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31: **After the Funeral**
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 32: The Breaking Point
WRITER'S POV The night after Luke's confrontation with Megan was a blur of emotions he couldn't fully process. His mind was spinning with guilt, confusion, and a sense of loss he hadn't expected. The weight of his decision—choosing responsibility over his own desires—hung heavily on his shoulders. Needing to escape, even if just for a few hours, Luke drove to the nearest club he knew. The place was dimly lit, with music pounding so loudly it reverberated in his chest. Luke barely noticed the people around him as he made his way to the bar and ordered a drink. Then another. And another. He needed to dull the thoughts swirling in his head, to forget the complications of his life, even if only for a while. Hours passed in a haze of alcohol and noise, but the escape Luke sought never fully arrived. His thoughts kept drifting back to Anne—to her quiet strength, her unwavering kindness, and the way she had stood by him despite everything. The more he drank, the more he realized just how
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 33: **Waking to Reality**
WRITER'S POV The first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Luke stirred first, blinking awake as the memories of the night before slowly came into focus. He felt the warmth of Anne’s body beside him and turned his head to see her still asleep, nestled against him.For a brief moment, everything felt right. But then, reality came crashing down, bringing with it a wave of guilt and confusion. Luke’s heart pounded in his chest as he realized what they had done, the line they had crossed in their vulnerability. The consequences, the complications—they all rushed back to him in an overwhelming flood.Anne began to stir, her eyelids fluttering open as she adjusted to the morning light. The first thing she noticed was the weight of Luke’s arm draped over her, the intimacy of their position. Her breath caught in her throat as the memories of the night before washed over her.She looked up at Luke, their eyes meeting in a moment of shared realizati
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 34: we'll take it one step at a time...
LUKE'S POV. Two days had passed since Anne left the mansion, and I felt every single hour of it. The mansion felt emptier than ever, a hollow shell of what it used to be, and the silence was deafening. I tried to keep myself busy, burying myself in work, but nothing could distract me from the nagging worry that gnawed at my thoughts. Anne hadn’t called, hadn’t sent a message, and with each passing hour, a feeling of unease grew in me. She had needed space, that much was clear, but something inside me told me this was different. The last time I had seen her, she had been so vulnerable, so broken by everything that had happened. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, that she was out there, hurting, and I wasn’t there to help her. By the third day, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to know where she was, to make sure she was okay. I called my assistant, Thomas, and instructed him to find the address of Anne’s father’s house. “Are you sure, sir?” Thomas asked,
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 35: **The Burden of Secrets**
WRITER'S POV Megan sat alone in her apartment, the dim light of dusk filtering through the curtains as she stared at the photograph in her hand. It was an old picture of her and Luke, taken years ago when they were still so in love, back before everything fell apart. She traced the edges of the photo with her finger, her heart heavy with regret. She hadn’t planned for any of this to happen. When she came back to Luke, she was desperate, searching for a better life, lost in a whirlwind of emotions she could barely understand herself. She had wanted all for herself and then the baby came along and now, as the reality of her situation sank in, Megan couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. She had forced herself back into Luke’s life, but she wasn’t even sure if the child she carried was his. Her thoughts drifted back to two years ago, when everything had changed. It had been a time of hope and dreams for her and Luke, when their love seemed unbreakable. They had been
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 36: I hope I live up to your expectations..
