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Chapter 172
Huling Na-update:
2025-03-13 03:40:39
Kaugnay na kabanata
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 173
The cold air of the ice rink bit at Ryan’s skin as he skated across the smooth surface, his breath coming out in white puffs. The crowd was cheering, the sound of sticks hitting the puck echoed through the large arena, and his teammates were yelling for him to pass the puck. But none of it registered. His mind was somewhere else. Or rather, with someone else. Serena. The moment Amy’s innocent little voice had blurted out the truth over the phone, Ryan had felt the world shift beneath his feet. She had been carrying his child for nine months. Nine months. And she hadn’t told him. The thought kept slamming into him like a freight train, making his grip on his hockey stick tighten, his movements stiff and uncoordinated. “Ryan, focus!” Ethan’s voice rang from behind him. Ryan barely heard him. Ethan must have noticed, because the next thing he knew, his best friend skated up beside him and knocked him hard on the shoulder. “Dude, what’s wrong with you? You look like you jus
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-13The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 174
Ryan’s heart was pounding in his chest, but he forced his feet to move. He had stood frozen for too long. Serena still hadn’t seen him. She was focused on breathing through her contractions, her hand gripping the railing as she took slow steps forward. His throat was dry. His palms were sweaty. But he couldn’t waste another second. “Serena.” The moment he spoke, she froze. Her body tensed, her grip on the railing tightening. Slowly—so slowly—she turned her head toward him. Her eyes widened, her lips parting slightly. “Ryan?” Ryan exhaled sharply. God, she was beautiful. Even in a hospital gown, with exhaustion written all over her face, she looked like the most stunning thing he had ever seen. His chest tightened. She was about to give birth to his child. And she had tried to keep it from him. “Why?” His voice was hoarse, raw with emotion. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Serena immediately turned away. “Not now, Ryan,” she muttered, trying to keep walking. But Ryan wasn’t le
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-13The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 1
Serena’s POVI stormed into my flat and slammed the door behind me. "Damn it!" I yelled, throwing my bag across the room. Tears distorted my vision as I paced the living room, the agony in my chest excruciating. “How could Ryan have done this to me? Why now?" I muttered as tears streamed down my face. It was only meant to be a contract, but finding out Ryan was cheating on me with Kate, his first love from college, hurt more than I could have imagined. I hoped that over time, he would develop feelings for me. But suddenly, those expectations were dashed. We had only been married for six months, as part of a deal to assist him regain control of his firm.Ryan and I attended the same college. I was merely Ryan's friend, despite my desire for more. I adored him, but he was seeing someone else. I felt lucky when Ryan's uncle, who had been managing Ryan's firm on his behalf, asked that he marry so that his company could be passed back to him after college. Ryan had no choice but to
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-30The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 2
5 YEARS LATERSerena’s POVI walked into my bright, sunny workplace at Rocky’s Designs. The walls were painted a light yellow, and the shelves were filled with sketches and small flower pots. My large desk was at the centre, with a window behind it showing the city skyline. This was my firm. I developed it from the ground up, using only a few ideas and a lot of hard labour. "Good morning, Miss Serena!" Emma, my assistant, said with a wide smile as she entered behind me. She held a cup of coffee for me. “Good morning, Emma,” I said, taking the cup. “Thank you. Do we have a busy day today?""Oh, yes," she replied, gazing at her tab. “You have a meeting at 10 with the marketing team, a call with a client at 11, and a lunch meeting with Mr. Hayes." “Mr. Hayes?" I enquired, lifting an eyebrow. Emma nodded. "He wants to discuss the new project." I sighed, yet smiled. “Alright, let's get to it." As I sat down, I looked at the photograph on my desk. It was a picture of my four-year
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-30The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 3
Ryan's POV I left Rocky's Designs that day with my head racing. It had to be her. The name on the desk; Serena Winthrop. It was not a coincidence. Could the little girl be Serena's daughter? I could not quit thinking about her. We shared a past. How things ended drastically. And now, five years later, she is running a profitable business and maybe raising a child. I shook my head as I considered the child who could be—No, I needed answers and would get them. The following day, I arrived at the company early, determined to see her. I had a meeting with her staff to discuss a potential collaboration, but I wasn't going to finalise anything until I saw Serena.I wanted to know if she was the CEO and, more crucially, if the little girl was her daughter. The meeting started in a huge conference room. Her employees seemed eager to impress me, pitching ideas and tactics for how our companies could collaborate. But my attention was elsewhere. “Mr. Winters," one of them said, nervo
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-30The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 4
