My Mysterious Billionaire Husband

The waves crashed against the cliffs of Nova Scotia with an almost musical rhythm, but Aria Morgan knew better. After three years of studying marine biology at the remote Blackrock Research Station, she had learned to distinguish between natural ocean sounds and something more... peculiar. Tonight, there was definitely something different in the water's song.

Standing on the observation deck of the research facility, her long dark hair whipping in the salty breeze, Aria focused her night vision binoculars on the churning waters below. The full moon cast an ethereal glow across the surface, making it easier to spot any unusual movement. That's when she saw it - a flash of iridescent scales, much too large to be any known fish species.

"You're out here late again," a deep voice spoke behind her. Dr. Nathaniel Cross, the facility's new head of cryptozoology, stood in the doorway. His presence had been causing quite a stir among the female staff since his arrival last month, with his storm-gray eyes and the mysterious scar that ran from his left temple to his jaw. But Aria had noticed something else about him - the way he always seemed to appear whenever the strange occurrences happened.

"There's something out there, Dr. Cross," Aria said, not taking her eyes off the water. "Something big."

"Please, call me Nate," he said, moving to stand beside her. His proximity sent an involuntary shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "And I know. That's why I'm here."

Before Aria could question what he meant, a haunting melody drifted up from the waters below. It wasn't quite singing - more like an otherworldly humming that seemed to resonate in her very bones. To her surprise, she found herself taking an unconscious step toward the railing, drawn by the sound.

Nate's hand shot out, gripping her arm. "Don't listen too closely," he warned, his voice tight with concern. "They're hunting tonight."

"They?" Aria tried to shake off the melody's lingering effect. "Who are 'they'?"

Just then, a figure emerged from the waves - a woman with silvery skin and long, phosphorescent hair. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, and when she opened her mouth to continue her song, Aria saw rows of sharp, pearl-like teeth. The creature's beauty was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"Sirens," Nate whispered, his grip on Aria's arm tightening. "Real ones. Not the sanitized versions from your fairy tales."

The siren's gaze locked onto them, and her song changed, becoming more focused, more enticing. Aria felt Nate tense beside her, and when she looked at him, she was shocked to see his eyes had taken on a silvery sheen, reflecting the moonlight like a cat's.

"We need to get inside," he said through gritted teeth, though he seemed to be fighting the urge to move closer to the railing himself. "Now."

But as they turned to leave, Aria caught sight of something in the water that made her blood run cold. Dozens of glowing eyes had appeared beneath the waves, and more figures were rising to the surface. Their songs began to intertwine, creating a symphony of supernatural beauty and terror.

"Dr. Cross... Nate," Aria's voice trembled slightly. "What's really going on at this facility?"

He finally turned to look at her fully, and in the moonlight, she could see that his scar was glowing with a faint blue light. "It's not just a research station, Aria. It's a containment facility. We monitor and protect humanity from ancient creatures that most people think are myths. And right now," he glanced back at the water where more sirens were emerging, "something has disturbed them. Something that hasn't happened in over a hundred years."

"What?" Aria asked, though part of her feared the answer.

"They're looking for their lost queen," Nate's voice was grim. "And for some reason, they think she's here."

A particularly powerful wave crashed against the cliffs, sending spray high enough to reach the observation deck. As the droplets hit Aria's skin, she felt a strange tingling sensation, and for just a moment, her reflection in the window showed her eyes glowing with the same ethereal blue light as the creatures below.

Nate saw it too. His expression shifted from concern to something more complex - fear, fascination, and what looked almost like recognition. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "About your mother. About why you were really assigned to this facility. And about why you've always felt so drawn to the sea."

The siren's song grew louder, more insistent, and Aria felt something stir within her - ancient memories that couldn't possibly be her own, yet somehow were. As she followed Nate inside, one thought kept repeating in her mind: her life as she knew it was about to change forever, and there would be no going back to the simple world of marine biology and research papers.

Behind them, the sirens continued their haunting chorus, their songs now carrying a note of triumph. They had found what they were looking for.

The facility's underground laboratory was a maze of steel and glass, illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights that made everything look clinical and cold. Aria followed Nate through a series of security checkpoints, each requiring increasingly complex biometric scans. Her mind was still reeling from the events on the observation deck, the sirens' song echoing in her memory.

        "How long have you known?" she finally asked as they entered what appeared to be his private office. Unlike the sterile corridors outside, this room was filled with artifacts that looked ancient - shells with strange markings, crystals that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, and walls covered in charts mapping underwater ley lines.

        Nate moved to a heavily secured cabinet, his fingers dancing across a complex lock. "Since the moment you arrived at Blackrock. Your bio-readings were... unique." He pulled out a thick file with her name on it. "But your mother knew long before that."

        "My mother?" Aria's voice cracked. "She died when I was three. All I have are some photos and my father's stories about her love for the ocean."

        "Your mother didn't die, Aria." Nate's voice was gentle but firm as he placed an old photograph on his desk. "She returned."

        The photograph showed a woman standing on these very cliffs, her wild dark hair streaming in the wind. She looked exactly like Aria, except for her eyes - they held that same otherworldly blue glow Aria had seen in her own reflection moments ago.

        "That's impossible," Aria whispered, but even as she spoke, memories began to surface - the way she could hold her breath for impossibly long periods, her uncanny ability to predict storms, the strange songs that sometimes filled her dreams.

        Suddenly, the lights flickered, and a low vibration ran through the building. Nate's expression turned serious. "They're testing the barriers," he said, moving to a bank of monitors showing underwater footage. Multiple figures darted past the cameras, their movements too quick and graceful to be human.

        "What barriers?" Aria asked, joining him at the monitors.

        "Electromagnetic fields designed to keep them at bay. But with their queen so close..." He glanced at her meaningfully. "They're stronger than usual."

        "I am not their queen," Aria said firmly, though something deep inside her stirred at the words.

        "No, but you're her daughter. The first successful hybrid in centuries." Nate pulled up more files on his computer. "Your mother was their queen, and when she fell in love with your father, it created a diplomatic crisis. A siren queen choosing a human was unprecedented."

        The vibrations grew stronger, and somewhere in the facility, an alarm began to sound. On the monitors, the sirens' movements became more coordinated, more purposeful.

        "They're not just testing anymore," Nate muttered. He grabbed what looked like an ancient trident from a wall display. "They're breaking through."

        Aria's head suddenly filled with voices - not speaking English, but a fluid, musical language she somehow understood. They were calling to her, telling her to come home, to take her rightful place.

        "Make it stop," she gasped, pressing her hands to her temples.

        Nate reached for her, but stopped short when he saw her eyes - they were glowing brighter now, and her skin had taken on a slight iridescent sheen. "Fight it, Aria. You're not just one of them. You're both human and siren. That's what makes you special."

        The facility shook more violently, and the lights went out completely. In the darkness, Nate's eyes glowed silver again, and Aria could finally ask the question that had been nagging at her.

        "What are you?" she whispered. "You're not entirely human either, are you?"

        Before he could answer, the reinforced windows of his office exploded inward in a shower of glass and seawater. In the opening hovered three sirens, their beauty terrible and magnificent. The one in the center spoke, her voice carrying both authority and disdain.

        "Step away from the princess, Guardian. She belongs with her people."

        Nate raised the trident, which began to glow with an electric blue light. "She belongs where she chooses to belong."

        As seawater swirled around them, Aria felt power surge through her body - raw, ancient, and demanding to be released. She had a choice to make, but first, she needed answers.

        "Tell me everything," she said, her voice carrying a new note of command that surprised even her. "About my mother, about what you are," she looked at Nate, "and about why I'm really here."

        The siren queen smiled, showing those pearl-like teeth. "Oh, little princess. You're here because a war is coming. And you," her glow intensified, "are the key to everything."

The seawater swirling around Aria's feet felt alive, responding to her emotions like an extension of her body. The three sirens remained suspended in the shattered window frame, their ethereal forms casting an otherworldly glow throughout Nate's flooded office. The lead siren - who had introduced herself as Cordelia, First General of the Deep Realm - watched her with ancient eyes that held both wisdom and cunning.

        "Your mother's choice started this war," Cordelia said, her voice carrying the rhythm of waves. "When she chose your father, she didn't just abandon her throne - she disrupted a balance that had existed for millennia. The Deep Realm has been without a true queen for twenty years, and the dark ones grow bolder each day."

        "The dark ones?" Aria asked, acutely aware of Nate's tension beside her, his grip tightening on the glowing trident.

        "The Abyssal Court," Nate answered grimly. "Think of them as your people's darker cousins. While the sirens of the Deep Realm protect the oceans, the Abyssal Court seeks to corrupt them. Without a queen's power to maintain the barriers..."

        "They're breaking free," Cordelia finished. "Even now, they gather in the deep trenches, preparing for war. Only a queen's song can reinforce the ancient seals."

        Aria felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her like the ocean itself. "And you think I can do this? I don't even know how to control whatever... this is." She gestured to her still-glowing skin.

        "That's why I'm here," a new voice spoke from the doorway. Aria turned to see a woman she'd only known from photographs - her mother. Nerissa, former queen of the Deep Realm, stood in the threshold, looking exactly as she had twenty years ago. Her presence made the very air vibrate with power.

        "Mom?" Aria whispered, emotions warring inside her.

        Nerissa's eyes - the same otherworldly blue as Aria's now were - filled with tears. "My daughter. My beautiful, brave daughter. I'm so sorry I had to leave you, but it was the only way to keep you safe while your powers matured."

        "Safe from what?" Aria demanded, anger suddenly surging through her. The water around her feet began to churn in response.

        "From those who would use you," Nate interjected, his voice carrying an edge of bitterness. "The Guardians weren't always noble protectors, Aria. Some believed that controlling a hybrid princess would give them power over both realms."

        "Like your father did?" Nerissa's voice turned cold as she addressed Nate. "Is that why you're so close to my daughter? Following in Marcus Cross's footsteps?"

        The tension in the room sparked like electricity. Nate's silver eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not my father."

        "Enough!" Aria's voice carried a new power, making everyone in the room freeze. The water around her feet rose in spiraling columns, responding to her command. "I want the truth. All of it. No more cryptic warnings or half-answers."

        Suddenly, the facility's emergency sirens blared to life. On Nate's monitors, dark shapes appeared in the deeper waters - humanoid figures with shark-like features and glowing red eyes.

        "The Abyssal Court," Cordelia hissed. "They've found us."

        "They found her," Nerissa corrected, moving to Aria's side. "They can sense your awakening power, daughter. We're out of time."

        The facility shuddered as something massive struck it from below. Through the broken window, Aria could see dark forms rising from the depths, their movements predatory and purposeful. The water around her feet turned ice-cold.

        "You have to choose now," Nate said urgently. "But know this - whatever you decide, I'll stand with you." His eyes met hers, and in them she saw not just duty or ambition, but something deeper, something personal.

        "As touching as that is, Guardian," Cordelia interrupted, "she needs to come with us. Only in the Deep Realm can she learn to control her powers in time."

        Another impact rocked the facility. In the distance, Aria could hear screams - the research staff, she realized with horror. They were unprotected, unaware of what was really happening.

        "I won't let innocent people die," Aria declared, feeling strength flow through her. "Mom, Cordelia - help me protect the facility. Nate..." she turned to him, "teach me how to fight."

        "Always choosing both worlds," Nerissa murmured, a mix of pride and worry in her voice. "Just like your mother."

        As the Abyssal Court's forces surrounded the facility, Aria felt something click into place inside her. She was neither fully human nor fully siren, neither wholly of land nor of sea. But perhaps that's exactly what both worlds needed.

        "Well then," she said, as power coursed through her veins and the song of the sea filled her mind, "let's show these dark ones what a hybrid princess can do."

        The water around her erupted upward, turning into a swirling shield of liquid crystal, just as the first of the dark figures burst through the facility's lower levels. The war for two worlds was about to begin, and Aria stood at its center, with a Guardian at her side and the power of two realms flowing through her blood.

The next few minutes dissolved into chaos. The Abyssal Court's warriors crashed through the facility's lower levels like a dark tide, their shark-like features twisted into snarls of hunger and hatred. Aria's crystalline water shield held against the first wave, but she could feel their darkness pressing against her power, trying to corrupt it.

        "Channel your emotions through the water," Nerissa instructed, her own powers creating whirlpools that trapped several attackers. "The sea responds to authentic feeling, not just will."

        Nate moved with inhuman grace, the trident in his hands leaving trails of electric blue energy as he fought. "We need to evacuate the research staff," he called out between strikes. "They're gathering near the main lab."

        Aria closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly she could feel every drop of water in the facility - in the pipes, in the air, in human bodies. The awareness was overwhelming. "I can feel them," she gasped. "Everyone. Everything."

        "That's your queen's sense awakening," Cordelia explained, her own song turning violent as she fought. "You're connecting to your realm."

        An explosion rocked the lower level, and through her new awareness, Aria felt something massive entering the facility. The temperature of the water dropped dramatically, and even the sirens looked concerned.

        "Thalassos," Nerissa whispered, fear evident in her voice. "The Abyssal Prince himself."

        Through the broken floor emerged a figure that seemed made of living darkness. Unlike his warriors, Prince Thalassos appeared almost human, devastatingly beautiful in a cruel way. His eyes were the color of the deepest ocean trenches, and when he smiled, his teeth gleamed like black pearls.

        "The little princess awakens," his voice was like the crushing depths given sound. "How convenient. I was afraid I'd have to wait longer to claim my bride."

        "Bride?" Aria and Nate spoke simultaneously, his voice sharp with anger, hers with shock.

        "Did they not tell you?" Thalassos moved closer, his presence making the water around him turn black. "The only way to truly end the war between our courts is through union. Your mother refused me twenty years ago. But you..." his dark eyes roamed over her face, "you're even more powerful than she was."

        Nate stepped between them, the trident glowing brighter. "She's not a prize to be claimed, Thalassos."

        The Abyssal Prince's laugh was like ice cracking. "Ah, the Guardian speaks. Tell me, son of Marcus Cross, does your protection come from duty... or jealousy?"

        Before anyone could respond, a scream echoed from the main lab. Through her water sense, Aria felt the research staff's terror as more Abyssal warriors surrounded them.

        "Choose quickly, princess," Thalassos said smoothly. "Surrender to me, and I'll spare them all. Refuse, and watch your human friends feed my warriors."

        Aria felt rage build inside her - pure, hot, and powerful. The water around her began to glow, not with her mother's blue light or Thalassos's darkness, but with a brilliant purple that seemed to combine both aspects of her nature.

        "You want an answer?" Her voice carried the crash of waves and the strength of tidepools. "Here it is."

        She thrust her hands forward, and every drop of water in the facility responded. It rose from pipes, condensed from air, pulled from the sea itself. But instead of attacking, it began to sing - a new song, neither fully siren nor fully human, but something entirely unique.

        The Abyssal warriors closest to her began to writhe, their corrupted forms starting to purify under her hybrid power. Thalassos's eyes widened in genuine surprise, then narrowed in fury.

        "Impossible," he snarled. "No one can purify the Abyssal taint!"

        "She's not no one," Nate said, pride evident in his voice. "She's both of your worlds, and neither. And that makes her stronger than either."

        Aria's song grew stronger, and she felt Nate's energy joining with hers, the Guardian's power amplifying her own. Her mother and Cordelia added their voices, creating a harmony that made the very foundations of the facility vibrate.

        But Thalassos wasn't finished. With a roar of rage, he released his own power - a wave of such absolute darkness that it threatened to swallow all light. "If I cannot have you," he growled, "then no one will!"

        The two forces met in a spectacular clash of energy. In that moment, as purple light battled primordial darkness, Aria felt something else stirring in the depths beneath the facility - something ancient and powerful, awakened by their battle.

        "The Leviathan," Nerissa breathed. "The battle... it's waking the ancient ones."

        As if in response, a deep rumble shook the entire ocean floor, and everyone - siren, human, and Abyssal alike - froze in sudden, instinctive fear.

        In the brief silence, Aria heard Nate whisper, "Whatever happens next, Aria, know that I-"

        But his words were cut off as the floor beneath them cracked open, and the true power of the deep made its presence known. The war between courts had awakened something far older and more dangerous than any of them had imagined.

        And deep in her soul, Aria knew - this was only the beginning.

Chapter 1

The scorching heat beat down on Calista Parker, leaving her feeling as if she were being consumed by a blazing inferno. She trudged through the desert aimlessly, her only desire to quench her insatiable thirst.
Suddenly, a man with icy lips pressed himself against her, offering a momentary respite from the relentless heat. She eagerly wrapped her arms around his neck, their lips locked in a desperate dance.
Their moans and pants reverberated throughout the room, their passion casting flickering shadows on the opposite wall.
IOn nthxe dlimA tliugAht,. AC,alvis'taF KstrruQgg_led bt$oJ mpakfeS ouMt tIhe man'Iss xfdacel.L AMll she KknpeBwu wRa$sP tmhatts KhZe *possessedL abn Vanim.alSióswtai!c nprodwvesasV ikn DbNed,G taGkibnlg _heNr DwIiptha Oaq ragw wiQntenbsityM KthatB tlefstJ hYer nbFreathhil*eCsks !uCn!til_ the! br,eOak ofl ZdBaÉw'n.
And then, he was gone.
As Calista blinked away the haze of sleep, she caught a blurry glimpse of the man's back and the tattoo that adorned it. A wolf's head, its jaws wide open in a menacing howl, etched permanently into his skin.
A surge of fear gripped her heart at the sight of that tattoo.
Cóa'lOistaN fokudn_d xhbejrsIelf( &truapipexd iTn Xa dPre)am(,y stRrXaanWsforMmueNdQ win'tto na SviQnDeJ bt,hhat* eZntwtingedh biKtKself arXelefnctólYeCsyslyx )aurouPnd a ltoBweri(nug trVeke,c kunablde to bZr(eak Sf!reMe.
When consciousness returned, her body throbbed with aching pain.
With one hand pressed against her pounding head, Calista sat up in bed. The disarrayed sheets and a torn men's shirt strewn across the floor sent shockwaves through her. She desperately tried to piece together the events of the previous night.
At her engagement party, her fiancé had betrayed her, shattering her world. In her shattered state, her cousin Esme Bryant had whisked her away to Sultry Night, a haven where sorrows were drowned in liquor.
Ind a ldrunZken sCtupzorr,r CzaNli$sta hRadU ÉvdoicéeFdN chÉer, desiyrJeD ,fQor $reavKein(geI ag,aiinsXt Chceir fPiNaDn$cSé.l *EspmVe waws^tedS &nto( ptime maurérwaÉngi)nvg a mcalex Ge(scorItk f.ohr SherW.
As the memories flooded back, Calista clutched her chest in disbelief. Oh God, I've lost my virginity to a stranger!
Frustration consumed her as she tugged at her hair, trying to make sense of it all.
After what felt like an eternity, Calista snapped out of her trance and hastily dressed herself. As she hurried out of the hotel, a swarm of reporters descended upon her, their clamor echoing in her ears.Accompanied by a barrage of blinding camera flashes, the reporters bombarded Calista with their harsh questions.
"Mósf.d NPwarBkXeyr, Uis( kiOt trume thattZ thde HoHwaAr!ds FcÉalglVejdD .ofIf nthBeu ge!ngSaDgeLmaen(t Zbnewcauase WyoHu szpenty t.h*el nUigIhxt wiPtKhD an Émalle* PeisAcBorHt fromK $SuwltryU NjilghHtQ?^"
"Ms. Parker, were you aware that the male escort is a transvestite?"
"Ms. Parker, did you have any knowledge of your father's bankruptcy?"
"Ms. Parker, we've just received news that your father has tragically taken his own life. He jumped off the building of his own company."
Calissmtai'ss émimnMdS weKnDt Iblank,ó ^aés idfr 'sjheQ haód been strguécfkt 'by l&i)ghtSnÉiRn.g. WNitnhVout téhkinkintgg, nsShreU bwoltOed outB ozf tihe_ rÉoóom, WonlBy toW Abe ^k,nocWkeNd u!ncoqnsac,ioÉus b^y aP paksXsiznsgB cÉahr_._
The following morning, the headlines screamed with the news of Calista and her father. "Richest Man in H City, Colson Parker, Goes Bankrupt and Commits Suicide. Timothy Howard Dumps Daughter of Colson Parker - Calista Parker Spends Night at Club With Transvestite Male Escort."
Both pieces of breaking news spread like wildfire across the city.
Once a wealthy heiress, Calista was now labeled a despicable and immoral woman overnight. She had lost everything, from her family to her reputation.
Tóen ymdont'h.s nlaGter,' ktheQ criResM ÉoÉfO newbPorqn *bRabiesY fiXllJeGd the a.i)rY in a. mhuómbZlme ^couBnXtBryósimdeJ 'cli*nVic.z
Mrs. Moore rushed towards Calista, her face beaming with joy, holding a baby in her arms. "Miss, congratulations! You've given birth to triplets. Two boys and a girl!"
Four years later, at H City's Train Station.
Calista stepped off the train, accompanied by her children and Mrs. Moore.
SRtgruggklui*ng IufndGera theX wWeti^ght' zo*fg Jtwio. !largKeM suitcaskesH, MrQsA. yMtoore térudged TforLwÉa&rTdU.a
Calista carried a denim backpack on her shoulder as she navigated her way through the bustling train station, her three children following closely behind.
To the casual observer, they appeared to be a poor family from the countryside, seeking support from their relatives in the city.
"Out of my way, you country bumpkin!"
A vwoMm$a$nQ éw^efahrjiNntgj aH fur ac!oTat sNhovetd 'Mórs^. MoorTef asOid$ef,U zhuórXltiVnSg WicnZsJultbs. xat hejrI.F
Calista was about to reprimand the woman when a fleet of luxurious cars pulled up beside her.
Without missing a beat, a group of bodyguards emerged from the vehicles and formed two orderly rows.
With a deep bow, they announced in unison, "Welcome back, Mrs. Howard!"

Chapter 2

Calista's attention was caught by the mention of the name "Howard," causing her to shift her gaze towards the convoy of cars. As she focused on the vehicles, she couldn't help but notice the distinct crest of the Howards adorning them. A surge of excitement coursed through her veins as a thought crossed her mind - could they be here for her?
Her heart raced with anticipation, and the possibility that Timothynett had never betrayed her began to take hold. Perhaps their engagement had been called off against his will, and now that he knew she had returned, he had come to pick her up. The idea filled her with hope and longing.
Lost in her thoughts, Calista almost missed the rude intrusion of two bodyguards who pushed her and Mrs. Moore aside. But then, as if from a dream, a figure emerged from the convoy. It was a woman, elegant and graceful, dressed in exquisite attire that spoke of wealth and opulence. Calista's eyes widened in surprise - it was Esme Bryant.
EZsme', adoÉr$ned iTnU a$ KdéemsingOnegr sfuitQ,B eAxuRdeda a!nS aHihr óofm soHp!hist(i(cUatmion ct_haat sSeKecmedT Utyo hNaveQ jinten.s$ifIied KoYveqr Ot*hke past fTo*ur yAeaKrs. sHemr* OfirnÉgMeAr^s GwneSrTeu GdelPiGcaét^elny( 'wrabpped) naNrnoun&dc the (hand owf éa óyqou$ngY bDoy!, wlhnoF appearre*da t)o qbe aCrouUnjd tTh^eK szamYeF aSge as CallistaP's MtVrxilplyeqts.
The bodyguards, despite their earlier rudeness, now greeted Esme and the little boy with utmost politeness. "Mrs. Howard, Timothy, this way please," they said, guiding them towards a waiting car.
Calista couldn't help but overhear Esme's haughty declaration about the train being beneath her standards, accompanied by a disdainful gesture of covering her nose with a handkerchief. It was clear that she held herself in high regard, and her marriage to Mr. Howard seemed to have only heightened her sense of entitlement.
"Yes, yes," one of the bodyguards nodded in agreement. "If it weren't for the inclement weather, Mr. Howard wouldn't have allowed you and Timothy to suffer."
With( Étha&t, E!smCe AaxnLd hbeqr son werke whisketdW aOwtaqy in tMheB Wca_ré,k atwhóenir SarromgCanFcWe przedvfeantXin_g ^thzemQ ^fYromn GnWoticciunJgv Calista amidstQ Fthfe qcvroéwHda.Y
Mrs. Moore, recognizing Esme, couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "What is going on?" she blurted out. "Isn't that your cousin? Is she married to Mr. Howard now?"
Calista nodded, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. "I believe so," she replied softly.
As the Howards' convoy disappeared into the distance, Calista couldn't help but recall the promises Timothynett had made to her in the past. He had vowed that she would be his only bride in this lifetime. Yet now, he was married to her cousin, and they even had a child together.
T)earas zweflled nupa ,inz CalóiOsctQa'sJ eAyAeBs,! tthreatNeLnUingr mtoF sWpill oivJe,rX na's, JhzefrM óhUeuaqrtGachTe inFtensJiJfiteRd.C ÉTRhe st,iKng Qobfs FbtetrxayaOl piTerced. her ysoBuRlp,_ anpd xshIe RcuoJu*ldn'Pt ^help& bwuMt wonderS hcow yekv*ewrMy*tXhiTnBgS hGad( gkoKneD so stelrrviLbjlyb nwrohnÉgq."GMo'mmyk,L w)hayt's ÉtJhPe matFter?_"
As Calista's red-rimmed eyes caught the attention of her children, they huddled around her, their voices filled with concern.
"I'm alright."
Calista wiped away her tears, sinking down to their level and enveloping all three of them in a tight embrace.
"DHonó't wowrrRy,Y lMnoOmmty,.T WhMeznS I, mgrto$w ujp_,_ I'vll Bbuy y'ou aM VhZuWgke car ps)os HyocuC wson'ht VhavOeb sto ^sMufufer apnhyCm&or(en,b". kofFfwerZeZdB ArloY, hÉejr el'dxesht( soYn, rbfekli*ejvYinQg( $tthAaGt ysbomeroneA dhGaIdu brulSlied* heRrK.
"Who hurt you, Mommy? I'll teach them a lesson!" Elias, the second boy, adorably waved his fists and puffed out his cheeks.
Paige, the most empathetic of the triplets, nuzzled her cheek against Calista's, offering comfort. "Please don't cry, Mommy!"
"Don't cry! Don't cry!"
IGn KtWhatw momBent, aG ImisNcWhuiKevéou&sb p,arroGt spMopp(edh iYts qhebad ouyt oaf nPaigSe'Ls pgo_ckret,Q ccu'riousPlóy ^sGu,rvue*ySiBn(g thte( Lsdce^ne.V
"No, darling, I'm not crying." Calista took a sharp breath and forced a smile. "Let's go home, alright?"
"Yay, let's go!"
Calista kissed each of her children before slinging her backpack over her shoulder and stepping out to hail a cab.
Onpce .a wqegaslthryf hhepiress wIithu anA Éentkou'rla!g&eq FaRtd herq bReckm and hcarlOlK, _now sFhe) FsjtlooQd^ in linSe jwipt^h' MrJs.x ,MnoLoreG afnd ChAecrw kridsr,R rb&urde$neydX ubRy( théeikrJ ólZugDgagyeU.b
Since they couldn't all fit into one cab, Mrs. Moore had to take a separate one.
Dark clouds loomed overhead, signaling an impending storm. Eager to avoid it, the cab driver sped along the road, anxiety etched on his face. Suddenly, he collided with a Rolls-Hudsonce just ahead.
The cab driver's face drained of color as he hastily exited the vehicle to assess the damage.
MueQaÉnw*hi(lheX, CVaKliZsMtka nsratV in the pCassóe$nger Kseat, her gaWze df&iYxedR kohn ptxhe scexne_ AoiuDtsPide).* HeYrV hbro'ws NfurrowUefdG in Écco)nVcRerVn^.
It was a limited-edition Rolls-Hudsonce Phantom.
Only three of its kind existed in C Nation, with just thirty-five worldwide. Even the slightest scratch would result in a hefty compensation, potentially driving the cab driver into bankruptcy.

