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Chapter Eighteen
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-09 14:09:15
Bab terkait
The Price of His Betrayal Chapter Nineteen
The morning light streamed through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the room. Ilda lay still on the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, lost in thought. Her mind replayed the moment from the previous day—the sharp demand in his voice, the way his fingers tapped impatiently on the table."I need that money, Ilda. No more delays."She swallowed, remembering the way he had leaned forward, his eyes dark and expectant. There was no room for excuses, no space for negotiation.A sharp sting brought her back to reality; she had pinched her arm, grounding herself.“I need to get the money by all means.”With a deep breath, she pushed the covers aside and got up. Ilda sat at the edge of the bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hands, but her thoughts were far from idle. Her lips were slightly parted, her brows drawn together in feigned distress.The door to the study creaked open, and she caught the sound of Christian’s steady footsteps heading toward the bedroom.Without missing a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-14The Price of His Betrayal Chapter Twenty
The room was quiet, except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. The events of the previous night came flooding back—the alcohol, the fight, the suffocating anger.Crystal noticed his discomfort and instinctively reached out, but he shifted away from her touch."You don’t have to do this," he muttered."You always say that," she replied, her voice calm but firm. "You push everyone away like it doesn’t matter, like you don’t matter."Adrian’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. Then, he smirked, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "In what way can you help me? You can’t even help yourself."Crystal’s stomach twisted at his words, but she kept her expression neutral. She swallowed hard and steadied her voice. "Maybe I can’t fix everything, but I can listen. I can be here."A tense silence filled the space between them.Adrian shut his eyes, inhaling deeply before releasing a slow, shaky breath. When he opened them again, his mask had cracked—his expression was no longer
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17The Price of His Betrayal Chapter Twenty-one
Olivia’s fingers trembled slightly as she stared at the laptop screen. The image before her was unmistakable—that man. The past she had desperately tried to bury was now staring back at her.Her breath hitched, her heart pounding against her ribs as memories she had long locked away began to claw their way back.No. It couldn’t be.She clicked on the image, enlarging it as if to confirm that her eyes weren’t deceiving her. But the more she looked, the more undeniable it became.Her grip on the desk tightened, her perfectly manicured nails pressing into the wood. What was his picture doing here? And more importantly… what did this mean for her?A sudden knock on the door made her jolt. She quickly slammed the laptop shut, her breath uneven.“Come in,” she called out, forcing her voice to remain steady.The door opened, and Christian stepped inside. His gaze swept over her, immediately noticing her rigid posture.“Mother?” His brows furrowed. “Are you alright?”Olivia exhaled sl
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17The Price of His Betrayal Chapter Twenty-Two
Christian stepped into the room, his eyes immediately landing on Ilda, who was lounging on the bed, her laptop casting a soft glow on her face. As soon as she noticed him, she quickly clicked something away before offering a warm smile.He shut the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment before moving closer. "We need to talk," he said softly. "My mom isn’t too comfortable with you."Ilda’s smile faltered, and she let out a quiet sigh, closing the laptop. "I figured," she murmured, lowering her gaze.Christian crossed his arms, watching her carefully. "She thinks you’re hiding something."A soft chuckle escaped Ilda’s lips as she shook her head. "Of course she does," she muttered, rubbing her temples like the conversation was already exhausting her. "Christian, I’ve tried. No matter what I do, she still sees me as an outsider." She lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "And it hurts. I love you, but she makes me feel like I don’t belong here."Ch
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-18The Price of His Betrayal Chapter Twenty-Three
Adrian lifted his spoon, about to take his first bite, when the sharp sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor made both him and Crystal freeze.Evelyn.She stood at the entrance of the kitchen, her arms crossed, her piercing gaze sweeping over the scene. The warmth that had filled the room just moments ago was replaced by an icy tension.Her eyes settled on Crystal, dark with disdain. “Look at you,” she sneered. “Acting like you belong here. Like you’re some lady of the house instead of the pathetic little thing you are.”Crystal lowered her gaze, her fingers gripping the hem of her dress.Adrian set his spoon down, his expression immediately hardening.Evelyn stepped further into the kitchen, her lips curling into a smirk. “What’s next? Are you going to sit at the dining table with us? Maybe I should prepare a seat for you beside me.” She let out a dry chuckle. “How disgusting.”Crystal didn’t move, didn’t respond. She had learned long ago that words only made things wors
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-18The Price of His Betrayal Chapter Twenty-Four
