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Bond by Fate

Bond by Fate

John Rx

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Evie Carter, a determined freelance graphic designer, and Alexander Knight, a billionaire CEO with a guarded heart, find their worlds collide in an unexpected spark at a charity gala-a champagne spill that ignites a connection neither can ignore. What begins as a pragmatic, flash marriage to secure a critical business deal soon deepens into a fierce battle for love and truth. As corporate treachery, legal battles, and personal demons threaten to shatter everything, Alex and Evie must navigate a labyrinth of betrayal, redemption, and the trials of impending parenthood. Rallying allies from within their company and community, they expose corruption, mend fractured family bonds, and transform a once-tainted legacy into a beacon of hope. In their journey from darkness to renewal, they discover that love-when embraced with vulnerability and courage-is the most powerful force of all.

Chapter 1 The Gala

The ballroom glittered like a scene from a dream, all crystal chandeliers and golden light. Evelyn Carter Evie to her friends stood at the edge of the room, clutching a glass of champagne she couldn't afford and feeling like a fraud in her borrowed dress. The sleek black gown hugged her curves perfectly, looking so dashing, but it wasn't hers. Neither were the diamond studs in her ears or the confidence she was trying so hard to fake.

"You're fine," she muttered under her breath, her fingers tightening around the stem of the glass. "Just blend in. No one will notice you."

But blending in was easier said than done when the room was filled with New York's elite billionaires, socialites, and CEOs who looked like they'd stepped out of a magazine spread. Evie had never felt more out of place.

She shouldn't even be here. Her best friend, Mia, was supposed to attend the gala as part of her event planning job, but a last-minute stomach flu had left Evie as the stand-in. Mia had begged her, promising it would be fun. "Free food, free drinks, and you might even meet someone interesting," she'd said.

Evie snorted softly. The only thing interesting about tonight was how quickly she could escape without drawing any attention to herself.

Her gaze swept the room, landing on a man standing near the center of the crowd. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence that seemed to draw everyone's attention. His dark suit was impeccably tailored, and his sharp jawline was set in a look of mild boredom, as if the entire event was beneath him. "So handsome she said."

Alexander Knight.

Evie recognized him immediately. His face was plastered across business magazines and tabloids alike. The billionaire CEO of Knight Enterprises was known for his amazing business tactics and his equally amazing good looks. He was the kind of man who made women swoon and men seethe with envy.

And he was walking straight toward her.

Evie's heart skipped a beat. She glanced around, hoping he was heading for someone else, but the crowd seemed to part for him like the Red Sea. Before she could think of an escape plan, he was standing in front of her, his piercing gray eyes locking onto hers.

"You're in my way," he said, his voice low and smooth, like velvet over steel.

Evie blinked, caught off guard by his bluntness. "Excuse me?"

"You're standing in front of the exit," he clarified, his tone dripping with impatience.

She glanced behind her and realized she was, in fact, blocking a discreet side door. Heat flooded her cheeks as she stepped aside. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

He didn't respond, just gave her a curt nod and moved past her. But as he did, his arm brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her. Evie's breath hitched, and she instinctively stepped back right into a passing waiter.

The tray of champagne glasses wobbled precariously, and for a split second, Evie thought she could save it. But then time seemed to slow as one glass tipped over, spilling its contents in a perfect arc directly onto Alexander Knight's pristine white shirt.

The room seemed to hold its breath.

Evie's stomach dropped as she stared at the dark stain spreading across his chest. "Oh my God," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sudden silence.

Alexander looked down at his shirt, then back at her, his expression unreadable. "Do you always make it a habit to ruin people's evenings?"

The sharpness of his tone snapped her out of her shock. "It was an accident," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't mean to"

"Clearly." He cut her off, his gaze narrowing. "Do you have any idea how much this shirt costs?"

Evie's cheeks burned. "I'm sorry," she said again, though part of her wanted to point out that he could probably afford a thousand shirts like it.

He studied her for a moment, his eyes flickering over her face as if trying to place her. "Do I know you?"

"No," she said quickly. "I'm just... here with a friend."

"A friend," he repeated, his tone skeptical. "And what's your name?"

"Evie," she said, then immediately regretted it. Why had she given him her name?

"Evie," he said, testing the sound of it. "Well, Evie, you've certainly made an impression."

She wasn't sure if it was a compliment or an insult, but before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there with a sinking feeling in her chest.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Evie avoided the champagne trays and kept to the edges of the room, hoping to stay out of trouble. But no matter where she went, she couldn't shake the memory of Alexander Knight's piercing gaze or the way her skin had tingled at his touch.

As the gala wound down, she found herself lingering near the exit, her mind racing. She shouldn't care what he thought of her. He was just another arrogant billionaire, and she was just a girl in a borrowed dress.

But as she stepped out into the cool night air, she couldn't help wondering if she would cross path with him again.

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Chapters
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Bond by Fate
1

Chapter 1 The Gala

02/02/2025

2

Chapter 2 Sparks Fly

02/02/2025

3

Chapter 3 The Night That Changes Everything

02/02/2025

4

Chapter 4 The Morning After

03/02/2025

5

Chapter 5 Lines Blurred

03/02/2025

6

Chapter 6 Complications

03/02/2025

7

Chapter 7 Crossing the Line

03/02/2025

8

Chapter 8 The Aftermath

03/02/2025

9

Chapter 9 A Proposal

03/02/2025

10

Chapter 10 New Beginnings

03/02/2025

11

Chapter 11 The Forgotten Sketch

04/02/2025

12

Chapter 12 The Midnight Gallery

04/02/2025

13

Chapter 13 Whispers in the Storm

04/02/2025

14

Chapter 14 The Leak

04/02/2025

15

Chapter 15 Unraveling Shadows

04/02/2025

16

Chapter 16 The Fractured Crown

04/02/2025

17

Chapter 17 The Ghost in the Code

04/02/2025

18

Chapter 18 The Fractured Mirror

04/02/2025

19

Chapter 19 The Knight Dynasty

06/02/2025

20

Chapter 20 Bloodline Battles

06/02/2025

21

Chapter 21 Fractured Trust

06/02/2025

22

Chapter 22 The Ghost in the Code

06/02/2025

23

Chapter 23 The Hollow House

06/02/2025

24

Chapter 24 The Dinner

06/02/2025

25

Chapter 25 Reckoning

06/02/2025

26

Chapter 26 The Shattered Crown

06/02/2025

27

Chapter 27 Genesis

06/02/2025

28

Chapter 28 Seeds of Betrayal

07/02/2025

29

Chapter 29 Color You in My Shade

07/02/2025

30

Chapter 30 Brothers Love

07/02/2025

31

Chapter 31 Taking Control

07/02/2025

32

Chapter 32 Betrayal's Whisper

07/02/2025

33

Chapter 33 The Confrontation

07/02/2025

34

Chapter 34 Unmasking Shadows

07/02/2025

35

Chapter 35 Hidden Scars

07/02/2025

36

Chapter 36 Echoes of Regret

07/02/2025

37

Chapter 37 The Weight of Truth

07/02/2025

38

Chapter 38 Shadows of Deception

07/02/2025

39

Chapter 39 Convergence of Shadows

07/02/2025

40

Chapter 40 Dawn of a New Resolve

07/02/2025