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Chapter Twenty two
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2024-12-09 20:12:45Related chapters
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty Three
Perfect Chaos, Perfect peace. The penthouse's morning quiet was broken by Cat's determined cries, followed inevitably by Eddie's solidarity wails. At two weeks old, the twins had mastered the art of synchronized demands."My turn," Lucas murmured, already moving before Sophia could fully wake. She watched through heavy eyes as he scooped up both babies with practiced ease. The sight of her ruthless corporate husband cooing softly to their children still made her heart flutter."The magazine team will be here at ten," she reminded him, glancing at the clock. 7 AM. "Sure you don't want to reschedule?""And risk Susan's wrath? She's already threatened to revoke my godfather status if we postpone again." He settled into the nursing chair, a twin in each arm. "Besides, your father's right. It's time to tell our story."The 'story' had grown beyond their control in the past two weeks. Speculation about the Vanderbilt twins filled business blogs and society columns. Yesterday, someone had
Last Updated : 2024-12-10The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty Four
Love rather than Leverage"Well, that's certainly a headline," Darren whistled, tossing the magazine onto the penthouse coffee table. *'From Contract to Covenant: The Vanderbilt Love Story That Reshaped an Empire'* blazed across the cover, accompanied by the now-iconic photo of Lucas and Sophia with the twins in the morning light."The stock's up twelve percent," Susan reported, not looking up from her tablet. At three months old, Cat was dozing in her arms while she worked, a common sight these days. "And the wedding planning inquiries have tripled.""Wedding?" Sophia looked up from where she was burping Eddie. "Whose wedding?"Susan's cheeks flushed. Darren suddenly found the city skyline fascinating."Finally!" Sophia exclaimed, causing Eddie to startle. "Sorry, baby," she soothed, then turned back to her friends. "When were you going to tell us?""We were waiting for the right moment," Susan admitted, unconsciously twisting the elegant diamond ring on her finger. "With the articl
Last Updated : 2024-12-10The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter one
The Wedding Day.The Grand Regent Hotel buzzed with the kind of frenzied excitement that only came with events so grand they felt unreal. The ballroom was being transformed into a floral paradise, and the anticipation in the air was thick enough to taste. But inside the bridal suite, things felt different—quieter, almost still, as if the world had pulled back for just a moment.Sophia stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. The woman looking back at her was dressed in a gown worth more than some people’s homes, her hair an intricate twist of curls, her makeup flawless. And yet, she barely recognized herself."Pinch me," Sophia whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "This all feels like a dream.""More like a fairy tale," Susan said, her tone light as she fluffed out the layers of Sophia’s gown. "Come on, you’re about to marry the perfect guy in the wedding of the century. What more could anyone ask for?"But instead of smiling, Sophia's hands tightened on the ed
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Two
The Wedding ExposedSophia’s breath was ragged as she slipped out of the bridal suite, her knuckles white as they gripped her phone, the weight of her decision nearly suffocating. But there was no turning back now. Her heart thundered in her chest, but her expression was carved in stone—cold, unflinching. This was the moment everything would change. The lies, the betrayal—it all came down to this.She could still hear the murmur of guests from the hallway, the soft music lulling everyone into a false sense of serenity. Little did they know that within minutes, the entire illusion would be shattered.As Sophia reached the dimly lit corridor, Susan grabbed her arm, her face pale with worry. "Sophia, what the hell is going on? You’re acting so strange. Please talk to me."For a moment, Sophia’s gaze softened, the weight of Susan’s friendship tugging at her. But the moment passed, and she hardened again, her eyes now distant, cold. "I can’t explain, Susan. Not now. You need to trust me.
