Novel-novel oleh Debbie

KATE'S POV: The drive home was cold, colder than the night air, colder than the silence that stretched like a noose between us. Nikolai’s fingers gripped the steering wheel with such force his knuckles turned pale beneath the shadows of passing streetlights. It felt like he could rip the leather that covered the steering wheel with the way he was gripping it. His jaw clenched tight, and the faint muscle in his cheek ticked rhythmically, his only movement aside from the occasional sharp flick of his gaze back to the road. I shifted in my seat, my dress crinkling softly beneath me, but I didn’t dare speak. The tension was thick enough to choke on. I was afraid to say a word, to say something that might raise the bar higher and break the tension that surrounded us both. I looked at his face through the mirror above. I knew that look on his face. I knew it too well. Jealousy. It had been buried beneath the suit and charm all evening, but I felt it crawling up his spine the

NIKOLAI'S POV: The soft melody of the orchestra surrounded us as I held Kate in my arms, our bodies moving in slow harmony across the glimmering dance floor. Her hand rested lightly on my shoulder while my palm pressed gently against the small of her back. The satin of her dress whispered under my fingertips, the scent of her perfume lingering in the space between us, warm vanilla with a hint of citrus. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me, her lips curled in a soft, unguarded smile that stirred something deep within me. For a moment, I let the world around us fade, it felt as if it was only us in here. I could only see the way her eyes shined so brightly. There were dozens of people in the ballroom, powerful men, sharp women, associates, investors, but none of them mattered. Not tonight. Not with her here, standing in the circle of my arms, looking at me like I was the only man in the room. Right now, I didn't care if I hated her and wanted to see the downfall of her entire f

KATE'S POV: The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of a grand building illuminated with soft golden lights that stretched across its high windows and massive columns. The valet was already at Nikolai's side as he stepped out, adjusting the lapels of his sharp tailored tux. He rounded the car swiftly, offering me his hand as I emerged. The whole vibe from the party was nothing I was used to, it was different and it screamed of wealthy self centered people. People who only cared about their looks, their money and the way people feared them. "Ready?" he asked, voice low and confident. I nodded, clutching my small glittering clutch a little tighter. The silky material of my dress whispered against my legs as I moved, heels clicking elegantly against the stone pavement. My heart was hammering with excitement and nerves.Nikolai held my hands like it was his world, everything felt so different afterwards. He looked so confident as he walked. The doorman greeted us with a nod, and a

KATE'S POV: The soft hum of the evening breeze filtered through the tall windows of the bedroom, dancing with the curtains and brushing lightly against my skin as I stood in front of the vanity. Today was the day. The company event Nikolai had mentioned, the one where I was to be his plus one. The on where my heart raced so much for, us being together will be all over the media, and different rumors will be placed on it. I wonder if I was truly ready for that. I felt like a nervous reck. The afternoon had flown by with preparations, and now the sun was beginning to dip, painting the sky in soft gold and lavender streaks. My heart thrummed against my ribcage with both nerves and excitement. It wasn’t just that I was attending a company gala with Nikolai Voss, the intimidating billionaire CEO; it was that he wanted me there beside him. As his wife, the woman he had gotten married to against his own will. He’d arranged for a stylist and a makeup artist to come over, insisting it

KATE'S POV: The cold stretch of empty sheets met my hand as I rolled over in bed, my fingers brushing over where Nikolai's warmth should've been. It was cold and empty, it's like I thought this morning would be different. Another morning, another chill. I sighed, blinking the sleep from my eyes before sitting up and pushing the comforter aside. He always left before I could wake up, it's like he doesn't want to get reminded about the fact that we share a bed. The mansion was quiet eerily so, but I had grown used to its silence. I padded across the room, stretching my limbs as I made my way to the bathroom cladded in nothing but my bathrobe. The marble floor chilled my feet, sending a shiver up my spine as I twisted the knob of the shower. Steam soon enveloped the air, and I let the hot water wash over me, loosening the knots in my shoulders and clearing the remnants of sleep from my mind. After toweling off, I dressed in a light beige blouse and denim shorts, brushing my hair int

KATE'S POV:The first thing I noticed was the sound of the front door clicking open. It wasn’t loud or rushed, just a calm, familiar thud that echoed down the hallway and into the living room where Evelyn and I had curled up on the couch with two mugs of hot chocolate and a fuzzy blanket. The sky outside had already dipped into a dusky indigo, the kind of color that promised a quiet night.I looked up, and there he was. Nikolai.Tall, immaculately dressed in one of his dark suits, the kind that hugged his shoulders perfectly and made him look even more like the billionaire he was. But there was something else today, a softness in his expression, a glint of something playful in his eye that immediately put me on alert.In his hand was a box. A large, rectangular one wrapped in sleek black paper with a satin ribbon tied around it in the deepest shade of red. "You’re home early, how was work at the office?" I said, rising to my feet.Evelyn stayed put, cradling her mug like she was watc