Fiery Passion: The Guilty Wife Of The CEO

Today marked the union of Rogelio Bailey and Marian Chapman in holy matrimony.

The Bailey family, reigning supreme in Pryport, spared no extravagance, turning this nuptial event into a spectacle of opulence with a price tag of a staggering one billion dollars.

In addition to the opulent ceremony, the Bailey family orchestrated a lavish banquet that sent ripples of excitement throughout the city, leaving its inhabitants in awe.

Amidst this grandeur, all eyes were fixed on the bride, Marian, the one arousing envy from every corner of the city.

As the hours passed, Marian found herself seated within the bridal chamber. However, contrary to the expected joy, her countenance bore a somber hue. A visible pallor gripped her features, accompanied by involuntary tremors.

Amidst her inner turmoil, the truth weighed heavily on her: this marriage had thrust her irrevocably into Rogelio's grasp.

For Rogelio held within him a sinister demeanor... The marriage was a harbinger of torment that Marian was convinced would plague her until her last breath. The future seemed bleak, her existence irreparably marred by these circumstances.

And in this poignant moment, an unexpected interruption shattered the silence-the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching outside the chamber door.

Rogelio was approaching!

Clutching her fists tightly, Marian lifted her gaze, locking eyes with the man whose eyes held a shadowed gloominess.

Rogelio possessed commanding eyebrows, an enchanting gaze, and a prominent nose, his face bearing an angularity that matched his striking handsomeness. Yet, beneath this exterior allure lay a heart that was unyielding and merciless.

Drawing closer, he positioned himself squarely before Marian, his pace deliberate.

In measured tones, he sneered, "Mrs. Bailey, congratulations. From this moment onward, you shall reside in a realm of torment, a life steeped in unending anguish."

His words struck Marian like a bolt of fear, causing her to involuntarily step back, her eyes mirroring her trepidation.

Despite this instinctive retreat, she realized the futility of escape.

Tragedy had struck when Rogelio's elder brother, Neal Bailey, perished in a car accident while shielding her.

The fatal incident had unfolded due to a drunken driver mistakenly accelerating instead of braking. The vehicle had hurtled towards Marian, only for Neal to bravely intervene at the last instant, sacrificing himself.

The outcome left Marian injured but alive, while Neal's life was tragically cut short.

Marian and Neal had shared their school years, a time during which Neal harbored an unspoken affection for her. His feelings remained hidden, as his intellectual capacity mirrored that of a ten-year-old child.

His innocence and innate kindness were apparent, and he acknowledged his unworthiness of her love. Thus, he chose to silently accompany her.

Unexpectedly, a car accident happened, causing an irrevocable shift in her life. The heart-wrenching reality of never encountering Neal again was a truth she now grappled with.

And she was accused of the debt owed to the Bailey family for his ultimate sacrifice.

In a cruel twist, when the driver was apprehended, he pointed a damning finger at Marian, declaring, "At the moment of the accident, she was closest to the car's front. Yet, she intentionally pulled that man in front of her, using him as a shield!"

This revelation kindled an incandescent hatred within Rogelio, a venomous loathing that etched itself deeply into his being, forever changing his perception of Marian.

Convinced that she bore responsibility for his brother's tragic demise, he held Marian culpable.

"I didn't..." Marian attempted to elucidate, her words carrying a weight of sincerity. "During the accident, I never intentionally used Neal as a shield. He was an embodiment of kindness to me-like a cherished brother. How could I possibly orchestrate harm against him?"

This explanation had been repeated countless times, yet it failed to sway Rogelio's conviction.

Furrowing his brows, Rogelio retorted, "Marian, do you persist in evading accountability?"

Marian sensed the palpable menace emanating from him, each beat of her heart intensifying in response.

In the ensuing moment, Rogelio's grasp encircled her delicate neck, his voice slicing through the air. "Is fear of me now coursing through you? How could a woman of your malice comprehend the essence of fear?"

Marian's breathing constricted, a suffocating pressure crushing her chest.

The air grew thin, and she was suffocating.

