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2024-10-12 14:15:21Related chapters
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Sibling in Distress
She stood there, blinking in disbelief.Who would've thought she'd live to see the day when Finn's room would look like this? From the little she remembered about their childhood, he was the kind of kid who used to organize his bookshelf by color every week. One day he’d gotten mad at her for making a mess of his action figures when he’d carefully lined them up at perfect right angles. She still remembered the Great Lego Incident of '02, when nine-year-old Finn spent three days sorting his entire collection by size, shape, and color.It would be safe to say adulthood happened.Gianna sighed and began to pick up things around the room, picking up his clothes and folding them neatly one by one t-shirt. After dealing with all the heaps of his laundry and sorting them away, she started with the papers and began arranging them as well.She absentmindedly flipped through some of his books, and in one of them, she found a photo of a girl, which was the size of a passport. The girl was around
Last Updated : 2024-10-13A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Heart Over Pages
A cheerful volunteer thrust a handful of colored shirts at Sonia, explaining with rapid-fire enthusiasm, “Pick any color you like! You'll be on the team that matches your shirt.”Sonia's eyes skimmed over the rainbow array before settling on a vibrant blue. She slipped it on, then freed her hair from the collar as she headed back out of the changing room.Darrell was standing just a few feet away, talking to someone when Sonia saw him. She'd hoped he'd be here, of course, but somehow the reality of his presence left her momentarily paralyzed.Before Darrell could spot her, Sonia ducked back into the changing room and pulled off the blue shirt she was wearing. He was wearing a black volunteer t-shirt, so she grabbed a black one from the pile. It was more practical, right? To be on the same team as him.By the time she came back out, he was already close enough to spot her as soon as she did, and she quickly changed her expression into one of pleasant surprise.“Oh, hey! We meet again,
Last Updated : 2024-10-13A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Another Day To Not Hope
She stared at the ceiling, counting the tiny pockmarks on the tiles as she had countless times before, waiting for the nurse to return with her discharge papers. Freedom was so close she could taste it, bitter as hospital coffee on her tongue.One month.That's how long she'd been trapped in this white-walled purgatory where her body became a battlefield of needles and blood tests, tissue typing, and unending consultations with doctors, just so she could save her brother's life.Mason left for a business trip exactly a month ago, which was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because his trip coincided with the bulk of her pre-transplant preparations, hence sparing her the need for elaborate excuses or awkward questions. A curse, because there were moments, usually in the dead of night when the hospital corridors fell quiet, that Gianna found herself thinking about him.Gianna signed the last of her discharge papers and left for home. The bustle of the city outside the window seeme
Last Updated : 2024-10-14A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract A Guy Behind You
n the wake of their last confrontation, the two of them have been living around each other like enemy ghosts, and whatever few words they ended up saying to each other were the bare minimum required to maintain their charade for the outside world.Gianna spent the next couple of weeks recovering, while Mason, as always was as busy as ever with his work. It was on one of those rare afternoons when she felt bored that Gianna found herself on the terrace, for the first time since she’d been in that house. The view from up there was the kind of vista that was supposed to make one feel on top of the world. All Gianna felt, however, was hollow.While she stared at the view ahead, she called Sonia’s line.“To what do I owe this honor?”“Can't a girl just call to chat?” Gianna scoffed tiredly.“How are you though, and why do you sound off? Are you okay?”“I'm fine actually, just a bit bored.”“Mhm…has that husband of yours done something again?” Sonia asked skeptically.Gianna didn’t even wan
Last Updated : 2024-10-15A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Couple Day Out
Bayshore was a name that conjured images of rolling hills, babbling brooks, and quaint little cottages. It was a dying town appearing as a speck on the map that was clinging to existence by its fingernails in the ass-end of nowhere. But to Mason Caldwell, it might as well be the promised land. Mason established yet another charity organization called Greenhaven Foundation just so he could breathe new life into this small town and give it a proper atmosphere for his new business. He would dump some cash into rebuilding the crumbling Main Street and maybe slap his name on a community center or two. As a businessman, Mason knew had to win over the locals and play the part of the humble savior who had come to rescue their dying town from the clutches of poverty and irrelevance for things to run smoothly with his project. Pastor John Holbrook, their host stood at the forefront of the small gathering, holding out his hand for another handshake with Mason, “Oh, it is indeed, Mr. Caldwell
Last Updated : 2024-10-15A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Does it Hurt ?
