The Broken CEO's Healing Bride
Lucy Taylor never expected to be loved when she agreed to billionaire CEO, William Ashcroft, in place of her step sister to save her family's reputation. But as she gets to know him, she finds out he's completely different from the man she thought he was. As they grew closer, they realize they're in love. But what happens when trouble lurks around the corner? With a greedy stepsister and a maniac rival on their ends? Will they be able to survive or will their relationship crash under the weight of problems coming their way?
Chapters
Share
Chapter 2
Lucy stepped into her new home-a sprawling mansion that screamed wealth and power. The marble floors gleamed under soft lighting, and the walls were adorned with priceless art that she couldn't even begin to appreciate. As impressive as it all was, the house felt cold and unwelcoming, much like the man she had just married.
William Ashcroft rolled his wheelchair toward her, his sharp gaze following her every move as though she were an intruder in his private domain.
"I assume your room will be adequate," he said, his voice devoid of warmth as he nodded toward the grand staircase that spiraled up to the second floor.
Lucy forced a polite smile. "I'm sure it will be fine."
William turned his attention to his assistant, Brad, who stood nearby with an unreadable expression. "Brad will handle the details of your daily routine. Anything you need, go through him."
Brad gave a small nod, though his eyes didn't quite meet Lucy's. There was something guarded about him, something that made her uneasy.
"Thank you," Lucy replied softly, feeling out of place in the vast mansion.
As William wheeled himself away, Brad stepped forward, finally offering her a brief glance. "If you'd like, I can show you around the house," he offered.
Lucy appreciated the gesture but wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. "I think I'll explore on my own. Thank you, Brad."
Brad hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. If you need anything, I'll be in the study."
Lucy watched him leave, feeling more isolated than ever. This was her life now-a marriage bound by necessity, surrounded by strangers, living in a house that didn't feel like home.
---
The mansion was even larger than it seemed from the outside. Lucy wandered through the hallways, peeking into rooms that looked more like they belonged in a museum than in a home. Everything was polished and pristine, but there was no life here, no warmth. Even the silence felt oppressive.
As she walked down a long corridor, she noticed a room at the far end with the door slightly ajar. Curiosity got the better of her, and she pushed the door open gently.
Inside was a library, its shelves lined with books from floor to ceiling. A massive desk sat in the center of the room, cluttered with papers and documents. This must be William's private office.
Before she could step inside, a voice behind her made her jump.
"What are you doing?"
Lucy turned to see William's best friend, Bradley Cooper, standing in the doorway. His eyes were narrowed in suspicion, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something more guarded.
"I was just... exploring," Lucy said quickly, stepping back from the door.
Bradley's expression softened, but only slightly. "This is William's personal space. I wouldn't go in there without his permission."
"I wasn't going to touch anything," Lucy assured him, feeling a bit defensive. "I was just curious."
Bradley relaxed a little, but there was still an edge to his voice. "I'm sure you were. But William values his privacy."
Lucy nodded, understanding that she had overstepped. "Of course. I'll be more careful."
Bradley gave her a long look before turning and walking away, leaving Lucy alone in the corridor once again.
---
Later that evening, Lucy found herself seated at a long dining table, across from William. The table was so large that they might as well have been in separate rooms. The silence between them was unbearable.
A servant placed a plate of food in front of her, but Lucy barely touched it. She wasn't hungry. The tension in the air was too thick to ignore, and the weight of her new reality pressed down on her.
William, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. He ate in silence, his expression unreadable, as though Lucy wasn't even there.
Finally, unable to stand the silence any longer, Lucy spoke. "Is this how it's going to be?"
William didn't look up. "What do you mean?"
"This... distance between us," she said quietly. "I know this marriage is an arrangement, but we're still going to be living together. It doesn't have to be like this."
William's fork paused mid-air, and for a moment, Lucy thought he might actually respond with something meaningful. But then he continued eating, his face as cold as ever.
"This is how it's going to be," he said simply, his tone final.
Lucy bit her lip, frustration rising inside her. She had known that this marriage wouldn't be easy, but she hadn't expected William to shut her out completely.
