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Married, But Not Wanted
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-02 18:35:02
Bab terkait
Billionaire's Choice A Very Stiff Start
I woke up before the sun. My back ached from sleeping on the couch, but I pushed past it and sat up, rubbing my eyes. The blanket had slipped to the floor sometime during the night, leaving me cold, but I wasn’t about to complain. I already knew Gabriel would rather throw me out than let me have a spot on his precious bed.I glanced over at him. He was still asleep, his back turned to me, the blanket covering him completely. He slept like nothing in the world could bother him, while I had spent half the night curled up, trying to get comfortable on the stiff couch.I sighed and got up quietly. I wasn’t going to let last night’s humiliation ruin today. Grandma had said I’d be starting at the company immediately, and if I was going to prove myself in this marriage and at work, I needed to start with something simple.All I could think of was breakfast. It was stupid, really. He obviously hated me, but making breakfast felt like something a wife should do. And since we were supposed to b
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-03Billionaire's Choice This Is Power
When the car pulled up in front of the Deveraux Group’s headquarters, Gabriel didn’t wait for me. The company was a towering skyscraper in the heart of San Francisco, shaped like a sleek, modern rectangle with sharp edges and reflective glass panels that mirrored the sky. At the very top, the gold company logo stood proudly against the dark glass, visible from blocks away.He stepped out first, adjusting his cufflinks as if he had somewhere far more important to be. I sighed, tightening my grip on my purse before following him.The moment his shoes hit the pavement, I saw the shift. Employees outside immediately straightened up. Conversations died, and people hurried to adjust their posture as they spotted their CEO walking in. Even the doorman, who had been chatting with a receptionist, quickly stood at attention, bowing his head slightly as Gabriel strode past.I sighed and followed, gripping my purse.The moment I stepped inside, all eyes were on me.The sleek, modern lobby—its ma
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-05Billionaire's Choice Gabriel’s POV
Sleeping in the same room as her was the last thing I ever wanted.But I wasn’t about to disrespect Grandma—not when she had the power to ruin everything I’d built.She had made it clear. If I didn’t play along, she’d donate everything to charity. Everything I had sacrificed for, every late night I had spent working, every deal I had closed, wouldn’t it all be for nothing. I wasn’t going to let that happen.So, I kept my mouth shut through dinner, even when that fraud’s voice irritated the hell out of me. I nodded when necessary, pretended to listen, and the second it was over, I left.I didn’t wait for that fraud. I didn’t even look at her.I just went straight to my room.By the time she walked in, I was already standing by the window, dressed in nothing but my shorts. I didn’t acknowledge her. I didn’t have to.I knew she was staring.I could feel it, the weight of her presence lingering by the bed, watching me like she was waiting for something.I clenched my jaw, keeping my back
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-05Billionaire's Choice You're My Enemy
I looked at the laptop Jonathan handed me and was shocked. With all due respect, had Grandma completely lost it? Giving Aria shares from the company? I was taken so aback.I scrolled through the document, rereading every line, hoping I had misunderstood. But there it was - clear as day. 25% of the company’s shares, transferred to Aria’s name. My jaw tightened.I closed the laptop, exhaling slowly through my nose. “When did this happen?” I finally asked, my voice tighter than I intended.Jonathan shifted slightly. “The paperwork was finalized yesterday.”She really thought she could force this into something real. That by giving Aria shares, by tying her to the company, she could make this marriage mean something.The most annoying part is they all kept me in the dark. I turned to Jonathan, my voice clipped. “Summon her.”Jonathan gave a small nod and stepped out without another word.I leaned back in my chair, my fingers laced together as I waited. That witch had some explaining to d
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06Billionaire's Choice The Battle Begins
The tension in Gabriel’s office was suffocating as the clock neared the end of the workday. He barely glanced up from his laptop, his fingers tapping impatiently against the desk. His mind was consumed with unfinished business. Contracts, negotiations, and the mess from his so-called wife.Jonathan stood near the door, waiting for instructions. The moment Gabriel signed off on his last call, he exhaled sharply and shut his laptop.“Tell the chauffeur to leave the keys. I’ll drive myself home,” Gabriel ordered without looking up.Jonathan hesitated for a second. “Sir, are you sure? The roads are…”“Did I stutter?” Gabriel snapped, rubbing his temples. “I don’t need a damn chauffeur breathing down my neck today.”Jonathan nodded quickly and left to relay the message.By the time Gabriel reached the parking lot, the sleek black Mercedes-Maybach S-Class was waiting for him. He yanked the door open and slid into the driver’s seat, resting his hands on the wheel. His jaw clenched as he let
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-07Billionaire's Choice Kitchen Gossip
