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Chapter 21
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The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 22
Alexa held tight to the railing in the elevator as it climbed toward the Caliber main office. It was too soon to worry about what her father would do when he found out about the deal she’d made with Salvatore to hopefully secure her position at the company, but her body didn’t get the memo. She usually performed well under pressure, but today her hands were sweating, and she felt lightheaded. The truth was that now, she didn’t care if she was chosen as the CEO. Of course, she cared about the future of the company, and she loved her job. It just didn’t define her anymore. Since her father had pitted her against Aiden, what little relationship she’d had with her brother had all but died. She would never put a job before family, but it seemed Aiden didn’t feel the same. If only Aiden would realize she wasn’t his enemy. But every other aspect of her life was flourishing. Lorie and Irene had been the best bridesmaids she could have hoped for and had stepped up every time she’d needed
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 23
SalvatoreWhen Lorie called him, Salvatore explained everything and asked her to tell Sophia. If he couldn’t tell her himself, her best friend was a perfect alternative.He’d been in his car before he’d finished telling Lorie what really happened at the marina, and he knew if the talk she was having with her father wasn’t going well, she would need him beside her when it was over. Not an hour later.The trip into the city seemed to take hours, but he made it in record time. Clayton picked Salvatore up at the dock, and the confinement of sitting and waiting in the back seat was torture. His heel tapped on the floorboard and he checked his phone constantly.He’d asked Lorie to tell Alexato call him, but what if Alexadidn’t believe her friend? What if she was ignoring him or pushing him away because she was angry with him?If he could only see her and tell her how sorry he was that the life they’d returned to wasn’t as good as they’d hoped. He’d wanted to give her a life free of worry, e
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 24
Salvatore. The next day, Salvatore stood in the elevator with Alexa on their way to see her father. Salvatore had called early in the morning to schedule a private meeting with Martin, and Irene had set it up with Martin’s approval. That had to mean something. Martin was willing to meet with him. He could only hope it was because he wanted to believe what Alexa had said, and not because he wanted a chance to let Salvatore know he was angry with them. “I feel like I’m on my way to have that talk yesterday all over again,” Alexa said. Salvatore squeezed her hand. “I’m here this time. We’ll make sure he knows we’re sorry for deceiving him.” She smiled then, and a little bit of the weight that had been crushing him all day lifted. Alexa scooted closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I love you. No matter what happens today or any other day. I love you, and I’m glad you’re my husband.” “I love you too.” Salvatore kissed her head just as the elevator doors opened. Irene
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 25
Gaining her trust won’t be easy. Earning her love will be nearly impossible. Celina Manning is working to get back on her feet after her ex-husband disappeared one night, leaving her to raise their infant daughter alone. When a trip to a hardware store has her literally falling into the arms of its handsome owner, his charms are hard to resist. But he’s a stranger, and, to her, that means he can’t be trusted. Can she learn to let her faith be stronger than her fear?Gabe Matthews has never met a stranger. A friend to everyone he meets, he can’t understand why Celina is determined to keep him at a distance. He only wants to help, but she can’t accept that he only has the best intentions. It’s a good thing his love is patient.Celina isn’t ready to let the love she feels for Gabe override years of fear, and he’s tired of spending lonely nights playing songs on his guitar to fill the silence. What will it take to show Celina that Gabe is the answer to her prayers? ***** ***** Celina s
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 26
Celina’s anxiety waned on her quiet drive to the hardware store. She parked her trusty CR-V in the middle of the lot and shut the engine off. The lunch rush in the small town of Carson, Georgia couldn’t hold a candle to the bustle of Nashville, Tennessee. It’d been almost four years since she moved to Carson, and the time she’d spent in Nashville seemed like a lifetime ago. She let her heavy head rest on the steering wheel and closed her eyes. She was close to regaining her composure after her trip to the brink of a breakdown earlier. Prayer. She needed to pray. It was the only thing that calmed the storm that had clouded her heart these last few years. “Lord, please help me find what I’m looking for. I don’t know what I’m doing or how to do it.” She sucked in a slow, deep breath. “I’m lost, and I’m scared, and I need You. Help me find what I need today. Guide me, Lord.” She stepped from the car and hoisted her purse more securely on her shoulder as she made her way into the store
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 27
Gabe. Gabe watched Celina walk away and felt the urge to insist once more that she let him help her fix the leaky sink. He wasn’t sure anyone had turned him down before, and he’d been offering his help to customers for years. He made his way back toward his office, thinking it was for the best. Celina seemed smart. She’d figure it out on her own… or, better yet, come back for his help. No, that wasn’t better for her, but she hadn’t even accepted his phone number. How would he ever get another chance to see her? The sweet lilt of her voice was something he wouldn’t forget any time soon. He hadn’t heard a word she’d said at first. The pain in the hand that’d been smashed behind her head had tuned out all other senses. Once the roaring in his ears had subsided, her voice had soothed the pulsing pain until only a weak ache remained. He rubbed his hand and turned to see if she was really gone. Celina had a voice made for music. If life was really a dance like the good ol’ John Michael
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 28
Celina spent a few more hours with her head beneath the kitchen sink. She felt defeated as she slid the bowl back under the disassembled sink pipes and went to pick up Emma from her parents’ house. Celina hadn’t remembered half of what Gabe had told her to do at the store. She’d been too focused on his bright smile and charming eyes. Why was she always a sucker for the impractical men? She mentally kicked herself and hoped that one day she’d learn from her mistakes. It didn’t really matter what Gabe had said. The parts didn’t fit, and she’d have to make another run to the hardware store tomorrow after work. She couldn’t take off another day to get this sink in order. She’d have to work on it at night after Emma was in bed. Celina stepped into her parents’ house and the smell of cookies made her stomach rumble. She’d forgotten to eat lunch. “Hello!” she yelled into the quiet house. Within seconds, she heard the quick beat of her daughter’s running steps down the hallway. “Mommy!”
