LOGINShare
In the Shadow of Marcus
Last Updated:
2024-09-22 13:23:47
Related chapters
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Breaking Through Walls
Asher’s POVI walked into the empty diner. When my mom sent me an invitation for dinner earlier, I knew instantly that something was up. It was uncharacteristic of us to hang out alone together. I had an idea of what she wanted to speak about already.It wasn’t hard to spot her. Besides the fact that the diner was practically empty, surely on my mother’s orders, she was the only person who showed up at a fancy diner wearing a business suit, her hair tied back and put in a bun, making her look serious.She was tapping on her phone when I approached her. “Mom,”She looked up at me with those dull brown eyes. “Asher?” she managed a small smile.Over the years, I learned quickly that this was the most affection I’d get from my mother. It was hard to come to terms with it because, unlike my father, her stoicism felt forced. Like she was playing a character, I could always see the struggle in her eyes, her holding back, but maybe it was all in my head, and I was overthinking it. Maybe. As a
Last Updated : 2024-09-22Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Eyes of Deception
Ivy’s POVI woke up that morning and let out an exasperated groan. I remembered the shoot I had planned for the day and sighed in frustration. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to confront Taylor, not yet, at least. I sorted through my morning routine quickly and headed downstairs in a robe.I walked up to a table laden with all kinds of foods and drinks, with Asher sitting there, legs crossed. He smiled warmly at me as soon as I walked in.“I would have brought breakfast in bed, but I didn’t know how to manage,” he said, gesturing towards the breakfast buffet laid out on the table.My mouth watered instantly, and I smiled appreciatively at him.“You really didn’t have to,” I told him.“You were down yesterday. I was only trying to make you feel better,” he replied.I clutched tightly to my robe as I sat across from him. His watchful eyes followed my every move. I watched him lift a large glass to his lips. How did he make drinking look so erotic? Who was I kidding? Everything about t
Last Updated : 2024-09-22Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Under the Spotlight
Asher’s POVI kept stealing glances at the door where she had walked through, waiting to see her walk out again. The team had been extra friendly because I was sitting comfortably with a front-row view of the shoot area, a fine bottle of unopened champagne in front of me. My jaw dropped when she emerged. Her outfit was a beautiful nude dress that stopped mid-thigh, making her legs look even longer.Assistants rushed back and forth, adjusting the lighting, fixing props, and setting up the stage.She glanced at me and smiled. It was the most beautiful sight, making me feel warm inside. When she approached me, I stood up and closed the distance between us. “You look beautiful,” I blurted out as soon as she got closer.She smiled in response and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Taylor is trying to get me to talk to her...”“Would you like me to do something about her?” I asked. “Say, kick her out of the shoot, for instance?”She gave me a funny look.I clutched my chest. “I’m really serio
Last Updated : 2024-09-25Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Heartbreak in the Spotlight
Ivy’s POVAsher had been the sweetest. It was hard to reconcile him with the same guy who teased me all the time in the past. I was too chicken to face Taylor, but on his insistence, I had gone to the shoot. Having him around made me feel a lot better. I didn’t have the crippling dread inside me as I walked into the studio. His corny remarks made me focus on something other than the anger I felt for Taylor.I wanted to go on a long rant. I wanted to charge at her and scream down the studio. It was hard enough dealing with my heartbreak alone, having no one around to talk to. The last thing I needed was my heartbreak becoming the next trendy news in the media. I couldn’t even tell my parents—I didn’t need strangers dissecting my life and picking me apart. That was why I stayed quiet, why I avoided Taylor all day, and why I pretended not to hear her call out to me several times.He made it even easier. I loved the way his eyes searched for me at every point, like we were old lovers. The
Last Updated : 2024-09-25Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Fractured Reflections
Asher’s POV“Are you okay, man?” Luca asked for the umpteenth time that week. We were in my living room.I turned to glare at him. “What do you think?” I turned back to stare at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was sticking out oddly because I had run my fingers through it repeatedly. I was sporting stubble on my chin and jawline, and my eyes looked sunken, like I hadn’t slept in days—which wasn’t far from the truth.“You look like shit, and I’m genuinely worried,” he said.I exhaled. “Luca, I told you I was fine. You didn’t have to stop by.”He eyed me. “Yeah, of course. There’s absolutely no reason to be worried about you right now.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I mean, can’t you just call her? She’s your wife, isn’t she? And you definitely miss her.”Damn right I did. After our last argument, Ivy had gone home, and I hadn’t heard from her in two weeks. She didn’t come back to our house either. I was hoping she would, considering she had her things here. She didn’t resp
Last Updated : 2024-09-27Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Unsettling Reunions
Ivy’s POV“What do you know about the Sterlings?” my mother asked suddenly. We were sitting around the large dining table.I exhaled and glanced at the door nervously, checking my watch for the umpteenth time. I was a nervous wreck, and rightfully so. I hadn’t seen Asher in weeks, and I was about to introduce our families at our home.“Aside from the fact that they own a huge company? Nothing,” my dad answered. He turned to look at me. “Usually, this part of the introduction happens before my daughter gets married to their son.”My mother gripped his hand to stop him.I let out a huge sigh. “Dad, we’re already married.”“And I’m still pissed about it!” he blurted out.I tucked my hair behind my ears. I had sent Asher a long email describing my parents, hoping he had read it and prepared for this. I needed this evening to go well. So much between us already wasn’t, but this had to.You’d think I would have called off the wedding—it was a joke, after all—but no. For reasons I couldn’t f
