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DARKNESS OF BEFORE
Last Updated:
2025-03-22 04:28:04
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The quiet of the evening was interrupted only by the distant hum of the city, but within the walls of their luxurious apartment, Aria and Damien found a moment of peace that neither had experienced in a long time. The weight of everything they had endured the betrayals, the secrets, and the fight for their survival still lingered in the air, but tonight, they allowed themselves to breathe.Aria sat by the window, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass, watching the lights flicker across the skyline. The city looked peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil within her heart. She turned her head slightly, stealing a glance at Damien. He stood on the other side of the room, his posture tense, shoulders stiff, as if bracing himself for an unseen battle. His back was to her, yet she could sense the storm raging inside him.For so long, he had been her mystery an enigma wrapped in cold precision and guarded silence. But now, she could see the cracks in his armor, the exhaustion in the way
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The air felt heavier today, thick with the weight of unspoken words. It was the kind of silence that filled the spaces between people who had too much to say yet feared what the truth might destroy.Aria sat in the large leather chair, her fingers drumming absently against the armrest, her mind racing in circles. She had uncovered more than she was ready to handle, more than she had ever expected. The secrets were no longer whispers in the dark; they were loud, glaring truths waiting to be confronted.And yet, Damien had said nothing.For days, he had carried the same distant expression, his silence louder than any confession. He was avoiding it, avoiding her, as if by ignoring it, he could keep their fragile world from shattering. But Aria knew better. The truth had a way of creeping through the cracks, no matter how much one tried to bury it.She inhaled deeply, her heart pounding as she finally broke the suffocating silence.“Damien, we need to talk.”Her voice was steady, but insi
Last Updated : 2025-03-23THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE A WEB OF DISCEIT
Chapter 48: A Web of DeceitThe door creaked as it swung open, and Aria’s breath caught in her throat. Standing there, framed by the dim light from the hallway, was someone she never thought she would see again. Her heart skipped a beat, the blood rushing in her ears as a chill ran down her spine.“Lucas?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.The man in the doorway stood frozen, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers with a coldness that sent shivers down her back. Aria couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Lucas Damien’s estranged brother, the one who had disappeared from their lives years ago was standing right in front of her.“Aria,” Lucas said, his voice smooth but laced with an underlying tension. His gaze flicked over her, then to Damien, who was still rooted in the same spot, his face now pale and expressionless. “I see we have an audience.”Damien’s expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. The pain in his eyes was evident, but so was the fury that simmered bene
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The silence between them hung heavy, suffocating, as Aria stood there, unable to move. The truth that had just been revealed shattered the illusion she had carefully built around her life. Her bloodline tied to Damien’s family? What did that even mean? How could it be possible?Damien’s eyes were full of regret and pain as he stepped forward, but Aria couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. She needed answers real answers, not more riddles wrapped in cryptic half-truths.“I never wanted you to find out like this,” Damien said quietly, his voice rough with emotion. “I wanted to protect you from all of it. From the darkness in my family, from the lies that have haunted us for generations. But now it’s out. The truth is exposed, and there’s no going back.”Her pulse quickened as the weight of his words pressed down on her chest. She had never imagined that their love story would lead her to such an impossible crossroads. Was the man she loved, the man she had trusted with everything, a
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Sebastian stood in front of his office window, his gaze fixed on the cityscape below. The world was alive, vibrant with the hum of activity, yet he felt an eerie silence settle over him. Everything that had happened, every decision he had made, felt like it had led to this exact moment. The walls around him had been carefully constructed over years of hard work, pain, and distance. Yet, none of it seemed enough to shield him from the truth now unfolding before him.His fingers tightened around the glass of whiskey in his hand, the amber liquid swirling in a way that seemed to mock him. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.He took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions raging inside him. There was only one person who could threaten his carefully curated life, one person who had the power to undo everything. Aria.He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so conflicted. His mind was a battleground, torn between the undeniable attraction he felt toward her and the
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Sebastian’s mind raced as he stormed out of his office, Damien's words echoing in his head like a persistent drumbeat. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time. Aria was slipping away, and every second he stood idly by felt like a betrayal.He arrived at the penthouse, his heart hammering in his chest. The familiar silence of the apartment was unsettling, its grandeur and emptiness amplifying the isolation he had come to know all too well. The lights were dim, casting long shadows across the sleek, modern furnishings. He felt like an intruder in his own life, his every step weighed down by the impending confrontation he knew was coming.Sebastian had spent years building walls around himself, hiding his true feelings and desires behind layers of cold professionalism. But Aria had shattered those walls. She had seen through his mask, and now he had to face the consequences of his actions.He walked down the hallway, his eyes scanning the rooms as if hoping to find her in one of them.
