MasukShare
Chapter 9: Velvet And Venom
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-26 15:02:15
Bab terkait
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 10: Check and Mate
Days later, Isla was sitting alone in the office of her new boutique, her manicured fingers eagerly skimming over the contract papers spread before her. From what she was seeing, her business proposal had won multiple grants, zero-interest loans, and exclusive sponsorships. One after another, the contracts bore the names of the high-profile investors and elite brands that had endorsed her. This was the kind of win she ordinarily would have spent years trying and failing to get the attention of, but like magic, it was lying freely on her palms.“Wait…is this for real?”Her expression hardened slightly as she queried herself. It was true that she had worked tirelessly for this, she had poured every element of her ambition into this dream business for some time now.But even so… this came way too easy.“Too convenient.”Just like that? Her brows knitted as she leaned back into the chair in contemplation. The rhythmic tapping of her finger against the desk echoed softly as she tried to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 11: The Knife In the Smile
“Ugh God!” half-sleepy, with a half-repetitive beeping from her phone stirring her awake the next morning.With a sluggish roll of her hands, she picked up the phone and sat up slowly before finally lifting it to see a train of new notifications waiting on her screen.She blinked, letting her vision adjust to the light before swiping further."Isla Carter’s Success: Talent or Just Another Rich Man’s Wife?"That was the title of the main headline people were tagging her to. Her pictures with both Nate and Damien were placed side by side,, and under the main post, over a hundred thousand people had commented in less than three hours.A cold feeling ran down her spine, as her face started to get dark with foreboding. She swallowed, forcing herself to scroll further down.The main post she found beneath the pictures was worse;It painted her as nothing more than a former secretary who had merely married her way into success, someone whose achievements were not the result of talent but of
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 12: The Turn Of The Tide
Vanessa woke up feeling victorious. She stretched and yawned luxuriously. Today was yet another day to watch Isla Carter getting dragged through the filth of public scorn. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed wearing a smirk. And guess the best part of it all? Vanessa hadn’t even lifted a finger; it was someone else from the sky who had taken it upon himself to do the dirty work. With some effort, she pushed herself up and wanted to rearrange a pillow when a glow from her phone caught her attention. She paused with brows lifted. “More news, perhaps?” Another wave of disgrace for Isla? Well, she certainly wasn’t complaining. Vanessa picked up the phone with a quick flick of her wrist, bringing it closer, prepared to relish every detail. But the moment the words on the screen greeted her face her smirk died an instant death. It was like a dagger straight to the throat. She blinked, then blinked again, as a sudden fever began to descend on her, The headlines weren't ab
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 13: The Blackwood Feast
“We’re expected at the Blackwood estate for dinner,” This was the cold, impassive tone that Damien had used to suddenly inform Isla that they would be visiting his family by the evening of the same day. Isla blinked, momentarily stunned. The same Damien who never spoke of his family? He wants “her,” his fake contract wife, to go see them tonight. What could have happened?She studied him carefully, searching his face for any indication of what this meant to him. But his face remained as it usually was… carved in stone. Then as if sensing the silent question in her eyes, he made a dismissive gesture to add, “It’s just a formality. Nothing else.” But Isla was far from believing that. ~~~ The evening of the dinner arrived, and Isla found herself marveling with glowing eyes as their car approached the grand structure. Old money, prestige class, history; It all loomed in the twilight. Yet, despite the awe-inspiring sight a growing anxiety was disturbing her gut. Soon she will be f
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-30His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 14: Shadows and Storms
It was a Wednesday morning, and Isla was busy flipping through the latest sales reports in her boutique. All her focus was on the paper in her hand as she murmured something to herself, noting some patterns in the data, while also pausing to take a sip from the coffee beside her.“Ding!”That was the next sound she heard coming from the front door,“Very usual” A new customer, she reasoned with her face still on the paper “Welcome to….” She mouthed halfway and immediately stopped again.“Something was off”Something about the silence that followed after the chime. No new voice, no cheerful greeting, neither was there any of the typical footfalls of an uncertain shopper.Instead, what came next was the sound of heels against the floor, followed by the slow, exaggerated clearing of somebody's throat. The sound was smug, wrapped with a pretentious politeness.Isla hurriedly lifted her gaze. The sight of her ex-friend, Vanessa, made Isla stiffen in her seat.The moment their eyes met
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 15: Unanswered Questions
The drive back to Damien’s penthouse felt longer than usual. Isla had left for home immediately after the encounter with Vanessa as well as the surprising entry and defense of Clarissa.Her talk about the Blackwood defending their own had not left her the same.The moment Vanessa was gone, Isla left the boutique. Her focus was shattered. She needed to see Damien.Isla barely noticed buildings or the other cars by the roadside on her car drive back; her eyes were distant, and her mind was somewhere else. The thoughts that had started to disturb her since her second outing with Damien were rising to the surface again.She had gained too much from this marriage. The luxury, the protection, the status everything had fallen into place for her. But what about Damien?That question had remained even after his vague explanation about possessing what Nate can't take back. Now after what just happened at the boutique, the questions wouldn’t let go.It had sunk deeper, creating ringlets in he
