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CHAPTER NINETY-ONE
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2024-12-24 15:54:19Related chapters
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-TWO
Alexander's POV Nolan's hands were steady on the wheel as we drove toward the safehouse. My mind, surprisingly, was calm.The task ahead was clear: get to the safe house, unravel the tangled mess Brandon and Eugene had created, and put an end to their scheming. That part I could handle. It was business, calculated,methodical. But there was another problem, one that I wasn't sure I could solve. One I couldn't even fully name without a tightening in my chest. It all began years ago, with the Asplundh family. A private plane crash. Everyone assumed the family had been wiped out except for one survivor; Thalia Asplundh, the second daughter. She was young then, just a girl, sent to a rehabilitation center after the crash. She wouldn't eat. She wouldn't speak. She was trapped in her grief, shattered and silent.Years later, she came out. Therapy had pulled her back from the brink, though the scars were still visible to anyone paying attention. She returned to claim her place as CEO of her
Last Updated : 2024-12-24The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-THREE
Alexander's POV We arrived at the safe house just as Liam pulled in, it wasn't a coincidence; Liam had left earlier, claiming he had errands to run. Yet somehow, we ended up here at the same time. I didn't bother asking him why. With Liam, surprises weren't uncommon. As we entered the building and took the elevator down to the secure floor, Svetlana was already at her desk, stacking papers into neat piles, she paused mid-movement when she saw us."Good morning, Mr. Croft” she greeted me, her tone professional, her words sharp. But her eyes? They weren't on me. They were on Nolan I turned my head slightly, catching the unmistakable smile tugging at his lips as he returned her gaze. "It's done decrypting, isn't it?" I asked, my tone cutting through their silent exchange. Svetlana winced “Yes I believe so" she admitted, her smile faltering. "Come see for yourself” She led us to the tech lab. As expected, Evan was already at his station, his fingers flying across the keyboard, immer
Last Updated : 2024-12-24The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR
Thalia's POV The first thing I noticed was the sound of crickets. It felt like they'd been chirping for hours, echoing faintly through the room.Slowly, my senses sharpened, pulling me out of the darkness. My eyes opened, greeted by the dim light of night spilling in through partially open curtains. I didn't recognize the room. My head felt heavy. No, not just my head—my entire body. It was like I'd been weighed down by an invisible force Panic flared in my chest as I tried to move. Nothing. My arms wouldn't respond, my legs stayed still, and even my voice was locked away. I tried again. Harder this time. Still nothing. It was suffocating, a helplessness I hadn't felt in years. My breathing was measured, and steady, like I wasn't even in control of that either. Every ounce of strength I could muster evaporated into futility. The door creaked open, the sound snapping me to attention. Bella peeked in, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across her face as her eyes locked on mine."Wel
Last Updated : 2024-12-24The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
Thalia's POV My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I noticed was the warmth of sunlight streaming through the window .Morning. But it wasn't the sunlight that woke me. It was something else—a presence He stood there, not too far from the bed. An older man, dressed in a simple sweater and slacks, his demeanor calm, yet his gaze steady as he watched me. His hair was mostly gray, and his face carried the kind of lines that told a story of years, perhaps decades, of struggle.A soft smile curved his lips as he noticed my eyes on him “Good morning," he said, his voice low, almost soothing.For a moment, I was disoriented, then, with a deep breath, I realized something, I could move. My head shifted toward the window, following the sunlight, and then I tried flexing my fingers. They obeyed. A gasp escaped my lips, and this time it wasn't just in my head. I could speak again. Slowly, cautiously, I sat up, feeling the stiffness in my limbs but relishing the freedom of movement. My
Last Updated : 2024-12-24The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER ONE
Thalia's POV I stood outside the penthouse door, my keycard trembling between my fingers. There was a gnawing feeling deep inside me, twisting and tightening, it was nauseating which was why I left the charity gala early and I only hope the feeling was good news for Brandon and I My husband, Brandon wasn't feeling well so he couldn't attend the gala with me, an unfamiliar silence enveloped, the minute I entered the house, no hum of activity, no vacuum running, and no dishes clinking. Just absolute silence, I know Brandon is resting but something just felt off. Shaking off the unease I headed toward the kitchen and poured myself a cup of water, it should calm my nerves before I speak to Brandon so we could take a test together. Then I heard it. Muffled voices, a soft moan, sounds I shouldn't be hearing in my home of all places. I slowly ascended the staircase, the silk of my evening gown brushing against my skin. The sounds became clearer with each step. Intimate. Familiar. My
Last Updated : 2024-09-11The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER TWO
