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Chapter 44
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-22 08:02:32
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THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 45
Kehlani’s POVThe tea had long gone cold in my hands, but I barely noticed. I sat curled up on my couch, staring at the city skyline through the massive windows of my apartment. The unknown number's call still echoed in my mind."You look different, Kehlani."I exhaled sharply, setting my mug on the coffee table. The room was silent except for the distant hum of traffic. I should sleep. I should shake off the unease and move on. But my gut told me this wasn’t just some random prank.Alec would be here soon. He hadn't texted or called again, but I knew he meant it when he said he was on his way.Then—just as the thought crossed my mind—my phone buzzed.Alec: I’m outside. Let me in.I moved quickly, undoing the locks and opening the door. Alec stepped inside, his tall frame filling the space, his dark coat dusted with the remnants of the city's chill. His gaze swept over me, scanning, assessing.“You’re pale,” he murmured. “What happened?”I shut the door behind him and folded my arms.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 46
Kehlani's POV I stirred my cappuccino absentmindedly, my mind drifting between thoughts of the upcoming launch and the conversation I’d had with Alec last night.Natalie sat across from me, flipping through her tablet with a sharp-eyed focus that only she could maintain before noon. "Alright, let's go over the final details. The press release is scheduled to go out tomorrow, and—Kehlani, are you even listening?"I blinked and looked up. "Hmm?"Natalie sighed, setting her tablet down. "You've been staring at that coffee like it's got the answers to life’s biggest questions. What's going on?"I hesitated. "Just… thinking."Natalie arched a brow. "Thinking about?"I debated for a second before exhaling. "Alec thinks I should have security."Her eyes widened slightly before she smirked. "Oh? Since when does Mr. Iceberg get all protective?""He’s always been protective," I muttered, lifting my cup to my lips."Yeah, but this sounds different." She leaned in, watching me closely. "What exa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 47
Kelhani’s POVThe silence between us was thick. Alec drove with one hand on the wheel, his other resting on the center console, close but not touching. The city lights flickered past us, painting his sharp features in shifting gold and silver hues.I turned my gaze to the window, trying to process the events of the day. Finn’s sudden reappearance, his smug confidence, the way he acted like he still had a claim on me. And then Alec—his unwavering presence, his quiet but absolute authority.“You’re thinking too much,” Alec said, his voice smooth but edged with something unreadable.I glanced at him. “And you’re too quiet.”One corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “You’d prefer if I started lecturing you?”I scoffed, crossing my arms. “You already did that earlier.”Alec hummed, neither confirming nor denying. His fingers drummed lightly against the leather steering wheel. “You should’ve let me handle Finn.”I turned fully to him now. “And what would that have accomplished?”“He wouldn’t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 48
Kehlani’s POVI stared at my untouched cup of coffee, tracing the rim absentmindedly with my finger. The hum of the city outside Alec’s penthouse was distant, muffled by the thick glass windows. The morning light filtered in, casting soft shadows across the sleek marble counters and expensive leather furniture.Across from me, Alec was standing by the window, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his own cup. He hadn’t spoken much since we woke up. There was a weight in the air between us, something unspoken yet lingering.I sighed. “Are we going to talk about last night, or are we just going to pretend it didn’t happen?”Alec turned slightly, his sharp green eyes meeting mine. “Which part of last night?”I gave him a look. “Don’t play dumb.”He smirked faintly, but there was something restrained about it. “I just like to be specific.”I rolled my eyes. “Fine. The kiss. The fact that you kissed me.”Alec set his coffee down on the counter, his gaze steady. “You kissed me back.”I
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 49
Kehlani’s POVThe door clicked shut behind Alec, and I stared at it for a moment longer than I should have.Then, I exhaled and picked up my coffee, only to realize it had gone cold.I sighed, setting the cup down. My fingers drummed against the counter. The apartment felt emptier without him in it, but that was ridiculous. I had spent plenty of time alone.So why did it feel different now?Before I could think about it too much, my phone vibrated on the table. I glanced at the screen.Mira. Mira is my new assistant. Natalie's sister. I hesitated before answering."Kehlani," Mira's voice was smooth, but I could hear the curiosity beneath it. "What are you doing?""Drinking cold coffee," I muttered."That’s tragic," she said dryly. "But somehow, I don’t think that’s the real problem here."I rolled my eyes. "You called to check on my caffeine consumption?""No," Mira said, amusement laced in her tone. "I called because I have a strong suspicion that you just had another… moment with A
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 50
