would snap her
fingers, Thanos-style—but instead of half the world vanishing, it would be
Ellie snapping in two like a twig.
With her best forced smile, Ellie stood in front of her. "I’m here. How are
you? What are you doing here so late at night? You should be at home. It’s
not safe to roam around other people’s houses this late."
"Shut up," Jenelia growled, clearly annoyed. Her cold eyes bore into Ellie.
"You know Olivia is back, don’t you?"
"...yeah. I saw her," Ellie answered, keeping the forced smile on her face.
"Then it’s time for you to get lost," Jenelia snapped. "My brother only
brought you into this house because he was upset over Olivia leaving. Now
that she’s back, there’s no reason for someone like you to stay near him."
She slapped a document onto the table.
"Sign this agreement. It states that you can’t reveal anything about our
family or Sawyer to anyone outside. Sign it and leave my brother right
now."
Ellie glanced at the document. The words ‘Confidentiality Agreement’ were
printed in bold at the top of the page. Then, she looked at Jenelia, who sat
with a pen in her hand, staring at Ellie with growing impatience.
'These people are so damn heartless,' Ellie thought bitterly. 'First her
brother, and now his big sister. The moment Olivia came back, I became
useless to them. They can’t even wait a single day before kicking me out.
Seriously, they’re a businessman’s family through and through—ruthless to
the core.'
When Ellie made no move to sign the paper, Jenelia narrowed her eyes and
let out a sharp breath. Then, she pulled a check from her purse and tossed it
onto the document.
"Here. That’s two hundred thousand dollars," Jenelia said coldly. "It’s
probably more money than you’ve ever seen, even on paper. Take it and get
out of my brother’s life immediately."
Ellie’s eyes widened the moment she saw the check. In the next second, she
rushed forward to grab it, but in her haste, her hand knocked into Jenelia’s.
The check slipped from Jenelia’s grasp and fluttered to the ground—right
along with Ellie, who lost her balance and fell with a thud.
Scrambling up quickly, her breath hitched as she propped herself up, her
fingers trembling against the polished wood. A soft, choked sob escaped her
lips dramatically, and a lone tear slipped from the corner of her eye,
splashing onto the confidentiality paper beneath her hand.
“I know you don’t think I’m worthy of Sawyer,” she whispered, her voice
quivering. Another sob wracked her body, shaking her shoulders as she
wiped at her wet cheeks. “But I love him too much. How can your money
buy my love for him? How can you just throw cash at me and expect me to
walk away? That’s not fair.”
Her sobs grew louder, harsher, as she wiped at her tears. Then, with a
determined sniff, she straightened, standing in front of Jenelia with an air of
fragile defiance.
Jenelia’s jaw clenched, her sharp gaze piercing into Ellie. “You know what
I’m saying. Don’t force me to do things I’d rather not just to get you out of
our lives.”
Ellie didn’t flinch. Instead, she inhaled deeply and, before Jenelia could
finish her sentence, she lifted her hand, spreading her fingers wide.
“Five hundred.” Ellie cut her off before she could finish. “Five hundred
thousand dollars, and I’ll disappear. I promise. I won’t show my face to
your family again. I’ll leave right now.”
Jenelia’s mouth fell open as she stared at Ellie, dumbfounded. Just a second
ago, she had been crying, her face red and soaked with tears but now—there
she was, standing tall, palm open, five fingers displayed.
"Okay? Deal!" Ellie chirped, then bolted upstairs.
Without waiting for an answer, Ellie spun on her heel and ran upstairs.
Within five minutes, she was back, her suitcase in hand. Jenelia hadn’t even
fully processed the situation before Ellie rushed forward, grabbed the check
off the ground, and slammed it down on the table, thrusting a pen into
Jenelia’s hand.
"Here." She panted slightly. "Price of my love. Quick, sign in this place.
Right here."
Jenelia’s fingers tightened around the pen, her expression thunderous. Her
glare alone could have set Ellie ablaze. “I knew it,” she spat through gritted
teeth. "I knew it! I knew you were only after my brother’s money!"
Ellie beamed, completely unbothered. She patted the check, then shoved it
back toward Jenelia. “Sign, big sis. Write five hundred thousand in bold
letters.”
“I am not your big sis! Don’t call me that!” Jenelia growled, snatching the
check from Ellie’s hands. Then, with barely restrained fury, she scrawled
her signature across the paper, the pen nearly breaking under the pressure.
The second Jenelia lifted the pen, Ellie snatched the check up, inspecting it
with a bright grin. She looked up, met Jenelia’s furious gaze, and nodded.
“Alright, Jenelia. I got it.”
Jenelia’s rage boiled over. “You—”
But before she could finish, Ellie grabbed her suitcase and bolted toward
the door. “I’ll leave now. Thanks, Jenelia!”
"GET LOST!" Jenelia’s roar echoed through the Stark estate as Ellie
skipped out of the house, a victorious grin on her face.
Clutching the check tightly, Ellie stepped out of the Stark house. She took a
deep breath, basking in the freedom, almost skipping a few steps with a
bright grin on her face.
“Excuse me, madam.”
A voice interrupted her blissful moment. Ellie turned to see a young man on
a bike pulling up beside her.
“Are you Ellie Madden?” he asked, balancing a large food delivery on his
handlebars.
“Yeah.” Ellie flashed him a carefree smile.
The boy handed over the food delivery package. “Here, Mr. Stark sent this
for you from Machoman Inn.”
Ellie’s eyes widened in delight. “This night just keeps getting better!” she
squealed, eagerly grabbing the bag. “Thanks!”
She placed the bag on top of her suitcase, securing it with one arm before
striding away from the Stark house. The city buzzed around her—cars
honking, neon lights flickering, and the night sky stretching endlessly
above.
Just as she was basking in her newfound freedom, her phone rang. Without
glancing at the screen, she picked up, her voice lilting into a cheerful sing-
song. “Hellooo—”
“Ellie, set up the dinner table. I’ll be home in ten minutes.” Sawyer’s deep,
casual voice came through the receiver, the faint sound of honking signaling
he was already on the road.
Ellie froze. Her lips parted in shock before she cursed under her breath.
‘Damn it! Why the heck didn’t I check the caller ID before picking it up?!’
Thinking fast, she spoke in the most exaggerated, high-pitched, robotic
voice she could muster. “The number you’re trying to dial is no longer in
service. Please refrain from calling this number again if you don’t want to
end up in jail. Ting!”
“What?! Hello?” Sawyer called out, sounding confused.
Ellie immediately hung up and blocked his number. A sigh of relief escaped
her lips as she stared at the red ‘Blocked’ notification, a triumphant smile on
her face.
“This is for the best, Narcissistic Stark.” she declared, lifting her chin.
“Before you throw me out of your life and your house, I’ll take what I can
and leave first on my own. You can enjoy your perfect little life with your
high-nosed childhood sweetheart. At least I’ll have half a million to live off
of for a while.”
Huffing out loud, she shoved the phone back into her purse, but her fingers
brushed against something—a piece of paper. She pulled it out, and her
smile faded.
It was a photograph.
Two children—a boy in a green striped pajama set and a girl in pink—stood
hand in hand, grinning at the camera. But while the girl looked straight
ahead, the boy’s gaze was locked on her, as if she were his whole world.
Ellie inhaled sharply, her thumb tracing the worn edges of the picture. A
lump formed in her throat.
“This is the only proof I have that I had a family before I lost my memory.
It’s been so many years already. I don’t know who this boy is or how long
it’ll take me to find my family.” she murmured. “He must be someone very
close to my heart. Even when I was burning, I still held onto this photo like
a lifeline.”
She stared at the image, the faintest trace of warmth flickering in her chest.
A sudden blare of a car horn jolted her back to reality.
Ellie shook her head, frowning at the picture before stuffing it back into her
purse.
"Meh, whatever." She growled in frustration. "First, I have to figure out
how I'm going to get more money now that I've lost my personal ATM.
How am I supposed to treat Uncle Tony? Even though he was just a
stranger, he spent so much just to fix my burnt face and body with surgeries
before he got into that damn car accident and fell into a coma. I’d be a
heartless animal if I left him in a care home instead of finding a way to get
him back on his feet with treatment."
She glanced at the check in her hand, then up at the sky. “God…” she
whispered, her eyes closing as she quickly prayed. “Please, shower me with
more money. Send another ATM if you have to. I’m ready!”
***
"Ellie Madden!"
Sawyer’s furious voice echoed through the Stark house, sending the maids
into a panic. All eyes turned to Ada.
"Mr. Stark is home early today?" one of them gasped.
"Ms. Ellie isn’t here. Who’s going to handle Mr. Stark now?" another
whispered fearfully. "He seems furious!"
Ada held up a hand to silence them. "Stay here. I’ll go see what’s wrong,"
she said before rushing out.
She rushed out of the kitchen, her heart pounding as she found Sawyer
striding through the hall, his face dark with anger.
"Where the hell is Ellie?" he snapped the moment he spotted her.
"Wait, Mr. Stark. I’ll check," Ada answered quickly, dashing toward Ellie’s
bedroom. She checked the bathroom, the closet, every corner—nothing.
When she returned moments later, her face was pale with panic. But when
she opened Ellie’s closet, her stomach dropped.
Everything was gone.
Ada’s heart pounded as she rushed back to Sawyer. "Mr. Stark, Ms. Ellie is
gone."
Sawyer narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, gone?"
"I checked everywhere. Ms. Ellie isn’t here. Not just that—none of her
things are here either. I think… she left you."
The words barely left her lips before Sawyer flung his coat across the floor,
fury radiating off him in waves.
"Mr. Stark," Ada tried carefully, suppressing a nervous chuckle. She hadn't
seen him this angry in a long time. "I think Ms. Ellie is upset because Ms.
Olivia came back. She must have felt wronged, especially after being forced
to leave the restaurant while you stayed back with Ms. Olivia."
Sawyer’s darkened gaze snapped to Ada, disbelief and irritation flashing in
his eyes.
"Then she should terminate the damn agreement if she’s angry! Why the
hell is she running like a fool?!" His voice was like a crack of thunder, but
then his sharp gaze landed on Ada. "And how do you even know I forced
her to leave the restaurant?"
Ada bit her lip. ‘Obviously, Henry told me all about it. You and Ms. Ellie
don’t exactly make it easy for us to manage both of you unless we know
what you’re up to. If it were left to you two to handle your fights, Henry
and I would probably end up hanging from a tree—because neither of you
could agree on the method to kill us.’ She thought it but wisely kept quiet.
"Mr. Stark, that’s not important, is it?!" Ada quickly changed the subject,
grabbing the coat off the ground. She nearly groaned, mentally slapping
herself for slipping up in front of Sawyer.
She then turned swiftly to face him, stepping closer. "Mr. Stark, don’t you
know how deeply Ms. Ellie loves you? Her feelings for you are
unbreakable. She would never leave your side or walk away from this
relationship so easily. But this time, I think she must have felt really
wronged."
Ada’s voice softened with sadness. "With Ms. Olivia coming back, and you
not standing by her side, telling her to leave without you in front of the
woman you love, I think—" her voice dropped to a whisper, "Ms. Ellie
must be crying somewhere on a dark street right now. Who knows if she
even ate dinner or not."
Sawyer’s scowl deepened. His mind flashed back to earlier. ‘I didn’t even
let her eat at the restaurant earlier. If she was already upset enough to leave
the house, she definitely wouldn’t have touched the food I sent either. That
stupid woman!’ his agitation grew uncontrollably, ‘Roaming around the
streets hungry at night!’
His anger wavered, replaced by something foreign. He exhaled sharply and
sank onto the couch, rubbing his forehead. "I didn’t expect her to fall in
love with me so easily after signing that temporary girlfriend agreement."
Ada nodded solemnly, leaning in with a serious expression. "Mr. Stark, you
are charming, rich, and incredibly smart. How could she not fall for you?
What girl could resist? And Ms. Ellie, she’s such an emotional person. She
takes care of you, loves you unconditionally. Everyone knows that. So how
could she not be angry after seeing you with another woman?"
Sawyer’s lips quirked into a proud smirk. He lifted a finger to his forehead,
pushing back his hair with a hidden smile. "I get it. You’re right." He
sighed, shaking his head. "Obviously. How could I have ever thought she
wouldn’t fall for me? This is my fault."
Ada stepped closer, placing the coat beside him on the couch. Her voice
turned serious. "Mr. Stark, Ms. Ellie loves you so much. But given her timid
and emotional nature, now that she’s left the house—and your side—she’s
no longer under your protection. What if she gets bullied or hurt?"
She put on a worried expression, looking at Sawyer with deep concern. "So
many people were jealous of her because she was with you. Now that she’s
left, what if they take advantage of that and try to hurt her?"
Sawyer shot to his feet, his proud expression vanishing into sheer worry.
"That damn woman!" he snapped, but this time, his voice was laced with
urgency instead of anger. "Ada, find Ellie right now! Search everywhere. I
don’t care what it takes—just find her and bring her back."
Ada straightened immediately, pulling out her phone. "Yes, Mr. Stark! I’ll
call Henry right now and make arrangements. Don’t worry!"
With that, she dashed off to make the call.
Sawyer let out a deep, frustrated breath, his gaze locking onto the empty
bedroom across the hall. His jaw tightened as darkness flickered in his eyes.
“So what if it’s just a contractual relationship?” He gritted his teeth. “Ellie
Madden, don’t even think about leaving me until I throw you out of my life!
Ada rushed out of the hall and headed straight to the kitchen. She quickly
scrolled through her phone and sent a text to Liana Stark, Sawyer’s mother.
‘Madam, Mr. Stark has already started worrying about Ms. Ellie. After she
left home, Mr. Stark became concerned and now wants to search for her. It
seems he really has feelings for her now!’

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 7 LILY
Liana’s phone chimed with the message. She lifted it, unlocked the screen,
and read the text. A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of her lips
before she lowered the phone.
At the Stark estate Sunlight poured in through tall windows, casting a warm
glow over the pristine white walls. The room was spacious yet refined, with
gold-accented bookshelves neatly stacked with hardcovers. A sleek marble
desk sat in the center, holding a crystal vase of fresh roses, a leather
notebook, and a steaming cup of tea. Plush white armchairs with silk
cushions rested near the windows, while a chandelier overhead sparkled,
adding to the airy, elegant feel of the space.
Then, the older, sophisticated woman, who looked far younger than her age,
glanced past the table toward the restless young girl pacing back and forth
in front of her.
"Mrs. Stark!" Ellie finally turned, rushing to the table. She slumped down
into a chair and whined, "Please agree to it. Please, please, please!"
Liana blinked slowly, her face calm and uninterested, as she replied in a
voice as cold as ice, "Our deal was for three years. You agreed to it. You
can’t back out now."
Ellie’s frustration bubbled over as she threw her hands up. "Please, Mrs.
Stark, let me leave now already!" She kicked her feet out in a fit.
Liana shot her a pointed glare, making Ellie freeze. But then, Ellie quickly
leaned forward, resting her arms on the table, and flashed a sweet smile.
"Mrs. Stark, look," she coaxed. "I did everything I was supposed to. And
it’s just, what… six months early? It’s not that big of a deal, is it?"
"I said no," Liana repeated coolly.
Ellie hesitated, then quickly stood and began to negotiate. "Alright, our deal
was that you’ll give me two million dollars after three years are over, but
now I’m asking to leave early. How about you just give me one point eight
million instead?”
Liana stared at her blankly.
"One point five million?" Ellie’s voice quivered, desperation creeping in.
Silence.
"Alright, fine. One million! That’s it! That’s the last I can go." Ellie
slammed her hands down on the table with an absolute face.
The room echoed with a sharp screech as Liana pushed back her chair and
stood. Ellie instinctively covered her ears at the sound before meeting
Liana’s piercing gaze.
"The deal was for three years, Ellie." Liana’s voice rang out like a whip,
sharp and commanding. She met Ellie’s gaze, "You agreed to three years. It
hasn’t been three years yet. Fulfill the agreement. End of conversation.
That’s your only option."
"But his lover is back!" Ellie whined, exasperated, throwing her hands up in
the air. "He’s going to throw me out anyway—it’s just a matter of days, a
week, maybe a month at most. He’s going to toss me out soon, so just let
me leave first!"
"It doesn’t matter," Liana repeated coldly, her hands pressed firmly against
the table as she leaned forward, her tone as cutting as her stare. "I don’t
want Olivia anywhere near my son. She was a good child once. I watched
her grow up. But now, she’s changed completely. She's become a spoiled
brat. And someone like her can never be our family."
Liana leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest. "If you want your
money, fulfil the deal. Stay with Sawyer for three years and pull him out of
Olivia’s grip so he gives up on marrying her. That’s the only way you’ll get
to leave."
"Mrs. Stark…!" Ellie cried, her voice trembling with irritation. "You’re
asking for the impossible! I’m just his side chick! His main girl is back,
don’t you get it? He doesn’t even care—"
"Out." Liana’s voice was soft but chilling, "My dermatologist is here. Your
time is up."
Ellie's mouth dropped open in disbelief.
"Out. Now," Liana repeated, her tone firm, like she was speaking to
someone who was hard of hearing.
With a frustrated pout, Ellie pushed her chair back and stood, turning to
leave the room.
As she walked out, she muttered to herself, a sly smile creeping onto her
face. "Mrs. Stark, since you won’t let me break the agreement, I have one
option left." She glanced back at Liana, her eyes glinting with evil. "I just
have to make your son break it for me. Get him to throw me out, and then
you’ll have no choice but to pay me to leave him." Ellie turned and walked
out the door.
Ellie stepped out of the Stark estate and climbed into the cab waiting
outside. But instead of heading to Sawyer’s house, she gave the driver a
different address.
The car stopped in a much darker, humbler neighborhood—nothing like the
grand Stark estate. Ellie grabbed her suitcase and the food package from the
back seat, then dragged her belongings up the street to a small building
across from the cab.
She climbed the stairs and pulled out a key, unlocking the door. Inside, the
house was dark, so she didn’t bother turning on the lights. She walked
straight into the room, dragging the suitcase behind her.
Just as she entered, a comb flew through the air, narrowly missing her face.
Ellie ducked just in time, and the comb struck the wall before falling to the
floor.
She spun around, horror written across her face, just as the lights flicked on.
"What the hell, Lily?!" Ellie snapped, her heart pounding.
Lily, sitting on the couch with a lap full of chips in various flavors, looked
up at her, wide-eyed. Her dark curls were piled messily atop her head, a few
unruly strands framing her heart-shaped face. Dressed in an oversized
hoodie and shorts, she exuded the effortless charm of someone who cared
more about comfort than fashion.
Lily glanced at her, a hand on her chest, still recovering from her own scare.
"What the hell are you doing here in the middle of the night? I thought you
were a thief!" she growled, a hand clutching her chest.
"And you were going to tackle a thief with a comb, sitting on the couch,
surrounded by chips?" Ellie raised an eyebrow.
“…Yes?”
"Shut up!" Ellie groaned, dragging the suitcase to the wall. She slammed
the door behind her and walked over to Lily, holding out the food package.
"When did you get back from the hospital?" Ellie slumped down next to
Lily on the couch.
"I have a night shift today. Gotta be at the hospital by two." Lily glanced at
the clock. "So, like two hours from now."
"Great," Ellie grumbled, staring at the Blackpink’s ‘Ddu-Du Ddu-Du’ music
video playing on the TV. Then she turned to Lily. "Wanna eat Machoman’s
food?"
Ten minutes later, the food was spread out on the table in front of the couch.
Both girls sat cross-legged on the floor, stuffing their faces as Ellie filled
Lily in on everything that had happened with Sawyer that day.
"That bastard," Lily muttered, tearing into a piece of garlic bread, her face
twisted with anger. "Seriously. Men have no shame, no self-respect! He just
ditched you the moment his lover came back? No hesitation? Not even a
little 'I'll see you at home'?"
"Not even that," Ellie agreed, nodding. "He was just like, 'You’re done here.
Get lost now, shoo.'"
"Bastard!" Lily growled, shaking her head. She swallowed her bite and then
paused, her gaze narrowing. “By the way, aren’t you even a little upset that
he dumped you aside so easily as soon as this high and mighty Olivia came
back?”
Ellie froze for a moment, the food nearly getting stuck in her throat. She
quickly swallowed it, then reached for her water, swallowing another gulp.
Shrugging nonchalantly, she grabbed a piece of chicken and stuffed her
mouth.
"Of course not," Ellie muttered, her voice flat. "Why would it bother me? I
signed an agreement. He had told me that the moment his love comes back,
I’m out. So, why should I care? Why should I be upset that that damn
bastard threw me out like I’m some fly he’s swatting away?" She ground
the last words out, but then swallowed the chicken, sitting back and
glancing up at Lily. "In fact, I’m actually kinda happy he did. Otherwise,
how else would I get to enjoy this grand, expensive buffet with you?"
Lily chuckled, shaking her head at Ellie’s dramatic tone.
"By the way," Ellie mumbled through a mouthful, digging into her purse.
She pulled out the check Jenelia had given her and handed it over to Lily.
"Use this to pay for Uncle Tony’s ventilator and medicine for the next
couple of weeks."
She fished out another card with a ten-thousand-dollar balance and handed
it to Lily. "There’s some money in there, too. Use it for meds or whatever
else. It'll come in handy."
Lily took the check but eyed Ellie with concern. "What about you? Do you
have any money on your hands?"
"Don’t worry about me," Ellie said with a toothy grin, then dipped a
spoonful of sauce onto her plate. "I’m not gonna starve."
Ellie swallowed and then paused, her expression becoming more serious.
"Also, I was gonna ask you something. When Uncle saved me after I got
burned, did he find any pictures of what my face looked like before?"
Lily hesitated, looking down for a moment, before shaking her head. "No.
When you came in, you were badly burnt. We couldn’t even tell what you
looked like before. The doc did the best he could to reconstruct your face."
Ellie’s face fell slightly. She nodded. "Alright."
But then something strange happened. Ellie felt her throat constrict, as if a
weight was pressing down on her chest. She looked up at Lily, and her eyes
began to tear up.
She wasn’t even that sad! Why was it suddenly so hard to breathe?
"Ellie?" Lily's voice was filled with panic. Ellie blinked, her vision
swimming. Her heart was racing.
"What the—" Lily’s eyes widened. She glanced frantically at the dishes on
the table. "Did you eat something with nuts in it?!"
Ellie couldn’t even open her eyes anymore.
Lily jumped to her feet, running to grab the first aid kit. "I might have
something for you. Wait, just hold on," she said, her voice tense, her face
filled with alarm. Ellie’s eyes were watering, and she couldn’t speak. Her
tongue had swollen, and her breathing had become shallow.
"Got it!" Lily cried, grabbing an epipen and rushing to Ellie’s side. She
injected it into Ellie’s thigh as quickly as she could.
Minutes later, Ellie’s breathing started to steady, and the allergic reaction
began to subside. The panic in the room eased as Ellie calmed, her eyes no
longer swelling with tears.
Lily collapsed on the floor beside her, breathing heavily, clutching her
chest. "It’s been three years!" she yelled, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"Three damn years, Ellie! And your boyfriend doesn’t even know that
you’re deathly allergic to nuts? Is he out of his goddamn mind?"
Ellie couldn’t answer. She lay on the floor, her eyes filled with tears. But
this time, the pain wasn’t from the allergic reaction—it was something
deeper, something that clenched her chest, sharper and heavier than any
allergy could be. And it hurt far more than she wanted it to.
***
After Lily left for her hospital shift last night, Ellie slept like the dead. By
the next day, now that she was feeling much better, she pulled out her
suitcase and threw it open to grab a dress to wear. Just as she yanked the
dress from the bag, a loud banging on the door made her jump.
"Ellie Madden! Come out of this house right now!" A familiar voice echoed
through the apartment.
“SNS?” Ellie panicked at once. "What the hell is he doing here?!”
Instead of answering the door, Ellie bolted toward the bedroom, diving
under the covers to hide. The banging stopped after a few minutes.
"Is he gone already?" Ellie whispered to herself, peeking out from under the
covers.
Another bang on the door made her jolt, her heart racing. She pulled the
covers tighter around her, but the next moment, Sawyer stormed through
the door with a dark look on his face. He didn’t stop there. He marched
right in, as if he owned the place, and headed straight for the bedroom.
Behind him was the landlord, holding a set of keys in his hands. Just as
Sawyer was about to enter the bedroom, he suddenly halted and turned
around, realizing the landlord was still following him.
With a sharp lift of his brow, he eyed the landlord.
"Mr. Stark, the money?" The landlord gave an awkward, sheepish smile. "I
opened the door for you."
"Right," he muttered, pulling out a card and handing it to the old man. The
landlord grinned, taking the card, but just as he grabbed it, Sawyer didn’t let
go.
The old man looked up at Sawyer in surprise.
"This card has ten thousand dollars," Sawyer said coldly, stepping closer to
him. "And ten thousand more." He paused, his voice darkening. "The extra
ten thousand is for you to never do this again—never open this door for any
man in exchange for money. You get it?"
The old man blinked, confusion flickering in his eyes. But then, seeing the
look on Sawyer’s face, he nodded, the fear creeping into his expression.
He tried to take the card again, but Sawyer held on tighter, bending down to
make sure the landlord was looking straight into his dark, menacing eyes.
"If I hear you’ve done this for anyone else, if you’ve opened the door
behind that girl’s back..." Sawyer’s voice was dangerously low, "I’ll send
you to live with men triple your size in jail for the rest of your life.
Understand?"
The landlord scrambled back, eyes wide with fear. He nodded frantically, no
longer daring to hold on to the card. "I get it. I get it," he stammered.
Satisfied, Sawyer nodded, finally letting go of the card. He tossed it at the
man, who caught it just before it fell to the floor. Without another word, the
landlord rushed out of the house, the door slamming behind him.
Sawyer finally turned and entered Ellie’s room.
Ellie clutched the covers tighter, pulling them up over her head in an
attempt to hide.
A large, loud thud echoed through the room, followed by a swift tug that
yanked the covers off her face.
"Get out of this bed. We’re going back home," Sawyer snapped, his gaze
fixed on her with an annoyed intensity.
Ellie stared at him in silence for a moment, her mind racing a thousand
miles a second, trying to think of how to get out of this. Then she suddenly
coughed, louder this time, before pulling the duvet back over her face,
trying to wriggle away from his grasp.
"No, I can't," she said, her voice weak and desperate. "Please, don't make
me, Sawyer." She coughed again for extra effect.
"You are going to get out of this bed. Or I’ll drag you out, and I’m not
going to make it look pretty."
Ellie shot him a quick scowl, but the very next moment, she replaced it with
a sad expression, her eyes looking sickly and her face pale. She slowly sat
up, blanket on her head and body, only face showing, hands clutching the
blanket’s edges to the neck. Taking a deep breath, she covered her eyes with
a hand, letting out a soft sob.
"Sawyer…" she muttered, her voice wavering with faux sadness. "Now that
things have come to this, I’m not going to hide it anymore. The truth is, I
left Stark house because I’m not going to live much longer." She paused,
letting her words sink in. "I have very little time left."
Sawyer’s confused frown deepened. "What are you saying?" He leaned
closer, his voice softening. "What’s going on? Are you sick?"
Ellie nodded, her hand lowering to reveal her pitiful gaze, tears swimming
in her eyes. "Sawyer, I… I am going to die soon. The doctor said I only
have a few weeks to live. Instead of giving you pain and wasting your
money, I’m just going to go abroad and live there until I… well, until the
end of my life."
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t look sick from anywhere. Her face was
rosy, eyes clean and white, nose the same. His anger rose. "You’re not sick.
Get out of this bed right now."
Ellie coughed again, this time looking up at him with a defeated expression.
"Why don’t you get it? I’m telling you, I have a terminal illness! The doctor
said I should enjoy my last few days. And anyway…" She sighed, her voice
dripping with fake sorrow, "Your girlfriend’s already back. You won’t need
me anymore, so why waste your time on someone like me?"
Sawyer looked up at the ceiling, then back at her, his voice calm but barely
restrained. "Ellie, you aren’t sick!"
"I am sick!" Ellie snapped, her voice rising. "I have a deadly illness!"
Sawyer crossed his arms, a cold, skeptical look on his face. "You don’t look
sick from where I’m standing."
Ellie pressed her lips together, trying to keep her act up. "It’s not something
you can see. The doctor said I have a very serious condition. I have
rhinopharyngitis!" She gasped dramatically. “And it’s very serious! Last
stage."
Sawyer stared at her for a long, calculating moment, his gaze fixed as if he
were counting down from ten in his head to calm his unnerved nerves.
Then, his eyes narrowed into a glare.
"So a fucking cold? That’s your ‘last stage’ illness?"
Ellie’s eyes widened in surprise. She blinked rapidly, cursing under her
breath. ‘God damn it,’ she thought. ‘It didn’t even take him a Google search
to catch me?’
Ellie’s gaze flicked past Sawyer. Her suitcase was still leaning against the
wall. If she made a dash now and ran at full speed, maybe—
Before she could act, a hand gripped her waist, another one wrapped around
her neck, and the next moment, she was tossed over a muscular shoulder,
blanket thrown aside.
“Hey! Put me down!”
A loud swat to her ass made her flinch, and before she could react, two
more followed, leaving her in shock.
“Shut the fuck up!” Sawyer growled, marching out of the house with her.
“I’m telling the truth!” Ellie’s voice rose in desperation. “I was really, really
sick! You don’t believe me, but I even had to get a shot because I couldn’t
breathe!”
She quickly grabbed the syringe off the top of the suitcase as he was
carrying her out to show it to him.
"Ellie, shut it!" Sawyer snapped, his voice cutting through the air. "Enough
with your tantrums."
"Why aren’t you listening to me? I told you—put me down!" She slapped
his back, her frustration boiling over. "How many times do I have to repeat
myself?"
Another few swats on her ass had her immediately shutting up.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 8 GREEDY
AND LUSTFUL
Meanwhile, outside Lily’s house, Olivia stood with her phone pressed to her
ear, fuming.
"This is all the information I could get so far," the voice on the other end
said lazily. "She takes Stark’s money, then pays hospital bills for some old
man who's in a coma right now and some loan sharks. That's a ridiculous
amount of money for someone like her just for being Stark’s girlfriend.
She’s getting a lot of cash from him to pay off that half-dead old man’s bills
and debts."
Olivia’s voice was filled with venom. "That gold-digger bitch. She’s using
my man’s money to pay for that old bastard’s meds?"
The voice continued without a care. "One more thing. There’s a
coincidence. She was also burned in a fire three years ago, around the same
time as you. The man in the hospital took on a lot of debt to fix her up and
restore her face, but then he got into a car accident. Now she’s paying off
that debt and also covering the old man’s treatment."
Olivia froze, her fingers tightening around the phone. "When? When
exactly was she burned? Where?"
"Same month as you," the man muttered, clearly uninterested. "Around
March, and she was treated at the city hospital."
A wave of panic swept over Olivia, her face tightening as she thought to
herself. ‘No,’ she let out a forced laugh, ‘it can’t be. Just a coincidence.
How many people get burned every month? It’s normal.’ Her breaths came
faster, and she rubbed her face with shaking hands. ‘I’ve spent hundreds of
thousands to get this face. It’s done by the best plastic surgeon in the world.
There’s no way that bitch is… no! I’m fine. Everything’s fine!’
Olivia stood frozen, tension gripping her as she processed what she'd heard.
She didn’t even realize when Sawyer stormed out of the house until Ellie's
sharp voice snapped her out of her daze.
"Put me down, SNS!" Ellie growled, struggling against his grip and
slapping his back in protest. But the infuriating man remained completely
unfazed. He didn’t even flinch, as if her hits were nothing more than an
annoying tap. Without breaking stride, he carried her toward his car like she
weighed nothing.
He came to an abrupt halt when Olivia suddenly stepped in front of him.
Sawyer's gaze locked onto Olivia, then flicked to Ellie, still slung over his
shoulder. Realizing how bad this looked, he lowered Ellie to her feet—but
didn’t release her arm.
"What are you doing, Sawyer?" Olivia questioned.
"It's nothing." Sawyer shot Ellie an annoyed glare before looking back at
Olivia. "She was just getting on my nerves."
Olivia's eyes flickered to his hand wrapped around Ellie’s wrist.
Sawyer caught the look and immediately let go, as if Ellie had suddenly
turned radioactive.
Ellie, who had caught the entire exchange, narrowed her eyes.
‘Wife’s slave,’ she thought begrudgingly. ‘Look how fast he let go of me the
moment his lover looked at him.’
"What are you doing here?" Sawyer asked, his brows furrowing.
Olivia looked taken aback, almost as if she hadn't expected the question.
Then, with a casual little laugh, she masked her surprise, schooling her
features into something more serious before turning to Ellie.
"She invited me here."
"What?!" Ellie’s eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about?
When did I invite you?"
Olivia's expression turned innocent, almost hurt. "Ellie, why are you lying?
Didn’t you call and ask me to come here because you wanted to talk
about…" She hesitated, casting a glance at Sawyer before muttering, "…
about him?"
"You liar!" Ellie snapped, her patience snapping with it.
Olivia’s mouth dropped open in mock surprise. "I can’t believe you’re
accusing me of being a liar! How else would I have known where to find
you? How would I have gotten here if you didn’t call me?"
Ellie glared at her. This girl was really starting to get on her nerves. Not
only was she a pretentious bitch, but she was also a bold-faced liar.
But before Ellie could retort, Sawyer turned to her, his face dark with an
upset glare.
His silence was damning.
He believed Olivia.
Ellie could see it in the way his jaw clenched, in the scowl forming on his
face.
"Ellie, don’t involve Olivia into this," he scolded, his voice filled with
irritation. "If you have something to be upset about, talk to me directly."
"I didn’t call her here!" Ellie insisted, her hands flying to her waist as she
stared at him in disbelief. "You don’t believe me?"
Sawyer’s expression was blank. Cold.
He didn’t answer.
Ellie’s temper flared even more.
Not only had this bastard left her yesterday, made her almost die, and was
now dragging her out against her will, but he was also supporting and
helping this pretentious bitch?
So what if they were childhood lovers? Did that mean she was incapable of
lying?
But of course, Narcissist Stark couldn’t possibly upset his ‘Perfect
Sweetheart’ now that she had come back to him after ages. No, that couldn’t
possibly happen. Instead, he was quick to assume it was Ellie at fault, that
she was the one lying.
Why would he ever believe the woman who had stayed in his house for
years just to keep him entertained until his real love returned?
The more Ellie thought about it, the angrier she became. Glaring at Sawyer
in fury, she finally snapped.
"Alright then! Fine! Since you don’t believe me at all, there’s no reason for
me to stay with you anymore. We’re breaking up!"
She spun around to leave, but before she could take a step, he grabbed her
arm and yanked her back.
"Ellie—"
"No!" She tore her arm from his grip, her eyes blazing as she glared at him.
"You have your lover now. So I don’t have to be with you anymore, do I? I
was just a replacement anyway. There’s no need for me to stick around. No
need to keep up this stupid act."
"Stupid act?" Sawyer growled, stepping in closer, his voice dangerously
low. "So your relationship with me for the past three years was just a stupid
fucking act?"
"Obviously." Ellie scoffed, flipping her hair back as she met his burning
gaze. "I’m bored too. I’m done pretending. Three years of acting is my
limit, I guess. This is all I can do. Goodbye."
Sawyer’s face darkened, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. In a flash,
he grabbed her arm, yanking her close.
"So everything you did was just an act?" His voice was dangerously low.
"When you stayed up late at night to make soup for me, when you took care
of me, when you followed after me, worrying about me—was all of that just
a damn act?"
"Yes!" Ellie snapped, wrenching her arm free. "Everything was just an act
to please you and get your money. And now I’m done!"
Reaching into the pocket of her nightwear, she pulled out the used epipen
from last night and shoved it against his chest.
"And you almost killed me yesterday with your stupid food. So pay me for
that! Give me a check to cover my medical bill!"
The epipen hit his chest and clattered to the ground.
Sawyer looked down at it, his jaw tightening before his gaze snapped back
to her.
"So this is why you’re angry?" His voice dripped with irritation. "Because
of this damn little thing? Because you had an allergic reaction to the food I
sent you?"
He let out a sharp scoff, stepping even closer.
"Fine! I’ll pay you double for whatever the hell it costs. Triple! Are you
happy now? Are you done?"
Before Ellie could answer, Olivia’s sickly sweet voice chimed in.
"Actually, I’ll pay for it."
Ellie’s eyes snapped to Olivia, who had suddenly stepped closer, looping
her arms around Sawyer’s. Her tiny red dress clung to her curves as she
tilted her head and smiled at Ellie.
"Sawyer and I are going to get married soon," she cooed. "I can pay for
whatever debts he has. You took care of him while I was gone, but now that
I’m back, he doesn’t need you anymore. So it’s somehow my fault too that
he became careless about you."
Ellie’s already burning temper ignited into an inferno.
"Great!" She sneered, her voice laced with venom. "I just want the money. I
don’t give two fucks about who pays me."
Sawyer’s expression darkened further, his body stiffening. The moment
Ellie’s words left her mouth, he tore out of Olivia’s grip and stepped toward
Ellie.
"Thank you for making this so fucking easy," he barked. "I was just
thinking about how to get rid of you."
He pulled out his checkbook, scribbled a number on it, and ripped the check
out. Then, he flung it at Ellie.
"There. Get lost!" he roared. "We're done!"
Ellie caught the check mid-air, her fingers curling around it as she stood,
fists tight.
Olivia clung to Sawyer, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. "Are you
serious? So, we're really done then? You’re not going back to her?" She
searched his face for some hint of softness. "Don’t you have any feelings
for her?"
Sawyer snapped, his patience wearing thin. "Of course not. Why the hell
would I keep a replacement like her around? Why the fuck would I have
any feelings for someone like her?"
Ellie’s heart twisted painfully.
Without another word, she spun around and stormed off, entering the house.
The moment she was in, she slammed the door shut behind her. That very
moment, her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed onto the floor.
Sobs wracked her body, shaking her to her core.
Outside, Olivia tightened her arms around Sawyer, grinning.
"I really didn’t expect you to break things off with her so quickly," she
gushed. "This was such a great surprise, Sawyer."
Her hands slid up his chest, touching his face and turning him toward her.
"Now that you’ve made me this happy, I’ll give you a sweet reward."
She leaned in to kiss him, her lips almost brushing his—but Sawyer
suddenly snapped out of it.
He shoved her off, eyes hard. "Do you seriously think I left her because of
you?" He growled, his voice ice-cold.
He didn’t wait for her answer. He turned and walked away, his steps quick,
vicious, his mind elsewhere.
Olivia stood frozen in place, rage burning through her veins as she glared
after him.
He really has feelings for that bitch!
***
The Blue Orchid Bar was alive with energy that night. The grand luxury bar
was packed with VIPs and high-profile figures, making the manager restless
as he kept a close eye on everything. But among all the important guests,
Room 300 was the highest priority.
Inside, the wealthiest and most powerful men in the country lounged,
making the room nearly untouchable—even the most influential figures
needed special permission just to step inside. Security was on high alert,
ensuring nothing disrupted the exclusive gathering.
The VIP room was lavishly designed, with a high-end karaoke system
mounted on the wall and an expensive set of plush couches surrounding a
table loaded with the rarest, most luxurious liquor in existence. Yet, despite
the extravagant setup, only a few people occupied the space.
Sawyer sat on a single couch, legs spread apart, his fingers idly swirling the
amber liquid in his glass. Opposite him, on the larger couch, were two men
who commanded attention with their mere presence.
The first man had sharp green eyes behind golden-rimmed glasses, his
penetrating gaze both unsettling and oddly calming. His features were
refined—almost too refined, like he was crafted to deceive. He was Damion
Cage. His family owned the largest network of hospitals in the country,
making him an heir to a vast empire of wealth and influence.
Beside him sat a man with dark hair, even darker eyes, and a rough,
dangerous edge that set him apart. He had the kind of presence that made
you instinctively wary, as if he could end someone’s life with a flick of a
blade and not bat an eye. He was Mason Nightingale. The richest of them
all. His empire spanned hotel, finance, and a network of businesses that
most people never even knew existed.
Next to them, a girl sat cross-legged on the couch, completely absorbed in
the karaoke machine. Her lips moved silently in sync with the lyrics
flashing on the screen, even though the music wasn’t playing.
Restlessly, she tapped her foot to the rhythm of the unheard song, downing
another glass of whiskey with ease. She had kind eyes, curly hair and soft
features, yet there was an undeniable energy to her. This was Stella Gibson,
the owner of a much smaller business compared to the giants in the room—
a chain of cafés called ‘Licious.’ Yet, she was perhaps the most influential
among them, as her café was the central hub where all their friends
gathered.
They were Sawyer’s closest friends, his inner circle.
With a frustrated sigh, Sawyer drank another shot of whiskey, and slammed
his glass down on the table, making Stella flinch.
“I did everything for Ellie,” he growled, running a frustrated hand through
his hair. “I gave her everything. And all she does is piss me the fuck off!
Did she really have to run away from home?”
Damion quirked a brow, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “Isn’t she usually
the obedient type? I mean, I’ve never seen her defy you. She always does
whatever you say. In all these months, I’ve never once seen her get angry at
you.”
Sawyer’s scowl deepened.
“She's greedy!” he spat. “All it took was Olivia waving a goddamn check in
front of her, and she took it without hesitation. Didn’t even think twice.” He
let out a bitter chuckle. “And she’s lustful. She loves staring at shirtless
fucking men. All she ever thinks about is naked men, money, and herself.”
Stella’s gaze finally shifted from the screen, narrowing at him in
displeasure.
"That can’t be true." She scowled, setting down her glass. "When you got
into that car accident last year and I called her, she came running to the
hospital barefoot! She didn’t even change her clothes—she was still in her
nightwear. And she stayed there, by your side, until the doctor said you
were out of danger. After that, she took care of you for two whole weeks
while you were unconscious like a damn nurse.”
Sawyer’s body stiffened. “Wasn’t that Ada?” he muttered, confusion
flickering across his face. “All this time, I thought it was Ada.”
Stella scoffed, pouring herself another drink. "Of course not." She took a
sip before continuing. "I was there almost every day, and there wasn’t a
single time I didn’t see her at the hospital—morning, noon, or night. She
never left your side, not even once. She only asked Ada to step in after you
woke up and the doctor confirmed that you were strong enough to stand on
your own. She must have asked Ada to step in after she couldn’t care for
you anymore. Probably because she didn’t get any sleep while taking care
of you constantly for weeks. I can’t even imagine how exhausted she
must’ve been."
Sawyer’s brows furrowed, his grip tightening around his glass.
"Why didn’t she ever tell me?" His voice was quieter now, almost unsure.
Damion exhaled, leaning back into the couch. His sharp gaze met Sawyer’s,
disappointment flickering in his emerald eyes.
"When have you ever seen her brag about anything?" Damion asked. "She
never badmouths you, never complains, no matter what you do. And all you
ever do is scold her, remind her that she’s just a temporary woman in your
life, and scold her to stay in line."
Sawyer clenched his jaw, his chest tightening with unease. Silence stretched
between them.
“If she were really selfish, greedy, and lustful,” Stella cut in, “why is she
still by your side? Why does she bring you food when you work late? Why
does she make you soup when you drink too much, just so you won’t wake
up with a stomach ache? Everything she does is for you.” Her voice was
sharp, edged with irritation. “And you call her selfish?”
Before he could respond, the sharp ringing of a phone cut through the tense
silence.
Mason casually picked up the call. The moment the screen lit up, a grin
spread across his face
On the other end, his wife’s face appeared, her bright grin filling the screen.
"Having fun?" Mason's deep voice cut through the noise.
She was standing by the bar, sipping a beer, while music blasted in the
background. Instead of staying in the private section with them, she had
slipped out when he wasn’t looking and was now in the main bar area,
dancing freely.
"Yes." Ana grinned at him drunkenly, her cheeks flushed.
She turned the camera around, showing another girl leaning against the bar
with a drink in hand. The woman grinned, lifting her glass toward the
screen in a silent toast before weaving through the crowd and jumping onto
the dance floor.
Mason’s brows furrowed.
“That was Ellie." Ana leaned in closer to the speaker, raising her voice so he
could hear her over the music. "She’s dancing!" She giggled, clearly
intoxicated, barely holding herself upright. "She told me she and Sawyer
broke up, so we’re having a breakup party now."
"Jesus." Mason cursed under his breath.
He shot up from his seat, grabbing his coat. At the same time, he tossed the
phone toward Sawyer. "I’m going to get my wife. Do you care about
yours?"
Sawyer caught the phone, his scowl deepening as he looked at the screen.
Ellie was on the dance stage, surrounded by men.
She wore a short, tight black dress that clung to her body like a second skin.
A delicate mesh cutout ran in a sleek triangle from beneath one breast to her
waist, teasing just enough skin to make her look subtly revealing, yet
dangerously seductive.
Sawyer’s eyes burned through the screen. Without another second’s delay,
he bolted to his feet.
The people in the room exchanged silent grins before following behind him.
Sawyer stormed through the main entrance of the bar, heading straight for
the dance floor. His gaze scanned the crowd until it landed on Ellie.
She was in the center, moving to the music, eyes closed, hands in the air,
swaying effortlessly. The dim lighting cast a sultry glow on her figure, the
dress clinging to her curves like a second skin.
Just then, like a magnet, a man’s gaze snapped toward Ellie on the dance
floor. He hesitated only for a second before turning fully, a slow grin
spreading across his face. Without missing a beat, he stepped closer, placing
his hands on her waist.
Ellie felt the touch and turned. He was handsome, so she let her arms rest
on his shoulders, letting the music guide their movements. His hands slid
around her waist, pulling her in as they danced.
Sawyer’s entire face darkened.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 9 JEALOUSY
Jealousy struck him like a violent storm. His eyes locked onto the man’s
hands—on Ellie’s waist, touching what was his.
A dangerous fury burned in his chest.
The next second, Sawyer pushed through the crowd, storming onto the
dance floor.
Ellie didn’t even realize he was there until his strong hand wrapped around
her wrist, yanking her away from the stranger.
"Hey?!" Ellie snapped, trying to yank her wrist out of his grip. "What the
hell?"
He wasn’t supposed to be here. She couldn’t understand why he was at this
bar. She hadn’t expected him to show up.
He dragged her off the dance floor, pulling her to a quieter area of the bar
where the music was less deafening. Then, grabbing her by the waist, he
yanked her close, his anger radiating. "What the fuck are you doing at a
fucking bar alone? Do you even know that—" He glanced back toward the
stage, his eyes seething as he locked onto that damn man. "That bastard’s
hands were all over you?"
"Yes, obviously," Ellie snapped back, her voice dripping with annoyance. "I
felt them. And I touched his abs. I was enjoying it, until you barged in and
ruined it." She exhaled, frustrated.
Sawyer’s face darkened, already angered to the point of breaking. He
grabbed her chin and forced her to face him, lifting her gaze to meet his.
"It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since you asked me for a break up,
and you're already hooking up with other men?" he growled, his voice
seething. "Is it that you can’t stay away from men, or are you really that
greedy that you'll dance with anyone just because he looks rich?"
Ellie remained unbothered, her face cold and calculating. The words stung,
but she refused to show it. Instead, she looked at him with a cold smirk, her
voice laced with disdain. "Yes, I will. So what? Do you want to take his
place instead? How much are you going to offer me this time, Mr. Stark?
What are you going to offer me to stay with you?"
Sawyer’s rage surged. His jaw clenched so tight it looked like it would
snap. He opened his mouth to rip into her, but before he could say anything,
a soft, girly voice interrupted them.
"Ellie, you’re here too?"
Ellie’s gaze darted behind Sawyer as Olivia’s familiar, annoying voice
reached her ears.
Olivia appeared from the crowd, stepping toward them. She wore a tight
purple dress with a plunging neckline, her heavy diamond necklace
sparkling under the dim lights, adding to her flawless appearance. She fit
right in at the expensive, luxurious bar effortlessly.
Olivia’s hand held a drink, and she glided up to Sawyer, standing right next
to him. "I thought after taking the check from me this morning, you
wouldn't show your face again. I'm surprised to see you here."
Ellie’s fists clenched tightly. 'This self-righteous, sweet poisonous snake is
here again, trying to worm her way into my life.' Ellie cursed silently. She
didn’t want to engage with Olivia, didn’t want to get caught in another
confrontation.
Not wanting to start another fight, Ellie turned to walk away, but before she
could take a step, Olivia blocked her path, standing right in front of her with
an insufferable smile.
"Where are you going?" Olivia asked sweetly, her voice dripping with faux
innocence. She suddenly turned to Sawyer, grabbing his arm. "You’ve lived
with Sawyer for so long. I know that after getting the check, you must be
feeling detached and sad, but I don’t want that. How about having a drink
with us? Sawyer and I would be very delighted to have you join us. We
would never want you to feel like you aren’t up to our standards.”
Ellie took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. "I’m not going to drink with
you. We aren’t friends."
Ellie tried to walk past, but Sawyer’s voice halted her.
"I’ll pay you a hundred dollars for every glass of drink, then, Ms. Madden."
Ellie turned to face him. He looked at her with an angry smirk on his face.
"Since you aren’t a friend and we don’t have any relationship, the only
relationship you have is with money, right? Then come on, a hundred
dollars a drink. Grab a glass."
Ellie’s jaw clenched, her eyes flashing with fury. She closed them briefly,
then gritted out, "You can keep your money. I don’t want it."
She turned to leave, but he barked at her.
"Five hundred dollars."
Olivia’s grip on Sawyer’s arm tightened as she smirked at Ellie, eyes full of
smug pride.
"Not enough?" Sawyer quirked a brow. "A thousand dollars for every drink
then. Grab a fucking glass, Ms. Madden!"
Ellie could hardly contain the rage building inside her. Everyone around her
came from wealthy families, and with Sawyer Stark standing before her,
now that he was so determined to keep her here, he wouldn’t let her leave,
whether it was with money or force.
Ellie felt humiliated, but she steeled herself and put on an indifferent
expression.
"Alright." She shrugged nonchalantly and marched over, snatching a
whiskey glass off the bar counter next to him and downing it in a few gulps.
By the time she lowered the glass, her eyes stung with tears from the burn
in her throat.
She coughed a little, but once she recovered, she met his gaze.
"There."
Sawyer was staring at her, his anger only escalating. Instead of cooling
down, his fury seemed to intensify as he glared at Ellie.
"Come here!" Sawyer marched over to her, about to grab her, but Olivia
clinked her glass to grab everyone’s attention.
The friends who had come with Sawyer—Ana, Mason, Stella, and Damion
—were standing around, watching them. Olivia pulled out a box and
opened it, offering a ring to Sawyer.
"Sawyer, please accept it. Be my boyfriend." She looked up at him, her
voice sweet, almost pleading.
Sawyer stared at her in shock, his face frozen. It was as though Olivia had
slapped him in the face instead of proposing to him.
Ellie’s face went white. She didn’t say a word, but the shock hit her hard.
Still, she dropped the glass on the bar counter and made a dash to leave.
But as she walked past Sawyer, his hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her
back. With a clenched jaw and burning eyes, he asked, "Where are you
running off to?"
Ellie looked at his grip on her wrist, then glanced at Olivia, who was still
standing there with the box in her hand, looking at him with expectant eyes.
She turned her gaze back to Sawyer, answering him coldly.
"My boyfriend is here to pick me up. Sorry, I won’t be able to join your
celebration."
Ana’s mouth dropped open, and she quickly shuffled closer to Stella. Half-
drunk and half out of her mind, she asked in what she thought was a hushed
whisper—but really wasn’t in any way,
“What is happening? Am I seeing two Ellies right now?”
Stella glanced at Ana, then turned her head to Mason, who stood on Ana’s
other side. She, too, spoke in what she thought was a hushed whisper, but
again, it wasn’t.
"Your wife is drunk! Take her home."
“Hush, hush!” Ana slapped Stella’s hand away, then pointed at the trio in
front of her. “That one looks almost like Ellie but doesn’t look like Ellie at
the same time. I’m so confused.”
"Mace," she called out, blinking rapidly until she realized Mason was
standing right next to her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling
herself closer to him. "Stay here. Don’t go anywhere. I don’t want to see
two Mace. I only want one."
Stella snickered, covering her face to stifle a laugh. Then she turned to
Damion, standing on her other side.
"This is getting way too interesting, isn’t it? Ellie has a new boyfriend
now!"
Damion had his hands in his pockets, staring at the scene in front of him.
Hearing Stella, he leaned slightly toward her.
"I thought she was going to go mad if Sawyer left her. She loves him madly.
I wonder if my prediction is coming true. They broke up yesterday, and
today she’s saying she has a boyfriend?"
All four of them exchanged looks of disbelief before turning their gazes
back to Ellie and Sawyer. Then, once again, they looked at each other and
shook their heads.
There was no possibility in any universe that Ellie could get a boyfriend
within just twenty four hours of breaking up with Sawyer. Everyone knew
how madly she loved him, so how could she have a new boyfriend so soon?
Either she was lying, or this was an escape mechanism.
Anyhow, grabbing another drink from the bar, they all leaned back
shamelessly, eager to see how it would unfold.
“You have a boyfriend?” Sawyer scoffed. “You? Right after leaving me?”
Ellie didn’t answer.
Sawyer let go of her wrist, his scoff growing louder. “Ellie, can’t you even
think of a better lie??”
“I don’t care if you believe me or not,” Ellie gritted out.
"Alright then, show me your boyfriend. Where is he? Why am I not seeing
him here? Where is your so called fucking boyfriend?"
Ellie turned around, ready to storm off—when she collided with a tall man
dressed in all black.
She nearly fell back, but his hand swiftly wrapped around her waist,
steadying her and pulling her close. Her head slammed against his chest,
firm beneath a simple round-neck T-shirt. He wore jeans and cowboy boots,
exuding effortless charm—like a main lead who had just stepped out of a
TV show.
Before she could think, Ellie grabbed his hand and turned back to Sawyer.
“Here. This is my boyfriend.”
Sawyer’s gaze flicked between the man and Ellie, before another scoff left
his lips. "Ellie, stop lying. I’m not blind. Are you going to grab any random
man off the street and declare him your boyfriend? And I’m supposed to
believe you?"
Ellie leaned closer to the handsome man, looking up at him. Leaning in, she
whispered quickly in his ear, "Cooperate with me, and I’ll give you five
hundred dollars."
Then, without waiting for his response, she hugged his arm tighter and shot
Sawyer a defiant look.
“As I said, I don’t care if you believe me or not.”
Sawyer’s jaw clenched, his eyes dark.
Sawyer sneered. "You grabbed a passerby and declared him your
boyfriend? Just let go of him. He looks like he’s about to push you off
himself any minute."
Ellie’s jaw clenched at Sawyer’s words, her eyes flashing with fury. But
instead of lashing out, she took a deep breath, forcing a sweet smile onto
her lips.
“I don’t care what you think, Sawyer.”
That one line struck him like a whip. He was so used to hearing her call him
‘husband’ that hearing his name—just Sawyer—felt like she had cursed at
him.
Without waiting for his response, she turned to the man beside her.
“Thank you for coming to pick me up, baby,” she said, her voice laced with
affection. “I’m so happy you came just to take me back home.”
Then, without sparing Sawyer a glance, she arched up on her toes and
kissed the man at the corner of his lips. From Sawyer’s angle, however, it
looked like a full kiss on the lips.
Sawyer’s face darkened instantly, his jaw tightening as a storm of jealousy
crashed through him. His fists clenched at his sides, his entire body stiff
with tension. The burning fury in his eyes was sharp and vicious.
He watched as Ellie not only touched the man’s arm but also caressed his
face before leaning up and pressing her lips against his. The sight made his
blood boil.
The rage radiating from him was so intense that Olivia, standing nearby, felt
a chill crawl down her spine. For the first time, she wondered if she had
made a mistake by provoking Sawyer against Ellie at this moment. If he
was this furious just seeing Ellie with another man, then there was a chance
he might end up getting back together with her—ruining Olivia’s plan of
discarding Ellie completely out of his life.
Just as she debated quietly slipping away, Sawyer slid his hand into his
pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Flipping it open, he turned to
Olivia with a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"You were just proposing to me? What a coincidence. I also got you a gift—
one of a kind, personally made just for you."
Ellie, still on her toes from the kiss, slowly lowered back down. Her breath
hitched as her gaze landed on the box in his hand.
Her heart stopped. A painful ache spread through her chest, suffocating her.
A baby pink perfume bottle with a black bow cap. The scent coming out of
it was unmistakable. It was her scent.
For as long as Ellie had lived with Sawyer, she had told him—over and
over again—that this was the perfume of her dreams. She had wished for it,
even if just as a birthday gift, or as the last present she ever received in her
life. It didn't have to be expensive; even a little, tiny bottle would do, as
long as she could wear it once in her life to fulfil her wish. Jasmine and
orange scent in a pink bottle.
And now, that very perfume was in front of her eyes.
But the man she had shared her dream with—was offering it to another
woman.
Sawyer’s eyes were locked on Olivia, who stared at the bottle with an
expression of pure joy, as if she were about to faint from happiness.
Ellie’s fingers instinctively tightened around the arm of the man beside her.
She didn't care who he was. All she knew was that she couldn't stand there
any longer. Without another glance at Sawyer, she turned and walked away,
dragging the man out of the bar with her.
She didn’t look back.
But behind her, a storm brewed.
She was unaware of the burning gaze that followed her—an intense, raging
fire that could have reduced everything in its path to ashes.
Sawyer's fists clenched tightly, his jaw locked as he stared at the spot where
Ellie had disappeared.
"Sawyer, this perfume is too strong," Olivia whined, scrunching her nose as
she took a whiff. "And I don’t like orange scent too. Did you get the wrong
bottle? No, the store must have messed up. How about we get a different
one?"
She continued pouting, oblivious to the fact that Sawyer hadn't spared her a
single glance.
“I don’t really like jasmine either," Olivia continued, oblivious to his
simmering rage. "And this pink bottle? It looks outdated and tacky. I’m
going to replace it with a blue one. Don’t you think that’ll look prettier?"
"Someone needs to glue her lips shut," Ana said in a sing-song voice,
making everyone, including Sawyer, finally turn toward her. She swayed on
her feet, shamelessly pointing at Olivia.
Mason didn’t waste a second. He scooped Ana into his arms and made a
quick exit, Stella and Damien following closely behind. As soon as they
stepped outside, Stella’s screeching laughter echoed into the night.
"Sawyer, are you even listening to me?" Olivia grabbed his arm, shaking
him.
Sawyer snapped back to the moment. He turned to Olivia, and the darkness
on his face was more than just fury—it was pure, seething jealousy.
The image of her kissing that man torched every cell in his brain, every
nerve in his body. His entire being was on fire, raging, seething. The raw
emotion was so overwhelming, so unbearable, that he couldn't even begin to
describe it.
He needed to see her.
Needed to rip her out of that man's arms.
With a sharp jerk, he pulled away from Olivia. The empty box slipped from
his fingers, landing on the floor with a dull thud.
"Here, wear this ring I bought for y—" Olivia offered excitedly.
Her words were cut off as Sawyer turned and walked away, not bothering to
listen to the rest of Olivia's words. He didn't care what she thought. Didn't
care if she felt insulted.
Outside, in the biting cold of the night, Ellie walked quickly, her hand still
gripping the man’s wrist tightly as they hurried down the street. They didn't
stop until they were far away from Blue Orchid Bar, the neon lights no
longer visible behind them.
Finally, beneath the dim glow of a bus stop, Ellie let go of his hand and
turned to face him.
"Hey," she said, finally looking at his face properly. "Thanks for your help
back there. It was really—"
Her words died in her throat.
Her eyes widened in shock as she took in his face under the streetlights.
"Holy shit, you’re gorgeous!" she blurted out, her breath catching in her
throat.
At first, she had thought it was just the lighting in the bar, but no—he really
was that handsome. Too handsome. He looked young, maybe in his mid-
twenties.
The man grinned at her reaction. "Thank you. I get that a lot," he winked,
his confidence unabashed.
"A-anyway," Ellie stammered, still staring at him in disbelief, as if he
couldn’t possibly be real. She pulled out a bill from her pocket and offered
it to him. "Here. I promised you five hundred bucks for your help."
The man glanced at the bill and then back at her, his expression bemused.
"Little girl, you can’t afford my appearance and acting fees."
"What?" Ellie frowned in confusion.
"I’m a model," he said smoothly. "I charge much more for an appearance,
Ellie."
Ellie’s eyes widened. She clapped her hands in realization, letting out a
small laugh.
"Oh my God, you’re a model? What a coincidence!" she said, stepping
closer to him. "Turns out, you and I are from the same industry, handsome!
I’m a choreographer by profession!"
She had stopped working after entering Sawyer’s house. Back then, after
getting discharged from the hospital, she was just a low-level freelancer for
a few months, barely scraping by to pay off debts, until she accidentally
collided with Liana and was brought to Sawyer to be his new girlfriend.
"Great to meet a fellow workmate," the handsome man grinned. "Now as
you see, five hundred dollars isn’t exactly gonna cut it. So how do you plan
to pay me back for my help back there?"
Ellie frowned in confusion. "What? But I told you I'd give you this! Hey!"
She snapped. "Don’t try to scam me. I don’t have that much money. I’m not
one of those richie-rich people from that bar back there!"
The man’s grin widened. "The name’s Jeremy," he said, almost laughing at
her reaction. Then, pointing behind her, he asked, "Do you see that?"
Ellie turned around and followed his gesture. Behind the bus stand, there
was a large billboard on a building, illuminated with flashing lights. A video
was playing on the screen.
Jeremy leaned in, his lips close to her ear. “That’s me,” he whispered.
“Walking the ramp for Chanel.”
Ellie turned back to him, her mouth dropping open. “Oh my god. No
wonder you don’t look like you’re from Earth.”
Jeremy finally burst into laughter. He shook his head, his gaze locking with
hers. "I charge twenty thousand dollars for a fifteen-minute appearance.
What do you think? Can you afford to pay me?”
Ellie jumped back, her mouth dropping open in disbelief. "Twenty thousand
dollars?!"
Jeremy straightened with a proud smirk, watching her panic.
Ellie was absolutely freaking out. She didn’t have twenty thousand dollars!
She frantically rummaged through her pockets. A moment later, she pulled
out another twenty-dollar bill and a few coins and handed it all to him with
an embarrassed smile. “There. That’s all I have.”
Jeremy shrugged, his smirk never fading. "But it’s not enough," he said,
stepping closer to her.
Ellie took a step back, panic rising. "I don’t have twenty thousand dollars,
Jeremy. I—I can’t pay you that!"
Jeremy’s expression softened, and for a moment, he looked almost playful.
He lowered his head slightly to match her height, his voice softening with a
teasing edge. "I don’t take a loss, Ellie," he said, his eyes glinting
mischievously. "Now that you’ve taken my service, it’s time to pay up."
"Dude, I don’t have twenty grand," Ellie scoffed. Then she straightened, her
expression going blank as she deadpanned, "Just kill me."
"No," Jeremy said, his tone turning huskier. "I’ll kiss you."

