The CEO's Enigmatic Bride

ck on the wall ticked loudly in the silence, each second a reminder that time was slipping away.

t marriage. A lifel

awaited if she didn't act. She reached for her phone, scrolling aimlessly through her contacts be

. "Leah? What's wrong?" Rachel's v

," Leah said, h

ithout hesitation. "Bring

of Merlot in her hand as she recounted Adrian's shocking offe

r tone incredulous. "With Adrian Cole? The

t would be strictly business. One

e table with a sharp clink. "Leah, this is insane. Do you

ing? Impossible to r

a reputation for being ruthless. You'd be walking into his

ave any other options, Rachel. The gallery is drowning. If I don't do

isn't just about the gallery. This is your life we're talking about. Are you ready to

ately. Instead, her mind

ands smudged with paint as he adjusted the placement of a new exhibit.

filled with quiet pride. "It's a bridge between the artist and the audie

on project. But now, years later, she understood what he meant. The gallery wasn't just his d

memory by keeping the gallery alive. But she hadn't anticipated how difficult it woul

s she sat on Rachel's couch, his words

Leah said finally, her

rm. "There's always a choice, Leah. You just have

crificed so much. I've put everything I have into the gallery, and it

rms. "Okay, let's look at this logically. What

f. I could get so caught up in this arrangemen

case scenario?

et to walk away after a year w

"And what about Adri

s cold, but he's not heartless. I think he genuinely wan

playing by his rules. What happens if you don't hold up your en

weight of Rachel's word

ted. "But I do know that I can't let

do this, Leah, you need to be smart about it. Get everything in

dening. "I will. And Rachel.

m here for. Just promise me one thing-don't le

h she wasn't entirely sure

d her conversation with Rachel in her mind. Her friend's warnings

s until she found Adrian's name. Her finger hovered ov

Adrian's deep, steady voice

n," Leah said, her vo

ood. I'll have my legal team draw up the pa

ah echoed, her

n and closed her eyes. She had made her c