As Emily drifted to sleep, her mind wandered. What had she gotten herself into? A fake marriage, a luxurious mansion, life with a strange billionaire. Thoughts of her mother’s condition and her father’s rejection lingered, causing a bitter feeling to settle in the pit of her stomach.Was this really her only escape? the only choice she could’ve made? Emily’s anxiety resurfaced. What did Lucas expect from her? And of all the people he could’ve gone for as a billionaire he chose her? Emily questioned no one in particular. She was supposed to play the perfect wife, but would she be able to keep up the charade? As she slipped into a restless sleep, Emily’s dreams began to unfold. Images of; her mother’s warm smile, her father’s distant figure, the look of disgust he had on his face when he hit her to protect his perfect daughter, Sylvia. Lucas navigated the winding driveway, the mansion's grandeur unfolding before him. He pulled up to the entrance, where his valet, Spencer, waited.
This way…please, Lucas gestured. Emily followed Lucas into the dining room maintaining a slight distance between them.As they entered the dining room, Emily gasped. The polished mahogany tables and creamy white walls had intricate moldings that created an air of elegance. The floor-to-ceiling window gave a perfect view of the mansion's swimming pool, its serene waters mesmerizing. Emily’s gaze went up to the stunning crystal chandelier that hung from the ceiling, right above the table. The table was set with fine china, silverware, and a breathtaking floral arrangement. “Beautiful,” Emily thought out loud. Lucas’s lips curved upward, unknowingly, “Janet’s touch.”Staring at Emily from behind, he found her hair was still damp from the shower, and her legs slender from his shirt, what a perfect view, he thought.Emily suddenly turns abruptly, catching him staring at her, she felt a blush creep in and a sense of unease. Her brow raised as a means to question Lucas. “I’m sorry, let
Emily had slept in, having spent most of the night lost in thoughts. She woke up groggily, unwilling to get up, knowing the challenge that awaited her today. A knock on her door broke the silence.“Yes, who’s there?” Emily asked her voice husky from sleep.It’s grace, ma’am. The respondent replied.Grace? Emily whispered wondering who the person was.“I’m one of the servants ma’am, Miss Janet said to tell you breakfast is ready,” Grace explained. “Would you like it brought to your room or will you be coming down?”Emily rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “I’ll be down shortly.”“Okay ma’am,” grace said before retreating.Emily got out of bed, had her bath and wrapped herself in a towel. She wondered if Lucas had forgotten about her clothes.Just then, another knock interrupted her thoughts.“It’s Janet ma’am.” “Come in” Emily said staring at the door.Janet entered with a warm smile carrying a garment bag. “Here’s your dress, Sir Lucas arranged for these to be sent to you.”“Thanks Jane
Lucas sat at his Colecrest company in a daze. He’d been working on a contract, trying to read the terms of the contract before signing but somehow he couldn’t seem to focus.Thoughts of Emily clouded his mind, alongside the charade that had to go on at his grandmother’s house. He rose from his chair, standing at the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at nothing in particular, his eyes unfocused. Then he dialed Leo’s number.“Yes, sir?” Leo answered after one ring.“Get Jason to go over and prepare Emily for tonight’s dinner, you know grandma’s expectations, explain that to him and make it work,” Lucas instructed.“Noted sir,” Leo replied.Lucas returned to his table, his focus back on the documents he’d been working on. A knock interrupted him.Lucas responded in a cold tone, “Come in.”Sophia, his secretary, stepped in, dressed in a professional attire with a little hint of allure. Her full breasts almost popped out of the tight-fitted shirt she was wearing. Sophia’s gaze locked onto
Margaret’s mansion glows with warmth, the ambiance of the evening sophisticated yet inviting. The large dining room is set for three, the table adorned with silverware and fine china. Margaret Cole, a graceful woman in her eighties with sharp, discerning eyes, sits at the head of the table. Tonight, she’s expecting to finally have a proper dinner with her grandson and his new wife.Lucas pulls into the driveway with Emily sitting beside him, fidgeting nervously. Never in a million years did she expect that the woman she saved would turn out to be Lucas’s grandmother.As they stepped out of the car, Lucas glanced at Emily. “You ready?”Emily’s throat tightened. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”They walked to the grand entrance together, side by side. The door opened, revealing Margaret’s trusted butler, Joey, who guided them inside.Joey with a small bow “Welcome, Mr. Cole. Mrs. Cole, please follow me to the dining room.”As they entered the elegant room, Emily’s breath caught in her throa
The next morning, Emily woke up feeling particularly refreshed. She prepared a bath for herself, spending minutes in the bathtub savoring the serene moment. Afterward, she stepped into the walk-in closet and could not bring herself to pick an outfit for the day from the hundreds of clothes she was staring at.Minutes passed, and Emily opted for a simpler approach, she picked up her personal suitcase and rummaged through, settling for a knee-length romper, its comfort, and familiarity appealing. She also put her hair up in a loose ponytail.“It’s time for Janet Ma’s sumptuous breakfast,” she hummed in a sing-song tone whilst heading to the dining area. “Good morning, Janet Ma!” Emily greeted in a lively tone.Janet stared wide-eyed, amazement written all over her face, “Morning, Emily!”Emily chuckled at Janet’s reaction, noticing her stunned expression. “Is breakfast ready? Janet ma, or would you need me to assist you with anything?” Emily inquired, picking up an apron.“You don’t h
