All Chapters of The CEO'S SECRET BRIDE : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Bridget had stomped out of Carson's study, a venomous rage pulsing through her. The dull echo of the finality she experienced was the thud of the door shutting behind her. He had decided on Annabel. He had told her that he had never loved her in a flat icy tone. Her blood boiled at the thought of his face and the fierce protective expression in his eyes. He had never given her that look in all the years they had known one another. Her high heels clicked on the smooth marble floor as she strode down the hall. Tears formed a carefully constructed mask of despair across her face. She wasn't the type of woman who actually cried. But she was skilled at using them as a weapon. When she needed a new car she had used them on her father. When she wanted to demonstrate her love for Carson she had used them on him. She would now use them to destroy the girl who had replaced her. She got to her room, an opulent suite with a stark sleek design. All of it was fake. She was supposed to own the

Annabel looked up to see Carson. He watched her humiliation in silence from the doorway. She was on her knees with a painful ache on her lip and a searing burn on her cheek. She thought he would rush to her to yell at his mother or do anything else. He just stared though. His expression was one of shock and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. Then he stepped back as she watched his gaze fall from her tear-streaked face to the blood on her lip. For a long painful moment he just stood there. His gaze then strayed from hers. Slowly as though it took a lot of effort, he cocked his head to the side. His hand then rested on the doorframe as he retreated another step. “Carson?” Annabel muttered in a tiny shattered supplication. He avoided her gaze. He didn’t say anything at all. He shoved his hands into his trousers pocket and looked away.The door thumped softly behind him as he walked away, lowering his head and disappearing into the dim hallway. It was the last

The roar of a car engine broke the silence. Annabel looked up, her heart pounding. A sleek, black sedan pulled up to the curb. The window rolled down and she saw Fred's face, a mask of concern under the glow of the streetlamp. He got out of the car, his movements quick and decisive."Annabel, are you hurt?" he asked. He looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on her bruised cheek and swollen lip. "What did they do to you?""I'm okay, Fred," she said, her voice a rough whisper. "I just want to leave this place."Fred didn't push. He opened the trunk of the car and she hoisted her suitcase into it, the heavy thud a final punctuation to her escape. He then opened the passenger door for her. She slid into the leather seat, the interior smelling of a new car and a faint, masculine cologne. It was a stark contrast to the lilies and stale opulence of the mansion."Thank you, Fred," she said quietly."Don't thank me," he said, and closed the door. He walked around to the driver's side

The days started to blend together into a cozy new pattern. The morning light was a soft presence when Annabel woke up again in the guest room. The soundtrack to her new life was the sounds of Fred's apartment such as the distant clatter of a pot being placed on the stove or the soft hum of the refrigerator. She had spent the last two days there. Where the angry purple had been the bruising on her face was turning to a dull yellow and green. She had noticed herself in the mirror rather than the stranger from the mansion. The victory was minor but noteworthy. Fred entered with his own coffee and found her sitting on the couch with a mug of tea. “Did you sleep well?” He asked.“Like a log.” Anabelle said.He was seated opposite her in the armchair. “What’s the plan for today?” He asked Annabel sipped her tea. “I considered looking for a job,” she stated. Fred's face became radiant. “That’s a great idea. Are you certain of your goals?” He asked“I’m not sure. I have been out o

With the weight of Jude’s words hovering between them, Annabel sat still in the chair. Below them, the city loomed a silent observer of this surprising turn. It was a crazy reckless idea to form a partnership with a man she hardly knew, a man who had once been so close to the person who had hurt her. It was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Her mind was racing and she was silent for a long time. The idea felt right even though it was audacious and possibly a bit crazy. It seemed to be a response to a query she wasn't even sure how to formulate. It was more than just a job, it was a means for her to take back her identity and prove to them that she was not a victim. Her voice was a little shaky as she said “I need to think about it.”It seemed like a tiny act of defiance to say those words. Jude’s face grew softer. With a slow nod he acknowledged her hesitancy. “Of course,” he said. He brought out a sleek black card from his pocket. He set it down on the desk and move