The Replacement Bride's Rules

I want Gideon, but he doesn't want me back. A smirk tugs at my lips. That just makes me want him more.

My friend warned me, Stop wasting your time on him. A one-sided relationship will just destroy your confidence and leave you with nothing.

It's hilarious. When a man can't get the girl, he plays the ruthless alpha, using his power to trap her. But when a woman can't get the guy, she's supposed to turn into some pathetic loser from a tragic movie, crying in the rain and begging for love?

I scoff. "Sorry. I prefer to be the one doing the claiming."

Chapter 1

My marriage to Gideon was something I forced into existence. To outsiders, we were just a business arrangement. After all, he didn't love me.

On our wedding night, he walked out of the bathroom bringing a chill of damp air with him. A dark gray towel hung loosely around his narrow waist, water droplets trailing down his highly defined abs. Seeing me sitting on the bed, his Adam's apple bobbed.

He looked away, his jawline pulled impossibly tight. "Um get some rest."

Without another word, he walked out of the bedroom.

I didn't say anything.

I just sat there and waited.

Sure enough, exactly one minute later, Gideon walked right back in.

"Fallon, where is the bed in the guest room?"

"I had someone remove it." My unwavering gaze left him staring at me in silence. "Gideon, before the wedding, you promised you would listen to me. Are you backing out now?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling a heavy breath. "Fallon, you clearly don't understand men. Even without any emotional attachment to you, I still have biological reactions."

"I don't want to cross a line I'll regret. I suggest you think this through, so you don't end up regretting it either."

I caught his drift. I looked down at my deep-V, burgundy silk slip dress. The hem had slid all the way up to my upper thighs.

Damn, my legs were long and slender. My body was drop-dead gorgeous. Wait, I was getting off-track.

"Gideon, you don't really understand women, either. Doing that kind of thing with a man who doesn't love me makes me feel Sick to my stomach."

I decided to throw him a bone. "Even if you are extremely hot."

Gideon stared at me. "Then"

I let out a light laugh. "We're just sleeping in the same bed. We aren't doing anything. Don't tell me a powerful CEO like you lacks that little bit of self-control?"

He pressed his lips into a thin line. Gideon possessed a very calm sort of insanity.

Even if Wall Street crashed, he would sit calmly in his penthouse office, sipping his black coffee. Then, he would look down at the utter chaos in the streets below, swirl the coffee in his mug, and sigh, "Why panic? Everyone goes bankrupt sooner or later anyway."

From a distance, he looked like an unflappable leader. Up close, he was a total psychopath. Every time I looked at him, I wanted to rip that calm mask right off his face.

"Fallon, we agreed to divorce in a year. Don't push it."

"Well, it hasn't been a year yet, has it?"

Gideon turned to leave. "I'm sleeping on the couch tonight."

I picked up my phone, tapping my manicured nail against the screen with a provocative glare. "If you take one step out of this room, I'm calling your mother. You know her biggest fear right now is a family PR crisis."

Gideon froze in his tracks. Before leaving the wedding venue, his mother had delivered an icy ultimatum to Gideon:

"I told you not to marry that troublemaker, but you refused to listen. And what happened? She ran off with her ex on your wedding day, landing you on the front page of every gossip rag by morning!"

"If Fallon hadn't stepped in to control this PR disaster, you would have completely disgraced the family fund. You better treat Fallon well. If you dare let her suffer even a little bit, I will have the lawyers freeze your trust fund immediately!"

Clarissa was Gideon's childhood sweetheart. The ultimate one that got away. She was the woman he was originally supposed to marry.

Watching Gideon's rigid posture, I offered a sweet smile. "It's fine. If you really can't handle the bed, you can sleep on the floor."

Either way, I was taking the mattress. I pulled the heavy duvet over myself and settled in for a wonderful night of sleep.

A moment later, Gideon resigned to his fate and laid down on the far edge of the mattress. I could hear his irregular breathing and the constant rustling of the silk sheets as he tossed and turned in the dark. His entire body was stiff as a board, radiating a tense, restless energy.

It was obvious he hadn't fully processed the reality of this forced marriage, let alone sharing a mattress with a woman he didn't want. He let out a harsh breath, the mattress shifting under his rigid movements as I drifted off to sleep beside him.

"Fallon?" Through the hazy fog of sleep, I heard a deep voice calling my name. "Wake up."

Chapter 2

Annoying! I hated being woken up. But fine, Gideon was the man I wanted. I needed to show a little patience. "What is it?"

He stared down at me, his face a blank canvas, his voice an irritating drawl. "I can't sleep. So you don't get to sleep either."

I ground my teeth together, glaring daggers at him. "Say one more word, and I'm going to kiss you."

Complete silence.

I didn't miss a beat, tossing out an order. "I have a morning meeting tomorrow. Make sure you wake me up at six sharp."