As Emily's tears subsided, she noticed a figure standing beside her.Leo's gentle but firm voice broke the silence. "Mrs. Cole?"Emily looked up, surprised."How did you...?" she began."I've been trying to reach the CEO," Leo explained. "Your mother's condition is critical. We will need to do something."Emily’s eyes became watery all over again.“I don’t know what to do, Leo, I can’t afford another surgery, and what if she doesn’t make it? Dr. Maxwell says he can’t guarantee the surgery’s success.”“So what do I do?” Emily sobbed bitterly, she couldn’t hold back her tears, her body shook violently and Leo was at a loss for what to do.Leo took several steps away from Emily and made a phone call, his expression resolute.“Hello?” Kayla’s voice came through from the other side.“Miss Kayla?” Leo confirmed.“Yes, this is Kayla. Who’s this?” She replied.“I’m Leo, Mr Lucas’s personal assistant,” Leo began.On the other side, Kayla’s lips paused in confusion. “Leo?”“Mrs. Cole is in the
A few minutes after the discussion, Dr. Maxwell nodded and left to finalize the preparations. Lucas returned back to Emily, kneeling before her."Emily, I'm going to make sure your mother gets the best care possible. She's going to be okay."Emily's tears flowed freely again, but this time, they were tears of relief. For the first time, she felt like she wasn't facing this battle alone.After the tense and emotional night at the hospital, Lucas ensured everything was in place for Emily’s mother’s transfer to the hospital in India.He had stayed by Emily’s side until her mother was safely on the private jet. When it was finally time to leave the hospital, Emily was emotionally and physically drained, her eyes red and puffy from crying, and her body slumped against Lucas for support.“Let’s get you home,” Lucas said softly, his arm securely around her waist. His usual coldness had melted away in the face of Emily’s pain, and he found himself wanting to comfort her more than ever.Emi
At the Vincent mediaMr. Vincent sat at his desk, his eyes scanning the financial reports in front of him. He had been investigating the insider finance embezzlement in his media company for weeks, and he was determined to find out who was behind it. Ryan, his trusted assistant, stood beside him, pointing out discrepancies in the accounts."I don't understand how this is happening, Ryan," Mr. Vincent said, his voice tight with frustration. "We have some of the best security measures in place, and yet someone is still managing to siphon off millions of dollars."Ryan nodded sympathetically. "I know, sir. But we're getting close to finding out who it is. I've been going over the transactions, and I think I've found a pattern."Just then, the door to Mr. Vincent's office opened, and his wife, Monica, walked in. She was stunning, with long blonde hair and a bright smile. But Mr. Vincent wasn't fooled. He knew that Monica had been acting strangely lately, and he was starting to suspect tha
As Lucas walked away, Emily couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the complexity of their relationship. She had never felt this way about anyone before, and she wasn't sure how to process her emotions. She knew that Lucas was still haunted by his past, and that he struggled with his own demons. But she also knew that he cared for her deeply, and that he would do anything to protect her.As she got ready for bed, Emily couldn't shake off the feeling that something was about to change. She felt a sense of anticipation building up inside her, a sense that the next few days would bring about a turning point in their relationship.The next morning, Emily woke up feeling refreshed and renewed. She got dressed and headed downstairs, where she found Lucas already seated in the dining room, Janet was already making breakfast. He smiled at her as she entered, and Emily felt her heart skip a beat."Good morning," he said, his voice low and husky.“Good morning,” she responded with a gentle
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Lucas's mansion, casting a warm glow over the opulent decor. Emily stirred in her bed, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness as she prepared for her first day back at fashion school. She had agreed to have bodyguards accompany her to and from school, a precaution that Lucas had insisted on after the recent threats from Lara.Meanwhile, Lucas was already up and getting ready for work. He had insisted on driving Emily to school himself, despite her protests that she could take a car service or have one of the bodyguards drive her. He wanted to make sure she was safe, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been building up inside him even after Lara's arrest.As Emily came downstairs, Lucas was waiting for her in the foyer, looking handsome and imposing in his tailored suit. He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and Emily felt her heart skip a beat."Ready to go?" he asked, gesturing with his h
