She’s cold, calculating, and worth billions. He’s loyal, quiet, and ten years her junior. A marriage of convenience was supposed to solve Amelia Hayes’ problems not create new ones. But with a jealous ex-friend hellbent on revenge and a dead sister’s abusive husband circling like a vulture, Amelia and Adrian must fight not just for custody but for survival. And somewhere between the lies, the danger, and the late-night kisses… love might just be the biggest risk of all.
View MoreIt took the greatest ounce of restraint in Amelia's body which stopped her from walking across the room and wiping the smug look on Gray's face.
The court proceedings were just concluded and amidst the mini chaos with reporters, paparazzi and flash lights, Gray Thompson decided to be Gray Thompson.
Amelia stared at the man which crazily turned out to be her nemesis with an incredulous look on her face.
She couldn't believe how poor her sister's test of men was , because why him of all people? Yikes!
" Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly?" Amelia whispered in his direction as she heard something absurd.
The two kept eye contact and even for a second, Amelia didn't blink.
The almost bald, grumpy looking fellow just shrugged his shoulders and stared her down with detest.
"Miss Amelia, you can't be a good parent to a child, especially because of your MARITAL status. Which I am sure is a result of your FAILED relationships. It's not my fault. What do you want me to do, send the poor child off with someone completely incompetent?" He answered, each word laced with sarcasm.
At this point her eyes rolled, her fists clenched and of course she could taste blood in her mouth.
This wasn't the first time she was receiving such cruel comments from Gray.
But she was taking it all because of one person. The one person she couldn't disappoint ever.
Amelia pressed her lips firmer and held her hand out to a tall, well built, fair guy with a dark undertone.
He in turn took her hand, leading her out of the place which was now clamouring with more people.
The young man stared Gray down for a few seconds, he said no words, but only the intensity in his glare made the smaller man shrink and swallow hard.
Amelia on the other hand held on to the young man's hands as they walked to the car.
However, even outside, a whole lot of people were waiting for her, with their cameras and intruding questions.
" Miss Amelia, are you really going to give up on the child?"
" Was the court proceedings in your favour? "
" Do you also --"
Before the other reporter could say another word, the tall intimidating figure beside Amelia shoved him off.
It happened so fast, no one saw the movement, but its impact was crystal clear.
A few people gasped, more people shifted and others practically worked away hurriedly.
Amelia's row of cars soon drove up to the entrance of the building.
Majestically she worked further with her eyes beaming and a sinister smile into the waiting vehicle
The car immediately sped off, leaving a long trail of dust as evidence of its existence.
Inside the black linx wagon, the atmosphere was thick and intense even mere breathing could not be heard.
Two heads popped up in the front row. At the back seat, Amelia sat, a bit curled up.
She had a phone in her hand , which occasionally glanced at and sighed.
Adrian, her bodyguard from earlier that morning could only stiffen as he heard a little sob coming from the back seat.
He's blood roared and his usually poised back seemed to sink back into the chair
The short drive which barely took twenty minutes and Amelia was more than glad to reach her home.
At the door, she wasn't surprised to see a usually sweet, charming and lovely face.
"Amelia! Oh my dear, I saw the news." The sweet feminine voice called out as she practically dragged her into the house and down to Amelia's bedroom.
Her lips held nothing but consoling words, but behind that thick mask, there was more.
*******
Adrian had a gleam look on his face as he walked down the dark paths which lead to his house. It was the late night hour.
His Boss, Amelia had been having an emotional struggle and somehow he felt helpless not knowing whether or not to say what he had been holding back for ages.
A secret he knew all too well could destroy everything
Would it even help if he did? He wondered.
Adrian shrugged and held on to his black cloak. Pressing his index finger firmly against the fabric.
Caught and soaked in his moment, he didn't notice the black SUV which had been following him for half an hour.
The car kept a safe distance from him, but the keen eyes of the driver cleaved to his soul.
The rider seemed to be having a joy ride, but was in some sort of internal distress.
However, Adrian took a third turn down the road and was soon at the gateway to the slums.
It was the darkest and scariest place to be in the whole of the city.
Because it was at this place the underground dealings were finalized and many dirty dealings were done.
Many people couldn't even bring themselves to walking on that street at that ungodly hour.
From a distance there was a loud screeching of tires and the sound of a speeding car.
At the sound of it, the driver of the SUV's eyes widened in shock.
The speeding car was heading right for Adrian, and crazily he seemed completely oblivious.
The Black SUV sped as fast as it could, heading towards the man.
A cold and small hand suddenly grabbed Adrian, out of a moving car .
He froze!
His jaw dropped and his eyes rolled back!
" Bo---"
" Get inside the car you dummy!" The voice yelled out pulling him equally.
The car sped up crazily , as it tried to avoid the other speeding car which clearly lost control.
The Black SUV barely passed before a loud explosion followed.
Adrian was still astonished as he looked at the face of his savior.
It was none other than Amelia Hayes, his boss.
Amelia's face was expressionless. Only her hazel eyes glittered in the twilight.
She had not expected things to go so bizarre.
It made her feel sick to her belly, but of course she was good at holding it all inside.
" Did I give the order that you could leave the house tonight?" Amelia asked with a deep frown..
Adrian's eye's slightly widened hearing her speak to him.
The both of them had never had a conversion.
" You said I could."
" Did I?"
" Yes ma'am you did."
Silence soon returned as Amelia turned the wheels a bit more recklessly towards the direction of Adrian's house.
Adrian almost bit his lower lip, wondering what he said wrong.
" I am giving you an offer that will change your life . Marry me. Agree to be my husband on paper, or you stand to lose your job. " Amelia suddenly blurted out of the blues.
