LOGINShare
CAGE OF SECRETS
Last Updated:
2025-03-18 05:08:12
Related chapters
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE SCATTERED ILLUSIONS
Lily stood frozen in the kitchen long after Liam had left, her heart slamming against her ribs. His expression before he answered that call it wasn’t just tension. It was something deeper. Something dangerous. She swallowed, her fingers gripping the cold countertop as a wave of unease crept over her. She knew Liam wasn’t an open book. He was a fortress, built from years of distrust, betrayal, and whatever dark past had shaped him. But she had seen a crack in that armor tonight. And it terrified her. After a moment, she pushed away from the counter and followed the faint sound of his voice. She found him in his study, his back to her, his fingers pressed against the desk as if holding himself together. “I don’t care what it takes,” Liam said into the phone, his voice sharp, controlled. “Handle it.” A beat of silence. Then, his fist slammed against the desk. “No. That’s not an option. I want a name.” Lily’s breath caught in her throat. Whoever was on the other end of that cal
Last Updated : 2025-03-18THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE TRUTH IN THE SHADOWS
Lily’s heart pounded as she stood in front of Liam, gripping the file with trembling fingers. The weight of the paper felt heavier than it should, as if it carried something far more dangerous than ink and numbers. She could feel the heat of his gaze sharp, unyielding, daring her to push further. But she wasn’t backing down. Not this time. “You’re protecting someone, aren’t you?” Her voice was softer now, not accusing but searching. Liam’s jaw tensed, his stormy gray eyes flashing with something unreadable. His body was rigid, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Drop it, Lily.” She exhaled, steadying herself. “I can’t.” A dark chuckle escaped his lips, void of humor. “Of course, you can’t.” Lily swallowed hard, gathering her courage. “Who is it, Liam? Who are you sending all this money to?” She lifted the file slightly, her hands shaking from both fear and frustration. Liam took a slow, measured step toward her, his presence overwhelming. “You don’t want to know
Last Updated : 2025-03-19THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE PAST DAYS
Lily stood frozen in the middle of Liam’s study, her heart hammering against her ribs. The name Margaret Carlyle echoed in her mind, a puzzle piece that didn’t fit anywhere in the version of Liam she knew.Who was she? And why had Liam reacted as if her name alone had the power to rip him apart?Her eyes darted to the scattered pages on the floor. With shaky hands, she knelt down and gathered the papers, her breath hitching when she caught sight of the bank transactions again. Liam had been wiring large sums of money to someone under that name. But why?The door slammed shut, making her jump.Liam was gone.The tension that had filled the room just moments ago still clung to the air, thick and suffocating.Lily exhaled slowly. She had pushed him tooLily’s hands trembled as she clutched the edge of the marble countertop, her reflection staring back at her from the grand mirror in the lavish bathroom. Her heart pounded so hard it drowned out the sound of the running water.She had bare
Last Updated : 2025-03-19THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE CHOICE THAT LIE AHEAD
Lily stood at the edge of the balcony, the cool night air brushing against her skin as she stared out at the sprawling city below. The lights twinkled in the distance, like distant stars, but nothing seemed to shine as brightly as the turmoil within her chest. It had been days since the gala, and the weight of her choices felt like an unshakable burden on her soul.She hadn’t been prepared for any of this least of all for the pull of attraction she felt for Liam. She should have been angry, bitter, and hurt. After all, he had used her, manipulated her into a contract that no one in their right mind would agree to. And yet, every time he looked at her, every time his voice dipped into that dangerous yet seductive tone, she felt a pang in her chest.Liam had changed the rules without her consent, and now, with every passing day, she found herself tangled in emotions she had no place feeling. The whirlwind of being thrust into his world—the luxurious penthouse, the power, the secrets—was
Last Updated : 2025-03-20THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE UNSEEN STORM
The air was thick with tension as Aria stood on the balcony of Damien's penthouse, gazing out at the sprawling city below. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, racing and colliding, much like the storm she could feel brewing within herself. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the city lights flickered like tiny stars across the skyline. But even the beauty of the view couldn’t erase the unease that had settled in her chest.Damien had been distant for the past few days, his eyes colder than ever, his touch more fleeting. She knew something was wrong, something had shifted. The walls between them had grown higher, and despite her best efforts to bridge the gap, they remained untouched, untouchable.Her fingers gripped the railing, the cool metal biting into her skin, a stark contrast to the heat rising in her heart. She didn’t understand him anymore she didn’t understand why he was pushing her away when everything had been so close to falling into place.Aria closed her eyes, taking a
Last Updated : 2025-03-20THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE EXPOSED TRUTH
Aria stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as the woman entered the room. Every instinct in her screamed to leave, to walk away from the tension that now filled the space like a suffocating fog. But something kept her rooted to the spot was it fear, curiosity, or the overwhelming need to understand?Damien’s expression shifted the moment the woman appeared, his earlier vulnerability quickly masked by a wall of coldness. Aria could sense the change in him, the abrupt return of the guarded man she had known when they first met. The warmth in his gaze had evaporated, replaced with a steely resolve.The woman, undeterred by the palpable tension, tilted her head slightly and fixed her piercing blue eyes on Aria. There was a certain air of superiority about her, an aura that demanded attention and respect. Her lips curled into a tight smile, and she crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze flickering between Damien and Aria.“I see you’ve found someone new,” the woman said, her voi
