Chapter 2
“Let go of me!” Chelsea shouted, thrashing against the iron grip of the goons hauling her away. Her heart sank when she recognized the old man standing by, smirking in satisfaction–Stewart
Well, slon’t just stand there! Get her in the damn cart Stewart harked, and his black–sited goons sprang into action.
“Help! Someone, please help mel” Chelsea screamed, her voice cracking she struggledi:
The hotel staff exchanged nervous glances, recognizing Stewart and choosing to look the other way, while the security guards pretended to be sklenly very bunny rhewberr
Anger and helplessness swirled inside Chelsea. This was beyond humiliating.
n in his mind. His eyes
Stewart’s gaze lingered on her La we, twisted in fury, like he was already judging her guilty of whatever twisted story he’d spun in narrowed, and he practically shook with rage.
the whole crowd watching, his men roughly showed Chelsea into a waiting car pinning her in the backseat like she was some
some kind of threat.
Stewart leaned in, his face inches from hers, close enough for her to smell the stench of his aftershave. He noticed a faint red mark on her neck, and his face darkened further.
He lifted his hand to slap her, “You little shit, parading yourself around like i
But before his hand could connect, he was suddenly yanked back, almost falling Hat on his back.
Shocked, Stewart looked up to see a tall, broad–shouldered man standing over him, his expression colder than ice. The newcomer radiated a quiet meilice tİkat made everyone freeze.
“Back the hell oll: Winston ordereil his voice as sharp as a lilade
Who the hell are you? Stewart blustered, trying to pull himself up. “You think you can just
The words chiral in his that when he met Winston’s firree, unblinking stare. For a long, terrifying second, Stewart looked like he might argue, bur then be backed off, muttering curses as lie scurried away.
Chelsea sat ups, her pulse racing, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She looked up at her unexpected savior–t Winston Moody, the I person sheil expected to see here
“You alright?” Winston’s voice was calm, but his
his eyes were hard, still fixed on Stewart’s retreating form.
Chelsea took a shaky breath, nodding, “1. thank you. I don’t even know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t.”
This was the second time he’d stepped in to save her.
“Who were those guys?!” Winston asked, his gaze flicking back to her, now filled with concern.
with someone. His idea of matchmaking” She gave a wry umile. “Sorry you got
She let out a bitter laugh. Just my dad’s Latest idea of sening me up with so dragged into this mess. Let’s just.. go”
Winston’s brone furrowed. ‘Matchmaking? That guy’s old enough to be her dad. No wonder she wants out, he thought.
They made plans to meet the next day to finalize everything, and Chelsea caught a cab back to her tiny, cozy apartment.
Since her mont’s passing, shed fought to break away fr
from the Wise family, even going so far as to remove herself from the family records
Her stepmother. Angela Wise, had always been paranoid Chelsea might try to claim some of the family fortune and practically handed her the freedom she’d been desperate for
e next morning, Chelsea gathered all the paperwork she’d need and headed straight to city hall.
The
She spotted Winston immediately, waiting in the shade of a tree. He looked effortlessly handsome, standing tall with that calm, unshakable | confidence that made heads turn.
1/3
Em Check–in
A
Chapter 2
Shed magned her wedding day so many times, always dreaming of romance, of a love that would sweep her off her feet. But here she was, staring at the man she was alsout in murry–dot ind of love, but neersity
“Alright, let’s get this over with Mr. Moody Chelsea walked up to Winston, chanching the papers like it was an anchor dragging her down
Winston barely looked her way, his reply barely a murmur “Yeals, fine”
Half an hour later, they both walked out of the city hall, one trailing behind the other
“Relax, we’ll be able to get divorced in a year,” Chelsea sist, her voice a mix of frustration and resignation. She never thought she’d be getting married just to shake free from the Wise family’s grip
The marriage license felt like a deadweight in her hand, practically suffocating her.
Meanwhile, Winston just nacked his copy away like it was nothing. He had a big meeting that afternoon and wasn’t about to let this linte detour” mess up his schedule.
“Thave to go,” he muttered, then took off without even so much as a goodbye. He didn’t even leave his phone number.
Chelsea was about to shout after him when her phone buzzed. It was her father, Droga Wise, and he sounded livid. “Chelsea! How dare you team up with some random guy to go against Stewart Robinson! Get your ass back here right now?“
There it was the fury she’d been expecting. Sighing. Chelsea agreed to go back and grabbed a taxi
Being treated like some pawn her father could trade off whenever he wanted? It made her sick.
The second she stepped into the living room, a cup went flying her way
“Care to explain yourself, Chelsea” Drogo’s face was red with rage. He couldn’t believe she had the guts to pull this stunt, humiliating Stewart and punting his whole scheme in jeopardy. “What, did I raise you 100 soft! Now you think you can do whatever the hell you want?”
