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CHAPTER EIGHT: Under Zac’s control
Last Updated:
2024-12-09 06:57:13Related chapters
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Zac’s gaze lingered on Mia longer than he intended, a flicker of something real crossing his eyes. Deep down, he recognized the feelings he once had for her—it was undeniable. But acknowledging them, saying it aloud, felt impossible. His ego—and Bella, his fiancée—held him captive.Voicing his true feelings wouldn’t change anything. In fact, it would only complicate the already tangled mess between them.“No, it wasn’t.” Zac finally said, his tone carefully controlled. “I said what I felt at the time.” His jaw tightened. “But what do you expect? I’m just a man.”Mia studied his face, searching for sincerity. The way he looked then… It was as though he was no longer the person she had fallen for at first glance.“Obviously,” Zac continued, his tone shifting, “ things change. I did exactly what any other man would have done in that situation, seeing you in ‘that’ state.”Her brows furrowed, frustration boiling beneath her skin. “So, it meant nothing? All those promises, all those words…
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Mia stood still for one minute, clutching the form so tightly her fingers throbbed. She might have rehearsed this a thousand times in her head, but now that it was real, her nerves threatened to unravel all resolve. She knew Xiang would not want to hear what she was about to say. He thrived on control, and any deviation from his precisely crafted plans was met with sharp disapproval.Xiang’s voice sliced through the stillness, crisp and focused. “I don’t have all day, Mia. Go on.”Mia’s heart skipped a beat, but she steadied her breath and met his gaze. “I wanted to talk to you about my position as it currently stands.” She stepped forward and put the form on his desk.Xiang picked it up with a quick flick of his wrist and stared at it, frowning. “What is this?”“It’s a form. A new opening—for a personal assistant,” Mia said, trying to keep her voice even. “I got it from a friend of Zac’s.”Xiang did not change his expression, but his voice was colder than before. “And how does this r
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The figure moved swiftly toward the gate, and Mia’s heart surged with hope. As he stepped closer, his face became unmistakable. It was her father, Fred Williams—tall and broad-shouldered, with neatly trimmed hair and a fitted T-shirt and jeans. He looked well—too well, nothing like the disheveled father she had last seen four years ago.Mia’s heart surged as the figure stepped out of the gate. For a moment, hope filled her chest, a flicker of disbelief in her voice as she whispered, “Daddy?”The man paused near the gate, his expression caught between surprise and discomfort. “Mia? What are you doing here? How did you find me?” His voice lowered, as though he was wary of being overheard. “I thought you stayed in…” He hesitated, “Springwood. Isn’t that where you and your mom stayed?”Mia’s breath hitched. His tone felt cold, distant, not at all the warmth she had hoped for. “You’re right, but I’m here because it’s urgent.”The man glanced uneasily at the guard standing nearby. “Excuse u
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Mia’s hands shook as she dropped the shards of the vase, panic twisting her chest. She knelt beside the unconscious man, her fingers fumbling through his jacket. Who was he? Her breathing quickened as she searched for anything—an ID, a clue—anything that could explain why she was there. Suddenly, she froze. She could hear faint footsteps behind the door. Someone was coming. The sound was sharp, deliberate. Her heart pounded harder with each step. Who could that be? The door burst open, and she jumped, turning toward the noise. It was Zac. Mia’s stomach flipped at the sight of him. He stood in the doorway, tall and commanding, his sharp eyes moving from her to the man on the floor, then back to her. The calmness in his voice sent a chill down her spine. “What’s going on, Mia? What did you do?” Her heart raced. She didn’t even know where she was. The last time she checked, she’d been at least three hours away from home, stuck on a desolate street. How was Zac here?
