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32 - Familar Pair Of Blue Eyes
Last Updated:
2024-10-16 23:16:47
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A Billionaire's Bargain 33 - An Apology Demanded
Araceli's Pov The sun was barely up when Zayn left for the hospital. Doctor Ambrose had called, and the tension in Zayn’s shoulders told me everything I needed to know. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. He hadn’t said much, just kissed me quickly, eyes distant, like he was already halfway out the door. “I will be fine here with the kids,” I had reassured him, even though he was hesitant to leave us. He didn’t need any more worries weighing him down. I kissed him again, softer this time, whispering, “We will be okay.” He gave me a strained smile before heading out, and I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him disappear. Now, standing on the balcony of the penthouse, I took a slow sip of my coffee, hoping it would warm the coldness gnawing at my chest. The view was breathtaking, beyond the infinity pool that shimmered in the early light, the gardens stretched out, perfectly manicured. Tall trees framed the property, and in the distance, a small lake reflected the soft p
Last Updated : 2024-10-17A Billionaire's Bargain 34 - Traped In Shadows
Araceli's Pov My luggage rolled beside me, its weight dragging with every step I took. I could feel Zayn’s gaze burning into my back, his presence a solid reminder of everything I was leaving behind—at least for now. “I still think a vacation would be better,” Zayn’s voice broke the quiet, calm yet carrying an undercurrent of tension. “You don’t need to leave us to clear your head.” I stopped, gripping the handle of my suitcase tighter. We had already gone over this, but the weight of the conversation hadn’t lightened. “It’s not about leaving you. I just need space,” I said, my voice quiet, eyes drifting around the room. “I need to breathe, Zayn. Away from this house… from Shasha, from everything.” He let out a long breath, his hands moving to his hair. “I know Sasha’s been tough lately, but it’s not worth running from.” “This isn’t about her.” My voice cracked, the emotion rising despite my efforts to tamp it down. The truth sat heavy in my chest, too tangled to unravel now
Last Updated : 2024-10-18A Billionaire's Bargain 35 - Torn Apart
Zayn's Pov The kitchen was silent, save for the soft hum of the fridge and the faint ticking of the clock overhead. I stood by the kitchen island, flipping through pages of the company's financial records, something was off, the figures weren’t adding up. Beside me sat a plate with half-eaten toast slathered in avocado. The toast had gone stale, untouched for the better part of an hour. The coffee next to it was cold, forgotten as I allowed my eyes scan through the numbers again. Then came the quick, unmistakable sound of feet pattering down the hallway. I glanced up as Kamila dashed into the kitchen, her face bright with excitement. "Dad! Zara’s here!" she called out, breathless. She and Kamrin had spotted Zara’s car pulling up from the front window, and it was all the signal they needed to come flying in with the news. I turned just in time to see my little sister, Zara, standing in the doorway, a bright smile on her face. Her long, raven hair was haphazardly tied into
Last Updated : 2024-10-30A Billionaire's Bargain 36 - Unmasking Secrets
Araceli's Pov I sank into the plush couch, feeling the cushion press against my back. My fingers tangled in each other, thumbs circling, picking, digging at the same spot like they could somehow unearth everything I had buried deep. The therapist sat across from me, waiting, silent, and patient. Her eyes held a kind of knowing, unhurried but unwavering, a gentle prodding without saying a word. “Do you want to tell me about the nightmares?” she asked eventually, her voice soft, like she was coaxing something fragile from a hiding place. I swallowed, feeling the words crawl up my throat, so quiet I barely heard them. “Every night…it’s him. My father.” I felt her watching me, her gaze gentle but steady. She didn’t interrupt, didn’t fill the silence. Just gave me space. “It’s like…he’s there, laughing. Watching me, like he used to,” I murmured, my hands clenching. “Sometimes, I’m back in my room—like it’s my childhood again. The doors are locked, but he’s pounding on them. I
Last Updated : 2024-11-01A Billionaire's Bargain 37 - Shattered Trust
