For five years of their contractual marriage, Serena couldn’t even catch a glimpse of her husband Alexander Vanderbilt who fled the country right after he signed the papers. She couldn’t even see him when his assistant came with divorce papers. Unbelievably, their first encounter unfolded as one night of intoxicated intimacy, with both failing to recognize one another. The next morning, she realized what had happened but when her husband still did not recognize her, she did not bother to inform him. Serena believed their paths would never cross again, only to discover that this was the commencement of their intertwined destinies. The next time Serena met with Xander, she used her middle name 'Ava' and her mother's maiden name 'Alvarez'. Recalling the virgin that had shared his bed the previous night, he almost mistook her as a prostitute until he saw her designs for his new house which, according to rumor, he bought for him and his soon-to-be bride and also his first love, Victoria. How ironic. Fate dictated otherwise and true love indeed saves the day as the more they interract, the more Xander started to feel something for Serena while Serena herself remain cool and composed, which only made him even more curious! If only he knows that she is still his wife...
View MoreThe morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting long shadows across the pristine hotel suite. The scent of expensive cologne lingered in the air, mingling with the faint remnants of last night’s champagne.
Alexander stood by the window, his posture rigid, his sharp gaze fixed on the woman sitting at the edge of the bed. Serena.
She was undeniably beautiful, her tousled hair cascading over her bare shoulders, her delicate fingers working swiftly as she finished buttoning her blouse. But Alexander remained unmoved.
“I’ll compensate you generously,” his voice was smooth but laced with ice. “But don’t expect anything beyond that. What happened last night changes nothing.”
Serena paused, fingers tightening around the last button of her blouse. The weight of his words pressed against her, heavy and unforgiving.
Meanwhile, Alexander’s mind reeled, replaying the events of the previous night in fragmented flashes.
The Vanderbilt family had hosted a grand banquet in his honor—a spectacle of wealth and power, attended by business elites and socialites desperate to gain favor with the heir of the Vanderbilt empire.
Serena had been there too.
She hadn’t planned on staying long. But her father, Alfonso Morales, had intercepted her, pressing two crystal glasses of wine into her hands and urging her to introduce herself to Alexander.
That was the moment everything blurred.
Alexander clenched his jaw. He had always been in control—especially around women. Even when intoxicated, he never lost his composure. Yet, last night felt different.
Was it the drink?
Doubt gnawed at the edges of his thoughts.
Serena, on the other hand, sat motionless, trying to steady her breath.
She knew Alexander despised this marriage—had resented it from the very moment their engagement had been announced.
And now, after what had happened last night, how was she supposed to convince him that she wasn’t part of some elaborate scheme?
A flicker of frustration passed through her eyes.
She hesitated, then finally spoke, her voice quiet yet firm.
“Actually, I—”
But before she could continue, the sharp vibration of Alexander’s phone sliced through the tense silence.
It buzzed against the bedside table.
Alexander exhaled slowly, his expression darkening as he glanced at the screen. Without a second thought, he answered, putting the call on speaker.
The crisp morning air drifted through the open balcony doors, carrying the scent of fresh rain from the city below. The sky was painted in soft hues of blue and gray, the river stretching endlessly in the distance.
Alexander stood by the window, his jaw tightening as he listened to the voice on the other end of the call.
“Mr. Vanderbilt, we’ve arrived at Miss Morales’s apartment. She’s not home. Should we deliver the divorce papers to her family instead?”
His fingers drummed lightly against the glass as he considered the situation.
Three years.
That was how long he had been legally bound to Serena Morales—a woman he had no memory of, despite their marriage. To him, she was little more than a name on a legal document, a favor repaid.
Grandfather says she’s kind, well-educated, and doesn’t meddle in family affairs. A Harvard graduate, no less. But so what? The Morales family’s crisis ended long ago. I’ve done my part in repaying her for saving Grandfather’s life.
His gaze remained impassive as he responded, his tone devoid of warmth.
“Keep trying to contact her. If she refuses to cooperate, involve her family.”
Across the room, Serena’s fingers tightened around her phone at the mention of the divorce papers. Her heart clenched momentarily before her attention shifted to an incoming message from her father.
---Alfonso: Serena, did you leave early last night? Araminta asked if Alexander drank the wine.
Serena: Dad, didn’t you prepare it?
