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Chapter 10
Chapter 10
It all started at one of my brother Conor’s private party. I want in the mood to socialize, but Cone had insisted I show 9, dying is mondd da por yod to take a break from moping around. So, I forced myself into a designed dress and went.
I grabbed a drink from the bar and scanned the room, half hoping to see someone familiar, half wishing I could just slig ved brioticed
That’s when I saw him.
His presence commanded attention, and for a moment, I couldn’t look away. The way his eyes moved across the room with a calculated cationess made me curious. He didn’t belong here too gentle,
M
I turned back to the bar, determined not to stare. But when the bartender handed me my drink, I almost dropped it because he was suddenly righ
next to me.
“You look like you’d rather be anywhere else,” he said, his voice low and smooth,
I managed a tight smile, “Guilty. My brother forced me to come,”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well. I’m here on business invition Franklin Wilson.” He extended his hand,
I shook it, trying not to notice how warm and firm his grip was. “Briar Collins.”
He gave a small, intrigued smile. “Collins? As in Conor Collins?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” I let out a small laugh. “I’m his little sister.”
His gaze dropped to my hand, still holding the drink. “Whiskey sour. Interesting/choice.”
I shrugged. “I like it strong.”
A flicker of approval crossed his face. “Not many people appreciate whiskey. You surprise me.”
Before I knew it, we were wrapped in conversation. He was charming, intelligent, and annoyingly captivating. One drink turned into two, and before long, he was leading me out onto the balcony for some air.
The night breeze was cool against my flushed skin. I leaned against the railing, trying to collect my thoughts, but Franklin moved closer, his hand brushing against mine.
“Are you always this guarded?” he asked, his voice softer now.
I swallowed hard. “I guess I have my reasons.”
Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the way his presence wrapped around me like a safety net, but I didn’t move when he leaned in.
His lips were gentle at first, just a brush against mine, but when I didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, one hand tangling in my hair. I should have stopped it. I knew this wasn’t me–I didn’t do one–night stands. But with him, I didn’t care.
Soon we were in his suite, tangled in sheets and heat.
The next morning, I woke up tangled in his arms, his heartbeat steady under my ear. Reality crashed over me, and I pulled away, slipping out of bed before he could wake up.
But things didn’t end there. A few weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. I was in shock, staring at the test in disbelief. Conor was the first to know, and he was surprisingly supportive, even though his face showed a mixture of panic and anger.
“What are you going to do?” he asked, his voice rough.
“I don’t know,” I whispered, still staring at the test.
Franklin didn’t take long to find out. I expected Franklin to be furious or dismissive. Instead, he looked at ine with a seriousness I hadn’t seen before.
“Marry me,” he said, just like that. No hesitation.
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He Faked Death for Mistress,I Faked It for Revenge
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Chapter 10
1 blinked. “What?”
His gaze was steady. “You’re pregnant. I take responsibility. I’m not going to let you go through this alone.”
The wedding was small and rushed, but somehow, standing next to him, I didn’t feel trapped.
After the wedding, Franklin arranged for me to work at his overseas branch. He knew I’d studied Al development and had connections with a project I’d been interested in for years.
And just like that, I found myself stepping into a new life for over five years.
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