One year, one love by Aurora Miller

Chapter 13

Just happened to be passing by Lewis said casually, tossing out an excuse without much thought.

Is truth, he’d stepped in only when he saw Rupert raising his hand against Doris

Doris nodded in quiet understanding, her expression calm.

Does your brother always bully you like that? Lewis asked, his tone tinged with a hint of irritation. Rupert struck him as the kind of guy who was just begging for a beating. In the Hartman family, no one would dare behave like that.

Doris, used to such situations, responded with a wry smile. “He’s not the only one dishing it out. I’ve made sure he’s suffered his fair share too.”

Rupert’s earlier comment wasn’t entirely wrong–whenever he got the worst of their fights, their father would inevitably step in to avenge him. But that was a truth Doris dared not share with Lewis.

“If you’ve been making him pay for it, I’m guessing there’s no chance of you going back to that house.” Lewis speculated, his voice steady.

Doris let out a soft, humorless laugh: She’d long since given up on her family, and the idea of any semblance of affection within it. “It’s not a house worth going back to anyway.”

Lewis raised a brow, intrigued. “You sure about that?”

Her lashes fluttered slightly as she looked up at him, her eyes bright with a spark of mischief. “Didn’t you just give me a new home?”

That caught him off guard for a moment, the faintest flicker of surprise passing through his features.

“Mr. Hartman,” Doris said softly, “I’m looking forward to our one–year marriage.” She was genuinely grateful for his intervention–it felt strange but comforting to be protected, even if just this once.

Lewis gave her a small nod, his voice firm. “Doris, as long as you behave yourself, I won’t let anyone lay a finger on you

He didn’t dwell on Doris’s character or intentions–those were now secondary in his mind. She was his wife now, and protecting her wasn’t just his responsibility; it was a matter of principle.

Letting someone else harm her while he stood idly by was something he would never allow.

“I always behave,” Doris replied lightly, unsure why he’d even said such a thing. But she didn’t think too much about it. “And I’m not a pushover. Don’t worry about that.”

Seeing she was unharmed, Lewis left without another word. Doris, in turn, headed back to the hotel to resume work.

As soon as she stepped into the lobby, a coworker at the front desk called out, “Doris, Mr. Morris is looking for you.”

Leon Morris, the manager of the Food and Beverage Department, was infamous for his sleazy reputation. Years of skimming profits had padded not only his wallet but also his waistline, leaving him with a belly so large it seemed to swallow

his neck.

“Got it,” Doris replied, keeping her tone neutral, and made her way to Leon’s office.

Knocking lightly, she entered the room and approached his desk. “Mr. Morris, you wanted to see me?”

face was grim with anger, his fleshy hand slamming down on the desk with

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Chapter 13

home, keep it at home. Do you have any

and financial loss we’re now dealing with because of this stunt?

barging in here and creating chaos, do you

Lowering her gaze slightly, she replied sincerely, “Mr. Morris, I deeply apologize

the anger in his voice simmering down, replaced by something far more unsettling. If it weren’t for me stepping in, smoothing things over with Mr. West, you’d

from his chair, his beady eyes glinting with something predatory as he closed the distance between them. “So tell me, Doris–how do you

hard and do my job well.” she said cautiously, keeping her

ways that made her skin crawl “You

felt her chest tighten with disgust. She took a quick step back, avoiding his touch. “Mr. Morris,” she said firmly, “if there’s nothing

“Don’t be ungrateful, Doris. Who do you think you can rely on now? Mr. Watson’s not around to back

without someone like me pulling strings? I could fire you in

always had an eye for Doris–her beauty was hard to ignore. But back when she was Ryan’s girlfriend, he didn’t dare

her to his office under flimsy pretenses and

coworkers, little rumors that flitted through the halls like gnats. But Doris

yanked the door open,

company intranet? You got called out by name and docked three months‘ bonuses. This is a blatant abuse of power. Leon is using this whole thing to get back at you”

the thought of Rupert’s antics only fueled her anger. “Your brother is an

West mentioned that the Hartman Group’s party is going to be hosted at our hotel. If you can manage to catch the attention of the heir to the Hartman family,

interrupted, a little more forcefully this time, “I was drunk when I said that stuff before. I don’t have any interest in

she added inwardly. I’m married now. I have a husband, even if our relationship is just a

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Chapter 13

arched a skeptical eyebrow, “Oh, sure. And they

if to take an oath. Her

that said she wasn’t buying it

down to sit and leaned in close, lowering her voice so only Lola could hear. “Okay, fine. I have a confession. I’m married. It was a spur–of–the–moment thing. I wasn’t

the open, Doris felt lighter, like a

chest.

on the spot, staring at Doris as if she’d just announced she’d married an alien. “Doris, you’re joking, right? You’ve

Weren’t you

Hartman family heir? What happened to becoming Mrs. Hartman and throwing that in Ryan’s smug face?”

lips curved into a faint, serene smile. “I am Mrs.

“Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying he is the Hartman

head. “No, no. I’m not that Mrs. Hartman. The man I married is just a regular guy who happens to have the same last name. As for the Hartman family heir, that was nothing more than a drunken, unrealistic fantasy of mine.

ordinary person. He’s so out of my league. Obsessing over him is like getting too close

are nice, but I can’t live in them forever, especially the wildly ridiculous ones.”