"I would willingly..." Her voice quivered as her words hovered on the brink. "I would willingly exchange places with fate, welcoming the impact of the car's collision, rather than... watch Neal... die... right before my eyes..."

With each utterance, Rogelio's grip tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh with unrelenting force.

To him, her narrative was an intricately woven web of deceit.

Whenever his late brother spoke of Marian, an unblemished smile graced his innocent visage, a sight forever etched in Rogelio's memory.

But this woman... She was accountable for his brother's death!

Forgiveness would forever elude him! The weight of her transgression would tether her to a lifetime of penance!

In an overwhelming wave of despondency, Marian sealed her eyes shut.

Was her fate to be snuffed out by Rogelio's hands on the very night of their wedding?

Yet, unexpectedly, Rogelio's grip slackened.

"Your life shall be spared." Rogelio leaned in, his voice a hushed murmur against her ear. "Do you grasp the reason behind my marriage to you?"

Marian shook her head, perplexed.

"You are forbidden to wed another. Your fate is bound solely to the Bailey lineage. You shall become my nominal wife but, in fact, forever a widow to my brother," Rogelio articulated with chilling determination.

Upon hearing this revelation, Marian stood stupefied.

Rogelio's true motive for their union was unveiled.

He was marrying her for Neal's sake!

In retrospect... the reason behind the ostentatious wedding ceremony that had gripped the attention of Pryport's populace was now clear.

"Neal's affection for you remains unceasing. Thus, I shall fulfill his aspiration and provide solace to his spirit in the heavens," Rogelio sneered, his words dripping with cruelty. "However, your sanctity shall forever be untouched. You shall remain chaste all your days, Marian. Within our Bailey lineage, you are tethered. That won't change even when you are dead."

His intent was to retain Marian by his side, to relentlessly subject her to torment and humiliation as outlets for his festering hatred.

With a forceful shove, Rogelio cast her aside and nonchalantly slipped his hand back into his pocket.

An inadvertent hooking sensation against Marian's form went unnoticed as he glanced downward, finding nothing of consequence.

His gaze shifted away, his focus coldly directed at the fallen Marian, before he pivoted and exited the chamber in long strides.

Marian, now hunched on the floor, was seized by fits of violent coughing, struggling to regain her composure after the ordeal.

This was merely the genesis of her trials.

In the days that ensued... Each passing moment was a descent into a personal hell.

If she were to coexist with a devil incarnate like Rogelio, perhaps the collision with that fateful car was a preferable alternative.

With a hand pressed against her chest, Marian gingerly rose to a sitting position.

A sudden realization struck her, accompanied by a gnawing absence.

"Where is my jade pendant?" Her fingers repeatedly brushed against her neck as she uttered in distress, "I distinctly remember wearing it here!"

The jade pendant, a cherished gift from Neal, a token of their bond before his demise, held immense sentimental value.

Its loss was unthinkable.

Anxious, Marian scoured her surroundings, even peering under the bed in her quest.

Could it be... Had Rogelio taken it when his grip constricted her neck?

Driven by urgency, she dashed after him.

Regrettably, her pursuit proved futile. All she glimpsed was the taillights of Rogelio's departing car as it faded into the obscurity of the night.

Reclaiming the jade pendant became her sole objective.

Within a bar's confines... Rogelio's entrance elicited a hushed stir.

His marriage had been the city's most notable event.

Why, then, did he choose to spend his wedding night here?

Seated with legs crossed, he steadily consumed drink after drink, his tie slightly askew, an air of languor enveloping him.

In a corner, Lorna Chapman, Marian's younger sister, observed his handsome profile, a flutter of excitement taking root.

How could a man of such distinction be linked to her sister Marian?

She held herself in higher esteem in terms of beauty!

"Mr. Bailey, what brings you here?" Lorna approached him, her tone infused with flirtation. "Drinking alone seems rather dull. Allow me to keep you company."

She leaned in, attempting to make contact with Rogelio, but her attempt was thwarted as she was unceremoniously pushed away.

"Step away!"

Lorna's gaze bore a blend of resentment and plea. "Mr. Bailey, remember, you're now my brother-in-law. How can you treat me this way?"