WRITER'S POV The sun was setting as Luke and Anne drove through the winding roads of the affluent neighborhood where his parents lived. The Maxwell estate loomed ahead, a grand mansion with perfectly manicured lawns and tall, imposing gates that spoke of old money and tradition. Luke’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as they approached, his mind racing with the challenges that lay ahead. Anne sat quietly beside him, her hands nervously folded in her lap. She had changed into a simple but elegant dress that accentuated her natural beauty, but Luke could sense the tension radiating off her. The past few days had been an emotional whirlwind for both of them, and now they were being thrust into another situation that required them to act as if everything was perfectly normal. “They don’t know about the contract,” Luke reminded her, his voice low. “As far as they’re concerned, we’re a happily married couple. We just need to get through dinner, smile, and act like we’re madly in
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 37: The baby is Jason's
Megan’s heart pounded in her chest as she walked through the sterile halls of the hospital, her footsteps echoing off the tiled floor. The moment she had been dreading for days was finally here. The DNA results were in. She had spent countless nights agonizing over what they might reveal, but now that the truth was within reach, she wasn’t sure she was ready to face it. As she approached the reception desk, her hands trembled, her breath shallow with anxiety. The receptionist, a woman with a kind smile and tired eyes, handed her an envelope, her expression neutral. Megan’s fingers fumbled with the paper, the weight of her decision bearing down on her. “Good luck,” the receptionist said softly, her words a small comfort in the storm of emotions swirling inside Megan. Megan barely managed a nod as she took the envelope and moved to a quiet corner of the hospital. She sat down on a bench, her hands shaking as she stared at the unopened envelope. The truth was inside, waiting to
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 38: The Truth
Megan stood in the grand foyer of the mansion, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. The opulence of the surroundings only heightened her anxiety, reminding her of everything she had lost—and the life she had been chasing. She looked around, taking in the marble floors, the grand staircase, the expensive artwork adorning the walls, but none of it brought her any comfort. This was a place that belonged to Luke and his world, a world she had once tried to become a part of. Luke closed the door behind her, the click of the latch reverberating in the silence. His expression was unreadable as he crossed his arms and looked at her, waiting for her to speak. Megan could feel his guardedness, the emotional walls he had built since she had returned. “I’m sorry for coming unannounced,” Megan began, her voice barely above a whisper. She hated how weak she sounded, but there was no other way to begin. “I just… I couldn’t leave things like this.” Luke’s eyes softened slightly, t
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 39: closer than ever
Luke's pov I stood by the window of my study, staring out at the sprawling grounds of the mansion, but my mind was far from the peaceful view. The file on Anne’s mother lay on my desk, its presence a constant reminder of the secrets I was yet to reveal to her. Margaret Devlin. The name was just a footnote in Anne’s life, a ghost that had haunted her without her even realizing it. The woman had lived a life far removed from the simple, loving mother Anne had always imagined. But I couldn’t drop this bomb on her—not yet. Not until I was sure she was ready to handle it. I needed to approach this delicately, to be there for her when the time came. But before any of that, I needed to know where we stood, Anne and I. Taking a deep breath, I closed the file and left the study, my steps taking me through the quiet halls of the mansion until I found her in the garden. The sight of her always managed to stir something deep inside me. She was kneeling by the flower beds, gently pruning a
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A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 57: The power of Family
Luke's pov The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the mansion, but the atmosphere was still thick with the tension from the days before. Anne hadn’t said much since her mother’s press conference. Her emotions were a tangled mess of relief, anxiety, and anticipation. As I sat across from her at the breakfast table, I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. She looked up at me, offering a small, tired smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “What happens next?” she asked softly, her fingers playing absentmindedly with the edge of her mug. “We fight,” I said firmly. “We fight Sinclair, and we protect our family.” The weight of the situation hung heavy over both of us, but before we could delve deeper into the conversation, the sound of the doorbell interrupted us. I frowned, glancing at Anne, who shrugged. “I’ll get it,” I said, standing up and heading to the door. When I opened it, I was greeted by a group of impeccably dressed individuals, their pre
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 56: Rising from the Ashes
Luke's pov The next morning was quiet. The calm before the inevitable storm. Anne hadn’t left the house since the news broke, and I could feel the weight of everything crushing her. She was barely holding it together, and despite my best efforts to reassure her, I knew that every headline, every comment, every call was slowly chipping away at her strength. I couldn’t take it anymore. As much as I wanted to protect her, I felt helpless. The media wasn’t letting up. My parents were still furious, and Sinclair’s threats lingered like a shadow over us. But then, something happened that I hadn’t expected—something that would change the course of everything. The doorbell rang late in the morning, and I got up to answer it, expecting it to be another delivery of hateful letters or packages. Instead, when I opened the door, I found myself face-to-face with Anne’s mother, Margaret Devlin, the celebrity idol whose face was known worldwide. Today, though, she wasn’t the radiant, glamo
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 55: exposed
