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The billionaire's beautiful marionette

Chapter 2 The forsaken

Word Count: 942    |    Released on: 16/01/2026

a's

the silence like a

phi

my chest as I bolted to her room where I left he

ick- and in the dim light

r by the window,her little frame

." she

...hu

econds, anxiety filling my hea

d this

ine just y

..it was clammy and burning up but yet she

yes on me," I whispe

ong? What'

e gasped."I ca

ty washed over me.Thi

Okay. I've g

ady hands and dialed 911.My v

breathe properly. She's bur

ntic red and white. I sat next to her, clutc

ecialist muttered. "Blood pressure

ight?" I asked, trying

an love," the woman said

g to her. Kee

man co

bli

tay here with me, okay?

ways.... and forever..." sh

t. You're go

sed onc

loud - monitors beeping,voices yelling a

and I stood there for a m

omeone sa

ou to wait

ly and stumbled i

Stony chair with my arms wrapped tightly around my knees like a little

ared, clipbo

a Mor

to my feet."

ct acute respiratory distress, possibly made worse by previo

needs," I an

eas

esitated fo

health insuranc

little child. You'll s

treatment - most especially advanced diagnoses and medication

...three hundred and fifty dol

epartment is just down the hall to the l

for me to be honest. I didn't

e her?" I

d guided me t

skin pale against the sheets. An IV snaked into h

as just a whisper b

ked her hair back softl

re sobb

rand new tears." No way,

nowing smile

in...like I couldn't move...like I

st tig

the fire cause

" it wasn't your fau

lady...from t

" The lady was

rawled up

tening but somehow she

ur brains play tricks on us when we'

felt s

gently held her hand and murmured

luorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a warm glow on e

as the

beneath my feet. I was running on luck - no money,a shitty job and an un

passed by m

ou wel

. "Yes. I'm ju

ced but nodded slo

to my face and le

cinated about fires or big sisters who used to dan

re about peo

I

way out of this.e

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The billionaire's beautiful marionette
The billionaire's beautiful marionette
“"Be my wife." Lucia looked at him, questioning his sanity. "You're out of your mind.I don't even know you ". Lucas Mariano's voice was icy, his gaze unreadable. "You need help.Your sister requires care.I can help you both.You have quite the image so I'm sure you'll need it. It's transactional-nothing more."He finished. Once the rising star in the ballet world, Lucia Moretti's life is shaken after a brutal divorce and a terrible fire that leaves her and her sister homeless. Now, with her dreams buried,her heart is guarded and her main focus is keeping both herself and her sister alive. Enter Lucas-Merciless, cold and sinfully compelling.He offers a contract marriage which comes with everything Lucia needs but at a cost she doesn't understand...yet. What started as a formality quickly grows into something far more twisted when her ex-husband,Matt-lucas's best friend-returns, determined to have her again. "You got married to Lucas?" Matt snarled,fury dripping from his voice. "Is this your revenge?" He continued icily. No, Lucia said without emotion. "This is survival." As sparks fly and secrets come to light, Lucia Finds herself torn between a past that nearly broke her and a man who might shatter her in a brand new way. In a world of socialites, betrayal and fake love, Lucia must ask herself: Is she the puppet or the one holding the strings?”
1 Chapter 1 Forsaken grace2 Chapter 2 The forsaken3 Chapter 3 Ice and ashes4 Chapter 4 Ghosts and grace5 Chapter 5 Silent echoes of grace6 Chapter 6 The savior7 Chapter 7 The price of desperation8 Chapter 8 Rock bottom9 Chapter 9 The call10 Chapter 10 Bound by breath11 Chapter 11 Glimmer of hope12 Chapter 12 Papers and promises13 Chapter 13 Saved by the billionaire14 Chapter 14 Settling in15 Chapter 15 Behind shut doors16 Chapter 16 Castles in the sky17 Chapter 17 Precious memories18 Chapter 18 A brighter ray of hope19 Chapter 19 The bunny20 Chapter 20 Joyful news21 Chapter 21 Homecoming preparation22 Chapter 22 Together at last23 Chapter 23 Tender bonds24 Chapter 24 Cracks in the contract25 Chapter 25 Silent walls26 Chapter 26 Fractured distance27 Chapter 27 The best illusion28 Chapter 28 Perfect distance29 Chapter 29 Throne of glass30 Chapter 30 Reflections31 Chapter 31 Bustling world32 Chapter 32 Control freak33 Chapter 33 The mask of longing34 Chapter 34 Dinner invitations35 Chapter 35 Richards tower36 Chapter 36 Fury unleashed37 Chapter 37 The biggest mistake38 Chapter 38 Gestures39 Chapter 39 Roses and tulips40 Chapter 40 Thawing the ice41 Chapter 41 Unexpected call42 Chapter 42 Toughest challenge43 Chapter 43 Mommy dearest44 Chapter 44 Unseen challenges45 Chapter 45 Bunny parents46 Chapter 46 Public fire