Все главы CEO's Pursuit: Longing for His Lost Bride: Глава 1 - Глава 7

The golden glow from the grand chandelier bathed the auction hall, casting reflections over sparkling champagne glasses and the glittering jewelry of the elite guests. The air was thick with opulence, filled with murmurs of wealth, power, and history. But for Lilia, none of that mattered.Her eyes were fixed on the painting—the last item of the night. "Horizon’s Lament," a masterpiece by Elian Devereux, the last work from the renowned artist before his untimely death. She had spent months studying it—memorizing every brushstroke, tracing the artist's intentions in catalog prints, and immersing herself in its history. This was more than just a painting. It was her last connection to something pure, something untouchable. And tonight, she was determined to win it.The auction hall buzzed with excitement as guests chatted, some distracted by the grandeur of the event, others caught up in the historical significance of the piece. Lilia could barely hear them. Her focus was entirely consume

The room was thick with tension as Damian leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving Lilia. The terms of their agreement hung in the air like a storm cloud. One year. Just one year, and everything would be resolved. Her family’s debt would be gone, and she would be free. But the weight of that one year felt heavier than anything she had ever faced before.Lilia’s fists clenched at her sides. The anger building inside her was suffocating, but she fought to keep her voice steady. “You think you can just walk into my life and decide everything for me, don’t you?” she spat, the frustration clear in her words. “You don’t have the right to control me.”Damian didn’t flinch. His expression remained cool, almost amused. “I’m not controlling you, Lilia. I’m offering you a solution. A way out of this mess.”Lilia shook her head, the words coming out in a sharp hiss. “I don’t need your solutions,” she snapped, her chest tightening. “I don’t need you to save me. I’m not some charity case you

The car sped through the city streets, the muffled hum of the engine filling the tense silence between them. Lilia sat in the back, her gaze fixed on the window, but her mind was miles away. Every turn, every passing street sign seemed to mock her, as though the city was indifferent to her fate, indifferent to the choice she had just made.She had agreed to marry Damian. She had no choice. The debt, her family’s future, everything was on her shoulders now. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t angry. Furious, even. How had she let herself get here?Damian, on the other hand, remained unbothered. His calm demeanor, as always, made her blood boil. It wasn’t just the fact that he’d manipulated her into this. It was the way he had calmly steered her life toward this path as if she had never had a say.

Lilia stood frozen, her heart racing in her chest as the headlights from the car sliced through the darkness of the night, cutting through the quiet of the garden. She saw Damian stepping out of the car, tall and imposing. But in that moment, her focus was on Mark. He stood there, fists clenched, his eyes filled with anger and hurt.“You left me to marry him?” Mark growled, his voice thick with frustration and bitterness. He stepped forward, pointing at Damian. “Lilia, do you really think tying yourself to someone like him will make you happy? He just wants to control you, to possess you. And me... I love you, Lilia.”Lilia felt Mark’s words hit her like a punch to the gut. She had once loved him, had trusted him, but now, those feelings were fading, replaced by tension and the growing pain she felt as she looked at Damian standing there, unwavering. A part of her still felt weak for the past, but she couldn’t go back. She had made her choice, and nothing would change that.“You don’t