All Chapters of Arrange Marriage to a Heartless CEO: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

104 Chapters

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Breaking Point

CHARLOTTE'S POVI smoothed down the front of my blouse as I walked into the glass building, trying to ignore the weight pressing on my chest. My heels clicked softly against the marble floor, the sound echoing in the quiet lobby. The receptionist gave me a polite smile.“Charlotte Kingston? Mr Graham will see you now.”I forced a smile, muttered a thank you, and made my way down the hall. My palms were sweaty, and I hated that I felt nervous. I pushed open the door to Mr. Graham’s office, I knew today would not end well.“Charlotte,” he greeted without standing, glancing up from a file. His glasses slid a little down his nose as his eyes met mine. “Sit.”I obeyed, perched on the edge of the leather chair, clutching my bag like it was my lifeline.“You know why I called you in,” he started, his tone clipped.I swallowed. “I’ve been working, Mr Graham, it's just that things have been… complicated.”“Complicated?” He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. “Charlotte, we signed a co

Last Updated : 2025-08-20

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: His Silent Burden, Her Hope

AIDEN'S POVThe silence in my office was deafening. I’d sent everyone home hours ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Papers were scattered across my desk, deals that needed my attention, contracts that would normally command every ounce of my focus. Tonight, they were nothing more than blurred ink on meaningless sheets.All I could see was Charlotte’s face.Tear-stained, fragile, and the way her shoulders shook when she broke down. That image had branded itself into my mind like fire.I raked a hand through my hair and paced across the room, the soles of my shoes dragging against the hardwood. Rage burned in me, at Dylan, at the press, at this whole goddamn circus. I could play ruthless games in the boardroom, but when they touched her? When their poison made her cry? That was a different kind of war.I stopped at the window, staring out at the city lights. My reflection glared back at me: cold eyes, sharp jaw, the mask of a man everyone feared. I hated that mask tonight, beca

Last Updated : 2025-08-21

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: In The Spotlight

CHARLOTTE'S POVThe evening started quietly, almost deceptively so.Aiden didn’t say much when he told me to dress for dinner. He appeared at the bedroom doorway in his usual commanding fashion, his tie undone, jacket slung carelessly over his arm.“Be ready by seven. We’re going out.”I blinked. “Out?”“Yes, we are going out to dinner.” His tone was clipped, but not cold. Somewhere in between.I narrowed my eyes. “Dinner… publicly?”He gave the faintest smirk. “Unless you’d prefer the kitchen with Petra staring at us.”I folded my arms. “That’s not funny.”“I wasn’t joking.”And just like that, he left for work, leaving me with a rush of anxiety that built steadily as I dressed. Public meant exposure and the paparazzi. The public meant whispers about us.When seven struck, we walked out together. His hand at the small of my back was steady, grounding.The restaurant was upscale, one of those places where chandeliers glowed like stars and the air smelled faintly of money and wine. Peo

Last Updated : 2025-08-21

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Behind Closed Doors

Aiden’s POVThe house was quiet. Too quiet.The storm outside had settled hours ago, the rain tapering off until it was nothing but faint drips against the windows. The fireplace in our bedroom had long burned down to embers. Shadows crawled along the ceiling, restless and twitching, like they knew what was stirring inside me.Charlotte lay beside me, curled into herself, her breathing slow and steady. Innocent. Peaceful. Trusting. The soft rise and fall of her chest felt like an anchor in the dark, and yet, instead of pulling me to shore, it dragged me deeper into waters I didn’t want to drown in.I couldn’t sleep. Not with her lying there like that.Not after tonight. Not after she had just given her virginity to me.She’d looked at me as though I had given her back the world she thought she’d lost. And God help me, I had let her believe it.I turned onto my side, staring at her face in the dim light. Her lashes brushed her cheeks, her lips parted slightly, her hand clutching the ed

Last Updated : 2025-08-23

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: Dylan’s Shadow

CHARLOTTE'S POVThe morning sunlight filtered through the wide windows, throwing golden streaks across the sheets. I sat at the dining table with a plate in front of me, untouched eggs cooling as I pushed them around with my fork.“You’ve barely eaten anything,” Aiden said, his eyes lifting briefly from his phone. His voice was calm, but there was that underlying sharpness like a blade hidden beneath silk.“I’m just not hungry,” I murmured, forcing a smile.“Eat, Charlotte. You need your strength.”It sounded less like care and more like a command, and for a moment I froze. He didn’t even look up again, his focus already back on whatever numbers or emails filled his screen.I took a bite just to appease him. He finally rose, straightened his tie, and leaned down to brush his lips against my cheek. The gesture was soft, but fleeting, like a performance he remembered to act out.“Don’t wait for me,” he said. “I’m going to work. I have a meeting, and the meeting might run late.”And just

