Mag-log inShare
Chapter 37: The War Begins
Huling Na-update:
2025-01-30 11:02:12
Kaugnay na kabanata
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 38: Whispers of Betrayal
Adrian Blackwood stepped out of the boardroom, victory clinging to his skin like a second layer of armor. But he knew better than to bask in it. Reginald Vaughn wouldn’t accept defeat so easily.Beside him, Sophia’s fingers were interlaced with his, grounding him in a way he hadn’t expected. He turned to her, taking in the fire in her eyes—the same fire that had burned when she had defended him in that room.“You didn’t have to do that,” he murmured.Sophia scoffed. “You think I’d let some power-hungry executive take you down? Please.”Lauren approached, phone in hand, her expression taut with urgency. “We have a problem.”Adrian’s jaw tightened. “What now?”Lauren hesitated before handing him the screen. A news article flashed before his eyes. His stomach turned to stone.BILLIONAIRE ADRIAN BLACKWOOD UNDER FIRE: NEW ACCUSATIONS SURFACE FROM HIS PASTSophia leaned closer, reading along with him.An anonymous source has come forward with shocking allegations against Blackwood Corporati
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-31The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 39: A Deal with the Devil
Sophia’s breath hitched in her throat. Adrian’s sharp gaze locked onto hers, his expression unreadable, but the tension in his stance spoke volumes. Across from him, Lauren remained silent, her posture stiff, as if she had been caught in the act of something unforgivable.Sophia’s pulse pounded in her ears. “What truth are you hiding?”Adrian exhaled sharply. “It’s not what you think.”She let out a humorless laugh, folding her arms. “Then explain it to me. Because from where I’m standing, it looks a lot like you and Lauren are keeping secrets from me.”Lauren glanced at Adrian, hesitating. Then, as if sensing that her presence would only make things worse, she cleared her throat. “I’ll let you handle this.” With that, she turned on her heel and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.Sophia crossed her arms, fixing Adrian with a look that dared him to lie to her. “I’m waiting.”Adrian dragged a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening. “Sophia, this isn’t about you.”She
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-31The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 40: Fractured Loyalties
Sophia stood frozen in Adrian’s embrace, her mind spinning with Mercer’s words.Do you really know the man you married?She wanted to push the thought away, wanted to believe Adrian had told her everything. But the way his body tensed, the way his jaw clenched, and the way he had dismissed Mercer so quickly—it all gnawed at her.Adrian pulled back slightly, his hands firm on her waist. “Don’t let him get into your head, Sophia.”She met his gaze, searching for reassurance in those stormy blue eyes. “Then tell me, Adrian. Tell me everything.”His fingers tightened against her hips before he exhaled and stepped away. “Not now.”Sophia’s stomach twisted. “If not now, then when?”Adrian turned his back to her, rubbing his temples as if she was just another problem on a long list of crises he had to solve.That stung.“Damn it, Adrian, I’m your wife!” she snapped. “You don’t get to shut me out.”Adrian whirled around, his expression dark with frustration. “And you don’t get to demand answe
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-31The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 41: Shattered Illusions
Chapter 41: Shattered IllusionsSophia’s breath felt heavy in her chest as she held Adrian’s gaze. His promise to prove himself lingered in the air between them, a fragile thing she wasn’t sure she could believe in.Trust. He asked for it, yet he withheld the very truths she needed.The weight of the day pressed down on her. The boardroom battle, Mercer’s threats, Lauren’s cryptic conversation—it all pointed to secrets far deeper than Adrian had admitted.She took a step back, needing space. “Then start now,” she said. “Prove it.”Adrian ran a hand through his hair, frustration flashing in his stormy eyes. “Sophia, I can’t give you all the answers tonight.”“Why not?” Her voice rose. “Because you still don’t trust me?”He exhaled sharply. “Because some things take time.”She shook her head. “That’s not good enough anymore, Adrian.”For a long moment, neither spoke. The tension in the room stretched between them, taut and unrelenting. Then Adrian turned away, as if retreating into hims
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-31The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 42: Breaking Point