"And I mean actually wake me up. I'm a heavy sleeper."

I could visibly see his jaw clench as he processed the audacity.

The next morning, I opened my eyes to see Gideon already dressed in a perfectly tailored haute couture suit. His tie was knotted flawlessly, and he stood at the foot of the bed like an ice sculpture radiating a suffocating aura of oppression.

I had no idea what was going through his head. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. Six-twenty.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"I was just about to. You have plenty of time."

"Don't let it happen again."

He obviously remembered my instruction, but his stiff posture made it blatantly clear he hadn't settled into the "husband" role yet. He had probably stood there in awkward silence for twenty minutes, physically unable to force the words out.

"Do you have any plans after work?" I asked.

"No."

I offered a sweet smile. "Then you're picking me up."

"Don't you have your own car?"

I took a step forward, backing him up slightly. A faint, masculine scent of cedarwood drifted from his collar. "You need to get used to your new status. At least until this prenuptial agreement expires, you have to play the part of a proper husband."

"Picking up your new wife from work in your sports car is literally written in your job description."

He tried to put up a final front. "It's out of the way."

"Did you forget exactly why we got married in the first place?" I hit him right in his pride.

His jaw muscles ticked. After a heavy beat of silence, he compromised. "Got it."

Clarissa had ditched him at the altar during their highly publicized wedding, making Gideon's family the laughingstock of high society. Even though I had willingly stepped in as the replacement bride, I was the one who salvaged the family's reputation. He owed me.

"Oh, one more thing," I added before heading out the door. "On the drive from your office to mine, there's a French bakery that always has a massive line. Make sure you pick something up for me. I want their signature red velvet cheesecake."

A flicker of disbelief crossed Gideon's eyes at how naturally I bossed him around, but he kept his mouth shut. Honestly, I didn't even care about the cake. I just wanted to give him an errand.

He didn't have room for me in his heart yet. But I was going to make sure his entire daily life revolved around me.

Gideon was slowly adapting to his new reality, playing the dutiful husband just as we agreed. I emailed him a detailed PDF file. It wasn't just a list of my habits and preferences; it was a strict set of rules for him.

Must be home by 6:30 PM every night. Overtime and business dinners require advance notice. If I call, you answer.

If you are in a meeting or a dinner and cannot pick up, you text me an explanation. When traveling for business, bring back a gift. And you have to pick it out yourself based on my tastes.

I told him to read it, memorize it, and live by it.

He pushed back, tossing his phone on the table.

I just looked at him. "Memorize it, or I'm going to kiss you."

He picked the phone right back up. After scrolling through two pages, his irritation spiked. "Why are there so many ridiculous demands?"

"'The bathtub's thermostat must be exactly set to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.' Will one degree higher give you third-degree burns?"

I didn't flinch. "Stop asking questions and just do what it says."

"Why don't you have to learn any of my habits? This isn't exactly fair."

I flashed him a brilliant, saccharine smile. "You like apples, oranges, and grapes, but you absolutely hate pears. You aren't a picky eater, but you heavily prefer savory food over sweet. You don't care for desserts, with the exception of honey-glazed barbecue ribs"

"Alright, shut up." He looked away and silently went back to memorizing the file.

Chapter 3

A lot of people didn't bet on my marriage to Gideon lasting. My best friend, Stella, even tried to warn me. "Gideon is in love with Clarissa. Being with him is just going to bring you misery."

I tilted my head, genuinely confused. "I married the man I want, and he married a woman he doesn't want. If anyone is going to be miserable here, it's Gideon, right?"

They say forced love never lasts, but clearly, the one being forced into it is the one who suffers more.

Stella blinked, temporarily at a loss for words. "But his heart belongs to someone else," she argued. "Even if things are peaceful right now, what happens if Clarissa comes back?"

"You'll give up your career and your company shares just to keep him. You'll endure his gaslighting and endless cold shoulder, and in the end, all you'll get is a prenup that leaves you with nothing. You'll end up in rehab, and he won't feel an ounce of remorse."

I stared at her deadpan. "Stella, are you out of your mind? What kind of trashy novels have you been reading lately?"

She let out a sheepish giggle. "'Stop looking, Mr. CEO. Your wife already signed the divorce papers and took half your assets to Miami to find a male model.'"

I rolled my eyes. "When I read those possessive alpha romances, they always end up pretty sweet, don't they?"

Stella looked like her worldview had just been forcibly expanded.

I offered a lazy smile. "Sorry. I don't do tragic heartbreak. I prefer taking exactly what I want."

So what if he didn't love me back? As long as I held the reins in this relationship, nobody could hurt me. Gideon didn't have to love me, but he had to treat me well.

If he dared to treat me poorly, I would force him to treat me well. And if I couldn't force him? Then I'd just swap him out for someone who would.