Last Updated : 2025-08-24

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: Whispers in the Dark

CHARLOTTE'S POVI pushed the fork around my plate, not bothering to hide the fact that I had no appetite. The roast chicken Petra prepared looked perfect, steaming, golden, with just the right amount of herbs. But my stomach churned like it wanted nothing to do with food tonight.“Ma’am,” Elsie leaned forward slightly, her voice soft, careful, “You’ve barely touched your dinner.”I gave her a weak smile. “I’m not really hungry.”“Not hungry,” Cheryl muttered. “That’s new. I thought ladies in your position ate their feelings. Or is it that your husband isn’t around to pretend for?”The words cut through the air like glass breaking. I stiffened, refusing to look her way.“Cheryl,” Elsie hissed, shooting her a warning glare. “Don’t start, stop it immediately.”Cheryl smirked. “I’m just saying what everyone else is too polite to say. What’s the point of playing house when the man of the house barely acknowledges you?”My hand tightened around my fork, but I kept my tone calm. “That’s none

Last Updated : 2025-08-26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: Shattered

CHARLOTTE'S POV“So this is it? You’re really kicking me out?” Cheryl’s voice dripped with venom as she dragged her suitcase down the marble floor of the hallway. Her steps echoed through the mansion like gunshots.“You’re not welcome here anymore, Cheryl,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. My arms were folded across my chest, my back pressed against the doorframe as if I needed the wood for strength.“Not welcome?” She let out a bitter laugh and dropped the suitcase with a heavy thud. “I worked in this house long before you ever set foot in it. I know every corner, every secret, every routine. And you…” Her eyes narrowed at me, sharp and full of loathing, “You walk in with your fake smile, pretending you belong here just because you’re wearing his ring?”My fingers clenched. “This isn’t about belonging. It’s about respect. And you’ve shown me none.”“Respect?” she spat the word as if it were poison. “You want my respect when you’ve done nothing to earn it? You parade around here

Last Updated : 2025-08-27

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: Broken Reflections

CHARLOTTE'S POVAt this point, all I could say was I am losing my mind. I lay on the bed with no zeal to even stand up. I heard Aiden turn on the shower in the bathroom. I wasn't aware of when he came home last night, but when I woke up to use the restroom, I saw him lying close to me.I didn't want to face him. I wasn't ready to face him. I forced myself up and went downstairs to the kitchen.“Good morning, ma’am.” Petra’s voice carried no judgment, no mockery—just the usual warm steadiness. But today, it only reminded me how broken I felt.I sat on the chair near the counter, forcing a smile. “Good morning, Petra. Where’s Elsie?”“She went to the supermarket. Today is restock day.”“Oh… okay.” My voice cracked, and I busied myself by picking up an apple from the basket, anything to avoid looking like I was crumbling from the inside.“Do you want anything for breakfast?”“What are you making?” I stood up, trying to steady my voice. “Who asked for pancakes? My husb….”“Petra, is my b

Last Updated : 2025-08-29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: Cracks in the Empire

AIDEN'S POVThe office lights glared too bright against my eyes, but I refused to dim them. Dimness suggested weakness, and weakness was not something I allowed in my presence.Still, no matter how much I tried to bury myself in reports and contracts, Charlotte’s face kept bleeding through the numbers.But deep down I need to focus on work.I honestly don't mean to hurt her.But I still love Alana, my wife.But maybe she would want me to move on with someone else.I can't just forget her just like that.That thought alone gnawed at me more than any market crash, more than any failing merger, more than any enemy breathing down my neck.I rubbed my temples hard enough to bruise. Sheila walked into the office, holding a stack of files.“And why did you not knock?” I glared at her.“Mmmm… sir….” She stuttered.“Why didn't you knock? I have… what is it?”“You asked for the Parker performance reports, sir.”“Leave them.” My voice was curt, clipped, the way it always was when I needed to bui

Last Updated : 2025-08-29

CHAPTER THIRTY: Shadows in the Mansion

CHARLOTTE'S POVI used to think the silence in this mansion was my biggest enemy.But now… silence feels safer than the truth.Last night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept staring at the ceiling, listening to the sound of the wind brushing against the tall windows of the mansion, the ticking of the antique clock in the hallway, the way every shadow seemed to stretch too long. My thoughts were heavy about Aiden, this marriage, and me constantly running when maybe I should finally learn to stand still.By morning, I thought I’d feel lighter. Instead, it felt like something was pressing against my chest.“Ma’am?” Elsie’s gentle knock pulled me out of my haze. She came in with her usual bright smile, holding a breakfast tray.“I thought you’d be up earlier,” she teased. “But I don’t blame you. Yesterday was… a lot.”I gave a weak laugh. “You have no idea.”She placed the tray on the side table and sat on the edge of the bed. “I don't know too much, but I am having this thought that you want to l

Last Updated : 2025-08-30

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