Caroline POVThe night air in Abuja had never felt colder.It had been two days since Jenna helped me escape, and each hour since then had been a nightmare, unraveling in slow motion.I stayed at a cheap rundown motel far from the city center, barely able to afford it with the little money I had left. I hadn’t eaten more than crackers and water. My phone was constantly buzzing, not with support, but torment.Everywhere I turned, Nathan’s influence had already poisoned the air.My name was trending for all the wrong reasons. News, blogs had picked up the embezzlement story. Pictures of me were plastered online with bold headlines like “Former Employee involved in company funds embezzlement, Husband Breaks Silence”. My bank account was frozen. My social media accounts were hacked. Even the few friends I had turned cold, ignoring my calls or worse, answering with hostility.I was branded.Alone.Ruined.I sat in the back of the cab, my fingers gripping the edge of the crumpled hundred-do
Caroline pov “I would sign the contract” I repeated, slightly hesitating. I could almost hear the smirk forming on his lips. “Good,” he replied. “I’ll send a car.” The line went dead. And just like that, the choice was made. For my mother. Not for him. Never for him. But as I slid Xavier’s card back into the wallet, one thing was clear: I might have just walked into the lion’s den. The car arrived less than 30 minutes later. It was a sleek, black limousine. The latest model that glittered in the sun. Everything about it smelled like wealth. It was the kind of car that turned heads in traffic and made people stare, wondering who the hell was inside. I sat stiffly in the back seat, clutching my handbag like it was my life ticket out of this mess I found myself into. The golden wallet, xaviers wallet, was hidden deep inside, along with the damn divorce documents from Nathan. Yes, I have been carrying it about, but anytime I bring myself to sign it, I would back out at the la
Caroline’s POVThe ride to the Villa was like a journey to hell. I couldn’t stop the loud thumbing of my heart against my rib Cage. Even the AC that was on High Blast did little to the sweat that was coming out of my body. I felt like a lamb that was being taken to the slaughterhouse. I was Helpless, my freewill was sealed by nothing but a contract. I hadn’t bothered to read through the end of the “new” contract, as Xavier called it. Not until after signing, that the new rules and terms started appearing from his mouth like a death sentence. “You must live in the same house with your legally bound husband.”“The legally bound husband must take charge and have the final say on matters pertaining to the wife.”“The legally bound couple must act romantically and intimate when in public so as to look real…”The list goes on and on, an unending list that puts him as the head and me under him. It was basically a daylight robbery, and I have been robbed.“We are here” the almost rehear
Caroline povDinner felt like a scene from a royal movie. The long mahogany table that stretched across the dining could easily sit twenty people, yet there were only two plates and two people. one at each end of the ridiculously long table. Xavier sat far away, his posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp, watching me like a hawk watches prey. The tension between us could be cut with a knife.“Thank you, Bianca.” I gave a short nod to her after she finished setting the plates and food.The food was rich and well-prepared,and the smell was tantalizing. definitely from a top-tier chef. But I could barely taste it.I cut into my steak, trying to pretend like a predator gaze wasn’t burning into my skin. “Do you always eat in silence?” I asked, stabbing a piece and bringing it to my mouth.Xavier leaned back slightly, sipping red wine like a villain in a classic drama. I couldn’t help noticing the grace by which he carried himself. “Only when my dinner date looks like she’d rather be anywher
Caroline povA rough shove against my shoulder jolted me out of my thoughts.“Hey, bitch. Time to see the world,” the officer sneered.I glared at him but held my tongue. Normally, I would have fired back with some sharp remark, but today…I just wasn’t feeling it.Call it ungratefulness or mood swings, but for a person that was being released today after staying in the four walls jail for almost a year. I could have balled out my eyes out in tears of joy, but noo.The officer noticed, as he had to make sure I heard his words well, this time roughly shoving me out of the small cell that has been my home for the past one year. “Get up you lucky bitch, I hope you come here again”I raised my middle finger at him, before taking my dress from the counter. Not after the woman officer gave me a look of disgust.“Arrogant rich idiots, they always come back” she muttered under her breath.“Just wait until my husband finds out how you guys treated me…”I threatened them, having the little sat
Caroline povEmelda!!My stomach dropped.I stood there, my entire body trembling, unable to believe what I was seeing. My heart pounded against my chest so hard I thought it might shatter.It was Amelda.My best friendAnd the man I had vowed to love. Together.The whore on my matrimonial bed was the only person I trusted.She smirked, lazily covering her nakedness with the duvet before draping her arm over Nathan’s shoulder.“Oh,” she purred. “You’re home early.”The room smelled of sweat, perfume, and betrayal.I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat wouldn’t go away. My mind continued to scream at me to turn and run. but my legs refused to move.Nathan had the audacity to look shocked, scrambling to cover himself. his mouth opening and closing like a fool caught in a lie."Caroline…" he breathed, as if saying my name would somehow make this less painful than it already was for me.I clenched my fists. "What is going on here?" My voice wavered, but I refused to let them see m
