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Chapter 13
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2024-12-31 14:16:56Related chapters
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 14
The morning air is cool, and for the first time in weeks, I don’t feel the weight of uncertainty on my chest. Alexander is away on a business trip, leaving me alone in the penthouse. It’s been quiet, almost too quiet. I find myself walking through the apartment, drawn to the places where we’ve spent the most time together—his office, the kitchen, the living room. It all feels so… distant now.But I’m not alone. Not really. His presence lingers in every corner of this place, in every piece of furniture, every object. I see reminders of him everywhere, even when he’s not here. I hear the soft chime of my phone ringing, pulling me out of my thoughts. It’s Kate, one of Alexander’s close associates. I haven’t spoken to her much, but I know she’s been around since before I came into the picture.“Leila,” her voice is warm, yet there's something tentative in it, as though she's unsure of how much to share. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”“No, not at all,” I reply, walking toward the window a
Last Updated : 2025-01-01The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 15
The morning started like any other, with the soft hum of the city outside our penthouse and the steady rhythm of life moving forward. But as I entered the living room, the first thing I noticed wasn’t the view—it was Alexander.He was standing near the window, phone in hand, eyes narrowing at something on the screen. I could feel the tension radiating off him, even from across the room.“Is everything okay?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. He didn’t look up immediately, and for a second, I almost regretted asking. But then he finally turned, his expression hard, almost guarded.“It’s just the news,” he muttered, shoving the phone into his pocket. “Nothing for you to worry about.”I frowned, crossing the room toward him. “Don’t do that. Don’t shut me out.”His jaw tightened. “I’m not shutting you out. I just don’t want to drag you into this mess.”But I had already seen enough. I’d been living with Alexander long enough to know when something was off. His eyes, normally col
Last Updated : 2025-01-01The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 16
The day feels different, almost as if the air has shifted around me. When I wake up, there’s a sense of purpose that wasn’t there before, a quiet but undeniable energy inside me. It’s not like the nervous excitement of a child on their first day of school, but rather the steely calm of someone who’s decided to stop letting life happen to them.I glance at the mirror, surprised by the reflection staring back at me. My hair is a mess, as always, but it’s the eyes that hold my attention. There’s something in them now. Something I didn’t notice before. A quiet resolve that wasn’t there a week ago.“You’re not just a pawn in someone else’s game anymore,” I murmur to myself.The house is quiet when I step out of our bedroom. Alexander is already gone for the day, leaving only a faint scent of his cologne behind. I’m used to his early mornings, but today, for some reason, I’m restless. I should have stayed in bed. But I can’t. I need to do something. For myself. For us.I move through the gr
Last Updated : 2025-01-02The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 17
The phone rings, its shrill tone cutting through the silence of our apartment. I glance at the clock. It’s late, but the call isn’t unexpected. The moment I press accept, my father’s voice comes through, strained, far more panicked than usual.“Leila, we need to talk. It’s urgent.”I sit up straighter, the weight of his words pressing down on my chest. “What is it, Dad?”There’s a pause on the other end like he's gathering his courage before speaking.“The financial situation… it’s worse than I thought. The debts have piled up even more than we anticipated. I don’t know how long we can keep this up.”My stomach churns, and I rub my temples, trying to steady myself. “But we were supposed to have more time… We were managing everything slowly, little by little.”“I thought so too,” my father says, his voice tight, “but things have escalated. We might lose everything, Leila.”I close my eyes, feeling the weight of his words sink in. The pressure in my chest feels suffocating. I glance at
Last Updated : 2025-01-02The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 18
The day extends on in a blur of meetings, calls, and vast reports. I sit in the extensive front room of our penthouse, the quietness weighty in the air.Alexander hasn't spoken a lot today, and when he does, everything,without a ddoubtt, revolves around business. His psyche is consumed by the domain he's endeavoured to work in while I sit on the outskirts, a mere observer of a life I’m no longer sure I’m a part of.“Leila, did you get the numbers from the New York team?” Alexander asks, not looking up from his phone as he paces the room, his face etched in concentration.I look up, alarmed by his abrupt inquiry. I've developed used to his distraction with work, but the distance between us feels more articulated today. "Yes, I have them," I express, standing from the lounge chair to recover the files. I hand them over to him, feeling the cold air between us deepen.He barely acknowledges the gesture, scanning the papers quickly, then tossing them aside without a second thought. “We nee
Last Updated : 2025-01-03The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 19