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 29
Celina scratched her head and adjusted the frizzy bun atop her head. She could’ve run to her parents’ house for a shower this morning, but she’d needed the extra minutes to catch up on the work she’d missed during her failed attempts to fix the sink. She’d been so behind, she’d worked straight through lunch and forgotten she still needed to go back to the hardware store. She’d run by there after her mother dropped off Emma, then work on it later. Celina glanced at the clock on her laptop and saw that it was after five in the afternoon. Her mother was never late bringing Emma home in the evenings. Her parents’ house wasn’t far up the road, and the drive took less than five minutes. She checked the time on her phone before dialing her mother’s number. “Mom, are y’all okay?” “Oh, yeah. We just had a stop to make. We’ll be there in a sec.” Her mom’s tone was reassuring, and Celina’s shoulders relaxed. Shutting down her computer, Celina scratched her scalp again. She’d need to go to
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 117
NOAH Camille glanced over both shoulders as if checking to make sure the coast was clear before extending both hands, palms up, toward Sprite. “Take your pick, pretty lady.” One hand offered an apple and the other a sugar cube. Noah wasn’t sure who liked treat time the most, his girlfriend or the horse. Dixie circled Camille’s legs, begging for attention. He’d just watched from the tailgate as Camille rode Sprite through the pasture by the stable. “Sugar. Always a good choice.” Camille waited for the blue roan to finish the treats before nuzzling noses with the big softie. It’d been a week since Noah was released from the hospital, and he was still getting used to needing help completing small tasks. The bandages were cumbersome and needed to be changed often. Not to mention small things like showering and putting on pants had become a chore. Camille spent every moment she could helping him. He didn’t mind it when she helped, but it was an unspoken truth that any “help” from his b
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 116
“There’s a lot you don’t know about Nathan, but none of it excuses what he did,” Bonnie said. Bonnie went with Camille to her house to change clothes and pack a bag of extras, in case Noah stayed at the hospital overnight. She planned on staying there until he came home. She’d called Anita and rounded up some things she needed too. Now, Camille and her mom were back on the road, and they had a lot to talk about. “Nathan was adopted when he was four years old,” Bonnie began. “He was neglected as a child, and he had a handful of health problems that had never been treated. By the time he was taken from his parents, he was malnourished, dehydrated, and had several broken bones and bruises.” Camille turned away from her mother. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever heard this story before, but her heart told her she hadn’t. “Your grandparents didn’t have any children, but they had been in touch with the local foster care system and were contacted when Nathan was still recovering. They adopted
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 115
Her foot rested heavy on the accelerator as she drove from Cody to Blackwater. Anger and betrayal built within her with every mile that passed beneath her tires. Twisting her hands on the steering wheel, she ached for a distraction. Something to calm the storm of her emotions. How could Nathan do something so horrible? She called Jenny and let the ringing in her car speakers drown out the roiling in her ears. “Hey. What’s up?” “Noah is in the hospital in Cody. A bear attacked him this morning.” “What?” Jenny screamed. “Is he okay?” Camille’s voice shook. “He is now. It looked so bad after it happened, though. It clawed his leg up good.” Rustling sounded on Jenny’s end of the line. “Do I need to come?” “No,” Camille assured her. “He’s doing okay. They stitched him up and he’s conscious now, but he lost a lot of blood. He’ll be in quite a bit of pain while it heals.” “I can’t imagine.” “They were cleaning up a dozen cows that were shot last night when the bear attacked.” Camill
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 114
She couldn’t lose him. Not again, and not like this. Camille raked her hands through Noah’s hair while his head lay in her lap. She was trying to be brave. It wouldn’t do either of them any good to break apart right now. Noah needed her to stay alert and strong for him. “I’m glad you’re here.” His words were faint, but she’d heard him. Whatever reason he had for breaking up with her didn’t matter now. A tear slid down her face as she prayed. “Lord, please lay Your hand on Noah. Help us get him to the help he needs in time. Help me to be strong. Help us.” Her words cracked at the end, and she squeezed her eyes closed. “Please, Lord. I don’t want to lose him.” Tears burned her eyes when she opened them. He was lying still—too still. She looked to Lucas. “I think he’s unconscious!” Lucas held the injured leg stationary. “Almost there.” She turned and stretched her neck to see the main house over the next rise. The red-and-white ambulance was parked in front. The paramedics carefu
