All Chapters of BORROWED WIFE STOLEN HEART : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Lina’s phone rang loudly on the nightstand at 6:45 AM, jolting her awake.She grabbed it fast, heart already racing when she saw the hospital number.“Hello? Is he okay?”The nurse’s voice was calm but serious. “Lina, it’s Nurse Rachel. Your brother had a rough night. His oxygen levels dropped again. The doctor wants to move the treatment start date up, but we need your signature today. In person. Can you come now?”Lina sat up quickly. “Yes. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”She threw on jeans and a sweater and rushed into the living room.Adrian was already dressed, drinking coffee by the windows. He turned when he heard her footsteps.“What’s wrong?” he asked, eyes narrowing.Lina stopped a few feet away, breathless. “It’s my brother. He had a bad night. The hospital needs me there right now to sign papers so they can start the treatment earlier. I have to go.”Adrian set his cup down slowly. “No. Not today. We have the lawyers’ dinner at seven. You need to rest and prepare.”Lina s

Lina was pacing the living room at 11:30 PM when Adrian finally came out of his office, loosening his tie.“You’re still up,” he said, stopping near the couch. “What’s wrong now?”Lina turned to him, phone clutched tightly in her hand. “The hospital called again while you were working. My brother had another episode tonight. They’re moving the treatment up to tomorrow morning and they need me there at 8 AM to sign the final consent forms in person.”Adrian exhaled slowly. “We have the private brunch with two board members at 9:30. You’re not going.”Lina stared at him in disbelief. “You can’t be serious. This is his life, Adrian. Not some scheduling conflict.”Adrian walked closer, voice low. “I am serious. You already went once this week. Another unscheduled trip looks suspicious. The board members are part of the inheritance oversight. They need to see stability.”Lina’s voice cracked with anger. “Stability? My brother is lying in a hospital bed scared and in pain, and you want me s

Lina was folding clothes in her room when Adrian pushed the door open without knocking.“We need to talk,” he said, stepping inside. “Now.”She turned, startled. “What’s wrong?”Adrian held up her phone. “You left this on the dining table. It rang twice while you were in here. Same number every time. Who is it?”Lina’s stomach dropped. She reached for the phone, but he held it out of reach.“Give it back,” she said, voice tight. “It’s probably the hospital.”Adrian didn’t move. “I checked the screen. It’s not the hospital. Same unknown number that’s been texting you for days. The one you always delete instantly. Who is he, Lina?”Lina’s heart hammered. “It’s just an old friend. He heard I got married suddenly and he’s worried. That’s all.”Adrian took a step closer, eyes cold. “An old friend who texts you at midnight? Who makes you look guilty every single time? Don’t lie to me. I’ve seen the way you react when his name appears.”Lina backed up until she hit the bed. “His name doesn’t

Lina was adjusting her earring in front of the mirror when Adrian appeared in the doorway, already dressed for the evening fundraiser.“Turn around,” he said.She turned. The emerald green dress Sophia had chosen hugged her figure perfectly.Adrian studied her for a long moment. “It’ll do. But tonight is important. Two of the inheritance trustees will be there. You need to be flawless.”Lina met his eyes in the mirror. “Flawless. Got it. Smile, stay close, short answers, pretend I’m madly in love with you.”Adrian stepped closer, voice low. “Not pretend. Sell it. If they sense any tension, they’ll report back. One bad impression and the lawyers could delay everything.”Lina’s stomach twisted. “I know the stakes.”They rode to the event in silence. The moment they stepped onto the red carpet, Adrian’s hand settled possessively on her lower back. Cameras flashed.“Smile like you mean it,” he whispered, lips brushing her ear.Lina turned to him with the brightest smile she could manage a

Lina was in the middle of a quiet lunch alone in the penthouse when the front desk called up.“Mrs. Korr, there’s a gentleman here asking for you. He says he’s an old friend. Ethan? Should I send him up?”Lina’s fork froze halfway to her mouth. “No. Don’t. I’ll come down.”She hung up fast, heart slamming against her ribs. Adrian was in a meeting across town. This was her only window.She grabbed her bag and took the private elevator down, pulse racing the whole way.Ethan was waiting in the lobby, looking exactly as she remembered ,messy hair, paint-stained jacket, that familiar worried expression.“Lina,” he breathed, stepping forward. “God, you look… different. Are you okay? I’ve been texting you for weeks.”She kept distance between them. “You can’t be here. If Adrian finds out..”“I don’t care about him,” Ethan cut in. “I care about you. This whole marriage thing… it’s not you. Let me help you get out. I can take you to your brother right now. We can figure something out.”Lina’s