All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE'S TEMPORARY WIFE : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The first thing I heard when I opened the hotel room door was a woman's laughter. It was soft and intimate, completely different from the business dinner Daniel had told me he was attending. I stood in the doorway for a few seconds, my fingers still wrapped around the handle, hoping there was some reasonable explanation for what I was hearing."Daniel?"There was no answer.I stepped inside and immediately noticed the two wine glasses on the table. An opened bottle of champagne stood beside them, and a woman's red handbag rested on the sofa. Daniel's jacket was hanging over a chair, even though he had told me he would be meeting clients for dinner and wouldn't be staying long.My heart began to pound.I followed the sound toward the bedroom, trying to convince myself that I was being paranoid. Daniel and I had been together for three years. He had talked about marriage, a house, and a future together. I had trusted him completely.Then I opened the bedroom door.Daniel was standing be

I woke up the next morning with one thought running through my mind.I was getting married.Not to Daniel.Not to a man I had spent years loving.To Adrian Blackwood.A stranger.A billionaire.My future husband for the next six months.I stared at the ceiling for several minutes, wondering how my life had changed so quickly. Two days ago, I had believed I knew exactly where my life was going. I had a boyfriend, a modest job, and a plan to build a future with the man I loved.Now Daniel was gone, my family's home was in danger, and I was preparing to marry a man whose eyes made me nervous for reasons I didn't understand.My phone rang.It was my mother."Are you awake?""Unfortunately."She sighed."Elena.""I know. I'm getting married today."There was a long silence."I still think you're making a mistake.""I might be.""Then why are you doing it?"I sat up and looked at the small suitcase beside my bed. There wasn't much inside it. A few dresses, shoes, some personal things, and e

Victoria's hand remained extended between us.I looked at it for a moment before slowly taking it. Her grip was firm, almost deliberately so, and the smile on her face never reached her eyes. There was something unsettling about the way she studied me, as if she were trying to find a weakness she could use later."Nice to meet you," I said politely."Is it?"I released her hand.Her smile widened.Adrian stepped forward, placing himself slightly between us. "Victoria, this isn't appropriate."She looked at him with an expression I couldn't understand."What's inappropriate about congratulating my former fiancé?""You're not here to congratulate me."Her eyes flickered toward me."You're right."The room became painfully quiet.I looked at Adrian, waiting for him to explain, but his expression had hardened. Whatever history existed between him and Victoria was clearly more complicated than a broken engagement.His older brother suddenly cleared his throat."Perhaps we should all sit do

My mother's disappearance turned the world around me upside down.I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my own heartbeat as Adrian pulled me through the corridors of Blackwood International. Employees stepped aside when they saw his expression, and even the security guards seemed to understand that something serious had happened."My mother wouldn't just disappear," I said as we entered the elevator.Adrian pressed the button for the ground floor."I know.""Then someone took her."His eyes met mine."That's what we're going to find out."I reached for my phone and called her.It rang once.Twice.Then went straight to voicemail.I called again.Nothing."Maybe her phone is dead.""Possibly.""But your assistant said she disappeared twenty minutes ago. How does he know?"Adrian's expression tightened."Someone called him.""Who?""We don't know."I stared at him."You don't know anything."His eyes hardened."That's why we're going to your mother's house."The elevator doors op

I read the sentence again, hoping I had misunderstood it.Do not trust Adrian Blackwood.The words seemed to blur in front of my eyes, but no matter how many times I read them, they remained the same. My father's handwriting was unmistakable. I had seen it countless times throughout my childhood, on birthday cards, shopping lists, and the notes he used to leave for my mother.This was his handwriting.And he had warned me about Adrian.I slowly lowered the letter.Adrian was watching me."What else does it say?"I couldn't answer.He took a step toward me."Elena."I instinctively stepped backward.His expression changed.He noticed.For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.My mother looked between us with tears in her eyes."I told you your father wanted to protect you."Adrian's gaze moved toward her."Why would he tell her not to trust me?""I don't know.""You must know something.""I don't."Adrian's voice became harder."You've known about this letter for years.""I knew there wa