Romans de R-A-I-A

The cool air from the air conditioner slowly filled the silence of the master bedroom. Kael gazed at Hellena’s curvaceous back as she lay facing away from him beneath the thick blanket. Hearing the steady rhythm of his wife’s breathing, Kael curved his lips into a faint smile. He knew all too well how exhausting the day had been for the woman he loved dearly. Kael did not want to impose on her when Hellena was in such a foul mood.“Go to sleep, darling,” Kael whispered very softly near Hellena’s ear. The man pressed a warm kiss to the crown of her head before finally moving away from the bed.Kael walked slowly toward the bathroom to clean himself up. The cold shower water cascaded over his broad, well-built body, washing away the remnants of exhaustion after a day spent dealing with office matters and tension at home.A few minutes later, Kael emerged from the bathroom wearing casual trousers, with a small towel draped around his neck. His black hair was still wet and slightly dishev

Hellena threw her curvy body onto the bed with a soft, ragged breath. The burning sensation in her chest had yet to subside. Every moment of having to face Mrs. Hansel and Vivian downstairs kept replaying over and over in her mind.Hellena let out an irritated huff, clutching the corner of her pillow tightly. "That scheming woman..." she muttered through gritted teeth. She knew very well that her mother-in-law's sudden coldness and suspicion were nothing more than the result of the poisonous lies Vivian had been feeding her. Her kind and caring mother-in-law had undoubtedly been completely deceived by that blonde woman's performance.Click.The bedroom door slowly opened.Kael's steady footsteps echoed as he entered the room. He draped his expensive suit jacket over the chair near the door, and his gaze immediately landed on his wife, who was pouting on the bed.Seeing Hellena's puffed-up cheeks and stubborn frown, Kael curved his lips into a faint smile. He closed the distance, climb

Hellena’s footsteps felt slightly heavy as she entered the courtyard of the Smith family mansion. Kael’s car was nowhere to be seen in the main garage, indicating that her husband might still be held up by work or an unexpected meeting. Hellena let out a long sigh, intending to head straight to the bedroom upstairs to freshen up and rest. However, the moment she stepped through the front door, the atmosphere in the living room felt extremely strange. The air inside was so cold and stiff that it seemed to drain away the warmth that usually welcomed her home. On the luxurious sofa facing the entrance, Mommy Hansel sat with her body upright and rigid. Beside her, Vivian Wheeler sat with her arms crossed, wearing a faint smile filled with triumph and mockery. “Hellena,” Mommy Hansel called. Her voice was no longer as warm as it usually was. Her tone sounded very flat, formal, and distant. “Sit down. There’s something important the three of us need to discuss.” Hellena narrowed her

Hellena walked out of the CEO's office with her chin held higher than before. The warmth in her chest still lingered intensely after watching the pages of their contract agreement be torn apart in Kael's hands. The doubt and fear that had weighed heavily on her since morning seemed to have vanished, replaced by a courage she had never felt before.As she walked along the main corridor on the third floor, where the Finance and Public Relations Departments were located, Hellena suddenly slowed her steps. In the middle of the bustling cubicle area, Vivian Wheeler's crisp voice rang out clearly through the air."Yes, of course. Mr. Smith is a very private person when it comes to his personal life," Vivian said with a graceful yet forced smile, brushing the shoulder of her expensive dress as she stood before a group of female employees. "That's why we decided not to make it public until the official event. But believe me, our families have already agreed on everything. We're just waiting f

"Jealous?" Hellena huffed, trying to turn her face away even though there was barely any distance left between them. "Who's jealous? I'm just stating the facts, Kael!" Kael did not respond with words. Without taking his eyes off the woman in front of him, he reached one hand behind him and unlocked the drawer of his CEO desk with a soft click. From the bottom drawer, Kael pulled out a black leather folder. Hellena recognized it. It was the file containing their contract marriage agreement, signed several months ago—complete with the official stamp and all the rigid terms that had once defined the boundaries of their relationship. Kael placed the folder on the desk. Then, without the slightest hesitation, his strong fingers gripped the stack of papers and tore it cleanly in half. The sharp sound of ripping paper shattered the silence inside the CEO's office. He did not stop there. Kael tore the papers into even smaller pieces before casually throwing them into the trash bin be

Hellena could no longer bear to stay inside the CEO's office, where the atmosphere felt increasingly suffocating. Before Kael could respond or reach for her hand, Hellena quickly turned around, snatched her handbag from the desk, and strode out through the heavy teakwood door.The tears she had been holding back began to well up in the corners of her eyes. She hurried along the executive corridor, which was relatively quiet during the lunch hour, intending to escape either to the restroom or even leave the building altogether to calm the turmoil raging inside her chest.However, Kael's much longer strides quickly closed the distance between them. He rushed out of the office without even putting his suit jacket back on. Seeing that the executive hallway was deserted with no employees passing by, Kael wasted no time arguing in the open corridor.Swish!"Kael! What are you—"Hellena gasped in shock as her curvy body was suddenly lifted into the air. Kael carried her in a bridal style wit