the cumulus. Come on, you are the only son he has, be the best in his final moments of life, they told me. Your nurse, to be exact. The kind and patient woman who has been taking care of the old man these past three years. They will tell me, she is a professional, she is paid for this. She is paid for this, but she has a lot of professionals who beat the old people they are paid to take care of. Returning to the crux of the whole mess, I went there. I took a breath a few minutes ago and entered my father's room. He was there, lying on that huge bed, looking obviously sick, with his eyes heavy, half-open, without having the strength to even keep them fully open. Okay. I sat on the edge of his bed, he tried to smile, which was a strange and chilling scene. I didn't feel sorry, I felt goosebumps. But I went, I asked myself to be a good son during his last moments as I was advised. - Hi, dad - I said, half automatically. It's not like I consider the word "father" very symbolic. It's almost like calling a lady "ma'am." It's automatic. - Wanted to see me? He gave a small sigh that made him cough sharply and again, chilling, I even glanced at the door to shout to Tina, his nurse, if necessary; but the old man recovered and tried to laugh. No comments for the attempt. I felt like I was in Saw 3, one of the films that Lucy, my writer friend's wife, forced us to watch once. - You're a good son, Nathan - were the old man's first words, which didn't surprise me. If we're going to make a list of what it means to be a good son nowadays, I really am. I haven't killed anyone, I've never been arrested, I've never hit a woman, I've never taken drugs, I've never been the rebellious type who creates chaos because my father is rich, nor am I vengeful either; I just sometimes drink a little too much, and I lived with some disturbed friends when I was younger. But that didn't even make me a bad son. Besides, I didn't make excuses for my ok with taking over the old man's place after he quits. "Thank you," I replied, believing those were the words of a man who knew his impending hour. The bell was going to ring announcing his turn in the line of the dead at any moment. So I asked again: - Did you ask to see me? The answer took a long time to come. He was silent and still for almost too long. So long that I thought, for a second, that he had died. Creepy again. But he spoke. "I've always wanted grandchildren," he said, almost making me laugh. But I controlled myself. - I always wanted you to be happy, in the way I wasn't. Conversation! There are final moments like that. The old man had a model next to him every month, this always appeared in magazines and on Instagram; Just tell me: how was he not happy? - My last wish in life - he continued - is to see you married. I would like more than anything to see you happy with a good woman by your side. I don't want to die knowing that my failed marriage to your mother may have messed you up. Nathan, you are a good son - he repeated. - I want to see you happy and, I tell you, from my experience...
request? I thought the role of parents was to show wisdom and my father comes with one of those? See me married before I die to make sure his marriage to my mother didn't mess me up? Holy shit. I'm not messy. I'm a good son, he said it himself. And please, man, I'm 25 years old. Who gets married at 25? This is the beginning of life. But it was his last request, Tina said when I told her what my father really wanted. Maybe he won't have time to ask you for anything else. I really hope not. Pretend you're married, honey. Take some photos with a model, bring them to him to see.
