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CHAPTER 16
publish date:
2026-07-06 00:27:20
Latest chapter
married for show Chapter 30: The Architecture of Us
Ruby’s POV The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of the penthouse, casting long, pale shadows across the marble kitchen island. I sat on a high stool, nursing a cup of black coffee, completely unbothered by the chaos unfolding on my tablet screen. Every major high-society blog in New York had screenshots of Victoria’s scandalous masterpiece side-by-side with my icy, emerald-dressed gallery smile. The headlines were spectacular. Alexander burst into the room like a localized hurricane, his blonde hair slightly messy, his blue eyes bloodshot from a lack of sleep. He had his phone pinned to his ear, his voice a low, furious hiss. "...I don't care what the PR firm says, kill the story. Throw money at Page Six. Do your job." He slammed the phone down on the counter, running a hand through his hair as he looked at me. "The crisis team is downstairs, Ruby. They’re setting up a press release. We need to handle this statement together, right now, before—" "Cancel it,"
married for show Chapter 29: The Masterpiece
Ruby’s POV The atmosphere inside the Fifth Avenue art gallery was choked with the scent of expensive champagne, heavy lilies, and the suffocating pretense of Manhattan’s elite. The gallery itself was a monument to old money structural design—soaring twenty-foot ceilings, polished white concrete floors that reflected the low, moody lighting, and towering glass panels looking out over a rainy Manhattan skyline. Hundreds of New York’s top collectors, investors, and high-society bloggers drifted through the space, their diamonds catching the sharp track lighting above. Alexander and I stood near the center sculpture, the absolute epitome of a united front. He looked breathtakingly sharp in a bespoke black Tom Ford tuxedo that contrasted vividly with his striking blue eyes and perfectly styled blonde hair. His large hand rested firmly on the small of my back, casting a protective, heavy warmth through the silk of my gown. I had gone for pure, high-fashion defiance tonight: an eme
married for show Chapter 28: Traces
Mia Bells’ POV The humidity of the New York midnight clung to the tinted windows of the Maybach parked in the shadow of an industrial pier on the Hudson River. Inside, the only light came from the dim glow of the dashboard. Mia Bells sat perfectly straight, her sharp chin tilted up, her tailored cream silk coat draped over her shoulders. At fifty-four, she had spent decades navigating the volatile currents of Manhattan’s elite. She knew exactly what it took to keep an empire standing, and more importantly, what it took to keep it from burning down. The rear door clicked open, bringing in a rush of cold river air. A middle-aged man in a wrinkled dark suit slipped inside, breathing heavily. He looked frantic, his eyes darting to the front where Mia’s driver sat, unmoving as a statue. "Do you have it?" Mia’s voice was smooth, devoid of any warmth, slicing through the quiet car. The man reached inside his coat and pulled out a thick, legal-sized manila envelope, his hands trem
married for show Chapter 27: The Chicago Phantom
Ruby’s POV The air inside the abandoned warehouse district on the outskirts of Chicago smelled of rust, old rain, and impending victory. Chloe had selected the location—a sterile, concrete loft space currently under development by a Bells subsidiary. It was completely private, entirely secure, and far away from the prying eyes of the Magnificent Mile. Outside, the cold Midwestern wind howled against the reinforced glass windows, but inside, the tension was thick enough to suffocate. I paced the length of the concrete floor, the heavy soles of my designer leather boots echoing sharply against the space. I had traded my regal Manhattan silks for a sharp, tailored black trench coat, my ginger curls pulled back into a sleek, severe ponytail. Behind me, Chloe sat at a temporary metal desk, her fingers flying across the keys of her encrypted laptop, her icy blue eyes scanning lines of digital data. Allie Grace stood near the reinforced door, a half-eaten bag of artisanal chips in on
married for show Chapter 26: The Corporate Mirage
Ruby’s POVBy Wednesday morning, the penthouse had officially settled into a state of high-society cold war.I sat at the head of the long mahogany dining table, the bright mid-week sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the pristine white porcelain plates before me. Betty moved silently around the space, pouring a fresh cup of green tea and setting down a small bowl of mixed berries and granola. The silence was heavy, but it was a silence I fully commanded.Since Sunday afternoon, Alexander hadn't set foot inside the apartment. He had sent a brief, clinical text message late Sunday night stating he was staying over at James’s apartment. I had replied with a simple, detached 'Okay.' We hadn't spoken a single word since. I hadn't spiraled, I hadn't checked the blogs, and I certainly hadn't let myself feel the sting of his absence. I was surviving on pure, unadulterated Bells pride.The heavy click of the private elevator doors broke the quiet.I didn't t
married for show Chapter 25: The Architecture of Distance
Ruby’s POV The penthouse living room still smelled faintly of the morning’s abandoned mimosa and cold anger when Betty’s soft, hesitant footsteps approached the chaise lounge. I was sitting with my legs drawn up, wrapped in a plush, oversized cream silk robe that felt like the only shield I had left in Manhattan. My wild ginger curls were tied loosely in a silk scrunchie, and my face was completely bare, save for the dark circles of humiliation lingering beneath my green eyes. "Madame Ray," Betty murmured, bowing her head deferentially. "There is a Miss Allie Grace downstairs. She insists on seeing you. She... she is carrying a bakery box and refused to leave." I blinked in surprise, my green eyes narrowing slightly. "Allie Grace? What is she doing here?" Before Betty could even offer an answer, the private elevator chimed, and Allie Grace stepped directly into the living room. She didn't look like she was here to gossip or poke around for high-society secrets. She was bal
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