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CHAPTER 182
Last Updated:
2025-03-02 00:18:22
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 183
The Weight of the ThroneThe estate was silent. Too silent.Maya walked through the great doors, heels clicking against marble floors. The air was rich with aged wood and strength—the kind of strength that countries had built.She didn’t belong here.Not yet.But she would.She had to.Elara paused outside a door, then strode across the hall, through the shadows of a series of low-lit corridors, moving as if she had walked the space a thousand times.Maya hesitated.Not out of fear.Out of the gut certainty that this was the start of something inescapable.Her father strode beside her, thick and oppressive.“I kept wondering how long it would take you to come home,” he said.Maya didn’t answer.She wasn’t home.She was in enemy territory.Even if it was her own flesh and blood enemy.Her father took them into a vast study, decorated with bookshelves and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the darkened city below.He gestured for her to sit.She remained standing.Her father
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 184
The Night Before the WarMaya stood on the balcony, as the cold night air brushed her skin.She could feel it.The weight.The moment right before everything fell apart.She gripped the railing with her fingers.She had made her choice.Or so she kept telling herself.But deep in that part of her that was still Zane Moretti’s, she knew—This wasn’t over.Not even close.The door behind her creaked open.She didn’t turn.She didn’t need to.She knew who it was.Her father.His voice was calm, measured. “You’re restless.”Maya exhaled slowly. “No. I’m thinking.”She heard him step closer.“Thinking about what?”Maya’s eyes stayed fixed on the city below.“I don’t trust you,” she said in a muted voice.Instead, she felt his smile in her body. “Good. That means you’re learning.”My fingers dug into the railing.She turned to face him. “Why am I really here?”Her father didn’t blink. Didn’t hesitate.“For you are the future of the Order.”Maya’s pulse spiked.She had expected him to lie.T
Last Updated : 2025-03-03Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 185
The Eve of ChangeMaya held her phone tightly between hands as she sat on the edge of her bed, mouth agape, staring at the single word on the screen.“No.”Zane’s response was short. Final. Unshakable.She might say anything, but it did not matter. What she did.He was coming.Maya exhaled sharply.She had known this would come to pass.Zane was something of the never-letting-go type of man.But this?This wasn’t just a rescue.This was a war.And she was in the thick of it.A knock at the door brought her back to reality.She hesitated. “Come in.”The door creaked open, and Elara stepped, arms crossed, inside.For once, she didn’t look amused. Didn’t smirk.She just stared. Long. Hard. Calculating.“He’s coming, isn’t he?”Maya didn’t answer.She didn’t need to.Elara sighed, stepping deeper into the room. “You really are in deep, aren’t you?Maya looked away.She had spent so much time convincing herself she could deal with this.That she could outthink them. Outmaneuver them.But e
Last Updated : 2025-03-03Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 186
The Storm Has ArrivedMaya gripped the railing tightly, looking into the darkness.Zane was here.He had come for her.Just like he said he would.Her heart beat out a riot inside her chest as his shape slipped through the gloom, quiet, controlled, deadly.A part of her had known this moment would arrive.The moment when she would finally have to choose.But now that it had arrived—now that he stood on the very fringes of the estate, a predator poised to pounce—She wasn’t ready.She took a deep breath of the cold night air.What did she do?Did she call the guards? Alert her father?Did she let this play out?Did she—Maya shut her eyes.The truth was, she didn’t know what she wanted anymore.All she knew was Zane Moretti wasn’t going anywhere without her.And that meant tonight was going to end with blood.Zane’s GambleZane crouched behind the stone wall that marked the estate’s edge, his mind as sharp as a blade.The guards were where he had good reason to expect them to be.The M
Last Updated : 2025-03-04Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 187
The Final StandThe tension in the room hung like a living thing.She could sense it—pressing, suffocating, scraping at the edges of her sanity.Zane stood before her, body taut, poised.Her father faced him, weapon aloft, eyes keen, steady.And that’s when it hit Maya—It was more than a struggle for control.This was a battle for her.The two most dangerous men in her life.The man who had given her life.And the man who had taught her to fight for it.Zane’s voice was low, steady. “Put the gun down.”Her father smirked. “Or what?”Zane tightened his hand on his own gun. “Or I’ll bury you in the ground.”Maya’s breath caught.Her father tilted his head. “You’d kill me?”Zane didn’t blink. “Without hesitation.”Before either could move, Maya stepped between them.“Stop.”Zane’s gaze snapped to hers. “Maya, get out of the way.”She shook her head. “No.”Her father’s voice was slick, restrained. “You see, Zane? And this is why you’ve already lost. She’s one of us now.”Zane’s eyes burn
Last Updated : 2025-03-04Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 188
The Final ChoiceMaya’s heartbeat was a war drum, a pounding, relentless, deafening cadence.The earth was on fire around her.Smoke. Gunfire. Explosions.And at the heart of it all — her.Her father waited at the end of the hall, hand extended, eyes steady, calculating.Beside her stood Zane, holding her wrist, his silver eyes dark with something she couldn’t name.And Elara?Elara was standing at the side smirking like she was just here for the show.“Make a choice, Maya,” the father said.Zane’s grip tightened. “You already made it, baby. You just have to say it the way it is.”Maya’s chest ached.This was it.The moment she’d dreaded and run from her whole life.Not just since she met Zane.Not since she learned who she really was.Everything had come down to this decision for her life.And for the first time—She was unsure if she had the strength to do that.The Weight of the Past“Maya.”Her father’s voice was quiet, confident. You’ve always belonged with us.”Maya’s nails pres
