All Chapters of The Marriage Bargain: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The café buzzed around me, the noise of clinking cups and the murmur of conversations blending into a distant hum. Normally, the familiarity brought me peace, but today, everything grated on my nerves. My mind was restless, consumed by thoughts of Rowan and the tangled mess my life had become. I wiped down the counter again, my eyes flicking to the door, half-expecting him to walk in. Just thinking about him made my chest tighten. It had been a few days since our wedding, and while I had hoped the shock would wear off, it still clung to me like a heavy fog. Rowan Vaughn—the man who had once captivated me, the man I’d stupidly fallen for—was now a constant presence in my life. But the fantasy I had created about him had shattered the moment I walked down that aisle. He wasn’t the hero I had dreamt of. He was a nightmare wrapped in a tailored suit. Money had been paid to my aunt's account, just like Rowan promised. Jules was stable now, at least for the time being. But the cost... I d

I never belonged here. Not in this house, not in this family, and certainly not as Rowan Vaughn’s wife. The Vaughns have always seen me as an outsider, a nobody. The maids made it clear enough in their whispers when they thought I wasn’t listening. I could hear them, though. I always heard them. "How did she even manage to marry him?" one of the maids had giggled as I passed the hallway. “She’s from that poor family, isn’t she? No connections, no wealth… Nothing,” the other chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. I remember pausing, my hand gripping the bannister until my knuckles turned white. I wasn’t supposed to hear. But I did. “And she doesn’t even have a baby yet. At least she could’ve secured her place that way,” another voice had joined, one of the older maids. “But nope, empty. Bet it won’t be long before the family finds someone else more…suitable.” Their words clung to me like a weight, heavier than the loneliness that filled these walls. They all knew the truth —

Six years Later I adjusted the drip for Mrs. Isolde, who let out a soft cough. She was a frail but sharp woman in her eighties, her onyx eyes still bright as she stared at me. Her crowfoot clenching together with her warm smile. I had grown fond of her over the past few months that I started working as her personal doctor. "There you go, Mrs. Isolde," I said, smoothing the blanket over her legs on the wheelchair. "Thank you, dear," she replied, her voice raspy but affectionate. "You're such a blessing to have around." A smile spread across my face. Balancing my career as a surgeon and raising my twins, Larry and Sally, was no small feat, but moments like this made it all worthwhile. "It's my pleasure. You remind me of my own grandmother." Mrs. Isolde chuckled softly. "You're too kind, Isolde. Always so kind." As I tidied up her bedside table, the television in the corner of the room caught my attention. A news anchor's voice filled the room, announcing the day's headlines. "..

I walked briskly down the sterile hospital corridor, my mind racing as I processed what the nurse had said. Rowan was awake. He had survived the surgery, and now I was about to face him for the first time since everything had changed between us. A part of me was terrified of what I might find when I entered his room. Would he remember the years of hate, of pain, and betrayal between us? Would he remember his cheating? His disregard of me? Or would he forget all of it, starting with a blank slate?I gulped, taking in a deep breath. I pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Rowan lay in the hospital bed, pale but alive, his eyes bright and alert as they met mine. He was smiling at me—a genuine smile, soft and unfamiliar on his usually hardened face."Hello," he greeted, his voice raspy but warm.I felt the breath hitch in my throat, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. That smile—it was like a punch to the gut. The Rowan I remembered didn’t smile at me like that. Not in year

Rowan's POVI couldn't stop thinking about her.Like some obsessed fool. It was ridiculous, really. Dr. Remi Laurent. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face.Her lips, red and plump, those hazel eyes, her dark wave hair that was in a high ponytail. Every time I tried to focus on work, her voice echoed in my mind. I had met thousands of people in my life, but something about her stuck. It wasn't just her beauty — though that was undeniable — it was the way she carried herself, like she had a world of secrets beneath those eyes of hers.Her words cold, but her voice sweet like caramel. I shouldn’t care. I had no reason to care.I felt like a fool. And yet, here I was, staring at my phone like an idiot, debating whether to do something about it. The screen lit up with my assistant’s contact information. Callum was always the guy I turned to for this kind of thing. Efficient, discreet, and loyal to a fault.I hit the dial button without much of a second thought."Sir," Callum an