Chapter 8 Perhaps I had once loved him , but at this moment , all I could think about w Xavier today . [ ] how I had to muster the courage to confess to Reid's face instantly went deathly pale , and he was finally driven away by the guards . Xavier was about to leave too when I called out to him : [] " Stay - I have something to tell you . " ] In front of the warm fireplace , I finally found the courage to express my feelings to Xavier . [ ] The love in his eyes glowed like the fire in the fireplace . That night , as I was falling asleep , I vaguely heard Father and Xavier talking through the door . " That land deal dealt the Matthews family a heavy blow - they'll go bankrupt soon . But considering our years of acquaintance , I still left them a lifeline . At least enough to retire on . " " That scholarship student was essentially just someone who coveted wealth and luxury . On the wedding day , when she heard the Matthews family was bankrupt , she immediately stopped pretending to be fragile and ran off quickly . What a waste of all those years the Matthews family sponsored her . " [ ] " But she got her comeuppance . Within a few months , I heard she was caught seducing a married man and the ruthless wife had her dumped on some island somewhere . " ] After that day , Reid didn't give up . He knelt in front of the Archer family estate every day , begging for my forgiveness . ] ] But every time , before I could even see him , Father's men would drive him away . Many times later , my Father finally to lost his patience . " Look at yourself now - what right do you have to ask for forgiveness in that pathetic state ?" " Get lost and stay away . Don't dirty my daughter's eyes . " After that , I never saw him again . Until my wedding with Xavier a year later . ] Just as the officiant announced the exchange of rings , the banquet hall doors suddenly burst open . [ ] Reid rushed in wearing a wrinkled suit , his hair disheveled and eyes bloodshot . " Sage , you can't marry him ! " ] Reid's voice was hoarse beyond recognition . " This past year I've worked desperately - the Matthews family has made a comeback . I'm no longer that bankrupt waster de staggered forward two steps . ] " You used to like me so much … I'm begging you to look at me once more . I swear I'll only be good to you for the rest of my life . make you the happiest little princess … " " Happy ? " I frowned and interrupted him . ] " Today is the most important day of my life , and now you've ruined it ! And you dare talk about making me happy ? " Reid's whole body trembled , his face instantly turning deathly pale . [ ] I didn't look at him again , forcing a smile as Xavier and I continued exchanging rings . ] In my peripheral vision , Reid swayed unsteadily , looking like he might collapse at any moment . After the wedding ended , Reid still stood desolately in the corner . ] ] Į At that moment , I was nestled in Xavier's arms . [ ] I sighed and had Xavier stay put while I walked toward Reid . ] But just then , several masked criminals suddenly rushed out from among the guests nearby . In recent years , as Father had transferred his business operations here and developed rapidly , he had offended some people both openly and secretly . ] But no one expected they would strike today ! ] They moved extremely fast , instantly taking me hostage . ] * SAGE ! * Xavier's face went completely white . The area was surrounded by Archer and Quinn family security , but seeing the knife at my throat , no one dared make any sudden moves . During the standoff , the criminals took advantage of the chaos to inject me with a sedative , then stuffed me into a car . Before I completely lost consciousness , I heard both Xavier and Reid crying out in anguish : " Don't be afraid , Sage ! I will definitely save you ! " In "CEO, That Intern is Actually Your Wife" by CrushReel, delve into a captivating romance where a billionaire CEO becomes contractually linked to an unexpected partner. When faced with the urgent need to fund her grandmother's critical surgery, our protagonist finds herself in a unique situation—entering a one-year contract marriage with a stranger. As the story unfolds, themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of modern relationships come to light. The novel offers a fresh take on the familiar billionaire romance genre by exploring the dynamics of office relationships and the intricacies of contract lovers. Discover this modern tale of unexpected connections and heartfelt emotions, available to read at CrushReel.