All Chapters of LOVING THE WRONG BRIDE: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Isabella's POV "What do you want to do with the phone?" Adrian asked.His question hung in the air between us, calm on the surface, but I could hear the current underneath it — like he already knew the answer would make things worse."What do I want to do with my phone?" I repeated, my voice climbing before I could stop it. How can Adrian ask me such a crazy question? That was insane. "Adrian, you didn't buy that phone. I did. With my own money, before I ever set foot in this house. You don't get to question what I do with something that's mine."His jaw flexed. He said nothing, but his silence had teeth in it now."You don't have that right," I said, quieter this time, because I needed him to actually hear it instead of just weather it.He looked at me like I'd said something in a language he used to know and had forgotten. Confused. Almost lost. For a second I thought I saw something crack behind his eyes, and then he turned toward the door.I wasn't letting him walk away from th

Isabella's POV"Adrian," I murmured. "Do you choose me, or do you choose Scarlett?""Nothing will touch you," Adrian said. "Scarlett won't get anywhere near this house again. I'll make sure of it."I studied his face, waiting for the flicker that told me he was lying. It didn't come. For once, he sounded certain.He stared at me. "Starting today," he went on, "we need to go out together, as husband and wife. So people can see us united, or every rumor she's planted will keep growing."I should have felt relieved. Instead, my stomach tightened."Husband and wife," I repeated slowly. "That's a costume, Adrian. Not a marriage.""Isabella—""You still have so much to clean up before you get to wear that word around me."He tilted his head, and I watched the muscle in his jaw flex the way it always did right before he got defensive. "What do you mean?"I made myself hold his gaze."There's something I still want you to do, Adrian," I said, looking him in the face."Tell me. What else do yo

Isabella's POVThe moment I heard the word shareholder didn't feel real until I saw my name printed on the paper Mr. Richard slid across the boardroom table. Isabella Hart-Ashford. Voting shares. Real power, not a token seat — exactly what I'd demanded.I should have felt triumphant. Instead, l my stomach twisted into something closer to dread.I found Adrian in his study that evening, sleeves rolled to the elbow, a glass of something amber untouched at his side. He didn't look like a man who'd just handed his wife real power. He looked like a man bracing for a storm."We should celebrate," I said, standing in the doorway.He didn't look up. "Celebrating what, exactly?" His voice came out slowly like someone who had just woken up."My enrollment." I kept my voice light, testing him. "Unless you didn't mean it."Silence stretched long enough that I counted my own heartbeat. Then he lifted his eyes, and the smile that touched his mouth was soft in a way I hadn't seen in weeks — almost b

Isabella's POV“You'd better inform your media team to start working on it immediately.” His eyes are on me.“They are on it already.” Adrian responded.“Good.” I murmured.“Isabella,” he said, "they were already working on it right now.” he repeated and continued. “I want them to search for who is responsible, and make sure they take it down.”“Better,” I said and nodded.My hands trembled under the podium, but my voice didn't."Thank you," I said, looking first at Adrian, seated at the head of the table like a king waiting to see if his gamble would pay off. "For trusting me with a decision most husbands wouldn't dare make."His eyes didn't leave mine."Thank you to Mr. Tim for guarding this family's secrets better than anyone should have to. To Mr. Richard, for making sure every step of this was legal, clean, and defensible." I let my gaze sweep the long table. "And to all of you — for sitting in this room today despite what you saw online last night."Nobody moved. Nobody breathed.

Isabella's POVAdrian's question hung in the garden air like smoke.Did you tell my mother anything?My heart was pounding, but I kept my face calm. I had learned something in the last hour. Fear is a weakness, and this family feeds on weakness.I lifted my chin."Good morning to you, too, husband."His frown deepened. "Answer me.""Why are you frowning?" I asked sweetly. "It is too early for that face. You will get wrinkles."Eleanor made a small sound behind me. I think it was a cough. I think it was hiding a laugh.Adrian's eyes flicked to his mother, then back to me. "What are you two doing out here so early?""Talking." I whispered slowly, looking at Eleanor."About what?"I smiled. "Women's things. Family duties." I stepped closer and straightened his crooked collar with two fingers. "Nothing that needs your presence."His mouth opened. Nothing came out.I had never seen Adrian Ashford speechless. Not in front of the board, not in front of the police, not even in front of Uncle