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Chapter 16: Confrontations
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2024-02-21 13:25:47Related chapters
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 17: His Secrets.
MARCUSI felt someone's hand over mine, a fleeting touch that vanished as quickly as it came. Blinking open my eyes, I beheld the silhouette of a woman cradling a baby, a speeding car hurtling towards them. My instincts screamed to intervene, to swap places with them, yet my limbs weighed heavy, impeding any heroic dash.My heart thundered as the car drew closer, closer..."Marcus," a voice pierced through the chaos.Gasping for air, I found Kristen's worried gaze, her brow furrowed in concern."Kristen," I managed amidst ragged breaths."Are you okay? What's wrong--" Her words trailed off as I pulled her into a tight embrace, haunted by the specter of my dream."Don't leave me," I pleaded.I could feel her hands tapping my back as she say, "Are you having nightmares? Do you want to go home now?"What she said made me realize that we were still here in my parents' mansion, here inside my old room."It's nothing, just a bad dream," I uttered before moving slightly away from her. "We ne
Last Updated : 2024-03-21He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 18: Confrontations and Confessions
KRISTENAfter the seemingly endless whirlwind of events over the past few days, I am finally back at work. I hoped that burying myself in my tasks would help me stop overthinking his mother’s decision. Yet, before we left the house this morning, his mother seized the moment to talk to me. She suggested that I should quit my job and stay at home, so Marcus could focus on their company.Yes, he finally decided to compete with Ashton.What frustrates me the most is the favor his mother asked of me. Why should I stop working so he could focus? As if I would do something crazy, or do I look like the type of girl to cause a mess? My gut tells me there's something off about this request."Seems like you're mentally absent, Ms. Sterling?" A woman's voice broke my thoughts.It was Rihanna.It would have been a relief to let out a deep sigh before testing my patience with her again, but I refrained. She's getting closer, and if she noticed, she would surely cause a scene, accusing me of disresp
Last Updated : 2024-06-17He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 19: The Unwelcome Visitor
KRISTEN"How was talking with Mom? I hope she didn't act rude to you," Mira asked as soon as she saw me heading upstairs. She was waiting at the top of the stairs, looking really worried."Uhm, don't worry. She wasn't that rude. Not at all," I replied weakly.Mira stared at me, trying to gauge if I was telling the truth, but I just gave her a slight smile.After that, I went straight to Marcus's room. He wasn't here yet; he was probably spending another night at the nearest hotel due to issues at their company. Recently, before he even announced that he would be joining the company, unexpected events occurred. Many investors began questioning whether it was still safe to invest in them, as the funds were mysteriously decreasing, causing some real estate projects to be postponed. We were supposed to go back to his house—I mean, our house—but due to his hectic schedule, we couldn't. I was hoping we could as soon as possible, since I didn't want to live under the same roof as my ex and
Last Updated : 2024-06-17He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 20: Unexpected News
KRISTENJust as I lost all my strength and my shirt was nearly ripped, someone suddenly barged in and landed a powerful punch on Ashton's face."You f*cking *ssh*l*! How dare you touch my wife!" he shouted, continuing to pummel Ashton's face.I heard Ashton laugh, a sinister sound that sent chills down my spine. "Why? Can't I touch someone I've already touched a few times before you?""You're going to die today, Ashton. You piece of sh*t!"I knew I had to stop them before he kill Ashton, and I didn't want him to end up in jail. But I felt paralyzed, unable to move an inch.Thankfully, Mira heard the commotion from the other room. She burst in, her face pale with disbelief, as she ran towards her brothers, who were on the verge of tearing each other apart. Marcus kept cursing at Ashton, who just laughed and taunted him with nonsense."Marcus, stop! You're going to kill him!" Mira cried, trying to wedge herself between them.That's when I started to lose consciousness, the edges of my v
