All Chapters of The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The sharp hum of the elevator fills the silence as I ascend to the top floor of Alexander’s corporate fortress. My palms are clammy, clutching a leather-bound notebook like a shield. The glassy walls of Hawke Enterprises loom around me, their sheer perfection a stark contrast to the tangle of nerves inside me.I’ve spent the morning studying—scrutinizing reports, Googling business jargon I barely understood a week ago, and reviewing every word Alexander let slip in his cold, clipped tones. Now, as I stand on the precipice of something new, I feel a strange mixture of dread and determination. I refuse to be invisible anymore, not here, not to him.When the elevator dings and the doors slide open, I step into the executive suite. The air is heavy with the scent of polished wood and faint cologne, a space meticulously crafted to reflect Alexander’s precision and power. Heads turn as I walk past, employees exchanging subtle glances. I pretend not to notice.“Mrs. Hawke,” a young assistant

The air snaps with pressure as I step into Alexander's office. The standard quiet and control he transmits are gone, replaced by a storm of barely restrained fury. He’s pacing in front of his desk, phone in hand, as his associate drifts apprehensively close to the entryway.“Cancel my afternoon meetings,” Alexander snaps without turning upward. The associate hastens away, leaving us alone.I delay the slightest bit, uncertain whether to talk. But, the pressure in the room is choking, and I can't keep quiet. "What's happening?"He, at last, quit, pacing, his sharp look locking onto mine. "Did you see it?""See what?"Without a word, he gets the remote and turns on the television mounted on the wall. The screen blazes to life, and my stomach beats as the title looks across the base: "Alexander Hawke Accused of Corporate Corruption: Anonymous Whistleblower Speaks Out."The camera slices to a grainy film of Alexander leaving a structure, surrounded by reporters shouting questions. His fa

The silence of the penthouse feels heavier than usual tonight. The far off murmur of the city is stifled by the thick walls, and the shine of the horizon channels through the glass windows, creating faint shaded areas on the cleaned floors. It's late — unreasonably late for both of us to still be awake—but sleep seems like an impossible luxury.I sit on the rich lounge chair in the parlor, nursing some tea that has since gone cold a long time ago. My laptop lays on the foot stool before me, its screen sparkling with pages of research I’d hoped would distract me. But my focus keeps slipping, drawn back to the storm that’s been brewing between Alexander and me.The outrage. The meeting room obstruction. The stifling strain to prove myself while navigating a marriage that feels more like a combat zone than a partnership. It's completely turned into a knot of feelings I can't disentangle.A weak commotion draws my attention. Footsteps— consistent and conscious — reverberation delicately a

The slam of the office door echoed through the penthouse like a gunshot. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the closed door, Alexander’s angry words still ringing in my ears.“You don’t understand, Leila. This isn’t a game.”It was always the same with him, walls going up the second things got too close. I clenched my fists, the frustration bubbling up inside me. I wasn’t a fragile doll, incapable of standing by his side. I’d proven that time and time again, yet he kept shutting me out.I took a shaky breath and followed him, my heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floors. He wasn’t getting away with this, not tonight.Alexander stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to me, hands shoved deep into his pockets. The city lights reflected in the glass, casting a kaleidoscope of colours across his tense frame. “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.“No,” he said curtly, not turning around.“Too bad,” I replied, stepping closer. “Bec

The strain in the penthouse was choking. It felt like the actual walls were shutting in, retaining the heaviness of Alexander's implicit displeasure and dissatisfaction. I remained toward the edge of the parlour, looking as he walked forward and backwards close to the massive windows that overlooked the city. His silhouette, sharp and commanding, contrasted with the vulnerability in his voice as he barked orders into his phone."Figure out who released the agreement subtleties," he snarled, his words cut and venomous. "Also, get me a report on the client's reaction. It doesn't matter at all to me how late it is."He finished the call with a sharp tap of his screen, the pressure in his edge emanating into the room. Briefly, he just remained there, gazing out at the city lights, his hands propped on his hips. It was intriguing to see Alexander like this — unsettled, his usual composure unravelling at the edges.I made a sound as if to speak softly, reluctant to end the quietness. "Alexa