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7. ~ X A N D E R ~
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2024-12-09 13:54:17
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The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 8. ~ R I V E R ~
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||Never. Not even for a moment, think that your life is getting better because that is exactly when it decides to play the cruelest joke on you.As we pulled into the station parking lot, Xander turned to me. "You don't have to say yes if you don't want to."I wanted to laugh in his face. He was giving me the illusion of a choice - one of his favorite business tactic - when we both knew that there was no way I could back out of this, not with my brother's future on the line."What are the terms of this... contract?" I asked, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice.Xander's expression was unreadable, but his eyes held a hint of something unpleasant. "Simple. We marry before my thirtieth birthday. You move into my penthouse. We maintain the appearance of a happy couple for two years. After that, we get a divorce, we part ways."Why did it feel like he was hiding something from me?But what other choice did I have?"If you agree to this, Sterli
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-10The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 9. ~ R I V E R ~
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||It felt weird. Walking into the station, walking into anywhere - holding hands with the dumbass named Xander King.But here we were.Holding hands like a couple.It was the most bizarre thing I had ever done in my life.I guess marrying him would take the trophy.I had had the feeling today, and I had even told Henry about it - that I would get proposed today.Except I had thought and believed that it would be Dave who proposed and I was so sure that it was exactly his plan. A plan that would never see fruit - at least for two years it wouldn't even if he was willing to wait for me. But would he be willing to wait for me? And even so, what could I possibly tell him that would make him stay.It was not like I could tell him the truth.I knew Xander King - a non-disclosure agreement would be the first thing that he would make me sign as soon as the sun came up tomorrow.I looked down at my smartwatch.Today.Today.It was past midnight already.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-11The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 10. ~ X A N D E R ~
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||Sterling... I mean, River collapsed so suddenly that I almost missed, but I still managed to steady her before she hit the ground.Her body was trembling and her eyes were glossy with unshed tears as she stared at Skylar.The young boy lunged forward at the sight of his sister collapsing, "Riv!" He yelled from the other side of the glass, loud enough for it to transmit across the glass.Riv?She had such a beautiful name - River. And he was going around calling her something as stupid as Riv.I will never understand siblings.They looked so much alike, yet worlds apart. She was a shipwreck right now but River was usually so sophisticated and put-together that it felt like a challenge to make that mask of composure of hers crack. Skylar, on the other hand, looked like a shabby teenager, a total nerd, with milk stains still on his cheeks. I knew they were orphans, but it was certain that River had coddled him all his life. It showed.Letting
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-12The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 11. ~ R I V E R ~
|||||||||||||||||||||Xander had kept his promise.Tomorrow, it was my turn to keep mine.I had spent the last few days in a daze, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions and the sudden shift in my life.And I had to navigated the situation with Sky. Deal with everything. Make sure that he was fine.Xander had rented out an apartment for him with a guardian, deeming it better than letting my brother stay at the dorms where someone had evidently screwed him over.It was a lot to process.And tomorrow, I had to go see Mathewson King.But before that, there was one thing that I needed to do. One thing that I hadn't done yet - tell Dave.I had avoided his calls and texts, but I knew that I could not keep avoiding him forever.I had to face him. I had to tell him the truth.Well, all the truth that I could tell him.Xander had given me no way out - the contract was not signed yet but as soon as the sun rose at the station last week, one of Carlson's associates had shown up with a non-d
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-13The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 12. ~ R I V E R ~
|||||||||||||||||||||"I am really not in the mood for this right now, Xander." I sighed as I followed him into his apartment.Xander had insisted that we spend some time together, get some homework done before meeting Mathewson tomorrow."You're going to have to deal with it." He said as he closed the door behind us.I glared at him. I had to remind myself that it was not like I felt in the mood to work with him at the office as well, but I still did it for the pay. This was no difference.Back then I slaved away for him forty hours a week - sometimes working overtime. Now, I was going to work for him twenty-four-seven.And what a boss he was."When are you moving in?" He asked out of nowhere. "Excuse me?" What on earth was he talking about?"Am I the only one smart enough to think that it would not be believable at all if my fiancé stayed separately from me?" He was talking to me in his most condescending tone - as if I was a petulant child who needed to be explained the tiniest bi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-14The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 13. ~ X A N D E R ~