Chelsea dodged the cup without flinching, looking her father dead in the eye. The man standing there wasn’t the father she remembered. Ever since her mother, Zelene Powers, had died, Drogo had become a stranger
He’d remarried Angela and dragged her stepsister, Margot, into their home. Over time, Chelsea had lost her father’s affection, her family warmth everything. Even her relationships had become nothing more than tools in his business dealings
Stewart was lounging on the sofa, a snug grin twisting his lips as he glared at her. “Drogo, you think a little stap on the wrist will fix this? This girl thinks she can just toy with me? She’s got another thing coming”
His eyes routed over her, his expression dark. “She’s a pretty little thing if I can’t take her home, at least let me h
have my fun, he thought grimly.
Chelsea reached into her bag, pulled out the marriage license, and tossed it onto the table. “Sorry to disappoint you–I’m already married.”
Drogo’s face turned an ugly shade of red. “Chelsea! You got married behind my back? Who the hell give you the right?”
Angela, ever the drama queen, chimed in, stirring the pot. “Chelsea, even if you didn’t want to marry Stewart, how could you make such a reckless decision!
Chelsea laughed bitterly, her eyes hard. “My mom’s gone, and in my heart, my father is too. I make my own choices now.”
Drogo spar back, “Ungrateful brat! I raised you for over twenty years, and this is how you repay me? Fine! You’re no daughter of mine!”
“Good riddance! Like I was planning to stick around” She didn’t hesitate, turning her back on him without a second thought–she’d been ready to leave the Wise family behind for a long time.
“Don’t expect a damn penny from me ever again! Drogo’s words cut like ice, but Chelsea didn’t flinch.
She paused, though, as a cold realization settled in. Is he really going to cut me off?”
She’d poured her heart and soul into the Wise Group, brought success to the family business, yet she’d never seen a dime. She hadn’t even received the shares that every other Wise family member was entitled to.
Now, with nothing but a few bills in her wallet, she was on her own.
Angela, acting as though she was pleading on her behalf, tried to stoke the flames “Honey, Chelsea’s just a little confused. You’re really gonna leave her with nothing? I mean, I know the apartment’s in her name, but..”
11.53 Ac
Chapter 2
Drogo’s voice was ice–cold. “That apartment? Paid for by the Wise Faily She’ll be out by tonight?”
Chebra clemhed her jaw, refusing to let them see her bucak. She walked out, not sparing a sligle glance back.
In her heart, she made a vow she’d rather starve than ever tisich anoilier cent from the Wise family.
Nova Group had just wrapped sip a marathoni of a meeting
Fabian shipped into the conference on, shutting the door quietly h
behind him. “Mr. Moorly,” be mommured. “I’ve got all the diet you wanted”
““Ge” Winston said. He rubbed his forebeail, looking like he’d had ennigh. The woman beil married, Chelien, was will a mystery to him
“My Wise,” Fabian stated, “she’s the eldest daughter of the Wise family From Evergreen, hit her father, Dingo Wise, couddert giv her. Obsessed with her younger sister, treats Chelsea like she’s livisilde.
“And get shis—the guy she grew up with her childhood boyfriend! He got matched away from lier. Apparently, he was drugged and handed off to some older dude”
Fabian looked fluough his notes, his expression skeptical. He couldn’t help best wonsider why Winston would the flimself to someone with th of baggage
“Boyfriend?” Winston’s tone was laced with curiosity.
“Yeah. from the Tacker Lamily” Fabian replied.
Winston froze, fingers halting over the documents. The Tuckers–the same family that had been going for–to–tor with him recently,
And now I am married to the ex of their precientes son? This is getting good, he thought, smirking
Just as Fabian was about to spill wire, his phone buzzed. He took the call, exclunged a few quick words, then looked bank at Winston, hesitant. “Mr.
Moody, I’ve got an update from the city bull. Apparently, your murrlige license will Ms. Wiset li ́s… Invalel. They say some of the paperwork was incomplete.”
Winston barely blinked. “Let’s keep that under wraps,” he said, his tone cold. To him, this whole marriage was for convenience anyway. Whether it was legit or not didn’t mean jack.
Fabian gave a nod. “Understood. Mr. Moody,”
Meanwhile, Chelsea was wandering, feeling kost and exhausted. Her only plan was to find her friend Kate Meyer, who worked at Nova Group, and crash at her place,
She hadn’t eaten all day, her head was swimming, and she was starting to feel faint. She leaned against the wall, just trying in steady herself.
Finally, the elevator doors slid open. She looked up, thinking it was Kate, and tried to push herself up–but the sudden nuvement nude her head spin.
As the work! blurred, she felt herself falling forward.
Then, a fresh, woodsy scent of pine filled the air just as a strong hand wrapped around her waist, Cold, razor–sharp eyes locked nito Chelsea’s pale
face
The man’s heart skipped a beat. Fuck… it’s her. What the hell’s she doing here?”
she c