Zayn's Pov The leather of the steering wheel felt rough against my palm, my knuckles were quickly turning white from the grip I had on it. Last night, I had lay awake for hours, tormented by images of Freya and Caleb together. They twisted like a knife in my gut. My wife and my brother. It was unthinkable, yet here I was, miles from the estate, knowing that everything I thought I could trust had shattered. I dialed Zara, my voice barely contained as she picked up. “Is he still there?” “Yes… Caleb’s here,” she replied, quiet and careful. I didn’t need her caution. I only needed answers. "Is everything okay Zayn?" I hung up without giving her a response, all I needed was for her to shut her mouth and not tell anyone I was on my way there. When I finally pulled up outside the mansion, I took long strides to the door. Inside, I didn’t need to search. Caleb was sprawled out in the living room like he had all the time in the world, his face relaxed, unbothered, as if he had
Last Updated : 2024-11-02A Billionaire's Bargain 38 - Gone
Araceli's Pov The office hummed with activity as I moved from one department to the next, clutching the stack of folders tighter than I needed to. Zayn had practically tossed at me this morning. Not even a second glance. Just a quick "Distribute these" and he was gone, disappearing back into his office with barely a word. I shook my head, pushing the thoughts aside. I have been through worse and learned to keep moving, no matter what. Bills didn’t pay themselves, and I couldn’t let one bad day or his words tear me down. But as much as I tried, my stomach twisted, frustration bubbling up. His voice still echoed, sharp and cold, “You are just a stripper and an employee... You don’t get to tell me how to act.” The words stung, replaying like a broken record in my mind, no matter how hard I tried to silence them. I have never seen him so harsh, so unreachable. And after all we have been through together, the laughter, the late nights, the gentle way he touched my cheek, it fel
Last Updated : 2024-11-03A Billionaire's Bargain 39 - Lines In The Sand
Zayn's Pov A knock sounded on my office door, pulling me from the haze of numbers and projections I have half-heartedly been studying for the last three hours. I cleared my throat, straightened up, and glanced at the clock. Another late night. “Come in.” It was Eric, my project manager, stepping in with a folder tucked under his arm. He gave a quick nod and moved forward, flipping open the folder as he sat down across from me. “So, the Westfield contract?” he started, pointing to a few bullet points on the sheet. “We managed to pull it off despite the competitor's last-minute price drop. They actually tried to undercut us by nearly twenty percent, but they went for us anyway, thanks to the projections Araceli worked on last month. Those figures are solid as hell. I think they just couldn't ignore the ROI, even with a higher price.” I forced a nod, though the mention of her name stung. “Good. And for the PR launch?” “That’s been handed off to the marketing team, just waitin
Last Updated : 2024-11-04A Billionaire's Bargain 40 - A Silent Goodbye
Araceli’s POV “Araceli, are you sure you are ready for this?” Doctor Michael’s voice cut through the silence, his face drawn with worry as he adjusted his black tie, eyes lingering on me with concern. "You can come say your final good-bye tommorow." I looked up, exhaustion dragging down every word I forced out. “Does it matter?” The words came out brittle, rougher than I meant. “She’s gone. Ready or not, today, tomorrow, what difference does it make? This… is all that’s left.” We stood on the funeral ground, a bleak stretch of fading grass and cold headstones under a slate-gray sky. My legs felt like stone, my body slumped with a tiredness I couldn’t shake. I haven’t slept more than an hour in days, and the dark smudges under my eyes felt like bruises against my dull skin. The black dress clung to me, sleeves almost swallowing my hands as I clutched a tissue that had long since gone useless. Doctor Michael shifted beside me, saying nothing at first, but his face gave him a
Last Updated : 2024-11-05
Latest chapter
A Billionaire's Bargain 58 - Finding Her
Zayn's POV "Sir," my P.A called, stretching my phone out to me. "Your phone has been ringing for over an hour now. I think it's really urgent." I took the phone from her. It was my home line. "How many times do I have to tell you? If there's a call from home, no matter what, give it to me right away." "Sorry, Sir. I didn’t want to interrupt." I clicked on the screen and picked the call. "Yes?" The voice on the other end was shaking. "Mr. Vanderbilt, it's Araceli, Sir. She’s gone." I stood still. My heart dropped. "Gone? What do you mean gone?" "She was kidnapped, Sir. We were knocked out. I just woke up. The kids are here, but she’s not in the house." I didn’t wait for more. I rushed out of the room, ignoring the looks and questions. My driver saw me and didn’t ask questions. "To the airport, now." I said. The ride back felt to the airport was antagonizing. I kept calling Araceli’s phone, but there was no answer. It was switched off. When we got to the airpor
A Billionaire's Bargain Miss Me?
