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Chapter 36: Fractured Bonds
Last Updated:
2024-06-28 05:20:48Related chapters
He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 37: Shattered Trust
A few days had passed, and everything seemed peaceful as they had hoped. Ashton was already behind bars for his crimes, the unidentified man who had threatened Kristen twice was now dead, and Rihanna was missing, leaving the gallery unattended.But everything wasn't fine for the four of them—especially not for Mira, Dylan, Marcus, and Kristen.Mira often saw Dylan visiting their house to talk to her brother, Marcus. However, he would always ignore her or leave after a quick "hi," not allowing her a chance to respond. On top of that, her father kept pressuring her about her future decisions. She didn't care much about being in an arranged marriage, expecting it as a woman, but meeting Dylan made her ready to give up everything for him and enjoy their time together. Experiencing her first heartbreak, she had no one to confide in, which made it even worse.She chased after Dylan and caught up with him before he could get into his car. Despite feeling weak and afraid of hearing an unplea
Last Updated : 2024-06-29He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 38: A New Beginning
KRISTENBefore boarding the train to the terminal, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Maybe because despite the anger simmering inside me, guilt gnawed at my conscience for lying to him about our child. For telling him that I no longer have the baby.I've agonized over my decision countless times—was it right to leave without hearing his side? Am I really doing the right thing? But whenever I think of him hiding the truth from me, suspicions cloud my mind, wondering if Ashton's accusations could be true. Maybe I never really knew the real Marcus.Yes, my memories from that time are still hazy, just fragments. I don't want to force myself to dredge up memories my mind buried long ago.I just don't know what to do and think anymore.I honestly wanted our child to grow up in a complete family, but on the other hand, I also want it to be free from the daily wounds inflicted by his father and me, free from a toxic family situation.Few minutes after getting off the train, I walked
Last Updated : 2024-06-30He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 39: Homecoming
THIRD PERSON'S POV When Kristen and her family arrived in their hometown, she couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Many hints and various memories flooded back to her, including the happy, sad, and scary events in her life. "Here I am again. It never crossed my mind that I would set foot here again," she whispered to herself. "Feels really... weird to be back." The town hasn't changed much. The quaint houses and shops stood resilient against time, each corner whispering stories of days gone by. Kristen's mind raced, thoughts swirling around the possibility of running into him again. She mentally mapped out routes to avoid familiar spots where chance meetings might occur, determined to keep their visit brief and uneventful. "Granny, are we there yet?" Nathan, who had just woken up, asked. "Yes, dear. We're almost there, don't worry," his grandmother replied, gently pinching his cheek. "You asked Granny, huh? Your mom is right next to you, kiddo," Kristen teased playfully. Nathan sig
Last Updated : 2024-07-02He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 40: Past Memories
"Hey! Calm down, I'm not a thief!" Those were the words Daniel shouted as Kristen continued to swing the bat at him. "I said, stop!" Luckily, Daniel managed to block the blows with a garbage bag filled with old items he was planning to throw out. If not, he might have ended up spending the night in the hospital. "Oh, you're still making excuses, huh?" Kristen raised the bat again to strike, but just then, the lights in the house turned on. Everyone—Linda, Tonyo, and Kristen's parents—came rushing out. Kristen's mother approached the pair with a furrowed brow. "Why are you two making such a racket so late at night?" Her eyes shifted to the bat in her daughter's hands, her tone now sharper. "And what is that? Why are you hitting Daniel with a baseball bat?" "Daniel?" Kristen repeated, confused. She turned to look at the garbage bag obstructing her view of the supposed intruder. Slowly lowering the garbage bag, Daniel revealed his face. Embarrassment washed over Kristen as she gri
Last Updated : 2024-12-02He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 41: Teaming Up with My Childhood Friend
Daniel and Kristen sat quietly on a bench in the garden. The place was serene, with a cool afternoon breeze that made it perfect for a calm discussion. "So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Kristen broke the silence, glancing at Daniel, who seemed reluctant to speak. She studied him intently, waiting for a reply. Daniel sighed before answering, "I’m not sure if your parents mentioned it, but I’m going to be your lawyer." "Ah, yeah," Kristen asked with a slight nod. "Dad did tell me. He said I should talk to you about the requirements for purchasing the property. You could have just emailed me the details, and I’d take care of it." Daniel hesitated for a moment before responding, "Most of the requirements are already in place. I just need one final document." "Sure! I have nothing planned for tomorrow, so I can work on it alongside looking for a property," Kristen replied cheerfully. "Actually," Daniel said cautiously, "your parents have already chosen a property. It
Last Updated : 2024-12-02He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 42: What's the Plan?
It all seemed to be happening so fast. Just recently, they had returned home, and Kristen discovered that her divorce from Marcus wasn’t finalized after all. And now, here he was, suddenly appearing in her life again. Kristen wasn’t sure how to react to her current situation. It felt as though fate was playing tricks on her yet again.As Kristen stared directly at her ex-husband, Daniel subtly observed her reaction from the side. At first, he couldn’t quite decipher the emotions she was showing. But as time passed, he started to realize that perhaps, even now, she hadn’t completely let go of her feelings for Marcus.“If you want, you can talk to him now and have him sign the papers,” Daniel suggested, breaking the silence and catching Kristen’s attention. “That is, if you’re comfortable enough to face him. But if not…”“I’m not uncomfortable around him anymore,” Kristen replied firmly, holding out her hand toward Daniel, a clear signal she wanted something. “Give me the papers, and I’
Last Updated : 2024-12-03He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 43: At the Mayor’s Party
The next evening, by six o'clock, Kristen's parents were already dressed and waiting at the foot of the grand staircase. Standing with them was Daniel, who kept glancing at his watch every now and then. Moments later, Nathan came bounding down the stairs with a big grin, his eyes flitting between his grandparents and his Uncle Daniel. “Where’s your mommy?” his grandmother asked with a soft smile. “She said she’ll be down soon,” Nathan chirped, practically buzzing with excitement. His joy was palpable, and for good reason—he was finally allowed to leave the mansion. He had been asking for days to go out as a family, and his grandparents agreed to take him along, even though it meant going to the mayor’s birthday party. At first, Kristen had been reluctant. She suggested leaving Nathan to Daniel's parents, but after seeing her son’s crestfallen expression, she had no choice but to agree. She thought that concealing him from the outside world would only suffocate him. Not lon
Last Updated : 2024-12-04He's Not a Billionaire Chapter 44: A Night of Endless Memories
After the program ended, the dinner began, followed by the opening of the party. Kristen's parents decided to bring Nathan to their hotel room since he seemed drowsy. Fortunately, the entire hotel was rented out for the event, allowing all guests to use the rooms, especially those who had traveled far.This left Daniel and Kristen at the party. Daniel stepped out briefly to check on his car after noticing on the hidden camera he installed that a hooded figure with a covered face was loitering near it.Kristen waited quietly but couldn’t shake off her unease. Unable to hold back any longer, she decided to follow Daniel. However, before she could get far, a woman bumped into her—someone whose face seemed oddly familiar.“Isn’t she one of Marcus’s companions?” Kristen thought to herself.“Shit! My dress is ruined. This is your fault! Watch where you’re going!” the woman snapped irritably, brushing at the stain on her clothes.Kristen’s ears burned at the accusation. She couldn’t stop her
Last Updated : 2024-12-05
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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
