DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
The night air was cool when we stepped out of the mansion, the soft hum of the city just starting to come alive. I expected Hunter to lead me toward one of his expensive cars and take me to the restaurant he\u2019d mentioned\u2013but instead, the car rolled to a stop in front of an upscale jewelry store, its crystal\u2013lit windows gleaming like stars in the dark.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned, turning to him. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t look like dinner to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter smirked, unbuckling his seatbelt. \u201cDinner can wait. I have something more important to take care of first.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow, suspicion tugging at me. \u201cImportant? Or extravagant?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He only grinned. \u201cCan\u2019t it be both?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could argue, he was already opening my door, offering his hand like a gentleman. His fingers brushed mine\u2013warm, firm, familiar. \u201cCome on, Mrs. De Marco,\u201d he teased. \u201cYou\u2019ll like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sound of that name still made my heart skip for reasons I refused to acknowledge. I followed him inside anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The store was luxurious to the point of being intimidating\u2013marble floors gleaming, chandeliers dripping crystals, and glass cases filled with jewels that probably cost more than my entire life\u2019s savings. The saleswoman recognized Hunter immediately and straightened, her polite smile turning into a nervous one. Clearly, his reputation preceded him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter\u2019s arm brushed mine as he leaned closer. \u201cPick one,\u201d he said simply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He nodded toward the rows of engagement rings and diamond necklaces. \u201cA wife deserves something to show off. Don\u2019t you think?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I almost laughed. \u201cYou can\u2019t be serious-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But before I could finish, his phone buzzed. His gaze darkened slightly when he saw the caller ID. \u201cBusiness,\u201d he muttered. \u201cStay here. Don\u2019t wander off.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
And just like that, he turned and walked outside, leaving me surrounded by glittering diamonds and curious stares from the\u00a0<\/p>\n
store staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. \u201cStay here,\u201d he says, I muttered under my breath. \u201cAs if I\u2019m a child.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned toward one of the display counters, pretending to study a set of earrings\u2013until a familiar voice behind me froze me in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDylan?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My entire body went rigid. Slowly, I turned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And there they were.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beckett and Sarah. Standing hand in hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beckett\u2019s expression shifted instantly\u2013shock flickering into disbelief, then something softer, something that made my chest tighten painfully. Sarah, meanwhile, looked like she\u2019d seen a ghost\u2013her smile faltering for a heartbeat before she forced it\u00a0<\/p>\n
back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBeckett,\u201d I breathed out, my voice barely above a whisper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 43\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took a hesitant step toward me, his gaze traveling down to the glittering jewelry around us, then back to my face. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could answer, Sarah looped her arm tighter around his. \u201cI think the better question is\u2014what are you doing here, Dylan? Shopping?\u201d Her tone was sweet, but the smile didn\u2019t reach her\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I straightened, forcing my lips into something that almost looked like confidence. \u201cJust checking,\u201d I replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this store?\u201d she said, raising her eyebrows suspiciously. \u201cIs that a good idea, Dylan? I heard about what happened to your family. Don\u2019t get me wrong, but I\u2019m worried that you\u2019re being too reckless because of what happened to you and your family. You\u2019re not getting yourself into some kind of trouble, are you?\u201d Sarah said her words were laced with fake concerns.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I arched a brow, crossing my arms as I met Sarah\u2019s too\u2013sweet smile with a glare. \u201cWhat exactly are you trying to imply, Sarah?\u201d I asked, my tone sharp enough to slice through the thick tension hanging between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She feigned innocence, her perfectly painted lips curling in a mock pout, \u201cOh, no. I\u2019m not implying anything,\u201d she said in that sugary voice that made my teeth ache. \u201cI\u2019m just\u2026 worried, you know? I\u2019d hate to think you\u2019d get yourself into trouble just to keep up with your old lifestyle.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her hand brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear, her diamond ring catching the light deliberately\u2013showing off, twisting the knife. \u201cBut then again,\u201d she continued with a soft laugh, \u201cI know you, Dylan. You\u2019d never do something desperate\u2026 like, say, selling your body for money.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words hit like a slap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, I couldn\u2019t breathe. My pulse stuttered, and a cold wave of panic rippled through me. Did she know? Was she just guessing\u2013or had someone told her about those nights when I had no choice but to dance, when every smile I faked under the dim lights felt like another piece of me breaking apart?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced my lips into a brittle smile, refusing to let her voice trembling only slightly. \u201cI\u2019m doing just fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
see me flinch. \u201cYou don\u2019t have\u00a0<\/p>\n
worry about me, Sarah,\u201d I said, my\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, I tilted my head, letting sarcasm coat every word. \u201cMaybe you Beckett?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
should\u00a0<\/p>\n
