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Chapter Five
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2025-01-28 07:21:32Lucas' POV:
She didn’t utter a single word.
Throughout the entire flight from Mexico to California she just sat motionless, staring out of the window.
I didn’t bother to break the silence—what was the point?
When we finally landed in California and stepped onto the tarmac, she turned to me. "I will not be going to any hospital."
She looked like she was still in shock, so I didn’t argue. Not yet.
"Fine." I said simply, gesturing to the car waiting for us. I instructed the driver to take us straight home.
The moment we arrived at the house, Lily stepped out of the car and slammed the door with such force I thought it might come off its hinges.
She stormed toward the house,m.
"Lily!" I called, but she didn’t stop.
I rushed out of the car as well. And before she could get into the house, I grabbed her wrist, turning her to face me. "Acting like a spoiled child won’t help you, Lily." I said, coldly. "Did you really think you’d be paid $25 million just to play pretend wife?"
Her eyes blazed with anger. "Are you fucking kidding me? I have to sleep with you, get pregnant, go through nine months of stress carrying your child, and then what?"
"Then you’ll be paid $25 million." I retorted, crossing my arms.
She scoffed, shaking her head. "Oh, and what happens to the baby? I should just abandon my child with you and get shipped off like garbage?"
"Your child?" I repeated, laughing bitterly. "Do you really think I want to sleep with you? Let me spell it out for you. You’ll carry the child, but the egg will be purchased. My sperm and a donor’s egg—none of it will be yours. You’re just the surrogate. Nothing more. And yes, for your trouble, you’ll be paid an amount you’ll never see again in your life."
Her expression shifted from fury to disbelief. "Wow." She muttered, clapping slowly. "You know what? I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m calling off the deal."
I raised an eyebrow. "Fine. But be ready to return the $1.3 million you already took and pay an additional $30 million for breaking the contract unfairly after your debts and desires were taken care of."
Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me? Aren’t you the selfish one here? You want me to go through all of this just to clean up your PR mess?"
I stepped closer. "Selfish? You’re the one trying to back out of a deal that saved you from drowning in debt."
"Fine!" She snapped, her eyes narrowing. "Then I’ll go public. I’ll tell the world everything—about this fake marriage. I would even lie that you bribed your employees to lie about Noah Sylvester, and that you manipulated everyone for your benefit. Let’s see how that plays out for you."
I smirked, unfazed. "Go ahead. Just remember, revealing the contents of our contract to anyone will cost you $1 billion in damages. It’s all outlined in the agreement you so conveniently didn’t read."
Her lips parted as if to retort, but before she could say a word, the door to the house burst open.
"Ava." I muttered under my breath.
She came running out, her arms wide. Before I could react, she jumped on me, wrapping her legs around my waist and throwing her arms around my neck.
Her perfume was overpowering, sickly sweet.
"What the hell are you doing?" I growled, trying to pull her off me.
"I missed you so much, baby.”
She purred, ignoring my attempts to push her away.
Bab terkait
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Six
Lily’s POVMy body is glued against my mind for it could not accept the reality that lay before me. Ava had curly herself around Lucas like a snake, manicured nails tightening into the expensive fabric of his suit. My stomach sourly vomited something bitter and raised towards my throat.I want to believe that this was some mix-up maybe I was seeing things but how she pressed herself against him and the smirk that flared on her lips told otherwise. He is just standing there, stiff as a statue from discomfort, and holding her arms as if trying to shove her off. "Ava," said he coldly, with irritation dripping from his voice, "Get off me."Instead, he chosed to laugh and lean close to whisper something to the ear of the man. He caught his stare through that muscle in his jaw, starting to tick, dangling like he was about to snap at an instant. The grip on either of her arms grappled hard, and then he pulled away to set her back on her feet, as though she were a clipped annoying child.Ava
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Seven
Lily’s POVSleep had decided to play hide and seek with me. I stared at the ceiling, mentally pulling down on a couple of clouds in the sky with the heaviness of a thousand thoughts. Marriage by contract, my father's hospital bill, Ava's unwanted presence. It was all too heavy to carry. How did my life ever come to this?A year back, I had small dreams—dreams of painting, of having my own gallery, of living a quiet life with my father. But then fate stepped in, and here I was, dragged into the midst of the rich and ruthless with a marriage to a man who did not acknowledge me except when it was needed for his own gain.I turned on my side and hugged the pillow fiercely. Lucas Hawke.A man who was some great unkindness. Cold. Calculating. Infuriatingly unreadable. One minute he would ignore me as if I were invisible, and the next, he would be on national television mildly defending my honor. Why did that moment linger in my mind?That moment should not matter. This was nothing more t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Eight
