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Putting on a show
Last Updated:
2022-05-20 19:13:43
MadlainQThank you for reading another chapter 🥰 I hope you are enjoying the story so far. If you do, please leave a comment, review, or vote❤️💎
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Sentenced to Marriage   Big mistake
While Liam stared at the screen with fire in his eyes, I was becoming more and more terrified. Liam enjoyed Nicole's writhe when she tried to cover the wall-size screen with her body and raised arm. I couldn't blame him. She got what she deserved, and Liam got what he wanted. He obviously knew nothing about Aren Lan, and he didn't care. I wish I could say something similar...While Nicole stood in the line of fire on the stage, Aren walked to the side and talked to two of his people. A few seconds later, those two commanded the security team who led the press out of the ballroom and the other team who took care of the disturbed guests. Suddenly, Aren smirked, looking directly at the surveillance camera... I swallowed. He couldn't know that we were watching him at that moment, could he?"Liam… we need to get out of here… the show is over," I said nervously, cleaning the first of the computers from any traces of hacking into their system."Why? Do you think someone will catch us?" He sh
Last Updated : 2022-05-21Sentenced to Marriage   The Contract
I decided to make use of Aren Lan's hospitality and took a long bath to clear my head. Afterwards, I wrapped myself in a hotel bathrobe and lay down on the bed. I started analyzing what kind of proof he could have against me...He didn't have my laptops, but even if he had, I made sure there were no traces of evidence that I had broken into Blue Crystal Hotel's system. The little worm I had downloaded to their computer had self-deleted already, and not even the best specialist could bring it back, let alone connect it with me.I needed to shut down the panic within me by building a solid wall of rational arguments. All Aren Lan had were assumptions, nothing solid enough to press any charges against me. I needed to rely on the fact that this man was a public figure running a legit business. He could make my life harder than it already was. He could make me fired from Café Dorado, or even make me move out from New York City if he wanted to, but he would use legal means to do it. For God
Last Updated : 2022-05-22Sentenced to Marriage   Confused
A peal of hysteric laughter escaped my throat as an intense blush painted my cheeks. He didn't actually expect me to have sex with him during our contractual marriage... right? As my eyes slowly shifted to Aren, I muttered, "You cannot be serious?" He smirked, once again carefully scanning my body. "Why not? I need to know if it's safe to fuck my wife." My jaw literally dropped, and I heard Mr. Edmond chuckle. How could Aren talk about such things so casually?! And how could he talk about having sex with me in front of some other people?! "You can't expect me to sleep with you," I squeezed through my teeth. "I'm not turning you into my sex slave. I am giving you an option. Besides, you will receive a copy of my medical card as well," he said calmly. "An option?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "Yes," he replied, standing up and sitting next to me. Then he gestured at the lawyer and Mr. Edmond. "Give us five." A second later, I was in that room alone with him, sitting inches away fro
Last Updated : 2022-05-24Sentenced to Marriage   The first step…
Mr. Edmond enjoyed enticing my curiosity but refused to say anything more, claiming that some facts needed to be properly swallowed. I pouted, stating that it wasn't fair, yet he stayed resilient. As we got down the hall, I finally got my purse back, along with my phone and documents. "Remember, you cannot tell anyone about the contract, and that includes your friends and family," he warned, as he saw me checking all the missed calls on my phone. I gave him a wry smile, acknowledging how hard it would be to lie to everyone for two years. First, I needed to come up with a believable story for Liam, but how could I explain getting married to a guy his ex was supposed to marry? As Mr. Edmond drove us to my apartment, I pondered whether or not to call Liam. In the end, I came up with an idiotic evasive response that I had sent in a text message. "I'm OK. I'm still alive. My purse got lost and I've got it back only now." He replied in less than a minute. "Thank God! I thought that this
Last Updated : 2022-05-25Sentenced to Marriage   About Aren Lan…
By the time I finished the third glass of wine, I knew the basic information concerning Aren Lan and his family. Truthfully, it sounded like a soap opera script, a story of love, betrayal, and big money, and I would have even found the story fascinating if it weren't for the fact that sooner or later I would have to deal with that story's main characters. Should I feel fortunate that a few of them had died already? Neil was right about the necessity of drinking while listening to the story, though; the alcohol had done wonders with my ability to process the information.I learned that Aren's mother, Lan Liling, fell in love with American student James Winton. James was the son of Augustus Winton, the owner of Winton Corporation. Back in the day, Augustus's company was on the verge of bankruptcy and needed huge investments to survive. James knew that Liling was a daughter of a wealthy Chinese family and decided to persuade his girlfriend to help him. Unfortunately, Liling's father, Lan
Last Updated : 2022-05-26Sentenced to Marriage   Adjusting
