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CHAPTER 41
Last Updated:
2024-12-11 00:23:07
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 42
The estate’s tension had reached a fever pitch by the next morning. Maya could feel it in every strained interaction, every clipped conversation. But this time, she wasn’t content to sit back and wait for the next blow to land.She had decided to fight back, and she would start by understanding the battlefield.A Search for AnswersMaya spent the morning in the library again, combing through records and documents. She needed to know more about the Moretti family’s tangled web of alliances, betrayals, and power plays.Her search was interrupted by Alex, who appeared in the doorway, his expression cautious.“You’ve been busy,” he said, stepping inside.Maya closed the folder in front of her and looked up. “I need to know what I’m up against, Alex. Helena, Luca—they’re playing games, and I can’t fight them if I don’t understand the rules.”Alex hesitated, then nodded. “I can’t give you everything, but I can tell you this much—Helena’s not just trying to undermine you. She’s testing you.
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 43
The estate felt like a pressure cooker, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Every interaction with Helena or Luca seemed charged with hidden motives, every silence laced with unsaid words. Maya woke early, her mind spinning with plans. She wouldn’t let them keep her on the defensive any longer.Today, she would act.Testing the WatersAt breakfast, Maya sat across from Helena, the older woman impeccably dressed as always. Zane was absent, already immersed in business matters, leaving the two women alone in the cavernous dining room.Helena regarded Maya with her usual coolness. “You’re up early,” she remarked, sipping her tea.“I’ve been thinking about the family’s future,” Maya replied, keeping her tone even.Helena arched a brow, clearly intrigued. “Have you? And what insights has this reflection brought you?”Maya leaned forward slightly, her gaze steady. “That this family is only as strong as its unity. And that the cracks need to be repaired before they become fracture
Last Updated : 2024-12-12Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 44
The estate’s oppressive atmosphere showed no sign of lifting. Maya had been up since dawn, her mind racing as she pieced together what she’d learned. Helena’s use of a private investigator confirmed her suspicions—Helena wasn’t just undermining her, she was actively trying to destroy her credibility.But Maya wasn’t going to let it happen.The Gala InvitationOver breakfast, Zane slid an invitation across the table toward Maya. She glanced at it, the elegant gold lettering catching the light.“What’s this?” she asked, picking it up.“The Blackwell Charity Gala,” Zane said. “It’s one of the most high-profile events of the year. We need to make an appearance.”Maya frowned, her chest tightening at the thought of mingling with the elites of Zane’s world, many of whom she knew were eager to see her fail. “Do you think it’s a good idea for me to go?”Zane’s silver eyes softened as he reached for her hand. “You belong by my side, Maya. This is our chance to show everyone that nothing can sh
Last Updated : 2024-12-12Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 45
The gala may have ended, but the echoes of the evening lingered in Maya’s mind. She lay awake in the suite, staring at the ceiling as the weight of Helena’s schemes and Luca’s manipulations pressed against her resolve. Despite standing her ground, the night had reminded her how relentless her adversaries were.Beside her, Zane slept soundly, his features relaxed for the first time in days. Maya found comfort in his presence, but she couldn’t ignore the growing storm brewing within the Moretti family.If Helena and Luca wanted to play games, she would need to be ready for whatever they threw at her next.A Morning of Subtle BarbsThe next morning, Maya joined Helena in the sunroom, aware that avoiding her would only give the older woman more ammunition. The room was bright and airy, a sharp contrast to the icy tension between them.“Good morning, Maya,” Helena greeted, her tone pleasant but her eyes cold.“Good morning,” Maya replied, taking a seat across from her.Helena sipped her te
Last Updated : 2024-12-13Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 46
The morning was unusually quiet at the Moretti estate, the kind of quiet that felt heavy with anticipation. Maya couldn’t shake the feeling that the storm brewing within the family was about to break. She had spent the night piecing together the events of the past few days—Luca’s cryptic threats, Zane’s confrontation, Helena’s manipulative advice.Her instincts told her that something big was coming.Helena’s Moves in the ShadowsMaya hadn’t seen Helena all morning, and that alone was cause for suspicion. She knew by now that when Helena was out of sight, she was likely orchestrating something behind the scenes.She found Alex in the security wing, his focus on a bank of monitors.“Alex,” she said, stepping inside.He glanced up, his expression neutral but alert. “Maya. What’s going on?”“Have you seen Helena today?” she asked, her tone carefully casual.Alex frowned. “She left the estate early this morning. Said she had errands to run, but I wasn’t given any specifics.”Maya’s chest