Adrian stood frozen, the sound of Sophia’s retreating footsteps echoing through his office. A sharp, twisting ache coiled in his chest—something dangerously close to regret. He had expected her anger. Expected her distrust. But the way she had looked at him, as if he had become just another person who had let her down, unsettled him more than he cared to admit. Lauren stepped back inside, her expression unreadable. “That went well.” Adrian shot her a sharp look. “Not now, Lauren.” She sighed, crossing her arms. “What’s the plan? The media is eating this up, and Mercer is fueling the fire. If we don’t control the narrative now, it’ll spiral.” Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose. Damage control wasn’t the problem. He could handle the media, the board, even Mercer. But Sophia? For the first time in years, he wasn’t sure how to fix something. “Schedule a press conference,” he said after a moment. Lauren raised a brow. “A press conference?” “We’re going public.” His voice was
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-02The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 43: Shadows of Doubt
The press conference had ended, but the storm was far from over.As soon as Adrian and Sophia stepped off the stage, the reporters erupted into chaos, shouting more questions, flashing cameras blinding them with every step. Security stepped in, forming a wall between them and the press as they were escorted through a back exit.Sophia barely registered the voices around her.Her mind was still stuck on what Adrian had said."I married her because I wanted to."Not because he had to. Not because of business.It wasn’t the words themselves that left her shaken—it was the way he had said them. Steady. Unyielding. And maybe… even sincere.But she couldn’t afford to believe in sincerity. Not after everything.The car was waiting for them, black and sleek, its tinted windows promising a temporary escape from the chaos. The second they slid inside, Sophia exhaled sharply, pressing her palms against her lap to steady herself.Adrian sat beside her, silent, his face unreadable as the car pulle
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-03The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 44: Shadows of Deception
Sophia’s fingers trembled as she stared at the ominous messages on her phone. The words burned into her mind, each letter dripping with unspoken threats.Unknown Number: You’re playing a dangerous game, Sophia. You might want to reconsider your choices before it’s too late.Her pulse thundered in her ears. Every rational part of her wanted to dismiss it as a cruel intimidation tactic, Mercer’s latest attempt to shake her. But there was something unsettling about the wording, something that made doubt creep under her skin.Because wasn’t that what she had been feeling all along?She had spent weeks questioning Adrian’s every move, every decision. And now, a faceless warning was echoing the very thoughts she had buried deep inside.She sucked in a sharp breath. She needed to think.Her gaze flickered toward the door. Adrian was somewhere in the manor, likely in his office, brooding over Mercer’s latest attack. A part of her wanted to confront him, demand the truth—whatever it was. But
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-03The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 45: The Truth That Changes Everything
Sophia’s heart pounded as she watched Adrian close the folder, his expression unreadable. The silence between them was thick, charged with tension that felt impossible to break.She had demanded the truth.Now she had to be ready for it.Adrian exhaled, his fingers pressing against the desk. “Sit down, Sophia.”“I’d rather stand.”His lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his sharp blue eyes locking onto hers.“You already know Mercer wants my company,” Adrian began. “What you don’t know is how far he’s willing to go to get it.”Sophia crossed her arms. “I gathered that much from the blackmail, the media attacks, and the mysterious threats on my phone.”Adrian stiffened. “What threats?”Sophia pulled out her phone, scrolling to the anonymous messages and holding them out. Adrian grabbed it, his eyes darkening as he read. His grip tightened around the device like he wanted to crush it.“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” His voice
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-06
Pinakabagong kabanata
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 74 – Shattered Trust, Steeled Hearts
