Married To My Father's Rival
On her wedding day, Clara Montgomery catches her fiancé and stepsister sleeping together to steal her inheritance. When she refuses to marry him, her cruel father disowns her, leaving her broke and stranded in a violent storm.
At her lowest point, Alexander Sterling—the city’s most ruthless billionaire and her father’s fiercest rival—pulls up in his luxury car. He offers a strict, one-year marriage contract: ultimate protection and the power to ruin her enemies, in exchange for helping him destroy her father’s empire from the inside out.
Clara signs the papers, stepping into a world of fake public romance and cold, private boundaries. But as their charade deepens, the lines begin to blur. Clara can handle her enemies, but can she protect her heart from a dangerous man who always gets what he wants?
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Chapter: CHAPTER 13Clara Montgomery POVThe rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of incoming emails and official notifications. By five o'clock, my phone lit up with a formal confirmation from my legal team. The temporary lock on my mother’s trust fund was gone. Seeing the digital statement showing the fully restored balance under my sole name felt surreal. For months, my father had used that money as a leash to keep me compliant. Now, the leash was snapped, and the freedom felt heavy, almost frightening.Alexander was working late in his private study, the door firmly shut. I stayed in the living room, sitting on the massive velvet sofa with my laptop, looking through the details of the trust assets. My mother hadn't just left me cash; she had left shares in a boutique logistics firm called Astra Shipping. It was small compared to Montgomery Holdings, but it was entirely independent.My phone rang, cutting through the quiet hum of the penthouse. The screen showed an unsav
Última actualización: 2026-06-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 12Clara Montgomery POVWe didn't talk until we were back inside the elevator, descending smoothly away from the top floor. The silence this time didn't feel heavy; it felt victorious, though my hands were still shaking slightly from the leftover adrenaline. I looked down at my fingers, pressing them together to make them stop.Alexander noticed. He reached over and lightly tapped the back of my hand. "Relax. You held your ground. Your father didn't expect you to speak up like that.""I’ve spent my whole life keeping my mouth shut to keep the peace," I said, watching the floor numbers count down on the digital screen. "It felt strange to finally say what I was thinking out loud.""Get used to it," Alexander replied, his face expressionless as always, though his tone wasn't unkind. "In this world, if you don't speak up, people assume you don't have a voice at all. Your father used your silence against you for years."When the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, Marco was already wa
Última actualización: 2026-06-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 11Clara Montgomery POVThe morning sun hit the glass towers of the city with a sharp, blinding glare. I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the guest room, smoothing down the lapels of the charcoal-gray blazer Marco had provided. The fabric was heavy, structured, and felt like a shield. I tied my hair back into a low, tight bun. I needed to look completely untouchable today.When I walked out into the living area, Alexander was already waiting. He was dressed in a dark three-piece suit, looking over some documents on his tablet while sipping his coffee. He didn't say good morning. He just looked me up and down, giving a single, approving nod."The car is downstairs," he said, setting his mug on the counter. "My security team already swept the Montgomery boardroom. Marco is waiting at the entrance with two of our senior corporate attorneys.""Good," I replied, taking a deep breath to steady my racing pulse. "Let’s get this over with."The drive to the Montgomery Headquarters took
Última actualización: 2026-06-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 10Clara Montgomery POVThe ride back from the restaurant was different. The silence inside the Maybach wasn't just cold anymore; it felt heavy with the aftermath of what had just happened. I stared out the window, watching the pedestrians hurrying along the rain-slicked sidewalks of Manhattan.My phone vibrated again in my pocket. It was a text from Sienna this time: *Clara, please call me. Julian is losing his mind. Dad is screaming at everyone. We need to talk.*I locked the screen without replying and slipped it back into my pocket."You handled that well," Alexander said from beside me. He hadn't looked away from his tablet, his fingers typing out a rapid sequence of commands. "Most women in your position would have cried or made a scene.""I spent three years trying to be the perfect match for Julian because my father wanted it," I said, my voice quiet but firm. "I don't have any tears left for him. I'm just angry.""Anger is more useful
Última actualización: 2026-06-27
Chapter: CHAPTER 9Clara Montgomery POVThe restaurant Alexander chose for our lunch was a heavily frequented spot in the financial district. It featured floor-to-ceiling windows facing the street, ensuring anyone walking by could see exactly who was dining inside. The tables were spaced just far enough to provide privacy for corporate conversations, but close enough that our presence immediately caused a lull in the room's ambient noise.The hostess led us to a round table right near the center of the main dining room. Alexander pulled out my chair, his hand brushing lightly against my shoulder as I sat down. It was a completely calculated move, performed with perfect precision for the benefit of the three people at the neighboring table who were already whispering into their phones."Keep your head up," Alexander murmured as he took his seat opposite me. "The photographer from the city ledger is sitting by the bar. He’s been tracking our car since we left the legal office.