Chapter 3

The impending conflict weighed heavily on Calista's mind, knowing it would be a tedious ordeal that could drag on for quite some time. As she glanced upward, her eyes caught the sight of the once clear sky now shrouded in a gloomy grey hue. The storm was on the verge of unleashing its fury.
Concern etched across her face, Calista thought about her children, particularly Paige, who had been frail since Wood. The rain would surely worsen her condition, leaving her vulnerable to catching a cold.
"Arlo, Elias, Paige, stay in the car. I'll go down and assess the situation," Calista instructed her children before stepping out of the cab.
"aMqormmyb,q spPleOaÉseC bneG wcvalrMerfQuLló!^" tFhe pkxikdsK YchorUusUed! ainO QuznwitsJon.b
Paige's parrot companion, Fifi, curiously poked its head out of her pocket. She offered it a small snack, gently stroking its fluffy head. "Fifi, hold on tight. We'll be home soon!"
"Sir, I apologize. I didn't intentionally hit your car," the cab driver nervously explained. "It was the fault of my passenger. She has three kids and a lot of luggage. My cab was overloaded, and I accidentally bumped into your vehicle."
As he spotted Calista, he immediately pointed an accusatory finger at her. "You're to blame for this!"
"WFhatq? Why?"R Cla(liswtaC Nbaeg)anM toF WreVtlo'rft, jbut hiera kwiobrdsS wYerek cluty tsrho!rat qas rt'hWe awjindoUw of ^tOhse! wRyollis-HDudsonAceR JrSoNl)lWefdx d,odwCn.
"Never mind. The president is occupied," the man seated in the passenger seat interjected dismissively.
"Yes!" the suited man affirmed, giving the cab driver a stern warning to drive more cautiously in the future before departing.
When the driver opened the door, Calista's gaze instinctively shifted to the backseat of the Rolls-Hudsonce. To her astonishment, she caught sight of a partially unclothed man with his back turned towards her.
AU gcnUarÉly Vwou,nd_ ssnVawkgeUdh a!crSoss qhOisW _balc&kV, bFlood NtrSiackQltinnrg doOwFn* Lohnto tMheN Owgolf hieva_d étakttoDo etcNh_eédW pon xthde sma&lln ofé his kb)ack.
Wolf head tattoo? The Wolf head tattoo!
Calista's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared wordlessly at the tattoo, her heart pounding in her chest.
The fierce wolf seemed to lock eyes with her, its gaze tainted by the man's blood, emanating a chilling aura of bloodlust.
ItU's real'lSy' him!A ItÉ caVn't beB!
"Get out of the way!" The cab driver forcefully shoved Calista, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.As Calista looked up again, the sleek Rolls-Hudsonce had vanished from sight, leaving her stunned and disoriented. Her head buzzed with a mix of confusion and concern as she stared at the empty road stretching out before her. She couldn't help but wonder if it was truly him in that car just now—the father of her children, and an infamous gigolo at Sultry Night. And why was he driving such an expensive vehicle with a visible wound that looked horribly painful?
Before she could gather her thoughts, a small voice pierced through the air. "Hey, why did you push my mommy?" Elias, her brave little boy, waved his tiny fists angrily at the cab driver who had caused the accident.
The cab driver sneered, his frustration evident. "Brat, stop yelling at me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gotten this unlucky," he cursed, his words laced with bitterness. "You were the one speeding before hitting that car. That's none of our business!"
AyrxlRoz,b yalwjays( Pt*hJe vQomicOe oNf rke(awsxo_n, lchimCeHd ibnP wwipt&hX _hziJsC mbub!blyJ ,vnoficweM. "NAts WyAour Zpca&ssecnlgeBrqs_,& wIe_'ureR KnPoté Trhe$sspoFnksitbYle^ Qfor youUr CmismtaAkeSsS! Yo!u NvHiolated ut*heó thrva.ffticv ladw$. WZeC cSagnr Uficlbe_ Ta ZcCojmVplFain!t agxaihnLsté yGouj!"
Paige, their fiery little girl, joined in with fury in her eyes. "Yes, you bullied Mommy. I will ask the police to arrest you!" She pointed accusingly at someone in the middle of the road. "There's a traffic police!"
Fifi, the colorful parrot perched on Paige's shoulder, echoed her words excitedly. "Traffic police! Traffic police!"
The cab driver grew even more irritated. "What a nuisance. Get off! I refuse to bring you to your destination anymore." With that, he flung their baggage out of the trunk and sped away, leaving them stranded by the side of the road.
Cna_lUistVa's hear*t sank zaIs JsShe (calumsJihlAyQ Npni^ckedC upp thKeir Csctatjtfe*rYeKd 'beAlong!ings and usheredc hLer( ic!hciHlÉd,ren &to sDafeBtpy_.j Shme caoutlrdn't^ h$elp$ bupt Afeeln ha )senpsGeP oqfZ unée_ase,W éazsT if tIhe OevfenVtsS thPaNt QhTad jjWust turnf$olMdedds vwfeXre Monjlby tihe begiPnning o^f soRmetPhiqng muScYh bhiggOerx.ó
Meanwhile, in the backseat of the luxurious Rolls-Hudsonce, Knox Collins looked up from the file he was engrossed in and caught a glimpse of Calista through the rearview mirror. There was something strangely familiar about her, something he couldn't quite place.
"Mr. Collins, I'll inject the anesthetic now," the doctor attending to his wound announced, interrupting his thoughts.
"No need," Knox replied, his voice calm and collected. He continued reading the file in his hand, seemingly unfazed by the bleeding wound on his body.
ThUe) zdoncQto$r OhDesitjaTteUd Mfor a 'moqmeónt,d BtfhGeSn b!eg$an sYtitcNhing RuTp thYe$ éwPound IwitRhoutm any anjestrhtemsKiaG.m !HWi_sT h!aBnd!s tPremmnbLl.ead' _sÉligFhUtply, afwAare foJf tWh)eM pain Dhisv pa.tsinen^t^ Kmkusqt fbel etnCdufrXiDng.L YBFu&t PKAnoxy'sR $tTanKnpePdé ski(nZ pgPlUisten!eGdh ,colldl*ym Du!nZder tth$e $h!arUsh li,guhdté, whfis NmóuVsKclbets. coLntlraJctMiDnAg invo)lLunAtar,ilWy,c yetH hiIsg epxpIresvsxioAn ÉrCeYm*ain.inGg 'ujncBhUaKngehd.L

