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Chapter 35 - To what end
Last Updated:
2025-03-29 19:11:58
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Contracted to Deceive Chapter 36 - Framed
(Gloria)I should have slept longer and woken up with a fresh mind, maybe let Elena’s words settle, let Eleanor’s suggestions roll off me like water instead of sinking into my bones. Instead, I spent half the night turning them over in my head, trying to pick apart the pieces.How much money is on the line for Gabriel to refuse it? Why does his father want him to take it so badly? And why is Eleanor willing to risk everything just to tie me to him? It doesn’t add up, none of it does. And the fact that I don’t have answers is bothering me.But that’s not the only thing bothering me, because the second I step into the office, I feel it. Hushed voices, sneaky glances, the weight of attention pressing in on me from all sides. Something’s wrong.I force myself to keep walking, my heels clicking against the polished floor with my expression blank. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that showing uncertainty is the fastest way to get eaten alive.Then…“Gloria.
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Contracted to Deceive Chapter 37 - Comeuppance
(Gloria)I sit at my desk with my fingers clenched so tight around my pen that I swear it’s seconds from snapping. The moment Gabriel had hit me with that bullshit about fine and probation, I wanted to launch myself over his stupid, expensive desk and strangle him with his own damn tie. He knows I didn’t do it, he has to. But instead of admitting that, and actually doing something about the person who framed me, he took the easy way out by punishing me just enough to remind me that in his world, I had no real power.I chew the inside of my cheek, my eyes burning into the heap of paperwork in front of me, but none of the words register. I’m too busy thinking about every venomous thing I want to say to him the next time I see his stupidly perfect face.And then, like some cruel twist of fate, Kate decides this is the perfect time to open her mouth.“Oh my God,” she sighs dreamily from her desk, flipping her straight black hair over her shoulder. “I can’t believe I’ll be flying out with
Last Updated : 2025-04-01Contracted to Deceive Chapter 38 - To be or not to be
(Gloria)I make it all the way back to my desk before the smile drops from my face because now, reality is sinking in.I’m going on a business trip with Gabriel. Not Kate. Not some other executive. Me. And as much as I want to be smug about it, my mind won’t stop running in circles.Because this trip isn’t just about work for me, It’s an opportunity. Every second I spend with Gabriel is a chance to get closer, to himt. And I need that. I need him to want me, to trust me, and to see me as more than some temporary employee he can toss aside.I need it to fulfil the contract. But more than that, I need it for me. I shake my head, shoving that thought away before it can take root. Kate is still glaring daggers at me from across the office and I send her a sweet smile before grabbing my bag.That night I don’t overthink it, I pack black dresses, heels, silk blouses, a few fitted skirts. Busines appropriate, but strategic attires, nothing too obvious. Just enough to keep Gabriel’s eyes on
Last Updated : 2025-04-01Contracted to Deceive Chapter 39 - Play dead
(Gloria)The moment we step into the hotel lobby, my jaw drops because of course Gabriel booked something luxurious. Not just five-star, but disgustingly opulent high ceilings, crystal chandeliers and marble floors that scream money.And then there’s him. Standing beside me in his suit looking so powerful that people glance over just to stare. A businessman. A billionaire. My husband-to-be… giggle. I grip the handle of my suitcase a little tighter, smiling like a fool.The receptionist smiles too brightly as we approach the front desk, her gaze flicking to Gabriel like she’s hoping he’ll ruin her life.I roll my eyes. Typical.Gabriel barely notices though. “Montclair,” he says. “Checking in.”“Of course, sir.” She types quickly, then glances between us. “And… just to confirm, will you both be staying in the penthouse suite?”My head snaps to Gabriel. “The what?”He doesn’t even look at me. “Yes.”I blink. Excuse me?The receptionist beams. “Wonderful! The penthouse is one of our fine
