Charles scoffed, leaning against the doorway, his smirk widening when he saw Claire’s bright expression falter the moment her eyes landed on him. “Were you hoping it was someone else? Someone with the same last name as me, perhaps?” he teased, his tone dripping with mockery. Claire rolled her eyes, already irritated. “What are you doing here?” “Oh, come on,” he said, stepping inside uninvited. “Is that how you greet a guest?” “I don’t think an uninvited guest like you deserves any courtesy,” Claire shot back, crossing her arms. “So, I’ll ask again—what are you doing here?” Charles chuckled, clearly amused by her defiance. “What did I tell you about picking a side?” he began, his voice smooth but laced with venom. “Now look at you, sent back to your house while he’s out there with the girl he told you not to worry about. Going on interviews, attending events... all smiles and charm.” Claire’s jaw tightened, but her expression remained impassive. “I’ll ask again,” she
Charlotte and her father was already seated in Alex's office when they arrived, his anticipation evident as he rose to greet him when Alex stepped into the room. "How did it go?" he asked, his voice betraying his eagerness. "They accepted our terms," Alex said, his tone measured, "but they added a condition." Charlotte's father frowned slightly. "What condition?" "My approval is needed for the deal to go forward." "So," her father pressed, "did you approve?" Alex scoffed, leaning back against his desk. "Not yet," he replied, picking up the file from his desk. He casually scrawled his signature across the bottom, then lifted the file to display it. "It’s approved now." Charlotte’s father barely had a moment to feel relief before Alex strode toward the shredding machine. He held the signed document above it, his movements deliberate. "What are you doing?" Charlotte asked, her voice rising with alarm as she stepped toward him. Alex's gaze never wavered. "Negoti
Alex’s face lit up at her words, and he quickly stepped inside. He took a moment to look around, finally taking in the surroundings he had never had the chance to properly observe before.“There’s already some speculation going around that we’re not really married,” Alex began, pacing the living room as he spoke. “So, we’ll have to do a wedding ceremony. Your mum’s been pushing for it too, and it might help settle some doubts.” Claire raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she leaned back on the sofa. “But wouldn’t that make the divorce process harder? It was supposed to be a clean cut, remember?” Alex froze for a moment, the word “divorce” hitting him harder than he expected. Right. The divorce. He’d completely forgotten they were supposed to part ways in a month. “Well,” he said, trying to sound casual, “I guess we’ll have to extend our contract.” Claire tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Extend the contract?” she repeated, her voice laced with skepticism. “Ye
Charlotte dragged her feet out of the house, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she tried to hold herself together. The anger and humiliation boiled within her. Alex had humiliated her in front of everyone, and the weight of it crushed her spirit. She vowed to make him regret crossing her.She ended up at a dimly lit bar, slumping against the counter. The whiskey burned as it slid down her throat, numbing the ache in her chest. She poured herself drink after drink, hoping to drown the thoughts of how thoroughly Alex had outmaneuvered her. Eventually, her head spun, and she fumbled for her phone, her fingers unsteady as she dialed Charles’ number. The screen flickered with his name before it rang, and she slurred out a request for him to pick her up. Her voice was a mess of frustration and bitterness. Charles hesitated when he saw her name on the screen. He wasn’t expecting a call from her, but when he heard the desperation in her voice, he dropped everything. He r
It had been a hectic week for Claire, filled with endless tasks and a whirlwind of wedding preparations. The constant running around left her drained, and the fact that she didn’t have a single friend to lean on made it all the more challenging. The guest list was the first hurdle. Claire didn’t really have anyone she wanted to invite, her social circle was practically nonexistent. But her mother, on the other hand, had no shortage of names to add. Her list was surprisingly long, filled with rich people she had worked for over the years. Some were kind, while others had treated her poorly, but that didn’t matter to her mother. She was determined to show the world that her daughter was marrying the infamous billionaire—the man coveted by so many. Claire couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness as she reviewed the list her mother handed her. She wanted this to be a quiet affair, something simple and meaningful. But with every new addition to the guest list, it was clear that he
The day everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. The air buzzed with excitement and anticipation, but Claire woke up feeling an odd mix of nerves and uncertainty. She hadn’t seen Alex since the day of the fitting, his sudden departure after that phone call leaving her with more questions than answers. As the morning unfolded, Claire sat quietly while the stylist worked on her hair and makeup. The intricate beading of her gown shimmered under the soft light, but her face betrayed her true emotions. When she was helped into her wedding dress, the room filled with murmurs of admiration. "You look stunning," her mother said, her voice filled with pride. But Claire’s expression didn’t match the occasion. Her lips formed a soft, polite smile, but her eyes told a different story. Anyone watching might have expected her to be glowing, brimming with excitement at marrying the infamous Alexander Steele, but instead, a veil of apprehension hung over her. The attendant adjusted the
