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Chapter 54
Last Updated:
2025-01-03 02:01:59
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I lingered outside the study door long after Alexandra’s voice faded into silence. The soft hum of conversation resumed, muffled now, like they knew I was still standing there.The weight of her last words pressed down on me, curling tightly around my chest.I can handle Adrian. It’s his wife I’m worried about.The hallway stretched ahead, dark and empty, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that eyes were following me as I made my way back to the bedroom.Adrian was still asleep when I returned, his arm sprawled across my side of the bed. I stood at the edge for a long moment, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.His hair had fallen over his forehead, softening the sharp edges of his face. In sleep, Adrian looked almost vulnerable. Almost.I slipped beneath the covers carefully, but the moment my head hit the pillow, his arm instinctively pulled me closer.“Mia…” he mumbled sleepily, his voice heavy with exhaustion
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The garden was the only place that felt quiet enough to think.By mid-morning, the sun warmed the stone pathways, but a cold breeze cut through the hedges, carrying the faint scent of roses and lavender. I followed the winding trail, footsteps soft against the gravel, letting the silence press around me.Alexandra’s words from the night before refused to let go.I can handle Adrian. It’s his wife I’m worried about.I’d replayed it over and over, trying to make sense of the edge in her voice, the guarded way she looked at me whenever Adrian wasn’t in the room.Elizabeth said Alexandra wasn’t an enemy.But the more time I spent here, the more I doubted that.I wasn’t imagining it.Adrian was hiding something. And Alexandra? She knew exactly what it was.I paused near the stone fountain, watching as water spilled over the marble edges.Somewhere behind me, footsteps approached.I knew who it was before I turned.“You’re brooding again.”Adrian’s voice cut softly through the air, but ther
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"I'm leaving, Adrian."The words felt heavy as they left my mouth, like stones sinking to the bottom of a lake. I hadn’t planned to say them—not this morning, not with him standing so close, watching me like he already knew something was wrong. But once the words were out, I couldn’t take them back.Adrian’s gaze lifted from the papers on his desk, eyes narrowing slightly as if he hadn’t heard me right. "You’re what?"I folded my arms, holding onto the only thing keeping me upright—pride. "I’m going to see my family. I just need a few days away, that’s all."His pen stilled between his fingers. "Mia, if something happened—""Nothing happened," I interrupted, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. "I just… I haven’t seen them in a while. I thought it would be nice to check in."Lie.I could feel the weight of it pressing down on my chest. This wasn’t about missing my family. It wasn’t even about them.I was scared.The longer I stayed in this house, the more I felt the
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The kitchen smelled like cinnamon and vanilla, the familiar scent wrapping around me like a blanket.Mom had been baking—probably her famous apple pie, the one she always made when she sensed something was wrong but didn’t want to ask directly.She led me inside without another word, her hand resting gently on my back. I could hear the faint sound of the television in the living room, and the soft shuffle of my dad’s footsteps as he moved around.As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, he looked up from the table, a half-folded newspaper in his hand. His eyes brightened when he saw me, but they narrowed just as quickly, scanning my face."Mia," Dad said, setting the paper down. "What a surprise.""Hi, Dad," I managed, dropping my bag near the door.His brow furrowed. "Did Adrian drive you?"I shook my head. "He sent a car."There was a flicker of something in his eyes—concern, maybe suspicion—but he didn’t press.Mom gestured to the table. "Sit down. You must be tired."I hesitated for
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Later that evening, the café hummed with a quiet stillness that only came at closing time. The last customer had left almost an hour ago, and now it was just me, Mom, and Patricia. Rain drizzled softly against the windows, casting ripples across the glass. The dim glow from the streetlights outside painted golden patterns over the tables.I wiped down the counter for the third time, dragging out the moment. I wasn’t quite ready to leave yet, even though I knew I had to.Patricia sat at one of the booths, scrolling through her phone with that half-distracted smirk she always wore when she knew something I hadn’t said aloud yet. She’d been watching me all evening, stealing little glances every time I passed by.Mom moved around behind the register, counting the day’s earnings with a calm efficiency, but even she kept stealing glances in my direction.The weight in the room was subtle, but it was there. Like everyone knew something was off, but no one wanted to say it out loud.I finally
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The footprints stopped halfway across the room.I stood frozen, the weight of the air pressing down on me as I stared at them.They weren’t large—barely noticeable, but they were there. Damp patches trailing from the balcony toward the corner near the dresser.For a long moment, I couldn’t move.The faint hum of rain outside faded beneath the thud of my heartbeat.I swallowed hard, eyes flicking toward the balcony door. The curtains swayed gently, pushed by the wind, but the lock was still latched.I had locked it. I was sure of it.Someone had been here.I stepped carefully around the prints, crossing the room toward the dresser. There was nothing unusual now—no sign of anyone lingering in the shadows. But the knot in my stomach tightened.The air felt colder.I glanced at the closet, hesitating.Don’t be ridiculous, Mia.Still, I crossed the room and gripped the handle, swinging the door open.Empty.I let out a shaky breath, forcing myself to relax.But I couldn’t shake the feeling
Last Updated : 2025-01-06HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 61
The bracelet sat on the table like it didn’t belong there.I hadn’t worn it since I arrived. I told myself it didn’t mean anything—that it was just another part of the arrangement. But the truth was, I couldn’t look at it without thinking of Adrian. Without feeling… conflicted.I slid the box to the far end of the table, but the weight in my chest didn’t budge.“I’m going for a walk,” I said, pushing back from the table abruptly.My mom glanced over from the sink, drying a plate with slow, careful movements. “Dinner’s almost ready.”“I won’t be long.”She hesitated, her eyes flicking to the bracelet box. “Mia…”I grabbed my coat before she could say more, slipping out the front door.I needed space.---The air was crisp as I walked through the neighborhood, the wind threading through my hair.I barely noticed it.My thoughts circled the same point, over and over again.Coming home was supposed to give me clarity. I thought putting distance between me and Adrian would make things easi
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The very next day, I found myself walking near Adrian’s family estate.I hadn’t planned on coming this way, but after hours of pacing around my parents' house, I needed an excuse to get out. My mom had been watching me like I might break at any second, and my dad kept dropping hints about "taking time to think things over."I didn’t need time. I needed clarity.The idea of bumping into Adrian was the last thing I wanted, but something pulled me here anyway. Maybe it was curiosity—or maybe I was just trying to prove to myself that I could be near his world without falling deeper into it.I slowed as I passed the estate’s iron gates. The path leading up to the house was lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, and even from the road, I could see the tall, white columns of the front porch.I was about to keep walking when the sound of footsteps caught my attention.“Mia?”I turned, heart sinking slightly as Adrian’s mother, Alexandra, stepped out from the side garden. She was dressed as impe
Last Updated : 2025-01-07
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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
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,
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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
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
