Chapter: PrisonADRIAN I arrived in New York three hours after talking my woman out of running. And my guess—that she was trying to run—was fucking right. She wasn’t a hard one to talk to. She promised she wouldn’t try anything funny and that we’d talk once I returned. I knew what that talk would be about: the way forward in our relationship. What comes next? If I’m being honest, I already knew. I planned to propose to her again—this time not fake, not just shoving a metal ring on her finger, but getting down on one knee and professing my love, just like I always intended. Gary and the men we caught were moved to the prison here in New York, where they’d be tried in court. I knew the way to the prison. I made sure they were locked up. My phone rang, and I swerved left to avoid hitting the car in front of me. I glanced at the screen—Aaron. Of course. We were supposed to meet by ten, and if I had to guess, it was already ten. I didn’t know how long the meeting would take, but I wanted to see a cer
Last Updated: 2025-07-31
Chapter: ConfessionAdrian“Mum, I’m not a kid,” “No, I’m fine,”I peeled my eyes open slowly. Astrid was sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to me and her phone pressed against her ear. She scratched her hair and groaned.“Jesus.” She pulled her phone away from her ear and stared down at it before returning it to her ear. “It’s 4:29 am. It’s too early,” she muttered and then fell silent.I watched her without interrupting. She was talking to her mum, I knew that. And I also knew why Maya was calling.Ever since Astrid moved out of the house, she’d been staying at her mum’s. Then, the one night she doesn’t return home, Maya is worried. Well, she is supposed to.Judging from the fact that Astrid didn’t call her all the way home from the restaurant or the whole afternoon to tell her she wouldn’t be returning for the night and would crash at my place instead, it made sense that her mum was worried.“I told you. My phone had been on silent all day and I didn’t see your calls,” she said and I pursed my l
Last Updated: 2025-07-27
Chapter: Cuddles AdrianDate night was the happiest I’d felt in a while. Well—ever since Astrid moved out and signed those damn divorce papers.She shook her head as she took a bite of her pizza—because she’d decided, last minute, that she wanted one. I was all in for giving her what she wanted. Anything. I’d brought her to the new restaurant that just opened downtown. Someone had said they made the best dishes. So I thought, why not give it a try?She stared at me.“This is really good. Do you want a slice? You should try it,” she said, offering one toward me. I was going to say no.I wasn’t a fan of appetizers—or whatever those things were called. I usually got straight to the good part. But I could tell she really wanted me to try it. I saw it in her eyes.I leaned forward and took a bite from the slice she had in her hand. I raised a brow, leaned back into my seat, and watched her watch me.I chewed, swallowed, and pursed my lips.“Okay. This doesn’t taste like crap,” I muttered.She smiled and
Last Updated: 2025-07-21
Chapter: A DateAstridThree weeks later“Ms. Blythe, how are you feeling today?” Dr. Kate asked as she walked into the office. I flashed her a smile, nodded, and intertwined my fingers.She sat in the chair opposite mine, the desk between us. Kate was my therapist. I’d been seeing her since I left Adrian’s house three weeks ago because I needed to. There was a lot I had to move on from, a lot to heal, and I needed to talk about it without feeling horrified or ashamed.There was progress—small, but it mattered.“I’m good,” I muttered. She grabbed her little book and placed it on the desk, then stared at me. She smiled warmly, her eyes brightening.“You look good. Really,” she said, and I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. Oh, to be complimented by a woman—it always hits differently.“So, anything you want to talk about today?” she asked, and I nodded, dropping my gaze to my hands. There was something I needed to talk about. And for the first time since meeting her, it had nothing to do with my tra
Last Updated: 2025-07-15
