Shadow's Decree

The pain in her head was miserable. Safia had difficulty even in opening her eyes. But when finally she did, a chord struck in her throat. A very handsome man was sleeping beside her in his half naked glory with his head ducked to the pillow. Alarm leaped like a hurricane in her head. How did she end up with an unknown man in her bed? Oh wait! This was not her home. The place looked eerily quiet and was way too costly than hers. It screamed power and money. Safia panicked. She was not drunk nor on drugs. How come she has no memory of her past? She carefully slipped away from under the covers. But it was too late. The man beside her had already woken up. "Who are you? Why are you in my bed?" Safia squealed in worry. Much against her expectation the guy was very much composed. He signaled to the ring on her finger and opened the drawer beside him before throwing the marriage testament on her face. "We are married. You are my wife now. Be ready to welcome the life of thorns." "What?"

Chapters

Chapter 3

“I heard you bought the shares of Best Wines and married Safia Jose Blacksmith. Have you gone nuts?” Bin asked, sipping his wine after both the school friends met in one of the restaurants that Sion owns.

“Yes, you're right.” Sion forked a fish finger and lifted his glass of wine. Bin saw every moment of his friend being measured.

“Her company has the potential to improve, so I invested in it just like I had been doing all this while….helping the small and medium firms grow big.”

“Don’t tell me stories. I am your friend and I have been seeing you since our school days. Why do you think you rubbed your nose with that evil head and also married her? Bin asked in shock.

“This is ridiculous. I was glad her company was sinking. And you? I thought you were a wise man, Sion. Are you not satisfied with what she did to you in the past?” Bin’s questions came pouring which disturbed the serenity inside of Sion.

“Okay let me go straight to the point. I married her for revenge. My ache is much more than you can imagine. I could not simply allow her to repair that sinking company. She is smart and she will bring that firm back on wheels and I don't want that to happen.” Sion had a Spencer of choler that was unrivaled.

“Do you think it's a smart move when it is at the cost of your own happiness? You have decided to keep your enemy under your own roof.” Bin cautioned.

“There is no thrill in a game which has no challenges, my dear friend. I want to change her to a helpless woman with no self confidence, I want her to be like the dirt under my shoes and beg me to save her company. Only then will I get the satisfaction of a revenge on her.” Sion’s words were soft but the determination in his eyes to see Safia mutilated was undaunted.

Twenty minutes later…

“What are you doing here in my bedroom? Get out!” He yelled and removed the covers she was having, waking Safia all of a sudden in a confused state.

“Is this not our bedroom?” She asked him softly with fear.

“Our bedroom? I loathe to even touch your shadow. Sharing a room is a far gone option.” He spat his words on her with venom.

“Is this the same man who promised to help his wife’s business sail before the whole media and public this morning?” Safia asked, puzzled.

“It was only a show to keep my revenge and your dependence on me intact. I'm not a small-time entrepreneur born yesterday like you who makes sick excuses in court to save her face and keep her company working.” Sion’s eyes were going closed because of alcohol sedation. But suddenly he opened them and they landed straight on her as sharp as the eyes of a lion. “With how many men did you sleep to grant you time, hearing after hearing? I think you have been pulling on this drama for several years. How much more time do you want?

“Enough of your accusations on me. You have no right to speak about something that you don’t know and you have no right to determine my character.”

Sion took a staggering step towards her. Fear dawned on Safia spreading like a wild fire. With every step he took forward, she took two behind. “You are not in your right state of mind. Let us talk tomorrow.” She whispered while ignoring his sharp gaze on her.

Sion bent a little and looked her in the eye. It felt like something in him Spencered and he immediately averted his optics on her. “Wrong choice of words. I have got all the rights for you. You are my wife.” He fell on her like a predatory ghost and watched her with many emotions that she wasn't able to decipher.

Those eyes, whenever they met hers told a story about which she wasn't aware. They weren't necessarily all the time terrifying like he wanted them to be. Sometimes she felt he was hiding his love for her under the facade of anger.

“Why are you silent? I know you are the biggest drama queen to act innocent and take control of affluent and powerful men. You use them for your needs and later discard them like trash. Tell me how many men you slept with?” His question repeated and his hand on her upper arm was so harsh that it would have surely left its print on her.

