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Chapter 23: Where Walls Begin to Fall
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2025-04-30 04:34:29
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The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 1
"What is this? Why did you lock us in your room? What are you doing?" Hezekiah wondered and seriously looked at him."This is what you like, right? I know you have feelings for me so you sabotaged my relationship with Liana didn't you?" He walks approaches her and smirks."No! What are you talking about? I will never do that," she denied any involvement in ruining their relationship. "Are you denying it?" he asked in misbelief."You're mistaken, sir. I haven't done a thing, and I must emphasize, I don't have any feelings for you." She felt the cold wall against her back, realizing she had no escape. Kiah was cornered by her boss."You're a liar! Are you that desperate to ruin our relationship? You're so pathetic!"He yelled, and the intensity of his despise was evident in his eyes."What? am I pathetic? I will never ruin your relationship! You're the one who wrecked my life. After you make love with me you leave me behind hanging." She didn't care if anyone overheard them. She was done
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-07The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 2
"Just shut up and go with me, no more buts," Darius said getting his hands on Hezekiah's mouth."Yucks," She murmured."Are you saying anything?" he asked while scrolling his iPad."Nothing," she said, keeping her mouth shut."I think that is Mr . Ramada's assistant, sir," Hezekiah said while pointing to the girl as they arrived at the location."I know, don't tell me," Darius coldly said, going in first."Very rude jerk," she said and clenched her fist.As they approached the entrance, they saw Mr. Ramada's assistant who guided them to the private room."This way ma'am and sir," The girl guides them."Thank you." She smiled awkwardly because her boss did not respond to the girl."Nice to see you both today," Mr. Ramada greeted, shaking hands with them."Good morning, Mr. Ramada.""Good morning, Sir," she sweetly smiled at the old man, following her boss's advice to help sway him."Please have a seat, Mr. Hedalgo and Ms. Peterson." They settled on an expensive sofa, facing the old man.
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-07The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 3
Hezekiah felt so tired. " I hope to win the lottery to be a queen," she said. She was lying in her bed. Still waiting for her boyfriend's reply.Deciding to take a brief nap while awaiting his reply, she told herself, "I will just nap. I will call him later." After a short 10-minute nap, she was awakened by a sound.Excitedly realizing it was Sandro, she picked up the call, saying, "Hello, babe?""Hello, how are you? Sorry, I didn't notice your call earlier and text. I am so busy," he explained."No, babe it's okay. I'm tired. we closed the deal with one of the last target investors we had, and she likes my design," she proudly said to him."Yes, I am, but babe. Can I cancel our date tomorrow? I have a very important meeting with my client," he said.Hezekiah felt a little bit sad but grateful she was ultimately relieved not to have conflicting plans."It's okay, babe. I will go somewhere tomorrow too. Our big investor invited us to his birthday party, babe, and he expects me to be th
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-07The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 4
"Good morning, Mr. Hedalgo and ma'am. How may we assist you?" inquired the saleswoman as they stood within the boutique. He is well-known in this Mall as he is one of the investors and contributors."I'm looking for an elegant gown for her. Additionally, please include a bikini, shirt, shorts, or a dress in the selection," he replied.The saleswoman acknowledged, "Okay, sir. This way, ma'am and sir," leading them. They followed her to the designated area."You can take a seat here while waiting," she suggested. Darius complied, occupying himself with his tablet.The saleswoman inquired, "Do you like this one, ma'am?" Hezekiah, upon checking the price, was taken aback. "Wait, this one is very expensive. $50,000 for this gown?""Don't be concerned, madam, as Mr. Hedalgo will take care of the payment.""But these garments, all of them are quite pricey," she remarked. The cost of one gown could cover a substantial amount of her food."No need to worry, madam. Simply choose the dress and c
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-07The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 5
