MasukShare
Chapter 76 Confrontations
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-06 20:32:36
Bab terkait
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 77 Business Wars
(Nick)I barked orders to my executive team, adrenaline fueling me despite two sleepless nights at the hospital.“Activate the Murphy clause on all Singapore shipments,” I commanded. “Redirect everything through our Malaysian terminals effective immediately.”Connelly, my head of operations, looked alarmed. “Sir, that’s going to bottleneck our entire Southeast Asian distribution chain. The costs alone—”“Will be absorbed,” I finished for him. “This is non-negotiable.”“But the Montgomery-Baldwin venture hasn’t even launched yet,” Lewis argued. “This seems premature—”“They’ve already secured the regulatory approvals,” I cut in. “They’ll be operational within weeks if we don’t act now.”The executive boardroom fell silent as my team exchanged glances. They knew better than to challenge me when I used this tone.“The Malaysian redirect isn’t sustainable long-term,” Harrison finally said. “Our contracts with—”“I’m not looking for sustainability,” I interrupted. “I’m looking for impact.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 78 Acting Out
(Nick)The elevator dinged, announcing Cara and James’s arrival. I pasted on a smile as James bounded into the kitchen, his excitement at seeing Fleur home again momentarily overriding the tension.“She looks better!” James declared, carefully touching Fleur’s cheek. “Is she all fixed now?”“She’s doing much better,” Lila assured him. “But she still needs special medicine to stay healthy.”James nodded seriously, climbing onto a chair to watch Fleur more closely. I noticed then that he was wearing his backpack, despite it being Saturday morning.“What’s with the school gear, buddy?” I asked. “Hot date at the library?”Instead of laughing, James hunched his shoulders. “Cara said I should bring my stuff because I might have to do homework while we visit.”Cara gave me a significant look over James’s head. “James has had a difficult week at school.”“What kind of difficult?” Lila asked, immediately concerned.James stared at his hands. “Nothing.”“James,” Cara prompted gently. “Remember
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 79 Questions of Loyalty
(Lila)I helped James with his homework at the kitchen table while Ethan and Nick retreated to the study to discuss business compromises. Cara sat beside me, occasionally offering guidance when James struggled with a math problem.“Multiply by seven,” I prompted, watching James’s forehead wrinkle in concentration.“I know,” he sighed. “I’m thinking.”The penthouse felt unnaturally quiet. Fleur was napping in the nursery with her favorite blanket covering her, her latest round of medication finally taking effect without side effects.The business newspapers Nick had brought home were stacked in the recycling bin, their inflammatory headlines mercifully hidden.“Dad and Uncle Nick have been talking a long time,” James observed, glancing toward the closed study door. “Are they still fighting?”“They’re trying to work things out,” Cara explained. “Sometimes that takes time.”“Will they shake hands after? That’s what Ms. Wilson makes us do when we fight at school.”I smiled despite the ten
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-08Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 80 Solutions
(Lila)“We’re trying, buddy,” Ethan assured him. “It’s just complicated.”“But why?” James demanded, frustration breaking through. “Why is it so hard to just be nice to each other?”None of us had a good answer. The painful truth was that adult relationships—business, family, the messy intersection of both—defied simple solutions.“James,” Cara said softly. “Sometimes families go through rough patches. It doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.”“Then why does everyone keep hurting each other?” James’s voice rose. “Uncle Nick hurt Dad’s business. Dad and Grandpa Jonathan hurt Uncle Nick’s business. You all keep secrets and get mad and make me and Fleur sad!”Tears welled in his eyes, shocking us all. James rarely cried, even when physically hurt.“Maybe we should consider Cara’s suggestion,” I said into the uncomfortable silence. “A family session might help us communicate better.”“Absolutely not,” Nick said firmly. “We don’t need to air our private matters to—”“To a trained profes
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-08Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 81 Diamond Ring
(Ethan)I adjusted my tie for the fifth time, staring at my reflection in the restaurant bathroom mirror. The small velvet box in my pocket felt impossibly heavy.“You can do this,” I muttered to myself. “Simple question. Four words.”I’d chosen Cara’s favorite restaurant—an intimate Italian place with private booths and soft lighting. The ring was perfect too: an emerald surrounded by small diamonds, unconventional but elegant, just like her.When I returned to our table, Cara was sipping her wine, looking stunning in a simple blue dress. Her hair fell in soft waves around her face, and the candlelight made her eyes sparkle.My steps faltered. How had I gotten so lucky?“Everything okay?” she asked as I sat down. “You were gone a while.”“Perfect,” I assured her, reaching for her hand across the table. “Just wanted to check on James. Lila says he’s doing his homework without complaint for once.”“The family movie night did him good,” Cara said, smiling. “He needs those moments of nor
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 82 Treatment Options
(Lila)I sat in the hospital conference room, clutching my coffee cup like a lifeline. Nick paced by the window, his tie loosened after a morning of emergency business calls.Ethan sat across from me, looking strangely tense for reasons I couldn’t place.The door opened, admitting Dr. Parkinson and two colleagues I hadn’t met before. One carried a thick folder marked with Fleur’s name and case number.“Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, Mr. Baldwin,” Dr. Parkinson greeted us. “Thank you for coming. This is Dr. Chandler from Immunology and Dr. Weiss from the Boston Children’s Hospital research program.”My heart rate spiked at the mention of Boston Children’s—the experimental treatment center Nick had been advocating for.“What’s this about?” I asked, setting down my coffee. “Has Fleur’s condition worsened?”“Not worsened,” Dr. Parkinson assured me. “But not improving at the rate we’d hoped. The traditional protocol is keeping her stable, but the underlying disease markers remain concerning.”Dr. C
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 83 Compromise
(Lila)“Meet with the Boston team. Tour their facility. Talk to parents of children who’ve gone through the protocol. Then make your decision.”I considered this, some of my resistance softening. “That’s…not unreasonable.”“We’d need to move quickly,” Nick pointed out. “If we want that treatment slot next week.”“I’d rather lose the slot than rush into this,” I said firmly.“There’s another option,” Ethan suggested. “Go to Boston, do the evaluation, and if you still have concerns, bring Fleur back for continued conventional treatment.”The simple practicality of his proposal cut through our emotional deadlock. Nick’s stance relaxed slightly.“That could work,” he acknowledged.“I’d feel better seeing the facility,” I admitted. “And talking to other parents.”“Then it’s settled,” Ethan said. “We’ll tell the doctors you want more information before committing.”“We?” Nick raised an eyebrow. “This is our decision, Ethan. Mine and Lila’s.”“Of course,” Ethan backtracked immediately. “I ju
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 84 Watched
(Alexander)I kissed Romy’s cheek as flashbulbs exploded around us. “You’re a hit tonight,” I whispered in her ear.She smiled, radiant in a silver gown that tastefully concealed the slight roundness of her stomach. We hadn’t announced the pregnancy yet—would wait until the crucial first trimester ended next week.“The Montgomery Children’s Foundation thanks you all for coming,” I addressed the crowd of socialites and business leaders gathered in the hotel ballroom. “Your generosity tonight will fund three new pediatric clinics in underserved communities.”Applause rippled through the audience. Romy squeezed my hand, pride evident in her smile.“Now please, enjoy the rest of your evening,” I concluded.As we stepped down from the podium, well-wishers swarmed us. Romy handled them with the grace she’d perfected during her modeling years, but I noticed her growing fatigue.“We should make our exit,” I murmured when there was a momentary lull.“Just a few more minutes,” she insisted. “Th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10
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
