LOGINThe sight of Arthur Vance in his pajamas was the final, undeniable proof. He had spent the night with Yvonne Blue. In the high-stakes game of infidelity, if a man stays past midnight, a woman like Yvonne would never let such an opportunity slip through her fingers.On the other end of the line, Sarah Vance’s voice was hollow, stripped of its usual vibrant fire. "No," she said, answering the unasked question. "Arthur didn't come home. Chloe... it’s over. He and I are completely finished."Before Chloe could offer a single word of comfort, the line went dead.Chloe stood paralyzed under the magnolia tree. She knew Sarah—knew the razor-sharp pride that defined her. Sarah knew everything now. And while Chloe didn't know exactly what Sarah’s next move would be, she knew that for Arthur and Yvonne, the days of peaceful "domestic bliss" in the West Side were officially over.A sharp, panicked scream cut through the morning air. The investigator had been spotted.Chloe whipped her head around
The morning light in the Bishop Manor was soft, filtering through the lace curtains as Chloe Bishop and Xavier Grayson descended the stairs. Liam Jr. had already finished his breakfast, having spent a playful thirty minutes entertaining little Baby Bella, who was now drifting back into a milk-induced slumber.Jane Bishop watched the couple with a knowing, radiant smile. Xavier was the picture of composure—the "Demon CEO" back in his element, movements fluid despite the hidden bandage beneath his suit. Chloe, however, was a contrast of burning ears and forced stoicism. She moved with a stiff elegance, her gaze carefully avoiding the suggestive glints in the servants' eyes.Once the meal was concluded, Xavier departed for the Grayson Group headquarters, leaving a lingering scent of sandalwood and cold power in his wake. Chloe, Jane, and little Liam Jr. then set out for the West Side to pick up Master Marcus Sr. and the elder Mrs. Bishop.This was Chloe’s second time at this particular l
A flicker of flustered annoyance crossed Xavier Grayson’s eyes. He tightened his grip on Chloe Bishop’s delicate chin, his voice dropping into a possessive growl. "Remember, you are my wife. I do as I please. Do you understand?"With that, he released her and stepped into the steaming water of the marble tub. He reclined with the ease of a monarch, his wounded arm resting carefully on the edge. He didn't look at her as he issued his next decree: "Don't just stand there. Wash. Thoroughly."Chloe didn't protest. At this moment, she chose to view him not as a "Demon CEO" or a tyrannical husband, but simply as a larger, more difficult version of Liam Jr. She pumped a generous amount of sandalwood-scented body wash onto a sponge, working up a rich lather. Her touch was light and professional, meticulously avoiding the jagged red laceration on his upper arm. Xavier watched her—this version of her that was compliant yet distant—and a faint, satisfied smirk played on his lips. He tapped his f
The master bedroom in the Bishop Manor was a landscape of elegant mahogany and silk, but for Chloe Bishop, it felt like a cage of high-stakes social duty. She watched Xavier Grayson as he remained silent, his profile as sharp and cold as carved obsidian."You mentioned a car accident on your way here," Chloe said, her voice carefully neutral as she tried to bridge the icy gap between them. "If you suspect it was intentional, it isn't safe to leave tonight. Stay here. At least for the night."Xavier turned his head slowly, a mirthless, paper-thin smile touching his lips. "If it was intentional, then coming back with me is perfect. You can serve as my human shield."A human shield?The words weren't a joke; in Xavier’s ruthless world, they were a distinct possibility. Chloe felt her heart sink. The man standing before her wasn't a husband; he was a predator who viewed her as a tactical asset. Without a word, she bent down and scooped up Liam Jr., who was nodding off on the velvet sofa.
As Chloe Bishop descended the grand staircase, her mind was a whirlwind of anxiety. She could still feel the phantom pressure of Xavier Grayson’s fingers on her neck and hear the biting echo of his "loathing." She expected to find the banquet hall in disarray, her mother making excuses for the "Demon CEO’s" abrupt and silent departure.Instead, she froze.There sat Xavier, reclaimed by his seat at the head of the table, perfectly composed. The feast was in full swing. He was currently cutting a piece of Wagyu beef with surgical precision, his expression as calm as a frozen lake.As Chloe slid into her seat beside him, she realized the atmosphere in the room had shifted from tense to... suggestive. Every guest at the table had a knowing smirk playing on their lips. The gazes directed at her and Xavier were heavy with an uncomfortable, predatory ambiguity.Then, she felt the burn of a gaze from across the table. Donovan Tang’s eyes were fixed on her lips—now swollen and reddened from Xa
The air in the master suite crackled with the static of a dying marriage. Xavier Grayson’s hand tightened around Chloe Bishop’s throat, his veins standing out like cords. On the surface, the "Demon CEO" was in a towering rage, yet beneath the lethal posturing, his grip lacked its usual crushing force. He was a man drowning in a storm of his own making, lashing out at the only anchor in sight.Chloe didn't flinch. She met his turbulent gaze with a faint, mocking curve of her lips—a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I agree with you, and you’re unhappy. I disagree, and you’re still unhappy," she said, her voice a dry whisper. "How exactly am I supposed to answer you, Xavier?"Xavier’s face was a mask of thunder. Her lack of reaction to his kiss—and her casual suggestion that he find another woman—was the ultimate insult to his masculinity. Did he hold no attraction for her at all? Or was her heart so crowded with the ghosts of Liam Martin and Donovan Tang that there was no room for him







