His Counterfeit Bride

ey spilled into the media, subtly questioning Ronan's ethics, his rapid rise, and now, even the authenticity of his sudden engagement. I found myself incre

r, shall we say, convenient given the Thorne acquisition. Any comments?

a whirlwind, but it is deeply genuine," I'd replied, my voice calm and clear, recalling Mr. Harrison's coached phrases. "Ronan'

up with cutting remarks about their "outdated business practices" or "lack of innovation." His cold, calculating brilliance was on full dis

cracks in his armor. I noticed the way his jaw would subtly clench when a negotiation wasn't going his way, or the brief, almost imperceptible fatigue in his eyes late at night when he thou

deal. The conversation veered into personal histories, a deliberate move by the investor to

textile shop. My father worked himself to the bone, but it was never enough. I learned early that in this world, sentimentality is a weakness. You either take what you n

e drive to protect one's loved ones. It was the same fire that fueled my own desperate agreement. For a fleeting

l silence. "Your father," I began tentatively. "He

ipped, final. "He never saw any of this." The unspoken regret hung in the air, a rare, exposed nerve. He didn't say anything else, but I felt a

xpressions that flitted across his face when he thought he was unobserved. I meticulously captured the complex layers of the man, the arrogant facade, the ruthless pragmatism, and the barely glimpsed

tronger, her energy levels slowly improving, and the doctors were talking about managing her condition long-term, rather than just crisis intervention. I wou

her voice filled with pride. "I always knew you'd make something incre

by luxury, constantly performing. But I was saving Tabitha. So, I forced a cheerful

igh-stakes negotiations. The media was buzzing with speculation. The pressure was mounting, and with

s loosened, and his usually impeccable hair was slightly disheveled. He bypassed the staff, heading straight for his stud

peared, her serene composure slightly ruffled. "Is M

omplicated. They have a new investor backing them, a formidable, silent partner who is m

The sound of shattered glass, though, indicated a rare crack in his carefully constructed control. For the first time, I saw him

in his hands. The remnants of a shattered glass lay on the floor near his wastebasket. He looked utterly exhausted, the lines of his fac

softly, pushing the d

nerability vanished, replaced by the familiar mask of irritation and coldne

d, gesturing vaguely to the b

ndling a broken glass, Miss Carrington," he stated, his voice low and dangerous. "And my business is not your concern. Your concern is your performance." He straigh

place, of the transactional nature of our relationship. He was shutting me out, reinforcing the walls he had b

le," I replied, my voice flat. I turned t

phi

fter this time, a rough murmur. I turned ba

e it should be. The next few weeks will be critical for Thorne. We cannot afford any distractions." He paused, and for

facade were fleeting, glimpses of a man beneath the armor, but he quickly sealed them up again. Our dance of deception was becoming more complicated, drawing us closer,