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Chapter 13

Penulis: Lily Woods
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-12 17:11:38

Kehlani’s POV

Alec was quiet on the ride back from the gala.

He wasn’t sulking, but something was on his mind. His fingers drummed against the leather seat, and he kept glancing at his phone as if waiting for a message that never came.

I watched him for a moment before finally speaking.

"Are you going to tell me what that was about?"

His eyes flicked up from the screen, his expression unreadable. "What do you mean?"

"Don’t play dumb. Dominic Hayes. You knew him. And you didn’t like seeing him talking to me."

Alec let out a slow breath, setting his phone down on his lap. "Dominic is... a businessman."

I raised an eyebrow. "That’s a very diplomatic way of putting it."

"He’s involved in a lot of things. Some legitimate. Some not."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

Alec's jaw tightened. "I don’t want you near him."

I let out a dry laugh. "You don’t want me near a lot of people."

"Because a lot of people have their own agendas, Kehlani."

I tilted my head, studying him. "And you don’
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  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 14

    Kehlani’s POVThe next morning, I woke up to a pounding headache and an annoying buzzing from my phone."Ugh," I groaned, rolling over and grabbing it from the nightstand. Several missed calls. A flood of notifications. My stomach twisted. That was never a good sign.I opened the first message."Kehlani, is this you?!"Attached was a link. My pulse kicked up. I hesitated, then tapped it.A gossip site loaded, displaying a blurry but recognizable image of me outside the building last night—facing Rowley. The headline made my stomach drop."Billionaire Wife Kehlani Castor’s Secret Past—Ex-Lover Comes Back?!"My heart pounded.Alec.I pushed off the bed, grabbed my robe, and stormed out of the bedroom.I found him in the living room, sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone. He looked up as I entered, his green eyes unreadable."You saw it?" I demanded.He nodded, setting his phone aside. "I had a feeling this would happen."I clenched my fists. "And you didn’t think to warn me?

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13
  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 15

    Kehlani’s POVI couldn’t stop staring at my phone.The message from Rowley felt like a trap, like a ghost from my past clawing its way back into my present. I wanted to ignore it. Pretend it didn’t exist. But I knew better—secrets never stayed buried for long.Alec, standing beside me in the elevator, didn’t take his eyes off me. “You’re tense.”“I just sat through an entire board meeting being treated like a liability. What do you expect?”He hummed, a knowing look in his dark green eyes. “That’s not it.”I tucked my phone into my clutch and squared my shoulders. “It doesn’t matter.”Alec didn’t press, but I could tell he wasn’t convinced.The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.“Mrs. Castor,” Olivia, Alec’s assistant, greeted me with a tight smile as we stepped into the hallway. “Your car is ready downstairs.”I arched a brow. “My car?”Alec adjusted his cuffs. “You’re not coming to the office with me. You need rest.”I scoffed. “Since when do you care?”“Since my wife almost

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-14
  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 16

    Kehlani’s POVI woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. Groggy, I reached for it, blinking at the screen. Unknown Number.I hesitated. Alec had told me to block Rowley, and I had. But this—this could be him, finding another way to reach me. My stomach twisted.I answered. “Hello?”Silence. Then, a low chuckle. “Did you really think blocking my number would get rid of me, Kehlani?”I stiffened. “What do you want?”Rowley tsked. “You already know the answer to that.”“I don’t have time for games.”“Then I’ll be direct. Meet me, tonight. Alone.”I exhaled sharply. “Why would I do that?”“You’re smart. You’ll figure it out.”The call ended.I clenched my jaw, staring at the phone.Alec was right—Rowley was trouble. But that didn’t mean I was just going to roll over and obey Alec’s command to ignore him. If Rowley wanted something, I needed to find out what it was.My thoughts were interrupted by the door creaking open. Alec stepped in, still in his dress shirt, his t

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15
  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 17

