MasukShare
Chapter 39 Pressure Point
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-17 11:24:00
Bab terkait
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 40 Going Under
(Lila)I sat propped up in bed while everyone argued around me. Alexander paced by the window, his suit jacket thrown over a chair. Ethan leaned against the wall, running his hands through his hair so much it stood on end. Only Nick remained steady, perched on the edge of my mattress with his hand on my knee.“She can’t just threaten us like this,” Alexander snapped, turning sharply. “We’re Montgomeries. We don’t bow to blackmail.”“This isn’t about family pride,” Ethan pushed off the wall. “This is about protecting my child. If Grace exposes everything…”“What exactly would she expose?” Alexander rounded on him. “That you got my sister pregnant then abandoned her for your ex?”“I didn’t abandon anyone!”“Stop it,” Nick cut in. “Fighting won’t help.”I pressed my hands to my temples as they continued arguing. The doctor had ordered bed rest, but stress radiated through the entire room, unavoidable.“We could try buying her off,” Alexander suggested.“She doesn’t want money,” I said qu
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 41 Underneath
(Nick)The reporters swarmed outside my building like vultures. Through the penthouse windows, I watched them jostle for position, cameras ready. Their shouted questions could be heard even forty floors up.“Mr. Baldwin! Any comment on the pregnancy?”“Is it true you’ll be raising your nephew’s child?”“How does Grace Williams factor into this?”I turned away from the windows to find Lila propped up in our bed, scrolling through her phone with shaking hands.“Stop reading that trash,” I said, taking her phone gently. “Doctor said no stress.”“Have you seen what they’re saying?” Her voice cracked. “The pictures they dug up…”“Hey.” I sat beside her, pulling her close. “Let me handle the press.”“But—”“No buts.” I kissed her temple. “Your only job is taking care of yourself and this baby.”James padded in, still in his dinosaur pajamas. “Uncle Nick? The TV people are saying mean things about Lila.”“Come here, buddy.” I patted the bed. He crawled up carefully, mindful of Lila’s stomach
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 42 Connections
(Lila)I sat at the long dining table in the Baldwin mansion, watching James teach Ethan the “proper” way to arrange peas on his plate.“See, Dad? If you make a circle, none of them can escape!”“Very strategic, sport.” Ethan helped him corral a runaway pea. “Where’d you learn that?”“Nick showed me.” James beamed. “He says food tastes better when it’s organized.”Nick’s hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently. The gesture should have comforted me, but something in his grip felt too tight.Ethan’s mother clinked her wine glass. “I just got off the phone with Grace’s facility. She’s…” She glanced at James. “Settling in well.”After her outburst in court, Grace had been taken to a mental health and drug rehab facility.“When can I get my toys from her house?” James asked suddenly.The table went quiet. Ethan set down his fork. “Baby, we talked about this. Mom needs time to…”“But I want my dinosaur book.” James pushed his peas around. “The one Grandma gave me before she died.”
