Bound by deception

Bound by deception

last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21
Oleh:  Isa_LauraOn going
Bahasa: English
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I never expected my boss to blackmail me into marriage. Ethan Sinclair the cold, calculating billionaire who never cracks a smile holds a secret over my head, forcing me into a fake marriage to secure his family’s inheritance. I hate him for it, but I need the money to save my brother’s life. The rules are simple: play the devoted wife for a year, follow his lead in public, and stay out of his way behind closed doors. But as sparks fly and buried secrets unravel, I realize Ethan isn’t just ruthless, he’s hiding something even more dangerous. The closer I get, the harder it becomes to remember this is all just a contract. Because falling for the devil was never part of the deal.

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Chapter One

“Marry me, or your brother dies.” The words slam into me like a gunshot. I grip the armrests of my chair, my nails digging into the leather. My heart pounds so violently I feel it in my throat. The air in Ethan Sinclair’s office is thick, suffocating, closing in around me. He can’t be serious. But the way his ice-blue eyes bore into mine calmly, unwavering, tells me he is. “You’re insane,” I whisper, my pulse hammering. Ethan leans back, completely unfazed, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. He takes a slow sip, savoring it, like we’re discussing stock options and not my life. “Your brother’s medical bills are piling up,” he says, voice smooth, controlled. “The hospital won’t wait forever.” His words strike like a whip. My fingers tighten around the armrests until they hurt. Liam. The image of my little brother flashes in my mind. His pale skin, weak breaths, tubes and monitors surrounding his frail body. The doctors said there was hope...

