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Chapter nineteen: A Game of Shadows
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-11 03:04:13
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The billionaire's secret vows Chapter Twenty: Into the Abyss
Sophia's screams echoed through the desolate warehouse as the man dragged her deeper into the shadows. The sharp, acrid smell of smoke clung to the air, a cruel reminder of the explosion that had separated her from Adrian. Her heart pounded wildly, each beat a desperate call for help.“Let me go!” she yelled, struggling against the iron grip of her captor.“Quiet,” the man growled, his voice low and menacing. “You don’t want to make this worse for yourself.”Sophia bit back a retort, her mind racing for a way out. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she clung to the faint hope that Adrian was still alive, that he would come for her.They emerged into a small, dimly lit room at the back of the warehouse. The man shoved her onto a cold metal chair and bound her hands tightly behind her back. She winced as the rope bit into her wrists.“You’re making a big mistake,” she said, forcing steel into her voice. “Adrian will find me. And when he does—”The man cut her off with a harsh laugh.
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Adrian took a decisive step forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Sophia. His stance was firm, legs slightly apart, as he raised his arms, creating a barrier between her and the ominous shadow figure that loomed menacingly ahead. The dim light barely illuminated the contours of the figure, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls, but Adrian's presence felt resolute. His heart raced as he sensed the palpable tension in the air, but he remained unwavering, determined to shield Sophia from whatever threat lay before them.Sophia’s heart raced, each beat echoing her fear as she clutched desperately at the back of Adrian’s jacket. Her fingers trembled uncontrollably, seeking the reassuring fabric like a lifeline in a turbulent sea of uncertainty. The dim light of the alley cast long shadows that enveloped them, amplifying her anxiety.Out of the darkness stepped a figure, tall and imposing, with an air of menace that sent a chill down her spine. “Adrian Blackwood,
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The tension in Blackwood Manor hung like a shroud, the silence amplifying every creak of the old wood and distant rustle of the wind. Sophia clung to Adrian’s arm as they crept down the dimly lit corridor, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and anticipation.Adrian’s focus was razor-sharp, his gun drawn and held at his side, ready for anything. The crash they had heard echoed through the expansive estate, originating somewhere in the west wing. His voice was low and firm as he whispered to her, “Stay close and don’t make a sound.”Sophia nodded, her fingers gripping the fabric of his sleeve. “Do you think it’s...?” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.“Could be anyone—or anything,” Adrian replied, his tone unyielding. “But I won’t take any chances.”They moved as a single unit, every step careful and deliberate. The flickering lights above created ominous shadows, making it seem as though the walls themselves were alive and shifting. Sophia’s mind raced, thoughts of
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-13The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 23: Unmasking the Shadows
The silence of Blackwood Manor felt suffocating as the night stretched on, the shadows of the ancient walls seeming to close in with every passing second. The flickering of candlelight cast unsettling shapes across the grand hallway, and Sophia could feel the weight of Adrian’s tense silence beside her as they moved toward the west wing.She clung to his arm, the chill of the evening air creeping under her skin, amplifying the fear that had been building ever since the moment they had heard the first crash earlier. Her heart thudded in her chest, its erratic beat mirroring the urgency of the situation. What kind of game were they playing now?Adrian's grip on his gun was steady, his movements precise as they moved through the manor. His face remained a mask of determination, but she could see the strain in his eyes—an anxiety that only grew with every step they took deeper into the darkness of Blackwood Manor.“Do you think it’s him?” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath
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The moment the envelope dropped to the floor, Adrian’s mind was already processing the implications. The cryptic message inside seared through him like a lightning bolt. "The game is just beginning. Trust no one. Your every move is being watched." The words clung to his thoughts, threatening to drown him. But he refused to let fear cloud his judgment.Sophia stood beside him, her eyes wide, pulse racing. "Adrian... What does this mean?""Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to," Adrian said, his voice cold and steady. He pocketed the envelope without hesitation. "We’re moving now."Before she could respond, Adrian was already leading her down the hall, his senses on high alert. The manor felt alive, its vast, old walls whispering secrets. His mind was a whirlwind of theories, every possibility flashing before him. Who was behind this? How much did they know? What did they want from him?Another thud reverberated through the walls. It was close. Too close. Adrian’s hand insti
