All Chapters of LOVE BENEATH LAYERS OF LUXURY : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

30 Chapters

Chapter 11: Breaking Point

Rayna's POVFriday came too quickly.Oliver had until midnight to come up with twenty thousand dollars, and I was out of options.I'd considered everything: loans (denied—no credit), asking my parents (they had nothing), pawning jewelry (not enough value). Every avenue was a dead end.And all week, I'd been avoiding Denzel, "Ray, they're here." His said I moment I picked his call in the first ring, his voice was panicked. "They came to my dorm. They said if I don't have the money by tonight…""Where are you?""Coffee shop near campus. Ray, I'm scared. One of them had a..""Stay there. Stay in public. I'm coming."I drove like a madwoman, making the two-hour trip in ninety minutes. When I found Oliver, he looked terrible, pale, exhausted, terrified.We sat in the coffee shop for hours while I tried to figure out what to do.There was only one option left.I had to ask Denzel.I drove back with Oliver, both of us silent. When we pulled up to the mansion, it was after 6 PM."Wait in the

Last Updated : 2026-01-06

Chapter 14 INTIMACY

Chapter 14: INTIMACY Rayna's POVThe next few days fell into an unexpected rhythm.I'd go to work at the foundation in the morningsnthe showcase was only days away now. Come back in the afternoons to help with Connor. Denzel would come home earlier than usual, and we'd navigate parenting together.It was strange. Domestic. Almost like we were a real family instead of two people trapped in a contract.And somewhere in those shared moments making dinner while Connor colored at the table, giving him baths together, reading bedtime stories side by side something was building between us.The air felt charged whenever we were in the same room. I'd catch Denzel watching me sometimes, his gaze intense and unreadable. And God help me, I watched him too.The way he was trying so hard with Connor, even when he clearly had no idea what he was doing.The way his shirt stretched across his shoulders when he bent down to pick up toys.The way his voice softened when Connor called him "Daddy" for

Last Updated : 2026-01-08

Chapter 13: Exposed and Abandoned

Rayna's POVThe next morning, I woke up to chaos.Shouting from downstairs. Connor crying. Doors slamming.I threw on a robe and ran toward the direction of the noise.In the foyer, Susana stood surrounded by suitcases, dressed for travel. Denzel faced her, his expression thunderous. Between them, Connor clutched a stuffed animal, tears streaming down his little face."I'm not asking your permission! After all you made it clear, that I mean nothing to you." Susana was saying."You can't just dump him here!" Denzel shouted."Watch me. My new lover and I are going to Monaco for a month. Maybe longer. Connor will be fine with you.""I can't take care of a three-year-old! I have a company to run!""Then hire a nanny. You have enough money." Susana bent down to Connor. "Mommy will be back soon, sweetheart. Be good to your Dada. ""Mama, no!" Connor wailed in his little voice. "Don't go!""Susana, you can't…"But she was already out the door and into a waiting car.Leaving Denzel standing

Last Updated : 2026-01-08

Chapter 14 INTIMACY

Rayna's POVThe next few days fell into an unexpected rhythm.I'd go to work at the foundation in the morningsnthe showcase was only days away now. Come back in the afternoons to help with Connor. Denzel would come home earlier than usual, and we'd navigate parenting together.It was strange. Domestic. Almost like we were a real family instead of two people trapped in a contract.And somewhere in those shared moments making dinner while Connor colored at the table, giving him baths together, reading bedtime stories side by side something was building between us.The air felt charged whenever we were in the same room. I'd catch Denzel watching me sometimes, his gaze intense and unreadable. And God help me, I watched him too.The way he was trying so hard with Connor, even when he clearly had no idea what he was doing.The way his shirt stretched across his shoulders when he bent down to pick up toys.The way his voice softened when Connor called him "Daddy" for the first time.The te

Last Updated : 2026-01-11

Chapter 15 : Unsure Feelings

Naomi.Standing in the doorway.Staring at us.I grabbed the nearest pillow, covering myself as much as possible. Denzel moved to block her view of me, his face a mix of fury and mortification.For a moment, nobody moved. Nobody spoke. We all just stared at each other in horrified silence."GET OUT!" Denzel finally roared."I'm going! I'm going! Jesus Christ!" Naomi grabbed her phone from the nightstand, apparently she'd left it there earlier, and practically ran out, slamming the door behind her.The silence that followed was deafening."Oh my God," I whispered, my face burning with humiliation. "Oh my God, she saw….""She saw nothing," Denzel said firmly, though his own face was flushed."She saw EVERYTHING!""She saw some things. Not everything."“I think I should be going, this is so humiliating” grabbing my dress to put on. "I can never face her again.""Amelia…..""No. This is terrible. This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me.""Worse than being forced into a contrac

Last Updated : 2026-01-11

Chapter 16: Even if it costs me everything!!

