All Chapters of A Billionaire's Bargain: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Araceli's Pov The sound of laughter echoed through the penthouse, mingling with the scent of freshly grilled turkey and mashed potatoes. The kids were sprawled out on the floor, their fingers coated in sauce from the turkey. Zayn leaned against the kitchen counter, a smile breaking through the tension that had settled in his shoulders. He caught my eye, and I couldn’t help but return the grin, my heart swelling at the sight of him so relaxed. “Araceli, here!” Kamrin yelled, holding up a turkey piece. “I saved you this piece!" I leaned down, and he presented it to me with pride, his little hands gripping the meat piece. “That’s… that’s definitely something,” I replied, stifling a laugh. I took the meat from him, placing it in my mouth. “I love it. Thank you!” He beamed, and I felt warmth spread through me. Moments like these, chaotic and messy, filled me with a sense of normalcy that I hadn’t expected to find in Zayn’s penthouse. The kids were energetic and sweet, thei

Araceli's Pov The sun was barely up when Zayn left for the hospital. Doctor Ambrose had called, and the tension in Zayn’s shoulders told me everything I needed to know. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. He hadn’t said much, just kissed me quickly, eyes distant, like he was already halfway out the door. “I will be fine here with the kids,” I had reassured him, even though he was hesitant to leave us. He didn’t need any more worries weighing him down. I kissed him again, softer this time, whispering, “We will be okay.” He gave me a strained smile before heading out, and I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him disappear. Now, standing on the balcony of the penthouse, I took a slow sip of my coffee, hoping it would warm the coldness gnawing at my chest. The view was breathtaking, beyond the infinity pool that shimmered in the early light, the gardens stretched out, perfectly manicured. Tall trees framed the property, and in the distance, a small lake reflected the soft p

Zayn's Pov The kitchen was silent, save for the soft hum of the fridge and the faint ticking of the clock overhead. I stood by the kitchen island, flipping through pages of the company's financial records, something was off, the figures weren’t adding up. Beside me sat a plate with half-eaten toast slathered in avocado. The toast had gone stale, untouched for the better part of an hour. The coffee next to it was cold, forgotten as I allowed my eyes scan through the numbers again. Then came the quick, unmistakable sound of feet pattering down the hallway. I glanced up as Kamila dashed into the kitchen, her face bright with excitement. "Dad! Zara’s here!" she called out, breathless. She and Kamrin had spotted Zara’s car pulling up from the front window, and it was all the signal they needed to come flying in with the news. I turned just in time to see my little sister, Zara, standing in the doorway, a bright smile on her face. Her long, raven hair was haphazardly tied into

Zayn's Pov The leather of the steering wheel felt rough against my palm, my knuckles were quickly turning white from the grip I had on it. Last night, I had lay awake for hours, tormented by images of Freya and Caleb together. They twisted like a knife in my gut. My wife and my brother. It was unthinkable, yet here I was, miles from the estate, knowing that everything I thought I could trust had shattered. I dialed Zara, my voice barely contained as she picked up. “Is he still there?” “Yes… Caleb’s here,” she replied, quiet and careful. I didn’t need her caution. I only needed answers. "Is everything okay Zayn?" I hung up without giving her a response, all I needed was for her to shut her mouth and not tell anyone I was on my way there. When I finally pulled up outside the mansion, I took long strides to the door. Inside, I didn’t need to search. Caleb was sprawled out in the living room like he had all the time in the world, his face relaxed, unbothered, as if he had

Zayn's Pov A knock sounded on my office door, pulling me from the haze of numbers and projections I have half-heartedly been studying for the last three hours. I cleared my throat, straightened up, and glanced at the clock. Another late night. “Come in.” It was Eric, my project manager, stepping in with a folder tucked under his arm. He gave a quick nod and moved forward, flipping open the folder as he sat down across from me. “So, the Westfield contract?” he started, pointing to a few bullet points on the sheet. “We managed to pull it off despite the competitor's last-minute price drop. They actually tried to undercut us by nearly twenty percent, but they went for us anyway, thanks to the projections Araceli worked on last month. Those figures are solid as hell. I think they just couldn't ignore the ROI, even with a higher price.” I forced a nod, though the mention of her name stung. “Good. And for the PR launch?” “That’s been handed off to the marketing team, just waitin