Chapter 1
"This marriage means nothing to me,"
Conrad hissed under his breath, his voice was full of hatred. His grip on her wrist tightened slightly as his cold eyes bored into hers. "You tricked me into it. And I swear, Alice, you're going to regret this day for the rest of your life."
The guests around them cheered, oblivious. The chandelier above shimmered. The wedding stage gleamed. Photographers captured the moment they were declared husband and wife.
And Alice?
She didn't even flinch.
Instead, she smiled; slow and wicked and stepped closer until her body brushed his, like they were the perfect newlyweds. With deliberate grace, she reached out and dusted something imaginary off his perfectly tailored suit, her fingertips lingering a little too long on his chest.
"Shhh, darling," she whispered. "Don't act like a jerk while we're in front of people who would sell their souls to see the mighty Conrad Adelson lose control."
Then, louder, and with a playful giggle meant entirely for the crowd, she said,
"Omg!!!! We're finally married! Can you believe it love?"
Her smile widened for the cameras.
Conrad clenched his jaw so hard, she swore she heard his teeth grind. But she wasn't done.
Leaning in until her lips nearly brushed his ear, she whispered. “Stop acting like I betrayed you love. This was your plan, your trap. I didn’t even do anything, you walked straight into it yourself.” The casual way she said it, as if she were completely innocent, only fueled the fire inside him.
His entire posture tensed.
She pulled back, locking eyes with him; bold, unflinching. "Smile, my dear husband," she added sweetly. "Because I don't think your darling father will appreciate it if people start whispering that his son was outwitted by the very woman he married."
For a long, heavy second, neither moved.
Then Conrad let out a low, mocking laugh.
"You want me to smile?" he asked coolly. His arm snaked around her waist, dragging her flush against him. Their breaths collided, pride clashing against pride.
"You think you've won? This was your biggest mistake. And I promise.... you'll beg for a way out. I'll make your life a living hell, Alice."
Alice tilted her head and smiled completely unfazed. Her hand glided up to cup his cheek, deceptively gentle.
"And I'll make sure you burn right alongside me in that hell, Conrad." Her nails grazed the back of his neck, a gentle warning. "You started this game. Now watch how I play it."
Before he could reply, she crushed her lips against his; not soft, not tender, but fierce. A kiss that was less affection and more declaration.
The cameras flashed. The crowd cheared louder, blind to the storm breaking between the newlyweds.
This wasn’t love. This was war.
And this.... This was only just the beginning
(One Month Ago.....)
The morning sun slipped through the sheer curtains, scattering golden streaks across the floor. Outside, the city was waking up, cars began their chorus of honks but inside the apartment, all was quiet. Peaceful. Almost sacred.
Alice was still wrapped tightly in her blanket like a burrito, her messy hair fanning across the pillow, breathing slow and steady as if the world beyond her bed didn’t exist.
That peace lasted until her best friend barged in.
"Alice!" Emaa's voice rang out like a fire alarm as she marched into the room with wild urgency. She didn't waste time shaking her or whispering sweet wake-up calls. No, Emaa was more of the snatch-the-blanket-and-run type. And she did exactly that.
In one dramatic pull, the cozy warmth of Alice's blanket disappeared.
"Ughhh," Alice groaned, trying to grab it back blindly. "Emaa, please. Just five more minutes. My soul hasn't even returned to my body yet."
"Your soul's gonna need CPR if you don't wake up right now," Emaa snapped, arms crossed. "It's already 8:30!"
Alice barely cracked an eye open. "And?"
"And?" Emaa's voice jumped an octave. "Have you completely forgotten? That demon boss of ours Conrad freaking Adelson is coming back from his business trip today!"
That did it.
Alice shot up like she'd been electrocuted. "What?! Today?!"
Emaa gave her a mock-innocent smile, "Yes, today, Sleeping Beauty. The ice-cold CEO we work for. The man who terrifies the entire corporate building with a single eyebrow raise. The same man who specifically told everyone he wants a progress report the moment he steps into the office. Remember now?"
"Oh my God," Alice muttered, her eyes wide. "I'm dead. I'm literally dead."
She sprang off the bed, and sprinted toward the bathroom. "Why didn't you wake me earlier?!"
“I did,” Emaa yelled after her, laughing. “You threw a pillow at me and muttered, ‘let me sleep peacefully.’”
By then, Alice was already brushing her teeth like a woman possessed. “No time for sass, Emaa! Get dressed, get the car ready; we’re leaving in twenty minutes!”
Emaa smirked, tossing a blazer and matching pants onto the bed. “You really think you’re surviving a day under Conrad’s death glare without coffee?”
“I’ll drink it in the car. Now go!"
Twenty-five minutes later, both girls were racing down the apartment stairs, shoes half-tied, makeup barely done, bags swinging as they bolted for the car.
The moment Alice slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, she exhaled shakily. "Okay. Okay. We're not that late. Maybe traffic will be kind."
Emaa buckled her seatbelt and raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe you'll walk into the office, and Mr. Iceberg will freeze you into a popsicle with one look."
"Thanks for the support," Alice muttered, slamming the accelerator. As the car sped down the street, the city around them blurred into a whirl of horns, morning rush, and tension. And deep in her gut, Alice knew, today wasn't going to be an ordinary day. Conrad Adelson was back. And nothing about him ever came quietly.
Meanwhile, As soon as Conrad Adelson stepped out of the airport, he didn’t bother with the golden sunlight spreading over the city or the murmurs that followed him through the crowd. Attention was nothing new to him, and distractions had no place in his schedule. He moved the same way he conducted business; direct, sharp, and without pause.
His car was already waiting. Liam Brown, his assistant, was quick to step out, adjust his jacket, and open the rear door.
“good morning Mr. Adelson” Liam greeted, voice low, formal.
Conrad gave nothing more than a nod before sliding in. His face was calm, but the coldness in his eyes could freeze a room. The drive into the city passed in silence, the hum of the engine the only sound between them.
Soon, the car slowed in front of a tower that seemed to touch the sky itself.
Amelia.
Etched in elegant silver lettering across the black stone exterior, the name carried legacy, power, and the weight of an empire. The headquarters stood in the heart of the city like a jewel of modern architecture; glass and steel twisted into perfection. Sleek panels reflected the clouds above, while inside, dreams were stitched, bottled, designed, and sold with precision.
Amelia wasn't just a brand. It was a world.Though divided by its vertical floors, the building housed every thriving branch under one roof; Amelia Fashion, Fragrance, Beauty, Accessories, and Fine Jewelry. Together, they formed an empire that dictated luxury itself.
Conrad Adelson ruled over two of those pillars; Fashion and Fine Jewelry. His name echoed in global boardrooms and couture houses alike, feared and revered in equal measure. His elder brother, Stefan Adelson, headed the remaining two ; Fragrance and Beauty along with Accessories, the more sensorial, seductive side of the empire. Together, the Adelson brothers were a force the industry didn't dare challenge.
