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Chapter 30
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2025-01-12 19:35:39
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The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 31
The air in Alexander's office was thick with pressure. The weak murmur of the city underneath scarcely arrived at the glass fortification where we sat, encompassed by mahogany work areas and racks fixed with leather-bound books. The morning sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting sharp lines across the room, but it did little to warm the chill that had settled between us.Alexander was seated at his desk, his elbows resting on the dark wood, his hands steepled under his chin. His jaw was clenched, his look fixed on the reports spread before him. It wasn't the typical controlled certainty I had generally expected from him. This was unique. He looked... cornered.I moved in my seat opposite him, the heaviness of implicit words pushing on my chest. I had gone through the whole evening sorting out an arrangement — a strong one — and presently, as I arranged to lay everything out, the questions started to sneak in. Could he try and pay attention to me?"Alexander," I started relu
Last Updated : 2025-01-12The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 32:
“You don’t get to dictate my life, Alexander.” My voice cut through the charged air of the penthouse like a blade, sharp and unrelenting. The words felt foreign coming out of my mouth, but I didn’t flinch. Not this time.Alexander turned slowly from the floor-to-ceiling window, the Manhattan skyline glittering behind him. His jaw tightened, the faintest flicker of something—anger? Frustration?—crossing his face. His silence pressed down on me, but I refused to back down.He crossed the room in deliberate, measured steps, his presence consuming every ounce of space. “I’m not dictating your life,” he said, his tone calm, controlled—infuriatingly so. “I’m trying to protect you.”“By smothering me?” I countered, standing my ground despite the way his piercing gray eyes seemed to see straight through me. “Every decision, every move I make, you’re right there, questioning it, redirecting it. I’m not some pawn in your world, Alexander.”A muscle ticked in his jaw. “And yet you’re still ali
Last Updated : 2025-01-14The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 33
“Secrets don’t stay buried forever.” The words hovered in my mind as I stared at the manila folder on Alexander’s desk, my heart racing like it was in a sprint I’d never prepared for.I knew better than to pry. I wasn’t some naïve girl stumbling into unknown territory anymore. But curiosity? It was a dangerous thing—one I couldn’t shake no matter how tightly I gripped the desk to steady myself.“What are you hiding, Alexander?” I whispered, the question barely audible over the roaring in my ears.The answer lay in my hands. And once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.The folder was full of damning evidence: emails, contracts, financial statements—all of them pointing to one conclusion. Samuel Grayson wasn’t just another competitor. He was a man with a vendetta, a grudge so deep it bled through every single page.My fingers trembled as I flipped to a grainy photo paperclipped to a sheet. It was of Alexander and Grayson, standing side by side, years younger, smiles painted on their faces.
Last Updated : 2025-01-14The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 34
“Trust me,” Alexander said, his tone like steel. “And whatever you do, don’t blink first.” The conference room was a battlefield, its air thick with tension and veiled hostility. The walls gleamed with polished glass, reflecting the sharp glares of the board members seated around the sprawling table. I could feel their eyes on me, dissecting, doubting, judging.Alexander stood beside me, the picture of composed confidence. His tailored suit fit him like a second skin, and his cold, calculated gaze moved across the room like a hawk circling its prey. But even his unshakable demeanor couldn’t hide the pressure simmering beneath the surface.I adjusted the notepad in front of me, not because I needed it, but because it gave my hands something to do. “Are they always this friendly?” I murmured under my breath, the hint of sarcasm doing little to mask my nerves.“Welcome to corporate politics,” he replied, his voice low enough for only me to hear. “Smile, Leila. They can smell fear.”The
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 35
“You want me to sit in a room full of sharks and pretend I belong there?”Alexander glanced at me from across the kitchen island, his brow arched in that infuriating way that made me feel small and challenged all at once. He stirred his coffee with the precision of a man who controlled empires, as though the fate of the world depended on the perfect swirl of cream.“You don’t have to pretend, Leila,” he said coolly, his voice a low rumble. “You already belong there.”I snorted, leaning against the counter for support. “Oh, is that why half your board can’t stop staring at me like I’m an intruder every time I walk into a room?”His hand froze mid-stir, the subtle tightening of his jaw the only indication that my words had landed. “They stare because they’re curious,” he said, setting his spoon down with deliberate care. “You’re a wildcard. Unpredictable. That’s what makes you valuable.”“Valuable?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes. “I feel more like a liability.”He rounded the island in
Last Updated : 2025-01-16The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 36
