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Caught in the act
Last Updated:
2024-12-29 22:52:01
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The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The ruined party
|Aria’s POV|It’s finally the most anticipated day for me and my loved ones.Yes, it was my engagement party and the butterflies in my stomach doubled as we journeyed to the garden where it would be held.Something nagged at me for not bringing my children along to the party, but that meant they would be exposed to people I really didn’t want them to know.Celebrities' lives were hard enough because they had to do things according to what society deemed right, or else they would be criticized by the same society.My skin tingled with excitement as we drove into the garden. My gaze flickered towards Zion’s, and his reassuring smile slackened my hunched shoulders.‘I am doing this with Zion, nothing would go wrong.’But despite the reassurance, I can’t help but worry and feel the knot in my stomach growing within me that something might go wrong today. Something big, but maybe I was overthinking it.My memories had been returning in fold, so I didn’t bother rehearsing how to react to gu
Last Updated : 2024-12-31The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The marriage certificate
|Aria's POV|Have your hands ever shaken so violently that you knew the only way the tremor would stop was if you slapped someone?That was what I felt as I looked at Ace. The fucking audacity he had to tell me what to do and what not, was infuriating.“Who the fuck do you think you are to have a say in my life?” I seethed, my eyes blazing with anger.With a voice shaking with anxiety, Zion demanded. “Why did you say we can't get married?”“Because she's still married to me,” Ace stated, calm and matter-of-fact, with a hint of smugness.“What the fuck do you mean by that?” I exploded, my face red with anger.“Married?” Zion echoed, surprise and confusion etched on his face.Zion’s eyes flickered between us, he asked slowly, with curiosity mingling in his voice. “You guys were married? I thought both of you are just friends.”“I would not be so pissed that she didn't tell you about our relationship, considering I was an asshole when we were married,” Ace admitted, a hint of self-deprec
Last Updated : 2025-01-01The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love Talking things out
|Aria’s POV| What would you do if the same thing happened to you twice? Would you give up totally or continue trying till you get it right? A deep exhale escaped his lips and he ran his hand through his hair. “Babe… I swear, it is not what it looked like.” “This is the second fucking time I have heard that today, and it is starting to really get on my nerves and piss me off. Tell me what the fuck happened before I call off this engagement now.” I seethed. Was it that I was cursed with cheating partners? As if I didn’t have bad luck enough! “What happened wasn’t meant to happen and Penelope did not want to worry you,” He muttered. “Did you sleep with my best friend?? Is that it??” I accused, my voice trembling with rage. “Or why are you suddenly talking for her? Just go straight to the point and let me know what decision I will make because I won’t tolerate a cheating partner the second time!” I gritted out, wiping the tears that were falling uncontrollably. Taking a deep breath
Last Updated : 2025-01-02The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The unknown caller
|Ace Kings| Life is generally hard, but it is harder when you're a CEO of a multi-billion dollar company. My eyes were sore and I felt like shit. The weekend was really terrible and heartbreaking for me. But it was Monday and I had to show up in a suit and have a fake smile plastered on my face even if I felt like shit. Tugging my tie down to loosen the little shit that seemed to be after my life, I leaned backwards on the chair and went through the file that needed to be signed. And of course, it was a mountain of files. Didn't I sign these shit last week? With a sigh, I dialled my receptionist's number, eager to escape from the file. I hissed through my teeth when she didn't pick. ‘I need to start a hunt for another receptionist because she had only one damn job, which was to pick up the phone, and yet she couldn't!’ After about two rings, she picked up the phone. “Hel— Hello, sir. I'm sorry for not licking up earlier, I went to print out some documents.” She ru
Last Updated : 2025-01-03The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love Till we meet again
|Aria's POV|Do you know why most people hate their exes? Because they become troublesome once they realize that you have dropped them from their high horses and moved on with any person.Zion's face had remained stoic, and he had volunteered to follow me everywhere I went for the past two days.It doesn't take a genius to know that the meeting didn't go well.*Flashback**Rushing into the garage after hearing the sound of an engine in the driveway. My eyes widened with concern and I asked anxiously the moment he opened the door. “Babe, you are back. What did you guys discuss? Did he agree to sign the divorce papers?”“Hi babe.” He mumbled.He pulled me closer and kissed me on the lips. The kiss was more of an ownership claim than the passionate ones we usually shared.“Is there any possibility of you leaving me for Ace?” He asked softly, his voice heavily laced with vulnerability..“No, why did you ask? What did he tell you?” I fired back.“I just don't want to fight for someone who
Last Updated : 2025-01-05The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love Do I have a stalker now?
