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19 - Genuine Happiness
Last Updated:
2025-04-08 18:22:35
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The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 20 - Revelation
Damien considered this, his brow furrowing slightly. "The estate belonged to my grandparents. My mother grew up here. After my grandfather died, the property fell into disrepair. I purchased it when my business first became successful, restored it for her."The revelation of this sentimental gesture from a man who presented himself as coldly pragmatic caught me off guard. "That's... incredibly thoughtful."He shrugged, dismissing the observation. "It was a sound investment."But I wasn't fooled. This massive estate, maintained at what must be astronomical expense, wasn't about investment returns. It was about preserving something meaningful for his mother.We reached the terrace where we'd started, and Damien checked his watch. "I have a video conference in twenty minutes. Rosa will show you to breakfast if you're hungry.""Thank you for walking with me."I said, realizing I'd actually enjoyed his company.He nodded, his expression returning to its usual composed mask. "I'll see you a
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 21 - Among the Mediocre
Damien's expression changed subtly. "You didn't know."It wasn't a question, but I answered anyway. "No. My father lost everything gambling, then killed himself. There was nothing left except his life insurance, which barely covered funeral expenses and helping me finish school."Damien opened a drawer, removing a file which he placed before me. "Your mother established a trust before her death. Your father was trustee until you turned twenty one, at which point control would transfer to you."I stared at the file, afraid to open it. "That's impossible. If such a trust existed, I would have known.""Not if your stepmother deliberately kept it from you," Damien countered. "When your father died, she became trustee. The funds were intended for your education and establishing your independence after college. Instead, she's been systematically depleting it through 'management fees' and questionable investments."With trembling fingers, I opened the file. Inside were financial statements,
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 22 - Distraction
DAMIEN~I stood on the second floor balcony, coffee cooling in my hand as I watched her through the morning mistAngel had found her way to the eastern garden, where the landscaping transitioned from formal arrangements to more natural plantings. She'd settled on a stone bench beneath the oak my mother had insisted on preserving when we renovated the grounds, her sketchbook balanced on her knees, pencil moving with confident strokes.She was talented. I'd known this instinctively upon seeing her callused fingers, but observing her work confirmed it. Even from this distance, I could see how her body language changed when she drew, her usual hesitancy replaced by purpose, her movements fluid and decisive.I hadn't meant to watch her for so long. Three urgent emails awaited responses, the Tokyo market had fluctuated unexpectedly overnight, and Marco was due to report on the Sinclair investigation within the hour. Yet I remained, coffee forgotten, studying the woman who had unwittingly
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 23 - Anger
I was still considering these complexities when movement in the garden caught my eye. Angel had packed up her sketching materials and was heading back toward the house. I watched her walking the stone path, her movements graceful despite her obvious distraction. She paused occasionally to examine a flower or architectural detail, curiosity evident even from this distance."Spying on your fake fiancée, Mr. Salvatore?"The voice startled me, a rare occurrence. I turned to find Isabella standing in the doorway to the balcony, arms crossed, expression knowing beyond her years."Observation isn't spying, Isabella," I corrected, my tone deliberately neutral.She rolled her eyes with the dramatics only a pre-teen could muster. "Sure looks like spying from where I'm standing."I raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are you doing in this wing of the house? Your grandmother mentioned a science project requiring your attention.""Finished it." she declared proudly. "Volcano. Very original.""Imp
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 24 - Threatening
I exited through the front entrance and made my way down the long drive to the security gate where Sinclair's BMW was parked. He stood arguing with the security guard, his gestures animated and increasingly aggressive."That's my wife in there!!!" I heard him shout as I approached. "You can't keep me from seeing her!""Ex wife." I corrected coldly, making my presence known. "Or soon to be. I understand the divorce papers have been filed. By you."Sinclair turned, his expression shifting from anger to calculated charm with practiced ease. "Mr. Salvatore, I presume? I just want to talk to Angel. Clear up some misunderstandings."I studied him with clinical detachment. He was conventionally attractive in an unremarkable way—medium height, decent physique, the kind of generic good looks that belonged in mid-range men's fashion catalogs. Nothing about him explained the devotion Angel had given him."There are no misunderstandings to clear up," I replied evenly. "You made your position abun
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 25 - What Event?
ANGELINA~I woke the next morning with my mind still spinning from yesterday's revelations. The trust fund my mother had established. George's public smear campaign. Damien's unexpected intervention. And finally, my first riding lesson, which had left my thighs aching in places I didn't know could ache.Damien had been surprisingly patient during our lesson, his usual coldness softening into something almost gentle as he taught me the basics. His hands had been firm but careful when helping me mount, his voice steady and encouraging when I'd nervously taken the reins. It was a side of him I hadn't expected, competent without being condescending, attentive without being intrusive.A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts."Come in!" I called, expecting Rosa with breakfast.Instead, Marco entered holding a sleek tablet. He looked as immaculate as always in a tailored charcoal suit, not a hair out of place despite the early hour."Good morning, Miss Winters," he said formally.
