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Chapter One Hundred Eleven – After the Storm
Last Updated:
2025-04-15 00:16:03
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Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twelve – Soft Edges
Adrian hadn’t realized just how overwhelming the quiet could be.Not the kind of quietness that brought peace, but the kind that made his skin crawl and amplified his thoughts. It settled over him like fog—light yet completely suffocating. He picked up on the smallest of sounds: the gentle clink of a second mug on the counter, Leila’s footsteps on the floor, the soft hum she made while brushing her hair. Even the bustling city outside felt muted.For weeks, they had been caught up in chaos—running, fighting, poised for deception. Now, the stillness resonated through every room like an unfamiliar tune.Initially, Adrian held fast to routine, attempting to impose structure on the quiet. He woke early, prepared breakfast, scrolled through news feeds with a sense of suspicion, and walked with Leila along cobbled streets, pretending life was normal.Yet, peace was not an act. And pretending only made the emptiness more obvious.For Adrian, peace didn’t feel liberating; it felt like an afte
Last Updated : 2025-04-15Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Thirteen – What We Build
The Return to the CompanyEntering the office felt like revisiting a nostalgic moment that had become mismatched with his current self.The marble floors shone brightly under the harsh fluorescent lighting, and the familiar mix of wood polish and aged leather lingered in the air, just as it always had. His footsteps echoed softly on the familiar carpet, and the skyline stretched beyond the glass walls, unchanged in its towering indifference. But, everything seemed slightly off, like a song being played in a different key.It wasn't the office that had changed; it was him.Adrian sensed it in the subtle details—in the brief hesitation before pressing the elevator button, in the way his thumb hovered over the biometric scanner, feeling almost foreign. That scanner had once access to his empire. Now, it seemed like a reminder of a past he was unsure about reclaiming.As he entered, Claire—still composed, polished, and reliable—rose from her desk with an ingrained smile. She didn't flinch
Last Updated : 2025-04-16Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Fourteen – The Place We Found
The Weekend Trip The cabin was tucked away deep in a serene forest, bordered by tall pines that swayed gently in the morning breeze. Its roof slanted at unusual angles, softened by a thick layer of moss and the passage of time. Smoke lazily puffed from the chimney into the lightening dawn sky, and the windows emitted a soft glow from a fire that had kept the place warm throughout the night.For Leila, it felt like she had stepped back into a quieter era.Standing on the squeaky wooden porch wrapped in a blanket, her wool socks damp from taking a barefoot step outside with her coffee, she held a chipped mug—its rim worn from previous use. She appreciated items with a story—objects that had endured.There was no noise of traffic, no phone alerts disrupting the calm, no underlying tension.Just the songs of birds. Just the wind weaving through the trees. Just the simple act of breathing.Inside, the world she shared with Adrian was still slumbering. He lay curled under the quilted cover
Last Updated : 2025-04-16Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Fifteen – What Still Lingers
The city greeted them not with warmth, but with a cacophony of sound and a brisk urgency that felt jarring after the tranquility of the forest. Horns echoed in the distance, a siren shrieked two blocks away, crosswalks flashed impatiently, and strangers hurried past, their brows furrowed and coffee cups held tightly like armor.It was still the same city they had left, yet they were somehow stepping into it as transformed individuals.Leila first noticed the change in Adrian's demeanor as they turned onto their street. He sat silently in the passenger seat, scanning the sidewalks and shadows with a tense jaw. When they passed a dim alley illuminated only by a flickering neon sign, she observed how his shoulders instinctively squared, as if a primal instinct had resurfaced before he could quell it.His gaze darted to every reflective surface they encountered—glass storefronts, car mirrors, bus windows—taking in more than just the passing sights.At first, she refrained from speaking. P
Last Updated : 2025-04-17Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Sixteen – The Life We Chose
LeilaThe gallery was empty now.Not just cleared out—but tranquil and solemn, as if the space had finally exhaled after holding its breath throughout the night. The only sound was the faint hum of the ventilation, a muted whisper amid the quiet. A subtle scent of fresh paint lingered, mingled with traces of expensive perfume and champagne bubbles that had long gone flat. Bathed in light from the high windows, the hardwood floors showcased slanting rays that caught dust motes swirling like languorous stars—small, drifting thoughts yet to settle.Leila stood alone in the middle of it all.With her arms crossed tightly over her chest and her gaze fixated on a single photograph—the one of Adrian.It was the final piece of the exhibit. Not because it was the most visually captivating, but because it resonated most personally. A black-and-white shot of him in a moment of quiet vulnerability, trapped in the pause between an exhale and a confession. She had almost removed it from the show mu
Last Updated : 2025-04-17Trapped 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
Last Updated : 2025-04-19Trapped 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
Last Updated : 2025-04-19Trapped 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
Last Updated : 2025-04-20
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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