Last Updated : 2024-12-13Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 47
The following morning dawned with an ominous stillness that Maya could feel deep in her chest. The Moretti estate, though tranquil on the surface, was a battleground, with invisible lines drawn and tension crackling in the air.She dressed quickly, her mind racing with everything she’d learned. Helena’s covert meetings, Luca’s alliance with Donovan, and Zane’s growing frustration—it was all converging into something explosive.Maya wasn’t sure how it would play out, but she knew one thing: she needed to be ready.An Uneasy BreakfastThe dining room was unusually quiet. Maya sat at the table, across from Helena, who sipped her tea with an air of composed authority. Zane was absent again, immersed in business dealings, leaving Maya and Helena to their unspoken battle.“You seem troubled this morning,” Helena said, breaking the silence.Maya glanced up, her expression calm. “Not at all. Just thinking about the future.”Helena’s lips curved into a faint smile, but her eyes glinted with co
Last Updated : 2024-12-14Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 48
The following morning, the Moretti estate was unusually quiet, a deceptive calm that only heightened Maya’s unease. She could feel the tension in the air, as though everyone was bracing for the next move in the dangerous game that had enveloped the family.Luca’s threats, Helena’s cryptic warnings, and the note left in her suite were all fragments of a storm she knew was about to break. Maya was determined not to be caught unprepared.Helena’s Calculated MovesMaya found Helena in the sitting room, seated gracefully with a newspaper folded in her lap. The older woman’s composure was as immaculate as ever, her sharp eyes lifting to meet Maya’s as she entered.“Maya,” Helena said smoothly. “What an early start for you. Planning something?”Maya forced a polite smile. “Just preparing for the day. There’s a lot to think about.”Helena arched a brow, her smile faint. “Indeed. Preparation is key in our world. But sometimes, no amount of planning can account for unexpected… complications.”M
Last Updated : 2024-12-14Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 49
The Moretti estate felt like it was holding its breath, the calm before the inevitable storm. Maya moved through the halls with a newfound determination, her resolve hardened by the knowledge of Helena and Luca’s schemes. Zane had always been her anchor, but now she was determined to be his shield as well.Whatever happened next, she wouldn’t falter.Helena’s Subtle TestMaya found Helena in the conservatory, her presence as poised and commanding as ever. The older woman was tending to the orchids, her every movement deliberate.“Maya,” Helena greeted, her tone smooth. “I was wondering when you might stop by. Care to join me?”Maya hesitated, then stepped closer. “Of course.”Helena gestured to a nearby chair, her gaze sharp despite her pleasant smile. “You’ve been keeping busy lately. I do hope you’re not overexerting yourself. The stress of family matters can be… taxing.”Maya met Helena’s gaze evenly, refusing to show any sign of weakness. “I’m managing just fine. In fact, I find t
Last Updated : 2024-12-15
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 197
A War with No WinnersThe ballroom was silent.Too silent.The sort of silence before a storm.Maya was in the center, frozen, her green eyes fixed on her brother.Aaron’s mouth curved into a sneering grin.Donovan stood next to him, too cocky for a dead dude.Zane was close to her, as always, impassive.Victor and Elara stood to either side, weapons concealed but at the ready.This wasn’t a negotiation.This was a powder keg poised to detonate.And Maya?She was done waiting.Blood Doesn't Make a FamilyMaya stepped slowly forward and spoke in a cold voice. “Why are you here, Aaron?”Her brother tilted his head. “You invited me.”Maya exhaled. “I invited you to end this.”Aaron’s smirk faded. “And what does that mean to you?”Zane’s voice was sharp. “It looks like you and your pet rat exiting this city. Alive, if you’re lucky.”Donovan chuckled. “Ah, Moretti. Still as dramatic as ever.”Zane didn’t blink. “And you’re still alive. Unfortunately,”Maya’s stomach twisted. “How?”Donovan
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 196
The Aftermath of a War That Should Never Have HappenedMaya stood frozen with her heart still pounding in her chest, her head whirling.Aaron knelt, blood streaming from the gunshot wound in his shoulder, gasping for breath.Zane was next to her, tense, silent, his silver eyes fixed so securely on her brother that it was as if he were waiting for a reason to complete the job.The war was supposed to be over.And yet—It didn’t feel like victory.Maya gripped her gun tighter.She had been given a choice.And she had chosen mercy.Had she made the right call?Or had she merely postponed the inevitable?A Brother and an EnemyAaron laughed, gasping for breath, bitter.His hand pressed against the wound in his shoulder, blood pooling between his fingers.His voice was rough. “So that’s it? You’re just going to let me live?Maya swallowed. “Yes.”Aaron’s eyes darkened. “Then you’re a fool.”Zane exhaled sharply. “She’s not the stupid here, Aaron.”Aaron’s eyes flashed to him, doused with h