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 113
NOAH Noah tried to hold his ground, but the bear was running toward him now. He lowered the phone from his ear and yelled, “Micah!” He took two steps backward on instinct. He wasn’t running, but he was pretty sure it was the better option right now. On the third step back, his heel snagged on a fallen branch. He fell backward, arms flailing, and his phone went soaring through the air. “Micah!” Noah couldn’t take his eyes off the advancing predator to see if his brother was coming to help, but he prayed he’d yelled loud enough to be heard over the running tractor. The bear slowed as it approached Noah lying on his back. The fall had knocked the wind out of him, but he wasn’t breathing anyway. The bear’s large paw lifted and swiped down faster than any animal that large should’ve been able to move. Noah cried out once more as the claws sliced across his thigh. “Micah!” A boom filled the air, followed by another, and the bear jerked backward and fell onto its side. Noah could hear
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 112
NOAHNoah drove through the gates at Blackwater Ranch in a daze. His shift at the fire station had started the morning after he’d gone to Camille’s, and it had been a long two days.His shifts were always tiring, but this time he hadn’t been able to sleep or eat like he should to keep his energy up. Losing Camille felt like a constant, nagging hunger. His insides were empty, but he couldn’t get filled.He’d been praying, but no answers had come. Was he supposed to fix this on his own or wait for the Lord to show him how to mend his broken heart?He topped the slight hill before the main house, and a sinking feeling hit him in the chest. There weren’t any trucks parked out front. It was breakfast time. Everyone should’ve been there.Noah hastily parked by the door and ran inside, forgetting to take off his shoes.“Mom. Dad,” Noah hollered into the empty dining room.His mom stepped out of the kitchen and wiped her hands on her apron. “They’re all out,” his mom said in a shaky voice.“W
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 111
NOAHNoah closed Camille’s door behind him, but it didn’t block out her sobs. He couldn’t move his feet to walk away from her just yet. What had he done? He’d made things worse with Nathan tonight, and then… this.Remembering the look on Camille’s face had his gut twisting. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He’d been given the chance to be happy again, and it had all been taken away too soon.Anger built in his chest as he sat on the small step on her front porch. There was a roaring in his ears, but he could still hear Camille’s wails behind him.He wanted to go back inside and hold her and tell her they would make it through anything together.But he couldn’t do that when it was probably a lie. How could he save his family and keep Camille in his life? It was too much to hope. He’d been allowed to enjoy the best times of his life with her, and the stretches of time in between were just filler.Sitting alone in the dark night outside her door, he hung his head and prayed.
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 110
Camille leaned closer to the screen of her laptop and squinted. “Those might work,” she mumbled to herself. The boots on her screen resembled the ones Noah and his brothers wore around the ranch, but finding the female equivalent had proven to be a challenge. Plus, ordering shoes online was always hit or miss. She ran the heart pendant of her necklace back and forth along the chain as she added the boots to the shopping cart.She’d wised up with the wide-brimmed cowboy hat already, and good boots were a must at this point if she planned to keep working with Noah around the ranch on her days off.A knock sounded at her door, and Camille jumped in her seat, bumping her knees on the desk. “Oww.” So much for assessing the stranger at her door before revealing she was at home.She pushed away from the desk and padded over to the door in her bare feet. Peering through the peephole, she saw Noah standing on her doorstep with his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.Camille fumbled with t
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 109
NOAHCamille’s parents’ house was a log and brick monstrosity with wooden columns along the front side thicker than Noah had ever seen. Two stories of walls and windows stretched into a double-decker garage on one side. A twenty-foot-tall statue of angels and cherubs sat imposing in the grassy area along the circular drive.He’d put off coming here for long enough, but it was time to talk. If Nathan wasn’t home, he’d just sit in his truck and wait for him.Noah had always felt small when he came here. The size of the place dwarfed anything around it except the mountains. He knew from days past when he would visit Camille that there was a heated pool in the back along with a fire pit, an outdoor grilling area, and a guest house.The old truck door groaned and creaked as it closed behind him, and Noah threw his cowboy hat back into the cab through the open window. There wasn’t any sense in stirring the pot. His boots thudded loudly against the sturdy boards of the porch as he approached
