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CHAPTER 17
Tanggal publikasi:
2026-07-06 06:00:00Clara Montgomery POV
The morning light felt cold as it filtered through the blinds of the guest suite. I woke up at seven, my mind already clear and focused on the trading floor meeting. I chose a sharp, cream-colored pantsuit from the wardrobe—something that looked professional but distinct from the dark, heavy tones Alexander usually wore. I wanted to look like an independent partner today, not just an extension of his legal team.
When I walked out into the kitchen, Alex
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Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 18
Clara Montgomery POVThe boardroom went completely still, save for the heavy, ragged breathing coming through the speakerphone. I stared at the device on the glass table. For years, just hearing that specific tone in my father’s voice would have made me shrink back, trying to figure out how to smooth things over. Today, it didn't do anything to me."Clara?" my father’s voice came through again, the rage slightly replaced by a sudden, sharp confusion. "What is he talking about? What did you do?"I stepped closer to the table, looking down at the screen. "I didn't do anything behind your back, Dad. I just reinvested my mother’s money. Fifty-two percent of Astra Shipping belongs to me now. The transactions are cleared and fully registered with the exchange.""Are you insane?" he roared, slamming something heavy against his desk on the other end of the line. "Astra controls the entire docking grid for the eastern ports! I am in the middle of
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 17
Clara Montgomery POVThe morning light felt cold as it filtered through the blinds of the guest suite. I woke up at seven, my mind already clear and focused on the trading floor meeting. I chose a sharp, cream-colored pantsuit from the wardrobe—something that looked professional but distinct from the dark, heavy tones Alexander usually wore. I wanted to look like an independent partner today, not just an extension of his legal team.When I walked out into the kitchen, Alexander was already dressed in a dark gray suit, reviewing a printout of the Astra Shipping financial ledger. He didn't look up immediately, but he pushed a freshly brewed cup of black coffee toward my side of the counter."The funds officially cleared your primary account ten minutes ago," he said, his voice carrying its usual quiet authority. "The brokers are on standby at the firm’s downtown branch. We leave in twenty minutes.""Did Marcus Sterling’s flight land?" I as
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 16
Alexander Sterling POVThe drive back to the penthouse was completely silent. Clara sat across from me in the spacious cabin of the Maybach, her head resting against the glass window as she watched the city lights streak past through the heavy downpour. The midnight-blue dress shifted slightly with the movement of the car, the silk reflecting the dim interior lighting.She looked exhausted, but her jaw remained tightly set. She hadn't let her guard down once, not even when her stepsister confronted her in front of the entire gallery crowd.I looked back down at my tablet, but the financial figures on the screen didn't register. My mind kept looping back to the report Marco had delivered. Marcus Sterling. Just hearing that name made a bitter, familiar taste rise in the back of my throat. For fifteen years, my uncle had been a ghost, living off the millions he stole from my mother's estate while she spent her final years working two jobs to keep us afloat in a cramped Queens apartment.
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 15
Clara Montgomery POVThe VIP lounge of the gallery was tucked away behind a thick velvet curtain, effectively cutting off the sharp flashbulbs and the prying eyes of the main hall. The space was dimly lit, featuring low-profile leather sofas and a private bar made of dark, polished granite. Only a handful of high-profile guests were allowed inside, and they all had the decency to pretend they weren't tracking our every move.Alexander led me to a corner sofa, his hand dropping from my waist as soon as the heavy curtain fell shut behind us. The sudden absence of his touch left a strange, cool sensation on my back, a quick reminder of where the performance ended and reality began."Sit," he said, signaling the private bartender. "You need a minute to breathe."I sank into the soft leather, my legs slightly weak from standing in heels for two hours straight under a microscope. "Is Sienna always that reckless?""She’s desperate," Alexander replied, taking a glass of neat bourbon from the
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 14
Clara Montgomery POVThursday evening arrived with a heavy downpour that rattled against the glass windows of the penthouse. I stood in front of the vanity mirror in the guest suite, adjusting the thin strap of the midnight-blue silk gown. The fabric felt cool and heavy against my skin, pooling beautifully around my ankles. I had left my hair down this time, falling in soft waves over my shoulders, a stark contrast to the severe, tightly pinned bun I wore to the boardroom meeting.When I walked out into the foyer, Alexander was already waiting by the door. He was adjusting the cufflinks on his tailored tuxedo shirt. He stopped when he saw me, his dark eyes tracking my movement from the hallway to the center of the room. For a brief second, his hands went completely still."The dress works," he said, his voice deep and entirely level, though his eyes lingered on the asymmetrical neckline for a fraction of a second longer than usual. "The media will have a hard ti
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 13
Clara Montgomery POVThe rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of incoming emails and official notifications. By five o'clock, my phone lit up with a formal confirmation from my legal team. The temporary lock on my mother’s trust fund was gone. Seeing the digital statement showing the fully restored balance under my sole name felt surreal. For months, my father had used that money as a leash to keep me compliant. Now, the leash was snapped, and the freedom felt heavy, almost frightening.Alexander was working late in his private study, the door firmly shut. I stayed in the living room, sitting on the massive velvet sofa with my laptop, looking through the details of the trust assets. My mother hadn't just left me cash; she had left shares in a boutique logistics firm called Astra Shipping. It was small compared to Montgomery Holdings, but it was entirely independent.My phone rang, cutting through the quiet hum of the penthouse. The screen showed an unsav
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 2
Clara Montgomery POVThe grand ballroom doors were right in front of me, but I didn't open them. Instead, I bolted down the service stairs, the heavy layers of my wedding gown rustling against the concrete walls. I could hear the faint sound of the live orchestra playing downstairs. They were waiti
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 1
Clara Montgomery POVThe silk of my wedding dress felt heavy, suffocating even, as I stood in front of the full-length mirror. Today was supposed to be the best day of my life. I was marrying Julian. We had been together for three years, and everyone in our social circle called us the perfect match
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 5
Clara Montgomery POVThe ride to Montgomery Headquarters was quiet. I stared out the window, watching the familiar glass skyscraper get closer and closer. I used to think of that building as a symbol of my family’s pride. Now, it just felt like a monument to their greed.Beside me, Alexander was pe
Married To My Father's Rival CHAPTER 4
Clara Montgomery POVThe private elevator opened directly into Alexander’s penthouse, and my jaw almost dropped. The place was massive. It had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire city skyline, minimalist black-and-white furniture, and marble floors so polished I could see my reflection.
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