Last Updated : 2025-03-05Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 189
The Fall of Zane MorettiOnce Maya stopped holding Zane’s hand, the world changed.It wasn’t just a decision.It was a death sentence.Not for her.For him.Zane Moretti — the man who set fire to empires for her, who never lost a fight, who survived the worst in men — was standing alone.And she had made it happen.The weight of it crushed her.Her father clutched her fingers even tighter.“You’ve made the correct choice.”But had she?Had she really?Because as she turned, as she made herself look at Zane, she saw it—When his heart turned to stone.The moment when the love he felt for her died.Or maybe not died.Perhaps it turned into something else.Something colder.Darker.Something she may never fix.The Silence Before the StormNo one spoke.The guards encircled Zane, their weapons drawn, eyes keen, awaiting an order.He didn’t move.Didn’t blink.Didn’t fight.And that scared Maya worse than anything.Surrendering was not something Zane would do.He was not the sort of man to
Last Updated : 2025-03-05Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 190
The Decision That Can Alter EverythingMaya touched her father’s holster, the gun inside, her mind whirling.In this moment, she could feel everything.The weight of the decision.The oppressive stillness of the room.Zane’s heavy breathing behind her.Elara’s piercing, entertained scrutiny, monitoring her as if this were some kind of game.Her father’s serene, steady smile.Like he already knew what she would say.As if this were always the plan.Tick tock, daughter.Her breath hitched.She could end this.Right here. Right now.She could take the gun. Pull the trigger.Kill the man who had lured her, created her, destroyed her world, hole by hole, and jagged edge.Zane was dying on the floor.She had to do something.She had to act.Maya gripped the gun.Her father’s smile widened.And then—She turned.And aimed it at Zane.The World StoppedThe room froze.Zane’s silver gaze met hers, hot with agony, disbelief — betrayal.Her father’s expression did not change. “Smart girl.”Elara
Last Updated : 2025-03-06
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 236
Maya gazed out at the city through the window of her penthouse, watching the dawn break over the skyline. It was quiet now, but she knew it wouldn’t be for long. This war with Gabriel was nearing its final act, and by the sunset, one would be left victorious.She turned as she heard the door open. Zane walked inside, silver eyes sharp, movements measured, but she knew enough of him to feel the tautness behind his calm demeanor.“It’s time,” he said simply.Maya nodded. “Then let’s finish this.”Moretti Corp – War RoomThe normal tension in the war room had changed. No longer the vagueness of battle — but the gleam of victory. When Maya and Zane came in, Victor, Luca, and Adrian were already sitting. A huge digital map of the city was projected on the wall, red markers showing Gabriel’s known assets and weak points.Victor reclined in his chair. “We’ve tightened the noose. Gabriel’s financial network is collapsing, his allies are betraying him, and his only remaining political connecti
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 235
Gabriel Montclair clicked off the television, flinging the remote onto his desk with a muffled thud. He’d seen Maya’s interview from beginning to end, dissecting every word, every motion, every well-chosen pause. She hadn’t merely evaded his strike — she had turned it on him.He breathed out, letting the silence of his study settle over him. He had underestimated her. He could admit that now. Maya Moretti wasn’t merely a fearsome adversary — she was a survivor. Yet if he was going to win this war, he had to adapt.A knock on the door broke him from his musings.“Come in,” he called, his voice steady.The door opened and in stepped Ethan Blackwood. Ethan had been Gabriel’s second for as long as he could remember, a man who worked in the shadows, taking care of the parts of the business that Gabriel didn’t like to touch to keep his hands clean.“You saw the interview,” Ethan said, not even asking.Gabriel sat back in his chair. “I did.”Ethan closed the door behind him and walked ahead,
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 234
Maya paced her Moretti Corp. office as the weight of the impending war hung heavy on her shoulders. The early-morning sun poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the sleek interior in a golden light, but she hardly noticed. The papers on her desk began to fade together and her mind raced through the alternatives.Gabriel had made his move. He had gone after her history, her marriage, the life she had built so painstakingly. And yet she was unafraid — just seething with determination.Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Zane.Zane: We need to talk. Now.Maya let out a sharp breath, suppressing a rising irritation just under the skin. She took her phone and answered.Maya: Meet me in my office. Bring Victor.Nine minutes later, the door opened and Zane came walking in with Victor hot on his heels. Zane’s face was hard to read, but his shoulders were tense. He was angry — but not at her.Victor, always a cool mastermind, tossed a file onto her desk with an air of
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 233
