Chapter 55Andrea pov That was awkward.Jake didn’t even look at me.I was expecting him to still be in the house this morning so we could go to work together like we had been doing since he started staying there. I was surprised when I finished preparing for work and was waiting for him downstairs, only for my mom to tell me he had left. I checked the time and saw it was 7 a.m. I wondered why he would have left so early—just like that. No text, no call, nothing.It didn’t bother me, though. It’s not like I wanted him around. I just wanted to be sure his hand was doing okay. Was that true, or was it just another excuse I was telling myself? I don’t care if he left without telling me.But seeing him in front of me this morning… he looked different.The normal Jake always wore a teasing smile, said something sarcastic, and teased me just to get a reaction out of me.But this Jake…Was nothing like that. It was as if he had turned into another human being overnight. He looked distant.M
Chapter 56Jake pov “Andrea, you need to calm down. This is not a decision you should make rashly. Right now, you don’t look like yourself. What went wrong?” I asked, watching her closely.“I am calm, Jake,” she shot back.But she wasn’t. Her hands were clenched at her sides, her breathing was shallow, and I could hear how loudly her heart was pounding.I hadn’t expected this—Andrea storming into my office, her entire body vibrating with anger, and most surprising of all, her suddenly accepting my proposal. Just moments ago, she had walked out of her office looking completely uninterested in me. What had changed her mind so quickly? Something had to have happened. This wasn’t just a sudden change of heart.“Andrea, this doesn’t look calm to me. Come and sit down,” I said, motioning toward the chair across from my desk.“I don’t want to sit down right now. Just answer me.”I exhaled and pushed off my desk, crossing my arms as I studied her.“Are you sure you’re not saying this becaus
Chapter 57Andrea’s POVIt was a done deal. I had agreed to marry Jake—there was no taking it back now, I reminded myself as I walked out of his office.When I entered my office, I headed straight to the window. The press was still gathered outside. It was the second day of the scandal, and the media frenzy had yet to die down. But it would—soon—if Jake and I executed our plan correctly.I let out a sharp breath, my hands trembling at my sides. I clenched them into fists, forcing the shaking to stop.I wasn’t nervous. No—I couldn’t afford to be. This was my decision.But was marrying Jake truly the right choice? Doubt crept into my mind, but I refused to let it consume me. If marrying Jake was what it took to bring Jason down, then I would do it hundred a times over. After all, it was just a contract marriage. Once Jason was ruined, Jake and I would go our separate ways.Jason saw me as weak—a pawn in his game. He laughed at me and dismissed my words as empty threats.I had never wan
Chapter 58“The night is still young, Andrea. Let’s not jump straight into business,” Jake said smoothly. “Let’s order something first before we start talking.”I crossed my arms, my voice flat. “I didn’t come here to sip drinks, Jake. Can we just get this done with?”His lips twitched in amusement, but he remained relaxed. “Calm down, Andrea. Like I said, we have plenty of time.” He signaled to the waiter.A young man stepped forward, pulling out a notepad from his apron. “Good evening, sir. Good evening, ma. What can I get for you both?”“I’ll have a whiskey,” Jake said.I glanced around the lounge, taking in the quiet atmosphere. Once again, it was just the two of us, alone, just like when we met in that café.“What are you getting?” Jake asked, turning to me.“Just water is fine,” I replied.He smirked as if he expected that answer. “She’ll have water,” he told the waiter.I watched him carefully. “Did you book the entire lounge just like you did with the café?”“Yeah, I did.” He
Chapter 59“First things first, you know how powerful I am in the elite world,” Jake began, his voice steady, and confident. “Once the setup we are planning to do to make Jason confess about the scandal succeeds and Jason is exposed for his crimes, your dismissal from the board will be revoked. And the moment you marry me, no one will dare challenge your position again—not with my influence backing you. But that’s just a bonus, Andrea.”I wasn’t going to deny it. Jake was well-respected, not just in my company but across the entire country. His influence stretched far and wide, even more than Jason’s. That was a known fact.“Okay. What else?” I prompted.Jake bent in slightly, his gaze locked onto mine. “Andrea, you told me you wanted Jason to lose everything that was dearest to him. That inheritance isn’t just any small money—its worth is a combination of both my wealth and Jason’s. You know how greedy he gets when it comes to power and money. Now, imagine how he’ll feel when he real
Chapter 60Jake’s POVEverything was falling into place.Just yesterday, I felt stuck when Andrea refused my offer, I always had a solution to any problems I faced but yesterday I felt trapped. That was something that hadn’t happened to me in years—I always had a backup plan. But this time, Andrea was my only option. I could have married just any woman to get the inheritance that wouldn’t have been difficult. But that wouldn’t have made an impact on Jason. It wouldn’t have destroyed him.Andrea, though—she was different. The moment she became my wife, Jason would lose his mind. He would hit his head against the wall in frustration. And that was exactly what I wanted.A slow, satisfied feeling spread through my chest.For years, I had watched from the shadows, carefully calculating Jason's every move while he built his empire—an empire made from stolen ideas, greed, and stepping on others to get to the top. Now, it was finally time to crush him. And Andrea, whether she realized it or
