LOGINAlyana is handed over to Julian Vance, a reclusive CEO who hides his disfigured face behind a mask, to settle her father’s six-million-dollar debt. Forced into a legal marriage to protect Julian’s corporate reputation, she must follow strict rules and live under his control. The arrival of Julian’s brother, Leo, breaks her isolation—Alyana recognizes him as the only person she ever loved before her family’s downfall. Leo offers her a way out, triggering a conflict that exposes the problems within the Vance family. Julian, noticing Alyana’s shifting loyalty, tightens his control. To prevent her from leaving and secure his legacy, he demands a child to bind her to the Vance family.
View MoreALYANA POVFor a moment, neither of us moved.The words hung in the air between us.Elena just scheduled a live interview.I stared at Julian."What kind of interview?"His jaw tightened."The kind designed to cause damage."I hated how calm his voice sounded.Not because he didn't care.Because he did.The calmer Julian became, the angrier he usually was underneath.He looked down at his phone again before setting it on the conference table."They announced it ten minutes ago."I folded my arms across my chest."About the contract?""About us."Something twisted in my stomach.I already knew what that meant.Elena wasn't interested in facts.She was interested in humiliation.The difference mattered."When does it start?"Julian glanced at the time."Now."I let out a slow breath."Of course."Without another word, he picked up the remote and turned on the large screen mounted on the wall.The broadcast appeared almost instantly.A bright studio.A smiling host.And Elena.Perfectly
ALYANA POV The moment I stepped out of the elevator, I knew something was wrong. People stopped talking too fast. A few employees looked away the second they noticed me. Others stared for a second too long before pretending to focus on their phones or laptops. That heavy feeling settled low in my stomach again. Not fear. Just exhaustion. Because lately, every quiet moment felt temporary. I tightened my grip around the folder in my hand and continued walking toward my office. My heels clicked against the marble floor, steady and controlled even though my chest already felt tight. Then I heard my name. Not directly. Whispers. “She’s here.” “Did you see it already?” “God…” I slowed slightly. My brows pulled together. Saw what? Before I could stop anyone, Mia hurried toward me from the reception area, her face pale. “Alyana.” The way she said my name made my pulse spike instantly. “What happened?” She hesitated. Too long. “Mia.” Her eyes flickered around nervously
ALYANA POVI knew something was wrong the second I stepped into the building.Not because people were staring. I was already used to that.It was the silence.The kind that spread too carefully.Conversations stopping the moment I walked past. Assistants suddenly pretending to focus on tablets. Employees avoiding eye contact a little too quickly.My heels slowed against the marble floor as I glanced around the lobby.Something had already happened.“Miss Alyana.”I turned toward Mia from the communications department. She looked nervous. More nervous than usual.“Good morning,” I said carefully.Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, then stopped herself. “Mr. Vance is waiting upstairs.”That answered absolutely nothing.I pressed the elevator button. “What happened?”She hesitated.That hesitation alone made my stomach tighten.“There’s... media outside,” she admitted quietly.I frowned. “About what?”This time, she didn’t answer at all.The elevator doors opened behind me
ALYANA POVThe boardroom was already tense before we even walked in.I felt it the second the doors opened.Too many eyes.Too much silence.The long table was nearly full, every seat occupied except the two at the center reserved for Julian and me. Some of the board members avoided looking directly at us. Others stared openly, curiosity barely hidden behind polished corporate expressions.And then there was Elena.Of course she looked perfectly calm.She sat near the far end of the table in a cream-colored suit, legs crossed neatly, one hand resting lightly against the armrest like she didn’t just leak my marriage agreement to the entire media.When her eyes landed on me, she smiled.Not warmly.Not politely.Strategically.I immediately hated it.Julian stepped slightly closer beside me before guiding me toward our seats without a word. That small movement shouldn’t have mattered.But it did.Because everyone noticed it too.I sat down carefully, keeping my expression neutral even t
ALYANA POV The moment I heard his voice, I got nervous. I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was. Only one person in this house spoke that calmly in the middle of the night, like nothing ever surprised him. Julian. Leo’s fingers were still wrapped around my wrist when the sound of
ALYANA POVI went straight to the kitchen.Not because I was hungry, but because I needed a moment away from the strange tension outside. The moment the door closed behind me, the quiet inside the mansion felt almost too peaceful compared to what had just happened in the garden.I leaned against th
ALYANA POV The next morning felt strangely normal. I woke up just after sunrise, the pale light already filtering through the tall windows of the east wing. For a few seconds I stayed still, listening to the quiet hum of the mansion waking up somewhere beyond my room. Yesterday kept replaying in
ALYANA POV The conference room felt colder than the rest of the mansion. Maybe it was the glass walls or the polished steel table that stretched almost the entire length of the room. Everything looked sharp and expensive, like it was designed to remind people they were sitting inside a powerful c












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