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Chapter 28

Penulis: Raphella Herbert
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-23 13:30:45

Three days after the gala, the headlines no longer revolved around Lena’s humble beginnings or Carson’s wealth. They now centered on Stephanie McMahon’s dramatic arrest and the crimes that had unfolded behind the glittering socialite life she had so carefully curated.

“Socialite Stephanie McMahon Faces Charges for Corporate Fraud and Assault.”

“From Heiress to Handcuffs: The Fall of a Manhattan Darling.”

“O’Connell CEO and Wife Break Silence on Scandal: Truth Always Wins.”

Lena sat by the window in her mother’s hospital room, the sunlight casting a soft glow across her lap. Her mother, looking stronger with each day, sipped her tea with both hands and smiled.

“Look at you,” she said, gesturing at the magazine Lena had set down. “On the cover. Graceful. Bold. My daughter is becoming a household name.”

Lena gave a modest smile. “Not quite the kind of fame I was aiming for.”

“Sometimes we don’t choose the spotlight,” her mother said. “But we can choose what we do with it.”

Lena nodded. “
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  • The billionaire’s contracted wife   Chapter 34: The Roundtable

    Carson and Lena wasted no time. By the following morning, personalized invitations were drafted and sent to the key board members of O’Connell Enterprises. The message was clear: an exclusive roundtable, hosted at the estate, to discuss the future of the company and reaffirm their vision. No press. No PR teams. Just truth and transparency.Lena had the dining hall transformed into an elegant but warm space. Rich oak wood panels were polished, soft amber lights glowed overhead, and the long table was lined with fresh white orchids. At one end of the room, a display featured the progress of the O’Connell-Wellington Foundation, along with testimonies and artwork from early recipients.“This isn’t just about image,” Lena said to the staff. “It’s about legacy. We’re not selling them anything—we’re inviting them into something real.”The first guests arrived promptly. Mr. Wallace, Mrs. Renner, Mr. Beecham—trusted names who’d worked alongside Carson’s father. Then came the younger board memb

  • The billionaire’s contracted wife   Chapter 33: Whispers and Warnings

    That afternoon, Lena received a message from an unknown number. It simply read:"The more you shine, the more shadows you awaken."No name. No threat. But the implication was chilling.She showed Carson. He stared at it in silence."Vanessa’s trying to unnerve you," he said. "Or someone else is. Either way, we won't play their game."Still, Lena kept the message. She forwarded it to her personal security contact, who had quietly been monitoring her social media and public appearance schedules since the previous attack.Later, as they prepped for the press event, Abigail arrived with an unexpected surprise—an early concept of the official logo for the new foundation.Two interlocking circles, one gold and one teal, surrounding a phoenix rising from a stitched spool of thread."It’s perfect," Lena said. "It represents rebirth, unity, and the power of design."Abigail grinned. "It also says ‘we’re watching the throne.’ Loud and proud."Carson laughed. "I like it. Bold, symbolic. Just lik

  • The billionaire’s contracted wife   Chapter 32: The invitation

    Two days passed in calm silence—at least on the surface. Lena kept herself busy with fittings, sketching, and meetings with Kenny and Abigail. She smiled, nodded, and laughed when necessary, but a small knot sat at the base of her stomach.Vanessa was back.And still, there was no sign of her.No calls. No social visits. Just whispers, suggestions, and the growing anxiety that this was the calm before a very elegant storm.That morning, Lena received a cream-colored envelope sealed in wax with a gold emblem.It came with no return address.The handwriting on the front was neat and graceful.Lena Wellington-O’ConnellShe opened it slowly. The envelope smelled faintly of roses.Inside was an invitation.The Malloy Foundation Charity BallHosted by: Vanessa MalloyVenue: The Crown Hall, 8:00 PM SaturdayDress Code: Formal Black & GoldAt the bottom, scrawled in gold ink:"I do hope you’ll come. It’s been far too long since we’ve had the chance to talk — woman to woman."Lena stared at the c

  • The billionaire’s contracted wife   Chapter 31: when the past isn’t done yet

    Lena was halfway through a design draft when the front desk buzzed her room."Mrs. O'Connell," the butler’s voice crackled through the intercom. "Your mother-in-law is here to see you."Lena blinked. "Me?""Yes, ma’am. She's in the sitting room."Lena swallowed hard. She wasn’t expecting visitors, and certainly not Mrs. O’Connell—especially unannounced.Downstairs, the older woman sat with her legs crossed, her posture regal, her expression unreadable."Good afternoon," Lena greeted, her voice neutral.Mrs. O’Connell turned, her lips tightening into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Lena. You look... well.""Thank you. Would you like tea?""No, I won’t be staying long."Lena nodded and sat across from her. "So, what brings you here?"Mrs. O’Connell leaned forward. "I came because you deserve to know what’s coming. Vanessa is back in New York."The name hit Lena like ice water."Carson's Vanessa?""Yes. The woman he was engaged to before all of this. She’s returned from Europe

  • The billionaire’s contracted wife   Chapter 30: An Unread Message

    Lena barely slept.Even with Carson’s arm draped protectively around her waist, her mind refused to quiet. That image—the blurry photo from Barcelona—played on repeat in her head. Carson, standing beside a woman in a red dress, her hand casually resting on his chest. He wasn’t smiling. But he also wasn’t pushing her away.Who was she?And why had he never mentioned that trip?At 6:00 AM, Lena slipped out of bed quietly, wrapped herself in a silk robe, and stepped onto the balcony. The city below was still waking up, the streets half-lit, the sky pale blue with streaks of pink. Her tea steamed in her hand, untouched.She hated how easily doubt crept in.This was the most peace they’d had since the contract began. And yet one message, one image, threatened to unravel it.She picked up her phone and stared at the screen again.Unknown Number:“He’ll never tell you the whole story. But I will.”[Image attached]No name. No follow-up. Just that chilling line.She debated responding. Who ar

  • The billionaire’s contracted wife   Chapter 29 : Normal Never Felt So New

    The mansion was unusually quiet for a Saturday morning.Lena stepped onto the sunlit balcony outside her room, a mug of warm cinnamon tea in her hand and a soft breeze playing with the edges of her robe. Below, the garden shimmered with dew, and the fountain bubbled in steady rhythm. She took a deep breath and smiled.For once, there was no scandal to manage, no media to dodge, no threats to endure. Just peace.Carson joined her moments later, his hair still damp from a shower, wearing a fitted black T-shirt and sweatpants. He leaned over and kissed her cheek.“Morning, Mrs. O’Connell.”Lena smirked. “Still calling me that?”“Until you let me upgrade it with a real wedding.”She chuckled and leaned against the railing. “We’re really doing this?”Carson nodded. “We’ve faced the worst. Now it’s time to build something real. From scratch.”They ate breakfast together on the patio—fluffy pancakes, sliced mangoes, and omelets made by Carson himself. He insisted on cooking that morning. Len

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