Skylar
I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand. My mind was still hazy. It took me a moment to gather my thoughts, but as my eyes adjusted to the morning light coming through the curtains, I noticed a neatly wrapped box resting at the foot of my bed. Frowning slightly, I pushed myself up and reached for it. The deep blue ribbon was tied with some kind of expertise, the paper smooth and elegant. I was about to call my mom to ask who owned the package, but mom beat me to it and knocked on my door. As she walked in, I greeted. “Good morning Mom. Who-” She cut me off before I could finish. “Cole Buckman sent it earlier this morning.” Cole Buckman sent me a package? She left shortly after, giving me a small smile. Curious, I pulled the package apart, my breath hitching as I lifted the lid. Inside lay a breathtaking white dress—simple yet refined, with delicate embroidery adorning the edges. The fabric felt soft beneath my fingertips. He actually sent this?! The realization sent a strange shiver down my spine. Before I could process it, my phone rang again, this time more insistently. I grabbed it, barely glancing at the caller ID before answering. “Skylar.” Cole’s voice was crisp, as composed as ever. I swallowed, my fingers tightening around the phone. “Mr. Buckman?” “It’s today.” For a moment, I didn’t understand what he meant. My still-sleepy mind scrambled to make sense of his words, but then, like a bolt of lightning, it struck me. Today was our wedding day. I had agreed to this arrangement, signed away my fate with nothing more than ink on paper. And yet, as the reality set in, I found myself momentarily breathless. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” he continued. “Get ready.” The call ended before I could respond. I stared at the screen, my pulse beating in my ears. There was no time to sit around feeling dazed. I swung my legs over the bed, hurriedly making my way to the bathroom. The moment my feet hit the cool tiles, the weight of what was happening crashed over me. I was getting married today. I let out a humorless laugh as I turned on the shower, stepping under the warm spray. No amount of scrubbing could wash away the uncertainty pooling in my heart, but I went through the motions anyway—cleaning myself, drying my hair, slipping into the dress Cole had sent. By the time I emerged from my room, fully dressed and ready, I found him standing at our door. Cole looked immaculate as always—his sharp suit perfectly tailored, his dark eyes unreadable. He gave me a brief once-over, his expression betraying nothing. “Let’s go,” he said simply. The ceremony was nothing extravagant. A visit to the courthouse, a few signed documents, a solemn exchange of words. Just like that, my name was inked beside his, bound legally in a way that felt almost surreal. I held the marriage certificate in my hands, staring at the bold letters that sealed my fate. Skylar Buckman. I sighed, shaking my head. I was finally someone's wife. Alas, this was one of the temporary things in life. “Regretting it already?” Cole's voice was laced with amusement. Then, without warning, he pulled out a folder and handed it to me. “What’s this?” I asked. “The contract.” The word made my stomach clench, but I took it nonetheless. I flipped open the folder and scanned the first few lines. It was thorough—cold, clinical. My fingers tightened as I read through the terms. - The marriage will last for exactly three years. - The two parties will not interfere in each other’s personal lives. - To maintain the purity of the marriage, neither party shall engage in extramarital affairs. My eyes paused on the clause, and for a moment, I felt a strange mix of relief and unease. It was a reasonable condition, but would it truly apply to both of us? I looked up at Cole and said, “I can do it. But I hope you’ll abide by it too and not let this clause become a one-sided restriction on me.” He raised an eyebrow at my words but said nothing. Getting no reaction from him, I continued reading. - The two parties will not live together. - Any public appearances together must be pre-approved and coordinated by Cole Buckman’s team. - Miss Skylar McLair must attend designated social events as Mrs. Buckman when required. - Miss Skylar McLair is prohibited from revealing the contractual relationship between both parties and the contents of the contract to outsiders. - Breach of contract will result in immediate nullification of the agreement, with no financial compensation. - Upon divorce, Miss Skylar McLair will receive twenty million dollars. The terms went on and on, but I didn't bother to continue when I saw the amount written. Twenty