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 MoreMorning light poured through the sheer curtains, painting delicate shadows across the elegant hotel suite. A faint trace of last night’s champagne clung to the air, mingling with the expensive cologne lingering on silk sheets.
Alexander Vanderbilt stood rigidly by the window, the skyline reflecting in his cold, unreadable gaze. His broad shoulders cut a stark silhouette against the pale dawn.
On the edge of the bed sat Serena, her beauty impossible to ignore despite the stiffness in her posture. Her hair fell in soft, disheveled waves over her bare shoulders as she fastened the final buttons of her blouse with trembling fingers.
Alexander’s voice broke the silence, cool and biting.
“I’ll compensate you generously,” he said, each word clipped and precise. “But don’t expect anything beyond that. Last night changes nothing.”Serena’s hands froze mid-motion. His words were like a blade slicing through the fragile illusion of calm she’d tried to maintain.
He had always been in control — never careless, never reckless. Even when drinking, he held himself apart from others, refusing to yield to temptation. But last night had been different.
Serena, drawing a shaky breath, struggled to hold herself together.
She had known, since the moment their engagement had been arranged, that Alexander resented her. That he’d never asked for a wife, much less one chosen by the family.
After what happened last night, how could she convince him she hadn’t orchestrated it? That she hadn’t schemed to steal even a piece of his heart?
Guilt and frustration tangled in her chest.
She parted her lips to speak — “Actually, I—” — but before the words could form, a sudden vibration shattered the stillness.
Alexander’s phone buzzed against the nightstand. He turned to glance at it, his jaw tightening as he answered, switching to speakerphone with an air of bored disdain.
A breeze drifted in through the cracked balcony doors, carrying the faint perfume of rain-soaked city streets. Beyond the glass, the skyline shimmered in quiet shades of blue and gray, the river slicing a pale ribbon through the morning haze.
A crisp, clinical voice came through the speaker.
“Mr. Vanderbilt, we’ve arrived at Miss Morales’s apartment. She’s not there. Should we deliver the divorce papers to her family instead?”Alexander’s fingertips tapped rhythmically against the window frame, perfectly steady.
Three years. That was how long he’d been bound to Serena Morales — a wife he barely knew, a marriage born from family debt and legacy.Grandfather had insisted: She’s smart, polite, educated. She saved my life once.
But what did that matter? The Morales family had been saved, and the debt was paid.
His tone was devoid of any warmth as he answered,
“Keep trying. If she refuses, involve her family.”Serena flinched. Her hands clenched around her phone, her throat tightening. Divorce papers?
A chime of messages interrupted her thoughts.
---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, visit Valentina at the hospital. She misses you.
---Araminta.
A surge of anger lit up Serena’s eyes. So it was her.
She clenched her jaw, steadying her voice before replying.
Serena: I’ll visit Valentina later. Tell her I miss her too.Her gaze drifted back to Alexander. He stood by the window in a loosely tied white robe, towering and unapproachable, every inch the Vanderbilt heir — powerful, cold, unyielding.
It was as if last night had never happened, as if her presence meant nothing.
Serena took a slow, steadying breath. It’s over, she thought. They would divorce soon. No reason to stay and suffer further humiliation.
Quietly, she gathered her things. There was no point in prolonging this moment, no point in trying to talk to a man who’d already sealed his heart away.
By the time Alexander ended the call, the suite had fallen eerily silent.
He turned, expecting to see her. Instead, there were only rumpled sheets, the lingering scent of champagne, and the faint imprint of a woman who had already vanished.
His expression darkened, frustration simmering beneath the stoic surface.
He ran a hand across his face, recalling last night through a haze of disbelief. If not for the stain on the sheets, I’d think it was a bad dream.
A sharp knock on the door broke his thoughts.
Jonathan Potter, his trusted assistant, stepped inside, crisp and composed. He carried a freshly pressed suit draped over one arm, his eyes briefly scanning the disordered room before saying nothing.