Caroline povEverything that happened next was a blur of actions. So fast for my drunk mind to process all at the same time.The lingering taste of expensive alcohol on my mouth, his intoxicating manly scent that continues to drive me crazy.My mind was clouded, but my body? My body knew exactly what it wanted.Him.No matter how wrong it soundedI didn't want to think. Or try to decide whether my actions were moral or not. This fire was burning beneath my stomach. I wanted it gone.We barged through the hotel door. Lips locked in a fierce battle of kisses. His hands roamed all around my body, firm and possessive, as if he were trying to map out every inch of my body.From my hazy vision, it was a room having a three digit number, but that was the least of my concern, as the door slammed shut behind us.Nothing else mattered, except this…Heat pooled beneath me as he trailed hot kisses from my collar bone down to the base of my neck. I ached my neck further, gripping him for bare lif
Caroline's pov A dull ache ravaging through my head woke me up from my much needed sleep. The morning light streamed through the beautifully decorated binds…Binds? When did orisons suddenly fix binds for their prisoners?I tried to move my body, but a sharp pain that came from my joints made me realise what a bad decision it was.My body felt heavy and sore. Between my thighs were like they had been lit on fire. What had happened? I asked myself grudgingly, Was I still in the prison room? But the soft duvet was so soft and comfortable to the hard bench that was in my prison room.And again, when do prisons suddenly have a hard, warm body that was emanating a soothing heat.A man's body!.I gasped in horror. Jerking up forcefullyA handsome, incredibly hot man was lying beside me. I looked under the duvet, and my heart stopped.I was naked?With a ridiculous stranger. Immediately, memories of yesterday night started coming in like a dam that was opened.I remembered meeting him
Caroline povDinner felt like a scene from a royal movie. The long mahogany table that stretched across the dining could easily sit twenty people, yet there were only two plates and two people. one at each end of the ridiculously long table. Xavier sat far away, his posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp, watching me like a hawk watches prey. The tension between us could be cut with a knife.“Thank you, Bianca.” I gave a short nod to her after she finished setting the plates and food.The food was rich and well-prepared,and the smell was tantalizing. definitely from a top-tier chef. But I could barely taste it.I cut into my steak, trying to pretend like a predator gaze wasn’t burning into my skin. “Do you always eat in silence?” I asked, stabbing a piece and bringing it to my mouth.Xavier leaned back slightly, sipping red wine like a villain in a classic drama. I couldn’t help noticing the grace by which he carried himself. “Only when my dinner date looks like she’d rather be anywher
Caroline’s POVThe ride to the Villa was like a journey to hell. I couldn’t stop the loud thumbing of my heart against my rib Cage. Even the AC that was on High Blast did little to the sweat that was coming out of my body. I felt like a lamb that was being taken to the slaughterhouse. I was Helpless, my freewill was sealed by nothing but a contract. I hadn’t bothered to read through the end of the “new” contract, as Xavier called it. Not until after signing, that the new rules and terms started appearing from his mouth like a death sentence. “You must live in the same house with your legally bound husband.”“The legally bound husband must take charge and have the final say on matters pertaining to the wife.”“The legally bound couple must act romantically and intimate when in public so as to look real…”The list goes on and on, an unending list that puts him as the head and me under him. It was basically a daylight robbery, and I have been robbed.“We are here” the almost rehear
Caroline pov “I would sign the contract” I repeated, slightly hesitating. I could almost hear the smirk forming on his lips. “Good,” he replied. “I’ll send a car.” The line went dead. And just like that, the choice was made. For my mother. Not for him. Never for him. But as I slid Xavier’s card back into the wallet, one thing was clear: I might have just walked into the lion’s den. The car arrived less than 30 minutes later. It was a sleek, black limousine. The latest model that glittered in the sun. Everything about it smelled like wealth. It was the kind of car that turned heads in traffic and made people stare, wondering who the hell was inside. I sat stiffly in the back seat, clutching my handbag like it was my life ticket out of this mess I found myself into. The golden wallet, xaviers wallet, was hidden deep inside, along with the damn divorce documents from Nathan. Yes, I have been carrying it about, but anytime I bring myself to sign it, I would back out at the la