It was like someone had taken a snow globe filled with glitter, Ritalin, and pure, unfiltered enthusiasm, and shaken the living hell out of it. And right in the center of this pint-sized tornado stood Mason and Gianna.Cameras whirred and clicked to capture every artificial smile and an awkward pat on the head for posterity (and, more importantly, the news). Because nothing said ‘we care about the community’ quite like two adults playing Santa Claus to a bunch of little kids.“….yes, it’s a heart,” Mason smiled at the shape he’d made out of paper.“And who can tell me what a heart stands for?”He would have minded boring the hell out of their little heads by talking to them about business and how dangerous you have to be to navigate the deadly waters of opposition if you wanted it to succeed, but watching Gianna play with the children like she was a kid herself somehow got him to change his mind.“Love is a great answer too…” he then clicked his fingers at another child, “I think you’
Last Updated : 2024-10-16A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Every Night & Then
Thump. Thump. Thump.Little feet pounded against the floors like a frantic percussion in the suffocating darkness. And the shadows dancing on the walls were performing a macabre ballet to the erratic beat of a terrified heart.The little girl, with short bob hair pigtails and Minnie Mouse pajamas and wide, fearful eyes darted from room to room to escape from the unseen predator. She entered the room and ran towards the closer. Never mind that it was also the first place anyone would look.She burrowed into the depths of the closet, nestling between musty coats and forgotten boxes. Her hand clamped over her mouth to stifle the sobs that might betray her location.Breathing — in, out, in, out— became a Herculean task as she tried not to scream when she heard the sound of the door opening, and then footsteps.The girl pressed herself further back, as if she could somehow melt into the wall and disappear altogether. Tears flowed freely now, silent rivers carving paths down cheeks flushed
Last Updated : 2024-10-16A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract The Party (I)
By the time evening rolled around, that spark of excitement had morphed into a full-blown case of nerves, with a side of ‘what the hell am I doing?’ for good measure. Gianna approached the party venue. The open-air setup was unexpected but admittedly charming, all twinkling fairy lights and mason jars filled with wildflowers. It was the kind of scene that would've made her former starving artist self roll her eyes so hard they'd get stuck, but now...well, it was kind of nice.As she picked her way across the grass, silently thanking whatever deity was listening that she'd opted for wedges instead of heels, a familiar prickle crawled up the back of Gianna's neck.It was that same unsettling sensation she'd had back in the city—that feeling of eyes boring into her from some unseen vantage point.She whirled around as her heart began a more aggressive drumming in her chest, half-expecting to see her stalker materializing out of the deepening twilight.But there was nothing. Just the gent
Last Updated : 2024-10-17
Latest chapter
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Day’s Surprise
Cufflinks clicked; wristwatch secured firmly around his wrist. He turned from the mirror, grabbed his office bag, and headed out of the door. Downstairs. The scent of coffee welcomed him before reaching the door of the staircase, as well as the sound of Gianna humming from the kitchen. She stood at the counter, hair swept into a messy bun, wearing one of his t-shirts that drowned her small frame. Her hips swayed slightly as she moved between the coffee maker and stove, where something sizzled in a pan. “Don't burn whatever that is,” he teased, making her turn around.“Morning?” She sang.Gianna raised the spatula she was holding like a weapon.“I'm making that egg white omelet thing you like. Though I might have killed it.”Mason walked over to where she was, smiling warmly.“Save it for some other morning,” he said, then reached past her to turn off the burner. “I'll grab something at the office.”Gianna pouted playfully at the nearly burnt egg, then shifted her face into a grin j
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Friends In Need
Glass shattered. In Gianna's chest. It wasn’t from pain, but from joy pulsing in her body. She called Mason, and watched the phone ring, all the while thinking she was going to spill the beans too soon. A secret this big felt like trying to hold sunshine in her palms.“Hey, beautiful. Called you earlier.”Her heart did another odd little skip. “I must have missed it when I was helping Sonia at the store.”“Just called to tell you I won't be home tonight.”“No?”“Sonia's got this massive project deadline. She needs an extra pair of hands, maybe extra eyes too. So we might pull an all-nighter.”“At the store?” Mason asked.“No, we're heading to her place. She's got all the materials there.”“I could stop by on my way home. Maybe bring you both dinner?”“Aww, thank you love.”“Alright. See you soon,” he said, “I love you.”“I love you too.” Those words, at least, were pure truth.The call ended, and Gianna let out a breath that felt like she'd been holding it since the doctor first sai
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Unexpected News
Colin flicked through the portfolio on his tablet. "So, Mr. Caldwell, what are your thoughts on our talent pool?”Colin's mouth quirked a bit as he zoomed in on one particular headshot. “Let's be honest here, Morton. Half of these profiles read like badly written dating app bios.” He turned the tablet around, displaying a black-and-white photo. “This one, for instance. ‘Born to command the stage’, yet his only credited role is as Tree Number Three in a community theater production of Macbeth.”The man's smile flickered but held still. “Ah, yes, well, Marcus is still developing his portfolio, but his raw talent—“Colin slid the tablet back to himself. “It’s about as raw as sushi that's been blowtorched. Listen, I'm not here to invest in potential. I'm here to invest in proven marketability. Though I have to admit that your photography team does excellent work.”“Perhaps we could focus on some of our more established talents? Page twelve has—““Already there,” Colin interrupted Morto
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Back in the day
“Are you lost?” Gianna asked, and when the boy nodded slowly, she pursed her lips slightly.She reached out slowly, telegraphing her movement before gently patting his shoulder. “Hey, it's going to be okay. Would you like to come with me? We can go to the police station, and they'll help us find your parents.”Tommy took a half-step back with uncertainty.“Mom says not to go with strangers.”Gianna smiled, nodding approvingly. “And she's absolutely right. But right now, you're out here alone, and it's not safe.”She then pulled out her phone to show it to him. “Look, I can call the police right now, and you can talk to them yourself. Would that make you feel better?”He considered this with his small face scrunched in thought. “Can...you show me your badge first?”“My badge?”“Like the police have. To prove you're good.”Gianna stifled a chuckle. “I'm not a police officer, but I have my driver's license. That's like a badge that says I'm allowed to drive. Would you like to see it?”
