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Chapter 16 (Eleanor's POV)

Author: Amiwrites
last update Last Updated: 2025-11-28 10:48:54

I stared at the crumpled note on the table, my heart hammering against my ribs. The words, "The Paris secret is not about Vivienne. It's about his brother," seemed to burn into my mind. I was reeling from the shock of the revelation—a secret brother—but I focused on Jasper, who looked utterly defeated.

He slowly walked away from me and sat down heavily on the sofa, dropping his head into his hands. I followed, sitting near him but giving him space. I knew this was the hardest thing he had ever had to share. This felt much bigger than any business scandal. It felt like the core of the Blackwood empire was starting to crack.

"My brother's name is Julian," he finally admitted. "He hasn't been part of the public Blackwood life for many years. Almost a decade, now."

"Why?" I asked gently. "Where is he?"

"Julian is... complicated," Jasper started, rubbing his hands together. "He was never suited for the Blackwood world. He hated the rules, the pressure, the public eye. He wanted freedom, no
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  • The CEO's Toxic Placeholder    Chapter 35 (Eleanor's POV)

    After Jasper told me about Sophia, the feeling of absolute trust between us was unbreakable. We were not just partners; we were two survivors who understood the cost of betrayal. I no longer felt like the "placeholder" to be easily replaced. I felt like the chosen permanent partner.I knew that seeing Vivienne would still be difficult, but I faced her now with a new kind of confidence. I knew she was trying to hurt me because she was chaotic, just like Henry.The final confrontation with Vivienne came at a crucial Foundation meeting. The meeting was held to vote on the distribution of a huge sum of money. The money would go to either Vivienne’s popular art project, which was socially charming but financially risky, or my Community Rebuilding Initiative follow-up, which was ethically solid but required more resources.The room was full of Foundation trustees and important donors. Jasper was there, sitting calmly at the head of the table. I sat beside him, ready to present my case. Vivi

  • The CEO's Toxic Placeholder    Chapter 34 (Eleanor's POV)

    Jasper’s confession in the library was the most powerful truth he had ever told me. He didn't just love me; he respected me. He had chosen me because of my strength, not because I was the easy option. He had watched me, respected me, and waited patiently for me to be ready.I finally understood that the man who loved control was capable of the deepest, most patient love.We sat together on the sofa in the library for a long time. My head was resting on his shoulder. The warmth of his presence was a complete comfort. I felt completely safe."Thank you, Jasper," I whispered, looking up at his strong jaw. "You gave me the answer I needed. You made me believe I am the permanent choice.""You are, Eleanor," he said softly. "But I think you need to understand something else. My need for control is not just business. It is personal. You were afraid of being a placeholder. I was afraid of being betrayed."He pulled me closer, resting his cheek gently against the top of my head. The act was te

  • The CEO's Toxic Placeholder    Chapter 33 (Eleanor's POV)

    Jasper’s gentle reminder that night—that I was retreating and pushing him away—made me slow down. I spent the next morning trying to balance work and presence. I forced myself to leave the office and be with him. I knew my work was important, but my marriage was more important.The meetings with the Foundation were still necessary. I had to face Vivienne at least twice a week. I had learned to defend my ideas quickly and clearly. But I couldn't stop the subtle poison she kept spreading.The direct confrontation came during a coffee break at the Foundation headquarters. The meeting had just ended. Jasper had stepped out to take an important call. Vivienne saw her chance.She walked over to me, holding a cup of tea. She smiled her perfect, professional smile."Eleanor," she said, her voice sounding sympathetic. "May I be honest with you for a moment? Just woman to woman."I braced myself. Her honesty was always a weapon."I actually feel a bit of pity for you," she continued, her eyes w

  • The CEO's Toxic Placeholder    Chapter 6 (Eleanor's POV)

    “Then tell me,” Henry demanded.I looked at Henry. His face was very close to mine. His eyes were wide and searching, like he was trying to find a tiny, hidden piece of paper inside my head.My hands squeezed the handle of my big suitcase. This was the moment everything changed. This was the last moment I would ever be Eleanor, the girlfriend who always said yes, who always agreed, and who always came back when Henry snapped his fingers.I took a breath, slow and deep. I kept my voice soft, like I was telling him a secret only he could hear. “I’m just tired, Henry. I am really tired.”He stopped frowning. The angry look on his face softened just a little bit. “Tired? Of what?”“Of the city. Of the late nights. Of trying to keep up with your busy friends,” I whispered. It wasn't a total lie. I really was tired, but not of the things he thought. “My father is worried about me, and I need a break. I just… need to go home for a little while.”I watched his face change. The tight, angry fe

  • The CEO's Toxic Placeholder    Chapter 31 (Jasper's POV)

    The air in the abandoned station was heavy and cold. The light spilling under the steel door felt like a challenge. They knew we were here."The heirs are coming. Prepare the Chamber," the voice had echoed.I hauled Eleanor and Julian back behind a huge chunk of concrete rubble. The faint humming from the machinery beneath us vibrated through the floor."Stay low. Absolute silence," I signaled Eleanor with a flat hand. She nodded back, her eyes wide but steady. Julian pressed himself against the cold wall.I checked the custom explosive charge clipped to my belt. No more strategy. Only action. Davies's warning still rang in my head: The betrayal is a Blackwood tradition. I was about to face the men who upheld that cruel tradition.I crept low, moving through the shadows of the rusted tracks. Eleanor had the key—her flashlight—ready to blind them. Julian had the jammer ready to cut off their calls.I reached the thick, cold brick wall next to the steel door. It was the weakest point.I

  • The CEO's Toxic Placeholder    Chapter 30 (Eleanor's POV)

    The safe house was quiet now, lit only by the bright lamp over the coffee table where the torn ledger page lay. The sun was long gone, and the darkness outside felt like a thick, heavy blanket covering London.We were looking at the page, which held the secret to the Final Board."Platform 13," Jasper murmured, tracing the symbols I had identified. "An abandoned section of the old Metropolitan line, directly beneath the foundations of the Blackwood Tower."The realization sent a chill down my spine. The men who controlled the city, the men who had ruined my father and tried to destroy Jasper's family, were meeting directly under the center of Blackwood power.Our planning was a tense, focused energy that pushed the fear away. We were a perfect, desperate machine.Julian pointed to a small, hand-drawn symbol on the page—a triangle inside a square. "Davies used to draw that when he was bored in meetings. He said it meant 'The Foundation.' It must be the entrance point."Jasper laid out

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