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Noah's POVI still couldn't wrap my head around why Racheal would decide to drag this on. **I would make her succumb!** I whispered to myself, fidgeting with the silver ring that lay on my finger, the cold metal grounding me amid the chaos in my mind.“...that’s only if she still loves you, Noah. What you did is unjustified, and you should focus on how to soften her heart, not how to worsen the situation,” Mike said, his tone even, but the words hit me like a punch to the gut.I met Mike's gaze and felt a pang of guilt developing in me. What he said was a bitter truth that I didn't want to admit. “Wait...” I squinted my eyebrows, my voice sharper than intended. “Are you supporting me or her?”“Mr. Gordon, stop being childish and face the reality of the consequences of your actions,” Mike replied, his tone firm.Avoiding the topic, I shifted gears. “What has Kim been doing these days? Any news?”“Still her daily routine, which looks normal to me. From the hospital to home to friends s
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Betrothed 135
Bella's POV“Bella! You are going to be late for work!” My mom's voice erupted, shaking the particles in the air and making the room vibrate with urgency.My busy hands, which had been diligently applying lipstick, slipped, smudging the color across my cheek. It was then that I realized I was being a bit excessive. “What’s wrong with you... since when did your physical appearance matter?” I shrugged off the thought, chuckling to myself. I quickly wiped the smudge away, leaving my lips bare as they had always been. I crossed my arms and checked my appearance one last time in the standing mirror, doing a slow circle to inspect every detail. Satisfied, I straightened the long pencil skirt that hugged my hips, tucking my well-ironed lilac silk shirt neatly into it. After slipping on the teardrop earrings my mom had gifted me for my twentieth birthday, I decided to let my hair fall loose today instead of tying it back. The ponytail always made me look too serious, and I needed a hint of s
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Betrothed 136
Noah's POV.I felt so devastated by the overwhelming news I received from Rayla.I thought I was ready to face Rachael's punishment head-on since I know my actions warrant it but it's becoming overbearing and I don't think I can handle it. This is the fourth night since we came back from honeymoon and she has refused to stay with me here in my apartment and I thought I could turn out wrong.It seemed I wasn't fit enough to arrange any crumble or fix any other relationship when mine was just a few inches away from ruin.I left for the office immediately and left Rayla's office but Mike insisted I needed rest and should go home to rest instead leaving me in a confused state whether he knew of my disappearance or not because he wasn't giving any expression to confirm that.He noticed my weariness and found it unnecessary to ask what had gone wrong and I appreciate that he didn't press me for an answer.I was in the same position I was when I came in yesterday, what only differentiated my
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Betrothed 137
NOAH'S POVI woke up to the light illuminating the room, indicating it was morning already. My eyes caught the wall clock displaying 12:30 in the afternoon, and I gasped in shock. Panic surged through me, especially since I still felt a little weak. I jumped off my feet, trying to get dressed for the day. Responsibilities awaited me at the office, research to tackle, and I had to find time to call Kelvin.As I checked around for my belongings, I found the house empty. “Why hasn’t Mike woken me up?” I muttered under my breath, startled when Mrs. Eva, my butler, appeared in the doorway.She chuckled lightly at my reaction. “Why do you all take pleasure in scaring me to my bones?”“Sorry, Mrs. Eva. I didn’t mean to scare you,” I replied, rubbing my eyes to shake off the remnants of sleep.“It’s okay… I need to get to the office today, and I might be late,” I said, urgency creeping into my voice.“I’m sorry, but your assistant instructed me not to let you leave until you’re fit enough. Yo
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Betrothed 138
NOAH'S POVThe moment I opened my car door and settled in, resting my head against the headboard, the headache returned with a vengeance. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the world while waiting for Mike until my phone started to buzz, jolting me back to reality. I glanced at the screen, my heart racing at the sight of Racheal's private number flashing before me. A wave of delight surged through me, but it was quickly tempered by a sharp stab of fear. What if she was calling to discuss the divorce papers? The thought sent shivers down my spine.After a long moment of contemplation, I took a deep breath and answered the call. As I pressed the phone to my ear, I was immediately met with the sweet, innocent voice of my daughter. “Daddy! I missed you!” Ariella exclaimed, her excitement palpable even through the phone. My heart swelled at the sound of her voice. “I missed you too, sweetheart. How’s everything?”“Oh, Daddy! Mom won’t let me have ice cream until I finish my homework!”
