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Chapter Fourteen:Lines That Shouldn't be Crossed
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2025-03-09 00:43:52
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Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Fifteen:The Storm Within
Leila woke up to the rich scent of coffee.For a brief moment, she lost track of her surroundings. The bed was luxuriously soft, softer than anything she was used to and the cool sheets felt pleasant against her skin. A thin beam of morning light slipped through the blackout curtains, casting shadows on the modern sleek furniture.Then, the reality set in.She was in Adrian Blackwell’s penthouse.Memories from the previous night flooded her mind—the gunfire, the pain in her arm, and how Adrian had protected her with his body.And the way he had gently touched her afterward, his hands careful, his voice unusually soft.Leila sat up, rubbing a hand over her face.She needed to leave. She couldn't remain in his world any longer than necessary. The closer she got to Adrian, the more everything became complicated, and the more blurred the lines became.But as she moved, a sharp pain shot through her shoulder.Right. The wound.She glanced down, pulling back the sleeve of the T-shirt Adrian
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Sixteen: Between Fire and Fury
Leila had spent her life learning how to survive.She had never been one to succumb to pressure or wait for a man to rescue her. But as she stood in the world of Adrian Blackwell, with his enemies now targeting her, she understood that survival wasn’t solely about fighting.Sometimes, it was about knowing when to place trust.That realization frightened her more than anything else.Adrian’s name had always been spoken in shadows and whispers —a man too strong, too merciless, too unreachable. Yet, as she stood close to him, Leila could perceive the vulnerabilities beneath his tough exterior, the strain in his posture, the storm brewing in his dark gaze.“Dante Russo,” she repeated, bitterly tasting the name. “He came after me to get to you.”Adrian’s jaw clenched. “Yes.”Just one word. Flat. Controlled.Too controlled.Leila’s heart raced. “Why?”Adrian took a breath, ran a hand through his hair, and turned away to gaze out the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office. The city sprawled
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Seventeen: Playing with Fire
Leila had been in several dangerous situations before.She had faced ruthless businessmen, dealt with betrayal, and escaped confrontations that could have shattered her. However, standing beside Adrian Blackwell, posing to be his lover in front of the world, felt like the most dangerous thing she had ever done.Because this was no longer just about survival.It was about him.And the way he made her feel as if the ground beneath her was constantly shifting.The First Public AppearanceThe flashing lights were blinding.Cameras clicked rapidly; reporters shouted questions and the energy in the atmosphere was charged as Adrian stepped out of the sleek black car and offered his hand to Leila.She hesitated.Not from a lack of readiness, but because the moment she touched him, she knew that would change everything.His dark eyes met hers—calm but commanding. He didn’t speak or rush her, but there was a silent challenge in his look.Leila inhaled sharply and placed her hand in his.A mista
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Eighteen: Crossing The Line
Leila stood frozen in the elevator, lingering long after Adrian had walked away. The tension still clung to her, heavy and stifling, tightening around her as if in a vise. She needed to move, to shake off whatever this feeling was. Yet her body refused to respond. Because deep down, she was falling apart. Each moment spent with Adrian Blackwell blurred the lines between what was real and what was an act.His words echoed in her thoughts: "I don’t like feeling out of control, Leila." And neither did she.Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to step forward. The soft chime of the elevator doors closing behind her snapped her back to reality, but it did nothing to calm her racing heart.The penthouse was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the New York skyline. The city sparkled beyond the glass, stretching endlessly into the night.She half-expected Adrian to be there waiting. Instead, the space was empty. And somehow, tha
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Nineteen:The Price of Secrets
As soon as Adrian disappeared into his office, the atmosphere in the penthouse changed. The lingering heat from their almost-kiss faded, leaving behind an oppressive silence.Leila remained in the kitchen's soft light, her heart still racing. She gripped the cool marble counter, trying to steady herself.They had crossed a boundary.Now, she was torn between wanting to forget it or to explore it further.With a sharp exhale, she forced herself into motion, grabbed the forgotten glass of water, took a sip, and then turned towards her room—determined to put distance between herself and the man who was gradually unraveling her.But then—A voice.Muffled yet sharp.Coming from behind Adrian's office door.Leila froze.Eavesdropping wasn't her nature, yet something about the fury in Adrian’s voice made her pause.She took a step closer.Then another.Each step drew her nearer to the cracked door, just enough for his words to slip through.“You don’t dictate how I deal with this,” Adrian g
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Twenty:Lines We Can't Cross
The knock on the door broke the silence like a gunshot.Leila felt her heart race as she watched Adrian momentarily freeze—just enough to tell her that he wasn't expecting a visitor.Then, his demeanor changed.He regained control, adopting that calm, ruthless facade he always wore as armorWithout a word, he strode toward the door, his shoulders tense and movements purposeful.Leila reminded herself to breathe.The person outside wasn’t just some late-night guest.She could sense it.Felt it in a way. Adrian's entire body had stiffened.A Warning Leila crept to the edge of the room, positioning herself to see the door without being easily spotted. Her instincts urged her to brace for anything.Adrian unlocked the door and pulled it open with Sharp precision.A man stood before him.Dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly styled, he exuded an unmistakable authority. Unlike Adrian’s quiet menace, there was something in his piercing gaze that sent a chill d
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Twenty-one:A Game of Power
As soon as Leila pulled away from Adrian, the atmosphere between them thickened. She still felt the lingering impression of his touch and the weight of his unsaid thoughts against her skin, but she forced herself to move away. Adrian had once again shut her out. Perhaps she should have expected it. But it didn't stop the frustration from burning inside her.She entered her room and closed the door, though sleep eluded her. Lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.Dante Russo. Adrian’s father. Malcolm Gray.Fragments of a larger puzzle she struggled to piece together. What was evident was that Adrian was at its core—and now she was entangled, too. She let out a sharp breath and turned onto her side, trying to calm her thoughts.Morning would bring answers.At least, she hoped it would.The Next MorningLeila awoke to the persistent buzzing of her phone on the nightstand. With a groan, she rubbed her
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Twenty-two: Unfinished Business
The heaviness of Adrian's words hung between them, like a silent oath.I will end this.Leila was not oblivious; she understood what that meant.But the harshness in his voice was more than a threat of violence; it served as a caution.This wasn't a matter of justice.It was a fight for survival.Still, as Adrian gazed at his father's photograph, there was something more beneath his cold calculation. Something deeper.Something he wasn't saying.Leila's fingers curled into fists.Dante wasn’t merely making a move—he was dragging Adrian’s past into the present, and that changed everything.She took a slow breath. “What’s the plan?”Adrian’s jaw set. “You don’t need to worry about that.”She scoffed. “I think we’re past the point where you get to decide what I need to worry about.”Adrian’s eyes flickered to hers, sharp as a blade.For a moment, neither of them spoke.Then—A knock at the office door.Adrian let out a breath, his expression toughening again. “Come in.”The door opened,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11
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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