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract On Darkened Streets
Click, clack, went Olivia’s heels as she approached. She was dressed in a peach colored gown whose length was barely past her ass. When she spotted Mason where he sat ahead, she smiled predatorily and twiddled her fingers in a coy wave at him. She slid into the seat opposite Mason.“Cool spot,” she purred as she crossed her legs. Now, her dark eyes swept the conspicuously deserted space which looked like some sort of cafe, but it had been emptied of anyone save them.“Without wasting my time, how much do you want?” Mason asked icily.Her eyes twitched subtly, amusement playing at the corners of her mouth. “For what?”“To shut your mouth."Oh?" She leaned forward and rested elbows on the table.“So we're going to stick to keeping secrets?” She whispered.Mason kept his srare arctic and unmoved. The muscle in his jaw ticked visibly.“Don't do that,” Olivia chided, as if scolding a child. “All cold shell on the outside, but we both know how warm you are underneath.”Her tongue darted
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Shopwork
“A tale of forbidden love and ancient curses,'" Gianna read aloud from the dust jacket as she wrinkled her nose. And then she cleaned the book before wedging it between two equally dramatic-looking tomes on the mahogany shelf:Gianna shifted her weight on the rolling ladder.The next book in her stack had a more promising premise— something about time-traveling archaeologists. “Now this seems interesting,” she murmured, adding it to her mental might-actually-read list before finding it a home in the sci-fi section.Dust motes continued to dance around in the afternoon light streaming through the tall windows, to give the whole scene a dreamy quality. The scent of old paper and leather bindings mixed with the cinnamon-apple candle Sonia had lit earlier.Speaking of Sonia... Gianna shot a glare towards her best friend's office. Sonia had called Gianna on the phone that morning, claiming she wanted to take her on a treat. Gianna was also eager for the date because she thought it woul
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Dilemma
THUD.Mason forcefully slammed his fist into the punching bag. The impact reverberated through his wrapped knuckles like an echo of the chaos in his mind.‘Tell her,’ came a voice in his head.THUD. THUD.‘Keep your mouth shut,’ said another voice.CRACK.The bag swung wildly as he continued jabbing; sweat dripped from his chin, dropping down to the rug under his feet. He could see his own reflection in the wall-length mirror, with chest heaving, muscles coiling tight and face twisting in a grimace.He looked exactly like what he was: a man being eaten alive by his own secrets. The bag took another punishment as he drove his right fist into it. The chain rattled overhead like mocking laughter.‘Don't tell her, and let Olivia hold the sword over both your heads. Let her play puppet master until she gets bored or cruel or both,’ the voice in his head warned again.“Fuck!” Mason bellowed from his lungs as he landed a last hook. The bag swung back at him like a pendulum of judgment, and h
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract A Hit Near Home
“You're Martha Winters, right?”The old woman's fingers stilled on the counter, her eyes tracking Gianna's hand like a cat watching a mouse hole. “Yes…. Is there some problem?”Digging a hand into her handbag, Gianna replied, “Not exactly…”She then took out a piece of paper and placed it in front of the woman. “I received a package recently. The sender used this phone number, which, according to my sources, belongs to you.”Martha regarded Gianna more skeptically now, patting her dress pockets for her reading glasses. She wiped the glasses with her dress before putting them on. As soon as the rims were on her nose, she bent forward to examine the paper.Gianna studied the woman's face intently the whole time. Could this woman be closely related to Finn? And if not Finn, the imposter? Gianna tried grasping onto too many things at the same time.Martha straightened, pushing her glasses up into her silver hair.“I think there must be some kind of mistake. I haven't sent any packages t
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Crazy Dealings
“You're a crazy woman, Olivia,” Mason answered with disgust. “You need psychiatric help. And this is your last warning to stay away from me.”A soft, malicious laugh trickled through the phone. "“Or what? I'll tell your precious Gianna that her dear husband spent the night at my place. How do you think she'll take that news?”Mason's hand clenched around the phone until his knuckles nearly blanched white. The pressure in his chest built until he thought his ribs might crack from containing it. His jaw worked silently as he stared straight ahead through the windshield, watching a pair of sparrows dart past the morning sky with an almost painful intensity. Seconds stretched like pulled taffy. His left eye twitched—once, twice.The silence must have made Olivia nervous because her voice came again, softer this time and almost conciliatory. “I will keep this a secret on one condition.”“Don't run from me….Don't refuse me. Let me prove my love for you. I’ll prove I'm better. I can show