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-01His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 16: The Contract Exposed
Isla stopped by the Hazel Brew Coffee shop after work on the evening of Friday.Just as she settled in waiting for her order, she suddenly noticed the squinting eyes of an elderly man a few tables away. His white narrowed brows and parted lips hinted that he recognized her.Isla could not help but squint back, then, realization struck them both at the same time."Mr…Mason?" she murmured in disbelief."Isla!" he echoed with a surprised grin breaking across his face.Isla could not help but let out a short, incredulous laugh.Mason Hart was her former boss from the Crimson Lounge, the name of the bar she had served years ago before graduate school. “Never thought I would see you in the headlines, kid. You always kept to yourself back then.”The old man jokes. Isla forced a smile, suppressing the discomfort that always came with mentions of her public status. “Guess life has a twisted sense of humor.”Coffee soon arrived, and by then Mason’s initial amusement faded slightly, replaced
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-02His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 1: The Moment Everything Changed
“If you want to know the truth about your husband, come to this address. 1588 Belmont Drive. Now!" Isla stared at the anonymous message, the address mentioned was one she knew too well, it was the description of Hayes vacation home, not too far from the mansion she shared with her husband. Her expression remained neutral at first, but soon she could not help but scoff, waving the phone and shaking her head. “Fraudsters…Gossip phishers!” This must be a desperate attempt to stir trouble in her marriage and then put it on the news. Well, they could try such games with any other woman out there, but not her, Isla Hayes. “Not Nate," Isla murmured, shaking her head. "He would never." Three years of marriage had solidified her trust in him. He was a man of discipline, a man of his word. And, more importantly, the circumstances that had led to their unusual union made him owe her a debt that neither of them ever brought up but was deeply understood. The thought of that debt
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-19
Bab terbaru
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 16: The Contract Exposed
Isla stopped by the Hazel Brew Coffee shop after work on the evening of Friday.Just as she settled in waiting for her order, she suddenly noticed the squinting eyes of an elderly man a few tables away. His white narrowed brows and parted lips hinted that he recognized her.Isla could not help but squint back, then, realization struck them both at the same time."Mr…Mason?" she murmured in disbelief."Isla!" he echoed with a surprised grin breaking across his face.Isla could not help but let out a short, incredulous laugh.Mason Hart was her former boss from the Crimson Lounge, the name of the bar she had served years ago before graduate school. “Never thought I would see you in the headlines, kid. You always kept to yourself back then.”The old man jokes. Isla forced a smile, suppressing the discomfort that always came with mentions of her public status. “Guess life has a twisted sense of humor.”Coffee soon arrived, and by then Mason’s initial amusement faded slightly, replaced
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 15: Unanswered Questions
The drive back to Damien’s penthouse felt longer than usual. Isla had left for home immediately after the encounter with Vanessa as well as the surprising entry and defense of Clarissa.Her talk about the Blackwood defending their own had not left her the same.The moment Vanessa was gone, Isla left the boutique. Her focus was shattered. She needed to see Damien.Isla barely noticed buildings or the other cars by the roadside on her car drive back; her eyes were distant, and her mind was somewhere else. The thoughts that had started to disturb her since her second outing with Damien were rising to the surface again.She had gained too much from this marriage. The luxury, the protection, the status everything had fallen into place for her. But what about Damien?That question had remained even after his vague explanation about possessing what Nate can't take back. Now after what just happened at the boutique, the questions wouldn’t let go.It had sunk deeper, creating ringlets in he
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 14: Shadows and Storms
It was a Wednesday morning, and Isla was busy flipping through the latest sales reports in her boutique. All her focus was on the paper in her hand as she murmured something to herself, noting some patterns in the data, while also pausing to take a sip from the coffee beside her.“Ding!”That was the next sound she heard coming from the front door,“Very usual” A new customer, she reasoned with her face still on the paper “Welcome to….” She mouthed halfway and immediately stopped again.“Something was off”Something about the silence that followed after the chime. No new voice, no cheerful greeting, neither was there any of the typical footfalls of an uncertain shopper.Instead, what came next was the sound of heels against the floor, followed by the slow, exaggerated clearing of somebody's throat. The sound was smug, wrapped with a pretentious politeness.Isla hurriedly lifted her gaze. The sight of her ex-friend, Vanessa, made Isla stiffen in her seat.The moment their eyes met
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 13: The Blackwood Feast
“We’re expected at the Blackwood estate for dinner,” This was the cold, impassive tone that Damien had used to suddenly inform Isla that they would be visiting his family by the evening of the same day. Isla blinked, momentarily stunned. The same Damien who never spoke of his family? He wants “her,” his fake contract wife, to go see them tonight. What could have happened?She studied him carefully, searching his face for any indication of what this meant to him. But his face remained as it usually was… carved in stone. Then as if sensing the silent question in her eyes, he made a dismissive gesture to add, “It’s just a formality. Nothing else.” But Isla was far from believing that. ~~~ The evening of the dinner arrived, and Isla found herself marveling with glowing eyes as their car approached the grand structure. Old money, prestige class, history; It all loomed in the twilight. Yet, despite the awe-inspiring sight a growing anxiety was disturbing her gut. Soon she will be f
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 12: The Turn Of The Tide
Vanessa woke up feeling victorious. She stretched and yawned luxuriously. Today was yet another day to watch Isla Carter getting dragged through the filth of public scorn. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed wearing a smirk. And guess the best part of it all? Vanessa hadn’t even lifted a finger; it was someone else from the sky who had taken it upon himself to do the dirty work. With some effort, she pushed herself up and wanted to rearrange a pillow when a glow from her phone caught her attention. She paused with brows lifted. “More news, perhaps?” Another wave of disgrace for Isla? Well, she certainly wasn’t complaining. Vanessa picked up the phone with a quick flick of her wrist, bringing it closer, prepared to relish every detail. But the moment the words on the screen greeted her face her smirk died an instant death. It was like a dagger straight to the throat. She blinked, then blinked again, as a sudden fever began to descend on her, The headlines weren't ab
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 11: The Knife In the Smile
“Ugh God!” half-sleepy, with a half-repetitive beeping from her phone stirring her awake the next morning.With a sluggish roll of her hands, she picked up the phone and sat up slowly before finally lifting it to see a train of new notifications waiting on her screen.She blinked, letting her vision adjust to the light before swiping further."Isla Carter’s Success: Talent or Just Another Rich Man’s Wife?"That was the title of the main headline people were tagging her to. Her pictures with both Nate and Damien were placed side by side,, and under the main post, over a hundred thousand people had commented in less than three hours.A cold feeling ran down her spine, as her face started to get dark with foreboding. She swallowed, forcing herself to scroll further down.The main post she found beneath the pictures was worse;It painted her as nothing more than a former secretary who had merely married her way into success, someone whose achievements were not the result of talent but of
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 10: Check and Mate
Days later, Isla was sitting alone in the office of her new boutique, her manicured fingers eagerly skimming over the contract papers spread before her. From what she was seeing, her business proposal had won multiple grants, zero-interest loans, and exclusive sponsorships. One after another, the contracts bore the names of the high-profile investors and elite brands that had endorsed her. This was the kind of win she ordinarily would have spent years trying and failing to get the attention of, but like magic, it was lying freely on her palms.“Wait…is this for real?”Her expression hardened slightly as she queried herself. It was true that she had worked tirelessly for this, she had poured every element of her ambition into this dream business for some time now.But even so… this came way too easy.“Too convenient.”Just like that? Her brows knitted as she leaned back into the chair in contemplation. The rhythmic tapping of her finger against the desk echoed softly as she tried to
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 9: Velvet And Venom
The stylists were done and left a moment ago. Now Isla stood alone in her room gazing into her reflection in the mirror to see their finished work.They had transformed her into a goddess.The deep emerald necklace on her neck shone under the light. The glow of her face intimidated her. The dress they had selected was impeccable: a velvet gown whose off-shoulder cut exposed the smooth, shiny lines of her collarbones.“Great job,” She whispered.This is what being the wife of Damien Blackwood meant. It was nothing like before when she was just a glorified maid bound to the kitchen.Now she was someone stronger. Someone who belonged in this world of power and ruthless ambition. Someone who was not allowed to be vulnerable. But was she?She hummed, not allowing herself to pursue the thought further. “It was almost time for the party.”~~~Isla stepped out about five minutes later, moving with careful control, the sound of her heels steady against the glittery floor. Something switched
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 8: Terms Of Engagement
Since the red carpet announcement, Isla's phone hadn't stopped ringing—calls from her parents, her sister Sophia, and everyone trying to reach her. But she couldn't answer. Not because she didn't want to, but because she had no words to explain. How could she tell them she had been essentially kidnapped by her ex-husband's billionaire rival? That he had offered the perfect revenge in exchange for marriage? They would think she had lost her mind. So she kept ignoring them, buying time to plan.Saturday morning brought a rude shock. Right after breakfast, a security guard burst in. "Your family is at the gate ma’am.”For a paralyzing moment, Isla stood frozen, panic turning her limbs to stone. Damien was home. This couldn't be happening."Tell them I'll be out in a minute," she managed to whisper, the words sticking in her dry throat.Minutes later, Isla finally summoned the courage to step out of the house. From a distance, she spotted her father, Robert Carter, standing firm at t
