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CHAPTER 38: THE EMERALD PAWN
publish date:
2026-07-06 00:19:28
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Bound By The CEO's Deal CHAPTER 38: THE EMERALD PAWN
Alma let out a soft exhale, taking her time as she stepped off the mat in the stretching room. Her bare feet met the cool marble floor, her toes curling slightly to anchor herself, taking in the full sense of stability and balance she had lost for so long. She tentatively rolled her left shoulder. It moved in a smooth, seamless circle—a range of motion she wouldn't have dared dream of three weeks ago. The bone-deep, stabbing pain that used to flare up with any sudden movement was entirely gone. This afternoon’s physical therapy session had been her last, and the nurse had offered a warm smile before leaving, confirming a complete recovery.Walking over to the tea table, Alma pressed the power button on the television remote, simply needing some background noise to drown out a silence so heavy she could hear the ticking of the wall clock. On the screen, a brilliant red banner scrolled across an urgent financial bulletin: “THE RACE FOR THE EUROPEAN MEGA-PROJECT: POWER GROUP IN A SUFFOCA
Bound By The CEO's Deal CHAPTER 37: A FREE BODY PILLOW
Alma switched off the hair dryer. The whirring died down, returning the room to a heavy silence.She sat motionless on the edge of the bed. The moment she forced her left arm up, a sharp, searing pain shot from her shoulder straight up to her ear. Her fingertips trembled, nearly sending the dryer crashing to the floor. Her long hair was still soaking wet; cold drops rolled down, drenching a patch of her silk sleeve.Through the two-finger-wide gap, the oak door was gently pushed open. Aiden stepped inside, towering at the entrance with the top two buttons of his dress shirt undone. His dark eyes locked onto the hair dryer and her hands, which were shaking from pure exhaustion. He glanced at the empty chair beside her, his jaw clenching hard.“Where is the nurse?”“She… she helped me bathe, but then she had an urgent family emergency and asked to leave early. She’ll be back tomorrow,” Alma mumbled. Her eyes remained glued to the tips of his leather shoes as she instinctively gripped th
Bound By The CEO's Deal Chapter 36: A Begrudging Compromise
The words "crippled" hit Alma like a brutal sentence, shattering the last of her stubborn defiance.Watching Aiden’s dark silhouette loom over her, she no longer had the strength to run, nor the pride to build another defense. Helplessness surged up her throat, choking her. Alma cast her eyes down, hiding the tears that threatened to spill over. Her fingers clamped together so tightly that her knuckles turned stark white, her nails digging deep into her palms. The room fell into a freezing silence before her voice finally broke through—feeble and trembling."I understand..."Her tone softened, heavy with both resignation and resentment. "Aiden... I didn't mean to cause a scene. I just... I don't want to be a casualty. And I certainly don't want to be a burden to you.""A burden?"Aiden repeated the word, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register. He didn't erupt the way she expected. Instead, the air in the room suddenly turned to ice."You think you have the right to be a burde
Bound By The CEO's Deal Chapter 35: Don't Test My Patience
Their eyes clashed instantly. Alma turned pale, shrinking back in deep shame as if trying to hide her wretched state, while Aiden’s eyes darkened with a mixture of rage and heartache."Do you have a death wish?!"Aiden roared. Without a second thought, he stepped right through the sharp glass shards and knelt to scoop her into his arms."What did I tell you? You are not to move around on your own without a nurse here! Do my words mean absolutely nothing to you, or do you just want this leg of yours to be permanently crippled?!""Put me down! Why do you even care?!" Alma cried out in frustration, using her one uninjured right hand to push hard against his chest, completely ignoring the agonizing throbs running through her other shoulder."You think I want to handle you? If Ava hadn’t gone out for an errand, you could beg on your knees and I wouldn't even spare you a glance! Now speak! What on earth did you crawl in here for?!""I... I wanted to use the restroom... I couldn't wait until
Bound By The CEO's Deal Chapter 34: Don't Flatter Yourself and Get Arrogant!
The lachrymose morning sunlight streamed through the glass windows, casting a warm, golden glow across the living room.Aiden snapped awake. The splitting headache from the night before had completely vanished, replaced by a strange, light, and refreshing clarity. But the moment his skin brushed against the soft silk under his cheek and his senses were filled with the faint, lingering scent of jasmine, he froze. Aiden realized he was still resting his head on Alma’s lap.For a fleeting second, he thought it was all just a wild, impossible dream. How could someone like him—accustomed to solitude, bearing the crushing darkness of a cruel twist of fate—deserve such a peaceful night? But the genuine warmth radiating from her body shattered his doubts. Memories of her cool hands and gentle whispers came rushing back, sending a powerful wave of emotion, mixed with a pang of heartache, surging through his chest.What caught his eyes now was Alma’s delicate face from an inverted perspective.
Bound By The CEO's Deal CHAPTER 33: Collisions Under the Penthouse Roof
The late afternoon sun filtered through the massive glass windows, bathing the space in a warm, golden halo. Alma sat by the windowsill, a familiar medical textbook resting on her lap. Thanks to a strict nutritional regimen and Aiden’s somewhat tyrannical protection, her complexion was noticeably rosier, no longer showing the frail look of her hospital days.Ding. The private elevator doors slid open.Aiden stepped out, his suit jacket draped casually over his arm and his tie loosened. Looking at the important legal dossier in his other hand, Nolan’s mocking report echoed in his mind: "All the procedures for Conal's breach of contract fine are wrapped up. Just as you calculated, the old fox completely believes his backdoor deal with Grand Horizon went off without a hitch..."Remembering Conal’s face, Aiden’s eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with a cold, ruthless glint.But that icy sharpness quickly melted away the moment he looked up. Catching sight of the petite figure by the window
Bound By The CEO's Deal CHAPTER 25: THE SHATTERED MASK
In the pitch-black darkness of her unconsciousness, Alma felt herself falling into a boundless void. The chaotic past rushed back like shards of broken glass piercing straight into her chest. She saw the collapse of her family, the suffocating mountain of debt notices, and Conal’s ruthless, cowardl
Bound By The CEO's Deal Chapter 21: I'm Backing Her Up, So What?
"Edna! What on earth is going on here?"Conal rushed onto the scene, breathless. The moment Edna caught sight of him, it was as if she had found her liferaft. She instantly put on a disheveled, pitiful act, clinging to his arm while sobbing hysterically. "Conal, save me! Alma... she relied on her b
Bound By The CEO's Deal CHAPTER 20: Shattering the Mask of Deceit
"Oh my goodness, Alma, are you alright?"Edna’s sudden, shriek of feigned shock successfully locked in the collective attention of the VIP lounge guests, drawing their eyes directly to the corridor. She glided forward, her face a mask of deep concern like a benevolent cousin, intentionally projecti
Bound By The CEO's Deal CHAPTER 19: A CORRECT SURMISE
"Stand right there!"Edna’s screech echoed jarringly through the corridor. She lunged forward frantically, slamming her hand hard against the door Alma was about to push open, forcing her to halt. Edna’s face flushed crimson with rage:"What did you just say, Alma? How dare you challenge me! Have y
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