He Gave Her Strawberries, Gave Me Hives (Ford and Sylvia) novel Chapter 223

Everyone knew Lorelei Vaughn got close to Damian Blackwood over an eighty–million–dollar bet.

Every calculated encounter, every so–called accident, was just her doing a job for cash.

The mission: to make Manhattan’s untouchable “Saint“-the man who clutched his prayer beads and claimed detachment from the world–break his vows and fall.

So when Damian, for Lorelei, removed the prayer beads he never went without and led her by the hand into the Blackwood family estate, all of Manhattan was shaken.

The trust–fund kid who’d lost a fortune on the bet stormed up to Damian, voice raw, ready to expose Lorelei’s game.

But Damian’s expression was mild, utterly unconcerned. “I’ve known from the very beginning.”

What does it matter? I walked into her game willingly.”

For her, he broke his vows, planting the private chapel’s backyard with the pear blossoms she adored.

He halted a sermon before hundreds just to drape a coat over her shoulders.

And when his family applied pressure, he surrendered half his fortune without hesitation to make her his wife.

n the face of such blatant devotion, even Lorelei, who entered the game wearing a mask, couldn’t help but let her heart get involved, willingly stepping into the age of marriage.

Jntil the spring of their fifth year of marriage, when a special guest arrived at the Blackwood estate.

The heiress of Miami’s powerful Montoya family, Sabine Montoya.

Dressed in a sharply tailored black suit, she was tall and striking.

the stood in the courtyard, her gaze traveling past the servant guiding her, fixed directly on Damian as he rose from beneath a pear blossom tree.

Mr. Blackwood, my father is gravely ill. His final wish is to hear you recite a prayer for his blessing, I implore you to grant it.”

Loreler’s hand, holding a teacup, paused mid–air.

Labine Montoya She’d heard the name.

The true uncrowned rulers of that glittering, debaucherous city of Miami, the Montoya empire was a tangled web, with tentacles in both legitimate and dirtt

worlds.

And this heiress, in particular, was known for being ruthless and unpredictable.

Damian’s expression remained unchanged as he made a clear gesture for her to leave. Please leave. Ms Montoya

“I broke my vows years ago. I am a worldly man, I dare not blaspheme the holy word, much less aint to pray for your father

Sabine didn’t budge, standing outside the Blackwood estate gates for three straight days

Through the drizzling autumn rain, she stood soaked to the bone but refused to leave. finally sinking to her knees on the the payers

Damian, moved by her filial piety, eventually relented

I will accompany you to Miami for three days only ifla gaze shifted to Earl and only

pate in long my awe night mass

Chapter 1

But in those three short days, everything changed.

The day Damian returned to New York, Lorelei went to the airport herself.

She stood at the private terminal exit, her fingers unconsciously brushing against her stomach.

When Damian’s figure appeared at the end of the jet bridge, she jogged to meet him, her eyes shimmering. “Damian, I’m pregnant.”

she tilted her face up, searching his eyes for the same joy.

3ut Damian just stood there, stunned. The prayer beads at his wrist creaked in his grip, his face devoid of a new father’s happiness.

t was only then that Lorelei noticed: for the first time in five years, Damian was wearing his prayer beads again.

A terrible premonition bloomed in her chest, her voice tightening. “What’s wrong?”

Are you just speechless with joy?”

lis Adam’s apple bobbed. Just as he was about to speak, a figure strode out from behind him.

I was Sabine.

he marched right up to Damian, the corners of her eyes red. “Damian, you lied to me!”

With that, she spun around to leave.

amian immediately caught up to her, his tone urgent. “Don’t cause a scene. Why would I go back on my promise to you?”

orelei watched him cradle Sabine protectively in his arms, coaxing her softly, and her heart sank piece by piece.

1 only three days, they had become this intimate.

fter finally placating Sabine, Damian walked over to Lorelei.

is eyes fell to her stomach, his voice cruelly calm. “This baby… has come at the wrong time.”

orelei thought she’d misheard. “What did you say?”

jet rid of it,” he repeated, his gaze flicking to Sabine in the distance. “In Miami, I already gave Sabine my word.”

The title of Mrs. Blackwood will remain yours, but a Blackwood heir can only be born from her.”

wave of absurdity washed over Lorelei, and she almost laughed aloud. “Damian, have you lost your mind?”

in giving you three days,” he said, unmoved. “Think it over carefully.”

Then the three days were up, Damian pushed open the bedroom door.

orelei stood by the window, the setting sun stretching her silhouette into a long, lonely shape.

don’t agree.”

amian’s eyes darkened. “Sabine followed me back to New York without any official status, she’s already endured a great injustice…”

njustice?” Lorelei spun around, her pent up rage finally erupting “If she doesn’t want to be wronged, she shouldn’t be a homewrecker

ist outside, Sabine’s steps faltered. She shot Lorelei a cold glare, said nothing, and simply pulled out her phone to make a call.

Arrange a helicopter immediately. I’m going back to Miami.

low completely frantic, the last trace of warmth in Damian’s gaze toward Lorelei vanished.

hapter 1

Since you insist on being stubborn, don’t blame me for making the decision for you.”

5 he finished speaking, two bodyguards entered and seized Lorelei by each arm.

Damian! What are you doing? Let me go!”

relei struggled in terror, kicking wildly, but she couldn’t break free.

ou’re insane! This is your child! Our child!”

e was forcibly dragged from the room and down the long hallway.

er pleas echoed through the vast, empty estate, but no one responded.

imian followed in silence, the prayer beads in his hand moving rapidly, his expression resolute.

relei was shoved into a car and taken to a private hospital.

e screamed, she fought.

It all she received were a nurse’s cold platitudes and the creeping effects of anesthesia.

her consciousness faded, she thought she heard the surgeon confirm in a low voice, “Mr. Blackwood, are you certain about the hysterectomy as well? This

fake it clean. There can be absolutely no chance of her getting pregnant again.” The familiar male voice was utterly devoid of emotion.

hen she woke again, she was back in the bedroom of the Blackwood estate.

le sharp, empty ache in her abdomen was a silent declaration of what Lorelei had lost.

ot just the long–awaited child, but also her very potential, as a woman, to ever become a mother.

amian sat by the bed, reaching out to stroke her hair, but she flinched away.

e didn’t react. “I know you’re still angry, but Lorelei, I did it for the child’s own good.”

f the child were born and knew its mother was a hired seductress, it would live its life in shame.”

srelei closed her eyes as silent tears streamed down her face.

e used to say he didn’t care about her background, that he’d walked into her game willingly.

ut now, that past had become the very blade he used to trample her heart.

amian was soon called away try Saline.

he door closed. Lorelei struggled to sit up.

he opened the laptop that had sat gathering dust for five years and logged into her loyalty tester account.

n her private messages lay an encrypted 10 from overseas.

Five years ago, on the eve of her marriage to Dandan, this I had sent a bigh profile job offer

At the time, she was absorbed in the happiness of her imperuling marriage and, wanting no compitiations had rejected auth

Now, she clicked open the chat window and typed

[Are you still in need of loyalty testing services?)

Her fingertip hovered over the enter key for a moment before she added another line: