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Chapter 40: Reckonings and Departures
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-04-03 23:10:20
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A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 41: Ripples in the Dark
Selena’s POV The warmth of Justin’s kiss still lingered, an invisible touch, when my phone screen flared, illuminating the car's interior. The picture was a brutal punch: Justin and Bella, lips locked, an angle that screamed betrayal. The text read: ‘Thought you'd like a souvenir. A little reminder of where Justin’s tongue has been. Bet you’re going to love this. Especially since the same tongue was just... well everywhere on yours.’Suddenly, the car felt way too small, like the walls were closing in. I was gasping for air. I spun around, trying to figure it out. Who sent that picture? Did they actually see us? And when did Justin and Bella even kiss? My head was a complete mess.I practically ripped the car door open, the cool night air biting at my skin. I stumbled onto the curb. My driver and bodyguard were probably somewhere nearby, but I didn't care. I just needed to get the hell out of there. I flagged down the first taxi I saw, the city lights turning into these blurry, co
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-04A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 42: Fluttering Shadows
Selena's POV"Who…?" I whispered, my voice thick with a primal fear that clawed at my throat. The air in the room felt heavy, suffocating.The figure didn’t answer. Their grip tightened a possessive hold that sent a jolt of icy dread through me. Their breath, warm against my ear, sent a shiver crawling down my spine, a sensation both invasive and terrifying.I managed to shove the figure away, with a desperate, clumsy push, and scrambled out of bed, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird. I reached for my bedside lamp, my hand shaking so violently I almost knocked it over. The sudden glare of the lamp sliced through the darkness.Hailey, her face etched with a soft concern that deepened the lines around her eyes, sat on the edge of my bed. Not a lurking menace, but my best friend, her presence a stark contrast to the terror I’d just experienced.“Hailey? What are you doing in here?” My voice was rough, a mix of lingering fear and confusion, the words catching in my thr
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-04A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 43: A Door Between Us
Justin's POVNo, no, no. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not when she'd finally started to let her guard down when I'd finally felt like she was seeing me. Not the billionaire, not the playboy, but just…me.My stomach churned, a cold knot of dread twisting inside. How the hell had someone gotten that picture? It was from Bella's apartment, that damn night she'd called about the fake break-in at the factory.Manipulative much. I felt a bike ride in my throat. And to think Selena saw that."Jaden," I called out, my voice a bit strained, the words barely a rasp, "her place. Now.""Are you even sure she’s gone home?" Jaden asked, his eyes still scanning the now-almost-empty ballroom. The music had died down, replaced by a tense, heavy silence. "She's nowhere to be found. Her driver, her bodyguard…nobody knows where she went." I said, my voice a low rumble.My frustration spiked. A raw, jagged thing. I was trying so hard to keep my composure, to maintain that carefully constructed fa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 44: The Weight of Blood
Selena's POV"The scent of her perfume hit me as soon as I opened the door, that obvious mix of something expensive and sharp. It was suffocating, like a wave, and I just... froze."“M… mom?” I stuttered, my voice barely a whisper. “What are you doing here?”Before I even knew what was happening, she just... walked right past me. Like I wasn't even there. All expensive clothes and pissed-off energy. She stormed into the apartment like she was on a mission. “Selena,” she called out, her voice cold and short, like she was barely holding it together."Hailey, who'd been standing awkwardly near the kitchen, mumbled a quick, “Hello, Mrs. Baldwin,” before she just... disappeared into her room. The click of her door closing was like, a really loud ending to a conversation that hadn't even started."What do you think you're doing?" my mother demanded, her voice dripping with disgust as she surveyed the small living room, her eyes lingering on the worn-out couch, the overused dining table, an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 45: A Debt Unwanted
Selena's POV"Get me my checkbook," Justin thundered, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Now!"Tom ran off and soon returned with his checkbook. The apartment was suffocating, the aftermath of the confrontation hanging in the air like a foul stench. My mother stood motionless, her eyes darting between Justin and the checkbook, her expression cold and calculating."So," Justin said, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife, his eyes fixed on my mother. "Who am I making this check out to? And... twenty million dollars. Does that cover the, shall we say, inconvenience?" He raised an eyebrow, letting the question hang in the air.My breath caught in my throat. Twenty million dollars. Just like that. A sum that could rewrite lives, erase years of struggle, and make impossible dreams a reality. And he was offering it like it was a spare twenty bucks.I knew he had money, tons of it, but this... this was something else entirely. It wasn't just the amount; it was the casual
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-06A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 46: Silent Departures
Selena's POVThe last echo of Justin's shoes died away, leaving a thick, suffocating silence in the hallway. My hand, slightly sweaty and shaky, finally found the cold doorknob. Ugh, not this again. My stomach clenched, a familiar knot of dread twisting inside me. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to gather the scattered pieces of my composure. Just... just get through this. I took a shallow, shaky breath, and with a sigh that felt like it carried the weight of the world, I turned the handle. Here we go.The air inside was thick and heavy like something bad was about to happen. Mom was standing by the window, not even looking at me. Her back was totally stiff. I could tell she was mad."Mom?" I mumbled, my voice all shaky.She finally turned around, her eyes a bit squinty and her mouth in a tight line. I was waiting for her to yell, but she just stared at me, like she was holding back a volcano.Then, without saying anything, she walked to the door, stopped, and looked back at m
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-06A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 47: Unspoken Names, Unsettled Hearts
Selena's POVMy fingers, still a little unsteady, loosened their grip on the bouquet. I held my breath, tilting it, trying to decipher who had sent it. My eyes widened, and the breath I was holding escaped my lips.“Hailey,” I whispered, turning to her. “It’s addressed to you.”Hailey, who’d been leaning against the doorframe, her expression a mix of confusion and nonchalance. “To me?” She stepped forward, her eyebrows arching.“Seriously?”She took the card, her fingers tracing the written words. “Huh,” she murmured, her eyes scanning through the card. “Well, this’s… something.”She held the card up, turning it slightly, as if trying to see if there was a secret message hidden in the shadows.“Twenty-five roses,” she said, her lips curving into a small, almost amused smile. “Well someone’s got… taste.”I watched her, my eyebrows raising slightly. “Hailey, this is… weird, right? Who sends twenty-five roses anonymously?”She gave a little shrug, flipping the cream-colored card onto the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-07A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 48: Losing Control
Justin's POVThe rain was doing that stupid, repetitive thing, like someone drumming their fingers on the glass.My head felt like it was going to explode, and my chest was tight like someone had wrapped a rubber band around it. A few days ago, I had offered Selena’s mom twenty million dollars, trying to fix things, trying to make things right, so she wouldn’t bother Selena. And Selena just… blatantly refused.She wouldn't even let me help.The thought kept looping in my head. It was like a stuck record in my head, that same damn question on repeat. Why does she have to make everything so hard?I'd practically begged her, laid everything out, and she just... wouldn't listen. Like I was some kind of disease she needed to get rid of. And she wouldn't even give me a chance to explain ‘The Bella Thing.’ Not even a damn minute.The door swung open with a bang, and there she was, Mom. Her face was blank, cold. No trace of her usual smile. This was completely out of character. She never cam
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-07
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A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 64: The Descent
Selena's POVThe image of Justin, shirtless, Bella’s lipstick stains on his chest, burned behind my eyelids. He’d stormed into my apartment, a raging fire of accusations, only to be entangled with Bella moments later. Was his anger just a performance? A way to justify crawling back to her so easily? A bitter taste rose in my throat. Every time I let myself get close to him, my heart ended up shattered on the cold, hard floor. I had to stop this cycle.I ran each footfall in a desperate attempt to outpace the suffocating weight in my chest. As soon as I stumbled into the car, I choked out, "Drive. Now." But the need to escape wasn't just physical.Minutes into the ride, the city lights blurring into streaks of meaningless color, a wave of nausea washed over me. "Please stop the car," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper. I was trying so hard to stop the tears from falling.Michael’s gaze flickered in the rearview mirror, his brow furrowed with concern. "Stop the car," I practically
A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 63: Burning Bridges
Justin's POVI scrubbed at my eyes with the heel of my hand. Was I hallucinating? But the image was seared into my mind: Zayn had handed over a damn gift basket to be delivered to Selena and she had accepted. She wouldn’t even accept a penny from me. How long had this been going on? Had their connection never truly severed after that mess a while back? He’d practically vanished after locking eyes with me, like a guilty rat scurrying into the shadows. Every shade of red imaginable seemed to explode behind my eyelids. My instinct screamed to chase him, to ask why the heck he was delivering gifts to her. Instead, I fumbled for my phone, Jaden’s number a desperate lifeline. He was the only one who could possibly talk me down from doing something I’d regret.“Hey man,” Jaden’s voice, calm and steady, answered on the first ring.“You would not believe what I just saw,” I growled, my nostrils flaring with each ragged breath.“What happened, Justin?” Jaden asked, a note of wary curiosity
A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 62: Accusations and Backlash
Selena’s POV"You're invited to my housewarming." I read the note aloud, the words dripping with a forced cheerfulness that sent a shiver down my spine."Who the heck sends a mystery basket with a housewarming invitation?" I asked, closing the door with a sharp click and turning to Hailey, the basket feeling heavy and ominous in my hands.She practically teleported from the dining table, her footsteps quick and sharp against the tile floor as she yanked the basket from my hands. "How did they even know your favorite cookies and chocolates?" she mumbled, her fingers digging through the basket's contents, the rustling of cellophane and the faint, overly sweet scent of vanilla filling the air."The other day it was flowers, today it's goodies. I had no idea someone had even moved into this neighborhood," I hissed, eyeing the basket with suspicion. The brightly colored candies and perfectly arranged cookies felt like a taunt, a silent, unsettling message."I guess our secret admirers ar
A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 61: Shades and Doubts
