Chapter1 After fiveyearsofmarriage,NavierArmstrongwantedadivorce. Whenshearrivedattheoffice, shespottedthesecretaryheadingtowardherhusbandLysander Vanderbiltsofficewithastackofdocuments. Usingtheexcusethatshewasheadingthesameway,shetookthestackofpapers,discreetlyslippingthedivorceagreementamongthem. Asshehandedoverthedocuments,Lysanderwasonthephone. Withoutevenglancingatthem,hesignedeverythingincludingthedivorceagreement. Navierstared athissignatureonthedivorcepapers,momentarilylost inthought. Sothisisit.Itsfinallyending. Justasshereachedforthedocumentstoleave,herelbowaccidentallyknockedoveradelicatepictureframeonhisdesk.Ittoppledover,glassshatteringacrossthesurface. Thesmilinggirlinthephotowasnowpartiallyobscuredbybrokenglass. ItwasOpheliaBelmont,Lysandersdeceasedfirstlove. Whatthehellare youdoing?! Lysanderabruptlyendedhiscall,hisvoicesnappingwithfury. HeshottohisfeetandroughlyshovedNavieraside. Shestumbledbackwardandherpalmlandingonshardsofglass.Sharppainshotthroughherhand,butshebitherlip,refusingto cryout thoughtearswelledupinvoluntarily. Lookingdown, shewatchedblooddrippingfromherfingertips,stainingthedocumentsonthefloor. Lysanderseemedoblivioustoherpain. Hekneltdown,carefullypickingupthephotographandgentlybrushingawaytheglassfragments, 21:50 TheRuinedBrideofVelvetNights 8.5% Chapter1 terrifiedofcausingtheslightestdamage.Hismovementsweretenderandfocused,asifhandlinga pricelesstreasure. Naviersheartturnedtoice.Shestaredat themanbeforeher,awaveofindescribabledesolationwashingoverher. Fiveyearsofmarriage,andshealiving,breathing humanbeingstillcouldntcompetewithaphotograph. Whyareyoustillstandingthere?Lysanderlookedather,hiseyescoldasice.Dontcometomyofficeagainwithoutmypermission. Naviersaidnothing.She silentlygatheredthebloodstaineddocumentsfromthefloorandturnedto leave. Herhandwasstillbleeding,butshecouldntfeelthepain. Asshereachedthedoorway,sheheardLysandermaking anothercall. Hisvoiceremaineddetachedbutcarriedanundercurrentofurgency.HaveyoufoundanyonewholookslikeOpheliayet? Thepersonontheotherendsaidsomething,andLysandersvoicebetrayedahintofbarely suppressedanguish. Keepsearching!Itsbeenyears! WhythehellcantIfindsomeoneanyonewholookslikeher? This…thisisntfair. Navierpausedmidstep,herhearttwistingwithabitterache. Shelookeddownatherbloodiedpalmandthecornerofhermouthcurvedintoasorrowfulsmile. Lysander,youstillcant makeit?Well,Idid.Dontworry,Illtrainherperfectly,andthenIllpersonallydeliverhertoyourside. NaviertookaUbertoherprivateestates,LakesideVilla. Asthecarspedthroughbusystreets,thesceneryblurredpastthewindowwhileherminddriftedtothepast. SheandLysanderhadgrownuptogetherchildhoodfriends.Andshehadlovedhimforadecade. 21:50 TheRuinedBrideofVelvetNights 8.7% Chapter1 Buthishearthadneverbelongedtoher. IthadbelongedtoOpheliaBelmont,from themomentshewalkedintohislife. Thenatjusttwentyyearsold,Opheliafellillandneverrecovered. Afterthat,Lysanderbecamedespondent,onlyreluctantlyacceptingthearrangedmarriagewithNavieraspartofafamilyalliance, EveryoneintheirManhattansocialcircleknewhowmuchNavierlovedLysander. ShetolerateditwhenhekeptamemorialcornerinhishomeforOpheliaBelmont,leavingfresh whiteliliesasifshewerestillalive. SheendureditwhenhecoveredtheirbedroomwithOpheliasphotos,whisperingtothemevery nightlikeshewaslistening. SheevenswallowedherpainfromhisobsessiveglobalsearchforOphelialookalikes. Navierbelievedthatifshestayedbyhisside longenough,hewouldeventuallyturnaroundandfall