Luke's pov The world as I knew it crumbled overnight.I woke up to my phone vibrating relentlessly on the nightstand. It was still dark outside, and Anne was sound asleep beside me. When I grabbed the phone and glanced at the screen, I saw dozens of missed calls and messages, all from people I hadn’t heard from in years, along with the names of close friends, business associates, and—most concerningly—my parents.My stomach twisted as I opened one of the messages from Calla.**Calla:** *We have a problem. Check the news. Stay calm.*The words made my heart race, and I immediately swiped over to my news app. The first headline I saw hit me like a punch to the gut.**BREAKING NEWS: LUKE MAXWELL’S SECRET CONTRACT MARRIAGE EXPOSED! WIFE ACCUSED OF BEING A GOLDDIGGER.**I blinked, trying to process what I was seeing. It couldn’t be real. But it was. Below the headline was a photo of Anne and me, walking out of the courthouse on the day we signed the marriage papers. The article went into
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 54: A war on two fronts
Luke's pov I didn’t sleep much after the call from Sinclair. How could I? His words echoed in my mind, a sinister taunt that made my blood run cold. The way he so casually threatened Anne—and the baby—was a reminder that I was dealing with someone who had no moral lines. Someone who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy everything I cared about. By the time the sun rose, I was still sitting at my desk, staring at the half-empty glass of scotch in front of me. My head was pounding, and every muscle in my body was tense, ready to spring into action. But what action? That was the problem. I had no idea what Sinclair’s next move would be. The only thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t let Anne find out about the call. Not yet. She had enough on her plate—dealing with her mother’s secrets, mourning her father, and now, the pregnancy. She didn’t need the added stress of knowing that Sinclair was threatening her life. I was going to have to handle this alone. --- Later that morning, after
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 53: protecting what matters
Luke's pov I’ve faced plenty of high-stakes situations in my life. Boardroom battles, complex negotiations, moments where millions of dollars rested on a single decision. But nothing, not even the pressure of running Maxwell Industries, and the Blue eagle companies compared to what I was facing now. Anne is pregnant. It’s a fact that hasn’t fully sunk in, no matter how many times I’ve turned it over in my mind. My wife—no, my partner—is carrying our child. A life we created together, in the middle of all this chaos. I never thought fatherhood would come to me like this. Hell, I never thought about fatherhood at all. But now it’s happening, and I have no choice but to figure it out. The moment Anne showed me that pregnancy test, something inside me shifted. A primal need to protect her, to protect our unborn child, kicked in. It was like every other concern I’d had before—the company, the threats we were facing, Sinclair—became secondary. The most important thing in the world was
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 52: unexpected News
Anne's pov The days that followed our encounter with Victor Harlan were a blur of covert meetings, endless strategy sessions, and moments stolen away in quiet corners with Luke, where the tension between us was always just below the surface. But beneath all the chaos, something was changing in me—something I couldn’t ignore any longer. I had been feeling off for days now: an unexplained exhaustion that lingered no matter how much I slept, a queasiness that came in waves, especially in the mornings. At first, I chalked it up to stress. After all, my life had been nothing but a whirlwind of danger and revelations lately. It made sense that my body would react to the overwhelming tension. But then came the missed period. I tried not to think too much about it at first, brushing off the realization as just another sign of stress. But the days continued to pass, and the nagging suspicion wouldn’t leave me. Something inside me was changing, something more profound than just the weight
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 51: Shadows in the dark
The name Charles Sinclair weighed heavily on my mind in the days that followed. It was like a puzzle piece that had always been missing, the key to the labyrinth of my past. But knowing who he was didn’t bring relief—it only deepened the sense of dread that had been building inside me. Luke was more vigilant than ever, and our home felt like a fortress. Security cameras, guards, and encrypted communications—he had spared no expense in keeping us safe. But even with all the precautions, the knowledge that a man like Sinclair was out there, possibly plotting his next move, made it hard to breathe easy. We kept in close contact with Calla, who continued digging deeper into Sinclair’s history. She uncovered that he was a man of influence, with ties to both legitimate businesses and underworld dealings. He was known for his ruthlessness—anyone who got in his way tended to disappear, either through financial ruin or far darker means. One evening, as the sun set behind the horizon, Luke
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 50: Reality sets in
Anne's pov The locket felt cool against my skin as I fastened it around my neck. It was a weight I didn’t know I needed—a piece of the past I was now willing to carry. It didn’t absolve my mother of all the years of silence, but it was a start. A fragile bridge between us. As I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the small silver pendant resting above my heart, I wondered what came next. My life had been a series of unpredictable events ever since I signed that contract with Luke. What had started as a desperate deal to save my father had led me to uncovering the hidden legacy I never asked for. And now, it seemed I wasn’t just navigating the complexity of love—I was also running from shadows. A knock on the bedroom door pulled me from my thoughts. Luke stepped inside, his eyes catching on the locket immediately. He walked over and gently lifted it between his fingers, examining the delicate piece. “It looks good on you,” he said quietly. I smiled, though it didn’t quite re
A YEAR'S CONTRACT : Mr billionaire's wedding 49: unraveling the past
Days passed since the envelope had arrived. I couldn’t shake the feeling that my entire life had been built on lies and shadows, but at least now, I had a semblance of understanding. My mother had sacrificed everything to keep me safe, but the safety had come at a cost—a lifetime of absence, of missed moments that could never be reclaimed.I stared at the letter again, its edges already worn from the number of times I’d read it. Luke had caught me with it more than once, but he hadn’t pressed me to talk. He had always been good at giving me space when I needed it, even though I could tell he was worried. Finally, one evening as we sat together in the quiet of our home, I broke the silence.“She didn’t have to disappear,” I murmured, more to myself than to him. “She didn’t have to let me go like that.” Luke looked over at me, his expression gentle but filled with understanding. “She thought it was the only way to protect you.”I nodded, my fingers tracing the outline of the wax s
