Lahat ng Kabanata ng HIDDEN FLAMES: A Billionaire's Secret Love Game : Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

“Mia, do you have anything to say for yourself?” Mr. Warden’s voice cut through the silence, cold and disdainful.I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. “I… I didn’t take any money. I don’t know where this is coming from.”Ms. Hawthorne’s eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp and calculating. “Really? Because that's exactly what a thief would say"“What? No!” I shot a glance around the room, looking for anyone who might back me up. My eyes landed on Adrian at the head of the table. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable.“Mr. Knight, you don’t believe this, do you?” I tried to keep my tone respectful. But the desperation slipped through.His gaze met mine, but there was no comfort in it, no reassurance. “This isn’t a good look, Mia.”The words hit me like a slap. I felt my heart sink, but I forced myself to keep my head up. “You know me. You know I wouldn’t… I didn’t do this.”Adrian’s silence was crushing. Lisa, who’d been a friend—or so I thought—leaned forward, an amuse

"Are you coming or not?" Adrian’s voice pulled me back from the papers I was looking at on his desk, his tone sharp and expectant.I blinked up at him, caught off guard. "Where are we going?""Wait and see." He gave me a smirk, and without another word, walked out, leaving me scrambling to keep up. The nerve of him. I followed him to his car, where he slid into the back seat, barely acknowledging me as I joined him."Are you seriously not going to tell me anything?" I asked, my voice dripping with frustration.“Patience, Mia.” He didn’t even look at me, just stared out the window, cool as ever.We pulled up in front of an upscale boutique. I glanced out the window and turned to him, bewildered. "A boutique? What, are you going shopping now?"Without a word, he opened his door, signaling me to get out. I followed, only because my curiosity was getting the better of me. Inside, the boutique was all marble floors, mirrors, and racks of designer dresses. The manager, a tall, elegant woman

"Good morning," I said, stepping into the living room with a light stretch. The smell of coffee hung in the air, but what caught my attention was Adrian sitting at the dining table, already immersed in work. His laptop screen cast a soft glow on his sharp features, and even in the casual light of morning, he looked annoyingly flawless."Morning," he replied without lifting his head, his focus entirely on whatever he was typing.I hesitated for a moment, watching him, before heading toward the kitchen. "Coffee or tea?""Coffee," he answered curtly."Coffee it is," I mumbled under my breath, grabbing the kettle. A part of me wanted to make tea just to spite him, but I refrained, deciding to save my energy for more significant battles.When I returned to the dining table with two steaming mugs, I set one down in front of him and took the seat across from him. Adrian gave a brief nod, his attention still on his laptop. I sipped my coffee, letting the warmth seep into me, before breaking t

Adrian’s Mom’s POV"Ma’am, you have to see this," my assistant said, her tone urgent as she handed me her phone.I took the phone, narrowing my eyes at the screen. The headline blared: "Rumors Swirl About Knight Heir’s Sham Marriage – Is It All About the Money?"Her face darkened. She dropped the phone onto her desk with a sharp clatter, her tea now forgotten. "What rubbish is this?" she hissed.Claire hesitated. "It’s all over the news, ma’am. They're saying Mrs. Knight—your son’s wife—married him for money."Alexandra's lips thinned. "Of course, they are." Her voice dripped with disdain. "What else could a low-life nobody like her want? Adrian should have known better than to bring this shame to our family."Claire stood silently, knowing better than to interrupt when I was in one of my moods.I slammed the phone on my desk. “Tell Adrian there’s a family dinner tonight. Seven sharp. I want him and his... wife there.”She nodded quickly. "Right away, ma’am."I muttered under my breat

“Have you seen the papers this morning?” Lisa’s voice rang through the phone, sharp and relentless, cutting through my morning haze like a knife. I groaned, clutching the phone tighter as I rolled over in bed. “Lisa, it’s barely seven. What could possibly be so urgent?” “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that your face is plastered all over the tabloids again? You should really look. Page six. You’re welcome.” The line went dead before I could respond. I stared at the phone, annoyance bubbling up in my chest. Lisa was always like this—dramatic, self-serving, and lately, not much of a friend. After all, she had no problem siding with the board members who’d accused me of stealing company funds. Still, curiosity got the better of me. Throwing off the covers, I shuffled to the door, grabbing the newspaper that had been unceremoniously shoved through the mail slot. As I flipped to page six, my heart sank. "POWER COUPLE IN THE MAKING: ADRIAN AND MIA KNIGHT RISE ABOVE SCANDAL" U