"Why did you agree to marry me?" Lucy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
William's eyes flicked toward her, but his expression didn't change. "It's none of your concern."
"It is my concern," Lucy insisted. "I'm your wife now, whether you like it or not."
William's eyes hardened. "You're not my wife. You're my business transaction. Don't confuse the two."
The coldness in his words stung, and Lucy fought to keep her composure. She had expected William to be distant, but his cruelty was something she hadn't been prepared for.
"You don't even know me," Lucy said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't ask for this either. I'm just trying to make the best of it."
William leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "You're here because your family needs me. Don't pretend this is anything more than that."
Lucy swallowed hard, knowing he was right. This marriage was about survival, not love. But that didn't make the situation any less painful.
"I'm not Isabel," Lucy said quietly. "I'm not here for your money."
William's lips curled into a bitter smile. "We'll see about that."
---
The next morning, Lucy woke up to the sound of a knock on her door. She groggily pulled herself out of bed and opened it to find Brad standing there, looking as polished as ever.
"Good morning," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. "William has asked me to escort you to a dinner party this evening."
Lucy blinked in surprise. "A dinner party?"
Brad nodded. "It's an important business event. You'll need to be ready by seven."
"Why didn't William tell me himself?" Lucy asked, feeling a bit hurt.
Brad gave her a small smile, but there was something guarded in his eyes. "William is a busy man. He doesn't always have time for... personal matters."
Lucy's stomach twisted. It was clear that she was nothing more than an obligation to William-someone to be dealt with through intermediaries like Brad.
"Okay," Lucy said softly. "I'll be ready."
As Brad turned to leave, Lucy called after him. "Brad, do you know why William married me?"
Brad paused for a moment, his back to her. "I'm not sure anyone knows why William does what he does," he said cryptically before walking away.
Lucy watched him go, feeling more confused than ever.
---
That evening, Lucy found herself in a black evening gown, standing beside William at the entrance to the dinner party. The lights from the ballroom glittered, and the sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air.
William, as usual, was stoic, his expression unreadable as they made their way inside. He nodded politely to the other guests, but Lucy could tell that he wasn't truly engaged. This was all just a show for him.
As they mingled with the other attendees, Lucy couldn't help but notice the whispers. People were talking about them-about her. She caught snippets of conversation, most of them unkind.
"Isn't that the new Mrs. Ashcroft? She's nothing like Isabel..."
"Why would William marry her? She's so plain."
Lucy tried to ignore the comments, but they stung nonetheless. She had known that stepping into Isabel's place wouldn't be easy, but she hadn't anticipated just how much scrutiny she would face.
"Don't let them get to you," a voice said beside her.
Lucy turned to see Bradley standing there, his eyes scanning the room. "People love to gossip," he added with a small smirk.
"I'm not worried about them," Lucy lied, though her stomach knotted from the harsh words.
Brad looked at her for a long moment before nodding. "Good."
Before Lucy could respond, she felt a cold hand on her shoulder. She turned to find Isabel standing there, a smug smile on her face.
"Well, well, well," Isabel said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look at you, Lucy. All dressed up and playing the part of Mrs. Ashcroft."
Lucy's stomach churned at the sight of her stepsister. "What are you doing here?"
"I was invited, of course," Isabel said, batting her eyelashes innocently. "William and I go way back."
Lucy stiffened, but before she could say anything, William appeared beside her, his hand resting possessively on her lower back.
"Isabel," he said coolly. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Isabel's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "I couldn't miss a chance to congratulate you two on your... arrangement."
William's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't respond.
Lucy could feel the tension in the air, and she wanted nothing more than to escape from Isabel's presence. But she knew that running would only give her stepsister more ammunition to use against her.
Isabel leaned in closer to Lucy, her voice low. "You don't belong here, Lucy. You're not one of us. You'll never be."