They arrived at the venue right on time stepping into the lively ambiance with smiles as they approached the birthday celebrant."Happy birthday, Mr. Ramada, here's my gift for you. I hope you like it." Darius said, gesturing to Hezekia. She stepped forward and handed out the gift."Happy birthday, Mr. Ramada," she said with her sincere smile as she handed the present."Wow, thank you so much, Mr. Hidalgo, and also your date tonight is very beautiful," he said and gave a meaningful look to Darius.Darius glanced at Hezekiah, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Yes, she is. She looks stunning today," Darius replied, flashing her a warm, charming smile."Thank you, Mr. Ramada for the compliment," she shyly said."You're very welcome. I'll go great with a few more guests, but please enjoy yourselves!" he said leaving them to enjoy the evening's event."Let's go let's find our seats," Darius suggested as they walked toward their table and settled in.As they sipped their wines, Darius leaned i
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-07The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 6
ââThe whiskey burned as it slid down his throat, but the fire inside him blazed hotter. Hezekiah watched him with a mix of curiosity and caution, her dark eyes scanning his face for any sign of hesitation. None came. The man before herâdetermined, wounded, and quietly seethingâwas a different version of the one sheâd known. âSo, whatâs your plan?â she asked, swirling the amber liquid in her glass. Her voice carried a mix of intrigue and concern. He leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. âItâs not enough to argue with them. Theyâd just lie or make excuses. I need real proof. Once I have it, Iâll confront them. Not here, not now, but in a way they canât escape.â Hezekiah tilted her head, curiosity piqued. âAnd you think exposing them will make you feel better?â He shrugged, his lips pulling into a bitter smile. âItâs not about feeling better. Itâs about showing them Iâm not a fool. And itâs about ensuring they face consequences.â The conversation was momentarily in
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-03The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 7
âCome with me,â he said, his voice steady but laced with something she couldnât quite place.âWhere?â she asked, arching a brow.âTo get out of here.âShe hesitated, glancing at the door âAnd go where?âA small smirk tugged at his lips. âAnywhere but here. A club, maybe. Unless youâve forgotten how to let loose?âHezekiah crossed her arms, half-annoyed and half-amused. âYou think I canât keep up?âHis smirk deepened. âProve me wrong.âBefore she could overthink it, she found herself walking beside him, the music from the party fading as they slipped into the cool night air. A sleek car waited for them, and within minutes, they were speeding through the neon-lit streets of New York.The club was alive with energy, the bass vibrating through the floor as they stepped inside. Colored lights danced across the walls, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and sweat.Hezekiah hadnât been to a club in years, and the intensity of it all was overwhelming at first. But Darius
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-04The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 8
As they walked to the building, the silence between them was almost comfortable, broken only by the distant hum of the city waking up. But Hezekiahâs mind wasnât at ease. The night had been a rare escape, but reality was waiting to remind her of its weight. Just as they reached her buildingâs entrance, she turned to face him, crossing her arms. âYou know thisâtonightâdoesnât change the fact that youâre my boss, Darius.â He stopped, his expression shifting. âI didnât bring you here as your boss, Hezekiah.â âBut you are,â she said firmly, her voice steady but her eyes betraying the storm within. âAnd Iâm just your secretary. Or your assistant. Whatever title suits the day.â âThatâs not how I see you,â he said, his tone sharper now. âReally?â she challenged, raising an eyebrow. âBecause every time you walk into that office, Iâm reminded of exactly where I stand. Youâre the Hedalgo heir, the one with the power, the authority, the legacy. Iâm the one who makes sure your schedule
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-05
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The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 23: Where Walls Begin to Fall
