All Chapters of The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride : Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

"This isn’t just your fight, Leila." Alexander’s voice was smooth, but the weight behind it made my pulse slow. I turned from the floor-to-ceiling windows of Steele Industries’ executive suite, my hands still wrapped around the espresso cup I hadn’t taken a sip from. The city stretched endlessly beyond the glass, but all I could see was him. Standing at my desk. Holding a folder he never should have had. My breath stilled. "What is that?" His grip on the folder tightened slightly. "The next step." My chest clenched. "Next step for what?" His jaw flexed. "For making sure you never have to prove yourself again." I set my cup down slowly, my movements controlled even as something sharp twisted in my ribs. "Alexander." His eyes darkened, but he didn’t look away. Didn’t waver. "I’ve been thinking about this for months," he admitted. A slow burn crawled up my spine. I stepped toward him, voice low. "Tell me exactly what’s in that file." A pause. Then— His vo

"I don’t need saving, Alexander."The words left my mouth before I could stop them, sharp and cutting, filling the silence between us like shattered glass.Alexander stood across from me in our penthouse, his jaw tight, his hands shoved into his pockets like he was barely holding himself back."You think that’s what this is?" His voice was low and controlled, but I knew better. Knew the restraint was only skin-deep.I exhaled, shaking my head. "You’re shutting me out. Again."His eyes darkened. "And you’re pretending like that doesn’t make sense?"My pulse ticked up. "It doesn’t."Alexander turned away, pacing toward the window. "Calloway’s not just coming for the company anymore, Leila. He’s coming for us. He’s using you to get to me. And you want me to just—" He let out a rough laugh, raking a hand through his hair. "What? Sit back and let it happen?"I stepped forward. "That’s not what I’m saying.""Then what are you saying?" His voice was sharp now, his control slipping.I swallow

"This is either brilliant or suicidal."Langley’s voice was dry as he dropped a thick file onto the conference table. The weight of it thudded against the polished wood, but the real weight—the risk—hung in the air between all of us.Across from me, Alexander leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled, expression unreadable. Calculating.I knew that look.It was the same one he had when he was about to make a very dangerous move.I exhaled, flicking my gaze back to Langley. "Walk me through it."Jessica shifted in her seat, pulling up projections on the screen. "Vanguard Technologies. Europe’s fastest-growing AI infrastructure firm. They’re at the forefront of security integration, automated finance models, and predictive analytics. Their market cap has nearly tripled in the last year.""Sounds promising," I murmured.Langley rubbed his jaw. "It is. But they’re in deep with foreign regulators, and a handful of watchdog groups are already sniffing around their books. If we buy in, we i

"Whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it."Alexander’s voice was razor-sharp, cutting through the tension that had settled between us like a blade.I didn’t stop. Didn’t pause. Just kept my eyes on the contract in front of me, my fingers hovering over the signature line."Leila."His tone dropped, lower this time. Dangerous.I exhaled slowly, lifting my gaze to meet his. "It’s the only way."His jaw clenched. "No. It’s not."I pushed the contract toward him. "Read it."He didn’t move. Didn’t even glance down.Because he already knew.I crossed my arms. "Then tell me I’m wrong."Silence.Tension curled around us like a noose.Jessica and Langley sat stiffly at the conference table, watching like they were bracing for a storm.And they should have been.Because Alexander Hawke didn’t take well to losing.And I had just decided to take something from him.His ability to protect me."You are not selling your shares, Leila." His voice was cold. Final.I exhaled, shaking my head. "*I’m not se

"You need to come home. Now."The urgency in my mother’s voice sliced through the chaos of my office, cutting deeper than any headline or business war ever could.I gripped the phone tighter, pulse hammering. "Mom, what happened?"A shaky breath. "It’s your father."My blood ran cold. "Tell me.""It’s his heart."The floor beneath me seemed to tilt. I braced myself against the desk, inhaling sharply, trying to force my brain to work through the panic. "Is he—""He’s stable. For now."For now.Two words that stole the air from my lungs.Jessica and Langley were watching me from across the room, waiting for my next move. The crisis with Calloway was far from over. Steele Industries was hanging in the balance. I had a war to fight.But this?This wasn’t about power.This was family."I’m on my way."I hung up and turned, already grabbing my coat.Jessica frowned. "Leila—""Handle it." My voice was steel, even as my body vibrated with anxiety. "Everything else can wait."Alexander pushed