Skylar McLair’s world shatters when a scandal destroys her father’s resort, leaving him in a coma. To protect her and save the family, her mother arranges a marriage with Cole Buckman—the powerful heir of the Buckman business empire. Cold and distant, Cole agrees to the marriage only to fulfill his grandfather’s wishes, sealing their union with a three-year contract. Determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s downfall, Skylar endures her husband’s indifference while secretly investigating. But as they navigate their arranged marriage, Cole’s icy walls begin to crack. Just as their bond deepens, an unexpected twist shakes their fragile trust. As jealousy, power struggles, and dangerous secrets come to light, Skylar finds herself caught in a web of betrayal. The enemies lurking in the shadows won’t stop until she’s broken. Coupled with the fact that Cole’s dusty past refuses to stay buried, Skylar and Cole must fight for their love—before it’s too late. A gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and survival, where trust is fragile, and danger is always a step behind.
Lihat lebih banyakSkylar I never thought a simple night out would turn into something like this.Paul’s grip on my wrist was tight, his smug expression making my stomach twist in disgust. But what truly shocked me was the way he looked at Cole—like he was someone beneath him, someone insignificant.“And who the hell are you?” Paul sneered, his arrogance on full display.Cole didn’t respond. He just stood there, calm and composed, his dark eyes unreadable.Paul took that silence as weakness. His smirk widened as he straightened his shoulders. “Listen, pretty boy, I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but you need to mind your own business. Walk away now, or you’ll regret it.”I could feel Amber tense beside me, too stunned to even utter a word. I also wanted to speak up, but Cole’s presence kept me rooted in place. He wasn’t reacting—wasn’t angry or offended. He was just watching Paul.Then, without a word, Cole turned slightly, as if ready to take me away again, but Paul moved to block him.“Wh
ColeThe moment I stepped out of the meeting room, I let out a deep breath. That was exhausting. My friend, Justin, who had recently returned from overseas, and I, along with some board members, had been exploring a business opportunity to increase sales and expand our market presence.The meeting had taken long hours, but it had been successful.“Man, that was draining,” Justin groaned, rolling his shoulders as we exited the meeting room. “You could say that again. But I'm glad we could get everyone on board.”Justin smiled. “You’re right. Why don't we hit a bar and unwind? I really need a drink before I lose my mind.” I nodded, running a hand through my hair. “Fine. Let’s go.” We headed to one of the most exclusive bars in the city and settled in the VIP section, a place meant to keep people like us away from unnecessary attention. The dim lighting and soft music were meant to be relaxing, but
Skylar I stared at the bar manager in disbelief, my heart pounding in my chest. Did he just say two hundred thousand dollars? For a second, I thought I had misheard, but the stern expression on his face told me otherwise. My mouth went dry. I didn’t have that kind of money—not even close. Before I could react, Amber stepped forward, her voice firm. “I’ll pay for it.” I turned to her, eyes wide with both relief and concern. Amber had always been bold, never one to let anyone look down on her. I could tell she didn’t want Paul or his friend to think we were helpless. With a determined look, she pulled out her card and handed it to the bar manager. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. At least the situation was about to be resolved. But then, the manager’s expression didn’t change as he handed the card back. “Declined.” Amber frowned. “What? That’s impossible. Try again.” The manager sw
Skylar I frowned slightly, my eyes scanning the man who had just appeared in front of us. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place his face. He was tall, messy black hair, a lazy grin that probably worked on some women—but not on me.Where had I known him from?His smirk faltered when he noticed my blank expression. His jaw tightened, and a flicker of frustration crossed his face. “You don’t remember me?” he asked in an angry voice. Amber let out a low chuckle, crossing her arms. “Wow, this is quite unexpected. Three years of chasing after Skylar, and she doesn’t even know who you are.” Three years? The realization clicked. Paul— he was one of the men I had rejected in the past. One of the many suitors I had long forgotten. “Oh,” I murmured, finally recalling. “It's you.”He stood with his arm lazily draped around a curvy blonde woman, his gaze sharp as he shot me a pointed look. That s
Skylar I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Even though the family dinner and its drama had ended the night before, I still felt drained.The expectations, the scrutiny, and the pressure—it had all been suffocating, but Cole had handled it all.The sound of my phone ringing jolted me from my thoughts. I reached for it and saw Amber’s name flashing on the screen. A small smile tugged at my lips as I answered. “Hey.” Amber sighed loudly on the other end. “Skylar, I need a drink.” I immediately frowned, sensing something wrong. “What happened? You don't sound so good.” “I’m not,” she admitted. “My dad’s driving me insane.”That was all she needed to say. I knew how controlling and strict her father could be. “What is the matter this time?” I asked.“Can you imagine? My father wants to set me up in an arranged marriage!”I nearly sprang out of bed in shock at her words. Amber… in an arranged marriage? No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t picture it.Amber was
SkylarThe ride home was silent. Too silent. Cole drove with his usual calm demeanor, his fingers resting lightly on the steering wheel, his expression unreadable. I sat beside him, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, my heart hammering against my ribs. I stole glances at him from time to time, trying to gauge his mood, but his face remained impassive, giving nothing away. How long had he been standing there, just watching and listening to Ethan and I? Did he hear anything at all? I couldn't tell, and that really terrified me. I wanted to say something... anything. To casually ask a question that would help me gauge exactly what he knew. But what if I phrased it wrong? What if I ended up revealing more than I intended? One wrong step, one slip of the tongue, and I could make an even bigger mistake. My throat felt dry, and my palms were clammy against my lap. I clenched my fingers together, willing myself to stay still. Cole, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed.
