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Chapter 79 Questions of Loyalty
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2025-03-08 22:41:25
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Billionaire, 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 : 2025-03-10Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 85 Shadows From the Past
(Alexander)The next morning, I instructed Lewis to triple our security team while trying to maintain a facade of normalcy for Romy’s sake. If she noticed the additional personnel or the changed protocols, she didn’t mention it.“I’m meeting with the foundation board at eleven,” she told me over breakfast. “Then lunch with your mother to discuss nursery designs.”“Take Wilson with you,” I said casually, referring to one of our security team. “Traffic’s been terrible downtown lately. He can navigate the shortcuts.”Romy raised an eyebrow. “Since when do I need a driver for routine meetings?”“Since I worry about my pregnant fiancée getting stuck in gridlock,” I replied, kissing her forehead. “Humor me.”She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, which was a relief. I needed her protected without causing her unnecessary stress.Throughout the day, I barely focused on work, constantly checking Lewis’s security updates. Romy’s meetings went smoothly, no suspicious figures identified.I began t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 86 Protective Measures
(Alexander)I paced my office, watching the digital clock tick toward the meeting time. Both Ethan and Nick had agreed to come, setting aside our business conflicts in the face of a security threat.Whether their cooperation would extend beyond this immediate crisis remained to be seen.The door opened as Lewis ushered them in. The tension was immediate—Nick’s rigid posture, Ethan’s neutral expression. Rivals forced into the same room.“Thank you for coming,” I said, gesturing to the chairs around my conference table. “This stays between us for now.”“Your message mentioned Robert’s people,” Nick said, settling into a chair. “What’s happened?”I outlined the situation—Verati’s appearance at the gala, the surveillance, the threatening gift acknowledging Romy’s pregnancy.“They believe she has access to Robert’s hidden accounts,” I surmised. “Accounts we didn’t even know existed until now.”“Where is Romy?” Ethan asked, his security instincts evident in his rapid assessment of the threa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 87 A Little Rest
(Alexander)Despite the late hour, the pediatric ward was bustling with activity. I found Nick in the hallway outside Fleur’s room, speaking intently with a doctor.“Alexander,” he acknowledged when he saw me. “Thanks for coming.”“How is she?” I asked, referring to both Fleur and my sister.“Fleur’s stable,” Nick replied after the doctor departed. “Temporary setback before the Boston transfer. Lila, on the other hand…”He gestured through the door’s window. Inside, Lila sat vigilant beside Fleur’s crib, her back rigid with exhaustion and stress. She’d pushed chairs against the door and rearranged furniture to block direct sight lines to the crib.“Has she slept?” I asked, noting the dark circles under my sister’s eyes.“Not really,” Nick admitted. “Since I told her about the security threat, she’s been…intense.”“You told her everything?”“She deserved to know,” Nick defended. “But now she won’t leave Fleur’s side for even a minute. Won’t let the nurses take her for tests without acc
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-12
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Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 100 Fear
(Ethan)Nick was already pulling emergency gear from the trunk—flashlights, rain ponchos, a first aid kit. “Call your security team,” he told the driver. “Have them continue monitoring from their position, but tell them we’re approaching on foot from the south ridge.”We set off into the storm-whipped forest, rain soaking through our inadequate protection almost immediately. The beam of my flashlight wavered and danced across the sodden ground as we picked our way along the ridge trail.“Still think this was a good idea?” Nick shouted over the wind after we’d been walking for about twenty minutes.“Better than sitting in that car,” I called back. “We should be getting close to the valley viewpoint. The cabin’s visible from there in daylight.”We pressed on, slipping occasionally on mud-slicked rocks, helping each other across washed-out sections of trail. Despite our business animosity, we coordinated our movements.Two men united by a singular goal.Finally, we reached the viewpoint,
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 99 The Cabin
(Ethan)“Is it still in her family?”“Yes, but it’s closed for the season. No one’s been there in months.”Nick was already on his phone, pulling up a map. “Address?”I remembered Grace telling me about it, so I gave him the details, watching as he relayed them to his security team. “Have someone drive by, but don’t approach yet. If he’s there, we don’t want to spook him.”The police arrived, taking statements and photos of James. An Amber Alert was issued despite his voluntary departure—at eleven years old, he was considered at serious risk alone.Hours passed in panic as we did interviews and made phone calls. By evening, the police had confirmed a bus driver remembered James boarding a northbound bus around 1:15 PM. The cabin was looking more and more likely.“We should go,” I told Nick as we huddled in the school conference room. “Now. If he’s headed to the cabin, it’s at least a four-hour trip. He could already be there, alone in the dark.”“Agreed,” Nick said. “My team has a car
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 98 Desperate Measures
(Ethan)I sat at my desk, reviewing the latest filing in our legal battle against Nicholas Baldwin Shipping. Jonathan had outdone himself this time—the injunction was airtight, backed by connections that even Nick’s considerable influence couldn’t easily overcome.Victory should have tasted sweeter. Instead, I felt hollow, Cara’s words echoing in my mind: “Neither of you is willing to be the bigger person.”My phone rang—the school. I answered immediately, expecting another incident with James being bullied about our family’s public drama.“Mr. Baldwin? This is Principal Watkins. I’m calling because James didn’t report to his afternoon classes.”My blood ran cold. “What do you mean? He was there this morning.”“Yes, he attended his morning sessions, but after lunch, he didn’t return to class. His teacher marked him absent, and when we checked, he wasn’t on campus.”“Did you check everywhere? The library, the nurse’s office?”“We’ve conducted a thorough search,” the principal assured m