"So, now you remember I'm your brother-in-law. Yet you persist in your attempts to seduce me," Rogelio retorted with a touch of scorn.

He had encountered too many like her.

In this moment, sensations akin to flames surged within him, coursing through his body and leaving him parched.

An unsettling feeling settled in.

Curses! When had he been drugged?

Rogelio made a swift exit, ascending to the pinnacle of the building, the presidential suite on the top floor.

Marian's arrival was met with a view of his retreating figure.

She hastened to follow, only to be intercepted by a vigilant security guard. "Unauthorized access is prohibited."

"I am Mrs. Bailey," Marian declared, gesturing towards her bridal attire. "You just mentioned unauthorized, did you not?"

The meticulously crafted wedding gown held a value of millions, adorned with genuine diamonds that sparkled brilliantly. It was a unique masterpiece.

The security guard acquiesced immediately, his tone respectful. "Please, Mrs. Bailey."

Marian advanced into the room without impediment.

Darkness shrouded the space, an absence of light.

With caution, she called out, "Rogelio, are you here? Is my jade pendant... Hm..."

Her words were abruptly halted as a man's forceful kiss claimed her scarlet lips.

Marian sensed a foreign breath, an unfamiliar presence that enveloped her.

Arms encircled her waist with an unyielding grip, while an intense, devouring kiss claimed her in its fervor, plunging into the depths.

"Who are you... Release me... Hm..."

Enshrouded in partial obscurity, Marian's struggle intensified, her vision obscured by the stranger's features.

The magnitude of Rogelio's animosity rendered such intimacy unthinkable.

But this was Rogelio's sanctum. How had an interloper ventured here so audaciously?

Engaging in intimacy with an unknown man was inconceivable. What if... The potential fallout, if Rogelio discovered her lack of virginity, was unfathomable.

Marian fought back fervently, simultaneously seeking an advantage. Eventually, her fingers found a red wine bottle!

Deliverance seemed within reach.

The bottle was poised, her intent clear-to strike the man's head.

Just then, a serendipitous gust of wind billowed the curtains, ushering in a beam of light that illuminated the stranger's countenance.

With widened eyes, Marian breathed, "Rogelio..."

It was him, indeed!

Rogelio's eyes narrowed slightly, his visage flushing with an unusual hue, his body seemingly aflame.

What...What had gotten into him?

"Help me," Rogelio's voice rasped, its tone low and strained. "I'll be responsible for whatever happens!"

Before Marian could react, her clothing was torn away, her predicament deepening in its intensity.

"No, no..."

Yet, Rogelio remained impervious to her pleas, ensnared in the grip of the drug, his sanity unraveling thread by thread.

The night unfurled in a tempest of unbridled passion and frenzy.

Sated, Rogelio succumbed to slumber while Marian huddled in the corner of the bed, her body trembling with a mix of emotions.

Her mind whirred with a dilemma-how to navigate her predicament?

She had rendered assistance, but what of her own welfare? Who could offer her solace?

The impulse to shatter the wine bottle earlier had wrestled with her conscience. She had hesitated, wary of causing further harm to Rogelio, the only son of the Bailey family now.

Neal's death had been her burden; she could not inflict more pain upon Rogelio.

The notion of facing the aftermath, should Rogelio discover the truth of their night, was unbearable.

Marian didn't even dare to think about that.

Neal's love echoed in her mind; Rogelio's vow not to claim her body reverberated.

After meticulous consideration, escape emerged as the sole recourse.

Suppressing her physical discomfort, Marian slipped out of bed. A sight caught her eye-disheveled men's clothing strewn across the floor-rekindling her mission's purpose.

The jade pendant!

Her search yielded success; she retrieved it from Rogelio's pocket, clutching it fervently.

Swiftly, she exited the suite.

Meanwhile, Rogelio roused from slumber, glimpsing the white figure at the doorway.

"Stop!"

Marian's pace quickened at the resonant baritone behind her.

Stopping was unthinkable; her sole focus was escape.

Rogelio, in pursuit, threw back the covers, only to realize he was unclothed.

As he reached for his attire, realization dawned...