Last Updated : 2025-04-01Contracted to Deceive Chapter 40 - Big Bad Wolf
(Gloria)Gabriel finishes showering before me, steam rolling out of the bathroom as he steps back out into the room. I keep my eyes locked on the TV, pretending to be deeply invested in whatever show is playing, but I can feel his presence like a weight pressing against me.Then he moves closer, and something lands beside me on the bed, a packaged dress, elegant and designer. “Wear this tonight,” he says calmly.I glance at it, then up at him. His hair is still damp with tiny beads of water clinging to his skin, trailing down the ridges of his collarbone, his chest, lower. I rip my gaze away before I get caught staring. “I already brought something,” I say, forcing indifference.“I want to see you in this.” His words are soft, but there’s no room for argument.I swallow. He’s watching me too closely, reading every shift in my expression, every breath I take. My stomach flutters, and I hate that he can make me react like this with just a few words.Without another protest, I grab the d
Last Updated : 2025-04-02Contracted to Deceive Chapter 41 - A slice of heaven
(Gloria)The event passes in a blur of flashing cameras and perfectly rehearsed smiles and Gabriel never strays far from my side, his presence a silent command that keeps the questions from getting too intrusive. Every time a reporter directs a question my way, he gestures slightly, like he’s inviting me to speak, and I play my part well, smiling, answering smoothly and confidently, making sure I look every bit the perfect assistant by his side.And damn it, I admire him. The way he carries himself, how he handles the press and the power he gives off with just a glance, it’s impressive, way too impressive.An unsettling feeling twists in my chest, a creeping realization that I shove down as fast as it comes.I cannot, will not… fall for him.That was never part of the plan.The moment we step into the elevator, the tension shifts again and the air is heavy with unspoken words. He presses the button for our floor, his shoulders rigid. I should be grateful for the silence after the cha
Last Updated : 2025-04-02Contracted to Deceive Chapter 42 - All shades of Sus
(Gloria)I’m sitting at my desk, pretending to be productive but in reality I can’t stop thinking about last night. The feel of Gabriel’s hands on me, the way he looked at me like he knew exactly what he was doing to me. My body still hums with the aftermath, but I can’t focus on that right now. No, I have work to do. And it’s not the kind of work I’m used to, this is the kind where I have to figure out why Damon Clark and Kate are being so… shady.I’m at home today, because Gabriel decided I needed the day off. It’s a nice gesture, I guess, but I’m not exactly the type to sit around and relax, especially not when I’ve got so many things swirling in my head. Things that, let’s be honest, I’d be better off ignoring. But I can’t help myself. I’ve got a whole damn mystery on my hands now, and I’m going to figure it out, one way or another.I take another sip of coffee, the bitter taste just as sharp as the thoughts in my mind. I don’t trust Damon. Hell, I don’t trust anyone
Last Updated : 2025-04-03Contracted to Deceive Chapter 43 - Rivalité
(Gabriel)The office felt different without her.I stared at my screen, the words blurring together as my fingers drummed against my desk. Emails were stacked up, calls went unanswered, and my focus was shot to hell. It was ridiculous. I gave her the damn day off because i wanted space, needed it, after what happened last night. Yet here I was, noticing her absence like a lovesick schoolboy.I should feel satisfied and in control. I took what I wanted. She wanted it too, but instead, I felt… raw. Like I’d ripped something open inside myself and now I didn’t know how to close it back up.This was why I kept my distance. Why I didn’t get involved. I’d slept with my secretary. Worse, I’d let my guard down with her, let her see a side of me no one should. I wasn’t that kind of man, the kind who let emotions cloud his judgment, who lost himself in a woman. And yet, ever since that damn stunt she pulled when she fainted after I fired her, she’d been wedging herself deeper
