Alice's heart raced, contemplating her bold move to offer herself in marriage without meeting her future spouse, only to find herself in a surprisingly favorable situation.
'Isn't that Andrew Kingston, the famed business tycoon? Word has it that even Richie Rich can't tally up the sheer number of businesses he commands. And, as if that's not enough, he's the singular force behind Royman Productions, consistently delivering box office hits. Is he born into wealth, or is there a lucky charm in play?' ''Did I really just propose to that notorious, perpetually stern businessman?' Alice pondered, nervously fidgeting with her fingers as tiny beads of sweat formed on her forehead. "Excuse me......." Andrew's voice, cold and weighty, snapped Alice out of her reverie. Noticing his furrowed brow, she came to the realization that she hadn't removed the mask and shades—her usual strategy to sidestep unwarranted attention—from her face. Without hesitation, she took off the barrier, presenting her face to Andrew Kingston. 'Have a good look at your soon-to-be.''Get a good glimpse of the one you're about to marry.'
"Alice Cooper, the faded star?" Andrew stated as he took off his shades. 'Ahh, am I supposed to feel flattered to be recognized by him, or should I take offense at being remarked to as faded star?' In embarrassment, she scanned the surroundings and quickly donned on her shades again. "Ahem......" Andrew, with a subtle throat clearing, graciously opened the door of his Rolls-Royce for Alice. Anxious about potential onlookers, she glanced nervously in all directions before finally, with a brief hesitation, stepping into the car. He promptly shut the door. Andrew shifted his attention to Ronny, who, interpreting the signal, bowed before quietly disappearing. Subsequently, Andrew entered the car from the opposite side. "May I ask why you're here, Miss Alice?" Andrew questioned tentatively. He had to interview the girl who volunteered to marry him. He wouldn't exercise caution if she were a random girl, but considering the prospect of a relationship with a celebrity, he's keen to comprehend her intentions. "For the purpose, you're here?" Alice answered immediately. "Hmm, I see. Was he the rumored non-celebrity boyfriend?" Andrew raised an eyebrow inquisitively. Alice showed a subtle surprise. His familiarity with her, given his status as a business celebrity in a separate industry, was quite impressive."Who he was doesn't really matter, does it?" Alice responded, arching her eyebrows.
A sigh of admiration escaped Andrew. Her lack of intimidation by his wealth and power was something he found appealing. "Didn't things work out between you two?" Andrew inquired, scrutinizing Alice's face and interpreting her expressions. Alice's face took on a disapproving look as she locked eyes with him, magnifying the size of her big doe eyes even more. 'Obviously, it didn't happen; otherwise, why would I propose to you?' Andrew grasped the redundancy of his question; she wouldn't be in front of him if there weren't issues. "Alright, forget about it." A knock on the window by Ronny disrupted their conversation. Andrew lowered the glass, accepted a file, and then raised it back up. "I'll be straightforward, Miss Alice, your past or ex has nothing to do with me. You are my present and could be my future if you adhere to the specified conditions," Andrew explained, extending the file to her. "Excuse me?" Alice took the file, her expression showing confusion as she flipped through its contents."This is a marriage contract for one year. Your challenge is to demonstrate that you are the most eligible to be Andrew Kingston's wife during this time," Andrew announced with pride, prompting Alice to ponder.
'That's even better; I'm marrying him as part of my scheme to get back at Mason and Monica. I'll make them rue the day by showcasing my influential husband. If it all unravels after a year, I'll be even happier," Alice thought, nodding. "Fair enough......." "Throughout this period, we can maintain our individual lives with personal space, but complete transparency is essential. Does that suit you?" "Fine......" "The details of this contract marriage should remain confidential among a select few until I decide to make it public. Any error in this matter will not be tolerated." The universe had provided Alice with the perfect chance, laying out all the conditions she had hoped for. "Sure......" Alice sighed quietly within. 'It appears to be an ideal match.' "Excellent, now go ahead and sign the contract," Andrew gestured towards the file and handed her a pen. After signing the contract, a short while later, both exited the civil affairs office clutching their marriage certificates. Alice's hands were clammy, her heart racing as she grappled with the weight of her decision.On their way to the parking lot as a newly married couple, Andrew suddenly took hold of Alice's arm, confiscated her phone, and positioned it in front of her face to unlock it after activating the screen.
