Chapter: Chapter 73Charles.We settled. I apologized and let her know it wasn't my intention to say such things. She finally forgave me and we kissed and cuddled for a while before we stepped out of the room. Downstairs, my family sat scattered on each couch. It made me even more upset. If I had known, I should have just stayed in there with her and we'd go another round. She was already smiling at my parents. I knew they liked her too much. The words in my head rang: please, don't greet them. Please don't. Before I could snatch her from the waist, she chimed. “Mr Sterling! Mrs Sterling!” Hell no. “Sloane. Oh, I didn't know you were here.” My mom smiled and pulled her in for a hug. I stood with both hands in my pocket, frowning my face. “The queen of Aurelia city.” Dad laughed and she scurried to hug him..That was what they always called her because of her father. He developed this city more. He's just like Genevieve's dad. The politicians and rich men of the city plus my Dad. That's why they bel
Last Updated: 2026-07-11
Chapter: Chapter 72Charles. Two weeks later. I emptied the second bottle of alcohol till I wasn't myself. Darcie left me. She left me like that, to suffer, live in regrets and do stupid things. I couldn't stop thinking about her. I tried so many fucking times. But I still find myself going back to the same fucking loop. My head cocked backwards as I sat on my chair. I barely left my room, the maids got me my food as I told them. I just stared out of the window, thinking about Darcie. Her smile, the way she walks, eats, studies, every little thing she does occupies my mind all the time. “You little fool.” I cursed and my brows furrowed. I rubbed my temples in frustration and slurred from the chair, kicked it away and fell on the bed. I needed a fucking distraction. That's all. Right now, I'm too tired to do anything so I'll just stay with the pain in my chest. I slept and woke up for a while. Just on my bed. Devoid of emotions. Mom and Dad were tired of me. I refused to have family dinner with them.
Last Updated: 2026-07-11
Chapter: Chapter 71CharlesA searing pain pulsed through my head as I slowly regained consciousness. I groaned and my eyelashes fluttered, although they were heavy but I managed to pull them open wide. The fluorescent lights were bright and I winced trying to rub my eyes but pain shot up my arms. I closed my eyes one more time and opened it. Machines beeped and there was an IV pole. It came into my understanding that I was in a hospital room then all the memories flooded. The road, Darcie's video, the crash. The crushing weight of her words. I never loved you. My heart was literally bleeding. I had a crash trying to find her. And at the end of the day, she never loved me. But the crash scene kept on replaying. Different emotions filled my head. Anger, sadness, hatred, love, betrayal and most especially, regret. My head ached badly and the thoughts of Darcie only made it worse. Darcie was really gone. She never loved me. A nurse walked in and she walked towards my bed. “Hello, How are you feeling ?”I
Last Updated: 2026-07-11
Chapter: Chapter 70Charles I lay motionless on the floor before Arthur stepped in. There's a crinkling smile on his lips. He finds this amusing when it's not. I swear, I'll punch his face regardless of his position whether he's older than me or not. “Wow. You love that slave way too much to destroy her room.”I jolted up from the floor and jumped to my feet. My face changed into a frown and I charged at him. Our faces were inches apart and my shoulders squared. He chuckled, totally amazed by my actions. I don't normally challenge him like this. “Don't call her that. She's not a slave.” I grind my teeth and my cold eyes lingered on his for a while before his lips parted. “Charles, Darcie doesn't love you.” “That's a lie.” My face hardened. “If she does, she won't leave this mansion. You know that.”“What do you know about love?!” I yelled, my veins stretching out. “Chill.” He chuckled. “When you love someone, you don't give up. She did.” Silence followed and I didn't know what to say. “Maybe she
Last Updated: 2026-07-11
Chapter: Chapter 69Charles I couldn't stop pacing around my room. It didn't make any sense. Why would Darcie do such a thing? And her new character was overwhelming. What exactly is her problem? My phone rang and when I carried it from the bed, the name on the caller ID almost made me throw the phone away. That stupid Sloane has been sending me stupid love messages. Gosh, I dislike her so much. I sat on my bed thinking, maybe I should just go talk to Darcie again. I left my room and walked to hers. I knocked twice and called out her name but she didn't come out. Now I was knocking countlessly times but she wasn't out. Maybe she was sleeping. I sighed and went back to my room. When it was almost dark, I left my room and headed to the living room. I just took a seat and my parents cascaded the stairs. Oh shit. People I tried to avoid. “Charles'!” Mom rushed to my chair, blocking my view from watching the television. “So it is true, that girl you claimed you love is nothing but a violent piece of trash
