Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife : Kabanata 171 - Kabanata 180

[Arella]Lincoln gets down first, his movements smooth and effortless, like he’s done this a million times before. The cool night air brushes against my skin as he rounds the car, the faint scent of cologne and leather lingering in the air. His hand extends toward me, strong and steady, and I take it without hesitation. The moment I step out, a burst of bright flashes erupts from all directions, the chaotic clicking of cameras blending into a deafening hum.I blink rapidly, my lips curving into a polite yet composed smile, keeping my posture graceful despite the overwhelming attention. My heart thrums, not with fear, but with a strange, thrilling anticipation. This is what being a Sawyer means.As my neck subtly turns, another car rolls up, its sleek exterior gleaming under the grand entrance lights. My heart warms slightly when I realize who it is. Ava, and my mother-in-law. And apparently, the entire family.Pleasantries are exchanged, the usual polite words masking the deeper, uns

[Arella]Ryder drags me along deeper into another section of the ballroom, where my family members are waiting. The chandeliers above cast a golden glow, making everything look grand and elegant, but all I can think about is the familiar warmth ahead.Family members... It’s a strange, comforting thought. A real, solid kind of warmth that wraps around me like a favorite childhood blanket. And suddenly, I wish Ava was with me. She’d love this—being surrounded by all these people who actually feel like home.“Hey, don’t rush a pregnant woman like this!” I snap playfully at Ryder, shooting him a glare as I struggle to keep up in my heels. My feet are killing me, my back aches, and this man is dragging me around like I’m luggage.Ryder rolls his eyes like the dramatic little gremlin he is. “Oh, please, you’re only, like, what, two, three months gone?”I scoff, flipping my hair for dramatic effect. “I’m seven months gone, Ry.”Ryder stops so suddenly that I nearly slam into him, my stomach

[Arella] The dining hall glows with warmth, a golden ambiance settling over the long, elegantly set table. Laughter hums through the air, weaving into the clinking of glasses and the soft murmur of conversation. For a moment, just a fleeting moment, everything feels perfect. Lincoln’s family joins seamlessly, blending into the flow of my own—like they were always meant to be here. No tension. No awkward pauses. Just good food, good company, and an almost surreal sense of ease. It should put me at peace. It does actually. But then, as the wine flows and lighthearted discussions turn toward the Big Merge, something shifts. “Arella,” Grandpa chuckles, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, “we keep hearing about this ‘surprise’ of yours. Should we be worried?” I smirk, resting my chin on my palm as I glance at Lincoln. He’s stiff. Oh? The way his fingers tighten slightly around his fork doesn’t go unnoticed. The subtle shift in his expression—cool, composed, but defin

[Lincoln]How did she know?My chest tightens, a slow, suffocating coil of tension wrapping around my ribs as I try to comprehend how Arella knows about the secret my father has been trying to keep from me for years.It makes no sense.Before I can even fully register her last statement, the sharp shatter of glass pierces the ballroom.Mr. Thompson’s champagne flute crashes to the ground, splintering into a thousand jagged pieces."You have got to be kidding me!" he bellows.Fuck.Everything’s ruined.He strides forward, his eyes blazing with venomous intent, and then—he points a rigid, accusing finger straight at Arella."You!"A guttural sound, low and primal, rumbles from my throat before I even realize it. Instinct. Possession. Protection.Before Thompson can get any closer, I grab Arella’s wrist, pulling her behind me, my stance rigid, muscles coiled, ready for whatever the hell comes next."Watch it, Thompson," I growl, my voice dipping into something dangerous, something that w

[Deric]This is fucking crazy. No—this is batshit insane.What the hell am I doing? If we get caught, Harold Walcott will make sure neither of us walks out of this alive. The only sliver of comfort I have is that security seems to be lax. No guards in sight. No cameras that I can see. If we pull this off, I can grab Arella, get her out of here, and we’ll start over—somewhere far, somewhere safe.But the empty hallways around me don’t feel empty. They feel like they’re watching. The dim lighting flickers slightly, the walls are too still, the air is too damn thick—like the entire house knows what we’re about to do and is waiting to expose us.I'm so lost in my thoughts, drowning in the weight of what I’m about to do, that I don’t realize when I collide with someone. Hard. My body jerks, and a startled squeak escapes my lips before I can stop it.Shit.Panic claws at my throat, making it impossible to breathe. My stomach drops, twisting into something violent and gut-wrenching."Are you