Semua Bab The Billionaire's Forgotten Flame : Bab 1 - Bab 10

LAYLA — The elegant ballroom was alive with the sound of clinking champagne glasses and soft chatter. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, admiring the sparkling city lights of Manhattan. My life seemed as glamorous as the view from the outside. I was married to Aiden Black, a billionaire venture capitalist known for his ruthless business acumen and unmatched success. Aiden was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the country, turning heads wherever he went. I, the stunning and poised socialite, as people mostly call me, was the perfect accessory by his side. Beneath the surface, our marriage was just a facade, a beautiful lie. The glamorous parties, designer clothes, and luxurious lifestyle couldn’t fill the emptiness in my heart. I had learned long ago to accept the icy distance between us, the love that had never been there. Aiden was more concerned with his business empire than me. He had always been that way—detached, ambitious, and laser-focused on success.

LAYLA — I couldn’t shake off the tension from my encounter with Daniel. His words echoed in my mind, a persistent whisper challenging everything I had ever known about my life and my marriage. The extravagant penthouse and Daniel’s undeniable charisma had stirred emotions I had long buried. Yet, with every step I took away from him, the reality of my own situation felt more dangerous. I spent the rest of the day in a haze, distracted and restless. By the time evening arrived, I was preparing for the dinner with the Caldwells—a social event that should have been a distraction from my troubles but instead felt like another arena where I had to perform my role flawlessly. The ballroom of our mansion was transformed into a haven of elegance, with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the finely dressed guests. My reflection in the magnificent mirror showed a woman who appeared quiet and composed, but beneath the surface, my mind was a whirlwind of doubts and questions. Aiden

In the days after meeting Daniel, I was filled with a mix of excitement and fear. I was overwhelmed by the thought of uncovering Aiden’s secrets. Daniel had set up a meeting for me to see the evidence, and the anticipation of what I would discover made it hard for me to focus on anything else. On the day of our scheduled meeting, I felt a mix of nervousness and resolve. I spent the morning getting ready, trying to calm the anxious energy that had been with me. As the time approached, I felt a mix of excitement and fear, knowing this was a crucial moment in my life. The meeting place was an inconspicuous office building in a quiet part of town. The lobby was stark and functional, a sharp contrast to the opulence of my world. Daniel was waiting for me in a small conference room, a steel briefcase on the table beside him. “Layla,” he greeted me with a serious expression. “Thank you for coming.” I nodded, my heart pounding. “Skip that. I’m ready to see what you have.” Daniel opened

LAYLA—The next day, it was still morning when I hurried to leave the house before Aiden would return.Since he left yesterday after receiving that call, he has yet to come back, and I am relieved because the call saved me from a lot that could have happened to me yesterday.I was trying all means to avoid him until I comes up with a compelling story to lie to him about what I discussed with Daniel."I brought this on myself," I muttered, remembering how I ended up in Aiden's hands.I wasn't lacking anything to say I married him out of desperation to escape poverty. I'm the only daughter of the late city's renowned billionaire business mogul, Mr. Pascal Nightingale, so you should figure that out.In fact, Aiden wasn't even yet a billionaire when he met me, but he was successful to some extent.I must admit that marrying Aiden was my biggest mistake in life because it gave him the opportunity to inherit my father's billion-dollar company since I was his only child, leaving me worthless

DANIEL—"Sir, the hacker has managed to breach their system. He's currently accessing their data and will update us on the progress soon," the technician informed me."Great job. You all should be careful because Aiden and his team are extremely smart people," I replied, picking up my phone from the desk to check my messages while the man left."Why hasn't she texted yet?" I muttered, feeling restless.I was expecting a text from my spy in Aiden's crew, but he has yet to text, and this bothers me. He should have texted me earlier to keep me updated about his boss's plan for the day so I'd know how to follow him up.I dropped the phone and went to my study room to get my laptop and check my email. Apart from working on how to bring Aiden down, I still have my businesses to run, and I'm expecting many business proposals today.Upon getting to my room and unlocking my laptop, I was shocked to see a red light blinking on the search bar, signifying that someone attempted to hack into my sys