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Adrian tightened his grip on the gun, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. The footsteps outside the library door grew louder, more deliberate, each tap of the soles an unspoken challenge. His jaw clenched as he took a step forward, placing himself between Sophia and the danger creeping ever closer.Sophia’s voice wavered behind him, low but urgent. “Adrian, we can’t just wait here. We need to—”“I know,” he cut her off, his tone sharp but not unkind. His eyes scanned the room, calculating. “This isn’t about fighting. It’s about control. They’re trying to rattle us.”“Adrian,” she whispered again, clutching his arm. “What if this is a trap?”“It is a trap,” he replied grimly, his voice steady. “But they underestimated us.”The door to the library creaked, a faint sound that sent Sophia’s pulse into overdrive. Adrian raised his hand in a silent signal, and she stilled immediately. He stepped closer to the door, his movements smooth, controlled.The footsteps stopped.For a hear
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Adrian stood, his hands tightening into fists as he scanned the room. The air inside the safehouse was charged with tension, the silence punctuated by Sophia’s ragged breaths. He paced toward the window, peeking out between the curtains. The woods loomed dark and silent, but he knew better than to trust the quiet.“Adrian.” Sophia’s voice cut through his focus, soft but firm. She stood from the bed, wrapping her arms around herself. “You need to tell me what’s really going on. Who’s behind this? What are they after?”He turned to face her, his jaw tight. “It’s not that simple, Sophia.”Her eyes flashed. “Then make it simple. You dragged me into this—our lives are falling apart. I need answers.”Adrian sighed, his expression softening as he crossed the room to her. “You’re right,” he admitted. “You deserve to know everything. But first—”A sudden beep interrupted him. Adrian’s head snapped toward the corner of the room where a satellite phone sat on a small table. He rushed over, grabb
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Adrian and Sophia burst into the cabin, slamming the door shut behind them. The sharp click of the lock echoed through the small space, but the momentary safety did little to ease the storm raging in their hearts.Adrian holstered his gun, his movements quick and precise as he scanned the room for anything they could use. “We don’t have much time,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “Vincent’s men will regroup and come back stronger.”Sophia nodded, pushing aside the lingering fear. “What do we do? We can’t keep running.”“We don’t,” Adrian replied firmly. He opened a hidden compartment beneath the floorboards, revealing a second laptop, additional weapons, and a stash of documents. “It’s time to take the fight to him.”Sophia crossed the room, her eyes narrowing. “How? Vincent has the resources, the connections... everything.”Adrian smirked, the edge of his lips curling into something cold and determined. “Not everything. He doesn’t have you.”She blinked, startled by the intensity
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18
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The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 76 – The Reckoning Begins
The boardroom at Blackwood Global was a glass fortress—high above the city, suspended between ambition and judgment. Every seat was filled. Shareholders, executives, legal teams, and media advisors watched with wary eyes as Adrian Blackwood entered, cane in hand, jaw set like steel.He didn’t limp for effect. He didn’t need to. Every inch of him radiated command, and today, he wasn’t playing the crippled recluse.He was the man reclaiming his name.Sophia followed him inside, poised and unshakable, a storm in heels and silk. The room shifted as they moved. Whispers buzzed. Mercer hadn’t arrived yet—but his absence was its own threat.Adrian reached the head of the table, placed the flash drive down like a sword.“This meeting is no longer about quarterly earnings,” he said, voice calm but carrying. “It’s about truth.”A few chuckles escaped. Someone tried to speak—but Adrian raised a hand.“I won’t waste your time. For years, this company has been shadowed by one man’s control—Victor
The billionaire's secret vows Chapter 75 – Deals with the Devil
The city glimmered below like a thousand secrets, each light a whisper of stories no one dared tell.Lauren Evans stepped into the old Blackstone Warehouse at the pier—once a shell company for Adrian’s early holdings, now abandoned. Dust clung to the floor, and the silence hummed with memories. This was where she’d helped him fake the medical records. Where they’d first begun the charade.Now it felt like a graveyard.She didn’t flinch when Sophia emerged from the shadows.“I thought you’d bring security,” Lauren said flatly.“I figured if you were going to kill me, you wouldn’t have waited this long.”A beat of silence passed. Lauren smirked. “Fair enough.”Sophia crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. “Why did you come?”Lauren let out a slow breath. “Because I’m tired. Of Mercer. Of lies. Of pretending like I don’t know who I became.”“Then do something about it.”Lauren walked past her, stopping by the crates stacked like forgotten ghosts. “I gave everything to Adrian. Loyal
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
