Chapter: UpstairsThe moment Mr. Alexander said it, I felt the shift around us immediately.Not loud, not obvious. But sharp enough to notice.Conversations in the ballroom continued, music still flowing beneath crystal chandeliers, waiters still moving gracefully between guests, yet something invisible had changed.People were watching carefully now. The Lucas family had a way of making even simple moments feel strategic and hard.Beside me, Alexander Lucas remained calm, but I noticed the slight tension in his jaw before he extended his hand toward me.“Come.”That single word again.Controlled and Unemotional.As though he hadn’t spent the entire evening silently unraveling every calm thought in my head.I placed my hand in his anyway.His fingers closed around mine firmly, warm against my skin, and together we crossed the ballroom beneath the weight of too many eyes.I could practically feel the whispers following behind us.“Elena came.”“The grandfather is interfering again.”“The wife…”Always t
Huling Na-update: 2026-05-22
Chapter: The woman in redFor a brief moment, I honestly thought I had heard her wrong.The ballroom noise faded strangely around me, becoming distant beneath the sudden pounding in my chest.“Someone your husband once nearly destroyed himself for” The word came again in my heart.I kept my expression calm somehow, but my eyes returned to the entrance immediately. The woman in red moved through the ballroom as if she belonged there.Not carefully, not nervously, but she walked confidently.People greeted her with respect as she passed, but she barely slowed down for any of them. She continued walking, her attention seemed fixed somewhere ahead of her, sharp and deliberate beneath the elegance she wore so effortlessly.And then I realized exactly where she was looking. It was Alexander Lucas.My stomach tightened unexpectedly. Beside me, Vivian exhaled softly. Like a scene is about to shout.“This should be interesting,” Vivian murmured.“I’m beginning to hate that word.”“Isabella… You’ll hate this situation m
Huling Na-update: 2026-05-18
Chapter: Announcement and Dangerous promises“Ladies and gentlemen…”Mr. Alexander’s voice carried smoothly across the ballroom, calm enough to silence hundreds of conversations without mush effort.The entire room turned toward him immediately.Crystal lights reflected against expensive glass and polished marble, but somehow he remained the center of everything. Age had not weakened his presence. If anything, it had sharpened it. He stood with one hand resting on his cane, his expression unreadable beneath the golden lights.And beside me, Alexander Lucas had gone completely still, somehow waiting for his next speech.I glanced at him briefly. His jaw was tight. But not nervous. But Prepared. Like a man already expecting impact.“I want to thank every one of you for attending tonight,” Mr. Alexander continued calmly. “Business has always been built on relationships, loyalty, and trust.”The word trust seemed to linger strangely in the air.Around us, people listened carefully. Investors. Politicians. Social elites. People with
Huling Na-update: 2026-05-15
Chapter: The moment everything breaksHis hand did not leave mine. That was the first thing I noticed. Not even the cameras. Not the whispers of people. Not even the way the atmosphere shifted the moment we stepped back into the ballroom.It was his hand. Holding me firm, intentional, and Unapologetic.But deep down I knew Alexander Lucas did nothing without reason. And right now, he was making a statement. I didn’t look at him immediately. I couldn’t. Because if I did, I wasn’t sure what I would find in his expression, but that uncertainty unsettled me more than anything else that had happened tonight.Instead, I focused as if I wasn’t bothered. The ballroom had not changed, yet everything felt different.People were watching. Not casually. Not politely but deliberately.“Isabella, don’t react,” Lucas murmured under his breath, his voice low enough that only I could hear.“Yes, I wasn’t planning to.”“Good.” He replied silently.But his grip tightened slightly, as if he didn’t entirely believe me.We walked further into
Huling Na-update: 2026-05-08
