When rising interior designer Valeria Mendoza took a job as an executive assistant at Herrera & Sons, the last thing she expected was to accidentally marry her cold, infuriatingly handsome boss. After a chaotic mix-up with legal paperwork during a corporate event, Valeria finds herself legally bound to Alejandro Herrera, the guarded CEO who doesn’t believe in love but desperately needs a wife to close a multimillion-dollar deal. What starts as a reluctant agreement to "keep up appearances" quickly turns into a tangled web of stolen glances, sizzling tension, and midnight confessions. As the lines blur between fake and real, Valeria must hide the biggest secret of all — her true identity as the daughter of a billionaire family she left behind. But in a world where business and love don’t mix, what happens when the truth comes out? Will Alejandro see her as a liar... or the woman he’s been designing a future with all along?
ดูเพิ่มเติมThe luxury office of Herrera Designs had never been colder. Alejandro sat behind his desk, unmoving, eyes locked on the email from legal confirming Lucía’s new authority. The woman had played the long game, and she played it well. Twenty-one percent wasn’t enough to oust him outright—but it was enough to cause chaos. He didn’t have time for chaos. Not when he was still fighting to win Valeria back. “Sir,” his assistant said quietly over the intercom. “You have someone waiting in the lobby.” “If it’s Lucía again, tell her I’m busy choking on my pride.” “It’s not her. It’s... Valeria.” Alejandro’s breath caught. He was up and out of the chair before he could think. The elevator ride down felt like a century. When the doors opened, she was there—cool, collected, breathtaking. Her hair was tied back
Lucía’s heels clicked against the marble floor of Herrera Designs headquarters like a warning bell. She strode past the receptionist without a word, her presence as chilling as it was commanding. Today, she wore crimson—a power suit that seemed to bleed authority with every step.The executive boardroom was already buzzing when she entered. Conversations halted. Eyes turned.Alejandro stood at the head of the long table, jaw tight, knuckles white around the edge of the chair. “Lucía.”She smiled sweetly, sliding into a vacant seat. “Good morning, gentlemen.”He narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing here?”“Exercising my rights,” she said, tossing a thick stack of documents onto the table. “As the new owner of twenty-one percent of Herrera Designs.”Gasps echoed.“You’re bluffing,” Alejandro growled.She chuckled, leaning back in her chair. “Check the signatures. I bought your cousin Emiliano’s shares. He needed the cash. I needed leverage. Win-win.”Alejandro’s pulse pounded in his e
The city lights of the City of Monterrey twinkled beneath them as Alejandro and Valeria stood side by side on the rooftop terrace. The air was cool, a slight breeze tugging at their clothes as they leaned against the low stone wall, looking out at the skyline. For a moment, everything was silent—just the hum of the city below and the soft rustle of leaves in the wind.But silence, like everything else between them, had become charged with something more.Valeria could feel the weight of Alejandro’s presence beside her. His broad shoulders, his strong scent, the subtle tension in the air whenever their gazes met. She couldn’t ignore it anymore. She couldn’t pretend that the flutter in her chest when their hands brushed was just coincidence, that the warmth that spread through her veins when he smiled was something she could easily shake off.They were supposed to be pretending.This was just a business arrangement. A contract.But why did it feel like everything was slowly unraveling?
Valeria sat on the floor of her room, photos spread out in front of her like shrapnel. Alejandro holding Lucía’s hand. Lucía wearing a wedding band. Lucía… in a hospital gown. Seven months ago. That was the part that wouldn't stop echoing in her head. Seven months ago, Alejandro had stood in a hospital room with a woman he claimed to have “lost years ago.” And now he was married again? She didn’t know what was worse — the lies, or the way her heart still ached for him anyway. The knock came like thunder. She didn’t answer. The door opened anyway. Alejandro stepped in, hair tousled, breath sharp. He must’ve run here. “You got it,” he said quietly, eyes darting to the envelope in her lap. Valeria looked up slowly, her expression blank. “What was she doing in a hospital, Alejandro?” He didn’t speak. Not right away. Then, voice low: “She was pregnant.” Valeria’s stomach flipped. “I didn’t know,” he said quickly. “I hadn’t seen her in years. She showed
Valeria didn’t sleep that night.She sat frozen at the edge of her bed, the laptop screen still glowing.Alejandro had been married before.And somehow, he had never mentioned it.She read the article three times. The details were scarce — intentionally buried, maybe. The woman’s name was Lucía Marín. A journalist from Guadalajara. The marriage had lasted all of six months before it imploded in a media blackout.The final sentence was what stuck with her:Neither party commented. The bride disappeared from the public eye.Valeria’s skin prickled.How do you marry someone, erase them from your life, and then pretend they never existed?She slammed the laptop shut, heart pounding, and marched straight down the hallway.Alejandro’s RoomShe didn’t knock.He was shirtless, standing near his window with a glass of whiskey in hand, bathed in city light and shadows.When he turned, his eyes darkened. “Valeria—?”“You were married before.”No hesitation. No warm-up. Just the truth.His face s