Lily’s POVThe next morning, the weight of my conversation with Lucas still lingered in my mind. He had let his guard down—if only for a moment. And it left me unsettled.I knew better than to assume it meant anything. Lucas Hawke was a man of walls, built high and reinforced with steel. He carried himself with an air of untouchability, his every move calculated, his every word precise. But that fleeting vulnerability… it made me wonder what lay beneath the surface. Was there more to him than the cold, composed businessman he presented to the world? Or was I simply grasping at something that had never truly existed?Shaking the thought away, I forced myself out of bed. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not now.I made my way to the bathroom, my bare feet padding against the cool marble floor. The mirror reflected a face that wasn’t quite mine yet—at least, not the version of me I was used to seeing. There was something different in my eyes, something wary. Perhaps it was the exhaust
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Nine
Lily’s POVThe car ride to Lucas’s office was silent, except for the faint hum of the engine and the occasional beeping of his phone. I kept my eyes on the passing skyscrapers, trying to shake the strange nervousness settling in my stomach.Why was I nervous? I had no reason to be. This was a business transaction, nothing more. But as we pulled up to the massive glass building with "Hawke Enterprises" displayed in bold letters, I couldn’t ignore the way my heart pounded.“Stay close to me,” Lucas instructed, stepping out first. I rolled my eyes but followed him, smoothing down my outfit. The moment we entered the lobby, all eyes turned to us. Employees whispered among themselves, stealing glances. Some looked surprised, others curious. I heard snippets of murmured conversations.“She’s real?”“So, the rumors were true?”“She’s actually kind of pretty.”I clenched my fists, forcing myself to ignore them.Lucas, on the other hand, walked with his usual unbothered confidence. He led me
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Ten
Lily’s POVThe rest of the day went by in a blur of emails, meetings, and trying to ignore the lingering looks from employees who were still processing the fact that Lucas Hawke was married. I could hear the whispers, the murmured conversations just out of earshot. It was clear that I was the anomaly in their well-structured world, an unexpected piece in their carefully crafted puzzle. By the time Lucas finally wrapped up his last meeting, I was exhausted. I had barely done anything, yet the sheer tension in the office left me drained. Sitting in his office, pretending to be productive while keeping up appearances, had been more taxing than I expected. The weight of every glance, every hushed conversation, pressed against my shoulders like an invisible burden.Lucas stepped out of his office, rolling his sleeves up as he walked toward me. The sight of him, slightly undone after a long day, was surprisingly humanizing. It was a stark contrast to the composed, untouchable version of hi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter One
Lily's POV:It was a typical day at the restaurant—busy, loud, and full of clinking plates and people chatting. My feet barely touched the floor as I dashed from table to table, balancing trays of food while trying to keep a smile on my face. My phone buzzed for the third time in my pocket. I groaned. Probably another scam call or my alarm reminding me to take my break. Not that I had time for one. Without looking, I pulled the phone out and tossed it into the basket of clothes we used to clean up spills in the kitchen."Order up for table six!" The chef shouted."I'm on it!" I grabbed the plates and hurried back into the dining area. The restaurant's TV, mounted in the corner of the room caught my eye, as a reporter's voice rang out.“Breaking news: Lucas Hawke, CEO of Hills Inc., accused of sexually harassing male employees. An anonymous source has come forward, claiming the billionaire threatened to ruin his career if he refused his advances.”I nearly stumbled. Lucas Hawke? The
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-28Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Two
Lily's POV:The buzz of my alarm jolted me awake, but I didn’t need it. My eyes were already open, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sleeping has become impossible since yesterday. How could I possibly rest when the strange man’s words kept playing on a loop in my head?After our bizarre conversation in the hospital lobby, I tried to return to the restaurant, but Jasmine insisted I go home to gather my thoughts and rest. "You look like a ghost." She said, shooing me off with her apron in hand.Rest? How was that possible?“Would you like to marry Lucas Hawke?” He asked.I scoffed out loud, even now, chuckling bitterly at the memory. Was this some kind of joke? Some weird social experiment? Or was I a protagonist in a web novel where the scandal-ridden CEO needs a fake wife to redeem his name?At the time, I waited for him to laugh and admit it was a prank. But no. His face remained stern, his gaze piercing. He meant every word.“Wait, you’re serious?” I asked him.Dead silence.I clasp