Last Updated : 2024-06-18He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 21: Bridges to Cross
MARCUSReturning to the hospital room where I left Kristen, after settling everything, I felt a pang of guilt. Normally, these tasks were handled by someone else in our family, but I wanted to be there for Kristen. I wasn’t there when she needed me most, so this was the least I could do."Hey," I said softly as I entered, the door closing with a gentle click. Kristen seemed lost in thought, staring blankly at the pastel-colored walls and didn’t notice me at first. I gently tapped her back. "Is there a problem?"She gave me a faint smile. "No. Can we go home now?"I nodded.We stopped by our family's mansion to gather our things and say goodbye to Mom. The mansion, with its grand chandeliers and opulent decor, felt cold and distant compared to the cozy home Kristen and I shared. I had to fabricate a story to explain why we were leaving, masking the truth behind a series of half-lies.As we headed to the car, I noticed Ashton standing with his fiancée, glaring at us from a distance. His
Last Updated : 2024-06-19He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 22: Descent into Darkness
THIRD PERSONKristen, who was left alone at home, received a call from Mira, who informed her that Rihanna was frustrated after learning she wouldn't be able to work for a few weeks. Concerned and not wanting to cause any stress to anyone, Kristen decided to head to the gallery to talk to Rihanna personally about her plan to take a break.When she arrived at the gallery, Kristen immediately saw Mira, who was taking a quick coffee break in the sunny, bustling lobby. "Mira," she greeted her warmly, despite the anxiety bubbling beneath her calm exterior.Mira turned around as soon as she heard Kristen's voice. She smiled at first, but it quickly faded. "Good thing you're here. You know what? I feel like I'm going to explode any minute today. That woman can't shut her mouth for a second," she vented, her frustration evident in her furrowed brow and tense shoulders."Come on, calm your heart," Kristen said sweetly, gently tapping Mira’s back in a soothing gesture. "Maybe we should sit down
Last Updated : 2024-06-19He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 23: Entangled Fates
THIRD PERSONRihanna was determined with her plan. Ever since she discovered that Kristen had secretly married Marcus, whom she believed should have been hers, she had been seething with anger and jealousy. Even Marcus's mother, whom she used to confide in, no longer spoke to her about it.She wondered why she was always left out in the cold by these people. She was used to such situations, as her biological parents had done the same to her. If not for an elderly rich man who adopted her and became a father figure, she wouldn’t be where she was today."Papa," Rihanna began, her voice steady but cold. "I need your help."Her foster father leaned back in his plush armchair, studying her face under the warm glow of an antique desk lamp. "What is it this time, Dear? Who's causing you trouble?""It's that woman, Kristen Sterling," she said, clenching her fists. "She needs to pay for what she's done. She stole everything from me. Marcus should have been mine, not hers."Scenes like this were
Last Updated : 2024-06-20He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 24: The Scent of Affection
THIRD PERSONThat evening, Kristen was the first to arrive home. She had earlier asked Mira to accompany her to buy groceries. Instead of dining out, she decided to cook a meal for her husband. Marcus wasn’t home yet, so she glanced at the wall clock while cooking the steak and thought to herself how fortunate it was that she had decided to prepare dinner.She began to call Marcus, but he didn't answer. So, she texted him, asking where he was. Despite not receiving a reply, she continued cooking. However, hours later, she received a text from one of Marcus’s friends, informing her that he wouldn't be able to come home that night.Kristen didn’t think much of it. For her, just knowing that he was safe was enough. She ate alone before going to bed.Almost 2 O'clock morning, just right before she fell asleep deeply, she woke to Marcus lying down beside her, his arm wrapped around her from behind."I thought you weren’t coming home tonight?" Kristen asked as she turned to face Marcus. Tha
Last Updated : 2024-06-22
Latest chapter
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 53: When Truth Hangs by a Thread.
