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CHAPTER 3

ผู้เขียน: Bamdel
last update ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2024-12-10 21:06:00

The penthouse feels too big for me. Its elegant, of course, every inch of it designed with a kind of perfection that makes me feel like Im living inside a museum. The floors gleam underfoot, the walls adorned with modern art pieces that scream wealth. The view from the floor-to-roof windows is confounding — a general scene of New Yorks skyline that feels as far off as all the other things in this world.

I step into the living room, my heels clicking against the cool marble floors, however the sound appears to be suppressed here, consumed by the huge space around me. Alexander is now sitting on the lounge chair, a glass of whiskey in hand , the cool amber liquid getting the light. He doesnt even look at me when I enter.

Make yourself comfortable,he says, his voice smooth but detached. It’s as if he’s speaking to a guest, not a wife.

I nod awkwardly, uncertain where to start. The quiet stretches between us, thick and choking.

He hasn't spoken much since we left the wedding. In fact, he hasn't spoken much at all since the ceremony. The only time I've heard his voice was when he promised to take care of everything after our vows were said and done.

He looks at me then, his gaze sharp, assessing. I meet his eyes for a moment, but quickly glance away, feeling exposed. It's almost like I'm being evaluated. Tested. As if my every move is scrutinized.

I'll... I'll change into something more comfortable,I say, the words awkward in the stillness of the room.

Do what you need to,Alexander replies, his tone indifferent.

I turn and stroll towards the room, the heaviness of his indifference squeezing against my chest. The room feels like it could gulp down me, and the silence is a steady update that this is my life now. A daily existence I didnt request.

The bedroom is pretty much as cold and clean as the rest of the penthouse, the bed excessively large for one individual, not to mention two. I put my purse down on the end table and stroll into walk-in closet, picking the main thing I see — a simple,oversized sweater and some leggings. The garments feel like a relief. Not a big deal. Just comfortable.

But, even as I change, I cannot shake the inclination that everything in this apartment, in my life presently, is only a deception. I don't belong here, and I'm not certain I, at any point will.

When I emerge, Alexander is standing at the window again, his back to me. I'm still not used to the silence between us. It's suffocating. I wish I knew what to say to break it, however every endeavor appears to be vain. What do you share with a man who doesn't care about you? To a man who clarifies that this marriage is an arrangement, not a real relationship?

I sit down on the lounge chair, my hands curving in my lap. I dont know why I'm actually attempting to figure him out. I don't know why it matters. He's not here to make me feel comfortable. He's not here to help me understand what this marriage means, or how its supposed to work.

I thought... I thought maybe we could talk,I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

He doesn't turn around, but his voice comes, cold and sharp, from the darkness. Talk about what?

I bite my lip, unsure of what to say. I hadn't really thought this through. About... about us. About this. What exactly did I sign up for?

For a moment, the silence stretches again, heavy and thick. Alexander doesn't seem to move. And for a second, I wonder if he even heard me.

You signed up for a marriage,he says, his tone even, almost too calm. A contract. And thats all it is.

I flinch at his words, the finality in them stinging more than I'd care to admit. A contract?I repeat, my voice barely a whisper.

That's what it is,he says, his voice low and emotionless. Don't fool yourself into thinking its anything more.

I feel the heaviness of his words, the coldness in them sinking profound into me. Briefly, I dont know what to say. I simply stay there, gazing at him, at the one who guaranteed me nothing but obligation.

My chest tightens. I want to scream, to shout at him, to tell him I'm more than this. But whats the point? He already made it clear.

My breath catches as the doorbell rings, breaking the tension in the room. It's an odd intrusion, but I'm grateful for the distraction.

Alexander doesn't move, doesn't seem startled by it. Instead, he takes another sip of his whiskey, as if hes waiting for me to do something.

Are you going to get that?I ask, not even sure why I speak.

He doesn't respond to me at first, however after a long pause, he stands, at last moving toward the door. I stay there, uncertain of what to do, of what's going to occur next. The quietness that had settled over us is presently thick with expectation, and I'm left to wonder what sort of man I've wedded.

