All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE’S TEMPORARY FIANCÉE : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

woke up to the sound of rustling fabric and the faint of cufflinks. My eyes blinked open to find Jake already half dressed, standing by mirror in that effortless way he made expensive suits look like a second skin. His tie was draped loosely around his neck, and he was scrolling through his phone with same focus one might reserve for solving world hunger.“Morning.” I mumbled my voice still husky from sleep.He glanced at me, just briefly and smiled, well almost smiled. “Morning Ive got a full day. Meeting, calls , more meetings.”I sat up, hugging the sheets to my chest. “I was thinking..maybe I could go outside today? Just a walk. By myself.”His brows lifted like I’d just suggested robbing a bank. “No.”“Jake.”“No,” he repeated, this time softer but still firm. “Not alone.”I huffed, looking away. “Im not a child. I can handle myself.”“Im not worried about you being a child,”he said picking up his watch and fastening it.“Im worried about ..other people. This only works if it’s

The café smelled like burnt espresso and cinnamon scones, a world away from the sterile, marble perfection of the Wolfe mansion. It was a welcome shock of the familiar. I hadn’t been here in weeks, and the ordinary noise the hiss of the milk steamer, the clatter of ceramic mugs, the low hum of conversation, and the tap-tap-tapping of college students hunched over their laptops was almost a comfort. It was the background noise of a normal life, a life that suddenly felt a thousand miles away.Pamella slid into the booth across from me, her eyes sharp and searching, not bothering with a hello. Her gaze swept over me, missing nothing. “You look exhausted,” she said. It wasn’t a question.I laughed weakly, the sound hollow even to my own ears, wrapping my fingers around the paper cup. The warmth was a small comfort. “That’s one way of putting it.”“You look gorgeous but there’s sadness in your eyes ,” she continued, leaning back with her arms crossed, her expression a mixture of concern

The remembering week was held annually. It was like a gala. And gala was not just a party it was the event of the year. For weeks, the city’s society pages whispered about it, speculating on the guest list, the fashion, the deals that would be struck in corners of the glittering ballroom. Invitations were rare, almost sacred. Politicians, foreign leaders, and the richest of the rich fought for a chance to attend pretending they care about Arthur Wolfe and what he did , but they didn’t. It was an excuse for them to show off and network for their businesses. Everyone loved it,except me.For me, it was another test. Another stage where I had to play the part of Chloe Mackenzie, Jake Wolfe’s perfect fiancée. Rosa had prepared everything for me hours before. The gown she laid out shimmered like midnight sky, a deep-blue silk that clung to me as if it had been sewn onto my body. The neckline dipped low, daring yet elegant, transforming me from a waitress into someone who belonged in Jake’s

The morning after the gala, the penthouse felt too quiet like the world had stopped moving.No clinking of breakfast plates came from the kitchen. No sound of Jake’s deep voice filling the hallway. Even his phone, which always seemed to buzz without pause, was silent.The air felt heavy, like the calm before a storm.I padded barefoot across the cool marble floors, my robe wrapped tight around me. The memories of last night still clung to me: the glittering chandeliers, the sharp edge of David’s words, the way Jake had looked at me on the balcony before shutting me out again.In the kitchen, Rosa was already at work. A vase of lilies stood in the center of the marble island, their white petals bright against the gray morning light. She looked up when I entered and offered her usual soft smile the kind of smile that always felt like a warm blanket.“Good morning, Miss Chloe,” she said gently, her accent making the words musical.“Morning,” I mumbled, forcing my lips into a weak smile.

The late afternoon streets of the city buzzed with life. Cars honked in impatient bursts. Office workers hurried toward subways or stopped to grab takeout. The sun dipped low behind tall glass towers, streaking the sky with gold and crimson, as if the whole city were burning at its edges.I told Rosa I needed some fresh air. That was partly true. Really, I had to escape the Wolfe mansion the house that felt like it was pressing in on me from all sides. Its expensive walls, its spotless halls, its silent corners they weren’t comforting anymore. They felt like traps.I kept walking, farther than usual, weaving through crowded sidewalks. But even among strangers, freedom felt fragile. Every sound behind me a cough, a footstep, a rustle made me glance over my shoulder. Twice, I caught the edge of a shadow disappearing before I could focus. My chest tightened. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it wasn’t.When my nerves started to fray, I spotted a café wedged between two boutiques. Its windows g