I licked a crumb off my thumb as I leaned forward, my elbows now resting on the kitchen counter. The last bite of my sandwich sat comfortably in my stomach. Not the most exciting meal, but enough to keep me going until dinner.Across the kitchen, two women moved around with an ease that came from routine. I’d seen them before, chatted with them in passing. But I hadn’t really sat with them like this. They were older than me, both dressed in crisp white aprons, their sleeves rolled up as they handled the quiet tasks that came before cooking actually started. One was at the sink, rinsing a cutting board, while the other sorted through a basket of fresh vegetables.Maria and Elise. That was their names. I hadn’t asked directly, but I’d picked them up from listening. Maria, the shorter one with a round face and a smile that always seemed ready to appear, was the chattier of the two. Elise, taller and leaner, had a sharper look about her, like someone who noticed everything but only spoke
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08Billionaire's Choice Married in Name Only
Gabriel’s POVThe tension at dinner was heavy and unsettling, because Ethan was back. I spotted him the moment I stepped into the dining area. He was already seated, leaning back with one arm draped lazily over the chair. A glass of red wine swirled between his fingers, and he watched it like there was something more interesting in the liquid than the people around him.I didn’t react. He wanted me to.Instead, I pulled out my chair and sat down, ignoring the way his gaze lingered on me, waiting for a response. Grandma sat at the head of the table, stiff and composed. The staff moved around quietly, setting down plates, but there was an unmistakable heaviness in the air.No one welcomed Ethan back.He smirked as I picked up my fork. “Didn’t think I’d miss a family dinner, did you?”I didn’t look at him. “Didn’t think you’d be back at all.”He laughed, deep and amused. “Well, you know me. Full of surprises.”No, I knew him. And surprises weren’t his thing. If Ethan was here, it wasn’t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09Billionaire's Choice Thin Lines
Gabriel’s POVYesterday, after dinner, when everybody had gone. I wasn’t in a rush to leave the dining room. Grandma also was still there, she sat across from me, her fingers lightly tapping against the wooden table, a habit she had whenever she was deep in thought. The house was quiet now, the air thick with the remnants of an earlier tension that hadn’t quite settled.Then she spoke.“I wasn’t surprised to see him today,” she said, almost absently.I didn’t need to ask who she was talking about.I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. “Of course you weren’t. He always comes back.”“He’s still my son.”“He’s still a problem,” I countered. “Let me guess. He’s broke again, and now he’s come running back to his safety net.”Grandma gave me a sharp look, the kind that used to send fear down my spine as a kid. But I wasn’t a kid anymore. I was a grown man who had spent years cleaning up after my older brother’s messes, and I wasn’t about to start again.“Gabriel, I know your brother has made
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10
Bab terbaru
Billionaire's Choice A Fragile Fire
Gabriel's POVI didn’t say a word as the jet took off. The conversation with my father sat heavily in my mind, but I forced it aside. For now.I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly. The cabin lights were dim, casting a muted glow over the polished wood and leather. The hum of the engines was steady, almost soothing.Then, almost instinctively, I reached into my pocket.The familiar weight of the pocket watch pressed against my palm, cool and solid. I flicked it open with my thumb. The soft click echoed louder than it should have in the silence.And there she was, her pretty face staring back at me. My Ari, my angel. The picture was taken in our bedroom, a moment I’d stolen when she had no idea. She was in her natural state, completely unaware of the camera in my hand. Her hair was a little wild from sleep, and her eyes had that soft, distant look that made her so damn beautiful. It was a simple shot, but I loved it, because it was her, in the most authentic and unguarded way. I ha
Billionaire's Choice And Another Truth
Gabriel's POVThe silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. The air in my father's living room felt heavier than before, like the walls had closed in around us.I forced myself to breathe. To stay still. To absorb what I had just heard.Diego was family.I sat down, my body moving before my mind could fully catch up. “Explain,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.Andrew didn’t speak immediately. He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table, poured himself another glass, and stared into the amber liquid like it held the past itself. “You think you know the Deveraux family,” he said. “But you don’t. Not really.”I said nothing.He let out a slow breath. “This goes back to Richard,” he began. “My father. Your grandfather.”I knew that name well. The man who built the Deveraux empire. The man everyone claimed was ruthless, brilliant, untouchable.Andrew continued, “Richard had an affair while on a business trip to Mexico. A woman, who wasn’t just some mist
Billionaire's Choice The Truth
Gabriel's POVTCA wasn’t new to me. I had trained here for years, stepping into the ring whenever I needed an outlet. Back then, it was about control, about reminding myself that power wasn’t just about wealth or influence, it was about knowing I could end a fight before it even started.But now, it wasn’t about control.It was about survival.I adjusted my stance, muscles coiled with tension as Cole, my personal trainer, circled me. His gaze was sharp, unreadable, assessing, calculating. There was no sympathy in his eyes, no wasted words. Just the demand for perfection."You’re too slow," he said flatly. "Again."TCA wasn’t a regular gym. It was where professionals trained; fighters, bodyguards, men who understood that losing wasn’t an option.There were no influencers shadowboxing in front of mirrors, no weekend warriors pretending to be something they weren’t. This was a place for men who needed to be ready for war.I wasn’t new to combat, but this wasn’t about street fights or bru
Billionaire's Choice Bait.
