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Chapter 23 - The Elephant In The Room
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2024-10-26 09:05:34
OluwayemisiOkay... How far guys
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Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   24 - More On Camille
The new office looked like a tornado had ripped through it, with papers stacked high, files overflowing, and not a single aide in sight to help. I sighed, massaging my temples as I glanced at the massive workload ahead of me. It was my first day as CEO, and the weight of duty felt both exciting and exhausting. But as my gaze fell on the finalised divorce papers, a rush of relief washed over me. At least that chapter in my life was now over. One load was relieved, but so many others remained.Camille, the properties and most importantly, Adrian. It was way past noon and almost time for the staff to clock out when I suddenly felt an overwhelming thirst.Unable to ignore my dry throat, I stood to get a glass of water, but a sharp pain surged through my abdomen, causing me to wince. I wanted to dismiss it, telling myself it was just stress as I always had a nervous stomach whenever I was feeling stressed, but with each step that I took towards the dispenser, the pain increased and I bega
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-10-27Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 25: Can't Let Go
Adrianâs POVIâve made my decision. Exposing my rivalâs sordid dealings isnât exactly clean business, but itâs necessary. Iâll keep my hands out of it, letting it unravel on its own while I remain behind the curtain, anonymous but watchful. I have sources, and I have silence. The rivalâs own mistakes will be his undoing, and it wonât trace back to me.But while I keep my focus trained on the fallout, an irritating thought keeps nudging into the back of my mind. I can still see her eyes, the way they lingered on me before she turned away that last time. The empty apartment that greets me confirms itâEmily is gone.I pour a drink, hoping the burn will ease something, anything. But the quiet of the room and the scent of her perfume that still lingers makes it worse. I thought letting her leave would bring me some relief. Instead, it feels like something hollowed out my chest. I down another drink, then another, trying to dull whatever it is that wonât let me rest.A knock interrupts my t
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-03Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 26: The Last Favor
Emily's POVIâm still adjusting to life without Adrian. The days are long, filled with the mundane rhythm of work and the quiet hum of my apartment. I fill my time with meetings, deadlines, and the occasional late-night brainstorming session with my colleagues. Each day, I inch closer to reclaiming the independence I had lost in the whirlwind of our entangled lives.But the shadow of Adrianâs rival still looms large. The fallout from the scandal is a spectacle, and I canât help but watch as the media unravels the sordid details. Itâs fascinating and horrifying, a reminder of how deeply rooted the corruption is in our industry. I sip my coffee, scrolling through headlines, noting the subtle ways Adrianâs name flutters through the articles, like a ghost that refuses to be laid to rest.At a recent company function, someone asks about my history with him, and I carefully craft my response. âWe had a professional relationship,â I say, my tone measured. Inside, though, memories cascadeâhis
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-03Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 27: Look Like A Real Couple
Emilyâs POVI had thrown myself into preparing for the merger, determined to keep things professional. But Adrian's presence had disrupted my focus every time. We had been forced to spend long hours together, working through details and strategies. As we poured over documents one afternoon, a team member had interrupted us, bearing news that Camilleâs scandal had reached the media, with Adrianâs name barely brushing the surface. The revelation had forced us both to reconsider our priorities.I had watched as the weight of the news settled on Adrian, though he had refused to admit it. Our shared frustration over Camille's plotting had brought us closer, and I had begun questioning my previous assumptions about Adrianâs cold demeanor. My anger toward him had started to shift, replaced by a mixture of pity and reluctant respect.âDo you think I wanted this mess?â Adrian had snapped, his voice tinged with exasperation. âCamilleâs made sure itâs all tied back to me somehow.ââMaybe if you
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-04Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 28: An Unexpected Confession
Emilyâs POVClaire was just settling into the couch, a hand resting protectively over her small but growing bump, her face alight with a hopeful grin as she recounted the latest gossip on Camille's impending trial."See? Karma," Claire said, grinning as she sipped her decaf coffee. "Camille finally overplayed her hand, and now sheâs right where she deserves to be."I forced a small smile, trying to absorb Claire's positivity, but a nagging feeling lingered. âYou think itâs over?â I murmured, the thought slipping out.Claire scoffed. âSheâs done. Even Adrian had to cut her loose, right?â"Yeah," I agreed, but the unease persisted, prickling at the edges of my mind. Camille had always been cunningâsneaky enough to have a backup plan. Even in ruin, she didnât seem like the kind of person to just disappear quietly.A sudden vibration broke the silence, and I glanced at my phone, realizing Adrianâs name was flashing on the screen. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I quickly turned it face down,
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-04Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   29
