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Chapter Eighty-eight — Exposed Secrets
Last Updated:
2025-04-02 16:53:08
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Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Eighty-Nine--Unfinished Truths
The drove to Adrian’s penthouse felt endless.Leila gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles as she navigated through the city’s neon-lit streets, weighed down by Camille’s heavy words.“Adrian was the one responsible for the collapse from the very start.”It couldn’t be true.Yet, deep within, a voice whispered that it made too much sense. The deal Adrian had made—which had saved her father’s gallery—had always felt too perfectly timed. She had thought she had manipulated Adrian into submission, controlling the terms herself.But what if the reality was the opposite?The thought made her stomach churn.As she pulled into the underground parking garage, her heart raced so violently she feared it might burst from her chest. She barely remembered switching off the engine before stepping out, her heels echoing against the concrete. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself. She needed answers, and she needed them immediately.The elevator ride was torturous. Each second felt drawn
Last Updated : 2025-04-03Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Ninety- Fractured Foundations
The cold night air bit at Leila’s skin, but she hardly felt it. The oppressive weight on her chest was much more overwhelming as she drove aimlessly through the deserted city streets. She had no destination in mind—only a desperate need to escape. She wanted to be far away from Adrian and the painful truth that had shattered her perception of him.The car's headlights pierced the darkness, revealing deserted sidewalks and quiet buildings. Outside appeared serene, a stark contrast to the storm raging within her.She should have seen it coming. Adrian was cutthroat in business, and she had always known that. She had witnessed his ruthless treatment of his enemies, his decisive actions, and his skillful manipulation of power dynamics with a precision that left no room for compassion.Yet understanding it intellectually was different from feeling its impact emotionally.He had once destroyed her father’s life's work, then positioned himself as her rescuer while concealing the harsh realit
Last Updated : 2025-04-03Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Ninety-One: Shadows of Doubt
The city was constantly alive, never truly at rest.Even now, long past midnight, lights shone from skyscraper windows, their artificial glow pooling on the wet streets below. The distant sound of traffic created a soft backdrop—a reminder that the world outside the turmoil within her continued. As Leila sat in her parked car, gripping the steering wheel as if it were a lifeline, it felt as if time had frozen around her. The burden of the last few hours weighed heavily on her, leaving her breathless, her mind tangled in a web of doubt and betrayal.She had switched off the engine over an hour ago but she hadn't moved. Not physically, at least. But mentally, emotionally, she had drifted about in a storm, battered by the waves of uncertainty. She spent years navigating Adrian’s world, understanding its rules, and mastering the art of survival in a game where trust was a currency often counterfeited. And yet, nothing had prepared her for this turmoil.The harrowing realization struck
Last Updated : 2025-04-04Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Ninety-Two - Faulty Lines
Leila didn’t return home.She wasn’t even sure what home meant anymore.The city loomed around her, indifferent, its neon lights flickering against the dark sky. The streets were never truly deserted, yet amidst the ongoing hustle and bustle, she felt increasingly alone and unmoored, as if the ground had disappeared beneath her.Camille’s words had dug deep into her mind, sharp and insidious, pressing against wounds she hadn’t realized existed. After Camille has left the parking lot, those words reverberated persistently in her head.“Do you think you’re just another carefully controlled piece on his board?”It was a question she had never asked herself. Adrian had always made her feel valued, never like a mere pawn. But the more she replayed their time together—the way he had pulled her into his world, protected her, guided her, shaped her decisions—the more she began to doubt.Had everything been predetermined? Had he been steering her toward this life long before she recognized how
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Leila awoke to a profound stillness.There were no distant gunshots or whispers from Adrian’s men outside the penthouse. The usual tumult of her life was absent.And so was Adrian.That choice had been hers.She had checked into a high-end hotel room that offered not just luxury but also privacy. There were no digital footprints, no paper trails, and certainly no inquiries to deal with. If Adrian, Connor or Camille attempted to locate her, they would struggle to do so.Not that she was hiding. Not from Adrian.She simply needed space.Space to think. Space to breathe.Recent events had unraveled something vital within her, pulling apart her understanding of her life. Camille’s words had only force her to face the realities she had long ignored.Adrian’s hold over her life was deeper than she had recognized.And even worse—she had allowed it.Leila sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. She had barely slept, and her mind spiraled through endless memories and half-formed doubt
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AdrianThe city was constantly alive.And so was Adrian.He stood in front of the towering floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse, gazing out at the dazzling skyline. The city pulsed with activity—cars navigated the streets below, their headlights casting fleeting golden glimmers on the wet road. Pedestrians drifted beneath the soft glow of streetlights, becoming shadows in the night. It all felt so ordinary.Yet, his life had come to a standstill.Leila was gone.Not lost. Not taken.She had chosen to leave.And that was so much worse.Adrian’s grip tightened around the glass of whiskey he held, though the amber liquid remained untouched. He had poured it out of habit, but drinking felt pointless. No amount of alcohol could ease the ache in his chest or the gnawing realization that, for the first time in years, he was powerless.Twenty-four hours had passed.That was how long it had been since she walked out.In that time, he had come to understand what true silence felt like.His
