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Chapter 67 - Into The Unknown
Huling Na-update:
2025-04-29 11:02:07
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Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 68 – Escape Clause
AriaI run as fast as my legs can carry me, the slap of my shoes against the pavement echoing through the alley.No looking back.No thinking.Just moving.Only when my chest burns and my vision blurs from the rush do I dare slow down. A cab crawls by at the end of the street, and I wave frantically, my heart hammering against my ribs like it’s trying to break free.The driver pulls up, and I jump in, slamming the door behind me.“Where to?” the driver asks, his tone already edged with irritation.“Sorry—I'm sorry, just give me a sec,” I rasp, fumbling for my phone in my bag. Hands shaking, I finally manage, “Take me to 47 Ashbury Lane, please.”The man grunts and starts the engine.I let my head fall back against the headrest, exhaling shakily.“You alright, ma’am?” he asks, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.“Yes. Yes, please. Just... step on it. Please.” The words fly out, desperate.He nods without another word, focusing on the road.The world outside blurs: buildings, st
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-29Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 69 - Cold Trail
DamonI sit there, locked into the chair like my body's forgotten how to move. Minutes bleed into hours. Nothing changes.Not the heaviness in my chest.Not the thick mess in my head.Sleep doesn't come.Of course it doesn’t.It’s not quiet either. Not in my mind. Not even close.The worst kind of noise is the one you can't turn off—the kind that keeps circling, tighter and tighter, until it feels like you’ll suffocate under the weight of your own damn thoughts.I must drift off at some point, because the blare of my phone rips me out of the fog- Leo.My hand fumbles over the nightstand, knocking over a glass before I finally grab it.Whatever it is can wait.It’s barely been two days since I left. Two days for God's sake.I let the phone ring out.But the second it stops, It rings again.Persistent.Something's wrong.A knot forms in my stomach before my brain even catches up.I yank the phone to my ear, the edge in my voice cutting sharper than intended.“What?”"I’m sorry, boss," L
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-29Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 1 - Awake
Aria It’s loud. Too loud. It sounds too far away and near at the same time. I squint my eyes open and close them back immediately. Too bright! I try again—slowly this time—and adjust my eyes to the bright light. I take in my surroundings. The white ceiling is filled with bright fluorescent light right above me, and my bedside is filled with machines and monitors plugged into my body on my right. I look to my left and — Is that a person? Standing with his hands in the pockets of his three-piece suit, while facing the window, his broad back fills most of the window overlooking the hospital view. The rays of the sunshine on his hair make it a colour blend of salt and pepper. It looks messy, like it’s been run through several times. He certainly looks attractive from the back. Who’s that? I try to make out how familiar that build is from the back. It’s not. As if he read my thoughts, he turns around and meets my eyes. “You’re awake.” His face remains expressionless as he stalks t
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-12Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 2 - Freedom's Call
Aria My eyes open to darkness. I bolt up from the single bed I’m placed on and get hit with dizziness and a sharp pain in my head again. I lay back on the bed and try to adjust my eyes to the darkness, confusion still fogging my brain. There was absolute darkness, save for the ray of moonlight flooding the room through the tiny window left open by the upper side of the wall. The memories of today hit me; waking up, seeing Damon, getting dragged out of the hospital... It wasn’t a dream. Tears well up in my eyes as I shut them tightly as if to make this nightmare go away. I wish it would. Then I wouldn’t find myself in this hell. I wouldn’t have to face that bastard again. As if my thoughts conjure him, I hear the door creak open and reveal the silhouette of the devil himself. He’s still dressed in that attire from earlier, except the tie and suit are gone. I notice his white shirt glistening in the dark room. I shut my eyes and try to pretend like I’m asleep, ignoring the heavy t
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-12Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 3 - A Rough Awakening
