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A Little More Time
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2024-09-02 21:47:18
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CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Find Them
ALEX FROZE WHEN the alarm echoed through the warehouse. โWhat the fuck is that?!โ Panic seized her, and she came rushing to the room where they left Vince and Vera. She knew the alarms wouldnโt ring if not because of those stubborn kids of Vivienne. Her heart pounded as she sprinted down the dark hallway, the noise growing louder with every step. She knew exactly what it meant. The kids were gone.When she reached the room where Vince and Vera had been held, her worst fears were confirmed. The ropes that had once bound them lay discarded on the floor, and the small window above the stacked chairs was wide open, letting in the cold night air. Alexโs face twisted with fury."Albert! Ruel!" she screamed, her voice laced with rage. "Get in here now!"Within seconds, Albert and Ruel came crashing into the room, their faces pale and worried. They had heard the alarm too and knew something had gone terribly wrong. "What happened?" Albert panted, his eyes darting around the room, quickl
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-02CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Help Was Finally Here
ALBERT AND RUEL were getting frustrated as they searched the dark warehouse for Vince and Vera. โThose sneaky little brats! This is why I donโt want children! Alex better pay me enough money after this,โ Ruel uttered as he looked for the twins. โWhat a pain in the ass!โ Albert seconded.Ruelโs patience was wearing thin, and Albert, usually the calmer one, was starting to show signs of agitation as well.The place was a maze of crates and shadows, and every corner seemed to hold another hiding spot. Alex stood by, watching the two of them fumble through the search. Her anger was building with each passing second. How could two kids manage to slip through their grasp like this? It was infuriating. Alex had never been one to let anything or anyone get the better of her, and she certainly wasnโt going to start now.She reached into her coat and pulled out her gun, her fingers tightening around the grip. If those brats thought they could outsmart her, they were in for a harsh lesson.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-03CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Gun Shot
VIVIENNEโThis is the location Vince described. Itโs a secluded area, just outside the city,โ an expert said as he suddenly pinpointed a location on the map. Right after Vince called us, we immediately took note of the description he said to us to be able to tell where they really were.My heart raced as I saw the spot. I leaned in closer, my eyes fixed on it. โThatโs it,โ I whispered, my voice barely audible.Ezekiel and I exchanged a quick glance.โWe need to go now,โ he said firmly.I nodded, feeling the urgency in his words. โLetโs not waste any time.โAnd without wasting any time, we rushed out of the building, heading straight for the car.The car was waiting outside, and as soon as we got in, Ezekiel started the engine, and we sped off toward the location, our minds racing just as fast. Police cars followed us. As I got into the passenger seat of Ezekielโs car, I couldnโt help but overthink. Alexโs refusal to let us hear the kidsโ voices was bugging me. What if something ha
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-03CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Survive
EZEKIELโHold on, baby!โ Vivienne kept uttering as we both held each of Veraโs hands. As soon as we arrived at the hospital, we immediately rushed her to the emergency room. Her tiny body was so still, so lifeless, and the sight of her covered in blood made my chest tighten painfully. I could barely breathe as we raced down the corridor, my mind were filled with panic and desperation. This couldnโt be happening. Not to her. Not to our little girl.When we reached the doors of the emergency room, the nurses took over, guiding Vera's stretcher through the doors. But as Vivienne and I tried to follow, one of the nurses stepped in front of us, raising her hand to stop us.โIโm sorry, Maโam and Sir, but you canโt go any further,โ she said gently but firmly.โNo, please,โ Vivienne begged as her voice broke. โI need to be with her. Please, let me go in with her.โThe nurse shook her head sympathetically. โThe doctors need space to work. Weโll keep you updated, I promise.โBefore they cou
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-04CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Another Problem
VIVIENNE"I'm sorry to inform you," The doctor began slowly as he looked at us with a serious expression. His eyes were filled with a kind of sympathy that made my stomach drop. "But your daughter Vera is in a coma. We don't know when she will wake up."What?Did I hear the doctor right?I felt the world around me blur. My knees gave out, and I sank into the nearest chair. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Comatose. Vera was comatose. Oh God!"No, this can't be happening," I whispered, my voice barely audible.Ezekiel placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to console me from the devastating news. "Doctor, is there anything else we can do?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady even though I knew even he was devastated by the news.The doctor shook his head gently. "At this point, we need to wait and monitor her condition. We're doing everything we can."Ezekiel nodded, his jaw clenched. "Thank you," he managed to say."I'll give you some time," the doctor said before w
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-04CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Disaster
