Semua Bab The Billionaire's Anonymous Bride.: Bab 1 - Bab 10

Evelyn Rose Sterling, daughter of the founder of Sterling Bio-Nutrition; Arthur Sterling, was quite jittery. The flight she had intended to board back home had been delayed and she was a woman on a tight schedule. Her fingers drum lazily on the arm rest, her mind drifting back to the conversation she had with her mother the previous night. ‘It’s bad, Evie,’ her mother sighed dejectedly on the phone. ‘Your father might have to visit the Thorne’s again.’ Hearing that, her blood had run cold. The Thorne’s were her in-laws, not by choice. Her father’s company had run into a serious financial crisis in the past which had led him to seek them out for help. That help came with a condition that she was to be wed to one of their sons. Her father had agreed and had signed the contract. Evelyn who had just wanted to further her studies had immediately left the country for Norwich, England for her master’s degree. She never met her husband and she didn’t wish to, which made her stay

The air in the master suite was thick with want Evelyn felt her last bit of strength, the logic she’d used to survive years of school and the walls she’d built against this marriage, simply crumble. Maybe it was the long hours of being stuck in the sky, or the way the jet lag made everything feel like a blurry dream. Or maybe it was just the years of looking at his cold face in photos, wondering if there was actually a heart beating under that expensive suit. Whatever it was, this wasn't about business anymore. Evelyn’s back hit the soft duvet, and the air left her lungs in a quiet gasp. The drug had stripped away the CEO and the cold husband, leaving behind a man who was nothing but heat and a desperate, shaky need to be touched. She should have pushed him off. She should have reached for the lamp or run for the door. But as his hands, rough and trembling, tangled in her hair, her own body stopped listening to her brain. A sharp, electric spark shot through her, a feeling she had

As footsteps rang out against the marble floor, Evelyn’s breath caught. ‘.….unacceptable.’ Lucien’s voice. It was low, sharp and controlled but he couldn't hide the irritation in them. Evelyn listened intently from where she was. She didn’t move, trying to conceal her prescence as much as possible and she didn’t know why. Maybe instinct or fear. She stepped back quietly slipping further into the adjoining sitting area where the wall partially shielded her from view as the two moved closer. ‘I don’t tolerate mistakes, Alex,’ Lucien continued, his tone clipped. ‘If someone can get close enough to tamper with my drink, then I have a security problem.’ ‘Yes, sir. I’ve already started reviewing access logs…..’ ‘Not started,’ Lucien cut in. ‘Finished.’ Silence. Then, ‘Yes, sir.’ Evelyn pressed her fingers lightly against her arm, grounding herself as she listened. This was him. The lucien she had read from the tabloids and seen all over the news. Nothing like the man from las

Evelyn sat on the edge of her bed in her old room, staring at nothing in particular. The room was quiet. Her phone was still in her hand, but she wasn’t even looking at it anymore. Her mind kept replaying everything she had heard earlier. Every word. Every tone. Every decision that wasn’t even hers to begin with. She swallowed slowly. So it was real. Lucien really said no, and now everything was just… falling apart. She let out a small breath and leaned back slightly, staring at the ceiling like it might give her answers. But there was nothing there. Just white paint and silence. Her phone suddenly rang. She flinched a little before looking down at the screen. “Father.” Her chest tightened immediately. She hesitated for a second before picking up. “Hello…” her voice came out soft. There was a short pause on the other side before her father spoke. “We need to talk,” he said, calm. Evelyn sat up straight. “Is it about the contract?” Another pause. “Yes,” he replie

The ride home passed in silence. Evelyn rested her head against the cool window of the car, watching the city lights blur together as they disappeared behind them. Usually, she enjoyed looking outside whenever she had too much on her mind. It gave her something else to focus on, something that wasn't the endless stream of thoughts refusing to leave her alone. Tonight, however, nothing helped. Every few seconds, her mind wandered back to the restaurant, back to Lucien sitting across from her with the same composed expression from the beginning of dinner until the very end. She still couldn't understand him. One moment, she was certain he wanted nothing more than to end their marriage. The next, he was agreeing to extend the contract simply because his father wanted him to. There had been no emotion in his voice, no excitement, not even reluctance. He had spoken about their future the same way someone discussed a business proposal. As though their marriage was nothin