His clothes... His clothes had vanished! Disbelief surged, quickly overtaken by rage.

Even his undergarments were absent!

"Damn it!" Rogelio muttered under his breath. "How in the world did she manage to take all my clothes?"

In his state of undress, he was doomed to fall short in the pursuit.

To Rogelio's confusion, why did she run away like that? His promise of assurance had failed to stave off her escape!

Seething, he enveloped his lower body with a bath towel, summoning his assistant, Matteo Barnes. "Fetch me my clothes."

"Of course, Mr. Bailey."

Promptly, Matteo materialized with a new set of clothing.

His aptitude for efficiency, coupled with a reticent demeanor, had secured his longevity in Rogelio's employ.

Rogelio, gradually resuming his attire, displayed his sculpted form-broad shoulders and chiseled eight-pack abs-an embodiment of a male model in a commercial shoot.

"Mr. Bailey," Matteo reported, "Mrs. Kyra Bailey phoned, inquiring about your and Mrs. Bailey's return home."

Rogelio's movements halted, a query emerging. "What? Marian wasn't home last night?"

Where could she have been? On their wedding night, where else could she have ventured?

Oddly, thoughts of the woman who had fled sprang forth.

Was...Was that Marian?

Could she have been the one who helped him?

Swiftly, Rogelio dismissed the notion. Marian had consistently avoided him. Intimacy was an improbability.

His gaze fell upon the bloodstained bedsheet. "Matteo," Rogelio uttered in hushed tones, "identify the woman who entered my room last night... I must know who she is."

Her alabaster skin and her plea for mercy bore a feline allure, triggering a subtle temptation within him.

Marian discarded the pilfered suit into a roadside bin, promptly hailing a taxi destined for the Bailey family's estate.

Her nimble intellect had averted capture by Rogelio's pursuit.

Nonetheless, her body now protested vehemently, legs weak and aching, threatening her balance.

The stark realization of Rogelio's formidable strength dawned upon her-the encounter had left her debilitated.

"Mrs. Bailey." The butler greeted her upon her return, adding, "You've finally returned. I attempted to contact you. Mrs. Kyra Bailey has been waiting."

What was Kyra doing here? Kyra's presence alarmed Marian.

The Bailey family's resentment towards her was deep after Neal's demise, making every encounter an ordeal.

What was more, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dynamics were traditionally fraught-this situation was no exception.

As expected, Kyra's inquiry followed. "Marian, did you spend the night outside on your first day of marriage? A Chapman family member, behaving this way?"

Marian maintained her composure, listening to Kyra's reproach with her gaze lowered.

"Are you mute?" Kyra's criticism persisted, punctuated by frustration. "Where did you disappear to last night?"

"I..." Marian offered a fabricated response. "I went to Neal's gravesite."

The truth was untenable.

Kyra's countenance softened marginally. "Well, a smidgen of conscience remains. Pay him visits more frequently. He held you dear during his life. My eldest son died trying to save you, and now you are the wife of my second son. Marian, how fortuitous you are."

"How could fortune befall her? She's nothing but a wretched bargain."

An unmistakable, resonant male voice interjected-a magnetic timbre that revealed its speaker: Rogelio.

Walking in with an air of arrogance, he paid Marian no heed.

Her head dipped in submission.

In his presence, her thoughts involuntarily meandered to the memory of his robust physique, his muscular arms near...

Stop! Marian brought back her thoughts to the current situation.

She bit her lip, berating herself.

"Mother, you are well aware of my motives for marrying her," Rogelio articulated, lowering himself onto the sofa. "Further elaboration is superfluous."

Kyra addressed the unspoken issue, stating, "While I understand your desire to honor your brother's wishes, he has departed, and your marriage to Marian carries your name. She is now your wife."

"So? What does that have to do with anything?" Rogelio's query held a hint of challenge, his demeanor unyielding.

"She must bear you a child, upholding the Bailey lineage," Kyra declared, her tone laden with urgency. "Rogelio, the Bailey family requires heirs. Swiftly, a child must be conceived-male or female. Their role is to inherit the Bailey Group."

Kyra's anxiety was palpable.

