Arabella Carver always has things under control but finds out she isn't as lucky when everything comes crashing down. She is betrayed by her fiance, on the brink of eviction, and with her mother's life hanging by a thread, she's desperate for help. But as she tries to get the help she needs, only one person is willing to offer and it is none other than Adrian Davidson. The first man to claim her heart only to shatter it like it meant nothing. However, there is a catch to his generosity. He needs a wife to appease his grandmother, and Arabella happens to be her ideal choice so he gives her the papers that bind them. A marriage contract. With little choice and a grudge in her heart, she signs them. Besides, what could go wrong? It is, after all, just a contract. But what happens when old wounds resurface and sparks begin to ignite?
View MoreArabellaBeads of sweat formed on my forehead as I reread the message Adrian had sent.Dinner at his Grandma's.I had a lot to say. He couldn’t just make this decision out of the blue. But then again, I’d signed up for this. With that in mind, I settled for a simple "Okay."My stomach twisted. Of all people, his grandmother had to be Hallie. The same Hallie I’d bonded with at the hospital, the one I’d shared genuine, blissful moments with – none of which included being married to her grandson.What the hell was I supposed to say to her? How was I supposed to spin a love story that didn’t exist?All I wanted to do was shove my fist into Adrian's face for stepping into my life again and setting me up for this charade.I gritted my teeth. God, I hate him.My hands were so clammy my phone nearly slipped. Before I could spiral further, Susan’s voice cut through my thoughts.“You okay? You look like you’re about to pass out.”I blinked, shaking my head slightly as my eyes met with her inqui
Adrian“Has Matteo gotten back to us?” I asked Lana as she packed up her things. We'd just finished having a brief meeting.She paused packing and shook her head.“He claims to be on vacation and won't be doing anything related to the office till he's done vacationing. A ridiculous excuse, considering he was spotted having dinner with Nathan Wilde last night,” She reported, her voice crisp and professional, but I didn't miss the hint of annoyance wrapped around the words.A flicker of irritation coursed through me. While my business ventures with the other firms I met months ago had hit off, Matteo Ruseff was bent on making things difficult for me. It was either one flimsy excuse or the other. And Nathan?It wasn't surprising that he was going for Matteo as well since all he did was try hard to sabotage me. That was the only way his company had thrived. Every policy he made mirrored mine, every client he had, he'd slyly stolen from me, and he only made tabloids by claiming to be my ri
ArabellaI asked Gabriel to stop the car two blocks away from my workplace. I couldn't risk making an appearance at work in a car worth my entire lifetime expenses. My nosy coworkers would ask questions to which I had no answers.Getting out of the car, I sprinted to the office building. Despite taking the ride, it didn't beat the fact that I was late. Inside the elevator, I couldn't shake off the tension that wracked my nerves. An image of Steph's fuming face crossed my mind leaving me lightheaded.She had obviously been holding back her anger when she called earlier and now that I was late, she'd skin me alive. Somehow, this was Adrian's fault. Was it?Honestly, I'd forgotten about the meeting – about work. It had been a while since I experienced a tranquility that stemmed from all my problems being solved. I could finally sleep without worrying about bills, debts, and whatnot. So, when I hit the ridiculously comfortable bed, my mind was shut to every other thing.But still, Adrian
AdrianIt was 8:43 am, a Monday morning. The sun was out in the clear sky. Anyone who had a daytime shift should be at work. I was supposed to be at the office attending the numerous meetings lined up, but I was seated in the dining area, with a cup of coffee in hand, staring at the wall clock across the room.With each tick of the clock, I found myself thinking about the woman who had locked herself in her room all evening. After showing her to her room, she didn't step out, not even for dinner. And as much as I hated to admit, I was worried but knocking on her door to call her out was the last thing I'd do.I took the cup to my mouth, taking a generous sip of my now cold coffee. I had been sitting here for about three hours since I brewed it. It was bound to be cold. Speaking of cold, Ara's fiery gaze as she declared her hate for me flashed through my mind, and for some reason, I found it an uneasy truth to stomach.I mean, I hadn't expected a different reaction from her but still..
