Kate's perfect life shattered into pieces on the day she received the news that her parents had died, leaving her alone with a failing business and the family's reputation hanging by a tiny thread. The day her parents died was the day the Drays invested in her parents' company, and the Drays were on the verge of reaching the next level when the disaster happened. After the tragedy, the Drays were at risk of losing a significant profit and project. Mr. Carlos, Kate's uncle, then decided with the rest of the family, without Kate's awareness, that due to the family's reputation and the business, Kate must marry William Dray. When Kate found out, she was devastated and didn't want to give in, but the family threatened and forced her into marrying the cold billionaire, William Dray. She reluctantly agreed and accepted the loveless marriage with William, holding onto the hope that this marriage might somehow lead to something she had never imagined. William Dray has only one goal With the marriage: to protect his billion-dollar investment, even if it means marrying a woman he didn't know or love. Kate, determined to reclaim her parents' legacy, vows to endure the icy walls Of the union. But with William's cold and ruthless demeanor, he keeps a secret that could unveil everything Kate thought she knew about her family, as well as the truth and secrets behind her parents' deaths.
Lihat lebih banyakCHAPTER 1:
Kate Jones sat by the balcony, sipping her warm tea as the rays of the morning sun,shine on the garden. The sweet scent of flowers filled the air, and the chirping of birds made the moment peaceful. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, enjoying the moment. She had everything she ever wish for,a loving family, a beautiful home, and a promising future. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, owned one of the most successful construction companies in the city. They had worked hard for years, turning their small business into an empire. And as their only child, Kate had grown up surrounded by love, wealth, and the security that came with knowledge that her future was already set. Her father always said. “Family is the most important thing, Kate. No matter what happens, always remember that.” And she believed him. Kate’s mother, Evelyn, was more than just a mother to her,she was her best friend. They would often spend hours together, talking about everything and nothing. Whether it was fashion, business, or dreams of the future, her mother always had the right words to say. At twenty-two, Kate was ready to take on the world. She graduated with a degree in business administration and was preparing to officially join her parents' company. She had big plans,big ones. She wanted to expand her parents' company, introducing new ideas, and making her parents proud. But life had other plans. A few hours later, Kate was in the kitchen helping the Maid prepare lunch when she heard the house phone ring. It wasn’t unusual for the landline to ring, but the loud and persistent sound made her uneasy and preoccupied. She wiped her hands and walked over to answer it. “Hello?” “Is this the Jones residence?” a male voice asked. “Yes, this is Kate Jones speaking.” There was a slight pause before the man continued, “I’m Officer Daniels from the Greensville Police Department. I’m calling regarding Mr. and Mrs. Jones.” Kate’s heart skipped a beat. “What about my parents?” she asked, gripping the phone tightly. There was another pause. A long one. “I’m very sorry to inform you that your parents were involved in a plane crash earlier today.” Kate felt the world crumbling. Her ears rang. Her vision blurred. She held the edge of the table, her breath coming in gasps. “No… that’s not possible,” she whispered. “I’m deeply sorry, Miss Jones. Their flight,Greensville Air 209 went down just after it takeoff. There were no survivors.” “No survivors.” The words echoed in her head like a sad joke. “No, you must be mistaken!” Kate shouted, her voice shaking. “My parents can’t be…” Her legs trembling, and she collapsed onto the floor, the phone slipping from her fingers. The maid, who had been standing nearby, rushed to her side. “Kate! What happened?” But Kate couldn’t speak. She couldn’t breathe. Her parents,her whole world,were gone. The house, once filled with laughter and warmth, was now cold and empty. Relatives and family friends came and went, offering their condolences, but their words felt empty and void. Nothing anyone said could bring her parents back. Kate barely ate and She barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw their faces,her mother’s