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 26 - Photographers
After he left, I tried to calm my racing thoughts with sketching. The familiar rhythm of pencil on paper usually centered me, but today my hand kept shaking, ruining the lines. Three hundred people. Three hundred wealthy, sophisticated people who would be judging me, analyzing my every word and gesture, looking for proof that I didn't belong in Damien's world.They'd be right, of course. I didn't belong. This was all pretense, an elaborately staged play for Sophia's benefit. Yet the thought of embarrassing Damien, of failing to maintain our charade convincingly, made my stomach knot with anxiety.By the time Natasha arrived with her assistants, I'd worked myself into a state of barely contained panic."What is this?" she demanded, pointing to my face. "Puffy eyes? Blotchy complexion? This is disaster before we even begin!"For the next three hours, I surrendered to her ministrations, facial masks, hair treatments, manicure, pedicure, makeup application so detailed it felt like paint
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 27 - Worthy Of
"There are photographers," I said, panic rising. "....you didn't mention photographers." "An oversight," Damien admitted. "The foundation uses the images for promotional materials. We can avoid them if you prefer." I took a deep breath, remembering why we were doing this. For Sophia. For the charade. "No, it's fine. I was just surprised." Damien reached over, taking my hand in his. His touch was steadying, his grip firm without being restrictive. "Remember," he said quietly, "these people have no power over you unless you give it to them." With those words of unexpected wisdom, he nodded to the driver, who opened the door. Damien stepped out first, then turned to offer me his hand. The cameras immediately began flashing as I emerged, momentarily blinding me. Damien's arm went around my waist, his body slightly angled to shield me from the worst of the photographers' attention. He guided me forward with practiced ease, nodding acknowledgments to the press without stopping f
Last Updated : 2025-04-08
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The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 39 - Painting Again
ANGELINA ~ The gallery had become my sanctuary over the past few weeks - the one place where I could exist as simply Angel, not Damien Salvatore's fiancée. I loved, loved losing myself for hours arranging exhibits, researching artists, and occasionally sketching during quiet moments. Today, I was cataloging a new shipment of sculptures when Elena's excited voice broke my concentration. "Angel! You won't believe who just walked in," she said, practically bouncing with excitement. I looked up from my inventory list to see her barely contained enthusiasm. Despite learning of her betrayal the previous day, I'd forced myself to act normal around her, following Damien's advice to 'keep your enemies closer.' The words still tasted bitter in my mouth each time I smiled at her, but perhaps it was my fault for asking Damien to help her get a job here, after she'd claimed that she'd been fired. "Who?" I asked, feigning interest. "Richard Knight," she whispered dramatically.
The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 38 - A Weakness
She startled, turning to find me watching her. A blush immediately colored her cheeks — the first acknowledgment of last night. "Damien," she said, setting down the brush without having touched the canvas. "I didn't hear you." "Clearly." I entered the room, noting the organized chaos of her supplies, brushes meticulously arranged by size, paints grouped by color family, palette scraped clean in preparation. "You've been here a while." "Just... thinking," she admitted. "About painting? ...Or about last night?" Her blush deepened, but she met my eyes directly. "Both." I appreciated her honesty. It was refreshing after years of dealing with people who calculated every word for maximum advantage. "Regrets?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral. She considered the question, her head tilting slightly. "No" she said finally. "Do you?" "No." The simple exchange cleared some of the tension between us. Angel relaxed visibly, setting aside the brush she'd been clutching like a lifeline. "
The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 37 - Bit Less Grumpy
That, at least, didn't surprise me. What did surprise me was the twist of satisfaction I felt knowing George had betrayed Angel even earlier than she realized. "Keep monitoring the situation," I instructed. "Especially any further contact between Sinclair and Luciano's people. And increase security around Angel, discreetly. If she asks, tell her it's standard procedure." "Of course." Marco hesitated, something unusual for him. "There's a personal matter I feel I should mention." I raised an eyebrow, waiting. "Ms Winters spent the night in your quarters," he said carefully. It wasn't a question, but I answered anyway. "Yes." "That... changes the parameters of your arrangement..?" Leave it to Marco to cut straight to the heart of the issue. "I'm aware." He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I've known you a long time, Damien. Long enough to recognize when you're...invested." "Your point?" I asked, my tone cooling. "Just that Ms. Winters isn't like your usua
The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 36 - Deliberately Sabotaged
I woke before dawn, my body immediately alert to the unfamiliar weight against my chest. Angel slept soundly, her breathing deep and even, one hand curled beneath her chin, the other resting over my heart. Her hair spilled across my pillow, a chaotic tangle of gold in the dim light filtering through the curtains.Last night had crossed a line I'd carefully drawn when proposing our arrangement. Physical intimacy without emotional entanglement — that had been my intention. Yet I'd stopped before taking what she'd clearly been willing to give, because something about Angel Winters made me want to be... better. More careful. More considerate than I had any right or reason to be.Fuck.I eased away from her, careful not to wake her as I slipped from the bed. She stirred, making a small sound of protest before burrowing deeper into the warmth I'd left behind. I stood watching her for a moment, struck by how young she looked in sleep, how vulnerable.The power had come back sometime duri
The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 35 - About You
"May I touch you here?" he asked, fingers dipping just beneath the elastic. "Yes," I breathed. "Please yes." His hand slipped inside both shorts and underwear, finding me already embarrassingly wet. He groaned against my breast when his fingers encountered the evidence of my arousal. "So wet for me," he murmured, circling my entrance teasingly before moving up to find the bundle of nerves that made me cry out when he touched it. "Oh god..." I whimpered as he began stroking in slow, deliberate circles. "No," he corrected, his voice a dark — almost teasing caress. "Just me." He continued his merciless attention to my body — mouth on my breasts, fingers between my legs, building a pressure that threatened to consume me. Just when I thought I couldn't take anymore, he withdrew his hand, making me whimper at the loss. "Patience," he said, pressing a kiss to my sternum. "I want to taste you." The words sent a flood of new arousal through me. I'd never experienced that before, Georg
The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 34 - What Else?