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Three
The Perfect StrangerSophia’s heels clicked against the empty street, her breath sharp and ragged, each step echoing in the hollow night. She wasn’t running fast enough. No matter how hard she tried, the humiliation clung to her like a second skin—unshakable, suffocating. Her chest burned, a deep, gnawing pain that refused to fade, the cold wind cutting against her tear-streaked face doing nothing to soothe it.The images from her ruined wedding flashed in her mind, each one more painful than the last. Ryan’s betrayal. His smug grin. Emma’s guilt-laced eyes. The whispers of the guests, the pitiful looks they threw her way. She couldn’t stand it. She had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. She was utterly alone.Up ahead, a neon sign flickered—Club Eclipse, its gaudy pink glow buzzing in the darkness like a bad omen. She had heard of it before, but she had never once thought of going inside. Not until now. Tonight, oblivion seemed like the only escape. The noise, the crowd, the alcohol—a
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Four
Searching for AnswersThe cold, rushing water was mere inches away when Sophia felt a strong hand clamp around her arm, yanking her back from the abyss. She gasped, her heart slamming against her chest, and spun around, breathless.It was him—the stranger from the club. Lucas.His grip on her was firm yet gentle, his dark eyes wide with a mix of fear and relief. He pulled her back from the railing, holding her close as she trembled against him, her breath coming in ragged sobs.“It’s okay,” Lucas whispered, his voice low and calming, “you’re safe now.”Safe. The word echoed mockingly in her mind. She didn’t feel safe. She didn’t want to be safe. Sophia’s body shook violently, her hands clutching his jacket as if he were the last thing tethering her to reality. She didn’t know why he was here—why he had come after her—but she hated him for it."Why... why did you do that?" Sophia’s voice cracked between sobs, her words trembling with anger and anguish.Lucas’s expression softened as he
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Five
Dangerous GamesSophia's heart hammered against her chest as she followed the butler to the foyer. Chris stood there, impeccably dressed in a sharp suit, his tablet clutched firmly in his hands."Miss Muller," he said, his voice professionally neutral. "Mr. Vanderbilt requests your presence at his office tomorrow morning at 9 AM sharp."Sandra materialized behind Sophia, her eyes gleaming with calculated interest. "The Vanderbilts? My, my, Sophia. What have you been up to?""Nothing that concerns you," Sophia snapped, turning back to Chris. "And what if I refuse?"Chris's expression didn't waver. "Mr. Vanderbilt mentioned you might be... reluctant. He asked me to remind you of a certain bridge incident."The color drained from Sophia's face. Behind her, Sandra's sharp intake of breath made her skin crawl."Tell him I'll be there," Sophia managed, her voice barely above a whisper.As Chris departed, Sandra's perfectly manicured nails dug into Sophia's arm. "What bridge incident? What h
Last Updated : 2024-11-25The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Six
Dangerous AttractionsThe tension in Lucas's office crackled like static electricity. Bella's red-lacquered nails drummed against the doorframe as her gaze slid between Lucas and Sophia with predatory interest."I can come back later," Bella said, though she made no move to leave. "Unless this is about business? The Muller Corporation has been quite... newsworthy lately."Lucas's jaw tightened. "This is a private meeting, Bella. I'm sure Mark is wondering where you are.""Oh, I doubt that." Bella's laugh tinkled like broken glass. "He's far too busy with his... secretary."Sophia watched the exchange, her mind racing. The way Bella looked at Lucas – there was history there, or at least desire. Before she could process this new complication, Lucas's hand settled at the small of her back."We'll have to reschedule this discussion," he said quietly, steering her toward a private door behind his desk. "My office, tomorrow, same time.""I'm not coming back," Sophia hissed, even as her skin
Last Updated : 2024-11-25
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The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty Four