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-28Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Three
Lily's POV:My breath hitched as I stared at the car, my heart hammering in my chest. Slowly, my wide eyes traveled up to the driver’s seat.“What the hell!” I muttered under my breath before slamming my palms against the car’s hood.The driver didn’t respond. Instead, the car reversed a few feet, then sped past me as if nothing had happened.Without thinking, I bent down, grabbed a stone from the pavement, and hurled it at the car’s rear window. The car came to a stop.My pulse quickened as the back door opened. A man stepped out, tall and handsomely dressed in all black.As he walked toward me, he pulled out a business card and held it out to me. “Contact me about the payment.” He said, devoid of emotion.My jaws dropped. “You almost killed me, and this is your response?”“You ran in front of my car.” He replied curtly, unfazed.“Are you kidding me?” I snapped, my anger boiling over.His gaze didn’t waver. “I could sue you for defamation of character.” He said coldly. “It’s obvious
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-28
Bab terbaru
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Ten
Lily’s POVThe rest of the day went by in a blur of emails, meetings, and trying to ignore the lingering looks from employees who were still processing the fact that Lucas Hawke was married. I could hear the whispers, the murmured conversations just out of earshot. It was clear that I was the anomaly in their well-structured world, an unexpected piece in their carefully crafted puzzle. By the time Lucas finally wrapped up his last meeting, I was exhausted. I had barely done anything, yet the sheer tension in the office left me drained. Sitting in his office, pretending to be productive while keeping up appearances, had been more taxing than I expected. The weight of every glance, every hushed conversation, pressed against my shoulders like an invisible burden.Lucas stepped out of his office, rolling his sleeves up as he walked toward me. The sight of him, slightly undone after a long day, was surprisingly humanizing. It was a stark contrast to the composed, untouchable version of hi
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Nine
Lily’s POVThe car ride to Lucas’s office was silent, except for the faint hum of the engine and the occasional beeping of his phone. I kept my eyes on the passing skyscrapers, trying to shake the strange nervousness settling in my stomach.Why was I nervous? I had no reason to be. This was a business transaction, nothing more. But as we pulled up to the massive glass building with "Hawke Enterprises" displayed in bold letters, I couldn’t ignore the way my heart pounded.“Stay close to me,” Lucas instructed, stepping out first. I rolled my eyes but followed him, smoothing down my outfit. The moment we entered the lobby, all eyes turned to us. Employees whispered among themselves, stealing glances. Some looked surprised, others curious. I heard snippets of murmured conversations.“She’s real?”“So, the rumors were true?”“She’s actually kind of pretty.”I clenched my fists, forcing myself to ignore them.Lucas, on the other hand, walked with his usual unbothered confidence. He led me
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Eight
Lily’s POVThe next morning, the weight of my conversation with Lucas still lingered in my mind. He had let his guard down—if only for a moment. And it left me unsettled.I knew better than to assume it meant anything. Lucas Hawke was a man of walls, built high and reinforced with steel. He carried himself with an air of untouchability, his every move calculated, his every word precise. But that fleeting vulnerability… it made me wonder what lay beneath the surface. Was there more to him than the cold, composed businessman he presented to the world? Or was I simply grasping at something that had never truly existed?Shaking the thought away, I forced myself out of bed. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not now.I made my way to the bathroom, my bare feet padding against the cool marble floor. The mirror reflected a face that wasn’t quite mine yet—at least, not the version of me I was used to seeing. There was something different in my eyes, something wary. Perhaps it was the exhaust
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Seven
Lily’s POVSleep had decided to play hide and seek with me. I stared at the ceiling, mentally pulling down on a couple of clouds in the sky with the heaviness of a thousand thoughts. Marriage by contract, my father's hospital bill, Ava's unwanted presence. It was all too heavy to carry. How did my life ever come to this?A year back, I had small dreams—dreams of painting, of having my own gallery, of living a quiet life with my father. But then fate stepped in, and here I was, dragged into the midst of the rich and ruthless with a marriage to a man who did not acknowledge me except when it was needed for his own gain.I turned on my side and hugged the pillow fiercely. Lucas Hawke.A man who was some great unkindness. Cold. Calculating. Infuriatingly unreadable. One minute he would ignore me as if I were invisible, and the next, he would be on national television mildly defending my honor. Why did that moment linger in my mind?That moment should not matter. This was nothing more t
