The CEO’s Hidden Love Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires

"But I don’t want to marry you!"

Jeffrey was clearly holding back a storm of anger.

If he hadn't thought she was taking too long in the restroom and barged in without considering the men's and women's signs, Karen's call would have gone through!

God help him if Dorothy found out he had essentially put Karen under house arrest—it'd be worse than if his own parents knew!

Dorothy was the apple of Everett's eye; she was untouchable.

Everett would definitely give him hell for this.

"Knock it off. You've had your bathroom break. Now let's go get our marriage license." This is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Jeffrey's hand landed on her shoulder, pressing gently but firmly.

But Karen wasn't budging.

"Can't you be reasonable for once? Jeffrey, the more you push, the less I want to marry you!"

"Then who do you want to marry?"

"That's not the point! Don't twist my words!"

Jeffrey clenched his jaw, his towering presence casting a shadow that enveloped Karen.

"You were worried about playing stepmom, so I proved that Paige’s child isn't mine! You were scared of the drama from exes. My handling of Paige and Arthur's situation has sent a clear message to the scene—if they value their lives, they won't mess with me. You can rest easy."

Rest easy? What was there to rest easy about? Karen thought.

"Jeffrey, what you did to Paige was heartless; I'm scared you'd do the same to me one day!"

"I won't!"

Karen peered into his eyes and said, "Then let me go. I don't want to marry you, and as for the child, I might reconsider."

"No negotiations on that."

"Well, I'm not going!"

In a flash, Jeffrey hoisted Karen up in his arms. "I'm getting that marriage license today."

...

Dorothy had gathered everything Ephraim had requested and made a special trip to hand it over to him personally.

He was enthusiastic, eager to hash out the details.

"Looking at it, the court might peg Heather as the mastermind."

After all, it was Heather who had started the trouble; Amanda and Dorothy's mother had no direct beef.

"But it wasn't Heather giving the orders."

"Ms. Sanchez, with this evidence, their conviction is a sure thing. It's just a matter of sentencing and the nature of the conviction. I'll fight for your best interests, whether that's monetary compensation or severe punishment."

Lawyers instinctively prioritize their clients' rights and interests.

But Dorothy was different.

"I won't agree to a settlement, nor will I sign any agreement."

"But... even if both defendants get the death penalty, you won't get anything! Your mother won't come back to life." Ephraim knew such a statement was hard for most clients to swallow, but he had to say it.

"I'm adamant about an eye for an eye, Ephraim. My greatest hope is that they both get the death penalty."

Ephraim paused, choosing his words carefully, "That might be difficult... The final verdict might disappoint you. One might get death, the other—"

"I'll appeal for a second trial. And if the final verdict remains the same, I'll accept it."

She was seeking justice, not a vendetta.