Gabriel’s POVDominic’s update came in like clockwork.Aria had taken the promotion. No hesitation. No second-guessing. She thought it was luck. The right place, the right time, the perfect opportunity falling into her hands. And why wouldn’t she? That was the world I wanted her to live in. A world where doors opened for her effortlessly, where she could step into the future she deserved without ever knowing whose hands had cleared the path.Her brother’s scholarship had come through. Full ride. Mentorship, books, everything covered. Another twist of fate in her mind. Another reason to believe life had finally started working in her favor.I leaned back, exhaling slowly. She was happy. She was thriving. And for now, she was safe.I should have been satisfied. I should have let it be enough. But it wasn’t. It never would be. I still wasn’t breathing right.Because I wasn’t there. Because I wasn’t the one she was coming home to at the end of the day, the one she was smiling at when she
Billionaire's Choice Blessing In Disguise
Aria's POVThe walk to work was peaceful, the kind of morning that made me grateful for this change. The air was crisp, the streets quieter than what I was used to, and for once, I didn’t feel like I was constantly racing against something I couldn’t see.Lennox & Co. Publishing was not the biggest publishing house in the country, but it was reputable, respected. It had an impressive catalog of bestsellers, a growing influence in the industry, and most importantly, a work culture that wasn’t suffocating. Here, creativity thrived. Ideas were encouraged, not dismissed. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was in a space where I could breathe.As I pushed through the glass doors, the familiar hum of morning activity greeted me. The scent of coffee lingered in the air, blending with the faint aroma of paper and ink. Editors and assistants moved around with purpose, some already deep in conversations about manuscripts and market trends.I had barely settled at my desk when I h
Billionaire's Choice The Betrayal
GABRIEL’S POVLetting her go was supposed to protect her. That was the only reason I did it. I told myself that if I walked away, if I created enough distance, she would be safe. But it had been two months, and I was lying to myself if I thought I had ever truly let her go.I wasn’t there with her. I wasn’t beside her when she woke up or when she fell asleep, but I still knew everything. Where she lived. Where she worked. Who she spoke to. What time she left her apartment in the morning. What time she returned. The smallest details of her life reached me because I made sure they did.It wasn’t about control. It was about protection.Aria thought she had a fresh start. A new city. A new job. A life away from me.But there was no such thing as away when it came to her.I knew everything.I knew she had gone back to Colorado, back to the only family she had left. I knew she lived in a small apartment a few blocks from her workplace, in a neighborhood that was safe but not safe enough for
Billionaire's Choice New Chapter
Aria’s POVIt had been exactly two months since that night.Two months since I had gasped for breath, my body thrashing against the weight of water pulling me under. Since my lungs burned, my chest clenched, my limbs flailed uselessly in the cold grip of the pool. I had never learned how to swim. The moment I hit the water, panic took over, swallowing every rational thought. I could still remember the way my pulse had hammered in my ears, the desperate way I had kicked and clawed at nothing, the helplessness of realizing I couldn’t save myself.Then hands. Strong, steady hands cutting through the water, pulling me up, dragging me toward the surface. Air rushed into my lungs in sharp, painful gulps the moment I broke free from the depths. I had coughed, sputtering, gripping onto the stranger who had saved me as if my life depended on it because it had. I never got his name. Never saw his face clearly through the haze of fear and chlorine-stung eyes. By the time my friends arrived, brea
Billionaire's Choice When Poison Wears a Smile
Aria’s POVTime blurred in Nicole’s apartment. Days and nights folded into each other, indistinguishable. I wasn’t counting them. I barely acknowledged their passing. I simply moved through them, existing in a cycle of forced normalcy.Wake up.Eat when they made me.Sleep when exhaustion became heavier than the ache in my chest.Repeat.The world outside moved on without me. But in here, in the warm cocoon of Nicole’s home, I was frozen in place.I didn’t cry. Not in front of them. Not when Liv cracked jokes that were funnier in her head than out loud. Not when Jenna threw on ridiculous reality shows, hoping for an eye roll or even a scoff from me. Not even when Nicole who was always effortlessly put together, sat cross-legged on the floor in sweats, painting my nails in silence because she knew words wouldn’t fix this.They didn’t let me sink completely.They hovered, filling the space around me with warmth, chatter, and relentless attempts to pull me back into the world.And tonigh
Billionaire's Choice Final Act of Cruelty
Gabriel's POVMorning comes like a slow, merciless execution.The sheets beside me are cold. The space where she had once been—where her warmth had lingered hours ago—is empty now. I stare at it for too long, my body still, my mind awake but unwilling to move. Maybe if I stay like this, if I don’t breathe too deep, the weight in my chest won’t crush me whole.But reality isn’t kind. It never is.Aria is gone.The realization is a sharp, unforgiving blade. I told myself last night that this was necessary, that this was the only way. I had made my choice. And yet, the silence she left behind feels like a living thing, curling around me, digging its claws in.I exhale through my nose, forcing my body upright. The world will talk. The media will speculate. That’s the least of my concerns.Because as long as Aria is still my wife, she’ll never stop being a target.I knew this the moment I saw the tattoo on the man who tried to take her. The same tattoo Antonia had. The same one I’d seen be