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 43 The Green-Eyed Monster
(Nick)The hospital lights made everything look sickly. I paced outside Lila’s room while doctors tried to stop her labor, my shoes leaving scuff marks on their clean floor.“Mr. Baldwin?” A nurse approached. “We’ve stabilized her contractions for now.”“Can I see her?”“She’s resting. And Mr. Ethan Baldwin is already—”“What?” I pushed past her. Through the window, I saw Ethan sitting beside Lila’s bed, his hand covering hers on her stomach. My stomach twisted.“It’s his baby,” the nurse said gently. “He has a right—”“I know whose baby it is.”Thanks to my nephew’s ex, now the whole world knew about our private matters.Ethan looked up, catching my eye through the glass. He said something to Lila before coming out.“The medication’s working,” he said. “Labor’s stopped for now.”“Good. You can go then.”“Nick—”“James needs you more than we do.”“He’s with my parents.” Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “Threw a fit about staying, but I convinced him Lila needs quiet.”“Still don’t s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 44 All The Secrets
(Lila)The monitors finally stopped screaming. My heart rate settled into a steady rhythm as doctors stepped back, nodding with satisfaction.“Both mother and baby are stable,” Dr. Pitt announced, checking the ultrasound screen. “Though—” She paused, squinting at the image.“What?” Nick moved closer, his body tense. “What’s wrong?”“Nothing’s wrong.” Dr. Pitt smiled. “Your daughter is just being particularly photogenic today.”My breath caught. “Daughter?”“I thought you wanted to wait,” Ethan said from the corner.“We did, but…” I pressed my hand to my stomach. “A girl.”Nick’s fingers threaded through mine, but something felt off in his grip. He’d positioned himself between me and the medical team, watching each movement like he expected an attack.“I’ll want to keep you overnight for observation,” Dr. Pitt said, reaching for my chart.Nick intercepted her. “I want to see your credentials again.”“Nick!” I tugged his hand. “She’s been my doctor for months.”“People lie.” His eyes da
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 45 Guests
(Lila)I shifted uncomfortably against the mountain of pillows in our bed, trying to maintain a dignified position while everyone crowded around for this bizarre family dinner in our bedroom. The doctor’s orders for complete bed rest had turned my quarters into a dining room, with makeshift TV trays and chairs scattered around my massive bed.“Can I sit next to Lila?” James bounced on his toes by my bedside. “I want to tell the baby about my new book!”“Careful—” Nick and Ethan spoke at the same time, then locked eyes across the room. They both looked like they were about to lose it.“Come here, sweetheart.” I patted the space beside me before they could start arguing. “Tell me all about this book.”James scrambled up, mindful of my stomach. “It’s about space! Did you know Jupiter has seventy-nine moons? That’s like, so many names we could use for the baby!”“Absolutely not,” Old Mr. Baldwin grumbled from his armchair. “No granddaughter of mine will be named after a moon.”“What about
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-22Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 46 Buried Secrets
(Nick)“Let’s move to the living room,” I said, helping Lila into her wheelchair. She’d insisted on getting out of bed for this conversation, despite my protests.Thompson brought extra chairs as everyone settled in. James curled up next to Lila on the couch while Ethan paced by the windows. Alexander hadn’t moved from Romy’s side since they arrived.“Start from the beginning,” my father demanded, gulping down all his scotch. “What about Grace?”Romy sat perched on the edge of an armchair, her hands clasped tight in her lap. “I met Grace when we were both modeling. She was eighteen, already dating Ethan. I was with Alexander.”Her eyes swept to him before dropping back to her hands. “At first, she seemed sweet. Vulnerable. But there were…incidents.”“What kind of incidents?” Ethan stopped pacing. Romy twisted her hands like she used to do with her wedding ring, but she was no longer wearing it.“Little things at first. A model would get sick before a big shoot that Grace wanted. Someo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-22Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 47 Playing the Game
(Grace)I lay on my satin sheets in the luxury rehab suite, staring at the ceiling as I waited for the evening group therapy to begin. My silk robe swished as I shifted.Anyone would think I had wandered into rehab straight from a five-star hotel!A knock on my door. “Ms. Williams? Group starts in five minutes.”“Coming,” I called, dabbing concealer under my eyes. Just enough to look tired but dignified. Broken but beautiful.The therapy room smelled like coffee, and nothing says rock bottom like bad coffee and broken dreams. I settled into my usual armchair, arranging my robe just so.A new patient—some washed-up actress—openly stared at my Cartier bracelet.“Grace, would you like to start?” Dr. Sanders smiled encouragingly. “You mentioned wanting to discuss your progress.”I pulled out a tissue from my purse, letting my hand shake just so. “I just…I miss my son so much. Every day without him feels like torture.”“Tell us more about that pain.”“James is my whole world.” I twisted th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-22
