MasukShare
Chapter 48: A Reversal of Attitude
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-22 01:39:16
Bab terkait
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 49: Drama in the Courtroom
Freda's POV."Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"With my heart pounding loudly in my ears, I gripped the Bible tighter. The courtroom waited in silence."I do," I firmly stated.The magistrate gave a nod. "You may proceed."Margaret Harrington sat with her lawyers across from me, her face unreadable and icy. Marcel was at her side, his grin scarcely concealed.I inhaled deeply. "The evidence in front of you, Your Honor, demonstrates that Margaret Harrington falsified documents in order to conceal my identity. She made sure I had no claim to the Harrington riches by arranging for my adoption."Margaret's voice was harsh but seductive as she leaned forward. "Ms. Lewis, or should I say, Miss Harrington, do you have proof of these wild accusations?"A muscle in my jaw tensed. My lawyer gave me a folder as I turned to face him. I raised it. "These are signed affidavits from the doctor who falsified my birth records and the lawyer who processed the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 50: An Unexpected Disclosure
Margaret's comments were still reverberating in my mind."You’re not a Harrington by blood."I lost my breath as their weight smashed my chest. The audience remained quiet as they awaited my response. Williams’ grasp on my hand intensified, but I felt like I was floating…disconnected from reality.Charlotte stepped forward and spoke in a steady yet tremulous voice. "That is untrue."Margaret chuckled quietly. "Is it? Charlotte, you were always sentimental. However, facts are indifferent to feelings.”Charlotte didn't flinch. Instead, she extracted a sealed packet from her purse. “I expected this from you, Margaret. That's why I was ready.”Margaret paused her grin.Charlotte looked at me, her eyes beseeching. "Listen to me, Freda. A Harrington is what you are. And I can demonstrate it.”My heart was racing. "How?"She gave the envelope to me. "The DNA result that verifies you are my daughter is inside. By blood, a Harrington.”I opened it hesitantly, my hands shaking. I looked over th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 51: A Split Family
Williams' POVFreda whimpered, "You don't have to do this," clutching my hand as if it were her last.I memorized the way her eyes blazed with terror, love, and resolve as I stared down at her."I do," I firmly stated. "It's your only line of defense."She clenched her fingers. "No. Together, we are fighting this.I lifted my hand and brushed a lock of hair away from her face. "DeLuca will release you, Freda, if I fall. He will retreat.Her face grew stern. "And you think that's true?"I paused.DeLuca had no mercy. He took the long view. He may be content—for the time being—if I gave up myself. Freda was correct, though. There were no assurances.She shook her head and withdrew. "Williams, I won't let you ruin yourself for me. Never again.Margaret sighed dramatically as she stood at the far end of the room. "How honorable. But, Freda, let's be honest. They will target you next if Williams refuses to accept accountability for the Franklin affair.Freda whirled to face her, her eyes b
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 52: The Last Redemptive Act
The room's air had become oppressive. The weight of betrayals and secrets hovered over them, heavy and unavoidable. Freda gazed at Margaret, her thoughts whirling with what she had spoken.Despite being Freda's worst enemy for years, Margaret now stood in front of her and offered assistance, something Freda had never anticipated.Margaret let out a sigh, her piercing eyes relaxing a bit. "You have every right to despise me, Freda, but I have done everything in my power to shield you from the real evil in this family."Wary, Freda crossed her arms. "After everything, you expect me to believe that?"Margaret gave a nod. Indeed. since it is the reality.Williams, his patience exhausted, stepped forward. Margaret, enough riddles. Start talking if you desire forgiveness.After a moment's hesitation, Margaret turned to face the enormous windows that looked out over the city. "The Harringtons have always been more than just a conglomerate. Under the surface, there is something much worse."F
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 53: The Struggle for Tradition
Marcel and Daniel had just delivered their message, and Freda gazed at the blank screen. The weight of the event pressed against her chest, and the room around her felt oppressive.In a barely heard whisper, she said, "They have my mother."Williams touched her shoulder firmly. "We'll retrieve her." However, we approach this correctly."Margaret laughed. "The proper manner? Williams, these men don't follow the rules. "If they think it will benefit them, they won't hesitate to take her life." Alex reclined against the desk and exhaled deeply. "Marcel is in dire straits. If he wasn't losing ground, he wouldn't have pulled such a farce.Freda's hands clinched. "We use that against him after that."Margaret's forehead raised. "And what precisely do you suggest?"Freda raised her chin, immediately doing calculations. We give the impression that they have triumphed. We present them with an opportunity that they won't anticipate.James scowled with his arms folded. "That is a risky gamble."