The weight of everything presses down on me like a stone sitting on my chest. I wake up in the morning, gazing at the roof, and briefly, I keep thinking about whether any of this — the wedding, the commitments, the moving tides of my new life — are genuine.Alexander's side of the bed is cold once more, and the space between us feels more critical now than it did even only a couple of days prior.I swing my legs off the bed and press my palms against the cool surface of the end table, steadied by the quietness of the room. The calm is frightening. I long for when quietness felt consoling, not choking. Maybe the quietness has turned into a wall between us, a barrier I’m unsure how to break through anymore.I hear the soft sound of footsteps outside our bedroom door, and a moment later, it creaks open. I don’t even have to look up to know it’s him—Alexander. He’s standing there, a shadow in the doorway, his expression unreadable. He’s dressed for another day at the office, but the lin
Last Updated : 2025-01-04The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 20
The apartment is silent, the main sound being the far-off murmur of the city underneath. I stand by the huge window, watching the lights gleam somewhere far off, a sign of how far I am from the existence I once knew. All that feels like it's changing, but, nothing appears to change by any means. Alexander hasn't spoken a lot throughout the night. The pressure between us has developed thick, more unmistakable than at any other time in recent memory.The heaviness of his quiet lingers palpably, making it harder to relax.I turn around and find him standing by the bar, gazing at the glass in his grasp as though the main thing sounds good to him at this moment. His jaw is tight, his shoulders firm. I realize something's wrong. However, he's never been great at sharing what's inside."Alexander," I say, my voice milder than expected, attempting to overcome any barrier between us. "We want to talk."He doesn’t look up, just swirls the amber liquid in his glass. The movement is almost mechan
Last Updated : 2025-01-05The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 21
I never imagined I’d find myself standing in the middle of Alexander’s sleek, glass-walled conference room. The air buzzes with anticipation, voices murmuring in clipped tones as his team files in, carrying laptops and notepads, ready for another high-stakes meeting. I’m not here to watch anymore. Today, I’m stepping in.The moment I push open the door, every conversation halts. Heads turn. Eyes widen. I can feel the weight of their gazes pressing down on me, a mix of surprise and thinly veiled scepticism.“Mrs. Hawke,” one of the assistants says, her voice hesitant but polite. “We weren’t expecting you.”I hold my chin high, willing my nerves to steady. “I’m here to help,” I say simply, my tone firm enough to leave no room for debate.Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Alexander standing near the head of the table. His expression is unreadable, his dark eyes locked on me as if trying to decipher my intentions. His usual cool, detached demeanour is intact, but I don’t miss the fain
Last Updated : 2025-01-06
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The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 23
The tension in the boardroom is palpable, a storm brewing just below the polished surface of smiles and tailored suits. I sit at the long glass table, my notebook open in front of me, pen poised to jot down notes. But it’s not the data on the projection screen that’s got my attention. It’s the subtle shift in the room—the glances exchanged, the murmurs behind cupped hands. I’m not supposed to be here. At least, that’s what the board members seem to believe. Alexander’s seat at the head of the table is empty. He’s running late—something about a last-minute call—but his absence feels strategic and deliberate. Maybe he wants to see how I’ll handle this without him.The murmuring grows louder. One of the older men at the table, James Troughton, clears his throat and leans forward, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back to perfection.“Mrs. Hawke,” he begins, his tone polite but dripping with condescension. “I must admit, it’s... unexpected to see you here. I wasn’t aware Alexander had de
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 22:
The sharp hum of the elevator fills the silence as I ascend to the top floor of Alexander’s corporate fortress. My palms are clammy, clutching a leather-bound notebook like a shield. The glassy walls of Hawke Enterprises loom around me, their sheer perfection a stark contrast to the tangle of nerves inside me.I’ve spent the morning studying—scrutinizing reports, Googling business jargon I barely understood a week ago, and reviewing every word Alexander let slip in his cold, clipped tones. Now, as I stand on the precipice of something new, I feel a strange mixture of dread and determination. I refuse to be invisible anymore, not here, not to him.When the elevator dings and the doors slide open, I step into the executive suite. The air is heavy with the scent of polished wood and faint cologne, a space meticulously crafted to reflect Alexander’s precision and power. Heads turn as I walk past, employees exchanging subtle glances. I pretend not to notice.“Mrs. Hawke,” a young assistant
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 21
I never imagined I’d find myself standing in the middle of Alexander’s sleek, glass-walled conference room. The air buzzes with anticipation, voices murmuring in clipped tones as his team files in, carrying laptops and notepads, ready for another high-stakes meeting. I’m not here to watch anymore. Today, I’m stepping in.The moment I push open the door, every conversation halts. Heads turn. Eyes widen. I can feel the weight of their gazes pressing down on me, a mix of surprise and thinly veiled scepticism.“Mrs. Hawke,” one of the assistants says, her voice hesitant but polite. “We weren’t expecting you.”I hold my chin high, willing my nerves to steady. “I’m here to help,” I say simply, my tone firm enough to leave no room for debate.Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Alexander standing near the head of the table. His expression is unreadable, his dark eyes locked on me as if trying to decipher my intentions. His usual cool, detached demeanour is intact, but I don’t miss the fain
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 20