After lingering a little longer over their coffee and stolen bites of dessert, Darius glanced at his watch and stood, grabbing their empty tray. "Come on," he said, tossing her a look over his shoulder. "Before it gets too late." Hezekiah rose reluctantly, brushing crumbs from her sweater. "You and your mysteries," she muttered, though a small, genuine smile tugged at her lips. They made their way back to the car, the cozy glow of the bookstore fading behind them like a dream they'd both quietly wish to revisit. As Darius drove through the city â now glittering under a thousand lights â Hezekiah leaned back in her seat and absently pulled out her phone. Scrolling through her camera roll, she let out a soft laugh at the photos she'd snapped earlier: the sun-dappled courtyard, the secret garden, the towering bookshelves. But one picture made her pause â a selfie from the bookstore cafÃĐ. She had practically forced Darius to take it, catching him mid-protest. And yet, there he w
The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 22: More Than Meetings
The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of an old, grand building that exuded history and elegance. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum stood tall before them, its stone walls whispering secrets of the past.Hezekiah blinked, turning to Darius in surprise. "The Gardner Museum?"Darius unbuckled his seatbelt, his movements slow and deliberate. "You sounded exhausted earlier." He glanced at her, his gaze unreadable in the dim light of the car. "Thought you could use something other than a hotel room or another meeting."Her lips parted slightly, caught off guard by his thoughtfulness. "Iâ" She hesitated, then shook her head. "This is unexpected."He smirked. "Iâm full of surprises."They stepped out of the car and made their way inside, the air instantly changing from the crisp night breeze to something warmer, more intimate. The faint scent of aged books, old paintings, and blooming flowers filled the space. The museum was quiet, the few lingering visitors speaking in hushed voices as
The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 21:What if you got pregnant?
She rolled her eyes and walked toward their car. As she's infront of the backseat, her phone buzzed. A message from Sandro. Sandro: Howâs the trip so far. She hesitated before typing back. Hezekiah: Itâs going well. Just had dinner with the investors. Exhausted. Sandro: Aw Atleast it's done for today. I miss you, babe. Her heart clenched. Hezekiah: Yes, I miss you too. Another message came through. Sandro: By the way, howâs Dariusâs girlfriend? Did you two get along? Her fingers froze over the screen. Her stomach twisted. She had lied to him, told him Dariusâs girlfriend was coming along to keep him from worrying. But now he was asking details she couldnât give. She forced herself to type back. Hezekiah: Yeah, she seems nice. We havenât talked much, though. Her chest felt tight as she hit send. She hated lying to him. âYou know, youâre really bad at lying." Her head snapped up. Darius was leaning against her car, smirking as he watched her. âWhat?â she asked, forcing h
The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 20:The Lie That Binds
Hezekiah sat at her desk, staring blankly at the computer screen in front of her. The usual hum of the office felt distant, muted by the thoughts racing through her mind. How was she supposed to tell Sandro? Would he be upset? Would he understand?She exhaled sharply and reached for her phone, hesitating before finally typing out a message.Hezekiah: Hey babe. I have to go on a work trip. Leaving tomorrow morning for Boston. Three days.She hovered over the send button, her stomach twisting, before finally pressing it. Within seconds, her phone buzzed.Sandro: WaitâĶ what?Sandro: This is sudden. Since when?Sandro: Why didnât you tell me sooner?She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing this wasnât going to be easy. She typed quickly.Hezekiah: Just found out today. Darius told me last minute. I donât have a choice. Sandro: Only the two of you? I'm not thinking something else but still....It makes her think, what should she say to him? She needs to find a better excuse or solution.Hezekiah
The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 19:No Room for Refusal
As Sandro opened the car door for Hezekiah, she hesitated for a moment, a strange feeling washing over her. It felt like someone was watching them.âBabe, you okay?â Sandro asked, noticing her pause.She forced a smile. âYeahâĶ just tired.âJust as Sandro was about to get in the driverâs seat, a voice interrupted them.âWell, well. Didnât expect to see you two here.âHezekiah stiffened. That voice. She knew it too well.Sandro turned to see a man standing a few feet away, dressed sharply, hands tucked into his pockets, his dark eyes assessing them.Sandro frowned slightly. âHeyâĶ do we know each other?âDariusâs expression didnât change. If anything, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. âNo. But I know her.â Sandro glanced at Hezekiah, confused. âBabe?âHezekiah swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep calm. âThis is DariusâĶ my boss.âSandro raised his eyebrows. âOh, right. The one you always complain about?â he teased lightly, trying to ease the tension.Darius chuckled, but