"Hey, what are you up to?" "It's unconventional for a husband to reach out to his wife's manager to obtain her number, don't you think?" Andrew said as he dialed the number, showing the screen to Alice. It was his own number, and his phone began to ring. He handed her phone back. "Save my personal number." As a gentleman, he opened the door of Alice's white Audi for her. "I'll hit you up..." Andrew conveyed with a gesture after she hopped in and bid her farewell. She nodded in acknowledgment and let out a sigh. "Boss, Miss Laura has disappeared without leaving a trail, and her father is causing a scene," Ronny reported to Andrew, who remained fixated on the receding tail of Alice's white Audi, immersed in deep reflection. "Move $100 million to his account and deal with him, or I'll initiate legal action," Andrew said nonchalantly. "What? Are you sure, boss? Why did you prioritize a washed-up actress over the daughter of a businessman?" Andrew turned around, his was gaze sharp towards Ronny, issuing a warning that made him lower his head. 'Considering Alice Cooper's status as the most successful actress of her time, a recipient of numerous awards, and titled as the goddess of beauty, it's impolite to label her as washed-up, isn't it?' Andrew contemplated. "I hold greater respect for someone who achieves success on their own merits than for a privileged girl living off her dad's money." Andrew dialed a number as he got into the car, commanding, "I need a comprehensive report on actress Alice Cooper – both personal and professional details, her journey, and accomplishments from the very start." With that authoritative instruction, he drove away. Alice dragged herself to her apartment, utterly drained. Sinking onto her bed, tears welled up and cascaded down her face. She replayed the entire incident from the day before, crying intensely over the heartbreaking betrayal from the person she once loved the most. 'I could anticipate anything from Monica; even though she once worked as my designer, she harbors the most envy. I was the one who gave her a break to work with celebrities, and instead of gratitude, she was always resentful. She's willing to go to any length to hurt me. But Mason, why would you stoop to this level?' 'If you fell out of love, you should have been upfront with me instead of resorting to cheating. Though I want to be indifferent and move on, the pain is hard to ignore. Mason, I will never forgive you for this.' 'I pledge to make both of you regret what you've done to me for the rest of your lives.' Even with her plans for revenge, Alice found it challenging to overcome the sting of betrayal. The pain was profound, and she cried for an extended duration.'I sensed a negative energy from Mason, convinced that he had been concealing the truth and withholding things from me for quite some time.''The other day I discovered strands of hair in my hairbrush inside his car. The following day, I came across an unfamiliar stole in our shared post-marital mansion. Although he claimed it belonged to his mother, I doubted it, considering her preference for designer items and sophistication that wouldn't involve sharing a hairbrush.''He was glued to his phone, always acting shady, making sure to keep his conversations discreet and out of my earshot.''The other day, I spotted a blotch on his white shirt, and he brushed it off as paint. I wasn't fooled – it was clearly the lipstick mark from Monica earlier that day.''There are moments when I realize I overlooked the glaring truth about him, oblivious to everything happening right under my nose. How did I choose to ignore the countless red flags while he consistently took advantage of me?'The mise
While strolling into the parking lot, Alice's eyes widened at the text from Mason, sharing details about the designer contest venue. Skylar, already in the car, awaited her patiently. "What was that for?" Skylar asked. With a snort, Alice narrated the entire scene at Mason's apartment, leaving Skylar fuming at Monica and Mason's boldness. "Alice, why on earth did you agree to help her? She's nothing but a dishonest opportunist, a big liar. Both of them are taking advantage of your popularity for their own benefit." "In a low baritone, Alice asserted, "I've never turned down Mason before for anything, and I won't until I've settled the score with them. I don't want him to catch on that I know their secrets." Leaning back in her seat, she closed her eyes. "Instead of wasting time, confront them with the proof you have," Skylar advised while driving, stealing glances at Alice's profile through the corner of her eyes. "It'd be too easy for him. He'd apologize, plead, and coerce me in
"Iconic Mode designer contest" As Alice read the banner, she confidently strutted to the greenroom in her high heels, creating a buzz. Adorned in a chic, shoulderless black dress with a high ponytail and dark shades, she captivated the entire hotel with her elegance and magnificent style. Skylar trailed her, engaged in a phone conversation. "For real?" "Oh is that so?" "Alright, keep me posted; there's a handsome reward coming your way." Skylar hung up and swiftly advanced two steps toward Alice. "I've received some inside info about Monica courtesy of a junior designer at Pristine Moments fashion house." "Bring it on...." "Monica's behavior took a negative turn after her promotion to senior designer – she now bullies her juniors, takes away their projects, and has even been accused of pilfering designs from her colleagues." "Is that so?" Alice halted, turned to Skylar, slided her shades atop her head, and raised her eyebrows inquisitively. "Absolutely, she lacks dedication to