warm smile, her father’s reassuring nod. The thought that she would never see them again, never hear their voices, was unbearable. Then the reading of the will by the lawyer Her father’s lawyer, Mr. Howard, gathered the family in the large living room of the Jones mansion. Kate sat quietly, barely paying attention. She didn’t care about money or properties. She just wanted her parents back. But as the lawyer spoke, something caught her attention. “As Mr. and Mrs. Jones’ wishes, their entire estate, including Jones Constructions, is to be inherited by their only daughter, Miss Kate Jones,” Mr. Howard announced. Kate lifted her head, confusion gazing on her teary face. “The company… belongs to me?” she asked weakly. “Yes, Miss Jones. You are now the official heir and CEO of Jones Constructions.” She swallowed hard. She wasn’t ready for this. She had planned to join the company, yes, but not like this. Not without her parents. Before she could process the news, a cold voice cut through the room. “That’s not possible.” Kate turned to see her uncle, Mr. Carlos, staring at her with narrowed eyes. “My brother wouldn’t leave everything to a young girl who has no experience in business,” he said sharply. “There must be a mistake.” Mr. Howard shook his head. “There’s no mistake. Everything was legally signed before their passing.” Mr. Carlos clenched his jaw. He looked around at the rest of the family members, who whispered among themselves. Kate felt a shiver run down her spine. Her uncle had never cared much for her, and now that she was in control of the company, she could see the anger in his eyes. He wasn’t happy. Not at all. That night, Kate sat alone in her room, staring at the ceiling. Her parents were gone. The company was hers. But something didn’t feel right. Her father had always been cautious. He never took unnecessary risks. So why would he leave everything to her, knowing she had no experience? And why was her uncle so against it? A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” she said, sitting up. The door opened, and her uncle walked in. His expression was unreadable. “You’ve had a rough few days,” he said, his tone unusually soft. “I know this is difficult for you.” “It is.” Kate nooded slowly. Mr. Carlos sighed and sat down across from her. “Kate, listen. Running a company isn’t easy. You’re still young, and you don’t know how business works. The board of directors is worried. They don’t think you can handle it.” “I can learn.” Kate frowned. Her uncle shook his head. “Business isn’t something you learn overnight.” He leaned forward, his gaze piercing. “I have a solution. One that will secure the company’s future and keep our family’s name intact.” Kate’s heartbeat quickened. “What solution?” Mr. Carlos took a deep breath. “You’ll marry William Dray.” “What?” Kate blinked. “William Dray is one of the most powerful businessmen in the country. He’s already invested billions into Jones Constructions. If you marry him, he will ensure the company remains stable. It’s the best option for everyone.” Kate’s stomach twisted. Marriage? To a man she barely knew? “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I won’t do it.” Mr. Carlos’ eyes darkened. “You don’t have a choice, Kate.”CHAPTER 74.The low hum of the private jet filled the air as it touched down on the private strip. Liam stood with his hands in his pockets, sharp eyes scanning the sleek aircraft as the door opened.John stepped out with the unhurried grace of a man who had seen too much of the world to be fazed by anything. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a quiet confidence in the way he carried himself, he looked every bit like someone born to slip into any role and make it believable.“John.” Liam greeted with a nod, though his tone carried a trace of curiosity. “Didn’t expect to see you this soon.”“Neither did I,” John replied, his voice low and edged with amusement. “But when William calls in the middle of the night, you know it’s serious.”Minutes later, they arrived at William’s townhouse. The tension in the room was palpable as William rose to meet his old friend. For the first time that day, there was a flicker of relief in his eyes.“You made good time,” William said, clasping his hand firmly
