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Chapter 16: Public Attention's Stress
Last Updated:
2025-01-13 02:59:03
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The 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
Last Updated : 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
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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
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"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
Last Updated : 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
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I didn't get much sleep the night after his visit. My thoughts were too jumbled to untangle as I tossed and turned. Marcel's smirk and his icy, calculating eyes were always visible when I closed my eyes. He had made it plain that he would not retreat and would not take a break until he had regained control. What did he want, though? What was his advantage over my mum? How did any of this relate to me?I could no longer maintain my act of ignorance. I was in the middle of something that was going on underneath the surface. The game had already started, whether I liked it or not.I realised by morning that I couldn't afford to watch helplessly. The composed exterior I had been maintaining for the previous few weeks was beginning to falter, and I needed to take action before I was overwhelmed by everything.I gazed out at the city skyline from the kitchen window. The storm that swirled inside me seemed to be much too bright for the world. I snapped out of my reverie when my phone buzzed
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The loud, purposeful knock on the door broke the tension that had been growing in the room, resonating like a drumbeat. Williams squinted at me as his hand automatically reached for his phone, probably bracing himself for whatever surprise twist lay ahead. He had the expression of a guy who was aware that everything around him was about to fall apart and that the thread holding it all together was gradually thinning with each second that went by.For a time, the unknown held me motionless. Was Marcel threatening again? Or maybe someone else—someone who had been secretly manipulating strings? I walked over to the door and clutched the handle with a shaking palm. I had the impression that I was standing on the brink of something irrevocable because of something weighty in the air at the time.I wasn't expecting to see Sophia standing there with flawless makeup and a shrewd, calculated smile when I opened it. She had the appearance of a predator in high fashion.She said, "Hello, Freda,"
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Even after Sophia had left, I could still hear the door slamming, as if her poisonous words were still haunting the room. As I glanced down at the pile of documents she had left behind, my hands began to shake. Every word on the page shouted deceit, manipulation, and a complex web of lies for which I was unprepared. I had been participating in a game that I was unaware I had joined. Now, though? The regulations were different now. Something inside of me stirred for the first time since entering this world of riches, power, and deceit—an ember of defiance, a refusal to break beneath the weight of it all. Sophia was going to get a harsh surprise if she believed she could ruin me. With the city lights extending infinity in front of me, I slammed the papers onto the table and marched to the window. I had had enough of being a pawn; solutions were waiting somewhere. I discovered Williams in his study the following morning, his crisp suit immaculate as usual, but his face etched wit
Last Updated : 2025-01-17
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The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 34: Family Pressure Mounts
The tension in the Franklin penthouse was suffocating. The aftermath of the trap at the warehouse lingered like a dark cloud over everyone. Emma had managed to get me out of Daniel’s clutches, but the guilt and betrayal in her eyes haunted me. I had no idea if her intentions were genuine or part of some larger scheme, but for now, she had bought me time. Williams paced by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his jaw tight, fists clenched. “They’ve escalated. This isn’t just family politics anymore—this is war.” “They’re not going to stop,” Alex said, his tone grim. “Daniel wants complete control, and Sophia thrives on chaos. And then there’s Margaret…” At the mention of Margaret Harrington, my chest tightened. The matriarch’s reach was everywhere, her power a constant shadow over my every move. “They think they can pressure me into submission,” I said, my voice firmer than I felt. “But they’re wrong. I’m not backing down.” Williams stopped pacing, his gaze locking onto mine. “Freda
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 33: The Betrayal Within
The atmosphere in the room felt stifling. The documents and maps laid out on the table, detailing the rescue strategy for James, appeared to be a delicate hope amid the impending storm approaching us. Every detail was important, but I still couldn't help but feel that something—or someone—was slipping away unnoticed. Williams’ voice cut through my thoughts. “We’ll split into teams. Grace, you handle surveillance. Alex and I will cover the docks. Freda, you stay here—” “No,” I interrupted, my voice firmer than I expected. “I’m coming with you. This involves all of us.” He gave me a hard look but didn’t argue. He knew better than to waste time on a debate. Before anyone could react, the door burst open, and Emma emerged, her complexion white and her hands shaking. "I need to speak with you," she stated, her voice trembling, her gaze fixed on me. “Not now,” Williams said sharply. “We’re in the middle of something critical.” “It’s about James,” Emma said, her voice rising. “And D
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 32: A New Weapon
The tension in the room was palpable as I sat across from Grace, the soft hum of the city outside a stark contrast to the storm raging inside my mind. She had just delivered the bombshell: Daniel Harrington, Margaret’s estranged son, had returned. “Why haven’t I heard of him before?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. Grace leaned forward, her tone measured. “Because Margaret erased him. He was exiled from the family years ago. Some say it was because of his temper; others say he got involved in things that could ruin the Harrington name. Whatever the reason, he’s back now, and he’s not happy about you.” I frowned, trying to process this new information. “And you’re telling me this because...?” “Because Daniel isn’t like Marcel,” Grace said, her gaze steady. “He’s dangerous in ways you can’t imagine. He doesn’t play games. He destroys it.” Later that night, I ended up at an upscale cocktail bar, taking a cue from Grace. The bar was softly illuminated, its luxury subt