Last Updated : 2025-03-21THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE COST OF TRUTH
The night felt colder now, the air thick with unspoken tension. Aria stood at the edge of the room, her body rigid, her heart still pounding from the conversation with Damien. There was something haunting about the way he had spoken his eyes filled with secrets he seemed desperate to keep buried. The darkness of his past loomed over them like a shadow, threatening to swallow everything in its path.Damien's confession hung heavily between them, suffocating the space with its weight. He wasn't just a man hiding from his past; he was a man trying to outrun it. And she had unknowingly stepped right into the middle of it.Her thoughts were interrupted when Damien spoke again, his voice low and filled with a vulnerability she hadn't expected."I never wanted you to see me like this," he admitted, his gaze avoiding hers. "I never wanted you to be part of this mess."Aria's heart ached at his words. She took a step closer, her voice gentle but firm. "Damien, you don't get to decide what I ca
Last Updated : 2025-03-21THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE DARKNESS OF BEFORE
The tension in the room thickened, an unspoken war waging between them as Catherine’s heels clicked sharply against the floor. She carried herself with an air of unsettling confidence, her presence radiating danger wrapped in elegance."Well, well," Catherine mused, a knowing smirk playing at her lips. "It seems I've walked in on quite the reunion."Damien’s grip on the door handle tightened, his knuckles white. His expression was unreadable, but Aria could sense the storm brewing beneath his composed facade."What do you want, Catherine?" Damien's voice was low, controlled, but the edge of anger was impossible to miss.Catherine’s sharp gaze flickered to Aria, her smirk widening as if she enjoyed the tension she’d just stirred. "Oh, nothing much," she said lightly, though her tone was anything but casual. "Just ensuring that old acquaintances don’t forget their debts."She took a deliberate step forward, her red lips curling into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "You see, Damien,
Last Updated : 2025-03-22
Latest chapter
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE HIDDEN FACTS
The silence between Lily and Liam was no longer a void it was charged, brimming with questions neither of them could form into words. After the reveal of the mole within the inner circle, and Charles’ near-death confession about the true mastermind behind their betrayal, things had escalated faster than either of them could control.The villa was now heavily guarded. Armed men patrolled the perimeter. Drones circled overhead. But none of that could protect Lily from the thoughts gnawing at her sanity.She sat on the edge of the master bedroom’s bed, her fingers twined tightly in her lap. Liam stood at the far end, near the window, staring out into the moonless night like a man trying to wrestle his demons into silence.Lily finally spoke. “You think this is all connected to your father, don’t you?”Liam didn’t turn. “It always goes back to him.”She hesitated. “But your father’s been dead for years, hasn’t he?”A bitter chuckle escaped Liam’s lips. “Dead, yes. But the things he did, t
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE SHADOW PLANS
Liam stood near the expansive window of his study, the city lights behind him flickering like dying stars. Lily sat on the edge of the sofa, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her coffee cup. Around them, the low hum of strategists and loyal guards speaking into earpieces filled the room with a sense of wariness.“We’re not just playing defense anymore,” Liam finally said, turning to face them all. “It’s time we hit back.”Lily looked up, her eyes dark with determination. “And Emily?”Liam’s jaw tightened. “She made her choice.”“But she’s still my sister,” Lily insisted softly.Liam approached her, kneeling to meet her eyes. “And you’re my wife. I can’t let her destroy you out of some warped sense of betrayal.”A beat passed between them.“I’m not afraid of Emily,” Lily whispered. “I’m afraid of losing her forever.”Liam didn’t respond. He knew that fear. He’d seen it in the mirror every day since Julian Ward re-emerged into their lives, dragging the past behind him like a rust
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE SISTER OF MINE
Lily stared at her reflection in the mirror, the soft glow of dawn creeping through the curtains behind her. Her eyes looked different now tired, aged by truth and betrayal, and tinged with something new: resolve. The flash drive’s revelations had burned deep into her soul, forcing her to reconcile the version of Emily she had loved with the one working against her.She ran her fingers through her hair and exhaled slowly. “Whatever happens today,” she whispered to herself, “I’m not walking away without the truth.”Liam appeared behind her in the reflection, already dressed in his usual tailored black. His presence was solid, grounding. “The meeting is set,” he said. “A private estate outside the city. Heavily guarded. If this is a trap, we’ll know soon enough.”Lily turned to face him. “I have to see her, Liam. If she’s really gone to the other side, I need to hear it from her. I need to look her in the eye and know I didn’t imagine everything we once shared.”He studied her face for
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE SHADOW OF TRUTH