Show that you care about his last wish in life. My gasp wasn't just disappointment, it was also impatience. What model would feel good collaborating with me to deceive a dying man in his final moments of life? I don't think any. No one is that cruel, even professionally. But here I am, in my office, surfing the internet trying to find someone who can cooperate with this because there's no way I'm calling any woman I know. They would confuse the whole damn thing. They would think it was indirect, that I wanted to ask them to marry me and I made a "joke". I don't understand women's minds, no one does, not even them; but I can bet that it would happen. So, when I've been browsing for too long searching, my cell phone beeps with a notification. I take it to see, opening the messages from my friend Samuel. He swears at me in greeting and asks if I forgot that today is the day for him to choose his wedding suit. Yeah, I actually forgot. I leave the notebook with my search aside and get up to go find my very passionate friend, who sends a photo with our other friends, all giving me the middle finger. I smile. Two of us have already gotten screwed in this wave of love; my turn I pass with flying colors. I prefer to pretend. It's better to deceive my father with a false bride than to see myself trapped forever, forever, by someone's side. I'm out. Chapter 1 Victoria 10:42h Where are you? 10:51am I saw that you are online. Answer me at 11:03 am You won't answer me, right? I'll go there then 11:04h I'll find your new address and you'll see me 11:04h whether you want it or not 11:05h you do the shit and you want to disappear ______________________________________ My eyes wander over the messages sent earlier and I take a deep breath many times – so many times when possible in an attempt to calm down. He couldn't find it, could he? He's not even from the police! Only authorized personnel can collect addresses, right? Of course you do, Victoria. Stop worrying. I get up from the sofa and go to the window, pulling the curtain a little and watching the activity on the street. I don't think he'll find me here, in a place so full of people. And I'm no longer recognizable. Now I have brown hair, not black. Apparently, I'm thinner too, as I'm having to buy new clothes in smaller sizes. The cause of this? Probably the days I spent eating soup to save money for the rent on the new house: in another neighborhood, far away from it, trying to feel free again. And I also got two tattoos. On the left thigh and another on the right shoulder. I'm no longer the Victoria I was months ago. Months in which I was still close to him, in that relationship that suddenly became suffocating. I suffocate. And that's all we had, that's what I realized later. When I met Jacob that rainy morning at a bus stop before going to work and he offered me company under his umbrella, I could not have imagined that this man would later be so inconvenient, with distorted ideas. I thought about refusing the offer to be with him escaping the rain, after all, he was an unknown man at a bus stop. There was only him. And me. I also tried to take into account that he looked strange. I don't know if it was his appearance, his look, the combination of the two with emphasis on that cap he was wearing and which made a statement together with the large and apparently heavy jacket that covered his body. But, at first, he didn't give an impression of comfort being around him. Then I remembered that my mother was the one who used to judge people by their appearance and I ignored that – my instincts. I went under his umbrella and we started talking. Jacob didn't seem very friendly at first. He told me to be careful when I stepped on his sneakers, to stay still so he didn't get too wet and to stop rubbing his arm too much, which bothered him. That was very uncomfortable and I made any excuse, going to the other spot where there was a seat, to get away from him. Then he grabbed my arm, smiled and apologized. He said he was having a bad day and offered me his umbrella so I could be alone – which I didn't accept, of course. But I accepted his apology, which was my biggest mistake. I should have run away, but since I don't have a crystal ball, I really thought it was the result of a bad day on his part. We started talking calmly and, carried away by the moment, I ended up giving him my number when he asked me. He said he had recently moved and friends of his had stayed behind. That's what life as an adult means, renouncing yourself, he explained. Real friends don't take the time to see each other, I should have paid attention to that. But I didn't. I gave my number and we started chatting on WhatsApp. Because of my work, a photographer for PEARL, a famous and acclaimed magazine, it took me a while to say yes to his invitations for dates. Until it finally happened. On a Friday night, when I just wanted to relax, we went to a bar. We talked, laughed, drank, danced and kissed. And then came another date and another, several more until I was asked to be his girlfriend. It was more of a normal relationship until the third month, when Jacob started wanting to know who was texting me, asking to see my cell phone, asking when I was going to give him a copy of my house key, also insisting on knowing if I didn't. I trusted him, and that question always scared me, because I didn't trust him like I thought. And whenever I refused any of these things or hesitated too much, he became irate. He once pulled the cell phone out of my hand so hard that it hurt. And since that day, I had to hide my applications and avoid talking about very personal topics on WPP. When I realized, I was already feeling trapped, almost hanging in the will of a man I didn't love and who gave me nothing but fear. I said I wanted to finish, he accepted. All at peace, were his words