Alfonso: No, Araminta did. If you have time today, visit Valentina at the hospital. She said she misses you.
---Serena’s grip on the device tightened, anger flashing in her eyes. So it was Araminta.
Her steps faltered slightly as frustration surged through her, but she exhaled slowly, forcing herself to remain composed. Alfonso had always been a devoted father. Even after remarrying when she was in college, he had tried to keep their bond intact. She didn’t want to burden him with her anger.
Instead, she typed a calm response.
Serena: I’ll visit Valentina later. Tell her I miss her too.
Her gaze drifted back to Alexander, who remained by the window, his white robe loosely draped over his tall frame. His presence commanded the space effortlessly—broad shoulders, strong arms, the smooth planes of his chiseled features accentuated by the morning light.
His expression, however, was impassive, distant, as if last night had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Serena swallowed the lump in her throat and made a decision.
There was no point in lingering. They were going to divorce anyway. Best to leave quietly.
She moved swiftly, gathering her things without a sound. The last thing she wanted was to endure an awkward exchange.
By the time Alexander ended the call, the suite had fallen into an eerie silence.
He turned, expecting to see her—but there was nothing. Just empty sheets, scattered clothing, and the lingering scent of wine and intimacy in the air.
His eyes darkened.
He ran a hand over his face, recalling the previous night with growing frustration. If not for the undeniable stain on the sheets, I might’ve believed waking up next to her was just a bad dream.
A sharp knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
Jonathan Armstrong entered, carrying a freshly pressed suit. “Mr. Vanderbilt.”
He placed the clothes down neatly, his sharp eyes taking in the slightly disheveled state of the room before retreating into the living room without a word.
Alexander stepped into the bathroom, allowing the cool water to chase away the remnants of the night before. Yet, as he stood beneath the shower, something gnawed at him.
The woman he had woken up beside…
The way she had slipped out without a word…
It irked him more than it should have.
Dressed in his usual tailored suit, he stepped out of the bathroom and moved toward the door. But just as he reached the hallway, he suddenly paused.
His voice was sharp when he spoke. “Who was the woman that left my room this morning?”
Jonathan, caught off guard, quickly pieced things together. “I’ll investigate right away.”
Alexander’s lips pressed into a thin line, irritation creeping into his features.
So, she wants me to chase her? To play her game?
His gaze darkened. No chance. If she went through all this trouble, she’ll surface again.
He waved Jonathan off dismissively.
“Forget it. She’ll come back.”
---Across the city, Serena stepped out of a steaming shower, wrapping herself in a towel. Her skin still tingled, as if trying to erase the remnants of last night, but no amount of scrubbing could wash away the memory.
Exhausted, she collapsed onto her bed, closing her eyes.
But the moment she did, the night played back in vivid detail.
The feel of Alexander’s touch.
The intensity in his eyes.
The way she had initially barely endured it, only to be swallowed by pleasure that seeped into her very bones.
Serena clenched the bedsheets, bitterness rising in her throat.
It wasn’t losing her virginity to him that troubled her.
It was that, in the heat of it all—his voice husky, his breath heavy—he had murmured a name.
"Victoria..."
Victoria Laurent.
The woman he truly loved.
The reason he wanted this divorce in the first place.
Serena turned on her side, her chest tightening. She had spent three years as his wife, yet she was nothing more than an obligation.
Sleep refused to come. Giving up, she pulled open her bedside drawer, revealing two pristine marriage certificates.
She traced a finger over the embossed seal, her expression unreadable.
For three years, I was Mrs. Vanderbilt in name only. But last night…
She exhaled sharply, shutting the drawer.
Last night changed everything...
