For five years of their contractual marriage, Serena couldn’t even catch a glimpse of her husband Alexander Vanderbilt who fled the country right after he signed the papers. She couldn’t even see him when his assistant came with divorce papers. Unbelievably, their first encounter unfolded as one night of intoxicated intimacy, with both failing to recognize one another. The next morning, she realized what had happened but when her husband still did not recognize her, she did not bother to inform him. Serena believed their paths would never cross again, only to discover that this was the commencement of their intertwined destinies. The next time Serena met with Xander, she used her middle name 'Ava' and her mother's maiden name 'Alvarez'. Recalling the virgin that had shared his bed the previous night, he almost mistook her as a prostitute until he saw her designs for his new house which, according to rumor, he bought for him and his soon-to-be bride and also his first love, Victoria. How ironic. Fate dictated otherwise and true love indeed saves the day as the more they interract, the more Xander started to feel something for Serena while Serena herself remain cool and composed, which only made him even more curious! If only he knows that she is still his wife...
View MoreMorning light poured through the sheer curtains, painting delicate shadows across the elegant hotel suite. A faint trace of last night’s champagne clung to the air, mingling with the expensive cologne lingering on silk sheets.
Alexander Vanderbilt stood rigidly by the window, the skyline reflecting in his cold, unreadable gaze. His broad shoulders cut a stark silhouette against the pale dawn.
On the edge of the bed sat Serena, her beauty impossible to ignore despite the stiffness in her posture. Her hair fell in soft, disheveled waves over her bare shoulders as she fastened the final buttons of her blouse with trembling fingers.
Alexander’s voice broke the silence, cool and biting.
“I’ll compensate you generously,” he said, each word clipped and precise. “But don’t expect anything beyond that. Last night changes nothing.”Serena’s hands froze mid-motion. His words were like a blade slicing through the fragile illusion of calm she’d tried to maintain.
He had always been in control — never careless, never reckless. Even when drinking, he held himself apart from others, refusing to yield to temptation. But last night had been different.
Serena, drawing a shaky breath, struggled to hold herself together.
She had known, since the moment their engagement had been arranged, that Alexander resented her. That he’d never asked for a wife, much less one chosen by the family.
After what happened last night, how could she convince him she hadn’t orchestrated it? That she hadn’t schemed to steal even a piece of his heart?
Guilt and frustration tangled in her chest.
She parted her lips to speak — “Actually, I—” — but before the words could form, a sudden vibration shattered the stillness.
Alexander’s phone buzzed against the nightstand. He turned to glance at it, his jaw tightening as he answered, switching to speakerphone with an air of bored disdain.
A breeze drifted in through the cracked balcony doors, carrying the faint perfume of rain-soaked city streets. Beyond the glass, the skyline shimmered in quiet shades of blue and gray, the river slicing a pale ribbon through the morning haze.
A crisp, clinical voice came through the speaker.
“Mr. Vanderbilt, we’ve arrived at Miss Morales’s apartment. She’s not there. Should we deliver the divorce papers to her family instead?”Alexander’s fingertips tapped rhythmically against the window frame, perfectly steady.
Three years. That was how long he’d been bound to Serena Morales — a wife he barely knew, a marriage born from family debt and legacy.Grandfather had insisted: She’s smart, polite, educated. She saved my life once.
But what did that matter? The Morales family had been saved, and the debt was paid.
His tone was devoid of any warmth as he answered,
“Keep trying. If she refuses, involve her family.”Serena flinched. Her hands clenched around her phone, her throat tightening. Divorce papers?
A chime of messages interrupted her thoughts.
---Alfonso: Serena, did you leave early last night? Araminta asked if Alexander drank the wine.
Serena: Dad, didn’t you prepare it?
Alfonso: No, Araminta did. If you have time, visit Valentina at the hospital. She misses you.
---Araminta.
A surge of anger lit up Serena’s eyes. So it was her.
She clenched her jaw, steadying her voice before replying.
Serena: I’ll visit Valentina later. Tell her I miss her too.Her gaze drifted back to Alexander. He stood by the window in a loosely tied white robe, towering and unapproachable, every inch the Vanderbilt heir — powerful, cold, unyielding.
It was as if last night had never happened, as if her presence meant nothing.
Serena took a slow, steadying breath. It’s over, she thought. They would divorce soon. No reason to stay and suffer further humiliation.
