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A COLD NEW HOME
Last Updated:
2025-03-07 20:21:34
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THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE TRAPPED IN A GOLDEN CAGE
The mansion’s dining room was massive, lit by an array of crystal chandeliers that cast a soft, opulent glow on the long, polished dining table. The room exuded luxury, but Lily couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a shiny cage. The grandness of the space made her feel small, like she didn’t belong.She stood in the doorway, her heart racing, her fingers nervously adjusting the collar of her dress. Liam had already seated himself at the head of the table, his presence commanding the entire room. His dark suit contrasted sharply against the white linens and gleaming silverware, making him look like the dark king of this castle, ruling over everything with a cold, calculating gaze.Lily hesitated, unsure whether to enter. It felt as though she was about to walk into the lion’s den. But she had no choice. She had made her decision, and now she had to face the consequences.Liam’s eyes narrowed up at her as she stepped inside. For a moment, his gaze was impassive, but there was somethin
Last Updated : 2025-03-07THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE WEIGHT OF PRETENDING
Lily stood by the grand window of Liam’s penthouse, staring out at the sprawling city below. The city lights shimmered in the distance like a sea of stars, their glow illuminating the streets, but to her, the view felt distant unreal. She could see the skyline stretching far into the horizon, a cold, detached beauty, yet it was nothing compared to the turmoil brewing in her mind. Each light, each reflection seemed like a mirror, staring back at her in judgment. Lily hugged herself tightly, trying to fend off the icy cold creeping into her bones. The air-conditioning in the penthouse was set to a comfortable chill, but it wasn’t the temperature making her shiver it was the weight of it all. The reality of her situation pressed down on her chest like an anchor, pulling her deeper into the pit of despair she couldn’t escape. The fake engagement, the cameras that followed her every move, the constant reminders that she was nothing more than a pawn in Liam Montgomery’s well-planned game
Last Updated : 2025-03-07THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE UNDER HIS CONTROL
Lily stood by the grand window of Liam’s penthouse, staring at the city lights stretching far into the horizon. The skyline was breathtaking, but her mind was a whirl of conflicting emotions. She had been thrust into this world so suddenly, everything felt like it was moving too fast for her to keep up. The walls of the penthouse were almost suffocating. It wasn’t the space that trapped her; it was the situation she now found herself in. Every passing second reminded her of her own helplessness, of the contract she’d signed with Liam Montgomery an arrangement she couldn’t escape.Her gaze fell to the floor, the weight of the day's events pressing on her chest. Liam’s cold indifference felt like a constant weight. His demand that she fit into the perfect image of his fiancée had only added to her growing sense of isolation. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to find some comfort in the solitude of the moment, but it eluded her.The sound of footsteps behind her jolted her bac
Last Updated : 2025-03-07THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE WHISPERS OF DANGER
The gala was a dazzling spectacle of wealth and influence, filled with laughter that didn’t quite reach the eyes and smiles laced with hidden agendas. Crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in golden light, and the scent of expensive champagne lingered in the air. The soft hum of a string quartet wove through the space, setting an ambiance of refined elegance.Lily walked beside Liam, her hand lightly resting on his arm, her posture poised. She could feel the weight of every gaze in the room watching, whispering, judging. They were curious, dissecting her presence at Liam Montgomery’s side, trying to determine if she was merely another passing intrigue or something more permanent.She forced herself to smile, knowing full well that any sign of discomfort would be seen as weakness.Liam, on the other hand, looked effortlessly composed. The way he carried himself ..broad shoulders, crisp tuxedo, and an air of quiet authority made it clear he was untouchable in this world. His grip on
Last Updated : 2025-03-08THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE DARKNESS OF THE PAST
Lily sensed the change in the room before she even saw him. A tension so sharp it made the air feel thick, suffocating. She turned just as Damien Carlisle stepped inside, his presence effortlessly commanding attention. He moved with the kind of ease that came from knowing he could control any room he walked into.His tailored black suit fit him with casual perfection, his sharp features carrying a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. There was something unsettling about him, an air of danger cloaked beneath his charm. He wasn’t just another guest at this gala he was someone who disrupted the natural order, someone who knew how to make people uncomfortable.His eyes landed on her first. A slow, assessing gaze that sent a strange, uneasy feeling crawling up her spine. Then, just as deliberately, he shifted his attention to Liam.“Well,” Damien said, his voice smooth but laced with something unspoken. “Didn’t think I’d be getting such a personal introduction to your fiancée.”Lily sti
Last Updated : 2025-03-08THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE WHISPERS OF BETRAYAL
