James stared at his phone in disbelief as the images flashed across the screen. Pictures of him and Sarah in an intimate embrace, taken by some paparazzi lurking in the shadows. How could he have been so careless?His thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ringing of his phone. Senator Reynolds. James felt his stomach drop as he reluctantly answered."Hello, father.""Don't you 'hello' me, you stupid boy!" his father's booming voice exploded through the speaker. "Have you seen the news? The pictures? Do you have any idea what you've done?"James swallowed hard. "Father, I can explain...""Explain?" Senator Reynolds cut him off with a harsh laugh. "I'll give you one chance to explain how you could be so mind-numbingly idiotic! Those pictures are everywhere, plastered all over the internet and tabloids! And you know exactly what's at stake here!"James gripped the phone tighter. The Montgomery merger, the key to saving their family's faltering legacy and financing his father's re-elect
Emma sat on the couch, her eyes fixed on the screen of her laptop, tears streaming down her cheeks. The images she had stumbled upon were seared into her mind, each one a knife twisting deeper into her already wounded heart.The pictures were unmistakable – James, her husband, locked in an intimate embrace with another woman. Emma's breath caught in her throat as she studied the damning evidence, the betrayal cutting her to the core.The sound of the door opening caught her attention, and she quickly wiped away her tears, steeling herself for the confrontation that was about to unfold."Emma? Are you in here?" James's voice called out from the hallway.Emma said nothing, her lips pressed into a thin line as she waited for him to enter the room.James rounded the corner, his brow furrowed with concern. As his gaze fell upon Emma's tear-stained face, he froze, the weight of the situation bearing down upon him. "Emma, please you can’t be sitting here alone?"Emma remained silent, her eye
Chapter OneThe fancy ballroom at the Metropolitan Hotel was super luxurious, with sparkly chandeliers and gold decorations everywhere. It was the place for rich, important people in New York City to see and be seen. Emma Montgomery walked in on her father's arm, smiling fakely even though she didn't want to be there.Emma hated these stuck-up high society parties. She couldn't stand having small talk with snobby social climbers while also trying to get potential investors interested in her family's real estate company, Montgomery Corporation. At twenty-five years old, Emma's life path was already set - she was the heir who had to take over the multi-billion dollar business from her father one day, whether she liked it or not.As always, the ballroom was jam-packed with people dressed up in fancy tuxedos. The air smelled strongly of expensive perfumes, cigar smoke, and desperation from people trying to climb the social ladder. Emma's father was immediately whisked away by a group of r
Chapter 2"Emma, my dear, I trust you haven't forgotten about our...arrangement?"Emma looked up from her desk with a scowl as her father strode into her office at Montgomery Corporation. Before she could respond, he continued."I'm glad to see you've turned around so quickly regarding the marriage to James Reynolds." His expression was smug.Emma's brow furrowed in confusion. "Turned around? What are you talking about?"Robert chuckled. "Why, your passionate kiss with the man at the party, of course. I saw the whole sordid thing with my own eyes."Emma felt her face flame with embarrassment as the memory of that heated lip lock came rushing back. "That...that was a mistake. A moment of pique, nothing more.""A mistake?" Her father's eyes narrowed dangerously. "How dare you play with our family's reputation like that! I will not have my heir behaving like some salacious floozy."Emma recoiled, stung by the venom in his tone. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but Robert barrelled
Chapter 3"Dinner?" James's voice rang with incredulity as he strode into the study. "With Emma Montgomery? The spoiled little princess who dared to kiss me at that society event?"Senator Reynolds looked up from his desk, his expression softening as he regarded his son. He set down his pen and gestured for James to take a seat across from him."I know this situation seems sudden and unconventional," he said, his tone level and unhurried. "But I truly believe it could be an incredible opportunity for you, son. Especially after witnessing the obvious chemistry between you two."James shook his head adamantly as he dropped into the chair, recalling the scorching, bruising kiss Emma had laid on him seemingly out of nowhere."Chemistry? She kissed me like that solely to get revenge on her cheating ex-boyfriend who showed up with his fling. It was a twisted game to humiliate the poor bastard, nothing more."His father arched one skeptical brow. "Are you quite certain about that? Because fr
CHAPTER 4A soft knock sounded at the door. Emma smoothed her hands down the elegant ivory wool coat she wore and took a deep, calming breath before answering. Here we go, she thought, feeling a mix of nerves and determination settling in her stomach.When she pulled open the door, James Reynolds stood on the other side, a stormy scowl etched onto his handsome features. His brown hair stuck up in messy tufts, his tie hung crookedly, and his suit looked rumpled like he'd thrown it on in a hurry against his will. Which, Emma reminded herself with an inward sigh, he likely had - especially after the explosive way they'd first met at that society event."You're late," she said evenly, keeping her voice polite and friendly despite his disheveled, sour-faced appearance. No need to let his foul mood rub off on her mood, not after the way he'd coldly dismissed her when she tried introducing herself weeks ago.James's glare deepened at her words, his thick brows pulling together as his eyes lo
Chapter 5The double oak doors burst open with a loud boom, startling James from the report on his desk. Sarah stormed into his private office, eyes blazing with fury, her chest heaving beneath her thin blouse."Sarah?" He stood up abruptly, shocked and remorseful. "What are you doing here?""Don't play dumb with me!" she spat, throwing a crumpled newspaper at his head.James jerked back just in time as the projectile sailed past, scattering papers. The bold headline screamed at him: DYNASTIES MERGE: REYNOLDS HEIR TO WED MONTGOMERY PRINCESS.Ice flooded his veins as he met Sarah's devastated glare. "How...how did you find out?""How did I find out?" She let out a biting laugh that cut him deeply. "You mean aside from the press release announcing to the world that my beloved fiancé is getting himself to another woman? The woman he swore to love and cherish until death?"Her laugh turned into a strangled, anguished sound as betraying tears spilled down her cheeks. "Damn you, James! Damn
Emma stood frozen before the full-length mirror, her reflection staring back at her with apprehensive eyes. She twisted the glittering diamond adorning her slender finger, watching the facets catch the soft light and cast brilliant refractions across the room. This ring, a dazzling symbol of promise and forever, should have filled her with elation. Yet turmoil swirled like a tempest within her.Was she truly ready to take this monumental step? To surrender her autonomy and bind herself eternally to a virtual stranger? Her palms grew clammy as doubt took root, blossoming like an insidious vine slowly strangling all the effusive hopes she'd once harbored for a love transcendent.Everything just happened like a dream, James doesn’t regard her as her wife, they are just forced into this marriage for financial gain, will she ever be happy in this sham marriage she said to herself as her thumb unconsciously traced her delicate necklace as fragments of a cherished memory drifted through her