LOGINShare
105. NO LONGER A VICTIM
Last Updated:
2025-03-29 18:20:33
Related chapters
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 106. THE TRUTH THAT BREAKS AND BINDS
CALEB Earlier, when Victor called Melody and she gave him her location, I followed behind his car in silence, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Every part of me wanted to reject the possibility that Melody—my sister, the girl I’d grown up with, the one Mom loved like her real daughter—could actually be behind Sophia’s disappearance. But the look on Victor’s face when he spoke to her, the cruel satisfaction in his voice when he said I needed to hear it for myself... it wouldn’t leave my mind. Still, I didn’t trust Victor entirely either. There was a reason I had called the police earlier and asked for backup. These were officers I’d privately reached out to the moment Sophia’s call went unanswered. I asked them to dress like civilians and join me at the location Victor had mentioned, but I didn’t want to act until I was sure. Now, as Victor’s car pulled up to a gated compound, I parked at a safe distance and called the officers again to confirm their arrival. Eight of them, sc
Last Updated : 2025-03-29From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 107. GRATEFUL HEARTS AND NEW BEGINNINGS
CALEB As the police officers led Melody away, her arms twisted behind her back in handcuffs, her sobs faded into the background like the ending of a bad dream. Two young girls who were in the room with Soohia slowly got up, dusting themselves off. One of them turned toward Sophia with a light chuckle and said, “Wow. Your knight in shining armor appeared once again to save you. He’s so cool.” I turned slightly, surprised by the comment, then looked at Sophia and raised an eyebrow. “Sophia, who are they?” “My bad,” she replied, walking over to stand beside them. “This is Irene and this is Alina. They helped me a lot.” I blinked. “Helped you?” Alina stepped forward, her voice a little shaky from everything that had happened. “Let’s just get out of this place first. It gives me the creeps.” I didn’t argue. We all began walking out, and as we stepped into the night air, the breeze felt like a blessing. The air was cool and clean. While we walked, I asked again, “So, what h
Last Updated : 2025-03-29From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 108. IN THE ARMS OF MY BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND
SOPHIA The morning sun poured through the silk curtains as I opened my eyes to the soft hum of excitement that filled the air. Today was the day. My wedding day. The day I would finally stand beside Caleb Foster—my love, my home—and vow to spend forever in his arms. A strange calm washed over me. I should’ve been nervous, but instead, all I felt was warmth. Joy. Peace. Of course, not everyone shared my bliss. Caleb’s mother was doing her best to hide her sorrow. Melody’s quick sentencing to life imprisonment had left a scar on her heart. After all, Melody had been her adopted daughter, and despite all she had done, I knew a part of her still loved her deeply. But today was not about pain. It was about love. And Caleb's mother, being the dignified woman she was, wore a soft smile and stood tall, holding her emotions in check. It was her son’s wedding day, after all. The day before, I had spent time with Alina and Irene. We met for lunch, laughed, and talked about everything—fr
Last Updated : 2025-03-29From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 1. THE NIGHT BEFORE FOREVER
Alina Thompson awoke to a bitter taste on her tongue and the violent pounding of her skull against silence. Her body ached. The room was dark, unfamiliar, cloaked in the faint scent of sweat and expensive cologne. Her throat felt parched, her stomach twisted into tight knots, and for a long, breathless moment, she couldn’t remember where she was—or how she had gotten there. She blinked several times, trying to shake off the haze clouding her thoughts. Slowly, she pushed herself into a sitting position. Her limbs were heavy, her mind groggy and disoriented. The sheets beneath her were wrinkled. Her shoes were gone. Her head spun as if she’d been hit by a truck. Nothing made sense. The last thing she remembered was arriving at Matt’s apartment. Her fiancé. Her soon-to-be husband. Tomorrow was supposed to be their wedding day, the day she had dreamed of since she was a little girl. She had planned to surprise him. A sweet gesture, maybe even a little impulsive, but she had missed h