Justin’s POVThe darkness of my bedroom felt heavy, like a suffocating blanket. I lay there, eyes wide, the day's events replaying in my mind like a broken record, the same scene looping over and over. Helping Selena with the eviction… should have been a relief, a weight lifted. Instead, it stirred a restless energy within me, a burning need to make her life better, to smooth out the rough edges,… without getting too close. Too close meant danger, a constant, gnawing fear, but not forever. I'd deal with the looming issue, and then I'd ask her out. My feelings for her were a force, a driving need, and I was determined to make her life better, to give her the peace she deserved.Then, the idea struck me, a sharp, clear solution. An interior design competition. Prestigious, high-profile. A platform to showcase her undeniable talent, and a substantial financial reward – a prize she would win, I knew it. Selena was a rockstar in the event planning world, a force of nature when she set
A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 60: Conflicting Signals
Selena's POV"Why is Zayn texting me?" Hailey asked, her brows furrowed, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and annoyance.I was a bit shocked. I hadn't realized Zayn had Hailey's number, and after our last encounter a while back, I hadn't expected to hear from him again."What does the text say?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.Hailey held up her phone, the screen glowing with the message. "Something about us being 'neighbors soon.' What the heck does that even mean?" she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of disgust.“Let me see.” I snatched the phone from her, my eyes scanning the cryptic message. "Eww, that’s creepy?" I squinted at the screen, the words blurring slightly. "I don't have time for any Zayn drama, Hails. Justin already warned him to stay away from me. I'm going to bed.""What about me then?" Hailey mock-yelled behind me, her voice laced with a playful panic. "Is he going to come after me?" She squealed, trying to stifle a laugh. "I'm blocking his ass right no
A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 59: A Reprieve and Lingering Questions
Selena's POV"You don't have to move anymore," Justin said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. "This apartment... it's no longer up for eviction."My brain got stuck, like an engine trying to start on a cold morning. First, what was this man doing in my apartment, looking impossibly handsome and smelling faintly of that expensive cologne that always did weird things to my pulse? And with Hailey, no less! I shot her a look that screamed, ‘You better have a damn good explanation for this,’ my eyes narrowed with suspicion."What do you mean, 'not up for eviction' anymore?" I finally managed to ask, my voice a shaky mix of confusion and disbelief. After we'd received the notice; there hadn't been any follow-up, no counter-notice, nothing to suggest a sudden reversal.Justin shifted slightly, the leather of his expensive jacket creaking softly. An unsettling smile touched his lips, a smile
A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 58: Acquisitions and Assurances
Justin's POV"Alright, gentlemen, let's cut to the chase," I snapped, my voice sharp and decisive, cutting through the static of the conference call. "We're not here to dance around figures. We're here to close this deal." The air in my study was thick with the tension of high stakes and negotiations. "I'm prepared to offer a premium, a significant one, but I need assurances. I need to know we can streamline the integration process, no delays." The stakeholders on the other end of the line shuffled papers, their voices a low hum of agreement. "Good. Then let's finalize the terms. My lawyers will send over the paperwork by EOD."The call ended with a collective sigh of relief, the tension dissipating like smoke. I was determined to acquire this tech company. It was a matter of principle, really. After I lost out on buying out Patel’s father's company because I had to be sure Selena was safe, I wasn't about to let another opportunity slip through my fingers. Especially not one Pat
A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 57: Evictions and Hums
Selena’s POV"Selena," Hailey practically shouted, her voice strained with a mix of disbelief and anger. "Want to take a wild guess what lovely 'gift' they plastered on our door?"I blinked slowly, my eyes still adjusting to the morning light. "Maybe... a flyer for a cat pageant?" I teased, trying for a light tone, but Hailey's face was a shade of crimson I'd only seen when she was about to explode."We've been served," she mumbled, her voice low and dangerous. "An eviction notice. We have a few days to get out.""Huh?" I choked out, my brain struggling to process the words. "But... how? We're not even late on rent."Hailey ran a hand through her hair. The movement is a bit frantic. "I really have to get to work," she mumbled, her eyes darting towards the clock."We'll talk about this later." And for the second time that morning, she was gone, slamming the door behind her with a force that rattled the walls.I walked to the door, my bare feet padding softly against the cold tile, and
A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 56: Unraveling Threads
Selena's POVHailey’s eyes widened, and she let out a sharp, almost panicked breath before yanking the phone away, her movements swift. “Nosy much,” she mumbled whilst trying to force an unconvincing smile.“Hails,” I whispered, trying to process what was going on, my eyes twitching slightly. “Is there something I should know that you’re not telling me?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.Hailey shifted her weight from one foot to another but still remained silent. “Hailey Claire Thompson,” I called out her full government name, my voice a bit louder this time. “Who texted you and what are you supposed to tell me that you haven’t?”“How are you sure you’re the one being referred to in the message?” she asked, her eyes scanning the entire room but my face."Don't play dumb," I said, my voice hardening. "You snatched the phone away like it was a live grenade. And you're acting weird. Really weird."She sighed a long, drawn-out sound that did nothing to ease the tension. "It's… it's a bit