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 10 BURN HER
"What?!" Ellie breathed.
‘Am I losing my mind or just my hearing?’ she wondered. ‘I can't be going
crazy over SNS's betrayal... not that fast, right?’
"I’m going to kiss you," Jeremy said simply, his breath warm against her
skin as he stepped even closer, his body nearly pressing against hers. One
hand cupped the side of her face, drawing her nearer. "A kiss in exchange
for a fake kiss and some acting. Isn’t that a fair deal?"
"I'm not going to kiss you!" Ellie snapped, taken aback by his audacity.
He was barely an inch away from her lips, and by the look in his eyes, it
was clear he wasn’t joking. He was just waiting for one more breath before
he lost control and kissed her.
Even though the man was outrageously gorgeous, it just didn’t feel right to
kiss him right off the bat after just meeting. Not that she was still thinking
about Sawyer. It was just that she was still bound by an agreement with
him, and if anyone—especially his mother—found out she was making out
with another man at a bus stop, that five-minute kiss could cost her three
years' worth of money.
Two million down the drain, all for a kiss?
Nuh-uh. Not worth it.
She let out a nervous laugh to lighten the mood and put a hand on Jeremy’s
shoulder to gently push him back, trying to stop him from hovering so
close.
"See, I’m a choreographer, and you’re a model. There’s gonna be a day
when you and I work together. Imagine how awkward it’d be to work
together if we kiss now."
"I don’t mind awkward," he said, his grin widening. "Awkward is like my
middle name." He reached for her head again, pulling her closer.
Ellie dodged his hand, stepping back once more. Now, both of her hands
pressed against his chest to hold him back. "No, I mean, imagine—maybe
one day, you and I will work together, and we’ll have to kiss for a scene.
So, how about you and I just wait for that day to come to fulfill this
payment?"
Jeremy’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he pulled back just enough to look her
over. Ellie sighed in relief, but it was short-lived.
"I think it’s best you just pay me for my appearance back there," he said,
pulling out his phone. "So, how do you want to pay? Bank transfer? Card?
Cash? I prefer cash."
"God damn it!" Ellie snapped, glaring at him, her anger rising. The man was
a stubborn horse!
"Fine," she huffed, marching over to him. She tried to grab his head, but
with his towering height, even when she stood on her toes, she couldn’t
reach. "I’ll kiss you, alright. Let’s get this over with. Get down here!"
Jeremy’s body shook with laughter, though he kept his lips in a small,
amused smile. However, the shameless man didn’t shy away. He lowered
himself to Ellie’s level, and Ellie frowned, cupping the back of his head as
she closed her eyes. She puckered her lips, getting closer to his.
But just as their breaths were about to mingle, the shrill sound of his phone
ringing broke the moment.
Jeremy squinted in annoyance but didn’t remove his eyes from Ellie as he
pulled out his phone and put it to his ear.
"Dude, where the hell are you? You were supposed to be here half an hour
ago! The show’s about to start! You’re driving me crazy!"
Jeremy hung up and clenched his jaw, letting out a frustrated sigh. Then he
abruptly pulled away from Ellie.
"Gotta get back to work, Ellie," he said, sliding his phone back into his
pocket and pulling out the keys to his car. He stepped back quickly. "This
kiss is pending until next time!" He said, half-running toward his car.
Ellie watched him disappear into the night, finally letting out the breath she
had been holding.
This man was fucking dangerous. She had barely escaped one mess, only to
jump straight into another.
Ellie groaned, muttering under her breath, “Ellie Madden, you’re a magnet
for troubles!”
Making sure Jeremy was really gone, she wasted no time taking off from
there before he could change his mind and come back. No way in hell was
she sticking around.
And anyway, now that he was gone, what were the chances they’d ever see
each other again? Close to none. A top model like him wouldn’t even spare
her a second glance when there were thousands of girls out there dying for
his attention.
Ellie grinned, feeling relieved as she walked away from the spot. Maybe
she’d gotten lucky—or maybe unlucky. Kissing a dashing guy in the middle
of the street at midnight wasn’t exactly bad luck, right?
Just as the thought crossed her mind—Something whooshed past her,
slamming into her hard.
Her body was thrown off balance, crashing onto the road.
She hit the ground with a loud thud—a sharp, deafening sound that
shattered the eerie silence of the night. Pain surged through her body as she
lay there, barely conscious, trembling. Blinking against the dizziness, she
tried to focus, but her vision swam.
The car that had hit her, came to a stop just ahead. The driver stepped out,
but there was no urgency in his movements. Instead, he moved leisurely, as
if he had all the time in the world.
Two other people emerged from the backseat of the car, one of them was
Olivia.
She stepped out gracefully, arms folded, her heels clicking against the
pavement as she approached Ellie. Her expression was one of pure boredom
as she glanced down at her.
Turning to the two men, she scoffed. “She’s still alive? Seriously? You
idiots don’t even know how to hit someone properly with a car?”
“I hit her pretty hard,” one of them muttered defensively. “If she had gone
under the car, it would've been easier.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Just make sure you finish the job
properly before leaving.”
She looked back at Ellie, her face filled with annoyance. Lifting her foot,
she kicked Ellie’s hand, watching as her eyelids fluttered open slightly.
"What happened now? Why aren’t you bitching loudly?" Olivia sneered.
"You had plenty to say back there when you were trying to seduce my man
and drag him to your bed."
Even through the pain, Ellie’s brows knitted together. Gritting her teeth, she
managed to rasp out, "Where the hell… did you see me seducing your man?
Are you blind?"
Olivia’s face turned red with rage. Even when injured, this bitch wouldn’t
stop getting on her nerves.
"Grab her," she snapped at the men. "Throw her in the car and burn her. I
don’t want even her remains to be found in this place!"
Darkness pressed against Ellie’s mind, her body losing its battle against
consciousness.
‘Damn it, Ellie.’ She cursed herself, trying to fight the darkness. ‘You just
couldn’t keep your smartass mouth shut for a minute. Now don’t sleep.
Don’t sleep… don’t sleep—’
But the blackness consumed her, and she slumped into unconsciousness.
The men grabbed Ellie, dragging her into the driver’s seat of the car,
securing her hands and legs in position. Stepping back with smirks, they
reassured Olivia, "It’ll look like an accident, don’t worry. We just have to
throw her in that ditch once the car is lit up."
They moved swiftly. The car door opened again, and a container of gasoline
was pulled out. The acrid scent filled the air as they poured it around the
vehicle.
“Step back,” one of the men ordered, pulling a lighter from his pocket. He
flicked it open, ready to throw it—
Headlights flashed in the distance. A sudden burst of light flooded the
scene.
"Shit! Someone’s coming!" one of the men hissed, urgency lacing his voice.
The man quickly tossed the lighter aside and rushed toward the trees.
"Hide!" he snapped at Olivia, pulling her back.
"Just burn her first! What are you doing?" Olivia snapped.
“Madam, if I light this up now, that other car will catch fire too. You wanna
explain to the cops why this ‘accident’ suddenly turned into a double
murder?” he shot back, shoving her behind the trees.
"Grab this stupid woman!" the other man growled, clamping a hand over
Olivia’s mouth before she could argue.
The approaching car skidded to a halt.
A man stepped out.
Sawyer.
Olivia’s blood ran cold.
She ducked further into the shadows, panic gripping her.
Sawyer rushed to the abandoned car, thinking it had been in an accident. He
yanked open the driver’s side door—only to freeze.
“Ellie?”
His expression changed instantly. Panic surged through his body.
"Ellie?! Ellie!"
She didn’t respond. Blood seeped from a wound on her head, her body
eerily still. A strong scent of gasoline filled his nose.
His chest clenched violently. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!”
Sawyer had never felt fear like this. He had dealt with high-stakes deals,
life-or-death situations. But the last time he had been this terrified was
when Olivia’s house caught fire with her inside it—when he thought he had
lost her forever. And now, that same fear, that same suffocating tightness,
was clawing at his chest.
He grabbed Ellie, lifting her out of the seat but the seatbelt was stuck.
At that very moment, a spark of a small flame flickered near the hood. The
car was about to go up in flames.
But Sawyer didn’t let go of her.
Sawyer pulled harder, not giving a damn that his hands were shaking. He
fought with it, yanking at the buckle with all his strength. The fire was
growing, the heat intensifying, threatening to engulf the car at any second.
Gritting his teeth, he gave one final pull—and the buckle broke.
Ellie was free.
Sawyer hoisted her into his arms. The fire was growing. He had seconds.
He bolted toward his car. He placed her carefully in the passenger seat and
slammed the door shut.
The second he hit the gas—a deafening explosion rocked the night.
Behind him, flames engulfed the car, lighting up the dark road in a fiery
inferno.
Five hours later, Sawyer sat in a cold hospital room, his fingers curled
around Ellie’s hand. His thumb brushed over her knuckles as his eyes
remained fixed on her face.
She hadn’t woken up.
A thick bandage covered her head, and her complexion was pale—too pale,
her breaths slow.
The doctor’s words echoed in his mind.
‘If she doesn’t wake up in twelve hours, she might slip into a coma.’
His chest tightened.
Sawyer’s foot tapped impatiently against the floor. Each passing second
made the panic in his chest claw higher, suffocating him.
“Ellie,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her cold hand, which he
held tightly. “Wake up. How long are you going to sleep?” His voice
cracked. “Please wake up.”
Nothing.
“Goddamn it, Ellie, you’re scaring the life out of me,” he gritted out, his
hands trembling. He reached up, gently brushing her hair from her forehead
before leaning down, his intense gaze fixed on her still face.
She had never been this quiet before. Normally, she was a storm—restless,
relentless, always pushing his buttons. Seeing her like this, lifeless and still,
was terrifying.
He exhaled sharply and slumped back into his chair, rubbing his face.
"Ellie, please wake up. If you wake up, I’m going to—"
"You’re going to what?" Ellie’s weak voice interrupted him.
Sawyer shot to his feet, his face going pale.
Ellie’s voice—soft, teasing—had sliced through the silence. His heart
slammed against his ribs as he looked at her, only to find her eyes fluttering
open.
Then, as if snapping out of a trance, he quickly let go of her hand, turned
away, and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. A second later, he
spun back around, masking his emotions with an arrogant expression.
"So, you’re still alive," he said.
Ellie’s brows knitted together, her cold gaze locking onto his as a dull ache
pulsed through her body. She pushed herself up slowly, ignoring the sting in
her limbs.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was hoarse, laced with confusion.
"You can leave."
Sawyer’s jaw clenched, his glare sharp enough to cut. Even after nearly
dying, the first thing she did was piss him off? Unbelievable.
His voice was taut with irritation. “I’m here because of our agreement.
You’re my responsibility until it ends.” His glare darkened, his patience
thinning. “If something happened to you, I’d have to deal with a whole lot
of annoying, unnecessary trouble because of your stupidity.”
Ellie scoffed, shooting him an annoyed look.
So she really had imagined it? The vision of him saving her—from the fire,
pulling her out of the wreck, his voice screaming her name, his arms
shielding her? Had none of it been real?
Ellie let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Good thing I have a brain,”
she muttered under her breath. “Obviously, that was just a dream. No way
this narcissist saved me. His fingers would probably tingle just from
touching something that could actually harm him.”
“What was that?” Sawyer narrowed his eyes.
She met his eyes with a defiant glare, her patience wearing thin. “Don’t
worry. Even if I were dying, I wouldn’t expect you to take responsibility for
me. I can take care of myself. You can walk away now.”
His expression tightened, a flicker of frustration darkening his stormy eyes.
Instead of leaving, he took a step closer, his tall frame casting a shadow
over her bed.
“You’re acting different,” he muttered, his voice low, scrutinizing her with
sharp suspicion.
Ellie arched a brow. “And how exactly should I be acting?”
Sawyer leaned in, bracing his hands on the mattress, his face inches from
hers. “Your attitude, your tone, the way you talk to me—everything is
different. Ever since you left to live with Lily, you’ve completely changed,
Ellie Madden.”
She rolled her eyes. “And you’re only noticing now?”
He didn’t answer, but the intensity in his gaze burned into her.
Ellie exhaled, her voice turning flat. “Your lover is back now. You have her.
So why do you care how I act? Do you still expect me to behave the same
way I did when I was pretending to be your girlfriend?”
Sawyer’s jaw tightened. “You’re still under contract with me, Ellie. Don’t
forget that.”
Ellie let out a dry laugh, her eyes flashing with irritation. “Oh, right. Yada,
yada. And you’re engaged.” She shoved his chest lightly, her lips curling.
“You should be happy, Mr. Stark. Olivia’s back after almost three years.
Isn’t this what you were waiting for?” She crossed her arms, tilting her
head. “You were so eager for me to disappear the moment she returned. So
why does it matter how I behave now with you?”
A mock look of realization crossed her face as she gasped dramatically.
“Oh, wait… Don’t tell me—” Her eyes widened. “Are you in love with me?
Is that it?”
Sawyer stiffened, his jaw clenching.
“Dream on.” Sawyer pulled back, his voice sharp, but something flickered
behind his eyes. “Whatever’s going on in that mad head of yours—stop it.
Enough of this nonsense.” He exhaled sharply, his frustration mounting. “I
want you to act like before. I don’t like this new attitude.”
Ellie barely had time to retort before someone appeared at the door.
“There. Your true love is here.” She lifted her head toward the door with a
cold smile.
Sawyer exhaled sharply, his hand resting on his waist, clearly frustrated.
"Ellie, stop acting stupid. What’s Olivia’s got to do—"
“Hi, Sawyer. Hi, Ellie.”
Olivia strolled up to Ellie’s bedside, her heels clicking softly against the
floor, before stopping beside Sawyer. With a practiced smile, she set a
basket of fruit on the table and held out a bouquet of fresh flowers, her
voice dripping with honeyed warmth. "I heard you had an accident. I
brought these for you."
Ellie eyed the bouquet like it was laced with cyanide. Her arms folded over
her chest as she leaned back against the pillows, her expression cold. “Yeah,
no thanks.” She flicked a lazy glance at the flowers. “What did you do?
Poison them?”
For a brief second, Olivia’s perfect smile faltered—but it was gone in a
blink, replaced by a light giggle as she turned to Sawyer, tucking a strand of
hair behind her ear. "She’s so funny. Oh my god."
Then, as if she hadn't just been accused, Olivia looked back at Ellie, her
gaze sweeping over her in feigned concern. "Are you hurt badly? What
happened? How did you even get hurt?"
Ellie’s lips curled into a saccharine smile, mirroring Olivia’s fake
sweetness. "Oh, come on, Olivia, As if you don’t know."
Olivia froze.
Ellie leaned forward slightly. “Wasn’t it you who arranged for those men to
run me over? Who threw me in that car and set it on fire?”