But given Gideon's current performance, I wasn't quite ready to trade him in yet. I lived by one golden rule: never compromise my own comfort for anyone else. I had promised Gideon a divorce in a year. If he still didn't love me by then well, then I'd just enjoy him for a solid year.

Under my strict regime, Gideon took off his tailored suit jacket. Wearing a fitted white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, showcasing his tense muscle definition, he was forced to pan-fry a medium-rare ribeye steak for me in our open-concept kitchen. He was forced to pick me up from work with whatever cravings I demanded.

He was forced to draw my bathwater to the exact temperature. He was even forced to raise his paddle at a charity auction to win me a twenty-million-dollar diamond necklace.

At the end of the day, I was incredibly happy.

Walking into the house, I looked at the billionaire, the perpetually high-and-mighty CEO, currently standing stiffly at the kitchen island, arranging the silverware for my dinner.

I let out a soft sigh, leaning against the counter. "Gideon, I suddenly realize how pitiful you actually are. I've decided to be a little nicer to you."

After all, his bride had bailed on their wedding day, and he had been forced to marry a woman he didn't love.

Gideon shot me a flat look, silently prompting me to continue.

"I'll let you off the hook for drawing my bathwater tonight."

The muscle in his jaw twitched.

"Gideon, do you usually sleep with the lights on?" For the past two nights, the small designer lamp on his nightstand had stayed on.

"Yes," he replied shortly.

"I'm not really used to it. How about you break that habit?"

He shot me a freezing glare. "I'll buy you a sleep mask."

"Oh? Is that how it is? Fine, for your sake, I'm willing to compromise."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply.

Gideon's cooking was actually incredible. I cut into the steak, raising an eyebrow. "How did you get so good at this?"

"I learned while I was studying abroad," he answered without looking up.

As expected, every rich kid shipped off to Europe eventually had to learn how to feed themselves.

I clicked my tongue, shaking my head with exaggerated pity. "It's a shame I probably won't get to eat something this good tomorrow."

"I'll cook for you again tomorrow," he replied smoothly, missing the trap.

Chapter 4

As expected, men just needed their egos stroked.

"And what about the day after tomorrow?" I asked.

He shot me a warning glance. "Don't push your luck."

I frowned, crossing my arms. "My demands aren't even that outrageous. Besides, it's not like you're the only one putting in effort. I literally made the breakfast you ate this morning."

"I love sleeping in, yet I dragged myself out of bed in pure agony just to cook for you. Aren't you touched?"

Gideon stared at me in prolonged silence before finally speaking. "Fallon, I have one question. If you made the breakfast, why didn't you eat any of it yourself?"

"It didn't suit my palate."

"You don't have to dress up the fact that it was inedible."

I pursed my lips. "That's not the point. It's the thought that counts. I woke up early to prep breakfast specifically for you. Nobody else gets that kind of treatment. You should be deeply moved."

Gideon dragged in a sharp breath, looking like he was at the end of his rope. "Fallon, I'm grateful to you for stepping in for the wedding. I'll try my best to accommodate your demands and make sure you live comfortably this year, but"

""Could you please stop gaslighting me?" After all that diplomatic buildup, he finally hit the nail on the head. I flashed him a brilliant smile and dropped a piece of honey-glazed rib onto his plate.

"How could you say that about me? I might be a little shameless, but I'm not a bad person. Besides, I only gaslight you because I love you. Do you see me gaslighting anyone else?"

Gideon looked away, done with the conversation.

Stella always said I had the face of an innocent angel. It was highly deceptive. Because underneath it, I was ruthless.

That night, right after my shower, I bossed Gideon around with practiced ease. "Dry my hair."

"Where's the hairdryer?"

"No. The heat fries my ends."

"High maintenance," he muttered. Even so, he took the microfiber towel from my hands.

My mind drifted back to the trashy, melodramatic storyline Stella had pitched me earlier todaythe one about a woman being locked up and harvested for organs. I figured I needed to set some ground rules early.

"Gideon, you don't have to like me, but you cannot hurt me. I hold grudges, and I always get even. I can bend over backwards and give you my whole heart, but you cannot literally try to harvest my heart or my lungs. And my kidneys are strictly off-limits too."

Gideon's chest heaved with a sharp intake of breath, finding the entire concept ridiculous. "When have you ever offered even a fraction of your real heart? Haven't I been the one waiting on you hand and foot like a personal butler?"

I wagged my index finger at him. "That's beside the point."

He finally caught the logical flaw in my argument. "You keep claiming you're in love with me. Shouldn't you be the one treating me well?"

I held my ground with absolute confidence. "You can't give me the emotional response I want, so naturally, you have to compensate by treating me flawlessly in our daily life."

"What kind of twisted mobster logic is that?" Gideon gritted his teeth.