Última actualización: 2026-06-26
Chapter: CHAPTER 8Clara Montgomery POVThe legal office of Sterling Enterprises occupied the entire forty-fifth floor of a sleek glass tower downtown. The air inside smelled of expensive leather, fresh printing ink, and stale espresso. I sat on a low-backed leather chair, watching three different lawyers in identical dark suits flip through heavy stacks of paper.Alexander sat to my right. He hadn't said a word since we walked into the conference room. He just kept his eyes on his phone, occasionally typing out short, fast messages."Mrs. Sterling," the head lawyer, a middle-aged man named Vance’s legal team—unrelated to Julian’s family—said as he looked up. "The injunction we filed this morning has officially gone through. Your father’s legal representatives tried to argue that your mother’s trust fund was tied to the completion of your marriage to Julian Vance, citing a specific clause in the original estate layout."My hands tightened
Última actualización: 2026-06-25
Chapter: CHAPTER 15CHLOE FONTANILLAThe ride back from the restaurant was different. The silence inside the Maybach wasn't just cold anymore; it felt heavy with the aftermath of what had just happened. I stared out the window, watching the pedestrians hurrying along the rain-slicked sidewalks of Manhattan.My phone vibrated again in my pocket. It was a text from Sienna this time: *Clara, please call me. Julian is losing his mind. Dad is screaming at everyone. We need to talk.*I locked the screen without replying and slipped it back into my pocket."You handled that well," Alexander said from beside me. He hadn't looked away from his tablet, his fingers typing out a rapid sequence of commands. "Most women in your position would have cried or made a scene.""I spent three years trying to be the perfect match for Julian because my father wanted it," I said, my voice quiet but firm. "I don't have any tears left for him. I'm just angry.""Anger is more useful than
Última actualización: 2026-06-26
Chapter: CHAPTER 14CHLOE FONTANILLA"Oh, Chloe, tamang-tama ang baba mo. Patapos na ako rito sa pagluluto ng paboritong beef salpicao ni Sir Alex," bungad sa akin ni Manang Celia pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko sa kusina.Sinalubong agad ako ng amoy ng toasted garlic at mantika, 'yung amoy na nakakagutom kahit busog ka naman talaga. Lumapit ako sa counter at kumuha ng tray para tulungan si Manang na ihanda ang mga gagamitin ni Sir Alex para sa hapunan.Habang nag-aayos ako ng kubyertos, paulit-ulit pa ring nag-e-echo sa utak ko 'yung huling sinabi niya sa library. *His career is done, and he will never be able to reach you again.* Seryoso talaga siya nung sinabi niyang wawasakin niya si Marcus. Isang araw pa lang ang nakalilipas, pero ramdam na ramdam ko na ang bagsik ng kapangyarihan ng isang Alexander Valdemar. Parang nilinis niya ang daanan ko para wala na akong iisiping multo mula sa nakaraan.Pero kasabay ng gaan sa loob ko, may kaunting kaba pa rin na dahan-dahang gumagap
Última actualización: 2026-06-25
Chapter: CHAPTER 13CHLOE FONTANILLATahimik kong inilapag ang mga eco-bag ko sa isang gilid ng library bago ako lumapit sa gitnang bahagi ng silid. Nandoon na ang tatlong malalaking kahon ng mga papeles na sinasabi ni Sir Alex kahapon. Puro mga files ito mula sa lumang archive ng main office—mga lumang record ng kumpanya, resibo ng mga nakaraang business trip, at mga profile ng mga dating naging kliyente ng Valdemar Conglomerate.Habang sinisimulan ko ang pagbubukas ng unang kahon, nararamdaman ko pa rin ang bahagyang panginginig ng mga kamay ko mula sa engkwentro namin ni Marcus kanina.Grabe, hindi ko akalaing ganoon siya kadesperado. Ang lakas ng loob niyang isisi sa akin ang pagkawala ng trabaho niya, samantalang siya naman itong naging arogante sa harap ng maling tao. Kung hindi dahil kay Sec. Santos—at siyempre, sa basbas ni Sir Alex—baka kung ano pang nagawa sa akin ni Marcus sa loob ng lumang apartment na 'on. Ngayong nakita ko siyang ganoon kahina at kawawa, imbis na matuwa ako, naramdaman ko l