Quietly, she gathered her things. There was no point in prolonging this moment, no point in trying to talk to a man who’d already sealed his heart away.
By the time Alexander ended the call, the suite had fallen eerily silent.
He turned, expecting to see her. Instead, there were only rumpled sheets, the lingering scent of champagne, and the faint imprint of a woman who had already vanished.
His expression darkened, frustration simmering beneath the stoic surface.
He ran a hand across his face, recalling last night through a haze of disbelief. If not for the stain on the sheets, I’d think it was a bad dream.
A sharp knock on the door broke his thoughts.
Jonathan Potter, his trusted assistant, stepped inside, crisp and composed. He carried a freshly pressed suit draped over one arm, his eyes briefly scanning the disordered room before saying nothing.
Alexander wordlessly entered the bathroom, letting the cold water of the shower wash away the night, but something continued to gnaw at him.
Serena — the way she had left without so much as a glance backward — unsettled him in a way he couldn’t explain.
He emerged dressed and sharp once more, every inch the formidable Vanderbilt. As he reached the door, a thought struck him, freezing him mid-step.
His voice was clipped and dangerous.
“Jonathan. Who was the woman who left this morning?”Jonathan stiffened, quickly understanding. “I’ll investigate immediately.”
Alexander’s lips curved in a humorless smirk. She thinks I’ll chase after her? That I’ll fall into her games?
He dismissed Jonathan with a wave of his hand.
“Forget it. She’ll come back.”And in that moment, standing alone in the hushed, immaculate suite, Alexander made a silent vow:
If she thought she could slip away without consequences, she was gravely mistaken.
---Across the city, Serena stepped out of a steaming shower, water still clinging to her skin in delicate rivulets. Wrapping herself in a towel, she felt a faint sting across her shoulders, as if her skin itself was trying to scrub away the ghosts of last night. But no amount of heat or soap could cleanse what had been burned into her memory.
Exhaustion pressed against her bones as she collapsed onto the bed, her damp hair leaving dark stains on the crisp white sheets. She closed her eyes, desperate for rest, but the night refused to release its grip.
It came back to her in relentless flashes.
The feel of Alexander’s hands on her body, rough yet achingly familiar.
The intensity that burned in his eyes, as if trying to consume her entirely. The way her own resolve had crumbled, pleasure overwhelming the pain until she was left gasping, lost in the moment.Serena’s hand curled around a fistful of bedsheets, a bitterness rising hot in her throat. It wasn’t simply the loss of her virginity that made her ache.
It was his voice, low and ragged, carried on shallow breaths.
The name he had whispered, like a brand seared into her soul."Victoria."
Victoria Laurent.
The woman who owned Alexander’s heart.
The woman for whom he was willing to cast Serena aside.Serena turned onto her side, her chest tightening as if a heavy stone had been laid on it. She had been his wife for three long years, yet in all that time, she had been nothing more than a polite, beautiful placeholder.
Sleep was a cruel stranger. After minutes of futile tossing, she gave up, reaching over to the nightstand. Pulling open the drawer, she took out two pristine marriage certificates. Their crisp edges caught the lamplight, the embossed seals still proud and official, like a mocking reminder.
She traced a trembling finger over the bold print: Alexander Vanderbilt.
For three years, she thought, I have been Mrs. Vanderbilt in name alone.
But last night had changed everything.
She let out a sharp breath, slammed the drawer shut, and stared at the ceiling.
Everything had changed — and there was no going back.
