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Chapter 008
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2025-03-09 22:09:51
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The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 009
"Is this really how you want things to be?"The tight calm that had descended between us was broken by his voice, which was low, strained, and almost imploring. I stared at the floor and tried to contain the emotions that were about to explode, so I didn't respond immediately away. Unspoken words and the weight of everything we weren't discussing filled the air.With my heart thumping and blood thumping in my ears, I eventually raised my eyes to meet his. Mike stood with his arms folded and his concentrated gaze searching my for something that might explain this mess. However, I had nothing. I was worn out. I was upset. I was also apprehensive. I wouldn't allow him to watch it, though. Not quite yet."How do you want things to be, then?" In an attempt to maintain some sort of control, I snapped, my voice taut. Everything was brewing inside of me, including irritation and fury, and it was simpler to snap than to cope with the tangle of feelings that were brewing beneath the surface.Mi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 010
"Are you going to eat that?"Mia looked up at me across the dinner table and spoke in a little, almost hesitant voice. She fumbled with the edge of her napkin, her dish half-finished, the food unfinished. I briefly believed that she might be putting me to the test to see how I would react to something as basic as food.I looked back at her after taking a quick look at the piece of chicken that was still on my plate. I answered, "Yeah, I guess so," in a softer tone than I intended.Although she didn't smile, I could detect a gleam of optimism that she might be able to get through to me in her eyes. Feeling the weight of the stillness that had hung over us since supper began, I pushed the final piece into my mouth and reclined in my chair.Mike was remarkably silent tonight, absorbed in his own thoughts and gazing at his plate as if it had the solutions to a puzzle he was unable to solve. Over the past few days, our typical tension had increased, and I wasn't sure if that was due to the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 011
"Why don’t you ever ask me what I want?" Mike's voice sliced like a razor through the silence.I was taken aback and stopped in my tracks. His figure loomed against the room's dim light, and the study door stood open. I wasn't sure if I should go inside or back off, and he hadn't spotted me yet.Eleanor responded with her typical contempt, "Mike, you're being dramatic." "You are the family's leader. Your obligations take precedence over your emotions.My breath caught. Even though I didn't intend to listen in, their comments held me in place."Responsibilities," Mike said again in a sour tone. "Eleanor, is that all I am to you? Just a legacy, a name, and nothing else?"Eleanor shot back dismissively, "You're letting your emotions cloud your judgment." "You always have."Just as suddenly as it had started, the talk ended, and I rushed out, my footsteps quiet on the plush carpet. I wanted to avoid getting caught. Not right now, when Eleanor was just being herself and Mike was obviously
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 012
"Are you certain this will work?" Alex inquired in a tone that was both skeptical and inquisitive.Jemma's red lips curled into a smug smile as she reclined on the soft leather chair. "Have my plans ever fallen through?"My breath seized in my throat as I stood in the corridor, obscured by the darkness. Jemma's distinctive haughtiness was evident in her voice. She was planning something with Alex in the study, and the tone of their conversation was enough to make my skin crawl.Alex let out a sigh. "I don't see why Cath should be involved in this. She has not taken any action—"Has not taken any action?" Jemma interrupted him with a loud laugh. You're so innocent, Alex. Everything is collapsing because of Cath. She is the one who has captured Mike's interest and allegiance. She will have it all if we don't take action right away.She said something that made my stomach turn.Jemma went on, in a low, secretive voice, "Mike is distracted." Additionally, he becomes susceptible when he is
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 013
"Do you have a moment, Cath?"Despite being gentle and somewhat disarming, Eleanor's voice had a weight that made my stomach knot. Her face was unreadable as she stood at the sunroom doorway, but I couldn't help but notice the edge in her eyes.With my heart pounding, I put down the book I had been feigning to read. Despite the uneasiness that was writhing in my chest, I answered, "Of course," in a firm voice.Eleanor crossed the room to take the chair across from me with a purposeful ease. She straightened her skirt and smiled courteously, but her eyes never left mine.With a casual tone, she asked, "How are you settling in?""All right," I said warily. "We're getting there, but it's been a transition.""We?" she inquired, raising her eyebrows a little.“Mia and I,” I explained, my voice taking on a protective tone as I mentioned my daughter."Oh, Mia." Eleanor smiled, but it stopped short of her eyes. She is such a sweet youngster. intelligent and inquisitive. She makes me think of
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 014
"Do you think fate exists?"I was surprised by Mike's query. His profile was lit by the moon's dim glow as he leaned against the balcony railing. His tone was serious, as if the burden had been bearing down on his chest for years, rather than humorous or rhetorical.I was hesitant to respond. As I moved toward him, I said, "I don't know." "Life, in my opinion, is more about decisions than a set course of action."His blue eyes were shaded by something I couldn't quite interpret as he turned to face me. "What if I told you that everything changed for me in just one moment?"Uncertain of what he was leading to, I looked into his face. I answered quietly, "I think I believe you." "What took place?"Mike let out a long sigh, his shoulders stiff. His voice was firm yet low as he started, "It was a car accident." "Years ago. After a late-night dispute with someone I cared about very much, I was traveling back. I can no longer recall the specifics of our argument since it was so foolish. How
