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The billionaire's beautiful marionette

Chapter 4 Ghosts and grace

Word Count: 1141    |    Released on: 16/01/2026

s's

call with Matt lifted my spirits a bit before a familiar chill

w glances from nurses. I didn't take too much n

ci

y in my mind. Short. Soft

mained outside longer than I had hoped. The call from Matt came t

s or business or my empire

trigued me, a feat few

me of my si

flames hidden in her icy eyes,the sharp edge of her voice, her natural instinct to protect someone

r way into national competitions and won as the youngest in her class. The paparazzi

c stopped playing. A c

een there

dn't s

be so useless this time.... may

had passed through and found the bill

cia. Mid twenties. She brought in

rn out eyes blinked slowly. "I - I can't

ion," I said smoothly. "I'm here to s

I had the power to allow that - th

. The receptionist looked at it with wide eyes before I continued, "you'll find that authorizati

nist looked

Forgive

ocess. I moved back into the hal

outside the

, her back against the wall, head tilted back like

tightly shut

words too q

t distu

od there a

o the huge hospital walls. So loud in her quietness. Everything about h

reminded

ill had faith that love alone

her eyes, she saw me.

her cheeks. "What,you want rou

of smirks. "Thought, I'd check if you

udly. "Not quite sir. The war

w, she still managed to be

?" I asked, shifti

able for now. But they're refusing to run some o

cracked ju

ion waver as I continue

ed.Three ti

oice even."What if some

ly."What are you

o my pockets," your baby sister's medi

t death

ntly. " I can't accept it. I didn'

t because you

e snarled,tear

elt pity for m

ind of billionaire

flinch at

meone who danced like the entire world was at her feet.some

d at me,s

," she murmured softly

I replied,

I did it. Because yo

ent as her eyes examined the floo

nce."You'r

re,my phone buzzed. I t

chards

to answer this," I

ond call with practic

h."Twice in a day - thi

"or just p

'm bored. Thought I'd trouble your ass a lit

perfect job of t

hey - next time we hit LA, let's swing by that poker plac

ou know you always lose right?"

ll fun re

ma in your

ds the hallway where Luci

coolly. "Just..a

at the truth. Catch you

r ass

my gaze towards the hospital where Lucia stood m

th

y, a second chance in disgui

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The billionaire's beautiful marionette
The billionaire's beautiful marionette
“"Be my wife." Lucia looked at him, questioning his sanity. "You're out of your mind.I don't even know you ". Lucas Mariano's voice was icy, his gaze unreadable. "You need help.Your sister requires care.I can help you both.You have quite the image so I'm sure you'll need it. It's transactional-nothing more."He finished. Once the rising star in the ballet world, Lucia Moretti's life is shaken after a brutal divorce and a terrible fire that leaves her and her sister homeless. Now, with her dreams buried,her heart is guarded and her main focus is keeping both herself and her sister alive. Enter Lucas-Merciless, cold and sinfully compelling.He offers a contract marriage which comes with everything Lucia needs but at a cost she doesn't understand...yet. What started as a formality quickly grows into something far more twisted when her ex-husband,Matt-lucas's best friend-returns, determined to have her again. "You got married to Lucas?" Matt snarled,fury dripping from his voice. "Is this your revenge?" He continued icily. No, Lucia said without emotion. "This is survival." As sparks fly and secrets come to light, Lucia Finds herself torn between a past that nearly broke her and a man who might shatter her in a brand new way. In a world of socialites, betrayal and fake love, Lucia must ask herself: Is she the puppet or the one holding the strings?”