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The Cold Kiss

Author: Sarah Ovvens
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-15 00:35:35

Before Bella quickly looked away, a mix of wariness and reluctance clouded her gaze. She stood there, her posture unnervingly rigid, her grip on her purse so tight that her knuckles were pale. The stiffness in her shoulders and the way she seemed to shrink away from the room made it obvious that she didn’t want to be here—not in this sterile, clinical courthouse, and certainly not in the middle of this tangled mess of obligation and necessity.

But despite the evident discomfort written all over her, she was here, and there was no changing that now. She was trapped in this arrangement, just as much as Xavier was.

Jacob, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as subtle. He didn’t hesitate for a moment before speaking up, his voice laced with authority that could cut through stone.

"I hope you’ve arranged for an apartment for my sister," he demanded, his tone cold and uncompromising, as if he had every right to dictate the terms of everything around him. His gaze, sharp and unwavering, bore in
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  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Treading Carefully

    Xavier’s car slowly came to a stop in front of the grand estate, its tires crunching lightly against the gravel driveway. The tall iron gates creaked as they began to swing open, revealing the long, pristine path that led up to the impressive home he had built.The mansion loomed in the distance, its windows reflecting the last rays of the evening sun. Xavier took a moment to appreciate the stillness around him before turning his attention back to Bella, his expression serious, his mind heavy with the weight of the decision he had just made.“Bella,” he began, his voice low, thick with command. “We have to keep this marriage a secret. No one can know about it. Not a single person, not even the ones closest to us.”Bella nodded, her gaze unwavering as she absorbed his words. The gravity of the situation wasn’t lost on her, and she understood fully the implications of what he was asking. “That’s wise,” she agreed, her voice steady, though there was a quiet edge of uncertainty that slipp

    Last Updated : 2025-01-15
  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   A Fresh Start

    Calla stood in the doorway, her eyes following Drake as he moved around the kitchen with an unexpected grace. She could smell the familiar scent of baking pizza, the tang of tomato sauce mingling with the richness of melted cheese. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise as she watched him work.Drake, the same man who once couldn’t even make toast without setting off the smoke alarm, was now completely absorbed in the process of creating something as seemingly simple, yet so complex. His hands were covered in flour, the dough spread out in front of him, and he was delicately arranging the toppings. It was a sight she never imagined she’d see, and somehow, it made him seem more real, more present."Drake?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice."You’re baking a pizza?"Drake looked over his shoulder, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. He seemed almost embarrassed by the fact, but his pride in the work he was doing was clear. As he sprinkled cheese over the pizza dough, his gaze met h

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  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Veiled Truths

    Xavier’s hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel as he maneuvered through the thick evening traffic, the steady hum of the engine underneath him providing a sense of familiarity and calm. But despite the comforting rhythm of the drive, his thoughts were far from settled.The phone call from his manager earlier had set his mind spinning with questions, doubts, and growing suspicion. There were still so many unanswered questions when it came to Leila and the mysterious network of connections she seemed to be part of. Now, with Priya Verma unexpectedly entering the scene, everything felt even more tangled.As if on cue, Xavier’s phone buzzed, breaking his train of thought. He picked it up quickly, not wasting any time, and answered before the second ring.“Xavier,” his manager’s voice crackled sharply through the speaker. “I’ve got news for you.”Xavier’s brows furrowed as his grip on the wheel instinctively tightened. “What did you find out about Priya Verma?” he asked, his voic

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  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Fleeting Touch

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  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Bridges and Barriers

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  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Small Moments

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  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Breaking the Silence

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  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Chasing Safety

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Latest chapter

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   The First Hearing

    Xavier stepped out of the car, his feet meeting the cold pavement of the court building's exterior. The air was heavy, charged with tension. Calla, Logan, and his team of lawyers followed closely behind, their expressions tense but determined. It was the first hearing of the case filed by James Tyler, the man who had somehow become entangled with Xavier’s life through Drake’s twisted plans.Xavier adjusted his tie, his jaw clenched as he scanned the crowd. He knew this would be a long and painful process, but what bothered him most was the prospect of public humiliation. The fact that his family—his children—were being dragged into this mess made his stomach churn with anger."Stay close," Logan murmured to him, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of James or Drake.Xavier nodded and took a deep breath, attempting to calm his rising frustration. But before they could enter the building, Xavier spotted a familiar figure in the crowd—Drake. He was standing near the entrance, a smug

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Shadows of Vengeance

    Xavier sat in his office, his fingers lightly tapping the desk as he stared at the stack of papers before him. His mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts—about Bella, about the twins, about the court case that loomed ever closer. The weight of everything seemed too much to bear in that moment, and he was struggling to focus, to breathe even.Just as the silence in the room became suffocating, there was a knock at the door. Xavier looked up, grateful for the interruption."Come in," he called, his voice hoarse.The door opened, and Logan stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He had been investigating James Tyler, and Xavier had been waiting for some news, though he wasn’t sure what kind of news he wanted to hear. He only knew that this man—this stranger—was somehow linked to Drake, and that meant nothing good.Logan closed the door behind him and approached Xavier's desk, sitting down without waiting for an invitation. His eyes met Xavier's with a quiet seriousness."I’ve found