VIVIENNE"Vivienne," my mother called out as soon as I opened the hospital doors for them. I could see the worry in her eyes. She quickly approached me, and the anxiety was obviously etched on her face. "We were so worried about you, darling. Why didnโt you call us sooner?""Iโ" I began, but before I could finish, my father came forward, his eyes shifting to the beds where Vera and Vince were."How are the children?" Dad asked in his usual stern but concerned tone. He looked over at Vera, still lying there in a coma, her little body so still it broke my heart all over again. Vince, thankfully, was just sleeping, his injuries much less severe."Theyโre... managing," I replied softly, my voice cracking. "Vera hasnโt woken up yet."Someone tapped my shoulder which made me look back. It was Jeremy which I didnโt notice right away. I didnโt expect heโd come here with my parents, but I couldnโt deny I was glad to see him.โHey,โ Jeremy uttered. โIโm sorry for what happened.โ Since I did
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-05CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Maybe I Had Been Wrong
EZEKIELAfter walking my parents outside the kidsโ hospital room, I tried to get my thoughts together. My mom was still fuming. I could see it in the way her lips were tight, and the way she crossed her arms. She probably hadnโt encountered someone who would answer her like that the way Mrs. Alice Lancaster did. โEzekiel, you canโt expect me to just let this go,โ she said, her voice sharp. โThat woman and her familyโโโMom,โ I cut her off before she could say anything worse. โThis isnโt the right time. Please, respect Vivienne and her family.โShe huffed, clearly not happy with what I was saying. โBut they act like weโre the enemy. You canโt just push your own family aside!โI kept my voice calm, even though I was starting to get frustrated.โIโm not pushing anyone aside. But weโre here for the kids, not for a fight. Iโll call you when things settle down, and Iโll explain everything at home. But right now, I need space.โShe gave me a look that made it clear she didnโt like my answer
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-06CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Veraโs Awake
VIVIENNEJeremy walked beside me, holding his iced coffee as I sipped mine absentmindedly. My mind was still foggy from everything that had happened. I could barely focus on the conversation.Fortunately, Ezekiel was able to convince his parents to go home for now because I donโt think it would be a great idea to have both of his parents and mine in one room.โSo, I ran into your parents earlier,โ Jeremy told me. โRight as I was trying to find the room where Vince and Vera were admitted. Thatโs why I arrived with them.โI nodded, trying to absorb his words, but my thoughts were elsewhere. I could hear him speaking, but my mind kept drifting back to the hospital room, to my kids. Jeremy had been explaining how he came across my parents, but I couldnโt focus. โVivienne?โ Jeremyโs voice snapped me out of my daze. โYou alright?โโYeah, sorry,โ I said, shaking my head slightly. โIโm justโฆ my mind is all over the place.โโI get it,โ he said softly. โWhen I heard about the kids, I was so wo
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-06
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CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Special Chapter IV
EZEKIEL NEVER THOUGHT heโd feel so nervous, yet here he was. He couldnโt help but pace back and forth in the hospital room while Vivienne lay on the bed, breathing deeply as another contraction hit. His palms were sweaty and his heart was racing so damn fast. He couldnโt even sit down for a second. This was nothing like the business meetings, nothing like the deals heโd spent his life preparing for. This was something else. Heโd missed the birth of the twins, and he knew he couldnโt miss a second of this moment with Vivienne.Heโd missed the birth of the twins, and he knew he couldnโt miss a second of this moment with Vivienne. Back then, he hadnโt been there to hold her hand, to see the twins take their first breaths. This time, heโd promised himself heโd be present, no matter how terrifying it felt. Vivienne noticed his restless pacing and reached out to catch his hand, tugging gently. โZeke, calm down,โ she said, chuckling despite her pain.He stopped, looking down at her, his
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Special Chapter III
VINCE WAS SITTING alone in the school canteen while he was lost in his own thoughts. Unlike his twin sister, he wasnโt worried at all about having a new sibling. In fact, he was excited. He couldnโt wait to have someone younger around to teach things to, especially about computers and coding. Heโd already planned it out in his head that heโd show their new sibling all the basics, and someday, theyโd be able to talk about complex stuff too. Just the thought of it made him smile.As he stared into space while planning all the lessons heโd someday teach, someone placed a small box in front of him. Vince blinked when his train of thought was interrupted. He looked down at the box, noticing it was wrapped neatly with a bow on top. Then he looked up and saw Maesei, the little girl he, Vera, and Genesis had helped when she was being bullied a while back.Maesei was standing there, looking shy and nervous. Her cheeks were red and she avoided his gaze, looking down at the table instead.Vin
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Special Chapter II
GENESIS SPOTTED VERA sitting alone on the bleachers, looking lost in thought as she watched Vince at his soccer practice. She was unusually quiet, her small frame slumped forward, and her chin rested on her hands. Genesis found this strange. Usually, Vera was energetic and loud, always cheering for her brother or chatting away.With a grin, Genesis walked over and sat down beside her. โHey,โ he said, nudging her gently. โWhy do you look so sad? Thinking too hard?โTo his surprise, Veraโs lip started to tremble, and before he knew it, tears spilled down her cheeks. She let out a small, choked sob, and then it cameโall the tears she had held back, spilling out in big, messy drops.Genesis's eyes widened and he instantly panicked. โWhoa, hey, heyโwhatโs wrong, Vera?โ He fumbled, trying to figure out what to do. Heโd never seen her cry like this before. โDid something happen?โVera shook her head but kept crying, covering her face with her hands. Feeling helpless, Genesis reached over
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Special Chapter I
