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Chapter 7
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Trade Breaker Chapter 8
Sensing the strain between Dominic and Sapphire, his mother surprised them with a weekend away at a luxury resort, explaining it would be an opportunity for them to reconnect. Fraught with guilt about his emotions and recent behavior, Dominic accepted.The resort was picture-perfect, the kind of place where everything was designed to invoke peace and relaxation.Sapphire smiled as they stepped out of the car, the cool ocean breeze brushing against her face. She followed Dominic, strolling to the railing of the Cliff Hotel, overlooking the ocean as the waves rolled in, the sun casting a golden glow over the horizon. Beside him, Sapphire leaned on the railing contented.“This is perfect, isn’t it?” she said, glancing up at him.Dominic nodded. His acknowledgment was mechanical.Nothing about this trip felt perfect. The disconnect between him and Sapphire grew like an invisible wall separating them. No matter how beautiful the surroundings, he couldn’t shake the blankness that settled in
Trade Breaker Chapter 9
The city lights flickered past as Dominic drove through familiar streets, his mind miles away from the road before him. The failed romantic getaway with Sapphire was still fresh in his mind, but it wasn’t the coldness between them that lingered—it was Solo. His thoughts of her were becoming more frequent, pressing against the edges of his consciousness, making him question everything.How had he been so blind and stupid?When he arrived home, he grabbed his phone and called Jake, the investigator he had hired to track down Solo. He was overcome with a sense of urgency, a need to know where she was and what had happened to her after she had left."Jake, any updates?" Dominic asked, his voice tight with impatience.“Yeah, I’ve been following a few leads,” Jake replied. “There’s something we might want to check out—a woman named ‘Solar’ living in another state. It’s a bit of a long shot, but the name caught my attention. It could be nothing, but it’s similar to Solo. I’m thinking she mig
Trade Breaker Chapter 10
Inside his apartment was quiet—too quiet—while the city streets buzzed beneath Dominic’s window. The night after the jewelry event felt heavy as everything unsaid between him and Solo was suffocating him. He hadn’t seen her, but the absence of closure ate at him.He couldn’t stop thinking about her. She had served him a killer blow. The memories were creeping in faster, pushing aside his thoughts of Sapphire. Sapphire, who had once been everything, now felt like a hollow shell of a dream he’d outgrown.The sound of his phone vibrating broke the silence. Jake.“Anything?” Dominic asked, more hopeful than he wanted to admit.Jake’s voice was measured, and Dominic recognized the tone as cautious optimism. “I’ve just got off the plane. I’m on my way to where this Solar woman works. It could be something or nothing. We’ll know once I check it out.”Dominic’s pulse quickened. The name—so close to Solo. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but this was the closest they’d come to anything rese
Trade Breaker Chapter 11
Jake’s call had left Dominic standing in the middle of his bedroom, staring unseeing at the wall. Solo was on her way to Italy. His heart pounded, his mind raced. He was too late—she was already gone. But this information, this jolt of reality, wasn’t enough to silence the storm of emotions swirling inside him.He had been haunted by regrets about the distance between them and how he had treated her. He had tried to push it aside, bury it, but the guilt had grown louder. Knowing she was slipping further out of his reach, this feeling threatened to overwhelm him.Should he chase her? Could he?He paced the room, his footsteps echoing in the silence of his apartment. What right did he have to go after her? She had left for a reason, and he was the reason. Dominic had kept her at arm’s length and treated her as though she meant nothing when, in reality, she had meant everything.His chest tightened, and his indecision grated on him.The phone in his hand trembled as Dominic redialed Jake
Trade Breaker Chapter 12
Seated by the airplane window, Dominic watched as the city lights receded into darkness. Uncertainty gnawed at him.His conversation with Jake on the repeat."Dominic, think about this," Jake said. "She left for a reason. You need to consider what she wants.""I can't just let her go," Dominic voice strained. "I need to see her, to tell her—""Tell her what? That you're sorry? That you suddenly realized her worth?" Jake sighed. “Man, don’t make this about easing your conscience."Dominic had paused, running a hand through his hair. "It's more than that. I can't explain it, but I have to try."Jake went silent and said, "Alright, but be prepared for the possibility that she may not want to see you.""I understand.”Since Jake had pretty much guest his past relationship with Solo, coupled with Dominic's need to speak to someone, he told Jake everything. Jake’s response, although harsh, was reasonable and honest.What if Jake was right? What if Solo wanted nothing to do with him?He clos
