I lived with the Sterling family for ten years. Declan Sterling and I always minded our own business, never crossing the line. At the company, he was my ultimate boss, and I was one of his assistants. After work, he was just the son of my parents' best friends—someone I rarely exchanged more than two words with. Until one day, we got married. He said, "I'm not getting any younger, and we know everything about each other. You're a very good choice." I smiled, hiding my true motives. "Then we both get what we need." That was, until the rumors about me and the executive secretary started flying around the office. The usually aloof, untouchable CEO barged straight into the assistant's bullpen. Under everyone's shocked gazes, he personally fed me a bite of cake. "My wife is pregnant," he announced. "Please take good care of her. Today’s afternoon tea is on me." 01 In the morning, the moment I stepped into the office, the colleague next to me grabbed my arm. She looked desperate. "Chloe, my stomach is killing me. Can you please drop this file off in the CEO's office for me?" I paused. Glancing at the time—exactly 9:00 AM. I had just parted ways with Declan ten minutes ago. At this hour, he should be in his office. I didn't refuse. "Sure." I put down my purse, took the file, and knocked on Declan's door. "Come in," a deep, magnetic voice answered. I pushed the door open. The office was spacious and immaculate. Declan had his back to me, one hand resting casually on the desk, talking on speakerphone. Seeing this, I stood patiently to the side. "Thank you, Arthur," Declan said politely. "I'll leave it all in your hands." "You little brat, you're absolutely ruthless in business," the older man laughed. "I learned from the best." "Bullshit," Mr. Vance laughed softly, then his tone softened. "Listen, Declan. Are you and your parents free this Saturday night?" I blinked. What was going on? Why the sudden family small talk? I wondered if I should step out to give him privacy. Declan raised an eyebrow, glanced at me, and replied calmly, "I'll have to check my schedule. Is there a special occasion?" "My daughter, Serena. You two used to play together as kids. She just got back from London. My wife and I want to book a restaurant to welcome her back. It’s always better with more people." Uh. Was this a disguised blind date? Hearing this, I lowered my eyes, straining my ears while using my peripheral vision to peek at the man behind the desk. His face was expressionless as he flipped through the documents on his desk. He didn't seem particularly interested in the setup. "I'll pass the message to my parents. They should be free." "You make sure to come too! You young people will have plenty to talk about..." Okay, that was way too obvious. He practically spelled it out. "I will." Wait, what? He agreed? "Then it's a date," Mr. Vance said cheerfully. "See you Saturday night." Then, with lightning speed, he hung up. Declan didn't react much. He just tapped the end call button and went back to reading his files. I pursed my lips and slid the folder across his desk. "Mr. Sterling, this needs your signature." He gave a slight nod, took the file, scanned it carefully, signed it, and handed it back to me. Smooth and efficient. As I took the folder, his fingertips brushed against mine. I shivered. It felt like an electric current snapping through me. Declan seemed to feel it too. He paused for a fraction of a second before looking back down at his work. I didn't leave immediately. I stood right in front of him. With my eyes cast down, staring at the bold, sharp signature on the paper, my mind aggressively chewed over the conversation I had just overheard. "Is there something else?" he asked. I bit my lip and tested the waters. "Going on a blind date?" Declan lifted his gaze, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his leather chair. "What do you think?" His tone held a hint of amusement. I kept my head down, took a massive, deep breath, and summoned every ounce of courage I had. "Would you... consider me instead?" 02 "Are you sure?" he asked. His deep voice carried a sudden, rough edge. In an instant, the atmosphere grew incredibly tense. My heart pounded wildly against my ribs. I knew he was asking to give me an out. Declan had always been a deeply rational man. Silence spread through the air. After a long pause, I heard my own voice say softly, "I'm sure." "I have conditions." He stood up and took slow, deliberate steps toward me. Of course he had conditions. I understood. Rich people always needed to protect their assets. Especially since his marriage would impact the operations of Sterling Global. Even though I received a $30,000 payout from my own trust fund every month, compared to Declan's net worth, it was less than a drop in the ocean. I was fully prepared to sign an ironclad prenup. Besides, I was only marrying him because... "Let's go get the marriage license right now," his voice rang in my ears. Huh? What??? I completely froze. By the time I snapped out of my daze, Declan had already closed the distance. He leaned in, planting both hands on the desk on either side of me, completely caging me in. I looked up, falling straight into his ink-black eyes. Didn't I just say Declan was a rational man? Why was he suddenly acting crazier than I was?! 03 I skipped work. Actually, not just me. Declan skipped work too. On the