All Chapters of The Billionaire Bride of Convenience : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"Are you certain this will work?" Alex inquired in a tone that was both skeptical and inquisitive.Jemma's red lips curled into a smug smile as she reclined on the soft leather chair. "Have my plans ever fallen through?"My breath seized in my throat as I stood in the corridor, obscured by the darkness. Jemma's distinctive haughtiness was evident in her voice. She was planning something with Alex in the study, and the tone of their conversation was enough to make my skin crawl.Alex let out a sigh. "I don't see why Cath should be involved in this. She has not taken any action—"Has not taken any action?" Jemma interrupted him with a loud laugh. You're so innocent, Alex. Everything is collapsing because of Cath. She is the one who has captured Mike's interest and allegiance. She will have it all if we don't take action right away.She said something that made my stomach turn.Jemma went on, in a low, secretive voice, "Mike is distracted." Additionally, he becomes susceptible when he is

"Do you think fate exists?"I was surprised by Mike's query. His profile was lit by the moon's dim glow as he leaned against the balcony railing. His tone was serious, as if the burden had been bearing down on his chest for years, rather than humorous or rhetorical.I was hesitant to respond. As I moved toward him, I said, "I don't know." "Life, in my opinion, is more about decisions than a set course of action."His blue eyes were shaded by something I couldn't quite interpret as he turned to face me. "What if I told you that everything changed for me in just one moment?"Uncertain of what he was leading to, I looked into his face. I answered quietly, "I think I believe you." "What took place?"Mike let out a long sigh, his shoulders stiff. His voice was firm yet low as he started, "It was a car accident." "Years ago. After a late-night dispute with someone I cared about very much, I was traveling back. I can no longer recall the specifics of our argument since it was so foolish. How

"She makes me smile."I was as surprised by Mike's deep, reflective voice as I was by the actual words. The dish of cookies in my hand shook a little as I froze in mid-step. He was humming as he filled his paper with a rainbow of colors while he leaned against the kitchen doorway and stared toward the living room where Mia was lying on the floor with her crayons."What?" I pretended not to know, but my chest constricted with anxiety."Mia," he replied, his eyes narrowing a little as though he were seeing her from afar. "She smiles exactly like I did when I was a child."I put the plate down on the counter and mustered a laugh. "Every child smiles like that, Mike. broad and careless. That is what makes them children.His focus remained on Mia, so he took a while to reply. After a time, he said, "Cath, it's not just her smile." Her eyes, too. Also, when she's thinking deeply, she wrinkles her nose. That's what I used to do. It always made me look like a curious little fox, according to

"Why are you here, Mike?"Cath's comments were harsher than the freezing wind that blasted around us, and her voice pierced the rain-soaked air. She protected herself from the storm and from me by standing on her front porch with her arms folded tightly across her chest.With the rain seeping through my jacket and into my skin, I took a step closer. Despite the storm roaring inside of me and outside, I said, "I needed to talk to you," in a steady voice.Her chuckle was a sneer of bitterness. "Speak? Do you want to talk now? After all this time?Even though I winced, I didn't give up. Yes, right now. Cath, because I've been a fool. I require—"You require?" Her eyes were flaming when she intervened. "Mike, you don't need anything from me. No more.I remained motionless despite her comments feeling like a slap. I was unable to. My voice cracked a little as I said, "I know I screwed up." "I will live my entire life regretting the hurt I caused you. But now I'm here. My goal is to put thi

"Why do grown-ups always lie?" The silence in the room was broken by Mia's tiny, startlingly keen voice.I was standing near the window when I turned, and her small form curled up on the couch caught my attention. Her brows were knitted in a manner far too solemn for a six-year-old, and she was clutching her favorite pet rabbit."Who lied to you, Mia?" I approached and sat down on the couch's edge to ask.She gazed up at me, her large brown eyes brimming with something I couldn't quite identify—confusion, despair, perhaps. "Not me. You. Concerning Cath.I was momentarily unable to react as her words struck me like a sucker punch. "What do you mean, Mia?"Her lips pressed into a narrow line as she gave the rabbit a firmer hug. "You're upset with her, but you're not sure why. Last night, I overheard you on the phone.With a sigh, I combed through my hair. She had overheard, of course. No matter how hard you tried to protect them, kids had a way of catching up on everything. "It’s... com