My Cold-blooded Arch Nemesis Is Suddenly Obsessed With Me

Rain hammered down in sheets, drowning the city of Eqralo in gray.

Daniela Stewart arrived at a club, led to a private room. She was soaked to the bone on the doorstep, but the birthday cake she carried-perfectly boxed, carefully protected-remained pristine.

In just two weeks, she was supposed to marry Joshua Clark. Today was his birthday.

She mustered a smile and reached for the private room's door, excitement fluttering in her chest. But as the door cracked open, the sight inside slammed all the air from her lungs. Joshua lounged on the velvet sofa, arms draped around a glamorous woman with movie-star curves and a face painted to perfection.

"Kiss him! Kiss him!"

Laughter and chanting filled the air, urging them on.

The woman locked eyes with Joshua, blushing.

Daniela's heart twisted, sinking lower with each cheer. As the crowd's voices swelled, the woman leaned in, their lips nearly brushing.

Without thinking, Daniela shoved the door wide open with a thunderous crash.

Every head in the room snapped toward her.

Bella Brooks, the woman in Joshua's arms, immediately shrank back, pressing herself against his side.

Daniela stepped forward, summoning a smile as she offered the cake to Joshua. "I picked this up from your favorite bakery downtown," she remarked, her voice bright but strained.

Joshua took the box with a distracted air, barely glancing at her. In the next second, the cake slipped from his limp fingers and hit the floor with a sickening splatter, icing and crumbs spraying across the polished tiles.

He didn't even flinch. His gaze was empty, unfazed.

A knot twisted in Daniela's chest.

That cake had been a small masterpiece-she had begged the head baker for days, trading on every favor she had just to get it made.

Bella's syrupy voice drifted in, too soft and too smug. "Don't take it the wrong way, Daniela. Joshua didn't do it on purpose."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and slid closer to Joshua. "I brought a cake too. Why don't we all have mine instead?"

Daniela's eyes flicked to the table. Bella's cake was an off-the-shelf fruit concoction, the kind anyone could grab last minute. Mango slices gleamed on top-a careless, dangerous choice.

Joshua's allergy flashed through Daniela's mind, but before she could speak, he turned to Bella with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Bella. That's really considerate."

Daniela's eyes locked onto the slender silver cross hanging at Bella's neck. She had given Joshua that necklace and told him it was for luck and protection.

A tremor caught in her voice as Daniela probed. "Why are you wearing that?"

She surged forward, intent on an answer, but Joshua shoved her aside. "Enough, Daniela." His words sliced through the air, cold and impatient. "What's your problem? I gave it to Bella. It's just a stupid necklace-why can't you let it go?"

The force of his push sent her stumbling to the floor.

For a split second, she almost laughed at the absurdity.

A stupid necklace?

She had clung to that cross through her darkest days, believing it might shield the person she loved. She had handed it over with all her faith-only for him to toss it away, like it was worthless.

Tears blurred her vision, thick and unrelenting.

With a gentle pull on his sleeve, Bella tilted her head, signaling him with a subtle glance.

Joshua caught on, his voice dropping a notch, almost gentle. "You don't look so great, Daniela. Maybe head home. Get some sleep."

Daniela didn't answer. Silent tears slid down her cheeks as she rose to her feet and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her.

The moment it closed, the room burst into laughter. "Daniela... still hanging on like that? She's honestly pathetic," someone sneered. "Even a stray dog would've taken the hint by now."

Another voice chimed in with a laugh, "Joshua, aren't you worried she'll finally dump you after all this?"

Joshua scoffed disdainfully, full of himself, "Dump me? She's obsessed. She wants to marry me so bad it's made her delusional. I could tell her to lick my shoe and she'd probably be glad."

The crowd roared, laughter echoing through the room.

Outside, Daniela clenched her fists and stepped into the pounding rain.

Just then, a sleek luxury car pulled up beside her.

The back door opened and her family's longtime butler emerged, umbrella in hand. "Miss Stewart," he said, a touch of worry in his voice, "standing out here like this... you'll catch cold."