The tires screeched as Crystal pulled up in front of Westbridge City Hospital, the best medical facility in the area. Crystal threw the car door open, rushing to the passenger side where Adrian slumped, barely conscious. His skin was ghostly pale, sweat glistening on his forehead, and his breathing was labored.“Somebody help!” she screamed, her voice cracking as she tried to support his weight. A few nurses and a security guard rushed over, a stretcher rolling behind them.A nurse, dressed in blue scrubs, knelt beside Adrian, quickly checking his pulse. “He’s burning up! What happened?”“He—he has a brain tumor,” Crystal stammered, her hands trembling. “He was receiving treatment here before… before he stopped.”At the mention of his previous treatment, the nurse’s brows furrowed. “Dr. Collins, page Dr. Benson immediately!” she called out to another staff member before looking at Crystal. “We need to get him inside now!”Crystal stepped back as they carefully lifted Adrian onto t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-19The Price of His Betrayal Chapter Twenty-Five
Ilda tilted her head slightly, a small, knowing smile playing at the corner of her lips."Who are you trying so hard to find, Mom?" She repeated.Her voice was light, almost teasing, but Olivia caught the challenge hidden beneath it.For a moment, Olivia didn’t respond. She merely lifted her coffee cup, her movements graceful and unhurried, and took a slow sip. Her gaze drifted toward the open sky, as if Ilda’s words had been nothing more than an insignificant breeze.She placed the cup back on the saucer with a soft clink and finally glanced at Ilda—but only briefly. Her expression remained unreadable. "It’s a beautiful morning, don’t you think?"She had ignored the question completely.Ilda took a step closer, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Yes mom. You're up early. Busy with something important?"Olivia stirred her coffee gently, watching the liquid swirl before taking a slow sip. Her gaze didn’t leave Ilda’s face. "I was just thinking… How about that brother of yours? The
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21The Price of His Betrayal Chapter Twenty-Six
A few minutes later, Crystal drifted off to sleep, her head tilting to one side. Her exhaustion was evident.Meanwhile, Adrian's fingers twitched slightly. Slowly, he was regaining consciousness. His eyelids fluttered before he finally opened them, adjusting to the sterile white ceiling above him. The beeping of the monitors was faint, but enough to remind him where he was.Turning his head, he saw Crystal fast asleep beside him. A small, tired smile formed on his lips.Then, out of nowhere, Crystal jolted awake. She blinked at him in surprise before realizing he was watching her."You're up?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. "How are you feeling?"Adrian gave a small nod.Then, with an amused glint in his tired eyes, he murmured, "Wait… if we were both asleep, who was supposed to watch over me? What if a nurse tried to smuggle me out? Or worse, what if the hospital ghosts decided to take me instead?"Crystal stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter. "Hospital ghosts? Adri
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21
Bab terbaru
The Price of His Betrayal Fifty
The morning sun bathed the Blake dining room in a soft amber light, casting golden streaks across the marble floor and freshly arranged roses at the center of the long mahogany table. The air smelled of toast, honey-glazed ham, and cinnamon tea. The mansion, for once, felt lively… deceptively so.Christian sat at the head of the table, well-groomed in a navy-blue casual shirt, sleeves rolled and watch gleaming beneath the morning light. His face bore a rested glow, and his smile subtle but genuine made the staff exchange glances in surprise. He hadn’t smiled like this in weeks.“Did you tell the chef to add cardamom in the tea?” he asked, taking a sip. “Tastes different. In a good way.”Olivia gave a small nod from her seat. “I thought you might notice. You always notice the smallest things.”Christian chuckled and leaned back slightly. “What can I say? I like my tea precisely.”Ilda, seated a few seats down in a silky blush robe, placed a manicured hand over her baby bump. She looked
The Price of His Betrayal Fourty-Eight
The morning sun bathed the Blake dining room in a soft amber light, casting golden streaks across the marble floor and freshly arranged roses at the center of the long mahogany table. The air smelled of toast, honey-glazed ham, and cinnamon tea. The mansion, for once, felt lively… deceptively so.Christian sat at the head of the table, well-groomed in a navy-blue casual shirt, sleeves rolled and watch gleaming beneath the morning light. His face bore a rested glow, and his smile subtle but genuine made the staff exchange glances in surprise. He hadn’t smiled like this in weeks.“Did you tell the chef to add cardamom in the tea?” he asked, taking a sip. “Tastes different. In a good way.”Olivia gave a small nod from her seat. “I thought you might notice. You always notice the smallest things.”Christian chuckled and leaned back slightly. “What can I say? I like my tea precisely.”Ilda, seated a few seats down in a silky blush robe, placed a manicured hand over her baby bump. She looked
The Price of His Betrayal Fourty-Seven
The house had never felt so quiet.After the sound of car doors shutting, luggage being loaded, and tires rolling off the driveway, silence settled over the Blake residence like a thick, invisible fog.Evelyn stood frozen in the middle of the living room. Betty had long stormed off upstairs, slamming her door behind her. But Evelyn remained—still and suddenly… hollow.Her eyes slowly moved to the small black box Crystal had left on the table. It felt heavier now, more significant.Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for it. She sat down slowly, untying the ribbon carefully, almost nervously, like something inside might explode and pierce straight through her chest.She opened it.Inside lay a neatly folded letter, tucked over a small bracelet—a simple charm bracelet with the word “Grace” engraved on the centerpiece.With slow fingers, Evelyn unfolded the letter. Her breath caught when she saw Crystal’s handwriting, smooth and graceful. Then she began to read.---Dear Mom,I ne
The Price of His Betrayal Fourty-Six
