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Chapter 78: The Ghost of Betrayal
Last Updated:
2025-03-04 18:53:08
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Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 1: The fall
The grand chandelier above cast a warm glow on the glittering ballroom, a stark contrast to the icy storm raging inside Isabella Laurent's chest. Her fingers clutched the crystal glass of champagne so tightly that she feared it might shatter. Yet, the physical pain would pale in comparison to the anguish tearing her apart.Her boyfriend, no, her ex-boyfriend, Ryan, stood in the center of the room, his arm dropped possessively around a woman who radiated smugness. The woman's designer gown sparkled almost as brightly as her malicious smile. "Don't you think I'm totally out of your league now?" Ryan's words echoed in Isabella's mind, each syllable driving another dagger into her heart. She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. How had it come to this? Just months ago, they had been partners in every sense of the word. She had sacrificed everything for him: her wealth, her status, her family. She had believed in him when no one else did. She had built his empire with her own hands. An
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Isabella leaned back in the plush chair of her bedroom, the same room she had abandoned years ago to chase dreams of love and ambition. The dim lighting softened the sharp edges of the large, regal space. Everything about the Laurent estate screamed wealth and power—traits she had foolishly turned her back on for a man who didn’t deserve even an ounce of her loyalty.Her gaze fell once again on the letter on the dresser. She had read it twice already, but the words still pulsed with an energy that unsettled her. Alexander Blackwood. Just seeing his name again after so many years sent a chill down her spine.She unfolded the letter one more time, the thick, expensive paper rustling faintly.> Isabella Laurent,I trust this letter finds you well, though I doubt it has been a pleasant few months. I’ve been following your situation closely, and I believe we share a common interest—vengeance.If you are willing to discuss a mutually beneficial arrangement, meet me at Blackwood Tower tomorr
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The viral photo spread like wildfire. By the time Isabella returned to the Laurent estate, her phone was flooded with notifications, news outlets, gossip blogs, and even old acquaintances she hadn’t heard from in years were suddenly interested in her life.“Heiress Isabella Laurent and billionaire Alexander Blackwood spotted together, rumored alliance brewing?”“From heartbreak to power play: Isabella Laurent’s shocking comeback!”Isabella tossed her phone onto her bed, the screen still lighting up with endless messages. She should have anticipated this. Alexander Blackwood wasn’t the kind of man who could step out with someone and go unnoticed.There was a knock at her door.“Come in,” she called, brushing her hair back.Her mother, Eleanor Laurent, stepped inside, her elegant figure clad in a tailored cream suit. Despite her age, Eleanor’s beauty was timeless, her sharp features and piercing blue eyes always commanding attention.“Care to explain this?” Eleanor asked, holding up her
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Isabella sat in her study, the flash drive Alexander had given her resting on the table. She twirled a glass of wine in her hand, her eyes fixed on the small device that could crumble Ryan’s empire. It felt surreal to hold so much power in her hands, a power she once thought she’d never possess again. The events of the gala replayed in her mind—the looks on Ryan’s and Sophia’s faces, the palpable tension, and Alexander’s calculated moves. The way he had referred to her as his associate still lingered. For the first time in a long time, she felt like an equal in this game of power and deception. But there was no room for hesitation now. She plugged the flash drive into her laptop, and within seconds, a series of encrypted files appeared. Alexander had been thorough, as always. The documents revealed Ryan’s extensive embezzlement schemes, falsified contracts, and shady offshore accounts. Isabella’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. This wasn’t just dirt; it was a treasure trove of