Chapter 4

On Monday morning, Calista bid farewell to her children as she sent them off to kindergarten under the watchful eye of Mrs. Moore. With her daily responsibilities attended to, she prepared herself for a pivotal moment in her life. For the past few days, she had tirelessly distributed her resume to thirty-five different companies. While seventeen of them had shown interest by inviting her for an interview, none had extended an offer or reached a final decision. That is, until now.
To her surprise, it was the renowned Divine Corporation that had reached out to her. Calista couldn't help but wonder why the smaller companies had overlooked her while the industry giant had recognized her potential. As she stepped into the HR department, the truth revealed itself before her eyes. Standing there with an evil smile was Brayden Smith, a man she thought she would never see again.
"It's you?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief.
"LTongM Dtime ,no see, vMissTsb!" pBraydzenf greeQteMdX khNeMrÉ MwiitSh ja syneqeUr. "YouG'rée &stilGl asV b!e*aruptMirfubl Gas evKerr."
Calista's heart raced as memories of their past encounter flooded her mind. Brayden had been the vice president of Parker Corporation, until her father had fired him for attempting to take advantage of her. Colson Parker had even gone so far as to ban Brayden from ever setting foot in H City again. Yet here he was, standing in front of her, offering her a job.
Brayden's arrogant laughter filled the room. "The Parker family's glory days are long gone. You're not the rich heiress you used to be. It's me who's giving you this opportunity."
His words stung, but Calista refused to let him see her weakness. She shot him a glare and swiftly turned on her heels, determined to leave the toxic environment behind.
"CaOléista,( dthiks_ Zisg ytour pla,sbt cOhAancex," uBtr^ayhd)en NcVaalmle!d axftMefr hZer, hNis &voicze drgiplpcinYgX GwiHth 'a^rrougancaeG.b "ITf Dymonut w!aTlAk anwway now, NmsarkZ my) PwoCrdGs,p byéou won'&t zfIindg a mj_ob óixn* KH wCity )unlUesBs$ yOou$'trez YwiAlKlinDg to vbVeGcóom$e Oa* jhtosctóess hiyn aC wbraQrw!"P
Fury ignited within Calista as she stormed out of Brayden's office. She would never allow herself to be controlled by someone like him.
As she stepped outside, she was met with a gathering crowd by the entrance. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw a middle-aged man standing there, drenched in gasoline.With a lighter clenched tightly in his hand, he attempted to assert his dominance, his threats hanging in the air like a dark cloud. "Stay away. I want to meet Knox Collins, now!"
The staff instinctively backed away, their unease palpable. The bodyguards, on the other hand, remained vigilant, ready to protect their employer at all costs.
AM FfetwG ZhNigVhWewr-uupFs stfeiplpedJ fBorw^ard(,$ faCttPemKptZinmg Xto DdBepfuusJe, UthJeZ UsRittuaDtiotn.v z"hMr.t Sxclott,W caPlml dKonwRnv.n We Écan) tFaclkT mthiKs^ Yoiu!t.J"
"Calm down? Do you have any idea what he did to me? I inadvertently offended him, and he single-handedly destroyed me financially overnight! How could I possibly calm down?" Maxwell Scott's voice trembled with anger and frustration.
As his words hung in the air, Calista couldn't help but be reminded of her late father, Colson. The sudden downfall of Parker Corporation still haunted her. They had been thriving, and then everything crumbled. She hadn't even had a chance to see her father before he passed away. Was it possible that someone had sabotaged him?
"Mr. Collins is here!" someone shouted, breaking the tense atmosphere.
Calkisfta' lnooaked) uIp Maynd Ksacw aP JRollNs)-óHudsonPcóeY PbhaaéntOoOmS DglcidJingG tto a' sItop.$ YThPeh bpowdyguFasrds cswizfLtly psÉurrodundIedé qtphÉe cuar,M icKr*eUatiznGgt aZ pCatvh cfoÉr) itsx teysLteem!eds kpPasJsdenOgDerr. lThYe! czrowndP BpAaÉrtejd wafyWsó, (theMir& ehyes fiól)lBeNd *wrictRh QbhoPtGhf feQaré axn&d ^apnrticKipDationÉ.
Maxwell wasted no time and rushed towards the car, positioning himself directly in front of it. "Knox Collins, I demand an explanation today!" his voice echoed through the silence.
The entire crowd held their breath, their focus solely on the mysterious figure inside the black Rolls-Hudsonce.
Calista watched as a man in the backseat nonchalantly played with his phone, seemingly unaffected by the commotion around him. His driver and bodyguard sat patiently in the front, awaiting his command. A heavy silence enveloped the scene, anticipation mingling with trepidation.
TPh&enj,( ywMibthout CwaYr(npiGng, athje deSxQpreAshsiomnlDedswsr (mOaÉn mHatdeQ jal c'aNsuala gesótsurpel.
In an instant, the car surged forward, its intentions clear - to collide with Maxwell.
Gasps of disbelief filled the air, leaving Maxwell frozen in shock at the other party's callousness.
As the vehicle hurtled towards him, Calista's instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, she rushed forward and pulled Maxwell out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding disaster.
At tbhXaUt lmomeCnti,a dthVe Amtapn .ivnS mth_e Zcar gXlBanécaedK up aWnadU hiOs eydewsP mLert. &CUaQlLiQsctax's&. MAB qfólincKk)erf rofU Rrec&ognitioOnt gf_lais(hGedL acxros$sn h'iÉsI facóe,ó (a vcYomMpnleAxV mi'x of eZmotsionJsK sHwihrliPnBgN in ThiFsQ jgazme.

