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CHAPTER 18
Last Updated:
2024-12-01 01:57:12
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 19
The grainy video replayed in Maya’s mind on a relentless loop, even as she sat in Zane’s suite, staring blankly at the ornate pattern on the rug beneath her feet. Zane’s words, faint but distinct, haunted her:“If they think Maya’s a liability—”A liability. The word sank like a stone in her chest. No matter how much Zane had assured her of her importance, his actions always seemed laced with contradictions. He was a protector, yes, but at what point would she become a burden too heavy to bear?Her phone buzzed again, pulling her back to the present. Another message from the unknown number lit up the screen:“Leave now. He can’t save you from what’s coming.”Maya’s pulse quickened as the meaning of the message settled over her. She was trapped. Zane wanted her to trust him, but the shadows that lingered around him—and within the house—made that trust impossible.The suite door opened, and Zane stepped inside. His sharp silver eyes immediately locked onto her, narrowing as he noticed h
Last Updated : 2024-12-01Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 20
The estate was eerily silent as Maya wandered through the dimly lit corridors, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. The recent revelations had shattered the fragile sense of security she had begun to build. Helena's cold demeanor, Luca's subtle manipulations, and Isabella's sudden reappearance—all had conspired to make her feel like an outsider in a world she barely understood.Her hand instinctively rested on her growing belly, the life within her a constant reminder of the stakes at play. She had come to care deeply for Zane, but the web of deceit surrounding them threatened to unravel everything.As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with Alex, Zane's most trusted man. His expression softened upon seeing her."Miss Maya," he greeted, his voice laced with concern. "Is everything alright?"Maya forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Just... thinking."Alex studied her for a moment, his gaze sharp. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."She nodded
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 21
The confrontation with Helena had left Maya emotionally drained, but her resolve was stronger than ever. She couldn’t allow herself to be intimidated by Zane’s mother. Still, as she sat in the quiet of Zane’s suite later that evening, the weight of Helena’s threats hung heavy on her chest.Her father’s past was a shadow she had spent years trying to outrun. Financial fraud, whispered scandals—things she had buried to protect her family’s reputation. And now Helena had unearthed it, her weapon aimed directly at Maya’s heart.Maya’s hands trembled as she stared at her phone, her instincts warring with her growing desperation.Should I warn my father? Should I tell him what Helena knows?The thought was interrupted by Zane’s arrival. He stepped into the room, his presence commanding as always, but his expression carried a heaviness that matched her own.“She won’t stop, Maya,” he said, sitting beside her. “Helena thrives on control. The more we push back, the more ruthless she’ll become.
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 22
The weight of Helena’s threat lingered in Maya’s mind long after their conversation. Each step she took through the grand Moretti estate felt heavier, her resolve to stay strong warring with the gnawing fear that her father’s secrets could come to light at any moment.Maya paced Zane’s suite that evening, her thoughts racing. The opulent surroundings, with their marble floors and crystal chandeliers, seemed more like a gilded cage than a sanctuary. Every corner of this life felt like a stage where Helena, Luca, and Isabella played their roles to perfection—scheming, manipulating, and undermining her at every turn.She couldn’t afford to be a passive spectator anymore.The following morning, Maya awoke to find Zane already gone, leaving only a brief note on the nightstand:“Gone to the city for a meeting. Alex is nearby if you need anything. Stay vigilant.”The absence of his commanding presence made her feel exposed, as though the walls of the estate had grown teeth. Determined not to
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 23
The morning air was crisp, but Maya barely noticed as she made her way through the estate grounds, Alex’s firm strides keeping pace beside her. The note’s ominous message—“Leave or die”—was burned into her mind, pushing her past fear and into a realm of cold determination.She wasn’t running.For too long, she had let others control the narrative, treat her like a pawn in a game she didn’t understand. That ended today.Alex led her to a secluded corner of the estate, away from prying eyes and ears. The small utility building housed security feeds and communication equipment that even Zane didn’t fully utilize.“We’ll start here,” Alex said, his voice low and focused. “Whoever’s behind this note, the cameras might’ve caught something. But this won’t be easy—they’ve been careful.”Maya nodded, her resolve hardening. “Then we’ll be thorough.”The surveillance footage rolled in silence, the timestamps flashing as Alex fast-forwarded through hours of uneventful clips. Maya leaned over his
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 24
The Moretti estate was alive with quiet activity the next morning, as Zane’s security team began their meticulous sweep of the household staff. Maya sat at the breakfast table, her appetite nonexistent as she watched Alex speak to a cluster of staff members with a clipboard in hand. Each person was questioned, their credentials scrutinized under the watchful eyes of two armed guards. It should have brought her a sense of relief, but it didn’t. The walls of the estate felt as though they were closing in, the weight of suspicion pressing on everyone. Even the household staff, people she had come to recognize and trust, now felt like strangers. Zane entered the room, his presence a mixture of calm authority and seething determination. He poured himself a coffee, his movements deliberate as his silver eyes swept over her. “They’ll find something,” he said, as if reading her mind. “And if they don’t?” Maya asked softly, her fingers toying with the edge of her napkin. Zane set the cof
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 25
The Moretti estate seemed darker that night, its sprawling corridors shrouded in an oppressive silence. Maya sat in Zane’s suite, her knees drawn to her chest as she stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace. The note she’d found earlier burned in her mind, its chilling message looping in her thoughts: *“She’s the key. Break her, and he falls.”* The weight of it pressed down on her. She couldn’t deny it anymore—she was a pawn in a game far more dangerous than she’d imagined. Zane entered the room quietly, his presence a comfort despite the tension lingering between them. He poured a glass of whiskey, his movements deliberate as he joined her by the fire. “You’re too quiet,” he said softly, his silver eyes studying her. Maya didn’t respond immediately, her fingers tightening around the blanket draped over her shoulders. “I keep wondering what they mean by ‘break her,’” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. Zane’s jaw tightened, his gaze flicking to the fire.
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 26
The Moretti estate seemed to hum with unspoken tension the following morning, the air thick with a sense of unease. Maya awoke to find Zane already gone, his side of the bed cold and empty. A note on the nightstand simply read:“I’m handling it. Stay in the suite. Alex will update you.”But staying put was the last thing Maya wanted to do. The message left on her pillow the night before—“You’re running out of time”—had stolen what little sleep she’d managed to find.She couldn’t ignore the warning. Whoever had placed the note was becoming bolder, their presence almost taunting.But the question remained: Was it a direct threat, or a calculated distraction?Despite Zane’s insistence that she stay confined to the suite, Maya found herself wandering the estate once again. There was too much happening for her to sit idly by.She returned to the western wing, retracing her steps to the surveillance room she’d discovered earlier. To her surprise, the room had been emptied. The corkboard, ph
Last Updated : 2024-12-05
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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
