LOGINShare
THE GAME SHE COULDN'T WIN
Last Updated:
2025-03-12 21:54:07
Related chapters
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-14THE 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-14THE 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-14THE 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-15THE 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-15THE 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-16THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE SHADOWS OF THE PAST
Lily barely slept that night. Even with Liam’s arms wrapped securely around her, her mind kept replaying Charlotte’s words."To take everything from you."The weight of those words pressed on her chest like a heavy stone.Liam’s father had been a ghost in their relationship a shadow lurking in the background, never fully present but always influencing Liam’s choices. Now, that shadow was stepping into the light, and it was terrifying.She turned slightly in Liam’s embrace, watching his face in the dim light. Even in sleep, his brows were furrowed, his jaw tight. He was fighting a battle even in his dreams.Lily reached up and brushed her fingers against his cheek. He stirred, his eyes flickering open."You should be sleeping," he murmured, his voice rough with exhaustion."So should you."Liam sighed, pulling her closer. "I don’t have the luxury of sleep right now."She studied him. "Tell me the truth, Liam. How bad is it?"His silence was answer enough."Liam...""It doesn’t matter,"
Last Updated : 2025-03-16THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE GAME BEGINS
Lily’s heart pounded as she stared at Liam. The look in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine pure, raw determination edged with something darker and with this intense feeling. “Liam,” she whispered, gripping his arm. “Talk to me. What did he mean?” Liam exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face. “It means my father has set everything in motion.” She swallowed hard. “And what does that mean for us?” Liam’s gaze softened slightly as he reached up to brush his thumb along her jawline. “It means you need to trust me.” That was not something she considered..She did trust him. But that didn’t make the uncertainty any easier to bear. Lily shifted closer. “You’re not alone in this, Liam. Whatever he’s planning, we’ll fight it together.” A ghost of a smile touched his lips before vanishing just as quickly. “You don’t understand, Lily. This isn’t just about my business. My father doesn’t play fair. He destroys lives.” Her fingers tightened around his. “Then let’s make sure he
Last Updated : 2025-03-16
Latest chapter
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
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
