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Chapter 44
Last Updated:
2024-12-28 03:16:06
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“You’re late.”Adrian’s voice cut through the darkened hallway as I shut the front door behind me. His back was to me, one hand braced against the wall, his head slightly lowered.I frowned, glancing at the time on my phone. 11:32 PM.“I didn’t realize I had a curfew,” I replied, setting my keys down on the entry table.“You don’t.” His fingers tapped lightly against the wall, the steady rhythm echoing faintly. “But she’s been here for two hours.”My stomach twisted. “Who?”Adrian finally turned, his eyes locking on mine. The sharp lines of his face were shadowed in the dim lighting, but the tension in his jaw was unmistakable.“My mother.”I froze.“She’s waiting in the dining room,” he added, his gaze narrowing slightly. “Said she had something important to discuss with both of us.”A pit formed in my stomach. I took a step forward, lowering my voice. “Does she know?”“I don’t know.” Adrian’s eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place—concern, maybe even frustration. “But
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“Did you hear that?”Adrian’s voice cut through the silence as he stepped into the house, his gaze flickering toward the living room.I paused at the doorway, one hand gripping the strap of my bag a little tighter. “Hear what?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes narrowed slightly as if he were listening for something.“It’s nothing,” he muttered, finally shaking his head.But the crease in his brow didn’t disappear.I stepped in behind him, glancing around the house. The lights were dim, and everything was still, but there was something… off.Maybe it was just me. I’d been on edge since his mom’s unexpected interrogation.“You sure she didn’t follow us?” I asked, half-joking as I dropped my bag near the stairs.Adrian smirked faintly. “Mom’s not exactly the lurking type.”“Could’ve fooled me.”He shot me a look, but there was amusement in his eyes.As I walked into the living room, I noticed a stack of mail sitting on the coffee table. My gaze skimmed over it, catching the
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Elizabeth’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over the entryway like she was already taking mental notes.I stood stiffly by Adrian’s side, feeling painfully aware of the fact that I wasn’t dressed to impress. My simple black dress felt too casual next to her perfectly tailored ensemble.“Elizabeth,” Adrian greeted, his voice polite but distant. “You’re early.”She smiled, the kind of smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I thought I’d get a head start. You know how much your mother loves punctuality.”Adrian’s hand brushed against the small of my back. Whether it was intentional or not, I couldn’t tell, but the brief contact steadied me.“Mia,” Elizabeth said, turning her attention to me. “I’ve heard so much about you.”I forced a polite smile. “Wish I could say the same.”Adrian cleared his throat, shooting me a look.Elizabeth chuckled softly, like I was a child saying something amusing. “I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to
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The house was too quiet. I shifted on the couch, wrapping Adrian’s throw blanket tighter around me. My eyes flickered to the clock—almost midnight—and he still wasn’t back. A part of me wanted to call him, but something held me back. I didn’t want to seem like that kind of wife. Except… I wasn’t really his wife, was I? I sighed, running my fingers over the edge of the blanket. The longer I sat there, the more uneasy I felt. Finally, I gave up and stood, pacing toward the window. The street outside was dark, only the faint glow of the streetlights stretching across the pavement. I hated this—hated the way Adrian’s family made everything feel like some carefully orchestrated game. And worse, I hated how little I knew about the rules. A soft creak echoed from somewhere upstairs. I froze. My heart hammered, and for a moment, I thought I imagined it. But then it came again. Someone’s in the house. I swallowed hard, forcing my breathing to slow. It could be Adrian… bu
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I spent the rest of the morning pacing the living room, occasionally glaring at the invitation like it might disappear if I stared long enough. It didn’t. By noon, I’d given up pretending I wasn’t bothered. Adrian’s mom wasn’t just testing him—she was testing me, too. And I hated the fact that part of me wanted to pass. The sound of the front door unlocking snapped me out of my thoughts. Adrian stepped inside, shrugging off his coat. His tie was loose, and his hair was a little messier than usual, but he looked just as put together as ever. He paused when he saw me standing in the middle of the room. “Didn’t move all morning, huh?” I crossed my arms. “Why do I feel like this dinner is a setup?” His lips twitched, but he didn’t quite smile. “Because it probably is.” I raised a brow. “That’s comforting.”
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The house was eerily quiet, except for the faint clicking of my heels against the marble floors. It wasn’t a comforting silence. If anything, it felt like the calm before a storm—one I wasn’t ready for.I stopped at the doorway to Adrian’s study, watching as he skimmed through papers at his desk. He looked up, his sharp eyes softening when they met mine.“You’re home late,” he said, leaning back in his chair.“I ran into your mother,” I replied, trying to keep my voice light. “Apparently, she’s organizing some big charity fundraiser.”Adrian’s brows twitched in mild recognition, but he didn’t seem particularly interested. “Oh, that. She does it every year.”I shifted on my feet. “Did you know Elizabeth’s involved this time?”That caught his attention. His gaze sharpened slightly. “Elizabeth?”“Yeah. She and Alexandra are co-hosting. Your mom mentioned it like it was supposed to be obvious.” I crossed my arms, raising a b
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I should’ve known something was wrong the second Alexandra smiled at me.She and Elizabeth had summoned Adrian and me to the Whitmore estate for what they called a “family meeting.” I assumed it was another round of subtle jabs and polite insults disguised as advice.I had been to the Knight estate on several occasions but I still couldn't help being amazed every time I came. It looked like something pulled straight from an old black-and-white film. Grand, sprawling gardens stretched far beyond the eye could see, and the main house loomed in the distance—stone walls covered in ivy, tall glass windows that reflected the pale afternoon sun like mirrors. I could practically feel the weight of its history pressing down on me the moment I stepped through the gates.It was beautiful.And suffocating.“Thank you for coming,” Alexandra said, her voice clipped as always, though there was a thin veil of politeness stretched over her words today. She was
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“Are you sure about this?” Adrian’s voice was quiet, but there was a weight behind it as he adjusted his cufflinks, the soft clink echoing in the silence of our room.I met his gaze in the mirror, watching his reflection as he lingered behind me. His tie hung loosely around his neck, undone, like he wasn’t entirely convinced he wanted to go either.“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, smoothing down the navy silk dress Alexandra had insisted I wear. Elegant, understated—chosen with precision. The kind of dress that blended into the background.Adrian’s hands brushed lightly against my shoulders, his touch hesitant. “They didn’t mean to leave you out of the planning, Mia. It’s just… this gala has been in motion for months. Before—” He paused, like the word itself might offend me. “…before you.”Before me.I focused on clasping the delicate necklace around my throat, avoiding his eyes. “I know. I’m not upset.”Lying had become second nature. I've had to move on very quickly from every situatio
Last Updated : 2025-01-01
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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“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
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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
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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