That single plea seemed to break something in him. He kissed me again, harder, deeper, his body pressing mine against the wall. I felt the evidence of his arousal against my stomach, hard and insistent through the thin fabric of his pajama pants.His mouth left mine to trace a burning path down my neck, teeth scraping lightly over my pulse point. I arched into him, fingers tangling in his hair to hold him there. When he reached the junction of my neck and shoulder, he bit down gently, then soothed the sting with his tongue."Oh..!" I gasped, unprepared for the jolt of pleasure the action sent straight to my core.He pulled back slightly, eyes dark with desire but still watchful. "Too much?""Not enough," I answered truthfully.Something like a growl rumbled in his chest. His hands moved to the tie of my robe, pausing there. "May I ?"I nodded, unable to find my voice as he untied the sash and pushed the silk from my shoulders. It fell to the floor in a whisper of fabric, leaving me
The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 33 - Nerves
I'd never been to his bedroom before. Our charade didn't extend to sharing living quarters, though Rosa and the staff assumed we sometimes did. I paused outside what I believed to be his door, suddenly uncertain. What was I doing? This wasn't part of our arrangement. This was crossing a line into territory neither of us had defined.Before I could retreat, lightning struck again, followed immediately by a deafening crack of thunder that made me gasp. My hand acted of its own accord, knocking on the solid wood door.Silence. Then the soft sound of footsteps.The door opened to reveal Damien in black pajama pants and nothing else. His hair was tousled, his chest bare in the dim light spilling from his room. He looked softer somehow, less impenetrable without his usual armor of tailored clothing."Angel?" His voice was rough with sleep. "What's wrong?""I — " Another crash of thunder made me flinch. "I'm sorry. The storm... I couldn't sleep."Understanding dawned in his eyes. He stepped
The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 32 - Officially
The day my divorce was finalized, the sky broke open.I'd spent the afternoon in a downtown law office, signing papers that officially ended my three month marriage to George. My lawyer, provided by Damien, of course, had handled everything efficiently, keeping George and his new attorney, a sharp featured woman named Claire, at the opposite end of the conference table. George had tried repeatedly to catch my eye, his expression cycling between wounded puppy and calculated charm. I kept my gaze firmly on the documents before me."Ms. Winters, if you'll sign here," my lawyer directed, pointing to yet another line requiring my signature. "And here. This formally dissolves your marriage and confirms the settlement terms."George had fought the divorce bitterly once he realized I wasn't coming back. He'd suddenly discovered a passionate attachment to our marriage vows, conveniently forgetting he'd been the one to file first. Only after weeks of legal maneuvering had he reluctantly agreed
The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée 31 - Naivety
The walk back to the house felt like marching to my own execution. My anger at Damien had been tempered somewhat by the unexpected discovery of his hidden artistic side, but I was still determined to confront him about hiding George's visit.I found him in his study, jacket off and sleeves rolled up as he reviewed documents at his desk. He looked up when I entered, his expression guarded."Marco said you wanted to see me." I began.Damien set his papers aside. "George sent flowers.""He did," I confirmed. "With a note claiming we're soulmates."A muscle twitched in Damien's jaw. "An interesting perspective from a man who threw you out and filed for divorce.""What's more interesting is that you knew he came here two days ago and didn't tell me," I countered, unwilling to be diverted.Damien didn't attempt to deny it. "I handled the situation. There was no need to upset you.""That wasn't your decision to make," I said, my voice rising slightly. "George is MY problem, not yours!""You