Lily stood frozen, her fingers gripping the edge of the kitchen counter as the weight of Liam’s words settled over her."Stay out of this, Lily. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into."Liam’s voice from their last conversation echoed in her mind, colder than she had ever heard before. But how could she stay out of it? The scandal, the whispers behind her back, the way people looked at her as if she were nothing but a gold digger clinging to Liam Montgomery’s name none of it made sense.Something was wrong.She had spent the last few weeks trapped in his world, a world of cold luxury, forced smiles, and cameras flashing in her face. But beneath all of that, there were cracks in the illusion.She had seen Liam’s guarded moments those fleeting seconds when the mask slipped, and something raw flickered in his stormy gray eyes. Pain. A secret he refused to share.And now, she had proof that someone was pulling the strings behind this engagement.Her hands shook as she unfolded t
Last Updated : 2025-03-10THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE BENEATH THE SURFACE
Lily’s hands trembled as she clutched the phone, her heart hammering against her ribs. The words on the screen blurred before her eyes. The message was clear, ominous, and designed to shake her to the core."You think you’re safe? You’re not. Walk away before it’s too late."A cold shiver ran down her spine.Who would send something like this? And why now, when things between her and Liam were already teetering on the edge of disaster?She swallowed hard, her throat dry.Liam.Would he even care? He was so distant lately, his walls back up, his eyes colder than ever. After everything they had been through, she had begun to think there was something real between them. But now, doubt clawed at her like a relentless storm.She read the message again, as if staring at it long enough would make it disappear. It didn’t.Instead, fear settled deeper in her chest.The bedroom door creaked open, and Liam stepped inside. He looked exhausted, his sleeves rolled up, his tie loosened just enough t
Last Updated : 2025-03-10THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION
Lily sat stiffly in the back of Liam’s car, her fingers clenched into fists against the smooth leather seats. The silence was unbearable, thick with unspoken words and tension that crackled like electricity. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows, but she barely noticed.She was still reeling from everything that had unfolded in the last few hours. The scandal. The press. The inescapable contract binding her to Liam Montgomery.And now, they were headed to his estate her new home.The thought made her stomach twist.Across from her, Liam sat like a sculpture carved from ice his sharp jaw locked, his silver-gray eyes fixed on his phone. He hadn’t spoken a word since they entered the car, and the weight of his silence pressed down on her like a boulder.Lily exhaled slowly, summoning whatever courage she had left.“This is insane,” she muttered, breaking the silence. “We don’t even like each other.”Liam’s eyes flicked up, cool and unreadable. “That’s irrelevant.”Her jaw clenc
Last Updated : 2025-03-10
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THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE FIRE BENEATH THE SURFACE
The morning air was thick with silence. It wasn’t the peaceful kind that came with dawn it was the kind that warned of an approaching storm. Liam stood at the balcony of his study, overlooking the sprawling grounds of the Carlyle estate. In his hand was Marcus’s journal, the pages now worn from sleepless nights spent poring over secrets that could ruin everything.The old ledger they’d uncovered was now locked in a hidden compartment beneath the floorboards of his study. But even as he tried to move forward, Liam couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was already ten steps ahead.Behind him, the door creaked open.Lily stepped in, barefoot, her silk robe brushing the hardwood floor. “You haven’t slept,” she said softly, walking to his side.He didn’t look at her at first, but when he did, there was something in his eyes something she hadn’t seen in a long time. Vulnerability.“I thought finding the truth would bring peace,” Liam said. “But it’s like opening one door only reveals five
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE WHISPERS FROM THE PAST
The old Carlyle family graveyard sat in the farthest corner of the estate forgotten by time, swallowed by ivy, and seldom visited. The air was colder there, as though the earth itself held its breath beneath ancient stones and buried secrets.Liam stood at the edge of a crumbling headstone, a lantern in one hand and Marcus’s decoded journal page in the other. The words still echoed in his mind: The truth lies buried beneath our oldest grave.Beside him, Damien scanned the names etched into the moss-covered stones. “This one,” he said finally, pointing to a weathered grave that read: Edward Carlyle – 1792 to 1853. “He’s the first of the line. The one who started the empire.”Liam dropped to one knee, brushing away dirt and vines. “If Marcus left us this clue, it has to be here.”They worked in silence, digging with tools Damien had brought. Minutes stretched into an hour. Then thud. Damien’s spade struck something solid.Liam knelt down, clearing the soil. A rusted metal box, sealed sh
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE BURIED TRUTHS AND NEW BEGINNINGS
The fallout from Zoe’s exposure echoed far beyond the Carlyle estate. News outlets retracted stories, public opinion shifted, and Carlyle Enterprises’ stock which had dipped following Zoe’s fake exposé began to recover. But within the estate walls, not all wounds healed as swiftly as headlines faded.Lily sat alone in the rose garden, the scent of blooming petals swirling with the memory of secrets unearthed. The sun filtered through the vines overhead, casting lace-like shadows on her lap. Her fingers traced a flower’s soft edge, but her mind was far from serene.Elias approached quietly, not wanting to startle her. She sensed him before he spoke.“You didn’t come to breakfast,” he said gently.Lily looked up, offering a small, tired smile. “I wasn’t hungry.”He sat beside her, careful to give her space. “You’ve been quiet since the press conference.”“I just needed to breathe,” she murmured. “It’s been too much. Too fast.”Elias nodded, his voice low. “I owe you an apology.”“For wh
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE HEIR AND THE TRAP
