The CEO's Reluctant Bride

a Thompson's breath hitched in her throat. She gripped the arm

retched across the horizon. Ne

foot in this c

she had

had sworn ne

ere sh

gar held a sign with her name, his posture

on her nose and strode toward the car, h

he city: pavement, exhaust, and t

at, the driver spoke. "You've grown,

laugh. "That's what ha

pa

ant to come b

his gaze in the rear view mirr

N

n gates of the Thompson estate, the mansion st

Unwelc

o

before she could step inside, a voic

ally decided to grace

on her suitc

li

in a silk robe that clung to her frame in a

nt bun, and the smirk on her lips sent a

red, arms crossing. "Aren

a tight smile.

untering back inside. "Come a

ryo

lenched, but

he grand foyer, she was met w

e, examining her manicured nails. And leaning against

alf-b

olden

vo

shi

hing she had

her. "You actually showed up. I was bet

it out and you didn

fore she recovered. "Oh, please. I'd never

ted for a retort,

you know," he said, arm

m, arching a brow.

back to a family that still acknowledges y

settled in Au

. "You've been away for years. Did you really t

, refusing to give him

murmured, stepping past him. "Sti

s head. "And you're still

rora had learned long a

ead high, but deep down, a sen

ng was

thin

ble feeling she was

mach cl

rse, h

hallway, drawing her attention to

Thom

fa

eyes, dark and calculating assess

k well,"

t's skip the pleasant

te a smile. "Straight to the point, as always.

y coiled tight. She perched on the edge of the leat

a drink. "You've be

lan." She repli

liquid in his glass. "And yet, y

"I didn't come

, setting his glass down with a deliberate cl

down her spine. "What

e sheet of paper. He slid it across the table toward

ont

nned the words, her heart po

ria

arranged a ma

fury. She shot to her feet.

ice was calm, but there was an edge of fi

d the paper, crumpling i

arkened. "You're

silent, heavy

herself to stay composed. "Who

ked. "Marc

a shockwave th

elusive, untouch

vil hi

reputation. Everyone did. Ruthless, brilliant, and wrapped in

ck, shaking her head.

't have

s trembl

air, exuding a quiet domina

omach

kind o

first time that night

you can'

aced down

l, storming toward the d

reat

r

e, James's voice cut thro

I'll make sure

fr

rned back. "Is

low sip. "No, darling." His eyes gleamed

th shuddered

t time in years,

as tr

t what exactly has her father done? A