Billionaire heir Alexander Sterling is tired of his mother’s relentless matchmaking with spoiled socialites. In a desperate move to escape, he proposes a contract marriage to Elena Carter, a struggling waitress he met on a drunken night at a restaurant. She sees it as a golden ticket to cover her mom's medical bills, unaware she’s stepping into a life of cold indifference and relentless torment. Bound for three years, their marriage is filled with icy glares and unspoken pain. But in their second year, a mistake leads to an unexpected pregnancy. Fearful of his wrath and threats of Eleanor, Elena hides the truth, enduring his cruelty in silence. As time passes, Alexander begins to feel something he never expected. But pride keeps him from showing it. On the verge of the third year, unable to bear the suffering any longer, Elena disappears, presumed dead. Devastated, Alexander is haunted by regret, not knowing she has survived and given birth to their twins. Years later, fate brings them back together this time, as equals. Wealthy. Independent. A mother of two. Elena is no longer the fragile woman he once controlled. But their reunion is complicated by the arrival of Matteo De Luca, a ruthless Italian billionaire with a vendetta against Alexander and an interest in Elena. With enemies on all sides and unresolved emotions between them, will love conquer all? Or will the past destroy any chance of redemption?
View MoreElena’s POVRyan walked beside me as we left the hospital. The silence surrounding us was heavy, a weight I couldn't lift no matter how I tried.The doctor’s words kept echoing in my mind. “Her health is declining. Prepare for the possibility that she may not have much time left.” I wanted to scream, to blame someone for my mother’s health declining but I had to be strong for Ryan. He had only me and if I broke down, he would too. Mum wouldn’t want that.I placed a hand on Ryan’s arm as we reached the car. “Let’s go home.” I said softly.He nodded. His face was pale and neutral.Neither of us spoke throughout the drive home. We just sat there staring outside but the silence spoke volumes.By the time we got home. My real home, the apartment I lived in for half of my life before I got married. Ryan collapsed onto the couch. “I don’t know what to do, Elena.” He finally said, his voice breaking a little. “I don’t want to lose her.”“We won’t Ryan. We’re not giving up.” I said firmly. “
Alexander’s POVThe office was suffocating. The air was heavy with the weight of unanswered questions. I stood by the window, staring outside and thinking, my jaw clenched tightly.Reymond was a shadow seeping into every corner of my life.I spent hours going through the document. Trying to piece together his next move with Daniel and Victor, yet it felt like no matter how much I worked, or how much I read through the files, I couldn’t find anything. I was always two steps behind him.That was the thing about my father. He was the man who played the long game.The company was my life. I sacrificed too much to let him get it.“Sir,” Victor called, snapping me out of my thoughts. He stood by the door to my office, a cautious expression on his face.“What is it?” I asked sharply.“We have received confirmation that Reymond has been meeting with additional shareholders,” he said, stepping inside and placing a folder on my desk. “He’s gaining numbers.”I flipped through the folder, checkin
Elena’s POV“Elena,” He said, his voice panicked. “It’s mom.”My heart stopped. “What happened?”“She collapsed.” He said quickly. “As she was taking a walk in the hospital but she has been taken back to her room now.”I grabbed my coàt and rushed out the door. I called Henry to take me to the hospital. The drive to the hospital wasn’t long but all through, my mind kept racing with worst-case scenarios.When I arrived, I saw Ryan sitting in front of the room staring at his hands. “Ryan.” I called out to him.He looked up in shock. Then he got up and hugged me.“It’s alright. Mum is going to be okay.” I said, rubbing his hair.“What exactly happened?”“I came to see mum. So she said she wanted to go for a walk.” He said, his voice shaking. “I took permission and she said it was okay so I took mum, we were just talking and laughing and suddenly, she just collapsed.” He was barely audible now, the tears in his voice trying to come out fully.“It’s okay, Alright?” I told him, holding his
Elena's POVThe morning light shone through the large windows of the Sterling mansion, reflecting on the marble floors.I sat in the corner of the grand sitting room, sipping a cup of tea I really didn't want. The house was quiet and I woke up with a headache so Maria made a hot cup of herbal tea to soothe the headache.She was the only one who actually cared for me since I started staying here.The wedding. The whispers. The coldness in his voice when he told me we would be sleeping in seperate rooms.I hadn't seen Alexander since the night of the wedding. He’d thrown himself inside work since his father arrived. Leaving me to wander this massive house on my own.I wasn’t angry, not exactly.But there was a growing ache in my chest, a feeling of loneliness I couldn’t shake.I’d married him for my family, for Ryan and Mom. But now, I was beginning to wonder if i had made the biggest mistake of my life.I knew Alexander was dealing with his father, with the company, with things I could