Emilyâs POVDespite the lingering sympathy Iâd felt for Adrian after his confession, I had to keep my focus. I threw myself into my work, pouring over contracts and project details, determined to avoid the vortex Adrian had created in my life. But no matter how far I tried to distance myself, trouble seemed to follow.News broke that morningâa scandal, one that I never saw coming. False documents, forged to look authentic, were circulating. The documents hinted at a cover-up involving my company, linking me personally to under-the-table deals with Adrianâs rival. It was a complete lie, a fabrication meant to dismantle the credibility Iâd fought to build back up after my divorce.Calls poured in from every corner: board members, investors, even reporters. I could barely keep up with my own breath. The weight of betrayal and fear tightened in my chest as I scanned the headlines. How could anyone believe this?Then, as if right on cue, Adrian showed up.Scene Transition: Confrontation wi
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-05Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   30 - Never Again
Emilyâs POVI stared at the nearly empty wine bottle on the table, its deep red contents mocking me, taunting me for the mess Iâd managed to turn my life into. I took another gulp, my words slurring as I muttered to no one, âUnfair... itâs all so damn unfair. Here I am, trapped between... between a rock and a hard place, with a man who never lets me forget heâs there.âThe only response was the echo off the cold, gray walls and the occasional rumble of thunder outside, as if the universe was reminding me that it, too, had no sympathy for my plight. Rain began tapping against the window, its rhythmic patter mingling with my own growing bitterness. I finished the wine in another swig, the burn making my eyes water as I grumbled into the empty space, âWhy canât anything just... just be simple?âEventually, the bottle slipped from my fingers, and I drifted into a restless, alcohol-induced haze.The next morning was an assault to every one of my senses. The sunlight piercing through my blin
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-06Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 31 : The staff gets a name and a bonus
Emilyâs POVClaire dragged me to the one restaurant in the city Iâd ever managed to eat at without grimacing. My picky taste buds meant it was no easy feat to find somewhere I didnât feel nauseous from the food. But as I looked at Claire, who was already ordering her usual mountain of different dishes with wild flavor combinations, I couldnât help but chuckle.âHonestly, Claire,â I teased, shaking my head. âI donât understand how someone as tiny as you can eat so much... and in the weirdest combos known to man! How does anyone handle pickles and pasta on the same plate?âShe shrugged and grinned, unfazed. âItâs called âcraving creativity.â You should try it sometime.âAfter a delicious, laughter-filled meal, we returned to the office, where Claire insisted on helping me get through my never-ending pile of work. With every file she passed over or glass of water she handed me, Iâd say, âThank you, Claire,â and each time, sheâd respond with a playful, âOh, donât mention it. Youâd do the s
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-07
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Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 35 - Larry's POV
Larry Thorneâs POVIt was quiet now. The kind of quiet that used to drive me insane when I was younger, before I knew how to appreciate it. The twins had finally fallen asleep after Iâd read them their bedtime stories, the girl clutching her stuffed rabbit and the boy sprawled out like he owned the world.Fatherhood. Who would have thought it?Four months ago, I couldnât have imagined this life. Me, Larry Thorne, the reckless playboy who lived for booze, drugs, and women, now playing the role of a family man.Well, mostly.I leaned against the doorframe of the twinsâ room, watching their tiny chests rise and fall with each breath. It was surreal, almost poetic, how much they had changed me. I didnât touch alcohol anymore, and the mere thought of drugs made me sick. I wanted to be betterâfor them. They deserved that.And for all her quirks, Elise had stepped up too. She loved those kids like they were her own, doting on them in ways I never expected. There were moments when I caught her
Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 34 - Mirabel's POV
Chapter 34Mirabel Vanroeâs POVThese past four months have definitely been the longest four years of my life, it has taken me through different phases, made me understand myself more and most especially, understand the surrounding situation.The time within those months ave made me understand that forgiveness be damned, new beginnings be damned. Those who said that opportunities come but once weren't lying. They definitely had won my shoes before coming up with those words of wisdom, because I had that opportunity to become a star after I graduated from college, and it was the only once of my life, because now, I was nothing but a crazy woman forced to wear a white uniform because the alternative would have been orange overalls in a damned cell with notorious roommates, but right now, I was stuck with crazy. "I heard she used to be a top star.""Top star my foot, if she was a top star, then I was a top planet," I glared at the two psychopaths and watched them scamper away, while I h
Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 33 - Claireâs POV
Claire’s POVFour months had passed since my world turned upside down, and now I stood at the precipice of a new beginning. The joy of motherhood swelled within me, even as I lay drenched in sweat, gripping the sides of the hospital bed with all my might. The air in the delivery room felt thick, buzzing with nervous energy and the weight of what was about to happen."Push, Claire! You’re almost there!" The doctor’s voice cut through the haze of pain, grounding me in the moment.A sharp contraction tore through me, and for a brief moment, I thought I might lose my mind. Every nerve in my body screamed in protest, but then I felt Emily’s firm hand clasping mine."You’ve got this! You’re the strongest woman I know." Her voice, steady and filled with conviction, was the anchor I desperately needed.On the other side of me was Vince
Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 32 - Mirabel's POV
Mirabel's POV The cold steel of the prison bars bit into my palms as I leaned against them, the chill seeping into my bones. My breath came out in ragged gasps, each one a struggle to pull from the suffocating air of my cell. The coarse fabric of my orange jumpsuit scratched at my skin, a constant reminder of how far I had fallenâfrom the glamour of studio lights and red carpets to this dim, unforgiving cage. Tears streamed
Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 31 - Larryâs POV
Larry's POVI never saw it comingâthe sharp crack of bone that echoed through the room, a sound so foreign yet unmistakably mine. Pain flared up my leg, an incandescent burst of white-hot agony that blotted out thought and breath. I crumpled to the cold, hard ground, gasping, clutching at the shattered limb as if sheer will could piece it back together.âDamn it, Larry,â Vincentâs voice cut through the haze, cold and commanding. âYou really should watch your step.âHis words were laced with fury and satisfaction, a combination that made my stomach churn as much as the pain in my leg did. I bit down a groan, my breaths coming shallow and fast. Sweat pooled on my brow, and the room spun like a cruel carnival ride.âYou didnât have to do this,â I rasped, the words barely escaping through clenched teeth. My voice trembled, lacking conviction even as I spoke.Vincent crouched beside me, his face a mask of barely restrained rage. âDidnât have to?â he echoed, his voice low and dangerous. âYou
Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 30 - Vincentâs POV
Vincentâs POVThe moment the hacker delivered the final batch of files, I knew Mirabelâs reign of terror was over. Nine hours was all it took for her carefully constructed image to shatter. Years of deceit, manipulation, and cruelty now sat neatly categorized in front of meâsubtle, strong, explosive.I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen as the weight of the evidence settled over me. Bank transfers tied to bribery. Screenshots of threats sheâd sent to assistants she bullied into silence. Even a recorded confession from one of her ex-managers, who detailed the torment sheâd put him through before driving him to a breakdown. And then there were the videos.They were the kind of content no PR team could spin, the kind that would obliterate every shred of credibility she had left. Explicit. Damning. Ugly.I should have felt disgustedâor maybe even pityâbut all I felt was cold, unrelenting anger.âVincent?â Claireâs voice pulled me back. She was sitting on the couch, her legs cu
Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 29 - Claireâs POV
Claireâs POVExhaustion weighed heavily on me, my body begging for rest, but my mind refused to grant it. My eyelids drooped as I sat on the edge of the bed, my hand resting protectively over my belly. Vincent was pacing in front of me, his phone in one hand, a glass of water in the other. He had been trying to convince me to sleep for over an hour, but how could I close my eyes with so much at stake?âThey said ten hours,â I muttered, shaking my head. âTen hours, Vincent. Thatâs a lifetime right now.ââYouâll make yourself sick,â he countered, kneeling before me. He placed the glass in my hand and cupped my cheek with his other. His gaze was soft, yet determined. âClaire, please. Trust me. Weâre almost there.âI wanted to believe him, but the knot in my stomach wouldnât unravel. âI canât. Not until this is over. Not until Mirabelâs lies are exposed, and she canât hurt us anymore.â My voice cracked, and I hated how vulnerable I sounded.Vincentâs thumb brushed against my cheek, wiping
Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 28: Mirabelâs POV
Mirabelâs POVI paced the length of the room, my stilettos clicking sharply against the marble floor, their sound slicing through the tense silence. Every deliberate step mirrored the whirlwind in my mind. That insipid little video Claire had posted was still trending. A pregnant woman pleading for peace? Sympathy for her unborn child? It was a masterstroke of manipulation.And it was working.The pity Iâd spent months crafting had evaporated overnight. My nails dug into my palms as I replayed her words in my head, each line dripping with saccharine innocence. If I announced my pregnancy now, it would look like a desperate bid for attention. Worse, it would backfire spectacularly. No one would side with me over a vulnerable, heavily pregnant woman.The public would eat me alive.But I wasnât about to roll over and surrender. Iâd played the victim long enough. Now, it was time to become the devil.I reached for my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I found the one I needed. My
Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire   Chapter 27 - Claire's POV
Claire's POVThe moment Emily and Adrian left, the tension in the air felt almost suffocating. I was still processing the mess from earlier when something unexpected happened. It started with a faint soundâlike the rustling of dozens of people gatheringâand then it grew louder. By the time I made it to the window, I could see the crowd forming outside the gates, a sea of reporters, paparazzi, and random strangers pushing forward, trying to get in.I froze. Panic surged through me. I wasnât sure what to do.Vincent, however, was on it in an instant. His phone rang with the speed of someone who had already anticipated this move. He snapped a few words into it, and within minutes, a team of security arrived. The scene outside was chaos, but it didnât take long for the reporters to be pushed out of the way.Vincent had everything under control. And somehow, that made the whole situation feel even worse. The idea that I was trapped hereâwhile he was orchestrating everythingâonly added to t
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