The morning sun filtered in through the blinds, casting pale golden rays across the polished floors. The house felt unusually quiet, too quiet. Then came the soft dragging sound of a suitcase wheel against the floor.Crystal appeared at the stairway, dressed plainly, her pale face void of color but carrying a strange calm. The workers passed with other of her luggages as she clutched one small suitcase in her hand. Her steps were slow, deliberate, like someone who had already said goodbye a hundred times in her heart.Downstairs, Evelyn and Betty were seated on the couch, heads close together, giggling over something on Betty’s tablet."Mom, look at this post," Betty cackled, swiping with her pink-polished nails. "Someone said if your maid starts dressing fine, just know your jewelry box is next."Evelyn let out a loud laugh. “These people online have no chill. But it’s true! That girl from the Johnsons, what’s her name—ran off with their family diamonds and left a thank-you note!”Sh
The Price of His Betrayal Fourty-Five
The room was dim, lit only by the soft golden glow of the bedside lamp. The curtains danced gently as the evening breeze slipped through the slightly open window. Olivia lay nestled under silk sheets, her hair falling over the pillow in gentle waves. Robert lay beside her, shirtless, with one arm resting comfortably behind his head while the other lightly stroked Olivia’s hair.“Your taste hasn’t changed one bit, my dearest Olivia,” Robert murmured, his voice deep, a sly grin on his face as he traced a finger down her bare shoulder.Olivia chuckled softly, playfully pushing his hand away. “Oh please, stop. You’re as dramatic as ever.”Robert smirked and turned to face her more directly. “Dramatic? You mean charming.”“Delusional, maybe,” she teased, her laughter soft and feminine as it filled the cozy room.He laughed along, then leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Still feisty, I see. I might be aging, but trust me… I haven’t lost my energy. Not even a little.”Olivia rolled her eyes wi
The Price of His Betrayal Fourty-Four
The car rolled on in silence. Only the sound of tires against the pavement and the quiet hum of the engine filled the space between them. The city lights faded behind them, and the roads grew emptier. Inside, Crystal sat curled up in the seat, Adrian’s coat still wrapped around her shoulders. Her fingers gripped it like a shield, her eyes fixed out the window, hiding the tremble in her lips.Adrian glanced at her, more than once, but said nothing at first. His grip tightened on the wheel.Finally, he broke the silence.“Why did you do this?” His voice was gentle, but there was a quiet ache behind it.Crystal didn’t answer right away. Her throat tightened. When she finally spoke, her voice came out sharp and strained. “Don’t worry, Adrian. I’m making my arrangements. I’ll leave your house tomorrow.”Adrian’s brow creased. “What—?”“I don't have to be a burden to you!” she snapped, her voice rising. “I don’t belong there. I don’t belong anywhere. I’m tired. So damn tired of pretendi
The Price of His Betrayal Fourty-Three
The amber glow of evening spilled into the Blake mansion through the tall, glass windows, casting long shadows across the marble floors. The once-lively house was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against the walls like an approaching storm.Adrian stepped through the front door, his coat slung over one arm and his steps heavy from the long day. He loosened the top button of his shirt and glanced toward the dining room, expecting to catch a whiff of something warm—maybe soup, or her soft voice humming quietly as she moved around the kitchen.But there was nothing.No sound. No scent. No warmth.He paused, brows furrowing, and tilted his head slightly.The kitchen lights were off. The living room was empty. The only sign of life was the soft ticking of the grandfather clock echoing through the hallway. Adrian’s heart gave a slight stir of discomfort, but he shrugged it off, stepping lightly toward the back of the house."Crystal?" he called out, voice low, uncertain.No
The Price of His Betrayal Fourty-Two
The corridor echoed with the click of polished shoes as the investors made their way out of the Blake Enterprises executive floor. Their tailored suits caught the soft gleam of the hallway lights, but their voices were low shrouded in careful murmurs, just beneath a whisper.The older gentleman on the left adjusted his cufflink and leaned slightly toward the woman walking in the center. “Did anyone else find it odd,” he said, “that she spent half the meeting praising another company? What was it… Rays & Co?”The younger man on the right chuckled under his breath. “It sounded almost like a sales pitch for them. She mentioned their adaptability, fresh workforce, better tech systems…”The woman gave a knowing smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “She may not have meant to, but she made a stronger case for them than her own company,” she said. “Honestly, I think she knows this place can’t handle our scale of operation. The structure here is” she paused, glancing around, “a litt
The Price of His Betrayal Fourty-One
The company lobby buzzed with the usual morning rhythm keyboards clicking, printers humming, hushed voices filling the space like background music. That rhythm abruptly changed the moment Ilda stepped through the revolving doors.Her heels struck the marble floor with intimidating precision. Flanked by two company assigned security men, she walked as if the building belonged to her. Her fitted white blazer hugged her sharp frame, and her dark sunglasses covered her calculating eyes. One of the guards held her designer handbag, while the other cleared the path ahead.She didn’t speak. She didn’t smile. She didn’t even acknowledge the greetings of the staff as she moved through the corridor like a force of nature.Once she disappeared down the hall toward the executive wing, the tension broke.“She really thinks she owns the place,” muttered one of the younger interns, shaking her head.Another scoffed, “She’s not even married to Mr. Christian yet, but she already acts like a CEO’s wife
