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CHAPTER 8
Last Updated:
2024-11-26 15:49:17
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 9
"I can walk," Maya protested as Zane lifted her from the wheelchair."Hospital policy to the door," he reminded her, though his arms didn't loosen even after they passed the threshold. "And I'm not taking chances with your recovery."A week had passed since the shooting. The media had been in a frenzy – headlines screaming about the Moretti twin revelation, Donovan's arrest, and the mysterious woman who'd taken a bullet in the chaos."Where are we going?" Maya asked as Alex opened the car door. She'd expected to return to her apartment, but this wasn't her usual driver."My place," Zane said firmly. "It's secure, and you need looking after.""I don't need—""Please." His voice softened. "Let me take care of you."Something in his tone made her relent. The past week had shown her a different side of Zane – vulnerable, sometimes even scared. He'd barely left her hospital room, handling business calls from a chair by her bed, his free hand always finding ways to touch her, as if reassuri
Last Updated : 2024-11-26Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 10
"The building's been swept twice," Alex reported, pacing Zane's living room. His tone carried a mix of professionalism and frustration. "No signs of surveillance equipment, but the angle of that photo...""Had to be taken from the construction site across the street," Zane finished, his hand absently rubbing circles on Maya's back as she leaned against him on the sofa. His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp, calculating.Two days had passed since Luca's message. Two days of increased security, swept rooms, and Zane's growing tension. Every precaution felt insufficient, every corner of his life scrutinized. Yet, there was no response, no breakthrough—just silence, thick and oppressive."We're moving you both to a secure location," Alex continued, his voice steady, though his expression betrayed unease. He hesitated before adding, "There's something else. Isabella was spotted at Charles Davis's office this morning."The words landed like a stone in the room."What?" Maya sat up str
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 11
Maya’s fingers trembled slightly as she dialed her father’s number, the weight of their situation pressing heavily on her. Rain pelted against the penthouse windows, the relentless rhythm mirroring the storm of tension swirling in the room. Behind her, Zane paced like a caged predator, his movements sharp and deliberate as he ran through scenarios with Alex, their voices low but urgent.The phone rang twice before Charles Davis answered, his tone rough with exhaustion. "Maya?" he asked, his surprise evident. "It’s the middle of the night.""Isabella came to see you." Maya kept her voice steady, though her grip on the phone was tight. "What did she offer?"A long pause followed, heavy with hesitation. "How did you—""Dad, please," she interrupted. "We don’t have time. The board vote isn’t just about Moretti Industries, is it? They’re targeting Davis Corp too."Thunder crashed outside, a booming exclamation point to her words. She heard her father sigh heavily, the sound laced with wear
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 12
"Security feed from the west entrance," Alex reported, his voice tight with focus. The glow from his laptop cast flickering shadows across the room in the predawn darkness. "Maintenance crews entering both buildings over the past week."Maya leaned forward on the sofa, her exhaustion mounting but her mind razor-sharp. Rain streaked the penthouse windows, the storm a physical reflection of the chaos unraveling around them."Not maintenance," Elara said quietly, her tone cutting through the tension like a blade. Her arms were crossed tightly, her face pale but resolute. "Donovan used the same trick for smaller jobs. Workers who don’t exist, credentials that vanish when you look too close."Maya’s eyes scanned the grainy footage on the screen, her instincts flaring. Four hours until the board meeting. Four hours until the explosions. Her shoulder throbbed—a persistent ache that reminded her of the time slipping through their fingers—but she pushed it aside. They didn’t have the luxury of
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 13
“They’re herding us,” Alex muttered as they moved cautiously through Davis Corp’s underground parking level. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered intermittently, casting eerie shadows on the concrete walls. Every security camera they passed was dark, the lenses lifeless."The working elevators, the accessible routes..." Maya's voice trailed off as realization struck her. "They’re leading us exactly where Luca wants us."She checked her phone again—still no signal from Zane. Her stomach twisted with dread, but she forced herself to focus. There was no time for fear.The maintenance tunnels stretched ahead of them, long and silent except for the occasional drip of water echoing off the walls. Maya’s shoulder throbbed with each step, the dull pain a reminder of how far her limits had been pushed. But adrenaline drove her forward. Somewhere above them, her father was coordinating the quiet evacuation of employees, using a staged fire drill as a cover. It was the best they could do wi
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 14
The silence of the Moretti estate was deafening that night. Every creak of the old wooden floors seemed to echo louder than usual, every faint rustle outside the windows amplified by the tension gripping Maya’s chest. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the images of Cocona’s haunting resemblance to her replaying in her mind.Zane’s words echoed like a mantra: “You’re walking into a war… but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”Safe. Was safety even possible in a house brimming with secrets and enemies lurking in the shadows?She sat up, unable to bear the stillness any longer. Throwing on a robe, she padded barefoot across the room and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. The estate’s corridors were unnervingly quiet, their vastness amplifying her isolation.As she moved through the hallway, a faint light drew her attention. It spilled out from beneath the door to Zane’s private study, a subtle crack in the otherwise impenetrable darkness.Her instincts told her to turn ba
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 15
The Moretti estate felt colder than ever, the sprawling hallways steeped in an eerie quiet. Every shadow seemed to stretch longer, every creak of the floorboards sounded louder. Maya sat in the solarium, the soft hum of the fountain doing little to calm her nerves.Her phone was in her lap, the mysterious call from the previous night still playing in her mind.“He’s not who you think he is.”“Leave before it’s too late.”The distorted voice had been chilling, yet it stirred more questions than answers. Was it a genuine warning? Or just another mind game in the ever-tightening trap she felt closing around her?The sound of approaching footsteps snapped her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Alex striding into the solarium, his expression unreadable.“Morning, Miss Davis,” he said, his voice brisk. “Zane wanted me to check in.”“Checking in,” she echoed with a faint smile. “Is that your way of saying he’s worried about me?”Alex’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. “He’s being cau
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 16
Maya didn’t sleep that night. The latest note weighed heavily on her mind, the chilling message echoing over and over:“He’ll destroy you too.”She sat by the window, her knees pulled to her chest, watching the estate grounds bathed in moonlight. Her exhaustion tugged at her, but every time her eyes drifted shut, she imagined faceless figures lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.By dawn, she made a decision. She couldn’t wait for answers to come to her. She had to find them herself.Maya knew Zane had locked the room where Cocona’s photographs were kept, but something about that room felt pivotal. It was more than just Zane’s connection to his past—it was a puzzle piece in the web of secrets that now consumed her life.After breakfast, when she knew Zane was out at a business meeting, she slipped away from the main part of the house and made her way to the eastern wing. The hallway was empty, and her footsteps were muffled on the thick carpet as she approa
Last Updated : 2024-11-30
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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