The loss of Rogelio's father, Jimmie Bailey, had thrust Kyra into the role of upholding the Bailey family and its business, with great expectations on her two sons.

However, with the elder son's affliction rendering him intellectually impaired, all hope had fallen onto Rogelio's shoulders.

The Bailey family's wealth, coveted by eager relatives longing for their share, made them a target.

Rogelio's child would quell such ambitions. The presence of an heir would discourage the covetous from encroaching.

Rogelio's gaze lifted, his response measured. "Mother, did you resort to drugging me for this purpose?"

As Rogelio's words resonated, Kyra was struck dumb, her comprehension unfolding in disbelief.

Marian, too, experienced a jolt of astonishment.

The realization hit hard-Kyra had orchestrated the drug's administration, an attempt to aid Rogelio in his pursuit of an heir.

"Rogelio, I...I merely wanted to assist you." Kyra's explanation quivered with sincerity. "I know your reluctance, but the drug's effects would diminish your resistance. The priority is securing a child."

Rogelio's lips curled in a wry smile. "Mother, it seems I've disappointed you."

"What? What do you mean?" Kyra's consternation was palpable.

"I wasn't with Marian last night."

Rogelio's revelation left Kyra flabbergasted. "Where were you? Didn't you sleep in the wedding room before visiting the cemetery at dawn?"

A cemetery visit?

The notion of a cemetery visit unfurled an alternate perspective-it appeared Marian had gone to pay her respects to Neal, which might explain her absence.

Upon Rogelio's silence, Kyra's gaze veered to Marian, her fury mounting. "Speak up!"

"I...I did visit the cemetery alone. Rogelio briefly occupied the wedding room and then left."

"Why didn't you detain him? Are you devoid of any sense of agency?"

Marian was rendered speechless. How could she have detained him?

Against his strength, she was but an inconsequential entity-his capability to terminate her existence was ever-present.

"I won't have sex with her." Rogelio's voice, devoid of emotion, rang coldly. "Mother, refrain from such unsavory methods."

Not even if every woman in the world perished would he cast a second glance at Marian.

Anxiety lacing her tone, Kyra inquired, "So, how did you neutralize the drug? Its potency is formidable. Without sex, you would endure immense suffering. You are my only son, and I won't allow any harm to befall you."

"No need to worry about that, Mom."

Indeed, a woman had intervened, saving Rogelio from the drug's clutches. Her supple skin and sinuous waist had imprinted on him, stoking an addictive desire.

Determination surged-Rogelio would find her, no matter what the cost!

He was resolute to achieve this.

The previous night, contraceptive precautions had been absent, repetitions notched uncounted-conceivably impregnating the woman.

Interrupting Kyra's impending discourse, Rogelio interjected forcibly, "I'm aware of your yearning for a grandson. I will honor that wish."

"What will you do? Seek another woman? Absolutely not! Such an act is disreputable. The Bailey family's status precludes dalliances and illegitimate offspring. Since you've wed Marian, let her bear your child."

Kyra's mindset clung to traditional conservatism, harboring reservations about extramarital affairs.

Compared to most women, Marian was deemed compliant due to her reputable lineage and empathy for her elder son's fate. She was a good fit for the Bailey family, in Kyra's opinion.

However, Rogelio was adamant-the conviction in his tone unwavering. "Anyone can bear my child except Marian."

"You-"

"Even if she carried my child, I would... kill the baby with my own hands!"

Rogelio's declaration hung heavily in the air, a chilling resolve.

The implications left Marian's heart in turmoil-his hatred toward her was so profound that he even wouldn't show mercy to their imaginary child.

Having been intimate with him the prior night, could she already be carrying his child?

Apprehension gripped her, prompting thoughts of clandestine contraceptive measures.

Rogelio's departure followed, trailed by Kyra's perturbed scrutiny, her gaze dissecting Marian.

The discomfort of Kyra's gaze bore heavily upon her.

"Marian, given Rogelio's reluctance to be intimate with you, artificial methods are your only recourse to conceive."

Before Marian could voice her inquiry, Kyra summoned the guards, who promptly whisked her away.

