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CHAPTER 57
Last Updated:
2024-12-19 02:19:19
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 58
The Moretti estate buzzed with activity as Zane and Maya prepared their counterattack. The legal and PR teams worked around the clock, combing through records to expose Helena’s lies and dismantle the fabricated narrative she’d unleashed. Maya, though steady on the surface, felt the weight of the battle in every breath. Helena’s latest move had targeted not just her reputation but her family’s name—a calculated strike meant to fracture her resolve. But Maya wasn’t breaking. ***The Media FrenzyBy mid-morning, the headlines had reached a fever pitch. *“Moretti Scandal: Maya Davis and Family Under Fire for Alleged Corruption.”* Paparazzi gathered outside the estate, their cameras flashing incessantly at anyone who entered or left. The media frenzy fed on itself, spinning Helena’s fake documents into a storm of speculation and suspicion. Maya sat with Reese in one of the smaller sitting rooms, scrolling through the endless stream of articles. Her best friend leaned against the sof
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 59
The calm that settled over the Moretti estate felt unnatural, like the eye of a hurricane. Maya had begun to relax, her trust in Zane’s strength and their shared resilience solidifying. But the quieter things became, the more she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brewing, just out of sight.Helena had gone silent, and that alone was unsettling.A Ripple in the CalmMaya was in the garden, the crisp morning air offering a rare moment of peace. She ran her fingers along the petals of a white rose, letting the simplicity of the moment steady her nerves.Reese appeared at her side, her presence comforting as always. “You seem lost in thought,” Reese said.Maya glanced at her friend and smiled faintly. “Just trying to enjoy the quiet while it lasts.”Reese smirked. “With Helena in the picture, quiet never lasts long.”Maya’s smile faded as her fingers paused on a thorn. “Do you think she’s really done? That we’ve beaten her?”Reese sighed. “Helena’s too proud to let this go. If
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 60
The tension in the Moretti estate had shifted from a smoldering undercurrent to an oppressive weight, heavy with anticipation. Every member of the household seemed to move more carefully, their steps quieter, their gazes more cautious. Helena’s message had rattled everyone, but Zane refused to let it take root.For Maya, the stakes had never been higher. It wasn’t just about her reputation or her place in the Moretti family anymore. Helena’s grasp on her father’s company was a new kind of leverage—one that threatened the fragile stability Maya’s family had managed to maintain.Helena’s Shadow LoomsTwo days later, Alex brought news that made Maya’s heart sink.“We’ve confirmed Helena’s ties to the DeLuca family,” Alex said during a meeting in Zane’s study. “The connection is subtle—hidden behind multiple layers of shell companies and intermediaries—but it’s there. She’s aligning herself with them for financial backing and influence.”Zane sat behind his desk, his silver eyes blazing w
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The silence in the Moretti estate was deceptive, a brittle veneer over the storm brewing beneath. Despite Zane’s reassurances and the work his team was doing to counter Helena’s schemes, Maya couldn’t shake the tension that clung to the air. Helena’s alliance with the DeLuca family, once a vague threat, now loomed over them like a shadow.Maya sat in the suite, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had long gone cold. Reese was beside her, scrolling through the endless cycle of headlines and updates that seemed intent on spinning lies into truth.“They’re doubling down on this narrative,” Reese said, her voice sharp as she handed Maya her phone.Maya read the latest article, her stomach twisting.“Marriage of Convenience? Maya Davis’ Desperate Bid to Secure Power in the Moretti Family.”The insinuations were relentless, each one crafted to chip away at her character, her family’s name, and her marriage to Zane.“I can’t believe people are buying into this,” Maya murmured, her voi
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The following morning dawned with an unnatural stillness that settled over the Moretti estate like a thick fog. Maya awoke to find Zane already out of bed, his side cool to the touch. She found him in his study, the faint glow of his computer screen illuminating his sharp features.“Couldn’t sleep?” Maya asked, leaning against the doorframe.Zane looked up, his silver eyes meeting hers. “Something’s coming. I can feel it.”Maya stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Helena won’t stop until she’s torn everything apart. We need to be ready.”Zane nodded, his jaw tightening. “We will be.”A Disturbing RevelationBy mid-morning, Alex arrived with news that sent a chill through the room. He laid a thin folder on Zane’s desk, his expression grave.“This just came in from our contact in Europe,” Alex said. “Helena’s alliance with the DeLucas is deeper than we thought. She’s been using Moretti Corps assets to funnel money into their operations. But it’s not just financial.”“What el
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 63
The jet hummed softly as it soared above the Atlantic, its sleek interior a stark contrast to the tension that filled the cabin. Maya sat by the window, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the armrest. Across from her, Zane and Alex were locked in conversation, their voices low but firm.Reese, seated beside Maya, leaned closer. “You doing okay?”Maya nodded, though the knot in her stomach told a different story. “I’m just trying to focus. This feels bigger than anything we’ve dealt with before.”Reese offered a reassuring smile. “You’ve been through worse, Maya. And you’ve come out stronger every time. Don’t let Helena get inside your head.”Maya managed a small smile, but her thoughts drifted to the challenges ahead. Naples wasn’t just a city—it was a battleground.Arriving in NaplesThe team landed under the cover of night, their arrival carefully planned to avoid attention. Alex had arranged for transportation, and they were swiftly whisked away to a discreet hotel near
