Dear Gentle Readers, if you enjoy abillionaire story please check out my completed work "Taming The Wild CEO" and give it a chance. Grazie mille. Yours, E.C.
As the car window lowered, Ava acted instinctively. Without a second thought, she turned and buried herself against Alexander’s chest, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist.From the outside, it looked like a woman seeking comfort in the arms of her lover.Valentina, who had been watching expectantly, felt her breath hitch. Her fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. The image before her sent a sharp wave of jealousy crashing through her, but she forced a soft, composed smile onto her face, though it barely hid the storm brewing in her heart.“Mr. Vanderbilt, are you unwell?” she asked, her voice laced with gentle concern.In truth, she had been hoping to catch his attention—to show him that she was different from other women, that she was considerate and understanding. Yet here he was, holding another woman in his arms.Alexander cast her a brief, indifferent glance. He had never held much regard for Valentina. His sharp gaze flickered with irritation before
Alexander gazed out at the night sky, his expression unreadable. The soft glow of city lights reflected in the glass, but he felt no excitement at Victoria’s words."I'm coming back, Alexander. Aren't you happy?"His voice remained indifferent, steady as ever. “Naturally.”Across the ocean, Victoria Laurent sat with her phone pressed to her ear, waiting—expecting a different reaction. A trace of disappointment flickered in her chest, but she quickly dismissed it.He must still be upset about the past.The separation hadn’t been her choice—it was Cordelia Vanderbilt who had forced them apart, pushing Alexander into an unwanted marriage. Victoria had expected him to fight harder, to chase after her, to rebel against his family for her sake. But he hadn't.That had left her resentful, waiting for him to take action. She had assumed he would eventually come to her, beg for her return, prove to the world that he couldn’t live without her. Yet, instead of bridging the distance, Alexander had
"Ava?"The voice was warm yet filled with concern. It was exactly the same as last time.Ava's fingers curled slightly at her sides as she turned around. Since Diana had already spotted her, there was no point in avoiding the encounter. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and greeted her with quiet respect."Mrs. Richardson."Diana’s sharp eyes immediately landed on Ava’s cheek, where the unmistakable imprint of a slap stood out against her fair skin. The redness hadn’t yet faded, the edges of the bruise barely beginning to darken.Diana was an educated and refined woman. She knew better than to be too direct when addressing someone’s pain, but she couldn’t simply ignore what was right in front of her. Moreover, she had already observed that Ava was fiercely independent, someone who didn’t ask for help—even when she desperately needed it.How could my son allow his girlfriend to be treated like this?A deep frown formed on Dian
Dear Gentle Readers, Understanding your request to hasten the plot, some chapters will be made free to show this writer’s appreciation towards your support. Please continue reading this story... no part of this story will go to waste (aka it will be important for future chapters). Grazie mille, Yours, E.C. -------Aunt Torres felt a heavy sense of unease, sensing Alexander’s anger. Their already distant relationship seemed poised to grow even colder. She sighed. Miss Morales didn’t look well before going upstairs. She probably didn’t even hear the knocking.She wanted to salvage Serena’s image, to explain that it wasn’t intentional, but before she could speak, Alexander cut her off.“I don’t want to hear about her affairs.”His voice was detached, his expression impassive. A wall had been built, shutting out any further discussion. Aunt Torres held back whatever she was about to say. Throughout the meal, the silence weighed on the dining room. The servants moved cautiously, their
(From here, Ava will be referred to as Serena, as Aunt Torres and the Vanderbilt staff recognize her as “Serena” or “Miss Morales,” Alexander’s wife.)Serena had spent the morning finalizing paperwork at the agency before heading to her new house. The previous owner had left it in pristine condition, already renovated and furnished. All she needed to do was move in with her bags.Determined, she returned to Le Châteauesque Manor, gathering her scattered belongings. The grand estate, with its imposing architecture and sprawling gardens, felt suffocating rather than luxurious. It was too intertwined with Alexander’s presence.Aunt Torres, noticing her efforts, couldn't help but voice her concern."Miss Morales, is this really a good idea? You’ve never lived in Le Châteauesque Manor before, and now that the old master is back, he might come by unexpectedly. He’s not easy to fool. Last time, he even went into Mr. Vanderbilt’s room and didn’t look happy. If he notices your belongings missin
Ava was burning up, her fever making her dizzy, but she still wanted to go to the hospital to apologize to Diana.She tried to lift her head, her vision swimming, but Alexander’s words barely registered. Her body felt too heavy, her thoughts sluggish. All she could do was nod faintly.Alexander assumed she had understood him. Without hesitation, he guided her toward a nearby bench."Wait here. He should come pick you up," he instructed, his tone detached.He had done more than enough.The idea of being entangled in Ava’s mess again made him uncomfortable. Nothing good ever seemed to happen when he was around her.Ava sat quietly, too weak to protest. She looked fragile and obedient in her feverish state, her usual sharpness dulled by exhaustion.People passed by, glancing at her briefly before moving on. No one stopped to ask if she needed help.Alexander had already turned back toward his car, reaching for the door handle, when a sharp voice cut through the air."You little slut! I f
