Home / Romance / Billionaire's Choice / Unwanted Concern

Share

Unwanted Concern

Author: Aichatou
last update Last Updated: 2025-02-21 00:32:48

Aria's POV

I pushed the thought aside, forcing my mind to focus on something other than the unsettling weight of last night.

I wasn’t about to sit here and analyze why Gabriel had helped me. That wasn’t something I needed to think about. What I needed was space, air and a distraction.

I turned away from him, heading toward the bathroom for a shower. Not just because I had just woken up, but because I needed to wash off the remnants of last night. The heaviness in my chest. The way Gabriel's voice had been the one pulling me out of my panic. The thought of him carrying me here.

I couldn’t think about any of that.

So, without another word, I grabbed my towel and headed straight to the bathroom, locking the door behind me before Gabriel could say anything else.

I let the water run hot, standing under the stream for longer than necessary. My muscles ached, my body still felt heavy, but by the time I stepped out, I was at least more awake. I wrapped the towel around me, wiped the steam off
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • Billionaire's Choice   Eyes Everywhere

    Aria’s PovThe restaurant buzzed with the usual weekend crowd—brunch-goers sipping on mimosas, forks clinking against porcelain plates, and soft laughter weaving through the background noise. But my attention was locked on the entrance.Minutes passes and then, I saw them.Nicole. Jenna. Liv. My girls.Three hurricanes walking into a room—effortless, loud, and completely unapologetic.Before I could react, I was engulfed in a hug—Nicole’s arms tight around me, her silky black bob brushing against my cheek. She smelled like expensive perfume, the kind that lingered even after she left the room. “Do you know how much we missed you?” she huffed, pulling back just enough to scan me from head to toe. Her sharp brown eyes sparkled with mischief. “Look at you. Hair done. Nails done. Dripping in money. You look rich.”I scoffed. “I look the same.”“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re actually married now,” Liv gasped, holding me at arm’s length. Her sun-kissed blonde waves were lighter from the

    Last Updated : 2025-02-21
  • Billionaire's Choice   A Different Her

    Gabriel’s POVSaturdays used to be mine.No meetings, no endless calls, no forced conversations. Just quiet.Some mornings, I’d work out in the private gym, the rhythmic sound of weights grounding me. Other days, I’d spend hours in my study, reading reports or reviewing investments, uninterrupted. If I felt like it, I’d take the car out for a long drive with no destination—just me, the road, and silence.But that silence had been harder to find ever since I got married.I told myself nothing had changed. That I still did what I wanted, when I wanted.And yet, here I was, sitting in my private lounge, drink in hand, watching her.The live feed played on my screen, and my eyes were locked onto it. Locked onto her.Aria sat in the corner of the restaurant, completely unaware that I could see her. She was smiling—really smiling. Not the forced, polite one she gave me. Not the blank look she used when she wanted to ignore me. This was different. Effortless. Real.I let out a slow breath, s

    Last Updated : 2025-02-22
  • Billionaire's Choice   The Attack

    Gabriel’s POVThe moment I ended the call with Edward, I grabbed my keys and strode toward the garage, my mind a storm of calculations and frustration.She had insisted on leaving.I had been on my way. I had told Edward to not leave the restaurant before I got there. But Aria, being stubborn and impossible, had decided otherwise.I yanked open the driver’s side door and slid in, the engine roaring to life beneath my grip. As I pulled out of the driveway, I was already dialing Jonathan.He picked up immediately.“I need you tracking a vehicle. Grey sedan, following my wife’s car. Edward just confirmed it.”I couldn’t stop myself before I said it. My wife.There was no hesitation. “I’m on it.”“Get me everything. Were they waiting before she left? Did they tail her from the restaurant?”A few clicks on Jonathan’s end. Then: “They were parked a block away before she even stepped outside.”My jaw tightened. That confirmed it. This wasn’t a coincidence.“They’re taking the alternate route