million? My heart nearly stopped. I must have made a sound, because Cole arched a brow. “What?” I shook my head quickly, still staring at the number in disbelief. “Nothing,” I murmured. “I just…the amount...” A strange look flickered across Cole’s face before it quickly disappeared. “What, you think it’s not enough? You think it's too small, right? You must really have a big appetite for money.” I could have corrected him, explained that I wasn't thinking about more money, but was surprised about the money stated there, rather I didn’t bother. Instead, I continued reading. When I reached the clause about living separately, my brows furrowed. “You don’t want us living together?” I asked. Cole’s gaze hardened. “No.” I hesitated before speaking again. “Why?” His jaw tightened. “Because this is a contract, not a real marriage. Don’t overstep, Skylar. I don't want you in my personal space.” His warning was clear, almost as if I didn't have a say in the marriage…did I even have a say? I looked down at the contract again, my emotions tangled in a knot. After a moment, I reached for the pen and, without hesitation, signed my name in the last line. Cole exhaled quietly, and for the first time today, I saw the ghost of a real smile on his face. He extended his hand toward me. “Mrs. Buckman,” he said smoothly. “Hope we’ll have a happy cooperation.”ColeThe car ride back had been quiet. After signing the marriage agreement, I decided to take Skylar back to her home.Outside, the city lights flickered past in a blur, and I let myself relax against the driver’s seat, one hand on the wheel. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, it felt like a quiet understanding had settled between us.But that peace shattered in an instant.The first thing I noticed was the faint haze in the distance. At first, I thought it was just fog rolling in, but then the acrid scent of smoke drifted into the car. My throat tightened, and my grip on the wheel instinctively clenched.Skylar noticed it too. She straightened in her seat, her fingers curling against her lap.“Do you smell that?” she asked in a low, concerned voice.I didn’t answer, my eyes locked on the thickening smoke ahead. The closer we got, the more obvious it became—this wasn’t just some small fire. This was something bigger. Then, as we turned the last corner, the scene unfolded
SkylarWhen I woke up the next morning, the room felt too big, too empty. The unfamiliar ceiling above me reminded me that this was not my home. My home… The memory of the flames and smoke filled my mind again, and I felt a dull ache in my chest. Everything I had known was gone in a single night. I took a deep breath, not wanting to get emotional this early morning. Then, I remembered him- Cole. Despite all his coldness, he had taken me in last night. He hadn’t mocked me, hadn’t thrown me out, and hadn't treated me like a burden. He had simply let me stay. The memory of his arms around me, the way he had supported me when I was too numb to stand on my own, sent a strange warmth through my chest.I never expected kindness from Cole. Our marriage was nothing more than an arrangement, and he had never given me any reason to believe he cared about me. But last night… Last night had been different.I pulled the covers off and sat up. I had to do something. Cole had done so much fo
ColeThe bar was loud and lively, filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and laughter. People were talking, drinking, and enjoying themselves, but I wasn’t paying much attention. It had been a long time since I last saw my friends, and the moment they learned I was back in the country, they insisted on throwing a small celebration for my return. I sat with them, sipping my drink, feeling the familiar burn of alcohol in my throat. Across from me, my friends were engaged in a lively discussion, but I only half-listened, my thoughts drifting. "Still the same cold bastard," Adrian, one of them teased, nudging me with his elbow. "He's probably thinking about a multi billion contract even while drinking," Fred chimed in. I smirked, but I didn't argue as I took another sip of my drink, the familiar burn of whiskey trailing down my throat as I exhaled. They weren’t entirely wrong. A blonde woman slid into the seat beside me, her long manicured nails lightly grazing my arm as she