inlovewithher. SheevenfantasizedthatsomedayhewouldforgetaboutOphelia,theywouldhavechildrenandlivehappilyeverafter. Reality,reality hadawayofslappingherintheface. Shehadbeenpregnantthreetimesandeachendedinaccidentalmiscarriage. Shehadthoughtitwasherweakconstitution thatcouldntsustainapregnancyuntilherthirdmiscarriage,whensheaccidentallyoverheardaconversationbetweenLysanderandhisfriend. Lysander,youvebeenslippingabortion pills intoNaviersfoodeverytimeshegetspregnant.Ifshe everfindsout,shellbecrazy. Andwhatdoesthathavetodowithme?Lysandersvoicewascold.IfIhadachildwithanotherwoman,Opheliawhereversheiswouldbeheartbroken. ThatwaswhensherealizedherpreviousmiscarriageswerentaccidentsatallLysanderhaddeliberatelyinducedthem! 21:50 TheRuinedBrideofVelvetNights 8.9% Chapter1 Andhisreason?HewasafraidOpheliawouldbeupsetfrombeyondthegrave?! Thatnight, shebroke. Shewenttoabartodrinkhersorrowsaway.There,shehappenedtorescueayounggirlwhoseparentsweresellinghertoanoldmanformoney. Thegirlsface lookedstrikinglysimilartoOphelias. Navierstaredather,acrazyideatakingrootinhermind. SinceLysandercouldntforgetOphelia,thenshehislegalwifewouldstepaside. Butnotbeforegivinghimonefinalgift. Shewouldtrain thisgirltoreplaceOpheliaandstaybyLysanderssideforever! AtLakesideVilla,NavieropenedthedoortofindCelesteStanleystudying Opheliasfashionstyle withthetutorNavierhadhired. Celesteworeawhitebabydolldresswithdelicatepearlnecklace,givingherapure,innocentappeal. Theonlyimperfectionswereherslightlyyellowedhairfrommalnutritionandherthinframe. ButitwaspreciselyherthinnessthatmadeherresemblethesicklyOpheliaeven more. Foramoment,Navierwastransfixedbeforeinstinctivelycorrecting,Opheliapreferredwhite dresses,hairwithsoftcurls,andalwaysworeChanelNo.5perfume. Celestenoddedobediently,hervoicegentle.Illlearnitperfectly,Navier. Shedidntwanttobesoldofftothatdisgustingoldman,andshedesperatelywantedtoescapeher parasiticparents. NavierhadshownherapictureofLysandertall,sharp,devastatinglyhandsomeamancompletelyoutofreachinheroriginalworld. Shewoulddowhateverittooktostandbesidehim. Navierlookedatherwithmixedemotionsandstrokedthegirlshair. 21:50 TheRuinedBrideofVelvetNights Chapter1 Youvealreadycapturedheressence.Soon,Illpersonallydeliveryoutohisside. Title: CEO's Pampered Sweet Wife by CrushReel In "CEO's Pampered Sweet Wife," a captivating romance unfolds as a young woman finds herself in a contract marriage with a wealthy CEO after bearing his child. However, tragedy strikes when she loses the baby, leading to their divorce. As they navigate misunderstandings and heartbreak, they contemplate rekindling their love through a second marriage. Exploring themes of love, loss, and reconciliation, this modern romance novel delves into the complexities of relationships amidst opulent mansion settings and high-stakes office dynamics. The characters' journey from contractual partners to estranged lovers seeking a second chance showcases the depth of their emotions and the transformative power of forgiveness. What sets "CEO's Pampered Sweet Wife" apart is its poignant portrayal of personal growth and resilience within the glamorous yet challenging world of billionaires. Readers are drawn into a narrative that balances tender moments with dramatic twists, creating an engaging storyline that resonates with fans of sweet romance and contemporary settings. Discover the heartfelt saga of these contract lovers at CrushReel, where "CEO's Pampered Sweet Wife" awaits you to experience a tale of love, loss, and redemption in a world where passion meets prosperity.