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Claire Lyons has always been the quiet, good girl, harboring a secret crush on her best friend Vanessa's father, Rawls Bennett, since she was sixteen. Now a grown woman, Claire can no longer ignore her feelings. But confessing to Rawls risks more than just heartbreak-it could shatter friendships, unearth buried secrets, and set off a chain of events no one saw coming. As tensions rise, loyalties are tested, and lives are changed, Claire must decide whether love is worth the chaos it will unleash
Claire's POV
I glared at my brother, not ready to release the slice of cake.
"Richmond," I called in a warning tone.
He smiled wickedly, sighing his spoon into the cake.
"Don't you dare!" I warned, but he was prepared, running away from the spot before I could catch him.
He had the last piece of cake. And it was mine. He ran off to his room.
"Richmond!!!" I yelled, but he only laughed, making me more defeated than angry. That was supposed to be my dessert. For goodness sake, he had eaten all the cake.
Dad was laughing and gently pushed a glass of juice on me. I grabbed the glass and drank it.
"You have to be quicker than him next time," Dad said, and I rolled my eyes. I packed the dishes and took them to the kitchen.
I washed them and walked to my room, briefly stopping to kick Richmond's door.
"Good night, Dad!" I yelled from the staircase.
"Good night honey," my dad replied.
I walked up to my room and shut the door. Being the only daughter of my dad and the lovely princess of the house I had the coziest bedroom. It was large and painted in soft powdered blue and peach.
It was the typical girly room with many accessories and things only girls would understand. I had a dressing table, a large mirror and a small purse mirror which served more use than the larger one.
A medium-sized box of makeup kits and some jewelry boxes decorated the room. I loved to be neat, and everything had its place. My laptop lay on my bed open, and I went to close it.
I placed it on the table and stretched out on my bed. My mind drifted to Rawl Benett. He was the man I had been crushing on for years since I was sixteen. He was my best friend, Vanessa's father.
I couldn't stop my feelings for him no matter how hard I tried. Every Time I was around him, I would stare and look away before he caught me. His fine, neatly trimmed beards made my hands itchy to touch, and those lips were always dreamy.
He was a fine hunk of a man, and those grey eyes always made me lose. "He's just so perfect," I mumbled.
Memories of the time he made me laugh when I was sad flooded my mind. I covered my cheeks in my hand as they turned warm.
"Why does it have to be so hard?" I murmured. "I love you but I can't be with you. You don't even notice me. You probably look at me as your daughter."
"Ugh, just my luck to fall for my friend's father," I said, rubbing my hand on my face.
My hands fell to my sides on the bed and I sighed. "I shouldn't be thinking of you."
Thinking of him made me shudder delightfully, and I closed my eyes, smiling.
My eyes flashed open as a faint knock came on my door. "Ugh," I groaned softly and went to open the door.
"Dad, shouldn't you be a..." the words caught in my throat as I stared in shock at the pair of eyes looking back at me. What was he doing here?
"Rawl," I gasped.
"Hey," he responded.
"Oh my God! Did anyone see you coming here?" I asked, searching for anyone behind him.
Satisfied with seeing no one, I pulled him into the room and shut the door quickly. I held my chest, panting and my gaze fell on him.
"What are you doing here? It's late!"
He smirked and walked closer to me. "I thought you wanted me around," he answered.
"I did but not like this. How do you even get past the door? Did Dad see you?" I asked.
He leaned closer, pushing me slowly to the wall. "I may have used the spare key. And no, I was careful enough not to be seen. I wasn't expecting to be so lucky," Rawl said, smirking.
My heart pounded faster in my chest, and my cheeks turned hot.
His fingers touched my chin and lifted my face to meet his gaze. "Look at me, Claire. You have gorgeous eyes," he said.
His eyes darted to my lips. "And those lips," he said, moving his thumb to caress my bottom lip.
"Rawl," I whispered and his lips brushed mine. My heart raced wildly at the touch. "I..."
"Shh," he said. "Don't say anything."
His soft lips mine, awakening the butterflies dancing in my stomach. I had never imagined it would be this beautiful. My lips moved against his.
I wrapped my hands around his neck, wanting more. He broke the kiss, and I felt disappointed. I looked up at him, my heart racing.
I watched him lick his lips and my legs shivered. He leaned in, giving me goosebumps as his warm breath touched my neck. "You're so beautiful, Claire," he whispered.
His fingers traced my jawline and I shivered. "I wished I had done this sooner. I'm not holding back anymore," he said.
"I love you, Claire."
"Rawl, do you mean it?" I asked, my voice whispering.
"Yes, baby," he replied.
"You don't know how long I have waited to hear those words," I confessed, touching his face.
"I love you, Rawl."
I wrapped my arms around him, pulled him closer and kissed him.
"I want you, Claire," he whispered after breaking the kiss.
"I want you too, Rawl."
"You're mine. Only mine!" His deep voice growled softly, and he leaned in, his lips brushing mine as I suddenly woke up.
"Rawl," I whispered, looking around to see an empty room.
I sat up quickly on my bed, moving the sheets off my body. I scanned the room, wondering what had just happened.
I kept looking around my room. I ran to the door and stopped once I noticed it was locked from the inside, which I could have only done.
"What just happened?" I asked. "He was right here. And we...kissed." I was with Rawl. How did I end up back in my bed?
I raised my fingers to touch my lips. It had felt real. Wasn't it?
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"