The night air was thick with silence as Lily paced the dimly lit hallway of the safe house. Her mind was a whirlwind, thoughts racing faster than her feet could carry her. Each moment spent in that place felt like time borrowed precious and uncertain. She had barely slept since the confrontation with Charles. Her trust had been shattered into fragments, each one cutting deeper than the last.Liam hadn’t said much since returning from his private meeting with one of his intelligence contacts. The only thing he had told her was to “stay inside” and “don’t trust anyone.” And she didn’t. Not anymore.She paused by the large window overlooking the courtyard, arms folded tightly across her chest. The moon cast a pale silver glow, illuminating the shadows around the perimeter. She saw two of Liam’s men patrolling, their movements sharp and disciplined. But even that didn’t calm her nerves.Behind her, a door creaked softly.She turned swiftly, eyes meeting Liam’s as he stepped into the hallw
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE PRICE OF TRUTH
The morning sun filtered in through the heavily curtained windows, casting soft golden streaks across the hardwood floor. Lily sat at the edge of the large bed, her fingers tangled in the hem of her sweater. The air was thick with silence, the kind that held unspoken fears and unanswered questions.Liam stood across the room, near the window, his back to her. He had barely slept. The events of the past few days had cracked open wounds he thought long buried. And now, with Charles captured and new truths beginning to unravel, the next move had to be calculated.Lily finally broke the silence. "What if there’s more we don’t know? More people involved?"Liam turned slowly, his eyes shadowed but steady. "There’s always more, Lily. People like Charles are never alone. They work for someone. And if we want to end this, we have to go deeper."Lily swallowed the lump rising in her throat. "Do you think it’s someone in your circle? One of your board members? A family connection?"He crossed th
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE SHADOWS OF THE PAST
Lily sat in the dimly lit room, the quiet hum of the night surrounding her like a cocoon. The silence was unsettling, filled with unsaid words and dangerous possibilities. Liam had stepped out to handle security reinforcements, leaving her alone with her racing thoughts and the weight of everything they had just discovered.The confrontation with Charles still echoed in her ears. The calmness in his voice, the smirk on his face—as if he had been waiting for this moment, orchestrating it from the shadows. What disturbed her more was the fact that he hadn’t denied anything. If anything, he had embraced the role of the betrayer.A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts.She stiffened. "Who is it?""It’s me," Liam's voice called out. It was low but reassuring.She opened the door slowly. His face was taut, his eyes stormy."They tried to cut the surveillance feed a few minutes ago," he said. "Whoever Charles is working with, they’re making their move soon.""Why would Charles betray you?
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE REVELATION IN THE DARK
The night pressed down on the safe house like a shroud. The only light came from the dim glow of a single wall sconce in the hallway, casting long shadows across the tile floor. Lily stood by the window, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared out into the moonlit darkness. Each passing second fed the unease curling in her stomach.Behind her, Liam paced the room. His phone was glued to his ear as he barked low, urgent instructions to one of his most trusted men. Charles’ sudden appearance at the villa had cracked something wide open the illusion of control Liam had managed to maintain was slipping."Double the patrols. No one goes in or out without my say so," Liam ordered sharply. "And find out how the hell Charles knew we were here."He ended the call and turned to Lily, his expression unreadable. "How are you holding up?"She managed a tight nod. "I’m okay. Just... trying to make sense of all this."Liam moved closer, his presence grounding her. "I won’t let anything happen
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE UNMASKED
The air inside the safehouse was thick with tension, every breath a reminder that trust had become a scarce currency. Lily sat silently on the edge of the bed, her fingers knotted tightly in her lap as Liam paced in front of the shuttered window. He had barely said a word since Charles was taken into custody, his face a stoic mask hiding the storm she knew raged within.She could still hear Charles’s voice echoing in her mind. “I wasn’t the only one.” Those words haunted her, burrowed deep into her bones like a chill she couldn’t shake. If Charles had accomplices, then they were still in danger and possibly being watched.Liam finally stopped pacing and turned to face her. His eyes, usually cold and calculating, were laced with something else now a quiet fury that simmered just beneath the surface.“I have to go back,” he said.Lily frowned. “Back to the mansion?”He nodded. “There are files. Information Charles had access to. If anyone else is involved, there will be traces.”She sto
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE REVELATION
The air in the villa was thick with tension. Lily sat by the window, her eyes scanning the perimeter of the high walls surrounding them. It had been three days since the confrontation with Charles, and the silence that followed was almost more unsettling than the chaos itself.Liam had barely spoken, too consumed with interrogations and reinforcing security. His entire demeanor had shifted sharper, colder, more ruthless. The man who had once wrapped his arms around her in the middle of the night, whispering reassurances, now paced the hallways like a lion in a cage."He was waiting for us," Lily muttered to herself, tracing invisible circles on the glass. She couldn't shake the feeling that the betrayal ran deeper than they had imagined.Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and Liam entered the room, his phone pressed to his ear."Keep eyes on every contact he's had in the past year. No excuses. I want answers by tonight," he barked before hanging up.His eyes landed on Lily, softening
