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Chapter 13: The Conflict in the Family
Huling Na-update:
2025-01-11 21:31:28
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The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 14: Hidden Facts and Secrets
The Harrington Estate Library was an architectural masterpiece, featuring towering shelves that appeared to stretch infinitely upward, filled with books so ancient they seemed poised to crumble into dust. A solitary, flickering light on the large wooden desk at the center of the room provided the sole source of light. I glanced at my watch. 11:58 PM The enigmatic message of the note echoed in my mind constantly, burning in my pocket. *The truth will set you free.* Whose truth, though? Why now, too? I encircled myself with my arms in an attempt to stay warm as the room's coldness crept into my body. At the exact moment of midnight, a shadow appeared in the doorway. "Who is there?" My voice was sharper than I meant when I cried out. A wiry man in his sixties with a severely creased face and grey hair slicked back emerged as the person moved into the light. He exuded a sense of authority that seemed strangely familiar. "Ms. Freda," he uttered softly. "I've known about you for a
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-11The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 15: Engaging in the Activity
The magnificent Harrington estate was a flurry of activity, a never-ending procession of wealth, influence, and power. Every look felt like a chess play in a game I was only starting to grasp, and every area appeared to hold mysteries. That morning, as I came down the grand staircase, Marcel and Sophia were already sitting in the bright parlour, speaking softly but firmly. As soon as I walked in, their laughter stopped and was replaced by rehearsed smiles that stopped short of their eyes. "Freda," Sophia remarked with ease, pointing to a vacant chair. Come along with us. I was just talking to Marcel about the charity gala that is coming up. I paused, my gut telling me that this was a test, not an invitation. I sat down, maintaining a neutral expression while forcing a courteous grin. "Good morning. How about the gala?” Marcel reclined on his seat, evaluating me with his keen eyes. “It's among the year's most significant occasions. As Williams' spouse, you must be... ready. You
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-13The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 16: Public Attention's Stress
I never thought I would be in the spotlight myself. In this setting, privacy became a luxury, and I no longer possessed it, despite my constant preference for the silence, distant from the limelight. The reporters were persistent, their cameras snapping as they pressed me with inquiries I wasn't prepared to answer. It began rather casually. A headline here, a picture there. They had first only been interested in my abrupt arrival at Williams' side and had questioned the terms of our "contract" marriage. But the rumours became stronger as the days passed. The journalists sucked up every tidbit of rumours they could find. That morning, as I sat at the library trying to piece together the missing pieces of my life, I heard my phone ring. I knew the area code—it was the press office—but the number was unknown. I sighed and swiped the screen to respond."Freda, we have a small issue," the voice was saying. "What issue?" Trying to speak in a neutral tone, I asked.The voice went on, "A t
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-13The Billionaire's Hidden Bride chapter 17: The Reach Of Harrington
After Marcel's appearance at the press conference, the days that followed were a haze of whirling media, constant interrogation, and increasing pressure from all sides. The Harrington name weighed heavily on me in a way I never would have thought possible. The stakes were much higher than I had imagined, and what had begun as an apparently simple contract marriage had quickly turned into a full-scale conflict.Although his tactics were frequently a convoluted combination of well-considered choices and covert intentions, Williams appeared committed to protecting me despite his icy and aloof manner. But despite his constant assurances, I couldn't shake the sensation that I was being drawn more into the vicious web of the Harrington family and that they were playing a game I didn't comprehend.I received another summons to the estate that morning. By this point, the scene was recognisable: a car waiting outside, the driver dutifully obeying commands without ever questioning them. My thou
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-14The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 18: Inside Secrets
The gloom was oppressive. I was having trouble breathing. There was a strong, metallic smell in the air that I couldn't quite identify. I stood motionless as my chest constricted and my heart roared in my ears. I didn't know what was going on or where I was. I felt as though the world was spinning around me, confused and disoriented.I felt my fingers on the moist, chilly surface of what I knew to be a concrete wall. As I extended my hand further, searching for a window or door—anything that might provide me with a hint as to my location—a shiver went down my spine.I compelled myself to relax. No, I was unable to panic. Not right now. I needed to understand what was happening and what Williams was attempting to shield me from.Then I recalled—the black-clad man. The man with the mask who had suddenly materialised and left me unconscious. He had come for me, but why? What was going on? I wasn't sure if I was prepared for the answers to all of my enquiries.Long shadows extended across
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-14The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 19: The Hand That Is Hidden
