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Chapter 39: No Way Out
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-15 22:06:45The Warning.
“You shouldn't have come here.”. The voice swayed like smoke across the cave. Low. Rough. Hungry. Juniper's breath hitched. She felt the weight of those words shivering against her skin, colder than the damp air inundating around them. She ran around, scouting the dark as it changed. The chamber was spacious and staring out at them, the torchlight illuminating darkened stone walls. Its. They migrated like uncannible spirits, decomposing into hollows, turning shapes into nightmares. Somewhere in the gloom, movement. Subtle. Controlled. Her pulse pounding against her ribs. Adrian's arm protruded in front of her, creating a silent and instinctive barrier. His stance—wide, steady—was pure defense. A wall of quiet fury. When it came, his voice was composed. Too calm. “Show yourself.”. Silence. Then—footsteps. Slow. Measured. They resonated throughout the cave, filling the void between pulses. A person came out of hiding.. Tall. Scarred. Armed. Juniper's muscles tensed. Felt nothing but her fingers and she started to twirl. The man stepped into the flames without hesitation. With his face etched in scars, it seemed like a map of the past, marking the path to hell. More shadows emerged behind him. Men. Armed. Watching. Waiting. Not two. Not three. Five. Maybe more. Her throat was dry, so Juniper swallowed against it. Surrounded. Her gut was filled with the weight of realization like a lead. Adrian's shoulders went rigid. Juniper moved closer to him, her voice lowering. "Friends of mine?" she asked. "Not even close," Adrian said with a tightening of his jaw. A Dangerous Reunion. The man's scarred expression slowly transformed into a smile. “Adrian Blackwood.”. His voice dripped with amusement. As if he was relishing the moment. “I didn’t think I would see you again.”. Adrian didn't move. Didn't blink. I wish Torres could say the same thing.". Juniper's stomach plummeted. Torres. Adrian's statement about his name was more than just a recognition. It was a warning. Ethan's elbows were half-grooved as he let out a strangled groan from where. was lying down. His wet clothes clung to his frame, his knuckles raw, and his face exhausted, yet his voice retained its usual bite. “Great. Another psychopath. What's his deal?”. Ethan was left with a blank stare from Torres. With upward curving lips, he said: "The same as always.". Business.”. A pulse of terror was sent through Juniper by the answer. Even though Adrian shifted slightly, it was enough. Enough to halt him from confronting Torres. She didn't like that. Torres noticed. His sharp eyes stayed on her, hovering over her. Then—he grinned. Juniper perceived a warning sound in the lower part of her neck. Why? The smile had a certain ambiguity. Too calculated. Afterward, he motioned his fingers. A pair of his men came forward. Juniper's chest tightened. They weren't subtle. Gun belts visible. Closeted arms in close proximity to their weapons. The message was clear. Juniper's spine locked. After breathing deeply and carefully, she declared, "This is a mistake.". Torres expressed a deep and low laughter. He asked, "Are you trespassing?". Just as the men around him spread out, they blocked all possible paths leading to the water.' Juniper documented every change, every maneuver.' Adrian, still and silent, finally spoke. "We were swept up in this area.". His voice was controlled. “We're leaving.”. Torres's grin widened. “Not so fast.”. The Trap. When Torres spoke, one of his men stepped back and moved. Fast. The firearm he brandished was directed directly at Adrian's chest. ". Before she could ponder, Juniper took a sharp whiff, her body reacting. Her fingers gritted against Adrian's wrist, her hands clasping him tightly. Adrian didn't flinch. Didn't break eye contact. Torres expelled a mocking sigh and muttered his way out. Adrian, I know you still owe me.”. Juniper perceived the change in Adrian.. Tension increased even more in the already coiled muscles. With his voice turning almost pleasant, Torres moved closer.... I'm glad you were able to... I have the urge to gather. Then—a loud slam. Juniper whirled, heart lurching. These pit doors, slender pieces of aged metal, close with an abrupt end. The clang echoed through the vast chamber, reflecting off stone and sealing their fate.' Juniper's chest tumbled and fell with sharp gust. Her footstep resulted in her instinctively screaming to run. Yet, there was nowhere to turn. Torres watched them. Smiling. Like a predator who had just taken cover from his prey.