Last Updated : 2025-03-29From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 2. THE MAN SHE NEVER SAW COMING
The streets were quiet, wrapped in the slow hush of midnight as Zander Cage drove through the dimly lit city. His friend sat in the passenger seat, the two of them lost in a silence that had stretched for most of the ride. Zander’s knuckles gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched with the weight of everything he hadn’t said out loud. But as they turned a corner, Zander’s foot slammed the brakes. A figure was lying by the roadside. His brows furrowed, eyes narrowing as the headlights fell across her—long hair, soft features, a familiar white dress now stained from the pavement. “Is that... Alina?” he asked, voice low and stunned. His friend leaned forward, squinting. “Yeah, it looks like her. Did she faint?” Without waiting for a response, Zander flung the door open and ran to her side. Her breathing was shallow, her skin clammy. He knelt, gently brushing her hair from her face. “Alina,” he whispered. No response. He scooped her up in his arms, her limp b
Last Updated : 2025-03-29From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 3. FISTS AND PUNCHES
Zander slowed the car to a stop just in front of the Thompson estate. The tall iron gates loomed silently under the soft glow of the streetlamps, their elegance contrasting the ache pounding in his chest. He turned to the back seat where Alina lay still, her face calm despite the chaos she’d just endured. Her long lashes cast gentle shadows across her cheeks, and even in her unconscious state, she looked breathtaking. He sat in silence for a moment, just watching her. How cruel fate was, that he would be the one to find her like this..... vulnerable, and yet still unable to tell her how deeply he cared. "Goodbye, Alina," he whispered under his breath, voice low and filled with a sadness he didn’t try to mask. "I hope someday you find happiness. Even if it’s not with me." He gently lifted her from the back seat and carried her to the front steps. He placed her carefully near the entrance, adjusting her dress so she wouldn’t feel exposed. Then he pulled out his phone and sent a br
Last Updated : 2025-03-29From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 4. THE OFFER
The airport buzzed with life... trolleys wheeling across the polished floors, announcements echoing from overhead speakers, passengers rushing to gates with luggage in tow. Zander Cage stood apart from it all, a still figure in the middle of the chaos, his black duffel bag slung over one shoulder, his boarding pass in hand. He had been at the terminal for nearly an hour, quietly watching the clock tick toward his departure. Each passing minute brought him closer to the end of a chapter he hadn’t wanted to close. He thought leaving would feel like freedom, like healing. But instead, all he felt was emptiness. He’d told himself this was for the best. That letting go of Alina Thompson, his unreachable dream, the girl he had loved in silence for more than a decade, was the right thing to do. The only thing to do. She was about to marry someone else. Her brother would never let her be with a man like him. And even if she wanted to choose him, the world would never make it easy for them
Last Updated : 2025-03-29From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 5. SHADOWS BEFORE THE VOWS
Alina’s feet barely touched the ground as she stepped out of the cab in front of the Thompson estate. The morning sun was beginning to spill over the towering white columns of the mansion, bathing the elegant structure in warm light, but the chill in her bones refused to leave. Her heart still raced from the cab ride, her mind spinning with the weight of everything that had just happened—and everything about to happen. She clutched her hoodie tighter around her, pulling the hood lower over her face as she passed through the front gate. The guards recognized her and offered polite nods, but one of them immediately spoke into his walkie-talkie. “Miss Alina is back,” he said. By the time she pushed the door open and stepped into the foyer, her brother was already coming down the marble staircase in long, impatient strides. “There you are!” Ezekiel’s voice cracked across the space like a whip. Alina winced. She had barely taken three steps inside before he was standing in front
