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Chapter 8
Huling Na-update:
2025-03-08 20:54:15
Kaugnay na kabanata
THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 9
Kehlani’s POVThe penthouse was quiet when I stepped out of my room the next morning. Too quiet.I padded barefoot across the cool marble floors, finding the kitchen empty except for a steaming cup of coffee sitting on the counter. A note rested beside it, written in neat, almost clinical handwriting."Had an early meeting. Be ready by noon." – Alec.I frowned, taking a sip of the coffee. Strong. No sugar. Just like I hated it."Of course," I muttered, setting the cup down.I turned to find Natalia leaning against the doorway, watching me with an amused expression.“Good morning, Mrs. Castor,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.I rolled my eyes. “It’s Kehlani.”“Sure, Mrs. Castor.”I exhaled slowly. “Why are you here?”Natalia strolled into the kitchen and grabbed an apple from a fruit bowl. “Alec told me to make sure you don’t back out of today’s lunch.”I raised a brow. “Lunch?”She took a bite of the apple and chewed, clearly enjoying the fact that I was out of the loop.“W
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-09THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 10
Kehlani’s POV- The Next Day (Evening) -The penthouse was silent when I returned from shopping with Natalia. The city lights glittered beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing long shadows over the marble floors. I dropped the bags on the couch and kicked off my heels, rubbing at my sore feet.I had spent the entire afternoon being shoved into overpriced designer outfits, listening to Natalia’s sarcastic remarks, and pretending not to care that Alec had given instructions about how I should present myself.I wasn't sure if I was more exhausted or irritated.I barely had time to sit down before Alec emerged from his office, his gaze flicking from me to the bags. “You survived,” he remarked, amusement laced in his voice.“Barely,” I muttered. I felt a rush of deja vu with that response but I brushed it off.His lips twitched as he leaned against the kitchen counter. “Did you find what you needed?”“I found what you needed,” I shot back, crossing my arms. “Since this is about keep
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-09THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 11
Kehlani’s POVI spent most of the morning debating whether or not to call Natalia, but I decided against it. The last thing I needed was her sarcastic commentary about my new life.Instead, I stayed in my room, scrolling mindlessly through my phone until boredom finally won. I sighed and got up, wrapping my robe tighter around myself as I stepped out.The penthouse was eerily quiet.I half-expected Alec to be buried in work, but when I walked into the living area, I found him on the couch, casually reading the newspaper like some billionaire cliché.He glanced up. “You finally decided to join the world.”“I was enjoying my peace,” I shot back, padding toward the kitchen. “Didn’t want to ruin it.”Alec smirked. “And yet, here you are.”I ignored him, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “Aren’t you supposed to be in meetings or doing rich CEO things?”“I cleared my morning.”I blinked. “For what?”Alec set the newspaper down and stretched, his muscles flexing under his crisp whi
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-10THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 12
Kehlani’s POVThe night was still young. Alec had said that, and I wasn’t sure if it was a warning or a promise.The gala was in full swing—glasses clinking, laughter echoing through the grand hall, the scent of expensive perfume lingering in the air. I had barely taken a sip of my champagne, my fingers tightening around the stem of the glass every time someone looked at me a little too long.Jessica, of course, was in her element. She had a talent for maneuvering through high society, pulling me along with her like I was a new accessory she was showing off. Alec had disappeared into a conversation with a group of men in tuxedos, and I took the opportunity to slip away from Jessica’s grasp.I found a quiet corner near the bar, exhaling as I took a moment to breathe.“Already tired of pretending?”I turned at the voice. A man leaned against the bar, watching me with mild amusement. He was older, maybe mid-forties, with sharp blue eyes and a knowing smirk.“I don’t know what you mean,”
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-11THE BILLIONAIRE'S TWO-FACED BRIDE Chapter 13
Kehlani’s POVAlec 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’
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-12THE 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?
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-13THE 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
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-14THE 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
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-15
Pinakabagong kabanata
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