Bab terkait
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter One : Hostile Takeover
The Waldorf Astoria’s grand ballroom glittered with wealth and excess. Crystal chandeliers bathed the crowd in golden light, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and aged whiskey. Juniper Hale didn’t belong here. Not in this world of billionaire elites who threw charity galas to ease their guilt while hoarding wealth.But tonight, she wasn’t here to blend in. She was here for a fight.Adjusting the simple navy dress she had borrowed from a friend because unlike everyone here, she didn’t have a closet full of designer gowns. She scanned the room until she found him.Adrian Blackwood.He stood near the bar, effortlessly commanding attention. Dressed in a sleek black tux, he exuded confidence, swirling a glass of bourbon as he smirked at something his business partner said. The way he carried himself, like he owned every space he stepped into, set Juniper’s nerves on edge. He was arrogant, ruthless, and exactly the type of man who had the power to save her nonprofit.If she
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Two : The devil’s bargain
Juniper sat stiffly in Adrian Blackwood’s sleek private jet, gripping the armrest harder than she cared to admit. The leather was buttery smooth under her fingertips, the scent of espresso and polished wood filling the spacious cabin.Across from her, Adrian lounged in his seat like he had not a single care in the world. His black button-down was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves casually rolled up, exposing strong forearms. He swirled a glass of bourbon as he studied her, amusement playing at the corners of his mouth.She hated that mouth.“You’ve been glaring at me for the last twenty minutes,” Adrian said, voice smooth as silk. “Should I be worried?”Juniper forced a smile. “Just wondering if your ego is large enough to require its own seat.”He chuckled, deep and rich. “Touché. Though I prefer to think of it as confidence.”She scoffed. “Of course you do.”Adrian set his drink down and leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees. “You’re here, Ms. Hale. Which means you’re
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Three : Trapped
The storm raged on, shaking the villa with every gust of wind. Rain pounded against the windows like a relentless drumbeat, and thunder cracked so loudly that Juniper swore she felt it in her bones.She stood near the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, watching palm trees bend under the force of the hurricane. The dark ocean churned violently beyond the cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks with terrifying force.Behind her, Adrian sat on the couch, his usual smug confidence replaced with something quieter, tenser. He had barely spoken since the power went out, and that alone was unsettling.Juniper turned to him, crossing her arms. “So, is this where you admit that maybe, just maybe, you should have taken this storm more seriously?”Adrian exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “If you are looking for an ‘I told you so,’ you are not getting one.”She arched a brow. “I’ll take that as a silent confession.”The candlelight flickered between them, casting long shadows across
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Four : The enemy’s secret
The moment the news segment ended, the air in the villa thickened with tension. The flickering light from the television cast uneven shadows across the walls, but Juniper was focused solely on Adrian.He stood near the couch, his jaw clenched so tightly she thought it might crack. His fists were curled at his sides, the tendons in his forearms visible beneath the rolled-up sleeves of his crisp white shirt. He hadn’t moved since the broadcast started, but his silence was louder than any outburst.Juniper crossed her arms. “That was quite the headline,” she said, her voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.Adrian didn’t flinch. Instead, he reached for the remote, his movements precise, and turned off the TV with a sharp click.“News exaggerates,” he said smoothly, but there was something too controlled about the way he said it, as if he were gripping the edges of his patience.Juniper narrowed her eyes. “Right. And you just happen to be the unfortunate billionaire caught in th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Five : Trust Fall
