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
Última atualização: 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,
Última atualização: 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
Última atualização: 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
Última atualização: 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
Última atualização: 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."
Última atualização: 2025-12-15
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