Chapter: We Need A DivorceAdrianWe stayed in the hospital for an extra week to be fully sure neither Astrid nor the baby was in danger. Luckily, they were fine.Because my hands were full looking after Astrid, I hadn’t really followed up on Gary. And, well—the police got him and locked him up.I planned to visit him once I was sure my family was safe. I’d asked Axel to turn Denzel over too—there was really no point keeping him locked up and tortured.Yeah, my men had kind of dealt with him. He should serve his punishment, just like Gary.Astrid stepped into the house and looked around, a small sigh escaping her as I carried the bags inside and shut the door.I glanced at her.“Are you okay?” I asked.She turned to me and gave a small nod.“Yeah. I just… I never thought I’d come back here,” she muttered, eyes dropping to her feet. She gave a small shrug.“And even if I was to return, it was to pack my stuff.”A muscle in my jaw twitched. Yeah, of course.We had been in the process of getting a divorce. I didn’
Last Updated: 2025-07-12
Chapter: Husband AstridIt felt like the world was wrapped in a haze. I couldn’t hear anything, but I could see and think. It didn’t help matters that my ears were ringing, either.A picture was etched in my mind. My dad’s.I finally saw him again after ten? Eleven years? He definitely looked younger, and I was willing to sacrifice it all to go with him. I didn’t think about anyone else but me at the time.How it’d hurt my family. Freya? She’d lose her big sister—and God, that made me feel like a bad person. Seeing my situation made Adrian call the doctor, because a man in a white coat was suddenly in the room.I was made to lie back on the bed, and my eyes and everything else were checked. I stopped crying and just stared blankly at nothing. It was then the haze slowly shattered, and I could make out some words that were being said.“Is everything okay with her?” Adrian asked, his tone concerned and worried. The doctor pursed his lips.“She looks fine. But we’d have to run some tests on her to confir
Last Updated: 2025-07-11
Chapter: A DrinkMaya“Mum,” my voice came out dry and cranky. This was spiraling so out of control.Mum was not a media person. She was barely on the internet, and if the reason she was calling—which definitely was—was me being on the internet, then it meant she was already getting bombarded with calls too.Fucking Liam.“Maya? What’s this news I’m hearing?” she asked, and I stared up at the ceiling. Yeah.No “how are you doing?” despite fully knowing Jenny is engaged to my boyfriend—ex.Mother of the year.“What news?” I asked, picking at the sleeve of my shirt. Playing dumb was the most ideal option at this point.The plan was for Liam to act as my boyfriend whenever we were outside, just in case we ran into Jenny and Tom—not for a picture of us to surface online describing us as a couple. Not fair.“You’re dating a celebrity?” she asked. I remained silent for a second before clearing my throat.“Yeah, actually,” I muttered, and I could hear her huff.“And you didn’t deem it fit to tell me? I
Last Updated: 2025-07-31
Chapter: PRLiam“What the hell? Why is there suddenly a picture of me on the internet?” I asked, standing in front of the window overlooking the beach in Tuscany. I was advised to go MIA—the press wasn’t supposed to care until we’d come up with a solid comeback to counter the news circulating. And now? I’m making headlines. With Maya in them.The fuck?“Liam, we’re working on it. But the news is already spreading—it goes fast when you’re a celebrity. Everyone thinks you have a new girlfriend now,” my mum said, her tone more professional than motherly. Yeah, because she wasn’t just my mum—she was my manager.“I don’t fucking have a girlfriend,” I bit out, my jaw clenching.“We know that. But the public doesn’t, especially with the saga around your ex,” she paused, and I gritted my teeth. Of course, she had to bring that up. That’s the reason I’m here in the first place.“The PR team thinks it would help to introduce a girlfriend now.”“I said I don’t have a girlfriend.”“Yes. But we could arrang
Last Updated: 2025-07-28
Chapter: Hollywood StarMayaI didn’t leave the house for the next few days. Not just because I was avoiding Jenny and Tom—which, to be honest, topped the list—but because it was actually comfy inside.Most of my time was spent glued to the couch. I only went upstairs at night because Liam insisted I wasn’t going to sleep down here. So, we kind of… shared the bed. Not the most comfortable arrangement, but it gave me an excuse to stretch out my return to California.Liam was out all day and only came back at night. We barely talked. We’d sleep, wake up, and repeat the same routine. I was getting bored—fast. Which is how I ended up curled on the couch under a blanket, binge-watching a show.My phone pinged. I grabbed it, eyes still fixed on the screen. The show was testing my patience. The villain—silent, masked, and aggressively annoying—had gone three full episodes without a face reveal. I glanced down at my phone. A text.From my boss.Guess who finally remembered I exist after four weeks. And no—