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 54: The Essential Issue
Vivian's cryptic words replayed in Freda's mind, making her heart race."Your true legacy? It's darker than you thought."Although she had encountered numerous adversaries, including Marcel, Sophia, and Daniel, there was something unique about Vivian Blackwood. More hazardous.Williams moved forward, his defensive posture unflinching. "Speak up if you have anything to say. Give up playing games."Vivian laughed. "Oh, Williams, you're so impatient all the time." Her eyes strayed to Freda. "I don't intend to waste time. But first, I want you both to realize that this is bigger than simply your small family dispute."Freda's eyes narrowed. "So, what's the matter?"Vivian's face became expressionless. "Power."Between them, she flung a folder onto the table. Williams was the first to pick it up and turn the pages. He tightened his jaw.Gazing over his shoulder, Freda gasped in recognition of the documents' logos: offshore accounts, shell corporations, and international financial instituti
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 55: Unraveling the Marriage Contract
In his office, Freda and Williams sat opposite one another, their contract resting on the desk like a spectre of their history.Freda traced the beautiful cursive letters with her fingertips as she added softly, "We began this with a contract." "A commercial agreement."Williams stared at her, his eyes unreadable. "And now?"She inhaled deeply. "I also don't want to be under any kind of contract right now." She looked him in the eye. "I want us to freely choose one another."He nodded, his jaw clenched. "After that, we dissolve it."Williams turned to the last page and reached for a pen. He was already waiting for her to sign his name. Freda exhaled slowly before signing her name and pressing the pen to the paper.The agreement was null and void.A weird silence, one of doubt and release, hung in the room."How does this affect us?" At last, Williams inquired.Freda swallowed hard, feeling a range of emotions. "It implies that we choose what comes next."A surprise guest showed up at
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 56: A Fresh Start
As she reread the mysterious message, Freda stood outside the Harrington mansion, her heart racing. The weight of everything she had learnt was pressing down on her, and the night air was heavy with tension. She hadn't even told Williams she was coming.Who was the sender? And what was the truth they had to tell?She inhaled deeply before pushing open the imposing iron gates.Freda walked into the hauntingly still estate. Above her, the opulent chandeliers flickered, illuminating the marble flooring with lengthy shadows. Cloaked in darkness, a figure stood at the far end of the passageway.Freda's pulse accelerated."Who are you?" Her voice was forceful as she requested.Stepping into the light was the figure. The man was older, with blue eyes that were alert despite the lines of age on his face.His voice was firm as he said, "My name is Richard Langston." "Your father used to trust me the most as an advisor."Freda gasped for air. "My dad? Do you mean Robert Harrington?"Langston ga
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23
Bab terbaru
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Epilogue: A New Dawn
The assurance of a new beginning and the remnants of history were highlighted in a soft golden glow as dawn broke over the vast estate. Freda situated herself at the brink of the balcony, looking out towards the horizon. Her mind was anchored by the constant noise of the waves hitting the jagged shore beneath. Weeks had gone by since the truth was uncovered to everyone. Despite being held responsible for her family's wrongdoings for several weeks, she continued to feel the weight of their decisions bearing down on her. Nevertheless, the atmosphere has shifted now. An alteration. A breath of optimism. The hush was interrupted by the gentle noise of footsteps trailing her. Williams stood there, both reassuring and authoritative. She was pulled back against his chest as his arms wrapped around her waist. He stated, "You're overthinking it." Smiling, she nestled into his embrace. "I can't prevent it." I constantly have thoughts. Nonetheless, you are right. I've been attempting to fix