When Alexander opens the door, a tall, stern-faced man steps inside, holding a file. His expression is unreadable, and as soon as he enters, his gaze flickers toward me, then immediately back to Alexander. He doesnt acknowledge my presence, which suits me just fine.

Whats this?Alexander asks, his tone professional but still cold.

Just an update on the deal,the man says, his voice low. He hands the file over, but Alexander doesn't take it right away. His eyes flicker to me briefly.

Take care of it,Alexander says, his words clipped.

The man nods and leaves without another word. I'm left sitting there, the weight of the situation crushing me.

I'm sorry,I say suddenly, surprising myself. I dont know what I expected. I just thought... I dont know what I thought.

Alexanders expression softens for a moment, but it's gone in a flash. He puts the file down and turns to face me.

You thought this would be a fairy tale?he asks, his voice hardening again. You've been living in a dream.

Time to awaken.

The words hit me harder than I expected, and I feel something break inside me.

Theres no warmth in him. Theres no softness, no reassurance. Only cold and hard reality.

But then, just before I can say anything, he speaks again. His voice is quieter this time, a little softer, but still distant.

You'll have to get used to it, Leila. This is your life now.

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat growing larger. I want to shout. I want to scream at him, tell him this isnt fair, that Im not a doll for him to manipulate. But I dont I stay there, quiet, watching him turn away again , his back to me as he strolls toward the window.

What's more,just like that, the door to my new life closes.

The reality of it all—the isolation, the coldness, the absence of everything I thought I might find—settles over me, heavier than anything I've ever experienced.

My chest tightens as I realize there is no escaping it now. This is my reality. And I dont know if I'll ever be able to survive it.

Just as I'm about to leave the couch, the phone on the side table rings. I hesitate, unsure if I should answer. But before I can make a decision, Alexanders voice calls out from across the room.

"Leila, answer that."

I freeze. The tension in the air is thick, and a sick feeling twists in my stomach. What now? Whos calling at this hour? And what does Alexander know that I dont?

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  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    CHAPTER 4

    The days blur into each other in the penthouse. Morning fades into afternoon, and evening brings nothing but silence. The silence has become a constant companion—thick, heavy, and inescapable. It fills each edge of this vast, generic space, repeating stronger than any words Alexander and I have exchanged since our wedding night. I sit by the window in the lounge, my knees tucked underneath me, some tea developing cold in my hands. Outside, the city hums with life, the roads underneath overflowing with individuals who have places to go, lives to live. I envy them. They’re moving forward while I feel stuck—stuck in a marriage that feels more like a transaction, in a life that doesn’t feel like mine. Alexander has been gone most of the day. Not that it's uncommon. He leaves promptly in the morning, his suit impeccably tailored, his expression is quite unreadable, and doesn't return until well after dinner. Sometimes he calls. Sometimes he doesn’t. But when he does come back, the sil

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-10
  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    CHAPTER 5

    The evening feels different from the others. There's an unpretentious change in the air, a slight pressure that I can't exactly put. It's like something is going to occur — something that could either break us apart or unite us. I sit in the lounge area, tinkering with my fork, not really tasting the food before me. I've never been a lot of an eater, however this evening, the food feels particularly unappealing. The lavish dishes Alexander ordered are all fine dining, too rich and elaborate for my simple tastes. The flavors are too bold, too fancy, and I find myself pushing the food around on my plate, lost in thought. Across from me, Alexander is focused on his phone, eyes flicking from the screen to his glass of wine. He doesn’t look up at me. The distance between us is as it always has been—an unspoken wall that neither of us has bothered to address. But then, something shifts. Just a flicker, a small moment, but it’s enough to make my heart skip a beat. “Leila,” he says sud

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-10
  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    CHAPTER 6

    The world I’ve entered feels like an entirely different realm—a futuristic terrain of gleaming glass and steel illuminated by artificial lights. Every detail of Alexander’s life radiates a level of perfection that feels beyond my understanding, let alone my ability to replicate.It’s a world where people wear confidence like armor, where wealth is the only language spoken, and where the air feels thinner, sharper, as though it’s been conditioned for someone stronger than me.Tonight is the first of many events Alexander has insisted I attend with him. A charity gala. A routine part of his life, but for me, it feels like a performance I wasn’t trained for. My gown clings too tightly to my frame, the shoes pinch my feet, and every smile I offer feels like it’s held together with invisible threads that might snap at any moment.“Relax,” Alexander says beside me as we step into the grand ballroom. His voice is low, smooth, but there’s no warmth in it. It’s a command not reassurance.“I’m

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-12
  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    CHAPTER 7

    The morning light is simply starting to channel through the blinds of our penthouse, creating long shaded areas across the cleaned floors. The city outside murmurs with life, the usual chaos of blaring vehicles and the blur of individuals hurrying to their next destination. Yet, inside, everything is still. The air feels as if it's not moving, as if it's holding its breath, waiting there expecting something.I sit at the kitchen island, gazing down at a cup of coffee that has gone cold. My fingers twist around the porcelain, however my mind is somewhere else. It's been right around fourteen days since I moved into this penthouse, and I've become used to the quiet between Alexander and me. The briskness, however, still present, feels less choking out now, more like a far-off murmur. Yet, it's still there, waiting like a shadow I can't exactly shake off.Just as I take a sip of the now tepid coffee, the lift tolls, signalling Alexander's return. He steps into the room, his presence as

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-12
  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    CHAPTER 8

    The phone rings, the sharp, piercing sound pulling me from my thoughts. I look at the screen: ‘‘Dad’’. The name alone sends a shock of frenzy through me, a similar feeling of fear I've felt each time he's called recently. I take a deep breath, attempting to steady my nerves. "Hi?" "Leila," my dad's voice pops through the line, harsh and stressed. "We need to talk." I can hear the heaviness of his words even before he says anything more. The most recent couple of months have been loaded up with cryptic warnings, commitments of 'things improving,' and repeated affirmations that everything was under control. However, I realize it's all falling apart. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach. "What's happening, Father?" I ask my voice scarcely over a murmur. I need to sound quiet, but the nervousness crawling into my chest is almost difficult to shake. "We're in a tough situation," he says gruffly. "The company... it's failing. We can't keep up any longer." I sit down on the edge of

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-13
  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 9

    I look fixedly at the clock on the wall, counting the seconds that slip by without anything changing. The quietness between Alexander and me feels heavier tonight. It’s the kind of silence that stretches out into hours, pressing on me, chocking me. I’ve learned how to continue to be in this silence, how to feign it that it doesn’t bother me, that it’s just a part of the arrangement. But, it’s different, tonight.I’ve reached my limit.I can feel this biting emptiness that has been creeping up on me since the day we said our vows. I’ve been endeavouring to ignore it, trying to persuade myself that this is exactly what my life has turned to, that this is the price I pay for saving my family from mess. But tonight, I can’t push the thoughts aside any longer.I’ve had enough.Taking a deep breath, I move in the direction of the man turning over a financial report like it’s the most interesting thing in the world,who’s sitting across the room. His attention is fixed on the papers before hi

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-26
  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 10

    The room feels having comparatively little size than usual today, as though the walls are closing in around me. It’s one of those seldom occuring moments when the heaviness of this marriage seems too much to carry. At the far end of the couch Alexander is having his sit, his posture as stiff as ever, his eyes concentrated attention on the business report in his hands. The burden of his quietness presses against me, and I can’t bear it anymore.“Alexander,” I start, my voice quieter than I intend.I know he heard me but he doesn't look up at me,he’s always like this—distant and unreachable.I take a deep breath and try again. “Can we talk?”Finally, he looks up, his intent look cold but sharp. “About what?”I can feel the building of the kind of familiar tension that always lingers between us. The space he keeps is so vast and so impenetrable. But I’m determined to bridge that gap, even if it feels like I’m drowning completely in it.“About us,” I say. “About this marriage.”His jaw cl

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-27
  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 11

    The daylight streams through the enormous windows of the penthouse, however it doesn't feel warm. The room is colder than it ought to be. I sit on the edge of the couch, my fingers absentmindedly following the edge of my coffee cup, attempting to discover some similarity to calm. But, it's hard. All that feels like it's getting past me."Leila, we really need to talk."I take a quick look up to find Alexander standing in the doorway, his expression more strained than usual. His suit is perfectly tailored, his dark eyes shadowed, but there's something in his voice that cuts through the stiffness like a sharp dagger. The weight of his words lands heavily in the space between us."About what?" I ask, trying to keep my tone even. But even I can hear the frustration persist in staying beneath the surface.He steps forward, his jaw clenched. "You know damn well what." He makes a gesture slightly at the room, at the whole situation. "The business, the sabotage, the fact that we’re being atta

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-28

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  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 172

    You’d think after everything we’ve been through, we’d know how to keep our promises.I stood in the middle of our kitchen, barefoot, wrapped in one of Alexander’s oversized shirts. The silence in the penthouse was loud—only broken by the hum of the refrigerator and the dull buzz of my phone on the counter. Again.Work messages. At nearly midnight.The trip had ended three days ago. Three perfect, disconnected, sun-drenched days where we remembered what we were without the world pulling us in opposite directions. But the second we landed, the floodgates opened.He’d already broken our no-work-after-seven rule twice. I’d ignored it the first time. Justified the second. But now?Now I was pissed.I didn’t hear him walk in until his voice cut through the quiet like a wire snapping.“You’re still up?”I turned, crossing my arms. “That’s your opening line?”Alexander stilled, already sensing the storm brewing in me. He looked tired—no, wrecked—but I didn’t let it soften me this time.“I had

  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 171

    "Just when we thought we had it all figured out, life threw us a curveball wrapped in dollar signs."The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our penthouse, casting a deceptive calm over the chaos brewing beneath. Alexander sat at the dining table, a thick dossier open before him, his brow furrowed in concentration. The sight was both familiar and unsettling."Leila," he began, his voice measured but tinged with an undercurrent I couldn't quite place. "We need to discuss this proposal."I set down my coffee, the rich aroma suddenly nauseating. "Another one? Didn't we agree to take a step back after the last project nearly consumed us?"He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. But this... this is different. It's a partnership offer from Global Innovations. The potential here is massive."I approached, glancing over his shoulder at the documents. The figures were staggering, the kind that could solidify our company's position at the pinnacle of the industry. But

  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 170

    "Love isn't tested in the calm; it's forged in the storm."I stood at the edge of our penthouse balcony, the city lights stretching out like a sea of stars beneath me. The cool breeze did little to calm the storm brewing inside.Alexander's voice broke through my thoughts. "Leila, what's going on?"I turned to see him leaning against the doorway, concern etched on his face. His presence, usually so grounding, now felt like a lifeline."It's Daniel," I began, my voice barely steady. "He's back, and with him, all the memories I've tried to forget."Alexander's eyes narrowed. "What does he want?""He says he's in trouble," I replied, wrapping my arms around myself. "But his return has stirred up doubts about who I was... and who I am now."Alexander crossed the space between us, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Your past doesn't define you, Leila. We all have shadows. It's how we move forward that matters."Tears welled up, blurring my vision. "But what if those shadows catch up? What

  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 169

    "Just when you think you've buried your past, it has a way of knocking on your front door."The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our penthouse, casting a golden glow over the minimalist decor. I stood at the kitchen island, nursing a cup of coffee, its rich aroma filling the air. Alexander sat across from me, engrossed in the financial section of the newspaper, his brow furrowed in concentration."Anything interesting?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence.He looked up, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just the usual market fluctuations. Nothing that can't wait."I nodded, taking another sip of my coffee. The tranquility of the moment was shattered by the sharp chime of the doorbell. Alexander and I exchanged puzzled glances; we weren't expecting anyone."I'll get it," I offered, setting my mug down and moving toward the door.As I opened it, my breath caught in my throat. Standing before me was a ghost from my past—Daniel. His once-boyish face was