Rayna pov "Please, call me Richard." He moved closer, and I instinctively stepped back. "You're even more beautiful up close, Mrs. Adams.""Thank you. Now, if we could return to the event…""What's the rush?" He moved closer again, backing me against the desk. "I've been watching you all evening. The way you move. The way you smile. You're wasted on Adams, you know. A man like that doesn't appreciate what he has.""I think you've misunderstood…""Have I?" His hand came up to touch my face, and I jerked away. "Come now, don't be coy. Everyone knows your marriage is just for show. A business arrangement. Which means you're free to... pursue other interests.""I'm not interested." I tried to move around him, but he blocked my path."Don't be so quick to dismiss me." His voice hardened. "I could do a lot for you. For your career. I have connections. Influence. All you have to do is be... friendly."His hand grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer."Let go of me," I said, trying to stay calm

Last Updated : 2026-01-16

Chapter 17: Price of protection

Rayna's POVI woke to the sound of my phone vibrating like it was having a seizure.Bleary-eyed, I reached for it on the nightstand. The screen was lit up with notifications, texts, calls, social media alerts. Hundreds of them.My stomach dropped.The Whitmore incident. Of course.I unlocked my phone and immediately wished I hadn't."DENZEL ADAMS' WIFE AT CENTER OF SCANDAL""WHO IS RAYNA JAMES ADAMS? THE WOMAN WHO COST BILLIONAIRE $2.3M""CONTRACT WIFE OR REAL LOVE? INSIDE THE ADAMS MARRIAGE"The headlines were everywhere. Twitter. Instagram. Every gossip site. The video of Denzel punching Whitmore had been viewed millions of times. And worse, speculation was rampant.Some articles painted me as the victim. Others as the seductress who'd lured Whitmore into that office. Some questioned whether my marriage to Denzel was even real or just "a business arrangement" as Whitmore had claimed.My phone rang. Mom.I considered not answering, but that would only make things worse."Hi, Mom.""R

Last Updated : 2026-01-16

Chapter 18 : ALLEN

Rayna's POVThe morning after the gala, I woke up with my heart racing and my lips still tingling from the memory of that kiss.The real kiss. The one that hadn't been for cameras or show. The one that had felt like falling and flying at the same time.I touched my fingers to my mouth, remembering the way Denzel had kissed me on that balcony. The desperation. The tenderness. The way the rest of the world had disappeared.This is dangerous.I know.We should stop before someone gets hurt.I know.But we hadn't stopped. And now I don't know what happened next.I checked my phone. It was barely 7 AM, but I already had messages waiting.One from Serena: Girl! Those gala photos! You two looked SO in love! Call me!One from my mother: Much better. Keep it up. Your father is pleased.And one from a number I didn't recognize: Amelia, I saw the news. Are you okay? We need to talk. -AllenMy heart stopped.Allen. Allen James Michael. My childhood best friend who'd moved to Boston for work three

Last Updated : 2026-01-18

Chapter 19: Jealously and Confusion

He's my son."We all turned. Denzel stood there, his expression dark, his eyes colder than I'd ever seen them."The DNA test was done when he was born. Connor is mine.""I didn't mean to imply…." Serena started."Yes, you did." He moved into the room, his presence dominating the space. "And while I appreciate your concern for my wife, my family matters are not your business."The temperature in the room dropped about twenty degrees."Denzel," I said quietly. "Serena was just…""Where were you this morning?" he asked, cutting me off. His eyes locked on mine. "You left early.""I went to get coffee.""With?"My stomach dropped. "How did you.mm""With who, Amelia?"The use of my full name, in that tone, in front of everyone, made me defensive. "Allen. An old friend who's in town. He saw the news and wanted to make sure I was okay.""Allen." He said the name like it tasted bitter. "And you didn't think to mention you were meeting another man for coffee?""It wasn't like that. He's just a

Last Updated : 2026-01-18

Chapter 20: Confession

Denzel's POVThe moment I saw Amelia in the doorway, everything inside me went cold.Fuck.This looked bad. Really bad.Susana had literally just lunged at me, trying to kiss me, and I'd grabbed her shoulders to push her away. But from Amelia's angle, from the expression on her face...She thought we'd been kissing."Amelia…" I started, shoving Susana away from me like she was on fire."I'm sorry," Amelia said, her voice strange and hollow. "I didn't mean to interrupt.""You're not interrupting. Nothing was happening.""It didn't look like nothing.""Because she…." I gestured at Susana, frustrated beyond measure. "She tried to kiss me. I was pushing her away.""Were you?" The hurt in her voice was like a knife to my chest. "Because from here, it looked pretty mutual.""It wasn't. Amelia, I swear to God, nothing happened. I would never….""Why do you care?" Susana asked, her voice sweet as poison. "You're just the contract wife, remember? You said so yourself. So what does it matter wh

Last Updated : 2026-01-19

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