all that concern for your own family. Right,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beckett\u2019s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as his eyes darted between us. He looked like he wanted to say something -but Sarah, of course, beat him to it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Dylan,\u201d she said with a false laugh, clutching Beckett\u2019s arm. \u201cYou always had such a sharp tongue. It\u2019s nice to see you. haven\u2019t changed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced a smile, though every muscle in my body screamed for me to turn around and walk away. My heart was thundering against my ribs, the sound loud in my ears, warning me that if I stayed any longer, I\u2019d say something I couldn\u2019t take back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But before I could even take a step, Beckett spoke\u2013his tone clipped, the faintest trace of mockery lacing his words. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go ahead and pick something for yourself, Dylan?\u201d he said, gesturing toward the rows of glittering jewelry behind the glass. \u201cLet\u2019s just call it a\u2026. parting gift.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A parting gift. The words dripped with condescension, a twisted reminder of the past we once shared. He said it like I was a charity case, like I should be grateful he even acknowledged me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt\u00a0<\/p>\n
my throat tighten, but I refused to let him see me break.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s giggle followed, light and sugary, but her eyes were sharp\u2013predatory. \u201cOh, Beckett,\u201d she cooed, looping her arm through his. \u201cYou\u2019re too kind.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My lips twitched, ready to throw another jab his way\u2013but then, before I could speak, a deep baritone voice rolled through\u00a0<\/p>\n
the room like a low rumble of thunder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to,\u201d came the voice from behind me, smooth and commanding, every syllable dripping with confidence. \u201cIt\u2019s my job to buy everything my wife wants.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air in the jewelry store shifted instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We all turned at once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And there he was\u2013Hunter\u2013striding toward us with that effortless dominance that seemed to make the whole world tilt in his favor. The soft lighting of the store reflected off his dark suit, outlining the sharp cut of his shoulders and the confident set of his jaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His piercing blue eyes were locked on me, and even though his expression was calm, there was a dangerous glint beneath the surface\u2013possessive, warning, as if daring anyone to challenge him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s smile faltered, just slightly, before she masked it with another laugh. Beckett, on the other hand, stiffened, his jaw clenching as his eyes darted between me and Hunter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter stopped right beside me, his hand sliding casually to my waist, claiming me without words. His thumb brushed against my hip\u2013a simple gesture, but it sent a wave of heat through me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry I took too long, little dove,\u201d he murmured, his voice low but loud enough for them to hear. \u201cDid I miss anything\u2026 interesting?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s eyes widened with sudden excitement, her lips curving into a bright, almost too\u2013sweet smile. \u201cWife?\u201d she gasped, her voice filled with fake delight as she looked between me and Hunter. \u201cOh my God, Dylan, that\u2019s wonderful! Congratulations!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her enthusiasm was so exaggerated it made my stomach twist. I could almost see the glint of satisfaction flickering behind her perfectly mascaraed lashes\u2013as if she\u2019d just heard the best gossip of her life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWow,\u201d she went on, clasping her hands dramatically against her chest. \u201cI didn\u2019t think you\u2019d hasn\u2019t even been that long, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
move on this fast. I mean, it\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beckett\u2019s jaw ticked at her words, his knuckles whitening around Sarah\u2019s hand. He didn\u2019t say anything, but his silence spoke volumes. His eyes, those familiar deep brown eyes that once used to look at me with warmth, were now dark and stormy- full of confusion and something that felt dangerously close to regret.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter, of course, didn\u2019t miss that. His arm around my waist tightened, possessive and deliberate, pulling me even closer. \u201cWhen something feels right,\u201d he said smoothly, his voice carrying that quiet authority that made everyone else listen, \u201cyou don\u2019t waste time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sarah giggled, her voice too bright. \u201cThat\u2019s so romantic,\u201d she said, although the edge in her tone didn\u2019t go unnoticed. Then, as if the universe wanted to make this even worse, she suddenly lifted her left hand, showing off a dazzling diamond ring that sparkled under the lights. \u201cSpeaking of which\u2026\u201d She threw Beckett a meaningful glance. \u201cWe\u2019re actually here to look for our wedding bands. We\u2019re getting married soon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart stopped for a moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t even know what hit me first\u2013the sting of betrayal, the disbelief, or the sudden wave of nausea that crawled up my throat. I thought I\u2019d already braced myself for this, but hearing it from her lips, seeing the faint smile on Beckett\u2019s face\u2013it still cut deep.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh?\u201d I managed to say, forcing a brittle smile. \u201cCongratulations!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beckett\u2019s eyes flicked to me, searching my face for a reaction. There was something in his gaze\u2013a silent question, maybe even guilt\u2013but I didn\u2019t let him see me break. I wouldn\u2019t give him that satisfaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter noticed, too. Of course, he did. His eyes darkened as he looked between the two of them, and before I could even speak, he leaned down slightly and brushed his lips against my temple\u2013slow, deliberate, and territorial.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 43\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFunny,\u201d he murmured, his voice low enough for only me and Beckett to hear. \u201cSeems like everyone\u2019s in a rush to get married these days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sarah giggled again, completely missing the tension sparking between the men. \u201cIt\u2019s such a coincidence, isn\u2019t it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced a laugh, but it came out hollow. \u201cI couldn\u2019t agree more.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But inside, my heart was breaking all over again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 43 DYLAN\u00a0 The night air was cool when we stepped out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-alphas-golden-cage-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24394\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}