Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 10

Chapter 2The ride to Julian’s penthouse was suffocatingly silent.The tinted privacy glass of the Maybach separated them from the driver, sealing Elara inside a luxurious, leather-scented cage with her new husband. Julian didn’t speak a word. He sat in the corner, a tumbler of amber whiskey in his hand, his long legs stretched out casually.Though he wasn’t looking at her, Elara could feel the weight of his presence pressing down on her. The heavy diamond ring on her left hand caught the passing city lights, flashing like a warning beacon.I survived the wedding, she reminded herself, clutching her sequined clutch so tightly her fingers ached. Now I just have to survive the night.When the private elevator finally chimed and opened directly into Julian’s penthouse, Elara swallowed hard.The space was exactly like the man who owned it: cold, imposing, and breath-takingly expensive. Sleek black marble floors stretched toward floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic, god-like v

Chapter 4The dress fit perfectly, hugging Elara’s curves as if it had been sewn directly onto her skin. It was a vibrant, wicked shade of crimson, featuring a daring sweetheart neckline and a slit that ran up her left thigh. She looked entirely unfamiliar to herself. Gone was the understated, pastel-wearing Sterling heiress. Staring back at her in the mirror was a woman molded by Julian Vance’s expensive, ruthless tastes. She picked up the diamond-encrusted choker from the velvet box. Her fingers trembled as she struggled with the intricate platinum clasp behind her neck. "Let me." Elara gasped, dropping her hands as Julian stepped up behind her. She hadn't heard him re-enter the room. In the mirror, their reflection looked like an oil painting of a demon claiming an angel. He was dressed in a razor-sharp charcoal suit, his broad shoulders framing her perfectly. Julian’s large, warm hands brushed against the sensitive skin of her nape, sending a jolt of electricity straight down

Chapter 6For three days following the explosive fight in the Maybach, Julian completely froze her out.He left the penthouse before sunrise and returned long after midnight. They slept in the same massive bed, but the expanse of dark silk between them felt like an uncrossable ocean. Julian was a ghost, a terrifying, silent shadow who communicated only through his assistant or Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper.Elara told herself she preferred it this way. If he wasn’t looking at her, he couldn’t hurt her.But the silence was suffocating.It was 2:00 AM on a Thursday, and a violent thunderstorm was raging over the city. Rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse. Elara sat curled in a velvet armchair in the living room, reading a book under the dim glow of a lamp, unable to sleep.Suddenly, the private elevator chimed.Elara tensed, closing her book. The heavy doors slid open, and Julian stepped into the foyer.He didn't look like the untouchable billionaire who had r

Chapter 8The guest bedroom was beautiful. It was decorated in soft creams and warm golds, with a massive bed and a private balcony overlooking the city. It was infinitely more comfortable than the dark, imposing cavern of Julian’s master suite.It was exactly what Elara had wanted.So why had she spent the last two nights staring at the ceiling, feeling an uncomfortable, hollow ache in her chest?It’s just adrenaline, she told herself firmly as she sat at the vanity table on Friday evening. You’re just used to being on edge around him.A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper, peeked her head in. She was a stern older woman who usually wore a permanent scowl, but her eyes softened slightly when she looked at Elara."The styling team has left, Mrs. Vance," the housekeeper said, stepping into the room. "And I must say... you look breathtaking."Elara stood up and turned to face the full-length mirror.Julian’s assistant hadn't exaggerated. The

Chapter 10Elara didn’t sleep a single wink that night.She sat on the edge of the guest bed, wrapped in a plush white robe, staring at the glowing screen of her phone until her eyes burned.Ask him about the Thorne family. Don't let your husband kill the wrong man.The anonymous message mocked her from the screen. She zoomed in on the attached photograph for the hundredth time, examining her father’s signature. It was real. The specific loop of the 'R' and the sharp slant of the 'S' it was unmistakably Richard Sterling's handwriting.Her father had helped destroy Julian’s parents.A fresh tear slipped down Elara’s cheek, splashing onto the screen. Her father wasn't just a victim of a hostile takeover. He was guilty.But he hadn't acted alone.Arthur Thorne Victoria and Marcus's father was Julian’s right-hand man. He was the senior board member of Vance Empire. Julian trusted Arthur implicitly. He had allowed Victoria to drape herself over him for years, and he did massive amounts of