Chapter 22: The Debt of the Past

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• A Billionaire’s Hidden Affection    Chapter 100: The Final Chapter

  “I can’t believe we made it, Maximilian,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.He turns to face me, his deep gaze holding mine. There’s a softness in his eyes that I’ve never seen before—a warmth, a tenderness, that sends a flutter through my chest. It’s as if all the walls we’ve spent so many years building around us have finally crumbled.“We didn’t just make it, Eliza,” he says, his voice low and steady, but filled with conviction. “We built something.”I let out a breath, feeling the weight of the words settle in my heart. It wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about thriving, growing, and loving each other in ways we never thought possible.“I didn’t know I could love you like this,” I confess, my voice barely more than a whisper.Maximilian’s lips curl into a faint smile, and his hand reaches out to gently cup my cheek. His thumb traces the line of my jaw as if memorizing the curve of my face.“You’ve always had that potential, Eliza. I just had to see it,” he murmurs.

• A Billionaire’s Hidden Affection    Chapter 99: Happily Ever After

  "I still can't believe this is real," I say, my voice trembling slightly as I look at Maximilian, who is standing before me, his eyes full of warmth and love.He smiles, the kind of smile I never thought I'd see on his face—soft, genuine, and full of affection. “It’s real, Eliza. We’re real.”I swallow, trying to hold back the wave of emotion crashing over me. I can hardly believe how far we've come—how much we've grown, both as individuals and together. The walls Maximilian once built so carefully around himself have crumbled, and in their place is something I never imagined I could have: love. Real, true love."You know," Maximilian says, taking a step closer to me, "there was a time when I thought I couldn’t have this. When I thought I wasn’t capable of it."I reach out and touch his arm, the connection between us steady and comforting. "I never gave up on you, Maximilian. I knew you had the capacity for love. I just had to see it for myself."He looks at me for a long moment, his

• A Billionaire’s Hidden Affection    Chapter 98: A Love Reborn

  Maximilian’s hand brushes against mine as we stand on the balcony overlooking the city. The night is alive with shimmering lights, but none compare to the warmth in his eyes when he glances at me.“You’ve been quiet,” he says, his voice soft, yet probing.I take a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze wrap around us. “Just thinking.”“About?”“Everything.” I turn to face him, searching for the right words. “Where we started, where we are now... and where we’re headed.”A flicker of emotion crosses his face, but he masks it quickly, the way he always does when he’s unsure of his own feelings.“You regret it?” he asks, his tone hesitant, as though the answer might undo everything we’ve built.“Regret marrying you?” I shake my head with a faint smile. “Not for a second.”Relief flashes in his eyes, and he cups my face gently. “Neither do I.”The weight of those words settles between us. For a man who once viewed marriage as a business deal and love as a weakness, his admission feels monum

• A Billionaire’s Hidden Affection    Chapter 97: Facing the Future

  “We need a plan,” I said, my voice steady as I looked across the conference room table at Maximilian. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the tension in his sharp features. “Not just for the business but for us.”Maximilian leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes narrowing. “Are you suggesting I don’t already have a plan?”I shook my head, refusing to be intimidated by his commanding presence. “You always have a plan. But this time, I want to be part of it.”A flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly masked by his usual stoicism. “You’re already part of it, Eliza. More than you realize.”“Then show me,” I challenged. “Let me be your partner, not just your wife in name only.”His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken truths.“I don’t need protection from the business world, Maximilian,” I added, softening my tone. “I need to stand beside you, not behind you.”He exhaled sharply, running a hand

• A Billionaire’s Hidden Affection    Chapter 96: Rebuilding the Empire

  “Maximilian, we need to talk,” I said, my voice steady despite the nerves clenching in my stomach.He didn’t look up from his desk, the blue glow from the multiple screens casting sharp shadows across his face. His jaw was set the sharp angles of his expression colder than usual. I knew that look—it was the face of a man ready to conquer the world, no matter the cost.“What is it?” he asked, fingers typing furiously on the keyboard.I clenched my fists, grounding myself. This wasn’t the time to cower. Not anymore. “If you keep trying to rebuild this empire on your own, you’re going to lose everything. And I’m not going to stand by and watch that happen.”His fingers stilled. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet mine, those piercing gray eyes assessing me like I was an anomaly he couldn’t quite solve. “What are you saying, Eliza?”“I’m saying you need help,” I said, my voice firmer now. “I’m saying I want to help you.”Maximilian let out a dry laugh, leaning back in his chair. “Help me?

• A Billionaire’s Hidden Affection    Chapter 95: A Chance at Redemption

  “You didn’t even come after me,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The cold night air bit at my skin as I stood on the balcony of the hotel suite I’d rented after leaving Maximilian. The city lights below blurred through my tear-filled eyes.“I thought you wanted space,” Maximilian’s deep voice broke through the silence behind me. I stiffened, not expecting to hear him tonight.Turning slowly, I found him standing in the doorway, his usually composed expression shadowed by something raw—something close to regret.“You have a funny way of interpreting things, Maximilian,” I said bitterly. “Space doesn’t mean abandoning me when I’m breaking.”He took a tentative step forward. “I didn’t know what to say.”“Of course, you didn’t.” I crossed my arms, my heart thundering in my chest. “You always hide behind silence when things get hard.”“I’m here now.” His voice was rough.“That doesn’t fix anything.” I blinked back fresh tears. “I poured my heart out to you, and you stood there lik