Loud murmurs erupted, a wave of disbelief and curiosity sweeping through the crowd. Claire’s heart sank, her grip tightening on Alex’s hand. He turned slightly, his jaw clenching as he locked eyes with the source of the disruption. Gasps rippled through the crowd as Mrs. Steele took her place at the front, the weight of her presence enough to silence the murmurs. Claire felt her stomach drop, her hand trembling slightly in Alex’s grasp. The sneers on Charlotte and Charles’s faces deepened, satisfaction evident in their expressions as they watched the scene unfold. “I know this might come as a shock to many,” Mrs. Steele began, her voice firm yet carrying an undertone of unease. “But as a mother, my duty is to protect my son at all costs.” Alex’s jaw tightened, the veins in his neck prominent as he glared at his mother. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his tone low but dangerous. Mrs. Steele ignored his anger, pulling out her phone. “I didn’t get this recording unti
The wedding ceremony finally wrapped up on a surprisingly good note. The atmosphere shifted from tension to relief as Claire and Alex exchanged their vows. They were officially husband and wife, and no one least of all Mrs. Steele could undo that now. As the guests mingled and congratulated the couple, Alex's face remained calm, but there was a certain fire in his eyes. After the reception, Alex wasted no time in confronting his stepmother. They were in a private room, away from the wedding guests. Mrs. Steele stood by the window, her back straight and her arms crossed. Alex's gaze was sharp, his voice cold as he addressed her. "You thought you could disrupt my wedding, didn’t you?" he said, his words slow but deliberate. She turned to face him, her expression one of feigned innocence. "I only did what I thought was right for you. You deserve better than that girl." Alex burst into laughter “One would think you care about me so much if they heard you but I know exactly wha
Their luggage was unpacked, and they were led to their room. Claire looked around, expecting to find another room, but to her surprise, it was a single suite with one bed. “Did you book just one room?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at Alex. “Don’t you think it’d be strange for a couple on their honeymoon to book two separate rooms? What if news gets out? What do you think people would say?” he replied with a smirk, leaning casually against the doorframe. “You could’ve gotten separate beds, then,” she shot back, crossing her arms. “That would’ve been even stranger,” he said, shrugging. “Don’t worry, I won’t jump you... unless, of course, you’re worried you’ll jump me.” Claire scoffed, rolling her eyes. “In your dreams.” “"Good, then we have nothing to worry about," Alex said casually. "I’ll shower first." He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his toned chest. Claire’s eyes widened before she quickly looked away. “It’s not like it’s the first time you’re s
The wedding ceremony finally wrapped up on a surprisingly good note. The atmosphere shifted from tension to relief as Claire and Alex exchanged their vows. They were officially husband and wife, and no one least of all Mrs. Steele could undo that now. As the guests mingled and congratulated the couple, Alex's face remained calm, but there was a certain fire in his eyes. After the reception, Alex wasted no time in confronting his stepmother. They were in a private room, away from the wedding guests. Mrs. Steele stood by the window, her back straight and her arms crossed. Alex's gaze was sharp, his voice cold as he addressed her. "You thought you could disrupt my wedding, didn’t you?" he said, his words slow but deliberate. She turned to face him, her expression one of feigned innocence. "I only did what I thought was right for you. You deserve better than that girl." Alex burst into laughter “One would think you care about me so much if they heard you but I know exactly wha
Loud murmurs erupted, a wave of disbelief and curiosity sweeping through the crowd. Claire’s heart sank, her grip tightening on Alex’s hand. He turned slightly, his jaw clenching as he locked eyes with the source of the disruption. Gasps rippled through the crowd as Mrs. Steele took her place at the front, the weight of her presence enough to silence the murmurs. Claire felt her stomach drop, her hand trembling slightly in Alex’s grasp. The sneers on Charlotte and Charles’s faces deepened, satisfaction evident in their expressions as they watched the scene unfold. “I know this might come as a shock to many,” Mrs. Steele began, her voice firm yet carrying an undertone of unease. “But as a mother, my duty is to protect my son at all costs.” Alex’s jaw tightened, the veins in his neck prominent as he glared at his mother. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his tone low but dangerous. Mrs. Steele ignored his anger, pulling out her phone. “I didn’t get this recording unti
