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Chapter 59
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-06 19:56:06
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HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 60
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-07HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 62
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-07HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 63
"I'm going back home with Adrian," I said, crossing my arms as I faced my mom in the living room.She gave me a skeptical look, her hands pausing mid-stir in her cup of tea. "Why so soon? Have you thought about this carefully, Mia?""I have," I replied firmly, though my voice softened to reassure her. "I want to go back. It's the right thing to do."She set her cup down, leaning forward. "Are you sure? I mean, after everything… maybe a little more time would help you clear your head."I smiled, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. "Mom, I’ve thought about it long enough. I know what I’m doing. Trust me, okay? I can handle myself."Her lips pursed, worry flickering in her eyes. "I do trust you, Mia. I just want you to be careful, that’s all." She sighed, placing a hand on mine. "Take care of yourself, sweetheart.""I will, Mom. Promise."With that, I headed upstairs to pack my things.---In my room, I folded the last of my clothes into the suitcase, my mind swirling with thoughts. Ad
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 64
“Why do you care so much, Adrian?”The words slipped out before I could stop them, slicing through the tense silence in the living room like a sharp blade.Adrian froze mid-typing on his laptop, his fingers hovering over the keys. He didn’t look at me right away, but his jaw ticked—a telltale sign I’d struck a nerve.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said finally, his tone clipped.I leaned back against the couch, crossing my arms as I studied him. “Oh, come on. Don’t act like you haven’t been glaring at me for the past three days every time I so much as smile at someone else.”He exhaled sharply through his nose, shutting his laptop with a little too much force. “You’re imagining things, Mia.”“Am I?” I challenged, arching an eyebrow. “Because it seems like you have an awful lot of opinions about who I talk to and when.”Adrian’s dark eyes finally met mine, his gaze sharp and unreadable. For a moment, the air between us felt electric, charged with all the unspoken words we
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 65
The morning after the café incident was super weird and unbearable. The silence in the kitchen was thick, heavier than it had ever been. Adrian was leaning against the counter, scrolling through his phone like he was trying to erase me from his mind. I stood at the sink, staring at the same unbuttered slice of toast for what felt like an eternity, my thoughts racing.I couldn’t take it anymore. “Are we really going to spend the whole day pretending the other doesn’t exist?”He didn’t even look up. “I’m not pretending anything, Mia.”His voice was cold, distant. The Adrian from yesterday—the one who’d gone from simmering anger to raw jealousy—was nowhere to be found. And that only made me angrier.I dropped the knife onto the counter, the clatter cutting through the silence. “Oh, so this is what we’re doing now? Silent treatment? Sulking? You know, for someone who acts like they have everything under control, you’re pretty childish.”That got his attention. He set his phone down with a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 66
It started with a wine cellar.Adrian’s mansion had more rooms than anyone could reasonably need, but the wine cellar was easily the most ridiculous. I mean, it looked like something out of a historical novel—floor-to-ceiling racks, each one stacked with bottles of wine that I was pretty sure no one actually drank. But tonight, when I realized we were out of sparkling water upstairs, I thought maybe I’d grab a bottle from the cellar. It was, after all, a massive house, and surely the wine wasn’t the only thing that needed keeping.The plan was simple: go down, grab the water, and leave. But once I stepped inside, the dim lighting was enough to make me second-guess everything. A creepy chill ran down my spine. I wasn’t a fan of dark, quiet spaces like this. Maybe I should’ve called Adrian for help, but honestly, I didn’t need him hovering over me like some overprotective shadow.I grabbed a flashlight from the nearby shelf because the cellar's lighting was about as bright as a dying ca
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game Chapter 67
"Are you going to keep kissing me, or are you actually going to say something?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Adrian’s lips twitched into a small smile, but his gaze didn’t waver. There was something different about the way he was looking at me now—something I couldn’t quite figure out. For the first time, the walls around him seemed to crumble, even if just for a moment. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but there was a vulnerability in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before.“You really want me to say something?” Adrian asked, his voice quiet, almost teasing.“Well, it’s not like we can keep standing here, staring at each other all night,” I replied, trying to sound more composed than I felt. “It’s just a kiss, Adrian. It’s not like it changes anything.”His expression hardened in an instant, and my stomach dropped. “You think it doesn’t change anything?” His voice was low, almost dangerously so. He took a step back, breaking the tension we’d been holding in the tiny spac
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17
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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
