Share

42

Author: Lumi Luna
last update publish date: 2026-10-12 14:03:54

The silence inside the penthouse library at seven-fifty-five in the morning was thick with ozone, cold espresso, and the sharp scent of crisp autumn rain beating against the double-paned glass.

Three monitors glowed on the heavy dark-oak desk, scrolling through real-time order books, liquidity flows, and global market feeds. Asher stood in front of the center display, black dress shirt unbuttoned at the neck, sleeves rolled past his forearms, his jaw set like iron. Serena sat on the edge of the
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Latest chapter

  • My Groom Abandoned Me, So I Married His Brother   72

    The glass doors of Vale Maison’s executive suite clicked open right at ten o'clock, letting in the sharp, rich scent of expensive leather, wet wool, and heavy French perfume.Serena sat at the head of the polished mahogany conference table, her hand resting over the soft, warm curve of her six-month bump beneath her dark gray coat-dress. Outside, the cold autumn rain was tapping hard against the floor-to-ceiling glass, casting a cool silver light across the room.Nadine Orsini walked in first, followed by two young men carrying heavy leather cases. She wore a tailored cream suit, her dark hair pulled back tight and smooth into a low knot. She moved with the quiet, practiced power of someone who was used to owning every room she walked into."Mrs. Blackwood," Nadine said, stepping forward with a cool, controlled smile and extending a hand. "Thank you for making time for us today. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person."Serena stood up smoothly, taking Nadine's hand in a firm,

  • My Groom Abandoned Me, So I Married His Brother   71

    The email arrived on a Tuesday morning, just as Serena was reviewing Vale Maison’s production schedule.Her assistant, Chloe, appeared at the office door with a tablet.“Serena, there’s a meeting request I think you’ll want to see.”Serena glanced up. “Another charity invitation?”“No. It’s from Veyronne Collective.”That caught her attention.Serena took the tablet. Veyronne Collective was a major international luxury group with an impressive distribution network and partnerships across several fashion markets.She opened the email.Subject: Strategic International Partnership Proposal — Vale MaisonThe message was brief. Veyronne had followed Vale Maison’s recent collections and was interested in discussing a potential international partnership.Serena read it twice.“What kind of partnership?”“They haven’t specified. They’ve requested a preliminary meeting and attached their company profile.”“Have you checked them?”“I’m working on it. They’re legitimate, and their recent expansi

  • My Groom Abandoned Me, So I Married His Brother   70

    The quiet late-afternoon sun warmed the high windows of the study, casting long, gold ribbons across the dark floorboards. Outside, Manhattan moved at its usual frantic pace, but inside the penthouse, the air felt slow and calm.Zora was still months away from arriving. Serena sat on the comfortable sofa with her feet tucked beneath her, wearing a soft cream knit dress that hugged her round, six-month bump.Across the coffee table, Asher set down a blue leather folder. He didn't open it like a corporate presentation this time. He simply laid it flat and looked at her, his dark eyes warm and relaxed."I revised the schedule for the next three months," Asher said, his low voice filling the quiet room. "Doctor visits, Vale Maison’s final spring checks, Blackthorne’s travel limits, and our home preparations."Serena reached over, pulling the folder toward her. She flipped through the pages with a raised eyebrow. "Asher... this is only three pages long. Where are the colo

  • My Groom Abandoned Me, So I Married His Brother   69

    Evelyn poured silver-filtered tea into a bone china cup, the sharp, floral aroma of bergamot rising into the quiet air of her townhouse drawing room. Rain tapped a steady, rhythmic pattern against the tall street-facing glass.Across the mahogany table sat Mara Forbes. She had not removed her dark coat, and her hands rested flat on her lap, her eyes cool and unreadable as she looked around the velvet-draped room."I appreciate you coming on short notice, Mara," Evelyn said smoothly, setting the silver teapot back on its saucer with a delicate clink. "I know my son can be difficult to manage, especially when his pride is wounded."Mara didn't touch her cup. "Cassian told me you wanted to set up a trust for the baby. He also said you had specific terms."Evelyn smiled softly, leaning back against her armchair. She smoothed the front of her silk blouse, keeping her tone warm and reasonable. "I am a grandmother thinking about the future, Mara. Nothing more. Cassian’s cur

  • My Groom Abandoned Me, So I Married His Brother   68

    "If we drop the hand-woven silk coats from the opening segment, the entire narrative of the spring line falls apart," Serena said, her voice firm as she tapped her pen against the glass table.The main conference room at Vale Maison smelled of warm coffee, freshly printed line sheets, and the crisp, cold air leaking through the high Manhattan windows. At six months pregnant, Serena sat at the head of the table in a soft burgundy dress, her hand resting over her rounded bump.Marcus rubbed his forehead with a heavy sigh. "I know, Serena. But Continental Luxury just called from Paris. Their main factory in Lyon had a power grid failure. The custom silk runs are delayed by two full weeks. If we wait for them, we miss the buyer showcase in Milan.""And if we replace the silk with standard satin, the collection looks cheap," Serena countered sharply, looking around the room at her design leads. "Every fashion column in the city is already watching us. They think because I announced my preg

  • My Groom Abandoned Me, So I Married His Brother   67

    Four months had melted away into the crisp, biting cold of late winter, taking Serena’s morning sickness with them and leaving behind a soft, unmistakable curve beneath her cashmere sweaters. At twenty weeks pregnant, the quiet uncertainty of the early days had transformed into a steady, daily rhythm.The snow had started falling over Manhattan early that evening, covering the big glass windows of the study in soft white. Inside, the room was warm, smelling of cedarwood and hot tea.Serena sat with her legs crossed on the big rug, surrounded by paper spread all over the floor. At five months pregnant, her belly was now a soft, round bump under her dark sweater."Asher, this isn't a list of baby names," Serena said, holding up a thick sheet as he walked into the room carrying two hot mugs. "This looks like a business report."Asher set the mugs on the coffee table and knelt beside her on the rug. "It’s a list of choices. I sorted them by where they come from, how they

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status