My family's corporate headquarters was on the West Coast, and my father had been planning to expand our operations into New York for a long time. Three years ago, I just so happened to graduate from an Ivy League university. My father handed over the entire New York branch to me, tossing me into the deep end as a trial by fire.

Gideon's family was old New York money. That day was the lavish birthday banquet for Harlow, the youngest princess of his family. I attended the gala as my mother's plus-one. That was also the first time I ever laid eyes on Gideon.

He had just returned from Europe with a Master's in Finance and was stepping up to take the reins of his family's empire. He was the most talked-about bachelor in the city. I was a sucker for a pretty face, and seeing him in person actually knocked the breath out of me.

When the elders introduced us, I politely called him, "Young Master Gideon."

Sometime during the night, I wandered off by myself. When my heels started to kill me, I found a quiet corner to raid the catering tray.

Chapter 5

A few yards away, three men and a single woman stood in a tight circle. I caught fragments of their conversationmostly corporate jargon and project negotiations. Talking business at a gala was standard procedure. But the men kept sliding sleazy innuendos into the mix.

They tried to dress them up as harmless jokes, but the sheer disrespect was nauseating.

The woman's jawline was pulled tight. Disgust flared in her eyes, but she kept her mouth shut. Scoring an invitation to Gideon's family's private banquet was proof enough of her elite status. Yet, in the face of their crude, highly suggestive comments, she still didn't dare toss her champagne in their faces.

Instead, she maintained a stiff, painfully polite smile.

Why? Probably because she desperately needed them to sign a contract. And because she was the only woman in their boys' club. The corporate world still lacked female power.

Some men looked at women as nothing more than commodities, stripping away every ounce of respect.

Maybe my glare was burning a hole in his head, because the man closest to me turned around. A greasy, highly suggestive smirk spread across his face. He sauntered over, his eyes doing a slow sweep of my body.

"Hello. I'm Todd, VP of South River Corp. Care to introduce yourself?"

I mentally rolled my eyes so hard they nearly stuck in the back of my head. I stared at him like he was a complete idiot. Sure, I had been staring at him, but my glare was dripping with pure hostility. Was he actually this clueless?

"No." I didn't see a single issue with my blunt response. I had every right to shut him down.

His greasy smirk instantly dropped into a scowl. Hurt by the public rejection, he scrambled to salvage his bruised ego. "What, you have a boyfriend or something?"

"No." I crossed my arms, completely losing my patience.

He scowled, genuinely baffled. "If you don't have a boyfriend, then what's the problem with talking to me?"

"None of your damn business."

"You little" His face flushed dark red with anger.

A cold, magnetic voice suddenly cut through the tension from behind me. "She rejected you because she isn't interested in you. Her relationship status has absolutely nothing to do with it."

I glanced over my shoulder. It was Gideon.

Todd instantly shrank back, pasting on a pathetic, fawning smile. "Mr. Gideon. I just thought the lady was stunning. I merely wanted to introduce myself."

Gideon gave a slow, deliberate nod. "If you want to approach a woman, you shouldn't just focus on her looks."

"Right, right, of course"

"You should probably take a long, hard look in the mirror at your own first."

You really shouldn't laugh at people in public. Unless you literally can't hold it in. Gideon's tone was incredibly casual, a faint, aristocratic smile lingering on his lips. He looked impeccably polite, as if he hadn't just completely verbally destroyed the guy.

He lifted a hand, signaling the security team. Within seconds, Todd and his sleazy friends were escorted out of the ballroom.

Gideon obviously knew the woman who had been trapped in the circle. They exchanged a few brief, familiar words. Then, he turned his sharp gaze to me. "Your mother is looking for you. I'll take you to her."

"Alright."

As we walked through the crowded room, I glanced up at him. "Who was that woman back there?"

"An old college classmate from my time in Europe. She's launching her own startup now that she's back in the States. Why? Are you interested in her company?"

"Huh?" I blinked, not immediately catching his drift.

"She attended university on a full academic ride," Gideon continued, his tone entirely professional. "We're the same age, but she graduated a full year ahead of me. She lacks elite family backing and connections, but her work ethic is flawless. Her startup has massive market potential."

Watching him pitch her so hard, the lightbulb finally went off in my head. He was actively trying to secure angel investors for his old classmate.

I let out an amused laugh. "I think she's incredibly capable, too."

Without missing a beat, Gideon pulled a sleek business card from his tailored suit jacket and handed it to me. It belonged to the woman from earlier.

I raised an eyebrow, teasing him. "You just walk around with her business cards in your pocket?"

He didn't even try to hide his intentions. "We went to school together. I'm just doing her a favor."

Not only was he ridiculously gorgeous, but he also had a solid moral compass. He was actually a decent guy.

Chapter 6

I slipped the business card into my clutch. "Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. I'd love to help out."

He paused, a slight shift in his posture betraying he was caught off guard by my enthusiasm.

