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Epilogue
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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The Billionaire's Pawn 1
STRIKERI landed this morning from Winterbourn after two years working for a good friend, Rome Langston. Then I woke up from a nap to the black sedan waiting for me. I wasn’t expecting anything when I arrived at the Vanderford estate, but what shocked me was how someone welcomed me with that stone stare of hatred that had me wondering for a second. You could have begun with, are you here for my father? That sort of thing. Sometimes, life was really shit. When you expect too much, you get less. When you were not Messi, who took home the FIFA World Cup Champion, or Ronaldo, who just became the world’s most expensive athlete, nobody gave a shit about you. For instance, London Vanderford— the heiress to the Vanderford Group. I mean, who am I? That was the first thing that came to my mind. She probably didn’t remember me. The last time we met was two years ago. Things have changed a lot since then.My smile instantly faded as I met the coldest hazel eyes I’d ever seen. I knew there were
The Billionaire's Pawn 2
LONDON“Why am I here, Dad?” I stomped my heels into the study and followed him to his desk. “A call would do.”He ignored my little outburst as he sat calmly at his desk. “You did not miss your father, London?”“We had dinner last week.” I rolled my eyes. I was supposed to have a sit-down meeting with my designers, but here I was in the middle of the day.“And we were supposed to have lunch last Wednesday.”“Dad, I told you I made a promise with Magnus.” Dad didn’t like Magnus. He said he wasn’t good enough for me. Every father probably had the same thought as him. He might as well ask his friend Linden to do a full background check on my boyfriend. I couldn’t blame him, though—all he wanted was the best for me. But it was not that I was asking for his approval for any men I wanted to go out with.His face soured instantly. “Don’t say what you’re about to say. You don’t like him, and I got it the first time. Why am I here? And I miss you. Happy?”“Are you?” His question almost caug
The Billionaire's Pawn 3
STRIKERI woke up earlier as I tossed and turned in bed, probably the first night effect of being in a new place. Although this had been Dad’s home for decades, and I was here on his birthday and Christmas Eve.I’d been staring in the mirror. My hands were still in my tie. “Hey. You’re safe now.” The asset, London, was still hiccuping. Her fingers were digging into my gear, gripping me tightly, and I had no choice but to carry her. Despite my exhaustion, somehow, she eased it away.Linden gave me a nod as he tried to contact someone on the phone, probably our client. While Kye was in the driver’s seat, Sax checked their ammo, and the others watched our six.“Thank fuck,” Sax muttered as the hele came to view.We reached the extraction point with a hammer.“It’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay,” I whispered to London. “You will be with your father in no time.”“D-don’t leave me. I don’t wanna be alone.” That was the first time I heard her talk. Her voice was shaky and laced with f
The Billionaire's Pawn 4
LONDON I knew the moment I saw Striker Cade he would replace Reed. I was torn between talking to my father to hire another bodyguard, but at the same time, I wanted to see him. He didn’t even change for the last two years. He looked the same, so handsome, or even looked more striking in a suit. It worked for him perfectly. My stupidity got the best of me—my infatuation with him. Who could I fool with? It was more than just a crush. It was foolish to feel something for someone who didn’t look at me the way I looked at him in the first place—who wasn’t around and had no idea about my feelings. I guessed I was emotionally disturbed and mentally deranged. I’m damaged goods. Last night, I chose to stay at home rather than have dinner with Magnus because I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that Striker could be the replacement. I knew Dad was right about Magnus was not the right one and not good enough for me, but he was there, and that was what I wanted at that moment. For t
The Billionaire's Pawn 5
STRIKER London ignored me the entire ride. I couldn’t blame her. I mean, that asshole was disrespecting her and minding the food she wanted to eat. But I let my emotion get the best of me. And this was what scared me. On the first day, I was already screwing my job. London was perfect. She was hot. He could be supportive of his girlfriend’s goal, but instead, he wanted to control her. I was not against size 0 if that was the body size they wanted. But women, men, and other gender had the right to choose the body they like to look beautiful and confident in any size. What was wrong with people these days setting beauty standards according to what satisfied their ego by letting those women starve just to fit into society? I was not against anything. I myself maintained a healthy lifestyle. I ate healthily. I maintained fit. I jogged, ran, and went to the gym regularly, but not to gain likes or impress everyone. I did it for myself. Since their lunch was disrupted, Neke ordered t
The Billionaire's Pawn 6
LONDON I woke up with a hammering headache. The event of last night came crashing through me like a wave. I had no regrets about my behavior, though. Heat radiated through my chest at the thought of being single again. I didn’t know I needed that bad to be out of a relationship that I’d wasted the six months of my life investing in it. For what? Sex? Attention? To be relevant? I didn’t even know I was that desperate. It became clear that I didn’t need a man or a relationship to have a better life. Besides, I’d never depended my life on any man. So, why now? I rose and searched for a painkiller bottle in the medicine cabinet. Then my pills caught my attention. I refused to take it despite sometimes having nightmares and terrible falling asleep. I still chose to drink tea, which helped somehow. I took a caplet of painkillers. After I took a shower, I wore my working clothes and put my sunglasses on before heading down, where I knew Striker would be waiting for me. My face warme
