MARRIED FOR TIME

Chapter 6

**Valerie’s POV**

I never knew getting a husband could be this easy. Even though it was just black ink on a contract agreement, a slow, triumphant smile spread across my lips as I stood in the center of Bastien's penthouse. I couldn't wait to see the look on Chloe's face when I walked into that venue. For years, she had taken scraps from my life, but stealing my boyfriend was her final act. Today, the curtain was going down on her little fantasy.

"If we are going to war, Valerie, we might as well drop a nuclear bomb on them," Bastien's deep voice suddenly shattered my train of thought. He was leaning against the doorframe, a dangerous, dark amusement dancing in his silver eyes. "Your ex-boyfriend wants a show. I excel at production. Go get ready. I don't like keeping an audience waiting."

A thrill of anticipation ran down my spine. I nodded, turning on my heel and walking upstairs to my temporary quarters. Pulling out my phone, I dialed Tyler's number. It rang twice before his arrogant voice flooded the earpiece.

"Valerie? Look, if you're calling to beg or cry—"

"I’m coming to your wedding, Tyler," I interrupted, my voice smooth and completely devoid of the heartbreak from yesterday. "And I'm not coming alone."

A sharp, disbelieving laugh came from his end. "You're coming? And you suddenly changed your mind because you want to make a scene, right? Don't try to ruin my wedding, Vale. We both know you're just bitter. Let's be realistic—no one out there would ever date a workaholic like you, let alone bring you as a plus-one. I was the only guy patient enough to handle you."

I scoffed loudly at his words, a cold armor settling over my chest. "And here I thought I might still hold a sliver of guilt for how things ended. Thank you for making that disappear completely."

I didn't wait for him to respond. I slammed the end-call button, cutting off his voice.

Before I could even set the phone down, the bedroom door swung open. A team of professional stylists and designers filed into the room, pushing racks of breathtaking, custom-made haute couture gowns and carrying velvet cases of high-end cosmetics. A gasp escaped my lips. These were garments from exclusive European fashion houses that usually required a six-month waiting list.

"Miss Vale?" the lead stylist said with a respectful bow. "Mr. Kade sent us. We have exactly two hours to prepare you for the wedding ."

I stood there, completely stunned for a moment. My phone vibrated in my palm. I looked down to see a text message from Bastien:

> *The paperwork is finalized. I have the marriage certificate in hand. Don't skimp on the jewelry. See you in two hours.*

---

Hours later, the grand reception hall of the after-wedding party was blindingly bright, filled with the elite chatter of society guests and the clinking of champagne flutes. I stepped into the room draped in a stunning, emerald silk slip dress that caught every chandelier light, my hair and makeup flawless.

I hadn't even reached the champagne fountain before Chloe materialized in front of me. She wore her white bridal gown like a shield, flanked by her usual entourage of giggling friends.

"Well, look who actually showed up," Chloe said, her lips curling into a mocking smile as she raked her eyes over me. "I heard a rumor you were bringing your new boyfriend. Where is he? Did he realize who he was dealing with and leave you at the curb?"

"Husband, actually," I corrected smoothly, tilting my chin up.

One of her bridesmaids burst into a loud, mocking laugh. "A husband? Who is going to date an ugly b***h like you, let alone marry you in twenty-four hours?"

"I’m sure she just borrowed that dress from a rental shop to save face," Chloe added, her voice dripping with venomous satisfaction. "Honestly, Vale, I’m glad Tyler finally left you. You were dragging him down."

I looked around the crowded room to find Bastien, but the sea of tuxedos made it impossible to spot his towering frame. My fingers clutched into a tight fist against the fabric of my clutch, a brief flicker of nervousness hitting my stomach. "Actually, my husband bought this dress for me."

"Stop the joke, Valerie," Chloe snapped, waving her hand dismissively. "That dress is custom archival silk. It’s an explicit luxury item—I can’t even afford that tier of designer yet, and I'm the bride."

