All Chapters of HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

It started with a search for coffee. I was wandering Adrian’s massive mansion one morning, wearing one of his oversized shirts and a pair of fuzzy socks, when I found myself hopelessly lost. “This place is ridiculous,” I muttered, peering into yet another empty room. “Who even needs this many doors?” Adrian had mentioned that the kitchen was “just down the hall,” but the hallways in his house seemed to stretch on forever. Just as I was about to give up and text him for help, I noticed something odd about one of the walls. It wasn’t a wall at all. It was a door—one cleverly disguised to blend in with the wood-paneled hallway. “What’s this?” I murmured, my curiosity immediately piqued. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, expecting to find a storage closet or maybe a boring office. Instead, I found a room that took my breath away. --- The space was bathed in soft, natural light filtering through skylights. The walls were lined with shelves crammed with sketchbooks,

The next morning, I woke up to the unmistakable sound of pots clanging in the kitchen. Groaning, I checked the time—6:12 a.m. Too early for anything except coffee.As I stumbled out of the bedroom, I nearly tripped over a small robot toy parked in the hallway. Max’s backpack was propped up against the wall, and a trail of crayons led straight to the kitchen like breadcrumbs.When I reached the kitchen, the scene nearly stopped me in my tracks.Max stood on a stool, wearing one of Adrian’s button-up shirts as an oversized apron, flour smudged on his cheeks. Adrian was next to him, looking like he’d aged ten years overnight. His usual crisp morning appearance was replaced with a wrinkled t-shirt and dark circles under his eyes.“Good morning,” I said cautiously, stepping inside. “What’s going on here?”Max turned to me with a bright smile. “We’re making pancakes!”“We are not making pancakes,” Adrian corrected, his voice sharp. “We are ruining my kitchen.”“I’m helping!” Max protested,

The house was eerily quiet after Max left. It was like someone had flipped a switch, silencing the tornado of energy that had been spinning through the rooms for the past two days. I stood in the living room, surveying the wreckage. Pillows were strewn across the floor, one of Max’s toy cars was stuck under the couch, and there was a faint trace of whipped cream on the coffee table that neither of us had bothered to clean up.Adrian walked in, holding two glasses of water. “It’s almost too quiet now, isn’t it?”I accepted the glass he handed me and took a sip. “Yeah, I feel like I should be hearing a six-year-old yelling about superheroes or pancakes.”Adrian chuckled, sitting down on the couch. He looked relaxed, but there was a certain heaviness to his expression that hadn’t been there earlier.“Did he tire you out that much?” I teased, plopping down next to him.“Not just him,” Adrian replied, resting his head against the back of the couch. “Parenting—even the fake kind—is exhausti

The conference room was buzzing with anticipation. Every seat around the gleaming oak table was occupied, and the air hummed with quiet chatter as the staff waited for Adrian to arrive. On the far end, I sat with my tablet, glancing through the preliminary client profile Adrian had sent me last night.The man we were trying to court wasn’t just any client. He was the client—Noah Carter, the founder of a tech empire that spanned everything from artificial intelligence to cutting-edge medical devices. His company, Carter Innovations, had a reputation for being selective about who they partnered with. Landing him as a client would elevate our firm to untouchable heights.The door swung open, and the room fell silent as Adrian strolled in, exuding his signature confidence. His sharp navy suit was practically a uniform for these high-stakes moments, and the faintest smirk tugged at his lips.“Good morning, everyone,” he began, his voice commanding yet smooth. “I’ll get straight to the poin

The next week felt like the calm after the storm. With Noah Carter officially on board, the office buzzed with celebratory energy. The deal was a massive win for the company, and Adrian wasted no time making sure everyone knew about it.“We’re hosting a victory lunch tomorrow,” he announced at the end of our morning meeting. His tone was casual, but the glint in his eyes made it clear he was proud. “Catered, of course. Make sure you’re there.”The room erupted in murmurs of approval. I, however, slouched in my chair, glaring at Adrian from across the table.“Catered lunch?” I asked dryly once everyone began to filter out. “You’re really pulling out all the stops.”He leaned against the table, grinning. “Come on, Mia. Lighten up. It’s a big win. You were part of it, after all.”“Part of it? I was the glue holding it together,” I quipped, gathering my notes.Adrian chuckled. “Which is exactly why you deserve a moment to relax. Let the team celebrate. You’re not going to sulk through it,