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Scarlett’s breathing was ragged, her hands trembling as she clenched them into fists at her sides. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard what she had just realized.Sebastian had known.The truth had been right there, within his grasp, and he had chosen to keep it from her.“You knew,” she whispered, her voice almost lost in the heavy silence of the room.Sebastian’s jaw tightened, his blue eyes shadowed with something unreadable. He remained still, his hands shoved into his pockets, as if bracing himself for the storm brewing within her.“Scarlett…” he started, but the sound of her name on his lips made something snap inside her.“Don’t,” she cut him off, shaking her head as she took a step back. “You don’t get to say my name like that. Not after this.”His lips parted slightly, but he didn’t speak. And that silence was worse than anything else.Scarlett let out a shaky breath, a bitter laugh escaping her throat. “All this time, I doubted myself. I thought I was losing my mind
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Lily’s fingers curled into fists as she stared at the door Liam had just walked through. The silence in the room was deafening, pressing in on her like an unbearable weight. She could still feel the ghost of his presence the tension he left in the air, the frustration simmering beneath his carefully controlled exterior.He had shut her out. Again.But this time, she wouldn’t let it go.Liam wasn’t just keeping secrets he was protecting something. Or someone. And the fear in his eyes when she confronted him told her it was more than just a business deal gone wrong.She turned back to the file he had thrown onto the desk, the pages slightly disheveled. Her pulse pounded as she reached for them, her hands trembling as she flipped through them once more.The transactions were consistent, spanning years. They weren’t just recent payments. Whatever Liam was involved in, it had been going on for a long time.But the name attached to the accounts Marlowe Grant was unfamiliar.Who was Marlowe?
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Rain lashed against the windows of the Carlyle estate as the family gathered once again in the grand study. Tension clung to the air like a second skin. The fire crackled in the hearth, but no one felt its warmth.Elias stood near the shelves, staring blankly at the swirling storm outside. Inside him, a different storm raged of betrayal, identity, and the weight of every decision he was about to make.“So what now?” he asked without turning. “Do we expose her?”Liam folded his arms, his posture rigid. “Not yet. If Zoe’s planning to go public with your name as the heir, then we let her. We let her think she’s won.”“But won’t that mean you lose everything?” Elias turned, eyes searching Liam’s. “The company, the shares your position as CEO?”Liam gave a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I built this empire with my blood, not my last name. And I don’t intend to lose it. Zoe underestimates how deep this family goes.”Damien nodded in agreement. “If she wants to play dirty, we give h
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The wind howled through the corridors of the Carlyle estate like a restless spirit, echoing the storm brewing within its walls. The chandelier in the main hall swayed gently as Liam paced across the study, his phone clutched tightly in his hand.“Is she safe?” he asked Damien, who stood just a few steps away.“We’re not sure yet,” Damien replied. “Declan and two men from my security team are en route to the facility now. We need to move fast before Zoe catches wind.”Liam’s jaw clenched. He didn’t like feeling powerless—especially not when it came to Emily, a woman whose betrayal had once fractured him, but whose safety still stirred something in the locked chambers of his heart.“She was trying to protect something,” Liam muttered, almost to himself. “Maybe even me.”Damien gave a subtle nod. “And she may have just become our strongest piece in this game.”Meanwhile, in the secured facility Zoe had chosen for secrecy, Emily struggled against the ropes digging into her wrists. Her bod
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The private jet coasted across the Atlantic, leaving the stormy skies of London behind. Liam sat by the window, his eyes unfocused as the clouds drifted below. Across from him, Elias sat in silence, earbuds in, pretending to be engrossed in the music on his phone. But Liam could feel the tension thick and undeniable settling between them like an invisible wall.It was one thing to discover a long-lost half-brother. It was another entirely to trust him.Liam had grown up in a world where loyalty was transactional and trust, a weapon that could turn into a blade. Elias, on the other hand, had lived a life stripped of luxury but anchored in truth or so he thought. Now both stood at a crossroads, each unsure whether they were about to gain an ally or invite in another enemy.“You ever been to New York before?” Liam finally asked.Elias glanced up, removed one earbud, and shook his head. “No. Just seen it in movies. Looks… loud.”A dry chuckle escaped Liam. “That’s one word for it.”There
