Chapter: Chapter 63Darcie I blinked, trying to process if it's just me dreaming or It's really Arthur. I mean, since when did he get better from the stroke. He walked in, surprising Charles and I. Maybe their parents knew about his health. He walked in better and different than how he was. Like he had gotten a glow up after the stroke. The maids walked upstairs and Mrs Sterling walked to him. “Ohh, Arthur, my son.” She opened her hands for an embrace and he hugged her. “I've missed you. Welcome back, my darling.”“I missed you too mom.” He smiled and looked up to his father. “Dad…” he walked towards him and they hugged. “Welcome back, Arthur.” Mr Sterling smiled. Then, Arthur raised his head at Charles who's still holding on to me. The three of them now staring at us like we were guilty as thieves.“Brother…”“Don't call me your brother.” Charles' hissed. “It's disgusting.”“Charles'!” Mrs Sterling screamed. “How could you say that to Arthur like that? After he just got discharged.”“I don't underst
Last Updated: 2026-06-29
Chapter: Chapter 62Darcie I ran inside, back to my room and my face was wet with tears. My legs were shaking, I was so scared, so confused and angry about what Charles said. He has caused trouble. He should have just kept quiet without saying anything. Now I feel so stupid and threatened by the last words his father said. I'm just supposed to be his helper, not a lover. They would be so disappointed in me, at the both of us. My fingers trembled as I merged them together. I was trying to breathe normally but my heart seemed to beat rapidly. I stood to my feet, pacing the room. Whatever Charles' doing, I have to stop him. But how could I, he just confessed how he loved each other to them. Could I still stop him?The knock on the door almost made me jump. It wasn't once or twice, just kept on drumming consistently. “Open the door, Darcie!”That sounded like Mrs Sterling. I closed my eyes and opened the door slowly. My entire body was shivering like I had a cold. I saw half her body and suddenly, she push
Last Updated: 2026-06-29
Chapter: Chapter 61DarcieThe entire class, I couldn't focus. My mind was centered on what Sloane had been asking me to do for her. Implicate myself. That would be the most embarrassing thing to do. But she was so hellbent on watching me do it. I tried my best to distract myself from thinking about it, but I can't. I just laid my head on the desk and slept off. When it's closing time, I rubbed my eyes, feeling so tired and I was already enjoying my nap. I grabbed my bag and Jax and I walked out of the class. Charles' move quickly beside us, heading to the car.When we got outside, Jax and I waved before he left. I slipped into the front seat which Charles had opened for me. He drove out of the park and into the road. We still didn't say anything. As it should be though. He glided into the mansion before the engine stopped. I opened the car door and before I could walk from it, he hurriedly slammed his door and scurried towards me, grabbing my hand and pinned me to the car. “What are you doing?” I gas
Last Updated: 2026-06-29
Chapter: Chapter 60Darcie Charles' and I hadn't seen each other all day. Actually, since the beginning of the day, he wasn't up. I'm pretty sure he suffered from hangover because of the drinking. But I didn't go into his room with a towel and warm water, I'm still trying to avoid him with all costs. Although, I have a mission to fulfill. Sloane's. Make him go out with Genevieve. I sighed and cleaned the kitchen countertop. After doing some chores, I finally settled on the on sofa to watch a movie. I grabbed the remote and pressed the buttons before leaving an action movie I thought would be interesting.As I stared at the television screen, from behind, a leg dropped to the other side of the sofa and when I looked up, it's Charles. He just sits, sprawling his arms all over without looking at my face. He grabbed the popcorn bowl in the middle and threw some into his mouth. The silence is really awkward and I can't help but feel tense. Maybe I should leave but I don't want to. He didn't say anything. I
Last Updated: 2026-06-29
Chapter: Chapter 59DarcieThe moment he stopped the car, I came down and walked into the mansion hurriedly so he wouldn't meet up with me. I moved faster, into the foyer and climbed the stairs. Then the hallway before finally getting to my room. I thought I was safe till I realized the door wouldn't close. Like something was on its way. I looked down, it's a shoe. Look up, it's Charles. I struggled to close the door and shove him but he was way stronger and barged in. Face filled with confusion. I moved away from him, and walked towards the window. He followed me and hugged me from behind. “Darcie, what is going on? You're avoiding me and it's stressing the fuck out out of my head.” I missed the way he held me like I was his only. I missed the scent of his cologne. “Charles.” I whispered as his hands tightened around my waist. “Why are you doing this?”“I said you should avoid me in school. I had my reasons.”“What?” His hands unwrapped slowly and he turned me effortlessly to face him. “Okay, fine.