life of deprivation. This is how I lived most of my existence. Everything was always missing. Food, clothes, money. There was also a lack of affection, family and love. A life without any relatives around. A childhood and adolescence in an orphanage. And growing up in a place like this is not easy. Waiting for parents who never showed up, seeing other kids having better luck than mine. And the more I grew, the more distant the dream of adoption became, the more distant any possibility became for me. Over time, the expectation of waiting passed. Over time, seeing other children get a new start didn't hurt me as much. I arrived at that place already far from the age that families were looking for. Rebel, undisciplined and this only made my situation even more difficult. I soon entered adolescence and I couldn't be more difficult, more indomitable. I didn't like those who worked there, the other orphans, or myself. Orphan. The word reminds me of everything, it reminds me that I have no one in the world. Perhaps I never had a father, perhaps my progenitor never knew of my existence. Brothers, fortunately the irresponsible woman who brought me into the world did not have the opportunity to give birth, as she died of an overdose even though she had a hungry child crying while taking drugs. Flashes of that night insist on occupying my mind. They remind me how weak she was, how incapable she was of fighting for us. To fight for a better life for myself. Even a life for yourself. And it shaped the wild child I was, the indomitable adult I am. I know I wasn't and I'm not the best person in the world, but there's something I can be proud of: being astute. I discovered very early on that I didn't want a life of so many deprivations. Discovering that I could use my intelligence, outside of the average, to achieve better expectations for my future. And it was in a lecture, among many that were given to institutionalized people, that I discovered that the type of life I would lead would depend on me. I discovered that I didn't want anything like what I had, that I wanted to build a victorious future. “Focus on your potential.” I heard this phrase, I understood what she meant. I repeated it in my mind over and over again. I realized that I didn't have any choice about my past and present, but if it were up to me, my future would be very different from everything I had experienced up until that moment. Potentiality. Mathematics. Numbers. A facility capable of leaving all teachers astounded. Able to make me stand out in the economics course. Among contemporary students, among perhaps all those who passed through there. After turning 18 we were invited to discover the world outside those walls, we were forced to be on our own. I was already in my first semester of college when I came of age. I was already able to attract attention with my grades. And before he even had to walk through the doors of the orphanage for the last time, he already had a mentor. Antônio realized that perhaps taking me to work with him would bring many advantages, even if he tried to make me think it was because he had a good heart, that he wanted to help me. I pretended to believe him because he needed an income, he needed money if he didn't want to end up on the street, under the viaduct. But he didn't just want that. I didn't want much. I wanted the world. I knew I had the potential to do this, but to do so I needed to seize any possibility that came my way. So I was hired to work at his financial consultancy company and I was happy to work in a medium-sized company, owned by a prominent academic professor, well sought after in the financial market
billionaire heir who is also the owner of her heart, but destiny has already decided that they need to continue that love story, and when they are face to face again, the long-dormant feeling returns to the surface with all its overwhelming force. A Contract with a Billionaire will tell the story of Bárbara Alves, a tourism professional who has just won an award, and Brian Hamilton Smith, a billionaire CEO at the head of a family business, in a reunion years after separating. Attention. This story is derived from the novel CEO's: The Dispute. So, wait to see a little more of Carolina and Samuel. Get ready to laugh and be moved by the beautiful story of these two. A thousand kisses and a great read. Carla Arine It was too perfect to be real. He was all cute, shy, and knew how to make a wonderful dinner... he had to have a flaw. I'm glad I found out in time, it would have been worse if we had made a public commitment or perhaps a marriage. Yes. Only Carol knew, and fuck if that other foreigner had knowledge. — It’s here, lady — the Uber driver tells me. I open the car door and head straight to my house. Today had everything to be a memorable night. It was Carolina's final test against Samuel, and it would clearly be tense. We still don't know who the next CEO will be, but the most surprising revelation of all had already happened and I still couldn't believe it: that Brian Smith, Samuel Wilson and his uncle, Oscar Wilson, came to Brazil with the most sordid plan of all. I can't deny that I was also enchanted by foreigners, but my best friend really fell in love, even with all the madness of hating and loving her biggest opponent. But now we know why this is all. A bid. They used the lucky foreigner's power of seduction to win over my friend and were celebrating the result, taking her out of the running. What they didn't expect was that Carol would put on a show in a jump. — Fuck them! — I exclaimed, in the bathroom looking at my white face in the mirror. My eyes are already red from trying so hard to avoid the tears that want to flow. Crap! Who would have thought the night would end like this? When I left, I was sure I would spend the night in Brian's arms, in a motel or in his apartment. I had even chosen some sexy lingerie, but now, just thinking about the unfortunate thing, I want to... argh. I go back to the room and grab one of the two beers I brought from the event from my bag, trying to console myself for having fallen in love with the wrong guy. I can not believe. Another liar to my list of disappointments. Again I go to sleep alone reflecting on my mistakes. Unemployed and with a Tourism college tuition that costs almost a kidney to pay