Aria A soft knock wakes me from my sleep. Bolting up from the bed, I take a look around, trying to remember where I am. Oh! Trapped. “Who’s there?” I answer groggily. All thanks to someone, I didn’t get enough sleep. I know it’s not Damon. Grumpy isn't that courteous. “Come in.” A petite and pretty lady comes in with her head bowed. She looks very young. Maybe a few years younger than I am. She stalks towards the table in the room and drops a bag on it. “Good morning, miss. Master Damon asked me to drop this off for you,” she said in a soft voice. “Oh, thank you.” I smile warmly at her. Her head remains bowed. “Not a problem, miss,” she turns to leave. I stand up from the bed and take a proper look at the room I’ve been in since yesterday. It’s beautiful. It turns out that there’s a curtain covering a window. I wonder why I didn’t see that yesterday. But then, I never really looked around. I walk towards the curtains and open them wide. “Oh my God!” I gasp. It’s a flo
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-12Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 4 - A Repeat Performance
Damon “Hey, get back here!”“Get the fuck down from that car and get her!” My head snaps up from my laptop; that’s Leo’s voice. I have a sinking feeling that his shouts have to do with Ava. Not again. True to my thoughts, I catch sight of her long hair dancing behind her as she runs as fast as her legs can carry her. I bark out a bitter laugh. How could I be so stupid as to believe her again? I should have known this was just another way for her to wiggle her way out of the mess she created. Typical Ava. “Start the car and follow her!” I bark at Mark, my driver, who starts the car immediately and speeds off in the direction I saw her run. The car catches up with her in no time and slows right beside her. “Get in the car while I’m being nice,” I say with a calmness I don’t feel. She pretends like she can’t hear me and picks up her pace instead. Damn, for someone who just woke up from a coma, she’s fucking fast. “Step on the gas and block her way,” I tell Mark. I’m so done
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-12Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 5 - Tethered
Damon “There’s my baby!” I hear my Mother's voice the moment I enter the mansion. She rushes towards me and wraps me in a tight hug. “Hey, mum,” I return her hug, planting a peck on her cheek. “As fine as a mum can be when her son doesn’t check up on her,” she gives me a disapproving look. “If someone hears you, they would never believe we spoke on the phone yesterday, Mum,” I utter dryly. She’s so dramatic. “I was the one who called you, remember? And that’s even because of the dinner,” she sighs dramatically, “I just wish I could see my son more.” I stifle a groan. There she goes again with the emotional blackmail. I know the next thing that'll come out of her mouth. As if on cue, she says, "Why don’t you move back in? It’s just me in this big mansion! I’m surrounded by vultures. Do you want me to die alone with nobody who loves me by my side?” “Mum, I told you that’s not possible. I can’t move back here,” I roll my eyes at her dramatic words, “and you are just 50, you are
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-12Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 6 - Chained In Silk
Aria The air is so tense that a knife could cut through it. I stare at Damon in disbelief. I can’t believe he just uttered the words I think I just heard. I take a step back before doubling over and letting out a burst of laughter that seems to aggravate Damon further. I can’t believe he just told me, no.... He just commanded me to marry him. He must be joking. I look around the room - the beauty appears so fleeting. To any other person, this place would seem luxurious, but all I could see was a gilded cage. It was a prison that I was stuck in for nothing, totally unable to escape from. All because of Ava, assuming he wasn't lying about getting swindled. I look up at his face to see it unhinged, with his jaw clenched. He was serious, deadly serious about this. My laugh dies down. He was serious. He couldn't possibly be serious. “This has got to be some sort of joke. Point me to the cameras, please,” I say, looking around in disbelief. “I believe, at this point, you would
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-21
Pinakabagong kabanata
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 69 - Cold Trail