I leveled her with a sharp, mocking gaze, letting a cold smile trace my lips. "Have you forgotten that I made Tyler who he is? I built his career from scratch. If anyone knows the exact depth of his empty pockets, it's me."

Chloe’s pristine bridal smile instantly vanished, her forehead creasing into an ugly frown. "He has his own money now, Valerie! He paid for this entire luxury wedding hall himself. And guess what? He’s significantly richer today. He just landed a massive, high-paying executive position with Sterling Enterprises."

"Did someone say Sterling?"

A deep, commanding baritone cut through the air, sending an immediate hush over our circle.

Bastien stepped out from the crowd. He looked devastatingly handsome in a perfectly tailored charcoal tuxedo, his silver-gray eyes flashing with dark, lethal authority. The sheer power radiating off him made several guests turn to stare.

My heart did a sudden, chaotic flip. I immediately stepped forward, locking my arm securely around his, leaning into his broad shoulder. "Chloe, meet my husband."

A collective, unified gasp escaped from the lips of her bridesmaids.

"Oh my god, he is incredibly hot," one of them whispered loudly, completely forgetting whose side she was on.

Chloe forced a rigid, trembling smile, her eyes darting between Bastien's commanding frame and my locked arm. Panic flitted through her gaze before she tried to mask it with sheer denial. "Did you... did you hire an actor to play your husband, Valerie? Please. A man of his caliber would never settle for someone like you."

Bastien didn't even grant her a verbal response. Instead, he calmly raised his left hand, gently lifting my right hand to display it under the brilliant chandelier lights. He had slipped it onto my finger while we were in the back of the sedan on the way here, but under the ballroom lights, it was blinding.

Her friends practically rushed over to my side, their eyes wide with unadulterated shock.

"Is that... is that the *The Winston Pink Diamond*?" one of her bridesmaids shrieked, clutching her own chest. "The one that auctioned for over ten million dollars last month?!"

Chloe’s face turned an entirely violent shade of white. Her smugness completely shattered, replaced by a desperate, humiliated rage. Desperate to reclaim her night, she turned toward the center of the room and called out loudly, "Tyler! Babe, come over here for a second!"

Tyler, who had been busy greeting a group of older corporate guests, turned and smiled. But the exact moment his eyes landed on me standing next to Bastien Kade, his face completely dropped. The color drained from his skin so fast he looked like a ghost.

He stumbled forward, trying to maintain his composure as he reached our circle. Trembling, he stretched out his arm to greedily grab my hand, completely ignoring his new bride. "Valerie... what is the meaning of this?"

Before my fingers could even flinch away from his approach, Bastien stepped forward. His massive frame completely blocked Tyler from my view, a wall of pure, unyielding dominance.

"I highly advise you to pull your hand back," Bastien murmured, his voice dropping to a low, terrifying vibration that made the surrounding air feel freezing cold. "I absolutely hate people touching what is mine."

Tyler’s shock quickly morphed into defensive, alcohol-fueled bravado. He scoffed, stepping closer until he was practically chest-to-chest with Bastien . "Oh yeah? And who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" Tyler barked, aggressively tapping his own index finger against Bastien’s immaculate tuxedo chest. "This is my wedding!"

He shouldn't have touched him.

The movement was a blur. Before anyone could blink, Bastien's shoulder rolled, and a brutal, blindingly fast punch landed squarely against the center of Tyler’s face.

The force of the impact sounded like a cracking whip. Tyler went flying backward, crashing violently into a nearby pyramid of crystal champagne glasses. The structure shattered, sending hundreds of shards and rivers of golden liquid cascading over his white wedding suit as he collapsed onto the floor, groaning in absolute agony.

The entire ballroom erupted into chaotic, deafening screams.

"Bastien!" I screamed, my hands flying to my mouth as my gray eyes widened in total horror, looking from my ex-boyfriend bleeding on the floor to the unhinged, lethal calm on my contract husband's face.