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Isabella sat at her desk, her heart pounding as she stared at the anonymous email on her laptop screen. The words were simple yet laced with a sinister undertone: “You think you can take him down? Think again. You have no idea what you’re up against.”Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, debating whether to reply, delete the message, or forward it to Alexander. Instead, she opted to forward it with a short note: “We might have another player in this game. Thoughts?”Moments later, her phone buzzed. It was Alexander.“Who else have you been talking to about Ryan?” he asked without preamble.“Just Natalie,” Isabella replied. “And she’s completely trustworthy.”Alexander was silent for a moment, the faint sound of papers rustling in the background. “It’s possible this came from Ryan, but the tone feels... different. More personal.”“Personal?” Isabella repeated, frowning. “Who would take this personally, aside from Ryan?”Alexander hesitated. “There’s always a chance this is someone co
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The anonymous text had rattled Isabella more than she cared to admit. She sat on her couch, gripping her phone tightly as her mind raced. Who was behind the message? Was it Ryan, Sophia, or someone else entirely? The game had just taken a darker turn, and she couldn’t afford to falter.The sound of her intercom snapped her out of her thoughts. She approached cautiously.“Who is it?” she asked, her voice steady.“It’s Alexander.”Relief washed over her as she buzzed him in. Moments later, he strode into her apartment, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a sense of urgency.“I got your email,” he said without preamble. “We need to talk.”Isabella gestured for him to sit, but he remained standing, his piercing gaze fixed on her.“This message you received,” he said, holding up his phone with a copy of the forwarded text. “It’s not just a scare tactic. Someone is watching you closely, and they know about us.”“Do you think it’s Ryan?” Isabella asked, crossing her arms defensively.“Possib
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The ominous photographs spread across Isabella's coffee table like a sinister jigsaw puzzle. Her fingers hovered over one of the pictures—a candid shot of her father leaving the Kensington estate, looking weary but dignified. Another showed her younger brother at a café with his friends, oblivious to the watchful lens capturing his every move.Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away. Alexander’s name lit up the screen.“Isabella,” he said the moment she answered, his tone clipped, “what happened?”“They’re targeting my family now,” she said, her voice trembling with barely contained fury. “They sent me pictures—my father, my brother. This isn’t just a smear campaign anymore. They’re trying to break me.”Alexander exhaled sharply. “I’m coming over. Stay put and don’t talk to anyone else.”---Across town...Ryan leaned back in his chair, watching the live footage from the hidden cameras his associate had planted. Isabella’s reaction to the envelope played out on his tablet screen,
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Isabella sat frozen, staring at the black screen of her laptop. The words, "You think you’re protecting her, Alexander? Wait until she finds out what you’ve been hiding," echoed in her mind like a chilling mantra. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure of what to do next. The truth she had always believed about Alexander—the man who had stood by her, helped her fight Ryan, and made her feel like she wasn't alone—was now being questioned.She needed answers. She needed to understand what he was hiding, what Ryan had on him, and why the video had been sent to her. The last thing she wanted was to fall into Ryan’s trap, but this new development threatened everything.---The next morning...Isabella’s hands were shaking slightly as she poured herself a cup of coffee, her mind still reeling from the video. She hadn’t spoken to Alexander since she’d seen the footage, and the more she thought about it, the more her instincts screamed at her that something wasn’t right. She had always
Last Updated : 2025-01-20
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Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 78: The Ghost of Betrayal