Two days later, I was a sobbing mess, not only did Brandon take sixty percent of my fortune but he has fifty percent of the company shares.Call after call, text after text, headline after headline I couldn't respond to any of them I found a motel outside of town and hid there.My world, my marriage, my family's fortune—it was all gone. I had nothing left, not even my pride. The betrayal stung at me like a decayed wound. The memory of that evening replaying in my head on an endless loop. My phone buzzed on the table, shattering my almost comfortable quiet. I hadn't answered any calls since that day, so I decided to answer this one, enough of sulking around.I reached for my phone but didn't recognize the number I still answered anyway. "It's Thalia speaking" I said, though my voice sounded distant and extremely croaky even to me. "Thalia Asplundh" The voice on the other end was calm, careful, and unsettlingly familiar. I sat up straighter recognizing the voice, and tension rippled
Last Updated : 2024-09-11The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THREE
MARRY ME The words echoed in my mind I blinked "Excuse me?" "Marry me," he repeated like this was a perfectly reasonable thing to say "You and I both know how this world works, Thalia. Power is everything. You want your legacy back. I want to secure mine. Together, we can rebuild what was taken from you and strengthen my position"I stared at him He couldn't be serious. "You want me to marry you" I said slowly as if saying it that way would make the absurdity of it clear to him He didn't flinch "That's right" I crossed my arms, my face formed a scowl "You think I'd agree to that?" He tilted his head, that damn smile never leaving his face "Why not? You'll regain control of your family's wealth, I'll have a partner who understands, You've been left with almost nothing, Thalia, half of your company shares are already gone and as much as you hate to admit it, you can't fight this battle alone" I clenched my fists "I can fight just fine without you" "Really?" His voice dropped,
Last Updated : 2024-09-11The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER FOUR
After I left the cemetery, I drove back to the dingy motel I'd been staying at, the sadness of the day clinging to me like a second layer of skin. The unexpected meeting with Brandon and Bella still burned holes in my heart and mind. I needed to check on the company though. I forced myself to head into town the next morning. Walking through the office doors, I was met with a disheartening sight. The once-thriving company now seemed like a shell of its former self. Brandon had already started implementing his changes, marking everywhere with his disgusting self, dismantling everything my family and I had worked for. I felt a bit relieved when my secretary handed me a memo about the new marketing strategy that Alexander Croft had just launched. On a normal day this would be disastrous for my company but what Brandon was going to do would have left me with no choice but to sell my shares, and Croft knew that and stopped it. He was already stepping in where I least expected. Feeling
Last Updated : 2024-09-11
Latest chapter
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
Thalia's POV My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I noticed was the warmth of sunlight streaming through the window .Morning. But it wasn't the sunlight that woke me. It was something else—a presence He stood there, not too far from the bed. An older man, dressed in a simple sweater and slacks, his demeanor calm, yet his gaze steady as he watched me. His hair was mostly gray, and his face carried the kind of lines that told a story of years, perhaps decades, of struggle.A soft smile curved his lips as he noticed my eyes on him “Good morning," he said, his voice low, almost soothing.For a moment, I was disoriented, then, with a deep breath, I realized something, I could move. My head shifted toward the window, following the sunlight, and then I tried flexing my fingers. They obeyed. A gasp escaped my lips, and this time it wasn't just in my head. I could speak again. Slowly, cautiously, I sat up, feeling the stiffness in my limbs but relishing the freedom of movement. My
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR
Thalia's POV The first thing I noticed was the sound of crickets. It felt like they'd been chirping for hours, echoing faintly through the room.Slowly, my senses sharpened, pulling me out of the darkness. My eyes opened, greeted by the dim light of night spilling in through partially open curtains. I didn't recognize the room. My head felt heavy. No, not just my head—my entire body. It was like I'd been weighed down by an invisible force Panic flared in my chest as I tried to move. Nothing. My arms wouldn't respond, my legs stayed still, and even my voice was locked away. I tried again. Harder this time. Still nothing. It was suffocating, a helplessness I hadn't felt in years. My breathing was measured, and steady, like I wasn't even in control of that either. Every ounce of strength I could muster evaporated into futility. The door creaked open, the sound snapping me to attention. Bella peeked in, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across her face as her eyes locked on mine."Wel
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-THREE
Alexander's POV We arrived at the safe house just as Liam pulled in, it wasn't a coincidence; Liam had left earlier, claiming he had errands to run. Yet somehow, we ended up here at the same time. I didn't bother asking him why. With Liam, surprises weren't uncommon. As we entered the building and took the elevator down to the secure floor, Svetlana was already at her desk, stacking papers into neat piles, she paused mid-movement when she saw us."Good morning, Mr. Croft” she greeted me, her tone professional, her words sharp. But her eyes? They weren't on me. They were on Nolan I turned my head slightly, catching the unmistakable smile tugging at his lips as he returned her gaze. "It's done decrypting, isn't it?" I asked, my tone cutting through their silent exchange. Svetlana winced “Yes I believe so" she admitted, her smile faltering. "Come see for yourself” She led us to the tech lab. As expected, Evan was already at his station, his fingers flying across the keyboard, immer
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-TWO