The silence in the hospital room was thick—too thick.Sophia sat by Adrian’s bedside, her fingers curled around his, her thumb tracing circles over his knuckles. He hadn’t spoken since they brought him in. Not much, anyway. Just mumbled fragments in between waves of pain and morphine.But now, in the sterile quiet of the private recovery suite, there was no distraction left. No tunnel walls. No gunfire. No one but the two of them—and the questions that hung in the air like ghosts.Adrian stirred. His eyelids fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the dim light. His gaze found hers instantly, like a magnet to steel.“Hey,” she whispered.He tried to smile. It was more of a grimace. “Hey.”Sophia leaned in, brushing his damp hair back from his forehead. “You scared me. Again.”“I know.” His voice was raw, raspy. “I’m sorry.”“You don’t have to be sorry for getting shot,” she murmured, voice trembling with the effort to stay light.His eyes searched hers, dark and unreadable. “Not just for
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 73 – Ashes and Aftermath
Rain fell softly.Not a downpour. Not a storm. Just a quiet drizzle, like the world was trying to wash away the blood and lies that had soaked too deep into their bones.Sophia sat by Adrian’s hospital bed, a thin blanket draped around her shoulders. Her clothes were still damp from the forest, her knuckles scraped, her body sore. But none of that mattered. Not when the man lying unconscious beside her had nearly died—for the second time in as many weeks.The machines around them beeped with steady rhythm, his chest rising and falling with every breath. Each one was a small victory. Proof that he was still here.Still hers.Her fingers hovered near his, close enough to feel his warmth but afraid to touch him, as if contact would shatter the fragile peace that hung between life and loss. The room was dimly lit, shadows cast by the blinking monitors. The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to the air, mixing with the faint aroma of rain from the window left slightly ajar.It reminded her
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 72 – Ties That Choke and Threads That Break
Sophia couldn’t move.Her back was against the damp stone wall, Adrian beside her, barely upright, bleeding and pale. But it wasn’t his condition that stole her breath this time—it was the gun pointed straight at them.Lauren stood just feet away, framed by the flickering tunnel light, dressed in her usual tailored black but with an edge to her presence that Sophia had never seen before. Her cool, professional poise was still intact, but her eyes… they were wild. Sharp. Dangerous.Adrian's jaw tightened. “Lauren. You’re working with Mercer.”Lauren smiled, slow and cold. “Well, someone had to clean up after your messes. And Mercer offered a better position.”Sophia’s voice was barely a whisper. “You were his assistant. You said you believed in Adrian. That you chose him.”“I did.” Lauren’s expression faltered—just for a second. “But belief only gets you so far when you're treated like you’re invisible. Disposable. Do you even remember the last time you actually thanked me, Adrian?”Ad
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 71 – Fragile Hearts, Dangerous Promises
The tunnel stretched on endlessly, winding through the cold earth like a forgotten secret. The only light came from Simon’s flashlight, flickering against the damp stone walls. Sophia kept her hand entwined with Adrian’s, though his grip had loosened—his steps slower, staggered. She could feel it now more than ever: his body was failing him.“Adrian,” she said softly, her voice barely rising above the echo of their footsteps. “You’re bleeding again.”“I’m fine.” His answer was mechanical, like it had been all night.She halted, refusing to move until he turned to face her. “No, you’re not.”He tried to tug her forward, but his strength faltered. The moment his weight shifted, he stumbled against the wall, groaning under his breath.Simon spun around. “That’s it. We’re stopping. He’s losing too much blood.”“I said I’m—” Adrian’s protest faded as his knees buckled.“Adrian!” Sophia caught him, her arms wrapping around his waist as he slumped into her.Simon moved fast, shrugging off hi
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 70 – Shattered Shields
The air in the underground tunnel was thick with tension, a suffocating mix of fear, urgency, and uncertainty. The faint echo of footsteps reverberated off the stone walls as Sophia tried to match her pace with Adrian’s, but it was hard to focus on anything other than the weight of his hand wrapped tightly around her wrist. The force with which he held her was almost as if he were trying to pull her into his strength, into his battle, to shield her from everything that was coming.But she knew—she knew—that it wasn’t going to be that simple. Not anymore."Adrian…" Her voice was a whisper, but it seemed to echo in the thick darkness of the tunnel.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he continued to lead them forward with a steady, determined stride, his jaw clenched and his back rigid. His eyes—those eyes that had always held a storm, even in the calmest of moments—were darker now, filled with something raw and dangerous. She could see it in the set of his shoulders, the tension in
