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Chapter 81

Penulis: All_about_me
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-20 18:18:44

RILEY’S POV

Ethan had always known how to choose his moments.

That was the thing people never noticed about him, not the charm, not the money, not even the arrogance that came later. It was the timing.

He knew when you were tired, when you were alone, and least equipped to fight back.

So when I stepped out of the records room and nearly collided with his chest, my first thought wasn’t why is he here?

Of course he is.

“Riley.”

He said my name still belonged to him.

I stopped short, my fingers tightening around the file I was holding. The corridor was quiet, so much I could almost hear my own breathing.

Most of the staff were already heading out for lunch and the building felt distant here, muted by thick walls and shelving.

“What do you want, Ethan?” I asked, keeping my voice level.

He studied my face instead of answering, his gaze slow and deliberate, as if he were searching for something familiar. Something broken that he could still use. Should I say emotional downplay?.

“You look
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  • The Billionaire’s Betrayed Bride   Chapter 84

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  • The Billionaire’s Betrayed Bride   Chapter 83

    RILEY'S POV I woke up without panic for the first time in weeks.The realization came slowly, drifting in with the pale light filtering through the curtains. My chest didn’t tighten, neither did my thoughts scramble for threats and unfinished conversations, for faces I didn’t want to see. There was no alarm blaring, no sharp sound dragging me out of sleep like I’d done something wrong. Just silence.I lay there for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, listening to my own breathing as if it belonged to someone else. It felt unfamiliar, calm, unhurried, unburdened. The world hadn’t demanded anything from me yet.That alone felt like permission.I reached for my phone out of habit, thumb hovering over the screen. Notifications blinked back at me. Work emails, messages from Claire, the quiet insistence of responsibilities lining up to be acknowledged. And for a second, guilt rose instinctively, sharp and automatic.Then I set the phone back down. Today wasn’t about explaining myself

  • The Billionaire’s Betrayed Bride   Chapter 82

    RILEY'S POV Towards the close of work hours, Aiden popped out of nowhere as usual. It made me a bit nauseous. What exactly did these men want from me?He stayed around until the office thinned out and the usual end-of-day shuffle faded into the background hum of cleaners and distant footsteps. He waited until I was packing my bag, mentally preparing to disappear into the safety of routine before appearing behind me.“Stay,” he said. It was just one word, yet it felt calm and controlled.I paused, my fingers still hooked around the strap of my bag. Every instinct told me to keep moving, to pretend I hadn’t heard him. I didn’t trust what would happen if I stayed. But I stayed anyway.I turned slowly. “If this is about work, I’ve finished everything for today.”“It’s not about work,” he replied.Of course it wasn’t.He closed the glass door of the small conference room with deliberate care, not locking it, not trapping me, but the quiet click echoed far louder than it should have. The

  • The Billionaire’s Betrayed Bride   Chapter 81

    RILEY’S POVEthan had always known how to choose his moments.That was the thing people never noticed about him, not the charm, not the money, not even the arrogance that came later. It was the timing. He knew when you were tired, when you were alone, and least equipped to fight back. So when I stepped out of the records room and nearly collided with his chest, my first thought wasn’t why is he here?Of course he is.“Riley.”He said my name still belonged to him.I stopped short, my fingers tightening around the file I was holding. The corridor was quiet, so much I could almost hear my own breathing.Most of the staff were already heading out for lunch and the building felt distant here, muted by thick walls and shelving.“What do you want, Ethan?” I asked, keeping my voice level.He studied my face instead of answering, his gaze slow and deliberate, as if he were searching for something familiar. Something broken that he could still use. Should I say emotional downplay?.“You look

  • The Billionaire’s Betrayed Bride   Chapter 80

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