Last Updated: 2026-06-17
Chapter: Chapter 58Darcie.Steve caught the phone. It bounced in his hands and I covered my mouth with my hands, baffled.“Whoa. Easy.” He handed the phone back to Sloane, obviously thinking it's hers. “Thank you.” She says. “Sloane, please.” I rubbed my palms together, already tearing up. “Don't destroy it. I swear, I didn't ask Charles for it. He did it out of his good mind. You know my former phone is already outdated. I've managed it ever since. Please don't do this. Please.”She crossed her arms, phone still in her hands. Charles stepped into class and I wiped my tears so he wouldn't see it whenever he noticed me and Sloane sitting together. “So…” she began, then caught Charles going to his seat, his friends were with him too. “You mean, everything I told you about avoiding Charles, you didn't take warning?”“No. No. I'm doing as you say. I told him to stop talking to me. I told him I'm just his nanny but he just bought me the phone and urged me to accept it.”“I hate seeing expensive things in
Last Updated: 2026-06-16
The Billionaire's Secret Bride
Anastasia never expected much from her blind date—let alone that on that fateful day she would marry a complete stranger. As she embarked on her new life with her husband, Christopher, she envisioned a modest, respectful, and ordinary existence. However, Christopher soon revealed an unexpectedly devoted nature. No matter where Anastasia went, he was always there, showering her with unwavering affection and support in ways she had never anticipated.
What astonished her even more was his uncanny knack for solving every problem she faced, whether a minor mishap at work or a significant personal crisis. Each time Anastasia encountered difficulty, Christopher would mysteriously step in, and the issue would be resolved almost as if by magic. When she probed him about his extraordinary interventions, he would simply smile enigmatically and attribute it all to luck.
Yet, as days turned into months, this so-called luck began to raise questions. During one seemingly ordinary evening, while watching a televised interview, Anastasia’s world shifted dramatically. The program featured a celebrated New York billionaire renowned for his extravagant indulgence of his wife—lavish vacations, opulent gifts, and grand gestures that spoke of immense wealth and power. What left Anastasia utterly speechless was the uncanny resemblance between the billionaire and her very own Christopher.
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Chapter: CHAPTER 21The relief from the audit results lasted exactly three days before reality crashed back down.I was at the bookstore Wednesday afternoon, helping a customer find a book on gardening, when Claire's phone started buzzing insistently. She glanced at it, frowned, then looked at me with an expression that made my stomach drop."Ana, you need to see this," she said quietly, pulling me aside once the customer left.She showed me her phone, opened to a gossip website I'd never heard of. The headline made my blood run cold."Christopher Zane's Secret First Marriage Revealed: Billionaire's Past Hidden from Current Wife."My hands went numb as I took the phone from Claire, scrolling through the article with growing horror. According to the piece, Christopher had been married before, years ago, to a woman named Katherine Morrison. The marriage had lasted less than a year before ending in what was described as a "bitter and costly divorce." There were photos—grainy but unmistakable—of a younger Ch
Last Updated: 2026-01-14
Chapter: Chapter 20Two weeks passed in a blur of legal meetings, auditor interviews, and relentless media scrutiny.The independent audit of Zane Enterprises was thorough and exhausting, with auditors combing through years of financial records, interviewing staff, examining every transaction with microscopic detail. Christopher spent fourteen-hour days at the office, cooperating fully while trying to keep the company running smoothly despite the distraction.I threw myself into the bookstore, finding solace in the familiar routine of helping customers and managing inventory. The media attention had finally started to die down, the reporters moving on to fresher scandals, though a few persistent ones still lingered outside occasionally.Emily had started her new job and was thriving, her confidence growing with each passing day. She'd found a small apartment near mine, and Caleb was adjusting well to his new school. Thomas was awaiting trial, and Emily had filed for divorce. She was building a new life,