Last Updated: 2026-07-11
Chapter: Chapter 68Darcie The drive home was silent. Charles was mad at me but I was very grateful that he helped me out. As soon as parked his car into the garage, I didn't waste time, I opened the door and scurried into the mansion. No sight of Arthur or his parents. Good. I just kept on walking hurriedly, who knows if his parents have heard the news. I'd be so fucked. When I looked back, Charles' footsteps were behind, like he was trying to pursue me. I just kept on walking and suddenly, he grabbed my hands from behind, making me stop. “What?” He scoffed. “Really? That's how It's gonna be? You don't feel sorry for what you did?” He asked, angry. “No.”His face changed. “I don't, Charles.” I replied flatly. “What? Darcie, so this is who you are? You almost killed a man who didn't owe you any grudge. What did he ever do to you? That behavior was animalistic and stupid! Are you insane?!” He yelled on top of his voice. “Yes. I'm insane, okay?!” I yelled back. “That's why you should avoid me.”“I
Last Updated: 2026-07-11
The Billionaire's Secret Bride
Anastasia never expected much from her blind date—let alone that on that fateful day she would marry a complete stranger. As she embarked on her new life with her husband, Christopher, she envisioned a modest, respectful, and ordinary existence. However, Christopher soon revealed an unexpectedly devoted nature. No matter where Anastasia went, he was always there, showering her with unwavering affection and support in ways she had never anticipated.
What astonished her even more was his uncanny knack for solving every problem she faced, whether a minor mishap at work or a significant personal crisis. Each time Anastasia encountered difficulty, Christopher would mysteriously step in, and the issue would be resolved almost as if by magic. When she probed him about his extraordinary interventions, he would simply smile enigmatically and attribute it all to luck.
Yet, as days turned into months, this so-called luck began to raise questions. During one seemingly ordinary evening, while watching a televised interview, Anastasia’s world shifted dramatically. The program featured a celebrated New York billionaire renowned for his extravagant indulgence of his wife—lavish vacations, opulent gifts, and grand gestures that spoke of immense wealth and power. What left Anastasia utterly speechless was the uncanny resemblance between the billionaire and her very own Christopher.
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Chapter: CHAPTER 21The relief from the audit results lasted exactly three days before reality crashed back down.I was at the bookstore Wednesday afternoon, helping a customer find a book on gardening, when Claire's phone started buzzing insistently. She glanced at it, frowned, then looked at me with an expression that made my stomach drop."Ana, you need to see this," she said quietly, pulling me aside once the customer left.She showed me her phone, opened to a gossip website I'd never heard of. The headline made my blood run cold."Christopher Zane's Secret First Marriage Revealed: Billionaire's Past Hidden from Current Wife."My hands went numb as I took the phone from Claire, scrolling through the article with growing horror. According to the piece, Christopher had been married before, years ago, to a woman named Katherine Morrison. The marriage had lasted less than a year before ending in what was described as a "bitter and costly divorce." There were photos—grainy but unmistakable—of a younger Ch
Last Updated: 2026-01-14
Chapter: Chapter 20Two weeks passed in a blur of legal meetings, auditor interviews, and relentless media scrutiny.The independent audit of Zane Enterprises was thorough and exhausting, with auditors combing through years of financial records, interviewing staff, examining every transaction with microscopic detail. Christopher spent fourteen-hour days at the office, cooperating fully while trying to keep the company running smoothly despite the distraction.I threw myself into the bookstore, finding solace in the familiar routine of helping customers and managing inventory. The media attention had finally started to die down, the reporters moving on to fresher scandals, though a few persistent ones still lingered outside occasionally.Emily had started her new job and was thriving, her confidence growing with each passing day. She'd found a small apartment near mine, and Caleb was adjusting well to his new school. Thomas was awaiting trial, and Emily had filed for divorce. She was building a new life,