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Six
Lily’s POVMy body is glued against my mind for it could not accept the reality that lay before me. Ava had curly herself around Lucas like a snake, manicured nails tightening into the expensive fabric of his suit. My stomach sourly vomited something bitter and raised towards my throat.I want to believe that this was some mix-up maybe I was seeing things but how she pressed herself against him and the smirk that flared on her lips told otherwise. He is just standing there, stiff as a statue from discomfort, and holding her arms as if trying to shove her off. "Ava," said he coldly, with irritation dripping from his voice, "Get off me."Instead, he chosed to laugh and lean close to whisper something to the ear of the man. He caught his stare through that muscle in his jaw, starting to tick, dangling like he was about to snap at an instant. The grip on either of her arms grappled hard, and then he pulled away to set her back on her feet, as though she were a clipped annoying child.Ava
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Five
Lucas' POV:She didn’t utter a single word.Throughout the entire flight from Mexico to California she just sat motionless, staring out of the window. I didn’t bother to break the silence—what was the point?When we finally landed in California and stepped onto the tarmac, she turned to me. "I will not be going to any hospital."She looked like she was still in shock, so I didn’t argue. Not yet."Fine." I said simply, gesturing to the car waiting for us. I instructed the driver to take us straight home.The moment we arrived at the house, Lily stepped out of the car and slammed the door with such force I thought it might come off its hinges. She stormed toward the house,m."Lily!" I called, but she didn’t stop.I rushed out of the car as well. And before she could get into the house, I grabbed her wrist, turning her to face me. "Acting like a spoiled child won’t help you, Lily." I said, coldly. "Did you really think you’d be paid $25 million just to play pretend wife?"Her eyes blaz
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Four
Lily’s POV:Two weeks ago, I married The Lucas Hawke.Well, not exactly “married.” We didn’t have some grand wedding, no white-draped ballroom, no aisle to walk down. Instead, we legally joined. Just the two of us and the civil registry. But we did take pictures, in Rome.I’ll never forget the dress I wore—Yumi Katsura’s White Gold Dress. It cost $8.5 million, an absolute masterpiece. Crafted from the finest silk and satin, with hand-stitched zari embroidery that sparkled in the sunlight, 1,000 pearls woven into the fabric, and a rare 5-carat white gold diamond at the center. The centerpiece though—the 8.8-carat green diamond glowed like the sun.Lucas looked the part too, in his black tuxedo from Kiton, a luxury clothing brand known for its tailor-made suits. His tuxedo alone was worth $85,000.After taking pictures, we boarded his private jet to Tokyo for our “honeymoon.” I couldn’t quite get over the irony of it all. Our honeymoon wasn’t about connecting emotionally or starting a
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Three
Lily's POV:My breath hitched as I stared at the car, my heart hammering in my chest. Slowly, my wide eyes traveled up to the driver’s seat.“What the hell!” I muttered under my breath before slamming my palms against the car’s hood.The driver didn’t respond. Instead, the car reversed a few feet, then sped past me as if nothing had happened.Without thinking, I bent down, grabbed a stone from the pavement, and hurled it at the car’s rear window. The car came to a stop.My pulse quickened as the back door opened. A man stepped out, tall and handsomely dressed in all black.As he walked toward me, he pulled out a business card and held it out to me. “Contact me about the payment.” He said, devoid of emotion.My jaws dropped. “You almost killed me, and this is your response?”“You ran in front of my car.” He replied curtly, unfazed.“Are you kidding me?” I snapped, my anger boiling over.His gaze didn’t waver. “I could sue you for defamation of character.” He said coldly. “It’s obvious
Lily and the Cold Billionaire Chapter Two
Lily's POV:The buzz of my alarm jolted me awake, but I didn’t need it. My eyes were already open, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sleeping has become impossible since yesterday. How could I possibly rest when the strange man’s words kept playing on a loop in my head?After our bizarre conversation in the hospital lobby, I tried to return to the restaurant, but Jasmine insisted I go home to gather my thoughts and rest. "You look like a ghost." She said, shooing me off with her apron in hand.Rest? How was that possible?“Would you like to marry Lucas Hawke?” He asked.I scoffed out loud, even now, chuckling bitterly at the memory. Was this some kind of joke? Some weird social experiment? Or was I a protagonist in a web novel where the scandal-ridden CEO needs a fake wife to redeem his name?At the time, I waited for him to laugh and admit it was a prank. But no. His face remained stern, his gaze piercing. He meant every word.“Wait, you’re serious?” I asked him.Dead silence.I clasp
