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CHAPTER 37
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2025-02-15 16:54:33
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'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 38
Asher sat behind his massive oak desk, his fingers drumming rhythmically against the surface as he skimmed through the reports in front of him. The large window behind him offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, but he barely acknowledged it.Work was his escape, a place where emotions had no place.The sudden sound of his office door swinging open disrupted his focus.โAsher, my guy!โ Josiahโs voice boomed across the room.Asher exhaled, not even looking up. โDo you ever knock?โJosiah grinned, strolling in like he owned the place. โWhy knock when I have VIP access?โ He plopped down onto one of the chairs in front of Asherโs desk, stretching his legs out comfortably.Asher shot him a bored look. โWhat do you want?โJosiah grinned. โI need something chill.โAsher arched a brow. โSomething chill?โJosiah nodded enthusiastically. โYou know, coffee, juiceโwhatever. Call Trinity. She knows my preferences.โAt the mention of his secretaryโs name, Asherโs jaw tightened.Josiah frow
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-15'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 39
Asher forced himself to look away from the motorcycle, his face twisting into a glare. His grip on the armrest tightened as the vehicle carrying Lena and Raymond disappeared into the rain-soaked night.His rational mind told him not to read too much into what he had just seen.But his emotions refused to cooperate.The way she had leaned into Raymond, the ease in her laughter, the way she looked so at peace, it all grated on his nerves.She had asked him to meet her at a restaurant just for her to be riding on a bike with her lover. โSir?โ Matteoโs voice broke through his thoughts. โShould I take you home?โAsher exhaled sharply, forcing himself to regain his composure. โYeah. Drive.โThe ride back to the estate was silent, except for the sound of the rain tapping against the car windows. Asherโs mind replayed the image of Lena on the motorcycle, fueling the storm already brewing inside him.__________The Joshโs estate was a massive structure, a blend of modern luxury and old-money
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 40
The rain had not been kind to Lena.By the time she arrived at the Josh estate, her coat clung to her skin, her hair a tangled mess, and water dripped from her fingertips onto the marble floor of the grand entrance. Her heels made soft squelching sounds as she stepped inside, her body trembling slightly from the cold.The warm glow of the chandelier overhead did nothing to ease the chill in her bones, but at least she was home.Home.That word still felt foreign to her.As she walked further in, she spotted Danielle sitting elegantly on the couch in the living room, a steaming cup of herbal tea cradled in her delicate hands as she read through a fashion magazine. Danielle looked up, her piercing gaze landing on Lena with silent scrutiny.Lena hesitated for a second before offering a polite smile. โGood evening, mother.โDanielle said nothing but stared at Lena as if she had uttered the most foolish statement.She merely lifted the teacup to her lips and took a slow sip, her expressio
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 41
Lena stormed into her bedroom, her chest rising and falling with anger-fueled breaths. The room was dimly lit, the scent of rain clinging to her damp clothes as she closed the door behind her with a firm click.Asher was already inside.He stood by the window, his silhouette sharp against the backdrop of the storm still raging outside. His posture was rigid, hands shoved into his pockets, jaw tight. He had changed out of his earlier clothes into a loose black shirt and sweatpants, but despite the comfort of his attire, his entire body screamed tension.Lena crossed her arms, not moving from the door.โWhat did you say to Vincent?โAsher didnโt respond and neither did he act like anyone was in the room with him. His gaze remained locked on the darkened glass, as if he could ignore her out of existenceโ which would be better for his sanity at the moment. She must have enjoyed a good ride with her lover.Lena took a step forward. โMr. Asshole.โNothing.She clenched her jaw. โI know you
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-22'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 42
The neon lights of the nightclub flickered against the dark city streets as Lena pushed through the doors, the cool night air hitting her flushed skin.She adjusted her bag over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the sidewalk until they landed on Abby, leaning casually against a lamppost.Abby grinned as soon as she spotted her. โWell, well. If it isnโt my favorite overworked bartender.โLena rolled her eyes. โYou say that like I have a choice.โโYou donโt,โ Abby said, linking her arm with Lenaโs as they started down the street. โThatโs why Iโm here to make sure you donโt drop dead from exhaustion before we even reach the bus stop.โLena huffed a tired laugh, but it didnโt quite reach her eyes.Abby must have noticed, because her playful demeanor shifted. โOkay, whatโs up with you? Youโve been weirdly quiet all night.โLena hesitated, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.She wasnโt sure if she wanted to talk about itโhell, she wasnโt sure if she could. The last few hours h
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-22'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 43