Araceli's Pov I opened my eyes slowly. The sun was just rising, painting the room in a soft orange glow. Zayn’s arm was wrapped around my waist, and I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. I didn’t move. I didn’t want to. This moment felt peaceful, like nothing else in the world mattered. He shifted behind me and kissed my shoulder. “You awake?” “Yeah,” I whispered, smiling. “Mmm. Good. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.” I turned to face him. “You are still going?” He nodded. “Yeah, the flight is in a few hours. I have to be at the airport soon.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Can’t you cancel it?” He chuckled. “Business doesn’t wait, baby.” I sighed. “Fine. But let me help you pack.” We both got up slowly. I pulled on a robe and tied it around my waist. He walked to the closet, pulling out a few shirts and slacks. I joined him, folding things into his suitcase on the bed. “How many days will you be gone?” “Just four days, mi amor.” “Four days is
A Billionaire's Bargain 56 - Evidence
Araceli's Pov I leaned over Zayn, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. He did not stir. His face looked so peaceful when he slept. I smiled to myself and pulled the covers up around him a little more before tiptoeing out of the room. I checked on the kids first. Kamila was wrapped up in her unicorn blanket, her mouth slightly open as she snored quietly. Kamrin, on the other hand, had kicked his covers off and lay sideways on the bed like he had tossed and turned all night. I shook my head and gently pulled the covers over him. He grumbled a little but settled down. Downstairs, I got started on breakfast. The smell of pancakes and eggs filled the air. "Good morning mummy." I turned to find the twins coming downstairs, sleepy-eyed and smiling. "Good morning my love." I rinsed my hand before drying it with a napkin as I walked toward them. "How did my babies sleep?" "I dreamt of princess Elsa, mummy." Kamila exclaimed, smiling like she was given the biggest candy ever.
A Billionaire's Bargain 55 - Already Mine
Zayn's Pov I stood by my home office window, starring out in the dark. I could see the whole of the estate, the soft glow of the garden lights flickered against the marble pathways, gently lighting up the area. The trees gently swayed as it was not so windy tonight. I ran a hand over my face, exhaling slowly. My jaw clenched as I replayed the conversation from earlier. As much as I would love to turn my back on it, I couldn’t. If that man is serious, Caleb's life might just be hanging on a thin rope. This isn’t the first time I am being dragged into my brother’s mess. It sure as hell wouldn’t be the last. But this time, I was done letting him get it easy. He is a grown up and will be treated as such. A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. I turned as Araceli stepped inside, already looking at me with that knowing expression. “You are overthinking again,” she murmured, closing the door behind her. You are overthinking again,” she murmured, closing the door behind her. I
A Billionaire's Bargain 54 - Out
Zayn's Pov The day had dragged on longer than I wanted. I was buried in reports, meetings, and a pile of issues I did not give a damn about right now. My mind was elsewhere. It was on the woman and kids I had left at home, on the brother I had spent two weeks trying to ignore, and on the problems that refused to stay buried. Then my phone buzzed. A private number. I frowned, debating whether to answer. I was not in the mood for unknown calls, especially not at this hour. I begrudgingly picked it, muttering something along the line of "this better be important." I exhaled sharply and answered. "Who is this?" A voice came through, steady, cold. "If you care about your brother, meet me at the docks. Warehouse 14. Thirty minutes." I gripped the phone tighter. "Who the hell is this?" I repeated my question. "Someone who knows Caleb better than you do. Someone who knows he is drowning in shit, and if you do not step in, I might be tempted to do something drastic and you will
