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.
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Chapter: Chapter 99: Ghosts of the Past"I know," she said quietly. "However, he is currently in a hospital room and I am already in this hospital. If I walk away, I will think about it every night. I cannot ignore this."Nathan sat down next to her. "You are too kind for your own good."She smiled at him calmly. "Being kind is not being weak, Nathan. Being kind is something I choose because it feels right."Nathan let out a long, slow sigh. "I am afraid this will hurt you again.""It may," she said. "But I survived worse. I survived being shot. I survived everything Kimberly attempted to do. I can handle this conversation."Nathan put his head in his hands, and rubbed his temples. "I want to go with
Last Updated: 2025-12-29
Chapter: Chapter 98: The Call From The PastKimberly's demeanor changed. She looked both confused and angry. "You think you're strong," she said. "But you are really breaking."Ashley looked at Kimberly with a peaceful gaze. "We all break. The difference is how we stand up again."With that, Ashley turned and walked away. Her shoulder ached, but her step was steady. There was no sense of victory, only relief. It was amazing how sometimes peace felt like pure exhaustion.Later that night, Nathan came to Ashley's room. Mia let him enter the room cautiously. He immediately came to Ashley, who was sitting in the room with a cup of warm tea."Hi," he said as he stopped in front of her. "I heard you met with Kimberly."
Last Updated: 2025-12-27
Chapter: Chapter 97: The Other WomanFor the first time in weeks, she didn't feel alone. The pain existed, and the fear continued to exist, but his presence filled the room with something she'd missed more than she cared to admit.They remained like that, hand in hand, while the dangers and truths of the world outside the hospital room continued to evolve. Within the confines of the room, the gap between them narrowed, piece by delicate piece.---Light from the hospital room dawned softly and slowly upon Ashley. An hour had passed since she awoke, and she lay still with her eyes half-closed listening to the muted sounds of the nurses as they moved through the corridors. The quiet offered her space to think, although the thoughts that arose were varied and frequently heavy. She glanced at her bandaged shoul
Last Updated: 2025-12-25
Chapter: Chapter 96: After The AttackWhen the event concluded, Ashley stepped outside to the courtyard for some fresh air. The sun touched her face gently, yet she felt cold, despite the warmth. Ashley wrapped her arms around her body, and she took deep breaths. Ashley wanted to return to the estate and rest. She also wanted to call Mia, simply to hear a familiar voice.As Ashley removed her phone from her pocket, she heard a loud cutting sound through the air. At first, Ashley believed the sound was from construction equipment on the street. Then she heard another louder cutting sound, followed by a scream. Ashley froze for a moment. Her instincts told her to retreat towards the building, but she was too slow.A number of men burst through the gates. They were wearing black clothing that resembled no official uniform. Their actions were quick, and focused. Ashl
Last Updated: 2025-12-23
Chapter: Chapter 95: CrossfireMia hesitated for a moment before taking the envelope. "I will give it to her when she awakens."Nathan nodded once. "Thanks."Nathan got in his car, and looked at the house where he had been, for quite some time. He then pulled off of the estate's property, and watched as the lights from the house faded from view in his rearview mirror. His heart was heavy, the ache inside his chest growing with each passing mile. Nathan told himself he wouldn't rest until he had dug up the whole truth. If someone had taken his blood sample, Nathan would find them. If Kimberly had lied to him, Nathan would reveal every part of the lie. He had lost Ashley the first time due to fear. Nathan wasn't going to lose Ashley a second time because of silence.Back at the house, Mia stood near the
Last Updated: 2025-12-21
Chapter: Chapter 94: The Truth That HurtsShe slowly nodding, "Yes. The same paramedic whose name you asked about earlier."Jake gripped the papers tightly in his hand. "Can you scan these and send them to me?"The nurse left the room after agreeing to do so.Jake sat back in his chair, rubbing his forehead. "If this person has Nathan's blood, and someone wants to use it for testing purposes, it will definitely match. Even if Nathan had nothing to do with Kimberly."A twist formed inside of him. This meant someone had created a perfect lie.Jake whispered to himself, "But why."He decided to look into Kimberly's phone records next. He called a fri
Last Updated: 2025-12-19
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.
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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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 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
Last Updated: 2025-12-26
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