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 11 STALKER
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Sawyer’s head snapped toward Olivia, “What the fuck?” His voice was
deadly quiet. “Is that true?”
Olivia’s face instantly paled. She reached for Sawyer’s hand, gripping it
tightly. "Sawyer, what are you saying?" Her voice wavered, her eyes
glistening with unshed tears. "You’ve known me since childhood. How can
you even ask me this?"
She turned her gaze to Ellie, her expression wounded. "Ellie, I know you
don’t like me, but this? Framing me for something this serious? That’s just
cruel."
Without waiting for her answer, Olivia turned to the man beside her,
desperation lacing her voice. "Sawyer, trust me. I didn’t do anything. You
trust me, right? You know me. No one knows me better than you."
Sawyer’s brows knitted together, but after a brief hesitation, he nodded
slightly. "Ellie must have misunderstood and seen wrong. Don’t worry."
Ellie’s anger flared visibly. But Sawyer patted Olivia’s hand assuringly and
then turned and left the hospital room, closing the door behind him.
Henry, who had been waiting outside, immediately approached. "Mr. Stark,
I’ve found out the details."
Sawyer’s eyes sharpened. "What happened?"
"I did some digging to make sure I wasn’t wrong," Henry said in a low
voice. "The men who tried to run over Miss Ellie and burn the car were
hired by the Whitlock family." He glanced through the small glass window
at Olivia, who was still inside the hospital room.
Sawyer’s face tensed. He took the file from Henry’s hand and flipped
through the pages. Every single piece of evidence pointed that the
Whitlocks had hired two men to run Ellie over and set the car on fire. If he
hadn’t taken precautions, they would have succeeded.
"Mr. Stark, could it be that Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock weren’t pleased with
your relationship with Miss Ellie?" Henry asked with a frown. "Maybe they
wanted to help Miss Olivia, so they—"
Sawyer cut him off with a sharp shake of his head. "Impossible," he
muttered. "I’ve known them for years. They’re good people." His gaze
drifted toward Olivia. "Dig deeper. It could be someone else. Find out
exactly who paid them to hurt Ellie."
"Yes, Mr. Stark." Henry nodded and walked away.
Left alone, Sawyer stood in front of the glass panel, his gaze fixed on
Olivia, who seemed completely oblivious to his scrutiny. His eyes
narrowed, suspicion gnawing at him like a persistent itch.
‘Are you really Olivia?’ His thoughts swirled with doubt, and he clenched
his jaw tightly, trying to block out the rising unease. ‘The Olivia I knew...
She wasn’t like this. She wasn’t greedy, angry, clingy, or cunning. But
you... You still feel so familiar, yet you’re someone I don’t recognize
anymore.’
His hands trembled slightly, and he shut his eyes for a brief moment, as if
trying to erase the nagging questions and confusion clouding his mind.
"That fire took everything from me. And now, you’re gone too. What am I
supposed to do, Olivia? What the hell is happening?" He inhaled deeply, his
chest tightening with frustration.
Inside the hospital room, completely unaware of Sawyer’s watchful eyes,
Olivia’s lips curled into a smug smile the moment Sawyer walked out. Her
posture shifted to something more confident, more victorious.
"Done whining?" she taunted, raising an eyebrow as she stepped closer to
Ellie. "Go on, bitch more about me. Did you see that? Sawyer is mine. He
won’t believe a word you say."
Ellie responded coldly, "Okay."
That single word, spoken so coldly, only fueled Olivia’s rage. Her face
flushed with anger, and she pointed a trembling finger at Ellie. "You’re so
annoying! Trying to seduce my man. Do you even know how to live among
people like us? I’ve seen a thousand sluts like you—"
"Yeah, very nice," Ellie cut her off with biting sarcasm. "That’s not going to
stop the police from arresting you for trying to murder me, Oli-Oli."
Olivia’s eyes flared wide, her chest heaving with fury. "What the fuck did
you just call me?!"
Ellie leaned back against the bed, lazily staring at her in mock amusement.
"God, you’re exhausting. Drop the act already. Get out of my room. You
tried to burn me alive today—what’s next? I’m not sticking around to find
out. Keep your precious Sawyer. Go lick his feet for all I care."
Olivia’s face twisted with pure fury, her fists clenching as she marched
toward Ellie, her every step filled with venom. "You bitch!" she growled,
her voice low and dangerous. "Leave him. I told you before, if you don’t, I
won’t make things pretty for you!"
"Oh my God, shut up already!" Ellie clapped her hands in front of Olivia’s
face in frustration. "Snap out of it already! Only you would be stupid
enough to keep whining about a man in front of another woman. Just get
him to sign the agreement to free me from being his ‘girlfriend,’ and I’ll be
on my way! You can have him all to yourself."
Outside the room, Sawyer jerked toward the window in shock. He stared
inside, his breath harsh with fury.
‘She just told Olivia about our agreement?’ His mind reeled. ‘She’s so quick
to give up on me? She doesn’t even care about breaking up—just agreeing
so easily? Does she even want me at all? What the hell is she saying in
there?’
His expression darkened. “Ellie Madden, you’re getting way too cocky
now.” His teeth clenched, fury surging through his veins.
With a low growl, Sawyer slammed his fist against the wall beside the door.
"You’re so eager to throw me away? Do you think I would never throw you
out? Now you’ll see the things I can do to deal with you!"
Blinded by rage, Sawyer stormed out of the hospital.
Inside the room, Olivia’s face burned with fury. "I knew it! You’re
blackmailing him with some bullshit agreement, aren’t you?! You think he
won’t sign it? You’re really delusional, huh? Too blind to tell the difference
between charity and real love?"
Ellie smirked. "At least I have my priorities straight. Unlike you, I don’t
take ‘breaks’ from my boyfriend to go screw around abroad."
A dangerous fire lit in Olivia’s eyes. Her hand shot up, ready to strike Ellie
across the face.
But Ellie was faster. She caught Olivia’s wrist mid-air and flung it aside
before delivering a sharp slap across Olivia’s face. The sound echoed
through the room.
Olivia stumbled back in shock, her body trembling as she turned around,
eyes wide with disbelief. "How fucking dare you?!" she seethed, her voice
shaking with rage.
Ellie carelessly rolled her eyes, lounging on the hospital bed. "What did you
expect? That I'd just sit here and take your slap?" She scoffed. "Who do you
think you are?"
Her words got stuck in her throat the moment she caught sight of Olivia’s
face.
And then, in the very next second, she burst into uncontrollable laughter,
clutching her stomach as she rolled on the bed.
Olivia stared at her, bewildered, as if Ellie had lost her mind. "What the hell
is wrong with you?"
Still laughing madly, Ellie fished her phone out of her pocket, snapped a
quick picture, and turned the screen toward Olivia. "Take a look at your—
oh my god, I can't—"
Olivia’s stomach dropped as she glanced at the phone screen.
One of her eyebrows had completely dropped, hanging awkwardly over her
eye, while the other remained stuck high up in its usual place. One eye
looked unusually small, while the other was stretched wide open, giving her
an absolutely ridiculous expression.
Ellie howled in laughter. "Wow, Olivia, did you get plastic surgery on your
face?" Her laughter only grew louder. "I kept hearing you brag about being
a natural beauty!"
"I did not have any surgery!" Olivia shrieked, her face burning with
humiliation. "You—you are the one who hurt me! It's your fault!"
Ellie wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, still wheezing. "Oh, please. I
know what botched surgery looks like." She shook her head, grinning. "And
you—denying it like this—god, this is priceless."
Olivia’s hands flew to her face, covering it in panic.
Ellie giggled. "You look very pretty in your ‘natural beauty’, Olivia. That
one-eyebrow-up, one-eyebrow-down look? Truly one of a kind. No wonder
people keep complimenting your features. It's a once-in-a-lifetime wonder!"
Olivia let out a horrified gasp, backing away. She could already imagine the
whispers, the stares—her reputation was at stake.
With a strangled cry, she spun on her heel and bolted out of the room, too
mortified to stay another second.
Ellie, meanwhile, remained in bed, clutching her stomach as she laughed
even harder.
***
Sawyer stormed into his parents’ house. The atmosphere was anything but
peaceful. Workers bustled about, and with his mother’s habit of constantly
hosting dermatologists, masseuses, and other professionals, the house
resembled more of a luxury hotel than a home.
He barely spared a glance at the commotion as he stormed through, heading
straight for Liana’s office. He pushed the door open without knocking, his
frustration evident in every step. Inside, Liana sat at her desk, engaged in a
video call. The door was slightly ajar, and he could hear her voice clearly
before he even entered. She was speaking to someone with an air of casual
elegance.
"Yes, Evelyn," Liana said, her voice smooth and pleasant. "Do you want me
to come along too? I wanted to go, but work got in the way. I can meet you
soon in London." Liana said, her tone warm and friendly.
Evelyn’s voice responded from the other end, “Great! I’ll be there next
month.”
“Sure,” Liana smiled, hanging up the call. But the smile quickly dropped
from her face as she turned to see Sawyer standing in the doorway, his
expression dark.
"Have you lost all the manners I taught you?" she asked coolly, her voice
edged with disapproval.
Sawyer didn't flinch. He stepped into the room, slammed the door behind
him, and placed both hands firmly on her table. “I want to break that damn
agreement with Ellie!” he declared. “I’m done. I don’t want to see her in my
house again.”
Liana remained calm, setting her phone down with deliberate grace, her
gaze never leaving Sawyer. “Do I really need to keep repeating myself like
a broken record, Sawyer?” she asked coolly. “The three years aren’t up yet,
are they? You promised you’d stay with her for three years.”
“What does it matter?” Sawyer’s voice was laced with impatience. “It’s just
a few more months. It’s almost three years already, isn’t that enough?”
“A deal is a deal, Sawyer,” Liana replied, her tone still calm, almost too
calm. She took a sip from her coffee cup, her movements smooth as she
reached for a book on the shelf. “Do I need to teach you the basics of
business and contracts again?”
Sawyer’s jaw tightened. He stepped back, folding his arms in frustration,
his sigh heavy with annoyance. “Olivia is already back, Mom. Ellie doesn’t
need to stay anymore.”
Liana raised an eyebrow. “She’s back?” A faint smirk tugged at the corners
of her lips as she feigned a surprise, pretending as though she didn’t already
know. “I thought she’d be gone for at least five years.”
Sawyer frowned. "Why do you say that?"
“When I last spoke to her, I told her our business wasn’t doing well. I said it
would take at least five years to get back to where we were, to climb back
up the wealth ranks,” Liana explained casually. “The next day, she booked a
flight overseas and left. I assumed she’d be gone for much longer.”
Sawyer’s frown deepened. “She’s not greedy. You’re wrong about that.”
Liana said nothing, only shrugging nonchalantly. “Well, you must be
smarter than me then. I seem to have forgotten how to judge people.
Though that Ellie girl… she seems alright.”
Sawyer’s face flushed with anger. His hand shot out, grabbing the book
from his mother’s hand and slamming it shut. Liana looked up, unperturbed,
as Sawyer barked at her.
“She seems alright to you? Ellie?! Do you have any idea what she’s been
doing to me for the past three years?!” His voice rose with fury. “She told
me she loved me, pretended to care for me, but in the end, she just wanted
my money! She’s only after my checks. Give her what she wants, and she
changes like that!” He snapped his fingers for emphasis.
Liana arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Really?”
"Yes! She admitted it! She told me she’s been pretending this whole time,
just using me for my money! She didn’t even flinch! Can you believe that?"
Sawyer was practically shaking with anger. "She says she doesn't care about
me anymore, now that the agreement is almost up and Olivia is back."
Sawyer's voice cracked with disbelief, his broad chest rising and falling as
frustration seeped through every word. "She never even raised her voice in
front of me all these years, and now—now she just flatly says she’s tired of
her ‘act’?!" His fists tightened at his sides, his knuckles whitening.
Liana’s usually stoic face cracked into a smile. Then she laughed, leaning
back in her chair, shaking her head.
“Let me get this straight,” she said, her voice tinged with laughter. “You
don’t want to break the agreement because Olivia’s back. You want to break
it because Ellie’s annoying you?” Her brow arched, a grin tugging at the
corners of her mouth.
Sawyer's gaze locked onto her, completely oblivious to her amusement.
"Yes! Obviously!" he growled, his frustration thick in his voice. "She’s been
playing me for three years, and I’m done with it. I’m not wasting another
second on her!"
Liana burst into laughter, her eyes squinting as she fought to compose
herself. She let out a long sigh, leaning forward, her gaze steady. When she
finally spoke, her voice was cool, but there was an edge to it.
"You are not breaking that agreement, Sawyer Stark, until it’s fulfilled.
Until the three years are up. That is final."
Sawyer’s expression twisted into one of disbelief and frustration, his grip on
his chair tightening. "What? Mom—"
"No more arguments." Liana’s voice was firm now, her tone leaving no
room for debate. "You made a deal with me. You’re sticking to it."
***
Ellie’s entire body was drenched in sweat as she lay in the hospital bed, her
face flushed with heat. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but darkness swirled
behind her eyelids—not the kind of darkness that was peaceful, but a heavy,
oppressive one. And in that darkness, there was someone—someone
familiar—cackling above her.
"Did you really think you were my friend? Jesus, you’re dumb," the voice
mocked bitterly. "How many times have I told you I’m jealous of you? Did
you really take it all as a joke?"
The voice was sharp, filled with venom. Ellie felt herself shrinking in the
darkness, unable to move, paralyzed as a figure circled her, a lighter
flickering in their hand.
The girl standing over her—someone Ellie knew—was gripping a lighter in
her hand as she circled Ellie’s injured body. Ellie lay helpless on the
ground, unable to move.
"You have a rich family, loving parents, and the man I love the most. Why
the fuck do you have everything I want, while I’m stuck scraping for
leftovers and still getting nothing?!” the girl shrieked, her face red with
fury. "I tried to seduce your boyfriend, but guess what? He said he’s
disgusted with me! Do you believe that? He said he’s disgusted!"
She barked out a laugh, her grip tightening around the lighter.
"Well, let’s see who he finds more disgusting now." the girl sneered,
twirling the lighter in her hand before igniting it.
"Once you’re left in nothing but ashes, he’ll be mine. Everything you have
will be mine."
Then, she dropped the lighter.
Her entire body erupted in flames. Flames licked at her skin, the pain was
excruciating, all-consuming. She screamed in agony as her skin burned,
feeling helpless, unable to escape. She was on fire, and there was nothing
she could do.
"Ellie! Ellie, wake up!"
A voice broke through the suffocating darkness, shaking her violently.
Ellie’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself staring into familiar, dark
eyes. The fire was gone, but the residual pain lingered, her body trembling
as if the heat still burned through her.
"Ellie, what’s wrong?" Lily’s concerned voice brought her back to reality,
and Ellie realized she was in a hospital room, not on fire. Lily had a tissue
in her hand, gently wiping the sweat from Ellie’s forehead.
"Bad dream," Ellie murmured hoarsely, trying to catch her breath. She
swallowed, feeling the dryness in her throat before meeting Lily’s worried
gaze. "But... it didn’t feel like just a dream."
Lily frowned, clearly confused. "What do you mean?"
Ellie took a deep breath and told her everything—the vision, the voice, the
flames. Then, grabbing Lily’s hand tightly, she whispered, "I think… it’s
my past. Someone deliberately set me on fire.” She paused, shuddering at
the memory. "And that voice... it sounded just like Olivia’s."
Lily’s eyes widened in shock.
"That’s impossible," she said, shaking her head in denial. "It must be just an
illusion. Olivia was overseas all this time. She’s Sawyer Stark’s fiancée.
How could someone humble like you have ever been involved with some
richi-rich brat like her?"
Ellie frowned, confusion swirling in her mind. She was so sure of it. That
voice… it was Olivia’s. She knew that screech anywhere.
But how? Olivia’s face was different from the girl in her dream.
Lily sighed, pulling on her jacket and grabbing her purse from the chair by
the door. "I have to go now. My shift’s starting. Take care of yourself,
okay?" Her voice softened, laced with concern. "Call me if you need
anything."
Ellie gave a weak smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "Thanks, Lily. I
will." She watched her friend leave, the door clicking shut behind her.
Once alone, she turned her head toward the water bottle on the bedside
table—empty. Sighing, she tried to push herself up from the bed, only to
wince in pain as her foot, twisted from the accident, sent sharp agony
through her body. She could barely put weight on it without feeling like she
was being stabbed.
She sucked in a sharp breath, hands gripping the sides of the bed to steady
herself. But there was no one around to help.
Gritting her teeth, she grabbed the empty bottle and limped out of the
hospital room to find a water cooler.
A few minutes later she returned with a full bottle, her thoughts still
consumed by the mystery of the voice, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it
had been Olivia. But how could that be? Olivia had no reason to be
involved in the nightmare.
"I can’t be wrong," Ellie muttered to herself. "That was definitely her voice.
I know it. I’d recognize that screech anywhere. But… her face was
different. Could it be that I knew Olivia before? But how would that even
be possible?"
So lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice someone standing in front of her—
until she crashed right into a firm chest.
Wincing, she stumbled back and looked up, annoyance written all over her
face, only to find Jeremy standing there, looking amused.
Her eyes widened, and in an instant, her hand flew to her mouth. No way.
She wasn’t going to let him kiss her in the hospital. Especially not when she
looked this awful!

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 12
BOYFRIEND
Seeing that, Jeremy burst into laughter. "You crack me up every time I see
you, Ellie," he said. "I swear, I haven’t laughed this much in years. You’re
my new favorite source of entertainment."
Ellie’s eyebrow shot up as she narrowed her eyes at him, unimpressed.
"Good for you," she muttered, her tone laced with sarcasm. She lowered her
hand but couldn’t stop the suspicion creeping into her voice. "Are you
following me?"
Jeremy took his time to eye her from head to toe, a mocking smile tugging
at the corner of his lips. "Sure. Your body is made of gold. I’m very
interested in spending all my time following you," he said, his words thick
with sarcasm.
Ellie straightened up, her posture becoming more guarded as her hand fell
to her side.
"What happened to you?" Jeremy asked with a grin. "I leave you alone for a
few hours, and you’re so devastated that you try to jump off a bridge?"
Ellie snickered, leaning against the hospital wall. "I was almost murdered.
Someone hit me with a car. And now here I am. What about you?"
Jeremy sighed, shaking his head. "I was practicing next week’s dance for a
model show when my choreographer turned out to be completely useless.
Couldn’t match the music at all, and I almost broke my back. Had to fire
him before I came here to get checked out, just to make sure I don’t have
any serious injuries."
Then his eyes gleamed with an idea.
"Oh, right. You’re a choreographer, aren’t you?" He tilted his head. "How
about you come work for me? Be my choreographer for this show, and if it
goes well, I’ll hire you for more."
Ellie blinked, caught off guard by his offer. "You want me to be your
choreographer?"
Ellie bit her lip, her mind racing. To be fair, she was running out of money.
And with Olivia back, her days with Sawyer were numbered.
“I’ll think about it and let you know,” she finally told Jeremy.
“No problem.” He grinned and pulled out his phone. “Let’s exchange
contacts. Give me your number, and I’ll call you.”
Ellie hesitated for a moment before taking the phone, typing in her number,
and handing it back to him.
Jeremy chuckled but didn’t push it. His eyes flickered to the water bottle in
her hand, then down to her bandaged foot. “Want some help getting back to
your room?”
Her foot had already started throbbing again, so she nodded. “It’s just right
there.”
“Got it.”
Jeremy slid his arm around her shoulders, and she placed her arm around
his waist, letting him help her walk back. But with each step, the pain
intensified. Limping on one foot was harder than she thought, and just as
she stumbled, he caught her before she could hit the floor.
Without warning, he bent down and swept her off her feet, scooping her up
into his arms.
“I can walk on my own,” Ellie protested, squirming to get down.
“Sure, if you want to take all year,” Jeremy teased. “I don’t have time for
that. Just let me take you back—it’s not a big deal.”
He gave her a knowing look, and Ellie, seeing no way out, huffed and
pointed toward her room.
Just as they reached the door, it swung open, and Sawyer stepped out,
holding a lunch box.
His gaze landed on Ellie first, then immediately flicked to Jeremy. His eyes
narrowed, and in an instant, his expression turned ice-cold as his glare
locked onto her.
“Isn’t this the guy from yesterday?” Sawyer didn’t even acknowledge
Jeremy directly. His burning glare stayed fixed on Ellie, making her stiffen.
Before she could answer, Sawyer’s sharp gaze snapped to Jeremy, and the
intensity in his eyes darkened. Without another word, he stormed forward
and yanked Ellie out of Jeremy’s arms.
“What the hell is he doing here? Did you call him here?”
Jeremy didn’t let go immediately, but when Sawyer’s grip tightened
possessively around Ellie, he had no choice but to step back. Crossing his
arms, Jeremy smirked.
“I’m her boyfriend. She got hurt. Isn’t it normal for a boyfriend to check on
his girlfriend?”
The temperature in the hallway seemed to drop. The way Sawyer’s eyes
burned could have reduced Jeremy to ashes. Even Ellie felt a flicker of fear
—Sawyer had always been intense, but this was something else.
But Jeremy remained completely unfazed. In fact, a grin tugged at the
corner of his lips, as if the tension between them only fueled his
amusement.
Ellie muttered under her breath, “This bastard is going to get me killed.”
With a deep sigh, she turned toward Jeremy. "You should leave now.
Thanks for stopping by," she said, forcing a smile, though it didn’t reach her
eyes.
Jeremy didn’t move.
Sawyer’s grip on her tightened immediately, his fingers digging into her
arm as his gaze shot daggers at Jeremy. His voice was a low growl as he
snapped, "She is my girlfriend. Stay the fuck away from her."
Jeremy let out a low whistle, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was
causing. His smirk only deepened. "Damn, you’ve got a bad memory," he
teased, his voice oozing sarcasm. "So, how did the proposal go last night?
Do you have a fiancée now?" His smirk widened. "Last night, you proposed
to that fancy chick, didn’t you? So how exactly is Ellie your girlfriend
anymore?"
Sawyer’s hold on Ellie became more forceful, his jaw clenching so tightly it
looked like it might snap. His voice dropped, low and threatening. “That
wasn’t a proposal,” he spat, his eyes burning with barely contained rage.
“And it’s none of your damn business.”
Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed into the hospital
room, taking Ellie in with him before slamming the door shut.
Inside the room, Sawyer didn’t release Ellie. Instead, he marched straight to
the bed and set her down, his hand still gripping her shoulder tightly. He
leaned in, his face inches from hers, his eyes narrowing as he forced her to
meet his gaze.
“Ellie,” he growled, voice low and dangerous. “Where did you go just
now?”
Ellie pulled out her water bottle, unscrewing the cap. “I went to get water.”
“With your new boyfriend?” Sawyer ground out, releasing her shoulders but
trapping her in by gripping the edge of the bed. He leaned in close, his
breath warm against her face. “Who gave you the courage to get a new
boyfriend? Did you forget that you’re still mine? Or do I need to remind
you?”
Ellie leaned back against the bed, trying to put some space between them,
but his proximity made it impossible to think straight. The heat radiating
from his body, his scent, his overwhelming presence—it was suffocating.
Her mind wavered between processing his words and the utterly
inappropriate urge to sink her teeth into his throat.
“Of course, I have a new boyfriend now.” She shrugged, then leaned in
closer with narrowed eyes. “What did you expect? I already told you—I’m
done acting.”
His eyes darkened, his jaw tight. “Ellie, you’re crossing a line now,” he
warned, his voice dangerously soft.
“So what?” she snapped. “You’re already engaged to Olivia, aren’t you?
You have your girlfriend, and I have a boyfriend. Same thing.”
Sawyer’s eyes flared with rage. “Olivia isn’t my fiancée,” he growled, his
grip tightening once more. “And you’re not getting a new boyfriend!”
“Why not?”
“Because you already have a boyfriend.”
Ellie scoffed. “Where? Which one? Who?!”
Sawyer grabbed her wrist, his voice thundering. “Right fucking here! Me!”
Ellie flinched—not in fear, but in sheer surprise.
In the three years they had been together, he had never called her his
girlfriend. Not once. She had always been a replacement. A stand-in. A
placeholder for Olivia, his ‘true’ love.
Her chest tightened as she pulled back, speaking in a lower, more controlled
voice. “You aren’t my boyfriend. I told you—I don’t want to act anymore.
We’re done.”
Before she could finish, Sawyer reached over and grabbed her face, his
fingers digging into her skin. “Ellie Madden, do you want to die by my
hands tonight?”
“Ahh! Leave my face alone! It’s going to fall off!” she whined, slapping at
his hands.
He released her with a scowl, his fingers reluctantly pulling away from her
face. Ellie immediately shot him a searing glare, she snapped. “I paid a
million dollars for this face! Are you crazy? Don’t grab my face like that
ever again!”
Sawyer’s brow furrowed in confusion, his gaze flickering between her and
the space where his hand had been moments before. “You’ve had plastic
surgery?”
Ellie huffed, rolling her eyes in exasperation. “Yes,” she said, as if it
should’ve been obvious.
He leaned in slightly, his confusion deepening. “Where?” he asked, his eyes
searching her face as if looking for the invisible changes. “Why haven’t you
mentioned this before?”
“All over,” Ellie replied, her voice tinged with frustration. She rubbed her
face gently, trying to soothe the sting of his touch. “You never asked,” she
added pointedly, her eyes locking with his. “I was in a fire three years ago.
Burnt my face pretty badly, so I had surgery to fix it.” She shot him a glare.
“Don’t ruin it.”
Sawyer froze.
A fire? Three years ago?
His mind raced. Was it just a coincidence?
Before he could ask a single question, Ellie snapped, “Get out. What are
you still standing here for?”
Sawyer straightened, his jaw tightening as his unreadable gaze settled on
her. “You’re still my girlfriend. You signed an agreement.”
“So what?” Ellie shot back. “It’s my life, and what I say goes. I don’t want
to be a mistress.”
“You’re not a mistress.”
Ellie crossed her arms, her posture defensive as she glared at him. “I am.
You have your lover back—what do you expect me to do? Stick around as a
third wheel? Or do you have some twisted fantasy about keeping two
women at once?”
Sawyer almost grabbed her face again.
Ellie sighed, jerking back and instinctively shielding her face with her
hands. “You and I are over. You can go live your perfect life with your
Olivia. Just stop bothering me.”
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed as silence stretched between them. Then, without a
word, he slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a card, holding it out
to her.
“One hundred thousand dollars,” he said calmly. “You stay with me until
the contract is up. And you won’t get a new boyfriend.”
Ellie instinctively reached for the card, ready to snatch it, but at the last
second, her fingers halted in hesitation. She bit her lip, thinking hard.
‘Even after knowing I was only acting as his girlfriend for money, why does
he still want to keep me around?’ She studied his face, suspicion creeping
in. ‘Could it be that this guy is actually in love with me?’
If that was the case, then maybe staying a little longer wouldn’t be such a
bad idea. Just a few more months. Get the full payout.
A slow smirk spread across her lips—one she tried to hide but failed.
Sawyer saw it. His jaw clenched as he sighed internally. ‘This little gold
digger… she gets so happy whenever I show her money.’
Feigning disinterest, he made a move to pull the card back.
But at the last second, Ellie snatched it from his hand.
“Deal!” she declared, flashing him a reluctant smile while barely hiding her
glee. “Since you’re so insistent on keeping me, I’ll stay until the three years
are up. Just to make you happy, of course. Wouldn’t want to leave any
psychological burden on you.”
Sawyer’s jaw clenched as he grabbed her face again. “Ellie Madden!” he
snapped, grabbing her face again. “How fast you change for money?!”
Ellie giggled, grabbing his wrist and trying to pry it off. “What money?”
She quickly slid the card under the pillow, shaking her head at him, feigning
confusion. “I’m obviously coming back to you because I love you so much.
It hurts to even think about living apart from you.”
She pouted slightly, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes. “If I didn’t
love you, why would I stay up until three in the morning just to make sure
you took your medicine and didn’t wake up in pain next morning after
drinking all night? Why would I go to your office just to check on you and
take care of you? What kind of woman does all that if she doesn’t love her
husband?”
Her doe-like eyes locked onto his, and her innocent face made him narrow
his eyes, though her words stirred something inside him.
‘It’s true that she loves money, but this little gold digger isn’t completely
unaffected.’ He thought to himself, watching her carefully. ‘Last year, when
that heavy stone was about to fall on me during the new stage build, she
pushed me out of the way and injured herself. Stupid woman! How can she
just be pretending to love me when she’s willing to risk her life to save
me?’
Sawyer leaned in closer, his grip still firm on her face. "So, you aren’t
acting this time?"
Ellie smiled sweetly, but inside, her mind was racing.
‘I have to take this opportunity. I don’t have any other way to make that
much money quickly. And I still need to find out if it was really Olivia who
burned me three years ago. And that won’t be possible unless I stay around
SNS.’
Her gaze locked onto his face. Even though he was just inches away, close
enough that she could see every little detail—his frustratingly long lashes,
his sharp eyes, his perfectly sculpted lips—she couldn’t find a single flaw.
And the scent of him... so clean, so intoxicating, she felt like she could fall
asleep right then without needing a scented candle.
Ellie smirked to herself, her thoughts drifting. ‘Anyway, he’s so handsome.
Even if I have to stay with him for a few more months, it’s not like I’m
losing out.’
But before she could answer his question, Sawyer caught that strange look
in her eyes. His patience snapped.
"What the hell are you thinking about with that face, Ellie?"
Instead of answering, Ellie leaned in and kissed him, wrapping her arms
around his neck and pulling him down onto the bed.
As their bodies pressed together, heat radiated between them, an electric
current sparking in the space where their skin met. She smirked wickedly
and winked, her voice dripping with mischief.
"Wanna do it?"
Before he could answer, she closed the distance, crashing her lips onto his
in a fiery kiss. Her tongue tangled with his, teasing and demanding, her lips
moving wildly, matching the rough hunger of his own. His hands found her
waist, gripping her firmly as he deepened the kiss, pulling her flush against
him.
A low moan escaped her throat as the taste of him overwhelmed her senses,
sending delicious shivers down her spine. She clutched at his shirt, fingers
curling into the fabric before tugging it up, breaking their kiss for just a
moment to strip it from his body.
His hands were just as impatient, roaming over her curves, tracing the line
of her spine before slipping beneath her top. His fingers brushed against her
heated skin, making her gasp. With one swift motion, he pulled her shirt
over her head, tossing it aside.
Their breaths mingled, heavy and ragged, as his lips trailed from her mouth
to her jaw, then down the column of her throat. She tilted her head back,
exposing more of herself to him, her fingers already working at the
waistband of his pants.
His hands slid down her back, finding the clasp of her bra and undoing it
with practiced ease. As the fabric fell away, his gaze darkened with desire, a
smirk tugging at the corner of his lips before he captured her mouth again,
hungrier this time, their bodies pressing together, skin against skin, the last
barriers between them quickly disappearing into the haze of their passion.
Panting with excitement, she kissed his neck. Wet kisses, sharp nips, and
teasing bites trailed down his throat. The scent of her body filled his nose,
intoxicating him. His body burned hotter with every second. Her lips moved
from one side of his throat to the other, licking, eating, kissing his skin.
Her hand found his nipple, pulling, pinching at it, testing his limits. Her soft
body rubbed against his rough one, every movement deliberate, every brush
of her skin against his sending jolts of pleasure through him. Her leg
wrapped around his waist, moving up and down, rubbing herself against his
rod with unrelenting force.
“Ahh…” Sawyer’s soft groan vibrated through his throat and onto her lips.
The sound sent a thrill down her spine. She moved lower, her teeth grazing
his chest before nipping his nipple.
“Fuck…!” His broken voice, rough and strained, urged her to bite harder.
She did. Her teeth clamped onto the sensitive bud, pulling, tugging, pushing
him further into the abyss of desire.
“Fuck... Fuck, Ellie!” He hissed as pain shot through his nipple, only for
pleasure to follow when her tongue swiped over it, sending tingles rippling
across his chest.
His member ached, thick and heavy, tip leaking with undeniable proof of
his need. Her mouth traveled lower, finding his rod directly. Fisting him in
her hand, she lifted it, showing him just how hard he was.
A wicked grin stretched across her lips as she met his burning eyes, teasing
him. He growled furiously, his muscles tensing.
Her grip on his thickness tightened in a punishing hold, her hand twisting,
stroking, forcing him to endure the torturous pleasure. With every stroke, it
swelled, turning darker, the veins pulsing beneath his hot skin.
Lowering her head, she took the tip into her mouth, sucking, teasing,
pushing him to the edge.
“Ellie… slow down!” he growled, his shaft trembling with need, the
trapped blood setting every vein on fire, his fingers gripping the back of her
head.
She sucked and licked, reveling in the way his control threatened to break
free. The raw, primal way his body betrayed him—set her own arousal
aflame. Her core ached, drenched with her own desire.
She climbed on top of Sawyer, straddling him. Her bare wetness rubbed
against his stomach, her heat branding his skin.
Her thumb traced his lower lip, wiping away the wetness in a slow,
seductive motion. She held his gaze, something dark and dangerous
swirling between his eyes. And then, she climbed higher, lowering herself
over his mouth.
“Use your tongue on me.”
His hands moved to her hips, eager to pull her closer, but before he could
settle them there, she gripped his wrists firmly. She shifted her position,
guiding his hands away and bringing them higher, her fingers pressing
against his skin with commanding force.
“Just your tongue. Hands off.” Her voice was a low, sultry command.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 13 STARK
ENTERTAINMENT
She made him grip the metal rod of the bed frame, the cold touch of the iron
burning through his hands.
Her chest rose and fell with each breath,
The sensation of her hands controlling the pace, keeping him from touching
her, only made the desire more intense, more consuming.
His hands were bound, but all he wanted was to grab her hips, press her
down, and bury his face in her slick heat. The moment her wetness touched
his lips, a deep growl rumbled from his chest.
His tongue licked a slow, teasing stroke before his lips wrapped around her
clit, sucking, flicking, devouring. Her taste—sweet, intoxicating—filled his
mouth, drowning him in her. His nose pressed against her, his hunger
overtaking him as he licked and sucked, dragging her closer to the peak she
was chasing.
Ellie moved, grinding against his mouth, her breathless moans echoing
through the room. He let her control the pace—for now. But his tongue was
relentless, his mouth unforgiving. Just when she was about to come undone,
she lifted her hips. And then a few seconds later, she lowered herself again.
Sawyer arched up at once. His tongue licked and sucked, the loss of her
taste for even a second making him ravenous. When she pulled away, his
mouth followed, desperate to have her again.
His lips clamped around her clit, his tongue diving between her folds,
thrusting deep before retreating, only to do it all over again. Meanwhile, his
shaft throbbed, hard as a rock.
His tongue focused on her clit, his mouth hot and greedy, his flicking
movements quick and merciless.
“Mmh… Ahhnnhhhh…” Ellie’s trembling voice barely slipped past her
lips, her body shaking as pleasure consumed her.
Within moments, she shattered, her climax crashing over her. But Sawyer
wasn’t done. His tongue slid down, lapping up her release, his hands left
those rods and slipped beneath her hips, lifting her, arching her body into
him. His tongue plunged inside her, his teeth grazing her sensitive flesh, his
relentless licks making her tremble.
She came again, her legs locking around his neck, holding him in place. She
tried to lift herself, but he only tightened his grip, devouring her deeper.
His teeth grazed her sensitive skin before he even realized it—his instincts
slipping, his eyes darkening with something primal, something
uncontrollable.
“Ahnnn…!” she cried out, her fingers gripping the bed.
He licked her harder, his tongue flicking over the sensitive nub before
drawing it into his mouth. The more he tasted her, the more his arousal
pulsed, his need growing unbearable.
“Hahh… hahhh… Sawyer…!” Her body trembled, her breath catching as
overwhelming pleasure coiled tight within her.
She shattered against his mouth, only for another wave to crash over her as
his tongue continued its merciless assault. Her body twisted, but his grip
kept her firmly in place, refusing to let her escape the pleasure he inflicted.
For hours, he kept her on the edge, lost between torment and bliss. She
wanted it to stop—but at the same time, she never wanted it to end. Every
time his teeth scraped her skin, her body betrayed her, surrendering
completely to him.
When he finally relented, letting her get off his face, his mouth and chin
glistening with her essence. She lay next to him, breathless and boneless,
her body still shuddering from the aftershocks.
Without warning, Sawyer pushed her back on the bed before following right
after. She landed on her back with a gasp, and he loomed over her, his gaze
dark and unreadable. His hands roamed her body—trailing from her knees
to her thighs, up her waist, over her breasts, along her neck—before finally
wrapping around her throat.
Then, he pressed close, one hand sliding beneath her head while the other
traced its way down—finding her slick heat and sinking his fingers into her
without hesitation.
“Ah—” her back arched, but she barely had the strength to lift herself.
Instead, she threw an arm over her eyes, as if trying to shield herself from
the intensity flooding her veins.
Sawyer’s gaze was fixed between her legs.
He thrust his fingers inside her, slow yet relentless, dragging pleasure from
her trembling body. Her thighs quivered, trying to close, but he pried them
open—keeping her pinned beneath him.
“Oh… god…” she whimpered, her legs quivering uncontrollably. His thick
fingers were stretching her, filling her.
Growing impatient, he slid a hand beneath her knee, pulling her leg up
toward her chest to expose her fully. With her body bent to his will, he
drove his fingers deeper, deriving more pleasure out of her.
“Ahh… hahhh… please… please…” she begged, but her body had already
betrayed her. Within moments, she shattered again, her release soaking his
hand.
He continued stroking her more. His fingers plunged into her, claiming her
pleasure over and over, as if he was determined to mold her body to his
touch, making her cum once again so hard that she couldn’t breathe
anymore.
Then finally, he shifted her—turning her onto her hands and knees. He
plunged into her in one deep, hard thrust.
Her body tightened around him instantly, as if welcoming his intrusion
inside her.
Then, he moved. Ruthless, relentless, each stroke sinking deeper, dragging
pleasure and pain in equal measure. He rode her wildly, his muscles taut,
his rod thick and throbbing as he drove into her over and over, stretching
her to fit him perfectly. Within minutes, they both cum at the same time.
He wanted more.
Shifting, he hooked one of her legs over his shoulder, turning her onto her
side as he sank into her again. The angle was unbearable—his shaft driving
into the deepest parts of her, leaving her gasping, writhing, undone.
His fingers left possessive marks on her soft skin as he clasped her hips, his
grip unrelenting as he took what he wanted. Her scent, her warmth, the way
she trembled beneath him—everything about her made him ravenous.
Her release came in waves, soaking his member, but even as he followed
after her, spilling deep inside, he didn’t stop.
Not until he had wrung every last drop of pleasure from her trembling body.
***
Sawyer handed Ellie a plate. "Eat that and finish. I’ll have Ada make better
food for you and bring it in the evening." He patted her cheek softly, his
touch lingering for just a moment before he turned to leave.
As he reached the door, it swung open, and Lily stepped in. She froze
immediately upon seeing him, her eyes wide as she took in the situation.
The unease on her face was almost imperceptible, but it didn’t escape
Sawyer’s notice. She managed to force a small, polite smile.
"Hi, I’m Lily."
Sawyer didn’t spare her more than a quick glance, his voice cool and
detached. "Hello. I’m her boyfriend."
Lily blinked, clearly taken aback. "Huh?"
Sawyer nodded once, offering nothing more, before turning and walking out
without another word.
The moment the door clicked shut, Lily finally turned to Ellie, her mouth
hanging open in sheer disbelief. She dropped the bag of necessities onto the
bedside table and gaped at her.
“Goddamn it, Ellie. He is terrifying.”
Ellie blinked at her. “What? He’s not scary at all.”
Lily gave her an incredulous look. “Are you blind?! Did you even look into
his eyes? Jesus Christ! Just from his face alone, I could tell he’s someone
I’d never dare mess with.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. "You’re overreacting. He’s not scary at all. I don’t
know what you’re talking about."
Lily stared at her like she’d lost her mind. That man exuded pure
dominance—his presence, his clothes, even the way he carried himself
screamed power and money. Just standing in the same room as him was
enough to make her palms sweat, and yet Ellie, whose background was a
mystery, wasn’t intimidated in the slightest? That was the real shock.
Before Lily could question her further, Ellie pulled out the black card
Sawyer had given her and placed it in Lily’s hand. “This is for Uncle’s
hospitalization for the next few weeks.”
Lily’s fingers curled around the card, but her brows knit together in
concern. “What about you? Do you have any money on you?”
Ellie brushed off the concern with a casual wave. "Don’t worry about me.
I’ll take care of myself. Just make sure Uncle Tony gets the best treatment. I
want him to recover as fast as possible."
Lily let out a slow sigh and tucked the card into her purse. “I hope it’s soon.
I can’t wait to see him talking and laughing again.”
Ellie smiled faintly, memories surfacing in her mind. The old man had
saved her when she no longer wanted to live, when she was so badly burned
that even breathing hurt. He had been nothing but kind, cracking jokes,
taking care of her, treating her like family—even when she was just a
stranger he had rescued. Lily had been Ellie’s nurse back then, and over
time, the three of them had become a family bound not by blood, but by
something even deeper.
And just when she finally had the chance to give him a better life, to help
him pay off the debts he had taken on to treat her, to find her real family…
fate had struck again. An accident had stolen his voice, his laughter, and
nearly his life.
But Ellie never saw him as a burden.
A man like him deserved the whole world.
And if bringing him back to life required sacrificing hers, she was willing to
do it without any hesitation.
***
Ellie was discharged soon after and returned to the Stark house.
Ada was overjoyed, and the maids grinned as they rushed to her, eagerly
gossiping.
“You have no idea how terrifying it was without you!” one of them
whispered with wide eyes.
“Yeah! SNS was furious all the time,” another added, shuddering. “He
wouldn’t even let us breathe under this roof without losing his temper!”
Ellie laughed, shaking her head.
A few days later, once she had fully recovered, Ellie slipped into casual
clothes, packed a set of stretchy ones in her bag, and headed to the address
Jeremy had sent her.
The cab came to a stop. She stepped out, adjusting her bag on her shoulder,
turned around, only to freeze in place.
Her mouth slowly fell open.
She was standing in front of Stark Entertainment.
Not just any building—the building. One of the most prestigious, high-
security, and high-profile places in the country. The kind of place that
people would die just to get a glimpse inside.
She stared at the massive glass structure blankly, and then shook her head.
"This must be a misunderstanding," she muttered to herself, laughing lightly
in disbelief. She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Jeremy.
The call connected almost immediately.
"I’m here," she said. "Ninety-Fifth Street, GM Area. Where are you?"
“Great! You’re right on time,” Jeremy said cheerfully. “Stark Entertainment.
Come inside. They’ll ask for an entry card at the entrance—I’m sending
you a picture of it. Show that, then head to the seventh floor. Room twenty-
eight. The team’s waiting for their new choreographer.”
Ellie’s hands trembled as she slowly turned to face the building again.
She wasn’t dreaming.
This wasn’t a misunderstanding.
Jeremy had actually called her to Sawyer’s company. Stark Entertainment—
her boyfriend’s company.
To teach Sawyer’s people how to dance.
Was this going to be her last day on earth? Probably.
But then she thought about the amount Jeremy had promised her. The
money was too good to refuse. Fear could take a backseat.
Biting her lip, she stared at the building a little longer, then convinced
herself, ‘Sawyer Stark owns the biggest entertainment company in the
country,’ she reasoned with herself. ‘He makes, like, a billion dollars a
year… or a month… or whatever. Is he really making that much money by
sitting in his office all the time? Obviously not.’
With that logic, she grinned, all her worries vanishing in an instant. ‘If he
doesn’t see me, I was never here. Human not in sight, problem out of
mind!’
Adjusting her bag, she marched toward the entrance, showed the digital
entry card as Jeremy had instructed, and walked inside with newfound
confidence.
***
A few hours later, Henry was updating Sawyer on the company’s recent
affairs.
“Ms. Maya received an offer from Louis Vuitton,” he said. “We’re
preparing to send her to Europe for the shoot next month. All arrangements
have been made.”
Sawyer nodded slightly, skimming through his emails.
“We’ve also received a collaboration offer from Neste Entertainment. The
team is still assessing the potential revenue, and we’ll submit a final report
for approval in an hour."
Another nod.
Henry hesitated for a second before clearing his throat. “And lastly—” He
took a deep breath and stepped forward, looking visibly panicked.
Sawyer’s fingers paused over his keyboard. “What?”
Henry's face slightly panicked—no, completely panicked. He looked like a
man who had just been sent to his execution. But not reporting the news
about his boss’s girlfriend would be far worse than death, so he swallowed
his fear and stepped forward.
“Mr. Stark, I have news about Ms. Ellie.” Henry said, his voice unnaturally
calm, betraying the absolute terror inside him.
Sawyer didn’t even look up. “Let her buy whatever she wants.”
Henry exhaled sharply. "It’s not about a purchase, Mr. Stark," he clarified
quickly before fear could steal his voice. "Ms. Ellie is here at the company
today."
Sawyer’s head snapped up. “Say that again.”
Henry wiped his damp palms against his suit. “She—uh—she joined as a
choreographer. One of the seniors hired her on the spot. She’s in room
twenty-eight, helping prepare for next week’s show.”
Before Henry even finished, Sawyer was already on his feet, his brows
knitted in frustration as he strode toward the door.
Henry scrambled after him. “Mr. Stark—one more important thing!”
Sawyer shot him a brief glance, the kind that made grown men reconsider
their life choices.
Henry gulped. “Ms. Ellie is in the same room as Ms. Olivia.”
He laughed nervously, as if that would lessen the impact of what he had just
said. “Ms. Olivia is the main showstopper for an event since she’s being
featured in the next business magazine issue. She was invited to walk the
ramp for a designer with one of our actors.”
Sawyer halted in his tracks.
Slowly, he turned to Henry, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Henry.” His
voice was dangerously low. “Should I fire you, or would you rather be
shipped off to a war zone to fight a few battles before coming back with a
working brain?”
Henry nearly cried.
But before he could plead for his life, Sawyer was already storming toward
room twenty-eight, his coat hanging on his arm.
Henry chased after him, his voice rising in desperation. “I’m sorry, Mr.
Stark! I only found out about Ms. Ellie’s arrival five minutes ago! I wasn’t
sure if it was something important to inform you about, or if you already
knew since she’s your girlfriend… but also, Ms. Olivia is your—”
One sharp look from Sawyer had Henry snapping his mouth shut instantly.
He retreated to the farthest corner of the elevator, suddenly feeling like the
spacious lift had shrunk into a coffin. He turned his gaze to the ceiling and
silently prayed to disappear.
But the gods weren’t on his side today—he remained very visible and very
doomed.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Sawyer strode toward the rehearsal
hall. Just as he reached the door, he suddenly stopped. His hands
instinctively went to his coat, smoothing out invisible wrinkles.
Then, he hesitated.
It was the first time Ellie had come to his office since they met. The first
time she would see him in his professional world.
For some reason, that unsettled him. His breath came a little uneven.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaled slowly, and turned to Henry with a
raised brow. “How do I look?”
Henry blinked. “Mr. Stark?”
Sawyer’s lips twitched impatiently.
"Do I look fine?" Sawyer asked, his voice sharper this time.
“Uh… good, Mr. Stark. Very good.” Henry straightened and nodded
rapidly, as if his life depended on it. Which, in a way, it did.
Sawyer cleared his throat, composed himself, and pushed open the door.
The hall was dimly lit, with only the center stage illuminated. But instead of
graceful movements or coordinated choreography, there was chaos.
Onstage, ten backup dancers stood in black, while Olivia, dressed in a tight
white outfit, was right in Ellie’s face, her voice sharp and condescending.
“I’m the main character in this show. Do you not get that?” Olivia snapped,
arms crossed, lips curled in irritation. “It’s bad enough that you somehow
ended up as my choreographer. Now, I told you—I want to swing off the
stage with one hand and land at the main spot.”
Sawyer’s gaze instinctively drifted over Ellie.
Ellie exhaled slowly, her patience hanging by a thread. Ellie, wearing a
short skirt with attached shorts and a fitted top, faced her, visibly tense. Hair
pulled into a loose bun, face slightly flushed, she looked both exasperated
and breathtakingly beautiful.
The way her tied-up hair revealed the curve of her neck. Even in the middle
of an argument, she looked—
He clenched his jaw. Now was not the time for that thought.
Oblivious to his thoughts, Ellie kept her tone measured. “Ms. Whitlock,
that’s impossible. You’re in a fitted outfit. How exactly do you plan to
swing with a thin white cloth—in a dress?”
“I don’t care.” Olivia flipped her hair. “You’re the choreographer. Figure it
out. In fact, you do it first and show me. If you pull it off, then I’ll decide if
I want to do it."
Ellie stared at the ceiling, frustrated. The stunt wasn’t just risky—it was a
death wish. One mistake and she’d be paralyzed for life.
But she needed this job. The pay was too good to walk away from, and the
senior in charge had already warned her—Olivia was an important client.
She couldn’t afford to offend her.
Trapped between logic and survival, Ellie clenched her jaw.
"Alright, fine!" she snapped, turning to the stage crew. "Dangle the cloth
from the middle. I’ll do it."
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
The deep, icy voice cut through the hall like a knife.
Ellie stiffened. “Shit.”