impulsive. She had her plan mapped out, it was so simple: Finish college and get rid of her toxic father, Judge Carter. Everyone looked at her and saw her as daddy's princess. They just couldn't imagine what she had to go through to be the perfect daughter he so longed for. Everything was going well, even him. Aaron Seed. Since the day their destinies crossed, she imagined that everything would fall apart around her, she just didn't know if in a good or bad way. Aaron Seed After the death of his mother, he is forced, due to circumstances, to go live with Hanry, his father. Because he can no longer handle Aaron's rebellions, Hanry sends him to the Seed University dorm. Everything was going well, until the day he bumped into a girl. But she wasn't just any girl, she was totally different from the others. The intensity of her eyes attracted him, as he knew the darkness in them, and this only made him more curious to know who she was. However, unlike the others, the mysterious girl clearly said that she didn't want to have a relationship with anyone, especially someone like him. This only gave him reason to want to make her life a living hell, showing that, like the others, she was not immune to him. Something unexpected happens amid provocations, intimidation, discoveries and sexual tension. Aaron and Cadence find themselves completely lost in a feeling neither of them have ever had. Love. "Living life has never been so tempting and scary at the same time." Toxic Bad Boys Bad Boy Cruel Series - book I The other books in the series are completely independent, although some characters may appear throughout the stories. There will be a total of 4 books. Attention! This is a bully romance, you will find an enemies to lovers, and a relationship that is not healthy. It can cause discomfort for some people, as they approach them through provocation and intimidation. As the name suggests, there will be bullying. The author does not support this type of behavior. "IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS TYPE OF ROMANCE, DON'T READ IT!" WE WILL ALSO HAVE TRIGGER OF: Drug addiction, scenes of physical abuse, profanity, descriptive sex, dubious attitudes, illicit and legal drugs, bullying, psychological aggression, toxic parental relationship, maternal and paternal abandonment, relationships that may appear abusive and that can cause triggers. Work intended for people over 18 years of age. Welcome! This book will be a little different from the previous ones, I ask that everyone who reads it, keep an open mind to understand that everything that happens is not tolerable. We will have some themes that may become triggers for some, and that is why I ask you to read the NOTICE that was left. Again, DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. This will be my first Bully Romance and I hope to meet the expectations of all of you readers. I just have to thank you, for all your strength and motivation, and that's why I dedicate this book to you, my reader who always follows my growth, and to you who were interested in the story
Everyone looked at her and saw her as daddy's princess. They just couldn't imagine what she had to go through to be the perfect daughter he so longed for. Everything was going well, even him. Aaron Seed. Since the day their destinies crossed, she imagined that everything would fall apart around her, she just didn't know if in a good or bad way. Aaron Seed After the death of his mother, he is forced, due to circumstances, to go live with Hanry, his father. Because he can no longer handle Aaron's rebellions, Hanry sends him to the Seed University dorm. Everything was going well, until the day he bumped into a girl. But she wasn't just any girl, she was totally different from the others. The intensity of her eyes attracted him, as he knew the darkness in them, and this only made him more curious to know who she was. However, unlike the others, the mysterious girl clearly said that she didn't want to have a relationship with anyone, especially someone like him. This only gave him reason to want to make her life a living hell, showing that, like the others, she was not immune to him. Something unexpected happens amid provocations, intimidation, discoveries and sexual tension. Aaron and Cadence find themselves completely lost in a feeling neither of them have ever had. Love. "Living life has never been so tempting and scary at the same time." Toxic Bad Boys Bad Boy Cruel Series - book I The other books in the series are completely independent, although some characters may appear throughout the stories. There will be a total of 4 books. Attention! This is a bully romance, you will find an enemies to lovers, and a relationship that is not healthy. It can cause discomfort for some people, as they approach them through provocation and intimidation. As the name suggests, there will be bullying. The author does not support this type of behavior. "IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS TYPE OF ROMANCE, DON'T READ IT!" WE WILL ALSO HAVE TRIGGER OF: Drug addiction, scenes of physical abuse, profanity, descriptive sex, dubious attitudes, illicit and legal drugs, bullying, psychological aggression, toxic parental relationship, maternal and paternal abandonment, relationships that may appear abusive and that can cause triggers. Work intended for people over 18 years of age. Welcome! This book will be a little different from the previous ones, I ask that everyone who reads it, keep an open mind to understand that everything that happens is not tolerable. We will have some themes that may become triggers for some, and that is why I ask you to read the NOTICE that was left. Again, DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. This will be my first Bully Romance and I hope to meet the expectations of all of you readers. I just have to thank you, for all your strength and motivation, and that's why I dedicate this book to you, my reader who always follows my growth, and to you who were interested in the story. Welcome if this is your first contact with any of my work! We will learn the story of Aaron Seed and Cadence Archeron.