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The silence in the office was thunderous. Liam stood rooted, his mind reeling from the revelations Damien had just laid before him. A hidden heir. A forged will. And a father who had manipulated everything..even Lily. The room felt colder, the walls tighter. Damien leaned against the glass table, arms folded. “I didn’t want to believe it either. But the documents we decrypted… they don’t lie.” Liam slowly sat down, fingers steepled beneath his chin. “So what you’re saying is, my father had a second family?” Damien nodded. “Or at least a child he kept hidden. There are bank transactions brecurring ones made to an unlisted name. And some travel records that suggest he flew to London frequently, always to the same address.” “Do we have a name?” Lily asked, her voice laced with disbelief. Damien opened the tablet again. “Elias Thorn. Born nineteen years ago. His mother, Marianne Thorn, was once Marcus Carlyle’s personal assistant. She resigned under suspicious circumstances and mov
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The storm outside mirrored the one brewing inside Liam’s mind. Rain hammered against the windows of the Carlyle estate as thunder cracked through the sky like a warning. But Liam paid no attention to the weather. All he could focus on was the photograph of his father and Emily.It haunted him.He stared at the fire dancing in the fireplace, his jaw clenched, mind racing. How had Emily ended up beside Marcus Carlyle? What did she know? What had she done? More importantly what had his father done?Behind him, Lily emerged from the hallway, wrapped in a silk robe. She hadn’t said much after the revelation. They were both stunned. But the silence between them wasn’t distant. It was heavy with thought and concern.“Liam?” she said softly, approaching him. “I’ve been thinking… if my sister worked with your father, it must’ve been before the wedding was even arranged. Before you and I ever crossed paths.”“That means your sister didn’t just disappear for no reason,” Liam said darkly. “She va
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The following day began with a heavy air at Carlyle Holdings. Everyone walked on eggshells, their movements hushed, eyes filled with nervous curiosity. The tension had become a permanent resident in the sleek hallways, following Liam wherever he went.He entered the boardroom early, before any of the executives arrived. The footage had been secured, and Damien was working on getting a strategic release to the media. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. He needed to know the truth and it started with Emily Grant.She arrived minutes later, perfectly punctual as always. Her ash-blonde hair was tied in a neat bun, and her dark navy suit was unwrinkled despite the storm swirling around the company. Her calm demeanor hadn't changed.“You wanted to see me, sir?” she asked, setting down her briefcase.“Yes. Please sit,” Liam gestured, motioning toward the seat across from him.Emily took her seat, watching him closely. “Is this about the leak?”“It is,” he said, folding his hands. “Our
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The following morning, the mansion was unnaturally quiet, despite the chaos unfolding beyond its walls. Liam sat in his private study, poring over the leaked documents for the third time. Lines of numbers and names danced in front of him like ghosts from a time he had tried so hard to forget. Somewhere in these files, someone had planted the seeds meant to destroy him.There was a knock.“Come in,” he said, not looking up.Lily stepped in, a cup of coffee in her hand. “You need to eat something.”He offered a faint smile, taking the cup. “Thanks. I didn’t sleep much.”“Neither did I,” she murmured, sitting beside him. “You’ve been quiet since last night. You okay?”“No,” he answered honestly. “But I will be. Once I find out who’s doing this.”They sat in silence for a moment, the hum of the city beyond the windows muffled by thick glass.“I’ve been thinking,” Lily said softly. “About that photo they leaked… the one of you and your father.”“What about it?”“You said you didn’t go insi
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The morning light filtered through the bedroom curtains, casting golden streaks across the wooden floors. Liam sat at the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the unread message Damien had forwarded to him at dawn.The headline was bold and damning: “Carlyle Legacy Tied to Financial Crimes: Leaked Documents Surface.”Though the article didn’t mention Liam by name, it danced dangerously close. The Carlyle estate. The offshore accounts. The shell corporations. The web of it all threaded neatly back to the past he had barely survived.He looked at Lily. She was still sleeping, her brow relaxed for once, the faint trace of peace softening her usually guarded face. He hated that this peace would be shattered soon.Liam slid his phone into his pocket and left the room.Downstairs, the house was already abuzz. Sofia, his long-time housekeeper, handed him a tablet. “It’s everywhere, sir. Social media. Business news. Blogs.”He took the tablet and skimmed headlines, each one more s
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The following days were quieter, not because of tension, but a newfound softness that grew between them. Lily had not yet given her heart fully back, but she had let down the thick walls she’d built around it. Liam, for the first time in years, was learning to speak the language of vulnerability.They spent their mornings in the garden and their evenings at the dinner table not in stiff silence, but with small conversations, shy smiles, and cautious laughter. It wasn’t a return to what they were, but the first steps toward something new.But even as the pieces began to align, something restless stirred beneath the surface.It started with a phone call.Liam had been in his office when the private line rang. Only a few people had that number his lawyer, his assistant, and Damien.He picked it up.“What is it?” Liam asked, expecting routine business.But Damien’s voice came in low and urgent. “I need to see you. It’s important.”Liam leaned back in his chair. “Can’t it wait?”“No. It’s
