Beranda / Romance / Renting Billionaire Boyfriend / The Darkness Within - Chapter 28

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The Darkness Within - Chapter 28

Penulis: Tracy Tauro
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-10-27 18:48:14

Raisel’s POV

The gunshot echoed in my ears, loud and final, and I braced for impact, squeezing my eyes shut. Instead of pain, I felt the weight of Soren’s body shield me. A low groan slipped from his lips, his frame slumping against mine. I barely registered Hazel’s screams or the police shouting as they finally arrived. All I could see was Soren, his eyes fluttering, consciousness slipping away.

“Drop your weapon!” the officer yelled at Alaric, but Alaric’s gaze remained locked on me, his face twisted with rage. He pointed the gun again, taking a step forward. The police shot him in the leg, bringing him to the ground before he could reach me. They moved to arrest him, but my attention was only on Soren—on the blood pooling around him.

“Soren…no…” I whispered, my voice choked with terror as he lay there, unmoving. Paramedics arrived, lifting him onto a stretcher, and I clung to his side as they tried to pull me back. My eyes never left him, not for a second. Reporters swarmed around
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  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Discovering Hidden Truth - chapter 29

    Raisel’s POVI waited, impatiently, as Mr. Beau and the man at the laptop—Jace, I think his name was—spoke in hushed tones. The name Jace felt familiar, like a half-remembered shadow flitting through my mind, but I couldn’t quite place it. Their conversation lingered in the background as I drifted, restlessly pacing the edges of the estate, the guard trailing me like a silent, watchful shadow. Maybe he was there to guide me, or maybe he was there to keep me from wandering into places I wasn’t supposed to see.And then, I saw it—the room lined with photographs, a corridor of memories preserved in silver frames. This must be Mr. Beau’s own hall of ghosts. Among the faded images, my gaze settled on a wedding photo—a beautiful woman, his wife, her smile caught in time. Then I saw it: a family picture. Soren, his mother, his father… and then, in another frame, his mother alone, her face pale with the exhaustion of pregnancy. The father was missing, absent from these intimate moments, a sha

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-30
  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Being Strong

    **Raisel - POV**As I squinted, the worried face of Jace came into focus, pulling me back to reality. I tried to sit up on the soft bed, feeling the sheets tug against me.“Thank God you’re awake,” he murmured, relief evident in his voice.“How long was I out?” I whispered weakly.“An hour,” he replied, pouring me a glass of water.Just then, Mr. Beau walked in, his calm expression laced with the usual hint of sarcasm. “Welcome back,” he said. “When do you want me to go meet Alaric?” I asked, rolling off the bed on unsteady legs. Jace stood close, ready to catch me if I stumbled.“In about fifteen days. For now, you’ll focus on helping Soren with his startup, along with Gwen,” Mr. Beau instructed. “I don’t want Soren stressing over his business—this is his dream, to make a name for himself. You wouldn’t believe how much he hates the Dalton legacy.”“I can imagine,” I muttered. Mr. Beau’s gaze shifted to me, unreadable. “Anyway, thank you for showing me the truth about my aunt Marget.

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-01
  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Fire and Fury

    Raisel’s POVDavina stormed into my office, eyes blazing with fury. Gwen, sensing the tension, scrambled to call Mr. Beau. I didn’t flinch, but behind my mask of composure, a tight coil of fear twisted in my gut.“You’re going to testify for Alaric,” she said coldly. “And you’re going to say you didn’t see him shoot Soren.”I leaned back, forcing a smirk. “You’ve got some nerve, Davina.” My voice was steady, but a storm raged inside me. “But let me enlighten you—I’m not the only witness. My best friend was there too. Alaric’s looking at a long, cold prison sentence, and I’ll see to it personally.”“I can pay you whatever you want,” she said, desperation seeping into her arrogance.My brows shot up, mocking. “You and Alaric, always thinking money can buy anything. You’re both just spoiled, self-centered parasites who believe the world bends to your will. It’s almost tragic how well you suit each other—hell’s own power couple.”Her eyes darkened, lips twisting with rage. “Listen, you in

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-04
  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Brotherly Intrusion