Safia hissed in pain. “You're hurting me. Leave.”

Only then did he realize what he was doing to her. Sion left her arm with a jerk and she had to take two steps behind to balance herself.

“You talk as if you know everything about me while our marriage is not even a day old. Why beat around the bush? Tell me why you are so irritated by me. Let's talk and end this forever because to the best of my knowledge, I'm seeing you here for the first time. I have also checked the old records of my firm. But we did not have any near or far connection with Wellcrow Vineyards. Why are you suddenly an unwanted intruder in my peaceful life? I know I don't suffer any amnesia or short term memory loss.” Safia concluded.

There goes again….his usual way of avoiding things that he doesn’t want to discuss. “Get out of my room. Can't you understand English? I'm not your servant to make any clarifications to you. Be ready by sharp six tomorrow morning. We start our work early. And this is the card. Otherwise beggars like you are not even allowed to enter the premises, leave about joining my office.”

He closed the door behind her with a thud making her jump on her feet with trepidation. That was the worst humiliation she had ever received from anyone.

Safia burst into a cry falling on her bed. Her pillow was soaked with tears and did not know when she fell asleep.

The next day when she got up, it was well over eight. Damn! What is the fearsome monster going to do to her now?

She is stumped!

Continue to next part

The elevator's golden numbers climbed steadily—thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine—each floor bringing me closer to what I thought would be the perfect surprise. Chase's penthouse key felt warm in my palm, a symbol of the trust we'd built over two years together. Today marked our anniversary, and I'd planned everything down to the last detail: his favorite wine chilling in my bag, reservations at the restaurant where we'd shared our first kiss, and a small velvet box containing cufflinks engraved with our initials. The hallway stretched before me, silent except for the soft hum of expensive air conditioning. Chase's door stood at the end, mahogany gleaming under crystal chandeliers. I'd surprised him like this before—showing up unannounced with takeout or just because I missed him. He always said it was one of the things he loved about me, how spontaneous I could be. I slipped the key into the lock, turning it slowly to avoid the metallic click that might spoil the surprise. The door swung open on well-oiled hinges, revealing the familiar luxury of Chase's living space. Afternoon sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting everything in golden hues.

Billionaire Modern Romance

8.7

Her Body, His Signature ( A CEO's X DEAL )

8.7

My back hits the cold glass of the penthouse window, the city glittering a thousand feet below us. Sebastian’s hand is at my throat—not tight enough to hurt, but enough to remind me who I belong to. “You were talking to him,” he says, voice low, dangerous. His other hand is braced beside my head, caging me in. “You smiled.” “It was just—” “Don’t lie to me, Ocean.” His thumb brushes the hollow of my throat, and my pulse jumps so hard he feels it. “You’re mine. Every glance. Every breath. Every inch of you.” I should be furious. I should tell him I’m not his property. But then his mouth is on mine—rough, consuming, tasting like the whiskey he hasn’t let go of since the gala. I moan before I can stop myself. That’s all the permission he needs. His hand slides to my waist, fingers digging in as if he’s afraid I’ll vanish. The heat between us ignites like dry kindling. It’s dangerous. It’s too much. It’s everything. When he finally pulls back, his eyes are dark enough to drown in. “One year,” he murmurs. “That was the deal. But you… you’re making me want forever.” And in that moment, I know the worst truth of all— If Sebastian Velez decides to keep me, I won’t even try to run.

Billionaire Modern Romance

7.6

His Assistant, His Secret

7.6

His Assistant, His Secret Mira Hale is a disciplined, quiet executive assistant who believes professionalism is the only way to stay safe in a demanding workplace. For two years, she has kept her head down, managing the life and schedule of her boss, Julian Cross, a powerful businessman admired for his control, confidence, and success. Julian is married. He has a family, a reputation to protect, and a life that looks perfect from the outside. But behind closed doors, his marriage is strained, and the weight of unspoken dissatisfaction follows him everywhere. Mira notices the change in him long before she understands it. What begins as a strictly professional relationship slowly shifts into something more fragile and dangerous. Late nights, shared vulnerability, and emotional dependence blur the lines they both promised not to cross. As Mira struggles with guilt and restraint, Julian finds himself leaning on her in ways he never intended. When boundaries are finally crossed, consequences follow quickly. An unexpected pregnancy forces hidden truths into the open, shattering the careful balance Mira tried to maintain. Faced with judgment, heartbreak, and uncertainty, she must decide whether love is worth sacrificing her dignity, independence, and future. With the unwavering support of her best friend, Lena Brooks, Mira chooses a harder path one that demands strength, self-respect, and growth. His Assistant, His Secret is a story about forbidden love, power, consequence, and the quiet courage it takes to choose yourself when love is no longer enough.