The Billionaire's Pawn 7
STRIKER Days went by smoothly until the weekend. London and I were still strangers. She seemed guarded all the time, and I also kept my distance. Considering we lived under the same roof, I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t cross the line again. I couldn’t afford to break her trust. “I thought we were going as friends.” I turned to look at her, going to the non-existence backseat door. “Sorry.” She pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. “I opened the door, Vanderford.” “Sorry, okay. I didn’t also realize it doesn’t have a backseat door.” She climbed in, and I shut the door before her. She was fastening her seatbelt when I got into the driver’s seat when she said, “I like your car.” “Really?” “Yeah. It’s classic. Where did you get this?” I was glad she appreciated the classics. I loved my Aston Martin DB4. I wouldn’t change it with anything. “Dad’s gift on my 25th birthday.” “Are you a Bond fan?” “Not really, but we happened to go to a car show in the UK, and I did
The Billionaire's Pawn 8
LONDONThere was just something about Striker Cade when he smiled. He lit up the entire place. He was like the moon, those stars in the night. When he entered my home office, just like that, he shone the brightest. He was just full of life.“Are you going out tonight, Vanderford?”“Going somewhere, Cade?”“No, ma’am.” He instantly lifted his gaze, meeting mine. “Sorry.”“Take a seat.”“Thank you.” He did sit on the couch. “I just wanna ask your honest opinion.”“Sure. Are you sure I’m the right person you should be asking for an opinion?”“I don’t know. You’re a guy.”“The last time I checked, yes, ma’am.” There was a hint of wickedness in his words. Was he flirting with me?I gave him the iPad. “Check these designs. Choose at least three of which you think are good.”“Designs? Clothing design? You’re asking my opinion?” His eyes widened, surprised and amused.“Just check those damn things, Cade.”He tried hard to hide his smile, arching a brow at me.“Fine. Give it back.” I urged h
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The Billionaire's Pawn Epilogue
STRIKER One year later It had been a spectacular year for London and me. Two hundred fifty people who were very dear to our family attended our wedding in front of the spring, followed by the reception in the golf field of my father’s estate. That was an extraordinary day for me, London, and our family. Rome, Prince Thayer, and the princesses were even there for us. And then we spent a few days on my father’s property in Verona, then Switzerland. Our honeymoon ended in Guardion before we headed home. One thing we hadn’t accomplished yet was to have a child. We were patient, though. And we were not giving up. “Maybe we should stop trying.” I ran my finger against her arm as I peppered kisses on her shoulder. “What do you mean?” She was still giving me her back. “We’re pressuring ourselves to get pregnant. It’s stressing you.” “So, you mean to say it’s my fault—” “No, baby. That’s not what I mean. Let’s leave it be. If we can get pregnant, then that’s amazing. If not, it’s fin
The Billionaire's Pawn 82
LONDON “Congratulations.” Neke hugged me tight. After successfully launching our limited products, our expansion in Asia was already taking place. Our sales skyrocketed—our products were in demand. We expanded to other e-commerce retailers all over the globe. I finally bought a fifteen percent share of the company. And I’d been busy as hell, not that I was complaining because life was good. Striker and I were great, even if we only had a dinner date once a month. We supported each other. We were a team. That was what made our marriage work despite our busy lives, and we still ended up cuddling at night. Tonight, the fashion show was a massive success, making all my sleepless nights, shoulder aches, and missed dinner dates worthwhile. It was midnight, and we were at the party to celebrate our success at the Night Stalker Club. “Why is it everyone is congratulating me?” It wasn’t me. It’s the team.” I went to the DJ and grabbed the mic. He shut the music off. “Excuse me! Everyon
The Billionaire's Pawn 81
STRIKER “You look stunning tonight, my wife.” I strolled my gaze at her from head to toe. She picked the black glittery floor-length gown and put on a set of diamond jewelry to complete the look. Her makeup wasn’t overdone, just the way I liked it. The hairstylist just enhanced the natural wave of her hair. “You’ve said that three times already.” She smiled at me, the kind when she was amused. “You’re not bad yourself, husband. And I have something for you.” “You don’t have to give me anything.” “I want to, sweetheart.” She picked up something from the drawer and pulled out the box. “It just took me a while to find it.” “What’s this?” I knew it was a watch box. When I opened it, it looked vintage. “A vintage watch.” “Close to antique. I know you can afford to buy the most expensive watch in the world, but this one is different. Special.” I carefully picked it up. “Everything is always special if it comes from you, Vanderford.” “Check out the bottom.” I did as she told me. The
The Billionaire's Pawn 80