    Raisel's POVThe handle of Soren’s office door didn’t budge. Locked, of course. “Easy fix,” Hazel muttered, a mischievous glint in her eye as she reached into her handbag and produced a multi-tool lock-picking set. My jaw nearly hit the floor.“Don’t give me that look,” she smirked. “You’d be surprised what a girl learns when she spends her teenage years sneaking in and out of her mom’s office just to avoid being her next chess piece.”I let out a low whistle. “People never fail to surprise me.”She shot me a knowing look. “Everyone has a shadow side, Raisel. Some just hide it better than others. The trick is to keep your eyes sharp and never dismiss that little voice inside telling you something’s off.”I nodded, a heaviness settling in my chest. “You’re right. Ignoring your gut can lead you straight into the dark.”*Click.*The door swung open with an ominous creak. We exchanged a glance before stepping inside. The office was bare. Too clean. The clutter, the evidence—gone. “He’s m

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-05
  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Brotherly Bond

    Soren - POVPain throbs through my body, but all I feel is anger. And Joshua’s words aren’t helping.“What the hell do you mean?” Raisel snaps.She yanks her arm out of Joshua’s grasp, glaring at him with fury. Joshua just smirks, his gaze lingering on her, then lets out a slow, mocking chuckle.“Your face is adorable when you’re angry,” he says, laughter lacing his words.“What’s wrong with your brother?” Raisel mutters, exasperated. I can tell she’s expecting him to say it’s all a prank, but something about this feels… off. A strange unease prickles at me.“Prank,” I say, my tone flat.Joshua shrugs. “My brother gets me.” A sigh of relief escapes Raisel as she steps back, putting distance between us.“You two are cruel with your pranks,” she whispers, annoyed. It’s cute, watching her get riled up. But the only time I want to see her crying is when I’m the one making her gasp, her tears the good kind. The kind I can savor.“Focus, bruh,” Joshua taunts, catching my stare. “You look at

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-08
  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   The Vow of Vengeance

    Raisel's POVI hesitated as I stepped out of the hospital room. Mr. Beau needed me at the mansion, and thankfully, Soren didn’t question my flimsy excuse for leaving. He wanted me to stay—wanted me by his side—but I couldn’t. His eyes lingered on me just a second too long, sharp with suspicion. Did he sense I was lying? Or was that my paranoia talking? By the time I reached Mr. Beau’s sprawling mansion, my stomach was already in knots. As I entered the grand living hall, my eyes immediately landed on Jace and Mr. Beau deep in conversation. Their expressions were grim—this wasn’t going to be pleasant.“You’re going to sabotage Davina,” Mr. Beau announced with finality, not bothering with pleasantries.“I—what? I don’t even know where to start!” I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.“Think like a woman who wants vengeance,” Jace said flatly, his tone devoid of any sympathy. “If you hadn’t run your mouth to Soren, we wouldn’t even be in this mess.”“Oh, don’t you dare pin this on

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-12
  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Dangerous Temptation

    Raisel - POVI drew in a deep breath, steadying myself, before muttering under it. “Jace, get into my phone and find the video Hazel sent me—the one from Soren’s office when Davina tried asking me for a favor.” My voice was barely a whisper, fed into the small mic tucked into the diamond earring on my ear.“On it,” Jace replied, his tone sharp and focused.“You know what to do,” I whispered again, my lips barely moving.“Don’t have to tell me twice,” came his curt response, the faint sound of keystrokes crackling over the line. “Hold them for a second.”I didn’t need to do much. Davina, desperate and flailing, had already ignited her own downfall. She was standing before the cameras, her every move calculated, trying to regain the attention she thought she commanded. Reporters threw questions at me, their voices overlapping in the chaos, but I barely heard them. The storm was about to begin.“You’re good to go,” Jace confirmed.A single phone notification pinged. Then another. And ano

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-14
  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Promises Bound by Blood

    Raisel’s POV“Wakey… wakey, my Raisins,” came a teasing voice that dragged me unwillingly out of sleep. I groaned and yanked the covers over my head, shielding myself from the light.“Shh…” I mumbled groggily.“Raisins, you’ll be late for the office.” The nickname grated on my nerves, but before I could retaliate, the sheets were ripped off me. I groaned again, reluctantly meeting his hazel eyes. A sharp headache made me wince, and I squinted in pain.“What happened?” I croaked. It wasn’t until I glanced down that I realized I was naked. Soren’s gaze roamed over me shamelessly, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.“Before you get any ideas,” he said smugly, “you passed out before anything even started.” Heat flooded my cheeks as I recalled the bold moves I’d made last night. Embarrassed, I tugged the bedsheet around myself.“Oh, shy now, are we?” he teased. “It’s not like I haven’t seen it all before.” I shot him a glare but regretted it immediately as the pain in my head flared up ag

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-20

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  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   His to Keep

    Raisel - POVMy heart is beating faster than his, one palm on his cheek. “Soren… I… think I’ve had a crush on you for a long time.”He blinked in surprise. I chuckled at his reaction to my confession, still holding back tears in my eyes.“When you suddenly stopped coming to college, I was heartbroken that you left without a word,” I whispered."I missed you deep down. Whenever there were articles about you published, I read every one. Kind of stalking you on social media,” I said, embarrassed to confess.“I recently learned that it wasn’t just a crush… but as I have spent time with you these past three months, I started falling for you. Alaric was not the one—he was just a mistake,” I confessed. “You broke my resolve to not love anyone, but… here I am… taking a tremendous risk…”He kissed my lips, silencing me. I gasped in surprise as he slid his tongue inside my mouth. I moaned, a smirk playing across Soren’s handsome face, making me want him even more.“You have no idea what it does

  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   The Reaper’s Daughter

    Raisel’s POVI sat on the couch, fingers wrapped around a warm cup of tea. Across from me, Susan stared, her expression unreadable. We were alone in her office, the weight of unspoken words pressing between us.“Are you ready to hear me out?” she asked gently.I exhaled, my grip tightening around the cup. “Do I have a choice?”Her lips pressed together. “No.”I sighed. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—”“It’s okay,” she cut in. “You hate change. And secrets, especially when they appear out of nowhere.”A bitter chuckle escaped me. “After my ex-husband’s affair came to light, I’ve been forced to see the truth in places I never looked before. Maybe I was too naïve to believe the lies.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Can you believe that? A twenty-year-old, still foolish enough to trust?”Susan’s gaze softened. “You’re not naïve, Raisel. You’re kind. You believe in people, in their goodness. You forgive. But the world isn’t kind to people like you.” She paused, looking distant, as if she spoke

  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Secrets in the Air

    Raisel’s POVThe plane hums steadily in the air, and I’m clutching a glass of alcohol like it’s my lifeline. Flying? Not my thing. Drinking through it? My only coping mechanism.Across from me, Fiora watches with that amused little smirk of hers, shaking her head. “Care to tell me what’s going on?”“Bad people are behind us,” I mutter, swirling the liquid in my glass. “Alaric is—” I pause, my throat tightening.“Alaric is what?”Before I can answer, Jace appears out of nowhere, grinning. “Fiora, I’ve got a job for you.”Just like that, she’s whisked away, and I reach for another drink.“Enough, Raisel.” Soren’s voice cuts in, and his hand closes over mine before I can grab the glass.I groan, muttering a few choice words at him. “I’m not drunk.”“Good,” he says, deadpan. “Because we need you sober.”I narrow my eyes. “And what exactly do you want?”He leans in slightly, voice low. “You’re about to find out every secret I’ve been keeping from you.”My stomach flips. “Oh. Okay.”Soren c

  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   No Safe Haven

    Soren’s POVRaisel and I stood in Jace’s basement, watching the screens where he tracked people. The glow from the monitors cast eerie shadows across the room. My grandfather stood nearby, his face twisted in anger as he muttered curses under his breath."That bastard Joshua used her," he growled, pacing. "Dalton’s business is in danger because of this."I barely heard him. My eyes were locked on the grainy surveillance footage. “Zoom in,” I ordered. The image sharpened, revealing a stretcher. A doctor hovered over it, IV lines and a blood bag hooked up to the man being loaded into an ambulance.Raisel sucked in a sharp breath. "Joshua's not dead," she whispered, her voice trembling.I reached for her hand, squeezing it. "You're safe," I assured her. But deep down, I knew that safety was a fleeting illusion.My grandfather’s voice snapped me back. "We need to get Joshua. Bring him to us."I turned to him, already predicting his next move. His gaze flicked toward me, and I knew—he plan

