Dave Marshall is a billionaire businessman who built his empire with ruthless precision, but behind his cold, calculated exterior is a man haunted by a past he can't escape. Betty Harris, his devoted secretary, has been at his side for years, enduring his harsh treatment and never once complaining. But when Dave's failing business demands a quick fix, he enters a contract marriage with Betty-an arrangement meant to save his company, not his heart. As they navigate their complicated, loveless marriage, Dave begins to see Betty in a new light. The woman he once saw as merely his assistant becomes someone he can't ignore. But just as their unexpected feelings begin to blossom, Sandra, a cunning socialite and Dave's former lover, will stop at nothing to tear them apart. With lies, manipulation, and betrayal surrounding them, Dave and Betty must fight to turn their contract into something real. In a world of power, deception, and second chances, will love conquer the odds, or will Sandra's schemes destroy their fragile bond forever?
Chapter 1 Betrayal Unveiled
Betty's world shattered in an instant as she stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes locked on the scene unfolding before her. The sound of glass shattering echoed through the room, drawing their attention to her, but she couldn't move-she could only stare in disbelief. Before her stood Dave, her husband, the man she had pledged her life to, locked in a passionate embrace with Sandra, the woman she had once called a friend. The same man who had just introduced Betty as his wife minutes ago was now kissing Sandra with a fervor that struck Betty like a physical blow.
Betty's mind spun in a whirlwind of shock, humiliation, and hurt. She had never expected Dave to remain faithful, not a man like him-a wealthy CEO who had once seduced her in a single night of passion. But what stung the most wasn't just his betrayal; it was the fact that the woman in his arms was Sandra, her confidante, the one she had trusted with her deepest secrets.
Still frozen, Betty felt the sharp sting of her husband's voice pierce the silence. "Christ, get out of here! Where are your manners? Can't you knock?" Dave's words were cold, cutting, and when Betty heard Sandra's taunting laugh, her heart sank even further.
"Hi, Betty," Sandra said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. The malice in her eyes was unmistakable as she gazed at Betty, offering her a look filled with both pity and smug triumph.
Betty's eyes narrowed, her voice hoarse with a mix of rage and disbelief. "You," she hissed, barely able to choke the words out.
Dave's face twisted with annoyance, his voice dripping with disdain. "Leave, Betty. This has nothing to do with you."
Betty didn't take her eyes off Sandra as she stepped back, her mind reeling with the sheer betrayal of it all. She felt as though she were trapped in a nightmare, ensnared by a web of deceit and lies.
"Get out, you fool!" Dave snapped, his words cutting through the air like a whip, sending Betty running from the office in a storm of tears.
Her heart pounded as she rushed down the stairs, desperate to escape the suffocating pain clawing at her chest. She burst into the cool evening air, the chill doing little to numb the agony. The streets were a blur as she ran, her thoughts racing, her mind screaming for escape. "Suicide. Suicide," a haunting voice echoed in her head.
Back inside the office, Dave hastily zipped up his pants, his fingers trembling with urgency. He was desperate-his father couldn't find out about this affair. The thought of being disinherited was enough to make him sick to his stomach. But Sandra, despite the urgency in Dave's voice, refused to leave.
"You need to go, Sandra, now," Dave said, his tone firm but tinged with desperation.
Sandra's laugh was low, mocking. "Oh, you want me to leave because of that naïve little wife of yours? You're joking, right? What you two have is a contract, nothing more. We need to stop pretending and start claiming what's ours."
Dave's face darkened, a flare of anger in his eyes. "Are you out of your mind? She's my wife-do you understand what will happen if my father finds out about us? My inheritance? My company? It will all vanish in an instant!"
Sandra's smirk was chilling, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous glint. "I don't care about your inheritance, Dave. I care about you. You've got more than enough wealth. Let's leave it all behind, go somewhere far, and have the wildest time we can imagine." She stepped closer, her lips parting as she moved to kiss him.
Dave recoiled, his face twisted in disgust as he pushed her away. "You're a joke, Sandra. Just leave. I've had enough."
Sandra's eyes flashed with anger, her lips curling into a snarl. "What's wrong with you, Dave? Am I not enough? I'm bold, I'm beautiful, I'm everything you want. What does she have that I don't? Is she better in bed than me?"
Dave's voice was icy with contempt. "You're delusional. The last thing I need is a scandal. Do you want the world to know? 'Dave Marshall, the son of billionaire socialite Rosi, caught in an illicit affair with his wife's best friend'? Do you really want that?" He shook his head, his gaze hardening. "I care about my reputation, my status, and my company. I've never denied you anything, including good sex. But stop acting like you're something different from a cheap fling compared to Betty's loyalty."
Sandra's eyes burned with rage, and her hand shot out to slap him. But Dave was faster, his grip firm as he stopped her. "You piece of shit!" she spat, venom lacing her words.
"Let it go, Sandra," Dave's voice was low, cold. "You're obsessed with me, and I can't do this anymore."
With a heavy sigh, Dave grabbed Sandra by the arm and dragged her toward the door, pushing her out of his office. Her protests and declarations of love followed him, but he ignored them, his patience wearing thin.
He slammed the door behind her, the sound of her banging on the door echoing through the room. Dave sighed in frustration, shaking his head. He picked up the phone and dialed with precision. "Security. Get to my office now. There's a woman causing a scene. Remove her."
He listened for a moment, his gaze fixed on the door. "Yes, now. I need her gone."
Dave hung up the phone, his face impassive as he stared at the door. The sound of Sandra's shouting grew louder, more frantic. He leaned back in his chair, exhaustion creeping into his bones.
The door suddenly burst open, and two security guards entered the room. "Ma'am, you'll have to come with us," one of them said, his tone firm but polite.
Sandra snarled, her eyes filled with fury. "No! I won't leave! Dave, you can't do this to me!"
Dave's expression was unyielding. "You're trespassing, Sandra. Please leave peacefully."
The guards moved forward, their hands gentle but firm as they escorted Sandra out of the office. Her screams and struggles echoed down the corridor as she was dragged away, and Dave let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
As the door closed behind them, Dave collapsed into his chair, his hands running through his hair. He hadn't wanted things to get this far, but Sandra had left him no choice. His reputation, his inheritance, his entire life were on the line.
He stared at the empty office, his thoughts turning to Betty. Where had she gone? Had she really left him? What now? Only time would reveal the consequences of his actions.