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Chapter 97 Escalation
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2025-03-17 11:26:55
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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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Billionaire, 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-18Billionaire, 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,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-18Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 101 Clearing Skies
(Ethan)I gazed out the cabin window as first light pierced the forest. The storm had finally passed, leaving everything dripping and fresh. James still slept on the worn couch between Nick and me, his face peaceful despite yesterday’s ordeal.“We should head back,” I whispered to Nick over James’s head. “Everyone must be worried sick.”Nick nodded, dark circles under his eyes evidence of our sleepless night. “I’ll call the driver to meet us at the access road. Signal’s back.”While Nick stepped outside to make calls, I gently shook James awake. “Time to go home, buddy.”“Already?” James rubbed his eyes, looking smaller than his years, wrapped in the cabin’s old blanket. “Is it still raining?”“No, storm’s passed.” I ruffled his hair, still damp from yesterday. “But we have a lot of worried people waiting to see you.”“Are they mad?”“They’re just relieved you’re safe.” I helped him pack his small backpack. “Though grandma might never let you out of her sight again.”The hike back was
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-19Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 102 New Foundations
(Ethan)I paced Boston Children’s Hospital’s sterile corridor, the lights harsh against my tired eyes. Fleur’s reaction had sent us all racing from my house to the airport, where Nick’s private jet waited to fly us to Boston.“Any updates?” I asked as Nick emerged from Fleur’s room.“She’s stabilizing.” He rubbed his face wearily. “The doctors think it was an isolated reaction to the antibody component. They’ve adjusted the protocol.”Lila remained by Fleur’s bedside, refusing to leave even for meals. Through the observation window, I watched her stroking Fleur’s tiny hand, her lips moving in silent prayers or promises.“She needs sleep,” I murmured. “This can’t be good for her.”“Dr. Weiss arranged for a therapist to speak with her tomorrow,” Nick said. “Professional intervention, finally.”The waiting room had become our temporary headquarters. James slept curled against Cara on a small couch, while Alexander worked remotely from his laptop. Jonathan had returned to New York to begi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-19Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 103 Family Council
(Ethan)I held Cara’s hand tightly as we followed Nick and Lila toward Fleur’s room, fear gripping us all despite Dr. Weiss’s excited tone.“What is it?” Lila demanded. “What’s happened?”Dr. Weiss pointed to the monitor displaying Fleur’s test results. “These inflammatory markers have decreased by over seventy percent in just twenty-four hours. It’s unprecedented with this protocol.”“Is that…good?” Nick asked hesitantly.“Good? It’s extraordinary.” Dr. Weiss smiled broadly. “Your daughter’s immune system has essentially reset itself. The disease markers are approaching normal ranges.”Lila nearly collapsed with relief. “So she’s going to be okay?”“Better than okay,” Dr. Weiss assured her. “If this trend continues, we’re looking at complete remission, possibly within days rather than months.”Nick embraced Lila. Through the doorway, I watched Fleur sleeping peacefully, unaware of the miracle happening within her tiny body.The good news spread quickly through our group. Alexander im
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-20Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 104 Full Circle
(Ethan)I saw the panic flash across James’s face at Grace’s announcement. Whatever she was about to reveal clearly terrified him.“Mom?” he whispered.Grace looked directly at him, then at me. “It’s about Robert Sterling,” she said. “And why his associates are targeting Romy.”Alexander stood abruptly. “This isn’t the place for—”“It is exactly the place,” Grace interrupted. “Because I’m the reason they found her.”The room went completely still. Romy, who had stayed quiet most of the evening, pale hands protectively cupping her pregnant belly, stared at Grace with dawning horror.“What did you do?” she asked, voice barely audible.“When I was at my worst,” Grace explained, hands shaking, “I contacted some of Robert’s old associates. I thought they might help me…hurt people who had hurt me.” She swallowed hard. “I told them where to find you, Romy. I gave them information about the Montgomery security protocols.”Alexander’s face hardened to granite. “You put my wife and unborn child
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-20Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours Chapter 105 Digital Whispers
(Nick)I checked my watch as the last guests left Fleur’s birthday party. The day had been perfect—Lila smashing cake into her face, James playing the proud big brother, all tensions temporarily forgotten in celebration.“She’s finally asleep,” Lila said, collapsing next to me on the couch. “I thought she’d never crash after all that excitement.”“Sugar high,” I chuckled, pulling her closer. “Did you see her face when Alexander’s twins kicked against her hand? Like she’d discovered magic.”Lila snuggled against my shoulder. “I never thought we’d get here, Nick. A normal family moment without crisis.”My phone lit up on the coffee table. Unknown number.“Don’t answer it,” Lila murmured. “Not today.”But old habits die hard. I reached for it, expecting some business emergency. The message glowed against the dark screen:“Beautiful party. Fleur looks just like her mother when she sleeps. Thumb in mouth, left side of crib.”My blood turned to ice.“Nick?” Lila sat up, alarmed by whatever
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21
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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
