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CHAPTER 10
تاريخ النشر:
2026-07-03 06:11:21
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married for show Chapter 28: Traces
Mia Bells’ POV The humidity of the New York midnight clung to the tinted windows of the Maybach parked in the shadow of an industrial pier on the Hudson River. Inside, the only light came from the dim glow of the dashboard. Mia Bells sat perfectly straight, her sharp chin tilted up, her tailored cream silk coat draped over her shoulders. At fifty-four, she had spent decades navigating the volatile currents of Manhattan’s elite. She knew exactly what it took to keep an empire standing, and more importantly, what it took to keep it from burning down. The rear door clicked open, bringing in a rush of cold river air. A middle-aged man in a wrinkled dark suit slipped inside, breathing heavily. He looked frantic, his eyes darting to the front where Mia’s driver sat, unmoving as a statue. "Do you have it?" Mia’s voice was smooth, devoid of any warmth, slicing through the quiet car. The man reached inside his coat and pulled out a thick, legal-sized manila envelope, his hands trem
married for show Chapter 27: The Chicago Phantom
Ruby’s POV The air inside the abandoned warehouse district on the outskirts of Chicago smelled of rust, old rain, and impending victory. Chloe had selected the location—a sterile, concrete loft space currently under development by a Bells subsidiary. It was completely private, entirely secure, and far away from the prying eyes of the Magnificent Mile. Outside, the cold Midwestern wind howled against the reinforced glass windows, but inside, the tension was thick enough to suffocate. I paced the length of the concrete floor, the heavy soles of my designer leather boots echoing sharply against the space. I had traded my regal Manhattan silks for a sharp, tailored black trench coat, my ginger curls pulled back into a sleek, severe ponytail. Behind me, Chloe sat at a temporary metal desk, her fingers flying across the keys of her encrypted laptop, her icy blue eyes scanning lines of digital data. Allie Grace stood near the reinforced door, a half-eaten bag of artisanal chips in on
married for show Chapter 26: The Corporate Mirage
Ruby’s POVBy Wednesday morning, the penthouse had officially settled into a state of high-society cold war.I sat at the head of the long mahogany dining table, the bright mid-week sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the pristine white porcelain plates before me. Betty moved silently around the space, pouring a fresh cup of green tea and setting down a small bowl of mixed berries and granola. The silence was heavy, but it was a silence I fully commanded.Since Sunday afternoon, Alexander hadn't set foot inside the apartment. He had sent a brief, clinical text message late Sunday night stating he was staying over at James’s apartment. I had replied with a simple, detached 'Okay.' We hadn't spoken a single word since. I hadn't spiraled, I hadn't checked the blogs, and I certainly hadn't let myself feel the sting of his absence. I was surviving on pure, unadulterated Bells pride.The heavy click of the private elevator doors broke the quiet.I didn't t
married for show Chapter 25: The Architecture of Distance
Ruby’s POV The penthouse living room still smelled faintly of the morning’s abandoned mimosa and cold anger when Betty’s soft, hesitant footsteps approached the chaise lounge. I was sitting with my legs drawn up, wrapped in a plush, oversized cream silk robe that felt like the only shield I had left in Manhattan. My wild ginger curls were tied loosely in a silk scrunchie, and my face was completely bare, save for the dark circles of humiliation lingering beneath my green eyes. "Madame Ray," Betty murmured, bowing her head deferentially. "There is a Miss Allie Grace downstairs. She insists on seeing you. She... she is carrying a bakery box and refused to leave." I blinked in surprise, my green eyes narrowing slightly. "Allie Grace? What is she doing here?" Before Betty could even offer an answer, the private elevator chimed, and Allie Grace stepped directly into the living room. She didn't look like she was here to gossip or poke around for high-society secrets. She was bal
married for show Chapter 24: The Morning Paper
Ruby’s POV The penthouse was dead silent when the Rolls-Royce dropped me off past midnight. I didn't bother turning on the main chandeliers. I walked through the cavernous, darkened living room, letting the heavy, emerald velvet train of my gown sweep over the cold Calacatta marble floor. I was exhausted, but it was a dizzying, triumphant kind of exhaustion. The gala had been an absolute masterpiece. Even without Alexander by my side, I had commanded that ballroom. I kicked off my Chanel heels, poured myself a generous glass of red wine from the crystal decanter, and collapsed onto the massive velvet sofa. I pulled down the structural zipper of my dress, letting the rich fabric fall loosely around my waist so I could breathe. I turned on the massive television screen, picking a random, mind-blowing thriller movie to fill the silence. He wants drama, I thought to myself, staring at the screen as I took a slow sip of wine. He thinks I’m going to throw a high-society tantrum, c
married for show Chapter 23: The Illusion of Solitude
Alex’s POV The air in Chicago didn't just feel cold; it felt entirely hollow. The Davenport estate sat on the frozen, secluded outskirts of the city, surrounded by towering iron gates and a suffocating wall of ancient pine trees. By the time my private jet touched down and the secure SUV pulled up the winding, gravel driveway, it was past midnight. The historic stone mansion loomed in the dark like a mausoleum, its windows dark save for a single amber light glowing from a second-floor window. My chest felt tight, an aggressive, suffocating weight pressing down on my lungs as I stepped out into the biting wind. I hadn't slept a single wink on the flight. My mind was a chaotic cocktail of exhaustion, a lingering, frustrating guilt over leaving Ruby in the dark back in Manhattan, and a primal, terrifying urge to see the blood of my blood. The heavy oak front door swung open before I could even reach for the brass knocker. Victoria stood in the dimly lit foyer. She had trad
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