All Chapters of His Reluctant Bride: Contracted To My Enemy : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Liora I got back to the house just as the sun was starting to dip. The sky had softened into that warm, orange hue that made everything feel quieter somehow. When I stepped inside, the living room was empty. No Tristan in sight. I let out a silent breath of relief. At least he hadn’t shown up at Mande's and dragged me out like some unhinged bodyguard. The meeting had happened. And I… I was still sorting through everything they said. None of it made any sense given that after I'd let everyone at the company go. I thought the court would’ve sold it off by now. But now they’re saying it’s still under my family’s name?” This is just too much to process at once. I climbed the stairs, already thinking about changing out of these trousers and slipping into something more comfortable. The day had been long. My body felt heavy, like I’d been carrying more than just myself. But when I opened the bedroom door, I stopped short. Tristan was sitting on the edge of the bed, one arm re

LioraThe next morning, I did everything I could to avoid the mirror.I threw on a high-waisted skirt and a simple shirt. I managed to swipe some gloss on my lips, and didn't need a mirror for that. No need to see the girl staring back anyway. Not today.I grabbed my bag, stuffed my phone inside, and headed downstairs.Helen was already at the dining table, setting down breakfast. Just before leaving, sheturned to me and said, “Mr. Cole is going to have an important meeting this morning, so he has already left for the office. His driver will be taking you to the company today.”I just nodded. Of course he left. I’d heard him getting dressed this morning and walking out without a word. I figured this was the plan.Be his secretary. Show up and sit pretty like the obedient little wife I’m supposed to be. Smile. Type. Take notes. Be clever, but not too clever. Use your intelligence, but only in ways that benefit him.I can already see the script.But if he wants to play that game, I’ll

TristanI inhaled, sharp, quiet, but the burn ran straight to my core understanding her tactics, she was taunting me, playing with fire and daring me to hold the match. And since she was playing the invitation so hard, it's only right that I honor it.So I stood up and stepped into her space without hesitation.One hand braced on the desk beside her, the other catching her chin between my fingers firmly though, not harshly. She looked taken aback, however she didn’t flinch. Didn’t pull back like I'd expected she would.If anything, her breath was steady as she stared into my eyes. And her eyes? It looks like it was lit with something wicked.“Careful,” I murmured, my thumb brushing just beneath her lip. “You know I’ve never been good at ignoring temptation.”“You’re not supposed to,” she whispered back, tilting her head like she wanted more of my touch. My jaw flexed.God, she was already damned infuriating. Now she was adding seduction, and danger in every possible way to the list.

Liora “So you mean you and Mom were actually talking about a movie when I came in the other time, right?” Caleb asked, his eyes holding that quiet curiosity, the kind that came from knowing something wasn’t quite right, but not wanting to make it worse. “Yeah,” I said quickly, picking up the lie I’d laid earlier and smoothing it over like fresh icing on a cracked cake. “Exactly.” Across the table, Florence’s scowl deepened like a storm cloud that refused to move. She didn’t touch the food I’d made, just sat there, fork on the plate, and eyes fixed somewhere far beyond either of us. Probably waiting for me to leave so she could toss the plate of food straight into the trash. I didn’t care. The food wasn’t made mainly for her anyway. After Caleb had walked in on us earlier, overhearing our raised voices and when he demanded an explanation, I’d blurted that I was narrating a film scene, some dramatic bit from a made-up movie, just to keep the worry off his face. The last thin

LioraI’d barely gotten past the bend of the street when the headlights flared in my face, and a sleek black car rolled to a slow, deliberate stop just a few feet ahead.My heart slammed against my ribs. For a split second, I didn't call for it to wait so why would it?All I could think about were those news on the internet, about syndicates, organ trafficking, mysterious men who snatched people off the street in the night, and a quiet environment. And honestly, here will take a pass for the two.My hand twitched at my heel. I was only two seconds away from flinging it off and bolting like hell when the car window rolled down.The man inside smiled.Wait… wasn’t that Tristan’s half-brother?What’s his name again?I swallowed and exhaled a sigh of relief, trying to ease the pounding in my chest. Flashing him a polite, half-baked smile, I greeted him with a nod and kept walking fast. Tristan is not to be trusted, so why would I do it with his relative?"Where are you going, sister in l