Chapter 61Andrea’s POVMy call with Jason had ended, but his voice still echoed in my ears like a bad aftertaste I couldn’t spit out.Don’t cry, Andrea. You’ll ruin that pretty face of yours, so Jason still sees me as his. He sounded like I was his property. Irritation crawled under my skin. How could someone be so shameless? The way his behavior switched when I told him I was accepting his proposal—what an idiot. He thinks the world revolves around him. A small, fleeting sense of satisfaction crept through me. Jason had fallen for my trap. It was easier than I thought.I turned to Jake, whose eyes remained focused on the road. I kept staring at him from the corner of my eye. So, this is going to be my husband soon, I pondered. Fake husband, though. If not for this contract marriage, I would’ve sworn off men for good after my divorce with Jason. I had closed that chapter of my life. Never in my wildest imagination had I thought I’d be getting married again—and to this man sitting ne
Chapter 62 Claire stared at me like I had just told her I was skydiving without a parachute. “You’re what? Did I hear you right?” Her voice shot up, louder than intended, her eyebrows shooting to her hairline as she sat up straighter in bed. I raised my hands slowly. “Calm down.” She flung the blanket off her legs and swung them over the edge of the bed. “How can I be calm in this situation? You just told me you’re meeting Jason! Why would you even do that, for God’s sake?” she demanded, throwing her hands in the air. “I need him for something,” I muttered, my voice low, my gaze drifting toward the floor. I wasn’t sure how much of the information I should tell her. I had already decided not to lie—that’s why I even told her in the first place. But now, watching her flip out like this, I felt like I’d made the wrong call. Claire was not taking it lightly. She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer. “What could you possibly need Jason for? Please, Andrea—just tell me exactly what’s
Chapter 100Jake’s POVThat’s exactly how I felt. Two days—forty-eight damn hours and still no trace of Andrea. Never in my life had I ever felt this restless. I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since she disappeared. And whenever I did doze off, nightmares followed. The same one every time, Andrea, crying out for help, begging, afraid. I’d jolt awake, drenched in sweat, unsure if the dream was real or not.I poured myself another glass—the third one tonight. The first had done nothing. The second only made my head spin worse. My hands trembled slightly as I lifted the glass.These past few days had forced me to face something I’d been avoiding for a long time—how much I truly cared about Andrea. How much I loved her.Yeah. Love. I hadn’t wanted to admit it before, but this fear, this desperation was the kind of pain that only love brings.I dropped onto the couch and ran a hand down my face. I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. But what else could I do? We’d already gone to the po
Chapter 99Andrea's pov There was no clock in the room. No window, no sun, no ticking hand to mark the passing of time. But somehow, I knew it had been close to two days. My body told me. The aching bones. The heaviness behind my eyes. The way my stomach twisted and turned—not just from hunger, but from fear.Two nights. Two damn nights.I had slept. I wasn’t sure when or how, but the dreams had been hollow and sharp-edged, like broken glass on repeat. Every time I woke up, I hoped it was all over. That the door would burst open and I’d be rescued from this pain and torture. But no. Same walls. Same cold floor. Same silence.Except when they came.They didn’t speak. They just came in—faces masked, eyes dull—and dropped food like I was some stray they had to keep alive. After the last time I’d tried to run, they no longer untied my hands. One would hold me still while the other brought the spoon to my lips. No words. No looks. Like I wasn’t human. Like I wasn’t even there.My throat b
Chapter 98 Jake's pov It had been 24 hours since we had heard nothing from Andrea. No calls, no texts, nothing—no sign. The silence was deafening. Everyone in the house was in a panic. Andrea’s mother had been restless. She sat scrunched on the edge of the couch, her eyes swollen from crying, hands wringing a tissue that had long since given up holding anything back. Her father paced by the window, arms folded tightly, a muscle ticking in his jaw every time his phone lit up with nothing. “Where could she be?” her mother whispered, barely audible over the ticking clock. “What if… something had happened to—” She burst out crying, unable to finish the sentence. Andrea’s father walked to her, holding her hands, trying to console her. “She’s fine, darling. Andrea is a strong girl. Nothing has happened to her. Maybe she needed space. Maybe she’s trying to clear her head.” But even he didn’t believe it. None of us did. I sat there, my leg bouncing uncontrollably, trying to calm the