Last Updated: 2025-07-24
Chapter: No contactMaya“So what’s the plan? I think I’m being stalked by Jenny,” I said, and Liam raised a brow—too casually—placing his arms behind his head. He was way too relaxed for my liking.“Why would you think that?” he asked, and I frowned.“The first time was a coincidence. But not the second,” I bit out. He chuckled.“I’ve heard something like that—first time’s a coincidence, second time’s luck, third time’s fate.” He smirked. “Nice to know you got something wrong.”I gave him a flat look. “I’m not joking here, Liam.”He sat up straighter and nodded. “Okay, okay, sure. Let’s assume your sister and ex are stalking you—which I don’t think is what’s happening,” he met my gaze. “But if that’s the case, what do you plan on doing?”I stared down at myself. My fingers curled into my palms.That was the question. I had no idea what came next.“I’ll figure something out,” I muttered and raised my eyes. His green eyes searched mine for a second, too long, before he shook his head.“You have not
Last Updated: 2025-07-21
Chapter: We have a DealLiamI sank onto the couch, a sigh escaping me. It was safe to say I was a little annoyed.Was I wrong for expecting an explanation? If I would be dragged into this mess, the least she could do was offer one—and she wasn’t even ready to give that.I know we don’t have the best history, but come on. After a few minutes, the door creaked open, but I didn’t turn around.I knew who it was anyway. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.Her footsteps were soft and light as she shut the door and walked toward me. I peeled my eyes open and looked up. She stood in front of me, not meeting my gaze.She fiddled with the hem of her shirt—my shirt—that, annoyingly, looked good on her.“Hey. I’m sorry about the way I talked to you earlier,” she muttered.I raised a brow, cocking my head slightly.“It’s nothing,” I said, keeping my tone flat. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncertain, before finally sitting down on the other end of the couch.“U
Last Updated: 2025-07-18
Chapter: Too LateMaya“Bellissima,” Liam said, ruffling my hair with his free hand. He turned to Tom, who frowned. I tried my best to look relaxed with Liam touching me — and oh boy, God knows that’s the hardest thing I’ve done in a while.“How can we help you?” Liam asked.Tom shifted on his foot, eyes darting to me before returning to Liam. “Look, man, I just got some things to say to Maya.”I scrunched up my nose. Liam tilted his head.“Liam,” he said. “I’ve been watching you from over there.” He pointed at the hill, and I glanced at it. Great. Now I was being watched from the same cool shed I’d once thought was perfect for spying on people.“And it’s pretty obvious my girlfriend doesn’t want you around her, so can you stay the fuck away?” He gave a smile that had no humor in it and ran a hand through his hair.I glanced at Shay, whose mouth hung slightly open. I almost rolled my eyes.“And no, I’m not asking,” he added, dropping his hand from my shoulder.I drew in a breath, relief floodin
Last Updated: 2025-07-16
A Substitute Bride For Mr. Voss
“A million dollars,” he said, his voice flat, like he was negotiating over a car, not a person.
Astrid shook her head, opening her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.
“Let’s make it two then,” he offered. She stared at him, stunned, wondering if he’d lost his mind.
“Mr. Voss…”
“Final offer. Five million,” he said, his gaze steady, unyielding.
Astrid took a deep breath, her heart pounding. “Fine. I’ll be your wife.”
***
When Astrid Blythe, a rising event planner, runs into her ex, Adrian Voss, at his engagement party, she’s shocked to discover that his fiancée is missing. What starts as a strange encounter quickly spirals into something even more surreal when Adrian offers Astrid a proposal of his own: marry him in a cold, calculated, no-strings-attached arrangement.
Despite her better judgment, Astrid agrees to the deal. But as the line between business and desire blurs, she finds herself drawn back into Adrian’s dangerous orbit—and realizes, to her horror, that she’s falling again for the man she once loved…the man who had a hand in the death of their child.
