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:
I slumped onto Kate's couch, feeling like the weight of the world had settled onto my shoulders. The fake wedding, the endless pretending, it was draining every last bit of energy I had. I had just come from another meeting with the wedding planner, finalizing details I didn't care about for a wedding that wasn't real.
"So, how's the blushing bride-to-be?" Kate teased as she handed me a glass of wine. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, but I couldn't even muster a smile.
I groaned. "It's exhausting, Kate. Honestly, pretending to be excited about a wedding that's not even real is more draining than I thought it would be.
The dress fittings, the guest list, the flowers, none of it means anything, and I have to act like it does." I took a sip of wine and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "I'm pretending to be something I'm not, and it's getting to me."