Todos os capítulos de MARRIED TO THE CEO BY CONTRACT: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

Elara Hayes had always held the belief that if she put in enough effort, showed genuine love, and persevered quietly enough, life would eventually bestow stability upon her. On a Thursday night, under the warm restaurant lights and the soft clink of crystal glasses, that belief was shattered. Although Marcus had insisted, the location was pricey—too expensive for a straightforward engagement dinner. Recently, he has always insisted. She had new tastes, new habits, and new friends with whom she didn't quite fit in. Elara lied to herself that it was her ambition and that people changed when their careers got big. She wanted to help others. She wanted to have faith in their future together. A future that appeared unchangeable prior to that night. With a charming smile that once made her heart flutter, Marcus said, "To us, Elara. Getting everything we deserve in the end." Despite the fact that the words made her feel uneasy, she smiled back. Everything we ought to have. He said it like he

The remainder of the day passed in a daze for Elara Hayes. Every sound felt amplified—the distant honking of traffic, the soft click of her computer, and the hum of the refrigerator. Alessandro De Luca's words, "A contract marriage... your life changes," could not be overpowered. She had tried to weigh options she didn't have for hours as she paced the apartment. Her mother's treatment would stall if she refused him. Marcus' betrayal had already wiped out the savings of her family. If she accepted him, a man she barely knew would share some of her life. a man who had anticipated the right time to intervene as he watched her despair. She tried to forget about it by shaking her head. Despite the room's amber hues as the sun set below the skyline, she was still unable to settle. She felt like she was stuck, like a chess piece that had been manoeuvred into a corner and had only two options: one that would have saved her family but cost her independence, and another that would have kept he

Elara took her time signing her name. Each letter felt heavier than the last, as though the pen carried the full weight of her future. The paper beneath her hand was smooth, expensive, and unyielding. She stopped at the end and stared at the signature that bound her to a man she had never met before. Alessandro De Luca watched from across the desk, his expression unreadable.The silence stretched, thick and oppressive.Elara raised the pen and carefully set it down before whispering, "It's done." Even though everything inside her did, her voice did not shake. Alessandro reached for the document and reviewed it with calm efficiency, as if she hadn’t just agreed to upend her life. When he finished, he nodded once.He said, "Then we move forward." Proceed.She could hear the word resonating in her head like a door closing. She instinctively smoothed her dress as she got up from the chair. “What happens now?”“Now,” Alessandro replied, standing as well, “you move into the De Luca Estate.”

The article went live at 7:12 a.m.Elara didn't immediately notice it. She was still half-asleep, standing in front of the bathroom mirror with her hair pulled into a loose knot, brushing her teeth while the estate slowly came to life beyond the windows.She was jolted out of her sleep by the loud knock at her door. "Miss Elara?" gently, a member of the hotel staff called. “Mr De Luca has asked to see you. Immediately.”Her stomach tightened.She entered Alessandro's private study ten minutes later, a spotless room with dark wood, glass shelves, and controlled elegance. He stood near his desk, jacket already on, phone in his hand.He had set his jaw. She didn't ask, just said, "You've seen it." He gave her the phone after giving a brief nod. The headline went black. DE LUCA HEIR'S FIANCÉ ÉE: A PASSIONATELY CHOSEN COVER OR A LOVE STORY? Her chest constricted as she skimmed the article. The language was clever: there were no direct accusations, only insinuations. mentions of her upbring

The headlines multiplied overnight.Elara knew before she even picked up her phone. The house's air felt different—tenser and quieter—as if the walls were preparing for impact. Staff moved with extra caution, eyes lowered, voices hushed.Unopened tea was cooling on the breakfast table alone as she sat there by herself. Her phone buzzed.She didn’t need to open the notification to know what it would say.She still did. DE LUCA'S FIANCÉE CLASHES WITH FORMER FLAME AT CHARITY GALAWhy is ALESSANDRO DE LUCA defying history for ELARA HAYES? She felt her stomach turn. The article painted the scene with dramatic flair—Valentina’s presence, Alessandro’s refusal, and the balcony confrontation. Every word was made to sound bigger, and every detail was sharpened into something dangerous. And then there were the comments.She pushed the phone away after locking the screen. Not panic or fear, but rather something quieter and more destructive settled in her chest. Exposure.She had consented to bein