Joanna looked up at him, her flushed face radiating absolute satisfaction. Catching her breath, she offered a radiant smile, her eyes glittering with a soft, affectionate light.

"Maxwell, you take the pictures. I'm entirely too exhausted. Pissing off Natalie is mandatory, of course. I want to make her life a living hell." She pressed closer against his chest. There was no denying it—Maxwell completely fulfilled her in every possible way.

He soothed every dark corner of her soul, leaving her body humming with a blissful afterglow.

Maxwell was the ultimate anchor for her twisted sanity.

Maxwell laughed, his voice dripping with seductive heat. "Alright. Hand me the phone. My photography skills are way better than yours anyway. Let's really rub it in Natalie's face. Let her see exactly how spoiled and worshipped you are in my bed."

"I can see right through it. Natalie is still wildly in love with Sebastian. What a tragedy that Sebastian is currently sleeping with the fishes at the bottom of the ocean."

A flicker of reluctance crossed Joanna's eyes. If Sebastian had survived, and if none of that messy history had happened, he would have made an absolutely phenomenal stepping stone for her ambitions.

Sebastian's capabilities had been genuinely terrifying.

Ten Maxwells couldn't even match a fraction of Sebastian's brilliance.

Joanna handed the phone over. Maxwell adjusted the angle, his gaze intentionally flooded with deep obsession and tenderness—a calculated performance strictly for Natalie's benefit. Knowing it would break Natalie's heart brought him immense, sadistic joy.

Natalie had stolen everything that rightfully belonged to her.

Joanna's lips curved into a wicked smile, posing as if they were the only two people left in the world.

Click...

After snapping six rapid-fire shots, Maxwell handed the phone back so she could hit send.

He then helped her transition into her wheelchair; his chest still ached too much to carry her outright.

Making their way back to the bed, the two immediately launched into another intense, heated session.

Joanna adored his mastery in the bedroom. It guaranteed that on these quiet, isolated nights, she would at least get a fantastic night's sleep.

"Joanna, I love you."

Lost in the throes of passion, Maxwell felt like he was floating on air, the sweet nothings pouring effortlessly from his lips. Joanna's mind melted under his relentless physical dominance both her body, and soul left completely satiated.

Joanna tensed, barely able to handle the overwhelming friction, surrendering

entirely to the agonizing, euphoric peak of her release.

...

The early morning sunlight streamed through the window, draping the pristine white furniture in a soft, golden glow.

Natalie fluttered her eyes open. Seeing the clear skies outside, a faint smile tugged at her lips.

It felt like an eternity since she had truly seen the sun.

She stretched lazily, her silky hair fanning out like a dark halo across the pillows.

Sitting up slowly, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She had slept incredibly well last night, and her mood was remarkably light.

Bathed in the morning light, her luminous skin looked even softer. Her large eyes, slightly glassy from a fresh yawn, sparkled like morning dew.

"Ah... the sun, finally," she murmured, slipping out of bed. She reached for her phone to check the time.

Instantly, a barrage of messages and photos from Joanna flooded her screen.

Joanna: [Natalie, Sebastian spoils

me rotten. Just look at how

incredible he is in bed. You two were married for years, and he wouldn't even touch you because you disgusted him. He saved himself for me and gave me his absolute best. You're nothing but a pathetic stray no one ever wanted.]

The attached photos featured the two of them looking flushed and thoroughly ravished.

The raunchy, nauseating smugness of the shots practically oozed out of the screen.

Natalie curled her lip in disgust. Trying to ruin her morning with cheap smut-classic Joanna behavior.

Without missing a beat, Natalie

typed out a breezy reply: [Save the explicit photos for someone else. Wishing you two a long, happy unton and a whole brood of kids.