Married to the Secret Stanger

Charles Baker sat in his office, gripping the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Are you telling me there's nothing I can do?" he growled.

The hospital board member on the other end hesitated before answering.

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Baker. King Multinational now owns the hospital outright. Our influence is gone."

Charles felt rage boil inside him.

He had spent years controlling Joanne—manipulating her with her mother's health.

Now, in a single night, Alexander King had ripped that power away.

And worse—he had done it effortlessly.

Charles slammed the phone down.

He refused to let this be the end.

If he couldn't control Joanne through her mother…

Then he must find another way.

Joanne stood outside her mother's new VIP hospital suite, still trying to process everything.

Everything felt too much.

Too fast.

Too overwhelming.

Alexander had changed everything.

And he had done it all to keep her mother safe.

Diana's voice echoed in her mind:

"You married a mysterious billionaire and still don't know anything about him."

Joanne had to face the truth.

Alexander wasn't just a powerful CEO.

He was a man who moved people like chess pieces.

And she?

Was she one of those pieces? She thought. But she waved it off.

Joanne got home and found Alexander in his private lounge, sipping whiskey.

She walked up to him, " Your home early,"

Alexander looked at her, unfazed.

"I finished my work early."

"OK, have you eaten," She asked him

Before he could answer the butler walked in and announced that dinner will be saved.

"OH" she said softly.

After few minutes the table was filled with her favorite dishes.

She smiled and started eating.

Alexander watched her for some time before he started eating.

They both eat in silence, picking glances at each other.

After dinner they sat at the living room taking tea.

After a long silent, "why didn't you tell me before buying the hospital" Joanne asked silently.

Alexander didn't respond or even looked at her.

"You have no right to do that you know," She said.

"I have every right, you are my wife," He replied looking at her.

Joanne's heart skipped. "That's not how marriage works."

Alexander smirked. "You said it yourself, Joanne. This isn't a normal marriage."

Her breath hitched.

He was right.

Their marriage wasn't built on love.

It was a contract.

But still…

Something about the way Alexander handled things terrified her.

"You don't trust me," she whispered.

Alexander's gaze darkened.

"I don't trust anyone."

Silence filled the room.

For the first time, Joanne saw a glimpse of the real Alexander King.

Not just the ruthless CEO.

Not just the powerful man pretending to be in a wheelchair.

But a man who had been deeply wounded.

She swallowed hard.

And for the first time…

She wondered if she was in way deeper than she ever imagined.

Back at the Baker mansion, Charles paced in his study.

If blackmail wouldn't work…

Then he needed a different approach.

His eyes flickered with malice as he made a call.

"Dig into Alexander King's past," he ordered. "Find me something—anything—that I can use."

His informant hesitated.

"Sir… Alexander King's background is almost impossible to crack."

Charles' jaw tightened.

"There has to be something."

He refused to lose to that arrogant bastard.

He refused to let Joanne slip out of his grasp.

If there was a secret… a weakness…

He would find it.

And when he did—

He would hold Joanne down....