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Chapter 84
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2025-02-13 13:41:55
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The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 85
The DiscoveryI paced Alexander’s office, my pulse pounding as I skimmed the documents again. The weight of the numbers—the sheer scale of what Damien had done—made my stomach churn.Alexander sat at his desk, eyes scanning the reports, but the growing darkness in his expression said everything before he spoke."Tell me this is a mistake." His voice was deadly quiet.I placed the last folder on his desk and met his unwavering gaze. "It’s not. Damien has been siphoning money for years. The audit confirms it. He set up shell corporations, fake accounts, and transferred over fifty million dollars out of Steele Industries."A long, thick silence settled between us before he exhaled sharply, pressing his palms flat against the desk. "And Cassandra?""She knew." I handed him another set of files. "Not just knew—she was in on it. She funneled money into offshore accounts and disguised it as ‘business investments.’ We have emails, wire transfers, everything."Alexander's grip tightened around
Last Updated : 2025-02-13The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 86
The café was tucked away on a quiet street, far enough from the prying eyes of the press, Steele Industries, and most importantly—Alexander.I sat at a corner table, my fingers wrapped around a lukewarm cup of coffee I wasn’t drinking. Every muscle in my body was tight with anticipation as I waited. The city’s usual hum seemed distant, muffled by the weight of what I was about to do.A chair scraped against the floor, and I looked up.The man across from me was older, weathered, dressed in a dark suit that had seen better days. There was something sharp in his gaze, something that told me he wasn’t meeting me here for goodwill."Leila Hawthorne," he greeted, his voice smooth but edged with caution.I met his stare. "You used to work for Cassandra."His lips curled in something resembling a smirk. "Once upon a time."I leaned forward. "Then you know why we’re here."A beat of silence. Then he let out a slow breath. "I know you want to bring her down. But what makes you think I’ll help
Last Updated : 2025-02-13The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 87
The ocean stretched endlessly before me, its waves calm, rhythmic, an illusion of peace. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with golden hues, but my mind refused to settle.Alexander and I had needed this—time away, a break from the chaos of our world.Yet, even as I sat on the private villa’s balcony, sipping a cocktail, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.I turned to Alexander, who sat beside me, his gaze locked on his phone. His jaw was tense, his fingers gripping the device too tightly."Work?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light.He exhaled sharply, locking the screen and setting the phone on the table between us. "No. Just a feeling."I arched a brow. "A bad one?"His eyes met mine, dark and searching. "I don’t trust silence, Leila. Not in our world."I swallowed, a chill creeping down my spine despite the warm island air.Before I could respond, his phone buzzed.Alexander picked it up, his expression hardening as he read the screen.The
Last Updated : 2025-02-13The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 88
The Collapse BeginsI had seen Alexander angry before. I had seen him calculated, relentless, and ice-cold in negotiations.But this?This was something else.He stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, shoulders rigid. The city stretched beneath him—New York, our battlefield—but right now, the empire he had built was crumbling.“We lost two investors today.” His voice was steady, but I knew him well enough to hear what lurked beneath—rage, frustration, self-recrimination.I swallowed. “How bad is it?”His jaw tightened. “Bad.”I stepped closer, trying to bridge the space between us. “We’ll fix it.”He let out a sharp laugh, bitter and humourless. “Fix it? Leila, in the last twenty-four hours, we’ve lost millions. Damien and Cassandra orchestrated this perfectly. First, the leak. Then, the board’s doubt. Now, the investors pulling out.”I hated how right he was.I folded my arms. “We’re not out yet. There’s still
Last Updated : 2025-02-13The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 89
“I have a plan.”The words left my mouth before I had a chance to reconsider them. The moment they were spoken, the weight of what I was about to suggest settled in my chest.Alexander lifted his gaze from the financial reports spread across his desk. The room was dimly lit, his office feeling smaller than usual despite its vast space. He didn’t say anything immediately, but the sharpness in his eyes made it clear—he wasn’t in the mood for half-baked ideas.I stepped forward, closing the space between us. “It’s risky,” I admitted. “But it’s our best shot.”He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. “Define risky.”I swallowed, steadying myself. “We let Damien think he’s won.”Silence.Then, he let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “You can’t be serious.”“I am.”He pushed his chair back, standing with deliberate movements. His hands found his pockets, and for a long moment, he just studied me.“No,” he said finally.I braced myself. “Hear me out—”“No.” His tone was clipped and co
Last Updated : 2025-02-14The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 90