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 19Monday morning arrived with a vengeance.I woke to my phone buzzing incessantly, notifications piling up so fast the device actually felt warm in my hand. Beside me, Christopher's phone was doing the same, both of us jolted from sleep by the sudden onslaught."What now?" I muttered, squinting at the screen through bleary eyes.Then I saw the headline trending across every news site and social media platform, and my blood ran cold."Victoria Ashford Claims Christopher Zane's Marriage is a Sham to Cover Business Scandal."My hands shook as I opened the article, Christopher sitting up beside me, his own phone in hand, his expression darkening with each word he read.Victoria had given an exclusive interview to a tabloid, timed perfectly to air the day after ours. In it, she claimed to have "insider knowledge" that Christopher had married me to distract from alleged financial irregularities at Zane Enterprises. She suggested the timing of our marriage, right before a major merger, was sus
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 18The interview aired at eight o'clock on Friday night, and I couldn't bring myself to watch it.Christopher and I sat in our living room, the television on, but I spent most of the hour staring at my hands while Christopher's thumb traced circles on my palm. I caught glimpses of us on screen—me talking about meeting Christopher, him explaining why he'd hidden his identity, both of us discussing the challenges we'd faced.Watching myself on television felt surreal, like looking at a stranger who happened to have my face and voice."You're beautiful," Christopher murmured during a segment where I was talking about the bookstore. "Have I told you that today?""Only three times," I said, managing a weak smile.My phone was face-down on the coffee table, deliberately silenced. I didn't want to see the real-time reactions, the social media commentary, the hot takes from people who'd watched thirty seconds of clips before forming definitive opinions.When the interview finally ended, Christop
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 17The interview was scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the apartment. Diana had arranged for a journalist named Sarah Chen, someone with a reputation for fairness and integrity, to conduct it. The crew would be small, she assured us—just Sarah, a cameraman, and a producer.But as Thursday approached, my anxiety grew exponentially.Christopher had taken the week off work to help me prepare, which was both touching and terrifying. We spent hours going over potential questions, discussing what we were comfortable sharing and what remained private. Diana came by twice to run mock interviews, pushing us with increasingly difficult questions until I wanted to throw something at her."What made you think you could handle being married to one of the most powerful men in New York?""How do you respond to accusations that you married Christopher for his money?""Your brother-in-law was just arrested for embezzlement. Did you or your sister have any knowledge of his criminal activities?""Victori
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 16The photo of Christopher kissing me on the dance floor was everywhere by morning.I woke up to my phone buzzing incessantly, notifications flooding in faster than I could read them. Articles with headlines like "Billionaire's Mystery Wife Steals the Show at Charity Gala" and "Christopher Zane's Public Display of Affection Shocks High Society" dominated every news site and social media platform.Christopher was already awake, sitting up in bed with his own phone, scrolling through what I assumed were similar notifications. His hair was messy from sleep, his expression unreadable as he read."It's everywhere," I said unnecessarily, stating the obvious."I know." He set his phone down and turned to me, searching my face. "How do you feel about that?"I considered the question, trying to parse through the complicated tangle of emotions. "Exposed. Like everyone in the world saw a private moment that should have been just ours." I paused. "But also relieved. We don't have to hide anymore."
