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Chapter Thirty-nine: Into the Fire
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2025-03-16 17:34:50
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Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Forty: Restless Nights
The penthouse was eerily silent—too silent. It was the kind of stillness that settled over a space when something vital was absent, when a presence that should have been there was missing.Leila lay on the king-size bed, gazing up at the ceiling, her body drained yet her mind buzzing with unrest. Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could visualize was Adrian striding out the door, his posture upright and assured, with Luca and Connor trailing behind him.His words rang sharply in her head, sharp and final. “Not this time. Stay here.”She hated it.She hated that he believed she was incapable of handling it. She loathed that he was out there, confronting Ricci’s men, while she felt confined in the penthouse, suffocating in its safety. She had fought alongside Adrian before, faced danger, bled for him, and witnessed the dark world he controlled.But this time?This time, he had completely excluded her.Her fingers clenched into the sheets, frustration coursing through her.She recogn
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-16Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Forty-one :Echoes of the Past
The morning light filtered through the grand penthouse windows, casting warm glimmers across the polished floors. Outside, the city buzzed with life, yet within these confines, tension loomed.For Adrian, Luca, and Connor, the new day didn't signify hope; it merely served as a stark reminder that their battle with Matteo Ricci was just beginning.Adrian occupied the head of the dining table, his fingers steepled under his chin as he contemplated. Opposite him, Luca sipped his black coffee, his other hand absentmindedly massaging his sore knuckles, while Connor stood rigidly by the window, arms crossed and lost in thought as he revisited the previous night’s turmoil.The ambush. The bloodshed. The fallen bodies.And Ricci’s voice resonated amidst the chaos.Adrian’s wound had scabbed over, yet the weariness in his eyes hadn't faded.And Leila saw it all.She lingered near the kitchen, gripping a glass of water and silently observing the men who had faced their worst fears and emerged a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-16Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Forty-two: Cracks in the Foundation
Beneath him, New York City thrummed with energy, blissfully completely unaware of the approaching turmoil. Standing silently by the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse, Adrian Blackwell's gaze was fixed on the bustling streets below.Life continued as usual. Crowds hurried to their destinations, traffic snaked through the sprawling city, and the skyline stretched high above the chaos.Yet, beneath this façade...A battle was raging.And Adrian had just lost one of his most valuable assets.Not merely lost—Matteo Ricci had burned it to the ground.The warehouse on the East Side lay in ruins, reduced to ashes. Smoke still rose from its remains, leaving a stark message scorched in its remnants.Ricci was no longer lurking in the shadows.And Adrian understood... this was merely the start.Leila observed him from across the room, her heart aching at the sight of the man she loved, as he succumbed to darkness.He hadn’t truly slept. Even beside her, his body remained rigid, his mind
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Forty-three: Unraveling Threads
The city was alive, never truly at rest. An undercurrent of tension throbbed beneath the surface, perceptible only to individuals like Adrian Blackwell. Standing in silence on his penthouse balcony, he felt the distant traffic noise merging with a suffocating weight in his chest. The assault on the East Side warehouse was more than just a tactical strike—it was a declaration of hostilities. Matteo Ricci was no longer lurking in the shadows; he was escalating the conflict, compelling Adrian to respond. Yet Ricci had made one critical error. He had given Adrian a compelling reason to destroy everything he had built. The sliding sound of the glass door interrupted his thoughts. “Please tell me you have a plan,” Leila's voice cut through the stillness. Adrian didn’t look back. He sensed her presence; her energy was a steady anchor, preventing him from succumbing to the darkness that had haunted him for years. “I always have a plan,” he said, a slight smirk forming on his lips. Lei
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Forty-four: The Ghost We Bury
The atmosphere in Adrian’s office was almost stifling, more oppressive than the city skyline looming beyond the glass walls.Leila stood by the door, her heart racing as she observed Adrian processing the revelation she had just shared.“Ethan Graves.”Just the mention of the name felt like a weapon.Adrian remained still and silent, but Leila noticed a spark of recognition in his eyes—the confirmation she needed.He knew him.He had always known him.“You do know him,” Leila whispered, inching closer.Adrian took a slow breath, his hands pressed against the sleek black table as if seeking stability.“I did.”His voice was soft yet restrained, laced with something darker—something raw and unrelenting.Leila's heart raced. “Who was he to you?”Adrian’s gaze met hers, sharp and frigid. “Someone I trusted.”Those words felt out of place coming from Adrian Blackwell.Because trust?That wasn’t something he gave easily.---The Past That Shaped HimAdrian turned away, pacing toward the win
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Forty-five: No Turning Back
The discovery of Ethan Graves' true identity loomed over the penthouse like a dark, unavoidable storm cloud.Leila stood near the floor-to-ceiling window with her arms crossed, staring at the city lights twinkling below. Outside, the world vibrated with life, so full of potential, while inside the penthouse, stifling darkness pressed in, relentless.She recalled Adrian's reaction upon hearing her say that name—Ethan Graves. No, it was Matteo Ricci. The man who Adrian had reduced his life to nothing before vanishing without a trace. Until now.Adrian had vowed to complete what he had started.But at what cost?She turned, watching Adrian pull out his phone, she noticed that behind his composed surface lay a simmering rage, cold and calculated.He dialed a number.Luca answered instantly. “What’s up?”Adrian’s voice was sharp. “Get back here. Now.”There was a brief pause before Luca replied, “On my way.”When Adrian hung up, he put his hands on the desk, bowing his head slightly, prepa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Forty-six:Cracks in the Armor
The atmosphere outside Adrian Blackwell's penthouse was thick with tension, as though the city sensed the turmoil brewing inside him. He gazed out of the expansive window at the city skyline, but his thoughts were elsewhere—focused on the name Gwen had discovered.Grayson Holdings.Ethan Graves, or Matteo Ricci, had concealed himself behind layers of deception, but no empire was immune to scrutiny. Adrian had now identified the first crack in that armor.Leila sat on the leather couch behind him, still holding her phone from her previous conversation with Gwen.“She’s confident this isn’t just another shell company,” Leila noted quietly. “Grayson Holdings deals with substantial sums—real estate, offshore accounts. It’s how Ethan has been laundering his money.”Adrian's expression turned steely, his jaw tightening. “Then we make it bleed.”Connor leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “What’s the plan?”Adrian turned to face them, his gaze cold and calculating. “We take control of it.”
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-19Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Forty-seven: Closing the Trap
Arthur Calloway had succumbed more quickly than Adrian had anticipated. The man, despite his wealth and influence, was a coward who crumbled under real pressure. For years, Calloway had been under Ethan Graves’s control, laundering illicit funds through Grayson Holdings while believing himself untouchable.But now?Now he was nothing more than a pawn, trembling under Adrian Blackwell's authority.Adrian sat in the dimly lit penthouse, with the city lights casting a faint glow through the expansive windows. In his hands were the documents Calloway had provided—comprehensive records of every transaction, offshore account, and asset associated with Grayson Holdings. It was more than Adrian had hoped for: proof, evidence, and leverage."This is a goldmine," Connor remarked while rifling through his own copy of the documents. His keen eyes absorbed every detail, every number, committing them to memory.Leila, seated on the couch beside Adrian, crossed her arms. "What’s the plan? If we take
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-19
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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
