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Chapter 18

Author: Inky Belle
October, Southiano.

The drizzle had this inky vibe, like someone dunked the whole sky in denim. Everything outside looked washed-out blue.

Meredith stared out the window, thinking how Borevia never looked like this.

"We really gotta wear this?"

Luke Lawson tugged at his tie, scowling into the rearview. "I look like a damn billboard."

She didn't even blink. "First case. Bold colors scream confidence. That's the play."

He glanced at her reflection—red lips, black suit tailored to kill, coral brooch throwing off light like it had an attitude.

'She looks badass. But... will it actually work? We're just running on vibes now?'

He made a face. Total buzzkill move. "Boss, Ascendra Biotech's legal team has THREE elite squads. And their CEO? Hayden Harington? Sued a rival out of existence last year..."

Meredith flinched.

Hayden Harington.

Her brother's archenemy.

She'd heard that name forever—golden boy, always stealing the spotlight.

Built Ascendra in college. Three years in? Prepp
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  • Dumped Bride, Dangerous Upgrade   Chapter 30

    Alden stepped closer, voice raw. "Meredith... I finally found you."She looked up, calm. Eyes steady. Cold.He froze.She was still stunning. Still her. And if she so much as smiled, he might've convinced himself the last month was just one awful dream."Mr. Ashford," she said flatly. "What do you want?"Like a slap.She only ever called him that at work. Everywhere else, it was just 'Alden'—when she was teasing, pissed, laughing... real."I..." His throat locked up. He forced it down. "I've been looking for you..."He reached for her wrist without thinking.She stepped back, no hesitation. "Why? We broke up."He flinched. "I never agreed to that."She almost laughed. "Didn't ask for your permission."Still flat, she angled away. "If that's all, I've got work. Excuse me."Her coldness didn't hit like a slap.It dragged.Like a dull knife, scraping nerves raw.She turned to go. He grabbed her hand. "Can we just talk?"Meredith jerked away like he'd burned her.Somethin

  • Dumped Bride, Dangerous Upgrade   Chapter 29

    Silence. Finally.Meredith leaned back, rubbed her temples.Her pulse had just started to settle when Luke's voice blasted from outside her office."Boss! Boss! You HAVE to come see who's here!"Ugh. Headache, back.Probably another walk-in. She shoved up from the chair, forced on a neutral face, and opened the door.Luke stepped aside, practically buzzing.And there he was.Alden.Thinner. Jaw set. Suit still sharp, but the collar peeked open over a buttoned-up shirt that didn't quite sit right.Meredith froze, grip tightening on the doorknob.Heat rushed in—fast, disorienting.Time stalled.Everything else dropped away.Except her heartbeat.Thump.Thump.Loud enough to drown out everything.Luke was still rambling. "Boss! It's Alden Ashford! My actual idol—"White noise.Meredith's nails dug into her palm. The sting snapped her out of it.'Don't panic. It's done. We're done.'She took a breath, shoved the chaos down, and turned—to Luke, not Alden. Voice steady.

  • Dumped Bride, Dangerous Upgrade   Chapter 28

    "Meredith..." Sharon's voice had that fake-casual tone, awkward but trying. "Why'd you leave without a word? No heads-up, nothing. When are you coming back? I miss you..."Too many questions. Too fast. It reeked.For five years, Sharon barely tolerated her as Alden's girlfriend. Always polite, always picking. Never warm.Her not insulting Meredith? That had already felt like a blessing.A month ago, this call would've wrecked her.Now?Honestly, kind of funny."I'm good. Thanks for checking in," Meredith said, calm as ice. "If you've got something to say, say it."Sharon froze. That little pause? She wasn't ready. Even after lowering herself to this, Meredith still wasn't playing along.Sharon scrambled. Voice sharpened. "Alden's just... like that. Stubborn. Awful at feelings. You KNOW how he is. Why take it so personally?"And selling your apartment? Seriously? That was impulsive. You do realize what property costs in Borevia now, right?"If you ever come back, good luck fi

  • Dumped Bride, Dangerous Upgrade   Chapter 27

    Grady never bought the act. Not from Rowena. Definitely not from Vicky.That crash? It was sketchy from day one."Meredith? That bitch's nothing next to me!" Vicky snapped. "I grew up with Alden! He'll figure it out—he'll know I'm the one!"Grady let out a cold laugh. "You mean the one who causes scenes? Or fakes a suicide attempt at his wedding?"Her lips trembled. "Y-You're making that up.""Am I?" His stare turned glacial. "Come on, Vicky. Alden only put up with you because of your mom. That patience? You burned through it."He stepped closer. "Meredith's gone. And he's done. Stop humiliating yourself."Each word landed like a slap.Vicky shook, finger aimed at him, mouth moving—nothing came out.What did he know anyway?She and Alden shared history. The same world. Meredith never understood him like she did."You're all brainwashed by that bitch! You'll regret this!" she shrieked, heels stabbing the floor as she stormed off.Grady watched her go, his brows tight.He gl

  • Dumped Bride, Dangerous Upgrade   Chapter 26

    Vicky hit redial, her teeth clenched."The number you have dialed...""Ugh!" She almost hurled her thermos across the floor.Her fists clenched, nails digging in as her chest heaved. 'Meredith—that bitch—is out of sight but still screwing everything up.'There was no chance of that. She would wait, however long it took."Get me a coffee," she snapped, strutting into the lounge like it was hers. "Fresh ground. No sugar. No milk."The receptionist clocked her on sight—Vicky Beech, the girl who wouldn't quit popping in for Alden. Around Alderith, everyone whispered: she's the reason Meredith bounced.Annoyed, but not dumb, the receptionist went to make it.Time dragged.Vicky downed one cup. Then another. Still no Alden.Her patience wore thin.Ding. Elevator.She perked up, straightened her skirt, and grinned. "Alden, you're finally—"Nope. Grady."Ms. Beech?" He blinked. Frowned. "You're still here?"Her smile snapped. "Where's Alden? I've been waiting all afternoon!"Gr

  • Dumped Bride, Dangerous Upgrade   Chapter 25

    "Tomorrow? Like—tomorrow morning at nine?"Evan legit almost passed out.His team had, what, seven or eight big lawsuits? Plus a pile of IP mess? Reworking it all overnight? Straight-up homicide."Mr. Harington, isn't that... kinda tight?" He tried.Hayden looked up, cold as hell. "Problem?"Evan shut up, his scalp prickling. "N-No! We're on it!"He was screaming inside. 'Who lit this guy up? What even is this overtime horror show?!'Hayden said nothing. He just stood, fixed his jacket, and walked out—leaving Evan and his entire team groaning in defeat.***Airport Expressway, Borevia.Grady sped down the highway, his eyes flicking to the mirror.Alden sat in the back, stiff and silent, jaw locked.Grady sighed. He knew the truth. Alden had dropped everything—logic, cases, clients—all for a girl he couldn't even admit he loved.The man who never cracked? Gone. Replaced by someone unraveling.People said Alden didn't have a heart. Grady knew that was crap. Meredith had alw

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