LOGINSeveral employees released the breaths they had been holding. Others whispered among themselves about Tyler’s family and Sarah’s suspension. Raymond looked around. “This matter is now with Human Resources. I don’t want gossip interfering with anyone’s work.” The employees immediately returned to their desks. Raymond turned toward Tyler. “Come to my office immediately.” Tyler raised one eyebrow. “Am I in trouble?” “That depends on what else you have been hiding.” A small smile appeared on Tyler’s face. But he followed Raymond inside his office, along with Marilyn, Madison, and Leonard Robert. Once the door closed, Raymond faced him. “Why hospitality?” Tyler seemed surprised by the question. “Because I like it.” “You refused to take over one of the largest real-estate groups in the country because you like hotels?” “I didn’t refuse forever. I told my grandfather I would join Reedstone when I had enough experience to bring something useful to the company.” Leonard Robert nod
Claire, who stood a short distance away, shook her head slowly. She now understood everything, but she still could not believe Tyler had carried the secret so comfortably for days. Raymond looked at Tyler with slight surprise. “How did you know?” “A few days ago, I overheard you introducing Marilyn as your fiancée.” Raymond remembered the moment immediately. Tyler must have been nearby when Simon came to the executive floor and insulted Marilyn. Raymond publicly corrected him without realising anyone else heard. Sarah quickly interrupted. “That still does not give him the right to humiliate me.” Tyler’s expression became firm. “I gave you the chance to forget the bet.” Sarah stared at him. "You told me to apologise.” “Yes. Not to me alone. To everyone you insulted while you believed you were going to become Mrs. Stewart.” Sarah looked around. Several employees quickly lowered their eyes, but a few held her gaze. Raymond noticed their reactions and turned toward Madison.
Reedstone Group was one of the oldest real-estate companies in the country. The family owned commercial towers, luxury residential estates, shopping centres and valuable properties across several major cities. The company had been established generations ago and was currently controlled by Harrison Reed, one of the wealthiest and most private businessmen in the country. His wife, Evelyn Reed, came from an equally respected old-money family. They had only one grandson. And that is Tyler Harrison Reed, the expected future chairman of Reedstone Group. Sarah stared at Tyler as if she had never seen him before. “That’s impossible.” Tyler finally stood. “Why?” “You work here.” “Yes.” “You are an ordinary hotel employee.” Several people gasped at her choice of words. Tyler remained calm. “I work in hospitality because I enjoy it.” “But your family owns Reedstone Group.” “My grandfather controls the company,” Tyler corrected. “I haven’t earned the right to claim what he built.” L
A few minutes later, Sarah Kensington arrived at Stewart Crown Resorts wearing dark glasses and an expression that warned everyone not to speak to her. By then, almost everyone in the company had heard what happened at the engagement party. Sarah spent days making people believe that she was going to marry Raymond Stewart. She behaved like the future woman of the company and threatened several employees who refused to respect her new position. Now, the truth was out. The moment she stepped into the reception area, quiet laughter and whispers followed almost immediately. “She is so shameless. I can’t believe she still had the courage to come to work this morning,” someone whispered. “Some people are simply delusional.” “Come to think of it, I almost believed her.” “I told you all that it was impossible, but no one listened to me.” Sarah heard every word. Her fingers tightened around her handbag, but she did not stop walking. She kept her head high and pretended that none of t
As Marilyn and Raymond’s car approached the Stewart Crown Resorts tower, Marilyn closed her eyes briefly. Her hands were balled into fists beside her, and no matter how hard she tried to relax, the nervousness refused to leave her. She knew everyone at the company had probably seen the pictures and videos from the engagement party by now. Her name was already everywhere online, and she could only imagine what the employees had been saying since morning. Raymond noticed her uneasiness. Without saying anything at first, he placed his hand gently over one of her fists. The warmth of his touch made her open her eyes and look at him. “You don’t have to be this nervous,” he said calmly. “We’re engaged to be married now.” His voice soothed her heart, and some of the tension slowly left her body. “I don’t know how to face everyone,” Marilyn admitted as she looked directly into his eyes. Raymond smiled faintly. “You have to get used to it now, Marilyn. You’re my woman, and I’m
On Monday morning, Marilyn woke up earlier than usual. She had barely slept properly, but she still forced herself out of bed and prepared for work. By the time she finished dressing, she stood in front of the mirror wearing one of the elegant office dresses Raymond bought for her. The dress fitted her perfectly, and for a moment, Marilyn simply stared at her reflection. So much had changed within such a short time. After everything that happened during the engagement party, she had gone to see her mother yesterday and spent most of her time with her. Elizabeth was so happy, but she was also worried. She advised Marilyn to be very careful, especially now that she was going to marry a powerful businessman like Raymond Stewart. According to her mother, becoming Raymond’s wife would place Marilyn in a world she was not used to. She would become the target of Raymond’s business enemies, people who might try to use her to get to him, and even bitter women who had always imagined t
Raymond Stewart strode into his private office without a word, the hot coffee still soaking through his white shirt and suit jacket. He did not bother to look down at the damage. The ruined clothes meant nothing. His mind was fixed on one thing only: the woman who had just collided with him in the
Two years later. Marilyn Oxford woke up to soft sunlight filtering through the curtains of her small apartment. Today was her first official day at Stewart Global Resorts, the company she had dreamed of joining ever since her sophomore year in college. Her heart beat faster as she climbed out of b
Merilyn was just out of the elevator. She looked around the ground floor and regrets filled her eyes. Her carelessness has caught up with her. Her career is gone. What was she going to tell her mother now? She walked forward, thinking. Her mother had wanted this career for her. She had worked ha
The worst day of Marilyn Oxford’s life began on her twenty-first birthday. She had walked into her boyfriend, Simon Hayes’s apartment carrying a small gift bag and wearing black lace lingerie beneath her clothes. She had spent weeks imagining this moment. Tonight, she had planned to give him her vi