    Kehlani’s POVThe ride back to Alec’s penthouse was quiet, but the silence wasn’t comfortable—it was heavy, charged with thoughts I didn’t want to say out loud. Dominic, ever observant, let me stew in my own mind without pressing for answers.He pulled up in front of the building and turned to me. “You sure you want to go back in there?”I forced a smirk. “I don’t exactly have another place to stay.”His gaze flickered with something unreadable. “That’s not what I meant.”I swallowed. I knew what he meant. After what Rowley had told me—what he had implied—walking back into Alec’s home felt like stepping into a trap.“I’ll be fine,” I said, my voice more confident than I felt.Dominic didn’t look convinced. “If you need a way out…”“I can handle myself.”A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips. “That’s what worries me.”I exhaled sharply and reached for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride, Dominic.”“Anytime, Kehlani.”His voice was smooth, but something about the way he said my name s

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-16
  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 18

    Kelhani's POVAlec's eyes never left Dominic's face. "I think it's time for you to leave, Hayes."Dominic raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking to me before returning to Alec. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."Alec's expression turned glacial. "I didn't ask for your opinion. If you don't leave willingly, I'll have security escort you out."Dominic's eyes narrowed, but he seemed to sense that Alec wasn't bluffing. "Fine," he said, his voice dripping with annoyance. "But this isn't over."He turned to me, his eyes searching. "You okay, Kehlani?"I nodded, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine, Dominic. Thanks for checking in."Dominic's gaze lingered on me for a moment before he turned and strode out of the room, leaving Alec and me alone.The tension between us was palpable, but I tried to break the silence. "Alec, I think we need to talk about what's going on."The door clicked shut behind Dominic, leaving me alone with Alec. The air between us was thick with unspoken words, tension crack

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-16
  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 19

    Kehlani’s POVThe soft sound of conversation filled the café, blending with the clinking of silverware against porcelain plates. I stirred my tea absentmindedly, my mind elsewhere, until a familiar voice cut through the air like a blade."Fancy seeing you here, Kehlani."I tensed, my grip on the spoon tightening. Slowly, I looked up to meet Rowley’s smug expression. He slid into the seat across from me without waiting for an invitation, his suit pristine, his smirk sharper than ever."Rowley," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Oh, no need for the formalities. We’re friends, aren’t we?"I fought the urge to scoff. "We’re not."Rowley chuckled, shaking his head as he reached for the sugar bowl. "You wound me. After all we’ve been through?""I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied coolly.He stirred his coffee, the spoon clinking against the ceramic. "You always were good at pretending. But

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-16
  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 20

    Kehlani’s POVI left the café with my mind spinning, Rowley’s smug expression still burned into my thoughts. The weight of his words clung to me, suffocating. A marriage certificate. Alec’s and mine. He had proof, and he wasn’t bluffing.The streets of Manhattan buzzed around me, but I barely noticed the noise. My phone buzzed in my coat pocket, and I pulled it out with a deep sigh.Alec.I hesitated before answering. “Yes?”“I need you at the office,” he said, his voice clipped.I frowned. “Now?”“Yes. Now.”He didn’t wait for my response before hanging up.Perfect. Just what I needed.By the time I arrived at Castor Enterprises, I was in no mood to deal with Alec’s usual cold demeanor. The receptionist gave me a polite nod as I made my way up to his office.I didn’t bother knocking. “What’s so urgent?”Alec was behind his massive desk, his sleeves rolled up, dark green eyes scanning a file. He didn’t glance up. “You took your time.”I crossed my arms. “You called me five minutes ago

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-16
  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 21

    Kehlani’s POVI arrived at Alec’s penthouse with my mind still tangled in knots. After the meeting at his office, I hadn’t been able to shake the uneasy feeling creeping down my spine. Alec knew something about Rowley—something that made him tense just at the mention of his name.I pushed open the front door and found Alec standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, a whiskey glass in his hand. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up, and his dark green eyes were locked on the city lights beyond. He looked...troubled.I folded my arms. “Are you going to tell me why you’ve been acting like I just waltzed into a death trap?”He didn’t turn around immediately. He swirled the whiskey in his glass, silent for a long moment. Then, finally, he spoke.“Rowley is dangerous.”I scoffed. “So you’ve said. Repeatedly. And yet, you haven’t told me why.”Alec turned then, his gaze sharp. “Because I was trying to keep you out of it.”I let out a humorless laugh. “News flash, Alec. I’m

