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Chapter 124
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2025-03-10 14:07:42
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The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 125
The meeting room felt suffocating, despite its size. Glass walls framed the skyline, the city stretching beneath us like a kingdom we had fought to hold onto.Across the polished mahogany table, Marcus Calloway leaned back in his chair, exuding the arrogance of a man who thought he had already won. His lips curled in amusement, fingers lazily tapping the folder in front of him. He wasn’t just here to negotiate—he was here to conquer.He thought we were desperate.He thought we had no way out.He thought wrong.Beside me, Alexander sat still, his fingers laced together, but the tension in his shoulders was a silent warning. A storm ready to break. His patience was a flickering fuse, and Calloway was playing with matches.Marcus smirked. “I have to say, I admire your resilience.”I tilted my head, feigning amusement. “That almost sounded sincere.”His grin widened. “It is. After everything Steele Industries has been through… well, let’s just say lesser companies would have crumbled.”I
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 126
The boardroom was too quiet. Not the kind of quiet that signaled peace, but the kind that warned of an approaching storm.The long mahogany table stretched before me, lined with the most influential executives in Steele Industries. Men and women in custom suits, their gazes sharp, their expressions unreadable. The air was thick with unspoken tension, as if everyone was bracing for something explosive.Alexander sat at the head of the table, his posture regal, his jaw locked in calculated control. He was in his element.And me?I sat at his right, my hands steady on the portfolio in front of me. But inside, I was boiling.This was my first public test of power. Not behind closed doors, not in a private discussion with Alexander, but in front of men like Richard Calloway, who had spent the last year searching for cracks in Steele Industries.His smirk was slight, but I saw it.I took a slow breath. Not today, Calloway."Shall we begin?" Alexander’s voice was crisp, cutting through the t
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 127
"You're not going to like this."Alexander's voice was low, steady. But there was something in the way he said it—something that pressed against my ribs like a warning.I looked up from the financial reports spread across my desk, my brows drawing together. "Well, that’s a fantastic way to start a conversation."He didn’t smirk. Not the usual sharp twist of his lips that told me he was playing a long game no one else could see. Instead, his gaze was locked on the skyline beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of his home office, hands shoved into his pockets, his broad shoulders stiff with tension.I stood, slowly. "Alexander?"Still, nothing.I crossed the room, the silence stretching between us like a loaded gun. Outside, New York glittered, but in here, something bigger loomed. Something heavier.I reached him, standing close enough to see the way his jaw tightened. "Spit it out."His throat worked as he swallowed. "I made a decision about the company."A pulse of unease curled in my
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 128
"This isn't the win you think it is."Alexander’s voice cut through the hum of conversation, sending a ripple of unease through the small gathering. Champagne flutes hovered mid-air. Smiles faltered.I glanced at him from across the room, my fingers tightening around the chilled glass in my hand. The celebration had been his idea—a small moment to acknowledge that we had survived the latest storm. That Steele Industries still stood despite everything.But standing wasn’t the same as thriving.I placed my drink on the table, the bubbles fizzing against the crystal. "Let them have this," I murmured, stepping closer so only he could hear.His gaze flicked to mine, something sharp and restless in the depths of it. "One win doesn’t mean the war is over.""I know that.""Do you?" His fingers brushed against mine—so brief, so fleeting that no one else would notice. "Because the way they’re smiling, you’d think we conquered the world instead of barely making it through."I exhaled slowly, sca
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 129
"What’s it like to be the most controversial woman in business?"I stared at the journalist sitting across from me, keeping my expression smooth despite the fire that ignited inside me.She smiled—innocent enough to fool the casual observer, but I knew better. The media never asked questions like that without an agenda.I folded my hands over my lap, letting a pause settle between us before I spoke. "That depends. What controversy are we talking about today?"Her eyes sparkled, sensing the challenge. "Your marriage, your position at Steele Industries, your influence in the market. There’s quite a bit of discussion about how quickly you've risen.""Discussion or speculation?" I countered.Her smile didn’t waver. "People are curious.""Curiosity is healthy." I tilted my head. "But curiosity without facts? That’s just gossip."She leaned in slightly, her movements slow and deliberate, as if she were coaxing a confession from me. "So you’d say none of your success has anything to do with
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 130
"You don’t sleep much, do you?"Alexander’s voice carried across the dimly lit penthouse, cutting through the silence like a blade.I turned away from the window, where the city stretched endlessly below, a glowing reminder of everything we had built. He stood by the bar, sleeves rolled up, glass in hand, his expression unreadable as the amber liquid swirled against the crystal.I smirked. "Says the man drinking alone at two in the morning."His lips curved slightly. "Who said I was alone?"I pushed off the window, crossing the room with slow, deliberate steps. "Long day?""Long life," he murmured, setting the glass down with a quiet clink.I leaned against the couch, watching him. "That bad?"He exhaled, his gaze flickering toward me. "Not bad. Just relentless."For all his power, for all the ways Alexander Hawke commanded every room he stepped into, there were cracks in the armour. Ones he rarely let anyone see.But tonight, he wasn’t hiding them.And neither was I."Do you ever thi
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 131
"Fix it."Alexander’s voice was low but sharp, slicing through the charged air like a blade.The boardroom was silent. Tension wrapped around every executive seated at the long table. The air smelled like expensive coffee and nerves.All eyes were on me.I squared my shoulders, my pulse steady.I had spent the past year proving myself. Fighting for my place at this table. And now?Now, it was time to show them why I belonged here.I placed my hands flat on the table, letting the weight of my presence settle over the room before I spoke."Let’s go over the facts," I said evenly. "Langley, walk me through it."Langley, one of our most seasoned board members, cleared his throat. "The Calloway situation escalated faster than we anticipated. He leveraged media connections to leak false reports about Steele Industries’ financial instability. Investors are rattled. Stock is down six per cent as of this morning."A ripple of unease passed through the room.I nodded, absorbing the information.