The morning sun broke across Charleston like a whisper, casting golden light on the sand-dusted roofs and hushed roads. The storm had passed. But for Ava, peace still felt like a distant dream.She hadn’t slept a wink.Her mind was haunted by Alfonso’s dwindling time—just three months left. That countdown echoed louder with each sunrise. She had to find the child Elena gave birth to, but it felt more impossible with every passing day, like trying to pluck a star from the sky.Outside the bungalow, several Charleston executives gathered, their cars kicking up light trails of dust as they parked near the entrance. Their relief was palpable.“Mr. Vanderbilt! We’re so glad to see you unharmed,” one of them greeted Alexander with a nervous smile.“We were scared to death yesterday when you… vanished into that storm,” another added, trying to mask the rebuke behind forced laughter.But one warning glance from Alexander was enough to silence any criticism.Soon, the group loaded into the car
Dear Gentle Readers, Thank you for being so loyal and supportive. Please enjoy this freebie as a token of genuine appreciation from this author. Yours, Ethan---Inside the quiet, sand-laced halls of the villa, the managers exchanged uneasy glances. For a man as calculating and composed as Alexander Vanderbilt, rushing out into a raging dust storm—just for a woman—was unthinkable. Uncharacteristic. Reckless, even.And yet, he had.With the roads nearly invisible and the winds threatening to uproot trees, no one could say whether he'd make it back safely. The sheer thought was unsettling.Slowly, the group’s collective gaze shifted toward Uncle Marco.Everyone knew Ava was his niece.Marco stood stiffly, his jaw tight, the heat of humiliation slowly crawling up his neck. Ava had once been Charleston’s golden girl—the pride of her small community. When she graduated, her name was printed in local newspapers, her photo hung in coffee shops, her story whispered with pride at dinner tabl
Ava stood outside the small, desolate bungalow at the edge of the Sandbar, her silhouette barely visible in the sweeping darkness. The sandstorm raged around her like a living thing—howling, furious—grains of sand slashing at her skin and finding their way into her mouth each time she opened it to speak.She cupped her hand over her mouth, struggling to breathe as the wind threatened to knock her off balance.“Mr. Vanderbilt…” she rasped into the phone, her voice raw and wind-snatched.Alexander's voice crackled through the line, clipped and strained. “Where are you?” he asked, trying—and failing—to stay composed. He loosened his tie with a sharp tug, the fabric suddenly suffocating.Ava coughed hard, her lungs aching from the dust. But instead of answering right away, she let out a quiet breath of relief. Even amidst the roar of the storm, hearing his voice anchored her. She smiled faintly, though she knew he couldn't see it.“I'm glad you're okay
The manager adjusted his tie nervously as he explained, “This villa functions similarly to Roastercoast Garden—high-end, secluded, tailored for elite use. The scenery is breathtaking, and the water quality here is pristine. But the location is remote. A standalone development would be difficult to sustain. The beach alone isn’t enough to draw crowds.”He cast a quick glance toward Alexander.“Previous developers backed out one after another. They considered the risk too high for the reward.”But now, with the Vanderbilt family making sweeping moves across Charleston, adding this plot of land to their portfolio would be effortless—an afterthought, really. A few million more meant nothing when you were already investing billions.The manager hesitated before broaching the real concern. “There was a sandstorm here. Just once, ten years ago. But if it happens again—if people are injured, or worse—it’ll destroy the location’s reputation. That's the hesitation. No one wants a tourist haven
As Ava lay beneath the plush hotel duvet, a fleeting thought passed through her mind—did Alexander want the sixth time tonight?She didn’t have the energy to find out.Before the notion could fully form, sleep swept over her like a wave crashing against a weary shore. Her body surrendered without resistance, curled instinctively into the warmth of the blankets.By the time Alexander approached the bed, she was fast asleep, her breathing soft and rhythmic, her expression serene. He stood over her for a moment, the pale moonlight from the curtained windows casting gentle patterns across her face.He lay down beside her, though sleep didn’t come to him as easily. His body was still, but his mind stirred with unease. Why had he come all the way to Charleston? Had it truly been about business? Or had it been the idea of her here, alone?He glanced down at his hand, at the small blister between his fingers—red, taut, faintly stinging. The ointment she had applied still lingered, its coolnes
Meanwhile, over on Alexander’s side of town, a cold shadow had taken root in his chest ever since he learned Ava had traveled to Charleston. The city’s name alone stirred a bitterness he couldn’t quite name.That night, he paid a visit to Westchester Manor.Mrs. Vanderbilt greeted him with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Though she clung to his arm as if in a show of maternal affection, her gaze often drifted elsewhere—as if peering through him in search of someone who wasn’t there.Alexander had never been close to his grandmother. That much was evident from the strained familiarity between them. Her favoritism toward his older brother, Marken, had always been blatant—etched into every word and every comparison.“Marken was brilliant in every way,” she said that evening, sighing wistfully as she swirled her wine glass. “He had poise, heart, character. If only you had half his temperament, Alexander, the Vanderbilt name would truly shine.”Alexander said nothing. He didn’t h
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