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2024-11-29 19:21:36
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Betrothed 45
Rachel's Pov.The car was parked just outside the concert hall, its sleek black frame gleaming under the lights. The plate read "RA LAVANTADO" in bold letters, a name everyone in the fashion world recognized. But not the woman behind it, at least, not yet. I sat in the backseat, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, my heart racing. I wasn’t sure if it was from the excitement or the nerves. Maybe a bit of both."Are you sure you’re ready for this?" Rayla asked, her voice breaking the silence. She was sitting in the passenger seat, her head turned back towards me. The concern in her eyes was almost enough to make me reconsider."You’ve been working for this moment for years," Sophia added quickly as if she could sense my hesitation. "You’re not backing out now, right?"I took a deep breath and forced a smile, though it felt weak. "I’m ready," I said, my voice steady even if my heart wasn’t. "I have to be."I glanced out the window, seeing the entrance to the gala buzzing with people dre
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Betrothed 46
Noah's POV"Rachel Houston," Juliet’s voice echoed through the room, calm but ringing with finality. The moment she said it, I felt like the air had been sucked out of my lungs. Rachel Houston, the woman behind RA Lavantado, the brand everyone had been talking about for years. How could this be possible? Rachel, of all people? The same Rachel who had been a ghost since that one night, the same Rachel I had thought was out of my life forever, was now standing before everyone as a global fashion icon. I felt like my legs were about to move on their own to the stage, I needed to see her more clearly, to take in every detail that could confirm this was happening. She stood there, tall and poised, in a fitted black dress that clung to every curve of her body. Her hair cascaded down her back in smooth waves, and the light caught a hint of gold in it. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. My gaze roamed over her body, worshipping every curve—her full hips, narrow waist, and the soft swell
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Betrothed 47
Noah's POVRayla was the first person to move closer to me, but my attention was drawn to a black car speeding away. A white car drove past us as Rayla asked for my assistance to help her inside, and I immediately responded. I noticed beads of sweat forming on Kelvin's temple, but we all chose to ignore any minor distractions that could take our focus away from the reality unfolding around us.I still couldn't believe what I was witnessing; everything was happening so fast. It all started with Racheal revealing herself just as I was finally adjusting to the realization that she was the one I had been dreaming of all along. She had been the one distracting me, making all the other girls seem less appealing.Reporters buzzed outside the private hospital, reporting on the situation that had just unfolded. Different companies were putting out various stories. I was confused about how I should be feeling. I wouldn't deny that I loved Rayla, but Racheal's presence complicated things entirel
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Betrothed 48
SOPHIA'S POVThe sunlight streamed through the hospital window, casting a warm glow over the sterile room. It was a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions churning inside Sophia. She stood by the window, her gaze fixed on the city awakening from its slumber, the bustling streets below a reminder of life moving forward. Yet, at this moment, time felt suspended. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind like a broken record, each scene etched with crystal clarity. Ariella’s peaceful face, relaxed in sleep, filled Sophia with a mix of relief and anxiety. Her daughter was safe, at least for now. But how would Ariella process the trauma she had witnessed? The image of Rachel's collapse, blood staining her dress, haunted Sophia like a specter. Had they made a grave mistake by encouraging Rachel to reveal herself? The burden of that decision weighed heavily on her conscience, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that settled in her stomach.Rayla’s voice broke the sile
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Betrothed 49
Kevin's POVThe hospital lights were too bright, too sterile. They hummed softly, cutting through the silence in the hallway. I was used to waiting, but this felt different. There was an unease sitting heavy in my chest, and I couldn’t shake it off. I hadn’t wanted to come here, not after everything, but there was no other option. I had to be here. I just didn’t know why.I leaned against the wall, staring at the floor as my mind kept replaying the moment Rachel collapsed. The sound of the gunshot still echoed in my head, like it had happened in slow motion. I hadn’t moved at first, frozen by the shock of it, but then I reacted, pushing through the crowd toward her. But the damage had been done by then. The shot wasn’t meant for her, I knew that much but it didn’t change the fact that it hit her.I hadn’t spoken to Kim since we arrived at the hospital. The car ride had been suffocating, both of us sitting in complete silence. She hadn’t even looked at me when I said I was going, and I
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Betrothed 50
Kayla's POVIt has been a week since the incident, a week since I have set my eyes on Racheal.....I mean the alive one which means it has been a week till Ariella has last played or even cheered up with anyone.She seemed so strong even when she wouldn't play, but she has decided to live past but on one condition: She would have to go to the and say a few words, then take her leave.Seemed she was right when she requested not to be called a child.Things haven't been working great well between Noah and me. There has been more distance between us than before.I knew he saw me as a stranger before I was just an accomplice, but right now, it has worsened." Good morning Noah!" I greeted softly on reaching the office.He found a way to schedule his office work at Gordon's and likewise here as well. Yeah, with the gala concert, our fashion company has greatly been recognized, and even with Racheal not being around, her stores were still doing extremely great. Well, that was because it has
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Betrothed 51
Rayla's & NoahOur trip to the hospital was far from what I expected...Funny, I couldn't believe I was expecting a free-flow conversation between I and Noah based on what we shared this morning." I suck," I mumbled." Did you just say I suck?" Noah asked me with a knitted brow his eyes focused on the road.He insisted we go by his car, which I counted as a showoff, though, because he was using the latest Benz I have been dreaming of having.If all this hadn't happened, I was planning on telling Racheal to get me one as a birthday present since my twentieth birthday was just around the corner.Yeah, my physique is completely a hell no for my age. I don't know my dad, Mom said he died when I was still young but I knew I took my mom's look." Is you drifting on and off also part of your secret thing?" This man is far older than me, but the way he thinks and talks sometimes always gets on my nerves.If not for the guilt thing, I would have spouted out my sassy usual response I have well
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Betrothed 52
Noah's POV.I thought Kim was weird until I met Rayla. The lady with so many secrets that she wouldn't even budge to share.I could only stare at the sleeping Racheal while pondering on everything I had gone through before getting here." I don't know how and where you met Rayla, but she is such a pain in the ass," I found myself rambling.I shove my hands in my side pocket while pacing the room, staring at the lying figure before me." You amazed me RA" I hissed in frustration with the arousal I felt down there with just a sound of RA.I almost lashed out at the lying figure." You have a lot of things to do, clenched my hands into a fist- you have to take responsibility for all the sleepless nights you caused me because right now, you still have that effect on me," I whispered to her while leaning by the bedside." I am not sure if I have forgiven you for what you've done or not, but we will see to that once you wake, so let's do ourselves a favor and wake up."......I said while tak
Last Updated : 2024-12-05
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
Betrothed 201
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,
Betrothed 200
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
Betrothed 198
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
Betrothed 197
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,
Betrothed 196
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
Betrothed 194
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.”