Last Updated : 2025-04-03
Latest chapter
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 60 - The red wedding
(Gloria)“Breathe,” Elena whispered, tucking a stray curl behind my ear.I tried but the air caught in my throat, thick and dry. My lungs were working, but it didn’t feel like breathing, it felt like drowning.The dress fit like a custom made trap.Silk, delicate and stupidly expensive, clunging to every inch of me like it had a personal grudge. White, backless, tight around the ribs, I looked like the kind of dreamy bride people wrote poems about. But underneath? I felt like a prisoner.We stood just behind a pillar out of sight, but I could already hear the rustle of guests, the low hum of whispers, and the click-click-click of paparazzi cameras fighting for a shot. “You ready?” Elena asked, her fingers brushing mine.I nodded, but the truth was, I wanted to run, like, just bolt. But my heels stayed rooted to the grass, like even they knew escape was pointless.“You look like you’re about to jump the hedge,” she said. “If you do, I’m not wearing flats under this dress for nothing. I
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 59 - Wedding bells
(Gloria)Elena sinks into the chair beside me, picking up the halfempty wine bottle on the table. “So… everything’s unraveling fast, huh?”I let the rim of the glass rest on my lips before I answer. “Apocalyptic.”She winces. “Sorry.”I shrug stiffly. “Don’t be. Eleanor Montclair doesn’t back down. I’ll give her that.”There’s a beat of silence, then Elena says quietly, “You admire her?”I scoff. “No. Maybe. Hell, I don’t even know. She’s scary but effective. She sent me this ridiculous form to fill out, and when I hesitated, she hit me with so much legal jargon, I thought I’d be arrested for lying about my blood type.”Elena lets out a low whistle. “She really did her daughter-in-law homework.”“Thoroughly,” I mutter, setting the glass down harder than I mean to. “Shame her son isn’t going along without a fight”Elena shifts. “He was angry…”“He was humiliated,” I cut in. “And now he thinks marrying me is the worst decision of his life.”Elena clears her throat. “Jordan hasn’t called
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 58 - Done deal
(Gabriel)The moment I step out of the car back home, flashes go off like fireworks from the cameras shoved into my face, with reporters barking questions I have zero interest in answering.“Mr. Montclair, is it true you fired your secretary?”“Was the relationship ever real?”“Did she seduce you for the money?”I keep walking with my sunglasses on. Let them feast on the scraps because I’m here for the queen of manipulation herself.I push open the grand double doors and make my way inside without a word to the housekeepers who bow and scurry out of my way. Up the marble stairs, past the lifeless portraits of smiling men I never cared to resemble, and straight to her favorite room, the tea room.The door’s already open of course. She probably wants this to feel casual and warm. My mother sits by the window elegantly like she’s been waiting for me to arrive. She smiles like I’m her darling boy coming home from war.“Gabriel,” she says softly, patting the velvet cushion beside her. “Co
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 57 - Hawaii
(Gabriel) The saltwater clings to my skin as I step out of the ocean, feeling the waves pull away from me with each step forward and i take a deep breath to enjoy the tropical air. Hawaii’s warm breeze is supposed to wash away the anger, frustration, and chaos of my life, but it doesn’t. It doesn’t do a damn thing to numb the knot in my stomach or the rage simmering just beneath the surface of my skin.I make my way to the beach dragging my board behind me, the sound of the ocean drowned out by the rush in my ears. The soft sand shifts under my feet as I approach the edge of the beach, and that’s when I see them.Two women. Tall, tanned, and wearing almost nothing. They’re eyeing me up like I’m their next meal. I don’t blame them, no doubt the waves have done wonders for my physique.The blonde is the first to speak. “Nice ride out there,” she says with flirtation in her voice.I glance over to them disinterestedly. I’m not in the mood for small talk. But then I notice the brunette.
