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Married in Name Only
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-09 18:53:12
Bab terkait
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18
Bab terbaru
Billionaire's Choice Broken
ARIA’S POVI needed air. Space. Sanity. Something.The second I stormed out of that office, I didn’t stop walking. I just kept going. Past the hallway, past the fake smiles and curious stares, until I hit the rooftop door and shoved it open.Cold wind rushed against my skin like it knew I was seconds from losing it. I walked to the edge, gripped the metal railing, and let out a breath that trembled against the fury in my chest.What the hell was he doing here?Of all the damn places on earth. Colorado. My job. My world.And now he was standing there like a ghost that refused to stay buried.I heard footsteps behind me, and my stomach sank.“Ari…”Of course.I didn’t turn. “Don’t come near me.”“I just want to talk.”I turned then, slow, sharp. “You’ve done enough talking, Gabriel. You did all your talking with that divorce paper.”He flinched, just slightly, but I didn’t stop.“You made me leave, without a word. No explanation. Nothing. And now what? You show up here, what? You buy th
Billionaire's Choice The Takeover
Aria’s POVSofia leaned in, her voice just above a whisper. “I mean… I can’t speak on that. But apparently, the new CEO is holding private meetings with all the department heads today before he meets everyone officially. There’s no official memo or calendar update, but people are talking.”I blinked, a sudden unease crawling up my spine. “Talking how?”She tapped her phone. “From what I heard, he’s already met with Marketing and Sales. PR is in there now. Editorial is next.”“What?” I froze.Editorial. That’s my department.How am I just hearing about this now? Why didn’t I get any sort of information?I forced a smile, mumbled a quick thank-you, and nodded before heading to my desk. My chest was heavy with nerves. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to start from scratch again. I’d just begun to find my rhythm here. It finally felt like I was getting a foothold—finally stepping into the future I’d envisioned for myself. Event planning wasn’t just a job to me; it was my second chance. A wa
Billionaire's Choice The Disaster Date
Aria's POVWe’d been sitting here for a while now, settled into our booth, chatting like it was just any other evening. Dylan was easy to talk to, surprisingly so. Maybe I’d been wrong about him. He wasn’t exactly my type, but he wasn’t a bad guy. Actually, he had a way of making me laugh without trying too hard. Maybe that was a nice change.I couldn’t help but smile as he raised an eyebrow at the wine list. “How do you choose between something like this and something more... adventurous?” He gave me a teasing look, like he knew what I was thinking.“Well, you have to be in the mood for it,” I replied, leaning back in the booth, still looking at my menu. “But sometimes, it’s about taking a risk. You know?”He chuckled, the sound warm and easy. “Taking risks, huh? Yeah, I can get behind that. I’ve had my share of those.” He shrugged casually, almost nonchalantly. “Started my own company with almost no money. Almost lost it all, but it worked out. Sometimes you just have to take the le
Billionaire's Choice A Date?
Gabriel’s POV“Make sure they have the revised proposal by tomorrow morning,” I said, my voice firm as I scanned the papers in front of me, focusing on the numbers that would determine the next phase.Jonathan didn’t need reminding. He was already typing on his laptop, his eyes fixed on the screen, furiously going through the details. “Already on it. They’ll have it. Anything else before we call it a day?”I leaned back, dragging a hand through my hair, and checked my pocket watch. Her pretty face stared back at me through the glass, and it took me a moment to remember why I’d pulled it out in the first place, but my gaze quickly shifted to the time: past 8 p.m. I’d been at this for hours, but the job wasn’t done yet. There was no ‘normal’ workday when you were closing deals that would change the face of a city.I hadn’t wanted to be in DC. To be honest, I hadn’t wanted to be anywhere but in the comfort of familiar things, and by familiar things, I mean being in Colorado right now. Bu
Billionaire's Choice I hated It
Aria’s POV"Ugh, I swear," Jenna groaned, tugging her hair into a messy bun on screen. "If one more designer tries to sell me a ‘reinvention of classic minimalism’ that’s just a white shirt with a pocket, I’m quitting.""You’ve said that three times this year," Liv teased, propped up against a stack of pillows in what looked like a dreamy Airbnb. “Also, that white shirt is probably $700.”"Don’t remind me," Jenna rolled her eyes. “God forbid minimalism be affordable.”Nicole gave a small laugh as she scrolled through something on her iPad. “Meanwhile, I had to convince a luxury skincare brand today that launching a ‘gritty street-style’ campaign with models in couture was not... the vibe.”Liv made a face. "What does that even mean?"“Exactly,” Nicole said. “I think they just throw buzzwords into a blender and hope for the best.”I smiled quietly, watching them talk. I didn’t say much at first; I just listened. It had been a while since we were all on a call like this together, and so
Billionaire's Choice Truce
Gabriel’s POV “You’ve got some nerve, Gabriel, coming all the way to Mexico to call for a truce. Do you really think you can reason with a man like me?” Diego’s voice dripped with venom, each word hanging in the air like a challenge. His eyes were cold, unblinking as they locked onto mine. I met his gaze with the same intensity, my voice calm and controlled. “I’m not here to fight, Diego. I’m here to talk. Nothing more, nothing less.” Diego’s sneer deepened, but I held my ground, my mind already retracing the events of the past two weeks. The eye-opening conversation I’d had with my father. The family dynamics. Diego’s past. My father had spoken of the years of bitterness Diego carried, the resentment born from how my grandfather had abandoned him and the death of his mother, a death he believed we were responsible for. But that conversation had been only the beginning. A week later, Andrew had dropped the real bombshell: documents that could bring Diego down. These weren’t
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
