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CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
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2024-12-13 14:41:56Related chapters
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
Thalia's POV I dialled Alexander's number, but the first attempt didn't go through. I tried again. Nothing, my stomach tightened as I dialled a third time, but the line refused to connect.Frustration crept into my chest, and I typed out a text, hoping it will serve. Delivered. I breathe a little easier, but as the minutes passed and my screen remained lacking of any response, my patience wore thin.Five minutes. No reply. I sent another message. Still nothing. "What the hell did Andrei do to my phone?" I muttered to myself, gripping the device tightly, with my jaw clenched, I marched into the living room, where Lilith and the unfamiliar woman are sitting on the couch."Where is Andrei?" I demanded as soon as I stepped inside. Lilith looked up, startled "He's outside, what's wro—" But I didn't let her finish. I whirled around and stormed outside "Andrei!" I yelled, spotting him leaning against the car with Tobias. They straightened immediately, their conversation halting as the
Last Updated : 2024-12-14The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
Alexander's POV Five days. Six hours. Seventeen minutes. That's how long it had been since I last saw Thalia. Since I could touch her, hold her, breathe in the lavender-and-nut scent that lingered on her skin. Her absence was maddening, the kind of unrelenting ache that settled into your chest and refused to leave.The USB Kirill handed me? I left it on the table, without a second thought, the story he fed me about why Thalia didn’t come. Bullshit, I knew it the moment Grace let it slip that Thalia assigned her to assist me in any way I needed, that one small oversight confirmed it: Thalia already knew about it.It didn't soften the guilt weighing me down, if anything, it sharpened it, she was in trouble; I was certain of it, either they were holding her against her will or fed her the same lies they did me. But why? I was sure of my enemies now, two of them: Brandon Dahl and his partner-in-crime Eugene. And whoever the hell was behind Phantom Viper.I sat in my office at Croft Gro
Last Updated : 2024-12-17The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE
Alexander's POV "First things first" Zach started, his voice holding a surprising seriousness."That riddle the Russian guy, Kirill, delivered to Thalia? It was a hoax. A distraction." My attention immediately snapped to Liam, whose face was grim, his usual smugness absent. "When you solved the riddle, you thought it pointed to St. Augustine's, right?" Zach continued, pulling a crumpled paper from the table and waving it in the air, he met my eyes with a pointed look. "And Thalia suddenly took a trip down memory lane”. His tone dripped with suspicion, and I tensed at his words, that was the exact excuse I gave them when they asked why she wasn't around. "So naturally, I grew curious" he went on, that irritating mix of smugness and confidence dripping from him. "The location matched the church, but here's the kicker, a church can't exist there, the land isn't even buildable." He paused dramatically, eyes flicking to me."So I dug deeper and I told Nolan" "I roped in Callum" Nolan
Last Updated : 2024-12-19The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER EIGHTY
Thalia's POVI was sick of that suffocating lake house, sick of the stale quiet that forced me into my thoughts. Thoughts that always drifted back to him—Alexander.When I told Tobias I wanted to leave, I fully expected a fight, instead, he surprised me. I suggested we go to the manor, and he agreed without hesitation, more than that, he insisted we all go—Lilith, Kirill, everyone."We're family" Tobias said, his voice steady and determined "A few years of distance and alienation won't break us. We're together now, and we should make the best of it”His words struck deep within me, it wasn't just the house I was running from—it was myself.The truth is, I felt like I was unraveling, maybe even breaking, maybe even...no, I don't want to think about it. I don't want to name the hollow ache in my chest, but it was there, and it was all because of him.I couldn't understand why I thought those simple days with Alexander—mere weeks—meant anything to him. To me, they meant everything. To
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE
Thalia's POV After dinner, the others decided to play games—board games, dumb charades, the usual attempts to have a little fun. I sat on the sidelines, watching them, my mind a million miles away. Andrei sat beside me, silent as ever, his presence as steady and immovable as stone, we didn't speak, but the quiet felt almost companionable, as if we were two people lost in our thoughts yet sharing the same room. Eventually, we all headed to bed, and I slipped into a soft cotton pajamas, a loose shirt and a tee were all I needed to face the long hours of sleep. I climbed into bed, calling sleep to come, but it evaded me. I turned to one side, then the other, my mind restless, thoughts I'd been avoiding all day bubbling to the surface.Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. With a soft groan, I slid out of bed, barefoot, and decided to wander, the manor was quiet at this hour, its grand halls dimly lit by small sconces on the walls, and there was nothing spooky about it—no shadows to jum
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
Thalia's POVAndrei's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, his eyes sharp, assessing "Good" he said finally "Maybe this will help you." Before I could ask what he meant, his lips crashed against mine, catching me entirely off guard, the kiss was rough, almost desperate, and it consumed every rational thought I had. I froze, unsure of how to respond, but then, something deep inside me, something buried and starved, churned. I responded. My fingers found their way into his hair, pulling him closer, my heart raced, and my breaths came in sharp, uneven gasps as the world narrowed down to the heat between us. At some point, without realizing it, I moved to straddle his lap, my body pressing against his as if drawn by some invisible force. Andrei kissed me like he was starving, and God help me, I let myself sink into it, his hands were in my hair, his lips demanding yet purposeful, every move he made left me breathless, for one fleeting moment, the world outside of this kiss ceased
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE
Alexander's POV I stayed outside until my thoughts stopped circling around her and the thousand things I needed to do. If Thalia planned all of this as revenge, if she orchestrated this entire game to get back at my family for what we did to hers, I needed to know. I needed the truth. And there was only one person who could give me that. The burden of my decision settled like iron in my chest as I walked back into the room. Inside, Patrick and Liam were hunched over the laptop, their heads almost touching as Zach leaned over to show them something on the screen. Callum stood by the corner, carefully removing pins from the vision boards, while Nolan stacked papers into neat piles on the desk. As I stepped in, all their heads turned toward me, a collective pause stretching in the silence. I cleared my throat, directing my question to whoever had the answer."Which house is Father in?" Zach straightened, his brows furrowing slightly before he answered "He's back at the manor" I nod
Last Updated : 2024-12-21The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR
Alexander's POV "I need the truth" I said, my gaze locking with his "And nothing but the truth" Father leaned back slightly, his brows furrowing "Alright, Alex" he said, his voice grave."Go on". I took a deep breath, steeling myself "We've had this conversation before, I trusted you when you told me not to believe the rumors" My tone turned colder. "But now they've come back, in a way we can no longer ignore, so tell me Father, did you or did you not have Jeremiah and his family killed?”The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Father physically recoiled as though I had spat acid in his face, his jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. His hand trembled briefly before he ran it through his hair. "Alexander..." His voice was a mixture of weariness and something I couldn't quite place. He shook his head, his movements almost phantom-like, and then nodded faintly as though deciding on the weight of his next words."I'm going to tel
Last Updated : 2024-12-21
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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