Caroline POVThe night air in Abuja had never felt colder.It had been two days since Jenna helped me escape, and each hour since then had been a nightmare, unraveling in slow motion.I stayed at a cheap rundown motel far from the city center, barely able to afford it with the little money I had left. I hadn’t eaten more than crackers and water. My phone was constantly buzzing, not with support, but torment.Everywhere I turned, Nathan’s influence had already poisoned the air.My name was trending for all the wrong reasons. News, blogs had picked up the embezzlement story. Pictures of me were plastered online with bold headlines like “Former Employee involved in company funds embezzlement, Husband Breaks Silence”. My bank account was frozen. My social media accounts were hacked. Even the few friends I had turned cold, ignoring my calls or worse, answering with hostility.I was branded.Alone.Ruined.I sat in the back of the cab, my fingers gripping the edge of the crumpled hundred-do
Xavier’s POVI was angry.No. Furious.The kind of fury that didn’t explode, but it was there, boiling slowly and deadly like lava bubbling, waiting to erupt.I clenched my jaw so hard, I feared it might actually crack from the pressure, but that was the least of my concerns. I continued to walk back and forth, staring blankly at the pristine and beautiful view of Abuja city. A view most men would kill for. A view I didn't even see right now.Why the hell was I this mad?I asked myself again, mentally going through my list of bad days.Was it the idiot at the board meeting? Or the fact that there was a spy that has been tracing me for a while now, even spiking my drink on top. Or the three open embezzlement cases that were still waiting for my attention, but as I try to get close to the answer. I find myself in a dead end. The proprietor was so smart and clever. No.It was her.Caroline.The woman who, for the first time in my life, had the nerve to insult me to my face, and not jus
Caroline’s POVI blinked.Once.Twice.Maybe three times, because my brain simply refused to process what I had just heard.“You… want me to be your what?”“Wife,” Xavier repeated, smooth as ever, like he was ordering a simple cup of coffee. “Sign the contract.”I stared at the folder like it had grown fangs, finally losing it. “Are you crazy?! I choked, backing away. “You just saw what happened. My whole life is falling apart, and you think now’s the time to throw a marriage contract at me?”He didn’t respond.Of course he didn’t.Instead, he moved closer. Slow, calculated steps that made the air feel hum with tension, and my throat even tighter.“You think this is a joke?” I asked, my voice rising with disbelief. “Is this some kind of twisted revenge fantasy or…”“It’s a business arrangement,” he cut in coolly. “I don't have to engage myself in pitiful revenge drama. I need a wife for one day. You need a clean slate and your dignity back. It's a mutual benefit. win win..”I flinche
Caroline povNathan!!My heart stopped. Literally stopped. Standing before me panting like someone who just ran a marathon was my now ex-husband. Nathan.He looked… rattled. His tie was loosened a bit, maybe to allow air to his burned out lungs. His nicely coiled hair momemt ago was scattered, like he never touched it this morning. And clutched in his slightly shaking hands were a bunch of green office files. his brows furrowed in confusion, like he hadn’t expected to walk into this. Me.His cold eyes locked on me, and then slowly shifted to the man behind the desk.Silence fell again, this time heavier, suffocating.“What the hell is she doing here?” Nathan growled, his voice tight with barely restrained furry, like I was his nemesis.My instincts screamed at me to run. But I stood frozen, stuck between my ex-husband’s fury and the silent, looming presence of the hot stranger behind the desk. the same man I had a passionate encounter with just last night.Nathan stepped forward,
Carlines pov Divorce papers. A hollow laugh bubbled up in my chest. “You’ve been waiting for this moment, haven’t you?” I spat, glaring at Amelda. “all the fake laughs and concern. Our friendship was just so that you could ruin my life and take everything from me.” Amelda stepped closer, lowering her voice to a whisper only I could hear. “You were already ruined, sweetheart. I just finished the job.” My hands trembled with rage. I wanted to retaliate, to scream, and most especially, I wanted to wipe that smug grin off her very painted face. If only I had known. I could not have thought or believed that my best friend would turn her back against me. And not just that, even helping to shove a divorce paper to my own face. “Ohh, well, just for you to know, I am already pregnant” Emelda snuggled even closer to Nathan. “What!” I could not help but scream out in shock, despite myself. “Take a look, you barren bitch” she flung a medical report to my face. And there was wri
Caroline's pov A dull ache ravaging through my head woke me up from my much needed sleep. The morning light streamed through the beautifully decorated binds…Binds? When did orisons suddenly fix binds for their prisoners?I tried to move my body, but a sharp pain that came from my joints made me realise what a bad decision it was.My body felt heavy and sore. Between my thighs were like they had been lit on fire. What had happened? I asked myself grudgingly, Was I still in the prison room? But the soft duvet was so soft and comfortable to the hard bench that was in my prison room.And again, when do prisons suddenly have a hard, warm body that was emanating a soothing heat.A man's body!.I gasped in horror. Jerking up forcefullyA handsome, incredibly hot man was lying beside me. I looked under the duvet, and my heart stopped.I was naked?With a ridiculous stranger. Immediately, memories of yesterday night started coming in like a dam that was opened.I remembered meeting him