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CHAPTER 96
Last Updated:
2025-01-08 21:02:24
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 97
The drive back to the villa was quiet, but it wasn’t the kind of silence that felt heavy or awkward. Instead, it was filled with reflection and a newfound sense of connection. Zane kept one hand on the steering wheel while his other hand rested on Maya’s, his thumb brushing her knuckles absently.“You’re unusually quiet,” Maya said softly, breaking the silence.“I’m still processing,” Zane admitted, his silver eyes flicking to hers briefly. “Meeting Elena… it’s like finding a part of myself I didn’t know was missing.”“She’s a lot like you,” Maya said, smiling faintly. “Strong, guarded, but kind underneath it all.”Zane chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Guarded, huh? I suppose that’s fair.”Maya tilted her head, studying him. “Do you think you’ll see her again?”“I hope so,” Zane said, his tone sincere. “She’s family, Maya. And after everything with Helena, I’ve realized how important it is to hold on to the people who matter.”---A Quiet EveningBy the time they returned to the vil
Last Updated : 2025-01-08Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 98
The jet hummed softly as it soared through the sky, its cabin filled with a quiet tension. Maya leaned back in her seat, her hand resting protectively on her bump, while Zane sat beside her, his silver eyes fixed on the documents Camilla had provided before their departure.“I’ve cross-referenced the threats against Elena with what we know about Helena’s remaining allies,” Camilla had said before they left. “It’s not definitive, but there are still operatives who haven’t been accounted for. If they’re going after her, they might see her as leverage against you.”“Helena’s operatives or not, they’ll regret trying to mess with my family,” Zane had replied, his voice cold and steady.Now, as the miles passed beneath them, Maya reached over, lacing her fingers with Zane’s. “We’ll handle this, Zane. Just like we always do.”He glanced at her, his expression softening. “I know. But this feels different. Elena’s not ready for this world—it’s not fair to pull her into it.”Maya smiled faintly
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 99
The early morning light painted the quiet street in pale hues, but the tension between Zane and the operatives at Elena’s doorstep was anything but calm. Zane’s silver eyes burned with barely restrained fury as he stepped closer to the men, his gun steady in his hand.“Who sent you?” he demanded again, his voice cold and commanding.The smirking operative held Zane’s gaze, defiance flickering in his dark eyes. “You think you’ve won, Moretti? This is far from over.”Zane’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t in the mood for games. “Wrong answer.”Alex moved swiftly, disarming the second man and pinning him against the wall. “Your friend over there may want to play hero,” Alex growled, his voice low and threatening, “but I’m not nearly as patient as he is. Start talking.”The pinned man’s bravado faltered, sweat beading on his brow. “We… we were hired to watch her,” he stammered, his eyes darting toward Elena’s building.“By who?” Zane snapped.“I don’t know the name,” the man said quickly. “We ge
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 100
The sun was barely up as Zane and Alex drove away from the villa, leaving behind a tense quiet. The villa itself felt like a fortress now, its walls a buffer against the dangers lurking outside, but the people inside knew better. This was just the calm before the storm.Maya stood on the terrace, watching the car disappear down the winding road. A faint breeze tugged at her hair, and for a moment, she allowed herself to feel the weight of her fears.“You’re worried about him,” Elena said, stepping beside her.Maya nodded, her hand instinctively moving to her baby bump. “I always do. But Zane’s strong. He’s handled worse before.”Elena’s blue-gray eyes were thoughtful. “You have a lot of faith in him.”“I do,” Maya said, her voice steady. “He’s the kind of person who won’t stop until he’s protected the people he loves. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him too.”---The Search BeginsZane and Alex arrived at the first location Camilla had flagged—a warehouse tucked into the indu
Last Updated : 2025-01-10Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 101
The aftermath of the siege left the villa in a state of disarray. Broken glass littered the floor, furniture was overturned, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke from a failed diversionary device used by Shadow’s operatives.Maya sat on the couch, her arms wrapped protectively around her baby bump. Zane paced nearby, his silver eyes flashing with anger and frustration. Alex and Camilla worked quickly to secure the villa, while Reese helped Elena calm down.“We can’t stay here,” Zane said finally, his voice sharp. “Shadow knows where we are. It’s only a matter of time before he tries again.”Maya looked up at him, her green eyes steady despite her exhaustion. “Then what’s the plan?”Zane stopped pacing, his gaze locking onto hers. “We take the fight to him. No more waiting, no more reacting. It’s time to end this.”---Formulating a PlanAs the team regrouped in the villa’s study, Camilla projected a map of Europe onto the wall. Several locations were marked in red, representi
Last Updated : 2025-01-10Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 102
The safe house in Prague was quiet, its dim lighting casting long shadows on the walls. Maya sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of tea while Zane stood by the window, his silver eyes scanning the street below.“You’re still on edge,” Maya said softly, watching him.Zane didn’t turn, his voice low. “Shadow might be in custody, but this isn’t over. There are always remnants. People loyal to Helena who won’t stop.”Maya placed her cup down, crossing the room to stand beside him. She rested a hand on his arm, her green eyes filled with quiet determination. “We’ve dealt with worse, Zane. And we’ll face whatever comes next together.”Zane looked down at her, his expression softening. “I don’t know how you stay so strong.”“Because I have you,” Maya said simply.---The Team RegroupsIn the living room, Alex, Reese, and Camilla sat reviewing the aftermath of their mission. Camilla’s laptop hummed as she sifted through Shadow’s encrypted files, while Alex cleaned his weapon methodically.