The email landed in my inbox at exactly 2:00 a.m., its subject line a stark warning: “You’re playing a dangerous game, Mrs. Hawke.”I stared at it for a long moment, the weight of those words sinking into my chest like a stone. My fingers hovered over the trackpad, indecision clawing at my throat. Should I open it? Forward it to Alexander? Ignore it altogether and hope it disappeared into the digital void?But deep down, I knew ignoring this wouldn’t make it go away.I clicked.The email was short, concise, and terrifying:Your influence is growing. Your boldness is admirable, but let me remind you, Mrs. Hawke, every move you make has consequences. You care about your family, don’t you?Attached was a photo.My heart stopped when I opened it.It was my parents’ home—simple and unassuming, the place where I’d grown up. The photo was recent; the leaves on the oak tree in the front yard were the brilliant red of early autumn. But it was what—or who—stood in the foreground that made my st
Last Updated : 2025-01-16The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 37
“Get down!”Alexander’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade, sharp and unyielding. I barely had time to process his words before he yanked me behind him, his body shielding mine as the deafening crack of shattering glass echoed through the penthouse.“What’s happening?” My voice trembled, panic rising like a tidal wave in my chest.“Stay here,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. He moved swiftly, his movements precise, controlled.I didn’t listen.“Alexander, wait!” I grabbed his arm, my nails digging into the fabric of his suit. “You can’t go out there alone.”His dark eyes bore into mine, filled with a mix of frustration and something far more tender—fear. “Leila, I need you to trust me. Please.”The word hung between us, rare and raw, cutting through the noise in my head. I nodded, even as every instinct screamed at me to follow him.He slipped out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving me in suffocating silence.I pressed my back against the w
Last Updated : 2025-01-18The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 38
“You’re avoiding me,” I said, crossing my arms as I leaned against the doorway to Alexander’s office. My voice was steady, but my heart was pounding.Alexander didn’t even flinch. He sat behind his massive desk, the glow of his computer screen illuminating his chiseled features. His fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, his focus unbroken.“I’m working,” he said without looking up.“You’ve been working all day,” I countered, stepping into the room. “And yesterday. And the day before that.”Finally, he looked up, his dark eyes locking onto mine. There was a weariness in his gaze, one I hadn’t noticed before. “What do you want me to say, Leila?”“I want you to talk to me,” I said, my voice softening as I approached his desk. “Really talk to me. Because right now, it feels like we’re just two people living in the same space, not a couple trying to figure this out.”He sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbing a hand over his face. “This isn’t the time for heart-to-hearts,” he said
Last Updated : 2025-01-18
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The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 81
The First Strike The lawsuit was filed at dawn. By noon, it was on every major news outlet. By evening, the world knew that Alexander Steele had declared war. I sat in the sleek black leather chair of Alexander’s office, scrolling through endless headlines. "Steele Enterprises Takes Luxor Industries to Court—Corporate War Begins!" "Damien King Accused of Corporate Espionage—Is Cassandra Knight the Puppet Master?" "Alexander Steele’s Billion-Dollar Lawsuit: The Fight That Could Reshape the Industry." Alexander stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his hands in his pockets, his stance deceptively relaxed. But I could see the tension in his shoulders. “They wanted a war,” he said, his voice smooth but razor-sharp. “Now they have one.” I exhaled, setting my phone on the table. “You really think Damien’s going to roll over because of a lawsuit?” His lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “No. I expect him to fight. But he doesn’t have what I have.” “And what’s
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 80
The Return to ChaosThe moment we stepped off the jet, I knew something was wrong.Alexander’s phone vibrated. Once. Twice. Then mine. The sudden onslaught of calls and texts wasn’t normal. My stomach clenched as I glanced at the notifications stacking up like bricks.Alexander barely had time to check his screen before his face hardened, his grip tightening around his phone.“Leila.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.I looked up, my own phone buzzing in my hand. “What?”He turned the screen toward me.BREAKING NEWS: DAMIEN KING AND CASSANDRA KNIGHT UNVEIL LUXOR INDUSTRIES, A DIRECT COMPETITOR TO STEELE ENTERPRISES.My breath left my lungs. No.“Impossible,” I whispered. “He wouldn’t—”Alexander was already dialing.The second Liam answered, his voice was tight. “Boss, it’s bad.”Alexander clenched his jaw. “Tell me.”“Damien launched a direct competitor overnight. Luxor Industries. Cassandra’s funding it. They’ve already poached several of our people—incl
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 79
The RetreatThe rhythmic crash of waves against the shore was the only sound that filled the silence between us. The villa—perched on the edge of the Mediterranean, isolated from the chaos we had just left behind—was a stark contrast to the storm raging between me and Alexander.I stood at the open balcony, watching the moonlight cast a silver glow over the endless stretch of water. The air smelled of salt and jasmine, but I barely noticed it. My thoughts were tangled in the tension still hanging in the space between us.I heard the door close softly behind me, followed by the sound of Alexander’s footsteps.“We needed this,” he said, his voice low, rough.I didn’t turn around. “Did we?”A beat of silence. Then—“Yes.”I closed my eyes for a second, exhaling slowly. “Running away won’t fix what’s broken between us, Alexander.”“We’re not running.” His voice was closer now. “We’re breathing.”I turned then, meeting his gaze. There was something vulnerable in the way he looked at me—lik
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 78