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 64
The darkness in Naples felt oppressive as Maya stared out the hotel window. The streets below were alive with the hum of nightlife, but inside the room, the atmosphere was tense, every shadow a potential threat.Behind her, Zane paced, his phone pressed to his ear as he barked orders to Alex. Maya couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation, but Zane’s clipped tone was enough to tell her it wasn’t good.“They’re moving the secondary shipment,” Zane said as he ended the call. “Helena’s trying to bury us before we can expose her.”Maya turned, her pulse quickening. “What does that mean?”“It means we need to act now,” Zane said, his silver eyes blazing. “If she moves that shipment before we release the evidence, she’ll erase the trail connecting her to the DeLucas.”The PlanMinutes later, Alex arrived at their suite, his demeanor grim.“I’ve tracked the shipment,” Alex said, spreading a map across the table. “It’s being loaded onto a private freighter tonight. If we can intercept i
Last Updated : 2024-12-23Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 65
The evidence they’d secured felt like a victory, but Maya knew it was just a step in a much larger war. Back at the hotel, the air buzzed with tension as Alex worked furiously on his laptop, uploading and encrypting the data they’d retrieved from the freighter.Zane stood by the window, his silhouette sharp against the glow of the city lights. Maya sat at the small table with Reese, her mind racing as she tried to process everything that had happened.Reese broke the silence, her tone edged with concern. “We need to go public with this as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the more time Helena has to spin her narrative.”“She’s right,” Maya said, looking up at Zane. “If we don’t act now, she’ll bury this.”Zane turned, his silver eyes steady but cold. “We’ll release the evidence. But not yet. If we move too quickly, we risk exposing our source and tipping Helena off to how much we know.”Maya nodded, though the weight of the delay gnawed at her. Every moment they waited felt like g
Last Updated : 2024-12-23
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 225
Maya couldn’t sleep.She lay in bed, watching the ceiling, hearing the tick-tock of the clock up on the wall. And it was late — too late — but all that had transpired kept her awake.Her father was gone, at least from the world. For now, the Order had been fooled. But Gabriel’s warning was still ringing in her ears.“If I discover that you are lying, I will put a bullet between your eyes myself.”Maya sucked breath between her teeth, rolling onto her side. They were playing with fire. One wrong move and not just her life would be at stake — Zane’s, Victor’s, Elara’s.How the hell had these gotten here?A knock at the door roused her from her thoughts.She sat up, heart beating a little fast. “Come in.”The door creaked open; Zane stepped through a moment later, his silver eyes bright even in the pallid gloom. He was still wearing his dress shirt, sleeves rolled up, tie looser. Also, he looked like he hadn’t slept.Maya sighed. “You too?”Zane smirked slightly, shutting the door behind
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Zane twisted through the empty roads, the lights of the city twinkling in the distance, their brilliance brought into contrast by the blackness of the sky. Sitting next to him, Maya’s thoughts were full of what they had just gone through. Her father was dead — dead to the world but still somewhere breathing in the mountains.It should have been a relief. It wasn’t.Zane’s silver eyes glanced at her momentarily. “You’re thinking too much.”Maya rolled her eyes, studying the view through the window. “And you’re under thinking simultaneously.”Zane smirked. “On the contrary. I am thinking the right amount.”Maya breathed out, pushing her fingers against her forehead. “This was the easy part, right?”Zane waved his hand, eyes on the road ahead. “Now comes the part where we sell The Order on the idea things went according to plan.”Maya sighed. That was the piece that made her terrified.Neither spoke for a moment, silence echoed in the space between them. At last, Zane spoke up. “How long
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 223
The deal with Charles should have brought relief, but didn’t. Maya felt weighed down with what they were going to do heavy as a vice, tightening every second. There was no going back at this point.She took a slow breath, her eyes fixed on her father’s. “We have less than a twelve hours to make this work.”Charles turned his head, and something unreadable filled his sharp blue eyes. “And if it doesn’t work?”Zane leaned on the desk, silver eyes placid but stern. “Then you’re dead. Either way.”Charles laughed, but it was dry, humorless. “Comforting.” He turned to Maya. “And you? What do you think?”Maya took a deep breath and crossed her arms. “I think if we don’t do this right, The Order isn’t just going to kill you — they’re going to come for me, too.”Charles watched her closely, his face unreadable. “And Moretti? Do you trust him?”Zane smirked, responding before she had a chance. “She don’t gotta trust me. She just has to know I’m better at this than you are.”There was a subdued
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 222