The apartment is silent, the main sound being the far-off murmur of the city underneath. I stand by the huge window, watching the lights gleam somewhere far off, a sign of how far I am from the existence I once knew. All that feels like it's changing, but, nothing appears to change by any means. Alexander hasn't spoken a lot throughout the night. The pressure between us has developed thick, more unmistakable than at any other time in recent memory.The heaviness of his quiet lingers palpably, making it harder to relax.I turn around and find him standing by the bar, gazing at the glass in his grasp as though the main thing sounds good to him at this moment. His jaw is tight, his shoulders firm. I realize something's wrong. However, he's never been great at sharing what's inside."Alexander," I say, my voice milder than expected, attempting to overcome any barrier between us. "We want to talk."He doesn’t look up, just swirls the amber liquid in his glass. The movement is almost mechan
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 19
The weight of everything presses down on me like a stone sitting on my chest. I wake up in the morning, gazing at the roof, and briefly, I keep thinking about whether any of this — the wedding, the commitments, the moving tides of my new life — are genuine.Alexander's side of the bed is cold once more, and the space between us feels more critical now than it did even only a couple of days prior.I swing my legs off the bed and press my palms against the cool surface of the end table, steadied by the quietness of the room. The calm is frightening. I long for when quietness felt consoling, not choking. Maybe the quietness has turned into a wall between us, a barrier I’m unsure how to break through anymore.I hear the soft sound of footsteps outside our bedroom door, and a moment later, it creaks open. I don’t even have to look up to know it’s him—Alexander. He’s standing there, a shadow in the doorway, his expression unreadable. He’s dressed for another day at the office, but the lin
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 18
The day extends on in a blur of meetings, calls, and vast reports. I sit in the extensive front room of our penthouse, the quietness weighty in the air.Alexander hasn't spoken a lot today, and when he does, everything,without a ddoubtt, revolves around business. His psyche is consumed by the domain he's endeavoured to work in while I sit on the outskirts, a mere observer of a life I’m no longer sure I’m a part of.“Leila, did you get the numbers from the New York team?” Alexander asks, not looking up from his phone as he paces the room, his face etched in concentration.I look up, alarmed by his abrupt inquiry. I've developed used to his distraction with work, but the distance between us feels more articulated today. "Yes, I have them," I express, standing from the lounge chair to recover the files. I hand them over to him, feeling the cold air between us deepen.He barely acknowledges the gesture, scanning the papers quickly, then tossing them aside without a second thought. “We nee
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 17
The phone rings, its shrill tone cutting through the silence of our apartment. I glance at the clock. It’s late, but the call isn’t unexpected. The moment I press accept, my father’s voice comes through, strained, far more panicked than usual.“Leila, we need to talk. It’s urgent.”I sit up straighter, the weight of his words pressing down on my chest. “What is it, Dad?”There’s a pause on the other end like he's gathering his courage before speaking.“The financial situation… it’s worse than I thought. The debts have piled up even more than we anticipated. I don’t know how long we can keep this up.”My stomach churns, and I rub my temples, trying to steady myself. “But we were supposed to have more time… We were managing everything slowly, little by little.”“I thought so too,” my father says, his voice tight, “but things have escalated. We might lose everything, Leila.”I close my eyes, feeling the weight of his words sink in. The pressure in my chest feels suffocating. I glance at
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 16
The day feels different, almost as if the air has shifted around me. When I wake up, there’s a sense of purpose that wasn’t there before, a quiet but undeniable energy inside me. It’s not like the nervous excitement of a child on their first day of school, but rather the steely calm of someone who’s decided to stop letting life happen to them.I glance at the mirror, surprised by the reflection staring back at me. My hair is a mess, as always, but it’s the eyes that hold my attention. There’s something in them now. Something I didn’t notice before. A quiet resolve that wasn’t there a week ago.“You’re not just a pawn in someone else’s game anymore,” I murmur to myself.The house is quiet when I step out of our bedroom. Alexander is already gone for the day, leaving only a faint scent of his cologne behind. I’m used to his early mornings, but today, for some reason, I’m restless. I should have stayed in bed. But I can’t. I need to do something. For myself. For us.I move through the gr
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 15
The morning started like any other, with the soft hum of the city outside our penthouse and the steady rhythm of life moving forward. But as I entered the living room, the first thing I noticed wasn’t the view—it was Alexander.He was standing near the window, phone in hand, eyes narrowing at something on the screen. I could feel the tension radiating off him, even from across the room.“Is everything okay?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. He didn’t look up immediately, and for a second, I almost regretted asking. But then he finally turned, his expression hard, almost guarded.“It’s just the news,” he muttered, shoving the phone into his pocket. “Nothing for you to worry about.”I frowned, crossing the room toward him. “Don’t do that. Don’t shut me out.”His jaw tightened. “I’m not shutting you out. I just don’t want to drag you into this mess.”But I had already seen enough. I’d been living with Alexander long enough to know when something was off. His eyes, normally col
