Novel & Cerita The Temporary Wife Read Online

“You did wait. You watched me play the devoted husband for years. You watched her pour our champagne and lower her eyes and believe every careful lie I fed her. And you never once demanded I choose sooner than I was ready.” “Because I knew how the story ended,” Vivienne answered. Her fingers traced the line of his jaw with proprietary calm. “She was always temporary a shield, a scapegoat, a convenient signature on whatever document we needed. I was not temporary. Now the temporary piece is ash and headlines, and I finally get to stand in the light without lowering my voice.” He kissed her hard, without tenderness, without the gentleness he had once weaponized against another woman. When he p

I didn’t need to be reacting to her like this, when all I needed to do was make a simple phone call. But, the image of her beautiful breasts were stamped in my mind, and I was having great difficulty removing it. Also, if there was one thing I was sure of, it was the fact that I didn’t want any other woman that was not Elena Richardson. My temporary wife. How hard could life get?

I flipped through the first page and started reading : Clause one: The marriage shall last for one year. Seeing that made me a bit relieved. Just a year, a temporary life. I can do this. Clause 2: Miss Addams will receive any amount necessary for my mother's treatment during the term of the marriage. I felt anxious, but I would be able to pay for my mother’s treatment and surgery possibly. That’s more than enough for me. I gulped down hard and continued reading. Clause 3: Miss Addams must fully comply with her duties i.e., maintaining the public appearance of a real and happy wife. Public displays of affection in meetings or functions will be accepted.

“Kieran will never love a woman like you. You’re wolfless. You’re weak. You’re nothing.” I yanked my arm out of her grip. “As if you’re one to talk.” Her eyes flashed. “You think your marriage to him is real?” She laughed bitterly. “It’s temporary, just like mine was supposed to be. Just like all the others. As soon as he finds someone better, someone stronger, someone with a wolf, you’ll be gone. That’s what he does: he discards people once he no longer has a use for him, and honey, you’re about as useless as they come. Give it a couple months at most and you’ll be standing where I am right now, watching the next woman take your place.”

"You said —" "I said no to waiting. I said no to delay. I said no to the idea that Adam Ballard's temporary inconvenience should be allowed to derail something that two families have spent years building. I told Elias that I didn't care if you woke up, if you stayed in a coma forever, if you spent the next forty years drooling into a pillow in a care facility. I was going to be your wife. Not your fiancée. Your wife. And I was going to be your wife before you woke up, so that when — if — you opened your eyes, the decision would already be made."

"Mr. Rossini, could you let your wife get out first? Her leg isn't seriously hurt, and right now, there's a pregnant woman hemorrhaging badly. We need to use the emergency equipment in the ambulance—" Before the nurse could finish, a delicate voice sounded from inside the vehicle. "Dante, my leg hurts so much. Will I ever be able to dance again?" Dante's icy voice cut through the air with bone-chilling coldness. "My wife is a dancer. Her legs are more important than anyone here! I need to make sure she isn't left with a scar." He paused, then emphasized again, "No one is more important than my wife!" She was his wife? Then who was I?

Because that was the first time I had ever heard him call me his wife. After leaving Miles’s room, I drank wine alone in my own room. With my legs curled up on the chair, I played with the glass filled with red liquid. Am I truly alive? Or is every life destined to feel like this? Honestly, I had already taken care of the paperwork. My name now really is Sandra Astor, with the background of belonging to a married couple who had no children. A year after I was registered as part of their family, both of them passed away.

“How is it not personal? I am your friend! Your business partner! I should have been there!” She was right. Under normal circumstances, Giulia would have been the first person I’d call with engagement news. She would have helped me pick the dress, plan the ceremony, and probably cried during the vows. Instead, I’d shut her out completely. “Sit down,” I said quietly. “Let me explain.” “This better be good.” Giulia perched on the edge of her desk, arms crossed. Waiting. I took a deep breath. “The marriage is temporary.” “What does that mean, temporary?”

Without sensing how off she sounded, he began to put her in her place “I do appreciate that you asked the kitchen to prepare hangover soup for me. But this should be the last time you are going to interfere…” “Stay in your lane and I’ll do the same. I won’t interfere in this new relationship you’re trying to form with the household staff. But it seems you have forgotten your place here! You are a temporary wife. One bound by contract, so know your place. You are a temporary wife, let that stick to your head. Always!”

Just enough. Elena pushed the contract towards him. “My mother first.” “Tonight,” he said. “And I’m not your toy.” His gaze lifted to hers. Dark. Steady. Close enough now that she could see a faint scar cutting through one eyebrow. “No,” he said. “You’re my wife.” The word hit harder than it should have. Wife. Her pulse stumbled. Adrian held out his hand, then paused. “May I?” The question was quiet. Almost private.