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Chapter 142
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2025-03-17 20:29:52
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The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 143
"I don’t need saving, Alexander."The words left my mouth before I could stop them, sharp and cutting, filling the silence between us like shattered glass.Alexander stood across from me in our penthouse, his jaw tight, his hands shoved into his pockets like he was barely holding himself back."You think that’s what this is?" His voice was low and controlled, but I knew better. Knew the restraint was only skin-deep.I exhaled, shaking my head. "You’re shutting me out. Again."His eyes darkened. "And you’re pretending like that doesn’t make sense?"My pulse ticked up. "It doesn’t."Alexander turned away, pacing toward the window. "Calloway’s not just coming for the company anymore, Leila. He’s coming for us. He’s using you to get to me. And you want me to just—" He let out a rough laugh, raking a hand through his hair. "What? Sit back and let it happen?"I stepped forward. "That’s not what I’m saying.""Then what are you saying?" His voice was sharp now, his control slipping.I swallow
Last Updated : 2025-03-17The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 144
"If you tell me to step back, I swear to God, Alexander—"My voice was razor-sharp as I stormed into his office, slamming the door behind me.Alexander stood behind his desk, hands braced against the polished wood, his jaw tight, his body coiled with restrained energy.He didn’t look surprised.Of course he didn’t.He knew I was coming for him.His gaze flicked up, steady, unreadable. "That’s exactly what I was going to say."I narrowed my eyes. "Don’t."A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Leila—""No." I stalked closer, slapping a folder onto his desk. "Calloway isn’t just attacking Steele Industries. He’s coming for me. And if you think I’m going to let you play the brooding protector while I sit in the shadows, then you don’t know me at all."Alexander exhaled, pushing off the desk. "That’s not what I’m doing."I arched a brow. "Oh? Then what exactly are you doing?"Silence.He raked a hand through his hair, pacing toward the window. The tension in his body was lethal.Good.Let him feel
Last Updated : 2025-03-18The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 145
"This is either brilliant or suicidal."Langley’s voice was dry as he dropped a thick file onto the conference table. The weight of it thudded against the polished wood, but the real weight—the risk—hung in the air between all of us.Across from me, Alexander leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled, expression unreadable. Calculating.I knew that look.It was the same one he had when he was about to make a very dangerous move.I exhaled, flicking my gaze back to Langley. "Walk me through it."Jessica shifted in her seat, pulling up projections on the screen. "Vanguard Technologies. Europe’s fastest-growing AI infrastructure firm. They’re at the forefront of security integration, automated finance models, and predictive analytics. Their market cap has nearly tripled in the last year.""Sounds promising," I murmured.Langley rubbed his jaw. "It is. But they’re in deep with foreign regulators, and a handful of watchdog groups are already sniffing around their books. If we buy in, we i
Last Updated : 2025-03-18The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 146
"If you walk away, I won’t stop you."The words hung in the air between us, heavier than anything Alexander had ever said to me.The city stretched behind him through the penthouse windows, a skyline filled with power, wealth, and control. But for once, Alexander Hawke didn’t look like the man who ruled it.He looked tired.Tense.Like he was bracing for a loss he didn’t know how to stop.I inhaled slowly, the weight of his words pressing into my chest. "Excuse me?"His jaw flexed, but his expression didn’t change. "You heard me."A sharp silence stretched between us.Then—I exhaled. "You think I’m leaving?"His fingers curled into fists at his sides. "I think you have every reason to."Anger bubbled up, sharp and immediate. "That’s bullshit."His lips twitched, but there was no humour in it. "Is it?"I took a step closer, closing the space between us. "Yes, Alexander. It is."His throat bobbed. "Leila—""No." I jabbed a finger into his chest. "You don’t get to decide that for me."H
Last Updated : 2025-03-19The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 147
"Whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it."Alexander’s voice was razor-sharp, cutting through the tension that had settled between us like a blade.I didn’t stop. Didn’t pause. Just kept my eyes on the contract in front of me, my fingers hovering over the signature line."Leila."His tone dropped, lower this time. Dangerous.I exhaled slowly, lifting my gaze to meet his. "It’s the only way."His jaw clenched. "No. It’s not."I pushed the contract toward him. "Read it."He didn’t move. Didn’t even glance down.Because he already knew.I crossed my arms. "Then tell me I’m wrong."Silence.Tension curled around us like a noose.Jessica and Langley sat stiffly at the conference table, watching like they were bracing for a storm.And they should have been.Because Alexander Hawke didn’t take well to losing.And I had just decided to take something from him.His ability to protect me."You are not selling your shares, Leila." His voice was cold. Final.I exhaled, shaking my head. "*I’m not se
Last Updated : 2025-03-19The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 148
"We just lost everything."Jessica’s voice was flat, but the weight behind it felt like a punch to the ribs.I stood in the center of the boardroom, my grip tight around the edge of the table, eyes locked on the latest numbers flashing across the massive screen. Red. A lot of red.Stock values are down. Investors pulling back. Our entire strategy hanging by a thread.Alexander sat at the head of the table, fingers steepled, unreadable.But I knew that look.That barely contained storm.The one that only came when he felt like something had been taken from him.Jessica exhaled, tossing a folder onto the table. "Calloway pulled the last string. His people are bleeding us out from the inside. If we don’t counter this—""We will counter it." My voice was sharp. Steady.Jessica’s gaze snapped to mine. "How, Leila? We don’t even know what the next hit is."Langley, sitting to my left, pinched the bridge of his nose. "We can guess what it is. We backed Calloway into a corner, and now he’s th
Last Updated : 2025-03-21The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 149
"You need to come home. Now."The urgency in my mother’s voice sliced through the chaos of my office, cutting deeper than any headline or business war ever could.I gripped the phone tighter, pulse hammering. "Mom, what happened?"A shaky breath. "It’s your father."My blood ran cold. "Tell me.""It’s his heart."The floor beneath me seemed to tilt. I braced myself against the desk, inhaling sharply, trying to force my brain to work through the panic. "Is he—""He’s stable. For now."For now.Two words that stole the air from my lungs.Jessica and Langley were watching me from across the room, waiting for my next move. The crisis with Calloway was far from over. Steele Industries was hanging in the balance. I had a war to fight.But this?This wasn’t about power.This was family."I’m on my way."I hung up and turned, already grabbing my coat.Jessica frowned. "Leila—""Handle it." My voice was steel, even as my body vibrated with anxiety. "Everything else can wait."Alexander pushed
Last Updated : 2025-03-21The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 150
"Say the word, and I’ll walk away with you."Alexander’s voice was steady, unwavering, but the weight behind it crashed into me like a tidal wave.I turned from the hospital window, my pulse unsteady, my breath catching somewhere between disbelief and something dangerous."You’d leave it all behind?" I asked, my voice quieter than I wanted it to be.He didn’t blink. "For you? Yes."A sharp inhale.A long, stretching silence.Because of that?That wasn’t the Alexander Hawke I had met all those years ago.The one who ruled the world like it belonged to him. The one who needed power like it was his oxygen. The one who had once told me he didn’t know how to lose.But this version of him?The man standing in front of me, watching me like I was the only thing that mattered—He was willing to lose everything.For me.I swallowed hard. "I don’t know what I want yet."Alexander stepped closer, his voice lower now. "Then take your time."My throat tightened. "And if I decide I want to walk away
Last Updated : 2025-03-21
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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
