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Chapter 88: Strained
publish date:
2026-07-26 23:35:45
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The Billionaire’s Rival Contract Chapter 95: Strange Figure
Sebastian I watched the expression on Bella’s face as she finally took in the canvas. I’d spent the last hour sweating over the damn thing, my hands cramped and my head spinning from the wine, but the look in her eyes made every single minute worth it.It wasn't a masterpiece—far from it. I’d never been much of an artist, and the petals of the lily were a little jagged, the shading a bit amateur. But it was her favorite flower. I had captured the shape, the delicate curve of the stem, and the white glow that always reminded me of her.Bella’s mouth hung open just a fraction. She reached out, her fingers hovering inches from the wet paint before she pulled back, looking at me with a softness I hadn't seen in months."You did this?" she whispered, her voice thick with surprise."I tried to," I said, feeling the heat creep up my neck. "I know it’s not exactly a work of art, but…""It’s perfect," she interrupted, and I knew she meant it. She turned her canvas around then, and I let ou
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Bella "This is going to blow them out of the water," I said, pointing to the projected figures on the screen. "Using kids for this campaign is a masterstroke. People are going to eat it up. It adds this layer of innocence and future-building that matches our new branding perfectly."Sebastian was standing close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off his suit jacket. He wasn't looking at the screen anymore; he was looking at me."It’s a good look, right?" he murmured, a slow, teasing smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Although, to be honest, I think it would be even better if it were our kids running around in the advert. They’d certainly have the right genes for the camera."My breath hitched. I stared at him, my heart doing that roll in my chest. "Our kids?" I repeated, my voice barely a whisper.He leaned in, his voice dropping to that low, intimate tone that always made my stomach do flips. "Yeah. Imagine it. Our boy would have my eyes, but they’d have your ha
The Billionaire’s Rival Contract Chapter 93: Hiding It
Sebastian I watched her walk out of the room, her hips swaying with that effortless grace.The way her face had lit up when I complimented her cooking, the way her eyes had softened.It gave me a hit of something stronger than any drug. It was power, but it was the kind of power that terrified me because it meant I had everything to lose.The vibration of my phone on the bed shattered the silence.I frowned, glancing at the screen. Unknown number.My instincts, sharpened by years of looking over my shoulder flared. I hesitated, thumb hovering over the green icon. My gut told me to let it go to voicemail, but some sick sense of duty made me slide the answer button."Who is this?" I asked, my voice already hard, stripped of any warmth."Sebastian," the voice on the other end was familiar.My jaw tightened so hard I felt it in my ears. "Alina.""I didn't think you'd answer," she said, her voice sounding thin, almost fragile."Why are you calling, Alina?" I snapped, my eyes darting towar
The Billionaire’s Rival Contract Chapter 92: Amazing Cook
Bella His hand snaked out, his fingers brushing against the back of my wrist. The touch was light—a ghost of a contact—but it felt like a branding iron."Bella, please," he breathed. "Don't do anything that’ll send me back to that hell. Just listen to me. I don't want to go back there. I can't go back there."Something in me snapped. It wasn't fear anymore; it was rage. All the confusion, the lingering hurt from my past, and the terrifying realization that he had been watching me, invading my space, and manipulating my emotions with those gifts… it all boiled over.I swung my arm, the slap echoing sharply against his jaw.The sound was stinging and sudden. Damien didn't even flinch. He didn't reach for me in return, and he didn't pull away. He just turned his head back, offering me the other side of his face, his eyes fixed on mine with intensity."Hit me again," he whispered, a twisted, broken invitation. "Take it all out on me. I’ll take as many beatings as you have to offer, Be
The Billionaire’s Rival Contract Chapter 91: Peppered Kisses
BellaMy body felt heavy—a delicious, aching kind of sore that reminded me of every single second of the night before. I shifted, the sheets feeling like cool silk against my skin, and looked over at Sebastian. He was still asleep. I couldn't help the small smile that pulled at my lips. My cheeks burned with an intense heat as the memories came rushing back, the way he had looked at me, the things he’d said, the way he went deep inside me.Mmhph.. I didn't want to wake him just yet. I wanted to make him the breakfast he liked, maybe just sit and watch him wake up on his own. I carefully peeled the covers back and slid out of bed, my feet hitting the cool hardwood.I made it to the bathroom, the steam from the shower doing wonders for the lingering tension in my muscles. I took my time, scrubbing away the exhaustion, letting the warm water wash over me until I felt clean again. By the time I stepped out, towel-wrapped and skin glowing, Sebastian was awake.He wasn't just awake;
The Billionaire’s Rival Contract Chapter 90: Mapping
Sebastian The question hung in the air, raw and exposed, and the second it left my lips, I wanted to swallow it back down. I felt Bella stiffen in my arms, her back still pressed against my chest, her breathing hitching in a way that told me she’d heard every word, every desperate undertone of what I’d just asked.She didn't move for a long time. The clock on the wall seemed to tick louder, counting down the seconds until I either ruined everything or finally broke through."What do you mean?" she finally whispered, her voice barely audible. "What exactly are you asking me to feel, Sebastian?"I couldn't find an excuse. I was done with the games, done with the misdirections, done with the cowardice. My hands tightened on her waist, and I pulled her just a fraction closer, my lips brushing the sensitive skin behind her ear."You know what I mean," I said, my voice dropping into that gravelly register that made my own head spin. "I’m talking about this. The way you can’t look me in
The Billionaire’s Rival Contract Chapter Five: Giving up on him at last
Bella I woke up slowly.The harsh fluorescent lights above me stabbed into my eyes the moment my eyelids fluttered open.Pain greeted me before awareness did.A dull ache pulsed through my entire body, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my abdomen. Every tiny movement seemed to pull at som
The Billionaire’s Rival Contract Chapter Four: He chose her over me
Bella The question hit me so hard that for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.Before I could even process it, Damien cleared his throat and his voice carried across the entire office.“This is Anna Sanders,” he announced. “She’ll be taking over the Vega project from now on.”For a second, I just s
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Bella I followed behind them quietly, though my steps gradually slowed.By the time I reached the guest room, Damien had already helped Anna onto the bed.He lowered her carefully, one arm supporting her back while the other remained around her waist. Even after she was seated comfortably, he didn
The Billionaire’s Rival Contract Chapter Two: It wasn’t for me
Bella Wasn’t that bracelet meant for me?The thought struck hard, cutting through the lingering haze in my mind.When they finally noticed my presence, introductions were made with little fanfare. Anna greeted me warmly enough and soon afterwards everyone moved towards the dining room for dinner.
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