"Since you're feeling so generous, how about you do me a favor, too?" I asked.

"Oh?" He raised a brow. "What kind of favor?"

"Who was that guy in the navy suit you were talking to earlier? Your friend?" That guy was Brody. I already knew he was the sole heir to his family's empire. I just hadn't been officially introduced yet.

"That's Brody. We grew up together."

I batted my eyelashes, putting on my best innocent look. "Could you introduce us? He's incredibly hot."

Gideon stared down at me, his gaze completely unreadable. "Just because he's hot?"

I nodded emphatically, keeping my eyes wide. "Of course. Is it a crime for a young woman to appreciate a good-looking guy? You aren't judging me, are you?"

His dark eyes locked onto mine for a long second before a faint, cryptic smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Not at all."

That night, I used Gideon's introduction to get Brody's number. And through Brody, I successfully secured a massive corporate partnership with his family's firm.

At first, Gideon's attitude toward me was relatively polite. But the second I started actively pursuing him, everything changed. He used the most indifferent expressions and the calmest tones to drive me absolutely insane.

When I was going after him, I pulled every string I had to figure out his preferences. I sent him expensive gifts. He wired me the exact cash equivalent the next day. The transfer note always read: Thank you, but I don't need a personal shopper.

I used work as an excuse to corner him. "Mr. CEO, care to grab dinner tonight?"

Gideon didn't even look up from his tablet. "Ms. CEO, can you concede another two percent of the profit margin on that project we just discussed?"

I gritted my teeth. "Have dinner with me, and I might consider it." Just dangling the carrot.

"One dinner for two percent?" He finally met my eyes. "Let's make it two dinners."

I let out a cold laugh. "Only two? You aren't exactly greedy, are you?"

"If I asked for too much of the margin, would you actually agree?"

"Obviously not."

"Then why are you asking?"

I was speechless.

Every time we bumped into each other and I tried to flirt, he would immediately take three steps back, keeping a rigid physical distance. He guarded his virtue like a monk. I had no other choice but to change tactics and target his family. The two families were perfectly matched in wealth and status, and his mother was close friends with mine.

Whether it came to business interests or social ties, I was the undisputed top candidate for a marriage alliance.

I talked corporate strategy with his father, Charles. I sipped Earl Grey tea with his mother. I played chess with his grandmother. And finally, I carried his little sister, Harlow, through her multiplayer video games.

When Gideon came home one day, he walked right into a picture-perfect scene of me seamlessly blending in with his family. He grabbed my elbow, pulling me into the hallway. His Adam's apple bobbed. He looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn't get the words out.

"Fallon."

"What is it?" I smiled up at him, the picture of sweetness.

"Are you trying to replace me?"

I just stared at him.

In that exact moment, I felt like a total clown. Gideon was in love with someone else. Clarissa, the girl he grew up with. Unfortunately for him, Clarissa was completely infatuated with her boyfriend, Elias.

Elias was a supposedly brilliant artist. And people in the art world were always chasing that romantic, pure kind of love.

Thinking about it that way, Gideon was a clown, too. Phew. That made me feel a lot better.

Completely cornered by my relentless pursuit, Gideon finally snapped one day. "Didn't you have a thing for Brody?"

I didn't have an answer for that. It was just a random excuse I made up on the spot. Back then, I never expected that I would actually fall for Gideon.

Chapter 7

I put on a completely serious face. "I found out he smokes. I don't like guys who smoke. Don't worry," I added smoothly. "Brody and I just grabbed dinner twice to discuss business. There was zero flirting involved. You don't need to feel awkward about it."

Gideon just stared at me.

Before I could make any real progress with Gideon, the news dropped that he was getting married. He was marrying Clarissa.

Seriously, what was Clarissa's problem? Why couldn't she just date her brooding artist boyfriend instead of coming back to mess with Gideon? I had to step in and cause a little chaos.

On the day of the wedding, right in front of a ballroom packed with elite guests, Clarissa hopped into her ex-boyfriend's car and bailed. That's right. I was the one who tipped off her ex. But Gideon had no idea.

You couldn't exactly blame me. It wasn't like I held a gun to the bride's head and forced her to run. She had stubbornly insisted on waiting until after the ceremony to sign the actual marriage license anyway. It was painfully obvious she never genuinely wanted to tie the knot.

Gideon sat on the leather sofa in the VIP waiting room, his long legs crossed. On the surface, he looked shockingly calm. But his expensive silk tie had been yanked loose, and he was crushing an Evian water bottle in his grip, his knuckles turning pure white.

The tight lines of his shoulders gave away the heavy storm brewing just beneath his skin.

I couldn't hide my gloating smirk. "Gideon, your wife just ran off with another man."

"Yeah," he replied, his voice completely flat. "You don't need to smile quite so brightly about it."

"Need some help?"