Last Updated : 2024-09-27Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge The Unexpected Kiss
Asher’s POVI called home three hours before it was time. My father picked up on the second ring, and it was a video call.“Asher.”“Dad,” I answered.“What is it?”“You remember we have that...”“Yes, of course, he does,” Marcus interjected, his annoying face covering the whole screen, “We all remember, we wouldn’t miss it for the world.”I couldn’t hide the surprise on my face. “You’re at home, Marcus?”“Yes, I am. Dad and I made a little bet. Do you want to know what it’s about?”I rolled my eyes. I didn’t, but I knew Marcus, and I knew he would tell me anyway.“I’ve bet that by the end of the night, I’ll unravel whatever scheme you’ve planned and how you managed to entrap your new wife. Dad, for some reason, thinks she might actually find you likable enough to want to be married to you...” He chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t know, though, it seems highly unlikely.”“Marcus, I don’t care. I hope Dad can at least get good money out of you. You’re unfortunately my brother, and m
Last Updated : 2024-10-03Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Asher
Asher’s POV“We are so delighted to have you at our home,” Mr. Whitfield said cheerfully. “It’s our pleasure...”The waiters served the food. The main course was grilled filet mignon with roasted vegetables and truffle sauce.“It was a rather unlikely situation that brought us together,” my dad responded.“A beautiful one, nonetheless,” Mrs. Whitfield chimed in, smiling warmly at me.I leaned closer to Ivy, who was sitting beside me. “Why is your mom staring at me?” I asked quietly.She glanced at her mother for a moment before replying, “I think they’re starting to like you…”My eyes widened in alarm. “What? They hated me before?” My voice was louder than expected, and everyone’s eyes turned towards me at the table.Ivy’s mother reached for my hand. “Are you okay, son? Is the food to your liking? Do you need anything else?”Now everyone’s attention was on her. My mom gave her a quizzical look.Son? I was too shocked by the term of endearment to respond properly. It was so affectionat
Last Updated : 2024-10-04
Latest chapter
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Over
Asher’s POVGunfire erupted the moment I stormed into the building with Luca and Marcus. The scent of gunpowder and blood filled the air, mixing with the sharp cries of men dropping to the floor.My heart pounded, but I barely registered the chaos. My mind had only one thought: Ivy.I scanned the dimly lit warehouse frantically, my pulse hammering in my ears. My grip tightened around my gun as I pushed forward, ducking behind a stack of crates.Then, through the haze of bullets and bodies, I saw her.Ivy.She stood near the back of the room, bound and struggling, her dark hair wild, her face pale. My breath caught in my throat. She was right there. So close. But she wasn’t alone. Taylor stood in front of her, a knife gleaming in her grip.Panic crashed through me. I turned to Luca and Marcus. “Be careful! Ivy’s right there!”Luca gave a sharp nod, his jaw clenched as he took cover and fired precisely at Taylor’s men. Marcus moved beside him, dropping two of them with clean shots. I ba
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge The last thing
Ivy’s POVThe room was dim, the air thick with a musty scent that clung to the damp walls. My wrists ached from the tight restraints, the rope digging into my skin, leaving behind raw, irritated flesh.My legs were stiff, my muscles screaming from hours, maybe days, of captivity. I had lost track of time in this miserable excuse for a prison.Then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway, steady and deliberate. My breath hitched. I knew who it was before she even stepped into the room.Taylor.She waltzed in, her expression smug, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she took in the sight of me, bound and helpless. She leaned against the doorframe, tilting her head.“Well, well,” she drawled. “You look like hell.”I said nothing.She clicked her tongue, disappointed by my silence. “Oh, come on, don’t tell me you’ve given up already.” She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Asher isn’t coming for you, sweetheart. He’s already mine.”Still, I refused to sp
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Deal
AsherThe air in the room was thick, weighed down by the chilling silence. I sat on the edge of the couch, my elbows resting on my knees, my head buried in my hands. My thoughts were still all over the place; I couldn’t think straight.I let out a slow breath, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. My fingers curled into my hair, gripping it as if I could pull myself out of the drowning thoughts in my head. I raked my fingers through the thick mess of hair on my head.I hadn’t slept much, not that sleep could ever be an escape. Closing my eyes only made the thoughts louder; I only heard her voice in my head. Ivy’s, crying, begging...I dragged a hand down my face, forcing myself to sit up, to shake off the crippling thoughts clinging to me. But they stayed. They always did.Ivy was out there. Somewhere. Alone. Terrified. Maybe worse.And Taylor, she was in charge. She had made that pretty clear. No amount of begging would be enough, nothing would be enough to touch her
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Don
Don povI leaned back in my chair, swirling the whiskey in my glass as I listened to the man across from me finalize the details. The cigar smoke in my office hung thick, curling into the dim light above us.“We move the shipment next week,” he said, his tone confident but cautious. “Colombian grade, through the usual ports. Our distributors in Miami are ready, and we’ve secured a clean route.”I nodded, but didn’t speak yet. Business was more than just logistics, it was about control. Anticipation. Knowing when to push forward and when to pull back.“And the Feds?” I finally asked.“Taken care of.” He smirked, adjusting the gold cufflink on his sleeve. “A few key figures got their incentives.”Good. The last thing I needed was unnecessary heat. This deal would expand my reach, increase my influence. But the bigger the deal, the bigger the risk.I took a slow sip of whiskey, letting the burn settle in my throat before setting the glass down. “We move forward. My men will oversee the t
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge A few hours ago...