The moment I stepped out into the garden, the cool evening breeze hit my red face, sweeping away the heat from the alcohol. I inhaled deeply, savoring the night air as it cleared my mind. The laughter and chatter from the banquet hall faded and turned distant as I walked away further into the garden. I needed this. Just a few minutes to breathe, to be away from the scrutiny of everyone watching, judging. I lowered myself onto a chair near the hedge, closing my eyes briefly. My thoughts drifted back to the banquet, to the moment Cole had taken the glass of wine meant for me and downed it without hesitation. The teasing remarks from the guests still echoed in my mind. "Cole really cares about his wife, doesn’t he?" Their laughter had filled the room, entertained by the fact that Cole had taken the glass from me. But they all had sat there in silence and had pretended not to see the way Ethan made things difficult for me. The only consolation I got was the way that scumbag’s fa
Skylar “Sorry I'm late.”The moment I heard that deep, familiar voice coming from the door, I almost forgot how to breathe. I just sat there frozen. I tried to turn to see the person who had just arrived, to confirm my doubts, but my body just wasn't cooperating. The moment he walked towards the table and stood across from me; I saw his familiar face, and every single word on my lips instantly dried up and vanished. My throat tightened, my pulse pounded in my ears, and an unbearable coldness spread through my body. Ethan. He was right there, sitting across from me. A face I never thought I would see again. A past I had buried, locked away, and sworn to forget. Yet, here he was, looking at me with those sharp, unreadable eyes. I barely heard Cole’s voice as he made the introduction. "Skylar, this is my stepbrother, Ethan." My heart stopped. My vision blurred for a second. His ste
ColeI couldn’t help but notice that Vanessa was giving Skylar a long, measuring look. She seemed to be watching Skylar’s every move, and then her eyes fixed on Skylar’s chest, lingering over the necklace that I had given to her.Vanessa was smiling, but I could see the hunger in her eyes. She kept staring at Skylar’s necklace—the Princess Victoria Rose rare and expensive jewelry piece. From my intel, I knew It was the final piece Vanessa needed to complete her royal jewelry entire collection, the very one she had been obsessed with for years. Too bad for her… she was never going to get it. I saw the exact moment Vanessa lost control. She couldn't help but reach out, her fingers grazing the necklace as if admiring it, but I knew she was trying to test its authenticity, to confirm if Skylar was actually wearing the real necklace.A warm smile played on her lips, but I wasn’t fooled. Her tone seemed light, almost playful, as she most likely asked
Skylar “Let’s break up.” “Why?!” “Just stop asking and let’s end it with dignity.” Just like that, he ended our three-year relationship with those three words on our third anniversary. I stared at the beautiful meal on the table, now cold—just like our relationship, which had once seemed perfect but was now lacking warmth. I decided to head to Neon Nights, the most famous bar, because of the high price of drinks and strict security, it was also the safest bar in the city. I couldn't help but smile bitterly. To think that the first time I indulged myself in my life was because I got dumped. I grew up carefully within the safety net of my mother all my life, and never crossed the line. The good thing was that my life had been smooth sailing so far; but the bad thing was that I was boring, not attractive enough, and couldn't even think of a way to release my emotions. I could only learn from those girls on TV and go to bars to get drunk. Even when getting drunk, I still had to cho...
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