Lahat ng Kabanata ng A Marriage of Convenience: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

 When Gavin finally called her over, Grace walked out toward them with streaks of tears still on her cheeks and wrapped her arms around the both of them.“Congrats, you two,” she sniffled. “Gavin, you finally got your happily ever after.”Gavin couldn’t help laughing. “Why are you crying harder than the people actually getting engaged?”“I’m just so moved… and it hit me—I’ve never been proposed to!” Grace’s tone was impossibly earnest.Gavin let out a full-on laugh at that.Max stood there, a bit stunned. He’d seen Grace before back in co

 Under the dim glow of the lights, Raphael’s eyes were faintly bloodshot, but gave away nothing. His voice was calm, almost detached. “Sorry, just a bit tired from work.”Work? Really? Grace frowned inwardly. There was something off in the way he looked at her just now... she couldn’t quite place it, but it didn’t feel like the same man who’d called her this morning.The soft scent of roses still lingered between them, reminding her—he had come to find her, brought her flowers, and made the effort. She could at least try to be a considerate wife for once. “Alright,” she relented, “why don’t you rest a bit? I’ll run up and change, then we can go eat.”Raphael’s dark eyes

 Grace sat there, right in his lap, dazed but not trying to get away. Her back rested against his chest, and she could feel the steady, powerful beat of his heart.Raphael leaned in close, his warm breath brushing her ear. He reached for the crème brûlée, pulling it toward them. As he moved, his cheek brushed her hair, grazing her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.She suddenly felt like she was curled up next to a resting lion—calm for now, but radiating heat, coiled strength just beneath the surface. He could snap at any moment, yet here he was, wrapped around her, doing exactly as she asked. She wanted him to feed her, and without a word, he dipped the silver spoon into the dessert, cracking the caramel layer, scooping up a bite, and brought it to her lips.

 Grace drifted in and out of sleep, unsure how long she’d been out. Someone was gently tapping her shoulder, murmuring something close to her ear. She waved her hand lazily and mumbled, “Don’t wake me… I’m so tired.”A low, amused chuckle followed, and she felt a soft kiss land on her cheek. That familiar voice again, warm and teasing, “Didn’t you have lunch plans at twelve?”Lunch? She tugged the blanket over her head. “Not hungry.”A few seconds passed before her brain finally clicked into gear. She sat up abruptly, eyes darting around the room. Oh right—she was still in Berlin. And today she was supposed to have lunch with Gavin and his fiancé.She let out a breath, feeling a

 Late February in Saint-Tropez was still off-season. The sea breeze carried a lingering chill from winter’s end, but that did nothing to dull the deep blue of the water or the lively scene of yachts docked in the harbor.On one yacht that had just set out from shore, a group of socialites lounged under the sun, sipping champagne and letting the sea air tousle their hair—all women, no men.Grace leaned against the railing, staring blankly at the endless blue. Dana approached, two flutes of champagne in hand, one of them still cool from the ice. She nudged Grace’s arm lightly with the glass. “Here.”It had only been a few days since their tense exchange in Berlin—“not exactly a friendly goodbye”—but somehow, they were already back to acting like nothin