|||||||||||||As soon as my lips touched hers, I was finished.Her sweet taste was like a hit of the most potent drug, making me crave more.Her lips were soft, and she tasted faintly of mint.For a moment, she was frozen, allowing me to explore her mouth, but then she reacted. By biting down on my tongue."Ow!" I recoiled, tasting blood.River glared up at me, her eyes sparkling with anger and defiance. "Back off, Xander!"I smirked despite the sting from her teeth. "Feisty as ever."Her cheeks were flushed and she looked ready to spit fire. "We had a deal. No intimacy!""Well, we have not signed the contract yet." I shrugged but I decided this was enough play for now. I got off of her. "And right now, you are single, I am single, anything can happen between us and there will be nothing wrong with it as long as it is consensual."I got up and walked away from the bed, leaving her to stare after me, her mouth gaping open."You're not serious." Her voice was a mix of shock and indignat
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-15The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 14. ~ R I V E R ~
|||||||||||||||||||||"I am going to puke!" I exclaimed as I walked up the stairs of the King's mansion, rubbing my chest."You will be fine!" Xander threw his arm around my waist, making me turn to shoot a glare at him."Hands off." I hissed."Public display of affection, remember?" He winked and then added, "Besides, Grandpa loves you. I am sure if he is to object to this marriage, it will be because he thinks I am not worthy of you and never the other way around."His words sent a shiver down my spine. Did Mathewson really think I was that amazing? Doesn't that mean that I will be breaking his trust in the worst possible way if the truth was ever to come out?But as we approached the grand doors, my thoughts of Dave and our break up were pushed aside, replaced with the dread of meeting Xander's grandpa again.It was easier to meet Mathewson as Xander's PA and the woman he felt was his comrade in having to deal with Xander's shenanigans. But to meet him as Xander's fiancé was unnerv
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-16The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 15. ~ R I V E R ~
|||||||||||||||||||||"What we are doing is wrong, Xandy!" I exclaimed as soon as the front door closed behind us. "Your grandfather will be heartbroken when he finds out the truth behind our marriage. This ruse!"Xander turned to me, his eyes stormy. "Would you rather see me lose everything and Skylar's future go down the drain? This is the only way!"I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "I know," I murmured. "But the weight of this lie is heavy on my conscience."Xander's expression darkened. "Is that it or does it have something to do with the so-called collateral damage you were talking about yesterday?"I was confused. "What are you talking about?" I asked, and then it clicked. "You think I am regretting my decision to break up with Dave and is hence making up excuses to get out of this marriage?"I glared at him.How could he think that about when my brother's life was on the line? I was not the kind of person to choose my happily ever after over my baby brother's fut
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17
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The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 40
“Are we really not having sex tonight?” I asked as I took off my shirt, watching her pull out probably the fiftieth pin from her hair. She turned to give me a glare before going back to the task at hand. “Xandy, I am tired. Exhausted. I would like to rest before the flight tomorrow morning.” She said. I rolled my eyes. We both knew the reason behind her refusal to have sex with me tonight. I found it illogical and hypocritical. But what I found even more ridiculous was me trying to change her mind. If she doesn't want to have sex with me, then she is missing out. What the hell am I doing coaxing her like some desperate fool?She groaned, tipping the tray of hairpins off the vanity table and onto the carpeted floor. Luckily the ceramic tray didn't break. She swore as she got off the chair, bunching her skirt up as she tried to bend down to retrieve the scattered pins. “I will get them.” I sighed as I walked over, crouching down in front of her to pick up pin by pin. She plopped
The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 39. ~ R I V E R ~
|||||“We are not going on a honeymoon.” I said as we watched the people dance. The cake had been cut, the first dance done with and we could leave whenever we wanted. But we were waiting for Mathew to finish off his conversations with the guests before we sent him off to his mansion before we left. He was against it, saying that he wanted to see us off but the man was DRUNK. He was too happy about his grandson’s wedding and his happiness made me feel like a horrible, unfeeling monster. “Honey, does that even make sense?” Xander had a sheepish grin on his face. He knew that he had fucked up and he knew that there would be repercussions if he went all alpha male on me right now. “Xandy, the last thing I need right now is to be halfway to Seychelles only to be called back to deal with the weirdest scandal out there.” I glared at him. “I get Mr. Thorne never managed to do any real damage but it is one hell of a headache when he does something.” Xander’s jaws clenched and unclenched.