Alexander wordlessly entered the bathroom, letting the cold water of the shower wash away the night, but something continued to gnaw at him.
Serena — the way she had left without so much as a glance backward — unsettled him in a way he couldn’t explain.
He emerged dressed and sharp once more, every inch the formidable Vanderbilt. As he reached the door, a thought struck him, freezing him mid-step.
His voice was clipped and dangerous.
“Jonathan. Who was the woman who left this morning?”Jonathan stiffened, quickly understanding. “I’ll investigate immediately.”
Alexander’s lips curved in a humorless smirk. She thinks I’ll chase after her? That I’ll fall into her games?
He dismissed Jonathan with a wave of his hand.
“Forget it. She’ll come back.”And in that moment, standing alone in the hushed, immaculate suite, Alexander made a silent vow:
If she thought she could slip away without consequences, she was gravely mistaken.
---Across the city, Serena stepped out of a steaming shower, water still clinging to her skin in delicate rivulets. Wrapping herself in a towel, she felt a faint sting across her shoulders, as if her skin itself was trying to scrub away the ghosts of last night. But no amount of heat or soap could cleanse what had been burned into her memory.
Exhaustion pressed against her bones as she collapsed onto the bed, her damp hair leaving dark stains on the crisp white sheets. She closed her eyes, desperate for rest, but the night refused to release its grip.
It came back to her in relentless flashes.
The feel of Alexander’s hands on her body, rough yet achingly familiar.
The intensity that burned in his eyes, as if trying to consume her entirely. The way her own resolve had crumbled, pleasure overwhelming the pain until she was left gasping, lost in the moment.Serena’s hand curled around a fistful of bedsheets, a bitterness rising hot in her throat. It wasn’t simply the loss of her virginity that made her ache.
It was his voice, low and ragged, carried on shallow breaths.
The name he had whispered, like a brand seared into her soul."Victoria."
Victoria Laurent.
The woman who owned Alexander’s heart.
The woman for whom he was willing to cast Serena aside.Serena turned onto her side, her chest tightening as if a heavy stone had been laid on it. She had been his wife for three long years, yet in all that time, she had been nothing more than a polite, beautiful placeholder.
Sleep was a cruel stranger. After minutes of futile tossing, she gave up, reaching over to the nightstand. Pulling open the drawer, she took out two pristine marriage certificates. Their crisp edges caught the lamplight, the embossed seals still proud and official, like a mocking reminder.
She traced a trembling finger over the bold print: Alexander Vanderbilt.
For three years, she thought, I have been Mrs. Vanderbilt in name alone.
But last night had changed everything.
She let out a sharp breath, slammed the drawer shut, and stared at the ceiling.
Everything had changed — and there was no going back.
The following days blurred into a haze of overwork. Serena pushed herself past exhaustion, staying late in the office two nights in a row, her desk littered with files and half-finished coffee cups.No matter how many times she tried, she couldn’t reach Alexander. Each call rang into silence, and she had no idea he’d flown to Italy.She tried Jonathan too—again and again—hoping to catch some news about Rex. But his answers were always the same: Rex wasn’t at Manhattan Villa. No matter how she pressed, Jonathan gave nothing away.Left with no answers, Serena buried herself in work. But when night fell and the office lights went dark, the silence pressed harder. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind replayed one moment over and over—the night she had been rescued.That voice.Even though it had sounded slightly different, distorted somehow, it tugged at something deep in her memory. Too familiar to dismiss. The first time, she’d convinced herself it was her imagination, a produ