Love rather than Leverage"Well, that's certainly a headline," Darren whistled, tossing the magazine onto the penthouse coffee table. *'From Contract to Covenant: The Vanderbilt Love Story That Reshaped an Empire'* blazed across the cover, accompanied by the now-iconic photo of Lucas and Sophia with the twins in the morning light."The stock's up twelve percent," Susan reported, not looking up from her tablet. At three months old, Cat was dozing in her arms while she worked, a common sight these days. "And the wedding planning inquiries have tripled.""Wedding?" Sophia looked up from where she was burping Eddie. "Whose wedding?"Susan's cheeks flushed. Darren suddenly found the city skyline fascinating."Finally!" Sophia exclaimed, causing Eddie to startle. "Sorry, baby," she soothed, then turned back to her friends. "When were you going to tell us?""We were waiting for the right moment," Susan admitted, unconsciously twisting the elegant diamond ring on her finger. "With the articl
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty Three
Perfect Chaos, Perfect peace. The penthouse's morning quiet was broken by Cat's determined cries, followed inevitably by Eddie's solidarity wails. At two weeks old, the twins had mastered the art of synchronized demands."My turn," Lucas murmured, already moving before Sophia could fully wake. She watched through heavy eyes as he scooped up both babies with practiced ease. The sight of her ruthless corporate husband cooing softly to their children still made her heart flutter."The magazine team will be here at ten," she reminded him, glancing at the clock. 7 AM. "Sure you don't want to reschedule?""And risk Susan's wrath? She's already threatened to revoke my godfather status if we postpone again." He settled into the nursing chair, a twin in each arm. "Besides, your father's right. It's time to tell our story."The 'story' had grown beyond their control in the past two weeks. Speculation about the Vanderbilt twins filled business blogs and society columns. Yesterday, someone had
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty two
Grand welcomingThe first rays of dawn painted the hospital room in gentle gold, a stark contrast to the storm that had announced the twins' arrival. At four days old, Catherine and Edward were already showing distinct personalities – Cat demanding attention with imperious cries, Eddie observing the world with his father's thoughtful gray eyes."She gets that from you," Lucas murmured, watching Cat wave her tiny fists at the morning light. He sat in the hospital's most comfortable chair, holding Eddie while Sophia fed their daughter."The dramatic timing? Pretty sure that's all Vanderbilt." Sophia adjusted Cat's position, still marveling at how natural it felt. "Though the stubbornness might be genetic on both sides."A soft knock interrupted them. Susan peeked in, her expression suspiciously innocent. "Are you decent? Because there's a small army of grandparents in the waiting room, and I can only distract them with baby photos for so long.""Let them in," Sophia laughed. "Before Cla
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty one
Arrival of OverachieversAt thirty-two weeks, the first real storm of the season rolled across the lake. Rain lashed against the windows as Sophia tried to focus on the quarterly reports spread across her home office desk. The twins were restless, perhaps sensing the atmospheric pressure change."That's the third time you've read that page," Chris observed from the video call screen. "Maybe we should reschedule.""I'm fine," Sophia insisted, though her back arched fiercely. "The merger transition won't wait just because your future bosses are doing somersaults."Thunder cracked overhead. The lights flickered ominously."Ma'am," Chris's voice took on that careful tone everyone seemed to use lately, "Mr. Vanderbilt specifically said—""Lucas is in Singapore dealing with Emma's mess. These reports need to be—" She stopped, a sharp pain making her gasp."I'm calling Dr. Chen," Chris said firmly. "And Mr. Vanderbilt. And probably God.""It's just Braxton Hicks," Sophia started, but another
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty
Better Beginings"It's like they're having a dance party in there," Sophia groaned, shifting uncomfortably on her office couch at twenty weeks. Both twins had chosen the board meeting hour for their daily acrobatics."Or a boxing match," Lucas suggested, adjusting the laptop so the board members couldn't see her rubbing her expanding belly. Virtual meetings had become a necessity as her pregnancy progressed – twin pregnancies were notoriously demanding."Settle down, little ones," she whispered. "Mommy's trying to run an empire here."The merger was proceeding smoothly, despite the aftermath of Mark's attempted sabotage. He and Bella had disappeared to Europe, their resignation letters arriving via expensive lawyers. The press had dubbed it the "corporate cleanup of the year," though Sophia preferred Susan's term: "karma's double knockout.""Mrs. Vanderbilt," the CFO's voice crackled through the speakers, "about the Singapore restructuring—"A sharp kick interrupted her thoughts. "Sor