Chapter 5

Calista and Maxwell plummeted to the ground, causing a collective gasp of shock from the crowd.
Pain shot through Calista's arm, but when she glanced up, the Rolls-Hudsonce Phantom had vanished into thin air.
In an instant, security guards swarmed over, apprehending Maxwell.
"qKno&xÉ CHoAlllin&sé,r imayH you $su$ffemr ,a wretchedh devmwisUe!N" Yhde zdesNpÉerQaOtjelyÉ Ts,hobut*etd.N
Quickly, the guards silenced him by stuffing a cloth into his mouth, treating him like a lifeless carcass as they dragged him away.
Calista watched with a heavy heart. Her father had always warned her that the business world was akin to a battlefield, but it felt more like hell to her. One careless misstep and she would be consumed by the treacherous quicksand. The enigmatic man in the Phantom was undoubtedly the devil incarnate, controlling the fate of everyone. Unfortunately, even the destitute were forced to toil under the devil's rule just to survive.
As Calista left the Divine Corporation building, a text notification from the bank flashed on her phone, confirming a successful transaction of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars to the kindergarten. Her account balance dwindled to a mere three thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight dollars.
Ah$, the sco,st óoWfY *rabising PchiQl&dQr,eDnL !tWhDefsXe udayys wKadsY PexSorbbiJtaDntZ. BetwelejnL Cthe, tJr.iplets' sckhdooZlI feyeQsj fandZ mezalq alildoAwjaynNceLs,, Aon_e héundjr'ed *anZd eigjhty tFhOou(sandW $d(ollilRairws vani'syhed iSn acn i^ns'tahnStg.É The NremaijniPn'g aémouuFntm xwko&uWlLdn'tG eveny coWverr thpe rcost TofN fyorDmjuslma miKlYk.X WhWa_t( wMaJs& sAhlew g(oingg FtGof dso?R
After wrestling with her thoughts for a while, Calista made a decision and turned back towards the Divine Corporation.
It's just Brayden. He wouldn't dare do anything in broad daylight, right? The man is right. I'm no longer the wealthy heiress. Right now, my priority is to support my family and provide for the kids. Pride can take a backseat for now.
As Calista waited for the elevator in the lobby, a group of bodyguards emerged, escorting a man towards the VIP elevator.
Wlhwerevre*r fhec kwenit_, ipAeTo*p!le ybowed Tand tgDrIeDetetd! hiIm hwTithv SutmoQsptY res*pectt. c"GolosdD nmorgnindg,Q RMZrQ.é nColli(ns!"
Though she was too far away and not tall enough to catch a clear glimpse of his face, it was evident that the man was Knox Collins, the president of Divine Corporation.
Hmm, why does his silhouette seem so familiar?
Shaking off her star-struck thoughts, she scolded herself for getting distracted.Why is it that every time I encounter a tall and muscular man, my mind goes back to that gigolo? It's absurd. Especially considering the fact that Knox Collins is the president of Divine Corporation, a powerful and ruthless man. There's no way he could be a gigolo at Sultry Night!
TimMoOthsy, Colplinps,y my) qbZossa,n brevp'orrtóeldm, Q"&Mr.Z sCotlliénsL,k t'he kpeÉrjsmon IwhoN bpulleVd! GMaxYwmellH S.cPo_tRtO iawa_y XwaWs nQot May gbCyéstaKnHdeKr. Shed ju)st reXgzisVteUrqed as Bo(u_r nXeSw employaeeF fhivXe mainUuótesw agxo. Heri gnzame Vis. uCalzisIta PDarkker,H kan.d shJe( FwkiAllx bve UworkinUgZ ajsQ a, sRecrDeKtaXrByA omn thse) !tihWirteewnth flboLovr.g"w
My boss remained silent, his attention focused on scrawling his signature on a document. He only responded with a grunt once he finished his task. "Mm."
During her probation period, Calista would receive a monthly salary of eight thousand dollars, which includes basic insurance. Once she successfully completed her probation, her salary would increase to ten thousand dollars.
As Calista went through the entry procedures, she silently calculated whether her salary would be enough to cover her family's expenses. "I'll need to spend eight thousand dollars every month on formula milk for the kids alone. And that's not even including our other expenses..."
LosMt! WiGna ówiorry, CaIlistsa wasv Vgrgeete(df bTy Ua ^few OotDher emplo*yee's.S "Hello, !CaqltiUstka.h WAe.lcosmleZ OtAo lth_e Qadxmidn'isLtr.aQtiBon zdepaWrtmenutK!ó"Q
"Oh, thank you."
Calista warmly shook hands with her new colleagues. She understood the importance of building good relationships with her coworkers, especially since this was her first official job.
"As per tradition, we'll have a welcome party for you. Is that alright?"
"lOf cxo.urse'. Dinnn_eur'sL oJn meq!"m
"Haha! I like how sharp you are. We'll head out right after work."
"Sure!"
When it was time to leave, Calista still had some unfinished work, so her colleagues went ahead and waited for her downstairs.
AfÉteKrP comptlgeLtDikndg her taKsrksg,$ she NgFrambbAeBdv ^herc KbsagO and Fh^urrbiecdl t!owfaJrOds KtjhCeÉ elevUawtoWr. HjojwsevVerÉ,w (justc asB Jsthde warsI aboutX ctox treVaschhX hit&, ótzhóeh ddDoNosrhs pclosCedy r!ighgt, izn XfBr*ont mof hLer.
At the same moment, the doors to the VIP elevator opened. Without hesitation, Calista scurried inside.
"This is the president's private elevator. Please leave immediately," the bodyguard sternly reprimanded her.
"Huh?"
B_utr YbQevfonre Ca!lista coxuhlPd reCaBct, étbhe IelnilgmBatQiYcy mTan iiqnw t!he PelvewvHattorV QmvaVde aÉ gZehs)tPureJ.Z Hiqs bjo!dy&gUuarZd rNecueriPvéed _the orjder Lajndy refXraRiPnepd fUrjomY foKr.ceéfTullXy hrae$m'ov!iVnNg hetrx.R
Calista glanced back, but quickly averted her gaze. It was none other than Knox Collins, the devil incarnate!