Chapter: Was Your Marriage to Me Your Choice?Aria AshfordMy heart had not stopped pounding violently for two hours.Since the moment Michael saw what happened between Marcus and me.The kiss. Fuck... that damned kiss.My eyes closed for a second while my fingers pressed tightly together in my lap, trying to control the faint trembling running through my body, but it was impossible.Michael definitely told him.No... it was impossible that he didn’t tell him.Now here I was, returning home... to that huge mansion that had become my official prison, preparing myself for what Damian Hawthorne might do to me when he saw me.My breathing tightened further.Everything outside looked normal.Quiet! While my head drowned in the worst possible scenarios.Michael, he sat in the front beside the driver as usual, his features cold as he stared at the road without saying a single word.We arrived. And I want to run. To disappear. Anything.But there was nowhere to escape... this was my home now. Damian... my husband.I stepped out of the ca
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-06-19
Chapter: He Had Never Seen a Naked Woman in His LifeDamian Hawthorne“Let me guess... trouble with your wife?” I said it without preamble after letting out a quiet breath.When the door opened after two light knocks... I lifted my eyes to see Elias walk in with an exhausted face, as if he had just come out of a lost battle rather than an argument with his wife.He let out a heavy sigh before throwing himself onto the couch across from me, rubbing his face with obvious irritation.“It’s not a big problem. Just hormones, man...”I was reviewing some documents on my desk...“You want to convince me her hormones suddenly appeared on their own?” Elias shot me a blank look, blaming me for taking his wife’s side, then said with annoyance, “Fine... maybe I made a small mistake. But she’s overreacting! She asked me if she had gained weight, and all I did was answer yes.”I stared at him for a few seconds. Sometimes I wonder how this idiot managed to get married and have two children while completely lacking any survival instinct.I exhaled cig
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-06-19
Chapter: I Thought I Lost YouAria Ashford“I’m sorry... I was angry and I lost control of myself. I hurt you without meaning to.”Marcus exhaled and looked at me again. This time there was nothing in his eyes except regret.“As if an apology would erase what you said.” I wiped my tears away quickly and with pride.He stepped toward me, but I stepped back.So he stopped.“You’re right... I was an asshole.”His voice became quieter.“I won’t repeat it again.”I laughed through my tears, lifted my eyes toward him. “You’re always an asshole... what’s new?”He lowered his head, trying to hide the small smile that appeared on his lips, as if he somehow found me cute even now.“I was scared, Aria.”My eyes lifted toward him. “I couldn’t stand the idea of you carrying another man’s name while I could do absolutely nothing.”Pain squeezed hard around my chest.“I was scared too!” I exploded at him. “But I didn’t abandon you the way you abandoned me.”I turned my face away while struggling to breathe, but his fingers held
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-06-19
Chapter: I don’t want to see your face.Aria AshfordThe car finally stopped in front of the university.I grabbed my bag and opened the door, but Michael’s voice stopped me before I got out.“I’ll be nearby.” He said it firmly. “If you need anything... you’ll find me behind you.”I didn’t answer him. Great! Now even the university wasn’t safe.I entered the lecture hall, searching for an empty seat. The moment I found one and sat down, my breathing stopped for a second.Marcus.He was sitting in front of me.A small feeling of relief appeared inside me... very small.But it disappeared; Because he didn’t even look at me. He didn’t turn toward me once.I frowned in annoyance.I was supposed to be the angry one here... not him.I pressed my lips together irritably and almost got up to move to the seat beside him... but the lecture hall door opened.The teaching assistant entered, and with him the students’ noise gradually quieted down as the lecture began.I couldn’t take my eyes off Marcus. I kept watching him the entire
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-06-19
Chapter: Our Marriage Contract...?Aria AshfordWhat was that contract I had been forced to sign earlier?“So... what about the contract I signed before?” My words nearly caught in my throat. I looked up at him, my brows pulling together.He didn’t react. “Wasn’t that considered a marriage contract?”He glanced at me once, like he had expected that question from the start.“The previous contract was only proof that you agreed to the marriage.”Damian said before adding,“But this... is the official contract. With my conditions and yours.”I stared at him, weren’t married yet! Even If I said no now… what would change?What was waiting for me back there anyway? A house under threat of being burned down? There was Marcus.I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood.His family barely tolerated my existence already, so would they really welcome me after divorcing a man like Damian Hawthorne?That was never going to happen.I looked down at the papers between us.“Are you telling me... that you’ll agree to my
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-06-19
Chapter: Come Closer and Sit Down.Aria AshfordHow did I end up here?One night ago, none of this existed. Now I was standing inside a stranger’s house, tied to people I did not know.I wiped my tears with the edge of my shirt, sat down when I felt a sharp dryness in my throat.Maybe water would help a little... Or at least give me an escape from my thoughts.I slipped out of the room and walked down the hallway slowly. The staircase came into view ahead of me, so I moved toward it carefully, but the moment I stepped onto the first stair, my foot slipped.I almost falling, but an arm caught me around the waist before I could fall and pulled me backward hard enough for my back to hit a solid chest.My back stiffened against him. He smelled clean, cold, something sharp beneath it.The smell settled somewhere unpleasant under my ribs.I tilted my head up carefully, but the darkness was too thick for me to make out his features.One hand stayed firm at my waist while his chest pressed against my back.I shifted back, but
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-06-19
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