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WEIGHT OF PRETENDING
Last Updated:
2025-03-07 20:36:00
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Lily stood by the grand window of Liam’s penthouse, staring at the city lights stretching far into the horizon. The skyline was breathtaking, but her mind was a whirl of conflicting emotions. She had been thrust into this world so suddenly, everything felt like it was moving too fast for her to keep up. The walls of the penthouse were almost suffocating. It wasn’t the space that trapped her; it was the situation she now found herself in. Every passing second reminded her of her own helplessness, of the contract she’d signed with Liam Montgomery an arrangement she couldn’t escape.Her gaze fell to the floor, the weight of the day's events pressing on her chest. Liam’s cold indifference felt like a constant weight. His demand that she fit into the perfect image of his fiancée had only added to her growing sense of isolation. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to find some comfort in the solitude of the moment, but it eluded her.The sound of footsteps behind her jolted her bac
Last Updated : 2025-03-07THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE WHISPERS OF DANGER
The gala was a dazzling spectacle of wealth and influence, filled with laughter that didn’t quite reach the eyes and smiles laced with hidden agendas. Crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in golden light, and the scent of expensive champagne lingered in the air. The soft hum of a string quartet wove through the space, setting an ambiance of refined elegance.Lily walked beside Liam, her hand lightly resting on his arm, her posture poised. She could feel the weight of every gaze in the room watching, whispering, judging. They were curious, dissecting her presence at Liam Montgomery’s side, trying to determine if she was merely another passing intrigue or something more permanent.She forced herself to smile, knowing full well that any sign of discomfort would be seen as weakness.Liam, on the other hand, looked effortlessly composed. The way he carried himself ..broad shoulders, crisp tuxedo, and an air of quiet authority made it clear he was untouchable in this world. His grip on
Last Updated : 2025-03-08THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE DARKNESS OF THE PAST
Lily sensed the change in the room before she even saw him. A tension so sharp it made the air feel thick, suffocating. She turned just as Damien Carlisle stepped inside, his presence effortlessly commanding attention. He moved with the kind of ease that came from knowing he could control any room he walked into.His tailored black suit fit him with casual perfection, his sharp features carrying a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. There was something unsettling about him, an air of danger cloaked beneath his charm. He wasn’t just another guest at this gala he was someone who disrupted the natural order, someone who knew how to make people uncomfortable.His eyes landed on her first. A slow, assessing gaze that sent a strange, uneasy feeling crawling up her spine. Then, just as deliberately, he shifted his attention to Liam.“Well,” Damien said, his voice smooth but laced with something unspoken. “Didn’t think I’d be getting such a personal introduction to your fiancée.”Lily sti
Last Updated : 2025-03-08THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE WHISPERS OF BETRAYAL
Lily stood frozen, her fingers gripping the edge of the kitchen counter as the weight of Liam’s words settled over her."Stay out of this, Lily. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into."Liam’s voice from their last conversation echoed in her mind, colder than she had ever heard before. But how could she stay out of it? The scandal, the whispers behind her back, the way people looked at her as if she were nothing but a gold digger clinging to Liam Montgomery’s name none of it made sense.Something was wrong.She had spent the last few weeks trapped in his world, a world of cold luxury, forced smiles, and cameras flashing in her face. But beneath all of that, there were cracks in the illusion.She had seen Liam’s guarded moments those fleeting seconds when the mask slipped, and something raw flickered in his stormy gray eyes. Pain. A secret he refused to share.And now, she had proof that someone was pulling the strings behind this engagement.Her hands shook as she unfolded t
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Lily’s hands trembled as she clutched the phone, her heart hammering against her ribs. The words on the screen blurred before her eyes. The message was clear, ominous, and designed to shake her to the core."You think you’re safe? You’re not. Walk away before it’s too late."A cold shiver ran down her spine.Who would send something like this? And why now, when things between her and Liam were already teetering on the edge of disaster?She swallowed hard, her throat dry.Liam.Would he even care? He was so distant lately, his walls back up, his eyes colder than ever. After everything they had been through, she had begun to think there was something real between them. But now, doubt clawed at her like a relentless storm.She read the message again, as if staring at it long enough would make it disappear. It didn’t.Instead, fear settled deeper in her chest.The bedroom door creaked open, and Liam stepped inside. He looked exhausted, his sleeves rolled up, his tie loosened just enough t
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Lily sat stiffly in the back of Liam’s car, her fingers clenched into fists against the smooth leather seats. The silence was unbearable, thick with unspoken words and tension that crackled like electricity. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows, but she barely noticed.She was still reeling from everything that had unfolded in the last few hours. The scandal. The press. The inescapable contract binding her to Liam Montgomery.And now, they were headed to his estate her new home.The thought made her stomach twist.Across from her, Liam sat like a sculpture carved from ice his sharp jaw locked, his silver-gray eyes fixed on his phone. He hadn’t spoken a word since they entered the car, and the weight of his silence pressed down on her like a boulder.Lily exhaled slowly, summoning whatever courage she had left.“This is insane,” she muttered, breaking the silence. “We don’t even like each other.”Liam’s eyes flicked up, cool and unreadable. “That’s irrelevant.”Her jaw clenc