    Last Updated : 2025-02-23
  • Billionaire's Choice   Under His Control

    Gabriel’s POVI exhaled, rolling my shoulders back before turning to her.I pulled open the passenger door, and the first thing that hit me was the sharp, acidic scent of vomit. Aria sat stiffly, her hands clenched into tight fists on her lap, her body tense. Her face was turned away from me, her breath shallow, and even in the dim light, I could see the way her shoulders shook ever so slightly.She was embarrassed.“Edward, take the car home,” I ordered, already reaching for her. “She’s coming with me.”Edward nodded.I didn’t give her the chance to speak. Instead, I reached for her—gently, but firmly. “Come here.”She hesitated, her pride forcing her to resist, but I didn’t let her. I slid one arm beneath her legs and the other around her back, and lifted her out of the car, cradling her against my chest. She weighed nothing. Her breath hitched.“I—”“Quiet.”Her body went rigid, but she didn’t fight me as I carried her toward my car. The scent of vomit lingered between us, but I di

    Last Updated : 2025-02-23
  • Billionaire's Choice   Misplaced Panic

    Gabriel’s POV The ride home was silent. Aria had fallen asleep somewhere along the way, curled up in the passenger seat with my jacket wrapped around her. She looked exhausted. Frail, even. But at least she wasn’t shivering anymore. I kept one hand on the wheel and the other adjusting the jacket over her every now and then, making sure she was warm. My driving was slower than usual—not just because I didn’t want to wake her, but because I didn’t want her panicking again. I’d seen it happen before. I wasn’t about to let it happen again tonight. As I pulled into the mansion’s driveway, my phone buzzed in the cupholder. Grandma. I exhaled sharply before answering. “You’re home?” she asked, skipping the pleasantries. “Yes.” I cut the engine. She sighed. “How is she?” “Sleeping.” I glanced at Aria, who was still motionless in the seat beside me. “She had a panic attack.” There was a pause. “I heard,” she said, voice quieter. “Jonathan called me.” Of course, he did.

    Last Updated : 2025-02-25
  • Billionaire's Choice   A Taste of Vulnerability

    Gabriel’s POV The second Aria landed on me, I knew I was in trouble. It happened so fast. One second, she was pushing at my chest, demanding I put her down, and the next, she miscalculated her step, her balance betraying her. Instead of landing on the bed, she crashed into me. Neither of us moved. My hands shot out, gripping her waist instinctively as she landed on my lap, knees on either side of my thighs. A sharp breath left me as I looked up at her, chest rising and falling rapidly. Her hands clutched my shoulders for balance, fingers digging into the fabric of my shirt like she was anchoring herself. She froze. So did I. For a split second, I forgot how to breathe. The warmth of her body, the soft press of her weight against me—it sent a dangerous jolt through my system. A feeling I hadn’t allowed myself in years. Something dark curled inside me. I wanted to devour her. I wanted to claim every shaky breath, every hesitant gaze, every moment she spent not realizing wh

    Last Updated : 2025-02-25
  • Billionaire's Choice   His Mark

    Aria’s POV This was the second time I’d gone to sleep on the couch and woken up in the bed. Gabriel had carried me. Again. I glanced around the room, half-expecting him to be standing there, watching me like the control freak he was, but he wasn’t. Where had he gone so early this morning? Well, at least this meant I could have a moment to myself. I sat up, pushing the blanket off me, and glanced over at the couch. It was empty, like I had never been there in the first place. No pillow, no blanket, nothing. He hadn’t just moved me, he had made sure there was no trace of my stubbornness. My gaze flicked to the nightstand, where a tray of food sat next to a bottle of pills. Scrambled eggs, toast, and a glass of orange juice. Neat and intentional. Next to it was a small folded note. I reached for the note, unfolding it with slow fingers. It read: “Eat. Take your meds.” A part of me knew I should just eat the damn food. I was hungry. But the other more stubborn part of me still

    Last Updated : 2025-02-26
  • Billionaire's Choice   Stay Here

    Gabriel’s POVThe scent of damp concrete and stale air filled the basement beneath my private villa. The room was dimly lit, a single overhead bulb casting shadows against the rough walls. The man we had caught; Aria’s stalker, was tied to a steel chair, his wrists bound behind him, his head slumped forward. Blood trailed from his split lip, staining the collar of his shirt.Jonathan stood near the entrance, arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the prisoner. To his right, Owen, the torturer, leaned against a table lined with tools. The guard, Silas, remained by the door, hands clasped behind his back, his stance rigid.I stepped forward, my footsteps echoing. The man barely lifted his head.“Has he talked?” I asked, my voice cutting through the silence.Owen sighed, rubbing his knuckles. “Not a word. Stubborn bastard.”Jonathan exhaled sharply. “We’ve tried everything. Maybe he’s just a hired hand who doesn’t know much.”I wasn’t convinced. I crouched in front of the man, gripping h