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17

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  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 69

    Kehlani's POVI could barely think. It had been days since Noah went missing, and I felt like I was losing my mind. Sleep was a distant memory, replaced with endless worry and a growing pit of frustration in my stomach. Alec, on the other hand, was buried behind his desk, endlessly combing through files, calls, and whatever else he was doing to track Noah down. But nothing had changed. Noah was still gone.And I was still waiting.When Alec finally returned home that night, his face was lined with exhaustion. He loosened his tie as he walked in, but I didn’t care about how tired he looked. I cared about the fact that he was moving too slowly. That every second wasted was a second Noah spent in some unknown place, alone and afraid.“You’re late.” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t take it back.Alec sighed, rubbing his forehead before setting his briefcase down. “Kelhani, I told you, I’m doing everything I can.”“That’s the problem!” I snapped. “You keep saying that, bu

  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 68

    Kehlani’s POV The café was sleek and modern, a place filled with professionals chatting over espressos and influencers snapping photos of their lattes. It was exactly the kind of place Natalie would choose—trendy, expensive, and a reflection of the success she loved to flaunt.I spotted her instantly. Seated near the window, she was dressed in a cream-colored designer jumpsuit, her perfectly manicured fingers scrolling through her phone as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Meanwhile, my world was falling apart.I marched up to the table, my heels clicking against the tiled floor. Natalie barely looked up before a smirk tugged at her lips. “Well, well. Look who decided to show up. I was beginning to think you chickened out.”I pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. “Where is he?”Her brows furrowed in mock confusion. “He? You’ll have to be more specific, Kehlani. I know a lot of ‘he’s.’”I clenched my fists under the table, willing myself to stay calm. “Noah. Did you take hi

  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 67

    Kehlani's POVThe weight of my phone pressed against my palm, my fingers hovering over the call button as my heart pounded in my chest. Every passing second felt like an eternity. Alec had left to search the surrounding areas, the police had already started their investigation, and I—I needed to do something.Taking a deep breath, I scrolled through my contacts and pressed on Natalie’s name. My thumb trembled as I brought the phone to my ear. It rang once. Twice. Three times.“Kehlani?” Natalie’s voice was sharp with surprise. “What’s wrong? It’s late.”I sucked in a breath. “Natalie, I—” My voice cracked. I cleared my throat and tried again. “It’s Noah. He’s missing.”Silence stretched on the other end before she finally spoke, her tone turning cold with urgency. “What do you mean missing?”I gripped the phone tighter. “He was taking a nap. When I went to check on him, he was gone. I searched the house, the backyard, the street—he’s just…gone.”“Oh my god.” There was a rustling soun

  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 66

    Kehlani’s POV The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the kitchen as I set the plates on the table. The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the sweetness of syrup-drenched pancakes. Across from me, Noah swung his legs back and forth, his small hands clutching a fork as he absentmindedly pushed his food around the plate.I watched him for a moment before nudging his cup of milk closer. "You're awfully quiet this morning, buddy. Something on your mind?"Noah hesitated, his dark eyes flickering up to meet mine before dropping back to his plate. He let out a small sigh. "I was just thinking about my dad."My heart squeezed at the mention of Alec’s brother. Noah rarely talked about him, and when he did, it was always with that quiet sadness that never quite fit on his young face. I reached across the table and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Do you want to talk about him?"He nodded slowly. "I miss him. A lot. Uncle Alec is great, but it's not the same."