He remained silent.

I kept throwing salt on the wound. "Wow. Not only did you lose the girl, but your reputation is entirely trashed. By tonight, this PR nightmare will be trending across every social circle in the city."

He snapped his head up, his brows pulling together. "What are you getting at?"

I let out a light laugh. "Your bride ran away, so just find a new one. Marry me. I'll save you from the public humiliation."

He gave a slow nod, then stood up. "I think I'd rather go out there and face the humiliation."

I was speechless.

I stepped directly into his path, blocking the door. "Think this through. Your personal ego is the least of your problems. When the market opens tomorrow, your family's stock is going to take a catastrophic nosedive."

"The old vultures on the board will tear you apart, and your personal trust fund will shrink massively."

"I don't care. I deserve it."

He wasn't taking the bait at all. I had no choice but to give up. But surprisingly, after stepping out of the room for less than five minutes, he suddenly walked right back in. His entire demeanor had flipped.

"Help me."

I had no clue what he had just experienced out there to make him change his mind so fast, but I wasn't going to pass up a chance to rub it in. I flashed an arrogant smirk. "Beg me."

"I'm begging you."

"That's it?" I wasn't satisfied.

He let out an exhausted breath. "What do you want? Short of selling my body, I'll give you whatever you ask for."

I stared at him. What kind of monster did he think I was?

"You said it yourself," I warned him. "From now on, you listen to me." I smiled like a mob boss closing a dirty deal.

After the wedding, outside of running my company, I dedicated all my free time to sticking to Gideon like glue to force a connection.

He would get ready for a corporate mixer. I would say, "Take me with you."

He got an invite to an elite family's banquet. I would say, "I want to keep you company."

Gideon made plans with his inner circle. I would say, "We're literally married. I haven't even officially met your friends yet."

Tonight, one of Gideon's childhood friends had returned from Europe and threw a massive welcome-back party. In the VIP booth, I was chatting comfortably with Paige, the heiress to the Lee family fortune.

"Wait, is your phone case the limited-edition collab from that top-tier first-person shooter streamer, Z?"

Paige nodded excitedly. "You watch Z's Twitch streams too?"

"Just a little," I said. "I catch his tournaments sometimes. His sniper skills are insane."

Gideon's little sister, Harlow, was obsessed with gaming, and I had heard her bring him up before.

"Right?!" Paige squealed. "He's not just a god at the game, he's totally gorgeous! He's literally my dream guy! What's your gamertag? Let's duo queue right now."

Chapter 8

"I'm actually terrible at the game. What if I drag you down?"

She waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine. I love carrying newbies. Just pick a healer class, hide behind me, and soak up the XP."

"Awesome. Thanks, Paige."

When it was time to leave, Paige and I were still deep in conversation. Mr. Lee clapped Gideon heavily on the shoulder. "You're a lucky man, Gideon!"

Gideon just stared at him.

On the drive back, I sat in the passenger seat of his sports car, watching VODs of Z's old Twitch tournaments on my phone. Gideon suddenly pulled the car over to the side of the road. His jaw was visibly tense. "Fallon."

"Yeah? What is it?" I looked up, confused.

"Are you actually in love with me?"

"Of course."

"I don't believe you."

I stayed silent. Whatever. A guy with trust issues is still better than an arrogant narcissist. "What makes you say that?" I asked.

"At the Spencer family's charity gala, you used me to get an introduction to old Mr. Spencer, and you had him laughing the entire night. At the cocktail mixer two months ago, you met the VP of Horizon Capital. Yesterday, Horizon publicly announced a major partnership with your family's firm. And tonight, you met Paige for the first time and instantly became besties."

I locked my phone screen, offering a smug smile. "That just proves I have great networking skills. Is it my fault I'm so incredibly likable?"

Gideon didn't say a word. His grip on the leather steering wheel tightened slightly, his knuckles going pale. I knew he understood the game. In a corporate marriage, using his connections to expand my network was just good business.

Closing those deals was purely based on my own competence. I was ruthless, sharp, and grabbed every opportunity. He didn't look disgusted by it. If anything, the intense look in his dark eyes held a strange flicker of respect.

But his posture remained rigidly locked, radiating a complicated, uneasy energy.

Three days of non-stop business travel left me exhausted. The second my flight landed at JFK, I rushed straight back to the corporate office.

At noon, I called him.

"Hello?" His cold, deep voice came through the speaker. I had strictly warned him beforehe was never allowed to ignore my calls.

"Are you busy for lunch?" I asked.

"Am I allowed to be busy?"

"If you're not, come over and have lunch with me," I demanded with absolute confidence.

"I might actually be busy."

"Gideon, you were out of town for three days, and I was out of town for three days. We haven't sat down for a meal together in an entire week. Does that sound like a functional marriage to you?"

Silence on the other end of the line.