way, Declan detoured to the most exclusive jeweler on Fifth Avenue and asked me to pick out a wedding band. The glass cases were filled with blinding, extravagant diamonds. The saleswoman was enthusiastic. "What girl doesn't love diamonds?" She pointed to the centerpiece display. "This is a flawless, rare blue diamond, the kind you usually only see on European royalty." I, however, pointed to a simple platinum band in the corner. "I want this one." Halfway to our next destination, Declan stepped out of the car again. When he got back in, he was holding a bouquet of white Lisianthus. Getting married in New York wasn't too complicated. We just needed to go to City Hall for the license, and the lawyers would handle the rest of the paperwork. Sterling Global had an entire legal department, but I thought about it and suggested we hire Fiona, a private attorney, to handle our application. I had my selfish reasons. First, Fiona was a close friend of mine. Second, I wanted to keep a low profile. I didn't want to alert anyone inside the company. The fewer people who knew, the better. 04 It wasn't until the drive back that I finally processed what had just happened. I was sitting in the passenger seat of Declan's Range Rover. We were heading toward the Sterling estate in Greenwich. The sunset spilled through the car windows, glinting off the wedding band on my finger. I was married. And to Declan Sterling, of all people. I peeked at Declan's hand out of the corner of my eye. He was wearing the matching band. His long, elegant fingers gripped the steering wheel. He kept his eyes on the road, looking completely calm and collected. It was different from how he looked at work. Right now, he had taken off his suit jacket, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, and loosened his tie. Without his usual intimidating aura, he actually looked a bit laid-back. This was the first time I had ridden in Declan's personal car. Usually, I just took the subway or caught an Uber. He was always strict about keeping his personal and professional lives separate. Even though his mother had gotten me the job at the company, he never gave me any special treatment. At the office, he was my boss. After work, he was the son of my parents' best friends. We rarely spoke. I had lived in the Sterling house for ten years. But in reality, my relationship with Declan was incredibly shallow. My mind flashed back to what Fiona said at the lawyer's office, her face sporting a teasing smirk. "Dream come true?" A hot blush crept up my neck. Sorry, Declan. The car stopped at a red light. "Chloe, do you regret it?" Declan suddenly asked. I snapped out of my thoughts and shook my head. "No. Do you?" He turned to look at me, his gaze direct and serious. "I won't regret it." Out of habit, I lowered my eyes, avoiding his burning stare, and scrambled for a topic. "Can I ask why you wanted to get married?" "I'm not getting any younger, and we know everything about each other. You're a very good choice. What about you?" "Me..." I couldn't exactly say I had an ulterior motive, could I? I pressed a hand against my racing heart and went with a safe answer. "You're handsome and rich. I couldn't find a better catch with a flashlight. Marrying you isn't exactly a loss for me." It was the truth. Declan had always been the golden boy. The typical "perfect son." Not only was he ridiculously good-looking, but he was brilliant at running the empire. He let out a low chuckle, the corners of his lips curving up. "I'm honored by your high praise." I glanced at him and quickly looked down. He reached over and gently tucked a few stray strands of hair behind my ear. "I will do my best to be a good husband." That was his promise. I smiled, revealing faint dimples. "Then we both get what we need." 05 When we got home, the housekeeper, Martha, told us that Mr. and Mrs. Sterling were attending a gala and would be back late. Declan handed his briefcase to Martha and looked at me. "Let's eat first." I kept my head down, sipping my water, and hummed in agreement. It wasn't until we quietly finished dinner that I suddenly remembered— Tonight was our wedding night! After dinner, Declan went up to his study on the third floor. That was his designated workspace. After showering, I paced back and forth in my room. Should I go to his room or not? Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Fiona. "Wedding night vibes! How is it? Are you excited? Is he a beast in bed?" No filter, as always. My face instantly burned. "How would I know if he's a beast? I've never tried him out." Fiona clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Declan is such an old soul. You need to take the initiative. Push him down, seal the deal, and make him take responsibility for you forever." "Who acts that crazy? If I actually did that, it would scare him away." "Oh, please. You're gorgeous, you have a killer body, and a sweet personality. If a premium catch like you threw herself at him and he ran, he'd have to be legally blind." "I'm not talking to you anymore. You're never serious." After hanging up, I bit my lip, agonizing over it for another ten minutes. Finally, I chose to open my door. Better to devour him early so he wouldn't have the chance to regret this. 06 There were four rooms on the third floor: Declan's bedroom, my bedroom, the study, and a guest room. Light spilled from the crack under