  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 65

    Kehlani's POVThe afternoon light slanted through my apartment window, painting golden stripes across the floor. I had just finished going through some last-minute details for my next pop-up event when my phone vibrated against the table. Alec’s name flashed on the screen.I hesitated for only a second before answering. “Hello?”There was a pause, then his voice came through, steady as always. “Kelhani. I need a favor.”Alec never called unless it was important. I sat up. “What’s wrong?”“It’s about Noah.”My heart tightened. I had always been close to Noah, Alec’s nephew, and knowing he needed me set off an immediate wave of concern. “Is he okay?”“He’s fine,” Alec reassured me. “But my grandmother needs to stay in the hospital for a few days, and there’s no one to stay with him at home. I can’t leave work right now, and I know you two are close.”A rush of emotions filled me. It had been a while since I’d visited Noah, and if he needed me, I wouldn’t hesitate. “I’ll go,” I said imme

  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 64

    Kehlani's POV The café was quiet for a weekday afternoon—just the hum of low conversations and the occasional clink of porcelain. I stirred my latte absently, watching the foam swirl as I waited for Diana. She was late, as usual, but I didn’t mind. It gave me time to think. My phone buzzed. Alec. Meeting ran long. Still at the office. Don’t wait up. I smirked. As if I ever did. “Sorry, sorry!” Diana’s voice cut through my thoughts as she slid into the chair across from me, her designer bag nearly toppling the sugar dispenser. “Traffic was a nightmare. You’d think New York would figure out how to build wider streets by now.” I pushed her untouched cappuccino toward her. “You’re lucky I love you.” She grinned, taking a sip. “Damn right.” Leaning forward, she lowered her voice. “So. Spill. How’s the empire-building going?” I rolled my eyes. “It’s not an empire. Yet.” “Yet,” she repeated, tapping her nails against the cup. “That’s the spirit.” I exhaled, flipping open my

  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 63

    Kehlani’s POVThe penthouse was quiet, save for the hum of the city below. Alec had disappeared into his study an hour ago, muttering something about contracts that needed reviewing. I should’ve gone to bed—God knew I needed the rest—but instead, I found myself curled up on the couch, flipping through a fashion magazine without really seeing the pages. My mind kept circling back to our conversation from earlier. "Then let’s do this."Had I really committed to this? To him? To whatever twisted game we were playing with Finn, with William, with my past? The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. Alec stood in the doorway, his tie loosened, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked tired, but his gaze was sharp as ever. "You’re still awake," he observed, leaning against the doorframe. I shrugged, tossing the magazine onto the coffee table. "Couldn’t sleep." Alec pushed off the frame and walked over, sinking into the couch beside me. "Thinking too much?" "Aren’t I alw

  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 62

    Kehlani’s POVI didn’t know why I agreed to this.Sitting across from Alec in a quiet, dimly lit restaurant, I had to remind myself that this was about strategy. That this wasn’t a date. That I was here because he said it was important.And yet, as I watched him sip his whiskey, his gold-rimmed glasses glinting under the warm lights, I felt the lines blurring.“I still don’t see why we had to meet here,” I muttered, pushing the food around on my plate.Alec leaned back in his chair, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. “Would you rather I took you to my place?”I shot him a look. “That’s not what I meant.”“Mm.” He took another sip. “You’re avoiding the real question, Kehlani.”I sighed. “Which is?”“Are you ready for what’s coming?”I tapped my fork against my plate, choosing my words carefully. “You make it sound like a storm is heading my way.”Alec tilted his head. “It is.”His certainty sent a shiver down my spine.He wasn’t the type to be dramatic. If he said something was co

  • THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE   Chapter 61

    Kehlani’s POVThe car ride from the gala had been quiet—too quiet. The tension in the air clung to my skin like humidity before a storm. I’d spent the entire evening pretending, playing my part, standing beside Alec as though we were an unshakable force. And yet, the moment we stepped out of that ballroom, the cracks became impossible to ignore.Alec had been staring out the window for the past fifteen minutes, one hand resting on his temple, the other drumming against his knee. His silence was calculated, like he was waiting for me to break it first.I wasn’t going to.The driver maneuvered through the streets of New York, its usual chaos muted at this late hour. The glow of streetlights flickered through the car windows, casting fleeting shadows on Alec’s face.Eventually, I sighed, crossing my arms. “Are we just going to sit in silence all night?”Alec smirked, finally turning his gaze toward me. “I was wondering how long you’d last.”I scowled. “I should’ve let it go longer just t

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