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 69 – Betrayal’s Shadow
The hallway of Blackwood Manor felt like a labyrinth. The walls, adorned with heavy tapestries and portraits, closed in on her as she paced, unable to shake the sense of impending doom. Sophia’s thoughts were clouded, her heart a chaotic swirl of emotions. The memory of Adrian’s promise to keep her safe lingered in her mind, but she couldn’t push past the fear that clawed at her insides. What had happened to him? she wondered desperately. Where was he? The echoes of gunfire still rang in her ears, and the explosion of chaos that had unfolded downstairs was fresh in her memory. Adrian’s face, that cold determination, still burned in her mind—an image of him fighting with all his strength, all his rage. But what had it cost him? What had it cost them both? She pressed a trembling hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. Adrian had always been a man who kept his emotions buried, his plans hidden behind walls of stone. She had learned that much in their time together. But ton
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 68 – Shadows of Vengeance
Darkness still clung to the edges of the room, the scent of gunpowder lingering in the air like a ghost of the chaos that had unfolded. Sophia’s breath came in shallow gasps, her fingers trembling as she clutched Adrian’s hand.His grip was firm, steady, but his eyes… they held something dangerous. A storm of fury.She swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus. "Adrian… what did you do?"Adrian didn’t answer right away. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles, an unspoken promise in the gesture, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him.Simon stepped forward, his face grim. "She should rest. We need to get her somewhere safe."Adrian finally exhaled, his voice a low growl. "She’s not staying here."Sophia struggled to sit up, wincing at the sharp pain in her ribs. "Adrian, you can’t keep running from this. You can’t fight every battle alone."His jaw clenched. "This isn’t just about me anymore, Sophia. Mercer sent men to kill you. This war just got personal."A shiver ran down her
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 67 – A Debt in Blood
The room was bathed in shadows, broken only by the dim glow of the bedside lamp where Sophia lay unconscious. The scent of antiseptic mingled with the lingering metallic tang of blood, creating a suffocating weight in the air.Adrian crouched low, his gun steady in his grip, his heart a relentless drum in his chest. His every instinct screamed at him to eliminate the threat, but the voice from the hallway froze him in place."Come out, Blackwood. Let’s finish this."The voice was familiar—too familiar.Adrian’s blood turned to ice. His grip tightened around the gun, his knuckles whitening."No. It can’t be—"Simon moved with the precision of a trained soldier, gun raised as he positioned himself by the shattered window. His jaw was tight, eyes scanning for movement. "Adrian," he murmured, "you need to get Sophia out of here. I’ll handle this."Adrian shook his head. "No," he said, voice low and lethal. "This ends tonight."The tension in the air crackled, an electric charge before a s
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 66 – Reckoning in Blood
Adrian’s pulse thundered in his ears as he clutched Sophia’s limp body against him."No, no, no—stay with me," he rasped, pressing his palm to the wound at her side. Blood seeped through his fingers, warm and unforgiving.Sophia’s lashes fluttered, a faint whimper escaping her lips. Her breathing was shallow—too shallow."Hold on, baby," Adrian whispered. "I need you to hold on."Simon cursed under his breath, stepping into the room, his gun still raised. His gaze locked onto the pool of crimson spreading beneath Sophia."Shit," he muttered. "We need to move. Now."Adrian’s head snapped up, fury burning through the despair clawing at his chest. "Who was that?!" he demanded.Simon didn’t answer immediately. His lips pressed into a grim line as he checked the bodies in the hall. "They were professionals," he said darkly. "Not just hired thugs. Someone sent them knowing exactly what they were doing."Adrian’s jaw clenched. His world was unraveling. His enemies were no longer content with