The name on the paper stared back at her, clipped and brutal. Charles Davis.Maya sensed time slow around her, the meeting buzzing with a dull range that faded into the background. Her father.She wasn’t that close to him — not really. Charles Davis was a cold man, a man who saw business as a series of transactions, one after another, with no loss and no emotion, and he had used that machine to build his empire. He was never the warm, doting type. But he was still her blood.And The Order was out to kill him.She fought her body to be still, to keep her face blank while Zane peeled back the paper, reading it with the same dead cold calculation he applied to every kill order that came before this. But Maya knew him too well.He wasn’t unaffected.His jaw was slightly too tight. He flexed his fingers to see their utility and set the paper back down. And when his silver eyes darted to her? It was a knowledge there.Gabriel smirked, taking both of them in with interest. “I expect this won
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 221
The weight of the death of Julian Devereaux still hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. His body crumpled on the cold marble, a propensity for bloods to trickle in slow, measured tendrils around him. The man who thought himself above the law was down, not in a blaze of glory, but with a single shot and a round thud.Maya looked at the body a second too long, not of regret but calculation. What they had done at that moment altered everything.Zane was now sitting upon the throne that Julian had abandoned, and that made him next目标.Gabriel Laurent straightened his cufflinks, strolling over Julian’s corpse like stepping over a fallen tree branch. “Well,” he drawled, his voice smooth and untroubled, “that was cleaner than I expected.”Victor let out a low whistle. “Yeah? What were you expecting? Some Shakespearean monologue before he dropped dead?”Gabriel smirked. “I was expecting begging.” A narrow-eyed look was cast to Zane. “And now, Moretti, it’s the time for the real work.”“Zane h
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 220
For his entire life, Julian Devereaux had thought he was untouchable. A king in a world of pawns. He had gone through life pulling power plays, making people jiggle like puppets on some invisible string. Until now.She could see this in his eyes: the flicker of doubt, the unspeakable fear. This was not how things were supposed to turn out for him. He was the one in control, the one moving the pieces, but now? He was the piece now, and Zane Moretti was about to remove him from the board.Zane smoothed the cuffs of his suit, silver eyes alight with what seemed to be boredom. “You seem uncomfortable, Julian.”Julian’s jaw set, his shoulders went tight. “You think this will all end with me?Zane smirked. “No, but it starts with you.”Camille, still tied to the chair, released a shaky breath, but her eyes blazed. “For once in your life, Julian, just stop pretending you’re invincible.”Julian gave her a hard look, but this time Maya saw something else in his eyes. Not anger. Not calculation
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 219
The SUV barreled down the darkened street, the city's blinking lights fading behind it as they drove toward the outskirts. The estate where, Julian claimed, he was holding Camille was remote, fortified and precisely the sort of place where a man like Julian would stow someone whose fate he was unsure of.The backseat occupant, Maya, adjusted her gun, in and out in crescent movements. Her hands were steady, her mind a razor. There wasn’t any hesitation, any second-guessing. Camille was leverage, but she was also a test — Julian’s way of demonstrating that he still had the upper hand, that they were the ones who responded to him.That was about to change.Zane was next to her, silent, his silver eyes on the road ahead. He had said little since they pulled away from the safe house, but what Maya knew better than to interpret as anything other than controlled restraint. He was already formulating his plan for disassembling Julian.Victor was at the wheel, one hand guiding the car, the oth
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 218
Maya’s blood turned to ice. The safe house had been compromised. Camille was still there — guarded, vulnerable. They had expected Julian to go to battle to regain her. Instead, he had turned the game back on them.Her fingers twitched toward her gun, but Julian’s smirk just broadened. He had planned this.Zane’s silver eyes were unreadable, but Maya could see the way his jaw clenched tight, the way his finger curled, just so slightly, at his sides. He wasn’t shaking but he was recalibrating.Julian took a breath, angling his head. “I mean, I have to admit, I didn’t think you would play this so well. Most people who come after The Order die before they understand that they’re being hunted. But you?” He chuckled. “You really made me see you as a threat.”Zane smirked. “I would have been offended if I wasn’t.”Julian sighed dramatically. “And yet, clever as you are, you had one flaw. You assumed I would panic.” His blue eyes twinkled with humor. “You assumed I would choose.”Maya tighten
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 217
All was quiet except for the clock on the wall ticking rhythmically. Every second that trickled by was another second closer to the moment that Julian Devereaux would either choose his sister over The Order or prove to Camille that she was nothing but an afterthought.Maya was standing at the window, gazing down at the city lights, arms folded across her chest. She had played a lot of dangerous games before this one? This one was different.This wasn’t about revenge. This wasn’t about power.This was about survival.Zane poured a drink behind her, slow deliberate movements. His eyes, the color of silver, were peaceful, but Maya had seen through that lie before. He was waiting. Calculating.Victor propped himself against the wall, arms extended over his head. So what’s the real plan when Julian arrives?He swirled the amber liquid in his glass. “You’re too smart to believe that,” Zane said with a smirk. “He thinks he has options so we allow him to think he does.”Victor raised an eyebr