Adrian looked at her incredulously, but she didn't budge.
Marriage?
" Your grandma has pending hospital bills, you're in debt up to your neck. This is your chance to be rich. I'll give you all the money you need. What is your price."
The atmosphere in the room became so thick and its weight so palpable.
Adrian felt his pride crushing under the weight of her Ego.
" I can't marry a woman like you." He whispered between gritted teeths. He swung the door of the moving vehicle open and hopped out.
POV: Amelia---"It was the first peaceful day in forever.No updates from court. No late-night calls. No sketchy cars parked outside. Just sunlight streaming through the curtains and Nora's laughter floating in from the living room.Amelia stirred her tea slowly, watching the ripples dance in her mug. Adrian had headed out early to get some groceries. Nora was sprawled out on the rug, drawing with intense concentration, her tongue sticking out and her brow knitted in focus.It felt like nothing.But that kind of calm… it was everything.---By late morning, they were all piled into the car, making their way to a cozy bookstore café about twenty minutes away. Amelia had called ahead, they did private sessions for celebrities and high-profile families looking for a escape from the spotlight.The drive was a quiet one. Nora was humming softly in the backseat while Amelia stole glances at Adrian's hands on the wheel.It was funny how she had started noticing little things about him. Like
POV: AmeliaThe next morning just felt weird.Not in a loud or dramatic way, just quieter than usual. It was one of those silences that made your thoughts feel heavy.Amelia was at the sink, letting the warm water run over her fingers while she washed a spoon she barely remembered using. The previous night kept playing in her mind like a soft echo that wouldn’t go away.That moment, his voice, how his hand lingered where hers had been, the way she leaned in, And then how she pulled back.After that, sleep was a no-go. She just lay there, staring at the ceiling and listening to the rain until it finally turned into mist.Now, the sky was a dull gray, making everything seem more muted and slow.In the next room, Nora was humming to herself while stacking crayons and forks on the coffee table. Adrian was out grabbing groceries. He had offered to take Nora with him, but Amelia had said no, maybe because she needed a little time to think, perhaps even feel.---After breakfast, she headed
POV: Adrian---The storm hit by midafternoon, dark clouds, wet pavement, and that constant drizzle that just wouldn't quit. The safehouse, hidden behind tall trees and old stone walls, felt even more cut off than usual.Adrian was fine with storms. He liked the gray and the quiet; it gave everything a chance to slow down.What caught him off guard was when the power cut out around dinner time.“Did we forget to pay the bill?” Amelia asked from the hallway, half-washing a plate.Adrian was already flicking the light switches. No luck.“Nah, I think the whole block’s down,” he replied. “Probably a blown transformer.”She made a sound that was part annoyance, part acceptance. “Well, there goes the lasagna.”“We could always grill it,” he suggested. “Like a campfire.”“You want me to set the kitchen on fire?” “I meant I’d handle the grilling,” he added with a grin.She shot him a mock glare before heading toward the laundry room, mumbling about candles.---By the time they had lit enou
POV: AmeliaAmelia stood by the kitchen counter, her attention barely registering the cooling mug clutched in her hands. Instead of focusing on the steam swirling upwards or timing how long it had been since she'd poured her coffee, she was captivated by the scene unfolding in the living room: Adrian and Nora.Nora, with her petite frame, was settled on a cushion on the living room rug, unmoving while Adrian meticulously braided her hair. His fingers worked slowly and gently through each section, as if he were well practiced at this.“Make it tighter this time! Last time, it came undone before lunchtime,” Nora giggled.“I’m being gentle on your scalp,” he replied playfully. “I don’t want to rip it off!”“You actually braid better than Mom,” she declared, loud enough for Amelia to catch.A small smile crept onto Amelia's lips.“Hey! That’s betrayal!” she called out, laughter escaping her.Nora’s grin widened, her reflection dancing in the hallway mirror. “But it’s true!”Adrian glance
POV: AdrianAdrian didn't think much of his grocery trip. Just a few essentials: eggs, milk, and some snacks for Nora. The sky was overcast, that dull gray hue that made everything feel slightly lifeless. He took his time walking back, not out of fatigue but because the silence allowed his mind to wander.Since that night, almost, his feelings for Amelia had shifted. It wasn’t due to anything she had done, but rather what remained unspoken between them.As he approached the safehouse, something unusual caught his attention.A crumpled piece of paper caught in a bush by the front gate.He hesitated, balancing the grocery bag on his arm, and reached for the scrap of paper. It was folded and slightly damp from the morning dew. He glanced around and saw no one nearby.He opened it.Just one word.Adrian.Written in neat handwriting; the kind you use when you’re trying to maintain composure even if your hands are trembling.His name.He felt a rush of recognition. It was unmistakably Ameli
POV: AmeliaThe morning sunlight flooded the room, seemingly indifferent to the events of the night before.Amelia stood at the sink, washing a coffee mug that didn’t belong to her. The water was scalding hot, but she didn’t mind. She had been scrubbing it for what felt like forever, as if the mug held some hidden truths she desperately needed to wash away.Behind her, Adrian was moving quietly. Too quietly. She sensed he was trying to give her some space. It annoyed her, but at the same time, she craved it.The weight of the previous evening still rested heavily on her chest. The almost-kiss, the way his breath gently brushed her lips, the way he said her name with such tenderness, and how she had flinched back like a coward.Sleep had barely come to her, not just out of guilt, but from fear, the fear that she had taken something genuine and left it suspended in the air, unfinished and raw.“Coffee’s fresh,” Adrian called from behind her.She nodded without turning around. “Thanks.”
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