The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 38. ~ R I V E R ~
|||||“How much longer do we have to stay here for?” Xander had a scowl on his face as he took a sip of his champagne. I rolled my eyes. “How does it matter?” “Well, only if we finish off the useless business here can we get to the actual and entertaining part of tonight.” His eyes twinkled deviously as he leaned closer to my ear. “You have no idea what all I have planned out for tonight.” He smirked at my narrowed eyes as he took another sip of his drink. “I am on my periods.” I blurted out. Xander choked on his champagne, making me burst out laughing. “No, you are not!” He scowled at me. “How is that possible?” “I know right?” I rolled my eyes. “How is it possible that a woman in a reproductive age group bleeds once a month?” “But your last period was less than a month ago.” He grunted. My eyes widened when he pulled out his phone and opened his calendar, where the asshole had gone and marked my freaking period!“Xandy!” I glared at him. “What?” He shrugged. “Some people w
The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 37. ~ R I V E R ~
||||||I took a deep breath to calm down my nerves. But it did no good. No good at all. "The getaway car is still available if you have had a change of heart!" Hannah sang as she handed me my bouquet of white and pink roses. I glared at her. She and Tris had been constantly reminding me of the tinted vehicle that could take me away from here and to anywhere I wanted. "Hannah, you are the maid of honor. You are supposed to help her with her nerves, not give her second thoughts." Cynthia rolled her eyes. Eleanor and she was as rational as ever. In some ways, the pairs balanced each other. And they kept me entertained with their clash in opinions. Hannah grinned back. "Oh, come on, Cynthia, where's your sense of adventure?"Eleanor swatted at her with her bouquet. "Shut up, Hannah!"Tris and Hannah rolled their eyes. If it was up to them, they would have had kidnapped me by now just for the adventure.The wedding planner, a stern-faced woman named Mrs. Thrall, cleared her throat. "Mi
The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 36. ~ X A N D E R ~
||||||I glared at Peter. He looked like he was having the time of my life as I rang River for the nth time. I was starting to get ready. What if she got cold feet and made a run for it? “Relax, brother.” He laughed at my expense as he fixed my bow. “She has gotten into the car and is on her way. Henry is driving her and he said she looked like an angel.” I grunted. I knew she looked like an angel. We had done the dress shopping together and I had made a point to be there at the final fitting so that I could show everyone in the world how attentive of a fiance I was. I was yet to see her with her hair and face done though. I could not be there because her bridesmaids had arrived by then and they would not let me sit in on the trial day. Honestly, they were such a pain in the asses. I don’t know how my very rational and reasonable fiance became friends with them. Fiance. Not for long. I looked at my watch. It was nine-thirty.The wedding ceremony began at ten. It was going to
The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 35. ~ R I V E R ~
||||||||It's weird how easily humans get used to one another. I guess it is only normal considering we are highly social and highly emotional beings. I sat up and scoffed. Sure, I was missing him. But was that the same for him? He probably would have had the night of his life with all the women he wanted if it was not for his need to keep up appearances. I rolled my eyes. He would not have been marrying me if it was not for his compulsion. This marriage. And our sexual relationship. It was a recipe for disaster and I knew it. But we had the made the bed and now we had no choice but to leave it. "Knock knock." Cynthia, one of my quieter and much more rational friends from my college circle, pushed open the bedroom door with her hip as she brought in a tray of breakfast, the aroma of pancakes and freshly brewed coffee reaching my nostrils. She grinned at me as she walked over. "Breakfast for the bride. I knew you would be up." I looked at the table clock. It was seven. The st
The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 34. ~ X A N D E R ~
|||||||“What do you mean I can’t go home tonight?” I glared at my grandfather and my best friend. “What we just said.” Grandpa rolled his eyes. “It is not good for the groom and the bride to be together the day before their wedding.” “What kind of bullshit is that?” I rolled my eyes. “We live together. What difference does one night make?” Peter smirked. “That’s what we are trying to say as well, Xandy boy. You both are practically attached at the hips. What difference does it make if you two don’t see each other for one night. Can’t go one day without sleeping with your bride?” Grandpa struck his calf with his cane, making the idiot hop around on one leg cursing. “I said sleep. As in sleep sleep. Get your head out of the gutter, old man!” He bellowed. Grandpa scoffed. “I know exactly what you meant, you little shit. Wait till Xandy settles down, my next target is you. I am going to get both of you unbroken stallions chained up.” I rolled my eyes again. My grandfather was talki
The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 33. ~ X A N D E R ~
|||||||||"Oomph!" I whipped around to glare at whoever had punched me between my shoulder blades.My grimace turned into a grin when I saw that it was none other than my good old friend, Victor Martins."Victor, my man!" I grabbed him by his shoulders.He grinned back. "Never thought I would see the day when my friend would settle down. But here we are, at his rehearsal dinner. Of course, I won't completely believe it until I see you say 'I do'."I rolled my eyes.Peter came forward to fist-bump Victor and then wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Oh no no no, this is official, my man. Xander King is whipped for real, this time."I wanted to punch him and say the same thing I have been saying for years - 'There is no settling down for Xander King.' But I suppose I could not do it at my own rehearsal dinner, with my bride at the other end of the room, looking thoroughly fucked and glowing."Honestly man, did you knock her up? Is that it?" Victor whispered.I knew I could not sell the 'cupid st
The Billionaire Playboy's Contract Wife 32. ~ R I V E R ~
||||||||"I always thought that you and Dave were endgame." I paused tying the bow for my brother. "I also thought for a moment there that you were marrying Xander because of me, because of some deal that the two of you had struck up to save my ass."I tried to remain as passive as I could. My brother, despite being a genius, had the emotional range of a caterpillar. There was no way he could call my lie. But that did not mean that I would be arrogant enough to play right into his hands."And now your notion has changed?" I asked him as I fixed his tie and stepped back, running my palms down his suit to brush out the non-existent creases. I smiled up at him, "You look so handsome, Skylar Sterling.""I would never come close to in terms of looks, Riv." He winked and his expression became somber again. "And yes, I have changed my notion."I quirked an eyebrow. "And why is that?" I asked, sounding as playful as I could with all the knots in my stomach."You look happy with him." He smile
