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Ruthless Billionaire, Reluctant Bride

Ruthless Billionaire, Reluctant Bride

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Dominic Westwood is a man with one goal revenge. Cold, calculating, and ruthlessly wealthy, he's spent years plotting against the man responsible for his sister's death: a corrupt politician who has evaded justice for too long. To take down his enemy, Dominic needs the perfect pawn. Enter Lila Harrington. Lila, a kind-hearted wedding planner, never imagined her life would spiral out of control. But when Dominic buys her family's debt, she's forced into a marriage of convenience to save them. Trapped in the cold, glamorous world of the billionaire, Lila must navigate her new reality married to a man who views her as nothing more than a means to an end. What Dominic didn't expect was for Lila to challenge him at every turn. Her warmth begins to thaw his icy heart, and soon, his carefully laid plans unravel as his need for revenge collides with an unexpected desire to protect her. But as Lila uncovers Dominic's dark past and the deadly game of revenge he's playing, she finds herself caught between two powerful men one who seeks to control her and one who might just destroy her. In a world where love is the ultimate risk, will Lila and Dominic find redemption in each other, or will their dangerous secrets tear them apart forever?

Chapter 1 1

The rhythmic clicking of Lila Harrington's heels echoed off the marble floors as she hurried through the entrance of Westwood Enterprises. The imposing building stood like a sentinel in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, towering over the city's other high-rises. It was cold, modern, and sterile, much like the man she was on her way to meet-Dominic Westwood. The thought of him sent a chill down her spine, but Lila squared her shoulders and kept her pace steady. This wasn't just another business meeting. It was the beginning of her descent into a world she didn't understand.

"Ms. Harrington?" A voice startled her as she reached the sleek reception desk.

Lila looked up to find a tall, severe-looking woman with slicked-back hair and glasses perched on the edge of her nose. She gave Lila a once-over, as though trying to measure her up, before gesturing toward the elevator. "Mr. Westwood is expecting you. Top floor."

Lila nodded her thanks, though she could feel the nerves coiling in her stomach. She stepped into the elevator, watching the steel doors glide shut, trapping her in. It felt symbolic-like she was being sealed into a deal she hadn't even agreed to yet.

As the elevator ascended, Lila clenched her hands into fists. She had to keep reminding herself why she was here. Her family was on the brink of ruin. The debts her father had left behind were drowning them, and their home, the business-everything-was slipping away. Dominic Westwood had come out of nowhere, offering her a lifeline, but there was no denying the cost. His terms were still a mystery, though she had a sickening feeling they wouldn't be something as simple as signing a few documents.

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open to reveal the top floor, all glass and open space. It was breathtaking in its starkness, the kind of place where the elite plotted their moves above the world they controlled. Lila stepped out, smoothing her hands down the front of her cream blouse. Her legs felt heavy as she walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the office, giving her a panoramic view of the city below. Los Angeles, with its glittering skyline, felt distant. Cold.

Then she saw him.

Dominic Westwood stood with his back to her, staring out over the city like a king surveying his kingdom. His presence was commanding, even from across the room. He wore a tailored suit, the deep navy fabric sculpted to his broad shoulders, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. Everything about him screamed control.

"Ms. Harrington," he said, his voice low and smooth, without even turning around. "You're punctual. I appreciate that."

Lila swallowed, feeling the weight of his presence, and took a few steps forward. "I didn't think this was a meeting I could afford to be late for."

At that, Dominic turned, his sharp gaze locking onto her. His eyes were as cold as the rest of him-icy blue, calculating, and unreadable. He was devastatingly handsome, in a way that made her uneasy. Like a predator that had perfected the art of blending in among his prey. He studied her for a moment, as if assessing what she might be capable of, before a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"No, I suppose not," he said, crossing the room toward her with measured, deliberate steps.

Lila stood her ground, even as the space between them seemed to shrink too quickly. He stopped just short of her, and the proximity made her breath hitch. She could feel the intensity of his gaze, feel the unspoken power he radiated. Dominic wasn't a man who negotiated. He dictated terms.

"I assume you know why you're here?" he asked, his tone devoid of any warmth.

