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
Ella's POV:
When I finally stepped out of the penthouse and into the elevator, my mind was a tangled mess of thoughts, feelings, and guilt. As the floors descended, I wondered how this hospital visit would go. Would it be tense? Awkward? Would Kate and Joanne find some way to get along for my sake, or would they end up making this whole day even harder?
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and I stepped into the lobby, spotting Joanne waiting by the reception desk. She was dressed to perfection, as usual, looking completely at ease as she scrolled through her phone. When she saw me, her face lit up, her smile genuine and bright.
"Ella!" she exclaimed, pocketing her phone. "There you are. I was starting to think they'd locked me out for good."
"Sorry about that," I said, forcing a smile. "They're pretty strict about who they let up to the penthouse."
"Oh, it's fine," she replied, waving her hand dismissively. "Shall we?"