6:30 AM – On the RunThe city streets were still shrouded in pre-dawn darkness as Ryan and his men navigated through the wreckage of the dockyard attack. Smoke curled into the sky, mixing with the scent of burning metal and gunpowder.Dante drove like a madman, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. Isabella sat in the backseat, flipping through surveillance footage on her laptop.Ryan, sitting in the passenger seat, pressed a cloth against his temple where blood trickled from the gash Valeria's men had left. His jaw was tight, his muscles coiled with barely contained rage."Status," Ryan ordered, his voice sharp despite the pain.Isabella barely glanced up. "We lost three men, two injured. Safehouse is compromised. Valeria played us hard."Dante let out a bitter chuckle. "No kidding. And now she’s probably laughing her ass off, thinking she won."Ryan’s eyes darkened. "Let her. For now."Dante shot him a glance. "You’ve got something planned, don’t you?"Ryan smirked the kind
Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 77: Blood on the Streets
The scent of gunpowder lingered in the air. Smoke curled from the shattered remains of car windows, and the streets were littered with spent bullet casings. Ryan stood in the middle of it all, his expression unreadable. The blood seeping through his shirt was warm, a stark contrast to the cold fury simmering in his veins.Dante limped toward him, wiping the blood from his forehead. “We lost three men. Isabella’s handling the clean-up.”Ryan didn’t react. His gaze was fixed on the rooftop where Valeria had disappeared.She was testing him.He knew it.And she would pay for it.Dante exhaled. “You alright?”Ryan flexed his fingers, the pain in his side dull compared to the fire in his chest. “Yeah. But she won’t be.”Dante smirked. “That’s the Ryan Calloway I know.”Ryan’s phone buzzed. A message. Unknown Number.“This was just a taste. Sleep well, Calloway.”Ryan’s smirk turned dark. “I don’t sleep.”---4:30 AM – Isabella’s ReportBack at the safehouse, Isabella paced in front of a gi
Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 76: The War Begins
Midnight – The WarehouseThe air inside the warehouse was thick with tension. The dim, flickering lights cast eerie shadows over the five men seated at the long metal table. They were the heads of the last remaining crime families, and tonight, they were forced into the same room—not by choice, but because Ryan Calloway demanded it.Ryan leaned against the far wall, his arms crossed. His presence alone was suffocating, his sharp blue eyes scanning the room like a predator studying its prey. Beside him stood Dante, his second-in-command, silent and watchful. Isabella, their strategist, sat at the table, tapping her nails impatiently.“Let’s not waste time,” Ryan finally spoke, his voice cold. “You know why you’re here.”A deep chuckle came from Marcos Diaz, a burly man in his late fifties with scars decorating his knuckles. “Yeah, we know. You think you can waltz in and take the city from Valeria. That takes either balls or stupidity.”Ryan smirked. “Or both.”A younger man, Nico Moret
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2:00 AM – The Drive BackRyan sat in the back of the car, his mind racing. Valeria’s words echoed in his head.“The city is on the verge of collapse. Every family is scrambling for control, but none of them deserve it. But you do.”She wanted him to take the throne.She wanted him to rule.And she wasn’t wrong.Dante, sitting beside him, was seething. “You’re not considering this.”Ryan smirked, stretching his legs. “Why not?”Dante’s jaw clenched. “Because it’s suicide.”Ryan turned to him, amusement flickering in his gaze. “So is doing nothing.”Dante exhaled sharply. “You think she’ll let you walk away if you say no?”Ryan chuckled. “I don’t plan on saying no.”Dante shot him a sharp look. “Ryan—”Ryan held up a hand. “Relax. I’m not jumping into this blind.”Dante sighed, rubbing his temples. “Then tell me you have a plan.”Ryan’s smirk deepened. “Of course I do.”---3:00 AM – The Safe HouseThe car pulled up in front of the safe house, and Ryan stepped out, stretching. Dante fol
Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 74: A Deal with the Devil
12:30 AM – The Silent DriveRyan sat in the back of the blacked-out SUV, fingers drumming lightly against his knee. The city lights blurred past, neon streaks cutting through the darkness. Everything was too quiet.Dante, seated beside him, exhaled sharply. “This is a mistake.”Ryan smirked. “Since when have I cared about that?”Dante didn’t bother answering. They both knew the answer.In the driver’s seat, a man dressed in black remained eerily silent. One of Valeria’s men. Her escort.The moment Ryan had agreed to the meeting, a car appeared outside the safe house. No address. No instructions. Just ‘get in.’Isabella had protested, of course. But Ryan wasn’t the type to back down from a challenge.Especially not hers.---1:00 AM – The Queen’s LairThe car pulled up in front of a grand estate—old money, untouched by time. The wrought-iron gates parted smoothly as if expecting him.Ryan stepped out, adjusting his cufflinks. The cool night air smelled of expensive cigars and something
Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 73: The Shadow Queen’s Trap
10:00 PM – The Escape RouteThe car’s tires screeched against the asphalt as Dante maneuvered through the darkened streets, weaving between traffic with ruthless precision. Sirens blared in the distance, but they were fading—for now.Ryan sat in the back seat, his grip tightening around the black playing card left by Valeria.“Soon.”The word was scrawled in crimson lipstick, a taunt, a challenge. She had known. She had planned this from the start.But why?Isabella exhaled sharply beside him, her hands still trembling from the chaos at the gala.“That was too easy,” she muttered.Ryan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “It was never about Lorenzo.”Dante shot them a quick glance through the rearview mirror. “Then what the hell was it about?”Ryan flipped the card between his fingers, his jaw clenched. “It was about me.”Valeria Devereaux hadn’t come to stop Lorenzo’s assassination—she had come to watch.And now, she had left a message.---10:30 PM – The Safe HouseThey arriv
Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 72: Dance with Death
8:15 PM – The Gala’s IllusionThe crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in soft golden light, casting shadows over the marble floors. Waiters moved like ghosts between guests, carrying trays of champagne and fine wine. Conversations murmured beneath the slow rhythm of a string quartet.But beneath the glittering surface, death waited.Ryan adjusted the cufflinks of his black tuxedo, the cold metal pressing against his wrists. The small vial of undetectable poison rested in his jacket pocket—his weapon for the night.He scanned the room, cataloging exits, guards, and hidden cameras. Everything had to be perfect.Isabella walked at his side, her navy blue gown drawing more than a few lingering gazes. Her eyes never stopped moving, locked onto every threat in the room.Dante’s voice crackled through the hidden earpiece.“Our target is heading to the VIP lounge on the second floor.”Ryan’s fingers twitched. Lorenzo De Luca—the second-in-command of Valeria Devereaux—was finally within re
Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 71: A Deal with the Devil
8:45 AM – The SafehouseThe black SUV rolled to a stop in front of an old warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The exterior was worn down, covered in rust and graffiti, but Ryan knew better than to judge by appearances.Isabella stepped out first, scanning the area. “It’s clear.”Dante groaned as he followed. “I swear, if this place doesn’t have coffee, I’m turning myself in.”Ryan ignored him and approached the steel door. He knocked three times—then paused—then two more.The door creaked open, revealing a stocky man with a scar down his cheek.Nikolai.Ryan didn’t flinch. “We need a place to lay low.”Nikolai smirked. “I heard Valeria is hunting you.”Ryan’s gaze was cold. “Then you know it’s in your best interest to help us.”Nikolai stepped aside. “Welcome to the last place on earth she’ll look for you.”They entered. The door shut behind them.---9:00 AM – A Dangerous PropositionThe inside of the warehouse was vastly different from its exterior. Monitors lined the walls, dis
Rise Of The Heiress Chapter 70: No Way Out
7:45 AM – Underground TunnelsThe air was damp and thick with the scent of earth and rusting metal. Footsteps echoed through the tunnel as Ryan led the way, moving with calculated precision.Behind him, Isabella kept pace, her breathing steady but tense. Dante followed, gripping his gun tightly.“How far does this tunnel go?” Dante whispered.Ryan’s voice was low. “About three miles. It leads to a secondary exit outside the city.”Dante exhaled. “Good. Because I don’t feel like getting shot today.”Isabella checked her tracker. “We have a problem.”Ryan barely glanced at her. “What?”She turned the screen toward him. Red dots blinked in the tunnels ahead.They weren’t alone.---7:50 AM – The AmbushRyan barely had a second to react before the first bullet whizzed past his ear.“Down!” he barked.Dante and Isabella hit the ground as gunfire erupted from the shadows. Flashes of light illuminated masked figures blocking their path.They were surrounded.Ryan gritted his teeth. “Valeria
