Hate Me Till You Love Me

The diamond on Evelyn Carter’s finger sparkled like a cruel joke as the priest’s voice boomed in the grand cathedral.“Do you, Evelyn Carter, take Alexander Kane to be your lawfully wedded husband…”She smiled. A practiced, flawless smile that didn’t reach her eyes.I do.Her voice was steady and elegant. The perfect performance for the hundreds of high-society eyes watching them. Every camera flash seared the moment into eternity. Evelyn in her couture white gown, Alexander in a sleek black tuxedo, and together, the picture formed a perfect billionaire couple.But it was all a lie.This marriage wasn’t about love.It wasn’t about happily ever after.It was about revenge.Evelyn’s fingers tightened slightly on Alexander’s hand as he slipped the wedding band onto her finger. A silent promise burned in her heart.You destroyed my family. Now I’ll destroy you, Kane.If Alexander noticed the tension in her grip, he didn’t show it. His face was a mask of calm arrogance, those dark eyes fix

The sunlight pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows was blinding, too cheerful for Evelyn’s mood.She sat up in bed, her silk robe slipping slightly off her shoulder. The sheets beside her were cold, but the faint indent where Alexander had lain was still visible. He slept here? She wondered.She pressed her lips together, unsure whether the thought comforted or unsettled her. Last night’s memory crept back in, the warmth of his body sliding into bed, his voice low and dark in her ear.“You’re mine. And tonight, I’m claiming what’s mine”. She remembered his words.But he hadn’t claimed her. Not fully. Not yet.Evelyn snapped back to reality. She padded across the suite barefoot, the marble floor cool beneath her toes. Her fingers skimmed over the polished dresser, the vanity cluttered with expensive colognes and cufflinks, and the glass doors leading out to a private balcony.The house felt like a palace and a prison at the same time. She tied her robe tighter and slipped into

The car ride home was a blur of shadows and silence. Evelyn sat rigidly in the back seat of the luxury black town car, her fingers pressed tightly against her knees to still their trembling. The cool hum of the AC, the faint buzz of traffic outside, and the occasional click of the driver’s blinker were the only sounds. She stared out the tinted window, her reflection ghost like in the glass. She had slapped Alexander Kane, In front of the press, the board, half of Manhattan’s elite. And he had let her. That was the part that unsettled her the most. He hadn’t dragged her away, he hadn’t retaliated. He had watched her walk off like a man who’d just seen a prophecy fulfilled. He was calm, icy, curious. Like he’d expected it or wanted it. Her chest tightened. What game was he playing? She asked herself. And most importantly, why did it feel like she was finally starting to play it back? The mansion’s towering gates opened with a slow mechanical groan, revealing the sprawling estate be

The gala was everything Alexander Kane represented wealth, power, and ruthless control disguised as elegance.The ballroom shimmered beneath cascading chandeliers, the air heavy with the scent of expensive champagne and whispers wrapped in false smiles. Music floated through the air sounding soft, romantic, and infuriatingly beautiful.Evelyn adjusted the strap of her crimson gown as she stepped from the car. The fabric clung to her curves, the slit down one leg revealing just enough to make her feel powerful. Alexander had sent it to her that morning, with a note that read: “Wear this. You’ll need the armor.”Armor. That word had burned in her mind all day.Because with Alexander, everything felt like war.As soon as she entered, she felt the weight of eyes.Reporters, socialites, investors all watched the newly married Mrs. Kane with fascination. She was the mysterious woman who had captured the most untouchable man in the city.But Alexander’s gaze was the only one she felt.He was

The drive back to Kane Manor was silent.No words, no sound except for the rhythmic sweep of the windshield wipers and the hum of the engine.Evelyn sat rigid in the back seat, her hands twisted in her lap. The scent of rain clung to her coat, mixing with the faint trace of Alexander’s cologne that seemed to seep from the leather seats spice and smoke and something darkly intoxicating.He sat beside her, jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.His control was perfect. Too perfect. And that terrified her more than his anger.Outside, the city lights blurred into streaks of gold and shadow. She stared at them, wondering if Marcus had made it out alive or if Alexander had already made sure he wouldn’t.When the car finally stopped at the gates of Kane Manor, the air between them was so thick it was suffocating.The driver opened the door, but neither of them moved.Then Alexander said, very quietly, “Inside.”The front doors closed behind them with a heavy click, echoing through the