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49 Bab
Chapter One
“Marry me, or your brother dies.” The words slam into me like a gunshot. I grip the armrests of my chair, my nails digging into the leather. My heart pounds so violently I feel it in my throat. The air in Ethan Sinclair’s office is thick, suffocating, closing in around me. He can’t be serious. But the way his ice-blue eyes bore into mine calmly, unwavering, tells me he is. “You’re insane,” I whisper, my pulse hammering. Ethan leans back, completely unfazed, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. He takes a slow sip, savoring it, like we’re discussing stock options and not my life. “Your brother’s medical bills are piling up,” he says, voice smooth, controlled. “The hospital won’t wait forever.” His words strike like a whip. My fingers tighten around the armrests until they hurt. Liam. The image of my little brother flashes in my mind. His pale skin, weak breaths, tubes and monitors surrounding his frail body. The doctors said there was hope
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22
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Chapter Two
The ring feels like a shackle. I sit stiffly in the middle of Ethan’s penthouse, glaring at the massive diamond he just slipped onto my finger. The damn thing sparkles under the chandelier light, mocking me. “This is ridiculous,” I mutter, twisting it around my finger like I can rip it off by sheer will. “You’ll wear it at all times,” Ethan says, standing over me. “No exceptions.” His voice is calm, firm, as if he’s telling me I’ll breathe air or drink water. As if this is a law of nature I can’t argue with. I scoff, shifting in my seat. “Afraid someone will think your fiancée doesn’t love you?” Ethan steps closer, his presence swallowing the space between us. He doesn’t touch me, but it feels like he does. His energy is suffocating, like a magnetic field trapping me in place. “Afraid you’ll forget this is just business?” His voice drops an octave, smooth as silk but sharp as a blade. His breath warms my skin, and for a terrifying second, my pulse skips. I hate how m
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22
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Chapter Three
The engagement party is a nightmare in designer clothing. Glittering chandeliers hang like jeweled traps from the ceiling, their golden light reflecting off the champagne flutes clinking in celebration. The air is thick with expensive perfume, murmured conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter. I stand at Ethan’s side, my champagne untouched, my fingers curled tightly around the delicate stem of the glass. My grip is the only thing keeping me steady. I force myself to smile, to act the part of the devoted fiancée. Because in this room—where wealth and power weave together like an unbreakable net, one misstep could ruin everything. Beside me, Ethan thrives in the attention. He shakes hands, trades smirks, and commands the room with the ease of a man born to rule. His hand rests low on my waist, possessive, like a brand. I feel his gaze flicker toward me every now and then. Testing me. Pushing me. I don’t react. Not yet. But he’s playing a game, and I have no
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22
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Chapter Four
I storm into Ethan’s office, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The room is sleek, modern, just like him. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretch behind a black glass desk, offering a perfect view of the city skyline. A world he owns. A world I’m trapped in. But right now, I don’t care about the wealth or power surrounding him. I care about the lie. The one he’s keeping from me. “What the hell are you planning?” Ethan glances up, completely unfazed. His charcoal suit is crisp, his tie slightly loosened like he’s already settled in for the night. Like he expected me. His expression doesn’t shift. No surprise, no guilt, just a cool, collected mask. He leans back, fingers steepled together. Calm. Confident. Dangerous. “You were eavesdropping?” His voice is smooth, like I’m the one crossing a line. I slam my hands on the glass desk, hard enough to make the papers tremble. Hard enough to show I’m not afraid. “Don’t turn this on me.” His lips twitch in a ghos
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22
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Chapter Five
I don’t wait for the elevator. I run. Heart hammering, breath short, heels slamming against the marble floors as I tear through the lobby. The stunned doorman calls after me, but I don’t stop. I don’t look back. The note burns in my grip. Your husband-to-be isn’t who he says he is. Those words won’t leave my head. They rattle through my skull, louder than my own thoughts. Someone broke into my apartment. Someone was there. Watching. Waiting. And they left me this, a warning I don’t understand. I reach Ethan’s private penthouse, fists clenching. My chest heaves as I slam my fist against the door. “Ethan!” Silence. I pound harder. “Open the damn door!” Nothing. A cold shiver races through me. Then— Click. The door swings open. Ethan stands there. No jacket. Sleeves rolled up. Hair slightly tousled like he’s been running his hands through it. Calm. Controlled. Like he didn’t just destroy my life. His gaze sweeps over me, settling on the cru
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22
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Chapter 6 : Secrets Behind Locked Doors
The folder lingers between us like a ticking bomb. I stare at it. It's thin. Deceptively light. Nonetheless, it feels heavier than anything I've ever held. It makes my fingers shake as I try to grab it. The weight of my heart weighing heavily on my ears.' I shouldn't open it. I am aware of the instincts of animals that alert them to running before a storm. This is their way! But I do it anyway. If I flip that folder open, the air changes in the room. Tighter. Heavier. Ethan doesn't move. Doesn't speak. Pay attention as my world unravels among a collection of meticulously curated documents.'... A photo is included on the first page. Lucas. My breath catches. Pale. Weak. Hooked up to twelve machines in a clean medical facility. His eyes are shut, his body is frighteningly still. I blink. My throat tightens. The next page—his medical bills. Unpaid. Stamped with red warnings. FINAL NOTICE. As I flip through them, my stomach knotters.
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01
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Chapter 7 : First Test
A hand rests on my wrist. Hard. Unforgiving. Ethan's tuck is like a curse, pressing against the skin. Just as I feel the pain, he pulls me towards him, his arm gripping my waist, and holding me to his side like a sprinter. I should. But I don't. I breathe in deeply, forming a polite smile.? I belong here. My duty is to feel at home in this place.'". The festivity is a lavish affair. Crystal chandeliers shine brightly on the polished marble floors..... The elite of New York possess liquid gold in the form of champagne.. Every moment is composed, synchronized, and effortless. I feel none of it. Because he's here. Elias. My stomach lurches. Wearing a black suit that feels like your second skin, he stands near the bar. There's no doubting his presence, it'll be like he was designed to have any room if. at all. The man had one hand around a bottle of whiskey and the other in his pocket. Unbothered. Untouchable. Afterward, his gaze falls on my face. A spark of recognition. Sho
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01
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Chapter 8 : Caught in the Trap
I know I lost the moment Ethan's fingers clung to my wrist. Not in a loud, dramatic manner. No. This loss is quieter. More dangerous. The manner in which he moves, his hold firm but not bruised and his posture controlled. He pulls me from the ballroom, weaving through the crowd, past the shimmering chandeliers and ruffled gowns, silently talking to me and laughing in champagne glasses. There is silence between us. I don't fight him. I can't. Knowing the cost involved in creating a scene, I cannot say no. It's not when I acknowledge that I'm already standing on my feet. Why? We are watched by twelve eyes, but no one dares to intervene.’ A. Not with Ethan Sinclair. And certainly not for me. After passing the arched exit, we hear a sound from gala.? With a dim lighting system, the marble floor casts shadowy hued by warm glow from sconces in the grand hallway. Ethan stops when the doors swing in front of us. Then—. He turns. Fast. Smooth. Predatory. I'm pressed against the
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01
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Chapter 9: Making a Deal with the Devil.
The gala is suffocating. The reason might be different, but not from the sparkling chandeliers, sparkling champagne glasses, or a sweet aroma in the air. A. No. It's because of him. Ethan Sinclair. He can barely hold onto my wrist. The thin scar beneath my bracelet is gently brushed over by his thumb, his touch being deceptively mild. But his eyes? His eyes are razor-sharp. Where did you get this?" His voice echoed like a blade. My pulse spikes. I try to pull away. He doesn't let me. “It's nothing,” I say. Lie. He sways more and more. “Please don’t deceive me.”. Despite my heart-pounding shiver, I still managed to laugh with great force. “You have no right to demand the truth from me, Ethan.” He sighed. When you keep your own secrets, it's not possible. His jaw flexes. His speech emits a flickering light, leaving it unreadable. Before I can make sense of it, someone else smuggle in. But wait! Elias. Without any searching, I can be sure he's present. The scent of expe
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01
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Chapter 10 : The Unbreakable Chain
Despite feeling pain in my fingers, I can't shake off the folder. From the glossy photo inside, I can see my face staring back at me - this is before my nightmare became reality. Looking up, my eyes ablaze with anger. "What's going on?". Without any hesitation, Ethan leans down on the leather seat. “I want to know why.” Hean.... I shake my head. “No. No, this—this doesn't make sense. It was my first time meeting you in person last week. Damien makes a sharp and amusing laughter from the far end of the vehicle. "Do you believe it's me?" could be the question? "I look at him with a giggle. He responds with, "Laughter!". His gaze enlarges as he faces the folder, his expression spreading. "Do you suppose Sinclair misplaced something?!". Sweetheart, the photo is not for entertainment. A coldness that reaches me causes pain in my chest. I tighten my grip on the folder and have an irregular breath. Ethan looks at me with confusion. "It's not like he ever thought anything could happen
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03
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