Share

Twenty-Eight: Hurt

Author: Sophia Bendel
last update Last Updated: 2022-07-11 23:16:17

Amelia emerged from the Home cinema with confusion etched on her face, wondering who could be looking for her, when she had no friends in New York, and when no one knew of her stay in Ryan’s home. But the moment she got to the door, her eyes bulged out, her mouth dropped open and her steps faltered. It was James. He was standing by the door, a look of betrayal and hurt etched on his face.

James’ eyes roamed Amelia’s entire being, his jaw clenching and palms balling into fists. She was dressed in an oversized t-shirt that he had no doubt belonged to Ryan. The ghost of a pained smile flicked across his face, his heart dropping from the confirmation of his fears.

“So, this is it…” he stated in the strongest voice he could manage, swallowing down his hurt.

The moment he’d heard Dora’s voice over the phone calling to her dad, he’d known something was wrong and Amelia’s explanation didn’t add up. And from the way she stuttered while trying to make him believe her lies, coupled with how she
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP
Comments (5)
goodnovel comment avatar
denice morgan
I have to agree with you all and James even though she was wrong he shouldn't have called her those names but I don't know why she thought she had to lie
goodnovel comment avatar
Carmel Grooms
Wow I understand the hurt James felt but he was wrong for calling her out of her name. She should've been honest with him from the start now she has lost a good man.
goodnovel comment avatar
Asuncion Cortes
Amelia can find her true fellings for ryan.i hope they get together in the end
VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Related chapters

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Twenty-Nine: Dear Friend

    It was late when Ryan emerged from his office, intending to retire to bed but he was a bit astonished to see Amelia pacing in the living room with her phone on her ear. He stood by his office door, watching her pace about, completely lost in his presence. After some minutes, she took the phone from her ear and slumped into one of the couches, burying her head in her arms. Ryan didn't doubt that she was in this state because of the scumbag she chose to date and it annoyed him so much that the so-called boyfriend was making her restless.It’ll be over soon. He told himself before pulling away from his position by the door and strolling towards her. “Princess,” he placed an arm on her shoulder and she raised her head, her red-rimmed eyes meeting his.A mix of annoyance and envy surged through him that she felt so much for James that she had been crying over him.“Come on, let's go to bed, it's late,”Amelia shook her head, moving away from his touch. Ryan’s heart squeezed painfully from

    Last Updated : 2022-07-12
  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Thirty: A Deal with the Devil

    Amelia barged into Ryan’s home office, not bothering to knock on the door to announce her presence. The force at which she pushed the door forced Ryan’s gaze from the paperwork he’d been immersed in, his eyes immediately darting to Amelia who looked devastated, and confused, with determination swirling in her eyes like a woman on a mission.“Baby…” he called in a questioning tone, cocking one of his perfectly shaped brows.“Do you know anything about this?” Amelia asked, dropping her phone with the email still opened on his table and pushing it towards him, folding her arms across her torso as she awaited a reasonable explanation for what she’d just read.Ryan’s gaze lingered on hers a bit before he glanced at the phone, picking it up to read through the email. As he read, a smirk curved his lips, that soon grew into a grin the more he read. Amelia watched his reaction carefully, her gaze darkening the more he grinned, and her confusion deepening.“Welcome to the company, baby,” Ryan

    Last Updated : 2022-07-13
  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Thirty-one: Insecurities

    It had been two days since Ryan informed Amelia of his part in her transfer to DCL and his intentions of keeping her away from James. His decision had been made hastily out of pure jealousy after realizing the extent to which Amelia would go to save her relationship with James. Despite being the cause of their fight, he couldn't bear the thought of her fixing things with the man, not after how he’d verbally abused her to his hearing. The names James had called her out of anger had struck him with rage, fuelling his disdain for the man. He could never let Amelia go back to such a man.At first, he’d told himself it was because he cared so much for her but he knew it was more because of the affection Amelia felt for the man. It angered him and tore at his heart to realize the bitter truth that he was slowly losing his wife. Amelia may not accept it yet but he wasn’t going to give up until she was completely his and if he couldn't have her, no other man would take his place in her heart.