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The heavy doors of the estate shut behind Lily with a finality that sent a shiver through her.She wasn’t just stepping into Liam Montgomery’s home.She was stepping into his world.A world she didn’t belong to. A world she wasn’t sure she would survive.The grand foyer was breathtaking high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers, marble floors that gleamed under the soft golden light, and walls lined with expensive artwork. It was the kind of wealth most people only saw in movies.Yet, despite its beauty, the air inside felt cold. Unwelcoming.Like him.Liam walked ahead of her, his long strides purposeful and controlled. His presence filled every inch of the space, commanding it with an effortless arrogance that made her stomach twist.“This will be your home now,” he said, his voice detached. “I expect you to behave accordingly.”Lily crossed her arms. “And what exactly does that mean?”Liam stopped and turned to her, his gray eyes unreadable. “It means you’ll act like my wife i
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Lily sat on the edge of the massive bed, staring at the city lights flickering beyond the glass windows. The penthouse was silent too silent.Her mind replayed every word Liam had said earlier."I don’t feel anything, Lily."She let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow in the empty room.She should have expected this. From the beginning, Liam Montgomery had made it clear what this marriage was a cold, calculated transaction. No emotions. No complications.And yet, here she was, feeling everything.Anger.Frustration.Heartache.Her fingers curled into the silk sheets, the weight of reality pressing down on her.She had walked into this marriage knowing the risks. Knowing Liam wasn’t the type of man who would offer love, comfort, or tenderness. But somewhere along the way, she had let herself hope. Hope that maybe just maybe there was something beneath his icy exterior.But tonight, he had shattered that illusion."I don’t feel anything, Lily."The words echoed in her mind, slicing thr
Last Updated : 2025-03-10
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The air inside the safehouse was thick with tension, every breath a reminder that trust had become a scarce currency. Lily sat silently on the edge of the bed, her fingers knotted tightly in her lap as Liam paced in front of the shuttered window. He had barely said a word since Charles was taken into custody, his face a stoic mask hiding the storm she knew raged within.She could still hear Charles’s voice echoing in her mind. “I wasn’t the only one.” Those words haunted her, burrowed deep into her bones like a chill she couldn’t shake. If Charles had accomplices, then they were still in danger and possibly being watched.Liam finally stopped pacing and turned to face her. His eyes, usually cold and calculating, were laced with something else now a quiet fury that simmered just beneath the surface.“I have to go back,” he said.Lily frowned. “Back to the mansion?”He nodded. “There are files. Information Charles had access to. If anyone else is involved, there will be traces.”She sto
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The air in the villa was thick with tension. Lily sat by the window, her eyes scanning the perimeter of the high walls surrounding them. It had been three days since the confrontation with Charles, and the silence that followed was almost more unsettling than the chaos itself.Liam had barely spoken, too consumed with interrogations and reinforcing security. His entire demeanor had shifted sharper, colder, more ruthless. The man who had once wrapped his arms around her in the middle of the night, whispering reassurances, now paced the hallways like a lion in a cage."He was waiting for us," Lily muttered to herself, tracing invisible circles on the glass. She couldn't shake the feeling that the betrayal ran deeper than they had imagined.Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and Liam entered the room, his phone pressed to his ear."Keep eyes on every contact he's had in the past year. No excuses. I want answers by tonight," he barked before hanging up.His eyes landed on Lily, softening
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The air was still, suffocating in its silence. Lily stood at the edge of the rooftop terrace of Cartwright Industries, the city lights casting a glow on her profile. She had hoped the fresh air would clear her thoughts, but instead, it amplified the noise within. The image from the anonymous envelope burned behind her eyelids. The note, the threat, the eerie precision of whoever was watching her it all pointed to one thing: this was personal.Liam joined her moments later, the weight of their discoveries evident in the set of his jaw. "Security's tightening protocols. No one enters that floor again without clearance. Adam's checking surveillance, but whoever this is… they're smart. They left no trace."Lily turned to face him. "They want me afraid. They want me to question every shadow, every voice."Liam reached for her hand. "But you won't break. Not now. Not when you're closer to the truth than ever.""That's what scares me," she whispered. "The closer I get, the more dangerous thi
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Lily stared at her reflection in the floor-length mirror of the master bedroom, adjusting the soft silk collar of her navy suit. Today would be her first official day as interim CEO. A title hard-won not inherited, not handed down, but earned through sweat, tears, and a fire she never knew burned inside her.But there was no satisfaction in her chest. Only a strange mix of adrenaline and dread. The anonymous message from the day before haunted her. Whoever had sent it wasn’t bluffing. They knew something. Something deeper than just her father’s sins.Liam entered, already dressed in a tailored black suit. His tie hung loose around his neck, and his eyes locked on hers in the mirror.“You ready?” he asked gently.She nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”“You look like a CEO.”She gave him a faint smile. “I don’t feel like one.”He stepped behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, his voice low and steady. “You are one. You earned this. And no shadow threat is going to change that.”But e
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The morning was quiet, unusually so. Lily woke to the hum of birdsong outside the window, the smell of fresh coffee drifting into the room. It had been a long night another restless one. Her dreams had been plagued with faceless shadows and the echo of her father’s voice, always distorted, always cold.She turned her head to see Liam, still asleep, one arm draped lazily across her waist. He looked peaceful, the hard lines on his face softened in sleep. It amazed her, sometimes, how different he was now less guarded, more vulnerable, but still just as protective. He never said much about how all of this affected him, but she knew. The burden didn’t belong to her alone anymore.She slipped out of bed quietly and padded barefoot to the kitchen. As she poured herself a cup of coffee, her phone buzzed with a notification.One message.From an unknown number.She stared at it for a long moment before opening it.“Your father was only the beginning.”Her heart stuttered in her chest. The wor
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The rain returned that night not in violent storms, but in soft drizzles that tapped against the windows of the penthouse like forgotten whispers. Lily stood in front of the tall glass wall, staring out into the city that never really slept. The flashing lights of traffic below reminded her that life had continued, even while hers had been turned upside down.Cartwright was behind bars. The news had exploded across social media, television, and finance networks. Lily’s name was on every tongue from coffee shop gossip to boardroom speculation. Some hailed her as a hero, the woman who dared to expose a titan. Others questioned her motives, casting her as a spoiled heiress fighting for revenge.But none of them knew the truth.They didn’t know what it felt like to carry that name, to bear the shame of a family built on lies. They didn’t know the weight of betrayal from a father she once admired.And they didn’t know how deeply that pain still lingered.Liam entered quietly behind her, fr
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The morning after Lily's explosive revelation was anything but calm. The sun barely rose before the media frenzy exploded like a tidal wave. News anchors scrambled for updates, headlines screamed with words like Scandal, Betrayal, and Empire Crumbling.Lily sat in the backseat of Liam’s bulletproof car, fingers clenched tightly around her phone as she scrolled through the latest reports. Every major news outlet was broadcasting the footage her father, Cartwright, the forged contracts, the accounts. She had done it. She had exposed him.But it didn’t feel like victory.Not yet.Her stomach twisted with unease. Cartwright was a man who had thrived in shadows for decades. One press release wouldn’t be enough to bring him down completely. Not when he had power, connections, and no shame in using them.Beside her, Liam glanced at her. “You don’t have to say it out loud,” he murmured, reading her thoughts. “You’re waiting for him to strike back.”“He always does,” she replied, her voice bar
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Lily stared at the flash drive resting on the polished wooden desk like it was a live wire. Every instinct in her body told her to pick it up, slot it into her laptop, and uncover the secrets it held but fear held her frozen. Not the kind of fear that made you run, but the kind that paralyzed. The kind that whispered, Once you know, there’s no going back.Beside her, Liam was as still as a statue, eyes fixed on Seraphina Lane. His grip on the gun hadn’t eased, though his trigger finger had relaxed. He was waiting for something anything to justify trusting this woman. And so was Lily.“You said my mother gave that to you?” Lily asked, voice low and trembling. “Why you? Who are you?”Seraphina met her gaze with the quiet calm of someone who had lived too many lives. “I was your mother’s closest friend. We met long before she married into your father’s empire. She trusted me with things she couldn’t entrust to anyone else—not even your father.”“She never mentioned you,” Lily said quietl
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The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the estate, casting golden streaks across the marble floors. But for Lily, there was no warmth in its glow. Sleep had eluded her once again. Her thoughts spun like a carousel Sandra’s veiled threats, Cartwright’s shadowy games, and Uncle Daniel’s betrayal.She stood by the window in the library, arms wrapped around herself, her silk robe billowing lightly with the breeze. Everything had changed so fast. Just weeks ago, she was preparing to become Liam Carlyle’s bride. Now, she was preparing for war.A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.“Come in,” she said without turning.Liam entered, looking composed as always, though the shadows under his eyes betrayed his sleepless night too.“She took the bait,” he said, his voice low. “Our team tracked Sandra to a warehouse on the east side. She's not runningshe's organizing something.”Lily finally turned to him. “She’s bold. Or desperate.”“Both,” Liam replied. “But desperation
