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A DOOR THAT WON'T CLOSE

ผู้เขียน: D.N odunukwe
last update ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-03-12 21:41:52

Lily’s fingers trembled on the cold brass handle of the door.

One twist, one step forward, and she would be free.

Free from Liam Montgomery. Free from the maddening, unbearable push and pull of their twisted arrangement.

Then why did it feel like she couldn’t breathe?

Her heart slammed against her ribs, her entire body on edge, as if she were teetering at the edge of a cliff.

Behind her, the room was unbearably silent. She could feel his presence, heavy and suffocating, without even turning around.

She tightened her grip on the handle.

Just open it, Lily.

One step. Just one.

But she didn’t move.

A slow, deliberate sound broke the silence a shift in the air, the soft rustle of fabric.

Then..

A strong hand slammed against the door beside her head.

She flinched.

Her breath hitched as she turned and found herself caged in by Liam’s towering frame. He wasn’t touching her except for where his palm pressed against the door but she felt him.

Every inch of her body was aware of him.

His broad
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  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES

    Lily’s breath caught in her throat, her heart slamming against her ribs.Liam’s words hung between them, heavy and suffocating.You think you want to leave, but what if you don’t?Her pulse raced, every nerve in her body on high alert. His fingers still lingered against her jaw light, almost hesitant but the heat from his touch burned into her skin like a brand.She should step back.She needed to step back.But she couldn’t.Lily’s throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. His silver eyes flickered in the dim light cold, calculating… yet beneath the ice, there was something else. Something raw.Something that made her heart ache.“You don’t know what I want,” she whispered, her voice barely steady.Liam’s fingers traced down to her chin, tilting her face up until she had no choice but to look at him. His eyes darkened, the shadows in them pulling her in like gravity.“You’re right,” he murmured. “I don’t.”A heartbeat passed."But I know you're scared."L

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-12
  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   THE GAME SHE COULDN'T WIN

    Lily stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her. Her breath came in sharp gasps, her chest heaving with the weight of what had just happened.Liam’s words still echoed in her mind.I’m curious how long it’ll take before you beg me to stay.Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, trembling.The audacity. The arrogance.And yet…Why had she stayed?Why hadn’t she walked away when he gave her the chance?She pressed her hands against her face, trying to steady herself. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the lingering heat of his touch, the way his silver eyes had darkened when he whispered those words.A shiver ran down her spine.This was dangerous.Whatever was happening between them this push and pull..it was a game she didn’t know how to play. And worse, she wasn’t sure she wanted to win.Her eyes darted to her bag, still packed, sitting by the edge of the bed. She had been so determined to leave. She had even called Olivia, made arrangements, prepared

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-12
  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   THE WALL WE BUILD

    Lily sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the door Liam had walked away from. The air in the room still felt thick, charged with the weight of their last conversation. Her pulse hadn’t fully settled, and her mind refused to quiet.Every time she thought she had Liam figured out, he did something that made her question everything. He wasn’t just ruthless he was unreadable, unpredictable.With a frustrated sigh, she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to steady herself. She needed to stop thinking about him. He was a complication she couldn't afford.Her stomach twisted, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.She stood abruptly, grabbed a cardigan from the chair, and wrapped it around her shoulders. Maybe a quick bite would help her focus.The hallway was dimly lit, the quiet stretching around her as she padded toward the dining room. The house felt too big, too empty despite its grandeur. It wasn’t like the home she had grown up in, small but warm. This place was a

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-14
  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   THE SECRET BETWEEN US

    Lily's fingers trembled as she gripped the doorknob. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out the silence of the dimly lit hallway. She had spent the last few days trapped in a whirlwind of deception, forced smiles, and Liam's cold indifference. But tonight, something felt different.A storm was brewing.The air between them had changed. There was something in Liam’s gaze something raw, almost desperate, buried beneath the icy walls he had built around himself. And for the first time, Lily wasn’t sure if she feared it… or if she wanted to break it.Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.Liam stood by the fireplace, one hand gripping a glass of whiskey, the other buried in his pocket. The flickering flames cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his clenched jaw. His broad shoulders were rigid, and though he wasn’t looking at her, she knew he sensed her presence."You’re late," he said, his voice low, controlled.Lily swallowed hard. "I wasn’t aw

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-14
  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   THE BETRAYAL UNVEILED