    Last Updated : 2022-07-13
  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Thirty-two: A Glimpse of the past

    It was the weekend and Amelia was in a cab, heading to her apartment in Texas. She’d just got off the plane that morning and was heading home to pack up her belongings and those of Dora. After Ryan’s confession, things between them had gone back to normal and he’d given her some space. In that time, Amelia had accessed the entire situation, and her life, thinking of James, her daughter and what was best for them. She realized she wasn’t being fair to James and in an attempt to move on from her hurtful past, she was dragging him into her issues with Ryan and was hurting him more. Deep down, she knew she could never stick around if she was in his shoes, hence, she wasn’t going to let him stay anymore. The best thing to do was let him go to find the happiness and true love he deserved because she could never give them to him, not when she has to pick between her daughter’s happiness.Dora was glad to have her dad back and she wasn’t going to ruin her cheerful mood by denying her of that

    Last Updated : 2022-07-16
  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Thirty-three: The Right Decision

    Amelia stood on the porch of James’ home, her hands tucked in the pocket of her jacket and her eyes staring at the hardwood door, with her heart beating wildly. She knew the moment she knocked on that door would be the end of whatever she’s had with James. She was on the verge of tossing away all that they’ve shared together, both the good and bad memories and all of the times the man had cared for her, putting his feelings last and showering her with all of the love she craved. But still, it wasn’t enough.The sad reality hit her as she searched her heart, hoping to find one more reason to hold on but it was as if her mind had shut down. All that she was thinking of was how to make things right and to stop hurting him continuously. For the past few days, she’d gone over the incident at Ryan’s home when James had shown up unexpectedly and that alone was more than enough reason to let him go. She’d broken the trust he had in her.Glancing back at the cab that was waiting for her, and t

    Last Updated : 2022-07-16
  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Thirty-four: Old Friends

    It had been two days since Amelia's abrupt break up with James and it had left him miserable and heart broken. He’d never felt so alone and disconnected from the rest of the world like he did, knowing Amelia was gone, not just from Texas but from his life. It wasn’t the first time he’d ended a relationship with a woman but it was the first time someone he loved dearly had truly hurt him, after he struggled to heal from what his ex-girlfriend had done to him a few years ago. Although all James wanted to do was to sit at home and mourn his broken heart and even wallow in his self pity, he couldn't do that because it wasn’t going to pay his bills. He had to show up at work and try to focus for the few hours he’d be there and maybe even drown his sorrow in excess work. His plan had been working well until their boss had informed them of the success of their partnership deal with one of the biggest companies in the business world. At first, it had sounded like an opening to success as i

    Last Updated : 2022-07-17
  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Thirty-five: His Assistant

    Amelia stared at herself in the mirror, sliding her sweaty palms down her pencil skirt to smoothen the crease that had formed on her navy pencil skirt when she’d risen from the sofa in the room after wearing her heels. It was going to be her first day as Ryan’s assistant and she didn’t think she was ready to resume. She had no idea how it’d feel to walk back into that place where her story with Ryan had begun.Will she run into the employees that have been there the last time she went there? Will they question her sudden reappearance after five years? And will they link her appearance to Ryan?These thoughts crossed her mind but she knew it was inevitable at that point. She had no option but to show up at work and start getting used to the new environment and her new position as her ex-husband’s assistant. Releasing a deep sigh, she walked towards the sofa and reached for her bag, at the same time as Ryan stepped into the room.“Baby, are you ready?” he asked, but when she turned arou

    Last Updated : 2022-07-18
  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Thirty-six: His Assistant 2

    “Ryan mentioned you needed some help settling in, so I’m here for you,” Sylvia stated, after settling into one of the leather chairs opposite Amelia’s seat. “Yeah… about that,” Amelia’s smile fell a bit. “It feels a bit strange to be back here, you know after everything that happened and…” Sylvia could see her physically struggling with herself and her choice of words, trying not to hint too much at the abrupt and sad end of her contract with Ryan. Deciding to make her feel comfortable and to avoid broaching the topic, she reached for her arm across the table, gently squeezing it. “It’s fine, Amelia. I get it and I totally understand you. But you should know it’s no trouble. You’ll be welcomed here and I’m glad to have you back,” Amelia’s smile returned, hearing the sincerity in the woman’s voice. During her stay at Ryan’s home in the time of their contract, she’d had the opportunity to associate with Sylvia a few times and she’d come to secretly adore the woman. She was very nice