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Betrothed 139
Racheal's POVI felt exhausted, and going through Noah's nagging again was something I had zero energy for. I was tired of the constant back and forth in this relationship. We had never lived like a normal couple, and the heaviness in my heart was becoming too much to bear.After work and picking Ariella up from school, I decided to crash at my apartment instead of going to Sophia's. Being there only made me feel guilty, and I had no plans to share every little detail I was uncovering about Noah. It felt unfair to burden her with my turmoil, so I chose the solitude of my apartment for the night. Thankfully, she didn’t mind.“If that’s what you want, who am I to stop you?” was her response, and a tinge of sadness loomed around me as she embraced me. I craved that embrace, just as much as I craved Noah’s presence.Fighting and struggling were not my things; I found them stressful and draining. But what was I to do? Every time I considered moving on, another piece of evidence against Noa
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Betrothed 140
Racheal's POV “What do you want, Noah?” I enunciated the words sharply, though not rude—just enough to express my impatience.I was about to dig into my work when I heard a beep at the door. Ariella was too focused on her assignment, so I lazily dragged myself off the couch to see who it was. I wouldn’t lie if I said I wasn’t surprised to see Noah at my doorstep. I hated that I always lost my composure whenever he was involved, except during a crisis. This was the third time I had asked him what he wanted to talk about, and I was tired of going back and forth.He looked unwell and stressed out as if he had rushed here. Wait—“Did Ariella… oh Lord,” I bit my lip as the realization hit me. I was only about 60% sure that Ariella had made him come here, but that 40% uncertainty nagged at me.I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice Noah stepping closer until he wrapped his arms around me. His beard had grown longer than before. I knew Noah was a clean freak, but looking at him like
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Betrothed 141
Noah's POVI couldn’t remember the last time I slept this peacefully. A smile crept onto my lips as memories of last night flooded back to me. Perhaps that was what gave me this newfound energy—or maybe it was simply knowing that Racheal was willing to give me a second chance.I tried not to dwell on the negatives and instead let everything flow naturally. “If you’ve woken up, just stand up and go freshen up. Ariella is dying to meet you right now. It took me an ounce of my energy to keep her still,” Rachael’s delicate voice broke the morning silence, pulling me from my thoughts. I focused my gaze on her fragile, smooth face.It seemed she hadn’t been giving herself much attention lately; her hair looked a bit unkempt. “You can stand up if you’re done staring!” she teased, standing from the sofa adjacent to my bed.She looked like she had just finished working out, her outfit alluring—a black bralette exposing her navel paired with snug joggers that accentuated her curves. I felt b
Last Updated : 2024-12-29
Latest chapter
Betrothed 202
Noah's POVOne week later...I stood beside Racheal, who was propped up on the hospital bed, still struggling to fully recover. The sterile scent of antiseptic hung in the air, but it was the sight of her fragile form that gripped my heart. Kelvin and Bella had flown back to New Coastal two days ago, insisting on leaving after Racheal woke up. Their departure felt like a hollow echo of the chaos that had consumed us.Juliet was locked away, and sentenced to life imprisonment. I made sure of that. She deserved every bit of it. A maniac like her wasn’t meant to walk among the living.As I watched Racheal adjust herself, attempting to sit upright, I instinctively reached out to help her. But she slapped my hand away with a surprising force. The sting of her rejection hit me like a cold wave. She had done the same thing when she first woke up, and it scared the hell out of me. I rushed to the doctor, fearing she was suffering from amnesia, but my worries eased when he assured me she had b
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Kelvin's POV"You left us, remember? You gave us hope, Ana! You let us all believe you would come back! We waited for you, Ana. I waited. Mom waited... You broke your promise! You broke your fucking promise because of your selfish interest, your lust for revenge!"I pulled Bella into an embrace, which she calmly accepted. Juliet, whom I now realized was Anabella, had recently been caught at the same tournament Bella had described. She had a lot on her mind and plenty of tools at hand. If not for Bella, we would still be in the dark; no one would have thought that this old tournament, long neglected, would be used to commit such a devious act.Just two days ago, Bella had been crying in my arms. So much was uncovered—so much I hadn’t expected at all.After coming to terms with the fact that Bella was Juliet's younger sister, it occurred to me that Juliet wasn't who we thought she was. Her initial aim in entering R.A. was to cause harm to the Houston family. As she had said moments ago,
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Kelvin's POVI was on the brink of tears the moment I set my eyes on Kim. The fact that she was breathing with the aid of oxygen wasn't enough; she was hooked up to a life-support machine. I felt a flicker of irritation that Noah had signed the forced labor consent form, but perhaps I was wrong—maybe that was the best decision.Bella had a tough time going back to sleep after mentioning a random name that only gave me a hint amidst the shattered debris of my thoughts. I tried not to force any conversation on her, at least keeping my promise to Noah until she opened up. Until then, I remained silent.We couldn't go into the ward, so we decided to stay back, looking through the transparent glass that separated us from the lobby lawn. Bella couldn't control her tears anymore; I had been hearing her trying to stifle the sobs since we arrived. Her soft gasps said it all. It made me reflect on my decision to stay outside; I didn’t think I could keep my emotions in check once we entered.Lin
