Library
Search
Home / Romance / The Billionaire's Strained Wife / Chapter 30:Relief Is a Dangerous Thing

Share

Chapter 30:Relief Is a Dangerous Thing

Author: EllHopia
last update publish date: 2026-02-04 18:45:40

Hezekiah barely slept.

When she arrived at the office the next morning, it showed. Her eyes were rimmed with exhaustion, makeup doing its best—and failing—to hide the truth. Her movements were slower, shoulders tight, like she was holding herself together by sheer will.

She set her bag down at her desk and opened her tablet, skimming through Darius’s schedule with a dull ache pulsing behind her eyes.

At nine sharp, his door opened.

“Hezekiah.”

She stood immediately and walked in, professionalis
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Previous Chapter Next Chapter
Locked Chapter

Latest chapter

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   chapter 45:The Shared Shadow

    Darius paused in the doorway, his silhouette imposing against the hall light. "While I’m gone, I want you to feel free. This isn't a hotel or a prison—it’s your home." He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "Rearrange the furniture, explore the gardens, order the chef to feed you at midnight. Do not ask for permission. You are the mistress of this house.""And if I get lost?" she teased, a small smile touching her lips."Mona will find you," he replied, a ghost of a smirk appearing. "I’ll be late. Don’t wait up. Sleep."With one final, lingering look, he vanished down the hallway.The silence that followed was absolute. For the first time, Hezekiah wasn't being escorted or shadowed by security. She wandered the labyrinthine estate, her bare feet sinking into plush carpets, until she found the double glass doors of the east wing.She pushed them open to reveal a two-story library. Books lined the walls, stretching toward the ceiling, and a gentle fire crackled in the center hearth. Tucke

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 43:The Architecture of Trust

    Instead of the formal dining room, Darius led Hezekiah through a hidden door in the sunroom that opened into a massive, climate-controlled glass conservatory. Inside, it was a lush, green paradise filled with the scent of blooming jasmine and the sound of a trickling waterfall.In the center, a small table was set for two, surrounded by rare white orchids that looked like sleeping moths."I thought the air in the house was too sterile for you," Darius said, pulling out her chair. "This is a private microclimate. The oxygen levels are optimized, and the plants are all non-allergenic.""You have a literal forest in your house?" Hezekiah asked, a breathless laugh escaping her as she looked at the towering ferns. "It’s beautiful, Darius.""I remembered you mentioning during a meeting months ago that you missed the greenery of the province," he replied casually, though the intensity in his eyes suggested it was anything but a casual memory.The "excitement" of the afternoon didn't come fro

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 42: Moving In

    As the last of the boxes were taped shut, Darius stepped into the small hallway, his hand already reaching for his phone. He looked back at Hezekiah, who was sitting on her bed, clutching the family album as if it were the only anchor she had left."I need to check on the security detail for the move," he lied smoothly. "Stay there. Rest."He stepped out onto the landing, the door clicking shut behind him. His expression transformed instantly—the softening guilt replaced by the cold, calculating mask of the Hedalgo heir. He hit a speed-dial contact that had no name."Marcus," Darius said, his voice a low, dangerous vibration. "I have a new priority. I need the full file on a case from five years ago. A murder conviction—Hogan Peterson. I want the original police reports, witness statements, and the name of the 'best friend' who walked free. I also want a list of every syndicate member operating in the North District at that time.""Darius, that’s a closed case," the voice on the other

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 41:You are carrying a Hedalgo

    Darius didn't answer. He stared at the man’s face in the photo—a man who had no right to be in the same memory as the mother of a Hedalgo. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the frame into the kitchen trash can. The sound of glass shattering against the plastic bin echoed like a gunshot in the quiet apartment."That wasn't yours to touch!" Hezekiah shouted, her voice trembling with indignation."Everything in this room is mine if it involves you," Darius growled, turning to face her. "I told you on the terrace: I am the father. I don't want to see another man’s face in the place where my child sleeps. That part of your life is dead, Hezekiah. Erase it.""You are a tyrant!" she cried, clutching her stomach. "You can't just throw away my things!""I'm doing more than throwing away trash," Darius countered, his voice rising. He gestured vaguely at the cramped walls. "Look at this place. You fainted because you’re exhausted and under-nourished. I can't protect you here. There’s no space

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 40:Tonight, I’m staying right here.

    The guards closed in, their presence a silent, wall-like reminder of the Hedalgo power. Hezekiah began to follow them, her spine rigid, but with every step away from the office, the air seemed to thin.The adrenaline that had fueled her defiance was draining away, leaving behind a cold, hollow exhaustion. Her vision began to fray at the edges, the ornate gold-leaf frames on the hallway walls blurring into long, jagged streaks of light."Ms. Peterson?" one of the guards asked, noticing her stagger.She didn't answer. She couldn't. Her heart was a frantic bird hitting the cage of her ribs, and a sudden, sharp pressure spiked behind her eyes. The floor, once solid marble, now felt like the deck of a ship in a storm."Darius..." she gasped, her voice barely a thread.In the office, Darius heard it—the ghost of his name. He was at the door in a second, pushing past the guards just as Hezekiah’s knees gave out. This time, there was no fight in her. She collapsed like a broken doll, her head

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 39: My Child. Not Yours.

    He hung up and tossed the phone onto the desk. It slid across the mahogany surface, stopping inches from Hezekiah’s trembling hand."He’ll be here in fifteen minutes," Darius said, his voice terrifyingly calm. "Sit down, Hezekiah.""I’m leaving," she whispered, backing toward the heavy double doors."Try it," Darius challenged. "The security team answers to me. The gates are sealed. You are staying until we have that blood."Hezekiah spun around and grabbed the door handle. Locked. She rattled it, panic rising in her throat like bile. She turned back to the room, her back pressed against the wood. They looked like a tribunal. Valen, the judge. Pearl, the executioner. And Darius... Darius looked like a man who would burn the world down to get what he wanted."Please," she begged, her voice cracking. She looked at Anya. "Anya, please."Anya stepped forward, her eyes wet. "Darius, stop. Look at her. She’s hyperventilating. This isn't good for the baby.""Lying isn't good for the baby eit

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 31: I am pregnant?

    She stayed on the bathroom floor longer than she meant to.The tiles were cold against her spine, grounding her just enough to keep her from floating apart. The test lay on the counter, face up, unapologetic. Two lines. Clear. Indifferent to panic.Pregnant.The word echoed without sound.She stood

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-28

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 28:Awkward flight

    Hezekiah woke before the sun, the room still wrapped in a soft gray hush. For a moment, she lay still, listening to the steady rhythm of Darius’s breathing beside her. His arm was thrown loosely across the pillow where her head had been, his dark hair slightly tousled, his expression unguarded in s

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-27

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 26: Observant Eyes, Hidden Desires

    The sun filtered gently through the sheer curtains, casting stripes of gold across the sheets. For a moment, Hezekiah didn’t move — she just listened. The hum of distant waves. Faint laughter from the pool below. Somewhere down the hall, someone’s alarm played a pop song too early for vacation hou

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-26

  • The Billionaire's Strained Wife   Chapter 25:When Jealousy Burns Softly

    Her hair caught the light as she spun, her laughter blending with the music.And for the first time that night, he didn’t look away.From his seat at the bar, Darius watched, lips curving upward despite himself.Her hair caught the light as she spun, her laughter blending with the music.The beat pu

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-25
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