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 132
"Cancel your meetings."I looked up from my laptop, blinking at Alexander as he leaned against my office door, arms crossed, expression unreadable.I arched a brow. "Excuse me?""You heard me." His voice was steady, laced with something dangerous. Something final.I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Alexander, we don’t have time for this. Calloway is still lurking in the shadows, and I—""Calloway can wait."My pulse ticked. "That’s not how this works, and you know it."He pushed off the door, stepping into the room with the kind of effortless authority that made boardrooms fall silent. That made men twice his age stumble over their words. That made me feel things I wasn’t ready to deal with."You need to disconnect," he said simply.I scoffed. "Says the man who works in his sleep."Something flickered in his expression. "Exactly."I opened my mouth, ready to argue, but he was already rounding my desk, already shutting my laptop with one swift motion.I glared at him. "Alexander—""We’re l
Last Updated : 2025-03-17
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The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 172
You’d think after everything we’ve been through, we’d know how to keep our promises.I stood in the middle of our kitchen, barefoot, wrapped in one of Alexander’s oversized shirts. The silence in the penthouse was loud—only broken by the hum of the refrigerator and the dull buzz of my phone on the counter. Again.Work messages. At nearly midnight.The trip had ended three days ago. Three perfect, disconnected, sun-drenched days where we remembered what we were without the world pulling us in opposite directions. But the second we landed, the floodgates opened.He’d already broken our no-work-after-seven rule twice. I’d ignored it the first time. Justified the second. But now?Now I was pissed.I didn’t hear him walk in until his voice cut through the quiet like a wire snapping.“You’re still up?”I turned, crossing my arms. “That’s your opening line?”Alexander stilled, already sensing the storm brewing in me. He looked tired—no, wrecked—but I didn’t let it soften me this time.“I had
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 171
"Just when we thought we had it all figured out, life threw us a curveball wrapped in dollar signs."The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our penthouse, casting a deceptive calm over the chaos brewing beneath. Alexander sat at the dining table, a thick dossier open before him, his brow furrowed in concentration. The sight was both familiar and unsettling."Leila," he began, his voice measured but tinged with an undercurrent I couldn't quite place. "We need to discuss this proposal."I set down my coffee, the rich aroma suddenly nauseating. "Another one? Didn't we agree to take a step back after the last project nearly consumed us?"He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. But this... this is different. It's a partnership offer from Global Innovations. The potential here is massive."I approached, glancing over his shoulder at the documents. The figures were staggering, the kind that could solidify our company's position at the pinnacle of the industry. But
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 170
"Love isn't tested in the calm; it's forged in the storm."I stood at the edge of our penthouse balcony, the city lights stretching out like a sea of stars beneath me. The cool breeze did little to calm the storm brewing inside.Alexander's voice broke through my thoughts. "Leila, what's going on?"I turned to see him leaning against the doorway, concern etched on his face. His presence, usually so grounding, now felt like a lifeline."It's Daniel," I began, my voice barely steady. "He's back, and with him, all the memories I've tried to forget."Alexander's eyes narrowed. "What does he want?""He says he's in trouble," I replied, wrapping my arms around myself. "But his return has stirred up doubts about who I was... and who I am now."Alexander crossed the space between us, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Your past doesn't define you, Leila. We all have shadows. It's how we move forward that matters."Tears welled up, blurring my vision. "But what if those shadows catch up? What
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 169
"Just when you think you've buried your past, it has a way of knocking on your front door."The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our penthouse, casting a golden glow over the minimalist decor. I stood at the kitchen island, nursing a cup of coffee, its rich aroma filling the air. Alexander sat across from me, engrossed in the financial section of the newspaper, his brow furrowed in concentration."Anything interesting?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence.He looked up, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just the usual market fluctuations. Nothing that can't wait."I nodded, taking another sip of my coffee. The tranquility of the moment was shattered by the sharp chime of the doorbell. Alexander and I exchanged puzzled glances; we weren't expecting anyone."I'll get it," I offered, setting my mug down and moving toward the door.As I opened it, my breath caught in my throat. Standing before me was a ghost from my past—Daniel. His once-boyish face was
