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Chapter Ten :When Pretending Feels Real
Dernière mise à jour:
2025-03-07 16:11:55
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Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Eleven: The Edge of Control
The next morning, Leila woke to the scent of coffee and a distinctly masculine scent lingering in the air. For a brief moment, she lost track of her surroundings, her body sinking into the plush bed, her muscles sore from the previous night's training.Then reality slammed into her like a freight train.She was still here.Still trapped in Adrian Blackwell’s world.Still playing the role of his fiancée while enemies lurked in the shadows.Leila sighed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. What the hell was happening to her?She had dedicated her entire life to fighting for control and respect. Now, she found herself at the mercy of a man who represented everything she had sworn to despise.And yet...She didn't feel powerless anymore.Throwing off the covers, she dragged herself out of bed and made her way to the kitchen.Adrian was already there, dressed in another one of his perfectly tailored suits, his presence commanding even in the stillness of the morning He looked up as she ente
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-07Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Twelve: A Deal With The Devil
The city buzzed with colorful lights and the noise of late-night traffic, but inside Adrian's penthouse, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.Leila was seated on the couch, fixated on the envelope Adrian had received from Victor Langston. The weight of it felt suffocating as if an invisible force were compressing her chest.Having grown up amidst manipulative games and veiled threats, Leila sensed that this situation was different. Adrian Blackwell was a man who maintained control so tightly that the prospect of anyone unraveling him seemed impossible.But now, facing him, she noticed something flickering in his eyes.Doubt.It was fleeting, masked beneath the cold steel of his expression, but it was there.And that made a difference.“Are you actually thinking about it?” she asked, her voice softer than she had meant.Adrian leaned back, observing her with an inscrutable gaze “I don't make choices based on emotions, Leila.”She scoffed, tightening her grip on the envelope. “Then w
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-09Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Thirteen:No Way Out
The sharp smell of gunpowder lingered in the air as bullets whizzed past them, striking metal shipping containers.Leila pressed herself against Adrian, her heart racing. The continuous gunfire echoed off the steel structures, making it difficult to identify where the attackers were hiding.Adrian tightened his hold on her while scanning their surroundings, his mind racing. “We need to move. Now.”Leila barely had time to nod before he pulled her to the side, keeping their bodies low as they navigated through the maze of containers.“Who the hell are these people?!” she gasped.Adrian’s expression was serious. “Victor’s men. No question about it.”Her blood ran cold. Mercer had been killed without hesitation, and now they could be next.Adrian guided her toward a stack of crates towering against the docks. He motioned for her to stay low as he peeked around the corner. The Moonlight cast long shadows, revealing at least three figures in dark clothing moving toward Mercer’s body.“Damn
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-09Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Fourteen:Lines That Shouldn't be Crossed
As Adrian helped Leila into his penthouse, her shoulder throbbed with pain, his grip firm yet careful. The stylish interior decor—black marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and stunning views—should have wowed her, but her focus was solely on the persistent ache radiating through her body.She barely had time to take in the surroundings before Adrian guided her toward a soft leather couch in the spacious living room.“Sit,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.Leila settled onto the couch, her muscles stiff and sore. The adrenaline from the earlier chaos had long worn off, leaving her with exhaustion and a stinging pain from where the bullet had grazed her.Adrian stepped away to another room, the sound of his footsteps echoing against the marble floor. The silence that followed was unsettling. For someone known for his cold efficiency, he was moving with an urgency that almost felt… personal.Her mind raced.Everything happened so fast. Mercer was dead, and there ha
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-09Trapped 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
Dernière mise à jour : 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
Dernière mise à jour : 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
Dernière mise à jour : 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
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-10
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Trapped 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
Trapped 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
Trapped 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
Trapped 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
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
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Eleven – After the Storm
lLeilaThe rain had ceased before dawn.The world now lay in a peaceful silence that Leila had nearly forgotten existed. No gunfire pierced the night, no encrypted messages lit up their screens, and no looming threats haunted them with whispers of grudges.Only the steady tick of the wall clock in the kitchen, occasional sounds of life from the streets below, and the soothing aroma of coffee drifted through the house like a gentle sigh.Barefoot by the window, Leila found herself enveloped in Adrian’s oversized hoodie—its comforting smell of cedar and rain still lingering. Outside, the city slowly stirred back to life after the storm, the sky a muted gray with clouds hovering like bruises, but the danger had effortlessly passed. The wind had calmed, and the battered city had survived.Inside their apartment, for the first time in what felt like ages, they woke up without a mission—no target, no emergency plans, no sign of Camille or Ethan. Gone were the days of calculated hush and ur
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Ten – The Architect’s Reckoning
AdrianVienna felt colder than he imagined.This wasn’t the sharp cold that numbs fingers and ears—this was something different. A deeper, quiet chill that seeped into the bones. It was a cold that didn’t announce itself with snow or gusts of wind, but with an eerie stillness. A lingering frost hung in the air like a breath held too long.It fit the moment perfectly.Connor had organized everything perfectly—their arrival, the van discreetly parked outside the surveillance zone, the untraceable credentials, the encrypted communications. It was all clean, precise and efficient—like everything Connor did.They were positioned on a narrow road outside the estate, with trees closing in and stars barely visible through a cloudy sky. The manor loomed in silhouette—covered in ivy, with tall iron gates, a relic from an earlier time. Its isolation felt too intentional. No guards. No visible technology. No sign of movement.“She’s alone,” Connor murmured from the back of the van, scanning the t
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Nine– Inheritance
The burden of the blueprint lingered heavily.Hours had passed since their arrival in Paris, yet Adrian found it impossible to look away from the photograph. His father, Camille, Ethan Graves—their posture, their closeness, the knowing glint behind their smiles—it wasn't a spontaneous shot but a deliberate moment, as if they were commemorating the inception of something that only they could grasp.Since arriving, he had been mostly silent, not due to a lack of thoughts—he had too many. They churned within him like thick smoke, hot and suffocating, impossible to release without setting everything ablaze.Leila sat across from him on the edge of a table, her focus fixed on him rather than the photograph or files. Her gaze was filled with a concerned patience that waited without pressure.Finally, he broke the silence, his voice gravel laced from hours of silence. “I can’t stop thinking about it. The notion that everything—the empire Ethan built, Camille's neural network, even my father'
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Eight – Blueprints of Betrayal
They paused in a village so still that questions felt unnecessary.Situated just beyond the French border, the village appeared as if it had been plucked from the past—stone cottages snug against misty hills, narrow paths winding like lost recollections. It was the kind of place where the outside world would only arrive for good reason. Leila understood—this wasn’t merely a stop. It was a moment of stillness.The van was parked in the dimness of an old barn on the village’s outskirts, condensation fogging its windows. Silence clung to them like dust, settling heavily in the air.Leila sat on an overturned crate next to Adrian, her legs aching from the journey, but her mind sharp. Clutched in her hands was the photo again—creased and worn from her fingers tracing its contours.Camille. Ethan Graves. And Adrian’s father.Captured in black and white, framed in a moment of laughter that felt more like a deception the longer she gazed at it.“She never mentioned him,” Leila said quietly.