A peal of hysteric laughter escaped my throat. I turned to my new chauffeur, praying that he would understand me and play along."Thank you for giving me a ride," I said with an awkwardly wide smile, stopping Benjamin halfway before he sat down behind the wheel.He stepped out of the car. His eyes shifted from me to Liam and back to me again."No problem, Miss." His fingers slid through the rim of his hat."Thank you," I repeated, bowing my head this time.I could see a surprise flashing through his face, yet he kept his composed expression. He nodded his head, and a few seconds later, he was pulling away from the curb. I sighed in relief as I got rid of the first part of my problem. I stepped closer to Liam, grinning like an idiot."What happened to you? Did you win a million dollars overnight or something?" he muttered, widening his eyes as he could now examine my clothes up-close."Of course not." I waved off his assumptions with my hand. "I was working at the café today when some
Last Updated : 2022-05-27Sentenced to Marriage   Body language
Once my head crashed against the water surface, I entered a state of bewilderment. I couldn't breathe. The water was cold, and I nearly panicked, sinking deeper and deeper. My mind restarted only after I saw Aren reaching out to grab my arm. He pulled me up, leading my hands to the rim of the pool. As I surfaced, I formed the strongest grip I could, and I started coughing up water. I was nowhere near drowning, but I wouldn't call staying in that freezing water a pleasant experience…"Are you all right?" Aren's voice made me raise my head.He was crouching by the pool with nothing aside from that towel wrapped around his hips. His freshly showered skin almost sparkled in the sunrise, making him absolutely God-like. I would surely appreciate him more if I wasn't freezing."I'm c-cold..." I mumbled, searching for a way to get out of this pool more gracefully than by pulling myself up and landing like a seal.He chuckled and leaned over me. "Put your arms around my neck.""W-what?" I blin
Last Updated : 2022-05-28Sentenced to Marriage   Breakfast
I blow-dried my hair, put on a shirt top and jeans, and was ready to come down to the kitchen. My heart rate slowed down a little, but the thought of half-naked Aren made that foolish blood pomp in my chest race again. I took many deep breaths as I walked down to the kitchen, trying to mentally prepare myself to see him again, and I sincerely hoped that this time he would be dressed.I sighed in relief when I saw him wearing a black shirt and a casual pair of jeans, but I quickly realized that it didn't make him look less disturbing... He was standing by the oven, preparing breakfast. Who would have known that this billionaire could actually use a frying pan and an oven? I walked closer and swallowed hard. He didn't make it easier for me. In his black shirt with rolled sleeves and forearm muscles tensing as he swirled vegetables in the pan, he looked insanely hot. He must have sensed me gaping at him because he shifted his eyes to me and grinned."Hope you're not allergic to eggs," he
Last Updated : 2022-05-29
Latest chapter
Sentenced to Marriage   Together
I didn't answer Aren right away. I held my poker face still, resisting the urge to smile. I waited until the smug smirk slowly left his mouth, enjoying every second of his uncertainty. "Say it again," I said. He raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Will you marry me?" His confusion made my lips gently curve. "Not this, but your words before that." "I love you." He grinned, reaching for my hand. "I love you." He took out the ring from the box and put it on my finger. It fitted perfectly. "I love you," he breathed, leaning closer and placing a gentle kiss on my chin, on my cheek, and my lips. I wish I could say that it was a perfect, romantic moment, but my hormones ruined it all by making me cry again. He chuckled softly, sitting beside me and pulling me onto his lap. He kissed every tear away while gently stroking my hair with his fingers. "I want you forever as my wife. Nod if you agree," he said, giving me the sweetest smile I saw on his face. Of course, I nodded. It was much e
Sentenced to Marriage   Let's talk
I had been dreaming about this moment for the last five months. No. Scratch that. I had been having nightmares about this moment. From the moment I found out that I was pregnant, there wasn't a single day I didn't think about how I was going to tell Aren. Initially, I wanted to call him immediately. This situation was changing everything between us. I grabbed the phone while tears flooded my eyes. I picked Aren's number... and I froze.The baby I had growing inside my belly would become the future heir of the Lan family. This meant that as soon as I told anyone, I would become the future mother of the future heir... Chills ran down my spine. Would I be forced to live in Shanghai and become nothing more than Aren Lan's wife? I instantly felt nauseous, and not only because I had morning sickness. Something was crushing my chest, and I was scared. I was terrified. And then later, what if someone decided that I wasn't the best mother for my child and would take my child away? I knew that
Sentenced to Marriage   Without her
It'd been over six months since Cora walked out the door of the Lan family mansion. That day was the last time I saw her, the last time I felt her, and the last time I could focus on anything. From that moment, I had been merely existing, surprising myself each time I got up to see another morning. Funny, isn't it? The cold son of the bitch who wasn't supposed to have a heart was suffering from agonizing heartache. If Nanny Mei Lien had seen me like this, she would have called me pathetic.Since my Mother died a little after I was born, Mei Lien was the only parent figure around me. James Winton most likely wanted me to die as well, but Mei Lien did everything she could to keep me safe. She contacted my Grandfather on her own and begged him to grant me and her his protection. He refused. He was soaked with hatred for the daughter who betrayed him, and it was only natural that he would hate that daughter's son as well. It's ironic that right before the daughter whom he hated died wishe
Sentenced to Marriage   Choosing myself
