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Chapter 36
Last Updated:
2024-12-18 20:23:30
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HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 37
The idea of a real date still lingered between us as we stood there, breathing each other in. Adrian’s hand gently traced my jawline, his touch sending sparks through me.“A real date, huh?” he repeated, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Are you asking me out, Mia?”I rolled my eyes playfully, still breathless from our kiss. “Don’t let it go to your head, Mr. Knight. I’m just... trying something different.”His smirk deepened. “I like different.”Before I could fire back, his phone buzzed on the coffee table. His expression darkened slightly as he glanced at the screen. Business again, no doubt.I stepped back, giving him space. “You should get that.”He sighed but picked up the phone, walking toward the large window as he answered. His voice dropped into that commanding, no-nonsense tone he always used when dealing with work.I watched him for a moment—his broad shoulders tense, his jaw set with focus. Adrian was a man used to carrying the weight of the world, even when he didn’t have to
Last Updated : 2024-12-19HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 38
"I'm gonna need you to wash the dishes, Mia."I paused mid-step, almost thinking I misheard. I turned toward the doorway, and there she was Alexandra Knight, Adrian’s mother—standing with her arms crossed like she was judging the entire state of the kitchen. Her eyes swept the room with the precision of someone mentally tallying up flaws.“Sorry… what?” I blinked, unsure if I imagined the request."The dishes," she said again, slower this time. ""They won’t clean themselves. I assume you know how to wash them?"I glanced at the sink. Three plates, a fork, and a single cup. Not exactly the aftermath of a grand feast.“Oh,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “I thought the housekeeper handled that kind of thing.”“She’s off today,” Alexandra replied with a tone that implied I should’ve known. “Besides, it’s good for you to be useful for something while you’re here.”There it was.I pressed my lips together to stop the words fighting to escape. I wasn’t going to let her get to me."Of cours
Last Updated : 2024-12-21HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 39
The sound of Alexandra’s sharp heels echoed behind me as I stepped into the house. I didn’t look back, but I could feel her gaze cutting into my spine.I dropped the garden shears on the entryway table, deliberately not bothering to wipe the dirt off the handles. Maybe I’d get lucky, and she’d touch them by accident.“Mia.” Her voice followed me, calm but unmistakably edged.I kept walking, heading straight for the stairs. “I’m going to shower,” I said without turning around. “Unless you have another list of chores you’d like to add?”There was a pause. “Not at the moment.”I could hear the irritation buried beneath her polite tone, and for once, it felt good.---The hot water was barely scalding enough to wash away the day.I stood under the spray, letting the steam fog up the glass as I replayed the interaction over and over in my head.Had I really told Alexandra Knight to back off?My brain screamed that I’d made a mistake—that pushing back against someone like her was just askin
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"Hello, Mia. Remember me?"The mug of coffee I had been casually sipping shook dangerously in my other hand as I fumbled with the phone. I pulled it away from my ear for a second and glanced down at the screen just to confirm I wasn’t imagining things. It was one of those moments where you have to check the caller ID twice just to make sure you heard right.Victoria Davenport.I stared at the name flashing on the screen for longer than necessary, waiting for the call to disconnect, but no such luck.With a quiet sigh, I pressed the phone back to my ear and straightened up. "Victoria," I said, carefully neutral. "Of course I remember you. How did you get my number?"Victoria’s laugh floated through the line, soft and sugary—exactly the way she always sounded when she thought she had the upper hand. "Oh, I got it from Alexandra. You know how she is—she thought since I’m Adrian’s best friend and you’re his wife, we should be close too."Alexandra. I should’ve known.I rolled my eyes, eve
Last Updated : 2024-12-23HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 41
I ran my thumb over the edge of the bag, pretending to admire it while the price tag practically screamed at me. Nine thousand dollars. That was more than my car’s down payment.Victoria didn’t look away, her smile lingering like she already knew the outcome. She leaned against the glass display case with effortless grace, her manicured nails tapping softly against the counter.I wasn’t sure what irritated me more—the bag, the price, or the smug satisfaction radiating off her."You know," I started, weighing the bag in my hands, "I was just thinking."Victoria’s brows lifted slightly. "Hmm?"I looked up at her, plastering on the sweetest smile I could muster. "This is nice and all, but I feel like... it’s a bit underwhelming."Her smile flickered. "Underwhelming?"I placed the bag carefully back on the glass shelf, adjusting it just so. "Yeah. Don’t get me wrong. It’s cute." I waved a hand dismissively. "But if I’m going to drop serious cash, it should be on something with more... pre
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"Alright, spill."Adrian barely had time to unlock the car before I crossed my arms and leaned against the passenger door, blocking his way.He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Spill what?""You. Germany. What happened?"Adrian opened the door and gestured for me to get in. "I told you. The meetings finished early."I didn’t move. "And you just decided not to mention you were coming back?"His gaze met mine, and for a moment, the playful glint in his eyes faded into something more serious. "I wanted to surprise you."That caught me off guard.I felt my arms loosen, but I didn’t drop them completely. "Surprise me or check up on me?"Adrian’s lips curved slightly. "Maybe both."I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to figure out if he was joking. "You know that makes you sound like a controlling husband, right?""That’s what I signed up for." He winked, stepping around to the driver’s side.I shook my head but finally slipped into the car, pulling the seatbelt across my lap. The warmth from the