"Come have lunch with me. This is in your job description as my husband. Don't make me repeat myself."

I could hear the faint sound of him shifting in his leather office chair over the line. A heavy, resigned exhale filtered through the speaker. He had probably assumed we could just exist in our own separate orbits. But since the wedding day, I had been dragging him around by a leash, rewriting the rules of his highly structured life.

I knew the utter lack of control was driving him crazy.

We ended up meeting at my company's executive dining hall. I hated loud crowds, so I had booked a private glass-paneled booth. Gideon walked over carrying two trays.

I glanced down at the plates. He had picked out everything I liked.

"Not bad. Memorizing that PDF is really paying off," I praised him. "Did you bring me a gift from your business trip?" I asked. I had been so buried in work the past few days, I forgot about that rule.

"Don't tell me you forgot? You read the file. You know what I like."

"Would I dare not bring one?" Gideon replied, his tone freezing.

Good point.

"It's at the house," he added.

The last time he broke one of my rules, I took his black card and blew three million dollars on a shopping spree as compensation. Sure enough, it didn't hurt at all when it wasn't my own money.

"I bought you a watch from my trip," I told him, cutting into my food. "It looks incredible. Are you thrilled?"

"Oh. I'm thrilled." His voice was as flat as a dead battery, devoid of emotion.

Way too half-assed. "Say it with some actual feeling!"

Gideon stared at me blankly. "Wow! I am so thrilled!"

Chapter 9

That was more like it. "Did you sign the contract with Vanguard on this trip?"

"Not yet. Probably next month."

"Are you interested?" I asked.

He gave a single nod. "It's a massive project. Your family's consortium can't swallow it all alone. I want a piece of the pie."

"Sure. Beg me."

He just stared at me.

"Don't, then. There are plenty of people lining up to work with me."

Gideon lowered his eyes, a faint, amused smirk playing on his lips. He unhurriedly picked up his water glass and took a sip. "I heard that the environmental permits for your family's new commercial skyscraper in lower Manhattan are still being blocked by City Hall"

I ground my back teeth together. "You have a way around it?"

His tone was completely flat. "I just happen to have a few connections. But there's a lot of aggressive competition for that zoning approval." He paused, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "How about you beg me?"

I glared at him. Damn it! He totally set me up for that one!

Honestly, being married to Gideon came with some serious perks. A corporate marriage meant shared resources. No matter how you looked at it, I wasn't losing this deal.

The next time I saw Clarissa and Elias was five months into my marriage. They had tied the knot, too. Thanks to the massive scandal and vicious gossip from the runaway bride incident, they skipped the grand ceremony and opted for an elopement.

Inside the elite auction house, Elias was wearing a pretentious vintage velvet suit with a flashy silk pocket square stuffed into the breast pocket, clearly thinking he looked like some brooding European artist. But the eyes hidden behind his gold-rimmed glasses betrayed a calculating, absolute greed. He was nothing but a nauseating hypocrite.

"Gideon. What a coincidence."

Gideon swept a freezing glance over him, clearly having zero desire to acknowledge his existence. Elias didn't even flinch, maintaining a sickeningly good-natured facade.

"About what happened before Clarissa was just acting out. It caused a huge misunderstanding for you, Mr. CEO. I always wanted to come apologize to you personally, but I just never found the right opportunity."

Talk about cheap words. He claimed he wanted to apologize, but hadn't shown his face in five months. If he was truly that busy, he could have easily sent a text message.

Gideon didn't show an ounce of anger. He just replied coldly, "That's fine. It's not too late to apologize right now."

Elias choked on his words, momentarily stunned, but forced his fake smile to stay pinned in place. "Since you're already married, you should really focus on your wife," Elias preached. "A girl as innocent, sweet, and understanding as Fallon shouldn't have to suffer any grievances with you."

Suddenly being dragged into the crossfire, I pressed my lips together to hide a smirk. That line inexplicably hit my funny bone hard.

Gideon abruptly turned his head, staring down at me. "You find that amusing?"

"A little." Who wouldn't enjoy being complimented?

"Have you suffered any grievances with me?" he asked, his voice low.

"Not really."

If anyone in this marriage was suffering, it was definitely Gideon.

Elias let out a light laugh, interrupting us. "Gideon, you're way too aggressive. You need to be gentler when speaking to women. No wonder Clarissa always complained about how rigid and serious you are."

He shook his head. "You really need to dial back your temper for Fallon's sake."

"You" Gideon's jaw clenched, but Elias didn't give him the chance to finish.

"Anyway, I shouldn't keep you. Clarissa is waiting for me over there."

I secretly shook my head. What a two-faced snake.

Gideon stared coldly in the direction Elias walked off, his brows knitted tightly together. "What do you think of Elias?"