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 015
"Kaila, do you really think I have no idea what you're doing?"Sharp and demanding, my voice cut through the air like a razor. For only a little minute, Kaila's visage wavered before returning to her typical façade of composed control. Instead of unwinding the turmoil she had painstakingly woven into my life, she sat on the edge of the kitchen counter and swirled the glass of wine in her hand as though we were talking about the weather.She smiled coolly and replied, "Cath, darling, you'll need to be more specific." Now, what precisely am I being accused of?I stepped forward and positioned myself squarely in front of her. With my heart thumping in my chest, I declared, "I'm done playing this game." "I want to know why you've been pulling strings behind my back,"Taking a slow sip from her glass, Kaila arched an eyebrow. "Strings being pulled? You'll need to elaborate.Her pretense of innocence infuriated me. I took the folded note Eleanor had given me a few hours before out of my poc
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 016
"She makes me smile."I was as surprised by Mike's deep, reflective voice as I was by the actual words. The dish of cookies in my hand shook a little as I froze in mid-step. He was humming as he filled his paper with a rainbow of colors while he leaned against the kitchen doorway and stared toward the living room where Mia was lying on the floor with her crayons."What?" I pretended not to know, but my chest constricted with anxiety."Mia," he replied, his eyes narrowing a little as though he were seeing her from afar. "She smiles exactly like I did when I was a child."I put the plate down on the counter and mustered a laugh. "Every child smiles like that, Mike. broad and careless. That is what makes them children.His focus remained on Mia, so he took a while to reply. After a time, he said, "Cath, it's not just her smile." Her eyes, too. Also, when she's thinking deeply, she wrinkles her nose. That's what I used to do. It always made me look like a curious little fox, according to
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The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 050
"Are you certain of this?" Cath's hand shook a little as it was in mine, and her voice was quiet."Have I ever had more confidence in anything?" My gaze was fixed on hers as I asked.Although she smiled, a glimmer of uncertainty was visible on her face. "I just didn't think we'd get here after everything."I grabbed her hand more tightly and drew her in. This isn't about where we've been, Cath. It concerns our destination.The garden was drenched in amber and gold hues as the sun sank, creating the ideal atmosphere for the moment I had been waiting to give her—a genuine beginning free from fear, manipulation, or contracts. Even though it was just the two of us at the time, the little gathering of relatives and friends who had gathered around us demonstrated how far we had come.The officiant started talking, but I hardly heard him. The way Cath's eyes gleamed with unshed tears, how her breath caught when I put the ring back on her finger, and how her lips trembled into a grin that bro
The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 049
As I reached for her hand, Cath narrowed her eyes suspiciously and remarked, "You're hiding something.""Avoidance? Me? My lips formed a smile that I hoped would disarm her as I pretended to be innocent."Mike, you're awful at lying," she shot back, reclined on the park bench. Her silky waves of hair turned to liquid gold when the sunshine caressed them. Her eyebrows were raised in interest as she took a quick look at the canvas bag I had insisted on bringing.I joked, staring into her eyes for a little too long, "Perhaps I'm just full of surprises."The sound of her laughter was beautiful and light. "If that is the case, I am undoubtedly anxious."My heart was a frantic thumping inside. I had been anticipating this moment, which kept me up at night organizing every little detail. Despite this, I was afraid as I sat there next the woman who had completely changed my life for the better.I knew she loved me, so it wasn't rejection. but of not knowing how to express to her how much I lo
The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 048
Cath's voice was quiet but roiling with rage as she replied, "She thought I wouldn't find out." "Once again, she underestimated me."Her face was shadowed by the low light as I sat across from her at the kitchen table. She was holding a manila folder, the edges of which were worn from her overly firm grasp. Pages of evidence, each more damning than the last, were included within."She didn't simply undervalue you," I leaned forward and remarked. "She undervalued us both."Cath scattered the contents of the folder across the table after opening it. She continued, her voice trembling with barely controlled rage, "This is everything." "The falsehoods, the offshore accounts, the phony charities. For years, she has been defrauding her investors. You know whose name appears on half of it?I felt sick to my stomach when I looked through the papers. Kaila had exercised caution, but not enough. A few thoughtless errors—a traceable email here, a signature there—ruined her attempts to conceal he
The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 047
"You mean you knew what?"Cath's piercing, incredulous voice broke the tension. With her arms folded tightly across her chest, she stood in the center of the living room, gazing at Jemma as if she had never seen her before.Jemma's face remained unflinching, but she was unable to conceal the fact that her fingers were twisting the gold bracelet around her wrist. She calmly answered, "I didn't think it was my place to say anything.""Where do you live?" I quickly retaliated, intervening before Cath could. "Jemma, you've been interfering in our lives for months. Don't act like you've discovered boundaries all of a sudden.Jemma's eyes narrowed as her attention strayed to mine. She yelled, "I was defending this family." "With the way you've been destroying it, someone had to.""Dismantling it?" Cath's voice raised, shaky with rage. "Can you hear yourself at all? All the things Mike and I have battled for, all the obstacles we have surmounted, and you— Shaking her head incredulously, she
The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 046
"Do you believe she will ever pardon me?"The silence in the room was broken by Cath's voice, which was gentle yet heavy with a vulnerability I wasn't used to hearing from her. With her hands gripped tightly together, she sat at the edge of the bed and gazed down at the faded carpet as if it held the solution to her query.I said, leaning against the doorframe, "Mia's a kid, Cath." "Perfection is not necessary for kids. They require affection. And you've given her that every day, even during difficult times.Cath's eyes met mine as she turned her head slightly. "What if it's insufficient?"I walked over to her and firmly replied, "It will be." I knelt down in front of her and held her hands. "Me and you? We will ensure that it is.We were silent for a time. I could see the cautiousness in her eyes relax slightly as the silent hum of the city outside filled the void between us.A tiny voice then resounded along the corridor. “Mom? Mike?”Cath suddenly straightened, a look of concern re
The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 045
"You don't think I'm telling the truth?" Cath's voice was low and tremulous, yet it was piercing enough to cut through the room's silence.Her words hit me like a challenge as I looked up from the coffee mug I was holding. Her eyes, which I used to believe I understood better than my own, were filled with an inexplicable mixture of hurt, rage, and perhaps even a glimmer of hope.I put the coffee down and stated slowly, "It's not about believing you." It's about determining how to proceed. Together.Cath gave a nasty, nearly barking chuckle. "Companions? Mike, do you even understand what that means?Her accusation stung more than I anticipated. I wanted to protect myself and fire back, but I refrained. She was not mistaken."Then demonstrate for me," I responded steadily. "Cath, tell me what you need from me. I'll do it, whatever it is.The tension between us stretched like a wire ready to break as she paced the tiny living room with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "It's not t
The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 044
"Mike, why do you always flee when things get tough?"Long after Cath had bounded out of the park that day, the question continued to haunt me. I didn't have a solid response back then, and I wasn't sure I did now. A critical and merciless reflection of myself gazed back at me from the café window. The city outside shifted as though nothing had happened, as though my whole universe hadn't been upended.I swirled my coffee because it was something to do, not because I intended to drink it—it had gone cold an hour ago. Something to help me stay grounded when my thoughts were racing.In actuality, Cath was correct. When things got tough, I did run. I was afraid of the potential of something real, therefore I had fled from her, from us. I now had to consider whether it was too late to repair the damage I had caused.I had been struggling for days with the decision to see her. It was the sensible thing to do, I kept telling myself. Express regret, provide an explanation, and attempt to pre
The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 043
"Cath, you lack the courage to interrupt me. You didn't.The arrogance that only Kaila could summon echoed in my ears as she spoke. Like a villain who always thought they had already won, she stood in the doorway of my living room, composed and unflappable.I kept my arms crossed so she couldn't see the quiver rising in my chest. "Kaila, you are not allowed to make that call. No more.Her chuckle was piercing. "Really? following all that I have done for you? For this household? You believe you can simply leave?""I don’t think," I responded, taking a step forward. "I know."Her eyes narrowed as she swiftly recovered from the little moment of hesitation in her smile. What about Mia, too? To play this little game with me, are you truly willing to risk losing her?I grounded myself by taking a deep breath. It was this. I had been postponing this moment for years because I was frightened of the consequences. This time, though, Kaila had gone too far, and I wasn't going to allow her to des
The Billionaire Bride of Convenience Chapter 042
"You don’t deserve her, Cath."I froze as the words struck me like a slap. The shrill, poisonous voice of Kaila cut through the café's silence. Her elegant designer suit and flawlessly done hair contrasted sharply with the turmoil she was bringing into my life, making her a picture of deliberate control as she stood across from me.I carefully put down my coffee cup so she wouldn't see my shaking hands. "What are you talking about?"Uninvited, she slid into the seat across from me and leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Mia. You're not worthy of being her mother.My chest erupted with anger, but I made myself remain composed. "I have given Mia my everything. Everything. You're not allowed to enter here and—"She interrupted, dismissively waving a manicured palm. "Save it," she said. "You have deceived her, tricked her, and pulled her into a chaotic life. Is that really what's best for her, in your opinion?I gasped. Despite her gentle tone, Kaila's remarks had a weight that made my s