Kehlani’s POVI don’t know why I agreed to meet him.Maybe it was Mira’s voice in my head, reminding me—no, daring me—to stop overthinking everything. Maybe it was the way Alec had looked at me the last time we spoke, patient but expectant, as if waiting for me to realize something I wasn’t quite ready to admit.Or maybe I was just tired.Tired of running. Tired of pretending I didn’t feel the way I did.So, when my phone buzzed with his message—“I’m outside.”—I slipped on my coat, grabbed my bag, and walked out the door before I could talk myself out of it.Alec leaned against his car, looking as composed as ever. The streetlight cast a soft glow over him, highlighting the sharp cut of his jaw, the slight furrow of his brow as he watched me approach.He opened the passenger door without a word.I hesitated for only a second before slipping inside.---The drive was quiet at first. The city hummed around us, headlights flashing past, but inside the car, it was just the sound of the en
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 51
Kehlani’s POVI wasn’t sure how long I had been sitting in front of my vanity, staring at my reflection.The emerald dress Mira picked out fit perfectly—structured bodice, flowing skirt, elegant but bold. It made me feel powerful. Made me feel seen.But even as I admired the way the fabric hugged my frame, my mind was somewhere else.Somewhere in the past.Somewhere between regret and the slow, uncertain steps toward something new.A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.I turned as Mira poked her head in. “You’re not having second thoughts about the dress, are you?”I let out a breath of a laugh. “No, the dress is perfect.”Mira stepped inside, hands on her hips, giving me a once-over. “Then what’s with the look?”“What look?”She crossed her arms. “The look that says you’re overthinking something completely unrelated to tonight.”I hesitated. Then sighed. “I just—” I paused, struggling to find the right words. “It’s a lot.”Mira’s gaze softened. She walked over, perch
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 52
Kehlani’s POVI wasn’t sure what I expected when I returned to the penthouse after the launch party. A quiet evening alone, maybe. A chance to finally take off these heels and breathe.But instead, I opened the door to the soft glow of candlelight.The living room was transformed. Small flickering flames danced along the coffee table, the warm scent of something rich and savory filling the air. A single bottle of wine sat chilling in a silver bucket, two glasses waiting beside it.And in the center of it all was Alec.He stood near the dining table, rolling up the sleeves of his crisp white shirt, his dark green eyes lifting to meet mine the moment I stepped inside.“You’re back.” His voice was smooth, effortless, as if he hadn’t just staged a scene straight out of a romance novel.I blinked. “What… is this?”He smirked, stepping closer. “A surprise.”I glanced around, taking in the intimate setting. “You did all this?”Alec arched a brow. “You sound surprised.”“I am.” I stepped out
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-25
Bab terbaru
THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 72
Kehlani’s POVThe flash of Finn’s camera still burned behind my eyelids. Noah’s labored breathing filled the silence between us, each exhale a jagged reminder of what Finn was willing to destroy. Finn pocketed his phone, his smile a blade. “Alec’s going to love this. ‘Wife caught in secret rendezvous with ex-lover.’ The tabloids will feast.” “You’re pathetic,” I spat. The ropes bit deeper as I strained against them. “He’ll see through this. He’ll know it’s staged.” “Will he?” Finn crouched, gripping Noah’s hair and yanking his head back. Noah’s eyelids fluttered, a groan escaping his bloodied lips. “How *convenient* that you’re here, alone, with him. How… *intimate*.” “Let him go, Finn. This is between us.” “Us.” He released Noah and stood, circling my chair. “There *is* no ‘us’ until you admit the truth. You belong with *me*. Not with some corporate puppet who married you out of spite.” “Alec’s ten times the man you are.” Finn’s fist slammed into the wall beside my head
THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 71
Kehlani’s POVThe warehouse door creaked as I pushed it open, the sound echoing through the hollow space. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows. My pulse hammered in my throat as I stepped inside, my boots scuffing against the concrete. "Noah?" I called out, my voice bouncing off the walls. Silence. Then—a muffled groan. My breath hitched. I followed the sound, weaving between stacks of crates, my hands clenched into fists. And then I saw him. Noah. Tied to a chair, his head slumped forward, his dark hair matted with sweat and blood. His arms were bound behind him, his skin raw where the ropes bit in. *"Noah!"* I rushed forward, dropping to my knees in front of him. My fingers fumbled with the knots, but they were too tight. "Hey—hey, wake up. It's me. It's Kel." He didn’t stir. I pressed two fingers to his neck, relief flooding me when I felt the steady thrum of his pulse. He was alive. Just unconscious. Okay. Okay. Think. I stood, scann
THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 70
Kehlani's POV“You should go back to bed,” Alec said, his voice low, yet laced with something more than concern—guilt, maybe.I stood frozen in the middle of the living room, phone still clutched tightly in my hand. My palms were damp with sweat. The words on the screen still echoed in my head: I’m watching you now.“I can’t,” I whispered, not trusting my voice to hold up if I said more.Alec moved closer. “I’ll keep tracking the number. I’ll stay up and work through the night.”I turned to look at him, studying his face. He looked so sure—like if he just clicked the right combination of keys, the answer would appear. But this wasn’t a math problem. It was a nightmare.“Alec…” I swallowed hard. “What if they hurt him again tonight?”“I won’t let that happen,” he replied firmly, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I promise you. But you need to rest, Kel. Just for a few hours. You’re running on fumes.”I hated that he was right.I hated that I had no choice.“I’ll try,” I murmur
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