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 19Monday morning arrived with a vengeance.I woke to my phone buzzing incessantly, notifications piling up so fast the device actually felt warm in my hand. Beside me, Christopher's phone was doing the same, both of us jolted from sleep by the sudden onslaught."What now?" I muttered, squinting at the screen through bleary eyes.Then I saw the headline trending across every news site and social media platform, and my blood ran cold."Victoria Ashford Claims Christopher Zane's Marriage is a Sham to Cover Business Scandal."My hands shook as I opened the article, Christopher sitting up beside me, his own phone in hand, his expression darkening with each word he read.Victoria had given an exclusive interview to a tabloid, timed perfectly to air the day after ours. In it, she claimed to have "insider knowledge" that Christopher had married me to distract from alleged financial irregularities at Zane Enterprises. She suggested the timing of our marriage, right before a major merger, was sus
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 18The interview aired at eight o'clock on Friday night, and I couldn't bring myself to watch it.Christopher and I sat in our living room, the television on, but I spent most of the hour staring at my hands while Christopher's thumb traced circles on my palm. I caught glimpses of us on screen—me talking about meeting Christopher, him explaining why he'd hidden his identity, both of us discussing the challenges we'd faced.Watching myself on television felt surreal, like looking at a stranger who happened to have my face and voice."You're beautiful," Christopher murmured during a segment where I was talking about the bookstore. "Have I told you that today?""Only three times," I said, managing a weak smile.My phone was face-down on the coffee table, deliberately silenced. I didn't want to see the real-time reactions, the social media commentary, the hot takes from people who'd watched thirty seconds of clips before forming definitive opinions.When the interview finally ended, Christop
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 17The interview was scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the apartment. Diana had arranged for a journalist named Sarah Chen, someone with a reputation for fairness and integrity, to conduct it. The crew would be small, she assured us—just Sarah, a cameraman, and a producer.But as Thursday approached, my anxiety grew exponentially.Christopher had taken the week off work to help me prepare, which was both touching and terrifying. We spent hours going over potential questions, discussing what we were comfortable sharing and what remained private. Diana came by twice to run mock interviews, pushing us with increasingly difficult questions until I wanted to throw something at her."What made you think you could handle being married to one of the most powerful men in New York?""How do you respond to accusations that you married Christopher for his money?""Your brother-in-law was just arrested for embezzlement. Did you or your sister have any knowledge of his criminal activities?""Victori
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 16The photo of Christopher kissing me on the dance floor was everywhere by morning.I woke up to my phone buzzing incessantly, notifications flooding in faster than I could read them. Articles with headlines like "Billionaire's Mystery Wife Steals the Show at Charity Gala" and "Christopher Zane's Public Display of Affection Shocks High Society" dominated every news site and social media platform.Christopher was already awake, sitting up in bed with his own phone, scrolling through what I assumed were similar notifications. His hair was messy from sleep, his expression unreadable as he read."It's everywhere," I said unnecessarily, stating the obvious."I know." He set his phone down and turned to me, searching my face. "How do you feel about that?"I considered the question, trying to parse through the complicated tangle of emotions. "Exposed. Like everyone in the world saw a private moment that should have been just ours." I paused. "But also relieved. We don't have to hide anymore."
