Semua Bab From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms : Bab 21 - Bab 30

ISABELLA I stormed out of Victor’s house, my heels clicking against the pavement, my blood boiling with rage. My hands clenched into fists as I struggled to keep my breathing steady. This was not how things were supposed to go. Victor belonged to me. I had worked too hard, spent too many years by his side, molding him into the man he was today. The accident had ruined things for me. I had thought he would never wake up again but now that he had, no one was going to take him away from me. However, Victor's mother wasn't a simple woman. Victor was a grown man, yet Evelyn still made decisions in his life. The fact that she left her own house, moved into Victor's house and made herself the boss without Victor having a problem with it, did not sit well with me. And Sophia? That pathetic girl was nothing but an obstacle standing in my way. I had underestimated her once, but not anymore. I climbed into my car and gripped the steering wheel so tightly as my mind spun with pos

CALEB**Weeks Earlier** I stared at the plate of food in front of me, but I had no appetite. The rich aroma of home-cooked meals filled the air, and I knew my mother had gone out of her way to have this prepared for me. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to eat. Across the table, she watched me expectantly, a hopeful smile on her face. “I spoke with the cook and told her to make this especially for you,” she said gently. “It’s been so long since you came home. I wanted you to have your favorite food today.”"Where's my jacket, mom?" I asked. "You took it away earlier and did not return with it."She smiled, "Don't worry, your jacket is safe." I sighed, picking up my fork and stabbing at the food. “Mom, you know why I avoid coming home.” Her smile faltered, but she quickly masked it. “Let’s not talk about that now,” she said. “Tonight, I just want to spend time with my son.” I didn’t argue. It wasn’t worth the fight. So, I started eating. She poured me a glass of wine, a

SOPHIA A soft beeping sound pulled me back to consciousness. My eyelids felt heavy as I forced them open, blinking against the bright light. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nose, and as I turned my head slightly, I saw the IV drip attached to my arm. Where am I? My body ached all over, but I wasn’t in pain...just weak. Then it all came rushing back. The fire. The ropes around my wrists. Victor’s cold eyes as he kicked my chair over, leaving me to burn. A gasp escaped my lips as my breathing quickened. My chest felt tight, my heart pounding. I should be dead. I remembered the flames creeping closer, the suffocating heat pressing against my skin. I had been sure that was the end. But I was here. I was alive. Tears pricked my eyes, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Do not cry, okay?” The deep voice startled me. I turned sharply, my body tensing as I saw a man sitting beside my bed. He was a stranger. Strong features. Sharp jawline. D

SOPHIA Everything felt surreal. Nothing made sense. Why would a man like Caleb...a man so handsome, so kind...want to marry me? I wasn’t naive. From his clothes, his expensive watch, and the hospital he had brought me to, it was obvious he wasn’t poor. Maybe he wasn’t as wealthy as Victor, but he still had enough to live a life of comfort. And with his looks? He could have any woman he wanted. Women would surely throw themselves at him. So why me? A woman with baggage. A woman who had been abandoned, humiliated, nearly burned alive by her own husband. A woman carrying another man’s child. It didn’t make sense. I clenched my fingers against the bedsheet, trying to make sense of it. Maybe he truly needed my baggage. Maybe that’s why he wanted to marry me—to convince his mother and everyone else that I was pregnant with his child. But even that didn’t seem like a strong enough reason. If all he wanted was a baby, there were other options. He could marry an

SOPHIA I forced a smile and looked up at Caleb. "Nothing… it's just… your perfume. It's so familiar." He raised an eyebrow, curiosity flashing in his dark eyes. "Oh? Is that so?" I nodded slowly, my mind working in overdrive. "Yeah… I've definitely smelled it somewhere before." His lips curved into a small smile. "Maybe you perceived it on someone else." I swallowed, my throat dry. My mind drifted back to that night....the dim lights of the hotel room. The scent lingering in the air. The way my body had shivered, the way I had felt so...... It wasn’t possible. I dug my nails into my palm, forcing myself to focus. It had to be Victor. Victor had invited me to the hotel. I had seen him there. Everything pointed to him. There was no way it could have been Caleb. I pushed the thought away. "Um… yeah, I guess you're right," I murmured, trying to sound casual. Caleb nodded, then reached for my hand. His grip was warm and gentle. "Come on, you need to rest." He guided