All Chapters of Betrayed, I Become The CEO'S Contracted Bride: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

The Grand Ballroom at the Celestine Hotel was packed wall to wall with the best minds in pharmaceutical research. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting warm light across round tables draped in white linen. Elara Vance sat at table twelve, her hands folded in her lap beneath the tablecloth where no one could see them shake. She wore a silk emerald dress that she had bought three weeks ago specifically for tonight. Tonight, when they would announce the lead scientist behind the Aethelgard Formula. Tonight, when three years of her life would finally mean something. "Ladies and gentlemen," the MC said from the stage, his voice booming through the sound system. "It is my distinct honor to present this year's Golden Gala Award for Excellence in Pharmaceutical Innovation." Elara's heart hammered against her ribs. She gripped the edge of the table. "The lead scientist behind the groundbreaking Aethelgard Formula, which promises to revolutionize the treatment of degen

Elara spent the night on a bench in Riverside Park. She couldn't afford a hotel. Her credit cards had been declined when she tried, frozen probably, pending some kind of fraud investigation Marcus had no doubt initiated. When dawn broke gray and cold over the city, she walked to the nearest coffee shop. She used the last of her cash to buy a small black coffee and sat in the corner booth with her phone. The news had exploded overnight. "Disgraced Scientist's Meltdown at Golden Gala" was trending on three different platforms. The videos had been viewed millions of times. Someone had created a hashtag: #AethelgardMeltdown. She scrolled through the coverage with a kind of detached horror. Then she saw it. A new article, posted two hours ago. "Medical Records Reveal Troubled History of Researcher Who Disrupted Gala." A low, involuntary sound, a ragged gasp, escaped her. Her hands went numb. She clicked the link. The article, loaded with images of medical documents, patient recor

The Starlight Motel on the edge of downtown cost fifty-eight dollars a night. The room smelled of stale cigarette smoke, institutional bleach, and the lingering scent of desperation. The carpet was a tapestry of ancient stains, and the brown bedspread looked like it had not been laundered since the last presidential election. ​Elara locked the door with a loud, final click and leaned her forehead against the wood. “​I guess this is what I've been reduced to,” she whispered to the peeling paint. “Scrimping on money for a sanctuary of grime while Marcus enjoys the luxury of our apartment. No, his apartment now. I suppose the restraining order made that very clear.” ​She sat on the edge of the bed, the cheap mattress springs groaning in a sharp, metallic protest. She pulled her phone from her pocket, her thumb hovering over the glass as the screen lit up. ​You look pathetic in those videos. Crazy bitch. Get help. She deleted them without reading past the first few words, the dig