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Kelvin's POVI couldn't believe I had given in to my lust once more. The last time something like this happened, I apologized and vowed it would never repeat itself. Now, as I sifted through the files Noah sent me, I still struggled to admit that Juliet and Bella might be sisters. Our alliance was built on a shared goal, and the last time we had met like this was to reveal the truth behind RA. Now, we were here because of Racheal, but my purpose was to uncover Juliet's identity.*I didn’t start this relationship on a clean slate just to end it because of a culprit sharing her blood.*“You seem early!” Noah remarked, his voice laced with sarcasm.“And you seem late,” I shot back, eyeing him. He looked lean and disheveled, a total mess compared to the Noah I knew.“Is she with you?” he asked.“Why would I bring her with me?” I replied, my irritation rising.“You have no reason to call me here, then—”“What makes you think they’re related? Even if they are, I doubt she knows about her ex
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Bella's POVEvery part of my body ached from the journey, and I could barely feel my legs. But it was worth it. It had been a long time coming—discussing the idea of flying down here to visit Kelvin's parents. He had been overly protective, worrying I wasn’t ready for this. Yet, here we were, on our way to meet both my idol and his parents. The former excited me; the latter filled me with dread.Kelvin noticed my uneasiness and pulled me into an embrace, planting a soft kiss on my forehead—a gesture I had grown so accustomed to. We had just landed, and as we headed to the lobby, I spotted Kelvin shaking hands with someone I didn’t recognize. Others bowed slightly to him, showing their respect.*What should I expect?* I thought. *He is one of the youngest renowned businessmen, linking a channel between New York and the USA is no small feat.* I mustered a smile for those who acknowledged me.We would head home before leaving early to visit Racheal in the hospital. My gaze was caught in
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Kelvin's POVI had barely settled back into my office when the news hit me like a freight train. Rachael had been in an accident? My heart sank as I slumped into my chair, the weight of the world crashing down around me. I had just returned, hoping to find some semblance of normalcy, when everything spiraled out of control again.“Kelvin, are you okay?” Bella asked, moving toward my chair, her eyes scanning my face for any sign of reassurance.“No, not really,” I replied, rubbing my temples to ease the pounding in my head. She could see how close I was to Racheal, and I knew she understood my worries. “Rachael is in critical condition. I need to get down to New York,” I added, my voice strained.“Do you want me to come with you?” she offered, concern lacing her tone. I hesitated for a moment, the urgency of the situation clashing with my instincts to protect her. “No, I’ll travel alone,” I said, pushing myself to my feet. I grabbed my phone and shot a quick message to my secretary,
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Kim's POVI could remember feeling utterly drained when I returned home, free from Kelvin's silence, the weight of everything pressing heavily on my shoulders. My parents welcomed me with open arms, their warmth almost overwhelming. My dad, who had been distant for so long, embraced me tightly. The love in that moment nearly brought me to tears.“Kim, we’ve missed you so much,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve missed you too, Dad,” I replied, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. It was a bittersweet reunion, knowing what lay ahead. I wasn't expecting such a reaction from my dad and hearing how he missed me made me feel like I was close to my endThe last time I went to the clinic for a check-up, I had received the results I had dreaded. I had known, deep down, that choosing to keep the baby while battling cancer was a gamble. The odds were stacked against me, and I felt the looming shadow of my mortality.My mom had sensed something was wrong, even when I tried to keep
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Racheal's POVI couldn't take Noah's silence anymore. It was suffocating me, and it was terrible for Ariella to witness all of this. My heart raced as I stormed into Noah's study, furious and desperate for answers. My hands trembled with anger and confusion as I stumbled upon a collection of files and documents, all centered around Juliet.I picked up every picture I could find. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at the images of Juliet and her family. There was one of a man smiling lovingly at a woman—Juliet's parents, I realized. The man’s coat struck a chord in my memory, though I couldn't pinpoint why it seemed so familiar. As I traced the photos, my eyes fell on a little girl who looked strikingly like Juliet. It had to be her sister. A shiver ran down my spine as I pieced together the fragments of my discovery. But then, my gaze landed on a guillotine with a body labeled "XAVIER'S." My heart dropped. I was about to open it when Noah’s voice shattered the silence.“You're
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Kelvin's POVThe air between us hung heavy with unspoken words. I could see Bella processing everything I had just said, her brow furrowed in thought. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to bridge the gap that had grown between us.“Kelvin, I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me sooner. I could have helped you,” she said, her voice steady but filled with a hint of disappointment. “I thought I was protecting you,” I replied, my frustration mixing with regret. “I didn’t want you to be dragged into the chaos of my life. But now, I realize that keeping you in the dark only hurt us both.”She fell silent, staring at the ground as if searching for answers in the cracks of the pavement. I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but I hesitated, unsure if she would welcome my touch again.“Do you think this is something I could just forget?” she finally asked, her voice breaking slightly. “You made me feel like I was special, and then you pulled the rug out from under me.”
