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
Arec's POV:
I stared at the empty room, the echo of the conversation with Ella still ringing in my ears. The tension that had crackled between us felt heavy, and it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I had never expected to be at odds with Ella like this, the whole thing had spiraled out of control so quickly.
I shouldn't have confronted Ella the way I did.
I sank into the leather chair by the window, running a hand through my hair. My friendship with Joanne had always been solid.
We had history, years of trust and shared moments. But the more I thought about it, the more I began to wonder: had Joanne misunderstood the situation with Ella?
Why would Ella feel uncomfortable around her? It made no sense.
Our marriage was contractual. It was clear, simple. Ella and I weren't supposed to have real feelings involved, just a mutually beneficial arrangement.