    Lily’s heart pounded violently as she stared at the document in her trembling hands. The inked words blurred before her eyes, but the meaning behind them burned like fire in her veins.Divorce Agreement.Her fingers tightened around the papers, the sharp edges digging into her skin. It felt surreal like a cruel dream she couldn’t wake from. Her breathing grew ragged as she lifted her gaze to meet Liam’s unreadable expression.He stood across the room, his suit crisp, his posture as rigid as steel. Those silver gray eyes, once filled with a cold kind of fascination, were now empty. Detached."Liam…" Her voice cracked. "What… what is this?"His jaw clenched, but he didn’t waver. "Exactly what it looks like."A wave of nausea rolled through her. She had braced herself for many things for his anger, for his indifference but this? This was a blade straight through her heart."You promised me time," she whispered. "You swore you’d give me a chance to prove myself, to prove that this marriag

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-14
  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   WALL OF HEARTS

    Lily stormed out of Liam’s office, her pulse thundering in her ears. The moment she stepped into the hallway, she felt her carefully contained emotions snap. She wasn’t just hurt she was furious.How dare he?How dare he assume the worst without even asking her? How dare he decide the fate of their marriage without giving her a say?She clenched her fists, sucking in sharp breaths as she made her way toward the elevator. But the moment the doors slid open, she faltered.Adrian stood inside."Lily?" His brows knit in concern as he stepped forward. "Are you okay?"She let out a bitter laugh, brushing a hand through her hair. "Do I look okay?"Adrian’s jaw tightened as he took in her face. "What did he do?"Lily exhaled shakily, trying to steady herself. "He wants a divorce."Adrian’s face darkened. "That bastard."A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down. "It doesn’t matter.""Of course it matters," Adrian countered. "You love him."Lily’s lips parted, but she couldn’t bri

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-15
  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE    SCATTERED FACTS

    Liam barely breathed as he stared at the message on his phone. His grip tightened around the device, his jaw clenching so hard it ached.Lily was with Adrian.Something inside him snapped.Without another word to Damien, he grabbed his coat and stormed out of his office. He didn’t know exactly where Adrian had taken her, but he had a damn good idea.And if Adrian thought he could take Lily from him, he was dead wrong.Lily sat across from Adrian at an upscale rooftop bar, the city lights stretching endlessly in the background. The air was crisp, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she could breathe."You look like you needed this," Adrian said, pushing a glass of wine toward her.Lily smiled faintly, fingers curling around the stem of the glass. "Yeah… I think I did."Adrian studied her for a moment. "Are you going to fight for him?"She exhaled sharply, staring down at her drink. "I don’t know. What’s the point? He’s already made up his mind."Adrian scoffed. "You reall

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-15
  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   THE LAST WALL CRUMBLES

    Liam’s grip on Lily was desperate, as if she were the only thing tethering him to reality. She felt the tension in his muscles, the unspoken words still clinging to the air between them.She pulled back slightly, looking up at him. "I need you to promise me something, Liam."His jaw clenched. "Anything.""Don’t run from me again." Her voice was soft but firm. "No more pushing me away. No more shutting me out. If you want this if you want us you have to let me in completely."Liam swallowed hard. The war inside him was visible in the way his eyes darkened, in the way his body tensed. Vulnerability had never been something he allowed himself to feel. But with Lily, there was no escaping it.After a long, agonizing silence, he nodded. "I promise."Something in Lily eased.For the first time in weeks, she let herself believe that maybe just maybe they had a chance.But the moment was short lived.A sharp knock on the door made them both turn.Liam's body stiffened. His eyes flickered with

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-16

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  • 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

  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   Shadows of the Past

    The following morning, the mansion was unnaturally quiet, despite the chaos unfolding beyond its walls. Liam sat in his private study, poring over the leaked documents for the third time. Lines of numbers and names danced in front of him like ghosts from a time he had tried so hard to forget. Somewhere in these files, someone had planted the seeds meant to destroy him.There was a knock.“Come in,” he said, not looking up.Lily stepped in, a cup of coffee in her hand. “You need to eat something.”He offered a faint smile, taking the cup. “Thanks. I didn’t sleep much.”“Neither did I,” she murmured, sitting beside him. “You’ve been quiet since last night. You okay?”“No,” he answered honestly. “But I will be. Once I find out who’s doing this.”They sat in silence for a moment, the hum of the city beyond the windows muffled by thick glass.“I’ve been thinking,” Lily said softly. “About that photo they leaked… the one of you and your father.”“What about it?”“You said you didn’t go insi