Dear Gentle Readers, At last this chapter will tie up the loose end about Ava being Raphael’s girlfriend...Please do enjoy. Grazie mille. Yours,Ethan***Brigitte arrived in the morning, carrying a small insulated container. Seeing that Ava’s complexion had improved slightly, she let out a relieved sigh."You had a high fever last night," Brigitte said as she set the container on the table. "This is the porridge I made this morning. You should have some."Ava, touched by her kindness, nodded and took the bowl. Brigitte, however, subtly glanced around the apartment, curiosity flickering in her eyes.Last night, she had mentioned to Mr. Vanderbilt that Ava’s husband was always out early and returned late. Yet, in all the time she had lived across the hall, she had never once seen the man."Ava, is your husband really that busy?" Brigitte asked, her tone casual but probing. "You had such a high fever last night, and he didn’t come to take care of you."Ava's grip on the spoon tightene
Ava arranged to meet Rachel at a café. As they settled in, Rachel casually mentioned that she and Tom had gotten back together, claiming it was all just a misunderstanding. Ava knew how much Rachel loved Tom, so she bit her tongue and didn’t say anything.Instead, she got straight to the point. "Rachel, help me find someone to temporarily play the role of my husband."Rachel, who had just taken a sip of her coffee, nearly choked. "Cough, cough, cough—" She struggled for a moment, then stared at Ava in disbelief. "Alexander still doesn’t know your identity?"Ava shook her head, cupping her coffee mug with both hands.In her mind, Alexander was her boss—her benefactor. That was how she viewed him. But there was no denying the lingering memories of that night, the way his presence had consumed her. Beyond the physical intensity that left its mark, there was that thirty-second kiss—brief yet unforgettable, like a slow-burning ember she couldn’t fully extinguish.She had pushed those thoug
Ava rushed out of the hospital, her heels clicking against the pavement as she hurried to her car. Once inside, she started the engine with shaking fingers and glanced at her phone. Her heart dropped. The roads were packed—an evening traffic jam clogging the city like a pulse grinding to a halt.Her fingers clenched the steering wheel, frustration bubbling up. She honked the horn more times than she could count, each one sharper than the last. A twenty-minute drive had now turned into a maddening forty-minute crawl.Alexander had given her exactly one hour.With every passing minute, her heart beat faster, the pressure building like a kettle about to boil over.And then—bang.Her car lurched forward. She’d been rear-ended. The sudden jolt slammed her head into the steering wheel, sending a flash of pain through her skull. Her eyes stung with tears, but she blinked them away, biting down on her panic. The driver behind her got out, waving his arms and pulling out his phone to call the
Alexander couldn't focus, his thoughts scattered and restless. As his phone rang with a call from a business partner, he seized the moment and stood up.“Grandpa, the business partner is calling. I need to go over the details of this morning’s meeting,” he said, already moving away.Grandpa let out a long, weary sigh. To him, it looked like Alexander was just eager to escape. “If you put that much effort into Serena,” he grumbled, “you two would have had a house full of kids by now. Go on, but no matter how busy work gets, don’t forget the wife waiting for you at home.”Alexander didn’t answer. He slipped into his car and glanced at the dashboard clock—8:00 PM. Ignoring the call still ringing on his screen, he turned the key and headed straight to the hotel.By the time he arrived, it was 8:30.His phone buzzed again. It was Jonathan, this time with more urgent news—Ryan had been arrested, and sensitive information about PW Group had been leaked. By morning, the media would be ablaze w
The Vanderbilt building was unusually still for a Friday evening. Outside, the city buzzed as it always did, but inside Alexander’s top-floor office, silence reigned.The only light came from the city skyline pouring in through floor-to-ceiling windows. Alexander stood by the glass, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a thick, official envelope.The divorce had been finalized. Her name — Serena Ava Morales Vanderbilt — would no longer be linked to his. And yet, the weight in his chest hadn’t budged. If anything, it had settled deeper.The quiet was broken by the buzz of his phone.Hugo.He answered with a low, “Yeah?”“Finally!” Hugo’s voice crackled through the speaker. “You’re free. About damn time, man.”Alexander didn’t respond.“So,” Hugo continued, voice laced with mischief, “how about some celebratory drinks? I’ve got a private room at 230 Fifth, and I might’ve invited a few… distractions.”“Hugo—”“Come on, don’t be boring. Half the city would give their left arm for a
