All Chapters of Married to the Enemy CEO : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

AvaI leaned against the headboard, a faint ache behind my eyes as I swallowed the last of the morning pills. The glass of water was still half full on the nightstand, catching the thin strip of light that slipped through the curtains. I blinked a few times, the weight of sleep tugging at me.Just five minutes, I thought. Just five minutes of quiet.The room was still, warm. My body began to sink into the mattress—then the door swung open.I jolted upright.At first, the figure in the doorway was a blur of sunlight and motion. Then my eyes adjusted, and my heart nearly stopped.“Noelle?”She grinned, one hand on her hip, the other dragging a suitcase behind her. “Surprise.”My mouth opened, but words stumbled out as a rush of disbelief. “Oh, no… Roman didn’t—he didn’t drag you here, did he? Noelle, you have a life, a business—”She crossed the room before I could finish, her heels tapping lightly against the marble floor. “Relax. I’m not complaining. You know I’d do anything for you.”

RomanThe house was warm when I walked in, the low hum of conversation drifting from the dining room. The scent of pasta and garlic butter filled the air — something homey, easy.I handed the shopping bags to Mara, the head maid, murmuring, “Put those in the living room for now.” She nodded and disappeared down the hall.When I turned, I saw them. Ava and Noelle sat across from each other, plates half-full, laughter soft between them. For a second, it looked like something out of a picture — two women who could make even silence look alive.“Good evening, ladies,” I said, walking closer.Noelle was the first to look up. “Mr. King,” she greeted, smiling like she already knew I’d been watching them.Ava glanced up next, her tone quiet. “Hi.”I went to her side and leaned down, brushing my lips against hers.She flinched — barely, but enough. “You don’t have to pretend,” she murmured under her breath. “Noelle knows the truth.”I straightened, half-smiling. “Of course she does,” I said li

AvaI sat at the edge of the bed, brushing my hair in slow, absent strokes. The late morning light spilled through the curtains, soft and warm against the pale carpet. Noelle sprawled across the other side of the bed, legs swinging in the air, her phone in one hand and a mischievous grin on her face.“Okay, I’m just gonna say it,” she started, rolling onto her side to face me. “Your husband’s friend—Mateo, right? That man is fine. Like, disturbingly fine. Please tell me he’s single because I might just—” she bit her lip dramatically “—eat him alive.”I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. “You’re impossible,” I said, setting down the brush. “I don’t know if he’s single. I just met him yesterday.”“Hmm.” She squinted at me, still grinning. “But he looked single. You can always tell when a man has no ring and way too much confidence.”“Then maybe you should shoot your shot,” I teased, raising an eyebrow. “He’ll be around for a while.”“Oh, don’t tempt me,” she said, flopping back again

The jet gleamed like liquid silver under the morning sun, its engines humming low, steady, expensive. On the tarmac, Ava, Noelle, and Mateo stood still for a moment, the warm breeze tugging at their clothes as they stared at the aircraft in disbelief.“Wait—this is ours?” Noelle asked, eyes wide behind her oversized shades.Roman adjusted his cufflinks, a faint smirk tugging at his mouth. “Ours for the trip,” he said. “Figured commercial flights would ruin the mood.”Mateo let out a low whistle. “You’ve been hiding this from us all this time?”“I like surprises,” Roman replied.Inside, the jet was all soft leather and quiet luxury — cream seats, gold accents, the faint scent of coffee and jet fuel mixing in the air. Sunlight spilled in through oval windows, making everything gleam.Noelle was the first to throw herself into a seat. “If this crashes, I’ll die happy,” she said, reaching for the glass of champagne the attendant offered.Ava laughed softly, settling beside Roman. Her hand

Ava lay across him, her skin still warm from the rush between them. The room was quiet except for their uneven breaths and the low hum of the ceiling fan. Moonlight spilled across the bed, painting her in silver.Roman lay still, one arm resting behind his head, the other tracing lazy circles on her back. He was smiling—soft, crooked, almost smug.She looked down at him, hair falling forward. “Why are you staring like that?” she asked, voice low and teasing.He grinned. “Just waiting for the part where you tell me to get out of your room again.”Ava laughed, half-gasping, half-scolding as she smacked his shoulder. “You’re impossible.”She shifted, reaching for the edge of the blanket. “We should probably get up,” she said, breath catching as she sat back. “They’ll start wondering where we went.”Roman’s hand caught hers before she could move farther. In one pull, she was back against him.“Roman—” she started, but he kissed her. Slow. Unhurried. The kind of kiss that asked her to forg