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 100: Twins of the Flame
The Harrington Estate was burning.From the war room’s shattered windows, Freda could see the inferno crawling across the eastern wing, smoke billowing like a signal to every rival who had ever watched the empire. Firefighters battled the blaze, but they were late—deliberately delayed, most likely by Selene and the faction loyal to Cassian’s legacy.Freda turned from the window, her face streaked with soot and determination.“The vault is waking up,” Grace said from the console. “Whatever Cassian programmed into Protocol Eclipse—it’s already executing.”“What happens if it finishes?” Elias asked, standing beside his sister.Grace’s voice was grim. “Everything Harrington collapses. The companies, the foundations, the inheritance. Our accounts, trusts, holdings—burned to digital ash. You won’t inherit a legacy. You’ll inherit ruin.”Williams reached for Freda’s hand. “There’s still time. If we access the core before the final phase, we can override it—but only if both of you enter the b
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 99: Blood Ties Never Lie
The room fell into absolute silence.Freda stood, stunned, unable to form words. Her gaze locked with the stranger at her door—no, not a stranger. Not anymore. His face wasn’t just familiar—it was known. Like a dream half-remembered, engraved deep into the soul.“I—” she started, but her throat tightened.The young man stepped into the room. His movements were careful, calculated, as though afraid the moment would shatter if he moved too quickly. He looked about her age—tall, lean, a quiet intensity behind gray eyes that mirrored Jonathan Harrington’s.“I’m sorry to just... show up like this,” he said quietly. “But my name is Elias Jonathan Harrington. And I think I’m your twin brother.”The name hit her like a hurricane. Elias Jonathan. Named after both their father and grandfather—an ironic twist if it weren’t so heartbreakingly true.“How did you find me?” Freda finally managed.He reached into his coat and pulled out a weathered letter. “This arrived for me on my twenty-third birt
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 98: Echoes in the Vault
The cold air in the Harrington vault bit at Freda’s skin, but she didn’t flinch. Her pulse thudded in her ears as Elias Harrington’s voice echoed through the speaker embedded in the granite walls.“You found the truth,” Elias said, his tone unreadable. “And now you’ll bleed for it.”Williams placed himself in front of Freda instinctively. “You’ve already taken enough. Let her go.”Alex stepped forward, fire in his voice. “You locked away a legacy—buried it underlies. But this ends here.”A soft buzz interrupted them—the massive vault doors groaned and clicked. They weren’t locked in anymore.Freda’s heart jumped. Was this a trap?The doors creaked open slowly, revealing a dim corridor beyond. At the far end, silhouetted in the light stood Elias Harrington—elegant, tall, cloaked in his signature charcoal suit. He looked like a shadow carved out of legacy and guilt.“You’re brave to come,” Elias said, voice reverberating with age and steel. “But bravery alone doesn’t make you worthy.”F
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 97: Beneath the Ashes
Freda’s breath caught in her throat as the control room plunged into darkness. The hum of machines died. The only sound was the frantic thump of her heartbeat—and the voice."We’ve only just begun."She reached for Williams instinctively, fingers finding his. His grip tightened, anchoring her. On her other side, Grace clicked a flashlight on, casting a beam through the stale air. Dust particles swirled like ghosts. The control panels flickered—faint static pulses, nothing operational.“What the hell was that?” Grace muttered, scanning the corners of the room. “This wasn’t part of Cassian’s theatrics.”Freda’s spine stiffened. “That voice... it wasn’t him. It was different. Younger. Calculated.”“System override,” a mechanical voice droned from a nearby panel. “Engaged. Level Four lockdown initiated. Harrington protocols activated.”Doors slammed shut around them.Williams cursed. “He’s locked us in.”“No.” Grace crouched by the panel, fingers flying across an auxiliary screen. “This i