Rain lashed against the windows of the Carlyle estate as the family gathered once again in the grand study. Tension clung to the air like a second skin. The fire crackled in the hearth, but no one felt its warmth.Elias stood near the shelves, staring blankly at the swirling storm outside. Inside him, a different storm raged of betrayal, identity, and the weight of every decision he was about to make.“So what now?” he asked without turning. “Do we expose her?”Liam folded his arms, his posture rigid. “Not yet. If Zoe’s planning to go public with your name as the heir, then we let her. We let her think she’s won.”“But won’t that mean you lose everything?” Elias turned, eyes searching Liam’s. “The company, the shares your position as CEO?”Liam gave a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I built this empire with my blood, not my last name. And I don’t intend to lose it. Zoe underestimates how deep this family goes.”Damien nodded in agreement. “If she wants to play dirty, we give h
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE A WEB OF DECEIT
The wind howled through the corridors of the Carlyle estate like a restless spirit, echoing the storm brewing within its walls. The chandelier in the main hall swayed gently as Liam paced across the study, his phone clutched tightly in his hand.“Is she safe?” he asked Damien, who stood just a few steps away.“We’re not sure yet,” Damien replied. “Declan and two men from my security team are en route to the facility now. We need to move fast before Zoe catches wind.”Liam’s jaw clenched. He didn’t like feeling powerless—especially not when it came to Emily, a woman whose betrayal had once fractured him, but whose safety still stirred something in the locked chambers of his heart.“She was trying to protect something,” Liam muttered, almost to himself. “Maybe even me.”Damien gave a subtle nod. “And she may have just become our strongest piece in this game.”Meanwhile, in the secured facility Zoe had chosen for secrecy, Emily struggled against the ropes digging into her wrists. Her bod
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE TANGLED LOYALTIES
The private jet coasted across the Atlantic, leaving the stormy skies of London behind. Liam sat by the window, his eyes unfocused as the clouds drifted below. Across from him, Elias sat in silence, earbuds in, pretending to be engrossed in the music on his phone. But Liam could feel the tension thick and undeniable settling between them like an invisible wall.It was one thing to discover a long-lost half-brother. It was another entirely to trust him.Liam had grown up in a world where loyalty was transactional and trust, a weapon that could turn into a blade. Elias, on the other hand, had lived a life stripped of luxury but anchored in truth or so he thought. Now both stood at a crossroads, each unsure whether they were about to gain an ally or invite in another enemy.“You ever been to New York before?” Liam finally asked.Elias glanced up, removed one earbud, and shook his head. “No. Just seen it in movies. Looks… loud.”A dry chuckle escaped Liam. “That’s one word for it.”There
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE HIDDEN BLOODLINE
The silence in the office was thunderous. Liam stood rooted, his mind reeling from the revelations Damien had just laid before him. A hidden heir. A forged will. And a father who had manipulated everything..even Lily. The room felt colder, the walls tighter. Damien leaned against the glass table, arms folded. “I didn’t want to believe it either. But the documents we decrypted… they don’t lie.” Liam slowly sat down, fingers steepled beneath his chin. “So what you’re saying is, my father had a second family?” Damien nodded. “Or at least a child he kept hidden. There are bank transactions brecurring ones made to an unlisted name. And some travel records that suggest he flew to London frequently, always to the same address.” “Do we have a name?” Lily asked, her voice laced with disbelief. Damien opened the tablet again. “Elias Thorn. Born nineteen years ago. His mother, Marianne Thorn, was once Marcus Carlyle’s personal assistant. She resigned under suspicious circumstances and mov
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE SHADOWS OF THE PAST
The storm outside mirrored the one brewing inside Liam’s mind. Rain hammered against the windows of the Carlyle estate as thunder cracked through the sky like a warning. But Liam paid no attention to the weather. All he could focus on was the photograph of his father and Emily.It haunted him.He stared at the fire dancing in the fireplace, his jaw clenched, mind racing. How had Emily ended up beside Marcus Carlyle? What did she know? What had she done? More importantly what had his father done?Behind him, Lily emerged from the hallway, wrapped in a silk robe. She hadn’t said much after the revelation. They were both stunned. But the silence between them wasn’t distant. It was heavy with thought and concern.“Liam?” she said softly, approaching him. “I’ve been thinking… if my sister worked with your father, it must’ve been before the wedding was even arranged. Before you and I ever crossed paths.”“That means your sister didn’t just disappear for no reason,” Liam said darkly. “She va
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE BENEATH THE SURFACE
The following day began with a heavy air at Carlyle Holdings. Everyone walked on eggshells, their movements hushed, eyes filled with nervous curiosity. The tension had become a permanent resident in the sleek hallways, following Liam wherever he went.He entered the boardroom early, before any of the executives arrived. The footage had been secured, and Damien was working on getting a strategic release to the media. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. He needed to know the truth and it started with Emily Grant.She arrived minutes later, perfectly punctual as always. Her ash-blonde hair was tied in a neat bun, and her dark navy suit was unwrinkled despite the storm swirling around the company. Her calm demeanor hadn't changed.“You wanted to see me, sir?” she asked, setting down her briefcase.“Yes. Please sit,” Liam gestured, motioning toward the seat across from him.Emily took her seat, watching him closely. “Is this about the leak?”“It is,” he said, folding his hands. “Our