    Last Updated : 2025-02-27

Latest chapter

  • Billionaire's Choice   A Fragile Fire

    Gabriel's POVI didn’t say a word as the jet took off. The conversation with my father sat heavily in my mind, but I forced it aside. For now.I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly. The cabin lights were dim, casting a muted glow over the polished wood and leather. The hum of the engines was steady, almost soothing.Then, almost instinctively, I reached into my pocket.The familiar weight of the pocket watch pressed against my palm, cool and solid. I flicked it open with my thumb. The soft click echoed louder than it should have in the silence.And there she was, her pretty face staring back at me. My Ari, my angel. The picture was taken in our bedroom, a moment I’d stolen when she had no idea. She was in her natural state, completely unaware of the camera in my hand. Her hair was a little wild from sleep, and her eyes had that soft, distant look that made her so damn beautiful. It was a simple shot, but I loved it, because it was her, in the most authentic and unguarded way. I ha

  • Billionaire's Choice   And Another Truth

    Gabriel's POVThe silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. The air in my father's living room felt heavier than before, like the walls had closed in around us.I forced myself to breathe. To stay still. To absorb what I had just heard.Diego was family.I sat down, my body moving before my mind could fully catch up. “Explain,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.Andrew didn’t speak immediately. He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table, poured himself another glass, and stared into the amber liquid like it held the past itself. “You think you know the Deveraux family,” he said. “But you don’t. Not really.”I said nothing.He let out a slow breath. “This goes back to Richard,” he began. “My father. Your grandfather.”I knew that name well. The man who built the Deveraux empire. The man everyone claimed was ruthless, brilliant, untouchable.Andrew continued, “Richard had an affair while on a business trip to Mexico. A woman, who wasn’t just some mist

  • Billionaire's Choice   The Truth

    Gabriel's POVTCA wasn’t new to me. I had trained here for years, stepping into the ring whenever I needed an outlet. Back then, it was about control, about reminding myself that power wasn’t just about wealth or influence, it was about knowing I could end a fight before it even started.But now, it wasn’t about control.It was about survival.I adjusted my stance, muscles coiled with tension as Cole, my personal trainer, circled me. His gaze was sharp, unreadable, assessing, calculating. There was no sympathy in his eyes, no wasted words. Just the demand for perfection."You’re too slow," he said flatly. "Again."TCA wasn’t a regular gym. It was where professionals trained; fighters, bodyguards, men who understood that losing wasn’t an option.There were no influencers shadowboxing in front of mirrors, no weekend warriors pretending to be something they weren’t. This was a place for men who needed to be ready for war.I wasn’t new to combat, but this wasn’t about street fights or bru

  • Billionaire's Choice   Bait.

    Gabriel’s POVDominic’s update came in like clockwork.Aria had taken the promotion. No hesitation. No second-guessing. She thought it was luck. The right place, the right time, the perfect opportunity falling into her hands. And why wouldn’t she? That was the world I wanted her to live in. A world where doors opened for her effortlessly, where she could step into the future she deserved without ever knowing whose hands had cleared the path.Her brother’s scholarship had come through. Full ride. Mentorship, books, everything covered. Another twist of fate in her mind. Another reason to believe life had finally started working in her favor.I leaned back, exhaling slowly. She was happy. She was thriving. And for now, she was safe.I should have been satisfied. I should have let it be enough. But it wasn’t. It never would be. I still wasn’t breathing right.Because I wasn’t there. Because I wasn’t the one she was coming home to at the end of the day, the one she was smiling at when she

