The CEO'S Contract Bride

rom Evel

something no one tells you ear

till go to bed starving-for love, for sincerit

ove rarely comes without a cost. Sometimes, it ste

success. Or f

all thre

you're willing to lose in

e

mething I didn't even know I n

as a fairytale, b

every empire

ine... is a

lyn M

ost o

yn's

l it in the air as I stared at the empty wine glass on my counter

the fif

scar deeper than the last. Men who saw me for my last name and my fa

ollar empire-my father's empire. All his companies, houses, and shares would be t

ure, a parting gift before

ould think was-I

anted a man to hold me and mean it. I wanted a home with laughter

ove... not

had nev

roe. Heiress to Monroe Conglomerate. Daughter

o wealth but s

en I m

y De

all the right places. We met online, through a

oon, trying not to cry over another failed "connectio

message

about building empires alo

me. He didn't comment on my body like the others. I

ly to find yourself eating dinners alone

ts, voice notes, video calls. He

asked if I was okay. When I admitted that I feared my father wouldn't live to see my wedding or

ever said

like

decided to legally transfer all his companies to me the mo

y full name yet. But

ieve it wasn't

knew b

will signing, Henry

air swept back with a curl and warm brown eyes

been waiting to fin

is fragile state, li

gave him strength. "A man who doesn't flinch in my

ly. "Don't get

was

ed with watery eyes as I took on the

also saw the guilt. He knew what he wa

ht, Henr

In my arms

e-precious and dangerous all at once. He kissed my f

n't sca

was a

months later

No call.

an empty bed and a phone number that no longer existed. I called airports, checked

th

he'd never e

pt h

ide

ching from morning sickness and heartbreak. The pregnancy tes

iti

preg

th my heart-and probably a

just from hormones

a multi-billion-dollar emp

rowing inside me. A tiny, fragile piece of Henry that I ha

whether to s

ss, brushed out my hair, and showed up for th

He was barely holding on, and I c

the city in silence, I would sit with my hand

hild alone? Or do

If that was ev

fact that he was always vague about his job. That he n

ways booked the flights himself. That he asked a

t fel

h to risk

ut-and a child who didn't a

discreet procedure, vanish for a few wee

ld never suspect. I'd still be the perfect Monro

d with every late-night message and g

ust j

ve

ed to see if the regret was real-or if the entire thing had been a perfor

f he'd planned it

e if h

n't just st

clare

er lost a wa

my father's bed, holding his wi

d weakly, his voice little more t

ars threaten

wil

he battle I was

d designer dress, I was building something mo

trap and a

Desmond... he'll wis

not just E

heir to

her-t

d

t for