I never expected my life to change so drastically. One moment, I was a woman with dreams, deeply in love with a man I thought I’d spend my life with. The next, I was betrayed and heartbroken, walking in on him cheating without a hint of remorse. That night, overwhelmed with pain and too much alcohol, I made a reckless decision, a one-night stand with a stranger who, to my shock, turned out to be my new boss. Arec, the vice president of Denco Groups, was desperate. To secure his future as CEO, he needed a wife, and in a twist of fate, he offered me a contract marriage. It sounded absurd, but his desperation mirrored my own need to escape the wreckage of my life. It was supposed to be simple: no emotions, no strings attached. A business arrangement, nothing more. I thought I could handle it, that I could keep my heart out of it. I was wrong. What started as a deal quickly spiraled into something far more complicated. As our fake marriage blurred into real feelings, the world around us began to close in. Disapproving family, old enemies, buried secrets, scheming rivals, and even an attempt on my life threatened to tear us apart. This is my story, a journey of heartbreak, unexpected love, and a fight to protect what we built together. In a world filled with lies and deceit, can a marriage born out of necessity become something real? --- Warning: This book contains mature themes. Join my Discord server: https://discord.gg/NJJKETf4
As soon as I saw Ella sitting at her desk, shoulders trembling, I knew something was wrong. She tried to wipe away her tears, but the damage was already done. Her sobs were quiet, controlled, but that made it worse.
Ella never cried like this. I have never seen her like this. Not even in the face of the whirlwind Klaus had stirred up with his lies. But now, it was like the weight of everything had finally crushed her.
And I couldn't stand it.
"Ella?" I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She stiffened, clearly not wanting me to see her like this, but I didn't move. I didn't want to leave her alone with her pain.
"I'm fine," she whispered, her voice brittle. But she wasn't fine, and it was my fault. If I hadn't dragged her into this stupid contract, Klaus never would've gotten so vindictive. Ella would still be living her life in peace, not under the microscope of public opinion, not the subject of vicious rumors swirling around our office.