You may also like
9.5
In the glittering shadows of New York City's elite, impoverished artist Elena Vasquez clashes with the enigmatic billionaire tycoon Alexander Hale. What begins as a chance encounter in a rain-soaked alley spirals into a whirlwind of passion, betrayal, and redemption. As Elena fights to reclaim her stolen dreams, Alexander's guarded heart unravels, forcing them to confront family secrets, corporate intrigue, and the ruthless divide between their worlds. Will their forbidden love survive the storms of jealousy, scandal, and loss, or will it shatter like the fragile art that brought them together? Shattered Canvases is a steamy billionaire romance that explores the raw edges of desire and the healing power of vulnerability.
7.7
CONTENT WARNING ⚠️🔞
This book is strictly for a mature audience only. Reader's discretion is advised.
On her eighteenth birthday, Sabrina's life is stolen from her. She was sold into marriage to Scott Wendell, a ruthless and powerful billionaire more than twice her age. A man she's never met. A man who claimed her as payment for a debt she never owed
But the real problem wasn't the vows she took or the marriage document she signed.
It's his son. The revelation that Ace Wendell, the one boy in school that she's always fantasized about, the boy she's secretly loved from afar, is now her stepson.
Now living under the same roof, Sabrina finds herself torn between duty to her marriage and the dangerous pull toward the stepson who has wanted her just as desperately.
7.3
WARNING ⚠️: This book contains sex scenes and mature contents not fit for readers below 18+.
If you love steamy romances and emotional stories, this book is the one.
By day, Damon follows her rules in the kitchen: chopping, kneading, burning his fingers, and surviving her sharp mouth.
By night, she follows his.
Damon Blackwell is a cold, dangerous billionaire who hates Christmas, women, and anything that smells like joy. Haunted by tragedy and trauma, and memories of the girl he once loved and lost, he lives like a machine: money, control, and pleasure without attachment.
Then his grandparents and three ruthless brothers dare him to do the impossible:
Live like a normal man for 12 days to Christmas: no staff, no luxuries, no protection, no control and no bad temper. He has to change and be easygoing with investors.
Fail, and he loses the biggest business deal of his life.
Indulgence is over for him.
The only place Damon knows he can grab survival? A small-town Christmas cooking competition hosted by that one woman who broke his heart years ago.
Merry Steele never expected to see Damon again. The man she left without a word. The man who haunted her dreams after she broke his heart back now stands in her kitchen offering a deal she can't refuse:
Cook for him. Sleep with him. Pretend to be his fiancée until the end of the year.
The pay is tempting. The temptation is even greater.
Before Christmas, can they resist the heat, desire, and lingering love they once shared and keep it strictly business?
As family obligations, enemies, and a high-profile Christmas ball close in, Damon and Merry must correct old heartbreak, passion, and dangerous feelings.
Will Damon ever forgive his fuckmate?
Can Merry resist the billionaire who once stole her heart... or will old flames burn hotter than ever under the snow, the lights, and the Christmas feelings?
8.8
I was the despised adopted daughter of the Sanders family, hiding behind heavy gothic makeup and enduring their daily disgust.
The day my adoptive father died in a severe car crash, my adoptive mother and stepsister didn't even bother to call me.
Instead, while his body was still warm, my mother filed a multi-million dollar life insurance claim.
"I am not feeding a useless freak for another day. Pack your trash and get out."
She kicked me out into the freezing rain, but that wasn't the worst of it.
My stepsister Cornelia stole my greatest secret. Five years ago, I saved the life of Fidel Vaughan, a ruthless billionaire heir, from a burning estate.
Cornelia claimed my identity, accepted a million-dollar reward, and secured a marriage proposal from him, burning my only proof to ashes.
They thought I was just a helpless, pathetic high schooler they could discard and replace.
But when I hacked the police files, I discovered my father's crash wasn't an accident. It was a targeted hit, and the Vaughan Group had hijacked the traffic cameras to cover it up.
I washed off the ugly black makeup, shedding the disguise of a pathetic outcast.
I am Spectre, the world's most elusive hacker and underground doctor.
I intercepted the billionaire heir's heavily armed convoy in the dead of night. They thought they could steal my life and murder my father, but now, I hold the needle that controls Fidel Vaughan's sanity, and I will make them all pay.