Juniper’s pulse pounded in her ears as the shadow outside the office door shifted. The villa was too quiet, the usual crash of the waves against the cliffs suddenly feeling distant, muted by the suffocating silence.She gripped her phone tighter, her body pressed against the wall. Where the hell was Adrian?The doorknob twisted.Juniper’s breath hitched.Before she could react, the door burst open, and a dark figure lunged inside.She spun away, scrambling toward the desk, her hands fumbling for anything she could use as a weapon. Her fingers wrapped around a heavy glass paperweight just as the intruder reached for her.“Don’t,” she warned, lifting the makeshift weapon.The figure hesitated. The dim moonlight filtering through the windows revealed a man dressed in black, his face partially concealed by a mask. His stance was tense, calculated.Not a burglar. Someone with a purpose.“What do you want?” she demanded, inching toward the door.The man didn’t answer. Instead, he took anoth
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Six : Ghosts of the past
The villa remained quiet, with only the waves striking the rocky shore in a rhythmic motion.' The storm had passed, and the stillness of it was lingering on Juniper's skin. A faint semblance of rain washed in the air, along with the salty water and sea salt present below. With her pulse racing, she sat in Adrian's office clutching the photograph she had found. Its age, curving edges, and faded colors over time. Yet, the picture itself was evident. Caroline Hale, the mother of the person featured in the picture, was seated beside a man wearing slit-coloured clothing. The shadows obscured his face to some extent, but Juniper knew. She felt a tightening of her chest and the familiar curve of his jaw, its commanding presence even in the stillness. Adrian. She was struck with force by the realization. Suddenly felt so thick inside her, the air slammed into place as the implications settled in. How long had he known? For what period of time was this kept from her? (No question asked)
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-25Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Seven : The Walkaway
The sharp wind of New York City whipped against Juniper’s face as she stepped out of the taxi, her coat billowing around her. The city felt colder than she remembered, harsher, less forgiving. Or maybe she was just different.A week had passed since she had left the island. Seven days since Adrian had told her to walk away. Seven days of silence, of questions echoing in her mind, of restless nights spent staring at her ceiling, wondering what the hell she was supposed to do now.Adrian Blackwood was no longer just the billionaire she loathed. He was a man tangled in her past, in the deepest wound of her life, her mother’s death. And instead of answers, all she had was his cryptic confession and the slamming door of his villa.She tightened her grip on her purse, forcing herself to focus. Whatever had happened between them, it didn’t matter now. The past was a ghost she had no intention of chasing.She walked briskly through the glass doors of The Hale Foundation, her nonprofit’s headq
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-25Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Eight : Reckoning
The glass doors of Blackwood Industries slammed open as Juniper strode inside, her heels clicking against the marble floor like gunfire. The receptionist barely had time to gasp before Juniper’s voice sliced through the tension in the room.“I want to see him. Now.”The young woman hesitated. “Mr. Blackwood is in a meeting, Ms. Hale, and he…”“I don’t care,” Juniper snapped, her pulse a war drum against her ribs.Everything was unraveling. The lawsuit. The accusations. The million-dollar donation. And AdrianHe had known. He had known something about her mother, about her death, and he had stayed silent.She stormed past the receptionist, ignoring the shouts of protest, and pushed open the heavy mahogany doors to the boardroom.The scene inside was chaos.Adrian sat at the head of the table, his expression carved from stone as his board members hurled accusations like daggers.“This lawsuit will cripple us.”“The shareholders want you gone.”“The Blackwood name can’t afford another sca
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-25
Bab terbaru
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 39: No Way Out
