Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire's Secret Bride: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

“Aria, if you keep staring at that mirror, I swear the glass is going to sue you for harassment.”Aria groaned and dropped her eyeliner pencil onto the cluttered vanity. “I look like death warmed over.”Mia sprawled across the bed in bunny-print pajamas, chewing noisily on a slice of toast. “Correction—you look like someone who hasn’t slept in three days. Which, if I recall correctly, is true.” She pointed her toast like a sword. “Honestly, if this company doesn’t hire you, they’re idiots.”Aria tugged at the blazer sleeve for the hundredth time, scowling when the fabric rode up awkwardly. “This doesn’t even fit. I borrowed it from you and you’re smaller than me. They’ll take one look and know I don’t belong.”“First of all, rude.” Mia shoved the rest of the toast in her mouth, chewed, then added through a grin, “Second, stop talking like you’re headed to an execution. You’re going to walk in there, charm their socks off, and then call me crying about how much money they’re paying you

Aria clutched her handbag so tightly her fingers ached. The email had felt like a drea.Congratulations, you’ve been hired. Voss Global. The kind of company she used to whisper about with Mia, back when success was just fantasy.Now her heels clicked against polished marble floors, each step too loud in the grand lobby.The receptionist didn’t glance up from her screen. “Name?”“Aria Hayes.” Her voice came out thin, fragile.The woman tapped quickly, then gave a polite smile. “Conference Room A. Third floor. You’re expected.”Aria nodded and forced herself to keep moving. Pretend you belong. Pretend you’re not seconds from throwing up.The elevator mirrored her back at herself: pale skin, restless hands fussing with her blouse. Last night’s memory threatened to surface—the hotel room, his mouth on hers, the way her body had answered without hesitation. She shoved it down hard. That was a mistake. Reckless. Today is work. A fresh start.The doors slid open to a glass corridor so sleek

Aria had been staring at the same spreadsheet for twenty minutes, the numbers blurring into meaningless patterns. Her pen tapped against the desk in an uneven rhythm. She kept telling herself it was stress. Just stress. But her stomach coiled tighter every time she counted back the weeks in her head.“Earth to Aria,” Janice said from across the cubicle wall. “You’ve been drilling holes into that screen all morning.”Aria blinked and forced a smile. “Just… going over projections.”Janice peered over the divider. “You look pale. Are you sick?”“No, I’m fine,” Aria said quickly. “Didn’t sleep much, that’s all.”Janice raised a brow, unconvinced, but dropped it when Liam’s office door opened. He stepped out, sharp in a charcoal suit, scanning the floor. Conversations hushed without him asking. Aria straightened automatically, praying he wouldn’t notice her distraction.He didn’t. His gaze swept the room, landed on the board across the wall, then back to his office. Cold. Detached. Yet in

The office was buzzing Monday morning, but Aria felt like she was moving through fog. She kept her head down as she walked past the glass doors of Voss Global, her heart slamming in her chest the moment she spotted Liam’s tall figure by the elevators. He was speaking to one of the directors, his expression hard, detached, and unreadable.Her stomach twisted. She gripped her bag tighter and darted toward her desk, praying he wouldn’t notice her.“Morning, Aria,” Sophie chirped, plopping into the chair beside her. “Rough weekend?”Aria fumbled with her files, forcing a thin smile. “Something like that.”Sophie leaned closer. “You look pale. Are you sick?”“No. Just tired.”Janice from across the aisle joined in. “Tired? You’ve been tired for weeks now. What’s going on? New boyfriend keeping you up?” She grinned, waiting for a reaction.Aria froze, her throat tight. “No, nothing like that. Just… stress.”Sophie tilted her head. “Stress from what? You barely started here.”Aria gave a wea

Mia was waiting on the couch when Aria stumbled in that night, her heels dangling from one hand, her hair pinned with the last traces of effort she’d given before the party.The apartment smelled faintly of popcorn and nail polish remover. Mia muted the television, her eyes narrowing the second she saw her friend’s face.“That bad?”Aria dropped onto the couch with a groan. “Worse.”“Spill.” Mia pulled her legs up, hugging a pillow to her chest like she was bracing for impact.Aria hesitated, chewing on her lip. “He was there. Of course. Looking… perfect.”Mia rolled her eyes. “Naturally. Rich, powerful, broody. Let me guess....he glared at you like you’d stolen the last donut?”“I wish.” Aria swallowed, the words tasting sour. “He wasn’t alone.”Mia’s brows lifted. “Don’t tell me....”“Fiancée.” The word broke from Aria like glass. “She was right there beside him. Beautiful. Elegant. Exactly the kind of woman who belongs on his arm.”Mia’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding me.”Aria s