Chapter 97Andrea's pov I jolted awake, my neck aching from the awkward position I’d dozed off in. I must have slept off out of tiredness, or maybe I just wanted to escape this terror so badly. For a fleeting moment, I hoped it was all a nightmare—that if I just closed my eyes and slept, I’d wake up in the comfort of my bed, thinking about the bad dream I had.But reality slapped me faster than any pinch could.I was still here. Still tied. Still trapped.The same damp air filled my lungs. The faint buzz of that godforsaken light above hummed in my ears. I blinked, trying to clear the haze.I shifted slightly. The ropes binding my hands and feet hurt my skin. My mouth was dry, and my stomach growled in protest.“Can I have some water?” I called out weakly.But there was no response.“Is anyone there?” I screamed.Still no response.“Ughhh…” I breathed out in frustration.Time seemed to blur. I had no idea how long I’d been here. Minutes? Hours? A whole day?Panic trickled in slowly—n
Chapter 95Jake's pov I checked my watch for the third time in ten minutes.Four hours.Four whole hours.I’d been sitting here, surrounded by wedding gowns and impatient whispers from the boutique staff, waiting for Andrea to walk through that door. But nothing.No call. No text. Nothing.My phone sat heavy in my palm, screen dim. I tapped it, then called again. Her number went straight to voicemail like it had the last four times. I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled slowly, trying to keep calm.Maybe she got stuck in traffic. Or maybe her mum dragged her into something.But something about this—this stillness—wasn’t sitting right.The boutique door finally opened with a jingle. I looked up, half-expecting to see Andrea, annoyed or flustered, maybe rolling her eyes at how late she was. But it was her mum.“Sorry I’m late,” she said, smoothing her purse strap as she walked in. “I had a few things to sort out. So, how many gowns has she tried on?” she asked with a smile as she go
Chapter 95When I opened my eyes, everything felt wrong.The first thing I noticed was the ache in my neck, a pulsing stiffness that crawled down my spine like ice. The second was the bitter sting of rope cutting into my wrists, binding me to the arms of a wooden chair. My legs were tied, too—--- -tight, I couldn’t move. My heart launched itself against my chest.Panic bloomed before I could stop it.Where the hell was I?The room was dim, too quiet. Cold air brushed against my skin—cement floor, no windows. There was a faint hum from somewhere above, like the buzz of a fluorescent light, but nothing else. No footsteps. No distant voices. Just… me.And fear.I tried to remember. The last clear moment was getting into that taxi—yes, I’d told the driver where to go, buckled my seatbelt. Then… the car slowing, a strange silence, and his hand—gloved—pressing something over my nose.A handkerchief.My blood ran cold.“Oh my God,” I whispered, the words scraping out of my dry throat. “No, n
Chapter 94I was already dressed for work when my Mum knocked on my door.“Andrea,” she’d said in that sugary tone she always used when she wanted something. “Darling, you’re not going to the office today.”I’d stared at her, halfway through buttoning my blouse. “Why not?”She smiled like it was obvious. “Because you have a wedding dress appointment. You’re getting married, remember?”Right. The wedding. The thing that now dictated my entire schedule.And just like that, I was “canceled” for the day.I didn’t argue. There was no point in doing that. So I changed into a more casual dress, trying not to roll my eyes every time I caught my reflection. I just wanted this wedding circus to be over. Honestly, at this point, I didn’t care what gown I wore. I’d walk down the aisle in a paper bag if it meant we could skip the drama and move on.As I adjusted the strap of my sandal, I heard soft footsteps behind me. I turned and froze.“Annabel?”She smiled gently from the doorway, her apron fr
Chapter 93 Andrea’s POV The past few days had been all about the wedding to-do lists and half-hearted planning. It wasn’t anything big—nothing fancy or extravagant. Just enough to keep up appearances. Cake tasting, picking color palettes, and finding a venue that wouldn’t give me a headache. My mom was more into it than I was. She’d pulled out her old wedding scrapbook and kept calling me at odd hours, pitching ideas I could barely pretend to care about. I played along, though. Smiled when I had to, and nodded when I didn’t want to. If it was left to Jake and me, we would’ve just gone to the registry and gotten married. But it wasn’t just about us. At least today, I could take a break from the whole wedding façade. Today, I was going back to work. The car ride was quiet. I had my window halfway down, letting the breeze hit my face as the city passed by in a blur. I wasn’t dressed like a bride-to-be—just a woman trying to feel like herself again. Sleek trousers, a button-up shirt
Chapter 93 “You’re lying,” I looked at Claire with disbelief.“I wish I was. I’m carrying your baby.” Claire placed her hand over her stomach like a damn crown jewel, head held high, daring me to speak.I took a step back, almost tripping over the leg of the chair I’d shoved earlier. My mouth opened, but no words came.She’s pregnant. With my child.My child.A part of me wanted to call it good news—hell, I needed an heir. I’d always planned to have one, just that the timing… the timing was wrong. Not when everything around me was falling apart, and Claire—Claire was slipping through my fingers and acting like a completely different person.“This… this isn’t the time,” I muttered, dragging a shaky hand down my face.Claire raised a brow. “Excuse me?”“I said this isn’t the damn time!” I snapped, my voice louder than I meant it to be. “I’ve got a million fires to put out, and now—this? You’re telling me this now?”“I didn’t plan the timing, Jason,” she said flatly. “I didn’t exactly s