All Chapters of Bound by a Billion Dollar Marriage: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Marcus didn't argue further, just started the car and followed the cab.In the back seat, Grayson reopened the text Isla had sent him the day before. Just a flat notice that the laundry was done and dropped at his office.Nothing else. No warmth, no small talk.Irritated, he tossed the phone aside. He'd been resting with his eyes shut, but something sharp and unwelcome flared behind them now.I want to know exactly who she's meeting at lunch.Isla stepped out of the cab at the campus gate. Before she'd even crossed onto school grounds, a familiar voice called out warmly, "Isla."Standing just outside the entrance was a guy in a crisp white shirt and casual pants, his easy smile practically glowing on its own."Senior?" Isla glanced over, surprised, and waved. Marcus Whitfield.Marcus smiled at her, warm and effortless, the kind of expression that felt genuinely soothing. "I figured you'd be back on campus today, so I waited. Have you eaten?"She hadn't. Between the chaos at work, lunc

Grayson frowned, rolled every window down, and turned to look out at the passing street.The breeze carried a wave of pork-scented air straight from Isla to him.Isla caught the flicker of disgust crossing his features instantly.This is awkward on so many levels.He's the one who yelled at me to get in this car, fully aware of what I looked like, and now he's making faces about it? Not my fault.But then, remembering how this man operated, she braced herself he'd probably find some way to bill her for "contaminating" the upholstery.Isla scooted forward, trying to compress herself into as small a space as possible.This car's worth more than I'll make in a decade. I cannot afford whatever damages he'll invent.She was still spiraling through worst-case scenarios when Grayson's voice cut in, flat and cold."Skipping work to sneak off and meet someone at your old campus?"Isla: "..."Grayson leaned against the window, eyes narrowed, a quiet, simmering anger visible underneath his compo

Inside the room, the heavy curtains stayed drawn, the lights flicking on automatically."You want me to wait for you to get home for dinner tonight? Okay, okay, be a good girl and wait for me, I'll come straight home after work, just for you. I love having dinner with my husband more than anything." Isla kept the performance going, stomping her feet with faux excitement."You bet my husband is the most handsome man alive. Nobody else even comes close. What's not handsome about you great body, and honestly? I love your leg hair too. I love you so, so, SO much. I must've saved an entire galaxy in a past life to end up with a man like you.""You too? Oh my god, stop, you're making me blush. How can you say things this cheesy? Fine, call me your darling wife, and I'll call you my darling husband."She twisted her body bashfully as she spoke, her syrupy tone completely at odds with the woman who'd just been threatening to bite someone twenty minutes ago.Completely, unbearably sweet.Acros

Does this man have mind-reading powers or something?And for the record, I'm five-foot-five. Standard height. I could jump and headbutt him if I wanted to!Using his height to insult mine is just tacky.Seeing her still lost in thought, Grayson's voice sharpened. "Come here."The sudden command startled Isla back to attention."Yes, yes, coming!" She stepped forward immediately."Hand."Isla obediently held out her hand, and Grayson took it, guiding her through the steps of tying a tie.He was surprisingly patient about it brow furrowed, sure, but no impatience, no shortness in his tone.Why is he even bothering to teach me this?! I'm not his actual wife!Isla muttered internally, not daring to argue out loud. His hand guided hers through each motion, and she found herself staring at his fingers clean, elegant, undeniably attractive before her gaze drifted, unbidden, to his throat.His Adam's apple. That's... unreasonably attractive.NO. Absolutely not. Do NOT go down this path. This

Disgrace? Even if he technically is one, he's still my "husband." I already committed to that whole devoted-wife performance for the sake of the act, or my own cover story, I can't let this man trash-talk him now."It's just a rumor. Why take it seriously?" Isla tugged at her bag strap, not turning around.She didn't look back, but she could feel that oppressive presence closing in behind her, and the closer it got, the more unsettled she felt.Can't afford to provoke him. Live under someone's roof, keep your head down. Isla reminded herself: don't pull the tiger's tail."Oh? Something in your tone sounds like regret. If it's not working out, plenty of other options out there. I hear frustrated young people get a little unhinged when they're not satisfied. You're not that old, and yet here you are, already halfway there. Been holding out too long?"Grayson, freshly composed and dressed sharp again, delivered the line with total conviction like a man who hadn't spent the last hour half