The Billionaire's Shadow Wife

ring wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Her chest felt tight, a heavy pressure making it hard to breathe. She looked at the famil

dation, but a sudden migraine had sent her back. Now, looking at the unfamiliar silver sedan par

. Her best friend. Her sis

care. She felt numb. She let herself in through the front door, the click of the lock sounding like

her own execution. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic, de

ard a thousand times over coffee and secrets. But this time, it was

is voice was thick with a dynamic Nayla hadn't heard in

voice purring. "She's my best frie

busy being a saint to notice wh

hed the d

blow to the stomach. She felt the air leave her lungs. Bram scrambled to pull the sheets up, his face turning a gho

e supposed to be at the

e nightstand. She just stood there, dripping wet, looking at the two p

er voice was low, cracki

" Bram started, sliding out of

fire. "And don't call me honey. You've been sleeping with her in our

ngs happen. You've been so distant lately, always focused on your

e just two years ago. The woman she had shared every secret with. "I s

her grandmother had left her. Everything else-the designer bags Bram bought to apologize for working late, the expensive d

thetic sort of desperation. "It's midnight. It's pouring.

. It was a five-carat diamond, heavy and cold. She twisted it off and droppe

oid of any emotion now. "Because by tomorrow morning

ook back as she drove through the gates. She just drove. The rain lashed again

city she rarely visited. She turned off the engine and finally, the wall broke. She didn't sob; she

e was a hollow shell. Her "loyal" friend was a snake. She

e looked at herself in the rearview mirror. Her mascara was ruined, her hair was a mess, and he

to let them see her crawl. If they wanted a villai

y center. She needed a place to stay, and she

in, ignoring the curious looks from the staff as she moved toward the back

noticed him. He moved with a quiet authority that seemed to pull the air toward him. He was tall, wearing a charcoal suit that looked li

menu the waitress brought him. He jus

r. She glanced up and caught the man's eyes. He wasn't just looking; he was observing. It wasn't the lo

e flaring up. She didn't look away first. He gave a tiny

s, but she felt an energy from him that was different from the weak, manipulative v

r. She had to find a lawyer, freeze the joint accounts, and figure out how t

and she stumbled. Before she could fall, a hand gripped her elbow

deep, melod

e was even more intimidating. He smell

aid, pulling her ar

canning her face, lingering on her red eyes. "Y

ened. "I'm

afes at 6 AM." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple black bu

n Dirga

is smaller than you though

rd, then back at him.

jolt through her. "Because I like things that are broken but refuse to stay s

of the cafe, leaving her standing there with a heart

amiliar-the CEO of Dirgantara Group, a man known for being as r

him. But for the first time since she walked into that bedroom, she didn't

ough the clouds. The rain had stopped. The air felt clean. She t

taken everything. But they forgot one thing: Nayla didn't need a

e, a little bit of c

house felt like a weight lifting off her shoulders. She thought about the look on Bram's face-that pathetic, snive

t was turning into something else. Something sha

, but she didn't care. She would wait. She would wait as long

fect couple" photos were still there. Photos of them at the beach, at parties, laughing. It all

n on the most recent one.

called her in, her pr

aid, looking at her disheveled appeara

sitting down. "And so is my ma

ot that simple, Nayla. There are assets,

m his debts, and I want him out of the house by the end of the week. If he resists, tell him I have p

ldness in her voice. "I see. Well, if y

ice dropping to a chilling calm. "I have the tr

her next move. She wasn't just leaving; she was liquidating. She sold her share of th

arby hotel and checked into a suite under her maiden name. She took a long, hot show

to just rest for a minute, but she

n. Her phone was blowing up with m

please p

e are

s drunk, it didn

, think about

ading. Then, she blocked his nu

savoring the silence. For the first time in years, she didn't have to li

g and found the black

n Dirg

turned it into a global tech and logistics giant. He was known for being ruthless, private, and incredibly successful. There were

hed her? Why did h

are broken but refuse to s

adboard. She was broken, yes. Bu

woman looking back wasn't the "perfect wife" a

r on the card. She didn't call. Not yet. She wa

lan's would cross again. Because in a city ful

rifted back to sleep, a sma

And this time, she was