Lucas sat behind his massive oak desk, his attention fixed on the stack of reports Leo had compiled about Lara’s suspicious activities. Each piece of evidence pointed closer to her involvement, but nothing was solid enough to confront the authorities. It frustrated him to no end. The intercom on his desk buzzed. “Mr. Cole,” his assistant’s voice came through, hesitant. “Mrs. Lara Jones is here to see you.” Lucas’s jaw tightened. “Send her in.” The doors to his office swung open, and in walked Lara, her every step calculated, her red dress clinging to her figure like a second skin. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who believed she still had power over him. “Lucas,” she purred, her voice dripping with faux innocence as she closed the door behind her. “You look as handsome as ever.” He didn’t rise to greet her. Instead, his piercing gaze stayed locked on her, cold and unyielding. “What do you want, Lara?” She moved closer, leaning on the edge of his desk, he
The tension in the air was palpable as Lucas sat at the head of the dining table that evening, his mind preoccupied with Leo's revelation about Lara. He had always known she was manipulative, but if she was involved in Emily's poisoning, she had crossed a line he could never forgive. Emily sat opposite him, her delicate fingers tracing patterns on the edge of her glass. She could sense Lucas’s distraction, his usual warmth replaced by a cold, distant aura. Though she wanted to ask what was bothering him, she hesitated. He had always been guarded about certain aspects of his life, and tonight seemed no different. “Lucas,” she finally said, her voice soft but steady. “Are you okay? You’ve been quiet all evening.” His gaze snapped to hers, softening immediately. “I’m fine, Emily,” he said, though his voice lacked conviction. “Just work.” Emily frowned but didn’t press further. She knew Lucas well enough to understand when he didn’t want to talk. Still, the growing wall between th
At a luxurious mansion in the heart of the city, Lara Smith, a stunning young woman with long, curly brown hair and piercing green eyes, sat on a plush velvet couch, staring intently at a photo in her hand. Her flawless olive skin seemed to glow in the soft light of the room, and her full lips were pursed in a mixture of anger and jealousy. She was dressed in an elegant white gown that accentuated her slender figure, and her delicate fingers were adorned with sparkling diamonds.As she gazed at the photo, her eyes narrowed, and a glint of resentment flashed in their depths. The woman in the photo was Emily, and Lara couldn't help but feel inferior to her breathtaking beauty. Emily's skin was radiant with a subtle sheen that seemed almost otherworldly. Her face was a perfect oval, with high cheekbones and a small, pointed button nose. Her eyes were a deep, shining black, fringed with thick lashes that seemed to sparkle with innocence.Lara's gaze lingered on Emily's face, and she fe
As the days passed, Emily settled into a comfortable routine at the mansion, somewhere she now comfortably called home. She spent her mornings resting and reading, while Lucas worked from home or attended to his business obligations. Janet Ma continued to spoil her with delicious meals, saying she was too thin and needed to eat more to look stronger.Grandma Margaret on the other hand visited regularly, sharing stories and laughter. Their relationship was growing stronger each day and Emily found herself getting attached to Lucas’s grandmother’s company that she worried what would happen if she and Lucas were no longer together.Despite the warmth and comfort of her surroundings, Emily couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty about her future. She knew that her contract with Lucas was temporary, it was already coming to an end and the thought of leaving him and his family was becoming increasingly difficult to bear.She would watch Lucas smile at her each day, his gaze soft, his
The days after Emily’s release from the ICU passed in a delicate balance of healing and avoidance. Lucas rarely left her side, taking his laptop and work calls in her hospital room while she rested. He ensured her meals were delivered on time, adjusted her pillows when she seemed uncomfortable, and held her hand whenever her gaze seemed distant. But between the shared silences and fleeting smiles, there was a weight neither dared to fully address—the contract, and the looming end of their arrangement. One evening, as the hospital lights dimmed and the quiet hum of machines filled the room, Emily broke the silence. "Lucas," she said softly, her voice tinged with hesitation. He looked up from his laptop, setting it aside immediately. "What is it?" She took a deep breath, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of the blanket. "I’ve been thinking... about what happens after I leave here." Lucas’s jaw tightened imperceptibly, but he kept his expression neutral. "You’ll go home,
CHAPTER 47 The phone call he had received earlier echoed in his thoughts: “Lucas Cole, you’ll never win.”The voice had been distorted, impossible to trace, but the words clung to him like a shadow. He shook his head, forcing himself to focus. This wasn’t the time to let his mind spiral. Emily needed him, and he had a business to run. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, the call lingered. Was it connected to Lara? To Jane? To someone else entirely? He shook his head and exhaled sharply. He couldn’t let this phone call consume him. Emily needed him now, and so did his business. With Jane in custody and Leo hunting Lara down, there was no room for distractions. He slipped his phone into his pocket, forcing his mind back to the present. For the next few hours, Lucas busied himself with work. He made calls to ensure his companies were running smoothly despite his absence. But even while immersed in reports and meetings, his mind kept wandering back to Emily. Finally, the wait was