Trade Breaker Chapter 13
Sapphire sat at the desk in Dominic’s study. He was on a business trip, allowing her to rifle through his home. Scanning his phone records, which she found with the rest of his bills in his out tray, the name "Jake" appeared repeatedly."Who are you, Jake?" she muttered, tapping her manicured finger against her temple. Her disbelief was palpable. Could Dominic be involved with someone like Jake? She had known Dominic for most of her life.They went to the same schools and shared friends. She couldn't recall Jake being in their social circle, yet he called and received calls from this man more frequently than his calls to her.Judging from the dates, their relationship started a few days before her return. The record shows Dominic even calling Jake when she and Dominic are together, mainly during the night and after making love.She would get to the bottom of this. Even if Dominic was distant and showed a lack of interest in sex, she refused to believe that he would be emotionally and
Trade Breaker Chapter 14
Stepping off the plane at Florence Airport was like stepping into her new life. The warm Italian sun had welcomed her, but despite the beauty of her surroundings, an unsettling unease crept over her, casting a shadow on her excitement.Her boss, the man who had orchestrated her fresh start, was there to greet her. He had handed her the documents for her new identity—and she felt she was holding her future.But as they drove through the streets of Florence, it was hard to believe it had been a few days since all this had occurred. Her new life and job felt surreal, and as the days passed, a strange tension sat between her and Inigo.He was charming, too charming, and while he had been gracious, something beneath the surface made her uneasy. His gaze lingered just a little too long, his compliments too personal.True, he had given her a new life, yes, but it began to feel as if strings were attached. Although they remained invisible for now, she could feel them.“This city suits you, So
Trade Breaker Chapter 15
After returning to the hotel, Dominic leaned back in his hotel chair and stared at the ceiling, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. He had rushed to Italy with a sense of urgency, a desperate need to find Solo. However, it had been days, and every lead had hit a dead end. The trail was cold, and time was running out.He grabbed his buzzing phone, hoping for anything that could bring him closer to her. It was his contact, and the familiar disappointment seeped into him before he answered. The cold plastic of the phone felt heavy in his hand, in contrast to the warmth of hope that had been dwindling with each passing day."Dominic," the voice on the other end said, tinny and distant, "I've searched every possible avenue, but there's no trace of a Solo Delaney in Italy. Are you sure Florence was her final destination?"Dominic rubbed his forehead, the weight of those words pressing down on him. The room seemed to close in, the air thick with disappointment. "I don't know—she n
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Trade Breaker Chapter 65
The soft, sterile hum of the hospital room felt suffocating. Aralise lay in the center of the made bed, her head propped up by stiff, firm pillows. An overhead light illuminated the room, casting shadows that danced along the edges of the walls. She glanced toward the crib beside her, where the baby slept, her delicate features visible under the pink blanket.Aralise’s fingers tapped on the hospital sheet as she tried to compose her expression. She didn’t dare look at the baby too long. The longer she stared, the more a strange discomfort grew within her—as if her body rejected the child, as though the entire situation threatened to unravel.The sound of approaching heels snapped her out of her thoughts. The door swung open to reveal the midwife, her sharp, calculating eyes scanning the room. She carried a clipboard under one arm and a handbag hanging from her shoulder.Her movements were brisk, purposeful, and unyielding, like someone accustomed to cleaning up messes.“Well, Miss Wat
Trade Breaker Chapter 64
The café hummed with life, its cozy atmosphere warmed by the afternoon sun as they sat outside and more people arrived. Solo pushed a piece of lettuce around her plate, lost in thought, while Kirael sipped her soup and stole curious glances at Aralise, who consumed a salmon dish with gusto and sipped her double espresso unphased.“So,” Aralise said, setting down her coffee cup. “What’s the news with your twins, Solo? Any updates?”Solo glanced at her, smiling. “The doctor said they’re doing great, but they’re planning to induce me after my next checkup. They don’t want me going too far past six weeks because you know—twins.”Aralise’s eyebrows rose in mock surprise. “Oh, that’s sooner than I thought! How exciting. My baby’s due around that time too. What about you, Kirael?”Kirael's fruit cocktail juice in hand froze mid-sip, her glass hovering in the air. Her eyes flicked to Solo, then back to Aralise, a flicker of suspicion flashing across her face.“Really? My baby’s also due then.
