My husband, Damien Wolfe, was my perfect love, sweet, devoted, and everything I thought I wanted. Or so I believed. How could I not? He showered me with affection, whispered promises of forever, and made me feel cherished. But it was all a lie. He wasn't loving me, he was using me. Using my money. My inheritance. And the worst part? He cheated on me. I caught him in his office, his hands on another woman, their lips locked. I confronted them, my shock turning to rage, my heart shattering into pieces. I threatened them both, but I didn't realize that my threat had sealed my fate. They killed me, or so they thought. But I survived. And now, I'm back for revenge. To reclaim my fortune, I needed a husband. A man to stand by my side until I turned twenty-five and legally inherited everything my parents left behind. The problem? The only man who could help me was someone I had wronged before. Someone I had once looked down on. So, I swallowed my pride and begged him. "Be my contract husband. When I inherit, we'll end it. It's just a job, I'll pay you." Except, my money meant nothing to him. After all, he was Cassian Holt, the youngest, richest billionaire in the country. And to make things even more interesting... He was Damien's greatest rival. I met his piercing gaze and asked the question that would change everything. "So, Mr. Holt, will you be my contract husband?"
Chapter 1 1: Forgive Me
My phone beeped, and I glanced at the screen to see a message from my husband. I blushed because Damien was my world and the love of my life. I adored him and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.
A gentle tap on my shoulder jolted me from my reverie. I turned around to see my best friend, Clara, give me that look of condemnation, as if she was disgusted by my obsession with Damien. "What?" I asked, narrowing my gaze at her.
She rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "Nothing," she said, but the way she said it made it obvious she had something on her mind. I chose to ignore her. She sighed and sat across from me.
"What about your inheritance, Selena?" she asked, stirring the iced coffee in her hand. "Do you really trust Damien that much to make him your next of kin?" Her tone was off and hesitant, almost nervous. I frowned. "Of course. He's my husband. We're one. Or you have an issue with that?
She let out a dry laugh and shrugged. "Absolutely not." Then, as if realizing she had somewhere to be, she rose up and grabbed her purse. "Gotta go, girl. "There is a lot to catch up on." She left before I could say anything. I'd seen Clara acting differently lately, but I pushed the thought aside.
Just as I began typing a response to Damien's message, someone behind me covered my eyes with their palms. I smiled, knowing just who it was. "Babe," I said.
Damien removed his hands, showing his lovely face, and leaned down to kiss me. "I missed you, Selena." I blushed and kissed him back. "But I was only gone for less than an hour."
He sat across from me, still holding my hand. Then he sighed deeply and exclaimed, "Babe, every second without you is agonizing. You've taken my breath away, so how am I expected to breathe? I laughed and blushed profusely.
Sweet talk? Please leave that to my hubby. Damien had a way of making me feel like the most beautiful and important person on the planet. That is why I was so fascinated by him.
He stood and stretched. "What do you want to eat when you get home from work?" I will cook for you." I was deep in contemplation, trying to decide, when he chuckled and said, "Take your time, sweetheart." Please let me know later.
Then he leaned in, kissed me passionately, and gave me a little peck on the forehead. He looked into my eyes with love and whispered, "I love you, Selena." A pleasant feeling passed inside me. This man was mine. This love we had was real, honest, and everything I had ever desired. "I love you too, Damien," I replied without hesitation. He grinned and walked away, leaving me with butterflies in my stomach.
Damien used to be was my high school crush. But when my parents died in a plane crash, my world was devastated. I had no one until Damien intervened. He became my anchor, my safe haven, and my everything. We were friends one moment, then married the next. Two years had gone, and our love had grown even stronger.
This was my ideal situation as his wife. I was thinking about what to eat, perhaps pasta? The mere thought of food caused my stomach to churn. A rush of nausea hit me hard. My eyes widened as I dashed to the lavatory, barely making it in time to throw up. This had been happening for several weeks.
"Am I pregnant?" I dug into my bag and took out a pregnancy test strip. I'd bought it a while ago but hadn't got the nerve to use it. What if it was not pregnancy? What if I'm just sick? The disappointment would crush me. I had previously avoided taking the test due to fear, but now... I had to.
My hands trembled as I peed into a disposable cup and dipped the test strip inside. With my heart hammering, I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. Seconds later, I opened them and saw two lines: Positive. I gasped and covered my mouth with my palm. I was pregnant. Excitement swelled within me. I couldn't wait to inform Damien that he was going to happy.
Unable to suppress my emotions, I took a picture of the test strip and emailed it to Clara, who responded almost immediately. Clara asks, "Are you sure?"
Me: "Yes, but I'm confused. I'm not sure how to tell Damien. "What if he's not satisfied?" Her reaction arrived sooner than I expected.
"Clara:" Do not tell him, please." I frowned.
"Me: "What? Why?" Before I could continue typing, my phone rang. It was Clara. I responded fast. "What are you talking about, Clara?" "Why shouldn't I tell my husband I'm pregnant?"
Her voice sounded urgent. "Listen to me, Selena." Don't tell Damien. I clutch on the phone more tightly.
"What is going on?" "What are you not telling me?" She paused. "I cannot say that over the phone. "We need to meet."
I felt an anxious knot forming in my stomach. "Meet? Why? "What is this about?" There was a pause. Then she sighed. "It's about Damien." My heart skips a beat.
Clara: "Meet me now at our favorite coffee place. I will explain everything. I'm so sorry Selena. And I only hope you'll forgive me. Then she hung up, and I sat there, my phone still clamped to my ear, my mind running so fast. I had an unsettling feeling: "What could Clara possibly know about Damien?"