Skylar I stayed in bed longer than usual, pretending I needed more sleep. But in reality, I was just avoiding Cole. After what happened last night, facing him felt impossible. My heart still raced when I thought about it—the weight of his body, the heat of his breath so close to mine, the way his lips had barely brushed against the corner of my mouth. Just thinking about it made my face burn. I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. Maybe if I stayed here longer, he would have gone to work and I wouldn’t have to see him. I waited, watching as time slowly passed by, but my stomach betrayed me, grumbling loud enough to remind me that I needed food. With a sigh, I finally got up and freshened myself before heading downstairs, telling myself that he must have left for work by now.I came to an abrupt stop at the bottom of the stairs. My eyes widened, and a soft gasp escaped before I could stop it. He was seated by the counter, casually scrolling through his tablet as if he had
Skylar “Finally! I was starting to think you had disappeared off the face of the earth,” Amber exclaimed the moment she saw me and pulled me into a tight hug.After spending some time with my father, I decided to meet up with Amber, my close friend. It had been too long since we last caught up. I needed a distraction, and spending time with Amber was the perfect way to clear my mind.I laughed. “I’ve been… busy.”We found a table and sat down, and the moment they did, Amber gave me a curious look. “Busy with what? Work?”But before I could respond, Amber’s gaze turned to Xaiver, standing a few steps behind me. Her eyes lingered on him a little too long, and she leaned in, whispering, "Who’s that?""Oh, that's Xaiver…"Amber's lips curled into a mischievous smile as she studied him. “Wait a second… When did you change boyfriends?” I blinked, caught off guard. “What? No, Xavier isn’t—” But she wasn’t listening. Instead, she crossed her arms and nodded in approval, a smug grin sp
Skylar"I can't believe you’re wasting your beauty like this, Sky! You have such a great figure, yet you insist on dressing like you’re some boring secretary in a dull office drama,” Amber rolled her eyes as she pushed me toward a high-end clothing store. She had been nagging me for nearly twenty minutes after we met at the Cafe. Ever since she found out I was married to Cole, she had been criticizing my lack of effort in dressing up as a ‘billionaire’s wife'.I let out a tired sigh, already knowing this conversation was going nowhere. "Amber, I really don’t see the big deal. They’re just clothes." Amber gasped, placing a hand over her chest like I had just uttered something blasphemous. "Just clothes? Sky, that’s an insult to someone like me! Fashion is an art, a language. It tells the world who you are before you even open your mouth. And right now, you’re practically telling people you don’t exist!" She flipped her hair dramatically and gestured to herself. "Look at me! Do y
Cole"How long do you plan to stay in my arms?” I asked in a cold, stern tone. Skylar briefly met my eyes before quickly pulling away as she regained her composure.I'd just left the building where I went to see a client when I saw Skylar heading toward the busy street. In an instant, a car came speeding down the road. I didn’t think twice. I ran after her and reached her just in time. I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the danger. The truck roared past us, and for a moment, my heart pounded with relief, as well as anger. I couldn’t believe that Skylar would run into traffic like that. It felt as if she did not care about her own safety at all.Without wasting time, I carried Skylar into my car. As I pulled her inside, my eyes burned with both worry and anger. Did she even know how close she was to being hit by the truck?! The thought made my heart pound as my hand tightened on the steering wheel. She had no idea—no idea how one small mistake could have cost her life!“What
Skylar Ever since that incident, Cole hardly allowed me to go out. He arranged all kinds of etiquette training to ‘prepare me’ for the family banquet. But deep down, I knew that he was using these lessons as a way to stall me, keeping me too busy to have any time to go out. Days blur together, and I passed the time from one training session to the next, until the anticipated day was finally here. I was awoken early in the morning by a series of sounds coming from downstairs. Groggily, I got out of bed and made my way down, wondering what could be happening at this hour. As I stepped into the living room, I was met with a surprising sight: a group of people bustling about, each holding tool boxes or carefully arranged rows of clothes. The room was bustling with activity, and I could hear soft murmurs and the rustle of fabric everywhere. What in the world is going on?! I approached Ingrid and asked, “Ingrid, what’s all this about?” She looked up from what she was doin
Skylar 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