The Billionaire's Fake Wife

The faint clink of ice against glass was the only sound in the expansive study, a room draped in dark mahogany and leather. Chase Connor leaned back in his chair, the golden hue of the whiskey swirling in his hand, catching the low glow of the desk lamp. The air was filled with the scent of old books and aged bourbon, grounding him in a space where the memories of his past couldn’t reach; at least, that’s what he told himself.He took a slow sip, his jaw tightening as memories of his earlier years threatened to surface. Once, this life of luxury had been painted with blood. Leading the Connor gang had been a long battle, one his family had crafted for generations. The last war had changed everything. It had stripped him of many things—trust, his freedom to love freely, and Vera.He closed his eyes briefly, a haunting image of the fiery-haired woman flashing through his mind. She had been fierce, reckless, and utterly irreplaceable. One of his best shots. When the bullets found her, Ch

The man sat with his shoulders slightly hunched, his broad frame caught in the faint glow of a nearby streetlamp. He was large—solid in a way that commanded attention without effort. His face remained half-shadowed, but she caught the sharp line of his jaw, the slow curl of his lips around the cigarette between them.The scent of tobacco mingled with something else—woodsy, clean, and unexpectedly intoxicating.Ella hesitated before taking the far end of the bench. If he noticed her, he didn’t react, his gaze fixed somewhere in the dark ahead.After a moment, his voice broke the silence. Low. Smooth.“Didn’t expect company.”She shrugged, pulling a cigarette from her bag, lighting it with fingers that trembled just slightly. “Didn’t expect someone to be in my spot.”A quiet chuckle escaped him. “Your spot, huh?”“Needed air,” she said, exhaling smoke. “Or maybe just needed to feel like I’m not completely losing my mind.”He turned then, his eyes dark and assessing. “Rough night?”“Roug

Frustrated is an understatement to what Ella felt as she glanced over the file she was given by her boss. How was she going to do this? Pretend to be in love. Not only did it sound ridiculous but scary. However, she had no choice.For a while, her fingers hovered above the signing space, the tip of her pen dancing in the air. She couldn't do it. She didn't have the balls. Once signed, she has agreed to dive deep into a world she knows nothing about."Aunt Ella?" A small voice called from behind, dragging her away from her deep thoughts.Ella looked back to see Vera standing at the entrance of the library where she'd been. The little girl's eyes were glowing with enthusiasm and at once, Ella's worries vanished."Hi, Vera. How are you doing?""Today is Saturday. You shouldn't be here." She said with genuine curiosity as she walked closer, her stuffed animal pressed to her chest. "Does that mean I have to be watched by you every weekend also? No more weekend outings?"Before Vera would b

Ella had never seen him ever since she started working as a nanny in his mansion, so she sort of had this impression of him that she'd created in her mind. He was another workaholic mindless billionaire who needed someone to care for their child for scraps. He was the intimidating boss with hefty demands and cold shoulders. Indeed, that's what he was when she had seen him in the office.He was nothing like the man she'd had a deep conversation with that night at the club.The mysterious man with a sexy physique that made her lady part pool. The one who made her knees weak and made her ache for days due to how much sex they had that night. The one who gave her sleepless nights.No, he wasn't that same, man."Noted... Chase," he nodded and leaned back, enjoying the next course of breakfast."I hope you get used to pretending to love me even when it's obvious you need the slightest excuse to shoot me." His rich velvety voice dropped an octave lower as he fixed his gaze on hers. "Just don

His cousin scoffed. “That vague answer isn’t going to keep Grandfather satisfied for long. You know he’ll want details.”“I’ll handle him,” Chase said as he waved his hands. “That’s not a problem at all Just keep him off my back for now.”His cousin exhaled. “Fine. But don’t take too long. You know how impatient he gets.”The call ended, and Chase set his phone down, his smirk fading. He hadn’t lied but he hadn’t told the truth either.The next morning, Chase wasted no time. Time was slipping through his fingers, and if Ella was going to play the part, she needed to be ready fast.He made a few calls, hiring some of the best etiquette coaches, attendants, and stylists. By noon Ella was surprised to see a team of women arrive at the mansion, their sharp eyes scanning Ella the moment she walked into the room.Her eyebrows pressed together as she glanced at Chase. “What’s all this?”He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “You want to do this don’t you? Then you have to fit into my