Ava sat cross-legged on the floor of her apartment, Rex’s warm head resting against her knee. The golden retriever let out a soft, contented sigh, completely unaware of the life-changing moment that had just arrived.On the table before her lay a sealed envelope.Her name printed clearly beneath it:Serena Ava Morales Vanderbilt.She knew what it was. In fact, she’d been waiting for this moment for years — though not in longing or hope.She had never begged for Alexander’s attention. Never sought his approval.Not five years ago, when she signed that marriage certificate under the cold gazes of the powerful Vanderbilt family and Alfonso, her father’s watchful eyes.Not when he had left the country right after signing the marriage certificate without a word, abandoning a marriage neither of them had wanted.She had lived alone since then.Alone with the Morales debt, the fading reputation of he
Alexander didn’t remember much of the drive back. The city was a blur of lights and shadows, his thoughts tangled and restless. The tight knot in his chest refused to ease.The image of Ava — Serena — standing by that window lingered with painful clarity. The hollow look in her eyes. The way her voice had cracked when she spoke of dignity, safety, and the things he’d stripped from her.He’d always considered himself a man in control, measured and strategic in every move, every decision. But tonight, for the first time, he felt powerless.And ashamed.He’d broken something he had no right to touch. Now, all he could do was try — maybe hopelessly — to repair what pieces remained.By the time he arrived at the Vanderbilt estate, the staff were long asleep, and the house was quiet. But he didn’t stop there. He headed straight to his private study, locking the door behind him.He pulled out his phone and made a call.Jonathan picked up on the second ring, sounding slightly groggy. “Sir?”A
The city lights blurred past as Alexander sped through the streets, his grip tight on the steering wheel. The cool night air seeped through the slightly opened window, but it did nothing to calm the restless storm inside him.For the first time in years, his usually sharp, calculated mind was clouded — not by business, not by rivals, but by a woman.His wife.And how badly he’d wronged her.Ava. Serena.Every time he said either name in his head now, it twisted something deep in his chest.He thought back to her messages — not a single word of accusation, not one plea for sympathy.Even after everything, she hadn’t used his name.She called him Mr. Vanderbilt.Professional. Distant. Like a stranger.And wasn’t that what he’d made himself?As he pulled into the underground parking of the hotel, he sat in the car for a long moment. His reflection in the windshield stared back at him — polished, cold, successful. A man respected, feared, envied. But none of that meant anything now.He gr
Alexander let out a sigh, leaning back in the chair as his grandfather rifled through a worn leather photo album placed neatly beside the chessboard. The old man flipped through its pages, mumbling to himself. The room felt heavier somehow, the air thick with nostalgia and something Alexander couldn’t quite name.Alexander leaned back against the worn leather chair in the grand sitting room of the Vanderbilt Mansion, pretending to sip his tea while his grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt Sr., dug through an old photo album. The scent of aged paper and tea leaves hung in the air, mixing with the warm, familiar atmosphere of a home built on old money and endless pride.He didn’t want to be here.His mind had been elsewhere all evening — on Ava.The hotel. The time. Her waiting.She’d agreed to meet him there, not because she wanted to — but because she had no choice.Because of Ryan Kuzmin.Alexander had promised her that if she surrendered to his terms — ten nights, no conditions — he wou
Dear Gentle Readers, Thank you for your support from the beginning until this point. This author really appreciates it. Never thought this story will have these many readers...This author understands your wish for this story to end therefore there will be 2 branches of the story from here onwards. The first branch is for Alexander to realize that Ava is Serena and the story can conclude there.The second branch is what the author has already prepared from the beginning. All good things must come to an end at some point...Please enjoy the ride and if you wish to read other story, please check out "Taming the Wild CEO" which has the following premise :For nearly four years Ella Stanford has been working as a secretary to Javier Summers, and for most of that time, she has been fighting her own feelings for him. Javier was undeniably sexy but she knew she should never fall for a ruthless playboy. He has never paid heed to her, so this has not been a problem but a struggle on her own
When Ava pulled up in front of the boutique, she sat frozen in her car for a long minute, her fingers clutching the steering wheel, her heart pounding. The neon lights reflected off the windshield in lurid pinks and reds, making everything feel surreal.With a deep breath, she opened the door, keeping her head down as she briskly walked toward the entrance.Inside, a burst of artificial floral perfume and soft pop music hit her. The boutique was dimly lit, with shimmering silk and lace displayed under glowing spotlights. Ava didn’t dare meet anyone’s eyes.The sales clerk approached — a middle-aged woman with shrewd eyes and a practiced smile that brightened the moment she saw Ava.“Beautiful lady, what kind are you looking for?” the woman asked warmly.Ava’s mouth opened, but the words wouldn’t come. She had no experience here — none of this belonged in her world. “A-anything is fine…” she stammered, avoiding the clerk’s gaze.The woman’s expression turned stern. “How can you be so c