Confined within a hospital room, doctors and nurses frequented her, administering injections, conducting examinations, and dispensing indecipherable explanations-egg cells, ovulation induction, medication dosages, and the like.

Half a month elapsed, culminating in Marian's release from captivity, her departure from the hospital's confines.

Surveying the adjacent pharmacy, she mused upon her predicament. After a prolonged duration, the efficacy of contraceptive measures seemed dubious.

Resignation was an unwelcome companion-one she grudgingly embraced.

Still, deep within, she prayed that pregnancy hadn't befallen her.

In turmoil, Marian eventually decided to prioritize her education by heading to her university. She deemed her studies paramount.

At this moment, a black Maybach idled at the roadside, its window gliding down to reveal Rogelio's chiseled features.

Gazing at Marian in the distance, he inquired, "Did you meet with the doctors?"

"Mr. Bailey, there's no need for concern." Matteo continued, "Mrs. Bailey won't become pregnant with your child."

"I hope you're not wrong." Rogelio snorted dismissively.

He comprehended his mother's intentions and opted to comply outwardly, wary of generating a rift that could damage their relationship. Consequently, he discreetly arranged a consultation with the obstetrician-gynecologists.

"Understood. Mr. Bailey, you're scheduled to meet with the president of Elite University at 10 a.m. Are you heading there now?"

"Yes." Meanwhile, Marian entered a lecture hall in the Elite University, pondering how to account for her absence during the past days.

She couldn't just say she went to get married or even crazier, to engage in fertility preparations.

Abruptly, a figure blocked her path.

Raising her gaze, a flicker of unease washed over Marian. This was the last person she wished to encounter.

"Hey, Mrs. Bailey, my lucky sister, who married into a wealthy family." Lorna's tone dripped with envy. "Why bother attending class? Don't you have others to do that for you?"

Marian retorted flatly, "I also eat and sleep on my own."

With that, she sidestepped Lorna and walked away.

Lorna shared a bloodline with Marian as a half-sister, yet she had perpetually exploited and bullied Marian since childhood-snatching toys, clothes, cars, even her living space, whenever her fancy dictated.

Marian's stepmother consistently favored Lorna, displaying hostility towards Marian.

And their father, Grady Chapman, had grown indifferent to Marian after remarrying.

Within the Chapman family, Marian occupied a lowly position.

So Lorna couldn't fathom Marian's elevation into the Bailey family and seethed in response.

"Leaving so soon? It's not as easy as it seems, is it?" Lorna obstructed Marian anew, a malicious glint in her eyes. "Don't overestimate yourself as a wealthy madam. Marian, did you have a lonely wedding night?"

Marian's response was one of confusion and astonishment. How did Lorna know?

Lorna's smug admission followed. "I spotted Mr. Bailey at the bar that night, and we raised a toast. Drop the airs; your life in the Bailey family isn't as lavish as you pretend."

"I may face challenges, but I am now Mrs. Bailey," Marian's smile held firm as she stated. "Address me respectfully. I am a member of the Bailey family."

"You!" Lorna's countenance wavered with anger. She struggled to find a retort.

Marian's posture conveyed newfound assertiveness. "If you have grievances, take them up with the Bailey family and discover whether they support your bullying!"

Lorna had long been accustomed to exploiting Marian's vulnerability, so this unexpected resistance caught her off guard.

At the sight of Marian poised to leave, Lorna's unwillingness surged. She extended her hand to detain her, asserting, "You think you can just walk away? I'm not done!"

Marian attempted to evade her grip.

However, in an unexpected twist, Lorna's fury intensified. She exerted force, propelling Marian backwards with a harsh shove. "Bitch!"

Marian, weakened by her skipped breakfast and hypoglycemia, lacked the stamina to remain upright.

As she teetered and began to fall, Marian noticed a smirk in the corner of Lorna's lips.

In that instant, Marian anticipated the impending impact, but it never arrived.

Instead, a robust pair of arms enveloped her waist, halting her descent. She was drawn close, cradled in their embrace.

A deep, commanding voice resonated, its tone authoritative. "What is this behavior? How dare you shove my wife?"