He Asked for an Open Marriage, I Walked Away
Ashley Dawson, a brilliant 22-year-old chemistry student, has lived a quiet life defined by loss and independence. Though she secretly owns a massive pharmaceutical empire inherited from her late mother and grandmother, Ashley prefers the simplicity of her lab over boardrooms and business deals. Her fiancé, Harvey West-a wealthy, charismatic CEO-was once her dream man, but their love story shatters the day before their wedding when Harvey asks for an open marriage and an NDA to protect his affairs.
Heartbroken, Ashley is pulled into a dangerous new world when a domestic terror group develops a deadly chemical weapon. The military calls in Major Nathan Ford, Harvey's cousin and a decorated U.S. Army Special Forces officer, to lead the operation. Nathan needs a brilliant chemist to help decipher the weapon's formula-Ashley becomes that civilian consultant.
Forced to work together under high pressure, Ashley and Nathan build an unlikely partnership, discovering strength, trust, and a slow-burning attraction. Meanwhile, Harvey refuses to let go, flaunting his mistress in public and humiliating Ashley. When Ashley finally breaks off the engagement, Harvey spirals, convinced Nathan stole her away.
Nathan proposes a marriage of protection, offering her his name and his shield against Harvey and his powerful family. Ashley, tired of being powerless and cornered, agrees. Their whirlwind marriage shocks society, ignites scandal, and sets the stage for a passionate love story built on loyalty, respect, and redemption.
Baca
Chapter: Chapter 108: What RemainedNathan sat in a cold, stiff plastic chair outside the emergency room, his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped together so tightly they ached. He wasn't aware of the ache; he hadn't realized anything except the solid door to the emergency room in front of him, and the sound of his breathing – uneven, and shallow.A nurse passed by. Then another. Each time the door swung open, Nathan's head jerked upward.Still nothing.Nathan laid his hands across his face. Only hours before, he hadn't known he'd become a father. And now, the fact that he almost lost the potential fatherhood of their unborn child weighed in his chest, a burden he couldn't budge."Our baby
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-16
Chapter: Chapter 107: What Was Almost LostNathan's face hardened. "I remember him.""He disappeared after that mission failed," Jake said. "There was no proof of death, just nothing else."Nathan leaned in. "Do you think he did this?""I think he never quit trying," Jake said.Jake paused for a moment, then continued with care."You were taken to a field hospital to get treatment after you were injured," Jake said. "They took some of your blood, so you would have been unable to see anything unusual."Nathan swallowed. He remembered the pain. The haze. The people."And Kimberly," Nathan said s
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-14
Chapter: Chapter 106: Cracks in the StoryJake stared at the same computer screen for nearly an hour.In a strange way, the office felt silent; the air conditioning hummed lightly; the city lights outside the windows flashed like faint messages. He rubbed his face with both hands and leaned forward to scroll back to the top of the file."Come on," he mumbled. "You don't just appear like that."The file belonged to Nathan. It was very old. It came from Nathan's deployment several years ago, one of the toughest tours. Jake had read it before, years ago, when it was first put into the archives. At that point, it looked perfectly normal. Now it didn't.He clicked on the lab portion and froze."That ID does
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-12
Chapter: Chapter 105: The Night Drive (H)He grabbed her and kissed her repeatedly. "You do," he said. "You make me feel like the luckiest bastard alive."He picked her up easily and brought her upstairs to the steps where he sat with her on top of him, still semi-erect and ready to go again."I love you," he said softly, moving her slowly against him. "I love you so fucking much.""I love you too," she replied softly, kissing him softly now. The urgency was gone, replaced by a deeper sense of tenderness.Upstairs, behind them, another glass broke on Kimberly's floor.But downstairs, in the pool, Nathan and Ashley couldn't hear anything.All they
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-10
Chapter: Chapter 104: Mirrors in Water (H)"Let them," he said, kissing her neck. "I want everyone in the world to know you are mine again."He pulled her swimsuit bottoms to the side and slid into her slowly. Ashley gasped and wrapped her arms around his shoulders."Quiet, baby," he said, moving gentle at first. "Just feel me."She rested her face in his neck and allowed him to take her in the pool. The water moved with them. Each stroke was soft, but deep; like he was telling both of them something."I love you," he said between kisses. "I love you so much it hurts.""I love you too," she whispered back. "Always."They sat like that until they bo
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-08
Chapter: Chapter 103: The Long Swim (H)He wished he could walk into the room. He wished he could shake them both awake and get them to look at him while he expressed all of his anger. Wished Ashley could see his face and remember the days when she screamed his name the exact same way.But he couldn't.He pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket, and his fingers began to tremble as he typed a single sentence he'd never send:You let him fuck you in view of everyone. You let him discuss me while he screwed you. You came for him while I waited right outside the door.He stared at the message until it became a blur. Then, he quickly erased every single word.He tucked the phone back into his pocket and
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-06
Restart My Life: The CEO's Second Chance
Shylie Reed worked her way to the top-with no family, no backup, no handouts. From living in a cramped apartment to owning luxury penthouses, from studying in the dark to speaking on global tech stages-she made it. She became someone. But just when life gave her the things she only dreamt of, a silent enemy took it all away: COVID-19.
When she wakes up, she's 16 again. A nobody in high school. Her family still ignores her in favour of the "sweet" adopted daughter who later ruined her life.
But this time, Shylie isn't the same. This time, she's not playing nice.