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Unspoken Fears

    The evening was quiet as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the mansion. The air in the house felt heavy, as if it too was holding its breath, waiting for something to give. Inside Xavier’s room, the soft rustling of papers and the occasional sound of a distant voice filled the silence. Xavier sat at his desk, his eyes scanning over documents, but his mind was elsewhere. It had been a long day—too many worries piling on top of each other—and still, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped in a maze he couldn’t escape.The soft knock on the door broke him from his thoughts. He turned to see Calla standing in the doorway, her expression serious but caring. She had been quiet for the past few days, perhaps sensing the weight of everything that had been happening."Xavier," Calla began, her voice low yet steady, "I need to talk to you."Xavier sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "What is it, Calla?"She stepped inside and closed

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Doubts and Dilemmas

    The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains of the guest bedroom, casting a warm glow on the delicate features of Bella’s face. Yet, despite the peaceful scene, she felt anything but peaceful. Her body ached more than it used to, and her once vibrant energy had begun to wane. Her pregnancy had become to feel like a burden. Complications had started to arise, and Bella knew she couldn't ignore them much longer.She sat up in bed, holding her stomach with both hands as if trying to protect the tiny life inside her, yet it felt more like an anchor, weighing her down. She could feel the pressure of uncertainty mounting inside her. The emotional turmoil was nearly as consuming as the physical exhaustion.The door creaked open, and Bella's gaze lifted to see Calla standing in the doorway. "How are you feeling today?" Calla asked gently, her eyes scanning Bella’s face. There was no judgment in her gaze—just concern. Calla knew about her pregnancy since beginning and she also knew th

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Lines Drawn

    The phone call hung heavily in the air as Xavier stared at the device in his hand, his jaw clenched tight. The reality of the situation had sunk in, but it only made the questions multiply. Who was this James Tyler? What did he want? Why was he claiming Zane and Alana as his children when Xavier knew, without a shadow of a doubt, they were his?Logan sat across from Xavier in his office, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Xavier’s every move."Are you going to call him?" Logan asked, his voice low but firm. "You can’t let this linger. The sooner you get to the bottom of it, the better."Xavier sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair. He had just received the phone number of James Tyler from his lawyer. It felt like a final step before confronting the chaos that was beginning to unravel his life. His thoughts lingered on Zane and Alana. They were his children—no one could take that from him."I'm calling him," Xavier muttered under his breath, determination setting in. He grab

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Unfamiliar Threats

    The soft glow of the morning sun filtered through the windows of Xavier’s office as he sat behind his desk, reviewing documents. The silence of the room felt oddly suffocating today, as if the weight of something unspoken lingered in the air. Just as he leaned back in his chair to clear his mind, the sound of a knock at his door startled him."Come in," Xavier called out, his voice strained, tired.The door creaked open and his lawyer, Mr. Curtis, stepped in with a stern expression. "Xavier, I have something important for you," he said, holding up a letter, its edges slightly crinkled, as though it had been through a lot.Xavier's brow furrowed as he took the letter. "What is this?" he asked, eyeing the envelope, his fingers already starting to feel a twinge of anxiety.Mr. Curtis handed him the letter, his tone serious. "It’s a court summons," he said, taking a seat in front of Xavier's desk. "It claims that a man named James Tyler is asserting that Zane and Alana are his biological

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Fading Hope

    The car pulled into the long driveway of Xavier’s mansion, its tires crunching against the gravel. Bella sat in the passenger seat, her hands resting over her stomach protectively. Her heart pounded against her ribs, yet her lips remained pressed together in silence. She was home. Or at least, she was back in the place she left to save her dignity.Xavier glanced at her from the driver’s seat, his usual stoic expression giving nothing away. “We’re here,” he said, but his voice lacked warmth.Bella didn’t respond. She simply opened the door and stepped out. The cold evening air brushed against her skin, making her shiver. This house held too many memories—some she wanted to cling to and others she wished she could forget.Before she could take another step, the front doors burst open. Two small figures ran toward her, their cries echoing through the night.“Bella!” Zane’s voice cracked as he threw himself into her arms.“Bella, you came back!” Alana sobbed, clinging to Bella’s dress as

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   Shattered Vows

    The heavy sound of the front door slamming echoed through the quiet mansion, and Calla barely glanced up from the book she was reading in the living room. She knew exactly who it was—Drake, stumbling in with the unmistakable scent of alcohol on his breath. He had been drinking again, and she could already feel the tension building in the air.Drake wobbled into the room, his eyes bloodshot, his movements unsteady as he leaned against the doorframe for support. He let out a low laugh, clearly intoxicated. “Calla,” he slurred, his voice rough. “Come to bed with me.”Calla didn’t flinch. She had seen this scene too many times before. His drunken advances, his attempt to control her, to drag her into his world of manipulation and pain. But not tonight. Not anymore.“No, Drake,” she said quietly, her voice firm, unwavering. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”Drake’s face twisted into a scowl. He staggered forward, trying to close the distance between them, but Calla stood up and stepped ba

  • The Billionaire Instant Twins   A Life Unexpected

    The sterile smell of the hospital room mixed with the dull hum of machines, creating an atmosphere that felt too suffocating for Bella to bear. She lay on the hospital bed, a drip running through the vein in her hand, her body still weak from the sudden collapse earlier. Her eyelids fluttered open, and her vision was blurry for a moment before it cleared. As she took in her surroundings, the reality of her situation hit her like a ton of bricks.She left Xavier's home, because he couldn't defend her. She thought that after the night of intimacy something had changed and she had gained some importance in Xavier's life. But the way Ember insulted her and Xavier remained silent, it made her realize she was wrong. She had no place and value in Xavier's life. So she left his house to safeguard her dignity. But even after leaving that place, she couldn't get peace. As Jacob didn't let her do so. He kept on pinching her ego and self respect so badly that her body and mind couldn't bear it an

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