BLURB: Four years ago, Belle Moreno shattered Cassian Thornwell’s heart with a brutal lie, and disappeared without a trace. He was her best friend, her first love, the heir to a billion-dollar empire. She was the housekeeper’s daughter, never good enough in his mother’s eyes. So, she walked away. Now, fate brings them back together once more—older, colder, and harboring scars the other can’t see. Cassian needs a wife. A contract marriage to save his empire’s image. And when he sees Belle again, he offers a deal—one year as his wife. Should she say no? Should she run? But her secrets are catching up and her heart never learned how to stop loving him. Living under the same roof, sparks fly, wounds reopens, and the truth threatens to explode. Because he doesn’t know she’s hiding more than the past… He doesn’t know she’s hiding his son.
View MorePROLOGUE
Two days before hell broke loose,
I thought I could still imagine forever with the love of my life.
We were lying on the roof of the pool house, our bodies tangled together, skin still damp from a the swim we took behind Cass’ mother’s back. The stars above Savannah had never felt so close, and Cassian Thornwell was grinning like he didn't own half the state — like he didn't have a worry in the world besides me.
Don't laugh," he said, eyes flicking toward me. "But I think I want six kids."
I gaped. "Six?"
"Okay, five. Four at a bare minimum. Three if they're all boys and they wrestle like tiny demons."
"You're literally describing feral raccoons," I said with a loud laugh.
"Own it. You'd be a hot raccoon mom.”
I shoved his shoulder, and he caught my wrist mid-air, intertwining our fingers like it was the most natural thing in the world. And to us, it was.
"I'm serious, Belle."
His voice dipped low, just enough to make my belly flutter.
"I want this. You. Us. I know we're young and still figuring shit out but… I see it. You and me. Always."
I couldn't breathe for a second. Couldn't look away from the boy, sorry, man who'd been my best friend since I was ten — the man who'd steal bread rolls from the kitchen and sneak them to me because he thought I was too skinny.
"You don't have to say it back," he said quickly. "Not yet. I just—needed you to know.".
My heart was already replaying it on repeat. But I didn't speak the words.
I leaned in, kissed him instead. Our lips glided against each other, and when he bit my bottom lip I opened up for him, his hot tongue sliding against mine in a fashion so erotic, the wetness in my bikini bottoms was definitely not only as a result of the water.
Cassian glided his hands down my body and slipped them between my legs.
When his fingers finally reached my clothed core, I let out a gasp, my back arching into him as I tried to muffle the moans trying to escape my lips.
“Shh, cherry” he said, licking the shell of my ear. “We don’t want our mothers catching us now, do we?”
I could only give a slight nod as his strokes became faster, bolder.
He’d just pushed my bikini bottoms to the side when I heard my mother call my name.
I pulled away from the kiss, my breath still coming out in strained gasps. His fore and middle finger circled my clit with just the right amount of pressure, making me unable to speak properly.
“Cass, I-” a whimper left my lips when he slipped two fingers in me.
“Belle,” my mother called again, but this time, closer. “Where are you?”
“Cassian,” I whispered, pulling his lips away from my pulse. He looked up then, his eyes, normally seafoam green, now dark with lust.
His fingers stopped their movement inside me and he closed his eyes, placing his head against mine and kissing my inner wrists.
“Go,” he growled, slipping his fingers from my core. “Before I devour you here.”
“I’ll see you later right?” I asked, my voice still shaky with unfulfilled need.
“Of course, cherry,” he replied with a smile. “Always.”
I returned his smile, and on shaky legs, I went to look for my mother.
Two days later, I destroyed him.
---
He slammed the door behind him hard enough to shake the floorboards. I jumped. My hands shook as I folded the last of my clothes into the duffel bag.
"Say it again," he said. His voice was low, even—too even.
I didn't turn around.
"You heard me."
"Yeah," he spat, bitterness in his voice. "I heard you tell her you never loved me. That you were only ever in it for the money. That this—" he waved his hand between us like it was something filthy "—was just a game to you."
I zipped the bag slowly.
"This isn’t you, Belle. You're not a liar."
I turned over my shoulder.
"And what if I am?" I said in a flat voice.
Something in his face broke. Just for a moment, but long enough for me to catch it.
"You're really saying… all those nights—everything—was just a fluke? Is that it?"
I didn't answer.
"Christ." He ran a hand through his hair. "My mother warned me. She said you were just another girl after my name. I told her she was wrong."
"Looks like she wasn't."
He laughed, short and hard. "No. No, see, I know you. I know you, Belle. You don't even care about money. You used to bitch about my trust fund and how stupid rich people were."
I stepped around him. He caught my arm.
"Look me in the face and say it. Say you don't love me."
My mouth was dry.
"Say it, Belle." I didn’t want to, but I had to.
I faced him. Let my face go cold and then, I let the lie swallow me whole.
"I don't love you. I never did. And your mother was right—you were always too easy to play."
He flinched as if I'd punched him.
"Fuck," he whispered. "Okay then." He moved backward, like I was a disease he didn’t want to touch.
"Go, then. Go chase your next paycheck."
I picked up my bag and headed for the door.
"I was going anyway," I said.
And I walked out.
The hallway outside of the west wing of the Thornwell estate was quiet.
Too quiet.
The floor creaked beneath my feet as I walked towards the servant's entrance, the weight of what I had done crushing every bone in my body.
I halted in front of the oak-paneled door leading out to the garden path.
