Novels by zeeintheworld

“Divorce her. This doesn’t have to mean anything. We can fix this. You and I,” Clara pressed. Her voice was a mix of command and desperation.Rivera's heart beat loudly. Just hours ago, she prayed for him to divorce her but now that someone else suggested it, she wasn't sure if she ever wanted that.Reagan didn’t answer immediately. When he did, his voice was calm and measured. “We’ll see.”Two words, that was all. Rivera felt something cold settle in her chest.It wasn't fear or anger, it was something sharper. It was jealousy.And just like that, a dangerous realization struck her. She cared.This man who seemed untouchable, drove her crazy, made her feel small and wild at the same time, she really cared about him.Right from the first time they met, he had always had such an impact on her that no man else did.And now, she was terrified that he'd go back to Clara. She was perfect for him and Rivera felt inferior to her.Clara was beautiful, sophisticated and wealthy. Rivera's charm

"What did he mean that you took the fall for me?" Rivera asked again."You'll never let this go, will you?" Reagan dragged a hand through his hair as if restraining something violent inside him.He didn't like that she was digging through things he had warned her to drop.But seeing her with Luke that way awoke something in him that he could barely restrain. How dare he?“Listen to me carefully. Whatever Luke implied means absolutely nothing.""More lies. I saw your face. Why do you treat me like a child?" she sighed.“You think this is some romantic sacrifice and noble gestures?” he snapped.“I don’t know what to think! One minute I’m a contract wife, the next I’m a liability you want to hide, now, this?”“You’re not the center of this. Don’t flatter yourself," he said coldly. The words hurt more than she expected.“Then why won’t you let me leave?” her ego spoke.“Because you don’t understand the kind of world you married into. If you did, you wouldn’t be standing here arguing with

Reagan didn't return to the house that night. The headlines of the news reports the following day were ruthless.Reagan Royce had been spotted at a private nightclub the previous night, highly intoxicated and surrounded by hot, half-naked women.Rivera scoffed. For once, his behavior didn't bother her. She had more important things to worry about.Later that afternoon, Luke arrived. Reagan still hadn’t returned.“How are you settling in?” he asked as they sat across from each other in the sunroom.“Is that what we’re calling this now? Settling in?"“Did he hurt you?”Rivera hesitated. “Not physically.”“He can be intense. Let me know if you need anything. Reagan asked me to move into one of the mansions. He and I will be working closely, so we’ll be seeing each other more often.”“Work?”“Yes, I’ll be around to make sure he doesn’t cross any lines with you.”Protect her from Reagan? That unsettled her more than it comforted her.“You’ve never cared what happens to me. You've been avoi

The news of Reagan Royce’s return had ignited the city like wildfire.But what fascinated the public even more than his return was his marriage.A wife no one knew about. She had become a subject of interest in the entire country's media.A mystery bride.The woman who stole the most unattainable bachelor in the country.Who is Rivera Royce?Rivera watched the television from the sitting room as the anchor's voice buzzed with excitement.“Sources say Mrs. Royce arrived just yesterday. Insiders claim she is young, stunning and completely unknown to society. Everyone is eager to finally meet the woman who bears the Royce name.”Rivera muted the screen. Her stomach twisted.She hadn’t asked for this attention. She hadn’t even wanted the marriage.Yet somehow, overnight, she had become an object of curiosity, envy and speculation.Suddenly she remembered something crucial. Her father, Robert Banks had been missing. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since her marriage.When she was in Ital

“I hate suspense. I want my answers," Rivera insisted.“But I live for suspense.” He stepped closer, close enough that she had to tilt her head to look up at him.His fingers deliberately reached out and brushed against her hair. It was so hard to resist him and she hated herself for it.She hated that this man, this cruel, arrogant stranger knew exactly what he was doing to her.His words were cruel but his touch was gentle, calculated and mesmerizing.'He's bad for you,' she warned herself.“Have you ever considered that perhaps you’ve trusted my discretion too much?”"Hmm," he hummed softly as his fingers slid from her hair to her cheeks.“I could easily go out there and tell my own version of this story." She needed to scare him into surrender and she expected anger. Instead, Reagan smiled.Slowly, he withdrew his hand, only to trail his knuckles lightly along her jaw.“You’re a daring darling, aren’t you? I love it.”Rivera didn't understand why a threat like this would amuse him

“Why is Mr. Reagan not here yet?” Rivera asked one of her attendants a while later when her host failed to show up.“Impatient?” a deep baritone voice teased from behind her.She turned around sharply. The man standing behind her was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.It was him, the man whose face had dominated the billboards all over the city, only now, standing before her in flesh and blood.She realized how poorly those images had captured him. They hadn’t done him justice at all.He had god-like features; sharp cheekbones, perfectly sculpted lips and cold grey eyes that seemed to see straight through her.His tall, broad frame screamed power and dominance. Rivera found herself momentarily frozen and staring at him.“Reagan Royce?” she asked breathlessly.He nodded slowly, his lips curving into a lazy, arrogant smirk.This man... is my husband?She hadn’t expected this. She had imagined wealth, yes, cold money, influence, status but not this.Not a man whose presence alone m