Ryan's POV The drive to the hospital was tense. Serena sat stiffly in the passenger seat, clutching her phone like a lifeline. She kept looking at it, her lips pulled together. I wanted to reassure her, but I wasn't sure how. “What hospital?" I enquired, breaking the stillness. “Private Children's Hospital," she answered, her voice clipped. I nodded and sped up. We got to the hospital in record time. Serena got out of the car before I could turn off the engine, her heels clicking rapidly against the sidewalk as she rushed inside. I followed closely, unable to stop the sinking feeling in my chest.At the front desk, she enquired about her daughter with a mix of worry and authority. “Amy Winthrop. "Where is she?" “Room 208," the receptionist replied.Serena did not wait for any additional information. She turned and ran down the corridor, her urgency drawing me along. When we arrived at the front of the room, she came to a sudden halt and turned to me. Her eyes were full of c
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-30The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 5
Ryan sat in his car a few houses down from where Serena had parked, his hands firmly grasping the steering wheel.The small home, with its well manicured plants and comforting lights lighting inside, told him one thing; Serena had made her life here without him.He wasn't sure what to expect, but seeing the house triggered a peculiar combination of emotions; shame and longing. He watched Serena gently carry a sleeping Amy into the house. The sight of his daughter caused his chest to hurt. He had missed so much, years of her life that he couldn't reclaim. But right now, he wasn't there for Amy. He needed to see Serena.Ryan waited until the lights in the house darkened, then calculated how long it would take Serena to tuck Amy into bed. His mind raced, and memories of their time together came flooding back. When they were only pals, her laughter would lighten even his worst days. After they married, she gazed at him as if he were her entire universe. But then, he had thrown every
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-30The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 6
Ryan returned to his apartment in the early morning hours, the sun just beginning to rise. His head felt heavy, and his body ached from the intensity of the emotions that had surged through him last night. As he entered his apartment, he froze. Kate was sitting on the couch, her legs crossed, her arms folded tightly against her chest, glaring at him.“How did you get in?” Ryan asked, his voice strained, still reeling from the night he had spent with Serena.Kate’s gaze flickered with annoyance as she stood up, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.“Your mother gave me the spare key. I’ve been waiting for you. Where the hell have you been, Ryan? You were supposed to be at my place last night!” She leaned forward, her tone demanding. Ryan closed the door behind him and let out a long sigh. He didn’t want to deal with this right now. He just wanted to go to bed. “I was at the office. You know how it is. Long night. Lots of work.”Kate’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t imm
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-31
Pinakabagong kabanata
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 174
Ryan’s heart was pounding in his chest, but he forced his feet to move. He had stood frozen for too long. Serena still hadn’t seen him. She was focused on breathing through her contractions, her hand gripping the railing as she took slow steps forward. His throat was dry. His palms were sweaty. But he couldn’t waste another second. “Serena.” The moment he spoke, she froze. Her body tensed, her grip on the railing tightening. Slowly—so slowly—she turned her head toward him. Her eyes widened, her lips parting slightly. “Ryan?” Ryan exhaled sharply. God, she was beautiful. Even in a hospital gown, with exhaustion written all over her face, she looked like the most stunning thing he had ever seen. His chest tightened. She was about to give birth to his child. And she had tried to keep it from him. “Why?” His voice was hoarse, raw with emotion. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Serena immediately turned away. “Not now, Ryan,” she muttered, trying to keep walking. But Ryan wasn’t le
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 173
The cold air of the ice rink bit at Ryan’s skin as he skated across the smooth surface, his breath coming out in white puffs. The crowd was cheering, the sound of sticks hitting the puck echoed through the large arena, and his teammates were yelling for him to pass the puck. But none of it registered. His mind was somewhere else. Or rather, with someone else. Serena. The moment Amy’s innocent little voice had blurted out the truth over the phone, Ryan had felt the world shift beneath his feet. She had been carrying his child for nine months. Nine months. And she hadn’t told him. The thought kept slamming into him like a freight train, making his grip on his hockey stick tighten, his movements stiff and uncoordinated. “Ryan, focus!” Ethan’s voice rang from behind him. Ryan barely heard him. Ethan must have noticed, because the next thing he knew, his best friend skated up beside him and knocked him hard on the shoulder. “Dude, what’s wrong with you? You look like you jus
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 172
The Christmas lights twinkled softly in Serena’s living room, casting a warm glow over the space. Snow was falling gently outside, covering the city in a soft white blanket. The smell of cinnamon and vanilla filled the air, courtesy of the cookies Emma had baked earlier. It was supposed to be a peaceful evening. But Serena was anything but peaceful. She sat on the couch, one hand resting on her very pregnant belly, while the other rubbed her forehead. She was exhausted. Nine months. She had managed to keep her pregnancy a complete secret for nine whole months. It hadn’t been easy—working from home, avoiding public appearances, making sure no one suspected anything. Emma had done an amazing job shielding her from the world. Even now, as her due date crept closer, Serena still wasn’t ready for the world to know. And most importantly, she wasn’t ready for Ryan to know. She sighed, leaning back into the cushions. Amy was sitting on the floor in front of the Christmas tree, her li
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 171
