The Billionaire's Shadow Wife

at the Dirgantara estate, she realized it was just the end of the prologue. Winning back her house was a messa

amond on her finger caught the morning light, casting tiny rainbows across the marble floor. It was beautiful, but

in. It's a dangerous

w-like movements. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, his tie perfectly k

a lied, looking up at him. "And about how ma

her. "Failure is the only currency they understand. If you fail, it proves they were right to dou

er? Is he coming to

is. And that's what we need to talk about. My grandfather, Handoko Dirgantara, isn't like the boar

e a medieval king," Nay

tion. He's going to test you, Nayla. He's going to look for the cracks. And if he finds e

ot in her stomach. "

y to make you feel like you aren't enough for this name. He'll try to bait you into showing that you're sti

know me very we

used, looking toward the door to make sure Sarah or the staff weren't within earshot. "He has a

ffee cup down. "

e month. A real ceremony. A real legal binding. A

her lungs. "An heir? Ar

Singapore merger to this condition. If I don't provide him with proof that this marriage is more than just a b

d... and have a child?" Nayla stood up, her chair scraping harshly against th

o make him *believe* it's happening. We play the long game. We announce the wedding, we sign the papers-with a private side-agreement that keeps our assets separate

the h

eed to survive the dinner. You need to make him believe that you are absolutely, head-over-he

. She was trading one cage for a much more gilded one. But as she thought about Bram, about the way he'd tried to humil

f we're going 'all in' for your grandfather, I want more than just a mo

ossing his face. Then, he let out a short, bark-like

she said, gesturing towar

n the board, provided you make Handoko lo

the electricity felt different. It felt like they were both stan

h brought in a team of researchers who spent hours briefing Nayla on Handoko Dirgantara's life. His likes, his

ds. Don't talk about social media. Talk about family, honor, and the

, respectful, and made her look like a woman who understood the weight of tradition. Her hair was pulle

He looked different tonight-more restrained, his suit more tradition

to play it s

phere shifted instantly. The staff lined up near the door, their heads bowed. Arzlan

all man, his face a map of wrinkles, but his eyes were sharp and piercing, like twin laser

velly rasp. "This is the woman

slightly. "Grandfather. Thank

sungkem* gesture, the traditional sign of respect for an

y daughter-in-law was a woman of great grace. I hope you hav

standing up and meeting his gaze. "I wear this to ho

cheap. Let's see if the food

ies. He asked about her opinions on the volatile economy. He asked how she would handle a crisis in the

didn't try to be too modern, but she didn't act like a subservient doll either. She sa

bomb between the main course and dessert. "The man who couldn't keep his house in order.

ing of the insult, the familiar shame trying to bubble up. But she pushe

years building a pedestal for a man who was made of clay. The moment I realized he was crumbling, I stepped off. If you want to judge me, ju

idn't blink. He didn't move. Then, slowly,

ld have cried and asked for a settleme

this one. Better than the Wijaya gi

ave been holding for an hour. "I told

Bishop and the press. It will be the event of the year. And Nayla... I expect to hear good news abou

sn't just giving them his blessi

sank into the sofa in the living room, her head thumping. The

red. "Arzlan, we're getti

We'll have a pre-nuptial agreement that protects you. You'll have your b

He's not going

spent my whole life navigating his trap

er. She saw a man who was just as trapped as she was. He was a billionaire, a titan of indust

"Why not just walk away? You have en

of it. If I walk away, the Dirgantara name becomes a footnote in history. I won't let that happen. I'm go

intense. "But right now, I nee

needed to fix his messes. But with Arzlan, it felt different. It didn't fee

id again. "I guess I

n the world," A

edia into a frenzy. The "Mrs. Dirgantara" brand was becoming more powerful than the compa

ows, Bram was g

rger documents, when her phone buzzed with an unknown number.

ay

sounded hollow, like he

, Bram. The next time we talk,

ght in shining armor. But you don't know him, Nayla. You don't know what he did to Clara. You think sh

spine. "You're lying. You're j

p acquired the Wijaya shipping lanes. It wasn't a breakup. It was a hostile takeover. He used

la said, her voice s

She didn't want to believe him. Bram was a liar. He was a manipulator. But the

this "marriage" just another way

zlan's office. She didn't knock

he hung up when he saw her

a to get the Wija

turned into that familiar mask of s

d y

t out of reach. "Business is complicated, Nayla. The Wijayas were failing. They were g

an. Did you marry her just

d. Just like us. And when the deal was done, she realized she couldn't handle the

pital record

If you want to believe a man who cheated on you over a man who is currently saving you, then that

rrogating you. I'm trying to figure out if

ack to his desk. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a merger to finish. Make

She felt like she was walking through a minefield

ooked at the diamond ring. It was so big, so bright.

at the social columns. She looked at the medical archives. It took her hours, navigating th

n, she

under a pseudonym. The diagnosis: *Severe clinical depression and

o ice. Clara hadn't just le

out Arzlan's face when he talked about his mother. She thought about his gr

e was starting to realize that th

eyes when he said *I need you*. It hadn't fe

was spread out below her, a sea of lights and secrets. She

oo. Because in the world of the Dirgantaras, the only thing more

layed her role to perfection. She was the glowing fiancée, the brilliant partner, the

ks. And every time she saw one, she tucked it away, a piece

on the balcony of the estate. The air was warm an

rzlan asked, looki

l ever be," N

moonlight. "You can still walk away, Nayla. I won

husband in the eyes of the world. She thought about her old

ted this journey to get my revenge. But

hat's

what happens when the two most dangerous people in this city fi

ned in, his lips brushing against hers. "Then

sted like power. It wasn't a promise

se on her wedding day, Nay

arrived. And she was going to rule thi