Last Updated : 2025-03-30
Latest chapter
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms EPILOGUE
MONTHS LATER The early morning sun filtered through the cream-colored curtains of Sophia and Caleb’s bedroom, casting a soft golden glow over the room. It was quiet, peaceful—too peaceful for what was about to happen. Sophia stirred in bed, her brows furrowed slightly as a sharp wave of discomfort ran through her lower back. She shifted, thinking it was just the usual pregnancy ache she’d been dealing with for weeks now. But then, a second wave came... stronger, more distinct, and she gasped, her hand flying to her belly. “Caleb…” she whispered, a mixture of nervousness and urgency in her voice. He stirred beside her, his eyes opening in slow confusion. “Soph? You okay?” “I think…” she breathed, pausing as another contraction hit, this one more intense than the last. “I think the baby’s coming.” That was all Caleb needed to hear. He jumped out of bed in a flash, suddenly wide awake, his mind scrambling to recall everything they had planned. He rushed to grab the hospital
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 20. VOWS, LOVE, AND NEW BEGINNINGS
The day finally came for Ezekiel and Irene's wedding.. The venue was a grand, open-air estate draped in soft white fabrics and adorned with cascading flowers in shades of blush, ivory, and gold. A warm breeze carried the scent of fresh roses through the air, while violins played gently in the background. The crowd was large, filled with dignitaries, friends, family, and loved ones who had gathered to celebrate the long-awaited union. Irene looked breathtaking in a flowing, pearl-white gown that hugged her frame perfectly, her veil trailing behind her like a waterfall of lace. Ezekiel stood at the altar, his face a mixture of nervousness and joy, dressed in an impeccably tailored tuxedo. Alina sat in the second row beside Zander, her fingers laced through his as they both watched the ceremony unfold. She wore a pale pink dress that shimmered softly in the light, her hair pinned in soft curls. A few people from Zander’s family had shown up too....his mother, glowing with pride, and
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 19. FINALLY ACCEPTED
After Zander and Alina left Ezekiel, Irene went back home with him, and for the first time in days, she felt true relief. Finally, the storm had calmed. Ezekiel had taken the first step, and even though it wasn’t a full embrace, it was a beginning. That was all she had ever wanted. Later that day, after they returned home, Alina and Zander were greeted by a surprise—Zander’s grandfather was waiting for them in the grand living room. He sat on his usual armchair, a newspaper resting on the table beside him and a cup of untouched tea growing cold. What surprised Alina most was the soft expression on the old man’s face. “Alina,” he called gently, waving her over. “Come sit.” She glanced at Zander, who gave her a reassuring nod. Alina walked over, heart steady but expectant. Zander’s grandfather had barely spoken a kind word to her since she’d entered the mansion. But ever since the incident with Anna—the exposed plot, the video, the fall down the stairs—his demeanor had changed. Hi
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 18. SHATTERED BONDS
Zander’s grandfather was seething when he was away from Alina and Zander. His cane trembled in his grip as his voice echoed through the room. “How dare she?” he thundered. “How could Anna try to harm Zander’s mother like that? In our home!” The anger in his voice silenced the whispers around him. Everyone, still stunned from the video Alina had shown, stood quietly as the weight of Anna’s betrayal settled over them. Zander’s mother turned toward Alina, her eyes glossy with emotion. She reached out and pulled her into a hug, her voice soft but full of gratitude. “You saved me,” she whispered. “I don’t even want to think about what could have happened if Anna had succeeded. Thank you, Alina.” Before Alina could respond, Zander stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, drawing her into his chest. “You saved my mom,” he murmured, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head.After a while, Zander's grandfather called for Alina and Zander's mother to see him.