The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass as Matteo pulled the sleek bronze Tesla out of the driveway. Vincent sat in the backseat, staring out the window with a hard expression, his school backpack slung lazily over one shoulder.Just as Matteo was about to accelerate, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the driveway."Wait!" Lenaโs voice rang out.Vincent turned his head just in time to see her sprinting toward the car, her messy ponytail bouncing as she waved one arm frantically. Matteo sighed, already rolling down the passenger window."Mrs. Josh?" he asked, hidden amusement flickering in his dark eyes."Donโt call me that, call me Lena" Lena huffed, gripping the door handle. "I need a ride to the preschool."Matteo arched a brow. "You do realize this is not a taxi service, right?"Lena ignored him and yanked the back door open, sliding in next to Vincent. She barely had time to close it before Matteo pulled out of the driveway. She mouthed a foul
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-23'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 44
Vincent hopped out of the car, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. He didnโt say goodbye, just gave Lena a brief glance before disappearing into the sea of students.Lena sighed, sinking back into the seat as Matteo pulled away from the curb.The car was silent for a few moments before Matteo cleared his throat."Iโuhโ" he hesitated, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. "I heard what you said to Asher, the other day. About Phillip. It wasn't my intention to eavesdrop."Lena turned to him, surprised. Matteo had never spoken to her before, and his voice was deeper than she expectedโcalm, steady, with just the slightest hint of hesitation."You were listening?"Matteo kept his eyes on the road. "Not on purpose."Lena studied him, noting the slight stiffness in his posture. "And?"A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Youโre not wrong to be concerned."Her breath hitched, in bewilderment. She leaned forward and whispered, "You think heโs hurting Pamela too?"Matteo hesitated. "I do
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-23'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 45
Lena stormed into her bedroom after another long day at the club, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had spent all night replaying the conversation with Vincent, trying to figure out how to convince Asher of the truth.Asher sat behind his average-sized steel desk situated by the left corner of the room, fingers steepled beneath his chin. His sharp brown eyes flickered to her, then back to the documents in front of him. He didnโt acknowledge her presence beyond that.Lena clenched her jaw. Of course, he was going to make this difficult.โAsher, we need to talk.โโBusy.โShe stalked toward him, placing both hands flat on his desk. โWell, too bad. Because this isnโt something you can ignore.โAsher sighed and leaned back, rubbing his temples. โIf this is about what happened last nightโโโIt is,โ she interrupted, tersely. โPamela is being abused.โHis entire body tensed, but he kept his expression blank. โDrop it, Lena.โโNo.โHis jaw tightened, anger tightening in his chiseled j
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-24
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'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 68
Asher tightly held the wheel of his silver Porsche, the engine humming softly as he drove home from a meeting, the city lights blurring past him.The cold night air created fog with his breath, and his mind was a jumbled mess. He drove slowly, not yet prepared to confront his home or Lena when his phone buzzed loudly beside him.He looked down to see Lenaโs name flashing on the screen, causing a knot to twist in his stomach as he braced for what she might say.Maybe she had finally decided to let her ego down and speak to him, or maybe she just missed getting on his nerves like he did.He answered and put the call on speaker.In no time, her voice came bursting through, drunken and loud. โMr. Asshole! Hey, are you there?โ she giggled drunkenly. โI might've had a bit too much, yeah? Raymondโs totally smashed too, and I need a ride home. Come get me!โ She laughed stupidly, a mix of excitement and chaos, with loud music pounding in the background.His jaw clenched at her words. Raymond,
'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 67
By Friday, exhaustion had taken its toll. Asher was running on empty, yet had a meeting lined up with an important businessman, all glitz and cash, eager to close a deal. Asher dragged himself to the meeting, his suit sharp, face hardened, hoping work would drown out the turmoil within though things were hard without Trinity by his side. The venue was upscale, shining, and with classic floors and chandeliers hanging, and he settled at the table, papers spread, awaiting the appointment.The businessman arrived late, grinning broadly, his wife by his side tall, blonde, and radiant. โAsher, friend,โ he said, giving him a friendly clap on the shoulder, โthis is Clara. Keeps me in check, doesnโt she?โ Clara laughed, warm and inviting, taking the seat beside him, her hand resting comfortably on his arm. Asher nodded, forcing a smile, but his focus drifted to their connection.They were tactile and affectionate in the way they interacted. The man Mark, introducing his wife, kept his hand
'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 66
Minutes earlier...Luca hung back in the hallway ol, his footsteps muted against the old floorboards as he clutched a stack of papers in his hands.He intended to discuss business with Asher, but the shouting coming from the bedroom stopped him. Asher's growl and Lena's sharp reply โIt's a fake bloody marriage, Asher!โ hit him like a punch. He froze, breath hitching, processing the implication: their marriage was a facade? His mind raced, and a sly smile crept onto his face; this was pure gold, like really pure gold.He inched closer to the door, straining to hear the end of the argument Asher's bitter question. โAre you seeing someone, then?โ followed by Lena's cool denial: โYeah, I am.โ The door slammed open, and Asher stormed past, too furious to notice Luca lurking in the shadows. Asher's anger fueled Luca's excitement this wasn't just juicy gossip; it was leverage he could manipulate.Quickly, he ran into his room, his phone in hand. Angelica's number lit up on the screen,
'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 65
