Lahat ng Kabanata ng Love Trap: The Billionaire's Regret: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

I got out of bed slowly the following morning. No one jolted me awake this time, but the rumbling of my stomach was loud enough to shake the graves of the recently deceased. I rolled over groggily and instinctively reached out across the sheets, expecting to find Karl's solid warmth lying next to me. However, my questing hand met only cool, crumpled fabric. His side of the bed was empty, with a lingering trace of his cologne being the only evidence he had been there at all. I let out a long, resigned sigh. Of course, he was already up and about. The man seemed to run on a perpetually efficient internal clock, rising with the sun no matter how late we had been up carrying on our activities the night before. My rebellious stomach let out another insistent growl. So much for trying to catch a few more winks of sleep! I finally surrendered to the demands of my hunger and threw off the cozy warmth of the downy duvet, exposing my bare legs to the cool morning air. I padded across t

The next few weeks passed by in the same dreadful pattern - Karl leaving early each morning for work and not returning until well into the night, while I spent endless vacant days alone, cooped up inside binge-watching TV shows and chatting with loved ones to fend off the creeping loneliness and despair."Lavinia...I think I'm in love," Rosie's dreamy, wistful voice made me gape in shock through the phone line.Rosie had been my closest friend since childhood, and her falling in love with someone was essentially a modern miracle, given her track record of rapidly cycling through flings and casual boyfriends."What?!" I yelped, unable to stifle my knee-jerk response. This was precisely why I often hesitated before answering Rosie's calls - never knowing what shocking revelation might tumble out next."Yeah...I really think I am, Lavi. Oh god, it's such a weird, intense feeling but so wonderfully giddy and intoxicating too," she gushed unabashedly. "Every time I see him, I get these int

"So, my little bitch, how do you feel about spending a merciless night in the Red room as a consequence of your defiance?"I couldn't help letting out a disbelieving chuckle."Punishment? My defiance? Is that what you're calling it now?" I shot back, my tone laced with incredulity. "I didn't commit any sin that warrants punishment from you. And even if I had, who gave you the authority to judge me?"My voice grew more assertive as I continued, "I have every right to voice my thoughts and fight against injustice. Your eagerness to punish me only underscores your fear of opposition and your desire to stifle individuality. Instead of trying to break me down, perhaps you should try engaging in an open conversation to understand why you act as you do."“Conversation?” His retort was swift and harsh. "Every time you feel pain... remember that it's your own doing, not mine. You need to see the beast you've turned me into."Karl's words were punctuated by a guttural roar that made me involunt

Just like that, my smile froze on my face as the weight of reality came crashing back down.My stomach twisted into an anxious knot at the mention of Karl's name.Robert must have sensed the shift in my mood because his expression sobered instantly."Lavinia? What's wrong?" His brow furrowed with concern as he studied me intently. "Did I say something to upset you?"I forced out a shaky laugh, shaking my head quickly. "No, no, you didn't do anything wrong. I just...I got lost in my own head for a second there."Robert didn't look entirely convinced, but he seemed to sense I didn't want to discuss it further.With a slight nod, he reached out and gave my hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze."Well, whatever's going on, you're here with us now. That's all that matters."He threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his side in a sideways hug. "Why don't we get out there before Mom sends out a search party, huh?"I managed a small smile at that, leaning into his comforting embra

It felt like Karl had read my mind because his lips curved into a cruel smirk before he abruptly released me with a disdainful shove that nearly made me stumble."Get in the car. And wipe that look of fear off your face before I'm forced to give you something to actually be afraid of."I somehow managed to keep my hands from visibly shaking when I hurried around to the passenger side door and slid inside the car.My heart was thundering so loudly in my ears that I could barely even process Karl's presence when he climbed in beside me a moment later.I just stared straight ahead and struggled to regulate my breathing the moment a cold sweat broke out across my skin.The drive back to our home passed in tense, suffocating silence. That was if the lavish prison I was kept in could even be called a home.Karl didn't so much as look at me. His face was like chiseled stone as he kept his eyes trained on the road ahead. I could practically feel the waves of fury rolling off him.He was no do