The Billion Dollar Wife의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

The matte black Mercedes Benz S-Class pulled to a smooth halt, its engine humming with the quiet confidence of a predator. Before the wheels had even stopped spinning, a team of four security guards in charcoal suits flanked the doors, their movements synchronized and smart.Dominic Blackwood stepped out. He was the kind of man who didn’t just occupy space, he commanded it. Tall, sharp jawed, and wearing a tailored suit that cost more than most people’s annual rent, he was the city’s golden son and its most untouchable bachelor.Across the street, Ava adjusted the strap of her bag, her eyes narrowing as she watched the target. Right on time."Keep the change," Ava murmured, dropping a crumpled bill into the fruit seller’s hand without looking. The fruit was just a disguise for her, a splash of color to mask a woman who was currently hunting.Ava turned, her pace brisk, blending into the morning rush as Dominic disappeared into The coffee shop.The coffee shop was thick with the scent

Ava smoothed the silk of her dress, her reflection staring back with a confidence she hadn’t quite felt until this moment. “You’re going to be the only person in that room worth looking tonight, Ava,” Olivia whispered, her eyes bright with a mix of excitement and vicarious thrill. “I mean it. They won’t even know what hit them.”Ava caught her friend’s gaze in the glass, a slow, sharp smirk pulling at her lips. She didn’t just want to be noticed, she wanted to be the center of gravity. “Let them look. I didn’t spend three hours on my makeup to blend into the wallpaper.”Olivia laughed, grabbing a crystal bottle from the vanity. She spritzed a cloud of jasmine and sandalwood over Ava’s shoulders, the scent heavy and expensive. “Go out there and find someone who deserves to buy you a bottle of this every week. We’re done playing small, okay? It’s time to live a little.”“Living large requires a specific kind of partner, Liv,” Ava teased, checking her clutch one last time.“And what’s t

The headquarters of the Blackwood empire rose above the city like a monolith of glass and cold ambition. Ava smoothed her skirt as she stepped into the lobby, Upstairs, the secretary didn’t bother with a polite smile, she offered a look that suggested Ava was something the janitor had failed to scrub off the floor."Mr. Blackwood is expecting you," the woman said, gesturing toward the door.Ava pushed them open. The office was cavernous, smelling of expensive tobacco and old money. Dominic was already there, pacing the length of the Persian rug like a caged animal. The moment he saw her, he stopped dead, his face contorting into a mask of pure anger."What the hell are you doing here?" he barked, his voice echoing off the high ceilings."Dominic, sit down and mind your manners," George said from behind his massive desk. He didn't look up from the file he was reading, but his tone brook no argument. He gestured to the empty chair beside Dominic. "Sit, Ava. Thank you for coming."Ava to

The ride back from the chapel was defined by a silence. Dominic sat reclined in the leather seat, his attention fixed entirely on his phone. The blue light from the screen cast a cold hue over his features, making his expression unreadable, almost statuesque. He didn’t offer a single glance toward the woman sitting inches away from him.Ava, who had prided herself on her composure just an hour ago, felt that internal fortress beginning to crumble. The adrenaline of the black dress and the public defiance was draining away, leaving behind a cold anxiety. She looked out the window, but her heart was beating fast. Had she pushed the boundary too far? She had spent so much energy playing her part that she hadn't truly accounted for the man she had provoked.Dominic was a stranger in many ways, a man of power and reputation, and she began to wonder if the "real" side of him, the one hidden under the tailored suits and the stoic silence—was something she was prepared to face. Fear twisted i

Ava stood frozen under the spray, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Then, she heard it, the distinct, heavy click of the bedroom door settling into its frame.She reached out with a trembling hand and wrenched the handle, killing the flow of water instantly. The sudden silence was deafening, broken only by the frantic thrumming in her ears. She waited, lungs burning as she held her breath, listening for the sound of a footstep or the rustle of a heavy coat. When nothing came, she crept to the bathroom door and peeked into the bedroom.The room was empty. The air felt disturbed, as if someone had recently occupied the space, but the predator had moved on. Ava let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief that collapsed into a sob she quickly suppressed. She wrapped a plush towel tightly around her shivering frame, her skin still prickling from the adrenaline of their earlier confrontation.She reached for her phone, her fingers slick with moisture. With a shaky thu