๋ก๊ทธ์ธ๊ณต์
The Deal Is Off
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2023-10-26 03:00:26
๊ด๋ จ ์ฑํฐ
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Worthless
KristoI wasnโt sure how long I was standing there staring at the door after she left. My breath was coming in short, sharp, ragged bursts, tearing in my throat, and I was having trouble keeping myself upright. I wanted to sink down to the floor, to beat my fists against the polished hardwood, to tear down all the pictures we had hung up together a few days before. I wished I could time-travel back to that moment when sheโd been laughing and joking with me, when she had looked at me with that soft warmth in her eyes and made something in me feel whole for the first time.But she was gone. No getting away from that. Just gone. And I was stuck here in this empty apartment staring at the door and willing it, with every fiber of my being, to open once more so she could come back in and tell me this had all been nothing but a bad joke.But she didnโt, and eventually, I unstuck my feet from the floor and began pacing furiously up and down the apartment. The energy was crackling through my b
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-10-26The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Rip It Up
KristoWell, she wasnโt coming back, and I was going to make damn sure of that. I ripped the pages in two, all of them, and tossed them to the floor of the apartment, letting them splay wildly across the floor. I watched them as they drifted out in front of me, and I ran my hands through my hair and let out a grunt of annoyance. I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs, but even the booze hadnโt got me losing control that much.I slumped down against the counter and then slipped down against the floor. She was gone. Nothing was going to change that. The worst part was that some small part of me had been wondering since the moment sheโd moved in if there could have been something between us. Sure, the start was unorthodox, but maybe, just maybe, we could have made something work.I shoved those thoughts angrily to the back of my head. Nothing would have worked between us because she was just a gold digger, a liar who had taken me for a ride and wrung me dry. I was lucky she had left aft
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-10-26The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Running Into Her
AmayaAs I drove down to see Jolene, I felt as though there was a damn war going on inside my head. I couldnโt make any sense of my thoughts, but I knew seeing my sister was going to help remind me what exactly my priorities were right now.โIโm here to see Jolene.โ I put my hand down on the reception desk, and the woman slowly raised her gaze to meet mine. She looked tired. I knew the feeling. I had barely slept all night, tossing and turning back in my own bed once Iโd made it back to my apartment.โGo right up,โ the woman replied, waving her hand toward the stairs after she checked my credentials. I headed up to Joleneโs room and opened the door, plastering a big smile on my face so she wouldnโt guess the turmoil that was running through my head right now.โHey!โ she exclaimed, wheeling over to me at once. โHow are you?โShe wrapped her arms around me, and I swiftly hugged her back, closing my eyes and leaning down to inhale the sweet scent of her hair. This was why I had done this
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-10-26The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Ambushed
AmayaBefore I knew it, I was sitting at a table surrounded by a half-dozen women, all of whom were piling on question after question, so fast that I could hardly keep my head straight.โHow long did you know him before you guys got married?โโDonโt you think itโs a little fast?โโWhere is he now?โโWhat do you do?โI held my hand up, and they fell silent. I almost giggled at the amount of power I had over the lot of them. I wondered if any of them had ever imagined what it might be like to marry Kristo themselves, to wed into this rich, successful family once and for all. I could see a couple of them looking at me with something close to envy, and I understood where it came from. Had I been in their position, I would have been envious too. But they didnโt know the dark side of it, the bleak side, the one that burned me up as I sat there surrounded by women who wanted to know my secrets while I kept the biggest one of all from the lot of them.โWe met while he was on a business trip,
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-10-26The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Bribery
KristoI watched her as she climbed out of the car, eyeing me warily as she did so, and she slowly made her way to the door like she half-expected me to lunge out at her out of the blue. I crossed my arms over my chest as she tried to walk around me and into the apartment, but I stepped in front of her.โAmaya, I need to talk to you,โ I told her firmly, but she shook her head. Her eyes were focused on the ground, and I didnโt blame her. But I had found some time to think, and we needed to discuss the ins and outs of this relationship before she blew it up.She threw her hands in the air and glared at me, the first time she had looked me in the eye since she had climbed out of that car.โWhat do you want?โ she demanded. โSeriously, what can I do for you?โโI want you to finish out the rest of the contract,โ I replied smoothly, carefully, playing professional. As long as I kept feelings out of this, I might be able to convince her this was the best choice for the two of us. She rolled h
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-10-26The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Ground Rules