    Last Updated : 2022-07-19

Latest chapter

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Author's note

    OCTOBER 26TH, 2022 Hello lovelies, Thank you so much for coming this far and for giving my book a chance. I'm glad to announce that this is the end of Amelia and Ryan's story, but their journey will still commence a bit in the next book that'll solely be Cookie and James' story. Also, if you'd like to know Sylvia's secret, it'll be in the next book, titled PLEASING THE BILLIONAIRE, set to release on NOVEMBER 26, 2022. Insight into the series: TITTLE: The Ruthless Billionaires Book One: A Contract with the Billionaire (exclusively available on Goodnovel and completed) Book Two: Pleasing the Billionaire (upcoming) Book Three: (still a work in progress) Also, don’t forget to vote with gems and leave your comments and reviews on the book’s page. They help me grow as an author.

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    Epilogue: A new beginning?

    Epilogue: A new beginning?Amelia stood at the entrance of the magnificent church building, dressed in her flowing wedding dress, with the transparent lacy material of her veil covering her face, and Liu holding onto her arm.Two months after her visit to his home, he got well and the preparations for her second wedding ceremony began. She’d asked him to walk her down the aisle and Liu had been honored.“Ready?” he asked, flashing her a loving smile and Amelia grinned in response.“Always,” Surprising her, he leaned in and gently brushed his lips to her temple.“I’m glad I made it to this day, and that you asked me to do this,”Tears welled up in her eyes, amidst her smile but she blinked them away. Deep down, she wished her mom was there too but it was all in the past now and she had a bright future ahead of her and intended to fully enjoy it without her past holding her back.“I’m glad too,” she breathed out in a barely audible voice but Liu headed in and he gently patted her back.

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    One-hundred and fifteen: One family

    “Are you sure you’re ready to do this?” Ryan asked Amelia for the umpteenth time as they drove through the gates of Liu’s estate in Beijing.After the incident with Lara and Benjamin, and after Ryan settled with his family, Amelia thought it was finally time to hear her father out. She recalled the words Jian spoke to her when she’d run away from Ryan after Selena showed up to destroy their wedding and she decided to give Liu a chance to explain himself. But by the time she called to set up a meeting with him in Jian’s home, her stepbrother informed her that their father was very sick and couldn’t leave his home in Beijing where he was receiving intense care from one of the renowned medical practitioners in the world. Amelia felt terrible that he was ill and they still hadn’t settled their differences. Thus, she’d insisted on seeing him, if he was up for it and she also wanted to finally introduce him to Dora.“I’m ready,” she breathed out, smiling weakly at Ryan. As if he could under

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    One-hundred and fourteen: The rightful heir

    It’s been two months since Ryan began the search for Alan Masters, yet no traces of him have been found. At a point, his family had given up on the search and had decided to move forward. With Benjamin in prison and Ryan out of the family, there was no one to run the family’s business and no one was ready to take over because they weren’t ready to start another feud that may end terribly. Left with no option, a meeting was held and Ryan and Amelia were invited. The sole aim of the meeting was to plead with Ryan to return to the family and take up his old position as the heir and the CEO of DCL Inc.At first, Ryan had flat out refused their offer because his new business was flourishing well and he had no intentions of still working for his family or even being the sole heir of the Davidson’s empire but after many pleas from the family and Amelia, who thought he should give them a second chance to right their wrongs, he finally made a decision.He informed them that he’d take up the af

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    One-hundred and thirteen: Confession