Alexander's POV The day was finally over. The sterling mansion, once buzzing with noise and activity, had grown quiet all because of Reymond sterling, my so-called father. His name alone made me boil and so angry. I hated him so much. I was married. The weight of the wedding ring on my hand felt so heavy. I stood in the doorway of my room after that whole scene in the study. I needed to refresh and look at that document again. Elena had to watch everything. She saw a side of our family no one had seen and now I knew she had questions but I couldn't answer them. I was exhausted. I turned to see her behind me. She was still in her reception gown. The glow of the corridor lamps softened her features. Making her look so innocent and beautiful. She was tired though. It showed in her face. She glanced up when she noticed me staring at her. “Alexander.” Her voice was low and quiet. “The wedding is over.” I said coldly. “The deal is sealed. We are legally married.” She didn'
Elena’s POVThe place had gone silent immediately when the uñknown man who I later found out was Alexander's father arrived.The air once filled with laughter and clinking of glasses became silent like a graveyard.Everybody watching the drama unfold.All eyes locked on one man.Alexander's father.The father he never spoke about.Cameras flashed, reporters whispering to each other and catching every shocking moment of the reunion.And then, before anyone could react.Alexander moved.Anger burned in his eyes as he stormed towards his father, his grip tightening around his hand.“Inside. Now.”Reymond, completely unmoved, just smirked. “Ah, a private conversation. How thoughtful.”Alexander didn't respond. He just dragged him through the party and inside to his office study at home.A murmur rose from the crowd.Sophie used her eyes to ask me if everything was okay.I replied to her saying I don't know but I was going to find out.Eleanor stood up alert. Her face was pale and full of
(Alexander’s POV)A month later, I stood at the altar of a grand catholic church dressed in a sleek black tuxedo with Daniel by my side dressed in a black suit. Waiting for a wedding I didn't want.The air smelled of incense and fresh roses. Soft glow of candles flickered around the church Illuminating the sculptured designs.People whispered as the music played.They weren't whispering about me.They were whispering about her.The bride.The fact that no one truly understood why I was marrying her. A nobody.Elena appeared at the entrance, dressed in a long white gown, lace trailing behind her as she walked slowly down the aisle.She looked….Presentable.Not breathtaking. Not the kind of woman people expected by my side.But she knew how to play the part.And that was all that mattered.Her expression was calm, composed, her eyes straight ahead as if she wasn't walking into a room full of people who disliked her or had something to say against her. People who didn't want her there.A
(Elena's POV)“Ryan, we need to talk.” I told him.Ryan was sitting on the staircase when I got back.At first I thought he didn't notice me. He looked deep in thoughts. His posture was slouched, elbows resting on his knees, head tilted downward. But the moment I stepped closer, his eyes snapped up to meet mine. I knew then, he saw me when I arrived and he was waiting for me.A part of me felt relieved to see him. The other part? Absolutely scared do what he was about to say. I breathed hard. “Ryan..”He exhaled slowly. “So it's true.”I hesitated. “I–”“You're actually getting married.”I opened my mouth, I wanted to say something but no words came out. Ryan let out a bitter chuckle. “Wow. I thought maybe I didn't hear correctly. Or maybe Sophie got it wrong. But no. You really did it.”I stepped closer to him. “Ryan, I wanted to tell you but I—.”“You didn't tell me.” He cut in sharply. “You let me find out on my own. As usual. Do you know how that felt?”I felt a guilty pain in
Elena's POVHenry drove in silence, the soft sound of the car engine filling the space between us. I wasn't in the mood for talks, I just wanted to see Ryan, Sophie and mum.I leaned my head against the window, staring at the buildings and city lights outside. My thoughts were a mess, but the biggest one pressing on my mind was, Did I really make the right choice?Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my phone buzzed.I sighed, pulling my phone out of my bag to check who was calling. Sophie. I knew I would get a call from her soon. My stomach twisted.Bracing myself, I answered.“Elena Carter!” Sophie’s voice practically blew through the speaker. “What the hell am I looking at?!”I winced. “Sophie–”“Don't Sophie me! You got engaged to Alexander Sterling, and you hid it from me?!.I swallowed. “I can expla–”Before I could finish, she cut me off. Her voice lower and less deadly.“Lena, What's going on seriously?”“I'll explain when I get home.”“You better. Because I swear, if you don't
Elena's POVHow did I get myself into this?I stared at the file in my hand, my fingers trembling as I held the pen about to sign a contract stating that I, Elena Carter agree to a three year marriage with this man, Alexander Sterling. Alexander sat across the table eyeing me with an unreadable expression waiting for me to sign it.Three years of my life.Three years as his wife.How did it come to this? My mind flashed back to the moment everything changed. A week ago…The scent of the bleach enveloped my nose. as I scrubbed the marble floors of the estate I was assigned to clean this morning. All these for a worthless pay and the rich people hardly gave tips to appreciate my effort. Oh well! I had to do it to support my mom's medical bills and my brother. My phone buzzed in my pocket, I quickly cleaned my hand on my apron and picked the call.“Elena..” The weak voice on the other end immediately made me tense and worried. It was my mother.“Mum, Is everything okay?.I asked “Co...
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