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Chapter 44: The Weight of Blood
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2025-04-05 23:31:22
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A 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 : 2025-04-07A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 49: The Hollow Aftermath
Selena’s POVMy bedroom was so quiet, it felt like the air itself was pressing down on me. I stared at the peeling paint on the ceiling, replaying his words, each one a sharp, jagged piece of glass. We weren’t even in a real relationship for crying out loud. What was he done with? Pretending?"I'm done trying to win you over, Selena." Done. Just like that. Like I was some kind of… chore he was finally finished with. My chest ached a deep, empty pain that spread through my arms and legs, making them feel heavy and numb. I curled up on my side, pulling my old blanket up to my chin, but I still felt cold. Not the kind you get from a sudden burst of wind, but the kind that settles deep inside, a cold, hard fear that I'd finally lost him. Not that I had him in the first place though.Was it all a show? The thought echoed in my head, a cruel, mocking laugh. Had he ever truly felt anything? Or was I just another game piece, another way for him to flex his control? I curled up tighter, te
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-08A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 50: The Potential Acquisition
Justin's POVThat damn phone, ringing like it was trying to drill into my skull, dragged me back from the mess of thoughts Jaden had stirred up about Selena. I answered, my thumb pressing the button, and just said, "Blanco," my voice rough, still carrying the weight of the earlier conversation."Mr. Blanco," a voice, low and strained, came through the static, a nervous buzz in my ear. "I... I have some information for you, sir. You might want to listen.""Cut the crap," I said, my voice impatient. "Who are you? And where are you calling from?""It's not important where," the voice stammered, fear creeping into their tone. "I just... I have something important." A shaky exhale followed, like they were bracing for something."Just tell me what you want," I said, my voice low, and impatient."There's... there's a situation," the voice mumbled, the words rushed like they were afraid of being cut off. "Don Paulo Group. They're in trouble.""Trouble?" I asked, my eyebrows going up, the an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-08A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 51: The Severance
Justin's POVMy phone lit up again, this time a text from an unknown number: "End this nonsense. It's getting hella ridiculous." I stared at the message, a flicker of annoyance crossing my face. "Some idiot," I muttered to Jaden, showing him the text and then deleting it immediately. "Probably a prank." Jaden shrugged, his eyes glistening in amusement. "Always someone trying to get your attention, huh? They can’t seem to get enough of you.”"Always," I said, my voice dismissive. "Let's go. The jet's waiting."We left Jaden's apartment, and just outside, idling at the curb was my car. My driver was waiting with the door open. We sank into the plush leather seats, the smell of polished leather filling the car. Just what I needed."Airport," I said, my voice curt. The driver nodded, and the car eased into the flow of traffic. The conversation turned to the deal, the potential fallout, and the moves I'd already mapped out. Jaden, though he was coming along, had that look, a slight cre
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-09A Night With Billionaire Playboy, Forever Trapped Chapter 52: The Silent Fracture
Selena's POVThe apartment's sitting room glowed softly, a warm contract against the storm raging outside. We were sprawled on the couch, a rom-com playing on TV, the kind with the ridiculously happy endings and predictable drama. My eyes, though, were glued to my phone, the screen flashing with a name I recognized instantly: Justin Blanco. My heart did that weird skip thing, a mix of dread and… something else. Something I didn’t want to admit."Ooh, mystery caller," Hailey teased, nudging my arm with her elbow. "Don't tell me it's that brooding billionaire calling to check up on you?"I tried to play it cool, giving Hailey a casual shrug, like it was no big deal. "Probably just work," I mumbled, but my fingers were already betraying me, tapping the answer button way too fast. My stomach did a little flip. I turned away from Hailey, trying to give myself a tiny bit of privacy as I walked towards my bedroom. Hello… hello Justin?" I spoke into the phone, my voice, a bit tense. "Se
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-09
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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
