Semua Bab Five Years His Secret, Now Someone Else’s Bride: Bab 1 - Bab 10

The next second, Orion shot up from his chair, grabbed my waist, and yanked me against him.“Good girl,” he said, his eyes empty of their earlier warmth. “Take it back. Make a new wish.”His fingers tightened. I could feel the heat of his palm, the threat hidden beneath.This was Orion Corvo. The King of Chicago.The gentleman was a mask. Underneath, it was all control. All possession.“Make a new wish,” he growled, forcing me to look at him. “Say you’ll never leave me.”I knew he wouldn’t let me go easily. Arguing now would only make things worse for me.I pushed down the storm of emotions inside me and forced a smile.“I was just kidding. How could I ever leave you?”His grip loosened, but he didn’t let go.“That’s better.” He placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “You’re mine, Evangeline. Always.”I nodded, playing the part of the obedient girl.The next day, I went to his office. Orion was buried in paperwork, stacks of contracts waiting for his signature.“These need your signature t

My hand, suspended in mid-air, fell back to my side. I rubbed my fingers together, not knowing what to say.Orion seemed to realize he’d been harsh. He gave me a soft smile. “You like it? I’ll get you something better. This one’s for something else.”I forced a polite smile.Something else. He walked out with the diamond of my dreams, not even looking back.The click of the closing door was deafening in the silence. My smile vanished.He was going to give the diamond I’d always wanted to another woman. In the middle of the night.Did he think I was too stupid to care? Or did he just not care if my heart broke?Standing in the empty apartment, I remembered his last words in my past life:“I love you… I’ve always loved you…”So this is what love was worth.This is how foolish I could be.I walked to the safe hidden in the bedroom.I took out every piece of jewelry, every work of art Orion had given me over the last five years. I photographed them all and sent them to the biggest black ma

My hand gripped the doorknob, my knuckles white.My heart felt like it had been crushed in a fist. The pain was so sharp I couldn't breathe.I stumbled back, almost hitting the wall.Run.That was my only thought.I burst out of the club, got in my car, and floored it.Chicago’s skyline blurred past, but I saw nothing. The only thing in my mind was that scene.Back at the penthouse, I collapsed onto the carpet.Every memory in this golden cage was now a weapon.That Italian leather sofa where we watched countless movies.That Steinway piano he played Chopin’s Nocturnes on for me.That floor-length mirror where he held me and told me I was the most beautiful woman in the world.Now, those memories were like shards of glass, cutting me to pieces.I curled into a ball, hugging my knees.The clock struck midnight. I took a few deep breaths, fighting back the stabbing pain in my chest, and shakily got to my feet.“It’s a new day, Evangeline. Six days left. Then you can leave.”Then the pain

“And,” Orion picked up a set of blueprints from his desk, “I’m having your old study redecorated.”My heart hammered against my ribs.That study was my life’s work for the past five years. It held all my intelligence files, every smuggling route I designed.And that antique Italian desk—it was the first gift Orion ever gave me.“To Sienna’s taste,” he added, his voice casual. “She likes pink and white. Says it’s more feminine.”Sienna slid off his lap, smoothing her skirt. “Thank you, darling. I never liked that dreary, dark decor anyway.”She looked at me, her eyes glinting with triumph. “I hope you don’t mind. After all, it’s going to be my studio now.”My nails dug into my palms, nearly breaking the skin.I knew I would be replaced. I just didn’t think it would be this fast.I stood there, frozen, my hands clenched into fists, a bitter smile on my lips.It didn’t matter.None of it mattered anymore.I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.A passport can be replaced. A love th

Orion's POVThe butler hovered nervously. “Boss, should we go after her? Miss De Luca seems serious this time.”I stared out the floor-to-ceiling window, my face a mask of stone. “No.”It wasn’t the first time she’d thrown a fit.I lit a cigarette and took a long drag.Her last words echoed in my head: I wish you and Sienna a happy marriage. May you grow old together.That wasn’t like her. The Evangeline I knew would be heartbroken but defiant, stubbornly silent.This… this was a challenge. A gamble. The most venomous curse she could think of.Smoke curled from my lips as I let out a low laugh. I understood.She was bluffing. Trying to force my hand.She was so sure I couldn’t live without her, so sure I loved her more than anything. So she staged this dramatic exit right before my wedding, waiting for me to make a choice.The moment I destroyed my own alliance for her, she would come running back.“She’s just my spoiled little wildcat, throwing a tantrum,” I muttered, confidence flowi