The Warning. “You shouldn't have come here.”. The voice swayed like smoke across the cave. Low. Rough. Hungry. Juniper's breath hitched. She felt the weight of those words shivering against her skin, colder than the damp air inundating around them. She ran around, scouting the dark as it changed. The chamber was spacious and staring out at them, the torchlight illuminating darkened stone walls. Its. They migrated like uncannible spirits, decomposing into hollows, turning shapes into nightmares. Somewhere in the gloom, movement. Subtle. Controlled. Her pulse pounding against her ribs. Adrian's arm protruded in front of her, creating a silent and instinctive barrier. His stance—wide, steady—was pure defense. A wall of quiet fury. When it came, his voice was composed. Too calm. “Show yourself.”. Silence. Then—footsteps. Slow. Measured. They resonated throughout the cave, filling the void between pulses. A person came out of hiding.. Tall. Scarred. Armed. Juniper's muscles
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 38: Nowhere to Run
ImpactPain.Juniper’s body slammed into the water like a stone thrown from a rooftop. The impact ripped through her, knocking the air from her lungs in a violent rush. Cold, unforgiving darkness swallowed her whole.The river closed over her head, pressing in from all sides. The weight of it was suffocating, the churning currents dragging her down, down, down into the abyss.Her body twisted violently, spun like a leaf in a hurricane. Her limbs flailed, her lungs screamed.Up. Where’s up?She had no sense of direction, no light to guide her—just the numbing cold and the thunderous roar of the waterfall above.She kicked hard, fighting against the relentless pull of the river. Her muscles burned, her chest tightened. She was running out of air.Then—a burst of light.She broke the surface with a desperate gasp, sucking in air so fast it burned.The waterfall roared behind her, monstrous and deafening. The river wasn’t done with her yet—it dragged her forward, shoving her downstream li
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 37: Into the Abyss
The Fall. Cold. Violent. Endless. Juniper slammed into the water. The impact was brutal, unforgiving. Her body was in agony as it dislodged the air from her lungs. She was being pulled down by the river, which had engulfed her like no other. She was suffocated and cold, with darkness covering her like a veil. Her body was twisted by the force of the current, which caused her to spin like a ragdoll in twilight. Despite her body hurtling with pain, the river's frozen texture tugged on her like a string of iron chains. Up. I need to get up. Her chest gashes, desperately seeking oxygen, yet she couldn't determine which direction to kick. Her sense of direction was lost to the river, leaving only chaos and panic. Wildly, Juniper's arms waving their wings as he held something. Then—a hand. Strong. Unyielding. Familiar. Her wrist was gripped by it, unyielding and relentless, lifting her upwards toward redemption. Adrian. They broke the surface together. Juniper gasped, heaving f
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 36 – Freefall
The Jeep plunged. Wind blew through the windshield, biting Juniper's hair and hitting her like a thousand tiny knives. Her stomach flipped violently, causing a sharp, nauseating lurch that sent her packing. Outside, the world shifted into a chaotic blur of trees, rock, and sky. The ground rose excessively quickly.? The Jeep fell to the ground as Juniper's hands searched for something to hold onto, but it was a free-falling metal coffin. The force of her seatbelt caused her to contract an almost fatal injury by biting her ribs. Then—a hard yank. The arm of Adrian was encircling her waist, his strength commensurate with his stiffness against hers. With a hot and ragged breath, he pulled her closer with his hand to touch her cheek. “Brace yourself!”. CRASH. The impact was akin to hitting the spine. Glass exploded. A metal scream came from behind the Jeep as it ran under the canopy, snapping branches like broken bones. The globe swayed in opposite directions, then changed directi
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 35: Under Siege
The ExplosionBOOM.The door exploded inward.Splinters shredded the air, slicing through the dimly lit cabin.Juniper barely had time to duck before the blast wave ripped past her, sending a storm of wood and dust flying.Adrian grabbed her, yanking her down. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, shielding her.Gunfire erupted.The walls shook as bullets ripped through the cabin. Glass shattered, wood splintered, and the air filled with the acrid scent of gunpowder.Ethan cursed, returning fire. His gun barked in rapid bursts, each shot precise. “They brought a damn arsenal!”Adrian’s grip on Juniper tightened. “We have to move.”Juniper’s breath came short, fast. Her ears rang from the blast.“They’ll see us,” she gasped.Then—a voice.Deep. Cold. Familiar.“Give it up, Blackwood.”Juniper’s chest seized.Damien.His voice cut through the chaos like a blade. Calm. Unshaken.He was here.Adrian’s jaw clenched. A muscle ticked in his cheek. “Like hell.”Ethan’s gun clicked empty. He m