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 103
The air was thick with anticipation as the team prepared for their next mission. Maya stood in the living room of the safe house, her arms crossed as she watched Zane and Alex review the latest intelligence from Camilla. The map on the screen was littered with red dots, each one representing a potential target tied to Shadow’s network.“This one,” Zane said, pointing to a location near the Swiss border. “It’s a known financial hub for their operations. If we hit it, we’ll cripple their funding.”Alex nodded. “It’ll be well-protected. They’ll know we’re coming.”“Good,” Zane said coldly. “Let them try to stop us.”---Maya’s Growing ConcernMaya stepped forward, her green eyes sharp. “Zane, you’re pushing too hard. You’ve barely rested since the attack on the villa.”Zane turned to her, his expression softening slightly. “We don’t have the luxury of waiting, Maya. Every day we delay gives them more time to regroup.”“But you can’t fight a war on no sleep,” Maya argued. “You’re not invi
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 104
The safe house was silent except for the faint hum of Camilla’s laptop as she pored over the decrypted files. The name The Syndicate was etched into everyone’s minds like a dark shadow that refused to lift.Zane stood by the window, his silver eyes focused on the empty street below. The tension in his posture was unmistakable. Maya watched him from the couch, her hand resting on her baby bump.“You’ve been quiet,” she said softly.Zane glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “I’m trying to make sense of it. If Shadow’s network was just a fraction of what The Syndicate controls, then we’re facing something far bigger than we imagined.”Maya rose, crossing the room to stand beside him. “Bigger doesn’t mean unstoppable, Zane. You’ve taken down Helena, Shadow, and everything they threw at us. We can handle this too.”Zane reached for her hand, his touch grounding. “This isn’t just about us anymore, Maya. It’s about our future, our child’s future. I can’t let this go unchecked.”---Cam
Last Updated : 2025-01-14
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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
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 227
It was dark in her study, Maya realized, as she sat at the mahogany desk with her fingers hooked over the side, going in circles. The weight of their decision sat heavy in her ribs, smothering, but also electric. They were heading into a war they had no guarantee of winning. And yet, there they were, opting to attack first.His face unreadable, Zane stood at the window, his silver eyes riveted to the line of the city skyline. He was like a soldier prepped for the fight, his body still, his mind a flurry of adjustments.Maya exhaled. “You really think this is going to work?Zane didn’t turn around. “It has to.”Maya leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. “That’s not an answer.”Zane finally looked, and his eyes were keen. “Doubting it before we even get started isn’t either.Maya clenched her jaw. “I’m not doubting it. I’m being realistic. Gabriel isn’t Julian. He’s smarter. More connected. If we falter if we allow even a split in this plan he’ll rip us apart before we can eve
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 226
Maya’s pulse raced as Luca’s words hung above the group like a heavy smoke. Gabriel Laurent.It wasn’t one of those surprises that should have caught her off guard. The Order was not about cleanliness. There was nothing trustworthy about its leaders. But to hear Luca say it so casually—as if it were the most natural thing in the world—knotted her stomach.Zane reclined in his seat, his silver eyes shrewd, calculating. He wasn’t responding, which meant he was getting creative.Luca smirked. “You look like a man trying to ascertain if I’m lying.”Zane exhaled. “That’s because I am.”Luca let out a low chuckle. “And?”Zane’s fingers rapped the table slowly and deliberately. “And you’re great at misdirection.”Luca clutched a hand to his chest, mock-offended. “That hurts, brother. Truly.”Maya clenched her fists. She hated this. The games, the deceits, the endless mind games where everyone was deceiving, and the only way to live was by out-lying everyone else.She exhaled sharply. “If Gab