Through blurred vision, she blinked up at him, eyes brimming.

The butler gave a quiet sigh. "You turned your back on everything just for Joshua. Your parents... they didn't tell anyone who you were, not because they didn't care. They were just trying to protect you. In their own way."

Daniela swiped away her tears, refusing to let them fall another second.

She had been born into the world with the Stewart name-an heiress by blood, raised for privilege and power.

But in seven years with Joshua, she had handed it all over, piece by piece. Instead of reaping her family's legacy, she had buried herself in work, grinding through endless nights to help Joshua chase his pharmaceutical ambitions.

It was her drive that made him a star in the industry, her relentless networking that earned him every accolade. Now, she was even on the cusp of clinching a deal between his company and Serene Hospital-a partnership that would catapult him into the big leagues.

There was a slight quiver in her voice, though her delivery stayed ice-cold. "I must've been out of my mind. How could I ever think he deserved me?"

With a slow, steady breath, she muttered, "I'm done here. This relationship ends with me-and I won't be slipping away in silence. In two weeks, we're supposed to walk down the aisle. If my memory serves, Serene Hospital is still under Stewart Group's control. I'll be the one to break this toxic tie. After that, I'll go home and face my parents myself."

Her tone turned glacial as she went on, "Let Serene Hospital proceed with the Aurora Pharmaceuticals partnership as planned. But the chairman will announce the final verdict in person-on the wedding day."

Joshua owed everything to her rise-and she intended to be the one who tore it all away. In no time, he would understand what it meant to fall not just hard-but straight into damnation, with no way back up.

The next day dawned with only thirteen days left before the wedding.

As Daniela was mid-bite at breakfast, her phone buzzed with a message from Joshua. "Busy today. Won't make it to the dress fitting. You'll have to handle it on your own."

Before she finished reading, another alert flashed across her screen.

This time, it was Bella.

A provocative photo loaded-her and Joshua tangled up in an intimate pose.

Almost immediately, Bella deleted the image, but Daniela had already saved a copy.

Another message followed. "Daniela, unloved women are always just the backup. You're nothing but a pathetic woman without family or status. Everything you own, you owe to Joshua. If you didn't have those pharmaceutical skills up your sleeve, the idea of marrying you wouldn't have even crossed his mind. Do you honestly think hanging on to him will change your fate?"

A low, humorless laugh slipped from Daniela's lips.

If even the other woman could see Joshua's indifference, why had she clung to denial for so long?

She lifted her glass of milk, letting its chill steady her nerves, and typed back with composed detachment, "He's a real catch-why wouldn't I want to marry him? Every man strays from time to time. You're just a passing distraction. Once he loses interest, he'll chase someone new. But the one he's walking down the aisle with... that's still me."

Pressing send, Daniela arched an eyebrow, a faint, mocking smile tugging at her lips.

She could practically envision Bella on the other end, seething with frustration.

A man without a shred of integrity belonged in the trash heap with yesterday's rotten fruit.

She refused to waste another minute on garbage like Joshua.

Without a hint of hesitation, she forwarded the damning photo and chat log to her assistant. "Archive this. Make sure nothing gets lost."

...

Inside the bridal boutique, Daniela studied her reflection in a mirror, scrutinizing an elegant wedding gown.

No makeup masked her features; years spent in the lab had left her indifferent to such things.

The woman in the mirror looked delicate, almost ethereal, but there was an unmistakable chill in her eyes-a beauty that warned others to keep their distance.

Behind her, a sharp, imperious voice rang out. "I want to try on the gown she's holding!"

Bella stood tall, chin tilted defiantly, her gaze fixed on Daniela as if she had already won something.

The shop assistant hurried over, her voice polite and unwavering. "I'm sorry, but that gown was custom-ordered by Miss Stewart. There's only one available. If you're interested, you'll need to place a separate reservation."

With a scoff, Bella tossed her hair. "Custom order or not, I want that dress. Are you suggesting I can't pay for it?"

Her voice dripped with haughty disdain, brows knitted in open irritation.

The shop assistant hesitated, torn between two clients she didn't dare cross.

Daniela angled her body, a sly smile playing at her lips as she met Bella's eyes. "You really want to try this one on?"

Bella shot her a disdainful look. "Why shouldn't I? Just because you slipped it on first, I can't have it? I'm not just trying it-I'm buying it. Money's not an issue for me."

She snatched her phone and dialed Joshua, her voice getting gooey.

"Baby, I'm at the bridal boutique, and the shop assistant said the one I wanted was already reserved. She's making it sound like I can't pay for it. If you don't come here right now, I might just cry..."

Whatever Joshua said had her beaming with smug satisfaction. She hung up and sent Daniela a gloating glance. "This gown? You're going to hand it over, whether you like it or not."

Daniela exhaled a light, mocking laugh. Instead of arguing, she waved for the shop assistant to bring her a coffee, then sank gracefully into a chair and opened the lookbook on the table. "You seem awfully confident he'll show up to take your side."

Bella narrowed her eyes, lips curling into a quiet taunt as she leaned in. "He's in love with me, not you. Think whatever you want, but even if you manage to drag him to the altar, he'll never actually exchange vows. You'll become a joke-everyone will watch you get left behind."

That icy certainty radiated from her, and Daniela recognized just how much truth lay in Bella's threat.

Still, the more Bella pressed, the less Daniela felt like holding back.

A few moments later, Joshua swept into the boutique, his footsteps brisk.

He froze when he spotted Daniela, composed and sipping coffee as if she owned the room. His voice turned brittle. "Daniela... why are you here?"

She set her cup aside with deliberate calm, eyes flicking between him and Bella. "I'm here for my wedding gown fitting-just like we scheduled. But Bella seems determined to take the gown from me. So, Joshua, you tell me: should I let her have it?"

Joshua's eyes narrowed, the shadows beneath them deepening as he shot Bella a look brimming with accusation.

For him, Daniela wasn't just a fiancée-she was his ticket to an empire.

As long as he could lock her down, she would keep producing lucrative new drugs nonstop. With her at his side, Aurora Pharmaceuticals would dominate the market, and even secure a partnership with Serene Hospital.

Letting Daniela discover his affair-with their wedding around the corner-was unthinkable.

A faint, knowing smile touched Daniela's lips. "If this were about anything else, maybe I'd turn a blind eye. But this gown was made just for me-for my wedding. I can't exactly call off the ceremony just because someone tried to snatch my dress, right?"

Joshua's complexion flickered from ashen to flushed, his expression betraying a flicker of panic before he quickly recovered. "You're right," he replied, voice suddenly gentle. "No one else could ever wear that gown but you."

Bella's lower lip trembled as she pouted, her eyes brimming with wounded indignation.

Joshua turned to her, his voice suddenly cold. "Bella, if you really like the style, I'm sure the boutique has other options. There's no reason to obsess over Daniela's gown."

His words landed with a chilling finality.

Watching the act unfold, Daniela almost had to admire Joshua's nerve.

She cast a sidelong glance at Bella, her head cocked in mock curiosity. "Didn't you just call your boyfriend and ask him to come here to have your back? Well, where is he now? If he's not here in the next minute, I'm leaving."

Joshua's glare turned razor-sharp, cutting straight through Bella.

If Daniela learned about him and Bella, she would never forgive him.

He could humiliate Bella as much as he pleased-as long as Daniela never caught on that he was seeing someone else behind her back.

The intensity of his stare made Bella visibly flinch, her mouth snapping shut.

Rising from her seat, Daniela addressed the shop assistant, her tone brisk. "Deliver the gown to my place. I want it spotless, untouched by anyone else."

The shop assistant bobbed her head in agreement, scrambling to make a note.

Joshua mustered a forced grin and remarked, "Daniela, let's not waste time here. The project's waiting, and you know how tight the deadlines are. You should really get back to the lab."

She nearly snorted at that-of course he wanted her chained to her research day and night.

"Fine," she responded evenly.

With a final, mocking glance at Bella, Daniela strode for the door, her composure unshaken.