    Jian pushed Lara into the living room, where Amelia and Ryan were waiting for her. He stopped beside one of the sofas directly opposite the one Amelia and Ryan were seated on and tried carrying Lara from the wheelchair, to sit on the sofa but she waved him off, offering him a little smile.“Are you sure?” he arched a brow at her and she nodded.“It’s fine,”Jian exhaled and left her, taking the sofa closest to her.It’s been two months since Benjamin was apprehended and in all of that time, Lara was slowly slipping out of her pills-induced state. Although her injuries hadn’t properly healed, she was now aware of the happenings around her and was often awake for a few hours, during which she could speak with people. After the incident with Benjamin, no one was allowed in the home, except Amelia, Ryan, and the doctor who treated her.The first time she’d woken up, she’d been confused, but after her head was clear of the haziness, she told Jian of her last conversation with Benjamin, whe

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    One-hundred and twelve: Suspicion 2

    It was already evening by the time Benjamin returned to the hospital. He walked into the waiting room and was about to head to Lara’s room when the nurse at the counter called him.“Hello, Mr. Davidson,”Benjamin glanced at her, annoyance radiating off him but he managed to keep it hidden, schooling his features into a concerned expression.“Are you here to see Miss Zhang again?” the nurse inquired and he stepped towards her. “Sure,”“Oh well, she’s been moved. She’s no longer here,”Benjamin’s brows furrowed and he stared at her as though she’d just sprouted a second head. The nurse saw the confused expression etched on his face and went on to clarify her words to him.“After you left in the morning, her sister and brother came to move her away. I suggest you ask them about her new location,”Benjamin tensed, his jaw clenching hard. He nodded curtly.“Thank you,”He stormed out of the hospital, his annoyance doubling as he inwardly cursed at Amelia for destroying his plans. If it wa

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    One-hundred and eleven: Suspicion

    Amelia was singing cheerfully, swaying her hips and trying to dance to the song she was singing as she prepared breakfast. The rays of the bright morning sun streamed into the kitchen, lighting up the entire place, considering it was still early. She was preparing Dora’s breakfast. She’d woken up early to prepare her breakfast and lunch and to also prepare her for school. After Ryan had healed, they’d quickly moved out of his Manhattan penthouse and had moved over to Brooklyn, away from his family, to start up their lives and his new business. It’s been two months and things were going well for them. For now, she was just a stay-at-home mom, but she’d never been happier, with her fiance and their child. They were living a simple life, with no family members swamping them or even calling for unnecessary meetings. She’d also heard of Benjamin’s immediate take over of the Davidson’s empire on the news and she was glad that Ryan wasn’t concerned. His new business venture was going well,

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    One-hundred and ten: Perfectly recovered

    Ryan was still shocked and trying to wrap his head around what the maid, Mia, had revealed to them. By the time they got home, Dora was already fast asleep. Amelia took her to bed while Ryan retired to their bedroom to prepare for bed, but all he did was stand beside the floor-to-ceiling window of his bedroom, overlooking the city below as he replayed Mia’s words over and over again in his head.He was so lost in his head that he didn’t hear Amelia walk into the room until she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her body hat tightly to his back.“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” she whispered, trailing one of her hands to his chest and patting him lightly. “We’re not sure if it’s true. It might just be a misunderstanding,”Ryan let out a deep breath.“What if it's true?”Amelia was quiet, not knowing what to say.“We’re no longer safe in their midst,”“What do you want to do?” her hands fell off him and he turned around, staring intently at her.“I think we need to leave this

  • A Contract with the Billionaire    One-hundred and nine: A fresh start

    It’s been a week since Ryan was discharged from the hospital. He’d returned to his home with Amelia and Jian had stopped by to drop Dora off and to also say hello to Ryan. Some of his family members, even Lara, Benjamin, and Adeline had also stopped by to check on them. After that week of his recovery, he decided to call a family meeting to inform them of his plans. Just like he’d told Amelia at the hospital, he’d meant it and as soon as he was discharged, they’d been secretly making plans.It was the weekend and all of the Davidson family were gathered at Clifford’s home to hear Ryan out. He’d informed them that he had some important message to pass on to them. Benjamin and Adeline were also there, and so were Amelia and his daughter. Everyone wondered what he could possibly want to tell them, even his parents but only Amelia was aware of his plans.As soon as the meeting was ready to kick start, Adeline was the first to signify that she had something to say. Li na glared at her. Le

DMCA.com Protection Status