The day everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. The air buzzed with excitement and anticipation, but Claire woke up feeling an odd mix of nerves and uncertainty. She hadn’t seen Alex since the day of the fitting, his sudden departure after that phone call leaving her with more questions than answers. As the morning unfolded, Claire sat quietly while the stylist worked on her hair and makeup. The intricate beading of her gown shimmered under the soft light, but her face betrayed her true emotions. When she was helped into her wedding dress, the room filled with murmurs of admiration. "You look stunning," her mother said, her voice filled with pride. But Claire’s expression didn’t match the occasion. Her lips formed a soft, polite smile, but her eyes told a different story. Anyone watching might have expected her to be glowing, brimming with excitement at marrying the infamous Alexander Steele, but instead, a veil of apprehension hung over her. The attendant adjusted the
It had been a hectic week for Claire, filled with endless tasks and a whirlwind of wedding preparations. The constant running around left her drained, and the fact that she didn’t have a single friend to lean on made it all the more challenging. The guest list was the first hurdle. Claire didn’t really have anyone she wanted to invite, her social circle was practically nonexistent. But her mother, on the other hand, had no shortage of names to add. Her list was surprisingly long, filled with rich people she had worked for over the years. Some were kind, while others had treated her poorly, but that didn’t matter to her mother. She was determined to show the world that her daughter was marrying the infamous billionaire—the man coveted by so many. Claire couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness as she reviewed the list her mother handed her. She wanted this to be a quiet affair, something simple and meaningful. But with every new addition to the guest list, it was clear that he
Charlotte dragged her feet out of the house, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she tried to hold herself together. The anger and humiliation boiled within her. Alex had humiliated her in front of everyone, and the weight of it crushed her spirit. She vowed to make him regret crossing her.She ended up at a dimly lit bar, slumping against the counter. The whiskey burned as it slid down her throat, numbing the ache in her chest. She poured herself drink after drink, hoping to drown the thoughts of how thoroughly Alex had outmaneuvered her. Eventually, her head spun, and she fumbled for her phone, her fingers unsteady as she dialed Charles’ number. The screen flickered with his name before it rang, and she slurred out a request for him to pick her up. Her voice was a mess of frustration and bitterness. Charles hesitated when he saw her name on the screen. He wasn’t expecting a call from her, but when he heard the desperation in her voice, he dropped everything. He r
Alex’s face lit up at her words, and he quickly stepped inside. He took a moment to look around, finally taking in the surroundings he had never had the chance to properly observe before.“There’s already some speculation going around that we’re not really married,” Alex began, pacing the living room as he spoke. “So, we’ll have to do a wedding ceremony. Your mum’s been pushing for it too, and it might help settle some doubts.” Claire raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she leaned back on the sofa. “But wouldn’t that make the divorce process harder? It was supposed to be a clean cut, remember?” Alex froze for a moment, the word “divorce” hitting him harder than he expected. Right. The divorce. He’d completely forgotten they were supposed to part ways in a month. “Well,” he said, trying to sound casual, “I guess we’ll have to extend our contract.” Claire tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Extend the contract?” she repeated, her voice laced with skepticism. “Ye
Charlotte and her father was already seated in Alex's office when they arrived, his anticipation evident as he rose to greet him when Alex stepped into the room. "How did it go?" he asked, his voice betraying his eagerness. "They accepted our terms," Alex said, his tone measured, "but they added a condition." Charlotte's father frowned slightly. "What condition?" "My approval is needed for the deal to go forward." "So," her father pressed, "did you approve?" Alex scoffed, leaning back against his desk. "Not yet," he replied, picking up the file from his desk. He casually scrawled his signature across the bottom, then lifted the file to display it. "It’s approved now." Charlotte’s father barely had a moment to feel relief before Alex strode toward the shredding machine. He held the signed document above it, his movements deliberate. "What are you doing?" Charlotte asked, her voice rising with alarm as she stepped toward him. Alex's gaze never wavered. "Negoti
Charles scoffed, leaning against the doorway, his smirk widening when he saw Claire’s bright expression falter the moment her eyes landed on him. “Were you hoping it was someone else? Someone with the same last name as me, perhaps?” he teased, his tone dripping with mockery. Claire rolled her eyes, already irritated. “What are you doing here?” “Oh, come on,” he said, stepping inside uninvited. “Is that how you greet a guest?” “I don’t think an uninvited guest like you deserves any courtesy,” Claire shot back, crossing her arms. “So, I’ll ask again—what are you doing here?” Charles chuckled, clearly amused by her defiance. “What did I tell you about picking a side?” he began, his voice smooth but laced with venom. “Now look at you, sent back to your house while he’s out there with the girl he told you not to worry about. Going on interviews, attending events... all smiles and charm.” Claire’s jaw tightened, but her expression remained impassive. “I’ll ask again,” she