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 195
Betrayal in the BloodLaying eyes on Victor, Maya’s heart raced in her chest.Aaron.Her brother.Her blood.The one who'd always stood with her.And now?Now he was in charge of the very organization she had struggled to escape.They walked to her side, Zane’s body tense as he stared down Victor, silver eyes narrowed. “How long?”Victor’s expression was grim. “A week. Maybe less.”Maya swallowed hard. “Does he know where we are?”Victor exhaled sharply. “Not yet. But it won’t take him long.”Silence.Heavy. Suffocating.Maya’s mind raced.Aaron had always been ambitious, but ruthless?No.Not him.Not the brother who had guarded her countless nights.Not the boy who had once carried her home after she scraped her knee.Zane’s voice was low. “Maya.”She blinked, glancing up at him.His jaw was tight, his face inscrutable. “Say the words.”Maya frowned. “What words?”Zane’s silver eyes darkened. “Tell me to kill him.”Her heart stopped.“Zane—”His voice sharpened. “Maya, he won’t stop
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 194
A Heart That Refuses to StopIt was relief like Zane had never known.The doctor’s words — “She’s alive” — ricocheted in his skull, over and over, melding into the crevices of his sanity.His knees almost buckled.But he didn’t move.Couldn’t.Because the fear still remained.To be alive wasn’t the same as to be safe.Being alive didn’t mean they were out of danger.Alive wasn’t enough.He needed her awake. He needed her talking. He had needed her at every stage to fight him as always she did.Zane’s voice was hoarse, raw. “Can I see her?”The doctor hesitated. “She’s still unconscious. We were able to stop the bleeding, but she bled a lot.”Zane clenched his fists. “How bad?”The doctor exhaled. “She’s stable. But she’s not out of the woods yet.”Not out of the woods.Not safe.Zane turned, shoving a hand through his hair. “What are her chances?”The doctor hesitated. “We will know more in the next 24 hours.”Zane’s pulse hammered.He had 24 hours to wait.24 hours to worry whether M
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 193
The Cost of VictoryHelena Moretti’s lifeless body sprawled on the ground, her blood pooling on the floors of cold marble.The woman who had wrought so much ruin, who had lied, connived and murdered without a second thought — was gone.Elara blew phantom smoke from the end of her gun. "Well, that was satisfying."No one responded.Because even though Helena Moretti was dead, the war wasn’t finished.Maya could feel it.A storm still hung in the air, a one which no blood could wash away.She glanced at Zane, whose face was a mask, his silver eyes fixed on his mother’s lifeless body.As for what he was thinking, she did not know.Did he feel relief?Pain?Or was he numbed to the weight of what had just happened?Maya reached for his hand; he flinched.Her chest tightened."Zane?"He finally looked at her.It wasn’t the man she loved looking back at her.It was someone else.Someone... lost.A Broken ManZane sucked in his breath, a hand dragging over his face as blood smeared across his
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 192
The Aftermath of BetrayalMaya and Zane strolled the wrecked corridors of the estate, hand in hand, their bodies bruised but still standing.Gunpowder, blood, and smoke filled the air.Maya could still hear her father’s voice in her ears — the threat, the warning.He’d released her, but she understood not to believe it was finished.Her father never forgot anything.Zane limped next to her, his hold on her hand steady, despite his face being pale from blood loss.Maya squeezed his fingers. “You need medical attention.”Zane let out a rough breath. “I want you to stop worrying about me for five minutes.Maya glared. “Not happening.”Behind them, Elara snorted. “God, you two are exhausting. “Just tell each other that you love each other, and move on.”Maya shot her a look. “We literally just did.”Elara grinned. “Yeah, yeah. But I’m gonna need the full dramatic ‘I can’t live without you’ scene. “Preferably with more kissing.”Zane groaned, rubbing at his temple. “Why do we keep her arou
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 191
The Throne or FreedomMaya was sitting in the wreckage of a world she had destroyed.Her father was no more, not dead — but broken and bleeding, aware that he had lost.Zane had survived — but just, his flesh one step from death, his heart blazing like flame.Elara stood by the door, arms folded, watching like someone at the end of a war.And Maya?Maya had made her choice.She had defied her father.She had saved Zane.And now — she had to figure out what’s next.Because this war was never actually over.Not yet.Not until she made a choice about where she belonged.Her father’s voice resounded in her mind:“You aren’t a pawn in anyone’s game. You are the queen.”Then, right after came Zane’s words:“You don’t belong to them. You don’t belong to me. You belong to yourself.”Two men who attempted to take possession of her in their own ways.But only one remained by her side.And tonight, she had almost lost him.Her hands balled into fists.She would not let that happen again.No matt
Bound 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
Bound 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