Trade Breaker Chapter 63
Solo shifted on the examination table, the crinkling paper beneath her amplifying her discomfort. The clinic room was sterile, the faint hum of medical equipment filling the air. Across from her, having finished her prenatal examinations, Kirael sat in a plastic chair, thumbing through a magazine. Her brows furrowed, but her mind seemed elsewhere.“I wish they’d just get this over with,” Solo muttered, one hand protectively cradling her rounded belly.Kirael looked up, offering a small smile. “Relax, these things always take forever. It’s routine. You and the twins are fine.”Before Solo could respond, the door swung open, revealing a young trainee. Her movements were awkward, and the nervous energy of someone new to the job was evident in how she adjusted her stethoscope.“Miss Dale,” the trainee greeted with a polite smile. “We’ll be listening to the babies’ heartbeats today.”Solo nodded, reclining as the trainee prepared the Doppler. The steady thump of the first heartbeat filled
Trade Breaker Chapter 62
The afternoon sun filtered through Aralise’s small apartment, casting a warm glow over the furniture. Her baby bump lay discarded on the sofa. As she paced the room, her frustration bubbled beneath the surface. She glanced at her phone, waiting for it to ring.The silence in the apartment was oppressive, amplifying the sound of her restless movements. She paused by the window, staring at the bustling street below. Families strolled together, their laughter drifting upward like a cruel reminder of the distance between her and her goal. The world—oblivious to the tangled web of lies she was spinning.She sighed, ran a hand through her hair, and then tapped her nails against the window frame, her impatience growing with each passing second.Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, the screen lighting up with a familiar name.“Mother,” she said, snatching up the phone and answering. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to call.”Her mother’s voice came through, smooth and calm. “Darli
Trade Breaker Chapter 61
Dominic paced the living room of the Hale estate. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he marched back and forth. His jaw clenched tight, and his keen and sharp gaze was clouded with frustration.“You called her, didn’t you?” he said, his voice cutting through the silence like a whip. His posture screamed God alone knows what I would do to you if you weren't my mother?Seeming unphased sitting on the plush sofa, Isabella raised an eyebrow and sipped her tea with feigned calm. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, though the slight upward tilt of her chin betrayed her guilt.“Don’t lie to me, Mom.” Dominic stopped pacing and faced her, his voice growing louder. “You’re the only person who would have done this. Do you want me to believe Sapphire just happened to show up at the house right after I told you what happened? Please, don’t insult my intelligence.”Isabella set her cup down with deliberate precision. “Dominic, you’re overreacting. Sapphire needed a chanc
Trade Breaker Chapter 60
After the call ended, Sapphire stared at the screen, her mind racing with frustration and disbelief. Her nails tapped against the coffee table in sharp, erratic rhythms. Her lips curled into a humorless smile, anger bubbling beneath the surface. She tossed her phone onto the couch, a sharp huff escaping her lips. "That stupid old hag." The thought struck her with venom as she leaned back on the sofa and drummed her nails on the armrest. Does she even know her son? If she did, she'd know that just showing up at the house wouldn't fix anything—her plan was doomed to backfire. Dominic doesn’t cave under pressure—he digs in deeper. Her stupid suggestion would only make things worse.Sapphire sighed, stood, and began pacing the room. Her frustration simmered, fueling the calculations running through her mind. She couldn’t let this slip through her fingers. Dominic was the key to everything she’d worked for—everything that defined her ambitions rested on keeping him within her grasp. Yes,
Trade Breaker Chapter 59
Despite her mother-in-law's warning, she didn't want to give up on having Sapphire as her daughter-in-law. The conversation she had with Madam Hale the other day had left Isabella's mind spiraling.She sat in her private sitting room, stirring her tea. Her gaze was distant, filled with memories she hadn’t revisited in years. Watching Sapphire maneuver her way into Dominic’s life had sparked an unusual sense of camaraderie, though she’d never say it aloud.Sapphire reminded her of herself in her early years—young, ambitious, and willing to secure her future by any means necessary. That’s how Isabella had won her place in this family, though she’d learned too late that the empire wouldn’t pass to her husband.Her musings were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She looked as the housekeeper entered, her expression tight, eyes filled with concern, her usual composure ruffled.“What is it?”“The young master is here, but his posture is strange. He looks ready to explode.”I
Trade Breaker Chapter 58
Dominic strode through the front door of his mother’s house, each step echoing his tumultuous thoughts. The cool night air had done little to calm the storm within him, and with each breath, he felt the weight of what had just transpired pressing down on him.I was so stupid, he thought, slamming the door harder than he intended. How could I let my guard down like that?He tossed his keys on the small table by the entryway, the clatter sounding loud in the quiet of the early morning. He was supposed to be the strong one, the unshakeable Dominic Hale, who kept his composure at all costs. Yet there he was, feeling anything but composed.As he moved through the darkened hallway towards the kitchen, his mind replayed the night’s events—a vortex of anger, confusion, and a deep-seated violation that he couldn’t shake. Sapphire’s touch, her weight against him, the way she’d tried to manipulate his vulnerability made his skin crawl.He poured himself a glass of water with hands that weren’t q
Trade Breaker Chapter 57
Chapter 57What could go wrong for Dominic at work went wrong. He had spent most of the day stressed out. It was almost two in the morning when he let himself into his apartment. All thoughts of the current occupant left his mind. He was too tired, but he needed a drink to unwind.The whiskey bottle trembled in Dominic's grip as he slumped deeper into his leather sofa, staring at his phone contacts—a familiar number blinked on and off onto the display as his finger moved along the phone, tracing each digit through the cracked screen, courtesy of throwing his phone against the wall months ago when another lead had turned cold."I fucked up," he whispered to the empty living room. "God, I fucked up so bad."2:47 AM glowed accusingly from his entertainment center. Solo had vanished from his life over six months ago. He did what he always did when he searched his phone for her number. Expecting the usual automated disconnected message, his heart flipped when the number rang.“Solo, is tha
