THE BILLIONAIRE'S BEAUTIFUL MARIONETTE
“Be my wife.”
Lucia looked at him, questioning his sanity.
“You're out of your mind.I don't even know you ”.
Lucas Mariano's voice was icy, his gaze unreadable.
“You need help.Your sister requires care.I can help you both.You have quite the image so I'm sure you'll need it.
It's transactional-nothing more.”He finished.
Once the rising star in the ballet world, Lucia Moretti's life is shaken after a brutal divorce and a terrible fire that leaves her and her sister homeless.
Now, with her dreams buried,her heart is guarded and her main focus is keeping both herself and her sister alive.
Enter Lucas-Merciless, cold and sinfully compelling.He offers a contract marriage which comes with everything Lucia needs but at a cost she doesn't understand…yet.
What started as a formality quickly grows into something far more twisted when her ex-husband,Matt-lucas’s best friend-returns, determined to have her again.
“You got married to Lucas?” Matt snarled,fury dripping from his voice.
“Is this your revenge?” He continued icily.
No, Lucia said without emotion.
“This is survival.”
As sparks fly and secrets come to light, Lucia Finds herself torn between a past that nearly broke her and a man who might shatter her in a brand new way.
In a world of socialites, betrayal and fake love, Lucia must ask herself: Is she the puppet or the one holding the strings?
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Chapter: love confessionLucia's pov Falling for Lucas was something that shouldn't be happening but here I was breaking the unspoken rule of a contract marriage.I didn't even consider it…I thought I was immune especially after things with Matt but somehow it was happening and I couldn't seem to stop. The realization sat heavy in my chest long after my ice cream had turned into a puddle of dissolved milky sugar and the quiet between us was stretching into something softer, deeper and a little too real for a marriage that was a desperate arrangement at best and supposedly no feelings.I focused again for the upteenth time on my bowl, scared that if I took too many glances at him,he would read me through and through…face to mind. Because this or rather what it was becoming was forbidden territory.Not just for my heart but for the fragile peace we're building. I finally set my bowl down carefully on the floor, buying myself and extra few seconds to collect myself again…. gather my thoughts and such.“Lucia.”
Last Updated: 2026-02-12
Chapter: Biggest MistakeLucia's pov I suddenly began to take notice of how close I was sitting next to Lucas.Not in a panicky, dramatic way…just slow, quiet awareness.Somehow we'd shifted closer than earlier and now,our shoulders were touching slightly every time he lifted his spoon and that small, seemingly insignificant action sent strange tingles through me that I tried my hardest to ignore.He wasn't paying attention to me which I was thankful for or maybe he was…I could never tell when it came to Lucas.He kept eating the mint chocolate ice cream I'd chosen for him casually…I guessed sitting so close together didn't bother him at all.Meanwhile,I suddenly became hyper aware of everything - the rhythmic movement of his hands,the scrape of his spoon against the ceramic bowl…even the steady rhythm of his breathing next to me.Totally ridiculous…I huffed as I refocussed on my own red velvet ice cream, taking another bite to seem as unbothered as he was. The sweetness grounded my thoughts a little bit bu
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
Chapter: desire beyond the contractLucas's pov Matt always preferred sneak attacks.If he felt coming at you head on wasn't going to cut it,he went for your foundations - allies, your credibility and social standing.. your livelihood too. So when Adrian barged into my office with that look on a Monday morning,I already knew.“Now,as you probably know,” Adrian started, dropping his tablet onto my desk,“It's Matt and No it's not a coincidence...at all.”I braced myself as I leaned back, folding my arms slowly.“What did he do this time?”.“Four investors,” Adrian said.“Three long-term, one recent. All reconsidering their stance with us out of the blue. And one huge logistics client just delayed renewing their contract and guess who had a private meeting with their board yesterday?”.I exhaled through my nose. Yup, there it was. His onslaught in full throttle behind whatever bullshit he sold to the media earlier.Matt Richards didn't make too much noise. He just played his cards ruthlessly.“A hostile takeover?” I murm
Last Updated: 2026-02-07
Chapter: public fireLucas's pov I was getting used to a rare moment of peace this morning as the house was calm and bright with the sun's early glow, the conversation with Lucia around our expectant bunny replaying in my mind as I smiled at the memory. I took another sip of my Belgian coffee and I continued to reminisce happily…she really did love that bunny..Then I received a text which drew my attention.I swiped my phone in a routine manner expecting the usual work text or emails. Instead,I felt a sudden surge of anger when I saw it.A boldened headline on some tabloidsMatt Richards excited that billionaire mogul Lucas has found a wife.Matt was undoubtedly all over this…Lucia's ex-husband and my most recent adversary. He'd made her life hell, using her under the guise of building her career and then somehow taking her out cleanly from the ballet scene while putting her on blast in front of the whole world - all for his sick, twisted amusement.I scanned through the article.. Matt's statement seem
Last Updated: 2026-02-02
Chapter: Bunny parentsLucas's pov As soon as my mother left and the door clicked shut behind her,the tension evaporated and I could finally breathe better.I found myself going towards the alcohol cabinet and poured a glass of bourbon for the nerves, welcoming the burn in my throat as the liquor worked its magic from within.All the mental gymnastics from fending off her sharp words and piercing gaze and trying not to crack under pressure had left me needing more than a few more seconds to gather myself.Lucia,ever composed and all smiles, rested on a couch looking like she might tease me all over again. Her smile was subtle but it did things to me that I wouldn't ever admit aloud.“I've honestly never seen you look so nervous before. It was hilarious and refreshing. Good to know that something fazes you at least.”She teased, using her arm to prop up her chin on the armrest.“Lucia,I would appreciate it if you laid off on the teasing.”I groaned.“She really makes it a mini battle to relax around her.”L
Last Updated: 2026-01-20
Chapter: unseen challengesLucas's pov There was still quite a bit of tension in the room even as my mother had dropped her guard and was reclined on the couch in the middle of the living room, reading a book she'd pulled from her bag after her intense scrutiny of my interior.Then like a queen overlooking her unruly court, her gaze fixed back onto Lucia but she didn't cower or flinch. Instead her back straightened as she met my mother's gaze, eye to eye but on the other side,I just watched all this play out like a deer in headlights.Mother's lips revealed another sharp smile before she spoke.“The word around is that you used to be a ballerina,” she drawled,voice lilting but clear.“And your little career ended a little too suddenly…mentally unstable,they said…bowed out of the stage like a dying ember.”“That's a hard thing to go through but as your luck would have it, you're now married to my son who shoulders things that are much more than meets the eye…you should know,little girl,that this kind of life wo
Last Updated: 2026-01-10
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