บททั้งหมดของ Married to the Cold Hearted CEO : บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Karen wiped sweat from her brow as she lugged a crate of cups behind the café counter. The hum of espresso machines, shouted orders, and her manager’s endless micromanaging filled her day. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was honest work and it paid the rent. Still, Karen wanted more. She had dreams of launching her own café someday, one where she made the rules. But dreams didn’t pay bills, and ambition didn’t erase reality. Across the city, Henry sat in a silent boardroom, flanked by men in expensive suits. His words were sharp, decisive every decision calculated, every glance measured. No mistakes. No emotions. But since the coffee incident, something gnawed at him. Her face. Her defiance. That fire. He’d met countless people in business, but none like her. She wasn’t impressed by his power and somehow, that intrigued him more than he cared to admit. That night, both of them lay awake in their separate worlds one thinking about how to break free, the other wondering why he couldn’

The evening air was crisp as Karen approached Henry’s sleek penthouse. The city stretched below them in a sea of glittering lights, but inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Henry opened the door before she could knock, dressed casually but impeccably. “Glad you came,” he said, stepping aside. Karen smiled, stepping in. “I wouldn’t miss it.” Dinner was simple but elegant home-cooked pasta, a side salad, and a bottle of wine Henry had been saving for a special occasion. They sat across from each other, the conversation starting cautiously. “So,” Karen began, “you really are not as cold as you seem.” Henry chuckled. “I could say the same about you. More fire than most I know.” They talked about everything and nothing their childhoods, dreams, and the scars they hid from the world. At one point, Karen glanced at Henry’s hand. “You carry a lot with you, don’t you?” Henry’s eyes darkened. “Maybe. But maybe I’m learning to let go.” The night stretched on, the distance be

The Frost estate was nothing like the city it was colder, grander, and far more intimidating. Karen stepped out of the car, heels crunching on gravel, as she looked up at the towering mansion. Ivy curled around stone walls, and marble pillars framed a massive front door. It felt like stepping into another world. Henry walked beside her, quiet but tense. “You don’t have to say anything. Just be yourself.” Karen gave a half-smile. “That’s all I know how to be.” Inside, the air was thick with formality. Portraits of past Frost generations lined the walls stern men, elegant women, and not a single warm smile among them. In the drawing room, Henry’s grandmother sat poised like a queen, her silver hair swept into a bun, her cane resting beside her. Her eyes locked on Karen the moment they entered. “So this is the woman behind the scandal,” she said coolly. Karen stepped forward, chin lifted. “And the one behind the results your grandson’s company is benefiting from.” A flicker of i

The morning sun barely filtered through the heavy drapes as Karen awoke, the weight of yesterday’s battles still lingering. Henry wasn’t beside her he’d already left for early meetings, his world spinning in high gear.She dressed quietly and headed downstairs, the grand estate eerily silent except for the soft echo of her footsteps.In the library, Henry’s grandmother awaited, seated with a leather-bound book resting on her lap. Her sharp eyes met Karen’s as she entered.“It’s time,” Evelyn said simply. “You need to understand what you’ve stepped into.”Karen nodded, her heart quickening.Evelyn opened the book a family ledger filled with names, dates, and cryptic notes. “The Frost legacy isn’t just a name. It’s a history of power struggles, betrayals, and sacrifices made to protect this family’s empire.”She tapped a page marked with an old photograph of a man Henry’s grandfather. “Your presence here is no accident. Your success with Henry is tied to forces you don’t yet see.”Karen

The following morning brought no calm. News of the board meeting had already trickled into the press. While names weren’t mentioned, speculation swirled. Words like “internal betrayal”, “CEO under fire”, and “mysterious woman in the Frost empire” littered headlines. Karen scrolled through her phone, watching the coverage unfold from the safety of Henry’s room. Her face hadn’t been shown yet but it was only a matter of time. She wasn’t just part of Henry’s world now. She was a target in it. Downstairs, Henry was already on damage control with PR. His voice was low but sharp as he issued statements and reworked interviews. The calm CEO mask was back on but Karen could see the tension in his eyes. “You okay?” she asked as he finally hung up. He nodded. “Just another storm.” Karen touched his arm. “One we caused.” He looked at her then, really looked. “And I’d do it again. You were brilliant in that room.” She gave a small smile. “I wasn’t afraid.” Henry stepped closer. “That’s