Last Updated : 2024-12-26HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 43
"I'm coming with you.”I froze, my hand still resting on the doorknob. I turned slightly, catching Adrian’s gaze from across the room. His posture was relaxed, one hand casually tucked into his pocket, but there was something in his tone that felt… firm. Like there wasn’t room for argument.I arched a brow. “Why?”Adrian shrugged, crossing the room toward me. “You said you were going to my mother’s house. Thought I’d tag along.”I narrowed my eyes. “You never voluntarily visit your mom. What’s the real reason?”“I just got back from Germany. I should at least check in.”I gave him a look. “Uh-huh. And that suddenly couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”He smirked. “Are you always this suspicious, or do I just bring it out in you?”“You definitely bring it out,” I muttered, stepping aside as he grabbed his coat from the rack by the door.I wasn’t in the mood to argue, not over something so small. If he wanted to follow me around like a shadow, fine. It wasn’t like I was planning anything more
Last Updated : 2024-12-27HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 44
For a second, neither of us moved.Adrian’s mother stood in the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she looked between us. The air seemed to thicken, the weight of her words pressing down on the room like a lead blanket.Adrian was the first to recover. He pushed off the wall, his face smoothing into that unreadable, perfectly controlled expression he always wore in public. “Mom, you’re hearing things.”“I don’t think I am,” she replied sharply, stepping further into the room. Her gaze shifted to me. “Mia?”I swallowed, gripping the handle of my half-packed suitcase a little tighter. This wasn’t part of the plan. Adrian and I had agreed—his family wasn’t supposed to know the truth. Not now. Not ever, if we could help it.Adrian’s hand brushed against my arm lightly, just enough to draw my attention. I glanced at him, and he gave the faintest shake of his head.Lie.“It’s nothing,” I said quickly, forcing a small, awkward laugh. “We were just… joking.”His mother’s brow arched. “Joking?”“Y
Last Updated : 2024-12-28
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HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 76
Adrian stepped toward the dock and gestured to the rowboat. “Shall we?”I hesitated, eyeing the boat skeptically. “You expect me to get in that thing? Do I look like someone who knows how to row?”He smirked, already untying the rope. “You won’t have to. I’ll do the hard part. You just sit back and enjoy.”I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. “You’re really trying to sell this, aren’t you?”“Come on, Mia,” he said, holding a hand out to me. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”I couldn’t resist the challenge in his tone. With a resigned sigh, I took his hand and let him help me into the boat. It rocked slightly as I settled onto the bench, and I shot Adrian a glare.“If this thing tips, I’m blaming you,” I said, gripping the edge of the boat for dear life.“Noted,” he replied, climbing in after me with practiced ease. “Although, if you end up in the water, it’ll be your fault for not trusting my impeccable boating skills.”“Oh, impeccable, huh?” I shot back. “Let me guess, you’re secr
HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 75
The house was eerily quiet after Max left. It was like someone had flipped a switch, silencing the tornado of energy that had been spinning through the rooms for the past two days. I stood in the living room, surveying the wreckage. Pillows were strewn across the floor, one of Max’s toy cars was stuck under the couch, and there was a faint trace of whipped cream on the coffee table that neither of us had bothered to clean up.Adrian walked in, holding two glasses of water. “It’s almost too quiet now, isn’t it?”I accepted the glass he handed me and took a sip. “Yeah, I feel like I should be hearing a six-year-old yelling about superheroes or pancakes.”Adrian chuckled, sitting down on the couch. He looked relaxed, but there was a certain heaviness to his expression that hadn’t been there earlier.“Did he tire you out that much?” I teased, plopping down next to him.“Not just him,” Adrian replied, resting his head against the back of the couch. “Parenting—even the fake kind—is exhausti
HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 74
It was well past Max’s bedtime when the house finally quieted. After a long day of non-stop energy, the kid had collapsed in the guest bedroom, clutching his toy robot like it was the most precious thing in the world.Adrian and I stood in the hallway outside his room, listening to his soft snores.“Well,” I said, keeping my voice low. “That was...an experience.”Adrian rubbed the back of his neck, looking as if he’d just finished running a marathon. “I don’t know how parents do this every day.”“Admit it, you had fun,” I teased.He shot me a look, but there was no real heat behind it. “Define ‘fun.’”“Oh, come on. You were laughing at the park. You helped him build a tower out of those blocks at the toy store. And don’t think I didn’t see you trying to beat his high score on that arcade game.”Adrian’s lips twitched, but he didn’t respond.I leaned closer, smirking. “You’re a softie, aren’t you?”“Hardly,” he said, though the faint pink creeping up his neck betrayed him.Shaking my h
HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 73