As soon as Daniela left, Bella flung herself into Joshua's arms, her voice quivering with accusation. "Why were you so harsh with me?"

Joshua recoiled instantly, shoving her aside as if her touch burned. He shot a wary glance at the door. "Are you out of your mind? She could still be right outside! How many times do I have to remind you? Don't get her suspicious. She is valuable to Aurora Pharmaceuticals! I can't risk losing her now."

Tears pooled in Bella's eyes, making her look all the more pitiful. "But you're about to marry her," she choked out. "It kills me. I just wanted to try on a wedding dress, just once. That way, for a moment, it would feel like you were marrying me, too. But she was so cold-she wouldn't even let me get close to it."

Joshua's resolve faltered under the weight of her sorrow, her tears always able to shake his determination. He drew her back into his arms with a sigh. "Alright. Once the wedding's over, I'll make sure you're never left out. You want to try on the gown? Do it."

The shop assistant, frozen to the spot, stared in disbelief at the unfolding spectacle. "Mr. Clark, Miss Stewart gave strict orders. No one else is allowed to touch the dress..."

Joshua cut her off, his patience gone. "I fucking paid a deposit! Why can't I touch what's mine?"

He seized the gown and stuffed it into Bella's arms, his tone softening for her alone. "Go on-let me see how beautiful you look in it."

Bella's eyes danced with mischief as she curled a finger around Joshua's collar, drawing him closer. "Can you help me with that dress in the fitting room?"

Joshua just grinned, then swept her off her feet and carried her into the changing room.

The door snapped shut behind them. Minutes stretched into nearly an hour, the air thick with muffled laughter and the sound of shallow breaths.

When they finally reappeared, Bella wore the wedding gown-but the dress looked nothing like it had before. The pristine silk was now a wrinkled, crumpled mess, its delicate train dragging limp behind her.

Kiss marks flared along her neck, barely hidden by tousled hair.

The shop assistant stepped forward, her voice cool and unwavering. "Mr. Clark, this gown was tailored specifically for Miss Stewart. She was to handle the payment. However, since this young lady has worn it, I'll need you to settle the full balance now."

Bella shot her an incredulous look and let out a scoff. "She can have it back if she wants. I was just trying it on. What's the big deal?"

Privately, Bella felt a twisted sense of triumph. The idea of Daniela walking down the aisle in a dress she had already claimed for herself felt poetic.

The shop assistant's face didn't flicker. "I'm sorry, but our policy is strict. For custom gowns, only the client may try them on. If anyone else does, the dress must be purchased outright."

Bella rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "Whatever. I'll buy it. It's just a dress. Joshua, you're paying for it, right?"

Joshua's lips curled into a lazy smirk. "Of course, I'll cover the bill."

He turned to the shop assistant, the irritation in his voice barely disguised. "I already put down $100, 000. Just tell me how much more you need to be done with this."

Dropping a few hundred grand on a dress meant nothing to him.

The shop assistant stood her ground, her expression hard as granite. "This isn't just any gown," she noted, her voice crisp. "It's an exclusive Anna Payne original. There's only one in existence, adorned with hundreds of hand-set diamonds. The total comes to $30 million. You've already put down $100, 000, so you still owe $29.9 million."

Joshua blinked, stunned, but Bella's voice exploded across the boutique. "$30 million?!"

That kind of cash could buy a mansion.

Her fists clenched at her sides as she glared at the shop assistant, disbelief etched into every line of her face. Daniela-the nerve of that bitch to spend that much on a dress?

Bella shot Joshua a look, her lips curled in contempt. "She's not even your wife yet and she's already burning through your money. If you really marry her, she'll suck you dry!"

Thirty million dollars for a single gown. Unbelievable.

The shop assistant never missed a beat as she stated, "Per the agreement, Miss Stewart was supposed to pay the balance. But since you allowed someone else to wear her custom dress without permission, it's only right that you take responsibility for the rest."

She went on, slipping her hand into her pocket for her phone, "Unless you'd rather I call Miss Stewart and let her make the decision herself."