Gael stepped out of his luxurious Rolls Royce Phantom, and as he reached the towering glass building of his company, he put on his professional demeanor, his face a mask of authority and determination. He was not willing to entertain any unprofessional gestures today, especially after the chaotic morning he had.His personal assistant was waiting for him at the top floor, a tablet in hand, and a respectful smile on his face, as the elevator doors opened."Good morning, Mr. Edgar," his PA greeted him, his voice composed and professional."Morning," Gael replied with a nod, acknowledging his presence. "What's on the agenda for today?"He quickly briefed him on the day's schedule, the important meetings, and the urgent matters that required his attention. Gael listened intently, absorbing the information, and mentally preparing himself for the day ahead."We also received an email from the bloggers," his PA mentioned hesitantly, knowing the stress Gael had to put up with when handling
PrologueFive years ago, in the dimly lit room of a club, a young lady laid unconscious on a dirty couch. Her long, dark hair was splayed out around her like a halo. The music from the club thumped loudly outside the closed door, muffling the sounds of her shallow breathing. Her dress was hiked up around her waist, revealing her underwear and the bruises on her thighs.She was just another victim of the predatory club-goer who had slipped something into her drink and taken advantage of her. She laid there, alone and violated, feeling a mix of fear, anger, and confusion. She had no idea who he was or why he had done this to her,As she tried to piece together what had happened, she saw him standing just beside the window, his back to her. He was wearing only his trousers, and she could see a Hawaiian tattoo on his back. The light reflecting off the window obscured his face, but she knew with a sickening sense of certainty that he was the one who had taken advantage of her while she was
Elma arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early, her heart pounding with a mixture of nerves and uncertainty. She had never imagined that she would be entering into a contract marriage. As she waited for Gael to arrive, she couldn't help but feel a little anxious about what was to come.Finally, Gael walked through the door, a broad smile on his face. "Elma, you look beautiful," he said, as he approached her table. He was followed by a man in a suit, who Elma assumed was his lawyer."Thank you," Elma said, her heart racing as Gael sat down across from her."I'm glad you decided to accept my offer," Gael said, as he handed her a stack of documents. "This is the contract for our marriage. It's a two-year commitment, and you'll be living in my billionaire mansion."Elma's eyes widened in surprise. She had not expected the marriage to be so long, or for her to be living in Gael's home. "I had no idea it would be this serious," she said, her voice trembling."I know it's a lot to take i
"Hello, Mrs. Edgar, it's nice to finally meet you," Elma said with a warm smile as she extended her hand to Gael's mother.Gael's mother hesitated for a moment before reluctantly shaking Elma's hand. "Yes, nice to meet you too," she said, her voice cold and distant."Breakfast is ready, so please come downstairs," Mrs Edgar said, turning away from Elma and walking downstairs.Mrs. Edgar sat at the head of the large, mahogany dining table, her eyes fixed on Elma as she took a delicate sip of tea from her porcelain cup. "So, dear," she said, her tone cold and measured. "How did you and Gael meet?"Elma shifted nervously in her seat, glancing over at Gael for support. Before she could respond, however, Gael jumped in. "We met in Los Angeles," he said quickly. "At a fashion runway show I was attending. Elma's a model."Mrs. Edgar raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "A model, you say? I find that hard to believe. I've never heard of you, dear."Elma shifted in her seat, clearly un
The kiss lasted for what felt like an eternity, neither of them wanting to break away. Just as Gael's kiss was getting deeper, Kim suddenly pulled away. "Wait a minute," she said, smiling mischievously. "I thought you were getting married to Elma?"Gael looked surprised and a little embarrassed as he replied "It's not what it looks like. It's complicated."Gael smiled and pulled her close, kissing her again passionately. Kim pulled away again, and looked into Gael's eyes. "I do want to know what's going on though," she said softly. "I need to know everything."Gael adjusted his clothes and looked at Kim, "We should go back to the dining room," he said. "Just keep it cool, okay? I'll tell you everything later.""Okay," she said, trying to compose herself. "I'll keep my cool. As Gael and Kim walked back into the dining room, Gael could feel the tension in the air. He knew that he needed to explain things to Elma and clear up any confusion.He walked over to Elma and apologized for keep
Elma's heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted through the church doors, escaping the confining walls that now seemed suffocating. She stumbled down the stone steps, her white dress billowing around her, tangling in her hurried strides. Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the raindrops that fell from the darkened sky above."Elma! Wait!" a voice called out from behind her. She recognized it as Gael’'s, the man who had just whispered those words that had sent her into a frenzy of emotions. She ignored his pleas, pushing herself to run faster, desperate to find solace in the chaos of her thoughts.The sound of her own ragged breathing filled her ears as she dashed through the rain-soaked streets. She was a blur, her surroundings nothing more than a blur of colors and indistinguishable shapes. The memories flooded back, unrelenting and vivid, each one more painful than the last.She found herself at a nearby park, seeking refuge among the ancient trees and the gentle rustling
As the voice reverberated in Elma's ears, her heart skipped a beat. She turned around, only to find Gael's mother, Mrs Edgar, making her way towards her with an air of disapproval. Elma braced herself, knowing that trouble was looming around the corner.Mrs Edgar's eyes blazed with anger, her words piercing through the celebratory atmosphere. "Elma, how dare you? How could you just run out on my son's wedding? Don't you realize the disrespect you've shown to our family? Do you even know who we are?"Elma felt a wave of anxiety wash over her, but she stood her ground, determined to defend her actions. "Mrs Edgar, I understand that my sudden departure may have seemed disrespectful, but please believe me when I say it wasn't intentional. I was overwhelmed by emotions, and I needed some time to collect myself."Mrs Edgar scoffed, her tone dripping with scorn. "Collect yourself? This is a wedding, Elma. You don't just run away because you're 'overwhelmed.' You should have thought about tha
Gael watched as Kim's expression shifted from hurt to anger, her eyes narrowing with intensity. He could feel the weight of her unspoken threats hanging in the air, and confusion clouded his mind as he struggled to understand the depth of her emotions."Kim, please," Gael pleaded, his voice tinged with urgency. "I need you to listen to me. There's more to this than meets the eye. I didn't enter into this contract marriage lightly, and I never meant to deceive you."Kim crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her stance defensive. "Then why didn't you tell me about it, Gael? Why keep it a secret? Do you think I'm not deserving of the truth?"Gael's heart sank as he realized the pain he had caused Kim by withholding the information. He stepped closer, reaching out to touch her arm gently. "No, Kim, that's not it at all. I didn't tell you because I wanted to protect you. I thought it would be easier for both of us if we went our separate ways."Kim scoffed, her voice dripping with sarca