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AdrianThe city had lost its brightness.Adrian had always perceived life in black and white—order or chaos, strength or weakness, success or failure. Now, however, everything appeared gray, dull. The lively world outside his penthouse window felt remote, as if it belonged to a realm untouched by him.Leila had taken something with her when she left, but he didn’t know if it was gone for good.He sat in his office, elbows resting on the polished mahogany desk, he stared blankly at the screen of his laptop, displaying a financial report. The words blurred into a jumble of meaningless text that held no weight against the storm in his mind. He hadn’t slept and had barely eaten. The void left by her absence gnawed at him, carving out an emptiness he hadn’t realized he could feel.Connor entered quietly, placing a steaming cup of coffee on the desk with an uncharacteristic quietness.Adrian didn’t look up right away. “Any news?” His voice was raw and strained from fatigue.Connor hesitated
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AdrianThe city glowed with neon lights through the rain, every streetlight and car headlight smearing across the windshield in shades of red, gold, and stark white. The storm had persisted all night—the heavy raindrops hit the car's roof like clockwork, rhythmic and relentless. It softened the city's outlines, transforming distinct corners and straight edges into a hazy watercolor filled with tension.Adrian occupied the backseat of his black Maserati, one leg crossed over the other as the leather shifted quietly beneath his stillness. He gazed outside as fragments of the city rushed by. The world moved on without him paying any mind to the frenzy outside.He wasn’t in a hurry.Not tonight.Camille believed she had the upper hand. She thought he was scrambling to catch up. She thought he was desperate.She was wrong.His fingers drummed a slow, deliberate beat against his thigh, the only visible sign of the storm brewing beneath his composed facade. He knew her too well—the games, th
Last Updated : 2025-04-06
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Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Five — When Familiar Comes Home
Gwen's Arrival Gwen arrived on a cloud-covered afternoon, when the world seemed to hold its breath. Leila stood on the sacred-feeling brownstone steps, her pale wool scarf wrapped around her, her coat partially zipped over her gently rounded stomach. The air was infused with the scent of wet stone and lavender, faint traces of the cleaning oil lingering around the house's edges.When the cab arrived, Leila remained still, watching Gwen emerge, carrying a worn canvas bag. Gwen's thin coat appeared more appropriate for warmer weather, and her hair was pulled up in a messy knot, strands flying loose in the breeze.They exchanged silent glances across the distance for a moment.Then Gwen dropped the bag and bounded up the stairs in two swift strides.Leila stepped forward just in time to catch her, and they embraced—tight and sudden, yet utterly right. Gwen's arms wrapped around Leila's back, her breath hitching against Leila's shoulder."You look like spring," Gwen murmured, her voice t
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Four — The Spaces We Fill
Few days later, they navigated the renovated brownstone as if they were gliding through the pages of a story they'd once only dared to imagine.The floors, once scattered with splinters and gaps, had been replaced with reclaimed wood that hummed gracefully beneath their feet. The staircase—rebuilt, sanded, and stained—no longer creaked under their weight but instead welcomed them into their newly crafted existence. Each room exuded the lingering aroma of fresh paint, pine wood polish, and lavender oil—an unusual yet soothing blend that lingered in the air like a cherished memory.Leila paused in the entryway, running her fingers along the newly fitted doorframe. Her other hand rested on the slight curve of her belly, subtly hidden under her sweater but undeniable to her. She watched as Adrian moved through the living room, skillfully opening the windows to let in the gentle spring breeze.She smiled slightly. “It feels like it’s alive.”Adrian looked back at her, his gaze softening. “
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three — What we're Building
LeilaThe nausea didn't creep in-- it slammed into her suddenly, like a crashing wave.One moment, she was on the gallery floor, crouched in a patch of warm light, her hands buried in fabric samples she'd been collecting over the past week. She had midnight blue for the reading nook and a muted rose she hoped would work in the nursery—gentle and grounding. This task felt reassuring, providing a rare sense of control amidst the chaos.Then, without warning, everything shifted.The room spun violently, causing her stomach to turn with it. Her hands slipped off the pile of swatches, and she barely managed to get to her feet and rush to the bathroom, gripping the doorframe for support as her heart raced. She felt clammy and disoriented, as if her own body had betrayed her.Nausea struck in relentless waves while she leaned over the sink, gripping the cold porcelain and breathing shallowly through her nose. Her reflection revealed pale skin and heavy, shadowed eyes.By the time Adrian arri
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Two: Told in Gentle Light