Emma had just stepped out of the shower when her phone started buzzing on the nightstand. She wrapped a towel around herself, quickly reaching for the device. A small smile tugged at her lips when she saw the name flashing across the screen. Ethan. She answered immediately, pressing the phone to her ear. “Hey, babe.” Ethan’s deep, familiar voice came through the line, warm and teasing. “Hey, beautiful. Busy?” Emma chuckled, settling onto the bed. “Not really. Just got out of the shower. Why? You sound suspiciously sweet today.” Ethan laughed. “Can’t a man be sweet to his girlfriend without suspicion?” “Not when that man is you,” Emma teased, shaking her head. “So, what’s up?” “Clear your schedule tonight,” Ethan said smoothly. “I’m taking you out.” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Out? Like… dinner?” “Dinner, yes,” Ethan confirmed. “But before that, I’m taking you shopping. You need something special to wear for tonight.” Emma’s heart did a little flip. “Ethan, you know I can pick
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 170
Serena had been feeling off for weeks. It had started with the constant nausea, the exhaustion that no amount of rest could fix, and the strange sensitivity to smells that had her gagging at the most unexpected moments. At first, she dismissed it as stress. Her life has been a whirlwind of events lately—Philip being exposed, Ryan trying to win her back, the scandal that nearly destroyed her company, and the overwhelming relief of regaining her reputation. It wasn’t surprising that her body was reacting to all of it. But when she could barely keep food down for three days in a row, Emma had stepped in. “You need to go to the hospital, Serena,” Emma had said firmly, standing in her office with her hands on her hips. Serena, who was slumped over her desk, groaned. “It’s just stress.” Emma arched her brow. “Stress makes you tired, moody, and maybe gives you headaches. Stress doesn’t make you throw up every morning for two weeks straight.” Serena sighed, pinching the bridge of her n
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 169
Serena sat in her office, staring out the large window at the city skyline. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the buildings, but she hardly noticed. Her mind was elsewhere, tangled in the mess of emotions she had been avoiding for weeks. Everything had changed. The truth about Philip. The revelation that Steve—the man who had helped her rebuild her life—was actually Ryan’s father. The scandal that had almost cost her everything. But most of all, Ryan. His presence in her life had once been something she had accepted begrudgingly. Their nights together, their moments of passion—it had all been something she had allowed herself to indulge in, telling herself that it didn’t mean anything. She had convinced herself that it was just sex. That her heart wasn’t involved. But now, as she sat alone in her office, she realized that Ryan had always been a storm in her life. And she was tired of storms. She exhaled, leaning back in her chair. She had fought so hard to re
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 168
The news spread like wildfire, dominating every media outlet, news channel, and social platform. It was a scandal unlike anything the city had ever seen. The man the world had known as Thomas Winters was not Thomas at all. Every major newspaper, every television station, and every online gossip site ran with the same shocking headline: Philip Winters—Imposter Billionaire! Not the Real Thomas Winters! Billionaire Steve Jacob is Actually Thomas Winters! The revelation shook the entire business world. For years, the Winters family had been seen as one of the most powerful and influential families in the country. But now? Now, the truth had shattered their reputation in ways no one could have ever imagined. And Kate’s involvement? That only made it worse. Reports detailed her role in the conspiracy—how she had aligned herself with Philip, how she had worked against Serena Winthrop, how she had helped orchestrate attacks on Serena and her daughter. It was a complete disaster for
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 167
Kate sat on the floor of Rolly’s living room, her hair disheveled, eyes wild with frustration. The walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating her as her thoughts spiraled deeper into madness. The only sound in the dimly lit apartment was the low hum of the television, where a news report was still playing clips of the scandal that had ruined her life. The footage of her and Thomas—no, Philip—played over and over again, reminding the world of her shame. She clutched her phone tightly, her nails digging into the glass screen as she dialed Ryan’s number again. One ring. Two rings. Straight to voicemail. Kate let out a ragged breath, her pulse hammering in her ears. She had called him more than a hundred times. Had sent him texts, voice messages—begged him to at least talk to her. But there was nothing. He had cut her off. Completely. A scream of rage ripped from her throat as she threw the phone across the room. It hit the wall with a loud crack, pieces scattering onto the floo
The Billionaire’s Christmas Surprise Chapter 166
The room was filled with a suffocating silence as Margaret Winters’ sharp gaze swept over her husband. She squared her shoulders, her expression unreadable. “I don’t know what you’re trying to imply,” she said coolly, her tone sharp and unwavering. “But I’m looking at my husband, Thomas Winters, right now. There’s nothing off about him.” Ryan’s breath hitched. His gaze flickered between his mother and Steve, waiting for some kind of reaction—a hesitation, a flicker of doubt. But Margaret remained completely convinced that nothing was wrong. Steve smirked, shaking his head slightly. “Well, Philip,” he said, his voice laced with amusement as he looked at Thomas. “Are you going to start confessing? Or should I spill the truth myself?” A brief shadow crossed Thomas’s face—a flicker of confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?” he snapped, his tone edged with irritation. But Ryan caught something beneath it. Fear. Steve sighed, slipping his hands into his pockets. “You’re r