I started packing the second I walked into our room. Aren looked at me, shocked. Within a heartbeat, he surged between me and my suitcase. "What are you doing, sunshine?" His steady voice had a rough edge painted with anxiety. "I'm going back to New York. I had already booked a plane on our way to the mansion." I tried to keep my tone composed, but every piece within me was shaking. He huffed nervously. "When are you coming back to Shanghai?" His eyes darkened; he knew what I was going to say. "I'm not coming back," I muttered, lowering my gaze. "Sunshine... don't..." He shook his head, pain and desperation surfacing in his features wildly. I brushed away the tears that had uncontrollably fallen down my cheeks. "Give me a reason why I should stay?" I pushed him away from my suitcase and continued packing. "I know that I'm selfish, but I can't lose you." His voice was soft, nearly cracking. Before I knew it, his arms were wrapped around me, and I surrendered to the warmth of his b
Sentenced to Marriage   Entering the golden cage
I had trouble eating dinner, and it had nothing to do with my two broken fingers. I couldn't swallow a single piece of food, feeling that every bite got stuck in my throat. Afterward, I went to Lan Jing's office for a private conversation. I was pissed, and with every second that had gone by, I found it more difficult to hide my anger. I had known that Aren would have to be in Shanghai to take over Lan Wang Corporation, but we were going to discuss the details together! I had never even considered moving to Shanghai and staying here permanently!The few friends I had, all lived in New York. My Grandma stayed in the clinic in New York. My life was in New York. I loved Aren, but I had only just begun to truly cherish the place where I lived, and I didn't want to move somewhere else, no matter how beautiful and extraordinary Shanghai was. It wasn't about the language, because I would gladly learn it, but I would do it for myself. I helped Aren with his revenge, and it seemed to me that h
Sentenced to Marriage   Alive
I was not a killer. I'd always considered myself a good person. I had a high set of moral standards, and I had never thought that there would be a day when I would point a gun at someone, thinking that he deserved to die. Still, I couldn't take away his life... But I wanted him to suffer. I aimed at his right shoulder. Adrenaline sharpened my senses, making me more focused than I had ever been in my whole life. The oddly funny fact was that I had problems with hitting the target board, but I knew exactly where the bullet would hit the second I pulled that trigger.Caishen growled in pain, the knife held in his right hand falling to the ground. "You bitch!" he yelled, stomping my way.I shot again, this time aiming at his thigh. The second bullet made him collapse. I watched him fall to the ground, his hands reaching to press the wound on his leg. I smirked coldly. I must have hit an artery since he was bleeding out fast. None of those shots were lethal, but they were enough. He lost.
Sentenced to Marriage   To kill for love
My husband was two feet away from me. He was covered in blood, but all I cared about was that the blood wasn't his. His eyes carried an explosive mix of emotions. There was fear, guilt, relief, need, longing, pain, anger, and an unrecognizable form of warmth. He stood still, as if he was waiting for my permission to come closer, to touch me, to embrace me. Seeing him near me and not feeling his skin against mine was almost unbearable. My whole body craved him. I could finally breathe because he was close. I spread my arms open, invitingly. It only took a heartbeat for him to encircle me in a tight hug, allowing me to melt into his muscular frame. I breathed in his scent like it was a remedy for all the physical pain."I missed you so much," I mumbled, shedding a wide stream of tears.His hands delicately traced up and down my back as if he was afraid to hurt me. "I'm sorry, sunshine... I'm so sorry." He breathed heavily in between leaving soft kisses on the crown of my head. "I was so
Sentenced to Marriage   Escape
The alarms went off. I could see the red lights flashing rhythmically as Caishen dragged me through the corridor. This time I didn't even dream of running away. I was circled by Max and the group of guards who watched me closely, tensing each time one of my legs swayed as if it was a signal of me trying to run away. I tried to memorize the route but then decided that it was useless since I didn't even know where the exit was. Nonetheless, I'd noticed something before: there were no windows. My suspicions were confirmed as I was pushed into the elevator. We were on the underground floor—Level -3, and the elevator went down to Level -5.Once we left the elevator, I saw more armed men, running somewhere and securing certain areas. Then I heard very distant gunshots. My heart started to pound with a new beat. Aren might have been getting closer. The sole thought made my body warm."Get in," Caishen hissed, throwing me into a raw, almost unfurnished room. "You will wait here until it's all
Sentenced to Marriage   Having a choice
Caishen's peel of laughter told me that I could breathe again. I emptied my lungs in one hectic exhale. The gun's barrel was still touching my temple. My hand was trembling. I blinked my eyes, slowly realizing that there was no bullet in the chamber. Caishen clapped his hands, visibly entertained that I decided to risk my life, playing his sick game. I hated him. I hated him for making me choose between my life and the lives of the criminals standing around me. It would have been easier if I had lost my moral values and had given up on respect for human lives, but it was something I could never do. Certainly, I believed that there were deviants in this world that didn't deserve to live, but if I was their judge, I would rather grant them hell on earth than send them to hell myself."Are you trying to become a saint, my dear?" Caishen laughed as he snatched the gun from my hand. "We are surrounded by meaningless people. Their lives don't matter. They will always be workers, not creator
