Library
Search
Home / Romance / The Billionaire’s Broken Contract / Chapter 34: Shifting Dynamics

Share

Chapter 34: Shifting Dynamics

Author: Ruby
last update Last Updated: 2025-07-22 17:55:57

Riley's POV

The charity auction was in full swing when Victoria made her move. She'd been circling us all evening like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer announced, "our next item is a week at the Graham Estate in the Hamptons, generously donated by Brett Graham himself."

The crowd murmured with interest. The Graham Estate was legendary—two hundred acres of pristine beachfront property that had never been photographed for magazines.

"Bidding starts at fifty thousand."

Hands shot up immediately. The price climbed quickly—seventy-five, one hundred, one-fifty.

"Two hundred thousand," Victoria called out, her voice carrying across the room.

Brett's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "What is she doing?"

"Being Victoria," I said quietly.

"Two-fifty," another bidder countered.

"Three hundred thousand." Victoria's smile was sharp as she looked directly at me. "For such a worthy cause."

The bidding continued, but I could feel the shift
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter
Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Latest chapter

  • The Billionaire’s Broken Contract   Chapter 40: The Watcher

    Marcus's POVThe diner across from Riley's motel building served coffee that could strip paint and eggs that bounced, but it had excellent sight lines and terrible lighting. Perfect for surveillance.I'd been watching Riley for three days now, ever since Lily's surgery. Watching her struggle to find work, watching her count quarters for the parking meter, watching her put on a brave face for her daughter while falling apart the moment she thought no one was looking.Brett had no idea I was here. He'd retreated to his penthouse after paying for the surgery, throwing himself into work with the kind of desperate intensity that usually preceded a breakdown."More coffee?" The waitress, a tired-looking woman named Dolores, topped off my mug without waiting for an answer."Thanks.""Are you writing a book or something? You've been scribbling in that notebook for hours."I glanced down at my surveillance notes. "Something like that.""About what?""People who don't know they're worthy of be

  • The Billionaire’s Broken Contract   Chapter 39: The Surgery

    Riley's POVThe waiting room smelled like disinfectant and medicine as I sat in an uncomfortable plastic chair, my hands folded in my lap to stop them from shaking, watching the surgery clock tick away the minutes.Three hours. Lily had been in surgery for three hours."More coffee?" The volunteer, a sweet elderly woman named Margaret, held up a steaming pot."No, thank you." I'd already had four cups. Any more and I'd vibrate right out of my chair.The waiting room was nearly empty at this hour. Just me, a man whose wife was having her gallbladder removed, and a teenage girl waiting for news about her father's car accident.The doors whooshed open, and Victoria Sterling walked in like she owned the place. Designer heels clicked against the linoleum as she scanned the room, her eyes landing on me with predatory satisfaction."Well, well. If it isn't the charity case."I didn't look up from my magazine. "Go away, Victoria.""I don't think so." She settled into the chair across from me,

  • The Billionaire’s Broken Contract   Chapter 38: The Benefactor

    Brett's POVThe penthouse felt like a mausoleum. Silence pressed against my eardrums as I stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the city lights blur through the rain-streaked glass.Victoria was finally gone, her parting words still echoing in my head: You'll regret this, Brett. She'll take everything and leave you with nothing.Just like my mother had. Just like Victoria had.But Riley wasn't them. She'd proven that tonight by walking away from a million dollars rather than staying where she wasn't wanted.My phone buzzed against the marble countertop. It was from Marcus, I picked up the call, "It's done," he said without preamble. "The hospital has been paid. Surgery's scheduled for seven AM.""Good." I poured myself three fingers of scotch, the liquid burning as it went down. "Make sure they don't trace it back to me.""Brett""I don't want to hear it.""You need to hear it." Marcus's voice carried that tone he'd perfected during his military days. "You just let the best

  • The Billionaire’s Broken Contract   Chapter 37: The Fall

    Riley's POVThe parking garage beneath Brett's building felt like a tomb. I sat in my beat-up Honda, hands shaking as I gripped the steering wheel, the torn contract scattered across my lap."Mommy?" Lily's voice drifted from the backseat, thick with sleep. "Are we going home now?"Home. The word twisted in my chest like a knife."Yeah, baby. We're going home." I forced the words past the lump in my throat, knowing we had no home to go to.I started the engine, the familiar grinding noise somehow comforting in its reliability. At least something in my life still worked, even if it was barely.The drive to Mercy General took twenty minutes through late-night traffic. I'd called Dr. Vasquez from the elevator, my voice breaking as I explained that Lily's surgery would have to be postponed. Again."We'll find another way," she'd said, but I heard the worry in her voice. Time was running out.The hospital parking lot was nearly empty at this hour. I pulled into a spot under a flickering st

  • The Billionaire’s Broken Contract   Chapter 36: The Contract Questioned

    Riley's POVThe silence stretched like a wire about to snap as Brett stood frozen between Victoria and me, his face a mask I couldn't read."Well?" Victoria's voice cut through the tension. "I'm waiting.""This is ridiculous," Brett finally said, but his voice lacked its usual command. "You can't just walk into my home and make demands.""Your home?" Victoria laughed, the sound sharp and bitter. "This was going to be our home, remember? Before you decided to play house with your little charity case."I felt the familiar sting of her words, but something had changed. They didn't cut as deep anymore."Don't call her that," Brett said quietly.Victoria's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, how sweet. He's defending his pet.""That's enough." Brett's voice turned dangerous. "You need to leave.""I need to save you from yourself." Victoria stepped closer to him, her hand reaching for his arm. "Look at what she's done to you, Brett. Look at what you've become.""What I've become?" Brett's jaw tightened.

  • The Billionaire’s Broken Contract   Chapter 35:The Realization

    Riley's POVThe ride back to the penthouse was silent except for the hum of the engine and the sound of my heart hammering against my ribs. Brett sat beside me, his hand resting on my thigh, his thumb tracing small circles through the fabric of my dress.Everything had changed tonight. I could feel it in the air between us, electric and dangerous."You realize what you've done," Brett said finally, his voice low."I stood up for myself." I kept my eyes on the city lights blurring past the window. "Isn't that what you wanted?""What I wanted was for you to learn your place."I turned to face him. "And where is that, exactly?"His jaw tightened. "Beside me. Not behind me. Not beneath me. Beside me."The admission hung between us like a confession. Brett Graham didn't have equals. He had employees, competitors, and conquests. But never equals."And what does that mean for us?" I asked quietly."I don't know." His honesty was more terrifying than any threat. "I've never had to figure that

More Chapters

You may also like

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status