Mr.Grumpy is not a Monster Afterall

Every attempt pushes him farther away, until, with nothing left to lose, I asked the only question I never imagined I would. “Tell me what you want me to do.” My voice broke as I fought back tears. “Anything… I’ll do anything. Just tell me how I can earn your forgiveness.” For a long moment, Adrian Ashford said nothing. His cold gray eyes never left mine. Then, finally— “Marry me.” I stare at him. “What?” A bitter smile touches his lips. “You asked what it would take.” I should have known the man I’d betrayed would never make forgiveness that easy. I’m Emilia Carter, and for as long as I can remember, my father has given me only one purpose: Take back what was stolen. Becoming Adrian Ashford’s personal assistant was never about ambition. It was the first step toward reclaiming what I believed was my family’s birthright. Getting close to him was supposed to be easy. Earning his trust was part of the plan. Destroying him was the endgame. But the man I expected to hate refuses to be the monster I was raised to believe he was. Cold and intimidating to the rest of the world, Adrian Ashford is somehow captivated by me. And that’s where everything begins to fall apart. I’m Adrian Ashford. Emilia Carter is the only woman who has ever challenged me. She isn’t impressed by my wealth. She isn’t intimidated by my power. Her sharp tongue, stubborn defiance, and fearless honesty make her impossible to ignore. What begins as curiosity slowly becomes something far more dangerous. Love. While I lower my guard and place my complete trust in her, she quietly carries out the mission she’s spent her entire life preparing for. Then one devastating truth shatters everything. The life she believed in… The man she was taught to hate… The future we could have had. By the time she discovers she was nothing more than a pawn in her father’s decades-old obsession… It’s already too late. Because I, Adrian Ashford, never forgive betrayal.