"Oh no, what is this?" Monica's sudden outburst echoed through the room, capturing the attention of the entire audience and leaving Alice visibly shocked. "Alice, why would you betray me like this? The dress you're wearing isn't my design. As my contest model, why wear someone else's creation?" The stage was in disarray as Monica's shouts and tears disrupted everything, leading to the abrupt cessation of the entire performance. 'So, this was Monica's plan to ensnare me?' Alice thought with regret, acknowledging it was futile to cry over spilled milk at this point. It wasn't just Monica's wailing that attracted attention; the commotion escalated as she accused a high-profile Hollywood actress, garnering a large audience. Breaking news reached the media: a lesser-known designer accusing a famous celebrity. Even the organizers and judges were left in disbelief. Alice's career kicked off as a model on the ramp, winning several contests before making a seamless transition to Hollywood
The front car door creaked as Ronny unlatched it, allowing Alice to slip into the passenger seat. As she settled, she noticed Andrew in the driver's seat, his demeanor cool and unyielding, focused on the road ahead. A moment of shock washed over her. Andrew, sensing her reaction, tilted his head to catch a fleeting glimpse of her face before resuming his forward gaze. "Hi there..." She offered a slight bow and mumbled her greeting. His response was a mere nod of the head as he drove away. A palpable awkwardness lingered in the air between the newlyweds. Alice, being uneasy, cast glances around, and Andrew broke the quietude with a subtle throat clearing. "The windows of my car have privacy tint; no one can see through," Andrew mentioned, his tone characteristically cold and matter-of-fact. In surprise, Alice turned her eyes toward him. Despite his stoic appearance, there was a gentle and caring side that lurked beneath his cold exterior. "With a serene demeanor, Alice questioned,
'You might be a bit on edge, I'm perfectly fine. I'd like some solitude for a while, but I'll be back before you know it.' 'Finish the given task, and we'll discuss the next steps during our call.' 'Prepare yourself for the challenge ahead; it won't be a smooth ride for now.' High above, Alice edited texts for Skylar, despite the impossibility of delivery. Aware it was futile, she engaged in redundant tasks to kill the time and, crucially, evade Andrew, who sat across with a sour expression, leaning on a pile of files. Refusing to make eye contact, Alice confronted the consequences of her actions. She had unwittingly stirred a formidable storm, vividly remembering the moment she succumbed to irrational impulses triggered by the mere mention of the word 'honeymoon.' "What, honeymoon?" she whispered. "Yes..." Andrew extended his hand in front of her. Andrew's face and open palm captivated Alice, setting her heart racing. Without hesitation, she quickly placed both hands beneath he
"No, no, this isn't possible!" Monica flipped through multiple tabloids, shouting in disbelief. She switched news channels sequentially, growing increasingly furious. "How could this be?" Her scream echoed as she violently hurled the remote control, shattering it into fragments. She unleashed her frustration on inanimate objects, tossing and scattering them. Afterward, she grabbed her phone and dialed Mason. "Mason, you've got 15 minutes. Get here." Dismissing an order with arrogance, she contemplated tossing her mobile phone, but she restrained herself, mindful of the expensive model gifted by Mason that she couldn't afford to damage. In the luxurious penthouse of Royman Hotel, London, Andrew surfed through news channels, seeking the same news broadcasted everywhere. "The rekindled embers of quenched flames. A day earlier, the celebrated actress Alice Cooper came under scrutiny, accused of deceiving her designer during her tenure as a model in a designer contest." "This fresh t
'What a cousin or sister? How is that even possible?' Andrew was bewildered as he thought about it.For the first time since Vicky began working for him, he failed to unearth such crucial information which astonished Andrew."Is Monica your sister?""No, no, no, no..." Alice gestured with a dismissive sway of her hand."No, she's not my sister; don't you grasp it? We bear distinct titles. She's my cousin, the daughter of my aunt, but adored by everyone in the family."Sadness crept into Alice's voice; tears gathered in her eyes. She sniffed, took the final sip from her glass, and emphatically placed it on the table. Andrew perceived her pain in her words, yet the undisclosed truth remained a mystery that Vicky couldn't unveil."Do you feel jealous of her?""Hmmm, no..." Alice shook her head emphatically."In fact, it's the opposite. She's been envious of me all her life. She covets everything I possess." Alice wiped away tears, gently rubbing her rosy cheeks.Andrew empathized with her