ENEMIES TO LOVERS – AGE GAP (10 YEARS) – FORCED COEXISTENCE – PCD REPRESENTATIVITY – HOT SCENES “She didn’t represent anything he wanted, but she was everything he obsessively desired.” Michael Swartz is the richest banker in the country. A handsome, seductive, intelligent and well-connected man. At 33 years old, he has immeasurable wealth, high prestige and numerous women. Until a twist hits him like a wind hitting a house of cards. Counting on the help of the only woman who seems immune to his charm, Michael will need to adapt to the new reality or, otherwise, succumb to it. "My Arrogant Banker" is an intense adult romance, with explicit hot scenes. Indicative rating: 18 years old. PROLOGUE - "A Small Final Affront" MICHAEL SWARTZ The pungent smell of candles mixed with the cloying perfume of flowers grew more unpleasant by the minute. It was almost unbearable, and I couldn't wait to leave. But it had a good side. In the background, a soft voice filled the room, chanting "Insensatez" to my complete delight. I had handpicked the soundtrack for the wake. He hated Bossa Nova because he considered the style "too popular". That was the fun... That room playing only Tom Jobim, João Gilberto and Toquinho was a small final affront. Oh, why were you so weak? So heartless? Ah, my heart, whoever has never loved Does not deserve to be loved — My condolences. — Thank you — I replied for the hundredth time. Or thousandth? I lost count of how many times the simple dialogue was repeated that gray afternoon, with one variation or another. - My feelings. - Thanks. — Your father was a good man. Worthy. Exemplary. - Thanks. My mother had left many years before, causing everyone to come directly to me to offer condolences. The eldest son of the late banker Abraão Swartz. The luxurious coffin hovered like a tourist attraction in the adjacent hall, with hundreds of crestfallen people passing by it, amid prayers, laments and tears. And me? I didn't feel anything. Absolutely nothing. A huge emptiness ravaged my chest as I tried to search my memory for any memory that would live up to the "good", "worthy" and "exemplary" praise. —Thirty-three years, the age of Christ. What's it like to be the richest and youngest banker in the country? — Gabriel stopped next to me, an almost imperceptible smile on my twin's lips. Like me, Gab didn't care about the family's Judaism. “I haven't stopped to think about it yet,” I replied, smoothing my black suit, expelling any imaginary dust from the expensive fabric. — How not? Damn, Michael... Now that the old man is finally dead, the Swartz Bank is in his hands,” he whispered, nudging me with his elbow. Like me, Gab didn't give a damn about the dead man in the next room. Unlike us, our cousins ​​were tearful on one of the leather sofas, heads down, looking genuinely saddened by my father's death. I wouldn't judge them. The other Swartz did not receive the same "warm" attention that Abraham gave his children. In fact, few people knew about the cruel treatment given to Gab and, in particular, to me, throughout my childhood and adolescence. The firstborn. How I hated the word... "The old man is finally dead." Gabriel's sentence resonated like an echo, pulling me out of that pit of indifference and torpor, spreading waves of heat through my insides. Slow and sneaky like venomous snakes. — Cheer up... — insisted Gab. — Besides the position and the money, there’s one more reason to celebrate, brother