Williams and I were in a suffocating quiet. There was a strange, uneasy silence that crept into our common area like an intruder. The man I'd been living with for months was a ruthless, cunning businessman with a polished façade and a dominating presence, and I'd thought I knew him. But until tonight, I had never seen him like this. Not after what he found out about me.Williams was someone I had grown to know as being extremely protective of his feelings, as though they were money he couldn't afford to waste. However, he had changed into a man I couldn't read in the silent years following the discovery of my true identity. His jaw was so tense that I feared it could crack, his eyes had darkened, and everything he did seemed to be planned out with icy accuracy. Even though it was brittle, the trust we had developed over the previous few months now rested on the thinnest of threads."How could you not tell me?" At last, in a low voice tinged with something I couldn't quite identify—bet
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-15The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 20: Loyalty Testing
"Freda." I was startled out of my reverie by Williams's voice. His eyes met mine, and his voice became more urgent. "You are no longer the only focus of this. This is about the business and the legacy of my family. Additionally, your family is currently under attack. Since trust is currently a luxury we cannot afford, we must know who we can trust.With a dry throat, I nodded. Every inch of my skin felt as though it were being studied, every thought I had clouded with mistrust. This was not merely a warning message. It was a proclamation. Too much was known by someone. My past was known to someone. And that changed everything, as Williams had stated.I had anticipated issues from my relationship with the Harringtons. However, this was something for which I was unprepared. There had always been layers of mystery around my birth family, keeping the truth hidden. My adopted parents, the family that had forster me, and the individuals I had believed I could trust were now at the centre of
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-15The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 21: The Increasing Pressure
I hurried to follow her, my heart pounding. "Who is it?" Even though I was already afraid of the response, I asked.Her composure slipped for a brief moment as she turned to face me, but it was enough to reveal the underlying cracks. "Remain here, Freda," she said in a low, almost beseeching voice. "I will handle this."The way her hands trembled just a little bit as she gripped the doorknob, however, was what really made my stomach turn. I could see that she was practicing composure out of fear. I had never seen such fear.I pushed past her despite her warning, entering the foyer as she opened the door.Marcel Harrington was standing there, shining in the harsh porch light.My heart sank. Standing there with a grin on his face, as though he commanded the situation, was the man who had invested so much effort in attempting to destroy my life and who seemed to have a hand in everything. "Marcel?" Before I could hold back, I unintentionally exclaimed the words. Upon seeing me, his smi
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-16
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The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 76: Peace in the Family
Today there was a change in the air in the magnificent Harrington estate. An anxious expectation had taken the place of the tension that had once choked its corridors. Members of the Harrington and Franklin families, as well as important allies, came together in one room for the first time in years, not as adversaries but in the hopes of healing old wounds.Freda was standing next to Williams, holding his hand and reassuring him quietly. Her biological father, Jonathan Harrington, was seated on the other side of the room with an expression that was hard to interpret. The powerful matriarch Margaret Harrington occupied the head of the table, her eyes revealing an uncommon instance of vulnerability despite her steadfast royal bearing. Alex Harrington, Freda's secret supporter, remained composed on one side, his presence an unspoken promise of assistance. Between them all hung the burden of history.It was Margaret who spoke first. "We've let this family be divided for too long." She sp
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 75: An Integrated Approach
Freda, holding Williams' arm, whispered, "She knew we’d come," as they observed Margaret Harrington from the other side of the exclusive club.Williams remained motionless, his body tense but his face unreadable. She desires for us to see her. to be aware that she continues to play this game."Margaret whispered something to the man she was talking to, and he nodded. Then she rose gracefully and vanished through a side door without looking back at them.Freda's heartbeat accelerated. "We need to follow her."Williams put a firm hand on her lower back and let out a sharp exhale. "Yes, we will. But not carelessly.The man who had been watching from the bar, James Whitmore, came over to them. "My men are already pursuing her. We'll be aware of her destination before she even moves in."Freda forced herself to take a deep breath and nodded. She had been reacting for too long. It was time to make a calculated move."Then let’s figure out our next step," she replied.An hour later, Williams
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 74: Healing and Forgiveness
"I didn’t come here to negotiate."As he moved forward, Alex's voice broke the ice. His piercing gaze fell on Victor Langston.He went on, "I came to end this," and placed a thick envelope on the table.Freda crossed her arms. "And what exactly is that?"Alex looked at her knowingly. "Everything's missing pieces. He looked at Margaret and said, "—proof that Victor here has been funnelling company money to dismantle the Harrington empire from within—the last of the offshore accounts, the secret investors pulling the strings, and—"There was silence in the room.Victor's expression grew gloomy. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."Williams bent over. "Oh, I think he does."Picking up the envelope, Elijah looked through the papers. He had a sardonic grin. "This is sufficient to start criminal investigations and compel resignations. You're finished, Victor."Victor balled his fists. His once-unflinching haughtiness wavered with doubt. He looked at Margaret. "This is your doing, isn
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 73: The Resumption of Authority