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 14
GIRLFRIEND
Sawyer stalked toward them, his face thunderous.
‘Is this woman insane? Swinging off the stage? Does she have a death
wish?’ His jaw clenched at the thought.
Olivia’s demeanor shifted instantly. She straightened, her lips curling into a
sickly sweet smile.
“Sawyer!” she gushed, practically glowing. “Oh my God, who told you I
was here today? I didn’t think you’d have time to see me, so I didn’t disturb
you.”
Ellie’s body went rigid.
Goddammit!
She groaned internally, covering her face with her hand. She had been so
sure he’d be too busy to notice her.
‘But of course, how could I have forgotten? No matter how swamped he is,
how could he ever miss a chance to dote on his precious fiancée? This love-
struck fool!’ She gritted her teeth, shifting further away in the hopes that he
would just leave after his little romance act.
But then—a firm grip landed on her shoulder and spun her around. Before
she could react, she found herself face-to-face with Sawyer.
“I asked you a question, Ellie,” he murmured, voice dangerously low.
“Have you gone deaf?”
Ellie squeezed her eyes shut in despair. ‘There goes my life.’
Forcing a bright, strained smile, she looked up at him.
"Sawyer?!" She widened her eyes in feigned surprise. "What a coincidence!
What are you doing here?"
Sawyer’s expression was unreadable, but his unimpressed gaze spoke
volumes—Are you stupid?
Ellie averted her eyes quickly, unwilling to meet that stare for long.
"Sawyer!" Olivia rushed to his side, suddenly stepped between them,
shoving Ellie aside. Ellie lost her balance, nearly face-planting onto the
floor.
‘This bitch.’ Ellie gritted, shooting Olivia a glare.
Before Ellie could lash out, the senior choreographer, Kevin, rushed into the
hall, breathless and anxious.
“Mr. Stark, you’re here so suddenly—was there something urgent?” The
poor man looked like he was seconds away from a heart attack. Sawyer
never paid attention to the choreography department unless something very
serious needed attention. His unexpected presence alone was enough to put
everyone on edge.
Then Kevin’s gaze darted around, landing on Olivia.
His nerves eased slightly.
‘Ah, looks like Mr. Stark just came to see his girlfriend. Makes sense.’
Relief flickered across his face. ‘Olivia is an important person to him. Now
that I see it myself, I can finally believe it.’
Oblivious to the tension, Olivia clung to Sawyer's arm, her voice dripping
with sweetness.
"I was just preparing for my show. Did you know Ellie is our
choreographer? I had no idea she could dance!" She gasped in fake surprise
—so fake that Ellie nearly gagged. But Olivia wasn’t done. "Hasn’t she
been staying at home for years, doing nothing? How does your company
allow just anyone to handle something this important? Or is it…" She cast a
sideways glance between Ellie and Sawyer, her lips curling slightly. "Did
you hire her just because she… lives in your house?"
The moment Olivia’s words landed, whispers spread like wildfire.
"Ellie lives in Mr. Stark’s house?"
"What’s their relationship?"
"Could it be something… improper?"
"No way. Olivia is his lover. Everyone knows they’re childhood
sweethearts. Maybe Ellie’s just a maid’s daughter or something?"
"Or maybe she has a second job as a maid?"
Before the rumors could spiral further, Sawyer’s voice cut through the
room.
"Ellie’s no longer Olivia’s choreographer. Let someone else take over." His
gaze flicked to the senior staff member. "Send Ellie to someone else."
Kevin hesitated. "Mr. Stark, that event doesn’t require a choreographer. It’s
just a small, insignificant—"
Sawyer turned to face him fully, his sharp gaze turning lethal.
The man swallowed and nodded quickly. "I-I’ll make the arrangements.
Come, Ellie."
Ellie’s chest burned with a mix of humiliation and rage. She had known—
always known—that Sawyer would favor Olivia, that she could never
compare. But for him to interfere with her work so easily, just because his
woman had whined a little? He tossed her aside without a second thought?
That hurt.
She clenched her fists and turned away, following Kevin in silence.
Behind her, Olivia smirked in triumph. She shrugged her shoulders smugly,
watching Ellie walk away with a humiliated face. Then she turned back to
Sawyer, beaming.
"Thank you, Sawyer! You’re the sweetest," she cooed, rubbing his arm
affectionately.
As she spoke, a pink perfume bottle slipped out of her pocket and hit the
ground with a sharp clatter.
The room fell silent.
Sawyer’s gaze snapped to the bottle—the one with the black bow. The very
same bottle he had shoved into Olivia’s hands in a fit of jealousy after
seeing Ellie with someone else.
Olivia hurriedly picked it up, her fingers tightening around it. "Don’t worry,
Sawyer. I keep it with me all the time. I just… don’t use it much because I
don’t really like the scent, but—"
Before she could slide it back in her pocket, Sawyer snatched it from her
hand.
She blinked. "Sawyer?"
"It’s just a perfume," he said indifferently, slipping it into his coat pocket.
"I’ll get you another one."
Then, without another glance at her, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Olivia tried to hold onto his arm, but he easily shrugged her off, leaving her
standing there, stunned.
Outside the hall, Kevin turned to Ellie with a serious look. "It’s a shame you
couldn’t stay on that show. Your skills are spectacular." He smiled
hesitantly. "But who can argue with the boss?"
Ellie forced a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry. I get it."
Kevin nodded, scrolling through his phone for a moment. Then his eyes lit
up, and he looked back at her. "I have something better for you! Come on!"
Ellie followed, a little surprised by his enthusiasm. This man had more
confidence in her than she had in herself. He led her down a floor and
straight into a room—more private and luxurious than the rehearsal hall. It
was enclosed in glass—completely see-through from the outside.
At first, the room seemed empty. Then, a figure emerged from the
washroom.
Ellie froze.
"Jeremy?" Her voice was full of shock.
"Ellie?" Jeremy looked just as surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Kevin grinned. "You two know each other? Great! That makes this even
easier. Jeremy, Ellie’s going to be your dance coach for the Victoria’s Secret
show. It’s just a two-minute number, so it should be a quick job for you
both."
Ellie’s mouth fell open. Victoria’s Secret?
"Anyway, I have to run. Too much to do, not enough hands!" Kevin sighed,
then disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.
Jeremy smirked, handing Ellie a bottle of water. "I came here for a job, and
now I get you as my choreographer? Coincidence? Or did you bug and beg
them until Kevin agreed to bring you to the great Jeremy Nox?"
Ellie choked on her water, laughing as she wiped her mouth. "I got kicked
out of my last job because the boss didn’t like me working for his lover.
Kevin decided I was ‘too good to be wasted’ and threw me here instead. So,
congrats! You just got yourself the best of the best. Feeling happy yet?"
Jeremy stepped closer, his flirty smirk deepening. "Do you want me to feel
happy?”
Ellie frowned, pushing his shoulder playfully. "Stop it." She laughed. "Get
back to work. Tell me about the concept."
Jeremy leaned back against the mirror, eyes twinkling as he explained. He
was the showstopper, making a dramatic entrance with a model for a sexy,
high-energy number. The dance had to be bold, intimate—sexy.
Ellie bit her lip, her mind racing.
Not only had she recently used Jeremy as her pretend boyfriend, but he had
also been hell-bent on getting a kiss out of her. And now this?
What the hell was happening?
Her pulse pounded as she glanced between him and the door, half-expecting
another absurd twist to drop on her.
Was fate playing some kind of twisted game with her?
She tilted her head back, eyes narrowing at the ceiling as if she could glare
straight through it. ‘Having fun up there, aren’t you?’
With a long sigh, she turned back to Jeremy, smoothing a hand over her hair
like she was gathering the last shreds of her sanity. “Let’s get started.”

Meanwhile, up in the CEO’s office, Sawyer leaned back in his chair, his
sharp eyes scanning every security camera feed in the building. He had
turned them all on, searching for Ellie, but she was nowhere to be found.
His fingers tapped impatiently against the desk.
Frowning, he leaned back in his chair. "Where did she go?" he muttered
under his breath. “She came to my company for the first time without
telling me. And now she’s disappeared?”
Was she still angry about this morning? About how he had pulled her out of
Olivia’s dance without an explanation?
At that moment, Henry walked in, holding a stack of files. "Mr. Stark, here
are the documents that need your signature."
Sawyer shot to his feet, rounding the desk. "Did you see Ellie anywhere?"
Henry blinked. “No, Mr. Stark, I haven’t.”
Sawyer’s jaw tightened. "Find out where she is."
Henry gave him a knowing glance before sighing internally. ‘Mr. Stark
keeps denying he likes Ellie, yet it’s always him looking for her—not the
other way around. And still, he insists she’s the one who won’t stop
following him.’ Henry thought, shaking his head.
But that thought quickly turned into panic when he checked the work
assignment feed. His body went rigid. “Mr. Stark—” Henry straightened.
“Ms. Ellie is teaching someone else how to dance on the twenty-seventh
floor.”
"The private studio?" Sawyer’s frown deepened as he extended his hand for
the tablet. "Who? Which event?"
‘Here we go…’ Henry thought, his heart pounding with dread. Taking a
steadying breath, he answered, "For a Victoria’s Secret showstopper. The
event is next week. Ms. Ellie is teaching the male model sexy dance
moves."
A deadly silence filled the room.
Then, like a bomb detonating, Sawyer snatched the tablet from Henry’s
hands. His horrified eyes scanned the event and the model’s details, his grip
tightening on the device. And then—
He saw the model’s face.
His entire body went rigid.
It was that bastard from the bar.
A slow, lethal rage crawled up Sawyer’s spine.
"What the fuck?!" His roar shook the entire office.
Henry stumbled back several steps, his face draining of color at the
terrifying look in Sawyer’s eyes. The darkness on his boss’s expression
turned downright lethal.
Sawyer threw the tablet aside, marching toward the elevator with an air of
pure menace.
"Where the hell did this asshole come from? Who the fuck hired him?!" he
barked.
As they entered the elevator, Henry scrambled to explain, his voice shaky,
"Mr. Stark, he’s Jeremy Nox. We hired him for a special show in
collaboration with Victoria’s Secret next week. He’s part of their dance
performance."
Sawyer’s fury ignited further. "Have you all gone mad? When the fuck did I
approve picking up some random pretty boy off the goddamn street and
using him in my business?" He shot Henry a furious glare, making the man
shrink back.
"Sir, he’s a supermodel," Henry’s voice wavered. "One of the highest-paid
in the industry. Moreover, Victoria’s Secret specifically requested him. It
wasn’t our choice, but their arrangement."
“Motherfucker,” Sawyer snarled under his breath, striding out of the
elevator as soon as it opened.
He stormed toward the glass-walled dance studio. "Which room?" His voice
was deadly quiet.
Henry barely had time to point before Sawyer’s sharp gaze locked onto
them—Ellie and that prick.
Through the glass walls, Sawyer could see Ellie and Jeremy on the other
side, moving together in a dance.
Sawyer’s blood boiled.
He took a step forward, ready to barge in.
“Mr. Stark, Mr. Stark—wait!” Henry grabbed Sawyer’s arm right before he
could enter the room.
Sawyer shot him a deadly glare. "You want me to break your hand?"
Henry instantly snatched his hand back. "No, Mr. Stark! I just… maybe you
shouldn’t go in there right now."
Sawyer barely spared him a glance before turning his head toward the glass
wall. His jaw clenched as he watched Ellie wrap her arms around Jeremy’s
neck, pulling herself up on him with a seductive grace. Her hand slid down
the side of Jeremy’s waist in a slow, teasing motion.
Sawyer’s head tilted to the side, his jaw tightening to the point of pain.
"The fuck I won’t," he growled and strode toward the door.
"Mr. Stark, Ms. Ellie might misunderstand and get angry!" Henry quickly
blocked his way, grabbing the door handle with both hands. His voice was
urgent, barely a whisper. "Sir, you just pulled Ms. Ellie out of the
performance with Ms. Olivia, and now you’re about to storm in again. Isn’t
that interfering with her work? She might start thinking badly of you."
Sawyer’s body stiffened, his muscles taut with rage.
Seeing a sliver of hesitation, Henry pushed on. "Sir, you are the one who
took Ms. Ellie off her original job and told Kevin to find a new one for her.
Kevin found this, and it turns out to be—"
"That damn bastard!" Sawyer seethed.
Henry quickly nodded, eager to calm the storm. "Yes! That damn bastard.
But, sir… this is work. Ms. Ellie is just doing her job. It’s not real. Think of
it as acting. She’s here to teach Jeremy how to dance—nothing more. If you
interfere now, she might start resenting you for not supporting her. Sir, this
is a feminist era! How can you—"
"Shut the fuck up, Henry!" Sawyer snapped. He tore his hand away from
the door handle and took a step back.
Leaning against the railing, he shoved his hands into his pockets, fists
clenched so tight they ached. His glare burned through the glass wall.
His gaze locked on the couple inside.
This was his fault. He had pulled Ellie out of Olivia’s performance because
Olivia had deliberately made things difficult for her. And now, because he
interfered, Ellie was here—dancing with this bastard.
"You deserve this, Sawyer Stark," he muttered under his breath, the bitter
sting gnawing at him. "Try to be nice for once, and this is what you get for
interfering in business."
His eyes darkened as the couple inside moved to the beat of the music. Ellie
twisted her body against Jeremy’s, her face inches from his, so close it
looked like they were on the verge of kissing.
Sawyer’s heart lurched, his chest tightening in a way that felt like it might
collapse in on itself. He stiffened, ready to charge in—
But at the last second, Ellie snapped back, twirling out of Jeremy’s hold.
Sawyer exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to his chest. His heart pounded
violently.
And it hurt like hell.
His fist flew to his mouth as he bit down on his knuckle, his glare growing
sharper.
Then, the dance took a turn for the worse.
Ellie leaned in again. Jeremy’s lips trailed down her neck, up to her jaw,
then back again.
That did it.
"Fuck this shit!" Sawyer growled. His entire body snapped into motion as
he stormed toward the door.
At that exact moment, Ellie pulled away and clapped her hands. "There! All
done! Just remember those moves, and you’ll be perfect to woo an angel on
the floor!"
The door slammed open.
Sawyer strode inside, grabbed Ellie’s wrist, and yanked her into him.
"Enough teaching. You’ve done more than enough, and this bastard has
learned more than he needs. We’re leaving," he barked.
Before he could pull Ellie away, a hand clamped around Ellie’s wrist from
behind.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Jeremy’s voice was cold, dangerously
calm.
Ellie’s head snapped toward him in shock. Jeremy was always playful,
always joking. She had never seen him like this.
Sawyer’s jaw tightened. Instead of answering, he grabbed Jeremy’s hand—
the hand holding Ellie’s—and pried it off with force.
"It’s none of your damn business what I do with my girlfriend."
Jeremy’s gaze sharpened. "She’s not your girlfriend."
Sawyer’s nostrils flared.
"As far as I remember," Jeremy continued coldly, "your girlfriend is the
woman you gave your gift to—the one whose proposal you accepted. So
why are you still bothering Ellie? How did you even get in here? Who
allowed you?"
Before Sawyer could respond, Henry rushed between them, placing a firm
but polite hand on Jeremy’s chest.
"Mr. Nox, this is Mr. Sawyer Stark. Owner of Stark Entertainment. I’d
advise you to be more respectful."
Jeremy’s eyes flickered with shock.
Then, he looked at Ellie. "Ellie, he’s your boyfriend? Sawyer Stark?"
Ellie exhaled, clearly frustrated. "Jeremy, I’ll explain later. For now—"
"Yes, she is!" Sawyer cut in. He pulled Ellie against his side, his arm
curling around her shoulder in a clear act of possession. "So back the fuck
off. If you show up anywhere near her again, I’ll make sure you don’t get a
damn job in this entire country."
Jeremy scoffed, undeterred. "Do you think I give a damn?" He reached out
toward Ellie, his expression shifting into concern. "Come here. I’ll take care
of everything."

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 15 THE
WHITLOCK RESIDENCE
Sawyer turned to Ellie at once, his eyes darkening. "Are you and this
bastard really together? In a fucking relationship?" he growled.
Ellie saw the look on his face—the sharp edge of his fury, the unspoken
threat beneath his words. If she provoked him now, it would only make
things worse for Jeremy. So she swallowed her pride and shook her head.
"No, we aren’t."
Sawyer shot a smug glance at Jeremy before grabbing Ellie’s wrist and
yanking her out of the room. He stormed down the hall, up the elevator,
pulling her into his office without a word. Once the door slammed shut
behind them, he turned to her, eyes burning with rage.
"If I see you within a damn inch of that asshole again, I’ll make sure he
never sees the sun in this country ever again, Ellie Madden!" Sawyer’s
voice was a low, menacing growl. "You’re so damn brave, huh? Bringing
your fucking side piece into my company? Seducing him right in front of
me?"
Ellie’s frustration had already been at its limit after the morning’s incident
with Olivia. And now this? She spun around to face him, her voice biting
with suppressed rage.
"I don’t get it!" she shot back. "Why the hell are you acting like you care
who I’m with, Mr. Stark?" she breathed, her eyes flashing with anger, "You
clearly love Olivia. You love her so much you can’t even tolerate the
thought that I might be bothered by her presence in a room, so you threw
me out of a job without a second thought. You have your real love now.
Why the hell are you still bothering with my life? Be with your lover and let
me be with mine."
Before Ellie could take another breath, Sawyer moved with a force that
stole her air. One hand twisted her wrist behind her back, locking her in
place, while the other gripped the back of her head, pulling her forward, his
body pressing into hers. His lips slammed into hers—urgent, possessive,
and full of a hunger.
She fought against him, trying to push him away, but his hold was
unrelenting, his kiss deep and consuming. His tongue tangled with hers,
coaxing her to respond, to give in, even as every part of her screamed to
break free. The heat between them rose like wildfire, the pressure building
as the kiss became more frantic, more desperate.
It wasn’t until Ellie, overwhelmed by the intensity, bit his lip—hard—that
he pulled back with a sharp wince, his mouth tinged with the taste of blood.
But even then, breathing heavily, he refused to let her go. His grip on her
wrist and head stayed firm as he growled, "I am your boyfriend!" he
growled, his hands gripping her tighter, pulling her even closer. “I told you,
didn’t I? We have a fucking deal. You are not allowed to have any other
man besides me, Ellie. You belong to me! Only me. No one else!"
Ellie’s eyes burned with fury. "I won’t," she snapped. "Why should I? You
have multiple women outside. Did you ever see me stop you? You always
said I’m Olivia’s replacement, so I shouldn’t bother taking this relationship
seriously and bother you. So, here it is! I’m not bothering."
Sawyer’s face twisted with frustration, and without warning, he pulled out a
card, shoving it in her face. "I’ll pay you a hundred thousand dollars. You
won’t be with any other man as long as you’re mine. You won’t even look
at another man. Not him. Not anyone."
Ellie didn’t even hesitate. She slapped the card aside, letting it fall to the
ground. Her fury boiled over.
"I don’t want it!" she spat, "I'm going to do whatever I want, and you can’t
control me like your pet, Sawyer Stark!"
Sawyer’s eyes turned to stone as he grabbed her face, his fingers digging
into her skin as he pulled her close. She fought against him, struggling to
break free, but he held her tightly, caging her in. His voice was a razor-
sharp snarl.
"Ellie Madden, do you want me to lock you up in a room? Is that bastard so
important to you that you’re actually fighting me over him? You never even
raised your voice at me before, and now you’re standing here arguing with
me because of that bastard?"
Ellie clenched her jaw and turned away, refusing to look at him.
"Look at me," Sawyer demanded, his hand gripping her chin roughly and
forcing her to face him. "You better stay the fuck away from him. Do you
think all these models are innocent and kind? They’re manipulative, Ellie.
They take advantage of people, and that fucking bastard of yours is no
different. So before I lose my goddamn mind, you’re going to stay the fuck
away from him."
Ellie let out a humorless laugh. "You can keep talking, and I can keep
pretending to listen while I slowly get bored," she said, rolling her eyes.
"He’s nice to me, and that’s all that matters. What I do outside of our
arrangement is none of your business because we aren’t real. This is all
fake."
Sawyer’s fury flared with every word she spoke, but before she could
finish, his mouth crashed onto hers again—this time with a savage intensity.
His kiss was forceful, dominating, leaving no room for resistance. Tongue
licking her lips, sliding in her mouth and fighting to suck on hers. Ellie
struggled beneath him, her hands pushing against his chest, but his grip
only tightened, holding her firmly in place.
His lips were demanding, bruising, as he sought to claim her completely.
When Ellie, desperate and angry, bit his lip once more, he retaliated
instantly. With a growl, he bit down on hers—hard—drawing blood, the
sharp sting mixing with the feverish heat between them. She gasped, the
metallic taste of blood mingling with the raw intensity of the kiss.
"Asshole!" she hissed, wincing as she shoved him off with all her strength,
finally breaking free.
Sawyer wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes dark and dangerous. "What
the fuck is going on with you?" His voice was sharp, laced with
uncontained fury. "Are you really this desperate to find yourself a man
before our agreement even ends? You can’t even wait a few goddamn
weeks? Are you already looking for the next man to crawl into your bed?"
"Yes! Obviously!" Ellie snapped, her voice filled with anger. "What do you
think? Of course, I’m finding a man for myself. You already have Olivia,
don’t you? So what’s wrong with me getting someone to date for myself?
What’s the difference? You can date your girl, and I’ll date my man."
"Ellie Madden—" he growled, his fury reaching its peak.
But before he could say another word, the office door swung open.
Olivia stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
The heavy silence in the room was suffocating. The tension between Ellie
and Sawyer was so thick, it was impossible to miss. And Olivia? She had
caught just enough of the conversation to know exactly what was
happening.
And her heart jumped in happiness.
"I just accidentally heard that Ellie already has a man? That’s great." She
sauntered up beside Sawyer and slid her arm through his, grinning. "Let her
be, Sawyer. She’s going to be kicked out soon anyway—she needs to find a
new home. And you already have me now, so why would you care about
my replacement?"
Sawyer yanked his arm out of Olivia’s grasp, his face twisting into a furious
glare. But Olivia wasn’t done. She turned to Ellie with a condescending
smirk.
"Why don’t you just go away? Leave now. Why are you still clinging to
Sawyer? Even showing up at his office? Isn’t this a bit outrageous? This is
called stalking."
Ellie exhaled sharply, her patience wearing dangerously thin. "For fuck’s
sake, Olivia." Her voice was low with barely-contained rage. "I have no
desire to stick to another woman’s man. If Mr. Stark approves, I’ll break up
with him right now and leave. I wouldn’t be standing here watching your
pathetic act!"
Sawyer’s fury ignited further. His fists clenched as he stepped closer to
Ellie. "You’re fighting with me over a man you met a damn week ago?" He
gritted out. "Just one one goddamn week, and you're already acting like
this? Is he that fucking great?"
"Yes, he is!" Ellie shot back, unflinching. "He’s kind. He’s patient. And he
doesn’t treat me like trash. He doesn’t treat me like I’m some disposable
replacement or something he can buy with his money like an object. So yes,
Mr. Stark—Jeremy is fucking great!"
Sawyer’s face darkened in a way it never had before. Not even when he lost
billion-dollar deals. Not even when the world collapsed around him.
This? This was different.
The anger inside him boiled over, laced with something even deadlier—
jealousy.
Marching forward, he got in her face, his voice low and dangerous. "Do you
even know what kind of life models live, Ellie?" His tone was sharp, biting.
"You’ve only seen the bright, pretty side. How do you know he doesn’t
have an ulterior motive? How do you know he’s not just using you?"
Ellie scoffed, folding her arms. "What ulterior motive? Sleeping together?
That’s the big scary motive you’re warning me about?" She tilted her head,
her tone mocking. "So what? I’ll sleep with him. It’s not like I’m repulsed
by the idea."
Sawyer’s entire body tensed, his fury snapping like a live wire.
"Henry!" he suddenly roared, his voice so thunderous that the entire office
seemed to shake.
Outside, Henry jumped so hard he nearly dropped his phone. His heart
pounded as he rushed inside, terrified of whatever disaster was unfolding.
The moment he stepped into the office, he saw Olivia’s smug expression,
Ellie’s burning rage, and Sawyer’s lethal fury.
This was bad. Really, really bad.
"Y-Yes, Mr. Stark?" Henry asked, keeping his voice calm and professional
despite his racing pulse.
"Ban her cards." Sawyer’s voice was eerily calm, but his eyes never left
Ellie. "Cancel everything—every fucking financial support I’ve given her. I
am not financing some roadside bastard model’s lifestyle with my money."
Ellie’s mouth fell open. A laugh of disbelief escaped her before she scoffed
and rolled her eyes. The fury inside her burned so fiercely it felt like it
would consume her whole.
"Keep your damn money! I don’t need a single cent from you, Sawyer
Stark!" she spat. "Do you really think I can’t survive without you? You can
keep your money and shove it. Good luck!"
With that, she spun on her heels and stormed out of the office, slamming the
door behind her.
Later, as Henry gathered all of Ellie’s canceled cards and looked at
Sawyer’s darkened, tensed expression, he hesitantly suggested, "Sir,
perhaps you could talk to Miss Ellie calmly. Explain why you don’t want
her near Mr. Nox."
Sawyer snapped his glare toward him. "What explanation?" he barked.
"Why the fuck do I need a reason to keep that bastard away from my
girlfriend? Isn’t it obvious?"
"So, the argument with Miss Ellie earlier—was it because you were jealous
of her being with someone else?"
Sawyer’s eyes flashed dangerously. "Do I look jealous?" he snarled.
Henry wisely shut his mouth.
"Get the hell out."
And Henry, grateful for the dismissal, all but sprinted out of the office.
***
That evening, Sawyer walked into the house with tense, quick strides. As
usual, he expected Ellie to be there, greeting him, running up to hug him
like always.
But she didn’t.
Instead, it was Ada, the housekeeper, who approached, reaching for his coat
and the bags in his hands.
"Sir, should I take these to the room?" she asked.
Sawyer shook his head, gripping the Chanel and jewelry bags tighter before
striding toward the bedroom himself.
It was empty.
"Ellie?" he called out, placing the bags on the bed before walking toward
the bathroom. "Ellie?"
No answer.
His irritation spiked. Marching out of the room, he barked, "Ada!"
Ada rushed over immediately. "Yes, Mr. Stark?"
"Where the hell is Ellie?"
Ada hesitated before shrugging. "I’m not sure, sir. She left this morning for
work but never came back."
Sawyer’s expression darkened. "For fuck’s sake," he muttered under his
breath. "Why the hell does she have this bad habit of running away every
time she’s pissed?"
Ada let out a tiny chuckle that she quickly smothered before hurrying back
to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, miles away, Ellie stood in front of a grand house and rang the
doorbell.
The nameplate on the gate read: Whitlock Residence.
A few minutes later, a maid appeared at the door and opened it. Ellie,
dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and a cap to conceal her face, stood with a large
painting that covered half of her body.
"Hello," she said sweetly, her voice soft and innocently meek. "This is a
delivery for Miss Olivia, from Mr. Sawyer Stark."
The maid glanced at the painting and nodded. "Okay, give it to me."
Ellie tightened her grip on the frame, her voice firm but laced with concern.
"No, it's a delicate and expensive piece. I can't risk making Mr. Stark angry
if anything happens to it. It has to be hung very carefully and in the right
spot."
She peeked out from behind the painting, her expression meek and
pleading. "Sister, we're both just workers, right? How about you let me
place it properly? It needs to be hung on the wall soon to maintain its
color."
The maid hesitated, conflicted, but eventually gave in with a nod. "Alright,
come in."
Ellie followed her inside, glancing around as they passed through the hall.
Even though this was her first time inside Olivia’s house, something felt...
off. The entire place seemed familiar, as if she had been here before. She
couldn’t put her finger on it, but it felt like she knew every corner of the
house by heart.
The maid pointed toward a door. "That’s Miss Olivia’s bedroom. You can
hang the painting there."
"Sure." Ellie gave a bright smile, nodding as she hurried into the room.
As soon as the door shut behind her, she placed the painting on the ground,
her fingers swiftly tearing off the paper. The so-called ‘expensive’ painting
was nothing more than a cheap $10 piece she had picked up off the
sidewalk just to create an excuse to enter the Whitlock house.
She had waited patiently, watching Olivia drive away before making her
move. And what better way to slip past suspicion than to use the very name
Olivia worshipped? Sawyer Stark.
Ellie glanced around the bedroom, moving from one spot to another,
peering into drawers and scanning the room for anything interesting. The
house was grand, but nothing seemed out of place. Everything was exactly
as it should be.
Yet, something felt... off.
The rest of the house was filled with pictures—family portraits, framed
memories—but Olivia’s bedroom was eerily bare. No childhood photos, no
graduation pictures, no smiling faces from the past. The room was a blank
white canvas, like someone had splattered paint across it without any real
shape or form.
It was unsettling.
"I'm so tired," a voice suddenly complained from outside.
Ellie’s heart leaped into her throat. She quickly slipped behind the door just
as two maids passed by, speaking in hushed voices.
“I don’t understand what’s wrong with Ms. Olivia,” one of them said, her
voice laced with sadness. “I miss the old her. She was sweet, kind—she
never spoke harshly to anyone. But now, she’s changed so much that we
can’t even breathe around her.”
The other maid, older and wearier, sighed. "Yesterday, she hit Sara just
because the water was a little too hot. Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock were furious.
They scolded her so badly."
"They've never treated us badly," the first maid said, shaking her head.
"And Olivia, three years ago, was raised just like them—kind, respectful.
But ever since the fire... everything changed."
"Yeah. Even when she’s here, it doesn’t feel like it’s really Miss Olivia. It’s
so weird."
Their voices faded as they disappeared down the corridor.
Ellie exhaled softly, emerging from her hiding place and slipping out of the
room. She cautiously made her way toward the main hall. Seeing no one
around, she quickly looked through the house, studying the decorations and
the framed pictures scattered across the side tables.
A large framed picture caught her attention.
It was of a sophisticated couple. The man had white hair and wore simple
clothes, while the woman was dressed in expensive designer wear, adorned
with high-fashion jewelry. Despite their differences in style, they looked
good together.
Ellie scoffed under her breath. "Can’t believe Olivia came from them. They
actually look nice."
But before she could turn away, a sudden, sharp pain stabbed through her
head.
Her vision blurred. Her eyes burned with tears.
Why...?
A strange, painful throbbing took over her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Her heart pounded erratically as an inexplicable sorrow filled her.
Shaking off the feeling, she turned away, but the sense of familiarity only
deepened. It was as if she had been here before—like these walls, these
faces, were embedded somewhere deep inside her.
Her phone suddenly rang, the loud sound making her jump.
Shit, shit, shit.
Panicking, she cut the call immediately and turned on her heel, dashing out
of the hall. She had to leave. Now.
But just as she was about to reach the exit, she collided straight into
someone.
The woman gasped, grabbing Ellie’s arm in a tight grip.
"Olivia?!"