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 5NYLAI stirred my spoon through the pale green gazpacho, watching the droplets of oil swirl like the chaos currently wrecking my life. Smithers had outdone himself, but every cold swallow felt like lead in my stomach.The front door chimes echoed through the mansion, shattering the silence I'd been trying to hide in. I didn't need to look to know that my brother had arrived to finish what our father started. He entered the dining room with his wife, Inara. "I'm sorry, Mrs. King, I told them you weren't expecting company, but Mr. Storm insisted," Smithers said, looking flustered. "My brother has a habit of showing up unannounced," I joked before getting up to greet the couple. Smithers shot Nevan a look of disappointment before wordlessly leaving the room."Where's Aeron?" Inara asked, curiously looking around the empty dining room. Right as those words left her mouth, Aeron stepped into the room, loosening his tie. He took the chair beside me while kindly greeting our guests. T
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
Chapter: Chapter 4NYLAThe mahogany doors of my father’s office clicked shut behind me. The air in here always smelled the same. Expensive cigars and old paper.My father, Nolan, didn't look up from his desk. He simply tapped his gold fountain pen against a stack of legal documents."Nineteen minutes, Nyla," he murmured, finally lifting his gaze. "You're cutting it close. I suppose the King boy is proving to be quite the distraction.""What do you want, Dad?" I asked, keeping my voice steady, despite the panic rising inside my chest. "Are the rumors true? Is your husband cheating on you?" He narrowed his eyes at me. To everyone else, he might sound like a concerned father, but the chill in his eyes said otherwise. "No, Aeron would never cheat on me," I said, looking into his eyes. "Did you sign the papers?" He asked, his hands balling into fists."No," I whispered, forcing a smile on my face. "I managed to change his mind," I lied through my teeth. "Good. A divorce scandal would tarnish our reputa
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
Chapter: Chapter 3NYLAThe sound of heels clicking against the marble floor outside our bedroom door was the only alarm clock I needed to know that Paisley was here. The heavy weight of Aeron’s arm was gone, but the heat he’d left behind on my skin felt like a permanent brand.The door swung open, revealing Paisley. She was dressed in a bright yellow pantsuit. Her straightened hair swished low behind her back. "Nyla, why are you still asleep? Have you not seen the news? The tabloids are going crazy," she informed me while pulling the curtains wide open. I narrowed my eyes against the blinding sunlight streaming into the room. "What?" I croaked out. "Where the hell is Smithers? Why didn't he wake you up?" She continued, pulling back the blankets. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, her gaze slowly raking over my body. "Lingerie?" She mumbled before curiously checking her surroundings. "Aeron's tie, Aeron's pants, Aeron's shirt... did you have sex with your husband last night?" She asked, smirking in my
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
Chapter: Chapter 2NYLA"Ninety days, Aeron. Try not to fall in love with me by then," I whispered, my lips seductively brushing the shell of his ear. I slowly clasped my bra again, covering myself from his burning gaze. I pulled back from him to exit his study, but he kept me locked to his chest, his grip tightening on my waist. "Love? I don't believe in love, Nyla. I can want every inch of what I’m seeing right now and still walk out that door in ninety days without looking back. Can you?""Walk away in ninety days if you can. I dare you," I shot back at him, and his hand possessively slid over the curve of my ass."You're playing a dangerous game, Nyla," he rasped, his voice dropping to a predatory purr that vibrated through my chest. "I'm not playing games, Aeron, I'm finally being myself. For years, I tried to satisfy you, to be the perfect wife I always thought you deserved."All my efforts were in vain. My obedience got me a divorce. And I was tired of playing the role of the obedient little
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
Chapter: Chapter 1NYLAThe ink was still wet on the divorce papers when Aeron turned his back on me, already calling his assistant to book a flight to Paris.I expected a third anniversary gift; instead, he offered me divorce papers and a one-way ticket out of his life. "Mrs. King?" Daniel, Aeron's lawyer, called my name, snapping me back to reality. "Walk me through it, Daniel," I said, straightening my posture. "What happens now?""Well, for the next ninety days you'll continue living as Mrs. King," he calmly explained, carefully paging through a stack of papers. "I beg your pardon," I uttered, almost choking on the expensive whiskey I had been sipping on all night. "There was a three-month cohabitation clause in the pre-nup you signed three years ago. Mr. King Sr insisted on it," Daniel said, sliding a single piece of paper across the small coffee table between us. "I had no idea. I mean, why would he include that in our pre-nup?" I asked, nervously flattening my palms on my ankle-length dress.
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
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