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THE PAST DAYS
Last Updated:
2025-03-19 03:46:44
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THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE CHOICE THAT LIE AHEAD
Lily stood at the edge of the balcony, the cool night air brushing against her skin as she stared out at the sprawling city below. The lights twinkled in the distance, like distant stars, but nothing seemed to shine as brightly as the turmoil within her chest. It had been days since the gala, and the weight of her choices felt like an unshakable burden on her soul.She hadn’t been prepared for any of this least of all for the pull of attraction she felt for Liam. She should have been angry, bitter, and hurt. After all, he had used her, manipulated her into a contract that no one in their right mind would agree to. And yet, every time he looked at her, every time his voice dipped into that dangerous yet seductive tone, she felt a pang in her chest.Liam had changed the rules without her consent, and now, with every passing day, she found herself tangled in emotions she had no place feeling. The whirlwind of being thrust into his world—the luxurious penthouse, the power, the secrets—was
Last Updated : 2025-03-20THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE UNSEEN STORM
The air was thick with tension as Aria stood on the balcony of Damien's penthouse, gazing out at the sprawling city below. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, racing and colliding, much like the storm she could feel brewing within herself. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the city lights flickered like tiny stars across the skyline. But even the beauty of the view couldn’t erase the unease that had settled in her chest.Damien had been distant for the past few days, his eyes colder than ever, his touch more fleeting. She knew something was wrong, something had shifted. The walls between them had grown higher, and despite her best efforts to bridge the gap, they remained untouched, untouchable.Her fingers gripped the railing, the cool metal biting into her skin, a stark contrast to the heat rising in her heart. She didn’t understand him anymore she didn’t understand why he was pushing her away when everything had been so close to falling into place.Aria closed her eyes, taking a
Last Updated : 2025-03-20THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE EXPOSED TRUTH
Aria stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as the woman entered the room. Every instinct in her screamed to leave, to walk away from the tension that now filled the space like a suffocating fog. But something kept her rooted to the spot was it fear, curiosity, or the overwhelming need to understand?Damien’s expression shifted the moment the woman appeared, his earlier vulnerability quickly masked by a wall of coldness. Aria could sense the change in him, the abrupt return of the guarded man she had known when they first met. The warmth in his gaze had evaporated, replaced with a steely resolve.The woman, undeterred by the palpable tension, tilted her head slightly and fixed her piercing blue eyes on Aria. There was a certain air of superiority about her, an aura that demanded attention and respect. Her lips curled into a tight smile, and she crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze flickering between Damien and Aria.“I see you’ve found someone new,” the woman said, her voi
Last Updated : 2025-03-21THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE COST OF TRUTH
The night felt colder now, the air thick with unspoken tension. Aria stood at the edge of the room, her body rigid, her heart still pounding from the conversation with Damien. There was something haunting about the way he had spoken his eyes filled with secrets he seemed desperate to keep buried. The darkness of his past loomed over them like a shadow, threatening to swallow everything in its path.Damien's confession hung heavily between them, suffocating the space with its weight. He wasn't just a man hiding from his past; he was a man trying to outrun it. And she had unknowingly stepped right into the middle of it.Her thoughts were interrupted when Damien spoke again, his voice low and filled with a vulnerability she hadn't expected."I never wanted you to see me like this," he admitted, his gaze avoiding hers. "I never wanted you to be part of this mess."Aria's heart ached at his words. She took a step closer, her voice gentle but firm. "Damien, you don't get to decide what I ca
Last Updated : 2025-03-21THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE DARKNESS OF BEFORE
The tension in the room thickened, an unspoken war waging between them as Catherine’s heels clicked sharply against the floor. She carried herself with an air of unsettling confidence, her presence radiating danger wrapped in elegance."Well, well," Catherine mused, a knowing smirk playing at her lips. "It seems I've walked in on quite the reunion."Damien’s grip on the door handle tightened, his knuckles white. His expression was unreadable, but Aria could sense the storm brewing beneath his composed facade."What do you want, Catherine?" Damien's voice was low, controlled, but the edge of anger was impossible to miss.Catherine’s sharp gaze flickered to Aria, her smirk widening as if she enjoyed the tension she’d just stirred. "Oh, nothing much," she said lightly, though her tone was anything but casual. "Just ensuring that old acquaintances don’t forget their debts."She took a deliberate step forward, her red lips curling into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "You see, Damien,
Last Updated : 2025-03-22THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE STORM REWIND
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-22THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE OPENED FACT
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-23
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THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE FIRE BENEATH THE SURFACE
The morning air was thick with silence. It wasn’t the peaceful kind that came with dawn it was the kind that warned of an approaching storm. Liam stood at the balcony of his study, overlooking the sprawling grounds of the Carlyle estate. In his hand was Marcus’s journal, the pages now worn from sleepless nights spent poring over secrets that could ruin everything.The old ledger they’d uncovered was now locked in a hidden compartment beneath the floorboards of his study. But even as he tried to move forward, Liam couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was already ten steps ahead.Behind him, the door creaked open.Lily stepped in, barefoot, her silk robe brushing the hardwood floor. “You haven’t slept,” she said softly, walking to his side.He didn’t look at her at first, but when he did, there was something in his eyes something she hadn’t seen in a long time. Vulnerability.“I thought finding the truth would bring peace,” Liam said. “But it’s like opening one door only reveals five
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE WHISPERS FROM THE PAST
The old Carlyle family graveyard sat in the farthest corner of the estate forgotten by time, swallowed by ivy, and seldom visited. The air was colder there, as though the earth itself held its breath beneath ancient stones and buried secrets.Liam stood at the edge of a crumbling headstone, a lantern in one hand and Marcus’s decoded journal page in the other. The words still echoed in his mind: The truth lies buried beneath our oldest grave.Beside him, Damien scanned the names etched into the moss-covered stones. “This one,” he said finally, pointing to a weathered grave that read: Edward Carlyle – 1792 to 1853. “He’s the first of the line. The one who started the empire.”Liam dropped to one knee, brushing away dirt and vines. “If Marcus left us this clue, it has to be here.”They worked in silence, digging with tools Damien had brought. Minutes stretched into an hour. Then thud. Damien’s spade struck something solid.Liam knelt down, clearing the soil. A rusted metal box, sealed sh
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE BURIED TRUTHS AND NEW BEGINNINGS
The fallout from Zoe’s exposure echoed far beyond the Carlyle estate. News outlets retracted stories, public opinion shifted, and Carlyle Enterprises’ stock which had dipped following Zoe’s fake exposé began to recover. But within the estate walls, not all wounds healed as swiftly as headlines faded.Lily sat alone in the rose garden, the scent of blooming petals swirling with the memory of secrets unearthed. The sun filtered through the vines overhead, casting lace-like shadows on her lap. Her fingers traced a flower’s soft edge, but her mind was far from serene.Elias approached quietly, not wanting to startle her. She sensed him before he spoke.“You didn’t come to breakfast,” he said gently.Lily looked up, offering a small, tired smile. “I wasn’t hungry.”He sat beside her, careful to give her space. “You’ve been quiet since the press conference.”“I just needed to breathe,” she murmured. “It’s been too much. Too fast.”Elias nodded, his voice low. “I owe you an apology.”“For wh
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE HEIR AND THE TRAP
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
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE A WEB OF DECEIT
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
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE TANGLED LOYALTIES
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
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE THE HIDDEN BLOODLINE
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
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE SHADOWS OF THE PAST
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
THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE BENEATH THE SURFACE
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
