MasukThe silence that followed Julian's accusation was so heavy it felt as though the oxygen had been completely drained from the air. The hum of the idling security SUVs and the distant rustle of pine needles in the wind faded into a dull, static hum.I stood frozen on the damp gravel path, the crisp midnight air cutting right through the delicate ivory silk of my wedding gown. My eyes darted between the two men standing before me—the brother I had spent four agonizing years mourning, and the husband whose ring now rested on my finger.Tyler didn't move, nor did his expression falter into guilt or panic. But the air around him shifted into something volatile and terrifyingly dangerous. His jaw locked, his dark eyes narrowing into sharp slivers of ice as he stared down my brother."You're swinging a rusted blade, Bennett," Tyler said, his deep voice carrying a lethal, bone-chilling calm that echoed through the trees. "And you're relying on a paper trail forged by a dead man.""It's not a f
Tyler and I stood on the quiet expanse of the stone terrace, the cool summer night air settling over us. He had discarded his tuxedo jacket, the sleeves of his crisp white dress shirt rolled up past his forearms as he held me from behind, his large, warm hands anchored loosely around my waist. The blue diamond pendant he had gifted me hung heavy and comforting against my collarbone, catching the faint amber glow of the terrace lanterns."Everyone is officially gone," I murmured, resting my head back against his broad chest, watching the red taillights of Marcus’s sedan vanish down the winding drive."Good," Tyler rumbled against my ear, his breath warm and steady. "Because I've spent the last four hours sharing you with forty people, and my patience was severely tested."I let out a soft laugh, turning in his arms to face him, wrapping my wrists around his neck. "You handled the small talk surprisingly well, Mr. Rider. I think I saw you smile at my aunt twice.""I was faking it," he r
It looked like a dream carved out of ivory, emerald, and glass. I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror in the guest suite, taking a slow, steady breath as Rosa adjusted the lace train of my dress.The gown was everything I had ever wanted: minimalist yet breathtakingly regal. Tailored from heavy ivory silk, it featured an off-the-shoulder neckline, a fitted bodice that hugged my waist, and a dramatic, sweeping train that caught the soft afternoon light. My hair was swept up into a soft, romantic chignon, pinned with tiny pearl clips."Stop holding your breath, Sarah," Rosa chided gently, though her voice was laced with an unusual, soft warmth. She smoothed down the veil cascading down my back and stepped back to look at me in the mirror. Her eyes shimmered with rare tears. "You look... absolutely untouchable. Tyler is going to forget how to speak the second he sees you.""I second that!" a small, squeaky voice chimed in from the velvet settee.Leena stood up, proudly smooth
Tyler stood beside me, his suit jacket unbuttoned, his hand resting lightly against the small of my back. He wasn't staring at the ticker. He was staring at me, his dark eyes carrying a warmth that felt like a quiet sun after months of endless winter."You're remarkably calm for someone who just reset the entire financial market," Tyler murmured, his thumb rubbing a slow circle through the fabric of my cream blazer."I'm calm because the truth is finally out there," I replied, turning to face him as the elevator chimed, its doors sliding open into the subterranean garage. "We spent so much time reacting to Norman, to Miller, to the press. Standing at that podium didn't feel like a defense. It felt like taking our lives back.""It was," Tyler said softly, his voice carrying a dark, resolute weight. "And no one is taking them from us again."We stepped into the waiting Maybach, the heavy doors sealing us off from the hum of the city. Alan took his place in the front passenger seat, turn
He didn't pause. Neither did he didn't hesitate."Effective yesterday morning, Arthur Miller was terminated from his position as President of the European Division for gross financial misconduct and breach of fiduciary duty," Tyler stated clearly. "A forensic audit conducted by my office revealed systematic embezzlement and unauthorized transfer of corporate capital. Formal legal filings and criminal charges have been submitted to local and federal authorities in Madrid and New York."A wave of murmurs rippled through the press pool, reporters frantically typing away on their laptops.A prominent senior financial reporter from The Wall Street Journal raised his hand immediately. Tyler gave him a curt nod."Mr. Rider," the reporter asked loudly, standing up. "There are persistent reports that your presence in Madrid was accompanied by Ms. Sarah Bennett, leading to widespread speculation about internal power struggles within the board—and romantic conflict bleed-over following your rece
By seven, the master dressing room of the estate was in total chaos. I stood in front of the full-length gilded mirror, smoothing down the lapels of my cream-colored double-breasted power suit. The tailored fabric fit like precision armor—sharp shoulder pads, a tapered waist, and wide-leg trousers that draped effortlessly over my four-inch nude pumps. My hair was styled in sleek, low-swept waves, and my makeup was immaculate, highlighting my cheekbones and bold red lips. I looked composed, formidable, and entirely untouchable.Behind me, the door swung open, and Tyler walked in.I caught his reflection in the mirror, and for a second, my breath hit a wall. He was wearing his midnight-blue three-piece suit, custom-tailored to accommodate the massive breadth of his chest and broad shoulders. A crisp white dress shirt and a dark silk tie completed the look. He looked like the absolute embodiment of corporate dominance—a billionaire who owned the ground everyone else walked on.Tyler sto