Chapter: The line that shiftAdrian followed my glance.“Lucas doesn’t like this,” I said.“Then perhaps he should have spoken,” Adrian replied.“That is not how Lucas works.”“No,” I said quietly. “I’m starting to notice.”Adrian’s expression changed slightly.“You should be very careful with him.”I almost laughed. “That sentence has become popular.”“No, I mean it differently.”“Okay… and how do you mean it?”He leaned closer, still proper enough for appearances.“Lucas only protects things after they matter to him.”The words hit harder than they should have.Before I could respond, the music shifted, and he spun me gently.When we stopped, I saw Mira standing nearby, champagne in hand, smiling like someone enjoying private revenge.I smiled back just enough to play along. Adrian returned me to the edge of the floor.“Thank you,” he said.“Thank me, for what?” I asked.“For proving something better.”“I dislike mysteries,” I said.“Isabella, you are already married into the wrong family.”Then he stepped away
Huling Na-update: 2026-05-05
Chapter: Smile and shadowsMr. Alexander smiled again, like everything was going well.That smile stayed in the room like smoke after fire.No one moved immediately. Also, no one spoke. The heavy silence between us had become its own language in this family one made of warnings, old grudges, and things never explained. Everything remained complicated.I kept my posture calm, though every instinct inside me had sharpened.Lucas still stood beside me, only half a step closer than before, but I felt the change. It was subtle, almost invisible.Protective. Or possessive.With him, those two things could easily look the same.Mr. Alexander calmly rested both of his hands on the top of his cane and looked around the room like a king reviewing pieces on a board.“Well,” he said at last, “must everyone stand there looking wounded by history? Are you people new to the history?”William laughed first, almost mockingly. “Grandfather, some of us are enjoying history.”Immediately, Mira shot him an irritated glance. “You en
Huling Na-update: 2026-05-05
The billionaire's unprepared marriage
She was never meant to stand beside a billionaire.
Now she is one.
When Lura David accidentally spills coffee on a stranger’s thousand-dollar suit, she thinks it’s just another bad day. Broke, exhausted, and drowning in bills, she’s used to apologies that fix nothing.
But the man she bumps into isn’t just anyone he’s Lord Xavier Blackwood, a ruthless billionaire with thirty days to fulfill a brutal condition:
“Inherit this company, or your brother takes everything.”
To claim his legacy, Xavier needs a wife. Love isn’t required just a signature on a contract.
He never expected to choose Lura sharp-tongued, unimpressed, and utterly indifferent to his wealth. But that’s exactly why she’s perfect.
One contract. Twelve months. Three million dollars.
No emotions. No attachments.
But Lura is not what she seems not the way she fights him, not the secrets she hides from him, and not the way she makes him feel.
Xavier’s enemies are watching.
Lura’s past is catching up.
And the contract meant to save them… might destroy them both.
When betrayal splits them apart, Lura disappears
Only to return as something Xavier never saw coming:
A billionaire. A CEO.
Two enemies. Two empires. One love that was never supposed to survive.
But after lies, heartbreak, and war…
Will they still choose each other?
Basahin
Chapter: The beginning of foreverToday morning felt different.Not heavy.Not tense.Just… peace that has never exist.For the first time in what felt like forever, I woke up without the weight of fear pressing against my chest. No emergency calls of chaos. No sudden threats. No boardroom battles waiting to unfold. No unnecessary drama.Just quiet. Ans peace.I sat up slowly in bed, sunlight spilling across the room curtain. The air felt warm, gentle, almost unreal.Everything had changed magnificently.William was gone.The board had stabilized.The Blackwood Empire was finally standing strong again.And somehow…But, I still found it hard to believe.A soft knock came at the door.“Come in,” I called calmly.The door opened gently, and Catherine stepped inside.Now She looked radiant healthier than I had ever seen her. The weakness that once lingered in her eyes was gone, replaced with quiet strength.“Sister Lura, You’re still in bed?” she teased softly.I smiled.“Yes, That’s because I finally slept well.”She w
Huling Na-update: 2026-03-29
Chapter: The fall of WilliamThe expected morning the news broke, the entire city seemed to hold its breath. The estate was shaken. I knew everything about it even before I saw the headlines.The atmosphere inside the Blackwood Empire headquarters felt different like never before. People were whispering in corners. Assistants moved faster than usual. Phones kept ringing over and over. Everyone felt it and wanted to confirm it. something big was happening.I stepped out of the elevator beside Xavier, and immediately, several employees lowered their voices and they see me.They already knew.Or at least… they sensed it already.“Miss Lura… Mr. Xavier…” the receptionist greeted nervously.Xavier nodded calmly without looking there.We walked toward his office, but halfway there, his phone vibrated again.Calmly, He looked at the screen.“It’s Elena.”He answered.“It’s starting,” she said calmly.Xavier glanced at me suspiciously.“Yes, We’re ready.”“Turn on the news,” Elena replied.The call ended shortly.We bot