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 16 THE REAL
ONE
Ellie froze.
The woman’s were eyes filled with tears as she pulled Ellie closer, turning
her around to get a better look at her face.
A man rushed in at the sound of her cry, his voice firm yet calm. "Jessica,
what are you doing?" He was the same man from the picture. Olivia’s
father. "Let the girl go. She is not our daughter."
Jessica’s teary eyes remained locked on Ellie’s face, searching for
something. Then, after a long moment, she blinked and stepped back,
releasing her grip. “I… I’m sorry,” she stammered, her voice shaking. "I
don’t know why I did that."
Ellie’s heart pounded harder, the pain in her chest intensifying.
But she couldn’t afford to stay here. If she got caught trespassing, she could
be handed over to the police.
She forced a polite smile and quickly explained, “I just came to drop off a
painting, madam. Thank you. Goodbye.”
With that, she turned and bolted out of the house.
Behind her, she could still hear the couple talking.
"What’s wrong with you?" Olivia’s father, Jack, asked, his voice gentler
now. "Our daughter is living with us."
“I don’t know, Jack,” Jessica whispered, fresh tears spilling down her
cheeks. “I don’t know why I did that. She just… she looks so much like our
Olivia.”
Jack exhaled heavily. "I know. But that doesn’t mean we can call anyone
our daughter. You’ve already noticed how insecure Olivia is. She doesn’t
even let us keep any pictures of her past in this house. And now, you’re
mistaking another girl for her? Do you realize how badly Olivia will take
this?"
Jack placed a comforting hand on his wife’s shoulder, speaking softly to
calm her down.
Meanwhile, Ellie slipped away, her heart still throbbing painfully in her
chest.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to shake off the image of Jessica’s
devastated face. The woman had looked so broken, so utterly miserable.
Ellie clenched her fists, squeezing her eyes shut as if that could block out
the ache pressing down on her.
Her phone rang again, pulling her out of her thoughts. Annoyed, she pulled
it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen.
‘Jeremy.’
She exhaled sharply, pressing the answer button as she walked away from
the house.
“Hi,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Hey! Where are you? Busy?” Jeremy asked immediately.
Ellie bit her lip, casting one last glance at the grand house behind her. She
hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
“No, not busy,” she said. “What’s up?”
“How about you meet me on Sixth Street in an hour?” Jeremy suggested. “I
want to treat you to a meal for helping me out and teaching me to dance
today. I nailed it, and everyone was super impressed! Now I’m actually
looking forward to the show next week. It’s going to be a big hit—I can feel
it!”
Ellie grinned at his excitement. She couldn’t remember the last time she had
felt this kind of accomplishment—this kind of praise.
“Thanks, but it’s really not necessary,” she assured him. “I was just doing
my job. Besides, I had fun. I love dancing.”
“Good to know,” Jeremy said, his tone playful. “But listen, I don’t keep
favors hanging. You already owe me one, remember? If you refuse tonight’s
dinner, then next time I see you, you’re repaying that favor.”
Ellie gritted her teeth. "For God’s sake, when are you going to forget about
that kiss?!"
“Never.” Jeremy’s laughter rang through the phone. “I’m going to hold it
over your head for as long as I can—use it to blackmail you into whatever I
want.”
“Devil,” Ellie snapped.
Jeremy only chuckled.
She sighed. “Fine. I’ll meet you there, but I might not be able to stay long.
It’s getting late, and I need to head home early.”
“Deal. Just come over,” Jeremy said, then hung up.
***
“Mr. Stark, your suspicions were right.”
Henry walked into Sawyer’s home office, a file in his hand. He placed it on
the desk in front of him and stepped back.
"It was indeed Miss Olivia who hired the men to run Miss Ellie down that
night."
Sawyer let out a slow, exhausted breath, tilting his head back and closing
his eyes.
“Why is she doing this?” he muttered. “What the hell is happening? She
was always kind, always sweet. I don’t get it. What reason would she have
to hurt Ellie?”
Henry hesitated before continuing, his expression tense. “Mr. Stark, there’s
something else I discovered. It might be a coincidence, but…it’s highly
suspicious.”
Sawyer straightened, his brows furrowing. “Go on.”
“The day Miss Olivia was burned in the fire, another girl, a friend of hers,
was admitted to the hospital at the same time. She also had burn injuries,
but more than that—she underwent plastic surgery. The same day as Miss
Olivia. The injuries were sustained at the same time, in a similar fire
incident.”
Sawyer’s frown deepened. “Which friend?”
Henry flipped through the file, pulled out a picture, and slid it across the
table.
“Remember her, Mr. Stark? She used to constantly throw herself at you,
even though she knew Miss Olivia was your fiancée. The same girl who had
a massive crush on you.”
Sawyer stared at the photograph, a faint memory surfacing. Then, suddenly,
another image flashed in his mind—him recoiling slightly when he noticed
a small black birthmark on that girl’s neck.
And just a few days ago… hadn’t he seen the same, faintly faded mark on
Olivia’s neck?
His heart pounded. His body tensed.
He shot to his feet, his mind racing.
"Could it be that Olivia isn’t Olivia? That she’s an imposter?" His voice was
sharp, his eyes blazing as he turned to Henry.
Henry met his gaze with grave seriousness. "Mr. Stark, Miss Olivia hasn’t
been the same in the last three years. We all thought it was psychological,
but no one ever considered the possibility that she might not be Olivia at all.
So yes, there’s a chance she isn’t who she claims to be."
Sawyer’s fists clenched.
"Get her DNA tested immediately," Sawyer ordered, his jaw tightening.
"We need to find out where the real Olivia is."
The thought sent a wave of dread crashing over him. The Olivia he had
loved—mischievous, kind, but never cruel—was she still out there? Had
she been suffering all this time while he stood by, blind to the truth?
His jaw tightened. His chest ached with tension.
Had he unknowingly let something terrible happen to the real Olivia?
***
Ellie halted in front of the massive restaurant, her eyes widening at the sight
of the luxurious entrance.
She had come in her usual casual clothes, thinking it was just a simple
dinner. But now, standing before an extravagant five-star hotel, she realized
she had completely miscalculated.
"My day just isn’t going to get any better, is it?" she thought with a sigh,
forcing a smile onto her face.
Bracing herself, she straightened her shoulders, adjusted her smile, and
walked up the grand staircase to enter the restaurant.
A waiter guided her to a table where Jeremy was already seated. Thankfully,
he wasn’t in a suit, just his usual casual wear, which made her feel slightly
less out of place.
"You’re here!" Jeremy greeted enthusiastically, pulling out her chair with
one hand without bothering to stand up.
Ellie slid into her seat, whispering urgently, "You gave me a scare! Seeing
this place from the outside, I thought I should’ve worn an evening gown or
something."
Jeremy chuckled. "Miss Ellie, get updated. Casual is the new suit at fancy
restaurants."
Ellie shook her head in relief. "Good to know. I didn’t want to show up in
an evening gown either. I’d look so stupid."
Jeremy grinned. "What do you want to eat? It’s my treat. Order everything
on the menu if you want."
Ellie was about to reply when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse,
and Lily’s name flashed on the screen. The moment she picked up, Lily’s
urgent voice came through.
"Ellie, get to the hospital right now! Uncle Tony had a stroke—they’re
prepping for emergency surgery."
Ellie shot to her feet, her heart leaping into her throat.
"I’m coming! Take care of him, please!" she said in a shaking voice,
snatching her purse off the table.
"Sorry, I have an emergency!" she rushed out, her voice barely steady.
After everything she had lost in the world, Uncle Tony was the only family
she had left. He had been there for her when no one else was. He never
flinched when caring for her, even when her wounds were severe and her
skin was burned. Now, she was helpless, unable to ease his pain, unable to
save him.
"Did you come by car?" Jeremy’s voice cut through her panic. Seeing the
look on her face, his own expression turned serious.
"No, I’ll get a cab or something—" she started, already rushing toward the
exit.
But before she could take another step, Jeremy grabbed her hand and pulled
her outside with him. "Come on. I have a car. I’ll take you."
Ellie didn’t have time to argue. Right now, getting to the hospital was all
that mattered.
Jeremy drove fast, taking every shortcut possible, and they reached the
hospital in record time.
Ellie ran through the hospital doors, her breath coming in short, desperate
gasps. Her eyes scanned the corridor before landing on Lily, who was
pacing anxiously outside the ward.
"Lily, I’m here!" she called, breathless.
Lily turned to her immediately, speaking fast. "He had a stroke. A blood clot
formed in his brain due to a head injury. The doctors say surgery is the only
option. But—" Lily hesitated. "We need to deposit the money first, or they
won’t operate."
"Of course! I’ll pay right now." Ellie pulled out her purse, rummaging for
her card.
But then—her hands froze.
Shit.
Sawyer had already blocked all her finances. She had nothing.
Panic clawed at her throat. She looked up at Lily, horror-stricken. "I don’t
have any money. Can I pay later? Can they start the operation first?"
"It’s not in my hands, Ellie," Lily said, her anxiety spiking. "The hospital
won’t operate until the payment is made."
Ellie whispered, "But I don’t have any right now. Sawyer blocked
everything. I don’t even have a card—he took them all and gave them to
Henry."
Lily’s face paled. "I have five thousand dollars in my account, but that’s
nowhere near enough. The surgery costs thirty thousand."
Before Ellie could respond, a hand suddenly appeared between them—
offering a black card.
"Here. Use it."
Ellie’s gaze followed the hand up to Jeremy’s face.
"No, I can’t take your money," she pushed it back. "You’re a stranger. I
can’t burden you like this."
"This isn’t important right now," Jeremy said firmly. "What matters is
getting the surgery started. Don’t let money be the reason he doesn’t make
it. I have it."
Ellie hesitated, her pride battling with her desperation. But there was no
choice.
Reluctantly, she took the card and handed it to Lily. Then she turned to
Jeremy, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I’ll pay you back soon. I promise."
Jeremy shook his head. "Don’t worry about it right now."
Ellie exhaled, her hands shaking as she reached for the diamond necklace
around her neck. Unclasping it, she pressed it into Lily’s hand.
"Take this," she said. "Sell it back at ‘Satire’ in Max Mall. That should fetch
a good price. Use the money for Uncle’s medical bills for the next few days.
I’ll find a job for more money."
Lily hesitated, glancing at the necklace. "Ellie… Sawyer gave this to you. If
you sell it and he finds out—"
Ellie clenched her jaw, her frustration mounting. "I don’t have time to
worry about him right now. It’s just a necklace. I’ll buy it back later or pay
him for it. Uncle Tony is the only thing that matters right now."
Lily gave a short nod. "Alright. I’ll handle it." She hurried off toward the
billing counter.
Ellie stood there, rubbing her hands together, pacing back and forth in
nervous agitation. Her mind was racing, and she barely noticed where she
was going—until she suddenly collided with someone.
Her purse slipped from her hands, spilling its contents across the floor.
"Are you fucking blind?!" an angry voice snapped.
The woman she had bumped into flipped around with a scowl, her sharp
glare locking onto Ellie.
Ellie looked at the woman, about to apologize when she saw who it was.
Alina.
Ellie let out an annoyed breath and didn’t bother to say sorry.
Alina, who had been glaring at the things scattered on the floor, suddenly
spotted a photograph that had fallen from Ellie’s purse. It was an old picture
of a boy and a girl standing close together. Then her eyes slid up, seeing
Ellie. Alina’s lips curled into a sneer.
“What are you doing at the hospital, beggar? Don’t tell me you’re dying of
some STD or HIV or something.”
Ellie clenched her eyes shut, exhaling slowly. She refused to let Alina get
under her skin. Without sparing her another glance, she stood up and turned
away, moving toward Jeremy.
"Do you hear a dog barking?" Ellie said loudly. "I swear I hear it. Who
allowed a dog into a hospital? This is ridiculous.”
“You bitc—!” Alina’s scream pierced through the air, but the moment her
eyes landed on Jeremy, she clamped her mouth shut.
Seeing the striking man with an effortless coolness and undeniable
attractiveness, Alina’s irritation vanished. She quickly softened her
expression, flashing a coy smile.
“Hi, handsome.”
Jeremy gave her a blank, unimpressed stare before turning away without a
word.
Alina’s jaw clenched in humiliation. Her face burned as she watched him
completely disregard her. Furious, she spun on her heels and stormed out of
the hospital, nose held high.
Outside, Olivia was waiting in the car, lazily scrolling through her phone.
When Alina spotted her, she rushed over and slid inside with an irritated
huff.
“Hey, girl,” Alina greeted, though her tone was far from cheerful. “What a
shitty day. I just ran into that beggar bitch at the hospital.”
Olivia barely acknowledged her, still tapping away on her phone.
Alina’s gaze drifted over to Olivia’s screen, where a photo of a boy in a
green night suit was displayed.
“Wait, who is that?” Alina leaned in for a better look. “Why do you have
this picture too?”
Olivia's fingers froze over her screen. Olivia frowned. “What do you
mean?”
“I just bumped into Ellie, and her stuff fell all over the floor. She has a
photo of the same boy—only in hers, there’s also a girl standing beside him.
In a pink night suit.”
The phone nearly slipped from Olivia’s fingers. Her blood ran cold.
“What did you just say?” Her voice was eerily calm, but there was an
underlying tremor.
Alina shrugged. “I said she had a photo of the same guy, but with a girl next
to him.”
Olivia’s eyes widened, her body stiffening at once.
Why would Ellie have this picture? Everything was already burnt down
when the house was set on fire three years ago. There was nothing left—no
memories, no evidence. Olivia had made sure of that. She had ensured that
no pictures from the past were recreated, let alone displayed in the house
with the old Olivia’s face on them.
So how could Ellie have that picture?
Unless… the real Olivia wasn’t dead.
And Ellie—Ellie was the real Olivia.
“Shit. Shit. Shit!” Olivia slammed her hands on the car, her eyes widening
in a crazed panic. Even Alina flinched, fear creeping into her expression.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
But Olivia wasn’t listening. Her mind was racing, her thoughts spinning
wildly.
‘No, it can’t be her. I burned her down three years ago! How can she be
here?’
But the police never found a body in the remains. They had said there were
traces of burned skin, evidence that Olivia had been reduced to ash. But no
body was found.
Had she escaped?
“That fucking bitch,” Olivia scoffed, running her fingers through her hair
frantically. “That fucking, fucking bitch!” she screeched.
“It’s her. It’s definitely her,” Olivia gritted out, her eyes rolling like a mad
woman, her breath uneven. “I have to get rid of her.”
Alina sat frozen, watching Olivia unravel before her eyes. She had never
seen her like this before, and the more she witnessed, the more terrified she
became. But she didn’t dare say a word.
***
Inside the hospital, a man in a crisp suit paused mid-step in the corridor, his
sharp gaze settling on a familiar figure.
Damion had come for a business-related meeting, but his gaze landed on
Ellie, pacing restlessly in the hallway. She looked distraught, worry written
all over her face.
Frowning, he turned to a passing nurse. "What’s going on with her?"
“There’s an old patient, Tony, who is undergoing surgery,” the nurse
informed him. “He had a stroke. This girl has been here since evening,
waiting anxiously. But he’s alright now. The operation is almost done.”
The nurse then explained everything about Tony to him, including him
adopting Ellie not long ago and the car accident that made him fall into a
coma.
Damion’s eyes darkened. He glanced back at Ellie, taking in her anxious
expression.
Alone, desperate.
Without another thought, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 17 A CALL
“Your girlfriend is at my hospital right now,” he said the moment the line
connected.
There was a sharp silence before a chair scraped against the floor.
“What?” Sawyer’s voice was immediately sharp, demanding. “Is she
alright? Is Ellie hurt?”
Damion smirked slightly. “Isn’t Olivia your girlfriend? Why did you
assume I was talking about Ellie?”
"Don’t fuck with me right now, Damion," Sawyer snapped. "Tell me where
she is. Is she hurt?"
“No, she’s not hurt. Don’t worry.” Damion’s tone turned serious. Sawyer
exhaled sharply, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. His grip on the
phone loosened slightly, but he was still ready to dash out of the office any
second.
“Did you know she has an uncle? He adopted her a few years ago. He
needed emergency surgery, so she’s here taking care of him."
Sawyer went silent. “No. She never mentioned an uncle.”
"Well, the operation is ongoing," Damion said. "It looks like it’s going well.
He should be out in an hour."
Sawyer was silent for a moment before muttering, "Thanks. I owe you one."
He ended the call.
But the moment the call ended, Henry, his assistant, spoke up hesitantly.
“Mr. Stark, Miss Ellie must be in trouble right now. How is she going to
pay the bill? You blocked all her cards.”
Sawyer reached for his phone, instinctively about to call the hospital and
Ellie, but his hand paused mid-air.
His face hardened, his fingers hovering over the screen.
Then, slowly, he put the phone down.
“She will call me,” Sawyer muttered, his jaw tightening. “She needs money,
so she’ll have to ask me for it. And when she does, she’ll have no choice
but to obey me. When I tell her to stay away from other useless men, she’ll
have to listen.”
Sawyer was still furious at how she had chosen Jeremy over everything—
how she had dared to talk to him. But knowing that the operation was
already ongoing and things would be fine, he could use this as an
opportunity to bring Ellie back in line. That foolish woman had surrounded
herself with models drowning in reckless lifestyles and bad habits. And that
Jeremy? He didn’t look like a saint from any angle.
Now, she would have no choice but to call him for money. And when she
did, she would have to obey him.
His eyes flickered up suddenly, landing on Henry. He frowned.
"Come here."
Henry stiffened, then walked over with a nervous, toothy grin that didn’t
reach his eyes. "Mr. Stark?"
Sawyer clamped a firm hand on Henry’s shoulder, his grip tighter than
usual. His voice, deceptively light, carried a sharp edge.
"Why the hell do you remember more about my girlfriend than I do? Are
you her boyfriend, or am I?"
Henry let out an awkward, forced chuckle. "M-Mr. Stark, how could that
be? I was just helping you, sir. Just helping."
Sawyer narrowed his eyes, studying him, then turned him around and
delivered a swift kick to his backside.
"Get out."
Henry scrambled away without a second’s delay.
Sawyer sat down, grabbing his phone. He turned the call volume all the way
up, leaning back in his chair, waiting.
But the call never came.
Evening turned into night. He sat there, phone in hand, eyes heavy, until
exhaustion won. He fell asleep in his office chair, waiting.
The next morning, the sharp sound of his office door bursting open jolted
him awake.
"Mr. Stark!"
Sawyer groggily opened his eyes, his body heavy with exhaustion. He
rubbed his face, then looked up with a tense, annoyed expression.
Sawyer’s eyes cracked open, thick with the weight of interrupted sleep. He
scowled, straightening. "What?"
Henry rushed forward, shoving a file into his hands. "I took Ms. Olivia’s
hair from her home and had it tested, like you asked. This is the report."
Sawyer’s gaze darkened as he flipped through the pages. His fingers
clenched around the paper, his breath turning shallow.
"She isn’t Olivia," he murmured, his voice almost hollow.
Henry nodded quickly. "She isn’t. The suspicions were right all along. A
person can’t just change that much—it never made sense. But now it does."
He hesitated, then added, "Mr. Stark… I think the real Miss Olivia died in
that fire three years ago. And the woman pretending to be her? She’s
Olivia’s friend. Kelly Jones. The one who had a mad crush on you."
Sawyer’s grip on the file trembled. He planted his hands on the desk,
grounding himself as the weight of the revelation hit him like a brick wall.
He had loved Olivia his entire life. Couldn’t imagine a world without her.
And now—someone else had stolen her face, her name, and had been living
right under his nose, pretending.
Fury coiled inside him like a viper. Grief and rage intertwined, making his
chest tighten painfully.
"Are you sure she’s Kelly?" Sawyer’s voice was dangerously low, his jaw
locked. "Do you have proof?"
"We don’t have solid proof yet," Henry admitted. "Kelly disappeared the
same day as the fire. No one’s seen her since. She was an orphan—no
family to trace. But if we can find anything from three years ago that
belonged to Kelly, we can match her DNA with the woman claiming to be
Olivia."
Sawyer’s fists clenched. "Then get to it. Don’t waste a second. Dig her
damn DNA out of the ground if you have to." His voice grew colder. "And
once we prove it, I’ll show her what it means to disappear. Since she loves
fake identities so much, let’s see how long she enjoys them."
His hands were shaking with rage.
"Why the hell would she do this?" He ran a hand through his hair, chest
heaving. "She changed her entire identity over a damn crush? Got her
whole damn face reconstructed just because she was in love with me?"
"It might not have been just about you, Mr. Stark," Henry muttered. His
brows furrowed. "Ms. Olivia was a wealthy heiress. She came from a
powerful family. Kelly was an orphan who had nothing. Replacing Olivia
might not have been a sudden decision. She could have planned this for a
long time."
Sawyer’s blood ran cold. "You think this wasn’t a coincidence? That she
didn’t just take Olivia’s place because the opportunity was there?" His mind
whirred. "Look into it. Find out if that fire was really an accident. Or if
Kelly planned that too."
Henry nodded and hurried out.
Sawyer stood there, the rage bleeding into something deeper. A crushing,
suffocating weight settled on his chest. He clutched at it, struggling to
breathe. His vision blurred.
He had known something was wrong from the moment Olivia came out of
surgery. The way she spoke. The way she moved. The way touching her
felt… off.
But he hadn’t listened to that feeling.
And now, it was too late.
He reached for his wallet with trembling hands, pulling out an old, worn-
out photograph. It was of him and Olivia when they were kids. It had been
her favorite picture.
"In this, you look so much in love with me," she used to say.
Now, there was nothing left of her to love.
***
"Ellie, get over here!" Jeremy shouted across the hall.
Ellie rushed toward him, slightly out of breath. Since she was short on
money for Uncle Tony’s hospital bills, Jeremy had asked her to come over.
He had a shoot at an event venue for a week and managed to secure a spot
for her.
“She’s the girl,” Jeremy introduced Ellie to an older woman. “She’s
incredible. My last Victoria’s Secret show—she helped pull it off. You saw
the clip I sent, right?”
“I did.” The woman nodded. “She looks good. I’ll take her in for the day.”
“Great. I owe you one.” Jeremy grinned before turning to Ellie. “I gotta run.
My walk’s in half an hour, and everyone’s probably losing their minds
backstage. See you later.”
“Good luck.” Ellie smiled. “And thanks for the help. Really.”
"You owe me another kiss, then," Jeremy winked.
Ellie bit her lip, suppressing a laugh while trying to keep a straight face.
"Don’t act smart now. Go away."
Jeremy pouted dramatically before running off.
Meanwhile, just across the street, Olivia and Jessica had stepped out of a
high-end jewelry store. Olivia clutched a diamond set she had been
obsessing over for weeks.
That was when Olivia spotted Ellie.
Immediately, Olivia’s eyes darkened, and without waiting for Jessica, she
marched inside, leaving her behind.
Jeremy had already left, leaving Ellie alone with the older woman.
"I’ll be inside the hall," the woman told Ellie. "You need to change and be
there in five minutes."
"Sure," Ellie nodded, turning to leave—only to find Olivia standing right in
front of her, blocking her path.
"Oh my god," Ellie groaned, flinching back. "Don’t you have anything
better to do than stalk me?"
Olivia’s lips curled into an ugly smile. “You better start calling me ‘Miss
Olivia’ from now on, beggar.” Her voice dripped with condescension.
“Sawyer isn’t your boyfriend—he’s mine. You’re just a maid living under
his roof. Know your place and remember who your mistress is.”
Ellie scoffed. "Yeah, you sure are a mistress, alright. I can tell by the way
you came rushing in here, whining about me when you were the one who
left him and ran away."
Olivia scoffed, her lips curling in disdain as she dangled the diamond-
studded bag in her hand.
"It’s none of your business what my boyfriend and I do. He loves me!" She
sneered, her voice dripping with arrogance. "Don’t you get the fucking
reality? You’re just a beggar scraping by."
Her gaze swept over Ellie from head to toe, eyes flashing with mockery.
"You’re still penniless, aren’t you?" She let out a cold laugh. "No wonder.
Beggars are always like this—walking around with their heads held high,
acting proud, when they don’t even have a single penny to their name."
Olivia took a step closer, lowering her voice to a taunting whisper. "Look at
you. Here you are, desperately begging people to give you work, to hand
you money. Sawyer blocked you, didn’t he?" She let out another sharp
laugh. "And now? You’ve finally become a real beggar, haven’t you?"
Ellie clenched her jaw, but before she could respond, Olivia’s eyes flickered
to the reflection in a nearby car’s window. She spotted Jessica walking
toward them behind Ellie.
A wicked thought struck her, and before Ellie could react, Olivia thrust the
coffee cup she had in Ellie’s hands—then suddenly yanked Ellie’s hand
forward, making it seem as if Ellie had thrown the coffee in her face.
The liquid splashed across Olivia’s skin, and in an instant, she let out an
ear-piercing scream.
She staggered back, clutching her face as coffee seeped into her skin.
'Since this bitch is the real Olivia, I’m going to make sure she never gets
near the Whitlocks again.' Olivia’s thoughts twisted with malice. 'She
already snuck her way to Sawyer behind my back. Sawyer doesn’t know,
and neither do Jessica or her husband. Before they find out, I’ll make them
hate her. I’ll make them throw her out—and then, I’ll kill her again. It’s not
that hard.'
Tears welled in her eyes as she let out a blood-curdling wail.
“Mom! Mom!” Olivia shrieked, clutching her face. “She threw coffee at
me! Oh god, it burns! It burns—just like that fire all those years ago,
Mom!”
Her sobs were heart-wrenching, filled with sheer agony.
Jessica’s heart dropped. Her daughter’s raw sobs struck deep, sending her
running toward them in panic.
A sharp slap echoed in the air.
The force of Jessica’s palm sent Ellie sprawling onto the ground. Her hands
scraped against the pavement, leaving raw scratches.
Jessica’s voice trembled with rage and disbelief. “What the hell are you
doing?!”
From her angle, all she could see was Olivia in agony and Ellie standing
there, coffee dripping from her hands. It looked like Ellie had attacked
Olivia.
Jessica’s face twisted in grief. “My poor daughter…” She crouched beside
Olivia, her hands trembling as she touched Olivia’s reddened skin. “She’s
already suffered so much—she hasn’t even healed from her painful past!
Why—” Jessica’s voice cracked, her eyes glistening with tears. “Why did
you burn her?”
Ellie pushed herself up, her body aching.
She met Jessica’s devastated gaze and spoke blankly, "I didn’t hurt her, Mrs.
Whitlock. But you’ll believe her anyway. So go ahead.”
Jessica's heart twisted as she stared at Ellie. The moment she got a proper
look at her in the clear light, an unsettling realization hit—Ellie looked
strikingly similar to Olivia. Her heart clenched with a strange ache she
couldn't explain.
A few weeks ago, when a worker had come to the Whitlock house to deliver
a painting, she had felt the same strange pull of concern. That girl had worn
a cap, obscuring most of her face, so Jessica hadn’t thought much of it. But
now, under the clear light, Ellie’s resemblance to Olivia struck her like a
blow to the chest.
Her heart twisted painfully.
Her gaze flickered to Ellie’s cheek, where a clear handprint burned red from
the slap Jessica had given her. The sight made her feel even more uneasy.
And despite knowing she should be focusing on Olivia, a part of her
couldn't shake the deep concern she felt for the girl standing before her.
The realization sent a fresh wave of unease crashing over her. Why was she
feeling more concern for the girl standing before her than for the daughter
sobbing in her arms?
The thought unsettled her.
And then, guilt clawed its way in.
Three years ago, she was helpless. She had been in France with Jack when
she received that dreaded phone call—their house was on fire, and Olivia
had been inside. By the time she made it back, after days of being stranded
due to bad weather, Olivia had already been in the hospital, recovering from
severe burns. She had cried, begged, screamed at the heavens to keep her
daughter safe. Jessica had been powerless back then, forced to rely on fate
to spare her daughter.
And now, seeing Olivia hurt again, that same helpless rage took over.
She tightened her arms around Olivia and spoke in a measured voice. “It’s
okay, sweetheart. I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” Then, her tone
turned steely. “We can call the police. There must be cameras here. She
needs to learn she can’t just attack people like this.”
“No, Mom, it’s fine.” Olivia’s voice turned sharp as she suddenly snatched
Jessica’s phone, slipping it into her bag. “Just make sure she gets fired.
Someone like her doesn’t deserve to work around decent people after
attacking someone like me.”
Jessica hesitated only for a moment before nodding. “You’re right.”
She sighed and turned, but then her eyes landed on the discarded coffee cup
lying on the ground. The label on the side read ‘Iced’.
Jessica’s expression froze.
So Olivia had lied? She hadn’t been burned?
Jessica’s fingers clenched as realization dawned—she had wronged Ellie.
And worse, she had hit her.
But the fear of failing Olivia again, of disappointing her and not being there
for her just like in the past, made her swallow the truth. She stayed silent.
Meanwhile, Olivia smirked in satisfaction, already dialing Jack. “Dad,
there’s a problem at the event. You need to get someone fired.”
Within seconds, Ellie’s phone buzzed with a message from the older
woman: ‘Sorry, we can’t work with you anymore.’
Ellie read the text, then slowly lifted her gaze to Jessica. Her breath came
heavy with restrained fury.
“If she’s so innocent in your eyes, maybe you should get your eyes
checked.” Her voice was calm, yet cutting. “Even after seeing how terrified
she looked the moment you mentioned the police, you still don’t think she’s
guilty? You must be blind.”
Jessica’s expression remained cold, indifferent. She said nothing.
Ellie exhaled sharply, sidestepped them both, and stormed out of the event
grounds without another word.
Jessica watched until Ellie disappeared into the distance, something
unsettling and painful twisting in her chest.
Behind her, Olivia whined impatiently, “Mom, can we stop wasting time
already? Let’s go home. I have a party tonight.”
Jessica didn’t respond right away. Instead, she glanced at the coffee cup
again, her grip on Olivia tightening.
The nagging doubt that had always been there since the past three years,
started to take root in her heart.
***
Sawyer stared at his phone screen, tension coiling in his chest.
No call.
No text.
Nothing.
Ellie had never asked him for help before, and now, when she needed it the
most, she still hadn't reached out?
A full night had passed. An entire fucking night. And she hadn’t even
bothered to send a single message?
“Henry!” Sawyer’s voice cut through the office like a whip.
Henry, already out of breath from rushing over, barged in, half-scared to
death. “Mr. Stark?”
“Did you get any calls from Ellie?” Sawyer’s jaw was clenched, his
expression thunderous.
Henry gave him a confused look. "Mr. Stark, Miss Ellie didn’t call you
yet?"
The way Sawyer glared at him made Henry rethink his life choices. Maybe
today was his last day alive.
"No, Mr. Stark! No calls!" Henry quickly clarified. "Do you want me to call
her? I can do it right now—maybe she needs something!"
“Her bank account and cards are still canceled?” Sawyer interrupted, voice
tight with agitation.
"Yes, Mr. Stark. Just as you had instructed."
“God damn it,” Sawyer gritted out, running a hand through his already-
messy hair, eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep and frustration.
Why hadn’t she called?
If her adoptive uncle had suddenly fallen ill and needed surgery, Sawyer
should’ve been the first person Ellie turned to.
But because of their fight, she didn’t even inform him she was at the
hospital?
His agitation spiked, and without another thought, he called Damion.
"Hey, man," Sawyer said, forcing his tone to sound casual, not desperate.
"It’s about Ellie. How much is needed for the surgery? Forward the bill to
my office. Don’t bother Ellie with this—I’ll cover everything."
"I wasn’t going to charge her at all, brother," Damion answered. "But I
checked the file. The surgery bill’s already paid."
Sawyer’s body stiffened. “What?”
“Yeah. Someone named Jeremy Nox covered the entire bill.”

