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CHAPTER 23: The price of Vulnerability
Last Updated:
2024-12-27 23:54:51
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Mia tugged at the hem of Angelo’s oversized shirt, feeling the fabric brush against her bare thighs. The atmosphere in the dining room was tense—not overtly hostile, but heavy enough to make her wish she could vanish into thin air.“What are you doing here?” Zac asked, his voice calm, though the sharp undertone was impossible to miss.Mia froze, keeping her eyes down. She wasn’t used to being the focus of anyone’s attention, let alone the center of an exchange like this.Angelo, seated at the dining table, raised a brow, his usual relaxed demeanor intact. “How long have you been standing here?”“Long enough.” Zac stepped further inside, his tone casual but his eyes sharp as they flitted from Angelo to Mia. “Nanny said you were here, so I came in. Didn’t realize you had… company.” His gaze lingered briefly on Mia before returning to Angelo. “Nice breakfast spread by the way.”Mia cleared her throat. “Good morning, sir.”“Morning, Mia,” his gaze flicked over her unexpected appearance. “
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Angelo leaned back in his chair, a nervous chuckle escaping his mouth as he met Zac’s gaze.“Zac,” he said, his voice steady despite the faint humor. “None of those girls are in my life anymore. Like I said, I’m taking it slow—one step at a time.”Zac arched an eyebrow. “Wait, wait—did you just turn over a new leaf or did I miss something?”Angelo smirked faintly and shrugged. “I’m a single man now—free as a bird. I’m taking a break from relationship drama, especially now that my dad’s retirement ceremony is around the corner. Once that’s done, I’ll pick my bride. But right now? Not my priority.”“Then what’s up with you and Mia lately?” Zac’s gaze sharpened.Angelo hesitated, his fingers tapping lightly against the table. He exhaled, forcing an easy tone into his voice. “Mia… she’s… nice. Smart, beautiful—obviously. We’ve been getting along pretty well, but I feel like she’s not open with me yet. Still, I value our friendship.”The words felt foreign as they left his mouth. He liked
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When Zac and Mia entered his office, he walked over to the cozy corner with a small sofa and table, gesturing for her to follow. Mia hesitated, standing awkwardly near the door, her eyes darting between him and the room. “Did I do something wrong?” Her voice was quiet, unsure. Zac turned back to her, offering a calm smile. “No, come on in.” He motioned for her to join him on the sofa As Mia stepped closer, she glanced around nervously. “Um, are you expecting someone?” Zac shook his head, glancing at the table set for lunch. “No. I know we got off on the wrong foot.” He met her gaze. “But despite the circumstances, you’re smart, Mia. A good P.A. Maybe we should consider each other as work partners now.” Mia blushed slightly, caught off guard by the compliment. “Thank you,” she said quietly, still unsure of his intentions. Zac continued, his tone more casual now. “I ordered lunch for us, just as a small way to show my appreciation.” Wow—I mean, that’s really thoughtful,” Mia
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“Jason’s not coming. Something came up, and he had to cancel,” Mia replied quickly. As soon as Zac mentioned staying for dinner, Mia stepped inside briefly and sent Jason a text, fabricating an excuse about needing to reschedule his appointment. “That’s sad. Good thing Zac is here, right?” her mother said cheerfully, but the expression on Mia’s face remained clearly uninterested. As Sarah served the dish, the atmosphere in the dining room became thicker with the tempting aroma of a homemade banquet. The table, carefully arranged, displayed roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, and a rich, shiny sauce that glimmered in the light. “This looks amazing, Mrs. Williams,” Zac said, genuinely impressed. “Thank you, Zac,” Sarah replied with a warm smile. “It’s just a simple dinner, but I like to add my little touch. Try the sauce—I think you’ll like it.” Zac took a bite, his brow lifting in surprise. “This is… incredible. I’ve never had anything like this.” “Well, you’re wel
