icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Sign out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon

The billionaire's beautiful marionette

Chapter 4 Ghosts and grace

Word Count: 1141    |    Released on: 16/01/2026

s's

call with Matt lifted my spirits a bit before a familiar chill

w glances from nurses. I didn't take too much n

ci

y in my mind. Short. Soft

mained outside longer than I had hoped. The call from Matt came t

s or business or my empire

trigued me, a feat few

me of my si

flames hidden in her icy eyes,the sharp edge of her voice, her natural instinct to protect someone

r way into national competitions and won as the youngest in her class. The paparazzi

c stopped playing. A c

een there

dn't s

be so useless this time.... may

had passed through and found the bill

cia. Mid twenties. She brought in

rn out eyes blinked slowly. "I - I can't

ion," I said smoothly. "I'm here to s

I had the power to allow that - th

. The receptionist looked at it with wide eyes before I continued, "you'll find that authorizati

nist looked

Forgive

ocess. I moved back into the hal

outside the

, her back against the wall, head tilted back like

tightly shut

words too q

t distu

od there a

o the huge hospital walls. So loud in her quietness. Everything about h

reminded

ill had faith that love alone

her eyes, she saw me.

her cheeks. "What,you want rou

of smirks. "Thought, I'd check if you

udly. "Not quite sir. The war

w, she still managed to be

?" I asked, shifti

able for now. But they're refusing to run some o

cracked ju

ion waver as I continue

ed.Three ti

oice even."What if some

ly."What are you

o my pockets," your baby sister's medi

t death

ntly. " I can't accept it. I didn'

t because you

e snarled,tear

elt pity for m

ind of billionaire

flinch at

meone who danced like the entire world was at her feet.some

d at me,s

," she murmured softly

I replied,

I did it. Because yo

ent as her eyes examined the floo

nce."You'r

re,my phone buzzed. I t

chards

to answer this," I

ond call with practic

h."Twice in a day - thi

"or just p

'm bored. Thought I'd trouble your ass a lit

perfect job of t

hey - next time we hit LA, let's swing by that poker plac

ou know you always lose right?"

ll fun re

ma in your

ds the hallway where Luci

coolly. "Just..a

at the truth. Catch you

r ass

my gaze towards the hospital where Lucia stood m

th

y, a second chance in disgui

Claim Your Bonus at the APP

Open
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