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 5NYLAI stirred my spoon through the pale green gazpacho, watching the droplets of oil swirl like the chaos currently wrecking my life. Smithers had outdone himself, but every cold swallow felt like lead in my stomach.The front door chimes echoed through the mansion, shattering the silence I'd been trying to hide in. I didn't need to look to know that my brother had arrived to finish what our father started. He entered the dining room with his wife, Inara. "I'm sorry, Mrs. King, I told them you weren't expecting company, but Mr. Storm insisted," Smithers said, looking flustered. "My brother has a habit of showing up unannounced," I joked before getting up to greet the couple. Smithers shot Nevan a look of disappointment before wordlessly leaving the room."Where's Aeron?" Inara asked, curiously looking around the empty dining room. Right as those words left her mouth, Aeron stepped into the room, loosening his tie. He took the chair beside me while kindly greeting our guests. T
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
Chapter: Chapter 4NYLAThe mahogany doors of my father’s office clicked shut behind me. The air in here always smelled the same. Expensive cigars and old paper.My father, Nolan, didn't look up from his desk. He simply tapped his gold fountain pen against a stack of legal documents."Nineteen minutes, Nyla," he murmured, finally lifting his gaze. "You're cutting it close. I suppose the King boy is proving to be quite the distraction.""What do you want, Dad?" I asked, keeping my voice steady, despite the panic rising inside my chest. "Are the rumors true? Is your husband cheating on you?" He narrowed his eyes at me. To everyone else, he might sound like a concerned father, but the chill in his eyes said otherwise. "No, Aeron would never cheat on me," I said, looking into his eyes. "Did you sign the papers?" He asked, his hands balling into fists."No," I whispered, forcing a smile on my face. "I managed to change his mind," I lied through my teeth. "Good. A divorce scandal would tarnish our reputa
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
Chapter: Chapter 3NYLAThe sound of heels clicking against the marble floor outside our bedroom door was the only alarm clock I needed to know that Paisley was here. The heavy weight of Aeron’s arm was gone, but the heat he’d left behind on my skin felt like a permanent brand.The door swung open, revealing Paisley. She was dressed in a bright yellow pantsuit. Her straightened hair swished low behind her back. "Nyla, why are you still asleep? Have you not seen the news? The tabloids are going crazy," she informed me while pulling the curtains wide open. I narrowed my eyes against the blinding sunlight streaming into the room. "What?" I croaked out. "Where the hell is Smithers? Why didn't he wake you up?" She continued, pulling back the blankets. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, her gaze slowly raking over my body. "Lingerie?" She mumbled before curiously checking her surroundings. "Aeron's tie, Aeron's pants, Aeron's shirt... did you have sex with your husband last night?" She asked, smirking in my
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
Chapter: Chapter 2NYLA"Ninety days, Aeron. Try not to fall in love with me by then," I whispered, my lips seductively brushing the shell of his ear. I slowly clasped my bra again, covering myself from his burning gaze. I pulled back from him to exit his study, but he kept me locked to his chest, his grip tightening on my waist. "Love? I don't believe in love, Nyla. I can want every inch of what I’m seeing right now and still walk out that door in ninety days without looking back. Can you?""Walk away in ninety days if you can. I dare you," I shot back at him, and his hand possessively slid over the curve of my ass."You're playing a dangerous game, Nyla," he rasped, his voice dropping to a predatory purr that vibrated through my chest. "I'm not playing games, Aeron, I'm finally being myself. For years, I tried to satisfy you, to be the perfect wife I always thought you deserved."All my efforts were in vain. My obedience got me a divorce. And I was tired of playing the role of the obedient little
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
Chapter: Chapter 1NYLAThe ink was still wet on the divorce papers when Aeron turned his back on me, already calling his assistant to book a flight to Paris.I expected a third anniversary gift; instead, he offered me divorce papers and a one-way ticket out of his life. "Mrs. King?" Daniel, Aeron's lawyer, called my name, snapping me back to reality. "Walk me through it, Daniel," I said, straightening my posture. "What happens now?""Well, for the next ninety days you'll continue living as Mrs. King," he calmly explained, carefully paging through a stack of papers. "I beg your pardon," I uttered, almost choking on the expensive whiskey I had been sipping on all night. "There was a three-month cohabitation clause in the pre-nup you signed three years ago. Mr. King Sr insisted on it," Daniel said, sliding a single piece of paper across the small coffee table between us. "I had no idea. I mean, why would he include that in our pre-nup?" I asked, nervously flattening my palms on my ankle-length dress.
Last Updated: 2026-02-28
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