Forced Vows with the Possessive Tycoon

Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos. Buong gabi, iniisip ko ang mga sinabi niya. You’re mine. Follow my rules. Eighteen na ako. Hindi na ako bata. Marunong akong magdesisyon para sa sarili ko. Pero bakit parang sa harap niya, bumabalik ako sa version ng sarili ko na hindi sigurado? Pagbaba ko ng hagdan ng penthouse kinaumagahan, naka-ready na ang breakfast. Tahimik ang buong lugar. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls, city skyline sa labas, parang lahat controlled — tulad niya. “Good morning, Mrs. Hayes.” Napahinto ako. Nasa dining area siya. Naka-suit na agad. Perfect. Untouchable. And watching me like I was already something he owned. “Don’t call me that,” sagot ko agad, pilit steady ang boses ko. One corner of his lips lifted. “But that’s what you are.” Umupo ako sa tapat niya. “Contract wife. Not real wife.” He l

The scandal broke the next morning.I woke up to my phone vibrating nonstop.Unknown numbers. Missed calls. Messages from people I barely talk to.And one message from Mara.“Lila, please tell me this isn’t true.”My stomach dropped.I opened social media.There it was.Photos from last night.Me and Ethan talking. Smiling.But cropped.Edited.Headlines already spinning narratives.CEO’s New Wife Reunites with Ex-Lover at Gala.Trouble in the Hayes Marriage?Was the Marriage Just a Business Cover?My chest tightened.It wasn’t even true.I barely spoke to Ethan.The penthouse door opened behind me.I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Logan.“Who leaked it?” I asked quietly.He didn’t answer immediately.That silence was worse.I turned.He was already dressed. Ca

The call came at 2:13 AM.Logan’s phone vibrated once on the nightstand.He was awake before the second ring.Years of discipline.Years of enemies.I opened my eyes as he sat up.“You can answer it,” I murmured.He glanced at me briefly before standing and stepping toward the window.“Yes,” he said into the phone.Silence on my end.But I could tell from his posture—Something was wrong.His shoulders went still.Not tense.Still.“The board approved that?” he asked calmly.Pause.“I see.”Another pause.“No. Do not respond yet.”He ended the call without another word.The room felt colder.“What happened?” I asked softly.He didn’t answer immediately.Then he turned.“They’re calling for a vote.”My chest tightened.“For what?”“To s

The next morning started too quietly.No new headlines.No messages from Victor.No cryptic calls.Which meant one thing.They were planning something bigger.I sat in Logan’s penthouse kitchen, stirring coffee that had already gone cold.“You’ve been staring at that cup for ten minutes.”Logan’s voice came from behind me.I glanced over my shoulder.He looked composed as always, already dressed in a charcoal suit, tie perfectly straight.“How are you so calm?” I asked.He walked toward the counter.“Because silence from enemies usually means they’re setting a trap.”“That’s not comforting.”“It’s realistic.”He took the coffee from my hands and replaced it with a fresh one.“You should still eat,” he added.“I’m not hungry.”“Lila.”That tone.Low.Firm.Impossible to ignore.

The next morning began with tension hanging in the air.Even before I opened my eyes, I could hear movement outside the bedroom.Voices.Low.Serious.I sat up slowly and checked the time.6:15 AM.Too early for normal conversations.Something was wrong.I stepped out of the bedroom quietly.Logan stood in the living room with Marcus and two security officers. A large tablet was open on the table, showing multiple surveillance screens.They stopped talking when they noticed me.“Good morning,” Logan said calmly.“Don’t ‘good morning’ me,” I replied. “What’s going on?”Marcus glanced at Logan before answering.“We traced the number that sent the photo last night.”My chest tightened.“And?”Marcus zoomed in on one of the screens.A grainy image appeared.A black SUV parked across the street from Logan’s building.“They were watching the building for hours,” Marcus said.Logan’s expression remained unreadable.“But they left before we could intercept them.”“Which means?” I asked quietl