All Chapters of The billionaire’s forced bride: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Colton's POVI didn't sleep.I sat in my hotel suite until four in the morning and I didn't touch the bed. I sat by the window with a glass of whiskey I barely drank and I thought about grey eyes on a four year old face and I thought about Mara walking out of that event like she had somewhere to be and I thought about the three weeks I spent looking for her four years ago before I finally stopped.I stopped because continuing felt like weakness. I told myself I was done. I told myself she had made her choice and I had made mine and that was the end of it.It wasn't the end of it. I knew that now.I had built an entire identity around not needing people. My parents died when I was nineteen and I learned that night that the things you love most can be taken without warning and without reason. So I stopped holding things too tightly. I built Vance Group from nothing, made my first hundred million before twenty-six, and kept every person in my life at a distance that felt like safety. It

Mara's POVI called Priya from the parking lot. She picked up on the first ring the way she always did when she knew something was wrong, which was almost always because Priya had an instinct for trouble that bordered on supernatural. I had barely finished two sentences before she interrupted me."He did what?""Keep your voice down," I said, even though she was in another city and there was no one near me."Mara, he filed for custody and then offered marriage in the same meeting. That is not a legal strategy, that is a hostage situation.""I know what it is," I said."What are you going to do?"I leaned against my car and looked up at the glass building I had just walked out of. Fourteen floors of clean lines and expensive decisions. "I have seventy two hours to decide."Priya was quiet for a moment, which was unusual enough that I paid attention to it. "What does your gut say?""My gut says I should have stayed in the last city.""That's not what I asked."I closed my eyes. "My gut

Mara’s povNothing could explain the hurt or pain I experienced as my daughter stared at me in that distraught look.“My love” Colton called, talking to lily “I am here now and I am not going anywhere” “I will finally stay with you and your mum and we will live together”“Really”“Yes”“I love you, daddy”.That right there made me realize I made the right decision.I will do anything to see the happiness in her eyes.I raised my head, trying to get rid of my tears when I locked eyes with Nathan. I had actually forgotten he was in the room.He had this thoughtful look on his face. I removed my eyes from him.“Mum, can Dad come to live with us now”, Lily pleaded“Lily, it is not that easy”“But I want him to live with us” Lily whined.“Hey pumpkin( how he thought of a nickname so fast was just……) it is not that easy. But don’t worry we will soon be together. ““Your mum and I will soon get married in the next four days so I just want you to count till then. You and I will be together s

Colton’s povAs I stared at Mara, all I could think of was the fact that she was beautiful. “Where did everything go wrong?” I thought to myself.I stared at the shop. I didn’t forget.When Mara and I were dating, she told me that she would love her ring to be bought from this shop; beauty and Splendor Jewelleries. That’s why I brought her here. I’m so happy she is happy.“Let’s go”“Ok”I stepped out and as I was about to open the door for her, she did. I opened Lily’s door.I already paid for us to stay for one hour without any other customers as I’m trying to keep it low. So when we stepped inside, there was no single soul there and Mara noticed.“Why are there no customers “ she wondered. “ I don’t know. Maybe people didn’t need anything from here” I said, already feeling stupid with my reply. She would have guessed that it is a lie because it is always bubbling with people, which is why it is one of the best jewelry shops.“Hmmmm, that’s strange, but if you say so” she said“Ye

Colton’s povAs we stepped out of the court registry, all I could do was stare at Lily. She really looked like an angel in her gown which complemented her black hair a lot.I continued staring until I looked down and saw Lily looking at me, smiling. That startled me. I was about to ask Lily why she was looking at me like that when I noticed that Mara was looking about frantically, like she was scared.“Mara…. Mara” I tried calling her but she wasn’t listening.“Mara” I shouted, shaking her .” What is going on, why are you looking around like you are scared?”“She is here……….. she is here “ she repeated frantically.“Who is here? Mara talk to me, who is here?”“She….. she…..” she stuttered. She then looked at lily and the next few minutes went by quickly.She carried Lily and started saying “We have to go, we have to leave. We are not safe”I didn’t understand what she was saying but I followed her. We reached my car and entered.“Please can we go….. please” she said looking at me, p