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:
The next day at work felt like stepping into a lion's den. The moment I walked through the doors of Denco Group, I could sense the shift in the air.
Conversations died down when I passed by, replaced by hushed whispers, muffled snickers, and curious glances. It was as if I had stepped into the office as someone entirely different, a walking scandal instead of just Ella.
By the time I reached the elevator, the murmurs were loud enough to break through my fragile armor. I forced myself to stand tall, pretending not to notice the people behind me exchanging sly looks, but their words seeped through like poison.
"Do you really think she's innocent?" one woman whispered just a few steps behind me.
Another voice, softer but sharper, replied, "She knew exactly what she was doing. She's probably been after Arec's money from the start."