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 96: The Last Examination
The silence in the safe room was too loud. Freda's ears rang with the noise of her heart pounding in her ribcage. The voice had only just stopped, and she remained still, staring at the one who spoke. The words appeared to have gained a life of their own, resonating in her mind. "We've located her."Williams shifted to stand next to her, his stance rigid. "Who is it? "The prototype?" There was an intensity in his voice.With her stomach in knots, Freda nodded slowly. Although she had anticipated this day, the burden of it was nearly too much for her to handle. Her sister, the one born before her, the one designed to be the ideal representation of the Harrington legacy, was here now after her entire life had been a lie. She was coming for what Freda had put so much effort into creating.However, Freda couldn't simply stand by and watch everything happen. Not when she had all she had to fight for at her fingertips. With Williams at her side, no.Grace's clear, concentrated voice cut t
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 95: Born of Blood
The voice from the other side of the line echoed in Freda's ear, causing her heart to race. The voice was calm and steady as it declared, "I was the initial prototype." "Yes, Freda, I do recall you." She remained perfectly still, the vial tightly gripped in her hand, as the surroundings seemed to fade away. Williams, who had just entered with a serious resolve, observed her complexion fade. "Who was that?" he demanded in a quiet voice.Freda didn't take her eyes from her phone's screen. The words were clear even if the voice was twisted, almost artificial. "Remember me? What do you mean?"Without hesitation, the voice on the other end responded. "I recall every detail. Freda, you and I are not that different. We have the same foundation, the same blood, and, regrettably, the same curse."Freda's fingers dug into the smooth phone as her hold tightened. "What are you discussing? Who are you?"The speaker went on, "I was born first, but you're the heir." The first test was me. The lea
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 94: Ashes and Echoes
The scream echoed down the marble corridors of the Harrington estate.By the time Freda, Williams, and Alex arrived, security had sealed the hallway. Selene’s door was flung open. Her bodyguard was unconscious. And inside—Selene stood frozen, pale and trembling, her silk robe stained with blood.But it wasn’t hers.A man lay sprawled at her feet, a bullet lodged in his chest, the syringe he’d brought rolling under the dresser.Alex knelt beside him. “Dead,” he confirmed. “A clean shot. Straight through the heart.”“Who fired?” Williams demanded, scanning the room.“I did.” Selene’s voice was hollow. “He was already halfway across the room before I woke. If I’d been a second slower…”She didn’t finish.Freda stepped forward, gripping Selene’s trembling shoulders. “Who was he?”Selene stared at the body. “His name was Darien. He trained with me under Cassian’s program years ago. We were children then. I thought he was dead.”Freda turned to Williams. “That means Cassian’s activated mor
The Billionaire's Hidden Bride Chapter 93: The Ghosts We Bury
For a moment, Freda couldn’t breathe.Jonathan Harrington—her father, the man she believed had died before she was old enough to remember—stood in the corridor, alive and real. His once-proud frame had thinned, his eyes bloodshot with years of torment, but the commanding presence remained.“Dad…” she whispered.Jonathan didn’t smile. He didn’t reach for her. Instead, he looked over her shoulder, where Williams, Alex, and Grace hovered just behind.“We can’t talk here,” Jonathan said, his voice low, urgent. “There are eyes everywhere.”Freda’s heart pounded, caught between disbelief and instinctive trust. She stepped forward.“Where have you been? Why—why now? And what do you mean Cassian’s not dead?”Jonathan’s gaze hardened.“Because he never died in that fire. It was staged.”Freda sat across from her father in a cold, concrete-walled room beneath one of the original Harrington estates—a place so off-grid it didn’t exist in any legal registry.Williams stood guard at the door, while