Arabella"Sky, what are you doing?" I stood by the door to my room, fiddling with my fingers as I watched Sky haul my clothes from the wardrobe into my bags, angrily.After revealing about my marriage with Adrian, she hadn't said a word to me. She'd searched my eyes for any sign of a lie, and when she found none, she quietly turned away, headed to my room, and was now busily combing furiously through my things."What does it look like I'm doing?" She asked, refusing to look at me as she tossed more clothes into my bag. "Helping you pack of course"Even from where I stood, I could feel the heat of her anger. It was coming off her in waves but weirdly, I felt a sense of relief. She didn't leave – yet. And she was still talking to me. That was a good sign. Right?Mustering the courage, I walked into the room and moved to the bed where she was."Sky, I know you're mad at me but please hear me out. He'd offered me a deal, and I was desperate, so I took it–" Her glare cut me off. Harshly dr
Arabella:I froze when I opened the door to my apartment. Sky and my grandma were pacing about in the living room area with their phones glued to their ears and when they saw me, their movements halted.My heartbeat quickened, my hands shaking on the door handle. What was Sky doing here? I wasn't ready to face her yet."Bella, where the hell have you been?" Sky asked, her face softening with relief as she dropped her phone. "Ruth has been worried the whole day"My gaze shifted to my grandma, who was staring at me inquisitively, then to the clock on the wall behind her. I noted the time. I had been gone for almost seven hours. She was bound to be worried, especially as I'd run out this morning without saying a word to her."I just stepped out for a while to get something done. You shouldn't have called Sky to bother her about this" I tried avoiding Sky's sharp gaze, scanning me as I walked into the house. My steps almost faltered as I stepped around her.I thought she'd be at work. I w
Arabella:I stared at my reflection, barely seeing the dress clinging to my body. A simple white maxi, silver stones trailing to my ankles. My hair was pulled into a sleek bun, my makeup subtle, making me look like the perfect bride.The dress was beautiful, elegant, and perfect. Too perfect for something so fake.But fake or not, it was happening. I was going to walk down the aisle with Adrian Davidson. It was ironic that I'd once dreamed of this moment with him but now, the thought left a bitter taste in my mouth."I must say that of all the women he has brought for me to dress, you are the most stunning," A heavily French-accented voice said behind me, snapping me out of my thoughts. Lifting my eyes, they clashed with Brigitte's sharp gaze through the mirror.As Adrian's stylist, she had done a good job transforming me into his perfect bride. And now, I also know that she'd dressed numerous women for him. For some reason, that made my stomach tighten.Brigitte scanned me in approva
AdrianI watched as her jaws tensed and her nostrils flared as she tried to keep herself together. But I wasn't lying. She did look like she'd pass out, soon. She looked different from the composed woman I'd met the previous day. Her face was pale despite the flush of the skin, her hair tussled, and her eyes were filled with exhaustion.This made me wonder what happened within the twenty hours after our discussion that forced her to change her mind.My eyes trailed from her face to her upright posture, her muscles were stiff. I knew she didn't want to be here but she had no choice. Her defiance though, was still there, a fire that I wasn't used to seeing from her. One I would have to quench because although I needed her, she needed me the most.The door opened and Lana walked in, holding a tray carrying a glass of cold juice. She closed the distance and placed it in front of Ara before leaving.Ara stared at the drink for a moment, scowling as she pushed it to the side."I don't need
Arabella:Javier Ramirez was the kind of man you didn't want showing up at your doorstep because when he did, it meant trouble.I was in trouble.I'd taken money from him. It was a desperate, reckless decision that kept me afloat. If he was here now, it meant a year had already passed and he was here to get back his money."Won't you let me in, amor?" He asked smoothly, his thick Spanish accent unmistakable. His voice was laced with something that sent a shiver down my spine.I gripped the door tighter, my pulse hammering against my neck. Letting him in was a mistake but keeping him outside might be worse. He was a dangerous man.Standing face to face with him now, one question bugged me. What was I thinking going to him for help?His gaze remained trained on me as he waited for me to decide. Swallowing hard, I took a step aside silently inviting him in. He stepped inside with the deliberate grace of a man who knew he owned any room he walked into. Only then did I notice another man t
ArabellaThe last thing I expected as I arrived at Nathan's apartment was the sound of moans that filled the air. The living room was messed up with a woman's bag and shoes tossed carelessly; used wine glasses lying on the couch with an empty bottle of wine on the floor.My pulse raced as I stood frozen in the middle of the room with multiple thoughts crossing my mind about who was in. I'd come over to set up a romantic atmosphere for Nathan, my fiance's birthday. He had no idea that I'd be here, but then, he was currently on a plane back home after a one-week business trip. It couldn't be him.It couldn't be him...the thought brought me momentary relief.Perhaps, a friend of his brought a woman over. Nathan had friends who could do something like this. I just wondered why whoever it was didn't caution the woman about her loud voice or why he didn't take her somewhere else in the first place.Should I call them out?... I contemplated, rolling my eyes at the mess they made.The moans o...
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