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Mia smiled to herself, thinking back to the previous evening. A strange man had opened the car door and asked her to get in, only for her to see Bella, sitting at the other end of the back seat, her expression remained calm like she had been waiting for this moment. “I don’t like you, Mia,” she said, her voice cold and to the point. “Let’s just get that clear.” Mia leaned back, unfazed. She crossed her arms, meeting Bella’s gaze with a steady calmness. “Is that enough reason for my kidnap?” Bella smirked, lifting her hand to flaunt a diamond ring on her finger. “See this?” she said, twirling it as though it held all the power in the world. “This can never be yours—so, keep your distance, okay?” Mia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Let me make this easy for you,” she replied, her tone measured but cutting. “I’m only working here temporarily. So, in a couple of months, you won’t even have to see me again. Does that help? Does that ease your… mental state?” Bella’s smirk faltere
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Zac wiped his mouth with a napkin, setting it down beside his plate. “Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Williams. That was delicious.” Across from him, Sarah beamed, clearly pleased. “Oh, please, don’t mention it," she said, waving a hand. “You’re family now.” Mia, who had been quietly helping Samantha clear the plates, tensed. She could already feel where this was going. Sarah turned to her with a knowing look. “I had my suspicions, you know.” Mia rolled her eyes. “Oh Lord, here we go again.” “I mean, he did buy you that dress, right?” Sarah continued, her eyes twinkling. “I told you he had a crush on you.” Mia groaned, slapping her forehead. “Come on, Mom.” Sarah laughed. “So, you two have been pretending all this while?” She shook her head, as if she had just uncovered a great mystery. “How long has this been going on?” Mia glanced at Zac before replying, “About a month.” “A month?” Sarah’s eyebrows shot up. “That was fast.” Then she softened. “But love… love is like that somet
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Bella sat on the floor, her body crumpled in despair. Her phone vibrated in her hand, the screen lighting up with more pictures. Her fingers trembled as she scrolled through the engagement photos flooding the internet—Zac and Mia wrapped in each other’s arms, their smiles radiant, their love displayed for the world to see. Tears blurred her vision. It was supposed to be her. She should have been the one in Zac’s arms, wearing the ring, standing by his side. A broken sob escaped her. “No! No! No!” Her voice cracked, a scream breaking free from her throat. Her cry filled the space, desperate and raw. It wasn’t fair. None of it was. She slammed the phone onto the bed, the sound of it hitting the headboard echoing in the quiet room. Then a gentle knock sounded at the door. “Bella?” Her mother’s voice seeped through the wood, gentle but concerned. Bella wiped her eyes, trying to calm her breath. Her mother’s eyes softened at the sight of her daughter, collapsed on the fl
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“How much do you think love costs?” Mia held Seth’s gaze head-on, refusing to flinch under his scrutiny. Seth’s lips twitched into a smirk. “Smart girl.” He leaned back, fingers tightening on the armrest of his chair. “But I don’t buy into fairy tales. Women like you are only after one thing.” He scanned her, sharp and assessing. Mia arched her brow. “And men like you assume you hold the upper hand.” Seth let out a low chuckle. “I like you, Mia,” he admitted, as if surprised. “You’ve got nerves. But Cornell men don’t marry out of love; we marry for prestige and legacy.” Mia exhaled slowly, more amused than rattled now. “I assume that is why you remained divorced?” His smirk faded for half a beat before he recovered, letting out a dry laugh. “You’re quick.” He steepled his fingers. “But this isn’t about me; it’s about you.” He leaned forward. “That’s why I’m here—to save you the heartache. Name your price, and I’ll make sure you walk away with a triple.” “I’m not inte
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Mia woke up with a quiet stretch, her thoughts still settling. For once, there was no rush—no urgent calls, no work emails, no chaos. She exhaled slowly before climbing out of bed, savoring the rare peace. Today, she would finally talk to her mother again, continuing from where they left off yesterday. But when she stepped out of her room, the house was quieter than she expected. “Samantha,” Mia called, walking toward the living room. “Where’s Mom?” Samantha looked up, setting her phone aside. “She left early this morning.” Mia frowned. “To where?” “I have no idea,” Samantha said. “She was on a call when she left. Seemed like something urgent.” A sharp exhale left Mia’s lips. “Geez, this is getting annoying.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Why can’t she just be available when I actually have something important to tell her? I thought her coming here was supposed to help us reconnect.” Samantha watched her for a moment before sighing. “I don’t know. But, honestly?
