All Chapters of Love and lies: Married to his enemy: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

ADRIAN'S POVI woke up the next morning to the soft rustling of medical equipment. As my eyes fluttered open I found a nurse standing by the bedside. I realised I had fallen asleep while sitting in the chair, my head tilted uncomfortably against the cool wall. A dull ache throbbed in my neck from the awkward position I had slept in for hours. “I'm sorry… I didn't mean to wake you.” The nurse said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking loudly could destroy the atmosphere of the room “No it's fine,” I replied, my voice still thick with sleep. I tried to rub my eyes and shake off the remnants of fatigue. “How is he doing now?” I managed to ask. “He's getting better. He will still need some time to rest and we will also need to monitor his food and water intake carefully,” she explained. “Okay. And how long do you think that will take?” I asked. She answered with a gentle smile. “That will depend on him. How fast he can respond to the treatments. But he's out of dan

ISABELLA'S POVThe floor felt warm as my bare foot hit the pavement. The silence in the house seemed to stretch far into the backyard. Earlier that morning, I had been served fluffy scrambled eggs, buttered toast, freshly squeezed oranges, a stack of warm pancakes, and a slice of sweet, moist, banana bread for breakfast. I guess I momentarily lost my reasoning at the sight of the food just as I lost my reasoning, trying to jump out of a window last night. Just the thought of it made my face burn with embarrassment. I realised I had eaten too much. And that was what got me out here in the backyard. I took my time to admire each flower that had been carefully planted in the yard. Roses. Tulips. Lavender. Each is in perfect bloom. The cool air, brushing against my skin, it felt much more refreshing than I expected. I thought there was no way I could relax in this house. But I was beginning to realise how wrong I was.My eyes wandered around, taking in the serene beauty of the house i

ISABELLA'S POVI lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours. In one hand, I held the contract – the one with my signature at the bottom. I brought it closer again, my eyes tracing every word on it. Adrian had given me a copy of it, just in case. I stared at the paper blankly, my mind racing. It felt wrong.Everything about it screamed wrong but I had no other option left. I made a promise to myself that I wasn't going to go this path but here I was, planning to do what I swore never to do. Marriage — and this time with a stranger. But since its not out of love, nor out of desire it's a much better option than going back to Martin. I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat. “It is better this way” I whispered to myself trying to convince myself that it was far better getting married to a stranger than holding on to a relationship rooted in deceit and manipulations. After all, I needed the money desperately. I had to save the only man

ISABELLA'S POVI must have dozed off along the way, lulled into a peaceful sleep by the gentle sway of the car and the rhythmic hum of the engine. A sudden lurch jolted me awake. My eyelids fluttered open to the golden hue of the sun streaming through the window. I shifted slightly in my seat and blinked, trying to comprehend my surroundings. “We're here, Isabella.” Adrian's voice broke through the fog in my mind – his tone was low, almost tender. I turned my gaze to the window, and my breath caught in my throat. The house – it looked like something out of a dream – a tall building with floor-to-ceiling windows painted in a soft, creamy ivory, and it made Adrian's house look humble in comparison.Suddenly, I felt something wash over me. I realised I wasn't really prepared for this. Not mentally, not emotionally. Not what might be waiting inside. A sudden ache pounded in my chest. I turned to Adrian slowly, my gaze hovering over him for a while.My fingers curled into my lap, seeki

ADRIAN’S POV The morning sun pierced through the windows of the conference room, casting a golden glow across the modern, sleek table. I momentarily caught myself glancing out the window, taking in the bustling streets, a stark contrast to how serene the inside was. I watched a man hurriedly cross the crosswalk with a coffee in one hand. Another woman hurriedly walked towards a building while adjusting her clothes – as if she was already late for a serious meeting. The world outside seemed to run very fast. Irrespective of who you are, the world will surely move on with or without you. But somehow, from where I stood, the view was calming – because it made me appreciate where I had gotten to. Lucas reached out to me earlier, saying there was an emergency I needed to attend to. And I immediately knew what it was – so I didn't necessarily have to show up, but I did regardless. I knew the workers had been underperforming lately. And I didn't necessarily have to check through the numb