Share

Chapter Sixteen

last update Huling Na-update: 2025-03-09 05:51:02

The air in the room was thick with tension, suffocating and heavy. His sharp gaze flickered between Evelyn, Betty, and the open jewelry box clutched in Betty’s smug grip.

Evelyn’s face hardened. “Adrian, this is not your concern.”

Adrian’s expression remained unreadable, but his eyes lingered on Crystal—her tear-streaked face, the way she trembled, her small hands clenched into fists at her sides.

“Who found the jewelry?” His voice was calm, yet laced with something sharp.

Betty lifted her chin. “I did. In her clothes.”

Crystal swallowed hard, her body rigid with panic.

“I didn’t put it there,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Adrian exhaled sharply through his nose, rubbing his temple as if trying to suppress an impending headache. He turned back to Betty. “And you just happened to find it? In a place she would never hide something so obvious?”

Betty’s lips thinned. “Are you implying I planted it?”

Adrian arched his brow. “I didn’t say that. But it’s funny how quick y
Patuloy na basahin ang aklat na ito nang libre
I-scan ang code upang i-download ang App
Locked Chapter

Pinakabagong kabanata

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Seventy

    Adrian had carried the weight of Caleb’s absence all morning. He lingered longer than usual at the house, half-expecting him to walk through the door, but Caleb never came. By the time he arrived at the office, unease pressed heavily on his chest.He moved briskly to his desk, set down his files, and immediately called one of the assistant board staff. “Has Caleb checked in?” His voice betrayed a faint edge of worry. The replies were all the same, no one had seen him, no trace, no word.Adrian rubbed the back of his neck, pacing slightly. His brow furrowed deeper with each passing second, his jaw clenched as though he was holding back the frustration of not knowing what was going on. Finally, he gathered his things, ready to step out of the office and search for answers himself.The door creaked open just then. Caleb walked in, his steps unhurried, his face calm, too calm, almost as if he had prepared that composure.Adrian froze for a moment, relief flashing quickly across his eyes b

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-nine

    The morning broke gently, the sky painted in strokes of soft orange and pale blue. Birds called from the trees near the compound, their songs weaving into the rustle of leaves stirred by the early breeze. The mansion’s staff had already begun their duties, waiters moving briskly with trays, the gardeners watering flowers, and security men taking their shifts at the gates.Caleb stood quietly outside the tall wrought-iron gate, his hands in his pockets. The air was still cool, but a certain heaviness pressed against his chest. He had come with every intention of beginning the day smoothly, keeping things normal despite Jenny’s words from the night before about Crystal’s suspicions.But when he approached the guards, their tone was firm.“Sir, I’m sorry,” one of them said, shifting uneasily. “Madam Crystal instructed that you are not to be granted access into the house anymore.”For a moment, Caleb’s face stiffened. He lowered his gaze, his jaw tightening as the weight of the words sett

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-eight

    Crystal’s chest rose and fell with intensity as she gripped the balcony railing, her voice now firm, almost commanding. “He’s not going to step foot inside this house anymore,” she declared, her eyes narrowing. “Any business, any transaction, let it happen at the office or at his own place. But not here. My instincts don’t lie, Adrian. Something is definitely wrong. I am not comfortable with him being around here… around Zoe.”Her words came fast now, urgent, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her heart. “He needs to stay awake, Adrian, you need to stay awake. Look at the new securities, the men I’ve added. Do you think I did that for fun? No, it’s all for my son. I love him more than life itself, and I’ll go to any length to protect him. I will never—” her voice cracked, but she forced it louder, “—I will never let what happened before happen again!”Adrian stared at her, stunned at first, then shook his head with a bitter laugh. “Wow,” he muttered, his face twisting into dis

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-seven

    Caleb had explained everything to Rosie, Jenny’s growing obsession, Crystal's strange suspicions, and the dangerous feelings Jenny was beginning to develop. His voice had carried both frustration and weariness, yet also urgency, as though every word he spoke was time stolen from a clock that was running out.Minutes passed. Rosie’s shoulders softened, her clenched jaw easing as the storm on her face began to calm. Her eyes, still glistening with the remnants of tears, flickered with understanding. She finally exhaled, shaking her head slowly.“So… Jenny has feelings for you?” she asked quietly, her voice steadier now.Caleb’s gaze didn’t waver. He nodded once, firmly. “Yes. She does. But I can’t let that distract me. I have to be very careful with her… you know she's Crystal's best friend.” His tone was low, calculated, yet tinged with the weight of someone forced to play a dangerous game.Rosie tilted her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. Her expression shifted, half resignat

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-Six

    Caleb froze, then slowly turned his head toward her. She still hadn’t moved, her face hidden, her voice like a blade wrapped in velvet.A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’ve always had the sharpest nose, Rosie,” he said softly, his voice low, almost soothing. “Even the wind wouldn’t dare pass you without being recognized.” He gave a quiet chuckle, masking the unease behind his words. “Don’t worry… nothing worth losing sleep over. Just a long day.”Rosie suddenly shifted, pushing herself upright on the bed. Her hair fell loosely around her face, her eyes glistening, not from sleep but from the weight she had been carrying inside. She turned to face Caleb directly, her lips trembling as she searched his face.“You know… at this point, I don’t understand you anymore, Caleb,” she began, her voice breaking between frustration and pain. Her brows furrowed, eyes narrowing as though trying to read something hidden in him. “One second, I matter to you

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-Five

    Caleb leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed.“What do you mean by ‘strange,’ Jenny?” His voice was calm but carried a hint of curiosity that felt almost forced.Jenny gave a small laugh and waved her hand dismissively, the corners of her lips curling into an easy smile. “Oh please, it’s nothing much,” she said lightly. “Forget I even said it.”Caleb tilted his head, eyes narrowing just a little. “Nothing much? Come on, Jenny. I’ve known you to be a very transparent person, and I don’t think you’ve changed. So… what exactly makes me strange? I’m just curious to know if it’s something I can work on.”Jenny blinked at him, her smile faltering for a second. “It’s really nothing serious, like I said.” She took a sip from her drink and set the glass down, tapping her fingers on the table. “Well… the thing is, Crystal has been noticing some weird things about you.”Caleb’s spine stiffened. “Weird things?” he asked, his tone even, but his eyes darted down briefly before finding Jenny’s a

Higit pang Kabanata
Galugarin at basahin ang magagandang nobela
Libreng basahin ang magagandang nobela sa GoodNovel app. I-download ang mga librong gusto mo at basahin kahit saan at anumang oras.
Libreng basahin ang mga aklat sa app
I-scan ang code para mabasa sa App
DMCA.com Protection Status