The invitation arrived in a sleek black envelope, sealed with gold foil and far too much drama.The Annual Gala for Latinx Architects & Designers.Valeria stared at the RSVP card like it might explode.She’d been to events before — gallery openings, small design expos — but this? This was the Met Gala of architecture. And now she wasn’t just a guest.She was Alejandro Herrera’s wife.Even if only on paper.Her stomach twisted.The Night of the GalaValeria stood in front of the full-length mirror in a wine-red, silk satin dress. The slit was dangerously high, the neckline dangerously low, and the fabric clung to her like temptation itself.When she walked downstairs, Alejandro stood at the base of the staircase waiting.And for the first time, he forgot how to breathe.“You look…” His voice cracked. “...like a beautiful mistake I’d gladly keep making.”She rolled her eyes — but her cheeks flushed. “You’re full of lines, Herrera.”“And you’re full of surprises, señora Herrera.”At the
The next morning, Valeria was already regretting every single word of the clause she had so confidently demanded.No touching.No kissing.No falling in love.It had sounded smart — empowering, even — when she said it. Now? It felt like a joke written by someone who had no idea how Alejandro Herrera’s smirk could unravel her.And apparently, she’d have to test her self-control immediately.Because when she stepped outside her apartment to grab coffee — three cameras were pointed at her face.Flash.Flash."Señora Herrera! Are you really married to Alejandro?""Is it true the wedding was done in secret?""Is there a baby on the way?"Valeria blinked, stunned. “What the hell?”Then a black SUV screeched to a stop beside her.The door swung open.“Get in,” Alejandro barked from inside.She obeyed. Mostly because she wasn’t about to get grilled on a sidewalk in her pajama hoodie.Inside the Car“What the hell was that?” she snapped, heart pounding.Alejandro passed her his phone.Trending
Valeria paced her apartment like a caged animal, the marriage certificate clutched in one trembling hand.Her mind kept looping the same impossible question:How the hell was she legally married to Alejandro Herrera?The paper wasn’t fake. It was stamped, signed, and government-issued.And worst of all?She remembered none of it.A sharp knock at the door jolted her out of the spiral.She didn’t need to check who it was.Alejandro never waited.She yanked the door open. “What the hell did you do?”He didn’t flinch at her fury. “Can I come in?”She shoved the paper against his chest. “You can come in when you explain this.”He stepped inside anyway.The door slammed behind him.Inside Her ApartmentAlejandro took one look at the document, then looked at her.His voice was low. Controlled. “Where did you get this?”“It was on my kitchen counter.”“Who else has a key to your place?”“Don’t play the security game, Alejandro. Explain.”He ran a hand through his hair — and for the first tim
Valeria had barely survived the penthouse dinner when her phone buzzed again the next morning.Alejandro: Be ready at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Formal attire. Company gala. Do not be late.She groaned. Another night of playing pretend, plastering on a smile while resisting the urge to punch him — or worse, kiss him again.She hated how her lips still tingled from almost kissing him on that damn balcony.She texted back:Valeria: Only if you promise not to look at me like that again.The typing bubble appeared. Then vanished.Coward.Later That Night – At the GalaThe Hotel Quinta Real ballroom was a wonderland of silver chandeliers, string quartets, and old money perfume. Valeria’s emerald green dress shimmered under the soft lighting, hugging her curves like it had been sewn onto her skin.She felt Alejandro’s eyes on her the moment she walked in. He looked dangerously perfect in a navy tux, his dark hair slicked back, a glass of champagne in one hand.“Nice of you to show up,” he murmured wh
Monterrey, Mexico – 7:42 a.m.The office of Herrera & Sons was as cold and polished as its CEO — sleek lines, steel accents, and silence sharp enough to cut glass.And into that silence stormed Valeria Mendoza, twenty-six, five-foot-five, soaked in caramel macchiato, and dangerously close to snapping.“¡Maldita sea!” she hissed, dabbing at her blouse with a napkin that was failing its life’s mission.The receptionist flinched. “Señorita Mendoza, are you okay?”Valeria forced a tight smile, clutching her ruined coffee cup. “Fine. Just another glamorous Monday of burning my chest and soul.”She strode toward the elevator, high ponytail swaying, heels clicking with purpose. She had five minutes to get to the top floor and deliver updated design boards to The Ice King himself — Alejandro Herrera.CEO. Architect. Walking thundercloud in a designer suit.Valeria had been Alejandro’s assistant for exactly four weeks. In that time, he had:Learned her name (barely).Criticized her font choice...
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
ความคิดเห็น