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 17. THE FALL OF A SCHEME
The scent of disinfectant filled the private hospital room where Anna lay on the bed, her head bandaged, her arm in a sling. Seated beside her was Daniel’s mother, her lips twisted in frustration as she leaned closer to Anna. "This is not how it was supposed to go," she hissed under her breath. “Your foolish stunt only made things worse. And that stupid son of mine—Daniel let Zander record his confession. Now, not only does Zander have the upper hand, but we’re both walking on thin ice.” Anna groaned and sat up slightly, wincing at the pain in her ribs. “Stop blaming me. Grandfather would never turn on me. I’m the one he loves most. I’m the only one who’s always been by his side.” “Love or not,” Daniel’s mother said with narrowed eyes, “you’re lying here, and that woman....Alina...is still walking around like a queen.” Anna’s expression twisted with pain and jealousy. “What hurts the most is that Zander hasn’t even visited me. Not once. I did everything for him. All I wanted w
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 16. A HOUSE DIVIDED
When Zander and Alina returned home, Zander didn’t let her walk. He cradled her gently in his arms and was carrying her toward their bedroom when a sharp voice interrupted their peaceful moment. “Zander, put her down and explain yourself right now!” Standing in the hallway was Daniel’s mother, her face twisted with fury. Beside her stood their grandfather, stone-faced and silent, while Daniel trailed behind them, his face swollen and wrapped in white gauze from the bruises Zander had given him the night before. Zander stopped, but he didn’t set Alina down. He kept his arms firmly around her as his gaze met Daniel’s mother’s accusing eyes. “This is unacceptable!” she spat. “How dare you beat up my son for your characterless wife? What sort of example are you trying to set in this family?” Their grandfather stepped forward, his cane tapping the tiled floor. “We demand an explanation, Zander,” he said in a deep, gruff voice. “You’ve become reckless...beating family, creating sc
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 15. TERMS OF PEACE
Despite her doubts and the warning that her brother would never approve, Alina gave a quiet nod and agreed. There was a strange sense of calm in her decision now. “Honestly,” she said softly, “being married to you feels a lot better than going back and letting my brother choose someone else for me again.” Zander didn’t say anything immediately, but the softness in his eyes said everything. A few seconds later, Alina added, “Still, I want to see him. Ezekiel knows the truth about Matt now, and I think I owe it to both of us to try one more time to talk to him.” Zander reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “That’s not a problem,” he said, his tone gentle. “I’ll take you to see him. I just hope he keeps his hands to himself this time. If he ever lays a finger on you again…” Alina smiled faintly and touched his chest. “He won’t. Not now.” Zander nodded, then leaned back slightly and glanced at her. “Can I make a suggestion?” “Sure.” “I was thinking,” he
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 14. THE GIFT OF LETTING GO
The sound of running water had faded, and a hush fell over the room as Zander stepped out of the bathroom. Steam followed him, curling like mist around the sharp angles of his body. He wore nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, his dark hair damp and clinging to his forehead. The tension that had gripped him earlier had dissolved beneath the warm shower, leaving him quieter, calmer—but no less conflicted. Alina, seated on the edge of the bed, looked up as he entered. Her gaze locked on him, her lips parting slightly in surprise at the sight of him. There was a long pause, a silence that crackled between them, filled with all the things neither had said. Zander reached for the towel around his neck, rubbing it through his hair, and then paused. His eyes met hers, and he spoke in a voice that was low but steady. “I never doubted you,” he said. Alina blinked, unsure of what he meant. “Earlier, when I asked if what that idiot said was true,” he continued, his tone soften
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 13. WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?
Once they entered their bedroom, Alina didn’t waste a second. She pushed Zander gently onto the bed and climbed onto his lap, cupping his face as she captured his lips in a deep, lingering kiss. Her actions were bold, deliberate, and had one very specific goal. Just as their kiss deepened and Zander’s arms found their way around her waist, the door creaked open behind them. Anna stood in the doorway, frozen, eyes wide with horror. A second later, her face crumpled, and she turned and ran away, sobbing. Alina pulled back slowly and rolled off Zander, a sly smile curving her lips as she lay beside him. Zander looked at her, slightly breathless. “What was that smile for?” Alina sat up and brushed her fingers through her hair, still smirking. “Well, she came to my face and warned me earlier tonight. I just thought I’d return the favor... in a way she won’t forget.” Zander blinked at her. “So this was for Anna?” “Partly,” she replied calmly. “Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it. B
