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UNDER HIS CONTROL
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-07 20:44:10
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THE 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE TRAPED IN HIS WORLD
The heavy doors of the estate shut behind Lily with a finality that sent a shiver through her.She wasn’t just stepping into Liam Montgomery’s home.She was stepping into his world.A world she didn’t belong to. A world she wasn’t sure she would survive.The grand foyer was breathtaking high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers, marble floors that gleamed under the soft golden light, and walls lined with expensive artwork. It was the kind of wealth most people only saw in movies.Yet, despite its beauty, the air inside felt cold. Unwelcoming.Like him.Liam walked ahead of her, his long strides purposeful and controlled. His presence filled every inch of the space, commanding it with an effortless arrogance that made her stomach twist.“This will be your home now,” he said, his voice detached. “I expect you to behave accordingly.”Lily crossed her arms. “And what exactly does that mean?”Liam stopped and turned to her, his gray eyes unreadable. “It means you’ll act like my wife i
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE SCATTERED POINT
Lily sat on the edge of the massive bed, staring at the city lights flickering beyond the glass windows. The penthouse was silent too silent.Her mind replayed every word Liam had said earlier."I don’t feel anything, Lily."She let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow in the empty room.She should have expected this. From the beginning, Liam Montgomery had made it clear what this marriage was a cold, calculated transaction. No emotions. No complications.And yet, here she was, feeling everything.Anger.Frustration.Heartache.Her fingers curled into the silk sheets, the weight of reality pressing down on her.She had walked into this marriage knowing the risks. Knowing Liam wasn’t the type of man who would offer love, comfort, or tenderness. But somewhere along the way, she had let herself hope. Hope that maybe just maybe there was something beneath his icy exterior.But tonight, he had shattered that illusion."I don’t feel anything, Lily."The words echoed in her mind, slicing thr
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE NO TURNING BACK
Lily stood by the window, her fingers gripping the cool glass as she stared at the glittering city below. The skyline stretched endlessly, a world teeming with possibilities possibilities she had once believed she could never reach.But Victoria’s words clung to her like an iron chain."Walk away before you get destroyed."The worst part? She wasn’t sure if Victoria was wrong.How much more of this could she take? Living in a marriage where she was nothing more than a pawn, a placeholder? She had fought to convince herself that she could endure it, that she could protect her heart.But it was getting harder.The ache in her chest, the constant war between what she felt and what she wanted to feel it was suffocating.Liam wasn’t just cold. He was unreadable. Unreachable. Every time she thought she saw a crack in his walls, he rebuilt them higher, shutting her out completely.And yet…Some foolish, desperate part of her still wished he would fight for her. That he would tell her not to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11
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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