serving as an escape valve from this world that has become increasingly crazy. I'm currently writing the Born into the Mafia series, but there are several other stories running around in my head. Stay up to date with the latest news by following me on Instagram: @lunaoliveiraautora Kisses! Important notices! A Babysitter for the Cowboy Triplets is a unique book, a light cliché romance, in which, unlike my Mafia Born series books, the main characters are not involved in any illicit activities. The dramas that you will find in the plot will be linked to a nanny going crazy in order to control three nine-year-old boys, whose mission in life is to scare away all the nannies who approached them, all caused by a complex of maternal emotional abandonment. It's a romantic comedy, very fun, with breathtaking hot scenes. It has erotic content, therefore, it is recommended for people over eighteen years of age. The secondary characters, Jonh and Emily, will get their own book in the future, but I don't have a date for that release yet, as there are still other stories that will be written first. You will see a little bit of Lucrécia, Nando and Natasha from the book Minha Mexicana, because although this book is not part of the mafia universe that I created, all my characters, good citizens or not, live in the same universe in general, meeting between books, occasionally. That's it, I hope you enjoy reading and fall in love with my cowboy. Kisses! Synopsis Clara Mancini is Brazilian, the youngest of ten siblings, and a veterinary medicine student. She gets an exchange scholarship to study in Austin, Texas, and moves there. During the summer holidays, needing a temporary job to pay her bills, she ends up offering to be a nanny for three little pests, children of the cowboy, owner of Fazenda Olhos D'água. Sam Mackenzie needed a nanny to take care of his three sons, Jason, Jacob and Joshua, and when the agency's last nanny runs out of his farm after the boys stuck gum in her hair, Clara presents herself as the solution. of your problems, at least during the summer holidays. The triplets don't make it easy for Clara, but what they didn't expect is that at the trick school they studied, Clara had already been expelled for knowing too much. Between one prank and another, in this delicious romantic comedy, Clara wins not only the hearts of the triplets, but also the heart of the cowboy
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
"The entire wealthy circle in Seattle knew how much Stella Carlson loved Aaron Malone. People watched the childhood sweethearts grow from inexperience to maturity, finally getting married in a grand wedding ceremony. On the day of the wedding, despite the alliance between the Carlson and Malone families, the groom ran away. Stella knew that Aaron had rushed to L.A. to take care of his ex-girlfriend, who had attempted suicide. Unwilling to become the laughingstock of all Seattle, she gritted her teeth and dialed the number of her adversary, her tone almost commanding, "Ethan, come and marry me now. This is your only chance for revenge." On the other end, Ethan Powers raised an eyebrow as he gripped his phone, staring at the floor littered with cigarette butts. "Did the groom run away?" he asked. "My darling."
Lucille was one of the most skilled female assassins, and on the previous night, she embarked on a top-secret mission. However, the mission's details were leaked, leading to her untimely demise at the hands of a traitorous companion. She never discovered the identity of the person who betrayed her before her death. But by some miracle, she was granted a new life, and was reborn as a girl with the same name. Determined to uncover the truth and seek revenge for her family, Lucille seized her second chance at life. She planned to avenge her loved ones. However, her plans were complicated by Joseph, an apparently frail man who was actually skilled in martial arts. And he seemed to fall for her deeply, now this newfound knowledge only added to the complications of Lucille's revenge plan...
For seven years, Jillian pursued Bryan with unyielding passion, but he remained distant, his emotions tightly sealed. Disheartened, she left for overseas after graduating from college. Three years later, Jillian, now a successful attorney, sat provocatively on the lap of Bryan's competitor. She flashed Bryan a playful smile and taunted, "What's wrong, Bryan? Are you impotent?" Bryan's restraint shattered in an instant. In a swift motion, he scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed. The next morning, as Bryan woke up, Jillian flashed a mischievous smile. "Let's keep things casual, okay?"