Bab terbaru
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 120 Deep Cover
(Lila)The next several hours involved intense preparation. The FBI’s cyber team created an elaborate digital trap—a seemingly vulnerable server containing therapeutic records, family communications, and security protocols.Each document had been chosen to appear genuine while containing subtle markers that would help trace anyone who accessed them.“The honeypot is live,” the lead technician announced finally. “Already detecting preliminary probes of the security perimeter.”“That was fast,” Nick remarked.“They’ve been waiting for an opening,” Grace said, watching the technical displays. “This fits their established pattern—continuous surveillance for exploitable weaknesses.”Carter joined us, tablet in hand. “Now we wait for them to commit to the intrusion. Once they begin extracting data in earnest, we’ll have multiple tracing options.”“How long?” Alexander asked.“Depends on their caution level,” the technician replied. “Could be hours. Could be days.”But it wasn’t hours or day
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 119 The Honeypot
(Lila)Fleur’s laughter rang through the room as we all stared, bewildered, at the crib. I rushed over, scooping her into my arms, frantically checking for any sign of distress. She only giggled harder, reaching for my face.“What did he do?” I demanded, turning to the others.Nick was already beside us, his hands gently examining Fleur. “Nothing, as far as I can tell. She seems perfectly fine.”On the screen, Krane smiled. “Fascinating, isn’t it? The expectation of pain creates more fear than pain itself. You’ve just experienced the fundamental principle of fear architecture—the anticipation is the weapon, not the event.”“Shut it off,” I hissed at the technicians.“No, wait,” Carter countered, signaling them to continue tracing. “We need to keep him talking.”Krane continued as if he could hear our debate. “You believe you’ve reclaimed your narrative, Lila. That by confronting your trauma, you’ve disarmed it. But fear isn’t rational. It lives in the space between threat and action—t
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 118 Psychological Warfare
(Lila)“James is fine,” Ethan’s voice came through the phone, tight with fear. “We’ve tripled his security detail. Nobody’s getting near him.”“You’re sure?” I pressed, pacing the hotel suite.“I’m with him right now,” Ethan assured me. “Playing video games with two armed agents in the room.”After Krane’s message, we’d immediately verified everyone’s safety. Ethan and Cara had James at a separate secure location. Romy remained under Alexander’s protective detail at yet another facility. Nick and Ethan’s parents were overseas, surrounded by private security. My parents were downstairs.“They’re trying to destabilize us,” Carter explained as I ended the call. “Classic psychological warfare—implying vulnerability without actually demonstrating it.”“Like the basement,” I murmured, the memory rising unbidden.Nick looked up sharply. “What?”“In the basement, twenty years ago.” I sank into a chair, Fleur sleeping in my arms. “They never actually hurt us physically. They just made us belie
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 117 Counter-Surveillance
(Lila)I pressed my back against the headboard of the hotel bed, watching Fleur sleep in the portable crib the FBI had arranged. After three days in this new, supposedly secure hotel, I still jumped at every sound, checked every corner.The suite door opened as Nick and Alexander returned from their latest security briefing. Nick crossed immediately to Fleur’s crib, his shoulders finally relaxing when he saw her sleeping peacefully.“Any news?” I asked quietly.“We’ve identified three more Sterling operatives,” Nick replied, sinking onto the edge of the bed. “Two hotel employees at our previous location and a driver from my company.”“Grace confirmed all three,” Alexander added, loosening his tie. “Her intel has been solid.”The past seventy-two hours had transformed our situation. After Grace’s revelation, the FBI had moved us to a military-grade secure facility disguised as a boutique hotel. Grace had been debriefed continuously, identifying Sterling’s people and methodologies in de
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 116 Grace’s Insight