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 56 - The plot thickens
(Gloria)My phone rings and I almost drop it. Eleanor Montclair.Her name stares back at me like it’s been branded on my screen. I freeze, every one of my muscles tightening. Suddenly, the idea of crying over a documentary feels like a warm up for the real horror show to come .Because if there’s one person who’s probably angrier than Gabriel right now, it’s his mother.I imagine her standing in a designer robe, swirling a glass of wine like a villain from a movie, already drafting the legal papers to sue me into poverty. I picture myself back on Elena’s couch begging for space, struggling to afford groceries, and eating cheap ramen in bulk while I try to pay back…The phone buzzes again in my palm demanding an answer.Shit. Okay.I swipe. “Hello?”No greeting and no hesitation.“I’ll pay it back,” I blurt. “Please. Just give me a payment plan or something. I… I know the contract’s over, but I swear I’ll find a way. You don’t have to take me to court or ruin my life or… ”“Gloria,” El
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 55 - Welp
(Gloria)I stare at the door hoping it might swing back open like Gabriel forgot something, maybe his sanity, maybe his heart. Maybe the part of him that didn’t just threaten me like a mafia boss in a three piece suit.But no. It stays shut.And I’m just standing there, jaw slack and completely, spectacularly, ruined.“Welp,” I whisper, blinking. “I think that went well.”A tiny, pitiful laugh bubbles out of me but it dies as fast as it came.I take a step forward, my knees buckle. Okay. That’s fine. That’s totally okay. I’ve been through worse.…Haven’t I?Then I collapse onto the floor in a heap, one arm flopped over my stomach like I’ve just been fatally wounded in battle. Maybe I have. The battle of the heart. The war of love. The massacre of dignity.And then it happens, the sobs.Real ones, loud and messy. Not those pretty movie tears. Nope. This is the kind of crying that makes your face puff up like a marshmallow and your nose run like a broken faucet.I bury my face in my han
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 54 - Fool me once
(Gabriel)“Well?” I ask, the word coming out as more of a command than a question. My eyes rake over her coldly but inside, a storm is raging. She looks like a mess, unkept, terrified, and I can barely keep it together.I’m fighting every impulse not to grab her and shake the answers out of her, demanding she tell me what the hell is going on. Instead, I stand there stiffly, my fists clenched at my sides trying to control the rage that’s boiling in my veins.Kate had walked into my office earlier, slamming that tablet down in front of me with an expression that said ‘you need to see this’. The documentary was everywhere, the headline hitting me like a slap across the face: Ex-Drug Dealer’s Secret Contract to Marry Montclair CEO. The words felt like they burned into my skin.Gloria, an ex-drug dealer working with her trash of an ex, Ethan. And then the real kicker, a contract from my mother, Eleanor Montclair, to marry me for money. All over the media. I’m still trying to wrap my head
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 53 - Upheaval
(Gloria) I wake up with a jolt with my phone vibrating against my chest and pressing into me like it’s trying to make sure I’m awake. Groaning, I push it off and onto the couch, the screen lighting up and blinking at me like a warning sign. I rub my eyes, feeling the ache in my head from too much sleep, and I shuffle to the kitchen, craving some water to shake off the grogginess. The cool glass of water hits my lips but it doesn’t stop the gnawing feeling in my gut. I can hear my phone, no, I can feel it vibrating from the other room. Then the beeps start. A flood of notifications, calls. I freeze, water halfway down my throat, and a cold shiver races down my spine. I know what’s happening. I know. It’s over. They’ve done it. Just like they said they would. I’ve been exposed. My heart races as I stare at the water in my hand, as if it could somehow give me the answers I need, some way out. But there isn’t one. It’s too late now. I ignore the phone, my fingers twitching as the n
Contracted to Deceive Chapter 52 - Chinese Takeout
(Gloria)The next day I’m at home. I’d gone home early the previous day after telling Gabriel I’d take the day off, much to his delight. I guess he was happy to get me to relax a bit.Now, I’m on the couch, wrapped in my blanket mindlessly eating Chinese takeout. The TV’s on but I’m not really watching anything. I’m just sort of… there. My thoughts are too tangled, too all over the place, and I can’t seem to shake off this feeling of being stuck.I’m lost in the emptiness of the moment when the doorbell rings, interrupting the silence. I almost ignore it, who the hell is visiting me? I’m not expecting anyone. But the damn thing rings again, louder this time. So, I roll my eyes and reluctantly pull myself up off the couch.When I open the door, I’m hit with the surprise of a delivery guy standing there holding a big hamper. There’s food, fruit, and… flowers? My first thought is, What the hell?He hands me a card after I sign for it. I glance at it, almost as if I don’t want to know who