Alexander's POV Nolan's hands were steady on the wheel as we drove toward the safehouse. My mind, surprisingly, was calm.The task ahead was clear: get to the safe house, unravel the tangled mess Brandon and Eugene had created, and put an end to their scheming. That part I could handle. It was business, calculated,methodical. But there was another problem, one that I wasn't sure I could solve. One I couldn't even fully name without a tightening in my chest. It all began years ago, with the Asplundh family. A private plane crash. Everyone assumed the family had been wiped out except for one survivor; Thalia Asplundh, the second daughter. She was young then, just a girl, sent to a rehabilitation center after the crash. She wouldn't eat. She wouldn't speak. She was trapped in her grief, shattered and silent.Years later, she came out. Therapy had pulled her back from the brink, though the scars were still visible to anyone paying attention. She returned to claim her place as CEO of her
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY-ONE
Thalia's POV I stood outside the penthouse, debating my next move. Should I swallow my pride and go see Bella? Or should I head to Alexander's and collect my things? I thought briefly of texting Cassandra, but Tobias had seen to it that I couldn't contact Alexander, or anyone he was associated with, for that matter. It was suffocating. With a frustrated sigh, I decided on Bella. The building loomed before me, a towering reminder of a past I couldn't quite shake, I parked outside and took a moment to steel myself before heading up to the penthouse. The house looked the same, its colors bold and cold. To anyone else, it might seem pristine, but to me, it felt monochrome and lifeless. I rang the doorbell and knocked for good measure, within seconds, the door opened, and there she was Bella. She stood there in a cozy navy-blue sweater and loose pants, her baby bump just beginning to show.Oh, right. She was pregnant, I'd almost forgotten, her face was as familiar as it was alien, sof
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER NINETY
Alexander's POV I hadn't noticed when Father entered the room. He knelt behind Mother, helping her to her feet. She was still sobbing uncontrollably, her body trembling as she clung to him. Zach stood stiffly, anger radiating off him in waves, but his girlfriend tugged at his arm, trying to pull him aside, the air in the room was thick—tension simmering and ready to boil over. Father steadied Mother as she cried into his chest, her hands gripping his suit jacket as though it were the only thing keeping her upright, he murmured something softly to her before leading her out of the room. A moment later, he returned, his expression firm, his presence commanding. "Zach" Father said, his voice low and authoritative, the kind of tone that left no room for argument "You will apologize to your mother" "What?!" Zach snapped, incredulous “Father, she interacted with the enemy!" "And she has apologized" Father replied, his tone unwavering. "You know your mother, Zachary. She acts from emot
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE
Thalia's POV "How could I let this happen?" My voice cracked, barely above a whisper, as I stared down at the table. Grace pulled up on her computer. "It wasn't your fault, Thalia." Grace replied gently, but I shook my head, unwilling to accept her reprieve."No" I said, my tone firmer now, though my voice wavered, "I remember when you came to me and showed me what Brandon was doing, I saw the proof. And I—I hid the documents. I let him do this" My voice faltered, fading into the quiet of the office. Grace stepped closer, her expression resolute."Yes" she admitted without hesitation, her words sharp and piercing "but it doesn't matter anymore. What's done is done" Her eyes locked onto mine"So you let him do it—fine. The question now is, what will you do to undo it?" I drew in a shaky breath, her words passed through me in the whirlwind of my own thoughts, he stepped aside, giving me space to approach the computer screen, where the stark proof of the company's current state stared
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT
Alexander's POV Sierra's words struck like a thunderclap, leaving the house in deafening silence as she stormed down the stairs and slammed the front door behind her. "Alex, I..." Mother began, her voice trembling with the load of an excuse she hadn't yet found. Before she could continue, Cassandra's voice rang out from the top of the stairs, cutting through the tension like a knife. "Lorraine?" Cassandra called out, her tone sharp and demanding, her figure appearing at the top landing. Behind her, Liam appeared, his brows furrowed as he placed a steadying hand on her shoulder "Alex? We heard yelling. What's going on?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with concern. Cassandra didn't wait for an answer, she started down the stairs, her movements purposeful, her gaze locked on Mother, who visibly flinched under her niece-in-law's scrutiny. Liam followed closely behind, his posture protective, his eyes darting between all of us.Mother looked at me, her eyes pleading—begging me
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN
Thalia's POVAfter wandering around the manor for a bit, I returned to my room, feeling a bit relaxed. Once inside, I decided to change. I peeled off my skirt and replaced it with a pair of fitted denim jeans, next, I grabbed a warm brown jacket and wrapped a soft scarf around my neck, and then I pulled my hair into a quick twisted ponytail. On the dresser, my phone buzzed with a notification, picking it up, I saw a new message from Bella. I sighed heavily, my jaw tightening What now? For a second, I considered ignoring her, but curiosity won and I opened the message. "Hello there, Thalia. I know you don't want to talk to me after all that I did, but I'd really appreciate it if you'd at least try"I stared at the screen, debating whether to respond, part of me wanted to delete the message and block her number, but instead, I typed a curt reply; "Where are you?"I hit send, feeling equal parts irritated and intrigued, shoving my phone into my pocket. I glanced at the mirror one la