THE AFTER-PARTY was winding down and Piper was more than a little tipsy. She leaned heavily on Jeremy, her bubbly personality even more vibrant after a few too many glasses of champagne. Jeremy sighed, his arm steady around her as he led her through the crowded room.โCome on, Piper,โ he said while rying to sound patient. โLetโs get you home.โPiper let out a laugh as she rolled her eyes. โOh, Jeremy, youโre so lame! Why didnโt you drink anything tonight? There were bottles of wine that cost more than youโd make in a month! You couldโve at least had one!โJeremy shook his head, guiding her carefully through the doorway. โI donโt drink much. Besides, someone had to be responsible for you,โ he said in a calm voice. She threw him a mock offended look, then smirked. โOh, please. Responsible? Youโre missing out! Once-in-a-blue-moon kind of party, and youโre just standing there, drinking water. So boring.โHe just nodded, too tired to argue. He knew she was half-joking, half-serious, but
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย EPILOGUE IV
EZEKIELForgiving isnโt easy. Itโs one of the hardest things you can do, especially when the person who hurt you is someone you once trusted, someone you loved deeply. Iโd always respected people who could forgive the ones who wronged them, who could find it in their hearts to let go of pain and bitterness. And tonight, watching Vivienne, I felt my admiration for her grow even more.I thought Iโd reached the limit of how much I could love her, but seeing her forgive my motherโthat changed things. Vivienne had already forgiven me before, a forgiveness I never thought I deserved but clung to, knowing how lucky I was to have it. And now, she was doing the same for my mother. I looked at Vivienne, her calm expression, her steady gaze, and I couldnโt help but feel grateful. She was truly incredible, a woman who could forgive despite the hurt, and in that moment, I knew I was the luckiest man alive.After my motherโs apology, we found a quieter spot away from everyone else. I turned to V
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย EPILOGUE III
VIVIENNEIt was never too late to rise up again after youโve hit rock bottom. Iโd learned that lesson over and over, but standing here now, it finally felt real. So many times, I thought that scandal with Aton would destroy everything Iโd worked for. I worried people would only ever see me as the woman caught up in a messy scheme, but here I was, with a new chapter in front of me. This was my second chanceโnot just to clear my name, but to make it stronger than ever. Viatrix. That name still had power, still had life.I looked around the room, taking in all the smiles and congratulatory handshakes. Ezekiel and I had just launched our fashion line that we had been working on, and the event couldnโt have gone any better. Everywhere I turned, there were people celebrating with us, praising the collection, the designs, the way we had merged our ideas and brought something beautiful to life. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly proud of myself and what I had accomplished ag
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย EPILOGUE II
EZEKIELIt was never too late to change. I knew that now. I wouldnโt deny to myself or to anyone else that I had made mistakes before. Too many to count, honestly. Iโd been an ass. I didnโt know what I really wanted back then. I wasnโt sure of what the right thing was or how to treat Vivienne the way she deserved. Iโd lost sight of things, caught up in my own mess, letting my insecurities and past hold me back. But now, standing here in Switzerland, away from the noise and all the misunderstandings, I felt something Iโd never felt beforeโa clear sense of certainty. I loved her. I loved Vivienne in a way that was different, in a way that wasnโt clouded by doubt or fear. She was the woman I wanted to spend my life with, and Iโd failed to see that in the past. But I had the chance to make it right, and I wasnโt going to let it slip by.The soft breeze carried the scent of lilies as I stood at the end of the aisle, waiting for Vivienne. My heart pounded, and I could feel the tears gather
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย EPILOGUE I
VIVIENNEBefore, I was just dreaming of a good husband. A husband who would love me, who would prioritize me, who would stand by my side no matter what. It felt like a faraway wish, something Iโd only imagine late at night. When I first married Ezekiel, it wasnโt like that at all. He only married me because he felt he had to; it was a shotgun marriage after all, coming right after the surprise of my pregnancy.Back then, Ezekiel couldnโt even get over his ex, Alex. I knew it. Everyone knew it. I always felt like a stand-in, a shadow, never really the one he wanted. I was just a substitute. But now, looking at him todayโseeing him boldly defend me, even against his own parentsโI canโt ignore how deeply heโs changed. Before, Ezekiel always followed his parentsโ words without question, like he was bound by some invisible chain. They had such a hold over him, and Iโd come to accept that their influence would always come first. So now, seeing him stand up to themโfor my sake, no lessโfe
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFEย ย ย Finally Free
EZEKIELMy fists balled as I scanned through each line of conversation on Vinceโs laptop. Each word felt like a punch. And I gritted my teeth, trying to contain the anger boiling within me. Genesis had been right. It was real that the contents from Atonโs phone had transferred over. Everything was hereโmessages, plans, and schemes that Aton and my own fucking father had discussed. Each message was worse than the last, detailing how they intended to bring down Vivienne and tarnish everything sheโd worked for. I could feel Alice and Ronaldo leaning in, reading over my shoulder. Alice gasped, covering her mouth as her face turned pale. She shook her head. โI canโt believe they could plan something so evil,โ she whispered, horrified.Ronaldoโs expression darkened, his eyes sharp and filled with rage. โThis wonโt slide,โ he said firmly, his voice low and steady. โI wonโt let them get away with this.โHis words fueled my resolve. I nodded, swallowing hard, though my mind was racing. Ju