  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE    LEAKS AND LIES

    The morning light filtered through the bedroom curtains, casting golden streaks across the wooden floors. Liam sat at the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the unread message Damien had forwarded to him at dawn.The headline was bold and damning: “Carlyle Legacy Tied to Financial Crimes: Leaked Documents Surface.”Though the article didn’t mention Liam by name, it danced dangerously close. The Carlyle estate. The offshore accounts. The shell corporations. The web of it all threaded neatly back to the past he had barely survived.He looked at Lily. She was still sleeping, her brow relaxed for once, the faint trace of peace softening her usually guarded face. He hated that this peace would be shattered soon.Liam slid his phone into his pocket and left the room.Downstairs, the house was already abuzz. Sofia, his long-time housekeeper, handed him a tablet. “It’s everywhere, sir. Social media. Business news. Blogs.”He took the tablet and skimmed headlines, each one more s

  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   CRACKS BENEATH THE SURFACE

    The following days were quieter, not because of tension, but a newfound softness that grew between them. Lily had not yet given her heart fully back, but she had let down the thick walls she’d built around it. Liam, for the first time in years, was learning to speak the language of vulnerability.They spent their mornings in the garden and their evenings at the dinner table not in stiff silence, but with small conversations, shy smiles, and cautious laughter. It wasn’t a return to what they were, but the first steps toward something new.But even as the pieces began to align, something restless stirred beneath the surface.It started with a phone call.Liam had been in his office when the private line rang. Only a few people had that number his lawyer, his assistant, and Damien.He picked it up.“What is it?” Liam asked, expecting routine business.But Damien’s voice came in low and urgent. “I need to see you. It’s important.”Liam leaned back in his chair. “Can’t it wait?”“No. It’s

  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   WHISPERS OF THE PAST

    The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Carlyle estate, casting long golden beams across the marble floor. The warmth of the day contrasted sharply with the coldness Lily felt inside. Though she’d asked for time and space, the emptiness it brought felt like a burden she wasn’t prepared for.For days, Liam respected her boundaries. He kept to his study, engaged with work or perhaps simply brooding in solitude. Meals were often quiet. If they crossed paths, they did so silently, a nod or a fleeting glance the only acknowledgment of each other’s presence. Lily wasn’t sure if it was what she truly wanted, but she feared that if they spoke, the rawness of her heart would take control.But life continued outside their strained cocoon.Lily found herself drawn to the garden, the only place where her thoughts could roam free. The blooming orchids and gentle rustle of the trees provided her with a strange sort of peace. She would sit for hours, sketching idly or journaling her

  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   THE WEIGHT OF TRUTH

    The days following their confrontation were heavy with silence, each passing moment a reminder of the vast chasm that now existed between Lily and Liam. The house, once filled with the soft hum of daily life and whispered conversations, had become a quiet prison. Every corner seemed to hold an unspoken truth, every glance between them a question left unanswered.Lily spent her days walking the halls aimlessly, her mind a maze of conflicting emotions. She hadn’t expected forgiveness to come so easily, nor had she expected the weight of it to feel so suffocating. Each time she tried to think of a way forward, the shadow of Liam’s secrets loomed larger, clouding any hope she had left for their future.She had known from the start that love wasn’t simple, that the path they had chosen would be fraught with challenges. But this... this betrayal was something she hadn’t prepared for. To think that Liam, the man she had trusted with her heart, had kept so much from her, had hidden so many tr

  • THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE   FRACTURED BONDS

    Lily’s mind was spinning, her thoughts tangled like the threads of a broken tapestry. The weight of Liam’s revelation hung heavy in the air between them, an invisible barrier that neither could break. Despite the tension, she felt a strange sense of clarity creeping in. She had come to the realization that there were things they couldn’t control, forces beyond their reach. But what she did know—what she had to know—was that Liam’s betrayal, his silence, was the root of the fracture between them.Her chest tightened as she sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands gripping the soft fabric of the sheets. The cool air seemed to have a calming effect on her, but the storm inside her raged on. How had things gotten to this point? They had been through so much together, fought side by side, yet the truth of his family’s involvement had torn them apart in a way that she couldn’t fully understand.She lifted her head to meet his gaze. His eyes were darker now, the usual warmth replaced by a

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