Divorce To Marry a CEO

Chapter 16: Shadows From The Past

Alexander’s eyes flashed with something dangerous. "It’s more than that. Much more. My uncle isn’t just some rich man with too much power. He’s dangerous. If he finds out our marriage is a sham, he won’t just take the money. He’ll destroy everything and everyone connected to me—including you."

Sophia felt a chill run down her spine. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying that Gerald doesn’t play by the rules. He has connections, people who do his dirty work. If he feels threatened, he won’t hesitate to eliminate the problem." Alexander’s voice was low, serious. "And right now, the problem is us."

Sophia’s blood ran cold. "You’re telling me that your uncle would hurt me just to get to you?"

Alexander stood up, pacing the room. "Not just you. Anyone who stands in his way. That’s why I’ve been trying to keep you out of this. But after the gala, it’s clear that you’re already in deeper than I can protect you from."

Sophia stared at him, trying to process everything. "So what now? What are we supposed to do?"

Alexander stopped pacing and turned to face her. "We play the part. We continue as we have been, but this time, we make it real enough that even Gerald can’t question it."

"Make it real?" Sophia repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "What does that mean?"

"It means you’ll need to be more than just my wife in name," Alexander said, his eyes locking onto hers. "We have to make everyone believe this marriage is genuine. That means more public appearances, more involvement in my life—and less distance between us."

Sophia’s heart pounded. "You’re asking me to… pretend to be in love with you?"

Alexander’s expression softened for a brief moment, a flicker of vulnerability showing through. "I’m not asking you to pretend anything, Sophia. I’m asking you to protect yourself. Because right now, you’re in more danger than you realize."

Sophia took a deep breath, her mind swirling with everything Alexander had just told her. She had always known their marriage wasn’t real, but she hadn’t expected it to come with such high stakes. The thought of Gerald Evans, a man she barely knew, having the power to ruin their lives or worse terrified her.

"And what about you, Alexander?" she asked quietly. "Are you just going to keep being this cold, untouchable man? Is that how we survive this?"

For the first time, Alexander’s mask slipped, just a little. He stepped closer to her, his voice low. "Sophia, I’ve been this way for a long time because it’s the only way I know how to survive. But if you want the truth… I’m not as cold as I seem."

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. For a brief moment, the distance between them seemed to disappear, and she could see the man beneath the armor—the one who had protected her, stood by her side, and even now, was willing to fight for her safety.

But just as quickly, the moment passed, and Alexander stepped back, his face once again unreadable. "We’ll make this work, Sophia. But you need to understand, this isn’t just a marriage anymore. It’s a battle."

Sophia nodded, her resolve hardening. "Then we fight."

---

Later that evening, as Sophia lay in bed, her mind refused to quiet. Alexander’s words echoed in her head, the gravity of their situation sinking in. Gerald Evans was a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, and right now, that meant tearing Alexander and by extension, her apart.

Sophia knew she had no choice but to play her role. But what she didn’t know was how much longer she could keep her own emotions in check. Because despite everything, despite Alexander’s coldness and their complicated arrangement, she was starting to care about him more than she ever expected.