DamonI sit there, locked into the chair like my body's forgotten how to move. Minutes bleed into hours. Nothing changes.Not the heaviness in my chest.Not the thick mess in my head.Sleep doesn't come.Of course it doesn’t.It’s not quiet either. Not in my mind. Not even close.The worst kind of noise is the one you can't turn off—the kind that keeps circling, tighter and tighter, until it feels like you’ll suffocate under the weight of your own damn thoughts.I must drift off at some point, because the blare of my phone rips me out of the fog- Leo.My hand fumbles over the nightstand, knocking over a glass before I finally grab it.Whatever it is can wait.It’s barely been two days since I left. Two days for God's sake.I let the phone ring out.But the second it stops, It rings again.Persistent.Something's wrong.A knot forms in my stomach before my brain even catches up.I yank the phone to my ear, the edge in my voice cutting sharper than intended.“What?”"I’m sorry, boss," L
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 68 – Escape Clause
AriaI run as fast as my legs can carry me, the slap of my shoes against the pavement echoing through the alley.No looking back.No thinking.Just moving.Only when my chest burns and my vision blurs from the rush do I dare slow down. A cab crawls by at the end of the street, and I wave frantically, my heart hammering against my ribs like it’s trying to break free.The driver pulls up, and I jump in, slamming the door behind me.“Where to?” the driver asks, his tone already edged with irritation.“Sorry—I'm sorry, just give me a sec,” I rasp, fumbling for my phone in my bag. Hands shaking, I finally manage, “Take me to 47 Ashbury Lane, please.”The man grunts and starts the engine.I let my head fall back against the headrest, exhaling shakily.“You alright, ma’am?” he asks, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.“Yes. Yes, please. Just... step on it. Please.” The words fly out, desperate.He nods without another word, focusing on the road.The world outside blurs: buildings, st
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 67 - Into The Unknown
AriaIt’s today.Today, I get to make either the best decision I’ve made in months…Or the worst one of my life.But honestly?What could be worse?What could possibly be worse than living like this?Caged. Paraded like a trophy. Watched. Controlled.Living every second like a marionette, dancing to someone else's strings.Two years of this?No.Hell no.The worst part isn’t even being forced into this stupid arrangement.It’s the hatred.The slow, creeping hatred building in my chest — not just for Damon Stone, but for myself.Mostly for myself.For every glance I can’t stop.For every damn moment my body betrays me.For every stupid, reckless heartbeat that pounds harder when his eyes darken in that particular way.For losing pieces of myself every day.For noticing things I shouldn't — the way his shirts hang on his frame, the rare roughness in his voice when he's tired, the way his eyes darken when he’s furious or… worse, protective.It’s sick.I’m sick.Of myself.Of the way my s
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 66 - Beneath The Mask
Damon The door clicks shut behind me as I walk out of her room.For a moment, I just stand across the door, staring at the closed door like it might change my mind from leaving.But it doesn’t.Of course, it doesn’t.Silence wraps around me, heavy and suffocating, only broken by the low buzz of my phone still vibrating in my hand.The final message from Kingsley flashes on the screen:~It's done. She’s Aria, not Ava. You were wrong, D.~I sink onto the edge of my bed, dropping the phone onto the sheets like it burned me.She’s not Ava.She never was.All this time…All the fights, the forced performances, the walls I shoved between us to feel safe —And she wasn’t even Ava.I bury my face in my hands, dragging in a shaky breath.A part of me always knew.From the first day in that hospital room, the way her eyes darted around, frantic and disoriented, like a woman waking up from the worst kind of nightmare.It wasn’t guilt.It wasn’t deceit.It was fear.Real, raw fear.And still, I
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 65 - Left Behind
AriaThe second my eyes peel open, confusion sinks its claws into me.I blink hard. Once. Twice.I'm not in my room.Soft morning light streams across unfamiliar sheets.Oh.Of course.His room. His bed.'It's you again, A, doing the very thing you said you wouldn't — drifting closer to Damon Stone like a fool,' The voice in my head lashes at me.My legs swing off the bed before I can think better of it. The coldness of the floor beneath my feet jolts me more awake.Through the slightly open balcony doors, I catch sight of him — Damon — leaning against the railing, one hand wrapped around a mug, the other tucked into the pocket of his sweatpants.Staring off into nothing, like he’s carrying the weight of the whole damn world on his back."You up?" His voice cuts through the air. He doesn't even turn around.How the hell does he do that?Does he have eyes at the back of his head now?"Yeah," I say, my voice low. "Thanks for letting me crash here."He doesn’t respond. Just keeps staring