"He puts on a good show of being mild-mannered and gentle, but he clearly isn't very bright. If he wanted to suck up to me, he should have done some basic background research on exactly what kind of person I am first," I answered honestly.

Innocent. Sweet. Understanding. Did any of those words actually describe me?

Gideon flashed an unreadable smile. "So, you think I'm too aggressive and not gentle enough?"

Chapter 10

I was about to fire back, but his expression was dead serious. "You don't need to be gentle."

From the very first time we met, I had already experienced Gideon's vicious mouth. Hearing this, Gideon paused for a fraction of a second before a faint trace of amusement surfaced in his eyes.

"Right. And you don't need to be innocent, sweet, or understanding."

I instinctively nodded, but a second later, the actual meaning of his words hit me. "Gideon, what exactly is that supposed to mean? I am literally the most understanding person on the planet."

The auction started. As luck would have it, Elias and Clarissa were seated just a few rows away. Clarissa had that classic, delicate beauty. She practically radiated a soft, fragile aura.

It paired perfectly with Elias's pretentious artist vibe.

"Gideon," she called out softly.

Clarissa forced an awkward smile, shooting a pitiful, wronged glance at Elias.

Elias patted her hand. "It's fine."

I leaned close to Gideon's ear, dropping my voice to a teasing whisper. "She's calling you. Gid-e-on."

Gideon didn't look at me. "Speak normally."

"Does it hurt to see Clarissa sitting next to someone else?"

"Stop making things up. I have no ties to her anymore. And zero feelings."

The more he denied it with that flat tone, the more convinced I was that he was just putting up a front. Deep down, he probably cared more than anything. Trying to suppress the irritation only made my blood boil faster. Taking the high road just felt like a massive loss.

Why should I be the only one sitting here feeling uncomfortable?

Thinking about it, I slapped my hand directly onto Gideon's thigh. My manicured nails dug fiercely through the expensive fabric of his trousers and right into his hard muscle. A low, muffled grunt escaped his throat. He clearly hadn't anticipated the attack.

But since we were in a highly public setting, he had no choice but to swallow it. On the surface, he maintained his flawless, untouchable billionaire facade.

A socialite sitting nearby whispered in admiration, "That's CEO Gideon and CEO Fallon, right? They are so hopelessly in love."

I offered a polite, dazzling smile in return, not lessening the brutal grip of my nails for a single second. Only after a long, agonizing minute did I finally release my hold. Exhale. Much better.

Gideon let out a sharp breath, his hand subtly brushing over his abused thigh.

I leaned in, my voice laced with venom. "Even if your head is filled with absolute trash, you will suppress it until this prenup expires. If you dare let me end up on the front page of those disgusting gossip tabloids while we are still married, I will hire the most ruthless lawyers in this city to strip you of every last cent you own!"

"And another thing. We are out in public right now. Nothing on this earth matters more to me than my ego. If you dare make me look like a fool, I will literally slap you across the face."

Gideon pulled his brows together, genuinely baffled. "Have I done a single thing to give you the wrong idea?"

I ignored his question, pointing a manicured finger at the stunning diamond set displayed on the auction block. "I want that."

Gideon stared at me.

"Buy it for me." A man's empty promises were never as reliable as cold, hard cash.

"Do you actually want the jewelry, or are you just throwing a tantrum?"

I let out a cold laugh. "When I'm mad, your best option is to throw money at me until I forgive you."

He pressed his lips into a thin line. Never hesitate to make a man bleed cash for you. Most of those toxic, abusive men from tragic stories are entirely created by women spoiling them. He might not hesitate to dump you.

But he will definitely hesitate to lose the time, energy, and massive amounts of money he's invested in you.

The starting bid for the diamond set was ten million dollars. The second Gideon raised his paddle, Elias immediately countered the bid.

Clarissa turned around in her seat. "Gideon, that jewelry set is gorgeous. I really love it."

Gideon's expression didn't shift a millimeter. "Yeah. If you want it, buy it."

Despite his dismissive words, the moment Elias raised the price again, Gideon arrogantly tacked on another two million dollars. The message was blatantly clear: the highest bidder takes it all.

The two men locked into a ruthless bidding war. Within minutes, the price skyrocketed to twenty-three million dollars. The actual market value of the set was roughly twenty million. A sudden wave of dark amusement washed over me.

Was he trying to crush Elias, or was he trying to prove something to Clarissa?

The past few months had been way too comfortable. Gideon had been way too obedient. I had almost forgotten that I wasn't the woman he loved.

Chapter 11

I turned my head, accidentally locking eyes with Clarissa. Honestly, I barely knew her. Before I met Gideon, she didn't even exist in my world.

"Fallon, I am so sorry," she said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "Gideon is probably still holding a grudge against me" She offered a gentle, fragile smile, but the slight tilt of her head was pure, calculated provocation.

Heh. Hilarious. I let out a dry scoff and looked away. "Gideon