"Camelia’s world crumbles when she discovers her husband has been cheating on her with her best friend and also left her with a crippling debt, she has no choice but to accept a proposal from Henry, a billionaire desperate to escape an arranged marriage: “Marry me, and I’ll erase your debt.” It’s supposed to be a simple deal—until she meets Henry’s brother, Cole, the man who once shattered her heart. Now, he wants her back. But Henry won’t let go, and his ruthless fiancée, Lydia, will stop at nothing to keep him—even if it means resorting to lies, blackmail, and deadly schemes. As family secrets unravel and betrayals cut deeper than she ever imagined, Camelia must make a choice: love, revenge, or survival.
View MoreBrady's POV "Let's add this to the trolley," Maddie muttered, picking up a jar of jam and dropping it in with a soft clink. “Babe, we should hurry up with the grocery shopping so you can get some rest,” I said, gently nudging the cart forward. “You know I don’t like you stressing yourself—especially not in this condition.” My eyes drifted to her belly, a quiet pride swelling in my chest. “Ours,” I added, leaning down to place a kiss on it. Maddie let out a tiny smile. “He’s doing fine. But yeah… let’s finish up quickly.” We wheeled the cart toward the checkout, passing through aisles heavy with the scent of fruit and cleaning products—normal things. Until everything stopped. “Brady?” The voice came from across the aisle. I turned. She stood frozen by the glass doors, with her hands covering her mouth. Her eyes flicked from me… to Maddie… to the small bump under her shirt. “Lily?” I said, blinking. She stepped closer, almost breathless. “Why are you with Maddie?” she demanded.
Camelia POV "Move to your parents' place?" I stuttered. "Why that all of a sudden?" Henry exhaled, rubbing his temples. "She doesn’t believe the marriage is real. She’s made it clear she won’t back off until she sees it for herself." I frowned. "Okay… but why are you calling it a favor? If it’s something I should do for the sake of our relationship, then I’ll do it." He leaned back on the chair, studying me. "Because I don’t want you to feel forced, Camelia. I know this isn't easy, and I wanted to prepare you ahead of time." Something in his tone made me pause. "And what exactly should I be preparing for?" He gave a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Let’s just say, my mother is… a force of nature." His words were careful, but I caught a glimpse of something deeper. "You never really talk about her," I said, watching him closely as I hoped he'd say more about her. My encounter with her at the office wasn't a palatable one. He hesitated before answering. "That’s because there’s
Lydia POV I wasn't bothered — not really. No matter what happened, I was going to get him. I knew his heart belonged to me, just like mine belonged to him. It had always been that way. "I was made for him — no one else!" I clenched my fists and slammed the door behind me, the sound echoing down the hallway with memories rushing in, uninvited. We spent most of our years together not until I had to leave the country because of the incident that happened at high school. It had changed everything. ##Flash back## “Serena!” I quickened my pace, following her around the back of the school layout. She heard me, I was sure of it, but she kept walking as if I were nothing but air. My frustration boiled over, and I ran after her, grabbing her hair from behind. "Did you give this note and gift to Henry?" I hissed, throwing the crumpled paper at her feet. But she jerked away, ripping my hand from her hair. "Lydia! What the fuck is wrong with you?" she snapped, her voice sharp with
Camelia POV “You heard him right!,” I snapped at Gabriel. “He wants me here, so can you leave us?” Gabriel's face twisted with something between anger and shame. He lingered for a moment, like he had something else to say, but finally turned and walked out, the door shutting behind him. I sighed, turning back to Henry. His face was pink, beads of sweat clinging to his brow. "What did you do to yourself?" I muttered as I knelt beside him. I took off his shoes and shrugged his coat from his shoulders, then pulled the duvet over him. Hopefully, some sleep would do him good. He mumbled something — low, broken words I couldn’t make out. His breathing was shallow and his face tight with discomfort. I glanced around the room, suddenly aware of its size — far larger than the one I was staying in. Curiosity tugged at me, and before I knew it, I was stepping into his closet. Everything was meticulously arranged, suits lined up by color, watches gleaming in their display cases, rows o
Camelia’s POV “What have I gotten myself into”? I asked myself as I finally left his office. The whole dramatic scene seemed like they were all out to chew me. There was something about Lydia that didn't sit well with me. Since the first time I saw her at Henry's. I didn’t like her!, but it wasn’t just dislike. It was... unease. “Because, Why all the warnings? Henry had been clear he wasn’t interested. So why push so hard? I couldn’t figure out what they were to each other — they didn’t act like exes”. But then again, what did exes even act like? I scoffed at myself, realizing how ridiculous that thought was. None of it should matter anyway. I was here to pretend — to act like Henry’s wife. That’s what I owed him. So pretend I would. I still try hard not to think about my betrayal , especially Brady who deceived me. My heart still drops anytime I think about it. I walked up to the elevator, watching the glowing numbers count down as I waited for the doors to open. A man st