"To discuss the terms of the...arrangement," Lila replied, her voice steady despite the tight knot in her chest.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her choice of words. "Arrangement. That's a polite way of putting it."

"What would you call it?" she asked, her chin lifting slightly. She wouldn't let him intimidate her, not when so much was at stake.

"An exchange," Dominic said smoothly. "Your family is in debt, and I'm offering a solution."

Lila's heart pounded harder. This was the moment she had dreaded. "What exactly are you offering, Mr. Westwood?"

Dominic's smile faded, replaced by a look of cool detachment. "You marry me."

Lila felt the ground tilt beneath her. "What?"

"It's simple, really," Dominic continued as if they were discussing a business merger. "You marry me, and your family's debts disappear. I'll make sure your parents keep their home, your brother gets his inheritance back, and your wedding planning business stays afloat. In return, you become Mrs. Westwood."

Lila stared at him, trying to process the enormity of what he was asking. "You want me to marry you? Why?"

Dominic's expression didn't waver. "I need a wife for certain...appearances. My personal life has come under scrutiny lately, and having a spouse would silence some of the more inconvenient rumors. Plus," he added, his voice lowering, "you have connections that could be useful."

Lila shook her head, stepping back. "You can't be serious. You want me to marry you to solve some PR problem? You barely even know me."

"I know enough," Dominic said, his gaze locking onto hers. "I know you're desperate, and I know you care about your family. That's all I need to know."

Her heart thundered in her chest, her mind racing. This was insane. Marriage? To a man like Dominic Westwood? It sounded like a trap, one she had no way out of.

"I can't-" she started, but he cut her off.

"You can," he said, his voice hardening. "And you will. Because if you don't, I will make sure your family loses everything. Your father's debts will consume them, your mother will be forced out of her home, and your business-your dream-will vanish."

Lila's breath caught in her throat. He was holding her life in his hands, and he knew it.

"So, what will it be, Ms. Harrington?" Dominic asked, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. "Do we have an agreement?"

Lila clenched her fists at her sides, her mind whirling. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to reject his offer, but the image of her family-her mother's worried face, her brother's anger-flashed in her mind. If she didn't do this, they would be ruined. She would be ruined.

"I..." She hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. "I need time to think."

Dominic's gaze didn't soften. "You don't have time. I need an answer, now."

The weight of his words pressed down on her, suffocating her, and for a moment, all she could hear was the rush of her own heartbeat. She looked up at him, his expression as unyielding as ever, and realized that there was no choice. Not really.

"I'll marry you," she said, her voice flat, resigned.

For the briefest moment, she thought she saw something flicker in Dominic's eyes-satisfaction, maybe even a hint of relief-but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Good," he said, turning away from her, as if the conversation was already over. "We'll discuss the details later. My lawyer will contact you with the paperwork."

Lila stood there, feeling hollow. She had just agreed to marry a man she barely knew, for reasons she still couldn't fully grasp. But there was no going back now.

As Dominic moved back to the window, his gaze returning to the city below, she felt the last threads of her old life slipping away. She wasn't Lila Harrington anymore-not really. Soon, she would be Mrs. Westwood.

And she had no idea what that truly meant.

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Latest Release: Chapter 22 22   03-04 15:53
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1 Chapter 1 1
18/01/2025
2 Chapter 2 2
18/01/2025
3 Chapter 3 3
18/01/2025
4 Chapter 4 4
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5 Chapter 5 5
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6 Chapter 6 6
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7 Chapter 7 7
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8 Chapter 8 8
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9 Chapter 9 9
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10 Chapter 10 10
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11 Chapter 11 11
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12 Chapter 12 12
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13 Chapter 13 13
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14 Chapter 14 14
18/01/2025
15 Chapter 15 15
18/01/2025
16 Chapter 16 16
18/01/2025
17 Chapter 17 16
18/01/2025
18 Chapter 18 18
04/03/2025
19 Chapter 19 19
04/03/2025
20 Chapter 20 20
04/03/2025
21 Chapter 21 21
04/03/2025
22 Chapter 22 22
04/03/2025
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