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 18 A RICH GUY
“Motherfucker!” Sawyer’s rage surfaced so suddenly it was almost violent.
His back went rigid, his breathing turned lethal, and Henry instinctively
took a step back, clutching his tablet like a shield.
‘Miss Ellie, you’re going to get everyone killed—especially me.’ Henry
swallowed hard. ‘Why the hell did I become a secretary? I should just go
book my own funeral.’
Through gritted teeth, Sawyer forced out the name. "Jeremy Nox?"
"Yeah," Damion confirmed. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Actually, I
saw him at the hospital with Ellie while the operation was going on. He
looked familiar… hold on." His voice trailed off as he thought. "Wait a
minute. Isn’t he the same guy Ellie told us was her new boyfriend that night
at the bar? When you proposed to Olivia?"
“I didn’t fucking propose,” Sawyer snapped. “It was just a goddamn
perfume!”
Damion took that as confirmation. His brows lifted slightly before he
settled into a knowing smirk.
So this bastard was finally getting affected?
After everything Ellie had done for him—after all the times he had pushed
her away, scolded her, ignored her—now, watching her get taken by
someone else was finally setting him on fire?
It had been painful to witness.
But now? Now, watching Sawyer lose his mind over the fear of her getting
taken away by another man was almost poetic.
It wasn’t easy seeing a friend this pissed off and jealous, but considering
how Sawyer had tormented Ellie for so long, Damion could barely hold
back his laughter.
"Good luck, brother," he said smoothly. "Maybe next time, you can come to
her rescue faster. This time, someone else took the chance and became
Ellie’s hero."
Sawyer yanked the phone from his ear and hurled it across the room. It
crashed against the wall and shattered.
Meanwhile, Damian finally lost it. His shoulders shook with laughter, eyes
squeezed shut as he burst into laughter.
Still chuckling, he pulled out his phone and called his wife, Kara.
An hour later, the news had spread like wildfire.
All of Sawyer’s friends knew of Ellie, Sawyer and Jeremy’s love triangle.
Mason, Ana, Triston, Stella, Jane, Raiden—all of them. And, of course,
quickly a bet was placed.
How fast would Sawyer win Ellie back?
Billionaire men were infamous for snatching back their women at all costs.
Mason had taken a few months after losing Ana.
Raiden? Only a few weeks.
Damian? Well, he was a god among them all—he’d spent ten years crushing
on Kara but married her within twenty four hours of her giving up on her
crush.
Now, with Sawyer, the stakes were even higher.
After all, the man had repeatedly claimed he was waiting for Olivia and
Ellie was just a temporary placeholder. But now that Olivia was back, he
wasn’t making any moves on her. Instead, he was losing his mind over
Ellie.
Some bet it would take a day. Some said a week.
A few doubted it would ever happen at all—especially now that Jeremy was
in the picture and Ellie had seemingly moved on.
But Sawyer finding out about this bet?
That was a conversation for drinks later that night.
***
That evening, Ellie waited outside the event venue until nightfall.
Since Jeremy had gotten her this job, she didn’t want to leave without
informing him first. She knew he was busy, so rather than interrupt him
during work, she sat outside patiently, waiting for his call.
When the show finally ended, Jeremy phoned her, and they met up. As he
drove her home, she told him everything—about Olivia, about her mother,
about the situation that had spiraled out of control.
Jeremy’s hands tightened on the wheel, his expression darkening. "Do you
want me to go over there and knock some sense into her?" he asked, already
looking like he was ready to turn the car around.
Ellie shook her head. Jeremy was just a small model—picking a fight with
Olivia could land him in trouble, and she didn’t want that. "It’s not worth
it," she said gently.
He exhaled sharply, gripping the wheel a little tighter before finally
nodding. "Fine. But if she messes with you again, I’m not letting it slide."
By the time they reached Stark House, Jeremy parked the car and walked
her to the door. As Ellie turned to him, the porch light cast a soft glow over
her face.
"You should know that I’m really grateful for your help," Ellie said with a
smile. "I wouldn’t have been able to keep my head straight if you weren’t
there. You’re a great friend, Jeremy. I really appreciate you."
Jeremy gritted his teeth. "I’m still pissed off about Olivia ruining things for
you. I didn’t realize she was that manipulative when I first saw her at the
bar, but I had my suspicions just from the way she looked. If she can make
things bad for you, then I can do the same to her. She needs to learn—it’s a
fucking tit-for-tat world."
Ellie burst out laughing. "Jeremy, you’re just a model! She owns the
Whitlock family business. What can people like us do to someone like her?"
She shook her head and rubbed his arm reassuringly. "Don’t worry about
it."
Jeremy smirked. "You think I’m just a small-time model?"
"Obviously," Ellie rolled her eyes. "So what else are you?" She giggled. "I
mean, your name is Jeremy Nox, I know, but that doesn’t make you the son
of the Nox family, does it? We all can dream, but what else is there to do
except watch everything in silence?"
Jeremy turned fully to her, his grin widening. "I am the Nox family’s son.
My brother is Jacob Nox. He runs our family business. He’s friends with
Mason Nightingale and all the other big shots in Manhattan. So trust me,
Ellie Madden," he smirked, "if I wanted to, I could ruin Olivia for you
while looking her dead in the eyes and taunting her right in her face."
Ellie’s eyes widened. "You’re kidding. No way!"
Jeremy shrugged. "How about now? Want to get hitched to a rich guy?
These lips are still available for a kiss." He winked.
"Ugh! Stop it!" Ellie burst into laughter, shoving him back.
Just then, a cold, almost icy voice came from behind her.
"You finally remembered you have a goddamn home to come back to,
Ellie?"
Ellie’s laughter stopped instantly. Her body tensed as she turned, her heart
pounding.
Sawyer was behind her, his fists clenched at his sides, his long strides
eating up the distance between them. His glare was dark, intense—
terrifying.
Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and yanked her close, his
furious gaze locking onto hers. "Did you think I wouldn’t find out?" His
voice was low and lethal. "Ellie, you let this bastard pay a fucking bill for
you? You spent the entire night with him and then went to work with him?"
His teeth clenched as his glare intensified. "What the fuck do you take me
for?"
Ellie ripped her arm free, her eyes blazing. "Tell me, then—who are you to
me? What right do you have to tell me where I can go, what I can do, and
what I can’t?" Her voice sharpened. "As far as I remember, you have no
right, Mr. Stark. You already have a girlfriend."
Sawyer’s eyes turned ice-cold. "Ellie Madden, don’t you fucking forget that
you agreed to stay with me until the three years are up."
"And I am staying," Ellie shot back. "I’m fulfilling the agreement. I’m
staying with you until my time is up, and then I’ll leave. But that doesn’t
mean we have a relationship, does it? Because as I also remember, you
already have a girlfriend—Olivia Whitlock! You are not my man anymore!"
Sawyer’s jaw tightened, his expression darkening. His breaths grew heavy,
and the way his entire body tensed made it clear he was on the verge of
losing control.
"So who’s your fucking man, then?" His voice was pure venom. "This
bastard?"
Ellie forced a smile and turned, snatching Jeremy’s arm and holding onto it
tightly. "Yes, he is," she said, staring Sawyer dead in the eye. "Jeremy Nox
is my boyfriend. Say hello," she said mockingly.
Jeremy smirked, completely unfazed, and placed his hand over Ellie’s,
rubbing his fingers against her skin in an infuriatingly slow motion—just to
piss Sawyer off even more.
The way Sawyer’s eyes darkened, Ellie almost let go of Jeremy’s arm out of
instinct. But she was tired of Sawyer’s double standards. She was done with
his demands and expectations.
Just because his girlfriend was around, he had taken away a once-in-a-
lifetime opportunity from her. Then that same girlfriend had made sure she
lost a job she desperately needed. Even if she told him about it, he wouldn’t
do a damn thing.
And on top of that, he had taken away all her access to money, leaving her
with nothing.
So what did it even matter anymore?
She wanted to piss off Sawyer Narcissist Stark just as much as he had
pissed her off in these past few weeks. And if this was working, she was
more than willing to ruin his entire evening—or even his entire week!
Sawyer suddenly grabbed her arm, yanking her off Jeremy and pulling her
against his chest. She collided with him hard, and before she could push
him away, he leaned in dangerously close. His voice was low, a growl of
pure rage.
"Ellie Madden, do you want to get killed tonight?"
Then, just as abruptly, he shoved her away.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his wallet, his expression twisted in
fury.
"This is what you’re with him for, right?" His voice was razor-sharp. "How
much did he give you? You need money? Here it is." He yanked out a
handful of black cards and shoved them into her hands. "Take them. Every
single one is loaded with more money than you could ever spend in a
fucking lifetime."
Ellie stared at the cards, her blood boiling. Then, she ripped her hands back,
letting the cards slip from her fingers, watching them scatter to the ground
at his feet.
"I don’t need it anymore! You can keep your money. When I needed it the
most—Jeremy was there to help me."
Sawyer’s entire face darkened. His fury hit its breaking point.
"If you needed money, why the fuck didn’t you call me?" he barked. "You
didn’t even think of giving me a fucking call when you needed help?"
"Oh, like you’d just hand it over without any tricks?" Ellie scoffed, rolling
her eyes at him. "Sawyer Stark, I know you too well. I’ve spent three years
with you. I’ve done everything for you. You treat me like a butler—no, like
a dog you trained to be at your beck and call."
"That’s fucking it!" Sawyer roared.
Before Ellie could react, he marched over, threw her over his shoulder, and
turned to head inside the house.
"Hey! Let go of her!" Jeremy barked, grabbing Sawyer’s arm.
Sawyer barely glanced at him before growling to the security, "Get him the
fuck off my property. I don’t want even his damn shadow lurking around
here."
Ellie struggled, kicking and shoving against Sawyer’s back, but he didn’t
loosen his grip. He carried her straight into the house, up the stairs, and into
the bedroom before tossing her onto the bed. He hovered over her, his chest
heaving with rage.
"Ellie, are you out of your fucking mind?" His voice was dangerously low.
"Do you really think I’ve ever treated you badly?"
He ripped his shirt off, tossing it carelessly to the floor. Then, without
warning, he climbed over her, grabbing both of her wrists in one hand and
pinning them above her head. His other hand seized her jaw, forcing her to
meet his glare.
"Do you really like that bastard?" His voice was pure venom, his patience
snapped, his rage a living, breathing thing. The room felt suffocating under
the shadow of his fury. "Do you love him? You love it when he fucking
touches you? Like this? Like I touch you?"
His lips hovered just above hers, his breath hot, his eyes ablaze.
Ellie’s heart pounded, but she refused to let it show.
Instead, she met his glare head-on and whispered defiantly, "Yes. I love it. I
love when we play in bed. In fact, I even think he’s so much better than you
that I wa—"
Before she could finish, his mouth crashed onto hers, silencing her words.
His grip tightened, his body pressing against hers, swallowing her protests.
Sawyer got off the bed, dragging Ellie along with him before pushing her
against the back of the couch. His grip was firm, his body radiating
dominance as he towered over her. With a swift motion, he pushed up her
dress, exposing her bare skin to the cool air, and dragged her panties down,
letting them pool at her feet.
“Stay still,” he commanded, his voice low, rough with restraint.
Ellie shivered, her breath uneven. “Sawyer, stop it!” she snapped,
attempting to break free. But his strong arm was already pinning her upper
body down against the couch while his other hand lifted one of her legs,
forcing her knee onto the cushion. The position left her completely open to
him, vulnerable under his piercing gaze.
“You deserve punishment for the filthy things you say to me, Ellie,” Sawyer
growled, his breath hot against her ear.
A shiver ran through her spine, her core clenching involuntarily at his
words. She heard the sound of his belt being unbuckled, the leather sliding
free from his pants in one swift motion. He wrapped it around his hand,
folding it over. Then—whack—the first strike landed on her bare ass.
A sharp gasp slipped past her lips as the sting bloomed across her skin.
“Sawyer—” she choked out, her fingers gripping the couch.
Another smack echoed in the air before she could even take a full breath.
Her body jerked, the pain sharp, yet something deep inside her responded in
a way that made her toes curl. His large palm traced over the heated skin,
stroking her tender flesh as if to soothe her, only to make her anticipate the
next blow even more.
Then, without warning, he brought the belt down again—smack—the
impact harder this time, making her cry out.
Her nails dug into the couch. “Ow… oh… oh… it hurts,” she whimpered,
yet her hips arched into the sensation, betraying her.
Light, stinging slaps mixed with deep, heavy thuds filled the room. The
heavier ones, striking that sweet spot between her ass and thighs, made her
squeal and drip even more. Every now and then, he would pause, his touch
turning soft, tracing her heated skin with tender strokes—only to rain down
another ruthless set of smacks.
"Ahh... ahhhh..."
The contrast of pain and pleasure sent her moans spilling from her lips,
especially when his fingers slid between her legs, brushing against the
wetness pooling there. As soon as his fingers reached her clit, Ellie bucked
and squirmed, her body reacting to his knowing touch.
Her knee rested on the back of the couch, leaving her fully open to him. She
heard his sharp intake of breath when his fingers lightly grazed her dripping
core. The realization hit her—he was just as affected as she was. Her thighs
were damp with her arousal, and she could feel his hard, throbbing length
pressing against her leg.
Sawyer’s eyes darkened, locked on his fingers as they explored her wet
opening, his nails lightly scraping her delicate skin, teasing, tormenting. He
licked his dry lips, his hunger visible.
"I just want to keep licking you, Ellie," he rasped, his voice rough, barely
audible. His fingers played with her, tracing slow, tormenting circles around
her clit.
He knew exactly where she was most sensitive—where she was most
ticklish—and he exploited those spots mercilessly, making her whimper and
tremble.
"D-don’t do that," she pleaded breathlessly, terrified of losing control under
his skilled fingers. "Ahhh…!"
He smirked at her weak protests and withdrew his fingers. But as soon as he
did, her body instinctively chased after his touch.
"Now you’re begging for more," he murmured, amusement lacing his tone.
Instead of returning to her drenched core, his fingers slid inside her snug
channel.
A deep groan tore from her lips as his fingers thrust in and out with slow,
exquisite precision. Her whimpers turned into desperate moans, her body
tensing with need. Unable to take the torture, she instinctively pressed her
clit against the couch, seeking relief.
Smack. Smack. Smack.
"Stay where you are!" His sharp reprimand sent a shiver down her spine.
His irritation was clear—she wasn’t allowed to take pleasure from anything
but him. His palm came down again, harder, faster, until tears spilled down
her cheeks.
"I will control how to pleasure you," he said coldly, his voice firm,
possessive. "You need to learn who owns you, Ellie."
His hand wrapped around her, pinning her in place. He leaned down, biting
her earlobe lightly before murmuring against her ear,
"My cock is so fucking hard right now. I just want to ram you against every
hard surface in this room and fuck you senseless."
Ellie shivered, the throbbing pain and unbearable pleasure mixing into one
overwhelming sensation. Her mind spun, and through the throbbing ache,
all she could think was—what was he going to do to her next? Was he going
to fuck her? Was he going to take her mouth, or finger her?
But he didn’t give her time to dwell on it.
His hand slid back between her legs, teasing, stroking, flicking her clit with
maddening slowness.
"This little thing is doing such a good job," he muttered, watching the
wetness drip from her, pooling against the couch. "Should I bite it? Your
clit? Make it red, make it even more swollen? Or should I rub it until you
spill more than your cum out of here?"
Ellie whimpered, panting, moaning uncontrollably. Her ass burned from the
belt, while Sawyer’s skilled fingers sent wave after wave of pleasure
crashing over her.
"Do you need to cum?" he growled, his grim voice making her tremble.
Ellie could barely manage a breath, her chest tight from both the pleasure
and the overwhelming ache between her legs. “Yes,” she whimpered, her
voice trembling with need.
“Ask for it nicely.”
OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 19 PLEASING
SAWYER
Her heart raced at the command. She fought through the haze of pain and
pleasure, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Please, Sawyer. I want to
cum.”
Sawyer’s lips twisted into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Without a
word, he lowered his head and bit down on the side of her neck, the sharp
pressure causing her to gasp. “No,” he growled, his voice rough. “You can’t
until I want you to.”
Ellie’s body was a wreck, every inch of her burning with a desperate
longing she didn’t know how to control. The relentless sting on her
reddened skin from his repeated strikes made her ache in places she hadn’t
known existed. His fingers inside her were no less merciless, thrusting and
teasing her in ways that had her teetering on the edge of madness. She could
barely focus on anything except the desire that had built to a breaking point.
“Please, Sawyer…” she begged again, voice thick with desperation.
Sawyer’s eyes darkened. “Now you know whom to ask for help?” he
muttered. “I’m not torturing you, am I? Now you’ve learnt how nicely I’ve
always treated you?”
He shoved her roughly onto the couch, his grip unrelenting as he tore her
dress from her body. The fabric, now ripped, was quickly used to bind her
limbs to the iron bars beside the couch. Once mere decorations, the bars
now became her restraints, holding Ellie captive in a way that stirred
something dark and possessive deep within him.
His gaze burned into her as he unbuttoned his pants, letting them slide
down his legs along with his briefs.
Her body was completely exposed to his gaze, her hips angled just right so
that every curve was visible. Sawyer’s gaze lingered on her, dark and
intense, before he reached for the glass on the desk, filled with ice cubes,
and the bottle of water beside it. With a slow, satisfied smile, he pulled the
glass closer, clearly pleased with what he had planned for her.
Then, unable to contain his hunger anymore, he leaned in, his breath hot
against her skin, and before Ellie could react, he took her in his mouth,
licking her gently at first, then with increasing flicks. His tongue delved
deep, seeking out every part of her, as if devouring her whole.
"Aahhhhh...." Ellie gasped.
Her breath caught in her throat, a strangled gasp escaping her lips. But as
she moaned, Sawyer’s teeth sank into her, a sharp bite that sent a jolt of
pain and pleasure through her. She cried out, her voice a mix of agony and
want, but Sawyer didn’t stop.
He lifted his head, licking his lips. Ellie barely had time to understand what
was happening before he was dipping his hand into the glass on the table.
She couldn’t see what it was at first, her mind fogged with pleasure, but the
moment his fingers pressed something cold inside her, her body froze in
shock.
“Oh god!” Ellie cried out, the cold seeping through her like ice. Her hips
arched from the overwhelming sensation, but Sawyer’s grip on her hips
kept her immobile. His body pressed against her as he slid the ice cubes
deeper inside her, sending waves of burning heat and freezing cold through
her all at once.
“Fuck… !” Ellie sobbed, her skin hypersensitive, her entire body trembling
with the strange, painful pleasure. Her chest heaved, desperate for release,
but Sawyer continued to push, watching her reactions with a strange
mixture of fascination and dominance.
The cube soon slipped out, his gaze still fixed on her.
Ellie’s body was on fire, Sawyer’s hands never stopped tormenting her. He
rubbed that ice cube on her clit, and then around, the chill making her
whimper and cry out. She could feel the pressure building, a storm inside
her that threatened to burst, but Sawyer wasn’t going to give her the release
she craved just yet.
With a frustrated sigh, he repositioned himself, sitting up on the couch and
pulling her hips into his lap as her upper body lay bare to his sight, still
restrained. His hand gripped her waist, holding her still as he began to
explore her again with his fingers, rubbing her, flicking the swollen nub
repeatedly, fingering her.
“Sawyer… please…” Ellie whimpered, her voice a broken plea.
Sawyer’s eyes softened, but only for a moment. “I am not satisfied, Ellie.
You aren’t wet enough for me yet.”
His fingers continued their slow torment, and then, with no warning, he
started to rub her clit faster with his fingers. Ellie’s body jerked, a sharp
gasp leaving her mouth. “Sawyer, make me cum. Please, please… please,
oh god!” she moaned, unable to control herself.
But Sawyer was using her to satisfy himself. The way she begged,
whimpered, moaned, only hardened him further. His throbbing length
pulsed against his leg, the veins burning with the hot blood pooling in the
thick girth.
His mouth was on her again, his lips wrapping around her sensitive skin as
he sucked and licked, pushing her closer to the edge with each stroke.
"Ahhhh!" Ellie whimpered, her hands straining against the restraints as her
body reacted to him in ways she couldn’t control.
Sawyer’s mouth took Ellie’s clit in, stroking the tip over and over again
with his tongue until he saw her release. His eyes darkened with
satisfaction.
Straightening, he wiped his mouth, his expression filled with dominance
and pleasure. He untied her hands, freeing them before pulling her small
body into his lap. Her hips rested on his thighs, her legs straddling him on
either side. He held her close, skin to skin.
With a firm hand on the back of her head, he guided her to rest against his
chest. Ellie’s breath was uneven, her body still trembling from the
aftershocks of pleasure. His fingers found her wrists, rubbing soft, soothing
circles over the reddened areas where his hold had been firm, easing the
faint burn and ache.
"Relax," he murmured, his voice husky.
Still dazed, Ellie instinctively wrapped her arms around hm. But before she
could fully regain herself, he lowered his elbows, trapping her hands
beneath his strong arms.
A few moments passed in silence, his steady heartbeat against her cheek
lulling her. Just as she thought he was letting her rest, he gently spread his
thighs apart, taking her legs along with him—parting her lower body wider.
Ellie stirred, instinctively trying to shift away, thinking he was done. But
before she could escape, Sawyer’s grip tightened around her small frame,
his voice a low growl in her ear.
"Stay still."
A tremor ran through her. His mouth lowered to her neck, and the warmth
of his tongue traced over her sensitive skin. A sharp gasp left her lips as he
began sucking hungrily, leaving deep, red marks of possession along her
delicate throat.
Her breath hitched in panic when she felt the unmistakable heat of his
hardness pressing against her wet, sensitive center. A shudder coursed
through her as she realized the intimate position they were in.
Sawyer shifted beneath her, his thick length nudging against her entrance,
teasing her. The sensation was so sudden and overwhelming that Ellie froze
in shock. Her tightness resisted him, stopping his advance, but the pressure
sent a wave of heat through her body.
Heart hammering, she mustered all her strength and pushed herself off of
him, falling onto the couch. Both of them gasped for breath, the intensity
between them electrifying.
Ellie’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her body burning with lingering desire.
Sawyer’s jaw clenched. His eyes darkened with frustration, his body coiled
tight with pent-up need.
Before she could respond, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her
onto his lap once more, positioning her so that she was lying across him—
her ass arched up, exposed to his heated gaze.
His large hands gripped her, squeezing the soft flesh of her ass possessively.
The kneading turned into light slaps, teasing, before escalating into firm,
sharp smacks that sent a sting through her skin.
Ellie gasped, her fingers digging into the cushions.
"Sawyer—"
Her cry turned into a whimper as another sharp smack landed.
He was relentless, restless. With each punishing slap, he murmured husky
words against her ear—calling her a tease, a temptress, a wicked little thing
who knew exactly how to drive him insane.
By the time he stopped, her pale skin had turned completely red, radiating
heat.
Sawyer’s fingers trailed down, slipping between her folds. He groaned at
what he found.
"Look at you," he murmured, his voice thick with hunger. "Dripping for me,
even after all that. Do you even realize how much you crave me?”
Ellie bit her lip, refusing to answer. But her body betrayed her, pressing into
his touch despite herself.
Sawyer exhaled heavily, his patience snapping. In one swift motion, he
lifted her like she weighed nothing, throwing her over his shoulder as he
strode toward the bed.
Ellie gasped, her fists pounding weakly against his back. "Sawyer, put me
down!"
He didn’t listen.
The moment they reached the bed, he tossed her onto the mattress. Ellie
barely had time to adjust before he was on her, his heated gaze locking onto
hers.
"Keep still," he ordered darkly, his hands gripping her thighs.
A shiver ran down her spine as he positioned himself at her entrance. The
thick head of his length pressed against her, teasing, before pushing forward
just enough to stretch her.
Ellie’s eyes widened, a sharp gasp escaping her lips.
His jaw clenched as he gritted out, "You’re still so fucking tight." His voice
was raw with restraint, his fingers digging into her thighs. "I’ve had my
fingers inside you, my mouth, and yet…" he groaned. "You’re still this
snug."
A desperate whimper left her lips as he pushed deeper, his thick length
stretching her inch by inch.
"Ahhh—!" Ellie cried out, her hands fisting the sheets.
Sawyer held her still, a wicked smirk tugging at his lips. "I’m not even fully
in you yet, and you’re already screaming?" He leaned down, his lips
brushing her ear. "Or does it feel that good? Do you still think that fucking
bastard is much better than me?"
Before she could answer, he thrust forward, filling her completely.
Ellie’s back arched, a strangled moan escaping her lips.
Sawyer growled in satisfaction, his control slipping. He didn’t give her time
to adjust, his hips moving, pushing deeper into her tight, wet heat.
Ellie whimpered, overwhelmed by the intensity, her body barely able to
keep up. She tried to push against his chest, but he grabbed her wrists,
pinning them above her head.
"Where do you think you’re going?" he murmured, his voice dangerously
soft.
Her lips parted, but before she could speak, pleasure crashed over her in
waves.
His grip on her tightened as he thrust deeper, harder, his pace unforgiving.
The slick sounds of their bodies moving together filled the room, a wave of
pleasure and need.
Ellie’s body trembled violently, the intensity pushing her to the edge.
A sudden warmth spread deep inside her, and her eyes widened in shock.
"Sawyer!" she gasped, twisting her hips. "You—"
He silenced her with a deep kiss, his body stilling for a brief moment before
he rolled his hips again, driving himself deeper.
"You’re not getting away from me," he murmured against her lips. "Not
now. Not ever."
His hands gripped her hips, holding her in place as he took her with
unrelenting passion, branding himself into her very soul.
“AH!” Ellie gasped, this time a sharp sting accompanying her moan.
He froze instantly. His hands wrapped around her waist, his face pressing
close to her shoulder. His breath was warm against her skin as he
whispered, “Sorry.”
That single word sent a pang through Ellie’s heart. She could barely
breathe. His voice—so soft, so unexpectedly gentle—left her shaken.
Sawyer pulled out of her carefully, his arousal still hard and throbbing.
He then pressed his weight over her, his lips finding hers in a slow,
consuming kiss. His teeth grazed her lower lip before he nibbled at it,
deepening the moment. His hands wandered lower, slipping between her
thighs, his fingers stroking her sensitively.
Ellie relaxed into his touch. Her body softened beneath him as she took the
initiative, tilting her head and slipping out her tongue, tangling it with his.
This time, she wanted control. She wanted to make him lose himself in her.
Sawyer’s breath grew ragged, his restraint slipping. But then, without
warning, he pulled away and sat up.
Ellie blinked, confusion flashing in her eyes as she looked at him.
His expression darkened, his eyes locking onto hers with a smoldering
intensity. Before she could make sense of it, he gripped her thighs, pulling
them apart roughly before pushing himself deep inside her.
“Ah!” Ellie whimpered loudly, her back arching as he filled her completely.
He spread her legs wider, holding them in place as he drove into her, his
thrusts deep and fast. Each movement sent waves of pleasure coursing
through her, pleasure so intense it left her trembling.
“Ah…!” Her moans spilled freely as her body clenched around him, her
release crashing over her again and again.
Sawyer’s pace increased as he chased his own pleasure. When her body
finally collapsed beneath him, her limbs weak and trembling, he let out a
low chuckle, his breath hot against her ear.
“Now you feel good?” he murmured, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
“Isn’t it better to play with me in bed? You’re soaking wet, Ellie. Look at
this mess you’ve made. So how the fuck is he better than me?”
Ellie’s body ached with pleasure, her limbs weak as she collapsed onto the
bed, panting softly. She tried to catch her breath, her skin flushed, her
heartbeat pounding in her ears.
But Sawyer wasn’t done with her yet.
“I’ll make you feel even better,” he promised, his voice rough with desire.
He flipped her onto her stomach with effortless ease, his strong hands
gripping her waist as he positioned her on her knees. “I need to make sure
that the only man you remember in your bed is me!”
His fingers teased her, tracing slow, torturous circles against her most
sensitive spot. “Sawyer…” she breathed, her voice pleading.
He groaned, loving the way she said his name. “Tell me what you want,
Ellie.”
Her cheeks burned, but she didn’t hold back. “You. I want you.”
That was all it took. He thrust into her again, deeper this time, his
movements slow at first—teasing, savoring—before gradually quickening.
Ellie buried her face in the pillow, muffling the desperate moans spilling
from her lips.
Sawyer’s patience unraveled. His strokes became more urgent, more
intense, each one hitting that spot inside her that sent pleasure crashing over
her like a tidal wave.
“Fuck… please—ahhh… oh God—” Ellie gasped, her body clenching
around him as she reached her peak again, her climax wracking through her
in waves so powerful they left her shaking.
Sawyer groaned deeply, his own release following as he held her tight, his
body pressed firmly against hers. Their breaths mingled, heavy and uneven,
as they collapsed onto the bed, tangled in each other’s warmth.
For a long moment, silence stretched between them, save for the sound of
their slowing breaths. Then, Sawyer pressed a soft kiss to the back of her
shoulder, his touch unexpectedly tender.
And then, as the night stretched on, he took his revenge, tormenting her
until the first rays of sunlight spilled through the windows.
***
Sawyer’s eyes opened late the next morning. After staying awake most of
the night, exhaustion still clung to him. Half-asleep, he reached for Ellie,
patting the sheets beside him. But his hand found nothing—just cold
emptiness.
His eyes snapped open. The bed was empty.
Pushing himself up, still groggy with sleep, he grabbed his phone from the
nightstand. It was just ten in the morning. He threw on a pair of trousers and
stalked out of the bedroom, his jaw tight with frustration. But no matter
how many rooms he checked, Ellie was nowhere to be found.
His patience started to wear thin. "Ada? Ada!" he called out, his voice
sharp.
The housekeeper hurried over. "Mr. Stark?"
"Where is Ellie?" His tone was clipped, his irritation evident.
"Ms. Ellie?" Ada hesitated. "She left a while ago. She looked very angry…
Kept saying she was going to Miss Olivia’s house."
Sawyer’s face darkened instantly. "That stupid, stupid woman wants to get
herself killed?" he barked, his patience snapping.
Without another word, he stormed back into the room, throwing on a t-
shirt, and snatching his phone and car keys.
Fake Olivia had already probably killed the real Olivia. She had also
attacked Ellie before. The woman had no shame, no fear when it came to
getting rid of people in her way. And Ellie—reckless, infuriating Ellie—was
walking straight into her hands.
Tension coiled tightly in his chest as he bolted out of the house, slamming
the car door shut. He gunned the engine, tires screeching against the
pavement as he sped toward Olivia’s house.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 20 SCARED
Ellie arrived outside Olivia’s grand estate, her entire body seething with
rage.
Jeremy had called her first thing in the morning, and the news he delivered
had only fueled her fury. Not only had Olivia stolen her job the day before
with fake accusations, but she had also issued a notice across the entire
industry, blacklisting Ellie. She'd also issued an industry-wide notice
banning Ellie from working in the entertainment industry altogether.
With Olivia being a Whitlock—one of the most influential families—and
her relationship with Sawyer being widely known, no one dared to go
against Olivia’s orders.
Ellie had barely processed the news before her blood boiled. She shot a
sharp glare at Sawyer, who was sleeping with a care in the world.
‘Why should I even tell him?’ she had thought bitterly. ‘He’s only going to
take Olivia’s side, just like last time—when she wanted to hang herself
from the fucking ceiling, and he kicked me out without a second thought.’
She had stormed out of the house and now found herself charging straight
into Olivia’s grand mansion, ignoring the guards, the staff—anyone in her
way.
The moment she stepped inside, she collided directly with Olivia, who was
impeccably dressed and seemingly on her way out.
Olivia’s face twisted in shock and disgust. "What the fuck are you doing in
my house?"
Then, a flicker of panic crossed her face. She quickly turned to call for her
maid. "Maria! Maria!" Olivia snapped, looking around. "Who let this
beggar inside?"
Ellie smirked. "What’s wrong, Whitlock? You scared?"
Olivia’s expression hardened. "Scared of what?"
"You weren’t scared when you stole my job. You weren’t scared when you
blacklisted me from the entire fucking industry. So tell me, Olivia Whitlock
—what the hell is your problem?" Ellie’s voice was sharp, cutting through
Olivia’s feigned confidence.
Olivia folded her arms, tilting her chin arrogantly. "Because I don’t like
your face." She shrugged. "What’s so strange about that? I don’t enjoy
running into pests wherever I go."
"And I don’t enjoy running into bitches first thing in the morning, yet here
we fucking are," Ellie shot back.
Olivia smirked, eyes gleaming with mockery. "What’s wrong? Panicking
already? Did Sawyer finally cut you off? Are you scared you’ll have to beg
for pennies on the street now?"
Ellie scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, I get it now… you’re burning with
jealousy."
At once, Olivia’s face turned pale. "Why would I be jealous of a beggar?"
Ellie smirk widened. "I can see it. Isn't it because of Sawyer? Even after
shamelessly giving him a ring and proposing to him in a bar full of people,
he still didn’t take you home, did he? And now you're scared. Is that it?"
"It's only a matter of time before he throws you out!" Olivia growled.
"You're just my replacement—don't you fucking forget that, beggar!"
Ellie leaned in, her voice laced with pure amusement. "And yet, I’m the one
living in the Stark house, sleeping in his bed, while you’re standing here,
seething, watching from afar. So much so that you had to blacklist me just
to keep me out of your sight. Because, once again—you’re jealous. Not so
easy for you, huh?"
"You don’t have to worry about that," Olivia sneered. "I loathe your fucking
face. That’s why you’re banned!"
Ellie let out a sharp laugh. "And yet, my face is still better than yours. What
are you even proud of?" Her eyes gleamed with mockery. "Oh, right—I
almost forgot. Your entire face is plastic, isn’t it? It’s not just your
eyebrows. You got your whole face done just to look human." Ellie tilted
her head, her smile widening. "Are you even the real Olivia? I overheard
your parents the other day—they said they don’t even recognize you
anymore.""
The moment the words left her mouth, she saw Olivia’s face go pale.
Ellie’s smirk faltered, replaced by shock. Wait...
"So it’s true," she murmured, her voice eerily calm. "Oh my god… you’re
not the real Olivia, are you? You’re someone else who got plastic surgery to
look like her?"
Before she could process the shock, Olivia lunged at her—like a wild
animal, eyes blazing with desperation.
A flash of silver caught Ellie’s eye. A knife?
"What the fuck?!" Ellie jumped back, her heart pounding. "Are you out of
your damn mind?!"
But Olivia wasn’t thinking anymore, she was panicking. Grabbing a knife
from the fruit tray, she charged at Ellie.
The only thought consuming her was—Ellie knows the truth. She has
figured it out.
She had fought too hard for this life.
Befriending Olivia in college. Slowly learning how perfect her world was—
a rich heiress, a powerful and devoted fiancé, loving parents, a life of
luxury.
She had wanted it for herself.
And Olivia had made it too easy. Too trusting. Too naive. Too blind to the
betrayal creeping up on her.
But now, everything was falling apart.
The real Olivia was supposed to be dead! She had burnt her alive with her
own hands!
If Ellie recovered her memories, it would be over. She would lose
everything.
Her grip on the knife tightened. She had to get rid of Ellie—at any cost.
But just as she lunged again, she saw movement over Ellie’s shoulder.
Jessica and Jack had just entered the house.
In a split second, Olivia switched tactics. Instead of stabbing Ellie, she
turned the knife on herself—slicing her own hand before letting it clatter to
the floor—right at Ellie’s feet. Then she screamed.
"STOP! What are you doing?! Please—It’s just a job! Don’t kill me!"
The scene unfolded in seconds.
Jessica and Jack bolted toward them, their faces stricken with panic.
Jack rushed to Olivia, cradling her in his arms. Jessica, shaking with rage,
shoved Ellie back and kicked the knife away.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Jessica shouted, her face pale with shock.
Olivia sobbed into Jack's chest. "Mom… she tried to kill me. All because of
what happened yesterday…" Her voice cracked. "She—she attacked me!"
"She’s lying!" Ellie snapped. "She’s the one who attacked me!"
Jessica’s face twisted in fury. "I saw it with my own eyes! You attacked my
daughter! Look at her hand—it’s covered in blood! Do you think we’re
blind?!"
Jack pulled out his phone. "I’m calling the police right now! She’s going to
jail for this—trying to kill my daughter—"
"Yes, call them!" Ellie snapped, meeting Olivia’s eyes. Her gaze burned
with cold fury. "Do it. You do know fingerprints exist, right? Or are you too
dumb to think that far ahead while trying to frame me?"
For a split second, Olivia froze.
Then—quick as lightning—she snatched the phone from Jack’s hand.
"No, Dad," she said, her voice trembling. "Just… just kick her out. I don’t
want to see her anymore."
"Olivia, no," Jessica protested. "She just tried to kill you! This is serious!
We can’t let it go."
"Mom, I don’t want to bother with it," Olivia said softly, playing the
innocent victim. "She lived with Sawyer for years. I don’t want to upset him
any more than he already is about me leaving him three years ago."
Jessica’s rage wavered at her daughter’s innocent words, glancing at Jack.
Olivia turned to Ellie, her expression shifting into cold, merciless
arrogance. "Get out of my house. Right now. Or I’ll make sure you rot in
jail for the rest of your miserable life."
Ellie looked at Jack and Jessica. They both seemed like decent, conscious
people—but when it came to Olivia, they were blind. No matter what Ellie
said, they’d believe only Olivia.
So she didn’t say a word.
Burning with rage and disappointment, she turned and stormed out of the
house.
The moment she was gone, Olivia turned to her parents, cradling her
bleeding hand.
"I'm going to get this stitched and treated, Dad. I'll ask the driver to take me
to the hospital."
"I’ll come with you," Jack offered, but Olivia shook her head.
"It's just a small cut, Dad. I'll be back soon," she reassured him before
hurriedly leaving the house.
Instead of heading to the car, she slipped into a blind spot outside the house,
pulling out her phone and dialing a number.
Her voice was ice-cold.
"Ellie just left my house. She's on the road. Find her and kill her today—
any way possible. This is your only chance to fix this and get it done."
A few minutes later, as Ellie crossed the main road near Olivia’s house,
heading toward the bus stop, a car came rushing toward her at full speed
and slammed into her.
The impact was brutal.
Ellie’s body flew into the air before crashing onto the hard pavement, her
head slamming against the ground with a sickening thud.
A frantic scream tore through the air.
“Ellie!”
Sawyer, who had been rushing to Olivia’s house in search of Ellie, had just
stepped out of his car when he witnessed the brutal impact. His heart
stopped.
The car that had hit Ellie screeched to a halt. Then, as if to finish the job, it
began reversing—heading straight for her limp body, ready to crush her
beneath its tires.
Sawyer’s blood ran cold.
“STOP!” he roared, sprinting toward her.
Whether it was his voice or his sudden desperate sprint toward Ellie,
something spooked the driver. Instead of running Ellie over, the car swerved
and sped off, disappearing down the road.
Sawyer barely noticed. His entire world narrowed to the sight of Ellie lying
motionless on the ground.
He fell to his knees beside Ellie, his hands trembling as he reached for her.
Blood trickled from a gash on her forehead, and her body lay motionless.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out everything except the
ragged, barely-there sound of her breaths.
“Ellie! Ellie, can you hear me?” He cupped her face, his own panic
reflected in her barely open eyes.
Her breaths were faint. Shallow. As if she was already slipping away.
“No. No, no, no—stay with me.” His fingers fumbled for his phone, dialing
emergency services with hands that wouldn’t stop shaking.
The wait for the ambulance felt endless. Time stretched and collapsed all at
once, everything blurred together—too fast, yet agonizingly slow. One
moment, he was holding Ellie in his arms, trying to keep her conscious. The
next, she was being rushed into an ambulance, and he was right there with
her.
The thought of losing her—of watching her slip away like Olivia once had
—sent ice through his veins. The mere possibility made his vision darken,
his chest tighten until he could barely breathe. He clutched Ellie’s cold hand
between his palms, his pulse hammering as he waited for the ambulance to
reach the hospital.
Hours passed in agonizing silence. Ellie had been taken into surgery. The
doctor’s words kept replaying in his head.
“She might not make it.”
It was as if someone had reached inside him and ripped his soul apart.
Sawyer didn’t move. He didn’t react. He just sat there, gripped by the same
suffocating fear he’d felt years ago—when he had lost Olivia. All Sawyer
could see was darkness. Memories threatened to drown him.
But this wasn’t Olivia.
This was Ellie.
So why did the pain feel exactly the same?
The way he had been informed about Olivia’s burned body all those years
ago… the same suffocating weight crushed his chest now.
He couldn't breathe.
Time blurred. People came and went. But he didn’t move until, at last, the
doctor emerged.
Sawyer shot to his feet at once.
"She’s stable," the doctor informed him. "She has injuries, but we’ve treated
all the critical ones. She should be fine."
Sawyer’s legs nearly gave out.
If it weren’t for Henry catching him at the last second, he would’ve
collapsed right there.
Sawyer slumped back against the wall, exhaling sharply. For the first time
in hours, he allowed himself to breathe.
As he steadied himself, Henry approached him with a reassuring voice.
"Mr. Stark, Miss Ellie will be moved to a normal ward soon. Don’t worry—
she’s much better now."
Sawyer nodded, rubbing his face before finally opening his bloodshot eyes.
Then, as if a thought suddenly struck him, he turned to Henry.
"Henry… what happened to Tony? Is he okay?" His voice was hoarse.
"Ellie will worry about him when she wakes up. I don’t want her to worry
about anything. Not a damn thing." His voice held an edge of desperation,
as if he was clutching at something slipping through his fingers, something
he refused to lose again.
"I’ll find out right away, Mr. Stark," Henry said before stepping away.
Minutes later, he returned.
“Mr. Stark,” Henry said carefully. “There’s something important you need
to know about Mr. Tony.”
Sawyer’s brows furrowed in concern. His muscles tensed. "He’s not dead
—"
"No, Mr. Stark," Henry quickly assured him. "He’s alive."
Sawyer exhaled in relief. The tightness in his forehead eased slightly, but
his expression remained grim. "Then what is it?"
Henry handed him a file. "Mr. Stark, Mr. Tony recently suffered a stroke,
and Miss Ellie paid for his treatment."
"And?"
"Sir, the stroke happened recently, but Mr. Tony was in an accident a couple
of years ago. That accident left him in a coma."
Sawyer’s head snapped up, his eyes widening in shock.
“What?”
Henry handed Sawyer a file. "For the past three years, Ms. Ellie has been
paying Mr. Tony’s bills and covering all his medical expenses. I checked the
records, and they match the cards you gave her. Every dollar you gave her
for spending was used for his treatment to keep him alive."
Sawyer's grip tightened on the file.
“There’s something else, sir.”
Sawyer’s stomach twisted.
Henry’s voice was grim. “A large portion of the money is unaccounted for.”
Sawyer's brows furrowed as he flipped through the pages. “Unaccounted
for?” His voice dropped, dangerously sharp.
Henry nodded. “It’s been going to loan sharks.”
Sawyer shot to his feet, his chair scraping against the floor. His expression
darkened. "Loan sharks?" His voice was sharp, filled with disbelief.
Henry gave a solemn nod.
His eyes burned with fury as he ran a hand through his hair, pacing like a
caged beast. He muttered a curse under his breath before snapping, “Ellie
Madden!”
Henry took a careful step back.
Sawyer’s fists clenched. "How many damn secrets is this woman hiding
from me? I don’t know a single thing about her life! Not even that she was
adopted by a man who’s been in a coma for years, and she’s been paying for
his treatment all this time—alone—without ever asking me for help? Is she
out of her fucking mind?" His voice rose with each word, his frustration
boiling over. "And now there are loan sharks involved? What the fuck?!"
He turned back to Henry, his voice a snarl. "Tell me it’s for something
ridiculous, like she went on a shopping spree, blew it at a bar, or bet it all on
a fucking lottery ticket. Because I swear, if this woman needed money for
something serious and didn’t come to me—when I make goddamn billions
every year—I’m going to lose my fucking mind.”
Henry hesitated before answering, “It was for plastic surgery, Mr. Stark.”
Sawyer froze.
Henry cleared his throat and continued carefully. "The records go back
three years. Ms. Ellie was severely burned in a fire. Mr. Tony found her and
took her to the hospital, but he didn’t have enough funds to cover her
treatment. So he took out loans. Just as Miss Ellie was almost recovered, he
got into a car accident that put him in a coma. Since then, she’s been paying
off his medical bills and the loans.”
Sawyer clenched his eyes shut, tilting his head back as he let out a slow
breath. His chest tightened painfully. Words failed him. His fingers dug into
the file as he clenched his jaw so tight it hurt. His vision blurred from pure,
unfiltered rage and something he couldn’t even name.
"This is fucking ridiculous," he muttered, voice low and furious. Then, his
anger snapped. "This woman is out of her damn mind!"
Henry flinched at the sudden outburst.
Sawyer exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disbelief.
“This woman—” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration lacing his
voice. “I make so much money, and instead of asking me for help, she
spends every damn penny I give her—money meant for her to enjoy, to live
comfortably—on debts?!”
His jaw clenched, eyes darkening.
“Without telling me? Without asking for help?” His voice dropped,
dangerously low.
Henry blinked, then cautiously said, “Uh… Mr. Stark, you’re angry because
Miss Ellie didn’t let you pay off her debts and use the money you gave her
for fun instead?"
"Or what?!" Sawyer snapped. "What the fuck is my money for if not for my
girlfriend? Does she think I’m going to take it to my fucking grave?"
Henry struggled to suppress a chuckle, quickly lowering his head. ‘Here I
was, worried that Mr. Stark would be furious about his money being given
away without his knowledge, maybe even demand that Ms. Ellie pay it
back. Instead, he’s pissed because she didn’t make him pay, and didn’t use
his money to spoil herself.’
“What the hell are you laughing at?” Sawyer barked, snatching the tablet
from Henry’s hands.
“Nothing, Mr. Stark.” Henry coughed, quickly straightening his expression.
Sawyer exhaled harshly. “Go. Pay off every single goddamn cent of those
loans. Settle Tony’s hospital bills. Move him to a VIP suite, bring in the best
specialists, and do whatever it takes to get him out of that coma.” He fixed
Henry with a sharp glare. “And don’t tell Ellie a damn thing. If she asks,
make up some bullshit about a secret donation fund for coma patients.”
Henry nodded, his lips twitching. ‘For a man who pretends to be cold and
ruthless, Mr. Stark is completely and hopelessly in love with Ms. Ellie.'
Sawyer ran a hand down his face, his breathing steadying. But just as he
began to settle, something clicked in his mind. His eyes snapped back to
Henry.
“You said Ellie was burned three years ago?”
Henry glanced at the file and frowned. “Yes, Mr. Stark. But…” His voice
trailed off, surprise flickering in his eyes.
“But what?” Sawyer pressed.
Henry lifted his gaze. “She was burned on the same day as Ms. Olivia.”
Sawyer stiffened. Their eyes met, the same suspicion creeping into both
their minds.
Was it just a coincidence?