  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 168

    “Success had always been my compass, but lately, it felt like I was navigating without a map.”I stared at the half-empty espresso cup on the kitchen island. The crema had gone flat, the kind of detail I usually wouldn’t notice. But now it felt like the perfect metaphor for everything that had gone dull lately—even the parts of life that were supposed to taste rich.Leila padded in barefoot, wearing my faded CalTech hoodie and holding a mug of tea. Her hair was a mess, and her cheeks were still pink from sleep, but damn if she didn’t still stop me cold.“You didn’t sleep again,” she said.I gave a non-answer shrug and kept my eyes on the city outside the window.She set her mug down and leaned on the counter, not pressing yet. Just... waiting. That was something she’d learned recently. How to wait for me to come to her instead of dragging it out of me.“I’ve been thinking,” I finally said.“Uh-oh,” she said, smiling a little. “That’s your ‘change the company overnight’ voice.”“No. No

  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 167

    “Grief doesn’t ask permission. It just shows up, wrecks everything, and dares you to clean it up.”It started with silence.Not the peaceful kind. Not the kind where two people sit next to each other and don’t need to fill the space. This was the heavy kind. The kind that sat between us at the dinner table while Alexander pushed food around his plate and pretended to be somewhere else.He hadn’t touched the roasted chicken. I made it from scratch. It used to be his favorite.“You haven’t eaten all day,” I said, not looking up from my own plate. I’d barely taken a bite myself.“I’m not hungry.”"You said that yesterday."He finally looked up. His eyes were dull, rimmed red from nights I knew he wasn’t sleeping through.“Leila,” he said flatly. “Please. Not tonight.”I set my fork down. “It’s been nine nights.”He exhaled sharply and shoved his chair back. “I can't do this right now.”And just like that, he was gone—down the hall, the door to his study clicking shut behind him.At first

  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 166

    "Alex, it's your dad."I heard the change in his voice before I heard the words. He'd just picked up a call—early, too early for it to be anything good. His body stiffened. His shoulders pulled back like someone punched him from behind.I was halfway down the stairs in a T-shirt and one sock when I saw his face.“What’s wrong?” I asked, breath catching.He lowered the phone slowly like it weighed fifty pounds. “It’s my father,” he said. “He’s had a heart attack.”---We didn’t talk much on the drive to the hospital. He gripped the steering wheel like he needed it to keep breathing. I sat there, silent, staring out the window, trying to do something—anything—but think about what it would mean if this went badly.He didn’t need me to talk. Not yet.He just needed me there.---When we got to the hospital, we found Emily pacing outside the ICU. Her face was blotchy. Her hands shook.“They rushed him into surgery two hours ago,” she said, and when Alex hugged her, her voice cracked. “They

  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 165

    "We need to get away."Alexander's voice cut through the ambient hum of our penthouse, his tone resolute.I glanced up from my laptop, fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Away? Now?""Yes, now." He crossed the room, his movements deliberate, and gently closed my laptop. "We've been running on fumes for months, Leila. It's time to hit pause."I leaned back, studying his face—the tension etched in the lines around his eyes, the tight set of his jaw. "And you think a getaway will fix everything?""Not everything," he admitted, perching on the edge of the coffee table opposite me. "But it's a start."I sighed, the weight of unending responsibilities pressing down. "Where would we even go?"A slow smile curved his lips. "Leave that to me."---Two days later, we were airborne on his private jet, destination undisclosed. Alexander reveled in the mystery, his eyerevelledling with unspoken secrets."You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I teased, nudging his shoulder.He chuckled, a rich sound

  • The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride    Chapter 164

    "You can't be serious, Leila."Alexander's voice echoed through our expansive living room, his tone a mix of disbelief and frustration.I stood my ground, meeting his intense gaze. "I am serious. This is my project, and I need to do this on my own."He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I knew all too well. "Why now? Why this?""Because I need to prove to myself that I can," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.Alexander sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I just don't want to see you get hurt.""I know," I said softly. "But I have to take this risk."---The opportunity had come unexpectedly—a chance to lead a project without Alexander's influence overshadowing me. It was a small tech startup looking for investors, and I saw potential where others saw risk."You're sure about this?" Jessica, my closest confidante and our company's CFO, asked as we reviewed the proposal.I nodded. "Absolutely. This could be the breakthrough I've been waiting for."She raise

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