All Chapters of CONTRACT BRIDE FOR THE DEVIL: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

Maria's POV The cold water hit me like a brick wall. It was like being slapped, punched, and suffocated all at once. My body seized up from the shock, my lungs locking down as if trying to keep me from inhaling the freezing liquid. For a moment, everything was silent. Still. I kicked. Flailing wildly. My hands reached upward, desperate for something to hold onto. But the surface was too far. I can’t even swim.Panic surged through me, sharp and electric. My mind screamed at me to fight, but my body was too weak. My limbs felt heavy, sluggish. The cold seeped into my bones, numbing every part of me. I coughed, a rush of bubbles escaping my lips. My vision blurred. I don’t want to die. The realization hit me like a freight train. I didn’t want to die. Not like this. Not alone. I kicked again, this time with purpose, but it was useless. The water was stronger than me, merciless in its grip. My lungs screamed for air. Oddly, something grabbed me. Strong hands. A f

**Andrew’s POV** I smirked as she stood there, frozen in shock. Her face was priceless—lips parted, eyes wide with horror. Good. Let it sink in. “Well, well,” I drawled, leaning back in my chair. “If it isn’t my favorite drunk.” Maria’s jaw clenched, her hands curling into fists at her sides. She looked like she wanted to throw something at me. Again. “What the fuck is this?” she hissed. I tilted my head, pretending to think. “This? Oh, sweetheart, this is your new workplace.” My smirk widened. “Surprised?” She scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. The movement only accentuated her curves, and my brain betrayed me for a split second—flashing back to the way they had felt beneath my hands last night. I clenched my jaw. Fucking hell. Only last night, I had been too drunk to realize who she was. Too wasted to connect the dots. And now? Now, I knew exactly who she was. Maria fucking Smith. The daughter of the people who had destroyed my family. And I had fucked he

My breath stilled. There he was—Bryan. Of all people. Standing right next to Mr. Denmark like fate had a cruel sense of humor. Sharp suit, smug smile, and that unmistakable gleam in his eyes—like he still thought he was better than everyone in the room. My stomach twisted. I didn’t need to hear him speak to know exactly what was coming. “Small world,” he said, his voice smoother now, deeper. But still cocky. Still Bryan. Andrew shifted beside me, tense. His hand hovered near my back, but he didn’t touch me. Not yet. “You two know each other?” Mr. Denmark asked, looking from Bryan to me with mild curiosity. “Oh, yes,” Bryan said. “Maria and I go way back.” My mouth was dry. I could barely breathe, much less answer. “She was unforgettable,” he added, like it was funny. Like the years of bullying and whispered insults were just some harmless inside joke we both shared. Andrew cut in, voice cold. “Let’s not waste anyone’s time.” There was something dangerous in his tone, like