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Nineteen
Toast to BabiesThe ultrasound screen flickered in the dimly lit room, and Sophia held her breath. At sixteen weeks, they might finally learn if little Catherine or Edward was on the way. Lucas's hand tightened around hers as the technician moved the wand."Well," the technician smiled, "would you like to know?"Before either could answer, a commotion erupted in the hallway. Chris burst in, face pale. "Mr. Vanderbilt, I'm sorry, but—""Not now," Lucas growled, eyes fixed on the screen."Sir, it's Mark. He's calling an emergency board meeting. He's claiming... evidence of fraud in the merger documentation."The baby's heartbeat filled the sudden silence, strong and steady."Go," Sophia squeezed Lucas's hand. "I've got this.""But—""The baby will still be here in an hour." She managed a smile. "Besides, Susan's in the waiting room. Go deal with your brother."Lucas kissed her forehead, his jaw tight. "Chris, get Darren on the line. I want to know how Mark got those documents."After th
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Eighteen
New Merge"I can't button these anymore," Sophia grumbled, struggling with her favorite work pants. At twelve weeks, her barely-there bump was just enough to make her regular clothes uncomfortable."Wear the dress," Susan suggested from the video call propped on the dresser. "The navy one with the stretch.""I wore that yesterday." Sophia flopped onto the bed, still in her underwear. "Everything either screams 'trying to hide it' or 'look at my bump.'""Then let them look," Lucas called from the bathroom. "The announcement's going out today anyway."Right. The official V Corp press release about their pregnancy, followed by dinner with both sets of parents. Sophia's stomach churned, and not just from morning sickness.Her phone buzzed – a text from her father: *Your mother craved spicy food when she was pregnant with you. The restaurant tonight has excellent curry.*These little fragments of her mother had been coming more frequently since the press conference. Each one a small bridge
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Seventeen
Beautiful EffectSophia stared at her phone screen, reading the flood of messages since yesterday's press conference. Susan had sent eighteen texts ranging from "OMG YOU'RE PREGNANT!" to detailed baby name suggestions. But it was the single unread message from her father that made her fingers tremble."You haven't opened it yet?" Lucas asked softly, setting a cup of decaf coffee on her desk. Morning sickness had made her usual strong brew impossible."Not ready." She pushed the phone away, focusing instead on the morning's market reports. V Corp's stock had actually risen after their announcement – apparently, the public loved a good love story more than they feared corporate scandal.A knock interrupted them. Chris stood in the doorway, looking uncomfortable. "Mr. Vanderbilt – senior – is here. With your father, Mrs. Vanderbilt."Sophia's hand instinctively went to her stomach. Six weeks along, nothing showing yet, but the protective gesture was becoming habit."Send them in," Lucas
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter sixteen
The Messy TruthThe press conference room hummed with tension as Sophia gripped the podium, heart pounding against her ribs. Lucas's steady presence beside her was the only thing keeping her knees from buckling."Thank you all for coming," she began, her voice shakier than she'd like. Clearing her throat, she found Susan's encouraging face in the crowd. "There have been rumors about the nature of our marriage—""Is it true you signed a contract?" A reporter shouted, cutting her off."Let me finish," she replied firmly, drawing strength from Lucas's subtle touch at her back. "Yes, Lucas and I began with a contract. We were both broken people looking for solutions to our problems."Murmurs rippled through the room. In the back, she spotted Mark's smug smile falter slightly – this wasn't the denial he'd expected."I had just caught my fiancé with my stepsister on my wedding day," Sophia continued, her voice cracking slightly. A few sympathetic murmurs rose from the female reporters. "And
