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 4

Safia woke up like a zombie and started doing her morning routine like a machine. By the time she got ready, the breakfast was already arranged on the dining table.

“Good morning ma'am, I'm maid Freya. I cook and clean the house.”

“Good morning! I'm late to work. So I will grab something during lunch. Sorry Freya.” Safia said in a hurry looking at the time on her watch and almost ran to the door.

“I apologize for interrupting ma'am. But sir told you to finish breakfast and then only come to the office. You're going to have a long day.” The maid said politely.

“How is the mood of your boss?” Safia couldn't help but ask her though she knew it was not an appropriate question to a servant working in their home.

“I think it's not friendly.” The maid’s information was precise but it was enough to bring crazy goosebumps on the skin of Safia.

Half an hour later she was in the premises of Wellcrow vineyards head office. “Good morning! The CEO asked me to meet him today.” Safia showed the receptionist the card which Sion threw on her face the previous night. She didn't want to let anyone know that she was his wife until he really wanted it.

The receptionist nodded, checked a register and informed her, “please go straight and turn left. You will have an employee elevator where you need to press the 12th floor.

The buzzing neon lights on the top before her only raised her anxiety. She wiped the droplets of sweat covering her forehead as she was extremely tense. No sooner had she stepped inside the designated floor, she heard strange sounds.

The place was eerily quiet and with each step she took forward, her heart started beating ten times faster. When she reached a certain door she began to hear soft moans of a woman followed by heavy grunts of a man. Something ignited in her and Safia twisted the door knob.

At first it did not open. But then?

The world crumbled before her.

****

“Who told you to enter inside without permission?” There he was without any shame standing before her and zipping his pants.

Safia was beyond furious. He did not have the least repentance to cheat on his wife and on the contrary he was blaming her on why she entered his office without permission.

“You should have locked the door when you do shameless things like this in the office.” She pointed to the naked woman who had a lipstick smudge all over her face and hair like a bird’s nest.

“It's none of your business. Don’t dare to reprimand answers from me when you are the one primarily on fault. Who comes to the office first? Is it the boss or his employees?” He roared at her like a wolf.

“I'm only a little late to the office. It is only a mistake. But you? You're doing a blunder.” She eyed the woman beside him in disgust.

“I can't have a boyfriend, can't date and sex…” Safia huffed out looking somewhere beyond him. “But you can kiss and fuck another woman. What sort of equity is there in your contract?”

“Psst, you are missing it all. Isn't it? After living twenty four years of life with a new man every day to warm your bed, your current position might have been really awful. I can understand it.” Sion showed mock pity at her.

“Shut up! Stop blaming me for being a whore that I have never been. I have been a virgin until you.” Safia was about to add more but before that the personal assistant stuttered inside.

“What were you doing all this while? Were you baking cookies? Shouldn't you know when you allow visitors inside my room?” Sion was bombarding his questions with the assistant.

“I have gone to the washroom for a nature call.” The woman meekly spoke not even able to meet his gaze.

“Fuck the nature's call. Are you a baby who can't hold it till lunch?” Sion was extremely narcissistic, insensitive and brutal towards his employees. There is an unsaid slogan which goes on in the company, if not for the heavy pockets that he fills, nobody would work for him. But did Sion Canes care about anything?

The lady engaged with him till then, gave him a peck on his lips and walked out after getting dressed. “Bye darling, call me when you want to see me again.” She sweetly said waving her fingers and was gone.

Anger was a very small word to describe the emotion on the features of Safia at that moment.

“This is not your father’s company where you can walk-in and walk-out whenever you want. You should be here on time. Otherwise I will not allow you to work and withdraw my shares from your company. Come on, now get me a warm cup of coffee. I feel worn out.” Sion spoke while leaving for the washroom.

“Layla would make it. Isn’t she your assistant?” Safia pointed to the door from where the employee left after apologizing to Sion.

“I'm not here to bring you coffee. I'm here to learn about work. All though I think I'm competent enough to put my firm back on track.” Safia said confidently.

“Oh is it? Why are you here then? Bring your firm back on track before the court’s next hearing. There is nobody forcing you to work here. I have got many better employees to do that.” Sion spoke while taking his seat to look at the files placed on his work desk.

Safia had a defeated look at Sion. She stomped to exit grabbing the cup on the table without speaking anymore.

Sion had an egotistical grin on his features. He was having his vengeance on her in full length. “Put off the elevator for the next ten minutes.” He informed one of the company’s maintenance staff as soon as Safia left.

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 4

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