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 31: Shifting The Scale
“Don’t move,” the masked figure barked, their gun trained on me. The room fell into a suffocating silence. Evelyn let out a choked gasp, clutching Charles’s arm, while Charles froze, his expression a mix of shock and calculation. My mind raced. The weight of everything—Marcel’s threats, my adoptive parents’ betrayal, and now this—pressed down on me like a vice. Yet, amidst the chaos, a strange calm settled over me. “What do you want?” I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. The intruder’s gaze flicked toward me, their eyes cold behind the mask. “You. You’ve become a complication, Freda. Someone very powerful wants you out of the picture.” My heart pounded, but I forced a smirk. “Is that so? And what’s the plan? Eliminate me here, in front of witnesses? That’s sloppy work for someone hired by the Harringtons.” The figure faltered, just for a second, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. Charles stepped forward, his voice sharp. “If you touch h
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 30: The Final Straw
It felt oppressive to be in the sterile, cold living room of my adoptive family's home. I sat rigidly on the velvet couch, feeling as though the walls, lined with sterile portraits and antique furniture, were closing in on me. Charles, my adoptive father, was standing across from me, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees and his piercing eyes staring right through me. Evelyn, my adoptive mother, was standing next to him, wearing her usual mask of fake worry."Freda," said Charles, calmly but with a hint of menace, "this is not a request. It is a duty to the family.My knuckles were white as I held onto the couch's edge. "I’m not doing it."Evelyn sighed, as if I were a whiny kid who wouldn't do her chores. "You don't realise how serious this situation is, darling. The Harringtons have the ability to either ensure or ruin our future. You have a special chance to guarantee our family's position among them."Your family," I snapped back. "Not mine."Evelyn flinched, but Ch
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 29: The Disintegration
The tense atmosphere in the room was oppressive. Williams was standing by the window, staring at the city skyline with his hands balled into fists at his sides. His words could never have been as unsettling as his silence. I positioned myself close to the door, my arms encircling me as though they would protect me from the impending storm between us."How long?" Finally, his low, piercing voice broke the silence.I scowled. "How long what?"His dark eyes blazed with rage as he turned. "You've been a Harrington for how long? For what duration have you been deceiving me?”The charge was a slap in the face. I moved forward, defending myself with a raised voice. "I had no idea! Do you believe I desired this? Do you think I was interested in discovering that my whole existence was a lie?”He paced like a predator circling its prey and said, "Convenient," with a bitter tone. "You didn't consider bringing up the hints we've been finding? The pictures, the letters? Or did you wish that I woul
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 28: The Shadowy Secret
My mind was racing, and the rhythmic sound of the rain beating on the penthouse windows did little to slow it down. With a glass of whisky in his hand and an unreadable face, Williams sat across from me and looked at the picture we had found the previous evening.In a low voice, he finally stated, "We need answers." "And I have finished waiting for them to reach us."Grasping the folded envelope in my lap, I nodded. I kept thinking about the note's dire warning: The enemy is inside. Never put your trust in anyone.I spoke more firmly than I felt when I said, "I think it's time we dig deeper into my adoption." “If the Harringtons are involved, something has never added up.”Williams's dark eyes met mine as he leaned forward. "Then, we didn't realise how long they had been playing this game."We went to see Mr. Graves, a retired lawyer who had handled my adoption, the following morning. His modest house stood in sharp contrast to the wealth and influence I had recently been dealing with
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 27: Uncovering the Enemy
The penthouse's air felt heavier than usual, as though the walls were listening. Williams walked back and forth across the room, his keen eyes darting to the mysterious note on the coffee table. We had discovered it hours earlier, but the caution, "Trust no one," was still gnawing at the back of my mind. You underestimate how close they are.Williams whispered, "Marcel," his voice breaking the stillness.I raised my head. "How about him?""I've always understood that he had personal goals, but this..." He pointed to the note. "His craftsmanship is evident in this."My fingers clenched into fists as I scowled. "What would make Marcel oppose us? He should be preserving the Franklin legacy, right?”Williams's expression darkened as he stopped pacing. "Marcel has always been loyal to himself. He is more concerned with power than with his family. And he won't think twice about joining the Harringtons if it gives him that.”We made the decision to delve further the following day. Williams a
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 26: An Increasing Connection
The penthouse's curtains let in sunlight, which filled the space with gentle golden tones. I watched the city below come to life as I stood by the window. This moment, a brief respite from the storm, felt oddly serene despite the chaos all around us."Did you get any sleep?" There was silence until Williams spoke.He was leaning against the doorway with his shirt unbuttoned at the collar and his tie undone when I turned around. His typically polished manner gave way to something more human and vulnerable."Not really," I said with my arms crossed. "I'm thinking about too much."He approached me with purposeful strides. "I don't hold you responsible. It was unexpected last night."Unexpected?" I arched an eyebrow. One way to put it is that. Williams, there was a murder in front of us. It's not like you can simply brush that off.He came to a halt next to me, staring at the skyline. "You handled it better than most people would, even though I know it's overwhelming."I couldn't contain