And there she stood.
Savannah Thornwell.
Lipstick perfect. Not a black hair out of place. Her pearls shone in the light like a threat.
She didn't smile.
"Is it done?" she said.
My fingers tightened on the strap of my duffel.
I didn't answer.
I just kept moving past her.
But her voice followed me, silky and lethal:
"Good girl.”
There was an unmistakable power in silence, a kind of weapon forged from quiet moments.And tonight, I wielded both like sharpened daggers.I stood at the edge of the expansive ballroom, and clutched a flute of sparkling champagne, the effervescent bubbles rising and bursting against the crystal glass as I surveyed the shimmering crowd—an ocean of opulence and ornate gowns that sparkled under the dim, golden lights. It felt surreal to glide among them, present not as the girl who had been publicly humiliated on social media, but as a vision of poise and resilience, transformed into someone enchanting and enigmatic."Belle, that was quite dramatic," Selena remarked softly beside me, her voice barely cutting through the murmurs. She was a striking figure in her floor-length gown that shimmered like moonlight, her dark hair sleekly pulled back into a low ponytail that exuded an air of confidence that screamed, Don’t mess with us."Isn’t everything that leads to this point?” I replied, my
The gala swallowed me, an extravagant swirl of activity where the lights were dimmed, and flutes of champagne were liberally filled, the bubbles dancing on the surface like tiny fireworks. Loud laughter echoed across the room, drowning out the unremarkable jazzy tunes that played softly in the background.I fidgeted with the cuffs of my tuxedo for what felt like the third time, as I ried my best to appear calm when I was far from it. Beside me, Devon lounged, casually sipping a vibrant yellow drink. He looked unfazed and blissfully oblivious to the impending chaos that loomed over us.“She still hasn’t returned my call,” I muttered, stealing another glance at my phone, the screen illuminating my frustration for what was probably the fiftieth time that evening.Devon, engrossed in his drink, didn’t bother to lift his gaze. “Surprising? With that tabloid scandal hanging over your head?”“I didn’t kiss her,” I said, defending myself. “you know that.”“The pictures, my friend unfortunatel
The moment I saw the photo, I knew it was going to change everything.I was nestled in a cozy corner of a downtown café during my lunch break, pushing a nearly untouched arugula salad around my plate, when my phone vibrated with an alarming ping.It came from a gossip site I barely remembered signing up for. Somehow, its notifications always seemed to slip through the cracks of my busy life. With a sense of dread, I tapped the notification, and there it was, illuminated on my screen.It was Cassian and Callie and in the picture, they shared a kiss—or what looked like one.In reality, Callie was leaning into him, her delicate hand splayed across his chest, lips hovering close to his as if willing the moment to ignite. Cassian's jaw was rigid, a picture of indifference, while the camera captured just enough to put my world at risk.The headline sneered back at me:"THORNWELL HEIR LIVES IT UP WITH SPICY MOMENT WITH MONROE EX—MARRIAGE STORIES DEAD?"I struggled to comprehend what I was re
I had just completed my review of Devon's latest update when Callie swung open the heavy door to my office with a force that echoed against the walls.This was becoming a distressing pattern with her."I specifically said that I didn't want any unannounced visits," I said, keeping my gaze fixated on the clutter of files and reports sprawled across my desk."You say that as if you actually care," she replied, gliding into the room with a confidence that suggested she had never been told 'no' in her life.Let out a slow, deep breath, I asked, "What do you want this time, Callie?""Honestly? I’m here to apologize," she said, her tone surprisingly earnest. "For earlier. For the chaos surrounding Belle. For making everything so… tense."I lifted my head, surprised. "You want to apologize?"Without waiting for an invitation, she settled into the chair across from me, crossing one leg over the other in a casual yet defiant manner. "I realized I might have come on a bit strong. Maybe I misrea
Devon stepped into my office and closed the door beside me as he walked to my desk.I looked up from behind my polished mahogany desk, the rhythmic tapping of my pen against the smooth surface echoing through the otherwise still air. My phone screen glowed with the familiar URL of Leo's school website. I’d been there more times than I could count and at this point, I was obsessed. I was drawn into that web of inquiry, staring at it for what felt like the third time in a growing fog of disbelief."That was fast," I muttered, surprised by the suddenness of his return. Devon had been here earlier but had to leave to get what he referred to as a “top secret mission.”Devon’s expression was serious, his brow furrowed in a way that made him appear even more formidable. He slid a manila folder across the table as if it contained a dangerous secret. "Didn’t want to send this through the usual channels. It's just too sensitive."A wave of apprehension washed over me as I opened the folder, my
When I received that text from Devon—Callie was at the manor this morning—my frustration boiled over, and I nearly crushed my phone in my grip.I didn’t bother replying to him.Instead, I bolted out of my meeting, my heart racing, and stormed straight to his office.“You knew she was going there?” I exploded the moment I stepped inside.Devon glanced up from his carefully organized desk, his expression unfazed, as if my outburst was merely normal to him. And maybe it was. “I was going to tell you. But I figured you'd prefer your morning coffee before you set the building ablaze in a fit of rage.”“I swear to God, Devon,” I muttered, pacing his office, the tension in the air suffocating.“Relax,” he said, his tone still calm. “She didn’t do anything… physical. But the way she looked at Belle? We might as well call in an exorcist now.”I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration, feeling the weight of my responsibilities and fears pressing down on me. “This is exactly what I was tryin
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.
Comments