Secret Billionaire’s Contract Bride: Marrying My Enemy’s Lover

Chapter 18

“Where are we going?” I asked, a bit nervous as we passed the sign heading out of Las Vegas.

The drive was long, and the sun began to set. The air cooled down as it always did on desert nights. Without the neon lights around us, there was very little to guide the way down the long stretches of desert road.

I could only trust that Peter knew where he was going. Darkness surrounded us as we drove, the city’s lights fading into the distance behind us.

“Damon has a house not far from the city. He wanted you to stay there,” Peter said, gently. “Sorry about all this. I don’t want you to think I’m kidnapping you or something.”

“I didn’t, Peter,” I told him, my alarm growing, “until you said that.”

“Oops,” he chuckled. “My bad.” He tried to smile at me in the rearview mirror but my mind was racing.

I tried to calm my nerves throughout the drive. Honestly, I didn’t see why I had to live anywhere but in my own apartment.

Sure, it wasn’t the most comfortable since you had to take showers in cold water because the heater was broken and my neighbor liked to slip his “samples” under everyone’s doors but…

You know what, never mind. My apartment was a hole, but it was mine. I didn’t know how I felt about staying at Damon’s house.

I leaned my head against the car window, gazing through the tinted darkness. Above, I could see the stars so clearly. Like tiny twinkling diamonds in the sky.

I’d never seen so many before. I could count on my hand the number of times I’d left the city but it was nice to be able to see the stars. Eventually, my eyes shut as I dozed off, the coolness of the glass soothing me.

“We’re here!” Peter said excitedly.

I jerked awake at Peter’s claim, feeling like I’d only slept for a minute. The car pulled up to a large metal gate, a twenty-foot fence surrounding whatever was behind it.

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If I knew Damon, it was probably electrified or something. Anything to keep his life private.

A security guard dressed in black approached us with an unfriendly look.

Peter rolled down both of our windows and the unknown man’s eyes locked onto me before turning to look at Peter.

“Hey, Joe!” Peter greeted him like they were old friends.

Joe only grunted, that scowl still on his face.

“This is Adelaide. She’s the wife I was telling you about. You know, that one,” Peter hinted, not subtle at all. I would have to ask Damon what he’d been telling people about me.

Joe’s eyes looked at me, and he grunted again. I was beginning to think that was all he did.

“I know! Can you believe Damon of all people got married?” Peter laughed. “Anyway, Damon wanted her to live here for the time being, so you should be seeing her come and go as she pleases. Damon’s words, not mine.”

a prisoner, I breathed in relief. I could come and go as I pleased. So, why did I have

and then turned his back on

grin. The gates. began to open as Joe took his place

You should talk to him sometime, he has some

me or just insane? Joe didn’t

and I forgot all about Peter or Joe. I stared open-mouthed out

It was huge.

be the size of my apartment building!

was full of sloped angles and massive

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Between the stone walls around the desert-like gardens and the wooden panels between the windows, it

the building wide-eyed as we drove around the garden platforms to the

house-in the middle of the garden. I

Peter shrugged,

mean he designed this?” I gasped

Peter said and grinned at

shock as we got out and Peter threw both my bags over his shoulder like they were nothing, simply walking into the house as if he owned it.

the floor with a grin, wiping his hands as he said, “Well, I’ll be sleeping over there if you need me. Mrs. Rivas can whip up anything you’d like for dinner. You

“Peter!”

woman in her sixties with dark brown skin appeared over the second. floor out of nowhere, a stern look on her face. She was a plump woman in a messy apron and had a very strong Spanish accent. “Do not leave bags on the

Peter muttered, ashamedly, grabbing both of my bags. “This

her accent as she rushed down the stairs. She pulled me into a fierce hug, and I was afraid my ribs would break from the force as she suffocated me. “You are Damon’s amor. I am so happy

Rivas’ first language

trying to

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what amor was.

for you!” Mrs. Rivas said as she kissed both of my cheeks and then my forehead. “Ah, you are too skinny. Double portions for

politely as I could. “But I’m a bit tired if you

course, you are. There’s always breakfast. My finest omelet for you. I’ll have

as Mrs. Rivas practically screamed out the

nana!” a youthful voice called out, someone rushing from upstairs. Another woman appeared from the gardens, and I

didn’t I hear her feet from upstairs?

out with a

out of high school, still bright, and her eyes shined with hope. She had smudges of paint on

to her room,” Mrs. Rivas

too! Follow

me about the house and how it was built as she took me to my room. The house was much bigger

stopped and gestured to one of the

see you in the morning, Miss Adelaide,” Rosie grinned, then

gone before I entered the room and realized that this wasn’t just my

It was Damon’s.

desk in the corner was piled to the top with papers and pencils,

Chapter 18