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 97 Escalation
(Ethan)“Sorry I’m late,” I said. “Work crisis.”“The injunction,” she nodded. “It’s all over the business news.”I followed her inside, noticing the apartment looked different—some of her things had been packed into boxes by the door.“You’re moving?” I asked, heart sinking.“Just organizing,” she said, settling onto the couch. “I needed something to do with all this nervousness.”I sat opposite her, unsure how to begin. “Cara, about what Grace said—”“Let me go first,” she interrupted gently. “I’ve had time to think, and I want to be clear about where I stand.”I nodded, bracing myself.“I love you, Ethan,” she said simply. “I believe you love me too, but I also believe Grace was right—you haven’t fully processed your feelings for Lila.”“I’m trying to,” I assured her.“I know. But trying isn’t the same as succeeding.” Cara folded her hands in her lap. “And here’s the thing—I can’t compete with a ghost. I won’t compete with her.”“You’re not competing—”“Let me finish,” she said fir
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 96 Family Feud
(Ethan)I hung up the phone, satisfaction coursing through me. The Singapore Trade Commission had just approved our joint venture’s licensing application—the same application Nick had spent months trying to block.“Good news?” Jonathan asked, entering my office without knocking.“The best,” I confirmed. “We’re cleared for operations. Nicholas Baldwin’s redirect strategy failed.”Jonathan smiled thinly. “Nicholas always underestimates the value of personal relationships. My connections in Singapore go back three decades.”“He’ll retaliate,” I warned. “This isn’t over.”“Let him.” Jonathan settled into the chair opposite my desk. “He’s run out of legal options. Anything more would cross into actionable territory, and Nicholas is too smart for that.”My phone rang with an incoming text from Cara: “Can we talk today? Important.”We hadn’t spoken much since she’d left my home three days ago. Both of us needed space to process Grace’s revelations and their implications for our relationship.
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 95 The Breaking
(Lila)I paced the hospital corridor, counting tiles to keep my anxiety at bay. Fleur’s latest treatment had gone well, the doctors reported, but I couldn’t breathe easy. Couldn’t leave. Couldn’t trust anyone else to watch over her.“Mrs. Baldwin?” A nurse approached me. “Your daughter’s vitals are stable. Perhaps you’d like to get some rest? There’s a family lounge with comfortable couches…”“I’m fine here,” I said tersely. “I can see her door from this spot.”The nurse exchanged a glance with her colleague—the same look I’d been getting for days. Concern. Pity. Judgment.Nick appeared from the elevator, carrying a change of clothes and toiletries. “Hey. Brought your things.”“Thanks.” I took the bag without moving from my post.“The doctor called me,” Nick said carefully. “Fleur’s responding excellently to the treatment. Her numbers are improving faster than expected.”“That’s what they say,” I acknowledged. “But we need to be vigilant.”Nick’s hand settled on my shoulder. “Lila, wh
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 94 Uncomfortable Truths
(Ethan)I sat in my car for nearly twenty minutes, unable to join Cara and James where sat eating in a restaurant. Grace’s words still rang in my ears, stripping away the comfortable lies I’d told myself.“The way you still look at Lila…You haven’t fully let go, Ethan.”Was she right? Had I been fooling myself all this time?Cara approached my window, tapping lightly. She’d said the same thing to me the night I’d proposed, and I hadn’t even noticed her leaving the restaurant with James.“Everything okay?” she asked as I rolled down the window. “We’ve been waiting.”“Sorry,” I mumbled. “Got lost in thought.”The drive home was mostly silent, with James occasionally sharing observations about his mother’s changed appearance or demeanor. Cara kept glancing my way, clearly sensing my internal turmoil.When we arrived home, James ran inside to call Lila and tell her about the visit. I lingered in the driveway, dreading the conversation I knew Cara wanted to have.“Are you going to tell me
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 93 Healing Damage
(Ethan)Grace glanced at Cara gratefully. “Your therapist is very wise.”“She helps me when I have bad dreams about the closet,” James said.I tensed, waiting for Grace’s reaction to this direct reference to her abuse. Her face crumpled momentarily before she regained control.“I am so sorry about the closet, James. Whenever I think about putting you in there, I feel sick with shame. No child should ever be treated that way.”“It was dark,” James said softly. “And I cried for you, but you didn’t come.”A tear escaped down Grace’s cheek. “I know. And I will regret that for the rest of my life.”The conversation continued, James gradually asking more questions about their past—each one like a small knife slicing into Grace. She answered everything honestly, never minimizing her actions or making excuses.After about twenty minutes, Dr. Frey suggested a short break. Grace excused herself while James stayed with us.“You’re doing really well,” Cara told James. “How are you feeling?”“Okay
Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 92 Difficult Reunions
(Ethan)I gripped the steering wheel tightly as we approached Pine Grove Rehabilitation Center.James sat silently in the backseat, dressed in his nicest clothes as if for a special occasion. Cara rode beside me, her presence both professional and personal support.“Remember what we discussed,” she said quietly. “The first few minutes will set the tone. Stay neutral, watch James’s cues, and be prepared to end the meeting if necessary.”I nodded tensely. We’d spent the week preparing for this moment—consulting other therapists, establishing ground rules, designing a safe environment for the reunion.Still, my stomach twisted with anxiety.“Is Lila coming?” James asked from the backseat.“No, buddy,” I replied. “Just us today.”“Because she doesn’t want me to see Mom?”The perceptiveness of children never ceased to amaze me. “She’s concerned, that’s all, but she respects that this is important to you.”The facility looked more like a resort than a psychiatric center, with trimmed ground
