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CHAPTER 17

Author: UniqueB
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-11 18:45:41

The next dress, a scarlet silk piece that flowed around Marie’s feet like molten lava, seemed even more unfamiliar. It adhered to her shape in a manner that made her painfully conscious of her own physique, a feeling she considered profoundly disconcerting. She felt vulnerable, not in a seductive manner, but in a way that stripped her of her individuality, leaving her as nothing more than a mannequin covered in luxurious cloth.

Susann surrounded her, with her eyes narrowed in judgment. “Way too… clear,” she announced, brushing it off with a flick. "We require something more… sophisticated." "An element that murmurs affluence, rather than proclaiming it loudly."

Marie’s image in the mirror gazed back at her, an unfamiliar figure dressed in elegance she didn’t know. The gowns, increasingly lavish with each one, seemed akin to costumes, facades intended to change her into a person she wasn't. Every piece of clothing she wore appeared to heighten the gap between her true self and the pers
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  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 19

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  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 21

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  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 25

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  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 42

    Unspoken words weighed down the room as they finally parted ways. Marie’s heart continued to race as she stood there, her chest heaving. They were both absorbed in the ensuing silence and did not move.And it was evident in that silence that their relationship had changed forever. Aaron shifted uneasily, quickly stepping back and pulling his hand away from her face. He cleared his throat while his gaze shifted abruptly away from her.“I... I'm sorry," He muttered, his words seeming to be forced out. He turned to face the door after running a hand through his hair. "I should not have—" Marie reached out before he could say anything more. Her fingers found his wrist in an unexpectedly firm grip."Wait," She said in a firm but slightly tremulous voice. "Why, Aaron?" She kept his hand in hers and turned him back to her, her thumb lightly stroking his skin." Why are you like this? Why do you always act so distant and cold? “She asked.He scowled, his facial lines becoming more pronounced

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    The mood changed the moment Aaron's office door closed behind them. Aaron seemed to have not missed a beat because of his quick and deliberate movements. His tone was authoritative as he pointed to the desk before him without pausing. "Come closer", he commanded in a firm tone. "Please take care of this."She saw his eyes skimming the document as he slid a file across the table in her direction, his thoughts already elsewhere.“That’s easy. Make the required adjustments and adhere to the guidelines provided here. "Not daring to question his tone, Marie approached him with deliberate steps. As she positioned herself next to him, she could feel the cool edge of his desk at her fingertips and the suddenly thick air between them.She pretended to be focused on the task as she looked down at the file, but she could feel Aaron's presence pressing down on her. He drew her in with his masculine scent, a mix of pricey cologne and something more profound—something that was definitely him.Inv

  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 38

    The ride to the company was uncomfortable. Neither of them spoke, maintaining a suffocating silence. The quiet hum of the car's engine seemed more audible than the silence that separated them.Marie gazed out the window and watched the passing landscape. She didn't want to dwell on the kiss, the rage or Aaron's heartless actions. She could practically feel the tension emanating from him, but it was better to concentrate on the city and the things she could not control. Aaron broke the ice when they eventually pulled up to the company. "Wait here," He said in a tone that made it impossible to argue with him as he got out of the car. Marie remained motionless as he strode to the opposite side of the car, opened her door, and extended his hand with a well-honed civility. She hesitated for a second before putting her hand in his. She reminded herself that this was all part of the performance. They made their way through the parking lot, hand in hand, toward the entrance of the company.

  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 37

    Marie tried to stop her mind from racing as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her hands hovering over the chilly porcelain sink. Her mental storm had not been much calmed by the shower. She was angry at Aaron but she felt empty inside as if her rage wasn't enough to make up for the emptiness he had created. She gathered herself and wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye with a tired sigh. No more giving in.She couldn't afford to show him how much he meant to her. Not at this time. Before heading downstairs, she changed swiftly into a dress that was simple but elegant. The silence of the morning shrouded her in an eerie silence in the house.Aaron was reading the newspaper at the table in front of him, his breakfast still untouched when she got to the dining room. He didn't raise his head when she walked in. With his expression unreadable, he continued to stare at the paper.He seemed unconcerned that she had just walked into the dining room. Only the rustle of the ne

  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 36

    Marie opened her eyes slowly, squinting against the intense light that flooded the room. Her mind was cloudy, and her head felt heavy as she tried to remember what had happened.She was momentarily confused by her surroundings. It was not her room—not the plush sheets under her, not the strange smell in the air. She froze; she was in Aaron's room. Aaron had her lying in his bed. She also realised that her clothes were different from what she had previously worn.The sleeves of his loose, too-large clothing hung over her hands. She looked around, trying to make sense of the situation, and sat up quickly, her heart thumping in her chest.Aaron had his back to her, his attention elsewhere. She heard a cup clinking softly. The sound she recognised was the stirring of coffee. Aaron’s voice was flat when he said."You're awake." l wish I had lacked the worry that had been present the previous evening.The fact that she had just regained consciousness didn't seem to surprise him or concern h

  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 35

    Only when the day was over did everyone pack up and leave for home, and the office fell silent. Marie wiped her face.Marie stood before the bathroom mirror for a few more seconds, trying to collect herself. Trying to make sense of the emotions inside her, she shut herself in and allowed the tears to fall. Everything seemed to be crashing down on her: the lies, the anger... everything.She stood before the mirror, staring at his dull reflection. Her eyes were swollen and red, and her face was pale. She stood there for a long time and didn't know when the seconds turned into minutes. She felt empty and broken. She inhaled deeply before leaving the bathroom and moving slowly down the silent corridor. As her steps reverberated, the lights above flickered, creating long shadows.She needed to leave that area, away from everything that had transpired and away from him, but she wasn't even sure where she was going. She froze when she turned the corner and turned to face her office.The do

  • Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride   CHAPTER 34

    As silent tears streamed down her cheeks, Marie sat in the water closet in the women's restroom. Even in the restroom, she could still feel the oppressive weight of her feelings pressing against her chest even after locking the door. Her nostrils were filled with the sterile smell of soap and bleach, but nothing could make her internal heaviness go away. With trembling fingers, she took out her phone, which flashed seven of Aaron's missed calls. Seven.He was almost comical in his persistence, calling repeatedly as if he were unaware of the actual wall she was erecting between them every second. She gazed at her phone, the tiny blinking alert taunting her."Why are you still calling me? You don't give a shit about me." She thought angrily.The thought tore through her mind like a raging fire. After all, it's a stupid contract. She unlocked the screen and scrolled past his desperate messages, each one more desperate than the last, and her eyes began to well up with tears once more.

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