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Chapter: PrisonADRIAN I arrived in New York three hours after talking my woman out of running. And my guess—that she was trying to run—was fucking right. She wasn’t a hard one to talk to. She promised she wouldn’t try anything funny and that we’d talk once I returned. I knew what that talk would be about: the way forward in our relationship. What comes next? If I’m being honest, I already knew. I planned to propose to her again—this time not fake, not just shoving a metal ring on her finger, but getting down on one knee and professing my love, just like I always intended. Gary and the men we caught were moved to the prison here in New York, where they’d be tried in court. I knew the way to the prison. I made sure they were locked up. My phone rang, and I swerved left to avoid hitting the car in front of me. I glanced at the screen—Aaron. Of course. We were supposed to meet by ten, and if I had to guess, it was already ten. I didn’t know how long the meeting would take, but I wanted to see a cer
Last Updated: 2025-07-31
Chapter: ConfessionAdrian“Mum, I’m not a kid,” “No, I’m fine,”I peeled my eyes open slowly. Astrid was sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to me and her phone pressed against her ear. She scratched her hair and groaned.“Jesus.” She pulled her phone away from her ear and stared down at it before returning it to her ear. “It’s 4:29 am. It’s too early,” she muttered and then fell silent.I watched her without interrupting. She was talking to her mum, I knew that. And I also knew why Maya was calling.Ever since Astrid moved out of the house, she’d been staying at her mum’s. Then, the one night she doesn’t return home, Maya is worried. Well, she is supposed to.Judging from the fact that Astrid didn’t call her all the way home from the restaurant or the whole afternoon to tell her she wouldn’t be returning for the night and would crash at my place instead, it made sense that her mum was worried.“I told you. My phone had been on silent all day and I didn’t see your calls,” she said and I pursed my l
Last Updated: 2025-07-27
Chapter: Cuddles AdrianDate night was the happiest I’d felt in a while. Well—ever since Astrid moved out and signed those damn divorce papers.She shook her head as she took a bite of her pizza—because she’d decided, last minute, that she wanted one. I was all in for giving her what she wanted. Anything. I’d brought her to the new restaurant that just opened downtown. Someone had said they made the best dishes. So I thought, why not give it a try?She stared at me.“This is really good. Do you want a slice? You should try it,” she said, offering one toward me. I was going to say no.I wasn’t a fan of appetizers—or whatever those things were called. I usually got straight to the good part. But I could tell she really wanted me to try it. I saw it in her eyes.I leaned forward and took a bite from the slice she had in her hand. I raised a brow, leaned back into my seat, and watched her watch me.I chewed, swallowed, and pursed my lips.“Okay. This doesn’t taste like crap,” I muttered.She smiled and
Last Updated: 2025-07-21
Chapter: A DateAstridThree weeks later“Ms. Blythe, how are you feeling today?” Dr. Kate asked as she walked into the office. I flashed her a smile, nodded, and intertwined my fingers.She sat in the chair opposite mine, the desk between us. Kate was my therapist. I’d been seeing her since I left Adrian’s house three weeks ago because I needed to. There was a lot I had to move on from, a lot to heal, and I needed to talk about it without feeling horrified or ashamed.There was progress—small, but it mattered.“I’m good,” I muttered. She grabbed her little book and placed it on the desk, then stared at me. She smiled warmly, her eyes brightening.“You look good. Really,” she said, and I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. Oh, to be complimented by a woman—it always hits differently.“So, anything you want to talk about today?” she asked, and I nodded, dropping my gaze to my hands. There was something I needed to talk about. And for the first time since meeting her, it had nothing to do with my tra
Last Updated: 2025-07-15
Chapter: We Need A DivorceAdrianWe stayed in the hospital for an extra week to be fully sure neither Astrid nor the baby was in danger. Luckily, they were fine.Because my hands were full looking after Astrid, I hadn’t really followed up on Gary. And, well—the police got him and locked him up.I planned to visit him once I was sure my family was safe. I’d asked Axel to turn Denzel over too—there was really no point keeping him locked up and tortured.Yeah, my men had kind of dealt with him. He should serve his punishment, just like Gary.Astrid stepped into the house and looked around, a small sigh escaping her as I carried the bags inside and shut the door.I glanced at her.“Are you okay?” I asked.She turned to me and gave a small nod.“Yeah. I just… I never thought I’d come back here,” she muttered, eyes dropping to her feet. She gave a small shrug.“And even if I was to return, it was to pack my stuff.”A muscle in my jaw twitched. Yeah, of course.We had been in the process of getting a divorce. I didn’
Last Updated: 2025-07-12
Chapter: Husband AstridIt felt like the world was wrapped in a haze. I couldn’t hear anything, but I could see and think. It didn’t help matters that my ears were ringing, either.A picture was etched in my mind. My dad’s.I finally saw him again after ten? Eleven years? He definitely looked younger, and I was willing to sacrifice it all to go with him. I didn’t think about anyone else but me at the time.How it’d hurt my family. Freya? She’d lose her big sister—and God, that made me feel like a bad person. Seeing my situation made Adrian call the doctor, because a man in a white coat was suddenly in the room.I was made to lie back on the bed, and my eyes and everything else were checked. I stopped crying and just stared blankly at nothing. It was then the haze slowly shattered, and I could make out some words that were being said.“Is everything okay with her?” Adrian asked, his tone concerned and worried. The doctor pursed his lips.“She looks fine. But we’d have to run some tests on her to confir
Last Updated: 2025-07-11
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