Huling Na-update: 2026-03-29
Chapter: The truth behind ElenaThe morning arrive to quickly and felt unusually quiet.Not peaceful.Just… quiet.The kind of quiet that made you feel like something important was about to happen.I stood beside the large window beside Xavier’s bed, watching the city below. The Blackwood Empire was slowly stabilizing again, but tension still lingered beneath the surface. Some board members were still uncertain. Others were quietly watching without judging yet.And Elena is secretly preparing to strike…Now, Elena remained the biggest uncertainty.Impromptu, She had asked for another meeting this morning again. Just the three of us. No any board members.No assistants.No William.Just us.That alone made my instincts uneasy.The room door opened softly behind me.I turned slowly.Xavier walked in, his expression calm but thoughtful. He loosened his tie slightly as he approached me.“Lura, You didn’t sleep well,” he said quietly.I gave a faint smile. “You didn’t either.”He didn’t deny it bluntly.“Lura, You still
Huling Na-update: 2026-03-29
Chapter: Shadow of betrayalThe morning sunlight barely touched the estate as I stepped into the boardroom full of tension. Every detail felt heightened: the polished mahogany table, the gleam of the floor, the cold gaze of board members who had spent decades shaping the Blackwood empire.I could feel the tension in the room before I even spoke. Every of the member knew why I was there. Everyone knew what was at stake.Xavier stood at the head of the table, calm and reserved as ever, but I could sense the subtle tightness in his shoulders. He didn’t need to speak; the empire’s weight was already pressing down on him.I took a deep breath and stepped forward bravely. “Good morning, everyone here,” I said clearly, letting my voice carry through the silence. “We’re all here to ensure the Blackwood empire continues to grow, to remain strong, and to leave no room for uncertainty.”There were some murmurs, some nods, some skeptical frowns. William’s loyalists, though quiet, were glaring. I could feel their resentmen
Huling Na-update: 2026-03-29
Chapter: The boardroom tensionI didn’t say a word as I stepped into the room. Every instinct in me screamed to stay calm, to read the air well, to measure the angles before I made a move.Xavier’s eyes met mine briefly, a silent reassurance, but they flicked back immediately to Elena. She was composed, poised, the perfect picture of confidence. And yet… there was something in the way she looked at me that made my skin crawl. Not fear. Not respect. Something colder.“Elena,” I said, my voice steady. “I assume you’ve come with your proposal?”She smiled faintly. “Yes, Miss Lura. I thought it would be best if we laid everything on the table. No pretenses.”I crossed my arms, taking a slow step closer to them. “Good. Let’s start there. What exactly do you want?” I direct my question to Elena.Her eyes glimmered. “I want to help the company grow and be more successful. To strengthen Xavier’s position and by extension, the empire.”“And what do you expect get back out of it?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral but sharp.
Huling Na-update: 2026-03-29
Chapter: The meeting that changed everythingI barely slept all the night.The hospital room was too quiet, but my mind wasn’t. Every time I closed my eyes, I kept thinking about Xavier meeting Elena alone. It didn’t sit and go well with me. Not because I doubted Xavier ability to confront her but because Elena wasn’t predictable.And unpredictable people were the most dangerous to deal with.Morning came very slowly.The sunlight slipped through the hospital curtains, casting a pale glow across Catherine’s bright face. She was still asleep, her breathing steady and okay, calmer than the night before. That alone eased some of the tension in my chest and ease me.I quietly stepped out of the room, careful not to suddenly wake her.The hallway was quiet. Nurses moved softly, and the faint smell of antiseptic filled the air again. I walked toward the waiting area maybe I could get some snack, my phone already in my hand.No text messages.No gmail messages.I frowned.Xavier should have finished the meeting by now I think.Just as
Huling Na-update: 2026-03-29
Mag-log in
