All Chapters of THE GUARDIAN'S BRIDE: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

CHAPTER 1: Married just Divorced “You were too conservative and uptight. This was the only way I could get you to sleep with me.”The force of the slap turned his face to the side. Still it did nothing to quell the storm of pain and anger inside me.Vance turned to me, rubbing his jaw, eyes shining with rage. “How dare you raise your filthy hands on my son?” Patricia screeched behind me.I didn't even spare her a glance. My burning eyes were trained on the angry face of the man I married a few minutes ago—Vance Bomer. “I'll understand that you're angry, and I probably deserved that. But don't ever do that again,” he warned darkly.“How dare you do this to me? You animal!” I cried as hot tears stung my eyes.I attacked him, managing to land a few hits to his chest before he grabbed my hands and held them together tightly.“Will you just stop and listen to me, Maddie?”“Don't touch me. Let go of me!” I glowered, freeing myself from his touch. “Don't you ever lay your filthy hands on

CHAPTER 3: Zachary“It sure doesn't feel like a good morning to me. But, good morning Lenny,” I greeted, plopping down on my chair, eyes hidden behind dark sun glasses.“Well, you shouldn't expect less after staying out all night. I'm sure the city's alcohol reservoir has been depleted, courtesy of you.”“Well, I wouldn't be devastating the city's population if you had not suggested I go out to unwind last night.”There was a sound of a scraping of a chair, and footsteps receding. My fingers tried to massage my temples. “Here. Drink this.”I pushed the sunglasses into my hair to see the steaming cup of coffee on the table. “Take these too,” Lenny added, popping two tablets into my palm.“Thank you.”“I reran the invoices last night, and we still can't be able to restock the incoming Naples shipment. If this Gérard client backs out, we're done. Out.”The cup froze midway to my lips. Lumen Atelier. Custom interiors, curated antiquities, eccentric taste. I had started it with Lenny fo

CHAPTER 5: Not a social invitation “I suggest you change. We leave in twenty minutes,” I added, about heading up the stairs. There was no sound of movement behind me. Only silence. Then I heard the sound of something drop. I turned around and sure enough, Madelyn was still standing at the same spot. And the dress that Julia had handed her was now on the floor. “Nicole Bomer? They got married?” Her voice was level. But her expression was a mask of disbelief, which soon gave way to anger. I did not reply. “You knew about this all this time?” Julia cleared her throat. “Excuse me, I have to take this,” she said, stepping out with her ringing phone. “At what point were you ever going to deem it necessary to tell me that they were married? Were you even ever going to say anything to me?” “Yes.” She took a single step forward. “And you're just telling me now? Is this the best way for me to find out?” Honestly I never saw the point in letting her know. Telling about her worth

CHAPTER 7: It's Mrs Blackwood to youAnd then I saw him.Vance.He stood near the steps, his mother clinging to his arm like a brooch. His face faltered the second he saw me. The color bled from his cheeks. Patricia was glaring daggers at me.I was sure Vance never expected me to show up to his wife's funeral. Actually no one did. I smiled. A slow, deliberate curve of the lips. I had been waiting for this for a long time.He started toward us before his mother could stop him.“Mr Blackwood,” he greeted, voice smooth, but eyes flicking to me like he couldn’t help himself.Zachary gave him a nod so faint it felt like a dismissal. “Vance. My condolences.”“Thank you.”Vance’s jaw tightened, as he turned to me. “Madelyn.”“It's Mrs Blackwood to you,” Zachary said in a voice that left no room for either argument nor discussion.“My mistake. Mrs Blackwood,” he apologised with a tight smile.I smiled, tilting my head. “Mr. Bomer.”His lips parted—shock or confusion or both flickered in his

CHAPTER 9: That's not classZachary stood tall and silent at the threshold, calm as undisturbed waters. Julia was half a step behind him, her eyes dripping with disgust. She was already judging me. But like hell I cared. Patricia looked aghast. She was glaring at me with disdain like she had just caught a snake curled up on her Persian rug. Then her eyes flicked to Vance, hunched behind me, wincing, a hand still cradling his groin.Patricia’s hand flew to her chest. "Oh, my God.”There goes the dramatics. “What–what is this? What is going on here?” Her voice cut through the hallway like a sharp blade. “This is so improper. Mr Blackwood, your wife… in a room with my son? At his late wife's funeral.”“Stop trying to twist this into what it is not, Patricia,” I shot back at her. “But it is clearly what I'm seeing.”I didn't flinch. I adjusted my posture, squaring my shoulders. “Maybe you should ask your son why he dragged me in here with him, Patricia. He might tell you why.”“Why wou