8.4
I'm Kailee Lynn. On the night of my engagement party, my fiancé Julian left me standing alone in front of every wealthy guest in the city, humiliating me without a single shred of mercy. I became the biggest laughingstock of high society overnight, written off as a nobody from a small town with no status, no backing, and no right to stand among them.
Everyone looked down on me, convinced I was weak and easy to push around. But I've never been one to swallow insults or accept defeat. Instead of fleeing in shame, I turned and walked straight toward the darkest, most intimidating figure in the entire banquet hall-Ervin Hendricks, the reclusive and ruthless fifth heir of the powerful Hendricks family.
Rumors followed him everywhere: they said he was confined to a wheelchair, cold-blooded, dangerously unhinged, and cruel enough to ruin anyone who crossed him. The entire room held its breath, certain I was walking straight to my doom. I lifted my chin, met his sharp gaze steadily, and spoke in a calm, unshakable tone:
"Ervin Hendricks. Marry me. I'll clear every obstacle in your path and help you seize everything that belongs to you. In return, you'll stand by my side and shield me from this world's cruelty."
In the blink of an eye, I went from Julian's discarded fiancée to his aunt by marriage, the official Mrs. Hendricks. The whole town waited eagerly to watch me break down, to see me suffer at Ervin's hands and beg for mercy. They had no clue I was hiding far more than they could ever imagine.
I'm the elite medical genius that top hospitals beg to consult, the unbeatable hacker who can crack any system in minutes, the hidden tycoon pulling strings behind global empires, and the secret powerhouse even the most elite families dare not cross. One by one, my true identities were unveiled, and every person who once mocked me fell silent, bowing to my power.
As for Julian? He watched me rise from a social outcast to the most feared and respected woman in the city, standing proudly beside the all-powerful Ervin Hendricks. Meanwhile, his own fortune crumbled, his reputation was in tatters, and the life he'd chased after leaving me turned into a complete disaster.
He was consumed by regret, so desperate he lost his mind. He chased me down at every high-society event, his eyes red with guilt and desperation, pleading for forgiveness, groveling to take back every cruel word, begging me to give him a second chance. He whined about how he'd made the worst mistake of his life, how he'd thrown away the only person who could have made him truly successful.
I felt nothing but cold contempt for him. You cast me aside like worthless trash when you thought I had nothing to offer. You chose arrogance and greed over loyalty, and now you think a few empty apologies can erase that? I didn't even spare him a glance, simply linking my arm through Ervin's and stepping past him without a second thought.
And then, the man everyone believed would never walk again suddenly rose from his wheelchair, pulled me tight against his chest, and whispered in a deep, soft, and utterly possessive voice that only I could hear:
"Kailee. You're my little treasure, my only obsession, and the only person I'll ever love and protect with everything I have."
This life, I'm taking down every enemy that wronged me, dominating every circle I step into, and making the most powerful man in the city wrap himself entirely around my finger.
8.8
My fiancé, Knox, was the man I’d spent ten years building a life with, the one I’d poured my family’s fortune into. But then I found the lockbox. Inside, a photo of him smiling, his arm around a heavily pregnant woman, marked: *To my only wife Deana.*
I’d been looking for a charger in our Boston penthouse closet when I stumbled upon it. The faded Polaroid showed Knox, younger, beaming, with a heavily pregnant stranger. Its timestamp: "Ten years ago"—the exact year I funded his Ivy League PhD.
Flipping the photo, I saw Knox’s familiar handwriting: *To my only wife Deana and our upcoming miracle.* My world crumbled. The man I’d loved had a wife, making me the unwitting mistress. My opulent life was built on his lies.
His text, "Baby, I'm coming home to *our house*," twisted into a cruel joke. My tears froze. A decade of sacrifices, of family alienation—all for a man who used my money and trust—shredded in my mind. The fragile woman in me vanished; my eyes turned cold and clear. I relocked the box, smoothed the rug, and applied crimson lipstick. Practicing a flawless smile, I whispered, "Welcome home, my sweet liar."