|Aria's POV|You all know that apart from toddlers, best friends are the most annoying set of people, right?Just like how you can never get angry at toddlers for a very long time, you hardly get angry at your best friends either.Especially if they have big brown eyes.“Aria, you know I wouldn't want to hurt you. You've gone through a lot in the last month and I knew he didn't do it deliberately." She whined, tugging my pants at the waist while we sat at the living room.“Penny, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't tell me. Do you know who I heard that from?” I asked, my eyes narrowing at her.“Yes, Ace fucking Kings. I didn't hear it from you or Zion. It just had to be my archenemy!”Her face fell, and she looked at me apologetically. “I know you wouldn't want to accept our excuses because we were wrong. But the two of us not telling you meant we didn't want to hurt you.” She confessed.“Penny, what if he had done something more grave than that? Would you keep quiet in an attempt no
Last Updated : 2025-01-06The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The calamity
|Aria's POV|The weekend was over, and guess whose short holiday was over? Yes, mine.It's Tuesday, and I was already praying for Friday commencement. It's almost a week since Zion left, and it hurts so bad that I didn't think I would miss him as much as I did.I was all alone by myself and there was only little Brianna could do. Penelope's boss has resumed being a bitch and giving her extra work, but guess who still made time to pull up in the children's school yesterday with their favorite car?Yes, Penny. Her level of pettiness needed to be studied because she wanted them to be so embarrassed and when they all got home yesterday, they gave me hell with their red faces.~Flash back~“Mama, there is no way that Aunt Penny should be allowed to pick us up in that thingy,” Zoe groaned.“Yes, seriously. She had better spray it with black paint.” Zachary grumbled, consenting to his sister's words.“Maybe my next choice would be hot pink. Since you little shits are so in love with the colo
Last Updated : 2025-01-07The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love Willing to do anything
|Aria’s POV|I looked like shit and definitely felt like one because I was a shitty mother who couldn’t take care of her kids.My throat was hoarse from screaming and my eyes were burning with an itchiness that had refused to leave as I fought back tears since reality dawned on us.Penelope had a similar expression and look, because it'd been eating her up that she was the one who unknowingly orchestrated their kidnap. My stomach felt empty, but I didn’t have the guts to eat because I didn’t know the state my kids were in and how they were being treated by someone who thought I had snatched something precious from him.My gaze flickered towards Brianna, who also had a haunted look and had stains of dried tears on her cheeks. She had been pacing around and trying to pull the connections she could with her last name. But it has been to no avail. Even Zion couldn’t get to the bottom of it.Although, he said he would get back to me in a fe--“Tring Tring!”I snatched the phone from the ta
Last Updated : 2025-01-08
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The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The mocking laughter
|Aria’s POV|I shouldn’t have brought her back here…My knees buckled, and I gripped the window bars to steady myself, barely stopping myself from collapsing. My chest rose and fell in shallow gasps as panic crept up my throat. The room felt too small like the walls were folding in on me, stealing the air from my lungs.How did I end up leading the lions to the monkeys’ safe haven?“Aria.”Brianna and Penny flanked my sides and supported my weight, but all I could see were my dreams shattering in real time. The children I’ve struggled to keep off social media and away from public hate—are now exposed because of my foolishness.“No—no, please,” I choked out, shaking my head frantically. “Keep them away from my kids.”“They can do anything they want to me, but they can’t harass my kids,” I whimpered.“Ria, please calm down. Ace’s security is already working to get the fans away from the house,” Penny reassured.“H–how? How did they get to know my house?” I asked, fearing the answer I al
The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The imperfections
|Aria’s POV|Ace balanced Zoe on his hip, and she grinned toothily. Her cheeks had slightly thinned over the few days spent at the hospital, but her skin was slowly regaining its tint, and she no longer complained of her stomach pinching her.“Miss Aria!”We all turned, and my smile widened when I saw Dr. Alexander standing outside his office, his door slightly ajar. I wouldn’t lie—he’s been a remarkable help to us these past few days.Walking toward him, I gave a small nod. “Yes, Dr?” I answered politely.“I just wanted to remind you—make sure she takes her meds regularly. Make it compulsory, until I say otherwise,” he advised with a firm but kind tone.I bobbed my head, feeling my chest warm with gratitude. “Of course, trust me. I will do just that,” I assured him with a soft smile.He gave a curt nod and turned to step back into his office.I turned back to Ace and Zoe, and we all walked outside together. My feet froze for a moment when I spotted nearly fifty burly men and women in
The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The constant threat
|Aria’s POV|“Richard, I don’t give a fuck about what your selfish self says. I am not getting married when my best friend’s life is falling apart!” Penny’s voice exploded through the thin bathroom door.I winced and pressed my ear tighter against the wall. Her tone was wild with fury, her anger like a pulse you could feel through the drywall. I had followed her when I noticed her mood shift after that call. She’d been dodging the number for hours.Ace was with the baby. His personal doctor was almost here—despite me telling him it wasn’t necessary. But, being Ace, he had waved me off and declared, “These rookies shouldn’t even have their licenses if they can’t fix a sick child instantly.”Inside the bathroom, Penny raged on.“I’m telling you now—don’t call my bluff,” she warned darkly. “If you go through with this stupid arrangement, I swear I’ll crash your net worth in the first month alone.”A pause. Then a cold scoff.“Oh, that’s not all. I could name ten thousand other ways to ru
The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love Poisoning?