Asher sat in the backseat of his Porsche, the engine humming as they cruised through the city. The night was dark, with street lights flashing by, and he looked out the window, his thoughts in disarray, a lot going on his mind. Matteo stayed silent in the front seat, hands firmly on the wheel, while Josiah was next to Asher, chattering away like a wind-up toy. โHey, picture this, right?โ Josiah exclaimed, his voice loud and playful. โWe arrive, and Abby's there in that red dress boom! I trip over my own feet trying to impress her! Iโd look like a total fool, right?โ He laughed, slapping his knee, grinning like a kid telling a bad joke. Asher clenched his fist, trying not to let his anger get the best of him. He hated himself for expecting any more from Lena. Last time, she forgot about their date and went on a ride with that bastard; now, she had called him to say Abby would take her place since she had a terrible headache. Asher barely registered Josiah, his eyes on the st
'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 64
The next day, Asher sank into the driverโs seat of his silver. He rubbed his face, restless, his thoughts consumed by the dinner Lena had convinced him to attend tonight.Not wanting to be alone with his thoughts, he picked up his phone, found Josiahโs contact, and called before he could second-guess himself.โ Well, well, well, have dogs begun to fly?โ Josiah greeted him, his voice lanky and absurd as usual, as though heโd just tripped on something amusing. โWhatโs going on? Are you actually calling me?โAsher frowned and leaned back in his seat. โCut it out, you clown,โ he replied, trying to maintain a gruff demeanor but failing. โWant to go out tonight for a pint or something? Your call.โ He played it cool.There was a moment of silence from Josiah before he burst into laughter. โHa! Is this a setup? You, wanting to hang out with little olโ me?โ he said, sounding as if Asher had just told him a funny story. โYou alright, pal? Hit your head or something?โ He cackled before lowerin
'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 63
As dawn broke slowly, Asher was already awake, restless in the small room he had slept in. The bed was uncomfortable, and the quiet ambiance, interrupted only by the occasional creak or birdcall, kept him anxious. He packed his belongings into a bag, eager to leave this cramped, middle-class setting and return to his own life. He could hear Lena shuffling around downstairs, likely also packing.He made his way down the stairs with his bag slung over his shoulder and found Lena in the kitchen with her mother. Lena was hastily packing a sweater into her backpack, her hair tousled, while her mum fussed by the kettle, steam rising in the dim light. The aroma of toast and tea filled the air, a cozy scent that made Asher uncomfortable. He dropped his bag by the door, gave a brief nod to both of them and said, โReady when you are,โ his voice gruff, already mentally distancing himself from the room.Lenaโs mum turned around, wiping her hands on her apron, and gave them a look, sharp yet w
'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 62
Asher leaned against the small window in the cramped room Lena had arranged for him, the dark and silent night surrounding him. He heard the stairs creak slowly, and his head whipped around. The door opened slightly, revealing Lena, arms crossed, her expression a blend of irritation and an unrecognizable softness.Seeing her was like a breath of fresh air, a comforting surprise he didnโt anticipate. His shoulders relaxed a little, and the tightness in his chest eased, though he would never confess it to her or anyone else. She caught his gaze and smirked, a cheeky sparkle in her eyes. โWhatโs this?โ she teased lightly. โMum thinks youโre up here missing me. Cute, isnโt it? Tough guy, pining for my company?โHe scoffed, sharply turning from the window to face her fully. โPining? Youโre dreaming, Lena. Iโve been perfectly fine without your chatter every five minutes.โ He crossed his arms, mirroring her stance, though a twitch at the corner of his mouth threatened a grin.Lena walked
'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 61
Asher stood alone in the tiny and unkempt room Lena had prepared for him. It was a tight space with barely enough room for the single bed in it, a crippled chair, and a scratched-up dresser in it. He didnโt sit, didnโt unpack, just moved to the small window, pushing the thin curtain aside. The street outside was dark and void of life, just a few shining lamps casting shadows on the Broken pavement. He looked out, hands in his pockets, and his mind filled with so many thoughts, dragging him back to places he didnโt want to go, lucid and uncalled thought.Flashbacks hit him hard on the rain-soaked nights, the smells of blood on his knuckles, shouts echoing down narrow alleys, hovering on his mind. He saw his old life, rough friends, dodgy deals, the kind of stuff that left scars inside and out him. A younger Asher, angry and lost, running through streets not much different from this one. His breath caught, chest tight,breath unsteady, as he remembered the cold, the fear, the mess
'TIL DECEIT DO US APART: BILLIONAIRE'S PRETEND BRIDE ย ย ย CHAPTER 60
Asher was standing on the rickety, dirty porch of Lenaโs parentsโ home, when his phone buzzed in his hand, and Angelicaโs name glared at him from the screen. He thought, "What the hell is going on? Why is she suddenly calling him?" He sighed deeply, frustrated, his thumb scrolling over the end call button. He didn't want to hear her voice, not now, not ever, not after the chaotic and stressful day heโd had, with his mind still filled with old memories and the view of the street. The phone continued to ring again and again, so he reluctantly pressed it to his ear. โWhat do you want?โ he asked, his tone sharp and steady.โWhere are you, Asher?โ Angelicaโs voice came through the air, filled with accusations and fury, as if she were looking for a confrontation.He rested against the porch railing, which creaked under his weight. โWhy does it matter to you?โ he answered coldly. He wasnโt in the mood for her drama today.She persisted. โDonโt play dumb with me,โ she hissed. โI heard y
