Semua Bab The Billionaire's Bride: Our Vows Do Not Matter: Bab 101 - Bab 110

Cathleen's fingers hovered over the collection of leather-bound tomes that lined her study, the silence broken by a buzzing phone against the rich mahogany desk. She snatched it up, her eyes narrowing at the caller ID—her father-in-law's name lit up on the screen. A rush of thoughts flooded her mind: had Xavier told his father that she wasn’t at their matrimonial house? But as she answered the call, his gruff and demanding voice surprised her with a request for a family lunch the following day. Cathleen ended the call with a sharp nod and a heavy sigh, dreading the inevitable awkwardness of the gathering."Damn you, Xavier," she muttered, the very thought of him igniting a wildfire within her. The scent of his skin, the strength of his hands—they haunted her, a ghostly caress that left her reeling. Yet the image of him entwined with another, especially Olivia seeped poison into the fantasy. It was the fear of becoming just another conquest in his gallery of women that kept Cathleen at

The dawn had barely broken when Xavier's voice cut through the stillness of the manor. "Take the day," he instructed the household staff, his tone brooking no argument. They dispersed with quiet nods, leaving the mansion to its master and mistress.Retreating to his quarters, Xavier stripped away the remnants of the night, the water cascading down his body in rivulets as he showered. Each drop seemed to invigorate him, fueling the anticipation of how the new day would unfold.Freshened up and dressed in crisp casuals, Xavier descended the grand staircase. The scent of something being prepared wafted from the kitchen, guiding him. There, he found Cathleen, her silhouette accentuated by a dress clinging to her curves beneath an apron. Desire surged within him, unbidden yet undeniable."What are you making?" he queried, stepping into the kitchen, his eyes drinking in her form.Silence answered him; a wall of resentment built from the night before hung between them. Her focus remained on

The porcelain plate squealed against the glossy mahogany as Cathleen pushed her chair back, its legs protesting as much as the raging anger building in her chest. Not pausing to look at the faces stopped mid-chew, her fury was stoked by their conjectural muttering about her purported illness. The thought alone—the foolishness of believing she was pregnant—caused a gut reaction she was unable to fully process.Outside, everything was unlike the world she knew; it was Xavier's haven, a place she had never ventured into. As she marched across the lawn covered in dew, the sheer loveliness of it took her by surprise and clashed with her frustration. Lush shades of green and colorful blossoms surrounded her like a vibrant work of art, showcasing Xavier's hidden softness.Her fingertips trailing over the beautiful petals of a rosebush, she murmured, "Damn him." The softness, an unwanted respite from the storm inside, calmed her jangled nerves. Here there was quiet, no critical looks, no crud

Don't forget to read yesterday's chapter, it has been corrected. Thank you for your patience. *****Cathleen's fingers clawed at the cool marble on the counter, her knuckles whitening with the grip. Her breath came out in ragged pants, betraying the tumultuous storm raging within her. She was trembling, every nerve ending screaming for release—a release only Xavier could grant. His touch—those hands that had charted every inch of her skin—knew precisely how to shatter her composure and make her unravel."Damn it," she cursed under her breath, a venomous whisper that spoke volumes of her internal conflict. This dalliance with Xavier was spiraling out of control, threatening the ordered life she'd so meticulously built. Cathleen Devereaux, a celebrity lawyer, unshakable and formidable—now unsteady, craving the very thing that was undoing her.She despised the transformation—the way she'd become pliant under his command. It was antithetical to her nature; she wasn't designed to be anyon

The sound of hushed whispers filled the marbled lobby as Cathleen strode through the revolving doors of her law firm. Her heels clicked sharply, a metronome to the undercurrent of scandal that thrummed in the air. "Oh my God, have you seen the headlines?" The receptionist's voice sliced through the murmurs.Cathleen's gaze swept across the reception, where eyes darted and papers rustled with feigned nonchalance."What headlines?" A worker feigned ignorance, grasping at the bait."The billionaire playboy—that handsome bachelor everyone has been wanting to know if he's married or not?" The receptionist's voice quivered with the thrill of gossip."Ah, Mr. Knight... on headlines about rape." Disbelief laced with desire bled from the worker's words. "Don't believe stories like that; that man is the owner of Knight Group International. Any woman would kill to sleep with that man; did you see how fine he is? Rape isn’t his thing."A cold shiver crawled down Cathleen's spine, freezing her in