Aria’s POV|These past few months, I might’ve gotten used to the white walls and the ever-present antiseptic scent clinging to every corner of this hospital.But nothing could ever prepare me for this—my baby lying there, pale and unmoving in a loose blue hospital gown she’s never worn, her usual glow gone.I sighed for what felt like the hundredth time and resumed pacing the cold tiles. I couldn’t sit still. My eyes were locked on her through the transparent door as the nurses and doctors worked around her. Despite all their efforts, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was failing as a mother.I didn’t know what had happened to her, but it should’ve been me. Not her. She doesn’t even know how to express pain, let alone endure it.My chest clenched painfully at the sight of the tubes hooked to her tiny arms. The doctor had already started speculating it might be poison. Poison. But who could hate my baby enough to do something so vile? What could an innocent child possibly have done t
The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The mysterious helper
|Aria’s POV|It’s been three days since the chase on the bridge. I still can’t explain how Zion managed to get us out of that hellish situation and lose the tail, but somehow he did. And for that, I couldn’t be more grateful.I sighed — again. I’d lost count of how many times I’d done that today. My arms wrapped around my knees as I curled up on the sofa, trying to find some sort of comfort in my own embrace. But there was none. Not really.Over the past few days, I’ve cried more than I ever did when Ace divorced me. That was heartbreak. This? This is suffocation. Zion warned me to stay off social media while he and Penelope worked behind the scenes to handle the mess, but I couldn’t help it. I kept scrolling, kept reading the lies people were conjuring up like some twisted fairytale.Do they even realize that celebrities have lives outside of their screens? That we’re just as human as they are? I asked myself for the hundredth time.The house felt too empty. Too quiet. Brianna and Pe
The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The unsettling stranger.
| Gabriella’s POV |“Are you out of your goddamn mind? Haven’t you done enough already? She’s your step-sister, for crying out loud!” Hannah’s voice shrieked through the speaker.I tapped the speaker icon and set the phone on the marble counter beside me, barely sparing it a glance as I applied a final swipe of my Fenty gloss. The golden tone shimmered under the bathroom lights. I admired the effect for a moment before speaking.“I’m just answering their questions, Han. That’s all,” I said coolly, brushing an invisible speck from my sundress.“You know, I’ve been meaning to say this for a while now.”“Oh God, please don’t tell me this is the moment you finally confess your undying love for me,” I deadpanned, smirking at my reflection.“Far from it. You’re a selfish narcissist who never sees herself as wrong. And this latest stunt of yours? It’s going to backfire. You’ll be dragged through the mud, worse than Aria ever was.”I rolled my eyes. “You do realize being nice to her won’t ear
The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love Background Investigation
|Penelope’s POV|I've always wanted to be a mom, for as long as I can remember. But not at the cost of my child growing up without a father. I know what it means to raise a kid alone—it’s not for the fainthearted. Watching Aria handle two children on her own, with little to no help, made me admire her strength even more. She made it look possible, but I knew better than to think it was easy.Honestly, my fear of marriage stems from what I saw growing up. My mother nearly lost her mind in hers. My dad made her life hell, always blaming her, causing drama, and then expecting her to clean up his mess like it was her job.And his worst quality? He was a misogynist to the core.My mom only had me before she was diagnosed with severe womb complications. Doctors said she couldn’t have any more children. I suspect I might’ve inherited those complications, but that’s not even the worst part.My father never accepted me. He never saw me as his. He’d proudly tell people, "I don't have a child,"
The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The bet
|Zion’s POV|Pacing around the restroom, I glared at my reflection in the mirror. My jaw was tight, the fury bubbling under my skin like lava ready to erupt.“You weren’t able to take the video down?” I barked into the phone, my voice echoing off the tiled walls. “Our reputation is hanging by a thread, and you’re telling me you couldn’t manage one job?”Matt stammered on the other end, but I didn’t let him speak.“You’ve got five hours,” I snapped. “Get those accounts down, or I’ll cut your paycheck in half. No reason to keep paying you for work you’re clearly not doing. And considering how fat that check is, you better get moving.”“Yes, boss. I’m sorry, we’ll handle it,” Matt muttered.“You better,” I hissed. “Because if you don’t, you’ll be the next name trending—for all the wrong reasons.”I hung up and slammed my fist into the wall. Pain exploded through my hand, but it barely cut through the rage clouding my mind. I stared down at my bruised knuckles, breathing hard.“Hey man, y
The Billionaire's regret: a second chance at love The familiar number
Aria’s POV |It’s been two days since I was admitted to the hospital, and today, I’m finally being discharged.Yay.As we walked out of the hospital, I kept my head down, ignoring the nurses who waved enthusiastically at me. It felt less like a warm sendoff and more like mockery. My chest tightened with shame, but Zion squeezed my hand gently, his reassuring smile doing little to ease my nerves.My kids were with Mr. Jimmy, and as much as I missed them, I couldn’t risk being around them right now. I didn’t know what to expect. Some deranged people, disguised as anti-fans, had been dragging me online, demanding that I speak up about the scandal unfolding around me.Some even claimed I wouldn’t dare because I was too busy warming Ace’s bed.In the last forty-eight hours, I’d contemplated breaking up with Zion more times than I could count. Every cruel comment made me question why he was even with someone like me. I knew he was acting unbothered, but he was human. These words had to cut