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 CHAPTER 21 OPTIONS
He yanked the file from Henry’s hands and scanned the details. The records
confirmed it—Ellie had suffered severe burns and underwent reconstructive
surgery. Now, she had fully recovered. There was nothing else mentioned.
Except…
Something didn’t add up.
It stated that Tony had adopted her three years ago, yet there was no record
of her identity before that.
Sawyer’s grip tightened. “Where’s the information about her life before
that?”
Henry’s frown deepened. "According to the doctors, Ms. Ellie lost her
memories when Mr. Tony found her. There’s no record of her past before
that."
Sawyer’s chest tightened, a dull ache spreading through him. His fingers
pressed against his heart as an unfamiliar panic clawed at his ribs. His heart
pounded with something unexplainable.
His gaze hardened as he looked at Henry.
“Find out everything,” he ordered, “I want to know who she was before that
fire.”
Henry nodded, taking the file back and heading out.
Sawyer turned around, his heart pounding. The more he thought about
everything Ellie had endured in just three years, the more a deep,
unshakable need to shield her and give her everything he had consumed
him.
He hadn't realized she had suffered this much. And in all that time, he had
said the most ruthless things to her—words that now made his stomach
churn with guilt. The overwhelming pain of it settled in his chest, refusing
to fade.
Inside the hospital room, Ellie stirred in her unconsciousness, shifting onto
her back. Behind her closed eyelids, a distant memory played—one buried
so deep, she hadn't even realized it was still there.
A boy in striped green pajamas ran through a sunlit garden, chasing after a
laughing little girl.
"Olivia, don't run! I want to be with you!" the boy called out, his voice
breathless but determined.
She giggled, spinning around just as he caught her, his small hands gripping
her arms firmly.
"Olivia," he scolded, frowning. "Don't run away."
"Okay." The little girl nodded, grinning. "I won’t."
The boy squinted at her suspiciously.
"Don't look at me like that, Sawyer," Olivia huffed, crossing her arms.
His frown deepened before softening into an affectionate smile. Olivia was
his first crush—his favorite person in the world.
"Olivia—"
"Don't look at me like that either!"
Sawyer’s smile dropped into a frown.
At that moment, a pair of hands grabbed Olivia from behind and yanked her
away.
"Jenny!" Sawyer snapped, stepping in front of them, blocking the way.
"I’m taking Olivia," the young girl declared defiantly, hugging Olivia
tightly.
Sawyer frowned, "I want to be with her! You stayed at her house last night!"
"So what?" Jenny huffed, defiant. "I'm going to marry Olivia when I grow
up. I'm older than you, so I'll marry her first!"
Sawyer’s eyes filled with tears at once. His loud wailing startled Jenny,
making her let go of Olivia in alarm. She shot him a panicked glare. "I'm
not changing my mind!" she hissed before bolting away.
Olivia watched Jenny disappear, then turned to Sawyer, who was furiously
wiping away his thick tears.
"Don't worry," he sniffled. "I won't let her."
Olivia grinned. "Crybaby."
"Hey!" Sawyer snapped. Then, grabbing Olivia’s hand, he declared, "Don't
run away again! I have something for you. I went out with Dad yesterday
and bought you a gift. If you don't run, I'll give it to you."
“Really?” Olivia’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Seeing her smile, Sawyer felt even more eager. He nodded. “If you stay
with me instead of Jenny all day, I’ll bring you more gifts tomorrow. A
thousand more gifts!”
"Okay," Olivia agreed, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
Sawyer clenched his eyes shut, like a puppy basking in attention.
"Let go of my hand now," she added with a chuckle.
Sawyer eyed her warily, his fingers tightening. "You won't run?"
"I won't," she promised, nodding.
His expression relaxed, and he finally released her hand.
The next second, Olivia bolted.
"Olivia!" the boy groaned in frustration, chasing after her again.
She giggled, dashing inside the house with Sawyer on her heels. But the
moment she stepped into the hall, her foot caught on something—
She tripped. Fell hard.
And suddenly—she wasn't a little girl anymore.
Instead, she lay trembling on the ground, engulfed in flames, her skin
searing as fire burned through her.
"No!" she screamed, her body convulsing. "It hurts!"
The pain was unbearable. Agonizing. Every breath she took felt like knives
slicing through her lungs.
"Ellie?"
A voice broke through the flames.
Someone was shaking her.
"Ellie! Wake up!"
Her eyes snapped open, wild and panicked. She was shivering, gasping for
breath.
Sawyer sat in front of her, his face etched with concern.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Nightmare?"
Ellie shot upright, her skin ice-cold, her entire body trembling, the pain
from the dream still vivid, lingering on her skin as if it had really happened.
"I'm here," Sawyer murmured gently, reaching out to touch her face.
"You're okay. You’re alright."
His soft voice grounded her, pulling her out of the nightmare’s grip. Her
breath came out shaky as she stared at him, reality settling in.
Then, suddenly, her expression turned urgent.
"Sawyer, the girl right now... she’s not the real Olivia," she blurted out.
"You have to believe me. Yesterday, when I went to her house, she attacked
me. That girl—she's someone else!"
Sawyer studied her intently, his gaze unreadable.
Then, to her surprise, he smiled.
"Ellie Madden, I'm impressed," he mused, a smirk playing on his lips. "You
actually told me about this? I thought you'd be too pissed to warn me and
would just let me rot while that fake Olivia took advantage of me." He
shook his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Honestly, I’m shocked
you told me instead of just keeping it to yourself."
Ellie’s eyes narrowed. Quickly clearing her throat, she crossed her arms and
threw him an arrogant look.
"I only told you because I wanted to see the look on your face when you act
like a clueless fool defending your so-called goddess!" She huffed. "So
when you finally realize I was right, you’ll look even more like an idiot
knowing I figured it out first!"
She stuck out her tongue at him, irritated.
Without warning, he reached out, pinching her cheek and pulling her close.
"You’re really annoying, you know that?" he hissed, his breath warm
against her face as he leaned in.
Ellie stilled, staring at him up close.
"Do you see me angry right now?" he asked, voice low.
She scrutinized his expression.
No fury. No frustration.
She had expected him to lash out, call her jealous, crazy, and accuse her of
being petty—but there was none of that.
He just looked at her calmly.
Then, she realised and her mouth dropped open in disbelief, "You already
knew about this?! That’s why you’re not angry?"
Sawyer nodded. "Yes, but also because I have no feelings for her." His hand
softened on her face as he met her gaze. Then, in a whisper against her lips,
he said, "You're the one I love."
Before she could take another breath, his lips crashed against hers, hot and
demanding. His tongue traced the seam of her lips before pushing inside,
claiming every inch of her mouth with a fierce, unrelenting hunger.
He tasted like danger and dominance, a mix of raw desire and something
darker—something that sent a shiver down her spine. His teeth grazed her
lower lip before he sucked it between his lips, tugging just enough to make
her whimper.
His hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left
between them. His kiss deepened, his tongue stroking hers in a slow dance
that left her breathless, trembling, and completely at his mercy.
By the time he pulled back, Ellie was breathless, gripping his shoulders to
steady herself. Her heart pounded as she stared at him, her expression
clouded with confusion.
"Sawyer, you don’t love me," she said, shaking her head. "You’ve always
been in love with Olivia."
But he cut her off, his voice calm, his thumb gently brushing her cheek as
he gazed at her with an intensity that made her heart pound.
"At first, you were just someone my mom sent over to distract me from
Olivia," he admitted. "But Ellie…" His voice wavered slightly, emotion
thickening every word. "The moment I saw you get hit by that car, I didn’t
want to live anymore either."
Her breath hitched as his eyes bored into hers—dark, intense, filled with
something that terrified her.
"I love you," he said, his voice laced with desperation. "There’s nothing in
the world that will change that. I can’t imagine a life without you in it.” He
took a deep breath, his grip on her tightening. “It happened suddenly. I
don’t know when or how, but the second you were hurt, I knew—if
something happened to you, my life would be over. There would be nothing
left in this world that would make me happy ever again. And that feeling…
it was fucking terrifying.”
His fingers curled around her jaw, pulling her closer as his lips brushed
against hers. "Ellie Madden, I’m in love with you."
His kiss this time was different—soft, lingering. He teased her with gentle
pecks, slow and wet, before his tongue traced her lips in featherlight
strokes. Then, just as she parted her lips for air, he deepened it, sucking on
her lower lip with a hunger so intense it sent a shiver down her spine.
By the time he pulled back, her lips were swollen, her breath uneven, and
her entire body tingling from the lingering heat of his touch.
Still, she gripped his hand and pushed it away, her heart pounding
erratically.
"Who knows if you even mean what you're saying," She huffed, her voice
edged with suspicion. "Right now, you’ll say all this, but tomorrow, you’ll
change your mind. And I’ll be the idiot who fell for it."
Sawyer narrowed his eyes. "You don’t believe me?"
"Nope," she said defiantly, folding her arms.
Without a second thought, he grabbed her arm and pulled her off the bed.
"Hey! What—where are we going?" she protested, struggling against his
grip.
"To get married."
Ellie froze.
Sawyer turned to her, his expression dead serious. "Let’s get married right
now. I’ll make you my wife. That way, you won’t have a choice but to
believe me."
Ellie froze, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes. “What?! Who wants to
marry you?” Snatching her hand back, she held her wrist protectively,
giving him a wary side-eye. Then, tilting her chin up, she smirked.
"Besides, I even have a supermodel who wants to date me. I have options,
you know. I need to choose wisely."
At the mention of Jeremy, Sawyer’s expression darkened. His jaw clenched,
his entire demeanor shifting.
"I’m much better looking," he growled. "Are you blind?"
Ellie gasped, pointing a finger at him. "See?! Jeremy is nicer to me! He’d
never say something this mean to me.”
“I didn’t say anything mean to you!” Sawyer snapped.
“I don’t care.” Ellie turned her head away, closing her eyes like a spoiled
child throwing a tantrum. “I’m not marrying you. Jeremy is nice, good-
looking, and rich, too.”
Sawyer stepped right in front of her and, without a second thought, pulled
out his wallet, credit cards, and phone, shoving them into her hands.
“I have more money!” he declared. “Here. All of this. Everything I have is
yours.”
Ellie’s fingers instinctively tightened around the items. A smile twitched at
her lips, but she bit it back, pretending to be unimpressed.
It was tempting. Too tempting.
She looked up at him, meeting his intense gaze. Then, clearing her throat,
she tried to look hesitant.
"Alright then…" She paused for effect, tapping her fingers thoughtfully
against the cards. “I’ll think about it.”
***
Olivia sat on the couch, her fingers twisting together in her lap. Jessica
paced back and forth, tension radiating off her in waves. Jack sat across
from Olivia, his face rigid with disapproval.
"I don't get it," Jessica seethed, stopping abruptly. "When did you learn to
lie like this? What was even the point?" She turned, marching toward
Olivia, her voice rising. "What did Ellie ever do to you? Why would you
frame that girl for attacking you?"
"I didn’t frame her!" Olivia protested pitifully. "She attacked me first—I
swear! She just lunged at me! I was just defending myself."
Jessica pressed her fingers to her forehead, her patience wearing thin. "Even
now, when everything has come to light, you’re still lying?"
"I'm not lying!" Olivia cried, turning to Jack. She grabbed his hand
desperately. "Dad, you believe me, right? I’m telling the truth!"
Jack’s face hardened as he pried Olivia’s hand off his. "We’ve already seen
the footage, Olivia," he said calmly. "We know you attacked her first. And
when we walked in, you pretended she was the one who came after you."
Olivia froze. The fake tears dried up instantly as she looked between them,
her eyes cautious. "You never believed me?" she whispered, betrayal in her
voice.
Jessica let out a bitter laugh. "We believed you blindly, Olivia!" Her voice
shook with anger. "We’re your parents! We were so worried about your
safety that we were ready to use that footage as evidence, to get a
restraining order against Ellie, to make sure she never came near you again!
But you—" she exhaled sharply, her hands shaking with fury. "You crossed
every line! For what? Just because she was with Sawyer all these years?"
"She stole him from me!" Olivia burst out, her voice trembling with anger.
"I was just making sure she never comes back or tries taking anything else
away from me!"
Jessica inhaled sharply, taking a step back as realization dawned. "Is that
what this is about?" she whispered, more to herself. Tears welled in her eyes
again as she played her final card. "Mom, Dad, I love Sawyer so much, but
he won’t even see me anymore! I was just confused for a minute—that’s
why I did it." Her cries grew louder, as if she could drown out their
disappointment with her own misery.
Jack took a deep breath, shaking his head. Silence settled in the room like a
heavy fog before he finally spoke.
"Olivia, don’t forget that it was you who insisted on leaving and going
overseas. We warned you. We told you over and over to think it through
before you left. You knew Sawyer was at his lowest point, but you still left."
His voice was steely. "And now you expect him to take you back like
nothing happened? Can you really be this naïve?"
"So what?!" Olivia snapped, her tears vanishing in an instant. "It was just a
little vacation! Sawyer and I are childhood sweethearts. I’m the one he’s
supposed to be with, not Ellie! She stole my place. It’s me he loves madly,
not that bitch!"
Jessica’s stomach twisted at the delusion in Olivia’s eyes. It was like Olivia
wasn’t even there anymore. The girl in front of her had lost all sense of
reality.
It was like she was looking at a stranger.
Jessica’s lips parted, but for a moment, no words came out. Then, slowly,
she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Tell me one thing honestly."
She stepped closer. "Do you have anything to do with Ellie’s accident that
day after she left our house?"
The color drained from Olivia’s face. Her body tensed, her eyes flickering
with alarm.
When she didn’t answer, Jessica stepped closer. Her voice was restrained,
but the warning in her tone was clear.
"Olivia, the police are already investigating. Sawyer has put the best people
on the case. Everything is moving fast. So, for the love of God, tell me—"
her voice dropped into something almost pleading, "—do you have
anything to do with it?"
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
Olivia stared at Jessica, then muttered under her breath, "I might have
something to do with it."
Jessica stumbled back, her hand flying to her chest as a sharp gasp left her
lips. Her eyes clenched shut in despair. She turned away, unable to look at
Olivia anymore.
Jack rose from his seat and walked to his wife. Their gazes met—shared
sadness passing between them.
Olivia shot to her feet. "But so what? Dad, you’ll take care of it, right?"
Jack spun around, his voice roaring through the room. "Are you out of your
damn mind?!" His fury barely contained, his chest heaved as he spoke
through gritted teeth. "We love you—but this? This is how you behave
now? You try to kill someone and expect us to cover it up?"
"So what?! You’re my parents!" Olivia snapped back. "Isn’t it your
responsibility? It was just a stupid accident. It’s not like she’s dead yet."
The slap came so fast Olivia didn’t see it coming.
Jessica’s hand trembled as it fell to her side, her chest rising and falling
sharply. "I thought you’d at least feel ashamed. That you’d regret what you
did. But you don’t even care, do you? What happened to you, Olivia? What
have you turned into?"
Olivia clutched her cheek, glaring at them, seething with resentment.
"We’re a rich family!" she spat. "You both need to stop acting like we can’t
get rid of small problems like this."
Jack’s patience finally snapped. "Small problem?!" he roared. "Attempting
murder is a small problem to you?! Do you even understand what will
happen if this gets out? If people find out what you did? Do you have any
idea what will happen to this family? To my business? To your life and
reputation, Olivia?"
Olivia crossed her arms, her jaw set stubbornly. "Dad, you don’t have to
worry about it anymore," she said coolly. "I’ll take care of it."
Jack’s blood ran cold. "What the hell does that mean?"
"You promised you’d hand the company over to me when I got back,
right?" Olivia said. "You told me I’d take over as CEO when I returned. It’s
time for you to fulfill your promise."
Jack's face darkened. "Not anymore." His voice was final. "I’m not handing
over my business to you. Look at the state of you! Look at what you’ve
become."
"What do you mean?" Olivia’s voice trembled with anger, her breathing
heavy. Her eyes flickered to the knife on the table before she clenched her
fists, trying to rein in her emotions.
"You promised me," she gritted out. "You told me that once I came back,
I’d be in charge of the business. So why are you going back on your word
now? Just because I tried to get that pathetic beggar out of my life?” Her
tone turned mocking. "You're so stupid! We have money! Just get rid of the
accusation or throw someone else in jail. It’s simple for rich people—why
are you acting like it’s the end of the damn world?"
"Enough!" Jessica roared, her fury burning in her eyes. She took a sharp
breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Get out of my house. Right
now." Her voice shook with finality. "You have nothing to do with us
anymore."
"What?!" Olivia’s eyes widened in horror. Fear curled in her gut. She had
worked too hard, taken too much, to let it all slip away now. Everything she
had—this luxury, this life—was hers. She wasn't about to let it go.
"Get. Out." Jessica’s voice was steel. "We won’t accept a murderer as our
daughter. If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police and telling them
everything."

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 22 A
BETRAYAL
Olivia’s composure cracked. Her gaze darted toward the knife again.
Without thinking, she took a step toward it, but just as her fingers twitched,
reaching for the handle, a voice cut through the tension.
"Mrs. Whitlock," Sawyer stepped into the room. He had been listening to
their conversation from the hallway, waiting for the right moment. Just as
he saw Olivia reaching for the knife, he moved swiftly. His long strides
brought him beside her in an instant.
"It’s alright," he said smoothly, striding toward them. "I’ve taken care of
everything."
Jessica stiffened. "What are you talking about?"
Olivia froze for a second, then quickly withdrew her hand, masking her
unease. Sawyer wrapped an arm around her shoulder and spoke lightly.
"Jack, Jessica, let’s all calm down."
Jessica stared at him in disbelief. "Sawyer, this isn’t a small matter—"
"It’s fine," he interrupted. "I’ll handle it. Trust me."
Jessica's jaw tightened. "No," she said firmly. "She lives under my roof, and
I will not allow a murderer in my house. Get her out. Now."
Sawyer turned to Olivia with a practiced smile. "Go out for a bit, okay?" He
pulled a black card from his pocket and slipped it into her hand. "Do some
shopping. Clear your head. Let me talk to Jessica and Jack. Don’t worry
about anything."
Olivia’s expression softened. "I knew you still loved me," she whispered.
"You don’t care about Ellie, do you?"
Sawyer shook his head. "Obviously not. She was just a woman I picked up
off the street. You’re the one I’ve spent my life with. How could you think
I’d ever choose her over you?"
A victorious smile spread across Olivia’s lips as she turned to Jack and
Jessica. "See? This is love. You two should learn from it. I’m your only
daughter. How could you even think of throwing me out?"
Jack's fists clenched, but before he could explode, Sawyer gently pushed
Olivia toward the door. "Go on," he urged. "Let me handle things."
"Alright then." Olivia smirked and walked out, confidence dripping from
her posture.
As soon as the door shut behind her, Jessica whirled on Sawyer, fury
blazing in her eyes. "You’ve disappointed me, Sawyer," she spat. "How
could you even think of letting this go?"
"One minute, Mrs. Whitlock," Sawyer said quickly, holding up a hand to
quiet her. He turned to the maid. "Karen."
Karen stepped forward.
"Make sure Olivia gets in her car and leaves. Then lock the doors."
Karen nodded and disappeared.
The moment they were alone, Sawyer turned back to Jessica and Jack,
gripping their arms and steering them toward the couch. "We need to talk.
Now."
Jessica and Jack exchanged a look, confused.
Sawyer took a steadying breath, lowering himself onto his knees in front of
them. His voice was low but urgent. "Listen to me carefully—and keep an
open mind."
Jessica’s heart pounded in her chest. "What’s going on?"
Sawyer didn’t waste time. He knelt on the floor in front of them, his voice
grave. "That’s not Olivia."
Jessica’s breath caught. "What?"
Jack frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Sawyer reached into his jacket and pulled out a file, handing it to them. "I
did a DNA test. She’s not your daughter. She’s someone else. Possibly that
friend Olivia had—the one who was always jealous of her. Do you
remember Kelly Jones?"
Jessica’s face paled as realization dawned. Jack’s hands tightened around
the file. As Sawyer explained further, Jack and Jessica’s expressions
darkened, grief mixing with rage.
"Where is our Olivia then?" Jessica’s voice broke as she grabbed Sawyer’s
hands in desperation. "My Olivia. Where’s my daughter?"
Sawyer’s face was pained as he swallowed hard. His voice came out hoarse.
"She… she probably died that day in the fire, Mrs. Whitlock."
The room turned deathly silent. Then—
Jessica let out a shattered cry, her body trembling as she covered her face.
Jack’s breathing turned ragged, his hands shaking at his sides.
Deep down, a part of them had always known. The Olivia they had brought
home had never been the same person as their daughter.
They had suspected, but never thought of confirming it, assuming Olivia
was just traumatized and will recover soon. And now, with Sawyer’s words,
their world came crashing down.
Jack’s hands shook as he suddenly shot to his feet. His face twisted in rage,
his entire body trembling.
"I’m going to kill her," he growled. "She stole our daughter’s life—she
must have had something to do with Olivia’s death! I’ll make her confess!"
He turned toward the door, ready to storm out, but Sawyer caught his arm,
stopping him in his tracks.
"Jack," Sawyer said sharply. "Think. We need to do this the right way."
Jack’s fists clenched, but the look in Sawyer’s eyes made him pause.
Because whatever Sawyer had planned… it wasn’t going to be mercy.
"Mr. Whitlock, I doubt it too. That's why I came here today," Sawyer said.
"You should check your finances. You gave the fake Olivia control over the
company for a while. I suspect there are serious discrepancies. She must
have done something." His expression darkened. "Meanwhile, I'm gathering
all the evidence we need to make sure she pays for what she’s done. Once
her involvement is confirmed, she won’t just walk away."
Jack’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. Jessica, still shaken, wiped
away her tears, her breathing uneven.
Sawyer's voice remained calm but carried an edge of steel. "And before she
goes to jail, you and I will have a little chat with her, don’t worry. She won't
get away with this."
Jack exhaled sharply, his fury barely contained. Jessica clutched her
trembling hands together.
"Please make sure you don’t alert Kelly.” Sawyer continued, his tone
lowering. "You both need to act normal around her. Don’t let her suspect
anything. Let her believe things are fine, and endure her presence without
making her doubt you. If she catches on, she might run. Give me a couple
of days, and we’ll have everything we need to take her down."
Jessica sniffled and nodded. "We’ll do it, Sawyer." Her voice was steadier
now, filled with quiet grief. She then stood up, grasping his hands tightly.
"Sawyer, make sure she pays for hurting our Olivia."
Sawyer’s chest tightened, a crushing weight settling over him.
Memories of Olivia flooded his mind—the girl who had been his whole
world since childhood. Her laughter, the way she’d cling to his arm, her
endless dreams about their future together.
Now, all of it was gone. Stolen.
His heart twisted painfully, grief clawing at his throat—Olivia was dead.
The person he had once promised to protect, to cherish, was lost forever,
and he hadn’t even known. He had failed her. The ache in his chest
deepened, an unbearable hollowness swallowing him whole.
"I will," he promised. "No matter what, I will."
***
Ellie stirred awake in the morning, shifting slightly—only to find herself
completely trapped in the small hospital bed. A strong arm was locked
around her waist, holding her in place. She let out a small groan and tried to
wriggle free, but the grip tightened.
Turning her head, she froze. Sawyer.
He was fast asleep, his hold on her like a death grip. She turned to her side,
her fingers brushing against his face with utter tenderness. Her gaze
lingered on his features, tracing every line, every breath, as if memorizing
him.
There weren’t many people who looked this good while sleeping, but
Sawyer was definitely one of them—handsome, his jawline sharp, features
sculpted to perfection, dark brows resting over closed eyes, and lips that
tempted her far more than she wanted to admit.
Everything about him was so alluring that she could barely breathe.
Before she knew it, her fingers had a mind of their own, slowly trailing over
his face. A slow glide over his brow, his nose, his lips…then lower, down
his neck, skimming lightly over his skin. Her touch slipped and glided over
his skin, reveling in the warmth beneath her fingertips.
The moment his eyes stirred, she snatched her hand back and shut her eyes
tightly, pretending to be asleep.
Sawyer’s lips curved into a smirk. He had already felt her touch, so when
she recoiled and feigned sleep, amusement flickered in his gaze.
At once, he leaned down and captured her lips in a punishingly rough kiss.
Ellie’s eyes flew open in shock, but he didn’t let her regain control. He
shifted over her, pressing her into the small bed. It wasn’t big enough for
the both of them, but it was enough for him to pin her beneath him,
comfortably claiming the space he needed—and that was all that mattered.
His lips dominated hers, his tongue teasing, demanding, until she was
gasping against him. Then, just as roughly, he moved to her neck, trailing
hot, open-mouthed kisses over her skin before sinking his teeth in.
Ellie shivered, her body reacting helplessly as the sensation shot through
her. Soft and rough at the same time, his lips left scorching marks in their
wake. Her breathing quickened, her body betraying her entirely.
Within minutes, her neck was covered in red bites, and she couldn’t even
resist—because, God, they felt too good. The contrast between the softness
of his lips and the roughness of his touch made her breath hitch, made her
body tense with something that coiled low in her stomach.
"Sawyer…" she rasped after what felt like an eternity. "It’s morning. Let
go."
His mouth hovered over her pulse, his breath warm against her skin.
"Where do you want to go?" he murmured, inhaling deeply as if intoxicated
by her scent.
Before she could answer, he kissed her again. And again. Each one more
insistent, more possessive, as if he was trying to etch himself into her soul.
A sharp knock at the door made them both freeze.
Sawyer stilled but didn’t move away. He had locked the door before falling
asleep with her last night. When no further sound came, he simply ignored
it, diving back in, his lips reclaiming her throat, his pace growing rougher,
more demanding, as if he was determined to take everything her body had
to offer.
Another knock. This time, louder.
"Ms. Ellie? Are you alright?"
Ada’s voice.
Ellie’s eyes widened as she pushed at Sawyer’s shoulders, but he didn’t
budge, waiting for Ada to leave.
But she didn’t.
"Oh my—should I call a doctor?" Ada's pounding on the door turned
frantic. "Ms. Ellie? Are you awake? Do you need help?"
At this rate, the entire hospital would be outside their door in a minute.
Sawyer let out a low, frustrated breath and reluctantly pulled away.
Ellie scrambled up, wiping her lips with the back of her hand before quickly
adjusting her clothes, tugging her shirt up to hide the fresh bite marks
littering her skin. Then, composing herself, she rushed to the door.
The moment she opened it, Ada’s worried face shifted to one of relief. “Oh,
Ms. Ellie, you’re alright!”
"I’m fine, Ada. I just overslept," Ellie said breathlessly, her body still
trembling slightly.
If she was being honest, she hadn’t wanted to stop. But now, with Ada here,
there was no choice.
Completely oblivious to the thick tension in the room, Ada strutted in,
holding up a lunchbox. When she spotted Sawyer lounging back on the bed,
she beamed. “Oh my, SNS is here too? Good thing I brought extra
breakfast!"
Sawyer, who had been buttoning his shirt, suddenly frowned. He turned to
Ada, his brows furrowing. “What’s SNS, by the way?”
Ada froze.
Her little face turned a shade paler as she stammered, "Uh—sorry, Mr.
Stark! It—it was just a slip of the tongue."
She had grown too used to calling Sawyer ‘SNS’ around Ellie and hadn’t
even realized when it slipped out. Now, she cast a worried glance at Ellie,
silently pleading for help.
Sawyer’s gaze flickered between them, then landed on Ellie. "What’s SNS?
Is that my name?"
Ellie’s heart nearly stopped.
"Oh right! I forgot—I need to go to the bathroom!" she blurted, spinning
around and dashing toward the washroom like her life depended on it.
She shut the door behind her, pressing her forehead against it.
Why was disaster striking when she was stuck in a hospital?! If this monster
found out what she and the maids had been calling him for the past three
years, he’d devour her alive right here!
Hiding was the only option.
When she finally emerged a few minutes later, Ada was arranging breakfast
on the small table. Sawyer was nowhere to be seen.
Ellie exhaled in relief. Crisis averted… for now.
"Where’s Sawyer?" Ellie asked as she gingerly sat down on the couch.
“He just left,” Ada replied, then slowly edged closer to Ellie, her eyes
gleaming with curiosity. “Ms. Ellie, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah?” Ellie smiled, taking a spoonful of the oats Ada had brought.
Ada leaned in, grinning. "What does SNS mean? Is it something romantic?"
Her voice was giddy, practically bouncing with excitement. "Is it something
sweet? Like a cute nickname for Mr. Stark?"
Ellie almost choked on her oats.
Romantic? Sweet?
She set her spoon down, eyes twinkling as she leaned forward, her voice
just as cheerful, matching Ada’s energy.
"Ada," she said, "SNS means… Sawyer. Narcissist. Stark."
She emphasized each word, saying them slowly, savoring the brilliance of
her own creation.
At the same time, Ellie watched as Ada’s sweet face slowly morphed into
one of absolute horror. Her eyes widened, her skin turned pale, and for a
moment, it seemed like she had stopped breathing altogether.
A second later, she let out a dramatic gasp, scrambling back with a hand
over her mouth in pure horror.
"Ms. Ellie!” she cried out, “We’ve been calling Mr. Stark—Sawyer
Narcissist Stark—for three years?!"
Ellie’s shoulders shook as she tried to suppress her laughter, tears gathering
at the corners of her eyes.
"Oh, holy God!" Ada’s face flushed deep red as she struggled to breathe,
practically hyperventilating. "Ms. Ellie, why didn’t you tell me sooner?!
I’ve even called him SNS to his face a few times! If he ever finds out—oh
lordddd—"
Ellie lost it. She threw her head back, laughing so hard she had to cover her
eyes to stop the tears.
"Ms. Ellie, you’re going to get us all fired!" Ada wailed, her hands flailing.
"If Mr. Stark finds out, I’ll be in big trouble!"
"Oh come on! "He’s not going to fire anyone, Ada," Ellie managed between
fits of laughter. "And don’t tell me you disagree with the name. Sawyer
Narcissist Stark. SNS. Isn’t it fitting?"
Ada, still reeling from shock, hesitated—but then, seeing Ellie laughing so
hard, she couldn’t hold back. A chuckle slipped out, then another.
"Hush, Ms. Ellie!" She waved her hands, trying to smother her laughter, but
it was useless. Soon, her eyes watered too, her whole body trembling from
trying to hold it in.
Then—
"Ellie Madden!"
A voice, cold and seething, cut through the air.
Both women jumped, their laughter dying instantly.
Ellie turned her head slowly, dread pooling in her stomach. Over Ada’s
shoulder stood the man of their conversation, glaring at her with narrowed
eyes.
Ada went rigid, her face turning pale once again.
"Ada—" Ellie’s voice trembled as she whispered through clenched teeth,
"Didn’t you say he left?"
Ada, equally horrified, whispered back, "He did. To wash his hands, Ms.
Ellie. Now it seems like he’s back."
"Ada!" Ellie hissed in betrayal.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 23 A LITTLE
JOKE
Sawyer’s gaze flicked between the two of them before stepping forward
with slow, measured steps.
"Out," he said flatly to Ada.
Ada, scrambling, stepped in front of Ellie like a human shield.
"Mr. Stark, it’s alright!" she said with forced cheer. "Just a little joke!"
Sawyer ignored her. He grabbed Ada’s shoulders, turned her around, and
gently but firmly pushed her toward the door.
"I know. Ada. Now get out.”
"Mr. Stark!" Ada resisted, glancing at Ellie in alarm. "Don’t hurt Ms. Ellie!
She’s still young! She—she didn’t know what she was doing!"
"I won’t hurt her," Sawyer assured, his voice dripping with impatience.
"Now, go."
"But, Mr. Stark—"
"ADA. OUT." He pushed her past the threshold and shut the door in one
swift motion.
From the other side, Ada’s muffled voice still carried through. "Mr. Stark!
Don’t take it to heart! Ms. Ellie is just an innocent young girl!"
Sawyer exhaled sharply, clearly irritated, before yanking the door open
again. "Ada. I’m not going to hurt her. Go home. Send lunch. Thank you."
Then, without waiting for a response, he shut the door once more and
turned to Ellie.
Ellie, who had been slowly inching back into the couch, now looked like
she wanted to be swallowed whole. But the moment Sawyer’s gaze locked
onto her, she knew that hope was gone.
Panic surged through her. Without thinking, she jumped to her feet and
bolted toward the washroom.
Bad idea.
She nearly made it—her fingers had just grasped the doorknob—when
Sawyer caught her, yanking her back effortlessly. A startled gasp escaped
her lips as he pulled her out of the washroom and pushed her onto the
couch.
Her back hit the soft surface. Before she could recover, he was on top of
her. One of his hands clamped around her wrists, pinning them above her
head, while the other gripped her jaw firmly, forcing her to meet his burning
gaze.
"You’re pretty cocky, huh?" His voice was low, dangerous. "Calling me
names to my fucking face?"
Ellie swallowed hard.
‘No, Ellie. If you give in now, he’ll use it against you and make your life a
living hell. Get a grip!’
Lifting her chin stubbornly, she forced a smile. "It was just a joke," she said,
feigning innocence. "You wouldn’t take it seriously, would you?"
Sawyer matched her smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Wouldn’t I?" His
grip on her tightened. “After all, I’m a narcissist, aren’t I?"
"No! No, of course not!" She shook her head quickly. "You’re the most
generous man ever. Ada must’ve misunderstood me. I actually meant…
Sawyer Nicest Stark!"
His lips twitched in amusement, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes, they
darkened. "Ellie," he said slowly, voice dropping to a deadly whisper.
"What?" she asked, feigning nonchalance. "It’s just a nickname! Don’t be
such a baby."
"So now I’m a baby too?" he drawled, his voice dark and rough. "Maybe I
should put a baby in you right now—then by next year, you’ll know exactly
what a real one looks like."
Ellie’s breath caught. Her eyes snapped open, a deep blush creeping up her
neck.
"Don’t you dare!" she hissed.
His glare only intensified.
Before she could fight back, he grabbed her waist and hauled her fully onto
the bed, flipping her body effortlessly. She barely had time to gasp before
he grabbed the hem of her oversized t-shirt and yanked it up, dragging it
over her arms and throwing it to the ground.
"Sawyer!" she shrieked, struggling.
"You’ve become too damn spoiled, Ellie Madden," he growled, his voice
dark and dangerous. "Let’s see if you can even remember your own name
when I’m done with you—forget those damn nicknames."
And then his lips crashed over hers
His hands roamed over her body, deliberately tracing the places where she
was most sensitive, where even the slightest touch made her tremble.
A startled gasp left her lips, but he silenced it with his mouth, crashing into
hers with a hunger that sent a shiver down her spine.
His hands gripped her waist, keeping her pressed against him as he
deepened the kiss. His tongue teased, coaxed, and demanded more, and
Ellie couldn’t stop herself from melting into him.
She barely had a second to breathe before his lips left hers and traveled
down her neck, hot and urgent. He kissed, licked, and nipped at the soft
skin, drawing out a sharp inhale from her. The scent of her—sweet and
intoxicating—wrapped around him, making his blood run hotter.
Ellie arched against him, her fingers threading through his hair, tugging him
closer. The low growl he let out sent a thrill through her.
“Sawyer…” Her voice was breathless, a mix of frustration and longing, and
it only made him hungrier.
His hands roamed her curves, his lips finding hers again in a kiss that left
her dizzy. She clung to him, her heart racing as he pressed her deeper into
the couch.
His head lifted, a thin string of saliva connecting their parted lips, carrying
the taste of her. His gaze darkened as it roamed over her exposed skin,
drinking in every inch of her. Then, with a slow touch, he spread his hands
over her full breasts, squeezing them possessively.
He pressed her breasts together, deepening her already generous cleavage.
Just as she took a shaky breath, he bent down, claiming her sensitive buds
with his lips, teeth, and tongue. A moan escaped her before she could stop
it, and her back arched as she instinctively pressed closer.
His mouth claimed her swollen peaks with a feverish hunger. His hands
kneaded and explored, finding the spots that made her gasp, teasing her
mercilessly.
She whimpered, writhing beneath his touch.
A smirk tugged at his lips, his fingers trailing down her sides, grazing the
delicate skin of her waist before teasing the dip of her hip.
Before she could recover, he spun her around, pressing her upper body on
the couch, revealing the soft curve of her ass that was barely covered by
black cotton panties.
His fingers traced up the back of her thigh, slipping between her legs to
brush over the damp heat at her center.
“Sawyer…” she moaned, her voice betraying her resolve to not let him take
control over her.
His fingers moved with expert precision, teasing her over the thin fabric.
“You’re already wet,” he whispered, his breath hot against her neck.
Ellie squeezed her eyes shut, embarrassment flooding her. “Don’t rub me
there,” she pleaded, though her body trembled against him.
Ignoring her weak protest, Sawyer pushed her panties aside, slipping a
single finger into her wet heat.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips. “Sawyer…”
“You want me, Ellie?” His voice was husky, teasing, as he slid deeper,
curling his finger inside her.
“No,” she whimpered, her legs shaking.
His fingers moved in slow, deliberate strokes, drawing out her pleasure.
“Are you sure?”
Pleasure curled deep in her belly. His fingers stroked her most sensitive
spot, pushing her closer and closer to the edge.
“Sawyer, I’m going to… fuck!”
Just as she felt herself about to shatter, he withdrew his hand.
“No!” she cried out, her body trembling with unfulfilled need.
Sawyer smirked at her desperation. “Stay still.”
She watched, dazed, as he gently palmed her breasts, lifting them up. The
added pressure made her gasp, her nipples pebbling from the sensation.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, his gaze hungry as he took in her flushed body.
A muffled moan escaped her as he pinched her nipples, sending shockwaves
of pleasure through her.
"Good girl," Sawyer whispered, his voice a deep murmur against Ellie's ear.
His fingers traced a slow, teasing path along her thigh, his touch featherlight
yet searing against her heated skin. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she felt
something slick slide against her inner thigh, teasing closer to her aching
center.
His mouth descended upon her breast, lips wrapping around the taut peak,
sucking hard while his other hand squeezed the soft mound. Ellie arched
beneath him, the combined sensations making her mind spin.
He lifted his head, piercing eyes locking onto hers with dark amusement.
Her body was shaking, overstimulated yet craving more.
Sawyer’s lips curled into a knowing smirk as he reached for his belt,
unbuckling it, and undressing with an agonizing slowness.
She barely had time to catch her breath before he hooked his hands under
her knees and lifted her effortlessly, spreading her legs wide until her
glistening heat was on full display for him.
Ellie trembled, pleasure pooling in her belly. Her body burned with need,
her head spinning with the intensity of his gaze, the heat of his touch.
His fingers slipped between her legs, rubbing slow, torturous circles around
her swollen clit.
Her breath hitched. God, she needed him. But she wanted him to break first.
Watching her unravel, her body glistening with sweat, Sawyer reached
down, wrapping a fist around his hard, throbbing cock. He stroked himself
lazily, his gaze never leaving her.
He leaned in, the heated tip of his cock brushing against her sensitive clit. A
shockwave of pleasure shot through her, making her legs tremble.
"Mmmh—!" A strangled moan slipped past her lips.
She was so wet that her arousal dripped down her inner thighs, pooling onto
the seat beneath her. Sawyer’s gaze darkened, his breathing heavy as he
rubbed his thick crown against her entrance, teasing, barely pushing in
before pulling away.
Ellie’s body jerked with need. Her fingers curled against the couch.
"Sawyer…"
He smirked, gripping her thighs to spread her open even wider. "Yes."
Ellie clenched her jaw, her pride warring with the desperate ache in her
core. Then—his thumb brushed over her tightest spot, pressing just enough
to make her shudder.
"Oh, God—!" Her whole body convulsed, her thighs quivering.
Sawyer groaned at the sight of her, at how her body trembled, how she was
drenched for him, dripping onto the leather seat. He dragged his hands up
her thighs, savoring every inch of her before his fingers slid between her
folds, feeling the slick, needy heat waiting for him.
Ellie whimpered, her body betraying her. She couldn't take it anymore.
"More." Her voice was a breathless whisper. "Please…"
That single plea shattered his restraint.
"Of course," he rasped, gripping her waist before flipping her onto her
stomach, pressing her forward until her forehead touched the couch.
And then—he sank into her.
Ellie gasped, her nails digging into the seat as he stretched her inch by inch,
filling her to the brim. The delicious burn made her back arch, her legs
trembling.
Sawyer growled low in his throat, his grip tightening on her hips. "Fucking
hell, Ellie." His deep, husky voice sent a shiver down her spine.
He pulled out slowly, letting her feel every thick inch of him leaving her
drenched heat, before slamming back in, forcing a strangled cry from her
lips.
Her body shook.
His next thrust was harder, deeper.
Ellie’s mouth fell open in a silent scream, her vision blurring as he fucked
with ruthless, punishing strokes. The couch seat beneath her was slick with
sweat, her swollen nipples rubbing against it with every thrust.
"Ah… ahhh!" She cried out when he drove even deeper, harder, hungrier.
Sawyer gritted his teeth, his face twisted in agonized pleasure. "You take
me so fucking well," he growled, watching how her body sucked him in,
how her wetness coated him.
His thrusts became faster, rougher. He slammed into her harder, forcing her
body to melt under him.
A deep groan ripped from his throat as he leaned over her, his lips grazing
her ear. "I’m going to fuck you senseless."
She shuddered, gasping, moaning. Her body was burning, tightening, her
orgasm coiling in her belly, ready to snap.
Sawyer dragged his teeth along her shoulder before biting down, a growl
reverberating through his chest.
Ellie’s body convulsed, shattered, broke apart. Her orgasm crashed through
her in waves, her vision going white as she let out a strangled, broken cry.
Sawyer groaned into her skin, his hands gripping her tighter as he thrust
deep, burying himself inside her, claiming every inch of her body.
"Fuck, Ellie!"
And then he followed her into the abyss.
***
Sawyer’s eyes cracked open with a heavy sigh. He had dozed off in the
chair while working, keeping watch over Ellie as she slept through the day.
Since the hospital had discharged her earlier, he had stayed home, unwilling
to leave her side. But at some point, exhaustion caught up to him, and he
had fallen asleep without realizing it.
Now, the clock read six in the evening.
Now, as he woke, the first thing he did was glance at the bed—but it was
empty.
Frowning, he sat up and scanned the room. "Ellie?" he called out, but there
was no response. He checked the bathroom. Still no sign of her.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," he said.
Ada entered, setting a tray of evening tea on the table.
"Ada, where is Ellie?" His voice came out rough with irritation.
"Ms. Ellie?" Ada blinked. "She went out, Mr. Stark. I thought you knew?
She left just a little while ago."
Sawyer's drowsiness vanished in an instant. His sharp gaze snapped to Ada.
"She what?" His jaw clenched. In one swift motion, he grabbed his coat, his
frustration boiling over.
"This woman is going to drive me to my grave," he muttered, marching out
to get to his car. "There are people out there trying to kill her. Olivia is after
her goddamn life out of jealousy, and she almost fucking died. And yet—
she went out?" His voice darkened. "Why the hell doesn't she ever listen to
me?"
Agitated, he threw his things into the car and pulled out his phone. Since
the accident, he had secretly installed a location tracker on Ellie's phone—
just in case of emergencies. He checked it now, his irritation spiking when
he saw where she was.
His eyes darkened.
Her location blinked on the screen.
She was near Olivia’s house.
“For fuck’s sake.” His hand shot up, fingers digging through his hair in
frustration. “What the hell is she doing there?”
Without wasting another second, he jumped into the car, flooring the gas as
he sped toward Olivia’s home.
***
Ellie hesitated at the entrance of the Whitlock house.
She never felt like a stranger here. This house held memories—familiar
warmth. Yet, it wasn’t her home. Not really.
Ever since she discovered Olivia wasn’t Jack and Jessica’s biological
daughter, something inside her felt… unsettled. The thought of them living
under the same roof as a murderer made her uneasy. Were they safe?
Straightening her back, she took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The hall was quiet. Too quiet.
She barely took a step before, she nearly stumbled back in shock. Jack
stood in the middle of the hall, placing photos on a shelf. His sharp gaze
flickered to her in surprise.
“What are you doing here?” His voice held no hostility, just mild confusion.
Before she could answer, Jessica appeared from another room.
Ellie immediately regretted coming.
But then—
“Ellie?” Jessica’s voice softened in surprise. “Come here.”
Ellie’s heart pounded. She hesitated, but there was no point in backing away
now. “I… I just wanted to check on you both. And… about that attack…”
She swallowed. “I swear, I didn’t do it. I didn’t attack Olivia.”
Before she could ramble further, Jessica walked up to her and took her
hands.
"I know."
Ellie blinked in shock.
Jessica exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry for hitting you that day. For yelling at
you. I couldn’t put you above my daughter then. That was my failure.”
Ellie stared at her, unable to believe what she was hearing. She had never
expected Jessica to even look her way again, let alone apologize.
"I understand," Ellie finally said. "I don’t blame you."
Jessica smiled.
For the first time, it felt… real. Not the polite, distant smiles Jessica had
given her before. This one was warm, genuine. And something about it
made Ellie’s chest tighten, as if she had been waiting for this moment for
longer than she even realized.
Her gaze drifted to the pictures Jack was arranging on the shelves. Rows of
framed memories—Jack, Jessica, and a little girl.
Jessica followed her gaze. "We were just putting up the pictures we have of
our daughter. Ever since the fire, Olivia refused to let us keep any in the
house." Her voice dropped into a bitter murmur. "Now it makes sense why."
Ellie’s eyes moved over the photos, scanning each one. And then—she
froze.
One picture caught her attention. It was familiar.
She stepped closer, her heart pounding as she reached out and picked it up.
It was the same picture she had. The exact same one.
Heart pounding, she reached for it, gripping the frame tightly. A boy in
green pajamas. A little girl beside him.
Her fingers trembled as she turned to them. “Who is this?” Her voice barely
escaped her lips as she pointed at the boy.
Jessica smiled. “That’s Sawyer.”
Ellie’s heart stopped. Her pulse roared in her ears.
The world around her blurred as she stared at the boy in green nightwear.
And the girl beside him in pink.