Freda stood with her fingers clenched into her hand at the edge of the Harrington estate's grand hall. She felt the weight of history, the ghosts of the past whispering inside the elaborate walls. Regardless of the outcome, the fight for supremacy ended tonight. Williams' face was unintelligible as he tinkled with his cufflinks across the room. He had supported her through the chaos, but now they were walking into a fire neither of them could fully predict. Margaret sat at the long table, her bearing dignified despite a storm raging beneath her placid face. Her instincts for survival were sharper than ever, and she was a trapped woman. She went pale when she saw the proof Elijah had provided, but she quickly recovered her composure. Margaret said, "You expect me to betray the Council," in a smooth but tense voice.Freda looked directly into her eyes. "You have no other option. They will first destroy you if you don't."Margaret's mouth twisted. "And what makes you think I won’t jus
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 72: The War Begins
Freda stared at the small drive in Williams’ hand. The weight of James’ words settled heavily between them.The Harrington Council. A hidden force controlling everything from the shadows.Williams exhaled sharply, slipping the drive into his pocket. “If what James says is true, we’re fighting something much bigger than Margaret.”Alex crossed his arms. “Then we need to be smart. They’ve controlled things for decades. If we make one wrong move, they’ll wipe us out before we know what hit us.”Freda nodded. “We can’t let fear stop us. If they’ve been manipulating the Harrington empire all along, we need to dismantle them—completely.”Williams glanced at James. “And you? What’s your next move?”James hesitated. “I can’t stay.” He looked at Freda. “They’ll come for me first. If I disappear, they’ll assume I’m dead. That’ll buy you time.”Williams clenched his jaw. “You’re running.”James didn’t deny it. “I’ve done enough damage. This is the only way I can fix it.” He turned to Freda. “Use
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 71: Securing Victory
"What we need is here."Alex's remarks made Freda gasp for air. Her fingers were shaking a little as she held the flash drive he had put in her palm. This tiny gadget could totally ruin Margaret's schemes.Williams's eyes were keen as he leaned closer. "Are you certain this is all there is to it?"Alex gave a nod. "Jonathan's ledger. Every transaction. Every secret deal. It confirms everything we suspected—and more.”Freda took a swallow. “So, what do we do now?”Williams exchanged a look with Alex before turning to her. “We expose her.”Freda felt sick to her stomach. Exposing Margaret meant more than just stopping her schemes—it meant bringing down the last remnant of the Harrington power structure.They met in a private suite at one of Williams’ properties—neutral ground. Margaret sat across from them, her expression unreadable, a glint of amusement in her eyes.“You’ve been busy,” she murmured, sipping her tea. “But tell me, Freda, what exactly do you think you’ve won?”Freda sli
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 70: The Heritage They Create
Beyond the glass walls of Freda and Williams' new office, the metropolitan skyline glittered in the night air, which was thick with the smell of rain. Every square inch of it was theirs. A tribute to their perseverance and fortitude. Their future.But the claws of the past were still there.Freda flipped through legal documents as seated behind a gorgeous wooden desk. She no longer identified with the Harrington name, but it was more difficult than she had thought to rid it of its perversion. With his hands in his pockets and his piercing eyes focused on the city below, Williams stood by the window.He whispered to her, "They won't let us walk away that easily."Freda let out a breath. "I understand. However, we don't require their consent."Williams grinned. "I adore that about you."The intercom buzzed before Freda could answer. Grace's voice came through with a crack."Someone has come to visit you. He claims that it is urgent.Freda scowled. "Who is it?"A pause occurred. Then "Al
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 69: The Power of Love
Like an indestructible storm cloud, the weight of Jonathan's remarks continued to hang in the atmosphere. Williams silently let Freda know she wasn't alone by tightening his hold around her waist. But the truth was oppressive—a new, dark force threatened their tranquility just when they believed they were free.Freda straightened her shoulders and looked directly into Jonathan's eyes. "Then tell me all about it. Who are they?"Jonathan's fingers clenched into fists as he paused. The Harringtons are what they are now because of them. Strong, invincible, and merciless. They erased me as I attempted to leave. But you—" his eyes darkened, his voice wavered. "There was no reason for you to exist. They view you as a threat now that you have taken control of the empire, even though your mother concealed you to keep you safe."Williams gave a chilly laugh. They do, of course. And I take it that these are the ones that supported Sophia?Jonathan gave a nod. "Like the rest of us, she was a pawn
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 68: New Beginnings
As they crouched there in the darkened hiding place, Freda gripped Williams' hand tighter. They had a plan. Everything would change in the next 24 hours, including Sophia's demise, her father's fate, and their own future. But fear tore at her from the inside out. Williams had always been shrewd and prepared to risk everything for the people he cared about. The stakes were different this time, though. This was a personal matter, not merely a matter of business or retaliation. With her words hardly audible above a whisper, Freda acknowledged, "I still don't like this." Williams faced her, his eyes fixed on hers. "I understand. However, it's the only option. "He was right, and she detested it. While Sophia held Jonathan Harrington, James and Alex stood by the monitors, studying the facility's security layout. Alex stated, "She'll be anticipating backup." "We have to make sure she thinks you're alone when you walk in." James nodded. "We have an insider connection. Someone w
