The Hated Billionaire CEO

Chapter 1Clara’s POV I smoothed down the front of my tailored blazer, my fingers trembling slightly before I caught myself and forced them still.Stepping back from Harry, I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear and drew a steadying breath."I was merely pressing our lips together so the photographers outside would capture the angle," I said, keeping my tone crisp, formal, and strictly professional. "Why on earth did you make it a real kiss?"Harry leaned back against the plush velvet sofa of the private suite, unbuttoning the top button of his collar with effortless, irritating composure.His dark eyes held a faint spark of amusement."To make it convincing, Miss Russell. If we’re playing a game for the tabloids, we might as well do it right.""Convincing?" I let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. "Or were you just taking advantage of the situation so you’d have fresh ammunition to mock me with later? “Let's not pretend we're friends, Harry. If there were an open pit in front of

Chapter 3Clara’s POV "Miss Russell, there's no point in yelling at the staff. She's just following orders," a sharp voice called out.A middle-aged woman in a sleek gray suit stepped out of my open apartment, flanked by two burly security guards.It was Attorney Vance, my stepmother's personal legal counsel."Intruding into my home and tossing my personal property into the hall?" I said, stepping forward, my voice trembling with rage. "Have you completely lost your mind?""I am simply executing the law," Attorney Vance said with a smug smile. "This penthouse no longer belongs to you. It has officially been transferred to your stepsister, Miss Sarah.""This is my mother's property!" I snapped, my fists clenching at my sides. "She will explicitly state that this residence remains mine!""Under the condition that you were legally married before your twenty-sixth birthday," the lawyer corrected smoothly, holding up a copy of the deed. "Since you reached that deadline today without a hus

Chapter 5 Clara’s POVTwo hours later, the atmosphere inside the Russell Mansion was thick enough to choke on.Through the double French doors leading into the main salon, I could hear my stepmother, Beth, sobbing theatrically into a silk handkerchief.She was wringing her hands, lamenting my "willful, disrespectful behavior" while loudly fretting over her precious daughter, Sarah, who had locked herself in her upstairs bedroom in a fit of dramatic despair.My father, Jamie Russell, stood near the fireplace, checking his platinum wristwatch for the third time in five minutes. His face was thunderous. He had demanded I appear within thirty minutes, yet hours had passed.I took a quiet, steadying breath, smoothed down the lapels of my classic beige trench coat, and stepped inside.I had deliberately taken the extra time to prepare my defense. My hair was swept up into an immaculate, elegant bun secured with vintage pins. My heels clicked with measured authority against the marble, a

Clara’s POVElijah’s head whipped violently to the side. When he turned back, his eyes were bloodshot with absolute fury. Without a second thought, his hand shot out, catching my wrist in a crushing, iron vise."How dare you!" Elijah roared, raising his other hand."Let go of me, Elijah," I said, my voice dead calm, though my pulse raced.Sarah immediately panicked, grabbing Elijah’s arm to pull him back. "Elijah, stop! Don't dirty your hands on her! Just buy the store and let's kick her out!"Elijah slammed a heavy, black-gold titanium card onto the glass checkout counter. He glared at the cringing store manager. "Manager! Pack up every single piece of high-end clothing on these racks right now! I want this entire floor emptied of trash."The manager, recognizing Elijah's wealth and terrified of losing a massive commission, bowed profusely. "Right away, Mr. Thorne! Consider it done!"As the staff scurried to bag Sarah’s massive pile of designer goods, Sarah tossed a sarcastic smi