The next morning, I woke up to the unmistakable sound of pots clanging in the kitchen. Groaning, I checked the time—6:12 a.m. Too early for anything except coffee.As I stumbled out of the bedroom, I nearly tripped over a small robot toy parked in the hallway. Max’s backpack was propped up against the wall, and a trail of crayons led straight to the kitchen like breadcrumbs.When I reached the kitchen, the scene nearly stopped me in my tracks.Max stood on a stool, wearing one of Adrian’s button-up shirts as an oversized apron, flour smudged on his cheeks. Adrian was next to him, looking like he’d aged ten years overnight. His usual crisp morning appearance was replaced with a wrinkled t-shirt and dark circles under his eyes.“Good morning,” I said cautiously, stepping inside. “What’s going on here?”Max turned to me with a bright smile. “We’re making pancakes!”“We are not making pancakes,” Adrian corrected, his voice sharp. “We are ruining my kitchen.”“I’m helping!” Max protested,
HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 72
“You’re not answering the door?” Adrian asked, his eyes flicking toward the sharp knock echoing through the mansion.“It’s your house,” I replied, lazily sipping my coffee. “Could be one of your mysterious business associates.”Adrian sighed, setting down his tablet. “Or a solicitor. Last time someone showed up unannounced, it was a guy trying to sell me a custom mailbox shaped like a yacht.”“Well, don’t keep them waiting. Could be your next yacht mailbox,” I teased, smirking.Rolling his eyes, Adrian pushed back his chair and walked to the door. “If it’s something ridiculous, you’re dealing with it next time,” he muttered under his breath.The moment he opened the door, a whirlwind of energy burst into the room in the form of a petite woman with sharp features, silver-streaked hair, and an air of authority that made me sit up straighter.“Adrian, darling, I need your help,” the woman announced, stepping inside as though she owned the place.“Eleanor,” Adrian said warily, his posture
HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 71
It started with a search for coffee.I was wandering Adrian’s massive mansion one morning, wearing one of his oversized shirts and a pair of fuzzy socks, when I found myself hopelessly lost.“This place is ridiculous,” I muttered, peering into yet another empty room. “Who even needs this many doors?”Adrian had mentioned that the kitchen was “just down the hall,” but the hallways in his house seemed to stretch on forever. Just as I was about to give up and text him for help, I noticed something odd about one of the walls.It wasn’t a wall at all. It was a door—one cleverly disguised to blend in with the wood-paneled hallway.“What’s this?” I murmured, my curiosity immediately piqued.I pushed the door open and stepped inside, expecting to find a storage closet or maybe a boring office. Instead, I found a room that took my breath away.---The space was bathed in soft, natural light filtering through skylights. The walls were lined with shelves crammed with sketchbooks, canvases, and j
HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 70
Adrian didn’t know what hit him when I proposed a spontaneous road trip.“A road trip?” he repeated, his brow furrowed as he glanced at the neatly packed duffel bags sitting by the door. “Mia, you’re aware we’re not teenagers anymore, right?”“Exactly why we should do it!” I said, looping my arm through his and giving him my best puppy-dog eyes. “It’s not like we have meetings to attend or deadlines to meet this weekend. Think of it as a mini getaway. Just you, me, and the open road.”He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe with a skeptical expression. “And let me guess—you already have an itinerary planned out?”“Of course,” I said, holding up my phone. “I mapped out all the best stops. Scenic views, quirky diners, maybe even a haunted inn.”“A haunted inn?” His brow shot up. “Why does it feel like I’m walking into one of your chaotic schemes again?”“Because you are,” I replied cheerfully, grabbing his hand. “Now come on, Mr. Grumpy. Live a little.”He sighed, pinching th
HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 69
I was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through social media when inspiration struck. A video of a couple recreating the famous dance scene from The Notebook caught my eye. They twirled and laughed under fairy lights, the kind of perfection that made hopeless romantics sigh.“This is so cute,” I muttered to myself, tapping on the hashtag #CoupleGoalsChallenge and diving into a rabbit hole of clips. Each video featured couples doing things that ranged from heartwarming to outright silly—romantic dances, baking disasters, matching outfits, and even lip-syncing battles.The idea hit me like a bolt of lightning. I was already grinning by the time Adrian walked into the living room, holding a steaming mug of coffee.“What are you plotting now?” he asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow as he caught sight of my overly enthusiastic expression.“I’m not plotting. I’m... brainstorming,” I said, tucking my phone behind me like it wasn’t filled with ideas that would probably make him regret being in
HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 68
“I don’t know about you,” Adrian said, his voice warm and teasing as he leaned against the kitchen counter, “but I think we need to set some ground rules.”“Ground rules?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I poured myself a cup of coffee. “Is this your way of saying you’re already regretting this?”His lips curved into a smirk, but there was no mistaking the softness in his gaze. “No, Mia. I’m saying if we’re going to do this—really do this—I don’t want to screw it up.”I set my mug down and turned to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Okay, Mr. Rule Maker. Let’s hear it. What are these so-called ground rules?”Adrian pushed off the counter and took a step closer, his presence commanding as always. But this time, there was a gentleness to his movements, a vulnerability that made my heart skip a beat. “Rule number one,” he began, his voice low and serious. “We don’t keep secrets. If something’s bothering you, you tell me. No more guessing games.”I raised an eyebrow, leaning again