Última actualización: 2026-06-24
Chapter: CHAPTER 12CHLOE FONTANILLAKinaumagahan, saktong alas-syete pa lang ng umaga ay gising na gising na ako. Pagkatapos kong mag-ayos ng sarili at isuot ang bagong plantsang uniporme, dumeretso agad ako sa main garage ng mansyon kung saan naghihintay ang service car na gagamitin namin. Grabe, pati ba naman 'yung kotse na pang-deliver o pang-sundo ng mga gamit dito, mamahaling SUV pa rin? Kulay itim ito, makintab, at walang kaabog-abog ang tunog ng makina nung mag-start.Nadatnan ko si Secretary Santos na nakatayo malapit sa backseat habang may tinitingnan sa iPad niya. Naka-business suit pa rin siya na parang papasok sa isang formal meeting, habang ako naman ay may dalang dalawang malalaking eco-bag para paglagyan ng mga gamit ko. Nakakahiya tuloy ang hitsura ko sa tabi niya."Good morning, Chloe. Handa ka na ba?" nakangiting bati sa akin ni Sec. Santos nang mapansin niya ang paglapit ko."Good morning po, Sec. Santos. Opo, handa na po. Pasensya na po talaga sa abala ah, nadamay pa kayo sa pagkuha
Última actualización: 2026-06-23
Chapter: CHAPTER 11CHLOE FONTANILLA Hapon pa lang pero dahil sarado ang malalaking kurtina ng library at tanging desk lamp lang ni Sir Alex ang nakabukas, parang gabi na ang ambiance sa loob. Patuloy lang ang marahang tunog ng pag-type niya sa keyboard habang ako naman ay dahan-dahang nagpupunas sa ikalawang palapag. Sinisigurado ko na walang kalubog-lubog ang bawat yapak ko sa sahig na kahoy para hindi siya maabala.Grabe rin kasi ang aura ng lalaking ito. Isang snap lang ng daliri niya, wasak agad ang career ni Marcus.Naalala ko noong mga panahong bago pa lang si Marcus sa bago niyang trabaho. Palagi niyang ipinagmamalaki sa akin kung gaano siya kahalaga sa kumpanya nila, kung paano siya ang nagdadala ng mga kliyente, at kung paano siya magiging manager sa loob ng isang taon. Todo suporta naman ako sa kanya noon. Dumating pa sa punto na nag-o-overtime ako sa convenience store para lang may maipang-ambag sa mga kape at pagkain niya habang nagre-review siya para sa mga presentation niya. Akala ko tala
Última actualización: 2026-06-23
Chapter: CHAPTER 10CHLOE FONTILLAMuntik ko nang mabitawan ang hawak kong duster nang marinig ko ang click ng pinto sa ibaba. Mabilis akong sumilip mula sa ikalawang palapag ng library, nakahawak sa railings habang nakatungo ang ulo ko pababa.Akala ko si Sec. Santos lang uli ang may nakalimutang papel, pero nagkamali ako.Si Sir Alex.Nakatayo siya sa may pinto, seryoso ang mukha habang tinatanggal ang suot niyang mamahaling aviator sunglasses. Bahagyang gulo ang buhok niya, at ang pormal na pormal na dark gray suit na suot niya kaninang umaga ay wala na ang necktie. Nakabukas ang dalawang butones sa may leeg niya habang nakasampay ang coat sa isang braso niya. Sobrang lakas ng dating niya kahit mukha siyang pagod mula sa kung anong mahabang corporate meeting.Akala ko ba gabi pa ang uwi niya sabi ni Manang Celia? Alas-tres pa lang ng hapon ah. Bigla akong kinabahan, pakiramdam ko ay nahuli akong gumagawa ng krimen kahit naglilinis lang naman talaga ako. Ewan ko ba,
Última actualización: 2026-06-21
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