(Lila)Fleur’s screams tore through me as I clutched her against my chest. Her tiny body shook violently, her eyes wild with a terror no baby should ever know.“Make it stop!” I pleaded, rocking her desperately. “What’s happening to her?”The FBI agents swarmed around us, checking equipment, scanning for signals, searching for whatever had triggered my daughter’s sudden panic.“Sonic frequency,” Grace said suddenly from her corner of the hotel suite. She’d been so quiet I’d almost forgotten she was there. Now she stood, walking toward us. “Robert used it on his targets. Infrasound—you can’t hear it, but it creates terror, panic.”“Shut down all devices,” Agent Carter ordered the room sharply. “Now!”Nick yanked cords from walls while agents deactivated equipment. Fleur’s screams gradually subsided, replaced by hiccupping sobs against my shoulder.“How did you know?” I asked Grace shakily.“Robert loved psychological weapons,” she replied, watching Fleur with genuine concern. “Said inf
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 115 Walls of Silence
(Nick)Jonathan Montgomery froze at the accusation as its poison spread through the room. He sat on the hotel suite sofa, looking suddenly older and more vulnerable than I’d ever seen him.“Dad?” Lila prompted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Is it true? Did you know Victor Krane before the kidnapping?”Jonathan stared at his hands. “Not as Krane. He used a different name then—Vincent Kemp. Security consultant specializing in executive protection.”I swore violently, turning away to control my rage. Ethan remained perfectly still, his face blank with disbelief.“You brought him into our lives?” Ethan asked finally, gritted his teeth between words.“He came highly recommended,” Jonathan replied weakly. “Multiple endorsements from colleagues in the industry. Impressive credentials.”“And he suggested Blackwood’s services,” Alexander stated flatly. “Connected you.”Jonathan nodded miserably. “Said Blackwood was the best in the business. Discrete, thorough. I had no idea they were work
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 114 Victor Krane
(Nick)The elevator descended to the hotel lobby in silence. I stood with Ethan, Carter and two armed agents, leaving Alexander to protect Lila and Fleur in the secure suite. The phone connection with Blackwood had ended abruptly after Malcolm Chambers’ arrival was announced.“This is obviously a trap,” Ethan muttered, adjusting his jacket nervously.“Of course it is,” I agreed tightly. “But if Chambers is here in person, it’s our best opportunity to end this.”Carter checked her sidearm discreetly. “Remember, we need him alive and talking. He’s our direct link to Blackwood and Krane.”The elevator doors opened to reveal a transformed hotel lobby. Most civilians had been evacuated, replaced by FBI agents positioned strategically throughout the space.In the center, sitting calmly in a leather armchair as if waiting for a business meeting, was a man in his late forties with salt-and-pepper hair and expensive glasses.“Malcolm Chambers, I presume,” I said coldly as we approached.The ma
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 113 The Client List
(Nick)The voice on Lila’s phone continued smoothly. “Your father commissioned quite an elaborate project. ‘Generational intervention’ was the term he preferred.”“Who is this?” I demanded, moving to Lila’s side.“Ah, Nicholas Baldwin,” the voice acknowledged. “The man who built an empire on another man’s grave. How fitting that we should all converge now.”“Kenneth Blackwood,” Carter said into the phone, taking control of the situation. “This is Special Agent Carter, FBI. We’ve located your Connecticut property. Your archives are now in federal custody.”A pause, then a soft laugh. “Merely one of many repositories, Agent Carter. Though I’m impressed you found it. Your reputation is well-deserved.”Jonathan lunged for the phone. “Blackwood! Tell them the truth, damn you! I never hired you to take my daughter!”“Semantics, Jonathan,” Blackwood replied dismissively. “You paid for a comprehensive fear architecture program. The specific methodologies were left to our discretion.”“You’re
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 112 Blackwood’s Shadow
(Nick)“They can’t possibly be watching us here,” Lila insisted, as FBI agents swept the hotel room for surveillance devices. “We’re under federal protection.”I paced the perimeter, checking every corner, every vent, every light fixture. “We thought our homes were secure too.”Grace huddled in an armchair, watching the activity. Since the coordinated attacks had begun, she’d remained mostly silent, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.“Grace,” Agent Carter approached her directly. “We need everything you know about Kenneth Blackwood.”Grace looked up, startled. “I told you what Robert said—”“Not enough,” I interrupted sharply. “They’re targeting our children. If you know anything else, anything at all…”“I-I might,” Grace admitted reluctantly. “I didn’t think it was important before.”Ethan moved closer, sitting across from his ex-wife. “What do you remember?”Grace twisted her fingers nervously. “Robert kept a box of mementos. Things that gave him power, he said. There was a photogr
