Chapter 11: Caught in Between

The morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the penthouse in soft gold. The rich scent of coffee curled through the air, warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the unease still sitting heavy in Emily’s chest. For a brief second, she let herself sink into the quiet, pretending things were normal.But the moment passed just as quickly. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe the calm would last.Peace was always temporary in Liam’s world.She stretched lazily before slipping out of bed, the cool air brushing against her skin as she reached for a silk robe. Walking barefoot across the polished floor, she followed the scent of coffee into the kitchen.Liam stood by the counter, his back to her, broad shoulders Firm under his fitted black T-shirt. His fingers curled around a steaming mug, and though he appeared calm, there was an unmistakable tension in the way he held himself—like a man bracing for war."Morning," Emily murmured, her voice thick with sleep.Liam g

Last Updated : 2025-02-16

Chapter 12: Shadows from the Past

Liam hesitated, his gaze locked onto hers, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. Seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity before he finally exhaled and murmured, "Let’s go." He wanted to tell Emily everything the reason that man had come for him, the weight of the past he’d been running from. But old habits died hard. Silence had been his shield for years, and trusting someone, especially someone like Emily, felt risky.Emily watched him, her eyes calm but persistent. She wasn’t going to let it go.“Aren’t you going to tell me what’s really going on?” she asked, her tone serious. “If you keep this up, it won’t end well. I know this whole thing between us is temporary, but I’m already involved, and I don't want to be kept in the dark.Liam let out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine, let's go," he said, his voice low. "We'll talk about it when we get back." With that, he took her hand and led her to the car.As they got into the car, Emily co

Last Updated : 2025-02-17

Chapter 13: The past strikes

Liam’s foot pressed harder on the gas, the engine growling beneath him. His knuckles turned white against the steering wheel, but he barely noticed. His mind was spinning. Damien was back—again. Not just a ghost from the past, lurking in the shadows. No, this time, he was stepping into the light, making his move. And that could only mean trouble. His phone buzzed on the passenger seat. He glanced at it, already knowing who it was. Noah: "Liam, we have a problem. A big one." Liam tightened his jaw and pressed the Bluetooth button. "What’s happening?" Noah’s voice was tense. "Someone hacked into the company’s financial system. Millions went missing overnight. And that’s not all—our deal with the Kingston Group? It’s falling apart. They’re backing out because of some leaked reports about our company’s instability." Liam exhaled sharply. "Damien." "Yeah," Noah confirmed. "But here’s the thing—I don’t think he’s doing this alone." Liam’s grip tightened. "What do you mean?" "Someon

Last Updated : 2025-02-18

Chapter 14: Striking Revelations

"I need a distraction." Emily let out a slow sigh, absentmindedly stirring her coffee as she sat across from Becca in a quiet café. The place felt warm and inviting, a sharp contrast to the heaviness she’d been carrying lately. Becca raised a brow, taking a slow sip of her drink. "A distraction from what?" Emily let out a dry laugh. "Oh, I don’t know. Maybe from my wonderful life as Mrs. Liam Westbrook." Becca raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Most women would do anything to be in your place." There it was again—that slight tone in Becca’s voice. Lately, Emily had been picking up on it more and more. "Then they can have it," Emily muttered, leaning back. "Because right now, it feels like I’m just trapped in fancy shoes." Becca tilted her head. "But are you actually trapped? Or are you just afraid of what this marriage is becoming?" Emily froze for a second, caught off guard. "What?" Becca just shrugged, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Nothing. Just saying, maybe things aren’t

Last Updated : 2025-02-20

Chapter 15: The Invitation

Emily fastened the clasp on her dress, her reflection staring back at her. The silky fabric fit perfectly, but no amount of tailoring could make her feel like she belonged.This wasn’t her dress. This wasn’t her world.Behind her, Liam leaned against the doorframe, his gaze steady.“You’re ready.” It wasn’t a question.She turned. “Do I have a choice?”He gave a small smirk, but something about his eyes was unreadable. “Not tonight.”Emily exhaled. No turning back now.The restaurant was quiet, the kind of place where money wasn’t spoken about because everyone already had enough of it.Emily sat beside Liam, aware of every glance, every subtle test. Across from her, Jonathan Westbrook observed her like an investor calculating risk. And next to him—Isabelle.Her presence was effortless, as if she had never been erased from this world. Emily saw it in the way she moved, the way she tilted her glass, the way she barely acknowledged her own betrayal.Jonathan’s voice broke the silence. “E

Last Updated : 2025-02-21

Chapter 16: The Unexpected Betrayal

."Ughhh." Emily stepped into the penthouse, kicking off her heels with a tired sigh. Another event, another night of pretending, another round of wary glances from a world she still didn’t belong to.Emily and Liam had attended yet another company event together as a couple. By now, everyone simply assumed she was his fiancée—some even believed they were already married.On their way back, Liam had left early for an urgent business meeting, and honestly, Emily was relieved to have some time to herself. But something about their last conversation lingered in her mind—Isabella, his ex-fiancée. She didn’t want to overthink it, but deep down, she knew Isabella wasn’t going to back down.All she could do was hope the contract would end soon, and she and Liam would finally go their separate ways.Well… if only she knew what fate had in store for them.She tossed her bag onto the couch and pulled out her phone. A new message from Becca lit up her screen.Becca: "Heyyy! How have you been? I

Last Updated : 2025-02-24