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Chapter 22
Last Updated:
2025-03-07 23:59:57
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Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 23
ArabellaBeads 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-25Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 1
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 2
Arabella( A Month Later...)"Will you marry my grandson?" Hallie asked as I adjusted the bed to her preference. Her words were playful but they had thrown me off. My eyes swiftly met hers in confusion.Despite the playfulness that laced her words, her eyes held a glimmer of hope that made me reluctant to respond."Uh... only if he is good-looking," I said trying to mask my unease. I took a step back when a nurse walked into the room."Trust the genes, Bella. I mean, look at me, I'm seventy-six, but I could be mistaken for those sexy models, couldn't I?" Hallie asked, the corner of her eyes crinkling as she smiled at me.I couldn't help but laugh. She wasn't lying. She was stunning, aged just like fine wine. Her agility at such an age was commendable. I envied her strength and the heck of a core she had. I'd seen her sit up for an hour and not slouch.If I could look half as good and strong at her age, I'd consider myself blessed.The nurse proceeded to check her vitals."Um, I'll get
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 3
ArabellaMeeting an eviction notice hanging on the door of my apartment after leaving the hospital was not what I expected after learning that my Mom needed surgery and the cost was ridiculously high. But it was there.Honestly, I had forgotten about my pending rent. My landlord had gotten tired of my excuses and this time, he was clear about his decision.I had promised him a month ago that I would pay but things didn't turn out as planned. I had no savings. All I had saved had been channeled to Mom's treatment and stay in the hospital for the past year. There was pretty much nothing left of our insurance.Now, instead of half a million, I had to realize about a million if not completely, but from where would I get that amount? The bank? I owed them as well.What do I do?what could I do within two weeks?The clattering sound of my penholder falling from my desk snapped me out of my thoughts. Yes, I was back at work. It was a terrible move after pulling an all-nighter, but that was n
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 4
AdrianAra.Out of all the people I could've run into tonight, it had to be her.She stared at me, her eyes wide with shock, and then narrowed, laced with a mixture of anger and disbelief she was trying to rein in.I dragged in a breath, watching her contain herself. I was five years away from this city, and the first person I ran into was her. Fate has a twisted sense of humor.The loud music blurred into the background as we stood there, frozen in place. My eyes unintentionally dropped as I looked her up and, for some reason, lingered longer on the way the jeans she wore hugged her curves.She hadn't changed. Well, no, that wasn't true. She was still Ara, but... more. There was more confidence in the way she carried herself; the way her eyes were boring into mine, unyielding proved this. She used to be timid back then. I'd thought that wouldn't change but I guess I was wrong.My eyes returned to her face, which still held the same look of confusion, anger, and hatred that had just a
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 5
ArabellaI thought I had imagined it. That Adrian was just a fragment from my imagination, that he couldn't possibly be there but that swift punch to the man's face was too vivid for any hint of a doubt.It was him.I couldn't stop picturing him even with the loud blaring of car horns trapped in the heavy traffic.He had used me; he had taken my virginity and tossed me aside, saying the most hurtful things that broke my entire being which eventually sent me to therapy. Still, after five years, I couldn't bring myself to ignore him. I should've left the moment I saw that he was the one, but for some reason, my feet remained glued to the floor, and I kept staring at him.The way he had been looking at me brought back all the memories of his hurt and betrayal. No matter how I tried shaking the look away, it was burned into my mind and I couldn't stop thinking about him.My day had gone from worse to terrible. I mean, I met him, and all of a sudden, I was stuck in traffic that wasn't here
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 6
ArabellaToday was Wednesday, and I couldn't stop smiling. Why? Less work. Less work meant fewer headaches, and fewer headaches meant a day free of Steph's unending demands.Wednesdays were different, though. I worked in the showroom on the ground floor, a part-time gig within the same company. No reports, no endless coffee runs, no Celia– just assisting customers and earning generous bonuses from the customers who had come to love me.Steph, surprisingly, had no objections when I informed her of my schedule. I'd expected her to throw a fit but she'd just shrugged and waved me off. Since then, she'd respected my Wednesday reprieve, never calling or demanding updates.She'd also never spoken of hiring a second assistant. So, I chose to believe that she trusted only me to get the job done.The driver handed me my change as I got out of the taxi. He sped off a moment later and I was faced with the imposing structure of the hospital. Today's lighter workload granted me a chance to pay my
Last Updated : 2025-01-22Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 7
AdrianThe elevator ride was supposed to be uneventful. Quiet. Maybe even boring. But with Ara, silence never lasted long.She'd been seething ever since I stopped her from falling earlier, and I couldn't help but smirk at her sharp words. The fire in her eyes was…half-expected but I found it amusing. I could tell last night that she wasn't the same timid girl I walked away from five years ago, but now, my assumption was strengthened.She seemed stronger, bolder, and far more unpredictable.I chose not to respond to her biting remark, mostly because something else had caught my attention. A faint creak echoed through the elevator, almost imperceptible, but enough to set my nerves on edge.I shifted my weight slightly, my eyes narrowing as I scanned the ceiling and walls. Something was off.The sound came again, louder this time, just as the elevator gave a subtle shudder. My jaw tightened.Before I could react, Ara, oblivious to the warning signs, took a step forward only to stumble t
Last Updated : 2025-01-23
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Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 23
ArabellaBeads 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
Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 22
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
Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 21
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
Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 20
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..
Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 19
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
Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 18
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
Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 17
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
Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 16
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
Contract Marriage With My Billionaire-Ex Chapter 15
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
