All Chapters of The Billionaires Pawn : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Lexi’s POV I had just finished my shower, steam swirling in the luxurious bathroom, and wrapped myself in a towel. The cool air hit my skin as I stepped out and made my way to the dresser. The low murmur of Julian’s voice drifted through the slightly ajar door, catching my attention. “…I don’t like surprises. Spill it now,” Julian said, his tone sharper than usual. I froze mid-motion, my hands still in my hair. Something in his voice made the air in the room feel heavier. Was he talking to Étienne? No, the cadence was different, like he was on a call. I stepped closer to the door, my bare feet silent against the floor. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop,at least, that’s what I told myself, but curiosity got the better of me. Whatever this was, it seemed serious. “What the hell do you mean alive ?” Julian’s voice was lower now, laced with an edge I’d never heard before. I strained to hear, but his words became muffled. My heart raced as I considered whether to let him know I cou

Julian’s POV The sound of the door clicking shut behind Pierre Thompson left an uneasy silence hanging in the air. Étienne sat across from me, his legs casually crossed, but the sharpness in his gaze betrayed the same tension I felt. “Well,” he drawled, breaking the silence, “that was enlightening. Your Lexi’s got more skeletons in her closet than a haunted mansion.” I shot him a glare. “This isn’t a joke, Étienne.” “I’m not joking,” he said, sitting up straight. “This is a mess. A dangerous one. Her mother isn’t just a threat to Lexi; she’s a threat to anyone remotely connected to her. Including you.” I didn’t need him to remind me. Catherine Hale was no ordinary woman. Ruthless, calculated, and utterly devoid of conscience. A woman like that didn’t just disappear for years without a plan. She was waiting, watching, and now, it seemed, making her move. “We need to neutralize her,” I said finally, my voice cold. Étienne raised an eyebrow. “Neutralize? Is that the new polite ter

Lexi's POV I woke up to the sound of Julian's phone buzzing on the nightstand. He groggily reached over to silence it, his eyes squinting in the morning light. I snuggled deeper into the blankets, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me. Last night had been perfect - the dinner, the conversation, the way Julian had looked at me with such intensity. But as I drifted off to sleep again, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Julian's behavior had been strange, almost... guarded. And Étienne's words kept echoing in my mind: "Those two are trouble. But they're loyal to the core." I pushed the thoughts aside, telling myself I was just being paranoid. Julian and I were... complicated. I had developed feelings for him, small and tentative, but feelings nonetheless. And I could sense that he felt something for me too, even if he didn't always show it. But as the day went on, I couldn't help but notice that Julian was distant, preoccupied. He kept glancing at his ph

Étienne’s POV As I sit in my luxurious hotel room in Los Angeles, the city’s bright lights spread out below me. The view is breathtaking, but it does little to ease the storm g inside me. Memories I’ve tried to forget come rushing back, and I can’t ignore them anymore. I need to face why I want revenge against Julian. Years ago, Julian and I were more than business partners; we were like brothers. We shared big dreams, trusted each other completely, and believed we could conquer any challenge together. Our bond was unbreakable, or so I thought. We ventured into high-risk deals, thinking we could handle anything as long as we had each other. But that trust shattered when we made a deal with a dangerous mafia group. The promise of big money clouded our judgment, and we ignored the risks. I trusted Julian to guide us through, believing he had the experience and cunning to navigate the treacherous waters. Little did I know, he had other plans. Without telling me, Julian set up a sche

_Catharine's POV_ I sat in my darkened study, surrounded by expensive furniture and artwork that my late husband, Reginald, had collected. I looked at his picture on the wall and felt a mix of emotions. Reginald was a rich and powerful man. We met when we were young, and I was swept off my feet by his charm. But as time went on, I realized our marriage was fake. He only cared about leaving a legacy. That's where Lexi came in. Reginald always wanted to leave a lasting legacy, and he thought Lexi was the key. He spent hours with her, teaching her about business and politics. He wanted her to take over his empire one day. But I had other plans. I felt like I lived in Reginald's shadow, and I resented him for it. I wanted power, control, and wealth. When I found out he had changed his will to leave everything to Lexi, I was furious. I remembered the day I found out like it was yesterday. I was snooping through Reginald's papers and saw the will. I felt like I'd been punche