Armed with her adult mind, vast knowledge, and future insight, she plans to graduate early, dominate every field, and build a financial empire from scratch.
But she didn't expect to attract attention from Darren Tan, the school prince... or Elias Tan, the cold, powerful businessman who becomes her unexpected mentor-and something more.
She lost everything once. This time, she's playing for keeps.
Baca
Chapter: Chapter 40: Breakthrough and New BeginningsHer Thinkpad 755 computer hummed quietly, filling the room with a gentle, persistent drone. On her cluttered desk, stacks of papers reflected the warm light cast by her desk lamp. Her fingers danced across her Thinkpad keyboard with the practiced ease and speed of someone who has spent years using the same type of keyboard. She navigated the early versions of stock software with precision; not just the kind of precision that comes from having spent years using it, but the kind of precision that comes from remembering how each keystroke would interact with each piece of code. The hours, days, weeks, months, and years of practice created a rhythmic motion; a movement that felt both familiar and automatic.A soft ping broke the silence of the quiet room.Shylie's eyes darted quickly to the screen and the bright flash of the HealthSync notification that had appeared. A surge of adrenaline ran through her body. She had invested in a small, fledgling health-tech company call
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-28
Chapter: Chapter 39: Blueprints and BondsShylie worked in the dimly lit incubator well after dark, the gentle whir of computer fans and the rhythmic clacking of keys on her terminal creating a soothing background melody. The fluorescent light overhead cast long shadows across drafting tables, CRT monitors and stacks of papers and reports spread out in front of her. It was an organized mess, a place where dreams were created and tested, and the beat of desire pulsed through every keystroke she made.Elias sat close by her, observing her with quiet empathy. His glasses reflected the light of the screen in front of him, his keen eyes watching her fingers move swiftly and precisely across the worn beige keyboard. He had become more than just a teacher to Shylie, he had become her anchor. Elias gave her the confidence to take the time she needed to consider things, rather than rush through them. And sometimes he reminded her that not all answers are contained within an algorithm."Numbers tell a story," Elias said
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-28
Chapter: Chapter 37: Webs and ShieldsLeah flipped through the manila folder in front of her with the precision of a surgeon. Each page was a carefully crafted piece of her plan. As she turned each sheet, the soft rustling of the paper was interrupted only occasionally by the soft click of her pen and the margin notes she was writing. The phone was nestled between her ear and shoulder; Leah's voice was as cold as the air in the room. Quiet, measured tones flowed smoothly from her mouth."She is becoming untouchable," Leah spoke quietly into the phone. "Time to make it personal."On the other end of the phone, the voice was unreadable, but Leah knew exactly what it was telling her. She did not have to hear the response. She had planned this for weeks. Every single move, every single decision, had been calculated to perfection. The rumors were growing at an alarming rate. Whispers of Shylie's supposed manipulation, of her increasing power and influence, were spreading faster than Leah could have ever imagine
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-27
Chapter: Chapter 38: Clash and CatalystAnticipation swirled around the school auditorium. Folding chair row upon row, each chair held a teacher, parent, alumnus and a few area investors tied to the incubator program. The excitement of the crowd created a buzz of conversation that reverberated off the high ceiling of the auditorium and blended in with the sounds of footfalls in the hallway.The Innovation Showcase was an annual event. It brought together the aspirations of students, the curiosity of the business world, and the competitive spirit of others. It was a venue where ideas were generated and where reputations were made or broken. Ideas had the potential to create the next major innovation...or to be crushed under the weight of skepticism.On the stage, Leah remained at the very edge of the spotlight, standing calmly in her perfectly fitting blazer and heels, quietly surveying the room. Her intent was not to compete. Her intent was to destroy. For Leah, the game has always been about maintaining con
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-27
Chapter: Chapter 36: The Court's EdgeThe gym was electrified by a buzz of excitement, a large number of students filling the bleachers, cheering and chanting for their favorite teams. Under the bright overhead lights, the court glistened with a polished finish and reflected the excited faces of the fans and the intense focus of the competing athletes.Darren Tan was ready. He had waited for this day for weeks, the championship game of the year, the day that would decide which two teams advanced to the finals and which teams went home.He walked nervously from side-to-side of the sidelines, tapping the bottom of his sneakers against the polished wood floor with practiced smoothness. His teammates were joking around and running through their normal pregame routines but Darren was unable to fully shake off the feeling of anticipation that ran through his body. He was not nervous. No, he was not nervous. He was experiencing something else entirely. Something that was quiet, yet exciting. Something that was a
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-26
Chapter: Chapter 35: Unspoken ThreadsLate afternoon sunlight cast long shadows in the school courtyard, giving every thing a warm, golden glow typical of the early fall season. Leaves still full of green were beginning to display some signs of amber and even some edges were beginning to curl in the cool fall breeze.As the leaves changed color the air became quiet and reflective; it was as if the world itself was holding its breath.Darren and Shylie sat side-by-side on a worn bench beneath the sprawling branches of the old elm tree. Although the campus was alive with the sounds of students passing by, talking quietly among themselves, the overall volume of the campus was somewhat thin, leaving Darren and Shylie to sit quietly listening to the sounds of the day. Students occasionally walked by them, heads bent over books/magazines, soft murmurs of conversation in the background, but otherwise the campus activity level was low, and there were no distractions. The only other sounds were the rustle of the le
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-26
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