KRISTEN's POVThe silence between us hung heavy, but eventually, Marcus broke it. His voice was calm, detached.“About the divorce papers—I’ll have them sent to your address tomorrow. Just text me where, so I’ll know.”“Uhm… Sure. I will. Thank you,” I replied quietly. He didn’t say anything else and hung up.So that’s why he called. Just business. Nothing else.With a sigh, I let the thought go and quickly turned my attention back to Daniel. I replied to his earlier message, letting him know it was fine and that I understood why he had to leave. He texted back almost immediately, asking why I hadn’t picked up when he tried calling earlier. Honesty felt like the easiest route, so I told him the truth.His response caught me off guard. He said he was coming back to the hospital. He didn’t want me to be alone, and I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. The truth was, it would be nice to have someone there—someone to lean on.The timing was perfect. Daniel arrived just as the doctor came by
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 52:The Weight of a Lifeline.
KRISTEN's POVI didn’t know what to feel as I stood in the sterile, echoing hallway. Relief, certainly, that Nathan was alive, but it came tangled with something heavier. Guilt. The man I’d kept at arm’s length—the man I’d fought so hard to shield Nathan from—was the very one who’d stepped forward to save his life without hesitation.Marcus didn’t question or waver. The moment the doctor asked for a donor with B-negative blood, he simply nodded and followed them, as though it was the most natural thing in the world."What happens now? What if he starts questioning why Daniel isn’t a match for Nathan when he’s supposed to be his father?" That thought gnawed at me as I watched Marcus walk away, his silhouette growing smaller until he disappeared from sight.Mom and Dad approached me together. Meanwhile, I stood frozen, staring at the empty space Marcus left behind.Hours dragged by, each one heavier than the last. Finally, the doctor emerged, and we rushed to meet him.“Your son’s condi
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 51: Fate’s Crossroads (A Father’s Lifeline)
KRISTEN'S POV“I’ll give you what you want.” That was the last message he sent before I closed the laptop.At that moment, I didn’t even think about how he might feel when he saw I read his message without replying. To be honest, I was caught off guard.Is it weird that I’m feeling something strange? I expected this message—I knew it was coming. But why does it feel like this?I glanced at Nathan, still sleeping soundly, hugging his pillow tightly.It was still early, so I lay back down beside him, my gaze fixed on his peaceful face. As I watched him, I couldn’t help but admit it—so much of him resembled Marcus. Even his stubbornness, that difficult-to-understand personality, he clearly inherited from his father.I hugged my son tightly, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep again.When I woke up, it was almost 4 PM. A few minutes later, Nathan stirred awake as well. I planned to get ready and leave after leaving him with Mom, but when I went downstairs, the house was empty. It was
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 50: Buried Truths and Shifting Tides
KRISTEN'S POVOverthinking has a way of draining every ounce of energy from your body. It’s been two days, and my mind has been consumed with one question: why is Dad so fixated on buying back our old gallery out of all the properties he could invest in?I stood by the sliding door overlooking the garden, watching Nathan play by himself. My thoughts were a whirlwind until Mom walked by. At first, I hesitated to call her, unsure if this was the right moment. But my intrusive thoughts won.“Mom, can we talk?” I asked, my voice hesitant but firm.She smiled warmly at me. “Of course, dear. What’s on your mind? Is this about Nathan’s father?”I sighed internally. Of course, she’d jump to that conclusion. But no, this wasn’t about Marcus. Not this time. I was too preoccupied with trying to understand Dad’s actions.“No, it’s not about him,” I clarified. “It’s... about something else. Actually, someone else. Is Dad here, by the way?”Mom’s brows furrowed in confusion as she shook her head. “H
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 49: Fractured Pieces.