Henry POV Shit! I exclaimed, what I was avoiding already happened. Camelia was standing right before me. “That's the bitch!” Lydia screamed, her voice cutting through the room like a sharp blade. She scanned Camelia from head to toe, her eyes narrowing with disgust. “You look somewhat different from the last time I saw you,” Did you actually try to clean up? Cute... but it's pointless” She snapped. “Who is she?” Mrs. Raymond's voice rang out. “She's my wife,” I replied bluntly, bracing myself for the storm I knew would follow. She let out a harsh, sarcastic laugh that grated against my nerves. “Wife? This must be a sick joke!.” Her eyes flashed with disbelief as she stepped closer. “Do you honestly think placing a ring on her damn finger would make her your wife?” She asked, staring at Camelia's hand, “You should know better by now, Henry. Lydia is the only girl you can marry and is acceptable by me and the family. So you better stop this child's play.” I clenched my fists at m
Gabriel POV “Just let me handle him,” I said to Henry after he'd punched the man who had snatched the bag. "You should learn not to touch things that belong to me!" Henry smirked, snatching the bag back and walking away. "You!!," I said to the man sitting on the floor, "Get out of here!" Then I hurried after Henry. Since Camelia came around , I've been seeing sides of him I'd never noticed before. “Were they always there, and I just ignored them? Or is he only now developing these traits?” For 15 years, I'd stood by Henry's side, witnessing firsthand the scars of his loveless childhood. He had learned to rely solely on himself, to shield his heart from the world. But in doing so, he built walls that kept everyone at arm's length including me. “I'm still confused about what changed.” “Don't you think you're doing too much?” I asked as I hurried behind him. “Doing too much, you say?” Henry shot back. “A stranger just snatched my wife's bag!, and you think I'm doing too mu
Camelia POV My mouth dropped as the truth sank in. Everyone knows CASTLE - the conglomerate that owns shopping malls, estates, and pharmaceutical companies across the country, with branches spanning the globe. And I, Camelia, was in a contract marriage with the owner of this empire. My heart pounded loudly in my chest. I had been so focused on seizing the opportunity that I never stopped to consider who Henry really was… “It's alright,” the woman said, her voice calm this time around. She had to be surprised — but nowhere near as stunned as I was. "Give me the dress," she added, reaching for it. The sales rep handed it over without a word. With the dress in hand, she turned and walked away from the mall quietly. “Camelia, you can relax,” Henry said, noticing the confusion etched on my face. “Oh... okay,” I exhaled, finally realizing I’d been holding my breath. I wanted to ask him so many questions, but this wasn’t the right moment. Turning to the sales rep, I read her name t
Camelia POV “You can use this room ma,” The maid gestured graciously, leading me to a lavish room on the right wing of the house. I noticed several doors beyond mine, hinting at the mansion's vastness. “Ring this alarm if you need anything, ma'am,” she said, before leaving. "As I stepped into the room, I was struck by its sheer luxury. The spacious king-size bed, surrounded by elegant furnishings and a stunning bathroom that seemed to sparkle in the soft light. I didn't know when I jumped on the bed letting out a loud sigh. For a moment, I thought of what Lydia said even though Henry said not to mind her. “Twelve months of pretending, and I'd be done.” I smiled to myself, a faint blush spreading across my cheeks as I remembered the act I'd put on earlier. Henry's stare still lingered on my mind. I stood up, reading through the contract and its terms once more. “This was my reality now” I said as I hid the contract in the wardrobe's last drawer, a constant reminder of the deal
Camelia POV "Can you hurry up with this?" I asked the nurse checking my vitals. "Just one more thing, ma'am," she said, wrapping the blood pressure cuff around my arm. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, glancing at my watch as time was ticking away. It was me and Brady's two years anniversary and I wanted to do something special,but I had to stop at the hospital first for a checkup. I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for the monitor to read. Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure across the room. My heart skipped a beat as he turned around. It was Brady, my husband. “What was he doing here”? But before I could call out to him, a woman emerged from the crowd grasping his hands. My eyes narrowed, trying to get a better look at her, but I could not tell who she was. Questions swirled in my head. Who was this woman? And why was she holding his hand like she owned him? "Ma'am, please remain still," the nurse advised, but I was already on my feet, my eyes fixed ...
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