  • Billionaire's Choice   Blessing In Disguise

    Aria's POVThe walk to work was peaceful, the kind of morning that made me grateful for this change. The air was crisp, the streets quieter than what I was used to, and for once, I didn’t feel like I was constantly racing against something I couldn’t see.Lennox & Co. Publishing was not the biggest publishing house in the country, but it was reputable, respected. It had an impressive catalog of bestsellers, a growing influence in the industry, and most importantly, a work culture that wasn’t suffocating. Here, creativity thrived. Ideas were encouraged, not dismissed. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was in a space where I could breathe.As I pushed through the glass doors, the familiar hum of morning activity greeted me. The scent of coffee lingered in the air, blending with the faint aroma of paper and ink. Editors and assistants moved around with purpose, some already deep in conversations about manuscripts and market trends.I had barely settled at my desk when I h

  • Billionaire's Choice   The Betrayal

    GABRIEL’S POVLetting her go was supposed to protect her. That was the only reason I did it. I told myself that if I walked away, if I created enough distance, she would be safe. But it had been two months, and I was lying to myself if I thought I had ever truly let her go.I wasn’t there with her. I wasn’t beside her when she woke up or when she fell asleep, but I still knew everything. Where she lived. Where she worked. Who she spoke to. What time she left her apartment in the morning. What time she returned. The smallest details of her life reached me because I made sure they did.It wasn’t about control. It was about protection.Aria thought she had a fresh start. A new city. A new job. A life away from me.But there was no such thing as away when it came to her.I knew everything.I knew she had gone back to Colorado, back to the only family she had left. I knew she lived in a small apartment a few blocks from her workplace, in a neighborhood that was safe but not safe enough for

  • Billionaire's Choice   New Chapter

    Aria’s POVIt had been exactly two months since that night.Two months since I had gasped for breath, my body thrashing against the weight of water pulling me under. Since my lungs burned, my chest clenched, my limbs flailed uselessly in the cold grip of the pool. I had never learned how to swim. The moment I hit the water, panic took over, swallowing every rational thought. I could still remember the way my pulse had hammered in my ears, the desperate way I had kicked and clawed at nothing, the helplessness of realizing I couldn’t save myself.Then hands. Strong, steady hands cutting through the water, pulling me up, dragging me toward the surface. Air rushed into my lungs in sharp, painful gulps the moment I broke free from the depths. I had coughed, sputtering, gripping onto the stranger who had saved me as if my life depended on it because it had. I never got his name. Never saw his face clearly through the haze of fear and chlorine-stung eyes. By the time my friends arrived, brea

  • Billionaire's Choice   When Poison Wears a Smile

    Aria’s POVTime blurred in Nicole’s apartment. Days and nights folded into each other, indistinguishable. I wasn’t counting them. I barely acknowledged their passing. I simply moved through them, existing in a cycle of forced normalcy.Wake up.Eat when they made me.Sleep when exhaustion became heavier than the ache in my chest.Repeat.The world outside moved on without me. But in here, in the warm cocoon of Nicole’s home, I was frozen in place.I didn’t cry. Not in front of them. Not when Liv cracked jokes that were funnier in her head than out loud. Not when Jenna threw on ridiculous reality shows, hoping for an eye roll or even a scoff from me. Not even when Nicole who was always effortlessly put together, sat cross-legged on the floor in sweats, painting my nails in silence because she knew words wouldn’t fix this.They didn’t let me sink completely.They hovered, filling the space around me with warmth, chatter, and relentless attempts to pull me back into the world.And tonigh

  • Billionaire's Choice   Final Act of Cruelty

    Gabriel's POVMorning comes like a slow, merciless execution.The sheets beside me are cold. The space where she had once been—where her warmth had lingered hours ago—is empty now. I stare at it for too long, my body still, my mind awake but unwilling to move. Maybe if I stay like this, if I don’t breathe too deep, the weight in my chest won’t crush me whole.But reality isn’t kind. It never is.Aria is gone.The realization is a sharp, unforgiving blade. I told myself last night that this was necessary, that this was the only way. I had made my choice. And yet, the silence she left behind feels like a living thing, curling around me, digging its claws in.I exhale through my nose, forcing my body upright. The world will talk. The media will speculate. That’s the least of my concerns.Because as long as Aria is still my wife, she’ll never stop being a target.I knew this the moment I saw the tattoo on the man who tried to take her. The same tattoo Antonia had. The same one I’d seen be

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status