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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Secret Billionaire Divorcee: Kabanata 201 - Kabanata 210

320 Kabanata

Chapter 201

Knoxx’s Point of ViewI know something’s off.It starts small—barely noticeable, really. But over the past few days, I’ve seen it again and again.The little girl who once clung to me so tightly now barely reacts when I come home. She used to run into my arms, squeal, call me “Daddy” like it was the most natural thing in the world. Now, there’s a pause. A flicker of hesitation before she says it, like she’s trying to remember that she’s supposed to.And I pretend not to notice.I tell myself it’s just a phase. That maybe she’s tired. That maybe she’s distracted. That maybe… she still misses Dolly.Yesterday, I brought home her favorite cookies. Or what Dolly claimed were her favorite. The girl blinked at the box like she didn’t recognize it.“Don’t you love these?” I asked, crouching down to her eye level.

Chapter 202

Knoxx's Point of View"She promised it to me, Daddy! You said promises should be kept!"My daughter's voice breaks as she clutches my arm, big teary eyes staring up at me like I'm the bad guy. Again.I crouch down, trying to stay calm. “I know, sweetheart. But Mommy can’t get it for you right now.”“She said she would before she left!” Her lip trembles. “I want it!”Dolly’s name hangs unspoken between us.Before she left—before she was arrested and locked up for what she did to Caroline.The little girl doesn’t understand any of it. To her, Dolly’s still “Mommy,” and promises still matter.I exhale slowly. I don’t want to argue with a child. Not tonight. I rub a hand down my face and force a steady voice. “Which necklace did she say she’d get you?”She sniffs and pulls out the tablet from her tiny pink backpack. With a few swipes, she opens a photo. A jewelry website. One I recognize immediately.Caroline’s shop.My throat tightens. The necklace is delicate—simple, silver, with a soft

Chapter 203

Caroline's Point of View"I don’t even know what this is,” I mutter, staring at the rim of my mug as I sit on the couch across from Penelope. “Is it love or just… me clinging to someone who showed up when I needed someone?”Penelope doesn’t answer right away. She just watches me, her expression unreadable but patient. She stirs her tea without looking down.“I mean,” I continue, “Adrian’s been there through everything. He stayed. He listened. He made me feel safe.” I pause. “I haven’t felt safe in a long time.”“And that’s why you think it might not be love?” she finally asks.I nod slowly. “Yeah.”Penelope places her mug down on the coffee table. “Caroline… do you trust him?”“Yes.”“Do you respect him?”“Of course.”

Chapter 204

Knoxx's Point of View I park by the curb, engine idling, phone in hand. I was going to call Elle. Tell her Daddy’s picking her up today instead of the driver. She’d like that. I haven’t seen her since last weekend—too many meetings, too many damn distractions.I look down at her name on my screen. My thumb hovers over the call button.Then I see her.Elle. By the side of the school’s playground, near the steps that lead down to the lower yard. She’s with Liam—Caroline’s son.They’re talking. No, not talking. Arguing.Elle’s arms are flailing, and Liam’s backing up slightly, gripping a red toy airplane in his hands.My stomach tightens.She snatches for it.Liam pulls it back. “Stop it!”Elle lunges forward again—too fast, too rough. Her hand shoves against his shoulder, and for a second, I think she’s going to push him down the damn stairs.I’m out of the car and moving before I even realize it.“Elle!” My voice cuts across the playground.Both kids freeze.I stride over, trying to k

Chapter 205

Knoxx's Point of ViewThe silence in the visitation room stretches so thick it chokes the air. Dolly hasn’t looked at me since I sat down again. She’s been twiddling her fingers, her eyes locked on the cracks in the concrete floor like she’s afraid it’ll open up and swallow her.I should’ve walked out the moment I heard “I don’t know.”But I didn’t.I needed more.I need it all, even if it guts me.She looks up now. Her lips part, then close again. She’s stalling.“Say it,” I demand. My voice is sharp, low. “Don’t waste my time, Dolly.”She swallows hard, her hands shaking on the metal table. “I didn’t think it would matter,” she says quietly.I don’t respond. I let the silence push her.“I was pregnant... that's the truth—” she finally speaks b