the study door. He was still working. The house was dead quiet. My heartbeat felt deafeningly loud. I tiptoed into Declan's room. The style was completely different from mine. Beige walls, a navy blue duvet. Minimalist and sharp, just like the man himself. Only a single bedside lamp was on. I bit my lip, carefully climbed into the bed, and wrapped myself in the duvet he slept in every night. A faint, clean scent enveloped me. It was Declan's scent. ... Just as I was about to doze off. The door opened—Declan was back! I shut my eyes tightly, pretending to be fast asleep. In the darkness, I heard the door click shut, followed by footsteps. The footsteps paused for a moment by the bed. Then came the sound of a closet opening, running water... It wasn't until I heard the shower running in the en-suite that I dared to peek. Through the frosted glass door, a silhouette shifted within the swirling steam. My heart hammered relentlessly against my ribs. Suddenly, the water stopped. My entire body tensed, and I slammed my eyes shut. I heard the bathroom door open, footsteps approaching, and then the covers shifted on the other side. He got into bed. Every tiny movement tugged at my nerve endings. Click. The lamp turned off. The wait felt like an entire century. Declan didn't move an inch. I cracked my eyes open. The first thing I saw was his handsome profile in the moonlight. A sharp nose, defined jawline. I gripped the edge of the duvet, a million thoughts racing through my head. What should I do? If I kept hesitating, I was genuinely going to fall asleep. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and decisively rolled over, throwing myself straight into his arms. I was instantly met with his clean, fresh scent. I rested one hand on his chest. Even through his pajamas, the texture underneath was surprisingly solid. He sat in an office all day—how did he secretly build all these muscles? Instantly, Declan's entire body jolted, and he went completely rigid. "Chloe?" His voice was deep, suppressed, sounding like a cello playing a mesmerizing chord. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. I shyly grabbed the hem of his shirt. Summoning all my liquid courage, I asked, "Declan... are we doing this or not?" 07 Silence blanketed us. The air seemed to thicken into amber, glowing faintly but dangerously in the moonlight. The distance between us vanished until I could hear his breathing. He finally spoke, his voice low and trembling slightly. "Are you... sure?" A large hand wrapped around my waist, lingering on my side. I looked up. Through the dark, I saw his tense jaw. I took a quiet breath. Was he... not capable? A woman literally threw herself into his arms, and he was hesitating? I don't know where the courage came from, but I pressed my hand down his stomach, reaching lower... The next second, a breathless, panicked gasp escaped him. "Chloe!" Startled, I immediately let go. I patted my chest, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank God. I thought you had a problem down there..." Before I could finish, my mouth was covered. "Mmph..." Suddenly, the arm around my waist tightened, and a hand cupped the back of my head. The next second, the world spun... ... A long time later. A hand brushed against my forehead, gently wiping away the light sweat. Declan's lips brushed my ear. "Chloe." I felt like I was floating on an ocean, my voice catching in broken whimpers. "Mhm?" "Call me Declan," he demanded hoarsely. "..." He pinched my waist. I gasped, crying out softly. "Ah..." Then, weakly, I surrendered to his demand. "Dec..." I felt his dark eyes gleam in the shadows. "Say it again." "Declan..." Those words made the corners of his mouth lift into a faint smile. He leaned down and kissed me again. Over and over. Round after round. 08 The next day, I woke up from a dizzying haze. I opened my eyes, propped myself up, and looked around. The curtains were half-drawn. The room was empty. I let out a long breath. Thank God Declan wasn't here. Otherwise, I truly wouldn't know how to face him. Fighting through the soreness in my body, I quickly snuck back to my room. After washing up and changing, I slowly walked downstairs. As I reached the landing, I saw Eleanor and Declan chatting at the dining table. Eleanor was drinking milk, her face beaming with unconcealed joy. "Son, after all these years, you finally did something right." "Chloe is so much sweeter than a biological son." Declan looked like he had a headache. He put down his toast and laughed helplessly. "Mom, I never stopped you from legally adopting her as your goddaughter." "You think I didn't want to? Chloe was the one who didn't want it." Declan looked confused. "Why?" Eleanor glanced at Declan and sighed. "That girl just has too good of a heart. She said if we officially adopted her, what would happen if your future wife had a problem with it?" "She was worried about putting you in a difficult position." Hearing this, Declan froze. Eleanor finished her milk, thought for a moment, and said, "I just talked to your father. Chloe isn't lacking in money, but we might as well transfer the title of this Greenwich estate to her." "I wonder if she'd like that?" "Mom, has she ever complained about anything you've given her?" As he said that, he looked up. And saw me slowly walking down the stairs.
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