All Chapters of A Contract Marriage With The Cruel Heir.: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Mirabel’s heart hammered against her ribs as the last pins were pushed into her half-mask. The small servants’ room was a whirlwind of whispered urgency. Rosa adjusted the plain black uniform on her shoulders while Naomi tied the strings of the mask behind her head, trying desperately to hide any familiar features.“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Mirabel breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. “If Isabella finds out I’m out there serving at her own party… she’ll ruin me. You know she will.”Rosa gave her a quick, reassuring squeeze. “She won’t recognize you. Not with the mask and your head down. Just keep moving, stay quiet and blend in.”“But what if someone sees?” Mirabel’s fingers twisted nervously in the fabric of her skirt. “I’m not supposed to exist tonight. I’m supposed to be invisible.”Naomi smiled softly, though worry lingered in her eyes. “Tonight you get to be part of it, even if it’s just for a little while. You deserve that much, sweetheart. Now go before they noti

Two weeks had passed since the nightmare by the pool, but the scars ran deeper than skin.Mirabel stood in the expansive kitchen, the steady rhythm of her knife slicing through carrots the only sound breaking the silence. Her skin had finally healed, the angry red hives faded into faint patches that still itched when she moved too quickly. But the memory of burning water and Isabella’s cold laughter lingered like a bruise that refused to fade. She had nearly drowned that night, begging for mercy while her body betrayed her. And yet, no one in the Harrington family had spoken of it since. Not an apology. Not even an acknowledgement.She wiped her hands on her apron, the fabric rough against her sensitive skin. Invisible, she reminded herself. That’s safer.“Mirabel!” A young maid poked her head into the kitchen, breathless. “Miss Isabella wants you in the living room. Now.”Mirabel’s stomach tightened, but she nodded obediently. She set down the knife and made her way through the cor

[Dante]The sharp throb in my left shin still burned, a physical reminder of Mirabel's defiance. It was the most exhilarating sensation I had felt in years. Stepping out of the Harrington living room, my mind replayed the audacity of her strike. Mirabel Harrington was supposed to be as invisible as a ghost, yet she looked at me with a fire that scorched right down my walls.Richard Harrington and his wife scrambled toward me as the door clicked shut, their faces twisted into desperate smiles. "Mr. Virelli, please you can't seriously be considering that girl, she’s unstable.” The slender woman pleaded, her voice grating like broken glass. I stopped, letting my shadow fall over them until they visibly shrank back."Your opinion on my future wife ceased to matter the moment you lied to my face," I told them, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. Isabella stood frozen behind them, her hands trembling with a mixture of rejected pride and pure malice. "She will ruin you, Dante, she is ju

Chapter 8: What She Wants.The grip on Mirabel's shoulder vanished as Dante yanked Isabella backward, spinning her away like a ragdoll. Isabella stumbled, catching herself against the doorframe, her carefully constructed mask cracking for just a moment."Are you hurt?" Dante's hands found Mirabel's arms, his eyes roaming her face with an intensity that made her breath catch. His thumb brushed the corner of her lip where Isabella's slap had split the skin. "She hit you.""It's nothing," Mirabel whispered, but her voice trembled."It's not nothing." His jaw tightened. "Tell me what happened. All of it."Behind him, Isabella was already recovering, smoothing her dress and summoning tears. "Dante, please, you don't understand—she's unstable, and she's been having episodes...""Not a word out of you." Dante didn't even turn around.Isabella's mouth snapped shut, genuine shock flickering across her features. Her father appeared in the hallway, wrinkles lining the corners of his mouth."Dant