KRISTEN's POVLife has a way of playing cruel jokes, and at some point, I stopped fighting it and just went along. Coming back here was supposed to bring me peace, but it feels like I’ve stepped into quicksand. The more I try to settle, the more tangled and suffocated everything becomes.I can’t forget the way Marcus looked at me as the elevator doors remained open, a barrier between us that somehow felt thinner than the air. His frustration was etched into every line of his face, his jaw tight, his eyes burning with emotions I couldn’t quite decipher.That gaze—it was heavy, sharp, cutting through the fragile walls I’d built around myself. For a moment, I stood frozen, my hand hovering over the elevator panel. It wasn’t fear that rooted me in place, but something deeper, something raw.I tell myself it’s all in the past. I tell myself I’ve moved on. But moments like that—moments where his presence feels like an unrelenting storm—bring everything rushing back.But why does he seem so
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 48: Unspoken Wounds.
"Is he your son?"That was the last thing Marcus said before stepping closer to them. Daniel, on the other hand, was immediately on alert, noticing how Kristen froze in place, her gaze glued to Marcus as he approached. But Marcus didn't come too close.He chose to keep a distance, not wanting to cause a scene, even though every fiber of his being was screaming to let loose. Why? Because, for reasons he couldn't quite understand, anger flared up in him once more. His mind replayed the visit from Dylan, his detective friend, over and over again.When Kristen had left, Marcus received a message from an unknown sender. The message claimed that Kristen had been involved with another man during the time they were apart. It accused her of aborting their child long ago because she didn’t love him and leaving him to be with someone else.At first, Marcus didn’t believe it. But for reasons he couldn’t explain, his friend Dylan had come up with the same information before suddenly disappearing.
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 47: A Day at the Park
"I like you." Kristen froze. The words hung in the air between them, unexpected and heavy. She let out a nervous laugh, trying to brush it off. “What? Are you serious? Daniel, stop joking around,” she said, her voice light, but her hands fidgeting nervously.Daniel didn’t budge. His face stayed serious, his eyes focused on her like he wasn’t going to let this moment slip away.“Daniel,” she tried again, her tone quieter now. “Are you… are you serious?”He nodded, slow and certain. “Do I look like I’m joking?”Her heart skipped. She didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t the kind of thing you could just laugh away.“I…” she started but faltered. She glanced at him, searching his face for any sign that he was teasing her. There was none. Her breath hitched as the truth of his confession started to sink in.Daniel stepped closer, his voice steady and calm. “Kristen, I know things are complicated right now, and I don’t want to add more pressure to your life. But I need you to know that yo
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 46: Knowing Something I Shouldn't.
The ride home was quiet, with Daniel still behind the wheel. Kristen's father sat in the front seat while her mother sat beside her, holding Nathan, who had fallen asleep between them.Kristen's gaze shifted between two things: the road outside and her son's angelic face. Every time her eyes landed on Nathan, a pang of guilt tugged at her heart.Guilt for keeping him away from his father.Nathan was still too young to ask questions or express curiosity about his dad, but Kristen knew that day would inevitably come. And when it did, she would have no choice but to be honest with him.For now, though, she wanted to savor the moments when he was all hers. She wasn’t used to being away from him for long periods, and didn’t want to start now.When they arrived home, Daniel carefully carried the sleeping Nathan to Kristen’s room. Meanwhile, Kristen stayed in the living room with her parents. Her father, exhausted, excused himself to retire upstairs. Her mother, however, remained seated, her
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 45: Where's Nathan?
Kristen and her parents decided to split up to search for Nathan. At the same time, Daniel informed the hotel staff about the situation before following Kristen to help her look around."Why would he wander off alone?" Kristen thought to herself, her worry growing as she searched for her son.The grand hotel where the mayor—her godfather—was holding the birthday party was enormous. Kristen didn’t even know where to start. She let her feet guide her wherever they might take her."Wherever my feet lead me, as long as I find my son," she whispered to herself."Kristen!" Daniel called out from behind, making her turn quickly."What is it, Daniel?" she asked, her voice laced with tension.Daniel, still catching his breath, took a moment before answering, "Your mom called me. They found Nathan, and he’s back at the lobby."Kristen felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Thank goodness! That’s such a relief.""Apparently, someone found Nathan and brought him to the lobby. Your mom had told the