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The hum of the helicopter filled the air immediately after Zac guided Mia inside it, his grip firm yet gentle. “I wanted to keep this private, away from the cameras,” he murmured, helping her inside. “It’s not the right time for us to be seen. Not just yet.” Mia settled into the plush leather seat, the luxury of the private helicopter sinking in. She had never been in one before. As she reached for the seatbelt, Zac was already there, securing it for her. His fingers brushed against her skin briefly, sending an unexpected jolt through her. “Are you comfortable?” he asked, his voice low. She nodded, though her heart had started to race—not from the altitude but from the proximity. “You look beautiful tonight,” he added. His voice was quiet, but it reached her over the hum of the helicopter. She turned to face him, blinking at the unexpected compliment. Her first instinct was to tease him, but something about the way he said it—soft, genuine—made her pause. “You look pretty well
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Zac leaned against the table, his fingers tapping lightly against the surface. “He can be a little… selective,” he admitted, hesitating before forcing a small smile. “But just be yourself.” Mia raised an eyebrow. “Be myself… What does that even mean?” Zac exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “My grandfather likes people who are genuine. He respects confidence—those who own their story instead of pretending to be something they’re not.” Mia gave him a dry look. “Zac, we are literally faking it.” “I know,” he said with a weak smile. “But you? You don’t have to pretend. Trust me, you’re fine just the way you are.” She shook her head, still uncertain. “I don’t know… I was your P.A., and I never even went to college. Won’t he find that suspicious?” “About that,” Zac started, choosing his words carefully, “there’s no point lying to him. He doesn’t even need your credentials, Mia. Just make him believe you value the foundation of family and relationships. That’s all.” Mia hesi
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The plan had been set in motion long before Mia stepped into Xiang’s warehouse. The moment the driver arrived, she was taken to a secret location, just as Zac had arranged. It was a quiet, dimly lit space, hidden away from prying eyes. There, she changed into more practical clothing, which was reinforced with a discreet bullet-proof vest. A small mic was carefully positioned under her collar, ensuring every word spoken that night would be recorded. Unknown to Xiang, everything had been prepared—every move calculated. As Mia was getting ready at the secret base, Zac had already taken precautions. Samantha was in on the plan, and his men had safely relocated her and their mother to a secure apartment. By the time she was ready, her family was already out of danger. Now, with the stage set, she had walked into the lion’s den—confident, prepared. Outside Xiang’s warehouse, his men lurked in the shadows, standing guard. They were unaware of the silent takedown unfolding around them.
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When Mia arrived back at the apartment, the entire space was eerily quiet. She made her way to Samantha’s room, where the rhythmic clanking of a keyboard broke the silence. Samantha was seated at her desk, her sharp focus on the glowing screen as lines of code scrolled rapidly. A series of tabs and tools cluttered her workspace—debugging programs, encryption tools, and a web page she seemed to be building from scratch. Mia sighed, dropping onto the edge of Samantha’s bed. She leaned back slightly, rubbing her temples as the weight of the day bore down on her. She had just finished explaining everything that happened at the office—Zac’s unexpected offer, the details of the arrangement, and how surreal it all felt. Samantha paused her work, taking her focus off the screen. She turned her chair toward Mia, raising a brow as a small smirk played on her lips. “So… what’s stopping you from saying yes?” “Everything,” Mia frowned, crossing her arms. “The fact that this whole thing is s