OceanofPDF.com
 CHAPTER 24 A SERVANT
Her gaze dropped to the girl's face. A cold shiver ran down her spine.
Her fingers brushed over the image, her voice shaking. “Is that…” Her
voice broke, the word sticking in her throat. ‘Me’?
And then—
A flood of images slammed into her mind all at once. Ellie clutched her
head, pain stabbing through her skull as memories flashed in a relentless
stream.
Her childhood—racing through the house, calling Jessica ‘Mom’ and Jack
‘Dad.’ Growing up with Sawyer, falling in love. Then, the betrayal—Kelly,
her supposed friend, luring her into this very house, attacking her, setting it
on fire to kill her.
Ellie gasped, the agony intensifying as she remembered the flames. Kelly
had also been caught in the fire. Her face had burned. And maybe, just
maybe, that’s when the twisted idea took root.
When the real Olivia was never found, Kelly seized the opportunity. She
went to the hospital under the name Olivia Whitlock and took her place.
With a hefty bribe, she convinced the doctors to alter her face through
plastic surgery. She was certain the real Olivia had been too badly burned to
survive—let alone be recognizable.
She had stolen Olivia’s identity, stepping into this house with a lie that her
face had been burned beyond recognition. And no one had questioned it.
A distant voice broke through the chaos in Ellie’s mind. She lifted her head
to find Jessica staring down at her in concern.
"Ellie, are you okay?"
Ellie’s vision blurred, her lips parted, and the only word that escaped was,
“Mom.”
Jessica’s eyes widened. Her fingers trembled as she searched Ellie’s gaze.
The familiar glint in Ellie’s eyes was unmistakable.
“You’re… our Olivia?” Jessica’s voice shook.
Ellie didn’t answer. She threw herself into Jessica’s arms, hugging her
tightly as sobs wracked her body. The dam of emotions broke, years of
stolen time crashing over them.
Jack rushed over, and the moment he saw Ellie—the way she looked at him
—he knew. Their daughter had come home.
But from a distance, another figure watched.
Kelly—still ‘Olivia’ in everyone else’s eyes—stood frozen. Hatred and
panic flickered across her face, but then, her expression hardened.
"So what if that bitch has returned? I'm your daughter in front of the world.
And since I’m your daughter, everything you have is mine." Her lips curled
into a smirk as she turned and walked away.
Minutes later, flames erupted. Fire spread rapidly through the house, thick
smoke curling into the sky. The scent of gasoline hung in the air.
A deafening explosion shook the walls.
Ellie’s breath caught. The horror of the past, the trauma of the fire she
barely survived, flashed through her mind. The heat, the pain, the
suffocating helplessness.
"Ellie!" Jack grabbed her just as her legs gave out, pulling her into his arms,
the fire raged around them.
They had to get out. Fast.
Jessica’s sobs echoed through the chaos. "Why is this happening to us?
Why again?" Tears streamed down her face as fear gripped her. She
clutched Ellie tighter. They had just gotten their daughter back—how could
they lose her again?
Outside, Kelly watched, a wide grin stretching across her face as flames
consumed the house.
But her victory was short-lived.
A car roared onto the estate, headlights slicing through the smoke.
It was Sawyer.
Her smirk vanished. Panic flickered in her eyes as another car pulled in
behind his. Henry was already on the phone, calling the police.
Sawyer jumped out of his car, and sprinted toward the burning house.
Before he could rush inside, Kelly grabbed his arm.
"Sawyer, what are you doing?" she cried, feigning panic. "I—I don’t know
what happened! I just got here, and saw the house on fire!"
Sawyer’s eyes darkened. “Ellie is inside, isn’t she?” His voice was deadly
calm.
Kelly flinched. He knew. He knew everything.
Her mask cracked. Her expression turned cold in an instant, her grip
loosening. Then, she smirked. “Yes.” She turned to the fire, eyes gleaming
with satisfaction. "And no one’s coming out of there alive."
He shoved her aside, sending her crashing to the ground, before bolting into
the inferno.
“Mr. Stark, wait!” Henry shouted, but Sawyer was already gone.
Inside, the fire raged. Smoke thickened the air, making it hard to see.
Sawyer pushed forward, his pulse hammering. Then, through the haze, he
spotted them—Ellie, Jack, and Jessica.
Jessica had thrown herself over Ellie’s unconscious body, shielding her as
flames crackled around them. Jack struggled against a massive burning
beam that had fallen, blocking their escape.
"I’m here, Mr. Whitlock!" Sawyer shouted, covering his mouth with his
arm. "Step back!"
Jack did as told, and Sawyer lunged at the fallen beam, kicking it with
everything he had. Pain seared through his leg as flames licked at his skin,
but the beam toppled, creating a narrow escape.
“Let’s go!” he barked, grabbing Ellie in his arms as Jack and Jessica
followed.
Just as they stumbled out, the blaring sirens of fire trucks and ambulances
filled the air. Paramedics rushed to take Ellie, placing her on a stretcher.
Jessica gripped Ellie’s limp hand, tears streaming down her face. “Ellie,
Mom is so, so sorry. I hurt you for that fake.” Her voice cracked as she
whispered, “I’ll never let anyone take you from me again.”
***
The white hospital walls gleamed under the fluorescent lights, sterile and
quiet. The room was empty except for a neatly made hospital bed in the
center. The silence unsettled Ellie as she limped out of the washroom, her
steps uneven.
Just then, footsteps sounded at the door—familiar ones.
Ellie's heart jumped. Without thinking, she rushed to the bed, wincing from
the pain but making it just in time before the door opened.
Sawyer stepped inside, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto her. Behind
him, Jeremy followed, his usual flirtatious smirk in place. Sawyer shot him
an irritated glare, but Jeremy remained unfazed, strolling confidently
toward Ellie.
"Ellie, how are you feeling now?" Jeremy asked, his voice smooth.
Ellie blinked as if just waking up. Her gaze swept the room, and then she
saw Jessica and Jack walking in, both hiding their smiles at the sight of
Sawyer in the room.
Sawyer set down the bouquet of flowers he had brought, placing it carefully
beside her bed. Then he sat down next to her, took her hand in his, and
looked at her with the saddest, most desperate puppy-dog eyes.
"Do you remember me now?" His voice was hopeful, pleading. "Any
memories coming back?"
Ellie stared at him, then at their joined hands. In an instant, she yanked her
hand back. Sitting up straight, she frowned.
"Hey! I already told you, I don’t know you. Why do you keep asking me
that?"
Sawyer's already tense expression tightened even further. "It’s been three
days. Why don’t you remember me? You even remembered your mom and
dad."
Ellie shrugged casually. "Maybe because you weren’t good to me?"
Sawyer’s expression turned wounded. "I was good to you! I even gave you
everything—my property, my money—just so you’d marry me."
"I don’t remember a thing," Ellie replied nonchalantly.
Sawyer’s face fell like a kicked puppy.
Then, her eyes drifted toward Jeremy. Her face lit up with a bright smile.
She reached out and grabbed his hand, clutching his arm as she leaned into
him.
"Husband! Where were you?" she said cheerfully.
Sawyer shot to his feet so fast his chair nearly toppled over. His eyes blazed
with sheer horror and jealousy as he snapped his gaze between Jeremy and
Ellie.
"What the hell did you just call him?"
"Husband," Ellie said innocently, then looked up at Jeremy with a sweet
smile.
Jeremy met her gaze and nodded, bending slightly toward her. He took her
hand in his, his thumb brushing over her skin soothingly.
"Sorry, Ellie. I got here as fast as I could. This man"—he jerked his thumb
at Sawyer without breaking eye contact with her—"wasn’t letting me in.
That’s why it took so long."
“What… the hell is happening right now?” Sawyer was losing his mind.
The very look on his face said he was two seconds away from shaking Ellie
so hard that her memories would snap back into place.
Ellie ignored him, cupping Jeremy’s face with both hands. “I don’t know,
husband. This man,” she cast a wary glance at Sawyer before leaning in to
whisper, “he keeps repeating ‘Do you remember me?’ But I have no idea
who he is.”
Sawyer snapped.
He grabbed her hands from Jeremy’s face and yanked them away forcefully.
In one swift motion, he pulled Ellie back, lifting her off and dragging her
back onto the bed, putting as much distance between her and Jeremy as
possible.
Pressing her back against his chest, his arms locked tightly around her
waist, pinning her in place. His grip stretched wide, making sure not even a
single part of her— not even her toes— was touching Jeremy.
He pulled her completely out of Jeremy’s reach. His arms stretched wide,
creating a solid barrier between them. Then, with a firm grip, he cupped her
face, tilting it up and forcing her to meet his eyes.
"I am your husband!"
Ellie scowled, pushing at his hands. "No, you’re not. In fact..." She
narrowed her eyes. "I suddenly remember you telling me over and over
—‘Don’t call me husband. I’m not your husband.’"
Sawyer froze. His face paled. Panic flashed in his eyes.
"I—No! I never meant it!" His grip on her tightened. "Forget that memory.
It’s not real! From now on, you'll only call me your husband. No one else.
Do you understand?"
Ellie huffed and turned away from him. "Why would I call you my husband
when you’re not?" She turned to Jeremy, arms wide open. "Husband, let’s
go."
Sawyer’s face burned hotter than ever. In a flash, he was off the bed. He
lunged at Jeremy, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him toward the
door.
With one swift shove, he threw Jeremy out and barked, "Don’t come back!
You’re not allowed near her until she remembers me."
He slammed the door shut.
Then, he turned back and yanked the door open again. "You’re not allowed
near her even after she remembers everything. Get lost!"
Door slammed shut again.
He turned back to Ellie, and marched straight to the bed. He sat down
beside her, pointing at his own face.
"Just stare at me," he said urgently. "If you stare long enough, you’ll
remember me."
Ellie made a face of pure disgust and turned away. But a small smile curled
at the corner of her lips—one she quickly hid. With a casual sigh, she
muttered, "I want sushi."
Sawyer shot up. "I’ll get it for you. What else do you want? I’ll bring
everything."
Ellie bit her lip, pretending to think. "Nothing else. Just that for now."
Sawyer bolted out of the room.
The next day, Ellie was discharged, but no matter how much Sawyer
begged, she refused to go home with him. Instead, she moved in with Jack
and Jessica.
So Sawyer did the only logical thing.
He shamelessly moved in too.
And that was how Sawyer’s seven days of slavery began.
"I bought this perfume for you," he said one evening, his eyes gleaming
with almost desperate anticipation as he handed her a box. "You love this
scent, right? I had it made just for you—exactly how you wanted. The
bottle’s made of white gold, with pink diamonds and a ribbon of black
diamonds. See, it’s all real."
Ellie’s eyes flickered to the bottle. It was very similar to the perfume bottle
she had once described to him—the same one he had given to fake Olivia
after their fight at the bar.
Ellie closed her eyes and turned away. "Okay. Put it on the table," she said
casually.
Sawyer was just happy to be in the room with her, even if it was only for
five minutes before she threw him out.
A few hours later, he was back.
"I bought this necklace for you," he said, "You love gold and emeralds,
right? It has emeralds all around, set in white gold."
Ellie glanced at it, and muttered, “Okay.”
Then at dinner, he offered. "I brought you steak from that popular
restaurant. I made sure they cooked it exactly how you like it."
Ellie nodded. "I’ll eat it."
He returned again, carrying a tray with different soups.
"You liked this one," he said, a hint of hope in his voice. "I made it for you
myself."
Ellie shook her head. "I don’t remember."
Then he was back, carrying a photo album. "I found this from our
childhood. We were always together. Do you remember this?"
Ellie glanced at it and shrugged. "Nothing brings back a memory."
Sawyer’s expression darkened, muttering under his breath. "She remembers
her parents, her friends, and that fake fucking Olivia. She even remembers
that damn model and calls him her husband. But this mad woman lived with
me in my fucking bed for three years and doesn’t remember a thing about
me?!"
Ellie had to fight to suppress a laugh, biting the inside of her cheek to stop
herself. Keeping her face serious, she asked loudly, "Did you say
something?"
Sawyer spun around at once, shaking his head with a forced smile.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about what to bring you for lunch."
"What are you waiting for then? Go." Ellie shook her head at him
dismissively.
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed, irritation flashing across his face.
In an instant, he marched toward her. He grabbed her by the waist, and spun
her down onto the bed, climbing on top of her. One hand wrapped around
her throat—not squeezing, just holding her still—while his lips hovered
dangerously close to hers.
"Ellie Whitlock," he growled, his voice low and tense. "Stop treating me
like your servant, will you? I'm your future husband!"
"I already have a hus—"
Before she could finish, his mouth was on her neck. His teeth sank into her
skin, followed by the slow, soothing stroke of his tongue over the bite. A
sharp gasp escaped Ellie’s lips as she whimpered, the sensation causing her
to moan involuntarily.
"Only I can do this to you," Sawyer whispered against her skin, his lips
trailing down her throat. His voice was rough, possessive. "And for that,
you’re not getting another man. Even if I’m fucking dead."
Lifting his head, his intense gaze locked onto hers, his breath ragged and
eyes intense.
"Now, say it again. Who am I?"
Ellie swallowed hard, her heart pounded, her breathing was uneven. His
scent, that maddening mix of cologne and Sawyer’s body, clouded her
thoughts. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them
and kiss him, to feel his lips and pin him underneath herself.
"Sawyer…" Her voice was shaky, almost needy, but before she could finish,
the sound of footsteps outside the door shattered the moment.
In a flash of instinct, she kicked Sawyer’s stomach, sending him stumbling
back and off the bed. She flipped her head to the side, desperate to hide her
burning face.
Sawyer scowled and blinked, ragged breaths escaping his lips. He barely
felt the kick, but the shock of it left him reeling.
"Just get out and bring me food!" Ellie ordered, her voice unusually high-
pitched.
Right then, Jessica walked in. Hearing Ellie’s tone, she raised an eyebrow.
"Ellie, don’t do that. Don’t order him around like that." Jessica scolded
lightly.
Ellie glanced at Sawyer, who was standing frozen, eyes burning dark with
desire. The expression on his face—obsessed and intense—was hard to
miss. Jessica’s arrival had ruined whatever plans he had in mind. He was
clearly dying inside, but Ellie was enjoying the chaos.
Ellie bit her lip, tucking her hair behind her ear. "It’s okay," she said with an
exaggerated sigh. "You don’t have to bring me lunch. Just get out of my
room."
In an instant, Sawyer was by her side again, his puppy eyes back, grabbing
her hand.
"Don’t say that." He turned to Jessica quickly, "She’s not ordering me
around, Mrs. Whitlock. Don’t say anything to her."
Then he looked back at Ellie, sincerity shining in his eyes. "I already told
Henry to drop off your lunch. I’ll go grab it for you right now."
Ellie nodded, watching as he shot to his feet and practically sprinted out of
the room, a little too eager to please her.
"Heh," Ellie grinned smugly, settling back on the bed.
Her hand instinctively reached up to touch the mark on her neck, brushing
over the bite mark lightly. She winced slightly but smirked. She would get
more neck kisses from him soon enough. But the chance to order around
Sawyer Stark, the narcissistic tyrant, like her servant was too rare to pass up
right now.
"Ellie, have you had enough now?" Jessica scolded with a laugh, a smile
playing on her face. "Stop tormenting that poor man, it’s been a week
already."
Ellie propped herself up on the bed and grinned at Jessica. "I will soon. But
first, he needs to learn who his boss is."
Jessica sighed, shaking her head. "Sawyer’s been running around for you
for seven days. He wakes up with you, goes to sleep with you. He’s living
here more than we are, just so he can take care of you. He’s miserable at the
thought of Jeremy coming in and taking you away."
Ellie burst out laughing.
"Ellie!" Jessica scolded. "You have to tell him now that you've been
pretending to forget him. He's half out of his mind, freaking out, doing
everything he can to make you remember him. And you won’t stop ordering
him around! That’s not a good thing!"
"Ellie Whitlock!" The voice came from the doorway, making Ellie snap her
eyes up in shock to see Sawyer at the door, seething.
He rushed in at once, grabbing Ellie and pulling her into him. "I knew you
were lying!"
Ellie let out a laugh, pushing at his chest, but his hold was tight. "Sawyer,
let go!" she chuckled, though there was a nervous edge to her voice.
Jessica tried to intervene. "You kids need to talk! Why are you wrestling
with each other?"
Sawyer ignored her entirely, his focus solely on Ellie. He spun her around
to face him, gripping her wrist tightly behind her back as she knelt on the
bed. "You’re really starting to get on my nerves," he growled. "Seven damn
days? Should I make you pay for it now?"
Ellie giggled. "No, you don't have a right. What are you going to do
anyway? Stare at me and cry? Like when you used to when we were kids,
and I refused to hold your hand?"
Jessica suppressed an amused smile before slipping quietly out of the room,
leaving the two of them alone.
Sawyer’s expression darkened, the memory of their childhood flashing in
his eyes. His grip on her tightened as he lowered his head, closing the
distance between them. His heated gaze locked onto hers. Ellie’s smile
faded, her heart skipping a beat.
“We aren’t kids anymore, Ellie,” he said, his voice rough, and dark with
intent. “I have a lot more ways to make you cry underneath me.”
Ellie’s breath hitched, her pulse quickening. His words sent a shiver down
her spine, but she forced herself to hold it together. Then, as his fingers
grazed her stomach and slid up toward her chest, she snapped, but the voice
came out all shaky.
“If you torment me this much, I won’t marry you!”
Sawyer’s expression shifted, his jaw tightening as her words reached him.
He stopped immediately, his hand hovering over her chest, his eyes dark
and intense. Ellie’s heart raced. But before she could take another breath, he
was gone from her body, moving with a speed that made her head spin.
He suddenly dragged her off the bed, tossing her effortlessly over his
shoulder, and stormed out of the room.
“Stop it, Sawyer! Where are you taking me? Hey!” Ellie squirmed, trying to
free herself, but his grip was ironclad.
Sawyer’s hand slapped against her ass, the sharp sound echoing in the
room. A growl rumbled in his chest in response to her protests.
“To get married right now!” he declared.

OceanofPDF.com
 EPILOGUE
Ellie rushed into Licious, her heart pounding as she tried to escape Sawyer.
Ever since he found out she was Olivia, he had been following her
everywhere, fear in his eyes like she’d vanish at any moment.

It was a small, cozy café with warm lights and the rich scent of coffee in the
air. Wooden tables, white brick walls, and a glass counter filled with cakes
made the space feel inviting.

With a tired sigh, Ellie headed straight to the counter.

"Ivy?" she called out to the new hire.

The pretty girl with brown eyes and a petite frame turned to her. "Yeah?"

"A coffee, please. Strong." Ellie exhaled. "Latte?"

"Of course," Ivy muttered, turning away to prepare it.

Ellie spun around and hurried over to Stella, who was sitting at a table with
Tony. His gray hair and light stubble made him look older, but his tired eyes
still held warmth. He was in a wheelchair ever since he came out of his
coma three weeks ago, but the doctor had said he’d recover soon.

"Tony!" Ellie ran up and hugged him from behind, pressing a quick kiss to
his cheek. "I was wondering where you disappeared to!"

"I brought him with me." Stella grinned. "Figured he was getting bored at
the hospital, so I talked to Damion and the staff and brought him along.
Sorry I didn’t tell you in advance."
"All good." Ellie blew her a playful kiss. "The doctor already told me about
it. Thanks for getting him out for some fresh air."

Stella flashed her a grin in return.

Ellie then leaned in between Stella and Tony, lowering her voice. "Stella,
why is Ivy always so quiet? It kinda scares me every time I look at her."

Stella snickered and glanced at Ivy sneakily. Tony followed her gaze.

"Guys, stop staring! That’s embarrassing!" Ellie hissed.

Stella shrugged. "She’s nice, though. Quiet but hardworking. Never skips
work, always eager to help. Really sweet. Just… I don’t know, sometimes
she seems like she’s sad about something but can’t express it. I rarely see
her smile."

"Right? I got the same feeling." Ellie frowned. "Should we ask if she needs
help?"

Stella bit her lip, then shook her head. "I’ll ask her discreetly, maybe, but I
don’t want to come off as nosy. I feel like we’re starting to become friends.
Once we get closer, she might open up on her own, and then we’ll know
how to help."

***

The Stark Manor was alive with celebration, glowing with lights, music,
and laughter. The grand hall brimmed with joy as people danced and toasted
to the newlyweds.

Ellie stepped out of the manor in a breathtaking white wedding dress—off-

the-shoulder, lacy, and exquisite. Her hair was styled in a half-updo, soft
curls cascading down, making her look like a vision. She was, perhaps, one
of the most beautiful brides anyone had ever seen.

Sawyer held her hand as they approached the sleek limo, ready to leave for
his house after their wedding. But Ellie’s other hand was clutched in a death
grip by Jenelia, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Enough now, Jenny!" Liana scolded lightly, attempting to pry Jenelia’s

hands off Ellie. Behind them, Ellie and Sawyer’s friends stood in stunned
silence, watching the scene unfold.

"What the hell is going on?" Kara, Damion’s wife, hissed, staring open-
mouthed at Jenny before turning to the others. They all shook their heads,
equally puzzled, their gazes snapping back to Ellie.

Jenny wrenched herself free from Liana and turned fully to Ellie, grabbing
her by the shoulders. Tears streamed down her face as she wailed, "I
should’ve known! I hated you so much when you were living with Sawyer
because I love you so much!"

And before Ellie could react, Jenny threw herself at her, wrapping her in a
suffocating hug. Ellie’s brows knitted at her longing filled face, but she
couldn’t hold back a laugh as she patted Jenny’s back soothingly.

"It’s alright, Jenny," she said, trying to calm her.

"It’s NOT alright!" Jenny suddenly pulled back—only to lunge forward,

aiming straight for Ellie’s lips to kiss her.

But before she could make contact, Sawyer’s hand shot between them,
blocking the kiss. With a firm shove, he pushed Jenny back, then yanked
Ellie behind him protectively. His face twisted in anger as he snapped,
"Jenelia, stop trying to steal my wife! It’s been twenty-five fucking years!"

Jenny glared at him, her pitiful sobs vanishing in an instant. With a dramatic
huff, she crossed her arms and muttered, "I’m so pissed. I was the one
acting as ‘X,’ telling Ellie your location every time you were with other
women, trying to catch you cheating so she’d leave you. I thought Ellie was
just living with you to steal our money and run away!"

She scoffed, flipping her hair. "But somehow, you never got caught. I
should’ve just thrown you in bed with some woman to make it happen.
Then I wouldn’t have to see this tragic day, and Ellie would be mine!"
Silence.

Then the entire group of friends lost it. Laughter erupted, echoing around
them.

Ellie’s head snapped toward Jenny in shock.

"You were ‘X’?!"

Sawyer, however, looked like his last shred of self-control had finally
snapped. Without thinking, he lunged at Jenny, ready to throw a punch. But
at the last second, Ellie grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

"Hey! Stop it!" she scolded.

"She’s trying to steal you," he growled.

Ellie lifted her hand in front of his face. "I’m married to you. I’m not going
anywhere."

Sawyer’s gaze dropped to the ring on her finger, then back to her face. His
anger faded, replaced by a smug smirk. He turned to Jenny, grinning
triumphantly, before opening the car door for Ellie.

Jenny continued to glare, utterly pissed at his self-satisfaction. Meanwhile,

the laughter around her only grew louder as the limo drove off,
disappearing into the night.

***

Ten Years Later

A three-year-old boy ran inside the Stark house after playing outside in the
evening, his giggles echoing through the halls as he made his way to his
room.
"Alex!" Sawyer called out, immediately setting his laptop aside the moment
he saw the boy.

The little boy stopped in his tracks, the ball in his hands slipping to the
ground as he turned around.

"Come to Daddy." Sawyer smiled, wiggling his fingers to call him closer.

Alex slowly walked over, hesitant but curious. The moment he was within
reach, Sawyer lifted him into his lap and gently pinched his chubby cheeks.

"Call me Daddy."

Alex squinted his eyes at him, pouting before shaking his head. "No."

Sawyer narrowed his eyes at the little boy. Ever since he was born, Alex
rarely paid attention to him. He only ever ran after Ellie, his little feet
pattering around the house as he followed her like a shadow. The sound of
"Mommy!" and "Ellie!" echoed all day long from the two Stark men in the
house—one big and one small.

Recently, the boy had become even more difficult. He insisted on sleeping
with Ellie every night. Just last night, when Sawyer stole Ellie away to their
room, Alex had woken up in the morning and burst into tears upon realizing
she wasn’t there. He cried so much that Ellie had to promise to sleep only
with him tonight.

Sawyer hid his amused smile, noticing that the little boy was still glaring at
him with puffed-up cheeks.

Sawyer pulled out his wallet and fished out a wad of cash. Holding a few
bills in front of Alex, he smirked. "Call me Daddy."

Alex’s eyes widened, the temptation undeniable. At once, he leaned

forward, planting a kiss on Sawyer’s cheek before grinning brightly.
"Daddy!"
Sawyer’s face mirrored the same grin. At that moment, with their identical
expressions, it was clear there was no need for a DNA test—the
resemblance was uncanny.

He handed the cash to Alex and then pulled out a few more bills. "Say it
again."

"Daddy!" Alex chirped. Another set of bills landed in his tiny hands.

The little boy, delighted with the exchange, kept repeating, "Daddy! Daddy!
Daddy!" every time, while Sawyer handed him money with an indulgent
smile.

At that moment, Ellie walked into the house and froze at the sight.

Alex was sitting in Sawyer’s lap, happily chanting, “Daddy!” while Sawyer
handed him wads of cash.

"Good boy," Sawyer praised, ruffling his son’s hair.

Ellie’s sharp heels clicked against the floor as she stepped closer. Hearing
the familiar sound, both men—one grown, one tiny—immediately turned
their heads toward the entrance.

"Mommy?"

"Ellie?"

Alex instantly jumped off Sawyer’s lap, his little hands clutching fistfuls of
cash. A few bills fluttered to the ground as he ran toward Ellie.

"Mommy! Let’s go! I take you ice cweam date!" The boy declared proudly,
shoving all the money into Ellie’s hands.

Ellie melted at the sight of her adorable son. She dropped to her knees,
kissing his chubby cheeks all over. "Go wash up. I’ll take you for ice
cream."
The boy beamed and dashed off.

Ellie, now standing, turned her sharp gaze to Sawyer and marched over.

"Stop spoiling my child! He’s so little. Why are you giving him so much—"

Her words got stuck in her throat when Sawyer suddenly pulled out a velvet
box and flipped it open, revealing a dazzling diamond necklace.

Five minutes later, when Alex returned, freshly washed and ready, he found
his mother sitting in Sawyer’s lap, her arms filled with jewelry boxes.

"Husband," Ellie giggled, kissing Sawyer’s cheek as he placed yet another

set of rubies into her lap. Ellie’s eyes lit up like stars.

"Now this one," Sawyer coaxed, offering his other cheek while pulling out
yet another box, ready to slide it into her hands.

***

He vanished without a word—now he’s back to drag her into his

obsession.

“Run, Ivy. Hide. If I catch you again, you’ll become mine.”

Christian Evans’ words from five years ago still echo in Ivy Watson’s mind,
as do the memories of him—memories that refuse to fade.

Back then, as an intern at the prestigious Evans Holdings, Ivy couldn’t

escape her billionaire boss’s relentless pursuit. Christian loved her with an
intensity that left her shaken. His love was overwhelming, possessive, all-
consuming. He became her shadow, her storm—until one day, he vanished
without a word, leaving her to drown in the darkness he left behind.

Now, she’s fallen into his arms again.

Christian has returned, and this time, he’s not letting her go. His obsession
burns hotter than ever, every action a declaration that Ivy belongs to him.
He’s everywhere—proposing to her, protecting her, feeding her, fighting for
her, and vowing that she’ll marry him, bear his children, and belong to him
forever.

He’s stalking her again.

But Ivy knows his game. And she won’t fall in love with him.

Not again.

Never again.

Get obsessed with our newest billionaire- Christian Evans in Book 5! Buy
now- Possessive Billionaire’s Twisted Hunt

And coming next... Adrian Vaughn & Sienna take the spotlight in Book
6- Dominant Billionaire's Irresistible Possession

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 BONUS CHAPTER
Become Sawyer's special Love

Dive into a free bonus chapter featuring him and Ellie- it'll be steamy,
romantic, and oh-so-addictive!

With this bonus chapter, I'll secretly send you exclusive, shirtless photos of
our Obsessed Billionaire men. Feeling the heat yet?

Let's keep it just between us. ;)

Drop your email, and I'll send everything over to you. - Sign up for
Shirtless Sawyer

PS: You just have to submit it once! Then you'll automatically receive all
bonus chapter links, new book links, shirtless photos of all my billionaire
men, and other pretty surprises.

***

Thank you for reading Reckless Billionaire’s Ruthless Claim! If you

enjoyed this book, I would be very grateful if you could leave a review on
the platforms of your choice.

Leave a Review on Goodreads

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Reviews are extremely helpful to me and even one word left as a 5 star
review can give me the whole world of happiness!

Heart, Ava
OceanofPDF.com
 BOOK 6 : EXCLUSIVE
FIRST LOOK!

Dominant Billionaire's Irresistible

Possession
He thought he could forget her—now he can’t stop chasing her.

"I don’t like you enough to marry you, but you’re good enough to be kept
as my mistress."

Sienna Donovan spent five years of her life with Adrian Vaughn, only to be
tossed aside like she meant nothing. So, she did the unthinkable—she
walked away first and married her best friend.

Theo Montgomery became the perfect husband, giving her everything

Adrian never did: private jets, villas, fancy cars, his fortune, and vacations
in paradise. Their love was the envy of all, their perfect life the hottest
gossip in the country.

And watching it all drives Adrian insane with jealousy.

His arrogance cost him the one woman who loved him unconditionally, and
now, watching her with another man is eating him alive.

"I’ll destroy everything that stands between us—even your husband."

Adrian crashes back into Sienna’s life—seducing her, begging for a second
chance, surrendering to her every command. He’s willing to become her
slave, her servant, her worshipper. He’ll sacrifice everything he has, even
his pride and sanity.

There’s only one thing he wants: for her to love him again.

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 BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
Obsessed Billionaires, Cherished
Brides
The Obsessed Billionaires, Cherished Brides is a Billionaire romance series.
It follows the lives of women who plunge themselves a bit too deeply into
love, and charismatic, often troubled CEOs who are determined to win their
affection at any cost. Each story is a standalone novel and can be read in
any order.

Book 1: Devoted Billionaire’s Unstoppable

Affection

Book 2: Addicted Billionaire's Devious Obsession

Book 3: Doting Billionaire’s Precious Bride

Book 4: Reckless Billionaire’s Ruthless Claim

Book 5: Possessive Billionaire’s Twisted Hunt

Book 6: Dominant Billionaire's Irresistible

Possession
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 KEEP IN TOUCH WITH
AVA SELWYN
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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To my cherished readers,

Thank you for embracing Obsessed Billionaires, Cherished Brides series.

Your love means the world to me. I'm deeply grateful for your support and
for making this journey unforgettable.

Heart, Ava

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ava Selwyn
Ava Selwyn is a steamy billionaire romance author with a passion for angst,
heartache, and love that burns with intensity. She creates worlds filled with
powerful, possessive men who crave to give everything to the women they
love. Her stories are drenched in longing, desperate passion, and
unforgettable happily-ever-afters.

When she's not writing, Ava loves to travel, indulging in new cuisines and
exploring diverse cultures. She lives with her many fictional husbands, who
never fail to keep her heart racing.

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