Chapter 1
Three days after my father’s funeral, Zachary still hadn’t shown up.
“Grandpa Theo,” Isaid quietly, “I’ve made up my mind.”
“I’m going back to D.C. to take over the family business.”
I zipped my duffel shut and faced him with all the strength I had left.
He stared at me, stunned.
“Honey… You and Zach finally settled into life on base.”
“Why go back now and live apart?”
“And besides…. running a legacy oil empire isn’t exactly a woman’s game.”
I shook my head, glancing down at the heavy signet ring on my wrist chain.
It was my father’s. His last gift to me.
“I’m not afraid of hard work.”
“Give me one month. I’ll be divorced before then.”
Two weeks later, I returned to the base for the last time.
The blanket on the cot was still a mess–just like when I left.
He hadn’t been home once in over a month.
As soon as I sat down, I heard footsteps.
Tall, broad–shouldered, and dressed in his usual black fatigues, Zachary stepped inside.
His voice was flat.
“Did you make dinner?”
“The base cooks are off tonight. Sophie needs to eat.”
“She hurt her wrist. Can’t cook for herself.”
I turned, pale from exhaustion.
“I just got back. I haven’t cooked.”
Zachary frowned like my response inconvenienced him.
— Cat Vid
I Chose the CEO Who Faked Crazy for Me
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Chapter 1
Then he went straight to the kitchen.
He didn’t ask where I’d been.
Didn’t care that I looked like I hadn’t slept in days.
All he cared about was Sophie.
I stood there, watching him awkwardly fumble with the stovetop.
Five years of marriage, and this was the first time I saw him cook.
Ever since he pulled Sophie out of that collapsed bunker overseas, he hadn’t been the same.
He packed the food into a container, and I finally said something.
“Zach… I haven’t eaten either.”
He froze for a second.
Then replied like it was obvious.
“There’s rice and pasta in the pantry.”
“Make yourself something.”
“Sophie’s waiting.”
I expected that. Still hurt like hell.
Just as he reached the door, I called out:
“I’ll be heading back to D.C. soon.”
“My father left you some land deeds. He wanted you to sign them.”
I handed him the divorce papers I’d disguised with the contracts.
He glanced at them once and signed without reading.
“Even if it was your dad’s idea, be careful next time.”
“You married into old money.”
“Doesn’t mean you need to drag your family’s name around like a badge.”
I dropped my eyes, nails digging into my palm.
“Understood.”
As he brushed past me, I caught a whiff of French perfume.
My Fy’s Secret Kid? LOL. I Chose the CEO Who Faked Crazy for Me
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Chapter 1
It was a souvenir from one of his raids in the Middle East.
There was only one bottle.
He gave it to Sophie.
When the door finally clicked shut, I broke down and sobbed into my hands.,
Everyone mocks old money families, calls us relics.
But Zachary… did you forget?
It was this relic of a family that paid your way to Colonel.
A month ago, I got word from home.
Dad was ambushed on a business trip. Disappeared in the mountains.
I panicked. Grabbed Zachary’s arm as he was about to leave.
“Can you come with me to D.C.? My dad-”
Before I could finish, Sophie Hayes’s voice rang out from outside:
“Zach, hurry! You promised to take me riding today!”
Zachary’s eyes iced over in an instant.
He yanked his arm away.
“I’ve got stuff to do. Go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”
That was the last thing he said.
Two weeks passed.
By the time my father was laid to rest, Zachary Carter still hadn’t shown up.
But he did send a message–through his silence.
At the wake, my father clutched my hand with the last of his strength.
“Zach’s a good man,” he rasped.
“He’s stationed in the Middle East. If he couldn’t come, I understand.”
“These deeds were meant for him.”
“I’m sorry, baby. This is all I can do for you now.”
But Dad, you didn’t know.
Mo
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Chapter 1
Zach wasn’t busy serving his country,
He was too busy serving Sophie.
And all your hard–earned fortune?
He didn’t care. Just called you a flashy billionaire.
Dad, you didn’t see it.
But I haven’t been okay in a long, long time.
I clutched the family ring to my chest and cried until I couldn’t breathe.
Countdown to my departure:
Six days left.