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 34: The Crash
A Split Second Before ImpactThe SUV hurtled through the air.Juniper’s breath locked in her throat. Weightless.The world slowed.Adrian yanked the wheel, muscles straining, but there was nothing to control.Then—impact.Metal shrieked.Glass exploded.The SUV smashed down, nose-first, onto the pavement below. The force slammed Juniper forward into her seatbelt, knocking the air from her lungs.Adrian fought the wheel, but momentum was against them. The car spun.Juniper’s vision blurred as the world tilted sideways.BANG.They hit the guardrail.The sound was deafening—steel on steel, tires screeching as the car fishtailed out of control.Ethan shouted. “Hold on!”Too late.The SUV tipped.For a terrifying heartbeat, Juniper felt herself floating.Then—a drop.Her stomach plunged.The SUV pitched forward off the road, crashing down into a steep ditch.BOOM.Metal crunched. The impact whipped Juniper sideways, her skull smashing against the window.Pain exploded.Darkness threatened
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 33: Nowhere is Safe
Juniper’s fingers curled tightly around her phone as she stared at the message on the screen.Unknown Number: You think this is over?A chill prickled down her spine. Her stomach knotted.“Adrian,” she said, her voice sharper than she intended. “We have a problem.”Adrian’s focus stayed on the road, his hands gripping the wheel like a lifeline. “What now?”She turned the screen toward him. The glow of the text cast an eerie light over his face. His expression darkened instantly, jaw locking, eyes flashing with something cold.Ethan leaned forward from the back seat. “That Damien?”Juniper’s mouth felt dry. “Who else?”Adrian’s fingers flexed on the wheel. His knuckles were bone-white. “He never gives up.”Ethan scoffed. “Yeah, no shit. What does he want now?”Before Juniper could answer, her phone vibrated again. Another message.Unknown Number: See you soon.A shiver ran through her.Ethan let out a low curse. “That’s not ominous at all.”Juniper forced a breath through her nose, ste
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 32: No Way Out
“Adrian!”Juniper’s scream barely cut through the chaos.The SUV hurtled between two massive trucks, scraping so close that she swore she heard metal screeching against metal. The blinding headlights swallowed them whole, and for a fraction of a second, time seemed to freeze—her pulse hammering in her throat, her breath caught between terror and adrenaline.Then—BAM!The SUV shot out onto the open road. Behind them, the trucks blared their horns, slamming on their brakes to avoid crashing into Damien’s pursuing vehicles.Ethan clung to the headrest, his knuckles white. “Are you trying to get us killed?”Adrian’s grip on the wheel was a death vise. “If I stop, we’re dead anyway.”Behind them, Damien’s men weren’t letting up. Another blacked-out SUV tore through the intersection, plowing over the curb and speeding toward them like a missile.Juniper turned, her stomach twisting. “They’re gaining!”Adrian didn’t hesitate. “Hold on.”He yanked the wheel right—hard.The SUV skidded, tires
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 31: All or Nothing
“Go! Go! Go!”Adrian slammed the gas pedal to the floor. The SUV roared forward, weaving dangerously through the tight alleyway as bullets pinged off the metal frame.Juniper clutched the door handle, her knuckles white. “They’re still on us!”Ethan twisted in the back seat, his gun raised. “Yeah, no kidding! Hold this thing steady!”Adrian swerved hard left, nearly clipping a row of parked motorcycles. “Steady? Not an option right now.”Behind them, Damien’s black sedans were relentless, their headlights cutting through the darkness like hunting knives. More gunfire erupted, shattering the SUV’s back window.“Shit!” Juniper ducked. “That was way too close.”Ethan cursed, returning fire. A bullet struck the windshield of the nearest sedan, causing it to swerve. But the driver corrected fast. “They’re not backing off!”Adrian’s grip on the wheel tightened. “We need to lose them.”“You think?” Ethan snapped.Juniper’s heart pounded. The speed. The gunfire. The deafening roar of engines.