A few hours ago...Ivy’s POVI glanced around the large hotel room, and the peach dress I was to wear was laid out on the bed. It was a beautiful fabric with sparkles that shimmered in the dark.I caressed the soft material, and a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Asher had bought the dress for me.The night he bought it, he had given me flowers, whispered sweet words in my ear, and made love to me like it was our last night together. Oh, and he had made promises!I giggled to myself. Today was date night. He called it “new beginnings.” We had been through so much together, and he wanted us to start afresh, put all the ugly episodes behind us. I wanted that more than anything else.Max and Taylor were glued to my mind, and it didn’t help that they were nowhere to be found. I had been worried sick about them, but tonight, I was going to forget everything else, well, except Asher.The plan was simple: we were going on a double date, like a new couple. He would come from home,
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge My little brother
Marcus POVI sat alone in the suite in my office. It had become my own bedroom, as I spent most of my time here. The silence was almost suffocating. It felt too quiet, almost as if the entire world had paused around me.My fingers drummed nervously against the edge of my bed. My mind kept returning to the nightclub, to the moment I saw Taylor.Her eyes had locked onto mine, cold, calculating, as if she knew everything about me in an instant. I always thought she was audacious to walk up to me, but I didn’t give it much thought.And the men she was hanging around with... they didn’t just look dangerous; they were dangerous men. Most of them were linked with the mafia.I leaned back in the chair, rubbing my hand over my face. The tension in my chest was unbearable. This wasn’t just about a woman with a silly crush on my brother. This was bigger. This was darker. And, most importantly, it involved my little brother, Asher.Normally, I’d take my time to strategize, to think things through
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Janine
Janine’s POVI sat with my phone in my hand, my thumb repeatedly pressing the screen as I scrolled through my contacts, hoping someone, anyone, might know something about Taylor. Each dial tone felt like a ticking clock, growing louder and louder as the seconds dragged on.I could hear Asher pacing back and forth behind me, his voice pleading into the phone as he called Taylor again, but she wasn’t answering. He was sending voicemails to her line. At some point, he tried to call Ivy, but her line was switched off.“Come on, come on,” I muttered under my breath, willing someone to pick up. The frustration was thick in the air, hanging between Luca and me as we both dialed and redialed numbers. Luca was quiet, but I could tell by the way his jaw was clenched that he was just as anxious as I was.“Nothing,” I said, hanging up the phone again. “No one knows anything. She’s vanished off the radar.”Luca glanced at me, exhaling sharply. “This is useless. No one’s seen her, no one knows anyt
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Kidnapped
Asher’s POVMarcus’s mouth hung open. “You were drugged, Asher? How... why didn’t you tell me?”I shot him a glare.He exhaled. “I’m your older brother, Asher. All of this happened, and I needed to know.”“It’s my problem. I would have handled it!” I snapped.“Clearly, you couldn’t,” he replied.“Marcus! Asher!” Janine interjected, raising her hands. “Ivy has been kidnapped!” She spelled it out. “That’s the priority! You can have the argument about your sour relationship and whose fault it is later.”Marcus sighed, rubbing his temple. “Alright, we need a plan. Fast. You need to speak to Taylor.”I nodded in agreement. “But Taylor is smart. She has to believe I really want her, or she’ll see right through it. And we can’t involve the police. That process would take too long, and Ivy...” I couldn’t even finish the thought.We all stood there for a moment, the air thick with tension as we tried to think of a way out of this nightmare. Then my phone rang, cutting through the silence sharp
Billionaire's Bounty: Cost Of Love And Revenge Choose
Asher’s POVThe streetlights blurred past as I sped down the road, my grip on the steering wheel so tight it ached, my knuckles turning white as my grip hardened.My mind was a raging storm, nothing made sense in this moment. My vision was blurry, my heart hammered in my chest, deafening my ears. Taylor’s annoying voice replayed in my mind over and over again.“Choose, Asher. Your love for Ivy or her life.”I stepped on the brakes so hard, narrowly missing the oncoming car in the other lane. The sirens blaring in the distance meant nothing to me, not in this moment.The way she had said it, like it was a joke, like she was just toying with me, made my stomach twist. I could still hear the amusement in her voice, that sickening, high-pitched tone that let me know she was enjoying this.This wasn’t just a threat; it was a game to her, a game she enjoyed playing. But to me, it was Ivy’s life.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. There was no winning with Taylor. If I told her no, she would k
