The CEO's Toxic Placeholder
Eleanor thought she was everything to Henry. For three years, she was his constant—his quiet support, his emotional anchor. But when the woman he truly loves returns to the city, everything shatters. “I’ve been chasing her ghost,” Henry confesses, leaving Eleanor to pick up the pieces of a love that was never hers to begin with.
In the glittering world of Manhattan’s elite, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a toxic relationship with a man who can’t let go of his past. After overhearing a conversation that reveals Henry’s betrayal, Eleanor is left questioning everything she thought she knew about love—and herself. With her heart shattered and her future uncertain, she turns to an unlikely solution: an arranged marriage to Jasper Blackwood, the stoic heir to a powerful family she’s known her whole life.
But leaving Henry isn’t as easy as it seems. Jasper’s steady presence stirs something in Eleanor, something she hasn’t felt in years—security, respect, and a growing attraction. Yet, the pull of her past refuses to loosen its grip. As Henry desperately tries to win her back, Eleanor must confront the deepest fears she’s kept buried: Will she ever truly be able to trust again? And, more importantly, can she move on from a love that never truly belonged to her?
In a world where wealth and power dominate, Eleanor’s journey to reclaim her self-worth is a battle she never saw coming. Will she finally choose herself—and the man who has always been there—or will her heart remain tethered to a past that can never be hers?
The choice is hers. But will it be enough to heal a heart shattered by betrayal?
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Chapter: Chapter 36 (Eleanor's POV)The weeks after the final victory over Vivienne were calm. Jasper and I were happy. We were secure in our love. We faced the world as a unified team. We thought the hardest battles were finished.We were wrong. We had defeated the outsiders. Now we had to face the insiders.Jasper’s father, Lord Blackwood, returned to London. He had been away in Asia, overseeing major business interests. Lord Blackwood was the head of the entire family. He was the founder of the Blackwood legacy. He was the one who controlled everything, even Jasper.Lord Blackwood was the Patriarch.Jasper told me his father was returning on Tuesday. The news made me nervous. Henry and Vivienne were like small, sharp threats. Lord Blackwood felt like a huge, slow-moving force of nature. He did not care about feelings. He cared only about power and legacy."My father is a difficult man, Eleanor," Jasper warned me softly the night before. We were sitting quietly in the library. "He sees everything as an asset or a liab
Last Updated: 2026-01-05
Chapter: Chapter 35 (Eleanor's POV)After Jasper told me about Sophia, the feeling of absolute trust between us was unbreakable. We were not just partners; we were two survivors who understood the cost of betrayal. I no longer felt like the "placeholder" to be easily replaced. I felt like the chosen permanent partner.I knew that seeing Vivienne would still be difficult, but I faced her now with a new kind of confidence. I knew she was trying to hurt me because she was chaotic, just like Henry.The final confrontation with Vivienne came at a crucial Foundation meeting. The meeting was held to vote on the distribution of a huge sum of money. The money would go to either Vivienne’s popular art project, which was socially charming but financially risky, or my Community Rebuilding Initiative follow-up, which was ethically solid but required more resources.The room was full of Foundation trustees and important donors. Jasper was there, sitting calmly at the head of the table. I sat beside him, ready to present my case. Vivi
Last Updated: 2025-12-13
Chapter: Chapter 34 (Eleanor's POV)Jasper’s confession in the library was the most powerful truth he had ever told me. He didn't just love me; he respected me. He had chosen me because of my strength, not because I was the easy option. He had watched me, respected me, and waited patiently for me to be ready.I finally understood that the man who loved control was capable of the deepest, most patient love.We sat together on the sofa in the library for a long time. My head was resting on his shoulder. The warmth of his presence was a complete comfort. I felt completely safe."Thank you, Jasper," I whispered, looking up at his strong jaw. "You gave me the answer I needed. You made me believe I am the permanent choice.""You are, Eleanor," he said softly. "But I think you need to understand something else. My need for control is not just business. It is personal. You were afraid of being a placeholder. I was afraid of being betrayed."He pulled me closer, resting his cheek gently against the top of my head. The act was te
Last Updated: 2025-12-13
Chapter: Chapter 33 (Eleanor's POV)Jasper’s gentle reminder that night—that I was retreating and pushing him away—made me slow down. I spent the next morning trying to balance work and presence. I forced myself to leave the office and be with him. I knew my work was important, but my marriage was more important.The meetings with the Foundation were still necessary. I had to face Vivienne at least twice a week. I had learned to defend my ideas quickly and clearly. But I couldn't stop the subtle poison she kept spreading.The direct confrontation came during a coffee break at the Foundation headquarters. The meeting had just ended. Jasper had stepped out to take an important call. Vivienne saw her chance.She walked over to me, holding a cup of tea. She smiled her perfect, professional smile."Eleanor," she said, her voice sounding sympathetic. "May I be honest with you for a moment? Just woman to woman."I braced myself. Her honesty was always a weapon."I actually feel a bit of pity for you," she continued, her eyes w
Last Updated: 2025-12-13
Chapter: Chapter 6 (Eleanor's POV)“Then tell me,” Henry demanded.I looked at Henry. His face was very close to mine. His eyes were wide and searching, like he was trying to find a tiny, hidden piece of paper inside my head.My hands squeezed the handle of my big suitcase. This was the moment everything changed. This was the last moment I would ever be Eleanor, the girlfriend who always said yes, who always agreed, and who always came back when Henry snapped his fingers.I took a breath, slow and deep. I kept my voice soft, like I was telling him a secret only he could hear. “I’m just tired, Henry. I am really tired.”He stopped frowning. The angry look on his face softened just a little bit. “Tired? Of what?”“Of the city. Of the late nights. Of trying to keep up with your busy friends,” I whispered. It wasn't a total lie. I really was tired, but not of the things he thought. “My father is worried about me, and I need a break. I just… need to go home for a little while.”I watched his face change. The tight, angry fe
Last Updated: 2025-11-30
Chapter: Chapter 31 (Jasper's POV)The air in the abandoned station was heavy and cold. The light spilling under the steel door felt like a challenge. They knew we were here."The heirs are coming. Prepare the Chamber," the voice had echoed.I hauled Eleanor and Julian back behind a huge chunk of concrete rubble. The faint humming from the machinery beneath us vibrated through the floor."Stay low. Absolute silence," I signaled Eleanor with a flat hand. She nodded back, her eyes wide but steady. Julian pressed himself against the cold wall.I checked the custom explosive charge clipped to my belt. No more strategy. Only action. Davies's warning still rang in my head: The betrayal is a Blackwood tradition. I was about to face the men who upheld that cruel tradition.I crept low, moving through the shadows of the rusted tracks. Eleanor had the key—her flashlight—ready to blind them. Julian had the jammer ready to cut off their calls.I reached the thick, cold brick wall next to the steel door. It was the weakest point.I
Last Updated: 2025-11-28
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