Lahat ng Kabanata ng THE GUARDIAN'S BRIDE: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

CHAPTER 41: A stolen kiss“Good evening.”I spun around to see the elderly housekeeper that Zachary had recently reinstated. I was not here when she used to work there before. But for some reason, I didn't like her. She was a strong ally of Madelyn.I forced a polite smile. “I'm Julia.”She smiled. “Of course. I've heard a lot of things about you… from the staff.”The corners of my mouth lifted in a smile. “Good things, I hope?”“Of course.”“That's a relief.”“It's quite late, dear. Are you waiting for Zachary or would you be leaving soon?”There was nothing bad in her tone nor about what she had said, but I felt a surge of anger. It was like reminding me that I had no place here, and that I shouldn't wait so late for another woman's husband.“I'm waiting for Zachary.”“Alright, dear.”Within a matter of weeks I had become more of a guest than a strong feature in Zachary's home. Before, I could move around as I wanted and do what I pleased. I even decorated the house. Zachary didn'

CHAPTER 43: What is going on with you?Mary was already in the breakfast room, fussing over the tea set like it was a royal banquet, when I came in.“You should sit down and have breakfast, Mary. Let the staff handle the rest. You're not the help here.” I said, pulling out the chair beside me.She gave me that look she’d perfected over decades — part exasperation, part fondness. “And yet, I can’t seem to stop helping. I can't help it, dear. It's not in my nature to sit at a place.”She disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared with a steaming cup. Her eyes softened, but she only set the cup in front of me and murmured, “Eat first. Talk later.”I took a sip of the coffee and it was exactly what I needed.“How was the party?”I dropped the cup and turned to her, my eyes dimming. “It was okay.”She frowned slightly, sitting on the chair across from me. “Just okay?”I nodded, lifting the cup to my lips again.“You were already in bed, tucked in by Zachary when I went to your bedroom l

CHAPTER 45: Crossed a lineI didn't have to wait too long before Julia stepped into the office. She stood in front of the door, posture straight, her face schooled into the perfect picture of composure, but I could see the cracks at the edges.I didn’t bother offering her a seat. My gaze was still on the open laptop on my desk.The door shut behind her with a quiet click that seemed to resound louder in the thick silence that enshrouded the room.I didn't acknowledge her presence with a glance. I continued scrolling through some of the files that the private investigator had sent. They were a bunch of information, but they were hardly of any importance or use. Tired of going through the less than useful files he had sent, I pushed the laptop away and picked my phone off the desk. I dialled his number and he picked on the first ring.“Sir.”“There's nothing of importance here. Get me useful information, or I might decide that your services are worth your price.”“I'm currently onto

CHAPTER 47: Ancient history It had been five days since the scene in Zachary’s office. Five days of clipped words, sidelong glances, and the faint metallic taste of anger and pride still dancing on my tongue. Zachary and I hadn't fought again, not exactly, but the silence between us was deliberate, sharp and curated. It was the kind of quiet that feels heavier than an argument.He had not even come to my bedroom at night anymore. I was not surprised, but I was embarrassed to admit to myself that I missed him in my bed. By now, I wasn’t sure which of us was better at it—at keeping the tension. He had the advantage of being a man who’d built an empire on restraint. For me, I had the chance of being a woman who refused to lose. I was going to let him know that I was not going to give in easily.For the better part of the afternoon, I had been in the living room with Mary. She was sitting on the couch, a wide box of photographs spread before her like a treasure chest. In the last hour w

CHAPTER 49: Hook, line, sinkerI stepped out of the shower with steam curling off my skin, swirling in lazy spirals toward the ceiling before vanishing. I pulled the towel on the top cabinet and wrapped it around my waist, then stood in front of the mirror, water still dripping from my hair. My gaze was fixed on my reflection which was a little fogged, a little distorted, just like the twisted thoughts in my head. My palms braced on the marble counter, muscles so taut that they almost turned white, my jaw clenched tightly.Madelyn.I didn’t understand it. And truthfully, I didn’t want to understand it. I couldn't seem to get her out of my mind since that day at the board meeting. I had come this far wanting Kade Corp., clawing for it, planning for it. I was ready to do whatever to get that company. However, Madelyn had never been in the plan. I never knew that she was connected to the Kade's or Zachary. I never paid attention enough to her to really absorb what her last name was.