Chapter: Chapter 4: A Dark Turn Lucy sat by the window in her room, The gloomy sky seemed to reflect her mood as the reality of her life settled around her like a suffocating blanket. She had known that this marriage wasn’t going to be easy, but she hadn’t expected it to feel so... lonely.Her mind drifted back to the dinner party from the previous night—Isabel’s cruel words still echoed in her ears. Every time she saw her stepsister, it was a reminder that she wasn’t welcome in this world. And William… his cold indifference was wearing her down, slowly but surely.A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and Lucy turned to see Brad standing in the doorway.“William wants to see you in his study,” he said, his voice as smooth and unreadable as ever.Lucy nodded, standing up and smoothing her dress. She followed Brad through the long, winding halls of the mansion, her steps heavy with the weight of anticipation. She had no idea what William wanted to talk about, but she doubted it would be pleasant.When th
Last Updated: 2024-10-03
Chapter: Chapter 3: Unsettling Revelations Lucy clenched her fists at her sides, trying to maintain her composure as Isabel’s words replayed in her mind. She knew Isabel was here to stir trouble, but she wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing her upset. William stood beside her, still and silent, like a shield made of ice.“I belong exactly where I am,” Lucy said, her voice steady. “I don’t need your approval, Isabel.”Isabel's smile tightened, her grey eyes glinting with malice. “We’ll see about that.”Before Lucy could respond, William’s firm grip on her lower back nudged her forward. “Come, Lucy,” he said, his tone sharp and dismissive. “We’ve had enough of this conversation.”William’s calm demeanor never wavered as they moved away from Isabel, his hand still resting on her as they maneuvered through the crowd. Lucy struggled to keep her expression neutral, aware of the dozens of eyes on them.They reached a quieter corner of the room, away from prying eyes, when William finally spoke. “You handled yourself we
Last Updated: 2024-10-03
Chapter: Chapter 2: Sprawling Lucy stepped into her new home—a sprawling mansion that screamed wealth and power. The marble floors gleamed under soft lighting, and the walls were adorned with priceless art that she couldn’t even begin to appreciate. As impressive as it all was, the house felt cold and unwelcoming, much like the man she had just married.William Ashcroft rolled his wheelchair toward her, his sharp gaze following her every move as though she were an intruder in his private domain.“I assume your room will be adequate,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth as he nodded toward the grand staircase that spiraled up to the second floor.Lucy forced a polite smile. “I’m sure it will be fine.”William turned his attention to his assistant, Brad, who stood nearby with an unreadable expression. “Brad will handle the details of your daily routine. Anything you need, go through him.”Brad gave a small nod, though his eyes didn’t quite meet Lucy’s. There was something guarded about him, something that made her u
Last Updated: 2024-10-03
Chapter: Chapter 1: The Proposal Lucy Taylor adjusted her coat as the cold wind of New York whipped across her face. The large, marble steps leading up to Ashcroft Enterprises were as intimidating as the man she was about to meet.“Are you sure about this, Lucy?” Jackson Taylor, her father, asked for the hundredth time.Lucy gave him a quick nod, though her heart was sinking with every step closer to the towering building. “I don’t have much choice, Dad. We need this.”Jackson’s face was worn with guilt. “I should have managed things better.”“No, Dad. It’s not your fault,” Lucy reassured him. “Isabel... she...”She trailed off, the reminder of her stepsister’s greed choking her words. Isabel had backed out of the arranged marriage at the last minute when she discovered that the young billionaire CEO, William Ashcroft, was bound to a wheelchair. Now, the burden fell to Lucy.Lucy didn’t want to be here. She wasn’t prepared to be anyone’s wife, let alone William’s. But after Isabel’s refusal, William had given them an
Last Updated: 2024-10-03