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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-10-17 16:21:27Bab terkait
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY
Thalia's POV I could still feel the uncertainty inside me as we entered the grand living room. Sierra and Zachary wasted no time flopping down on the long cream colored couch.I looked around the room, Alexander was right when he said Lorraine was preparing the house. Everything in the room had been moved and rearranged, except for the fireplace. "Thalia, darling sit here with me" Lorraine called, patting the cushion next to her with a smile. Alexander squeezed my shoulder lightly before releasing me, encouraging me to go. Reluctantly, I walked over and took the seat beside her. The moment I sat down, she grabbed my hands turning to face me fully, her demeanor was almost unsettling, too calm, too pleasant."Sierra, Zachary” Lorraine said her voice taking on a slightly sharper tone.“Could you go tell Beverley to bring the snacks and help her bring them in?" Zachary groaned lightly his face scrunching up in mild protest. But without a word he got up and walked out of the room throug
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-18The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY - ONE
Thalia's POV The atmosphere in the room was charged with anticipation as I held the small rectangular box in my hands. Everyone's eyes were on me, I glanced at Alexander who had just re-entered the room, his brow furrowed as he observed us.Anthony stood beside Lorraine, waiting for me to open it. Beverly sensed the mood and decided to excuse herself. "I'll leave you all to it" she said with a slight bow before heading toward the exit.With a deep breath I pulled the bow loose and opened the box. Inside nestled on a velvety cushion, lay a breathtaking bracelet. Its rose gold surface gleamed softly in the warm light and the delicate red ruby diamonds glistened against the light like droplets of blood on fire. My fingers brushed lightly over the cool metal, and I let out a quiet gasp."It's beautiful" I whispered almost to myself but Sierra was beside me in a heartbeat. "It is beautiful!" she echoed, her eyes wide as she leaned in closer. Lorraine stepped forward her voice softer
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-18The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Thalia's POV: Beverly opened the door with a soft click revealing a room nothing short of magnificent.This room was bigger and the bed was larger, the frame of the bed was dark wood that was a perfect contrast to the white sheets. The sheets were neatly arranged except for the rose petals decorating the bed, which formed the shape of a large heart."Your clothes are already in the closet" Beverly said her voice low and respectful, she gave me a small bow, as was her custom and I smiled softly in return."Thank you, Beverly" I said watching as she bowed again and left the room closing the door behind her. For a few moments, neither Alexander nor I spoke, the room was undeniably beautiful but there it felt odd like it wasn't ours, not truly."This looks... nice” I said breaking the silence as I took a few steps forward, trailing my fingers along the smooth wooden bedframe. Alexander let out a low hum, clearly not as impressed as I was."Nice is a strong word" he said his tone carryi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-20The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Thalia's POV I couldn't resist so I bravely said “Or we could do it back" Alexander stiffened beside me, his grip on my waist faltering slightly. "Great idea" he said through gritted teeth clearly trying to keep his composure.Cassie burst out laughing and even Liam looked impressed but I could feel the tension building between Alexander and me again."That is indeed a great idea" Liam said grinning from ear to ear "It'll make us even" Cassie giggled playfully nudging Liam as they backed toward the door. "And we'll be looking forward to it" she added with a wink.Liam chimed in "Lunch is almost ready, get changed and come downstairs" Alexander rolled his eyes dramatically "We'll skip lunch" he said flatly.I shot him a glance leaning in closer so my voice wouldn't be loud."Unless you're going to fuck me then there's no reason to skip lunch" My voice was soft and teasing and I could tell it threw him off for just a second.From the corner of my eye, I noticed Cassie and Liam gri
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-21The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Thalia's POV I was absorbed in 'The Secret History' when I heard footsteps approaching the garden. Cassie appeared with Liam close behind, and she said "Lunch is ready" I lowered the book, marking my place with a finger as Lorraine stopped typing on her laptop. She glanced at Cassie and then at Liam."Finally. Is Anthony done?" she asked Liam nodded "Yeah, he's already in the dining room" Lorraine wasted no time, she snapped her laptop shut and stood, leaving the garden without another word.Cassie watched her go, then turned her gaze to me, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't expect to find you here with Lorraine" she said, clearly surprised.I closed the book and set it gently on the table "What can I say? We're bonding" I replied with a smirk Cassie laughed "That's great, let's go eat lunch" She motioned toward the kitchen and I stood following her. We walked through the kitchen and entered the corridor. When I saw Alexander approaching, our eyes met, and something shifted in the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-22The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Thalia's POV I paused at the kitchen door, hesitating before I pushed it open. I heard the sound of Cassie's soft chuckle, she was leaning against the counter, nibbling on some nuts while Liam stood beside her eating the nuts too."There you are" Cassie said slowly her eyes scanning my face, her smirk grew as she tilted her head "I thought you said you weren't skipping lunch?" I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out, my thoughts were a mess, like an untidy heap of half-formed sentences, finally, I muttered "I changed my mind" Liam's eyebrows shot up and he exchanged a quick look with Cassie "Interesting" he said his voice smooth but curious "And where's Alex?"My stomach tightened at the mention of his name, my nose scrunching intuitively. "How should I know?" I snapped my tone sharper than intended.Cassie raised an eyebrow but didn't seem bothered by my tone, instead, she let out a soft chuckle "Someone's… hungry" She tapped the counter with her finger "Come and eat
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-23The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY -SIX
Alexander's POVI know walking out on Thalia like that felt like the right move in the moment, but it nagged at me immediately. Lord help me that woman would be the death of me, she was just so fucking perfect. She could unravel me in ways no one else could. I was twisted in my ways and I couldn’t do that with her. I found myself descending into the not-so-secret basement, a hidden space in the house, to do what I always did when I do something shitty…drink. Now I was halfway through a bottle of bourbon, nursing a glass while Thalia's flushed face lingered in my mind.A soft ping interrupted the silence. I glanced at my phone, it was a message from Grace, the HR manager at Asplundh & Co., the same one who'd been feeding me vital intel to thwart Brandon's greedy schemes."Mr. Dahl found out about the incident with Mrs. Thalia last night. He said he sent someone for her and had warned both of you, but you didn't listen" My brows furrowed, Brandon? He couldn't have orchestrated someth
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-23The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Alexander's POV "This is much bigger than I anticipated" I said, and he nodded. "Yes, Yes" Patrick said exhaling a cloud of smoke.I sighed, irritation building inside me, my fingers slid the documents back into the envelope before I spoke"What about the blast? Any updates?" I asked. It had been days since the explosion at HQ and the lack of progress was eating at me.Patrick shook his head, the smirk on his face replaced by a grim expression. “None at all, the suspect pool is still too large" he said exhaling another thick cloud of smoke.I leaned back against the seat, rubbing my temples "You've made too many enemies" I muttered knowing fully well he didn't like hearing that.He paused, the cigar resting on his lips "My enemies know better than to take action against me" he said coldly "The person behind the blast is your enemy" I stared at him managing a breathless chuckle "Or" I said “a common enemy of both of us" Patrick met my gaze, his eyes dark with thought then he nodded
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-25
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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