Modern Mystery Romance

8.7

I Designed His Dream House, He Built a Secret Family

8.7

I was in a high-end mall, browsing a toy store for my friend's daughter's birthday, when my world tilted on its axis. Through the polished glass storefront, I saw him. My husband, Julian. He was in the café opposite, seated beside the sprawling indoor children's play area. He wasn't alone. A woman, Seraphina Vance—a social media influencer whose perfectly curated life I’d occasionally scrolled past—was laughing, her head tilted just so. And between them, a little boy of about four, gleefully mashing a piece of cake into his own dark hair. Julian’s hair. They looked like a family. A perfect, happy family. An icy dread washed over me. I remembered Julian refusing to have a baby with me, citing the immense pressure of his work. All his business trips, the late nights… were they spent with them? I recalled a night six months ago when Noah had supposedly been sick. Julian had stayed out all night, his voice strained over the phone, telling me a "critical client had a medical emergency." The lie was so easy for him. I must have stared too long. The little boy, Noah, noticed me. He picked up a toy water pistol from their table, aimed it directly at me through the café’s open front, and squeezed the trigger. A jet of cold water hit my silk skirt, leaving a dark, spreading stain. Seraphina Vance turned, her eyes meeting mine. There was no surprise, only a flicker of amusement. She offered a saccharine smile. "Oh, dear. He's just playing with you," she cooed, her voice dripping with condescension. My heart hammered against my ribs. I turned and walked away, my legs unsteady. I needed to leave, to breathe, to think. In the underground parking garage, I fumbled for my keys, my hands shaking. As I passed Julian’s sleek sedan, something on the passenger seat caught my eye. A heavy, cream-colored card with embossed lettering. "You are joyfully invited to the Christening of Noah Thorne." It was real. More real than a fleeting email. A physical invitation to a life I never knew existed. How could I have been so blind? My phone felt heavy in my hand. I didn’t call my best friend. I didn’t call a lawyer. I called the director of the Zurich Architectural Fellowship, a prestigious program I had deferred for him, for us. "I'd like to accept the fellowship," I said, my voice eerily calm. "I can leave immediately."

Modern Mystery Romance

9.6

My Fiancé Chose His Dead Brother’s Wife

9.6

My former fiancé's sister-in-law fell ill, and he insisted on ending our engagement. "Blair Meyer and her daughter Thalia have no one else now that she's ill. I can't just ignore them." I didn't stop him; I agreed right away. In a previous lifetime, I had coerced him into marrying me by threatening his family's business and leveraging my pregnancy. It ended in tragedy—Blair couldn't bear the pain and abandonment and chose to end her life on our wedding day. From then on, Skyler Castillo hated me with all his might. He conspired with my enemies and, within six months, destroyed my parents' company, driving them to desperation where they took their own lives. He locked me away in a cellar, tormenting me daily until he eventually caused my death, costing two lives. This time, I chose to let go. The day he announced our breakup, I went to the clinic, terminated the pregnancy, and applied for a study opportunity in the United States.

Modern Mystery Romance

8.7

My Husband Used My Money to Keep His Mistress

8.7

The apartment felt too quiet on New Year's Eve. The clock on the mantle read 11:47 PM as I sat curled on our cream leather sofa, phone pressed to my ear, listening to Eleanor's voice drift through the speaker. My mother-in-law's tone was as crisp as ever, each word precisely measured like she was dictating a medical diagnosis. 'We're just finalizing some details for Kade's promotion celebration,' she was saying. 'Of course, Kate, you'll want to be involved in the planning. After all, it's not every day a Robertson receives such recognition. The hospital board expects—' The line went dead. I stared at my phone, the sudden silence jarring. Eleanor never ended calls abruptly. Never.

Modern Mystery Romance

Shadow's Decree

Chapter 3

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