  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Shadows We Bury

    "Your hand is hurt. Let me get the medical kit."She hurried to grab it, but as she stepped closer, I gestured for her to stop. My eyes flicked to the shattered glass on the floor."Don’t move—you’ll cut yourself. Let me clean this up.""No, you’re the one who’s hurt. I’ll clean it."I raised my hand, stopping her before she could step forward. Ignoring the sting in my palm, I carefully picked up the glass shards and tossed them in the trash. Only then did I walk over and take the kit from her hands."Please, let me," she insisted.Her touch was hesitant yet gentle as she cleaned my wound. I barely noticed the pain, too focused on her tear-streaked face, her swollen eyes. Even now, she was beautiful—strong despite everything."How did you get hurt?" she asked softly."Don’t worry about it," I muttered."How can I not?" Her voice wavered, her fingers trembling as she cupped my face. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I… I’ve been so angry at you—at the way you keep things from me. I hated i

  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Bloodstained Bonds

    Raisel – POVA firm hand landed on my shoulder. I flinched before slowly opening my eyes, my vision hazy, my body too weak to react. My breath hitched when I met familiar hazel eyes. Relief spread through my bones like warmth chasing away the cold.Soren.His name slipped from my cracked lips, barely a whisper. My throat burned, my chest ached. Tears—hot and uncontrollable—slipped down my face."I'm here, Raisins," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "I'm sorry… I never should've left you alone."I sobbed into his embrace, my body trembling. He said nothing more, just lifted me into his arms as if I weighed nothing. No questions. No hesitation. Just unwavering presence. I buried myself in his warmth, but a deep, bone-chilling cold still clung to me as he carried me out of that godforsaken house.He set me down in the passenger seat, tucking his coat around my shoulders before sliding his shotgun into the back. His gaze met mine—dark, unreadable—but his eyes burned with something

  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Trapped in the Dark

    Raisel - POVA cruel grin stretched across his lips. Slowly, he crawled onto the bed, his body moving like a predator closing in on wounded prey. Straddling me, he loomed over my frame, his weight pressing me into the mattress.“What…” I swallowed hard, fear lodging in my throat. “Get off me. I don’t want you to touch me. I don’t want you near me. Ever.”My voice shook, but I forced the words out like venom.His smirk deepened. "Feisty, aren’t we?" he taunted, his voice a low, dangerous hiss. “But you have no say in this.”My chest tightened. “You can’t force yourself on me.”He tilted his head, amused. “Force?” He leaned in, his breath hot against my skin. “You should be begging me not to take you.”There was something sickening in his voice—something laced with hunger and cruelty.My stomach churned. “If I beg… will you let me go?”His grin twisted into something darker. “You can try. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the good guy.” His words dripped with mockery.I forced myself to meet his

  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Trapped in Fear

    Soren - POVThe scent of whiskey clung to Iris’s lips as she leaned in, her breath hot against my ear."Come on, Soren. You and me—tonight—we celebrate. We’re official now, aren’t we?" she whispered, voice laced with playful intoxication.I barely spared her a glance. "Not interested," I muttered and turned to leave.I barely made it a few steps before she grabbed my arm."What the hell do you think you’re doing?" she hissed, her nails digging into my sleeve.I sighed, yanking my arm free. "What do you mean?""Don’t play dumb with me!" Her voice was low, trembling with frustration. She wanted to scream, but she knew better."This is just a deal. Take a chill pill, woman," I shot back, shaking her off completely.I walked away, ignoring the whispers and the judging stares following me. Let them talk. I didn’t give a damn. But my grandfather—he was another story. His cold, sharp gaze burned into me, a silent warning. He wasn’t happy. He wanted me to play my part, to act like I was engag

  • Renting Billionaire Boyfriend   Echoes of a Goodbye

    Raisel's POVThe car launch exhibition was a massive success. The presale numbers shattered records, marking a historic moment in the industry.The energy at the afterparty buzzed with celebration—music, laughter, and endless congratulations. People kept telling me how inspired they were by my work. I smiled, nodded, accepted their praise, but my eyes kept drifting.Soren and Iris. Hand in hand.I stood next to Joshua, who was effortlessly charming as he engaged in conversation. I tried to stay focused, to be polite, but the weight of his arm around my waist made my skin crawl.“Come on, Luna, this way.” Joshua’s voice was smooth, sweet—too sweet. His touch lingered, possessive. I swallowed the discomfort and endured it.“Raisel!”Hazel’s voice sliced through the noise, and relief flooded my chest. Perfect timing.“Excuse me,” I murmured, stepping away. Joshua gave me a polite nod, his hand finally falling from my waist. I turned quickly, practically rushing toward Hazel and Fiora. As

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