The day arrived too soon, dragging Maya back into the ice-well of their war with Gabriel. She paced the window at her penthouse, coffee clutched in hand, watching the city below her stir. The weight of last night’s meeting with Philip Marquez was still heavy in her mind. They had won a skirmish, but the war was still in its early stages.Next, her phone vibrated on the marble counter. A message from Zane.Zane: Victor got the first buyouts. Gabriel will be feeling the squeeze soon. Meet me at the office.Maya drank the rest of her coffee and replied by text.Maya: On my way.Her husband, Adrian, had already left for the day. Their marriage was a matter of practicality rather than of love. It was a strategic maneuver — a winning of alliances and of power. Love had never been in the contract.But still, she couldn’t help but ache at the thought of the what-ifs.Brushing the thought aside, she got dressed, putting on the armor of the woman she had become.Moretti Corp – War RoomZane was
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 232
Maya sat across from Zane in his office, eyes fixed on the latest reports spread across his desk. The tension between them was palpable, though unspoken. She knew that tight-jawed look—something wasn't right. Breaking the thick silence, she said, "Well? Are you going to tell me what has you so troubled, or must we sit here all evening stewing in uncertainty?"Zane didn't look up from the pages. "We lost three major investors this morning. Gabriel is sabotaging us financially just as he tried through his connections in The Order."Maya sighed heavily. "Do you have proof it's him pulling the strings?"Zane tossed the folder aside and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't need proof when I know his methods. He wants to crush Moretti Corp and he won't stop until he succeeds."Her eyes narrowed with steely resolve. "Then two can play at his game. If he aims to strangle us through our funds, we'll retaliate in kind."A trace of a smirk crossed Zane's stern features. "Spoken like a true p
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 231
The tension hanging over the room was palpable, with the weight of their impending choice bearing down on everyone. No turning back now—every action going forward could fortify their authority or shatter it completely.Maya placed her glass down deliberately against the polished table, her keen green eyes locking onto Zane’s. “If we’re moving ahead, it has to be flawless. No errors. No vulnerabilities.”Leaning in, Zane returned her gaze with calculated intensity glowing in his silver eyes. “I agree. We strike where they least anticipate financially, strategically. We take control before they realize what’s transpiring.”Sprawled casually in one of the leather chairs, Victor let out a low chuckle. “You two truly have a way of making corporate warfare sound sexier than shootouts.”Maya arched a brow. “Because it is.”Luca smirked from across the room. “I have to admit, witnessing this side of you, Maya, is unexpected. You appear to be genuinely enjoying the challenge.”Maya exhaled, cr
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 230
Maya perched at the head of a long glass conference table in Moretti Corp’s executive suite, tightening her grip on the edge of the financial report before her. The numbers did not seem to be adding up. Billions were on the move — just not where they were meant to be.She let out a breath through gritted teeth, forcing the unsettled feeling in her gut to subside. If this was what she suspected it was, they had a much bigger problem then The Order’s politics.Zane wore the endless scruff of a day’s stubble, and as he stood facing the skyline through the floor-to-ceiling window, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. That was how he’d been all morning — still, methodical, his mind racing a hundred moves ahead. But Maya knew him too well.He was waiting. For confirmation. For proof. For the moment he was able to flip the game on its head.Maya broke the silence. “We have a leak.”Zane didn’t turn around. “How bad?”Maya swallowed. “Bad. Money is being siphoned off in dribs and
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 229
In the conference room, everything was polished elegance. In the center was a long, dark wooden table with high-backed leather chairs surrounding it. The quiet hum of brief conversations and the sound of footsteps down the hall indicated the weight that had become almost palpable in the air of the building itself. Helena tapped her fingers lightly on the table as she stared through the window. She was not thinking of the view, or of the empire to which she belonged; she was thinking about the invisible chessboard before her. Today, it wasn’t bloodshed or conquest; today, it was about manipulation, persuasion and control.Her thoughts are broken by the sound of heels snapping against the marble floor. She gazed upward, her frigid eyes meeting the silhouette that walked in.“You’re late,” she said, her tone smooth, though with a sharp edge.“I had some… business to take care of,” Elena said, the smile on her face a little tight, insufficient. She stepped toward the table, each step long
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 228
“Well I tried.” Maya said calmly, drumming her fingers on the sleek, polished surface of the table. Tall windows poured in the morning light, bathed the skyline in gold. It was nearly serene — if not for the storm brewing deep down.This was an alternate type of battlefield. No guns. No explosions. Only power, strategy and control. And in many respects, it was more perilous than any of the wars they had fought.Zane worked his cufflinks and his cool silver eyes drifted around the room as executives filed in, all advancing a few steps like cats on concrete, gripped by a primal instinct not to step on toes. They’d all heard Curator General’s whispers — about Gabriel, about the fall of The Order’s inner circle, about the man who had scratched and clawed his way to the top with his trademark ruthlessness.Now? They were wondering if he could hold it.Victor stretched lazily in his seat next to Maya, his smirk curling as he leaned in. “Tell me, princess, are you ready to watch your husband