KristoI should have gotten her to sign a contract with all the money Iโd already put out, but I couldnโt do it. Fuck my life if it blew up in my face again, but I couldnโt.She looked over her shoulder at the condo and winced as though remembering how tiny it was in there, remembering all the space she had in my apartment. I wanted her back there, filling the space. I still wasnโt sure exactly what it was that made me want to keep her around, but it was there and undeniable, and I never found myself lacking what I wanted.โI need you to be the buffer between me and my dadโs new wife,โ I went on, pushing hard, knowing I was close to getting what I wanted so badly. โI need someone there to make sure I can actually remember her name. She likes you better than me, remember?โโYouโre a total asshole, you know that?โ She rounded on me again, but there was defeat in her voice. She knew how this was going to go, just the same way I did. I grinned.โSure, I do,โ I replied. โBut that doesnโt m
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-10-26The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย I Wish I Hated Him
AmayaI pretended to be asleep in the car as we pulled away from the house. I just didnโt want to talk any more, not about what Iโd just agreed to, not about what Iโd said when Iโd walked out the night before, not any of it. Even though I was exhausted and could probably have used the rest, I found my mind racing at a mile a minute as I tried to make sense of what the fuck I had just done.Why had I taken him back so easily? He had pretty much just had to turn up on my doorstep, pull those sad eyes, and remind me of how little money I had and how much I needed this and I was crawling back to him. Maybe not crawling exactly. I had laid down some ground rules at least, something to keep him at bay, but even as I sat there right afterward, I was doubting my ability to keep my attraction and my feelings for him at a decent low. I just wanted him, wanted this, wanted everything that came with being with a man with his kind of status and attitude and, fuck, all of it.It was for Jolene. Tha
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-10-26The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Starting Over Again
AmayaI was pretty sure I did a solid job keeping up the front that the two of us had built together. But this time, I was building up a front of my own, as well. The last time I had been here, those lines between reality and unreality had been so blurred, too blurred, as Iโd found myself seduced by his sweetness, by the way his family treated me and the way they seemed to embrace me. But now I just sat there and quietly ate the food and let Kristo do the talking, ignoring his hand where it came to rest on my upper back, ignoring the way his fingers traced casual shapes on my neck the whole time. Did he know how torturous this was for me? Did he know how much it hurt, to have him play the loving husband but know we were returning to separate beds and separate lives as soon as this was over? I was going to keep my heart locked up tight because if I let a man like him near it, it was going to shatter.โYou should call me when you get a chance.โ Karen swooped in and planted a kiss on my
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-10-26
์ต์ ์ฑํฐ
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Epilogue
KristoI went to the window and stretched, running my hand through my hair and grinning. I couldnโt believe we were actually in Greece. We were supposed to be arriving right about now, but I couldnโt wait that long to get her alone and was glad Iโd incurred the extra expense to fly us out here at the last minute. It was worth it, so we could just be together after the hectic chaos of the wedding.I had called Cleo when weโd arrived, and sheโd told me everyone had an amazing time. Nonna had a little too much to drink that night and had held court with stories about her young adulthood in Greece. Everyone had found it hilarious. And it seemed like Cleo and Darla were officially together, judging by the fact that I could hear Amayaโs friend in the background of the call long after theyโd gone to bed.Amaya wasnโt awake yet, and I was glad for that. I still needed a little time to come to terms with the fact that I was actually married to the woman fast asleep in the bed behind me. My rin
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย For Real This Time
AmayaOnce I had changed into something more party-worthy, the reception began, and at last, I could really relax and enjoy myself. Jolene and I spent a good hour dancing together before Kristo cut in to get his hands on me, holding me close and swaying with me as the band played a slow song. He kissed my neck softly, and I felt that burning desire for my husband pick up intensity. I couldnโt wait to get him alone, but we werenโt leaving for our honeymoon to Greece until the next day, so I had a while to wait yet.The food was amazing. There was even baklava, which Nonna had insisted on making herself. It wasnโt quite as good as Kristoโs, but I didnโt say a word of that to her. She would never let me hear the end of it. I ate and drank nonalcoholic cocktails, danced, and watched my guests do the same. I couldnโt believe how perfect this was. Darla and Cleo spent the night basically glued to each otherโs sides, and I couldnโt help but coo internally over how cute they were.When I fina
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย I Really Do
AmayaI couldnโt even put into words how nervous Iโd been that entire morning. My mind was taken up with questions about whether everything was going to go right. In my head, I was certain something was going to happen, that Kristoโs dad was going to squirm out of it at the last second and let us down, that the flowers werenโt going to arrive, that the dress wasnโt going to fit, that something was going to throw off this whole perfect day we had put so much time and effort into putting together.Then, I was sitting there in the room they had set up for me to get ready in, and I was staring at myself in the mirror, wearing the dress I had fallen in love with from the moment Iโd laid eyes on it the week before. Jolene had picked well. She knew blue was my favorite color, and when I had slipped into the dress, even though it barely fit, Iโd known this was the one for me. Sitting in front of the mirror, it was hard to believe this was really me, and this was really happening. How long had
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Make It Real