“You need to see this.”The urgency in Alexander’s voice sent a chill down my spine. He stood in front of his desk, phone in hand, his usual composed expression shadowed by something colder.I walked toward him, taking the phone hesitantly. My pulse kicked up the moment I saw what he was looking at—a news article with a headline designed to destroy.Billionaire Mogul’s Wife Tied to Family Scandal—The Truth About Leila Adams SteeleMy breath caught. The article was a full-page exposé, filled with half-truths, twisted facts, and outright lies. It dug into my past and my family’s financial struggles before the marriage and implied that I had manipulated my way into Alexander’s world.I scanned further, and my blood turned to ice.A leaked private email exchange between my father and a lawyer.“Where did they get this?” I whispered, my grip tightening.Alexander’s voice was sharp. “Cassandra.”I looked up. His jaw was clenched, his hands pressed against the edge of the desk as though grou
Last Updated : 2025-02-14The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 91
The moment Alexander set the file down on his desk, I knew.This wasn’t just business.It was personal.He exhaled slowly, his fingers pressing into the edge of the desk as if grounding himself. His expression was unreadable, but the weight of what he’d just uncovered filled the air between us like an unspoken storm.I stepped forward, my stomach twisting. “What is it?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he slid the file toward me. “Read it.”I hesitated before picking it up, my pulse kicking up with every word I read. The information was damning—an entire dossier on Cassandra Whitmore’s past. Her connection to Steele Industries ran far deeper than we ever imagined.I looked up. “This… This isn’t just about power, is it?”Alexander’s jaw tightened. “No.”I flipped to the next page, my breath catching at the familiar name.Richard Steele.My stomach dropped.Cassandra’s vendetta wasn’t against Alexander.It was against his father.I met his gaze. “Alexander… what did your father do
Last Updated : 2025-02-15The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 92
The gown was sleek, form-fitting, a shade of deep emerald that shimmered under the ballroom lights. I barely recognize myself in the mirror, the transformation from Leila Steele, wife of a billionaire, to a woman capable of walking into the lion’s den unnoticed.I exhaled slowly, adjusting the delicate diamond bracelet on my wrist.This wasn’t just another event.It was a battlefield.Damien’s charity gala was a carefully orchestrated performance, a façade meant to distract from what was really happening behind closed doors. And if I played this right, I would find the cracks.A soft knock at the hotel suite’s door.I turned, my pulse picking up. Alexander.The moment he stepped inside, his sharp gaze swept over me, and something flickered in his eyes—a mixture of tension and frustration.“I still don’t like this,” he said, voice low and controlled.I forced a small smile, crossing my arms. “You weren’t supposed to.”His jaw clenched. “You don’t have to do this, Leila.”I stepped forw
Last Updated : 2025-02-15
Latest chapter
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 92
The gown was sleek, form-fitting, a shade of deep emerald that shimmered under the ballroom lights. I barely recognize myself in the mirror, the transformation from Leila Steele, wife of a billionaire, to a woman capable of walking into the lion’s den unnoticed.I exhaled slowly, adjusting the delicate diamond bracelet on my wrist.This wasn’t just another event.It was a battlefield.Damien’s charity gala was a carefully orchestrated performance, a façade meant to distract from what was really happening behind closed doors. And if I played this right, I would find the cracks.A soft knock at the hotel suite’s door.I turned, my pulse picking up. Alexander.The moment he stepped inside, his sharp gaze swept over me, and something flickered in his eyes—a mixture of tension and frustration.“I still don’t like this,” he said, voice low and controlled.I forced a small smile, crossing my arms. “You weren’t supposed to.”His jaw clenched. “You don’t have to do this, Leila.”I stepped forw
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 91
The moment Alexander set the file down on his desk, I knew.This wasn’t just business.It was personal.He exhaled slowly, his fingers pressing into the edge of the desk as if grounding himself. His expression was unreadable, but the weight of what he’d just uncovered filled the air between us like an unspoken storm.I stepped forward, my stomach twisting. “What is it?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he slid the file toward me. “Read it.”I hesitated before picking it up, my pulse kicking up with every word I read. The information was damning—an entire dossier on Cassandra Whitmore’s past. Her connection to Steele Industries ran far deeper than we ever imagined.I looked up. “This… This isn’t just about power, is it?”Alexander’s jaw tightened. “No.”I flipped to the next page, my breath catching at the familiar name.Richard Steele.My stomach dropped.Cassandra’s vendetta wasn’t against Alexander.It was against his father.I met his gaze. “Alexander… what did your father do
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 90
“You need to see this.”The urgency in Alexander’s voice sent a chill down my spine. He stood in front of his desk, phone in hand, his usual composed expression shadowed by something colder.I walked toward him, taking the phone hesitantly. My pulse kicked up the moment I saw what he was looking at—a news article with a headline designed to destroy.Billionaire Mogul’s Wife Tied to Family Scandal—The Truth About Leila Adams SteeleMy breath caught. The article was a full-page exposé, filled with half-truths, twisted facts, and outright lies. It dug into my past and my family’s financial struggles before the marriage and implied that I had manipulated my way into Alexander’s world.I scanned further, and my blood turned to ice.A leaked private email exchange between my father and a lawyer.“Where did they get this?” I whispered, my grip tightening.Alexander’s voice was sharp. “Cassandra.”I looked up. His jaw was clenched, his hands pressed against the edge of the desk as though grou
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 89