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Earlier that day, Zac checked his wristwatch—5:02 PM. He had just wrapped up another business meeting, and the weight of the day weighed heavily on his shoulders. As he loosened his tie and reached for his coat, his phone buzzed sharply on the polished desk. He looked at the caller ID—one of his private investigators.“Talk to me,” Zac said, his voice tired.“Sir, Ms. Mia Williams just fainted,” came the reply.Zac’s breath caught. “Fainted? Where is she now?”“She’s in my car. We were heading to the hospital, but—”“Hospital?” The words hit Zac harder than he expected. His brows furrowed as he shot back, “No. Take her to my house in Princeton. Make sure she’s comfortable until my doctor arrives. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”The investigator obeyed, and Zac didn’t waste a moment. He gave quick orders to his driver, grabbed his briefcase, and hurried out of the office.By the time he got to his estate near Princeton, the color of the sky was a mix of deep orange and navy, with
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Mia woke to the smell of food drifting through the air. For a moment, she lay still, caught between sleep and waking. The bright exterior lights slipped through the thin curtains, casting a quiet glow in her room. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand—just past 5 a.m., the same time she always woke up.Stretching her arms above her head, she slowly sat up. Her eyes wandered to the empty chair by her bed, where she had spent hours last night, going over the questions Zac had told her to prepare. A few answers stuck in her head. Most of them didn’t. It didn’t really matter. She had a few hours left to cram, but the thought of why she was doing this lingered. Why did she care so much about obeying Zac?The answer came quickly: her mom.Mia hadn’t expected to see her mother last night. When she got home, her mom was asleep on the couch, her head resting against the armrest. She must have waited for hours, but Mia couldn’t bring herself to wake her. The soft rise and fall of her mom’s
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Angelo entered the parking lot, his footsteps clinking in shiny shoes. His eyes darted around, his face tense beneath furrowed brows as he muttered, “Where is she?”He scanned the rows of cars, turning to this side and that, his every movement a manifestation of frustration. Just as he turned to leave, a voice checked his steps.“Angelo?”He froze and turned slowly, relief washing over his face when he saw her. “Mia.” He exhaled deeply, the tension melting from his shoulders. “I’ve actually been looking for you.”Mia tilted her head, surprised. “Really?”He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes slightly. “I heard you applied for the position of secretary here.”She paused, pushing a strand of her chestnut-brown wig behind her ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she said softly.“Come on, Mia,” Angelo said, a slight edge of hurt in his voice. “I thought we were friends. Aren’t we?”Mia’s eyes dropped to the floor, her conscience pul
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“Yes, Dad,” she replied, her voice steady but cautious. “It’s my passion. I’ve wanted this for years.” Seth dropped the tablet onto the desk, his temper flaring. “Passion? What about the family business? What about everything I’ve worked for?” “Dad, I told you years ago,” Celine said, her voice rising slightly. “I have no interest in working under the family name.” “But you agreed to the business courses I enrolled you in,” he snapped. “Dad—” “No!” he shouted, cutting her off. “You’re my last chance, Celine!” Seth stood up immediately, pacing the room. “Your sisters have already disappointed me—one playing dress-up with her fashion company, the other running off to teach art to children! Let’s not even start with Angela, who eloped with her boyfriend. But you… You’re the only one who could—” “Could what?” Celine interrupted, her composure cracking. “Give up my dreams to live the life you want for me?” She stood now, her voice rising. “Dad, I’ve told you before. I lov
Last Updated : 2024-12-18
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Mia’s heels clicked against the pavement, the sound echoing like a countdown in her mind. She tried to run faster, but the tight straps of her boots betrayed her. She tripped, twisting her ankle, and quickly reached for a streetlight pole to stop herself from falling completely. Suddenly, the sensor light above her snapped on, revealing the man trailing her. He came to a stop, raising his hands to pull back his hooded sweatshirt. Her breath hitched as she stared at the face now exposed. “Derrick?” she whispered, barely audible over her heavy breathing. “It’s me,” Derrick smirked, stepping closer. His tone was teasing, almost playful. “Why are you running? I was just messing with you.” “Messing with me? Derrick, you scared me!” She struggled to catch her breath, even though her heart was still pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest. “Come on, Mia. Get up,” he said, extending a hand to her. She stared at his hand cautiously, as if it might bit
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Zac had no plans to show up at Angelo’s birthday party initially. He didn’t enjoy those kinds of gatherings, and being around a crowd of strangers wasn’t appealing to him. But as time passed, staying at home with Bella around left him with no choice. The party suddenly felt like a good excuse to get away—a break from the chaos waiting for him back home.When he arrived, Angelo looked surprised. “You’re here?” He asked, his grin faltering slightly.“I guess so.” Zac shrugged it off, offering no explanation. It was Angelo’s birthday, after all. There was no need to ruin it with his own troubles.Rather than sitting with the others, Zac chose a spot away from the crowd, one where he could blend into the background. He hadn’t told Angelo about his fiancée—now ex-fiancée—and her attempt to hurt Mia. How could he? It wasn’t the right time or place.And then Mia arrived.Her arrival caught everyone’s attention. The room seemed to pause, conversations stopping as heads turned her way. The th
