Lahat ng Kabanata ng Secret Billionaire Divorcee: Kabanata 131 - Kabanata 140

Caroline’s Point of ViewKnoxx’s words hit me like a slap to the face, sharp and uncalled for, laced with that familiar condescension that used to chip away at me piece by piece. After all these years, I thought if I heard those kinds of words again from him, I won’t be hurt anymore. However, emotions can’t just be controlled.Like from the past, they still burn me. Nonetheless, I don’t flinch.Instead, I feel something shift inside me—something both calm and furious, measured yet burning.The three-second theory.First second—I see him, and against my will, something stirs. A memory of the past, of what once was. A flicker of something that I used to hold close, something that still, even now, wants to reach out.Second second—I remember. I remember the hurt, the betrayal, the way he discarded me like I was nothing. I remember all the nights I spent questioning myself, doubting my worth, waiting for him to choose me only to realize I was never truly an option.Third second—the warmth

Knoxx's Point of ViewI grip the edge of the table so tightly my knuckles turn white. My jaw is clenched, teeth grinding together as I replay what just happened over and over in my head, like a sick joke the universe is forcing me to relive.Caroline.Walking away.On another man's arm.I suck in a breath, forcing the air into my lungs like doing so may somehow steady me, may cool the onslaught of fire spreading through my chest. But it does nothing.Instead, the anger ignites hotter, twisting tightly in my belly like a live wire sparked, prepared to combust. There’s disbelief sewn into it, jagged and bitter, feeding the anger creeping its way up my throat.My pulse pounding against my temples, my fingers itching to do something—lash out, demand answers, shake some fucking sense into her?How dare she?How dare she sitting there, looking all effortlessly beautiful and unbothered, while I here barely keeping myself put together? How dare she pretend that I never meant anything, that th

Caroline's Point of ViewWithout Adrian here, I'd struggle to keep it together.I keep seeing Liam's white face hearing his faint voice saying he didn't want me to skip this for him. I feel so guilty, but Adrian's taking care of things letting me do what I need to. He calmed me down. He said he'd call if Liam got worse. I believe him.That trust is the only thing stopping me from bolting back to the car and quitting this contest right now. I keep going reminding myself why I showed up.This contest isn’t just about showcasing my skills—it’s about reclaiming my dignity. The last time I stood before a panel of judges, I wasn’t just overlooked—I was humiliated. My work was dismissed, my talent questioned, and the whispers that followed me out of the venue still linger in my memory like a stain I can’t scrub off. They laughed. They doubted me. And worst of all, the people I had trusted, the ones I believed would stand by my side, betrayed me without hesitation.That kind of failure doesn’

Caroline's Point of View Knoxx holds my arm tight—steady, unmoving—but not rough. I feel no pain or force yet his grip weighs on me like a heavy blanket. I want to pull away, to put some distance between us, but my throbbing ankle reminds me how weak I am right now. The last thing I need is to create a fuss during check-in with him around. His mere presence feels like it's crushing me pushing me to react. But I refuse to give him that satisfaction. "Why are you running away after seeing me?" His voice stays quiet but cuts like a knife. Something in it I can't figure out makes my heart skip even though I try to ignore him. I tense up looking ahead. "I wasn't running." His hand doesn't squeeze tighter, but his fingers move a bit, like he's testing how true my words are. His eyes scan me sizing me up. "Really?" He sounds doubtful almost like he finds

Caroline's Point of ViewThe museum buzzes with anticipation, an undercurrent of energy that I can feel thrumming in my bones. Voices blend into a low hum, whispers rippling through the crowd as people shift, adjusting their positions for a better view of the stage. Some reporters are already clutching their notepads and adjusting their cameras, eager to capture the final moments of the competition.But my focus isn’t on them.Because across the room, in the farthest corner, stands Adrian.And he’s holding Liam’s hand.My breath catches in my throat.Liam, small and fidgeting with barely contained excitement, is tugging slightly at Adrian’s arm, his little mouth moving quickly—probably asking questions about what’s happening. Adrian listens, nodding in that calm, patient way of his, but his eyes flick up.To me.Then, as if making a silent decision, Adrian bends down and effortlessly lifts Liam onto his shoulders.I inhale sharply, my fingers curling slightly against my dress.It’s su