“I have a plan.”The words left my mouth before I had a chance to reconsider them. The moment they were spoken, the weight of what I was about to suggest settled in my chest.Alexander lifted his gaze from the financial reports spread across his desk. The room was dimly lit, his office feeling smaller than usual despite its vast space. He didn’t say anything immediately, but the sharpness in his eyes made it clear—he wasn’t in the mood for half-baked ideas.I stepped forward, closing the space between us. “It’s risky,” I admitted. “But it’s our best shot.”He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. “Define risky.”I swallowed, steadying myself. “We let Damien think he’s won.”Silence.Then, he let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “You can’t be serious.”“I am.”He pushed his chair back, standing with deliberate movements. His hands found his pockets, and for a long moment, he just studied me.“No,” he said finally.I braced myself. “Hear me out—”“No.” His tone was clipped and co
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 88
The Collapse BeginsI had seen Alexander angry before. I had seen him calculated, relentless, and ice-cold in negotiations.But this?This was something else.He stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, shoulders rigid. The city stretched beneath him—New York, our battlefield—but right now, the empire he had built was crumbling.“We lost two investors today.” His voice was steady, but I knew him well enough to hear what lurked beneath—rage, frustration, self-recrimination.I swallowed. “How bad is it?”His jaw tightened. “Bad.”I stepped closer, trying to bridge the space between us. “We’ll fix it.”He let out a sharp laugh, bitter and humourless. “Fix it? Leila, in the last twenty-four hours, we’ve lost millions. Damien and Cassandra orchestrated this perfectly. First, the leak. Then, the board’s doubt. Now, the investors pulling out.”I hated how right he was.I folded my arms. “We’re not out yet. There’s still
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 87
The ocean stretched endlessly before me, its waves calm, rhythmic, an illusion of peace. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with golden hues, but my mind refused to settle.Alexander and I had needed this—time away, a break from the chaos of our world.Yet, even as I sat on the private villa’s balcony, sipping a cocktail, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.I turned to Alexander, who sat beside me, his gaze locked on his phone. His jaw was tense, his fingers gripping the device too tightly."Work?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light.He exhaled sharply, locking the screen and setting the phone on the table between us. "No. Just a feeling."I arched a brow. "A bad one?"His eyes met mine, dark and searching. "I don’t trust silence, Leila. Not in our world."I swallowed, a chill creeping down my spine despite the warm island air.Before I could respond, his phone buzzed.Alexander picked it up, his expression hardening as he read the screen.The
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 86
The café was tucked away on a quiet street, far enough from the prying eyes of the press, Steele Industries, and most importantly—Alexander.I sat at a corner table, my fingers wrapped around a lukewarm cup of coffee I wasn’t drinking. Every muscle in my body was tight with anticipation as I waited. The city’s usual hum seemed distant, muffled by the weight of what I was about to do.A chair scraped against the floor, and I looked up.The man across from me was older, weathered, dressed in a dark suit that had seen better days. There was something sharp in his gaze, something that told me he wasn’t meeting me here for goodwill."Leila Hawthorne," he greeted, his voice smooth but edged with caution.I met his stare. "You used to work for Cassandra."His lips curled in something resembling a smirk. "Once upon a time."I leaned forward. "Then you know why we’re here."A beat of silence. Then he let out a slow breath. "I know you want to bring her down. But what makes you think I’ll help
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 85
The DiscoveryI paced Alexander’s office, my pulse pounding as I skimmed the documents again. The weight of the numbers—the sheer scale of what Damien had done—made my stomach churn.Alexander sat at his desk, eyes scanning the reports, but the growing darkness in his expression said everything before he spoke."Tell me this is a mistake." His voice was deadly quiet.I placed the last folder on his desk and met his unwavering gaze. "It’s not. Damien has been siphoning money for years. The audit confirms it. He set up shell corporations, fake accounts, and transferred over fifty million dollars out of Steele Industries."A long, thick silence settled between us before he exhaled sharply, pressing his palms flat against the desk. "And Cassandra?""She knew." I handed him another set of files. "Not just knew—she was in on it. She funneled money into offshore accounts and disguised it as ‘business investments.’ We have emails, wire transfers, everything."Alexander's grip tightened around
The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride Chapter 84
The firestorm didn’t end when I stepped off that stage. It only grew.By the time I reached the car, my phone was a battlefield of notifications. News articles, social media debates, and panel discussions dissect my every word, every expression, and every breath. Some called me fearless. Others called me a fraud. One thing was clear—I wasn’t just Alexander Hawke’s wife anymore. I was Leila Adams, and the world had finally taken notice. But at what cost?The FalloutAlexander barely let me sit down before he turned to me, his jaw clenched so tightly I swore I could hear his teeth grind. "Are you okay?" His voice was low and strained like he was holding back a storm.I exhaled slowly, still processing the chaos. "I handled it."His eyes darkened. "You shouldn’t have had to."I leaned back, crossing my arms. "You think I was just going to stand there and let her tear me apart? No. I’m not a pawn in her game, Alexander. I never was."His hands curled into fists. "This isn’t a game, Leila.