"Marilyn!" Serena rushed forward, catching her just as she stumbled. Mikhail was right behind, steadying her other side with a firm hand.Marilyn’s mind was a blur—static noise, white-hot and blinding. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t feel anything beyond the numbness sinking deep into her bones.They managed to get her into a hospital room. A nurse handed her a small bottle of sweet glucose water, and Serena gently helped tip it to her lips. Colors swirled around her field of vision like a kaleidoscope—too bright, too fast.The doctor stood at the bedside, clipboard in hand. “Her blood sugar dipped a bit, likely brought on by emotional shock. Nothing serious. What she needs now is rest, both physically and mentally.”Serena nodded silently, her gaze fixed on Marilyn, who sat pale and quiet against the starched white sheets. Her usually bright eyes were flat now, drained of their usual sparkle.Seven years.Seven years of love, trust, and promises—shattered in a heartbea
Alexander moved first, disappearing around the corner with a flick of his eyes—quick, calculated. His gaze lingered just long enough to catch Serena behind him.She didn’t follow.Instead, she said something softly to Simon and gave him a small, discreet wave to go ahead. No dramatics, no hesitation.Simon nodded, adjusted the cuff of his blazer, and turned the opposite way with her.As they walked off, Alexander’s jaw tightened. A muscle in his cheek twitched, betraying his restraint. He stood still, lips pressed thin, eyes locked on the empty hallway until their footsteps faded.Outside, Serena and Simon stepped into the crisp night air, leaving the heady din of Broadway Bar behind them. The city buzzed around them—horns in the distance, neon lights bouncing off wet pavement. They walked in silence for a bit before ducking into a quiet, artsy café tucked between a used bookstore and a flower shop.The café had an old-soul charm—warm amber lighting, mismatched wooden chairs, and the s
Whatever. I’ll win her back sooner or later, Alexander thought with arrogant certainty, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.He flicked his gaze toward the stack of documents on his desk, his voice sharp and commanding. “From now on, don’t even think about contacting her.”Liam stood there awkwardly, lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. The weight of Alexander’s tone pinned him in place. A beat later, he gave a stiff nod and backed out of the office, the door clicking shut behind him.Alone now, Alexander leaned back in his leather chair, his expression darkening as his thoughts unraveled.Alexei. Richard. And that damn actor—Austin.His jaw clenched.Why the hell are there so many men around her?The more he thought about it, the more the rage simmered beneath his skin. Not long ago, he had been her husband—her only man. Now, it felt like he had to queue up just to earn a sliver of her attention. The indignity of it grated at him.And Alexei—Alexander was convinced th
The next morning, Serena headed straight to E.A. Corporation.As soon as she stepped into her bright, modern office, her footsteps froze. Someone was already inside — sitting calmly in her chair. Alexander Vanderbilt.For a brief moment, she wondered if she was seeing things. Then reality struck: he’d found out about her true identity, and with Alexander’s resources, of course he would have dug deeper.He was lounging back in the chair like he owned the place, reviewing a thick contract folder, his crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the collar as though he had all the time in the world.So this is where she works now? Alexander mused, scanning the framed photos on her shelves, the scent of fresh coffee still lingering in the air.She had turned the Morales family’s crumbling company around almost single-handedly, now even venturing boldly into the film industry. Hugo’s screenplay had become a hit, and their current production was pulling in rave reviews.When she entered, Alexander finall
“I’ll make it up to you,” Alexander murmured, his lashes trembling as he pushed open the car door beside him. “Go home. Get some proper rest tonight. If there’s ever something you can’t handle, come talk to me.”Serena was caught off guard. She had braced herself for him to explode, to tear into her with a rage that would leave her in pieces. Instead, she saw a fragile softness in his eyes, something almost foreign to her.She stepped out of the car with hesitant movements, but before she could fully straighten up, Alexander’s arms circled her waist, pulling her back against him. His head dropped to her shoulder, heavy and warm, the scent of his cologne mixing with the cool night air.His voice, thick and edged with a pleading note, brushed against her ear. “Stay away from those people. I’ll make it worth your while.”“Mr. Vanderbilt,” Serena managed, trying to keep her voice steady, “I have nothing to do with them.”His forehead pressed more firmly into her shoulder, as if he needed t
Alexander slipped into his impeccably tailored suit like a soldier donning armor before war. Each button he fastened seemed to echo with purpose, deliberate and cold, his movements sharp as a blade. His eyes, dark and unyielding, glinted with a dangerous calm as he called out,“Serena?”His voice rolled through the room like a spell, commanding and impossible to ignore.Serena froze, her breath catching, spine stiff. She didn’t even dare glance at him, too rattled by the chill in his tone.Alexander’s gaze shifted, first to Alexei—who looked perfectly calm, as though the drama unfolding was nothing but a dull spectacle—then to Lucca, who seemed just as unbothered. A surge of betrayal crawled up Alexander’s spine. So everyone had known the truth. Everyone except him.Wonderful.A slow, poisonous anger coiled in his chest, ready to burst. But he reined it in, standing there statuesque, an unreadable mask on his face, as memories flooded back in sharp, humiliating flashes.He’d returned t
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments