Alexis, the sheltered daughter of a wealthy family, is engaged to Ryan, a charming but untrustworthy man. Her world shatters when an anonymous message leads her to discover Ryan’s affair with her best friend, Sophia. Torn and betrayed, Julian, a rival from another influential family, offers a lifeline, an unexpected proposal for a contract marriage.
view moreJulian didn’t respond immediately.Her words lingered in the air, challenging him in a way he hadn’t expected.Was he putting Alexis first?Or was he still driven by the ghosts of his past?For now, he pushed those thoughts aside. Protecting Alexis was his priority, everything else could wait.Evelyn rose from her chair, smoothing her skirt. "I’ll hold you to your word, Julian," she said, her tone formal but not unkind.He stood as well, offering a small nod. "You have my word."As he left the Montgomery residence, Julian felt a strange mix of emotions.Evelyn’s cautious approval was unexpected, but it only reinforced the weight of his responsibility. He couldn’t afford to falter, not now, not ever.Driving away, his mind was already racing with thoughts of his next move.Sophia and Ryan had crossed a line, and if protecting Alexis meant confronting his own conflicted feelings, then so be it.His focus was clear, uncover the truth, protect his wife, and ensure no one, especially the M
“Julian,” she finally said, her voice trembling slightly.He crossed the room in a few strides, pulling a chair close to sit in front of her. “I'm here.”Alexis looked down at her hands, her fingers twisting together nervously. “I didn’t push her, Julian. I swear I didn’t. She tripped, and I tried to catch her, but...” Her voice broke, and she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what I say. No one’s going to believe me.”Julian reached out, taking her hands in his. “It matters to me,” he said firmly. “And I believe you.”Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. “It’s a circus out there. Reporters are camped outside the gates, and social media is tearing me apart. My father is furious, my mother is worried, and I don’t know what to do.”“You’re not alone in this, Alexis,” Julian said, his tone gentle but resolute. “We’ll figure it out. I’ll make sure the truth comes out.”Alexis pulled her hands away, standing abruptly and walking to the other side of the room. “What
The hotel lobby had been bustling with late night travelers, but she had barely noticed them, her vision blurred by tears of anger and humiliation.Her feet had carried her to a nearby bar, one she had frequented before with her friends. The music had been loud, the lights dim, and the crowd rowdy. It was the perfect place to drown her frustration.That night, she hadn’t been alone for long. Two of her male friends, Lila and Ethan, had been there, already a few drinks in. They had waved her over, their faces lighting up when they saw her.“Sophia!” Lila had exclaimed, sliding a drink her way. “What’s a queen like you doing here alone?”She had smiled weakly, taking the drink and downing it in one go. “Just needed to get out. Ryan’s being... Ryan.”Lila and Ethan had exchanged knowing looks. They had never liked Ryan, always quick to point out his flaws whenever Sophia vented about him.“You deserve better,” Ethan had said, his tone serious despite the playful smirk on his lips. “Why d
The doctor looked between the two of them and then spoke calmly but firmly. “Miss Sophia, you’re pregnant. About eight weeks along, based on the results of your blood work.”The room fell silent, the words hanging heavily in the air. Sophia’s eyes widened in shock, her lips parting as if to say something, but no sound came out.Ryan’s expression shifted from confusion to disbelief. “Pregnant?” he echoed, his voice low and strained.Sophia finally managed to find her voice, though it was barely above a whisper. “That’s... that’s impossible. I mean... I...”The doctor raised a hand gently. “I understand this might be unexpected, but I recommend you start prenatal care as soon as possible. Rest is crucial, especially after today’s incident. I’ll give you some referrals for an OB GYN to follow up with.”He placed a pamphlet on the bedside table and left the room, leaving Ryan and Sophia to process the bombshell in stunned silence.Ryan ran a hand through his hair, pacing again. “Pregnant,
One thing was clear, Julian couldn’t let this slide.His mother and Ryan had crossed a line, and he wouldn’t stand by and let them hurt Alexis any further.The cafeteria buzzed with quiet conversations as Alexis sat at a corner table, her hands gripping the edge of her coffee cup.She had chosen the place carefully, a quaint café tucked away from the busy streets, offering a semblance of privacy.Her heart pounded as she waited for Sophia, the weight of the earlier meeting and the mounting suspicions gnawing at her.The bell above the door jingled, and Alexis looked up to see Sophia entering. Her expression was guarded, and her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she approached the table.“You wanted to meet?” Sophia said curtly, sliding into the chair opposite Alexis.Alexis didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Thank you for coming. I wanted to talk about the logs.”Sophia arched a brow, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I already told you, I didn’t do anything. If this is
Alexis gestured for Ethan to sit, her focus sharpening.Ethan placed his laptop on the desk and opened a detailed report. “We’ve been combing through the access logs for the design server. So far, there’s no evidence of an external breach, which strongly suggests this was an internal issue.”Alexis frowned, leaning over the screen. “So, someone from the company leaked the manuscript?”Ethan nodded grimly. “It’s looking that way. Only a select group had access to this particular design file, yourself, the head designers, and a few key members of the marketing team. We’ve narrowed down the list of activity during the suspected timeframe.”He tapped a few keys, bringing up a chart. “Here are the access records from the last 48 hours. You’ll see that most logins were routine, except for one unusual activity early yesterday morning.”Alexis’s eyes scanned the chart, her pulse quickening when she noticed the flagged entry. “Whose login is this?”Ethan hesitated before replying. “Sophia’s.”
Outside the conference room, the office buzzed with activity as teams scrambled to address the crisis.Alexis pulled out her phone and hesitated for a moment before texting Julian, “Things are worse than I thought. It’s going to take a while. I’ll keep you updated.”Sliding the phone back into her pocket, she took a deep breath and strode toward the IT department, ready to face the storm head on.Alexis spotted Sophia lingering near the hallway that led to the design department.Her polished appearance, perfectly styled hair and her sharp red blazer, was as impeccable as always, but there was something about her posture that felt uneasy.Taking a deep breath, Alexis decided now was as good a time as any to address the elephant in the room.“Sophia,” Alexis called out, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor as she approached.Sophia turned, her expression guarded but polite. “Yes?”Alexis motioned toward a quieter corner, away from the prying eyes of other employees around.
While waiting for Victoria’s update, Julian moved to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee, his mind replaying the events that had led him to this moment.Back then, his hatred for the Montgomerys had consumed him. Harrison Montgomery’s ruthless business tactics had driven the Devereux family company to the brink of bankruptcy. It was his mother’s connections that had saved them, but the scars of that time had never truly healed.Julian had vowed to make the Montgomerys pay, and Alexis had seemed like the perfect entry point.But now, as he stood in his kitchen sipping coffee, Julian felt a pang of guilt.Somewhere along the way, the line between vengeance and something deeper had blurred. He didn’t just enjoy Alexis’s company, he needed it.His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was Victoria.“Sir, there’s a situation at the Montgomery Group. It appears a confidential design manuscript for their upcoming collection has been leaked online. It’s causing quite a st
That day had been the turning point.Seeing Alexis in person had reignited his resolve for vengeance. But this time, he didn’t just want to destroy the Montgomery name, he wanted to unravel them from the inside.He had his men begin keeping tabs on Alexis, tracking her every move.It wasn’t difficult, her socialite status meant she was often in the public eye.Photos from charity galas, business events, and vacations poured in. But the more he watched, the more he realized that Alexis wasn’t quite what he expected.She wasn’t just a pampered heiress living off her father’s fortune. She was hardworking, driven, and surprisingly kind to those around her. It was… disarming.Still, he reminded himself that this was all part of the plan.She was just a means to an end.When news of Ryan Pierce’s affair with Sophia reached him, Julian saw his opportunity. It was all too easy to have the evidence sent anonymously to Alexis.He remembered how calculated and cold he had been in those moments,
The world was exactly as it should be for Alexis Montgomery. At twenty five, she seemed to have it all, an enviable life wrapped in layers of wealth and luxury, one that sparkled with an untouchable gloss of privilege.Alexis, the only daughter of Henry Montgomery, was born into a legacy of riches and influence. Her father, a magnate in the real estate business, had built an empire that stretched across continents, and with it, a life for Alexis that most could only dream of.Her days were filled with the ease of someone who had never had to worry about where the next dollar would come from or how she would pay for anything.The mansion she lived in, nestled in the most exclusive neighborhood of the city, had been her playground since childhood.The sprawling gardens were perfectly manicured year round, and inside the house, rooms were filled with priceless art and antique furniture from across the globe.She had grown up surrounded by elegance, crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains, m...
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