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You’re telling me all that happened today?” Samantha asked, throwing a set of clothes on top of Mia’s bed. She was already dressed in her pajamas, wrapped her ginger hair up in a bun. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Mia comb her tangled hair in front of the mirror. “You know I don’t make things up,” Mia replied, her voice tired. “It’s been one drama after another. To be honest, I’m done worrying about it.” She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. Samantha picked up a black silk top from the stack and held it up. “What about this? It screams edgy-but-cute, right?” Mia barely glanced at it before flopping back onto the bed with a groan. “I don’t even want to go. I should just cancel, Sam. I’m serious.” “You dare not cancel!” Samantha spun around dramatically, her hands on her hips. “Girl, it’s Angelo’s party. You have to be there. Besides, you can’t leave him hanging after everything. Remember, he even stayed back to clean up after your mom’s birthday p
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Zac noticed Mia’s gaze and turned to look over his shoulder. His body stiffened the moment he saw her.“Bella?” he said, his voice sharp with surprise. “Weren’t you supposed to be on the boat cruise?”Bella didn’t answer right away. Her cold, furious eyes darted between Zac and Mia.Zac frowned as his gaze scanned her outfit—a tight leather fit, transparent lace—and her tense posture.“How did you even get in?” he asked, his tone more serious this time.Bella’s cold, sharp laugh cut through the air. “Oh! The cruise? Really?” Her eyes darted toward Mia, narrowing like a hawk zeroing in on prey. “Is that why you brought her here?” She stepped further inside, her heels clicking against the floor, each step full of purpose.“Is that why, Zac?”Before Zac could respond, Bella grabbed a delicate glass sculpture from the table and threw it at Mia.Mia dodged it just in time, and the artifact shattered into pieces on the floor.“What the hell, Bella?!” Zac shouted. He jumped to his feet and
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It was a beautiful sunny Monday morning, and it felt even brighter knowing she didn’t have to go to the office. Zac had called earlier, saying he’d be tied up with a meeting and she could work from home. She’d planned a quiet day, until his text came through.“I need your help—meet me at The Royale Golf Course.”The address led her to a golf course. It was huge, with wide, green fields that seemed to go on forever. Players were scattered across the course, swinging clubs and chatting.She spotted Zac near the entrance, leaning against a golf cart. He was dressed in tailored khakis and a navy polo shirt, exuding his usual polished charm. When their eyes met, he motioned for her to approach with a small wave.“Good morning, sir,” she said, walking up to him.“Morning,” he replied with a small nod. “Come on. Let’s sit somewhere quiet.”He led her to a quiet lounge overlooking the course. The place was calm, with soft chairs and a perfect view of the green. As they settled in, Mia hesitat
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“Mia,” Xiang’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. “I know you’ve been doing a good job, but we need more info. BioCorps is breathing down my neck. If you can’t deliver something, we’re both done for.”Xiang paced around the dusty warehouse as if he was almost running mad. One of his group members—a skilled hacker—sat at one end, his eyes stealing glances at them, wondering what could have made their leader tense.Mia took a step forward, her expression tight. “I’ve been on this for months, Xiang. Every move he makes, I’ve watched. Every deal, I’ve tracked. He’s clean. I can’t find anything to put him in the black list. Nothing.”“You have to dig deeper, then.”Mia bit her lip, her frustration clear. “Xiang, if it were that easy, I’d have done it already.”Xiang let out a cold laugh. “No one is that clean. No one.” His gaze pinned her in place. “If you can’t find any, create one. Isn’t that what we do? There has to be something to blackmail him with, at least.”“You don’t get
THE BILLIONAIRE’S MYSTIQUE BRIDE CHAPTER 32: The debts that Binds
“Happy Birthday!” Laughter and cheers welcomed Sarah and Samantha as they stepped into the cozy living room, where her mother’s birthday celebration was already in progress. Sarah, Mia's mom, swung the door open only to reveal a total surprise. Her only thought was to enjoy a peaceful day and make a brief trip to the mall for essentials. Instead, she was welcomed by an explosion of vibrant balloons, ribbons, and a large birthday cake that stood majestically in the middle of the dining table. The room was thoughtfully adorned, each corner filled with vibrant hues that created a celebratory atmosphere. Mia and Samantha exchanged a satisfied glance, while Sarah stood at the entrance, too shocked to speak. “Really?” Sarah finally managed, her voice a mix of surprise and amusement. “I thought we were just going to the mall for a few things. Maybe cook something small.” She had spoken to Samantha earlier, laughing about how simple things were going to be. “Did you know about t
THE BILLIONAIRE’S MYSTIQUE BRIDE CHAPTER 31: A Bouquet of Apologies
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
THE BILLIONAIRE’S MYSTIQUE BRIDE CHAPTER 30: Mia’s Turning Point
Another Friday morning came, and Mia positioned herself in front of her mirror, flattening the creases from her blouse. She slung her bag over her shoulder, feeling an unexpected sense of ease as she made her way to work.For once, the week had been decent—certainly better than the string of rough ones she’d endured. Zac had been unexpectedly nice, even enjoying a peaceful lunch with her earlier in the week. It may not have been significant, but it was sufficient to make her feel… acknowledged—perhaps even valued. Upon entering the office, a slight, authentic smile graced her lips. As she approached her desk, she greeted her coworkers cheerfully, the quiet clicks of her heels blending into the background.However, a sudden beep from the intercom demanded her attention.Taking a steadying breath, she walked to his office, carefully pushing the door open.“Good morning sir,” she greeted softly.Zac was standing by the window, his back turned to her. He didn’t respond at first, his po