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 168
“Success had always been my compass, but lately, it felt like I was navigating without a map.”I stared at the half-empty espresso cup on the kitchen island. The crema had gone flat, the kind of detail I usually wouldn’t notice. But now it felt like the perfect metaphor for everything that had gone dull lately—even the parts of life that were supposed to taste rich.Leila padded in barefoot, wearing my faded CalTech hoodie and holding a mug of tea. Her hair was a mess, and her cheeks were still pink from sleep, but damn if she didn’t still stop me cold.“You didn’t sleep again,” she said.I gave a non-answer shrug and kept my eyes on the city outside the window.She set her mug down and leaned on the counter, not pressing yet. Just... waiting. That was something she’d learned recently. How to wait for me to come to her instead of dragging it out of me.“I’ve been thinking,” I finally said.“Uh-oh,” she said, smiling a little. “That’s your ‘change the company overnight’ voice.”“No. No
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 167
“Grief doesn’t ask permission. It just shows up, wrecks everything, and dares you to clean it up.”It started with silence.Not the peaceful kind. Not the kind where two people sit next to each other and don’t need to fill the space. This was the heavy kind. The kind that sat between us at the dinner table while Alexander pushed food around his plate and pretended to be somewhere else.He hadn’t touched the roasted chicken. I made it from scratch. It used to be his favorite.“You haven’t eaten all day,” I said, not looking up from my own plate. I’d barely taken a bite myself.“I’m not hungry.”"You said that yesterday."He finally looked up. His eyes were dull, rimmed red from nights I knew he wasn’t sleeping through.“Leila,” he said flatly. “Please. Not tonight.”I set my fork down. “It’s been nine nights.”He exhaled sharply and shoved his chair back. “I can't do this right now.”And just like that, he was gone—down the hall, the door to his study clicking shut behind him.At first
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 166
"Alex, it's your dad."I heard the change in his voice before I heard the words. He'd just picked up a call—early, too early for it to be anything good. His body stiffened. His shoulders pulled back like someone punched him from behind.I was halfway down the stairs in a T-shirt and one sock when I saw his face.“What’s wrong?” I asked, breath catching.He lowered the phone slowly like it weighed fifty pounds. “It’s my father,” he said. “He’s had a heart attack.”---We didn’t talk much on the drive to the hospital. He gripped the steering wheel like he needed it to keep breathing. I sat there, silent, staring out the window, trying to do something—anything—but think about what it would mean if this went badly.He didn’t need me to talk. Not yet.He just needed me there.---When we got to the hospital, we found Emily pacing outside the ICU. Her face was blotchy. Her hands shook.“They rushed him into surgery two hours ago,” she said, and when Alex hugged her, her voice cracked. “They
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 165
"We need to get away."Alexander's voice cut through the ambient hum of our penthouse, his tone resolute.I glanced up from my laptop, fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Away? Now?""Yes, now." He crossed the room, his movements deliberate, and gently closed my laptop. "We've been running on fumes for months, Leila. It's time to hit pause."I leaned back, studying his face—the tension etched in the lines around his eyes, the tight set of his jaw. "And you think a getaway will fix everything?""Not everything," he admitted, perching on the edge of the coffee table opposite me. "But it's a start."I sighed, the weight of unending responsibilities pressing down. "Where would we even go?"A slow smile curved his lips. "Leave that to me."---Two days later, we were airborne on his private jet, destination undisclosed. Alexander reveled in the mystery, his eyerevelledling with unspoken secrets."You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I teased, nudging his shoulder.He chuckled, a rich sound
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 164
"You can't be serious, Leila."Alexander's voice echoed through our expansive living room, his tone a mix of disbelief and frustration.I stood my ground, meeting his intense gaze. "I am serious. This is my project, and I need to do this on my own."He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I knew all too well. "Why now? Why this?""Because I need to prove to myself that I can," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.Alexander sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I just don't want to see you get hurt.""I know," I said softly. "But I have to take this risk."---The opportunity had come unexpectedly—a chance to lead a project without Alexander's influence overshadowing me. It was a small tech startup looking for investors, and I saw potential where others saw risk."You're sure about this?" Jessica, my closest confidante and our company's CFO, asked as we reviewed the proposal.I nodded. "Absolutely. This could be the breakthrough I've been waiting for."She raise