Italy glittered under the night sky, the streets alive with golden lights and restless energy. From the rooftop terrace, Alexander had the city spread out before him like a jewel—crowded piazzas pulsing with laughter, distant cathedral domes gleaming under the moon, and winding streets that never truly slept.He ended a call and tossed the phone aside, lifting his glass of deep red wine. The alcohol burned slightly as it slid down his throat, doing little to steady the restlessness coiling inside him. His gaze drifted over the pool beside him, the water shimmering in sapphire ripples beneath the soft glow of lanterns. A platter of fruit and chilled drinks sat untouched at the table’s edge.The scene was picture-perfect. The kind of setting made for two.If Serena were here, it would’ve been more than perfect.He could imagine her slipping into the pool, the reflection of city lights dancing across her skin. Maybe he’d steal a kiss, or two… and if she didn’t stop him, things could easi
The underground arena trembled as Alexander stepped onto the stage, his face hidden behind the cold steel of a mask. The lights above glared down, catching the edge of the black iron, casting him as both myth and menace.For a beat, the crowd was hushed. Then a deep, guttural shout split the air.“God! God!”The voice came from a hulking man in the front row, and in seconds, the chant spread like wildfire.“God! God! God!”The walls shook with the roar. Sweat, alcohol, and cigarette smoke thickened the air until it felt like everyone in the room was breathing the same feverish madness.Alexander’s masked figure was a legend here. Every rare appearance burned into the memory of the men who worshipped him, the women who wanted him, and the gamblers who cursed his name while losing fortunes. He never lost. Not once.Years ago, in his first notorious match, he had faced two lions at once. The crowd had bet on the beasts, their odds stacked against him. Alexander bet only on himself. By th
Serena’s lips parted, ready to snap back, but the words stuck in her throat. She remembered her promise to Lucca—his warning, his favor she had already accepted. Wes was far away in Hollywood, yet here she was, caught in a room with Alexander Vanderbilt, his presence looming over her like a storm cloud.A sharp pang of guilt twisted in her chest. She gripped the bedsheet so tightly her knuckles whitened, her nails digging into the fabric as if she could claw herself out of the moment. For a fleeting second, she hated herself—hated how torn she felt, how powerless.But no matter what, she knew the truth: she could never beat Chiara.Her voice came out low, almost defensive. “You don’t know him.”Alexander’s gaze darkened. His tone was cold enough to chill the air. “You haven’t slept with him, right?”Serena shook her head faintly. “No.”The ice in his eyes didn’t melt. He studied her as if he were peeling away her layers, searching for a lie beneath her skin. His jaw flexed, then he sh
Before Serena even opened her eyes, the sharp tang of disinfectant stung her nose, dragging her halfway back to consciousness. Voices echoed faintly in her ears—one voice in particular, sharp, furious, impossible to ignore.Alexander.“Didn’t you say she’d wake up soon? Why is she still unconscious? Are you a quack?” His words cracked like a whip, laced with panic that no amount of authority could disguise.The doctor, caught in the storm, stammered nervously, “Mr. Vanderbilt, Ms. Morales suffered severe hypoxia. Her brain and body need time. It isn’t unusual—please, give her a little longer.”Alexander’s glare could have set the room ablaze. “If she dies,” he hissed, his voice cold enough to freeze blood, “this hospital is finished.”The doctor froze, lips parting but no words finding their way out.How could Alexander calm down? His chest still felt hollow, his pulse raw from the terror he’d endured. He could still see it—the image of the submerged car on the live broadcast, the lic
When Serena returned to her office, she froze. For a moment, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.“Jonathan?”The man standing stiffly outside her door gave a curt nod, his expression serious. Without a word, he reached into his coat and produced a check, sliding it across the desk as if it were a weapon.“Ms. Alvarez, please accept this. Mr. Vanderbilt requests that Ms. Black be cast as the second female lead in E.A. Corporation’s upcoming production.”Serena’s gaze dropped to the glossy profile paper tucked beneath the check. The face staring back at her was instantly recognizable—Layla Black, the woman who had made her presence so obvious at Manston Manor the night before.Serena said nothing, her expression unreadable. Jonathan, mistaking her silence for hesitation, pressed forward.“Name your price. Ms. Black is in high demand right now. She wants to act, and Mr. Vanderbilt cannot refuse her.”Serena’s fingers twitched on the desk before she leaned back, a faint, cool
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