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Married in Name Only
Last Updated:
2025-02-09 18:53:12
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Billionaire'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
Last Updated : 2025-02-10Billionaire's Choice The Fine Print
Aria’s POVAdjusting to this job, and this life was still a work in progress.I sat behind my desk, sipping my morning coffee, staring at the view from my floor-to-ceiling windows. The city skyline stretched before me, glittering under the morning sun, a reminder of just how far I had come… and how much further I had to go.The office had started to feel a little less intimidating, though. The first few days had been overwhelming. Whispers, stares, the occasional polite-but-not-really-friendly smiles. I knew what people thought. That I didn’t belong here. That I was just the CEO’s wife, placed in an executive role as a formality.Honestly? I would’ve thought the same if I were them.But I was determined to prove them wrong.I glanced at the time. 8:45 AM. A little earlier than I usually started, but I needed the extra time to breathe before the chaos of the day began. My office, at least, was my safe space. Sleek, spacious, and surprisingly cozy. Gabriel, or rather, the company, had s
Last Updated : 2025-02-12Billionaire's Choice I'm Your Wife!
I stormed into his office. The heavy doors to Gabriel’s office swung open as I stepped inside, my pulse pounding so loudly in my ears that I barely registered the sound of them slamming shut behind me.He didn’t even flinch, sitting behind his massive desk, the city skyline stretching behind him through floor-to-ceiling windows. He looked completely unbothered, his long fingers wrapped loosely around a glass of whiskey, his other hand lazily flipping through a document.He said something about my manner but I didn't care. And he didn’t even look up. He was sitting behind his desk signing some documents. I didn't care what he was doing. I needed an answer, an explanation, for that letter.My stomach twisted. I hated that I still noticed him. The way his dark hair looked slightly tousled, like he’d just run his fingers through it. The way his crisp white shirt stretched over broad shoulders, the sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal the veins along his forearms.I shoved the letter on
Last Updated : 2025-02-12Billionaire's Choice First Task
I stood frozen in Gabriel’s office long after he dismissed Ethan, my mind still turning over everything that had just happened. The tension in the room lingered like a bad aftertaste, but before I could process it fully, Gabriel’s voice cut through my thoughts.“Do you like him?”I blinked, turning my head sharply toward him. He was leaning back against his desk, arms crossed, watching me with that insufferable smirk.“Excuse me?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.Gabriel tilted his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he already knew how to solve. “You were staring after him,” he mused. “Do you like him?”I cocked my head. “Are you jealous?”His smirk deepened, slow and cutting. “Jealous?” he repeated, like the idea was laughable. “Of what, exactly?”I shrugged, letting my gaze sweep over him, unimpressed. “That someone else might actually enjoy my presence. Unlike you, who acts like being in the same room as me is a punishment worse than death.”Gabriel let out a low chuck
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Billionaire's Choice Not Good Enough
Aria’s POVI think I hate Calloway.Not in the way I hate Gabriel. Do I even hate Gabriel? I mean I hate him but not hate, hate. Gabriel is a different kind of infuriating. Arrogant, cold, calculating, ruthless in a way that makes you want to punch him and prove yourself to him at the same time. But Calloway?He was the kind of man who made you want to set fire to the entire boardroom.The meeting had been a test. Gabriel didn’t have to say it, but I knew. He threw me into the deep end, sat back, and watched. No instructions. No lifeline. Just sink or swim, sweetheart.And Calloway? He was ready to watch me drown.The moment I walked in, I could feel it. The condescension and the amusement. He didn’t see a businesswoman sitting across from him. He saw a trophy wife playing dress-up. He smiled at me like he was indulging a child, throwing around patronizing lines like, “Mrs. Deveraux, no offense, but I prefer to discuss serious business with serious people. ”By the time I finished tea
Last Updated : 2025-02-15Billionaire's Choice Darkness
Aria’s POVYou’d think after an exhausting workday, I’d finally get a break. But no. Being Gabriel Deveraux’s wife means my suffering is round-the-clock.And the best part? I didn’t even hear about the event from Gabriel himself. Of course not. That would require basic communication, and my dear husband doesn’t believe in that. Instead, I heard it from Grandma.“Oh, sweetheart, you and Gabriel will be attending the exclusive tour tonight, right?” she had asked over tea, like it was common knowledge.I had paused mid-sip, processing her words. We are? Because I certainly hadn’t been informed. And judging by the way Grandma spoke, this wasn’t optional. It was an expectation.I wasn’t even surprised. Gabriel had probably planned to mention it at the last minute, just to piss me off. If it weren’t for Grandma, I would’ve been left scrambling.And that’s the thing, Grandma always has my back. We have a good relationship.Unlike the rest of this cold, power-obsessed family, she actually lik
Last Updated : 2025-02-16Billionaire's Choice Collision
Gabriel’s POVThe moment Aria’s body went limp, my hands tightened around the wheel. My mind went, what the fuck?I flicked my gaze to her, expecting some kind of reaction. Another insult, maybe that smug smirk she always had when she thought she was winning. But there was nothing. Her head lolled slightly to the side, her breathing shallow.My pulse spiked as I slammed my foot on the brakes. The tires screamed as I yanked the wheel, pulling the car to a sharp stop on the side of the road.“Aria!” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but she didn’t flinch. Didn’t move.A cold sensation crept through my chest. No. This couldn’t be happening.I unbuckled my seatbelt, my heart pounding as I reached for her. I quickly unbuckled her seatbelt as well. My fingers pressed against her neck. Steady pulse. She was alive. Thank fuck.But that wasn’t enough. She still wasn’t moving, and my stomach dropped lower.I leaned in closer, trying to feel her breath against my cheek. The uneven rhyth
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Billionaire's Choice Fighting Myself
Lately, the bed had felt colder—something I never thought I’d notice, let alone care about. But I did.I woke up to silence. No soft rustling of sheets beside me. No warmth lingering where she used to be. Just emptiness. The space next to me remained untouched, as if she had never been there at all.I’d been going to bed late lately, and waking up randomly in the middle of the night. Most times, like tonight, I woke up restless. I reached for my phone to check the time, it was 4:18 AM on Saturday.I turned my head slightly, already knowing what I’d find.She was curled up on the couch again.Aria lay on her side, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her body tucked into the corner like she was trying to disappear. A thin blanket barely covered her legs, and I couldn’t help but notice how vulnerable she looked.In the beginning, I’d caught her shivering on those first few nights. I almost reached for a thicker blanket more than once, but every time, I stopped myself. Instead, I’d j
Last Updated : 2025-02-18
Latest chapter
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