LONDON“Hey, guys. It’s been a while since I last posted a short clip. As the 3rd Anniversary of LH is around the corner, I want to celebrate it by sharing these achievements and successes with all of you and those less fortunate. My husband, Cade, and I had been working on these special designs that are very close to my heart. Well, actually.” I chuckled. “My husband primarily did all the hard work since he designed them. Even before we met, he’d been active in charities, helping less fortunate kids, and he never bragged about it. Before he showed me the designs, he only asked for one thing, that all his share in the sales would proceed to his chosen charities.” I picked the sample of the bag and sneakers. “These are limited items. We called Cade Sneakers and Marguerite Bag. With your purchase, you’re already supporting. Thank you, and enjoy your day.”I watched the video I posted twelve hours ago, which had already reached half a million views.For the past weeks, life had been grea
The Billionaire's Pawn 79
STRIKER “What the fuck, London?” I just cursed right into her face. Just great. How did I become this person in front of her? I didn’t know. I felt like I’d reached the point where I had lost all my patience with humanity. “We’ve talked about secrecy many times. Look what happened?” I was even more pissed when she didn’t even look at me. “Do you even hear me? Are you even listening to me?” “I did. I do. Will you stop cursing me and lower your voice?” “Not until you understand what I am saying until you learn. We just had our life back, and I thought we were already over this. When are you gonna trust me? When will you open up to me and just fucking tell me if something is bothering you or someone is stalking you? You know the difference, right?” “For the love of God. What in the hell do you not understand in the part I was going to tell you tonight?” “Yeah, when it’s too late. Did you really date that guy?” “Oh, my God!” She shook her head as she propped a hand on her hip. “Not
The Billionaire's Pawn 78
LONDON Terzo had no remorse. If I wasn’t there, he could have tortured Magnus to death. I flinched as he threw water at Magnus’ face to wake him up. Magnus jolted, and the chair he was tied to shook. “What the fuck?” He swallowed and found himself tied to a chair. His eyes widened as he looked at Terzo, and his face fell on me. “Did you actually kiss her with that mouth?” Terzo seemed breezy as if he’d interrogated people a thousand times. “Who’s this guy, London?” He became more frightened to see Terzo was calmer. “You should have left her alone, dude. I mean, who does that? Kidnapping your ex for money?” He chuckled. I couldn’t believe he found torturing someone fun. “Let me go, asshole.” He wiggled as he tried to let himself loose, his eyes pinning at the man beside me. Terzo tsked. “Wrong answer, dude.” When he pulled the gun behind him, it began to rattle me. “Don’t. I told you I’m not gonna be involved in this.” “Very well.” I let go a breath when he put the gun on his
The Billionaire's Pawn 77
STRIKER “I’m with Terzo. He wants you to come to this address.” “What? Baby, what do you mean you’re with Terzo.” My heart nearly stopped hearing she was with Terzo. Why in the fucking hell was Terzo doing with my wife? “Just come to the address. I’m sending the location to you now.” “Baby? Vanderford?” She hung up, and I stared at the phone screen, frightened. “You okay?” Linden nudged me. He was calling my name, but his voice felt like a buzz. I drew a deep breath and got up. “Let’s go.” “Where?” He followed me even if I hadn’t answered his question. “Son of a fucking bitch.” My blood boiled. My rage made me shake. “Man, what’s going on?” He held me in my arm. “You look like you are about to murder someone. If we will commit a crime at least, let’s be prepared. Breathe, man. Tell me what happened?” “Are you both leaving?” Dad came. “Yes, Dad. I’ll see you later.” I inwardly groaned. “I thought we would have dinner together.” “I’m sorry. Something came up.” I couldn’
The Billionaire's Pawn 76
LONDON I just stopped by to buy coffee for Neke and me. When I got out, someone was waiting for me in my car. My first thought was to pretend I didn’t see him or find an exit so he wouldn’t notice me. But it was too late. Damn it. “Signora London.” He looked cute. He smirked—that smirked, though. Terzo was an overconfident son of a bitch. I could have set him up with Neke if I didn’t know what he did for a living. But my question was, how did he find me? “What do you want, Terzo?” I did my best to act like I wasn’t scared of him, hoping it would last until he was gone. “Is that how you treat a friend?” He didn’t move, still leaning on my car. “A friend? Since when?” I stopped a few feet away from him. “Since days ago. Did you forget that you’re under my protection now?” “How can I? How did you find me?” “Where’s Reed?” He knew I was alone. Great. Creepy. “You’re not supposed to be going out alone, Mrs. Cade. Where’s your husband?” Reed went to see his family, but Terzo didn
The Billionaire's Pawn 75
STRIKER “Hey, Dad.” “I miss you, son.” He hugged me tight as if I hadn’t seen him in years. “I miss you, too.” I sat next to him in the backyard of Moses’ estate. “I don’t know you and Moses play golf together.” My father was with Linden, and Emory joined him since Dad came to sit with me. “I know you called him Papa. He was about to cry when he told me, hearing you call him Papa for the first time.” “You both are softies. I just don’t want to hurt your feelings.” “I pushed you to give him a chance. That would be my biggest mistake and regret if I didn’t do that. He seems to have done his best to be your good father.” “Aside from taking me to Sicily?” I chuckled and patted his knee. “I didn’t meet the bad guys, except Giosue when London insisted, but it was after the agreement.” “I hope London found the peace she’d been looking for.” “It was Papa’s plan all along.” “And I can breathe freely, but you still met Siciliano.” “Yes. His son is a dick.” I snorted. “He won’t touc
