The reception was lively, and it wasn’t until the evening that the last guest left.
Hunter had drunk quite a bit and seemed slightly intoxicated. He kept glancing at Tara,
+25 BONUS
smiling at her now and then.
After seeing off the guests, Tara helped him to their bedroom.
Once he was lying on the bed, Tara headed to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and changed into her sleepwear.
When she returned to the bed and sat down, Hunter suddenly sat up, startling her.
“I need to shower,” he mumbled, his voice groggy.
Before she could protest, he was already heading to the bathroom.
Unable to argue, Tara let him do as he pleased. She realized that being married was unexpectedly exhausting.
Lying in bed, she felt tired but couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts were restless, leaving her slightly
anxious.
Hunter emerged from the bathroom, a towel slung low around his waist, his hair still damp, water droplets trailing down his neck and along the defined lines of his chest.
He had just the right amount of lean muscle–sensual and undeniably magnetic.
Sitting beside her, he curved his lips into a teasing smile. “Do I look good?”
Before Tara could respond, his lips were on hers, his presence commanding and enveloping
her.
She shifted slightly. “You’ve had too much to drink. You should rest.
Hunter might have been tipsy, but his gaze was sharp and intent, his eyes fixed on her with a fiery intensity.
Out of nowhere, he murmured, “Whatever Leo couldn’t give you, I can.”
Tara’s voice softened. “Alright.”
She thought to herself that promises from men were just words.
But Hunter seemed to read her thoughts. He pressed his lips to hers with renewed fervor.
On their wedding night, Tara didn’t resist.
At first, she tried to hold back, but as the night went on, reason gave way to emotion.
In a low, teasing whisper, he asked, “Don’t believe me?”
Her eyes glistened, her voice tender. “I do, I do.” She bit down on his shoulder playfully.” That’s for being naughty!”
Hunter’s dark eyes deepened, spurred by her reaction, and he let himself indulge fully.
By the end of it all, Tara drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
2/4
Chapter 23
Hunter, now fully sober, gazed down at her glowing face nestled in his arms.
Every promise he made tonight came from his heart, Time, he thought, would prove his sincerity.
Meanwhile, Leo had returned to the country.
He wasn’t the same. He became colder, more distant, his aura even more intense than before
Instead of succumbing to despair, he threw himself into work, becoming a relentless, almost mechanical force.
He made a public donation of fifty million to charity, skillfully repairing the damage from his previous scandal.
Next, he invested in a major blockbuster film for the holiday season, raking in half a billion in profit.
Under his leadership, the entertainment and media company he managed flourished, becoming a rising star in the industry.
The Carter Corporation’s stock not only recovered from the losses caused by the scandal but soared even higher.
Mr. Carter Sr. and the board of directors regained confidence in him, valuing him even more than before.
As for the once–sensational Tara Stone scandal, it was overshadowed by wave after wave of trending news and gradually faded from public memory.
A year later, Wesley completed his sentence and was deported back to Genovia. Within six months, his family’s business collapsed.
Eighteen months after her release, Nina struggled to find her footing. The domestic entertainment industry completely shut her out.
Hoping for a fresh start, she tried to return to the international scene, but even foreign industries refused to work with her.
She couldn’t accept it. The unfairness gnawed at her.
Other celebrities had served five, even ten years in prison, yet they returned to the industry and reclaimed their success.
Why was every door shutting in her face?
Frustrated and unwilling to let it go, she vented to a friend.
Chapter 23
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Finally, unable to endure her constant complaints, the friend hinted, “You crossed the wrong people.‘
She shifted slightly. “You’ve had too much to drink. You should rest.
Hunter might have been tipsy, but his gaze was sharp and intent, his eyes fixed on her with a fiery intensity.
Out of nowhere, he murmured, “Whatever Leo couldn’t give you, I can.”
Tara’s voice softened. “Alright.”
She thought to herself that promises from men were just words.
But Hunter seemed to read her thoughts. He pressed his lips to hers with renewed fervor.
On their wedding night, Tara didn’t resist.
At first, she tried to hold back, but as the night went on, reason gave way to emotion.
In a low, teasing whisper, he asked, “Don’t believe me?”
Her eyes glistened, her voice tender. “I do, I do.” She bit down on his shoulder playfully.” That’s for being naughty!”
Hunter’s dark eyes deepened, spurred by her reaction, and he let himself indulge fully.
By the end of it all, Tara drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
2/4
Chapter 23
Hunter, now fully sober, gazed down at her glowing face nestled in his arms.
Every promise he made tonight came from his heart, Time, he thought, would prove his sincerity.
Meanwhile, Leo had returned to the country.
He wasn’t the same. He became colder, more distant, his aura even more intense than before
Instead of succumbing to despair, he threw himself into work, becoming a relentless, almost mechanical force.
He made a public donation of fifty million to charity, skillfully repairing the damage from his previous scandal.
Next, he invested in a major blockbuster film for the holiday season, raking in half a billion in profit.
Under his leadership, the entertainment and media company he managed flourished, becoming a rising star in the industry.
The Carter Corporation’s stock not only recovered from the losses caused by the scandal but soared even higher.
Mr. Carter Sr. and the board of directors regained confidence in him, valuing him even more than before.
As for the once–sensational Tara Stone scandal, it was overshadowed by wave after wave of trending news and gradually faded from public memory.
A year later, Wesley completed his sentence and was deported back to Genovia. Within six months, his family’s business collapsed.
Eighteen months after her release, Nina struggled to find her footing. The domestic entertainment industry completely shut her out.
Hoping for a fresh start, she tried to return to the international scene, but even foreign industries refused to work with her.
She couldn’t accept it. The unfairness gnawed at her.
Other celebrities had served five, even ten years in prison, yet they returned to the industry and reclaimed their success.
Why was every door shutting in her face?
Frustrated and unwilling to let it go, she vented to a friend.
Chapter 23
+25 BONUS
Finally, unable to endure her constant complaints, the friend hinted, “You crossed the wrong people.‘