"You shouldn’t have gotten involved."The words sent an icy chill through me.I stared down at the unmarked envelope that had been slipped under my office door, my fingers gripping the letter inside a little too tightly. The words were typed, no signature, no clues, but the message was clear.This wasn’t a warning.It was a threat.A direct hit meant to rattle me, to shake me into submission.I swallowed, forcing down the unease curling in my stomach as I read the letter again.Stay in your lane, Mrs. Hawke. Or next time, we won’t just be watching.The air in my office felt heavy, closing in around me. The logical side of my brain told me to breathe, to think. But the other part—the one ruled by instinct—was screaming at me to run.I wasn’t naïve. I knew the kind of world I had stepped into when I married Alexander.But this?This was different.I grabbed my phone, my fingers hovering over Alexander’s contact. I hesitated.He was already on edge. Already carrying too much.And I hated
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 77
This isn’t over until we cut out the rot."Alexander’s voice was steel, each word carrying the weight of a war that had dragged on too long. I watched him from across the room, the tension in his jaw tightening with every second that passed.It wasn’t just business anymore.It was personal.For months, we had been dismantling Cassandra’s empire, unraveling the chaos she had left behind, piece by piece. But now, the last thread had revealed itself—someone inside Steele Industries, someone still loyal to her, pulling strings in the shadows.And they weren’t going down without a fight.Alexander’s fingers drummed against the table, his eyes locked on the confidential report in front of him."Who is it?" I asked, my voice steady despite the storm brewing in my chest.He exhaled sharply, flipping the report shut before looking up. "Jameson Hale."I felt the impact of that name like a physical blow."Hale?" My stomach twisted. "But he’s been with the company for years—long before Cassandra.
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 76
You need to make a decision, Alexander."The weight of those words hung in the air, thick and unrelenting.I sat stiffly in the boardroom, my fingers tightening around the armrests of my chair as I watched Alexander across the table. His posture was as rigid as steel, his face an unreadable mask, but the sharp tick of his jaw gave him away.They were cornering him.And I was the reason why.The men seated around us—billionaire investors, executives who prided themselves on running the empire with an iron fist—didn’t even bother to hide their distaste for me."She’s become a liability," Charles Weaver said, his voice smooth, cutting. "The press is running wild with stories about her influence, and investors are questioning your judgment."Another man, Richard Caldwell, nodded. "The company cannot afford more instability. The most strategic move would be to separate personal affairs from business."Separate.Like I was just another mistake he needed to erase.I swallowed hard, willing m
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 75
"What are you not telling me?"The question escaped before I could stop it. My voice trembled, it was a quiet demand that sliced through the charged silence between us.Alexander’s fingers tightened around the glass in his hand, his knuckles whitening. The city skyline stretched behind him, but he wasn’t looking at it. He was looking at me.And I knew.Something had shifted.Something had been kept from me.And the moment I opened that file earlier today, my entire world tilted on its axis.He set his drink down, exhaling slowly, measuredly. "Leila, you don’t—""Don’t say I don’t understand," I cut him off, stepping forward, my heart pounding so hard I felt it in my fingertips. "Because I do. I just don’t know why."His jaw flexed. He ran a hand through his hair, a rare sign of unease. Alexander Hawke didn’t fidget. He didn’t hesitate. But right now, he was a man at war with himself."Tell me the truth," I whispered. "No more secrets. No more half-truths. I deserve to know."His silen
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 74
"This isn’t a disaster—it’s a dumpster fire with a VIP ticket to hell." The words hit like a wrecking ball, shattering the last fragile hope I had that we could control this mess. I sat stiffly at the long mahogany table, my fingers curled around my pen so tightly my knuckles ached. The air in the boardroom felt thick, suffocating, charged with the kind of energy that came when billions of dollars were at stake. Across from me, Alexander leaned forward, his hands flat on the table, his expression carved from stone. His suit was crisp, his presence as commanding as ever, but I could see the tension rippling beneath his skin. He was holding on by a thread, his patience dangerously close to snapping. “Fix this, Leila,”* he growled, his voice a low rumble of impending thunder. *“Or I’ll start burying bodies instead of problems.” I exhaled slowly. *Stay calm. Stay in control.“We can fix this.” My voice was steady, though my pulse was anything but. Alexander’s gaze locked onto mi
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 73
The Breaking Point“I’m not asking for permission, Alexander.”The words hung in the air, thick and unyielding, daring him to challenge them.Alexander sat behind his desk, his fingers interlocked, his expression unreadable—except for the tension that gripped his frame, stretching taut like a wire about to snap.His gaze locked onto mine, sharp as ever, but something else lurked beneath it—something wary, something he was trying to hide.“You think this is about permission?” His voice was low, controlled, but I knew better than to mistake that calm for anything other than barely contained frustration.I crossed my arms, forcing myself to hold my ground. “That’s exactly what this is about. Every time I take a step forward, you pull me back. Every time I try to take control of my own life, you remind me why I shouldn’t.”His jaw clenched, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then, slowly, deliberately, he stood. His presence filled the room, but I didn’t let myself shrink beneath it.“Lei