CHAPTER 73.Carlos swirled the amber liquid in his glass as his phone buzzed on the desk. Without glancing at the screen, he answered—only three people had access to this line.“Uncle,” Kate’s voice trembled through the receiver, carrying just the right hint of desperation.A slow smile spread across Carlos’s lips. He leaned back in his leather chair, savoring the moment. “Go on, my dear,” he drawled. “Tell me—what has your husband done this time?”“I… I just found out he’s into gambling,” Kate whispered. “It’s been going on for eight months now.”Carlos’s brows arched, his interest instantly piqued. “Is that so? And how did you discover this… unfortunate habit?”“I managed to check his phone,” she confessed. “There were messages about the last game he played. He lost fifty thousand, Uncle. And it’s not just that—he’s planning to bet an even bigger amount this weekend.”Carlos chuckled softly, the sound dripping with satisfaction. “Well, well… this is perfect. We can use this against
CHAPTER 72Jeremy's House — Game room.Jeremy’s shout echoed through the game room as his character was shot down for the third time in a row. Liam chuckled, snatching victory with ease.“Unbelievable. You’re cursed,” Liam teased.Jeremy tossed the controller onto the couch, scowling. “No, I’m distracted. Too much crap going on lately.”Liam’s laughter faded. He glanced at his friend, sensing there was more behind the words than just a lost game.Liam studied his face. “What's wrong?” He asked, settling back into his chair and giving Jeremy his full attention. "What's bothering the almighty Jeremy?"Jeremy was quiet for a moment, his hands clasped together as he stared at the blank television screen. "It's this whole Donovan situation. Emma and I have been working so hard trying to penetrate his digital security, trace his communications, find some kind of vulnerability we can exploit." He shook his head. "But all our efforts seem to be in vain.""Why do you say so?""Military-grade
CHAPTER 71Carlos sat in silence long after the door closed, the echo of Kate’s footsteps fading down the hall. His fingers tapped against the desk steadily, his expression unreadable.He knew something was off at how Kate behaved but he couldn't figure it out.She had played her part well — too well. The tremble in her voice, the wounded act, the way she had shielded her stomach like a woman protecting more than a child. It was convincing.He was never going to give in completely. He believed she planned all of that. Whatever game she's playing, he's ready to play along with her. He will just kill two birds with one stone — have William crushed down and get rid of Kate.Perfect planning.He let out a loud laugh, echoing round the room.Either way, he would win.___Donovan moved across the room, settling into the leather chair across from the massive oak desk where the SE sat wreathed in cigar smoke."We're running out of time," Donovan said, his voice cutting through the haze. "Will
CHAPTER 70.Carlos stood by the tall window of his house, the city lights sprawled out below like prey waiting to be hunted. His phone was still warm in his palm, Hemsworth’s stammering voice replaying in his head.He had expected William to dig into the matter—of course he would—but not this quickly. Sooner or later, William would come straight for him.Lifting the phone again, Carlos dialed Donovan’s number.“Answer the call,” he muttered under his breath.“Yes,” came Donovan’s calm, soft voice.“William is at it again,” Carlos said.“So?”Carlos’s tone sharpened. “What do you mean so? Sooner or later he’ll get to the root of this, and when he does, both of us will be exposed.”“He won’t find out.”“Oh, please. Hemsworth just called me—William has already threatened him. Do you really think Hemsworth won’t crack under pressure?”“Don’t worry. I’ll handle Hemsworth. You just focus on your part.”Carlos paused. “Have you spoken with the SE already?”“Yeah. He’s waiting for Howard’s re
CHAPTER 69.Kate and Tina arrived at the address Mr. Howard sent earlier. It was the older part of town where the buildings leaned with age and the streetlights flickered like they had seen better days.“This place looks… abandoned,” Tina murmured, eyeing the cracked pavement and the peeling paint on the doors.Kate’s grip tightened on her bag. “Stay close.”Kate knocked. Once. Twice.The door creaked open, revealing a tall man in a dark suit, his hair neatly combed back. His sharp eyes scanned them both before settling on Kate.“You came,” he said in a low voice. “Good. Come inside. We don’t have much time.”The interior was dim, lit only by a desk lamp in the far corner. Papers were spread across an old wooden table — documents, photographs, and what looked like scanned copies of contracts.Kate sat cautiously, Tina hovering just behind her.Mr. Howard slid a folder toward Kate. “These were hidden in your father’s private archive. They were never meant to see the light of day… espe
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Komen