A Billionaire's Bargain 53 - The Quiet Aftermath
Zayn's Pov I nudged the bedroom door open with my shoulder, carefully balancing the tray in my hand. The scent of basil and tomatoes filled the air as I stepped inside, where Araceli sat propped against the headboard, her laptop on her thighs, her eyes puffy and tired. “Special delivery,” I said, setting the tray down on the nightstand. She glanced at the bowl, her lips quirking into a faint smile. “What’s this?” “Minestrone,” I said, straightening up. “Made it myself. Every chop and stir done with love.” Her eyebrows shot up, and for the first time all day, a teasing glint appeared in her eyes. “With love, huh? Are you sure it wasn’t the chef who made it? Because this looks too perfect to be yours.” I smirked, grabbing the spoon and holding it out to her. “You wound me, mi amor. After all the effort I put in preparing this master delicacy, this is the thanks I get?” She chuckled softly, the sound a little raspy from her earlier vomiting. “I will believe you when
A Billionaire's Bargain 52 - Coffee and Chaos
Araceli's Pov I tugged at the hem of Zayn's sweatshirt, peeking out the window as Rilly’s car rolled into the driveway. She wasn’t even out yet, but I could already hear her loud chatter through the windshield. Can't deny that it's very much needed after everything that had gone down these past few months. The car door slammed shut, and in seconds, my best friend was at the door. I barely managed to open it before she tackled me into a hug. “Look at you!” Rilly said, pulling back just enough to scan my face. “You are glowing. And don’t you dare tell me it’s the tears from last week’s funeral, this is man glow, Ara. Admit it.” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t fight the grin forming on my lips. Rilly always had a sense of dark humor. “It’s moisturizer. Stop making stuff up.” “Yeah, sure,” she teased, tossing her purse onto the couch as she walked in. “That moisturizer sure made you this much of a star. My best friend is hot gossip, trending on every damn media platform. ‘Who
A Billionaire's Bargain 51- A Gift
Zayn's POV Ultra texted earlier. Cryptic as ever, he claimed he had leads on the media circus surrounding Araceli, insisting it had to be discussed in person. Typical. Instead of sending an email or making a simple phone call, he wanted me to drive halfway across the city. But Ultra wasn’t normal. Brilliant? Yes. Strange? Absolutely. And exactly the kind of person I needed in my corner right now. The café was quiet when I arrived. Dim lighting, soft jazz playing in the background, a perfect cover for a discreet meeting. Black shades shielded my face. The media was still buzzing with my name, and I wasn’t in the mood to give them more fodder. Ultra sat at a corner table, his laptop open, blue light illuminating his sharp, almost hawkish features. Surrounding him was an array of gadgets and wires that made his table look like a tech shrine. He didn’t even glance up when I approached. “Mr. Vanderbilt,” he greeted, fingers flying across the keyboard. His voice carried that usual d
A Billionaire's Bargain 50 - Family Feud
Zayn's Pov My phone buzzed, shattering the quiet in my office. Louis’s name flashed across the screen. "Man, have you seen the news?" His voice was tense, almost breathless. I frowned, reaching for my tablet. "No. What’s going on?" "Just… check it," he said, the urgency clear. Then he hung up. I opened the tablet, and there it was, headlines plastered across every news outlet, my face at the center of it all, larger than life. Different headlines on different article. Billionaire Zayn Vanderbilt's Baby Mama Drama Secrets Unveiled: Divorce, Cheating, and a Mysterious Stripper Lover Tragedy Strikes: Did Zayn Vanderbilt Murder His Brother's Child? Blood Feud: The Vendetta Between Brothers Vanderbilt. I clenched my jaw, a bitter taste settled on my tongue as I took it all in. They had managed to pull Araceli into this, dragging her through the mud alongside my name. I hadn’t wanted this for her. I reached for the remote and turned on the TV. Sure enough, my name and
