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?”

with anger, his fleshy hand slamming down on the desk with a loud thud. “Doris, are you trying to

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Wed, 26

Chapter 13

accusing. “Whatever drama you’ve got going on at home, keep it at home. Do you have any idea how much damage this little spectacle

and financial loss we’re now dealing with because of

in here and creating chaos, do you think

replied sincerely, “Mr. Morris, I deeply apologize for today’s

If it weren’t for me stepping in, smoothing things over with Mr. West, you’d have been

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

Morris, I’ll make sure to work hard and do my job well.” she said cautiously, keeping her voice steady even as her instincts screamed

raked over her beautiful figure shamelessly, lingering in ways that made her skin crawl “You know what I want. If you just say

out a pudgy hand aiming for hers, his grin widening. Doris felt her chest tighten with disgust. She took a quick step back, avoiding his touch. “Mr. Morris,” she said firmly, “if

ungrateful, Doris. Who do you think you can rely on

think you can survive here without someone like me pulling strings? I could fire you in a heartbeat–let’s see how long you

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

single, Leon had grown bolder, summoning her to his office under flimsy pretenses

been whispers among her coworkers, little rumors that flitted through the halls like gnats. But Doris had never let them bother her. “Let them think what they want,’ she thought. I know the truth.’

her heel, yanked the door open, and

fuming with indignation. “Doris, did you check out the company intranet? You got called out by name and docked

of Rupert’s antics only fueled her anger. “Your brother is an absolute menace,” she spat, pacing the room with her arms crossed. “Someone needs to put him in

can manage to catch the attention of the heir to the Hartman family, you could crush them all–Leon, Rupert, every single one

more forcefully this time, “I was drunk when I said that stuff

she added inwardly. I’m married now. I have a husband, even if our relationship is just a sham. I can’t go around daydreaming about

Wed, 26

Chapter 13

“Oh, sure. And they

an

she

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 trying to hide

open, Doris felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted

chest.

if she’d just announced she’d married an alien. “Doris, you’re joking, right? You’ve

Weren’t you

What happened to becoming Mrs.

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

jaw practically hit the floor. “Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying he is the Hartman family

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

face it–I’m just an ordinary person. He’s so out of my league. Obsessing over him is like getting too close

I can’t live in them forever, especially the