The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 18:A Lingering Gaze
A womanâprobably in her mid-thirtiesâhurried over, relief evident on her face. âSweetheart, you canât just run off like that.ââSorry, Mommy,â Arielle said, standing up and dusting the sand off her dress. She turned to Hezekiah. âThis is my mommy.âThe woman looked at Hezekiah with a warm yet apologetic smile. âI hope she wasnât bothering you.ââNot at all,â Hezekiah assured her. âSheâs very sweet.âThe woman ruffled Arielleâs hair. âShe has a habit of talking to strangers if she thinks theyâre sad.âArielle nodded enthusiastically. âMommy, sheâs like a princess who needs saving!â The woman laughed before turning back to Hezekiah. âI donât know whatâs on your mind, but I hope things get better for you.âHezekiah was taken aback by the womanâs kindness. She nodded with a grateful smile. âThank you.â As Arielle and her mother walked away, Hezekiah sat there for a few more minutes, watching the waves roll in and out. Maybe Arielle was right. Maybe she did need saving.But she couldnât wa
The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 17:Unspoken Tension
Hezekiahâs eyes snapped open to the shrill sound of her phone ringing. She quickly grabbed it, still feeling disoriented, and saw the caller ID â her boss. Darius. Her heart skipped a beat as she checked the time. It was already past 9:00 a.m., and she should have been at work an hour ago.She quickly answered the call. "Good morning, Sir Darius," she said, trying to mask her disorientation."Hezekiah, where are you?" Darius's voice was sharp. "You're late, and there's a mountain of work waiting for you.""I apologize, sir," she replied, her mind racing. "I'll be there as soon as possible."Darius didnât ease up. "Faster, Hezekiah. Donât waste any more time." The line went dead.Hezekiah sighed, rubbing her temples. She had overslept after spending the night at Sandro's condo.She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. How could she have overslept like this? She needed to get it together.As she pushed herself out of the bed, she noticed the emptiness around her. Sandro was nowhere i
The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 16:Beneath the Veil of Secrets
Hezekiah tried to shake off her unease as she drove to Sandroâs condo. His message earlier, saying he had cooked dinner for them, had caught her off guard. She hesitated at first but eventually agreed, knowing she couldnât avoid him forever.As she parked her car and made her way up to his unit, the weight of guilt pressed harder against her chest. She couldnât stop thinking about the night sheâd spent with Darius. It haunted herâthe way sheâd betrayed the man who loved her so deeply.When she entered the condo, the smell of freshly cooked pasta greeted her. Sandro was bustling around the kitchen, setting the table with a content smile on his face."There you are," he said warmly, looking up as she entered. "Perfect timing. Dinnerâs almost ready."Hezekiah forced a smile. "Smells amazing, Babe. You didnât have to go through all this trouble.""Itâs no trouble," he replied, waving her off. "Youâve had a tough week, and I wanted to do something special for you."Her heart ached at his w
The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 15:When Regret Comes Knocking
Hezekiah let out a deep sigh of relief as the clock struck five. The day had been exhausting, and her body ached from the weight of her emotional and mental turmoil. She quickly gathered her things, her mind already on the brief moment of solace sheâd find at home before meeting Sandro at six.Just as she was about to step out, her phone buzzed with a message from Darius.Darius: Come to my office before you leave.Her heart sank. She glanced toward his office, its transparent glass revealing him sitting at his desk, his head buried in his hands. He looked tense, stressed even, and for a moment, she considered ignoring the message. But she knew betterâthere was no escaping Darius when he wanted something.As she approached the office, she felt a flicker of hesitation. He hadnât turned on the privacy mode; the glass walls were still clear, the curtains wide open. She could see him running a hand through his hair, his sharp features etched with frustration.Why does he have to call me n
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