Chapter 206

Caroline's Point of View I see him again outside the café.At first, I think it’s a coincidence. Knoxx is sitting two tables away from where I usually meet Penelope. He’s alone. Coffee untouched. His eyes don’t meet mine, but I can feel him watching.I ignore him.I try to sip my drink and laugh at Penelope’s story about Lorenzo and his awkward attempt to flirt at the grocery store. But the weight of that stare makes the back of my neck tighten.When we get up to leave, he does too.The next time is two days later, outside the flower shop. I’m picking up a bouquet for Adrian’s office opening. The bell above the door rings, and I turn, expecting the delivery guy.It’s him.Knoxx stands there, acting surprised. "Caroline?"I freeze. "What are you doing here?"He shrugs, too casually. “Just passing by. Didn’t know you’d be here.”&l

Chapter 207

Caroline's Point of ViewThe pen in my hand trembles slightly as I skim over the last page of the agreement. I’ve read every clause three times now, but I still can’t bring myself to sign it just yet.My name.My brand.My dream, taking root somewhere across the ocean.I look up at the soft knock on the door.“Come in,” I call.Adrian steps into my office, his hair slightly messy from the wind, cheeks flushed from the cold. He smiles when he sees me still bent over the papers.“Still reading?” he asks gently.“I have trust issues,” I murmur, setting the pen down.“You have high standards,” he corrects, walking toward the desk. “That’s different.”I sit back in my chair and exhale. “They sent everything through. Contracts, lease documents, shipment estimates. It’s happening.”“It is.” He rests his hands on the edge of the desk. “You’ve done it, Caroline. You’re about to go global.”I swallow. “It doesn’t feel real.”He reaches over and points to the blank signature line. “That’s the la

Chapter 208

Caroline’s Point of View I zip up Liam’s jacket as he bounces on his toes, excitement radiating off him like heat. “Are we almost there?” he asks for the third time in ten minutes, tugging on my sleeve as I close the trunk. “Almost,” I smile, brushing hair from his forehead. “Be patient, sweetheart.” Adrian slams the car door shut and looks over at us, his lips twitching in amusement. “He gets that from you, you know.” “Impatience?” I raise a brow. He shrugs. “Excitement.” I roll my eyes and turn away so he won’t see my blush. I haven’t been to this lake since I was a teenager. It used to be my quiet place—the one spot that made me feel like I could breathe when everything else felt too loud. Now I’m here again,

Chapter 209

Caroline's Point of ViewThe afternoon sun dips lower, casting a soft glow over the lake as Liam skips another rock across the water’s surface.“One, two, three, four—” he counts, squealing when the stone bounces five times. “Did you see that, Mommy?”“I did,” I call from the blanket where I’m setting out snacks. “You're getting really good at that.”Adrian chuckles as he walks up beside Liam. “At this rate, you’ll be teaching me soon.”Liam grins, proud. “I can teach both of you!”It’s peaceful. The kind of peace I’ve fought hard for. Just us, by the lake. A rare day with no work, no tension, no shadows.Then I hear it—the crunch of tires on gravel.My entire body stiffens.I don’t turn around immediately. Maybe it’s a park ranger. Or someone just passing through.But then I hear the car door. A second one. Then her voice.“I told you I wanted the spot with the trees!”No.I turn slowly, praying I’m wrong.But of course. Of course I’m not.Knoxx Wayne steps out of the driver’s side.

Chapter 210

Knoxx’s Point of View I don’t know why I’m still standing here. I should’ve left ten minutes ago. Elle’s been huffing beside me, trying to get my attention, whispering shit under her breath about how boring this place is. I ignore her. I can’t look away. Caroline is laughing at something the kid says. She hands him a napkin, brushes something off his cheek. Her hand lingers on the side of his face for a second. And he leans into it. It should annoy me. But it doesn’t. It makes something twist in my chest. I don’t even know this kid. And yet— He’s sitting between her and Adrian like it’s the most natural thing in the world. They look like a family. Like that’s how it’s always been. I know it’s n

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