LOGINElena's world crumbles when she finds out her husband, Alex, has been cheating on her. After confronting him, he doesn't show regret; rather he demands for a divorce and she walks away for good, giving up her marriage and the career she carefully built. To move on, she strikes an unexpected deal: a contract marriage with Max, who turns out to be Alex's past rival. But just as Elena begins to rebuild her life, Alex realizes what he lost—and wants her back. But Elena isn't the same woman he once knew and she is not alone anymore.
View More~ELENA'S POV~
“I mean, we were together in bed last night, so where has Alex gone this morning, without telling me?” I muttered as I walked into the living room. I noticed Nora was trying to put the flower vase back in its position after cleaning it. “Nora, have you seen my husband this morning?” I inquired immediately as I walked into the living room. “Yes, ma, I saw him leave with John, his assistant,” she replied as she turned to my direction, with her gaze towards the floor. “And where did he say he was going to?” I asked, as I raised my eyebrows with curiosity written all over my face. Then I realized I was talking to Nora. Nora is just a maid hired to keep the house clean. So, how was she to know Alex's whereabouts? She was in no place to provide me with such information’ I silently said to myself. “I don't know, he didn't say ma'am” I turned and left the living room. I got into my bedroom and reached out for my phone in the drawer beside the bed. ‘I need to call and know where he is,’ I thought to myself. After so many trials of reaching out to him through calls and text messages. He seems to have ignored everything without a single response to any of my text messages. So I reached out to John, Alex's assistant, the line rang, and he picked up. “Good morning, Mrs Fox, how was your night, ma'am?” He asked. I ignored his question and went straight to the reason why I called him, “Where is my husband? I have been trying to reach him all morning, but he is not picking up his phone or responding to my text message”. “Mr Fox is in a business meeting right now, that's why he has not been able to answer your calls or respond to your text messages,” I mused. “Okay, John, thank you and have a nice day,” I went off the phone immediately. I was lost in deep thought as to why he went to work today, on all days. Yes, today is our 5th anniversary, and we were supposed to spend the whole day together. “Mrs Fox, breakfast is ready. Do I serve it here in your room or at the dining table, ma'am?” I shuddered and suddenly noticed Nora, the housekeeper, standing in the corner. I was too deep in thought that I didn't notice when Nora walked in. “I think the dining would be okay,” I said, “go on, I'll be downstairs shortly”. Shortly after, I walked down the stairs to the living room with so many thoughts running through my head. Did he forget today was our wedding anniversary?. What has come over Alex? He's been acting distant these past months, I wondered. I had lost my appetite the minute I sat down to eat at the dining table; food was the least of my problems at the moment. So I took a bottle of wine instead. I didn't know what to do. My husband's stoic demeanor was getting to me, and it made me wonder, Why has life chosen to be unfair with me in such a manner?. Is there something I'm not getting right in this marriage? I needed an answer to these questions as I continuously sipped from the glass of wine in front of me. I subconsciously stopped myself as I raised my hands, almost sipping on the wine. Then I remembered I was not pregnant. Alex and I have been married for five years with no kids of our own, and it's quite depressing. So I brought the glass to my mouth and sipped it on the bottom. “Ah,” I let out a satisfactory sound as I raised one hand to my chest. I stood up and looked down through the window. I hoped to see my husband. It was mid-afternoon, and it would be a miracle to see him come home this time of the day, but it was our anniversary today, and I hope he comes home early to spend this day with me, like we used to, in the past four years. I worked for Alex at Ellex Brewery and Apparel Co. He is the CEO, and I am the managing director. So, I understand how busy it can get. I took leave from work yesterday so we could spend quality time together on a day like this. I have always dreamt of being a jewelry designer, thanks to Alex, that dream has come to reality. Today, we work as Co-partners in our jewelry business. “Mrs Fox, do you need anything else?” Nora walked towards me to clear the glass and bottle of wine. “I see you didn't touch the food I served you for breakfast”. “I lost my appetite, but it is fine anyway. I'll let you know as soon as I'm hungry,” Nora turned to leave, then I asked, “What about the flowers, has it been delivered?”. “Yes, ma, the flowers arrived earlier,” Nora divulged, “what do I do with them, ma'am?”. “Okay, take it upstairs,” I declared before asking her, “Has my husband called?”. She shook her head and replied, “No ma”. I became so anxious about making tonight a perfect one, then I remembered he loves Champagne, so I ordered Nora to take care of it. “Yes, before I forget, make sure you take a bottle of champagne and two glasses upstairs along with the flowers”. If a baby was going to change his mind and attitude towards me, then there was no time to waste, as I was eager to make him happy. I would do anything to make sure I fall pregnant. It's a good thing today, being our anniversary would be a better opportunity for me to redeem our relationship. My eyes wandered to the clock; two hours left before he came back from work. I needed to look perfect for him tonight; anything to turn him on, ‘my sweet Alex’. So, I quickly ran upstairs and got into the shower. I started by shaving my legs, although he never cared much about that, but I needed to look irresistible. I curled my hair down; he loved to see my hair curly. I wore lingerie and a sexy nightgown. “Okay, everything is perfect,” I assured myself. Then, I reached out to my phone on the table beside my bed and checked the time. It was ten minutes left for him to come home. I sighed in relief, then I rushed to fix the bottle of champagne and glasses on the table. I turned to the bed and sat down. “Elena, you got this,” I took a deep breath. I tried my angles on bed, I needed to pose in an angle where he would see me sexy. So, I spent the last ten minutes figuring out the right angles on the bed when my alarm rang, and I knew it was time for my sweet Alex to come home. *** A few hours later*** It's been hours, and Alex is not yet back from work. I sat in the dining room, wondering to myself, Where has he gone? It's past eight o'clock; I'm sick and worried about him. I tried calling his phone and even sent him text messages but he wouldn't respond, so I resolved to call John, his assistant, to find out his whereabouts. “Mrs Fox,” he picked up the first ring. “Sorry for bothering you this late, is my husband still at the office?” I asked “No, Mrs Fox, Mr Fox left the office immediately after his meeting earlier today. He said he had an urgent matter to attend to at home,” he explained. I regret bothering him, so I thanked him and ended the call. ‘If he left the office earlier today, then where has he gone? because, obviously, he didn't come home.’ I muttered to myself while pacing around in short spans, then a beep from my phone got my attention. It was a message from an unknown email address. I wondered why such an email address would send a message to me. I got intrigued and eager to know the content of the mail, so I opened it. “What!” I exclaimed. My heart skipped a beat as I widened my brows at what I saw in the mail. I saw pictures and videos of my husband with an unknown lady checking into a hotel. His hands were wrapped around her waist. I paused the video and zoomed in to see if I could identify the unknown lady. Unfortunately, I couldn't identify who she was from the angle of vision in the videos and pictures. “Has Alex been cheating on me?” I asked myself.~ELENA’S POV~The welcome party of Mom finally began to thin out as the night deepened. Laughter drifted away with departing guests, heels clicked less against marble floors, and the villa slowly reclaimed its familiar calm. The staff moved quietly, clearing glasses and folding away the last traces of celebration, leaving behind only the soft echo of what had been—a night of success, admiration, and pride.Max watched it all from the balcony doors, one hand tucked into his pocket and the other clutching his cane. His thoughts were far removed from the congratulations and applause.I stood near the grand staircase, thanking the last guest with a gracious smile, my posture elegant, but my shoulders subtly tired. The night had been big—bigger than I ever imagined—and it showed in the way I finally exhaled once the door closed behind the last guest.Max approached slowly. “Come with me,” he said quietly.I looked up, surprised. “Now?”He nodded, offering his hand. “There is somewhere I wa
~ELENA’S POV~I burst through the glass doors leading to the garden, my breath uneven, my heart pounding furiously against my chest. My phone clutched slightly in my hand. I didn't slow down as my heels crushed the stone path, I didn't even care that a strand of hair had escaped my neat style. My eyes were bright—too bright for ordinary excitement. This was something else. Something life-changing.The morning sun poured gently over the villa garden, catching on dew-kissed roses and the marble edges of the fountain. Birds flitted between hedges trimmed into elegant curves.At the far end of the garden, near the koi pond, Max sat at a wrought-iron table with his laptop open, a cup of coffee cooling forgotten at his side. He was reviewing documents, but his attention lifted instantly when he heard my footsteps approaching.“Elena?” He called, rising to his feet.I stopped a few steps away from him, my chest heaving, eyes shining like I might cry or laugh—or both.“Max,” I said, voice tre
~MAX’S POV~I woke up to a text from my father, demanding a meet-up at Longview Park—my childhood favorite park. After everything that happened in the boardroom, he hasn't been himself. Clearly, he needs someone to talk to. I'm surprised he chose me.The iron swings at the far end of the park creaked softly as they swayed in the late-afternoon breeze, though no child sat on them. Leaves rustled overhead, sunlight filtering through tall oak trees that had stood there long before I was born.I sat on a wooden bench worn smooth by time. My hands were clasped loosely in front of me, my gaze fixed on the familiar dirt path that curved past the old playground. This place had been my refuge growing up—my escape when the mansion felt too big, too cold, too empty.Footsteps approached behind me, but I didn't turn immediately. Because I knew who it was.Dad stopped a few feet away, uncertainty evident in his stance. The powerful chairman, the man who commanded boardrooms and corporations with e
~MAX’S POV~Clint swung open the double doors of the executive boardroom without warning. Conversations died mid-sentence. And every head turned.I stepped inside, moving with a measured calmness; the echoes of my cane tapping against the floor filled the room, and my expression was unreadable. The faint limp I still carried from years past did nothing to dull the authority radiating from me. My grandfather walked behind me majestically.For a moment, I think everyone was astounded at the sight of Grandpa.For the record, Grandpa rarely attended board meetings anymore, even as the highest shareholder in the company. I guess because he was retired, though.Ryder froze halfway through his presentation, the remote still in his hands.Yes, Ryder is back in the company, but I wasn't aware of his sudden return, and that's more reason for me to think that something is off about this gathering. Firstly, I wasn't informed about this meeting. Secondly, I didn't know what the meeting was all ab
~ALEX’S POV~The meeting was set for midnight.John had chosen an abandoned waterfront warehouse on the edge of the city—private, quiet and far from prying eyes. The kind of place where conversations happened without witnesses.I arrived first.My car headlights cut through the darkness before swit
~ALEX’S POV~I stood behind the desk, sleeves rolled up to my forearms, jaw tight, as John finished closing the door behind him.John never entered without knocking. And he never looked unsettled unless something was wrong. From the look on his expression, I guess something's wrong.“You have somet
~ALEX’S POV~The iron gates slid open with their usual mechanical groan, headlights cutting through the quiet evening like a blade. I slowed the car, one hand resting loosely on the steering wheel, the other tapping impatiently against the door. It had been a long day—endless calls, meetings that w
~ALEX’S POV~After the meeting with Arthur Campbell, I returned home a different man. I no longer saw Riley the way I once had. Every laugh, every gentle touch, every soft confession now replayed in my mind with a question mark hanging over it.Has any of it been real? Arthur's words echoed relentl












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