KristoDarla, who had stepped in last-minute as a bridesmaid, followed her a minute later. She was wearing a dress in a delicate mint shade, and I could feel Cleo shift next to me when she emerged from the house.โEasy, tiger,โ I murmured to her, and she nudged me playfully and straightened up again. I had a smile on my face, and I was beginning to relax. Then, I saw my bride walking toward me down the aisle, and I could hardly keep the tension out of my body.She looked incredible. No doubt about that. Sheโd told me she had only really looked at one dress, and I could see why. She looked unbelievable in it. It was cut to just below her knees, a flowing skirt that faded from cream to a pale blue color. The bodice hugged her body perfectly, and she was wearing the sweetest veil that covered her face as she made her way toward me. Even through the fabric, I could see the huge smile on her face, as though she couldnโt believe this was really happening. I knew exactly how she felt.It see
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย The Big Day
KristoI stared at myself in the mirror, wearing the tuxedo Amaya had picked out for me. I had seen myself in it before, of course, in the hurried fitting earlier in the week, but I felt as though I was looking at myself in it for the very first time. I stared at myself in the mirror for a long moment and pressed my lips together. Why the fuck was I even nervous? I had done this all before with Amaya. And yet, here I was on my wedding day, scared a little bit shitless.There was a knock at the door, and I spun around at once. In my head, I was sure that somehow this was all going to go wrong, that Amaya was going to back out of it before I got her up the aisle, that the speed this had all happened was going to scare her off in the end. Instead, my lawyer entered, and I rolled my eyes.โWhat is it?โ I demanded. He stood there in the door wringing his hands with a panicked look on his face and wearing a slightly rumpled suit.โI just wanted to let you know thereโs still time to get a pr
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย You Feel So Good
AmayaBefore he could say a word more to me, I leaned forward and took him into my mouth. He tasted so good, even better than normal, the sweetness of the gel lingering on his body. I could taste that hint of vanilla, just a touch, making him taste like the pastry he had spent all day baking. Guiding him as far into my mouth as I could manage, I wrapped my hand around his base and began to stroke him, taking him deep into my mouth and listening to those appreciative little noises he kept on coming out with. I slipped a hand around his thigh, gripping him tightly, letting him know I would have made him come right here and now if he wanted to. I sank my nails into his skin, wanting to leave marks on his body, to remind him who he belonged to and who belonged to him.I wasnโt sure how long I was there on my knees in front of him, the water running over my body and down my back. I could have stayed there all day, but after a while, it became clear he didnโt want to come like that. He want
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Shared Shower
AmayaWhen I arrived back at the house, I caught the scent of heaven floating through the room at once. I closed my eyes as I stepped through the door, inhaling deeplyโcinnamon, sweetness, a little sharpness. Whatever it was, even if it made me sick, I had to have it right there and then.โHey, where are you guys?โ I called into the house, looking around for Jolene or her nurse. She had arrived today, and Kristo had offered to help her settle in, which I was glad for, as I wanted to get as far ahead on my work at the library as I possibly could before the baby came along.โIn the kitchen,โ Jolene called back, and I crossed the room to the kitchen. All three of them were there, and Kristo was carefully cutting up some pastries that were still in a steaming-hot pan.โWe made baklava!โ Jolene exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the pan Kristo was maneuvering his knife around.โI can see that.โ I inhaled deeply again and smiled my greeting at Pamela. โAnd what exactly is that?โโItโs a Greek
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย Forget About Him
KristoI took a deep breath, planted my hands on the desk, and tried to center myself. There was no point getting upset about this. At the end of the day, either he was going to make the effort and come to my wedding or he wasnโt, and there was very little I could do to change his mind if he didnโt want to. Short of flying out to Greece and dragging him by his collar back to Nonnaโs house to be there for the ceremony, if he wanted to skip it, he would. And I had a feeling he was going to. Amaya wouldnโt want this to be a stressful time for me. She wanted our wedding to be full of joy, peace, happiness, not me yelling into a phone to my father from half a globe away.I focused on the voices outside the room. Well, they werenโt saying anything, but they were laughing, and that was enough to get me feeling a little better. After a slight delay, Joleneโs nurse Pamela had arrived this morning, and the two of them were getting to know each other. I had offered to stay at home that day to wo
The Billionaire's Unexpected Wifeย ย ย He's Not Coming
KristoโMalaka,โ I muttered to myself, forgetting for a moment that my dad was the one on the other end of the line, and he could well understand I had just called him anโโDid you just call me an asshole?โ he snapped at me. I rolled my eyes, tempted to point out that the word didnโt have a specific English translation, but playing the smart-ass was only going to land me in a heap more trouble. As if it wasnโt bad enough as it was.โNo,โ I lied swiftly. โLook, are you sure you canโt get back sooner than that? You need to be here, Dad. Itโs my wedding.โโI know,โ he replied tersely. โYou think I donโt know that? Iโm as annoyed about it as you are.โโThen why wonโt you just make the effort and actually come back home?โ I pointed out. โThis is ridiculous, Dad. Even you must be able to see that.โโI didnโt plan it this way,โ he snapped back, but I didnโt believe him. I knew my dad well enough to know he had everything in his life carefully planned out. If he was stuck in Greece right now,
