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Chapter 41: Rumors
publish date:
2026-07-13 02:02:41
Latest chapter
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter 45: Two enemies and fate
CHAPTER 45 – Two Enemies Thomas’s POV People rarely betrayed me overnight, it started much smaller than that. A missing sentence. A delayed report. An omitted photograph. One tiny inconsistency that meant nothing on its own but became impossible to ignore once it repeated itself often enough. I had learned that lesson years ago. Which was why I found myself sitting alone in my office long after midnight, surrounded by surveillance reports that should have been identical but weren’t. I laid them out across my desk one after another. Romano leaving the Ciel headquarters. Romano meeting investors. Romano returning to the estate. Routine. Predictable. Except the timelines no longer matched. On Monday, there was a forty-minute gap. Wednesday, an hour. Friday, nearly two. No explanation, no mention of alternative routes, no photographs, nothing. I leaned back in my chair. Interesting. I called Luca on the phone for him to come to my office. He stepped into my office alm
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter 44: The Dance
Aria’s POV By the time Romano and I arrived downstairs, everyone else was already waiting. Enzo stood beside the fireplace with a glass of wine in his hand. Valentina sat comfortably on one of the sofas as though she had lived in the mansion for years. The moment she saw us, she smiled. “There you are.” Romano didn’t even acknowledge her. Instead, he looked at me. “Are you hungry?” I laughed softly. “A little.” “Good.” He rested a hand lightly against my back as we walked into the dining room. I noticed Valentina watching the small gesture. … Dinner started peacefully enough, for exactly five minutes. Valentina reached for the bread basket before smiling at Romano. “Remember when you insisted on making breakfast for me?” Romano didn’t even look up. “No.” “You burned the toast.” “I’ve burned toast for many people.” Enzo chuckled. “He did.” I looked at Romano. “You cook?” “Occasionally.” “He nearly set the kitchen on fire once,” Enzo added. Romano sighed. “
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter 43: Disobedience
Thomas’s POV Something was missing. I read the report again, then a third time. The dates matched, the locations matched, the surveillance photographs were all there, but the timeline didn’t. I looked up slowly. “Luca.” He stepped into my office carrying another file. “You wanted to see me?” I slid the report across the desk. “You were to assign someone to watch Romano yesterday.” “I did.” “Who?” “The yard guard.” “For how long?” “Almost six hours.” I tapped the report with my finger. “Then explain why there’s a three-hour gap.” Luca lowered his eyes to the paper. “We lost them.” “You?” I almost laughed. “Lost Romano Ciel?” “They switched vehicles.” “And?” “It took me time to find them again.” I leaned back, studying him. Luca had worked for me long enough to know I hated excuses, especially weak ones like the one where he lost Aria because of a silly sexual pleasure but I let that slide, at least I’ll get her for myself now. “I won’t let it happen again.”
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter 42: The Warning
Aria’s POVI tried convincing myself the photograph didn’t matter, people had pasts and Romano had never hidden that Valentina existed; he had told me they dated, so why couldn’t I stop thinking about that picture?The questions followed me all morning until I decided fresh air might help.It didn’t.I had barely walked out of the café with my coffee when someone called my name.“Aria.”I looked up.Thomas.He looked genuinely surprised to see me.“What a coincidence.”“I’m starting to think coincidences don’t exist anymore.”He smiled faintly.“Fair enough.”An awkward silence settled between us.“I won’t keep you,” he said. “I actually wanted to apologize.”I frowned.“For what?”“For everything.”He sighed.“I know I’ve made things difficult for you.”I didn’t answer.“I cared about you once.”“Thomas…”“No, no let me finish.”His voice stayed calm.“I accepted that you’ve chosen Romano.”I searched his face for sarcasm but there wasn’t any.“I genuinely hope he makes you happy.”“
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter 41: Rumors
Aria’s POV I knew something was wrong the moment I walked downstairs. Nobody looked at me directly, the maids stopped talking the second I entered the dining room, two guards quickly hid their phones. I frowned. “What?” One of them forced a smile. “Nothing, ma’am.” It definitely wasn’t nothing. I reached for my own phone and unlocked it. The first notification appeared before I even opened anything. Trending in Milan. Another. Romano Ciel’s fiancée surrounded by controversy. My stomach tightened as I opened the article. There were photographs of me from years ago, pictures of me leaving university, pictures taken outside Luca’s family home, pictures of me going out with my male friends in Uni at the time. Even a cropped photograph from a charity gala with a headline that read: WHO IS THE REAL ARIA? The article claimed I had been engaged multiple times, that I was using Romano for money, that my identity had changed several times to date several rich families in Milan
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter 40: Unwelcome Guest
Romano’s POV The moment I walked into the entrance hall, I knew something was wrong. Valentina stood beside Enzo as though she belonged there. A small suitcase rested at her feet, she smiled the second she saw me. “Romano.” I didn’t return the smile. “What are you doing here again?” Enzo answered before she could. “She’ll be staying here.” “No.” The answer came so quickly that both of them paused. Enzo sighed. “Romano.” “I said no.” “It’s only for a short while.” “I don’t care if it’s for one night.” Valentina stepped forward, her expression almost apologetic. “My apartment isn’t ready yet. I only need somewhere to stay until the renovations are finished.” “There are hotels.” “I don’t want a hotel.” “That’s quite unfortunate.” Enzo rubbed his forehead. “Enough.” “No.” He looked directly at me. “This isn’t a request.” “It isn’t my problem either.” Valentina lowered her eyes. “If my presence makes Aria uncomfortable, I’ll leave.” The sentence was perfectly d
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter Five: The Bride with nothing left.
Aria’s POVI woke up disoriented. For a moment, I didn’t recognize the room.The ceiling was unfamiliar, the sheets smelled different. Sunlight poured through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Milan, then everything came back.The wedding, Luca, Sofia, Romano, the car, Romano offering me spendin
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter Four: The Bride in danger
Romano’s POVThe car remained quiet after Aria got inside, the quietness was heavy and awkward; those kinds that followed a toxic conversation.Milan’s lights blurred past the tinted windows while she sat beside me still wearing the wedding dress she had run away in. Her hands stayed folded tightly
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter Three: The Bride who left
Aria’s POV“You almost got yourself killed.”The stranger’s hand was still wrapped around my wrist, I pulled away immediately I realized. “I’m fine.”The lie came too quickly.His gaze moved over me once, taking in the wedding dress, the slipping veil, and the tears I hadn’t realized were still f
Contract Wife for the Cartel Heir Chapter 1: The Grand Reveal
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