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 64 - Shifting Grounds
Damon“What? Put me through to them. Right now,” I bark out, my voice cutting sharp through the early morning haze.“Alright, boss,” the guard says, backing out quickly. I shut the door behind him with a little more force than necessary, already feeling my blood pressure climbing.The phone rings, not even three seconds later, and I snatch it up.“The logs? What am I hearing? What about them?”“They've been tampered with. This time, it's bad. Worse than before. We’re going to have to recommend an evacuation. At least you and your wife. For some days, maybe a week tops,” the security head says, tone grim.For a second, the words don’t land.Then they do.“What the hell are you on about?” I snap. “I didn’t pay that much money to be thrown out of my house in under a day. It was just last night that we confirmed the updated protocols. With that man. Whatever his name was.”There’s a beat of hesitation on the other end.Then—"What man, sir?”I freeze.“What the hell do you mean, what man?
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 63 – Whispers
DamonShe walks away without a word, and I just stand there, the silence she leaves behind slamming harder than anything she said tonight.For a moment, the house feels like it tilts under the weight of it. The tension. The things we won't say.I rake a hand through my hair, breathing out slowly.Good. Let her walk away. Let her be pissed. Let her stay mad enough to forget whatever stupid weakness still tugs between us like a frayed wire.Before I can even turn toward the stairs, my phone vibrates against my palm. I glance down. The security company.Great. Exactly what I need right now.“Stone,” I answer, voice flat.“Good evening, sir. Sorry for the late call. We’ve flagged some new risks on your perimeter. We’ve done a system update—new access codes, cameras, exit protocols,” the man says in that clipped professional tone.“And?”“Well, seeing the unique... circumstances of your household," —he clears his throat— "both registered residents need to complete the walkthrough and sign
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 62 - Recoil
AriaThe door clicks shut behind me. A small, satisfying sound. Like drawing a boundary no one else can cross.Crossing to my dresser, I kneel, unlock the drawer, and pull out my phone.The last message blinks up at me:"You're getting warmer."My fingers hover, and instinct wins over caution.Who are you? I type.The reply is almost instant:"I know you. That's all that matters."Another ping:"Ava. I know where she is."I barely breathe.Another:"I could help you find her. I know you're trapped in that arrangement, for the wrong reasons."My fingers move again, sharp and frantic:How did you get this number?Then another reply comes:"Gotta run. Reach out when you're serious about helping yourself."The phone screen dims, and I shove it back into the drawer and lock it, the tiny key cold between my fingers.Panic grows low and hot in my chest. It could be a trap. It probably is.But even traps can lead to truth.I can’t keep doing nothing.Tomorrow. Or the day after. I’ll find a wa
Claimed By The Billionaire Chapter 61 - False Harmony
Damon"Mr. Stone. There's someone looking for you. They say it's urgent."The server's voice cuts through the growing headache at the base of my skull. Perfect. Just in time to save me from myself."Stay here. I won't be long," I say to Ava, lowering my voice so only she hears.Her face gives nothing away, but something in the way she folds her arms across her chest says she’s fine with me disappearing.I follow the server, my steps quick but controlled. "What's the problem?" I ask, keeping my tone sharp enough that he gets that I’m not in the mood for games."They said a VIP guest was missing, Sir.""Missing? What the hell does that even mean?""I don't know, Sir. That’s all they told me."Just as my patience starts wearing thin, a man in a black suit—one of the gala's coordinators—approaches. "He's been found, Sir. Sorry to have disturbed your evening."Figures.I wave them off and make a sharp turn back toward the balcony. Waste of my damn time.But as I get closer, something clenc