Pregnancy RevealLeila dialed Gwen from the gallery, her fingers quivering slightly as she made the call.The space was empty that morning, still resonating with the echoes of laughter and footsteps from the other night’s opening. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, creating long, golden lines on the smooth concrete floor. Her latest collection adorned the walls—images that felt like fragments of her heart captured in ink and shadow. Yet none of these works, not even the proudest or most vulnerable work she'd hung there, compared to what she felt within her now.Gwen picked up on the third ring, her voice thick with sleep and that familiar, dry-edged affection.“Hello?” came the croaky murmur.“I didn’t wake you, did I?” Leila asked, slowly pacing between two canvases. She paused in front of one featuring Adrian at the lake, wind tousling his hair and vulnerability etched in every feature. It was one of the few photos she had been unable to let go of.“You did,” Gwen replied w
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-One-Laying the Foundation
----LeilaThat morning, their conversation was sparse—not due to avoidance or a lack of topics, but because the weight of what had just shifted between them made words feel.....too small.Silence wrapped around them like a comforting blanket—not chilly or distant, but respectful. It felt as if speaking too soon might shatter the delicate truth lingering between them.Leila retreated to the window seat, captivated by the view even though she barely noticed it. She curled her knees beneath her, a throw blanket resting on her legs, while an untouched cup of tea—over-steeped and cold—sat on the windowsill. Thirst was not her concern; she wasn’t even sure what she felt. Just that something within her was in flux, rearranging.Across the room, Adrian quietly moved around the kitchen, the sounds of a mug clinking, water boiling, and his soft footsteps creating a soothing background. He didn’t press her with questions or attempt to fill the silence, but every so often, she sensed his gaze on
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty – Foundations
The Brownstone Restoration The rhythmic sound of hammering resonated through the old walls, reminiscent of a heartbeat—steady and alive.Leila stood barefoot in what used to be the sitting room, now stripped to its bare frame. The plaster had been removed, exposing wooden beams and weathered brick. The floorboards had been taken up days earlier, leaving an uneven subfloor covered in old nails and bits of insulation. Light streamed through a gap where a windowpane had been taken out, casting long, flickering shafts that danced along the dust-laden walls.The air was filled with the scent of sawdust, earth, and memories.Adrian had kept the crew minimal—just four carefully selected individuals, chosen through contacts Connor trusted—experts in restoration rather than demolition. Skilled craftspeople who recognized when a building was more than just timber and stone; when it carried significance, a legacy, or grief.No one asked questions; they didn’t have to. The house communicated its
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Nineteen – The Letters
AdrianThe envelope in his hands felt incredibly delicate, as if it would crumble if he applied too much pressure. It wasn't just the paper; it was the significance of its contents. The burden of long-hidden truths, something treasured. The past was enclosed in fading ink, infused with the gentle quiver of a woman who hoped her words would eventually reach him.Adrian Michael Blackwell.She had written out his full name in cursive, slightly slanted, demonstrating a carefulness he hadn't seen since he was a child when he used to watch her write grocery lists and school permission slips. Though years had passed since he heard her voice, as he gazed at those letters, he could almost hear it—soft, steady, a bit weary, yet filled with warmth she hadn't dared show too openly.He sat on the edge of the couch, his elbows on his knees, a shoebox of letters resting like an artifact between him and Leila. She hadn't broken the silence since their return home. Instead, she had made tea, draped a
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Eighteen – Echoes
----LeilaThe studio's light always conveyed honesty.Morning light, in particular, arrived gently and contemplatively, filtering through the frosted panes of the warehouse windows and slicing through the dust motes like unresolved memories. Leila stood barefoot on the well-worn oriental rug at the room's center, camera held delicately in her hands, her eyes focused on the framed photo hung on the opposite wall.The lake.And Adrian.He was sitting on the edge of a dilapidated dock, his profile directed toward the horizon, one arm resting on his knee. His expression was difficult to interpret—not because it lacked emotion, but rather due to its complexity. It contained a blend of quiet longing, newfound tranquility, and an underlying hint of regret. She had captured that moment instinctively—without poses or prompts.Simply, it was truth.She couldn’t explain why she kept coming back to that specific photograph. She had many from that trip and countless more that followed. But this o
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Seventeen – The Weight of Quiet Things
The aroma of coffee clung to the penthouse like a lingering memory.Dark roast. Rich. Intense. With just a trace of cinnamon—Leila’s quiet rebellion against his typical straightforward tastes. He’d initially rolled his eyes at her first attempt but now found himself missing it when it was absent.The atmosphere was calm. Not dead still—unlike the oppressive silence that once made him instinctively reach for hidden weapons. This silence—warm and inviting—felt domestic.It came from the freshly brewed coffee and the soft ticking of water in the radiator, accompanied by the sounds of a city gradually waking. The soft sound of bare feet on polished hardwood broke the stillness.Leila.She moved seamlessly—her hair still tousled from sleep, one sleeve of his shirt slipping off her shoulder, a lazy half-smile on her lips as she entered the living room with a mug in hand. She kissed him earlier, instinctively, a gentle press of lips against his jaw, still in a dreamy state. It was spontaneou
