All Chapters of Forced To Be The Billionaire’s Bride: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

The porch silence hung between them like a storm cloud, but Richard was no longer fully present. The years unfolded in a painful rush as he looked into Howard’s face and folded backwards. The creaking door behind him was forgotten as the street dimmed. As the memories clawed their way to the surface, the weight of the past weighed heavily on his chest. They were brothers in all but blood and more than just friends. He recalled their first encounter. A university. With his easy charm and sharp edges, Howard had exuded confidence and charm. Richard had been more reserved, perceptive and strategic. They counterbalanced one another in some way. They were stronger and closer because of their differences. Without speaking, they could read one another. A quick look, a shrug or a small smile was sufficient. They became close and quickly became friends. They talked about their ideas, fears and dreams late into the night. Howard had the charisma, the vision and the people skills while Richa

The raw force of Howard’s rage shook him as he slammed his palm onto the steering wheel. His breath became shallow, each exhale sharp as though he were choking on the overwhelming realisation, and his knuckles turned white. Only a few minutes ago, Richard—Richie—had been at his doorstep. Howard was now unable to get rid of the picture of his old friend's face, which was warped by years of suffering and rage. A flurry of memories, each more agonising than the last, crashed into his racing mind. The man he had stolen everything from, the man he had betrayed in the worst way, was the father of the woman he had been observing from a distance—the woman who was supposed to marry his son and was now carrying his grandchild.Howard recalled the good old days before the lies and betrayals. He was constructing something amazing with Richie back when they were partners. In addition to being a sidekick to Riches’ brilliant ideas, Howard had been motivated by ambition and a desire to be signific

After shutting the door to his home, Richard walked absently to his chair. With each step he took, the weight of the moment that had just ended made his legs tremble beneath him. Despite having only come from the front door, he collapsed into the seat like a man who had run miles. His hands continued to shake. He found it unbelievable. Howard had appeared after all these years, after the past had been buried beneath layers of time and silence. Simply put, he was cool and collected, and his eyes still had that icy feeling of mastery. Although Richard had made an effort to get ready for the possibility, he became acutely aware of his lack of readiness after it actually occurred. Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, he combed his hair and breathed heavily. The room's silence cried out all around him. Howard. His skin crawled at the mere name. Flashes of memories were as sharp as broken glass. The years before everything went wrong, when they were all intertwined, ahead of th

Richard had trouble staying still. His house's walls, which had once been peaceful and reassuring, now seemed to be closing in on him. He had essentially made a path out of the wood after pacing the floor so many times. Marie. Now she was the only thing on his mind. Both of them hadn't called in a while, but he needed to hear her voice tonight. To be aware that she was alright. Reaching the old telephone on the small side table by the window, he crossed the room. As he slowly turned the numbers, the rotary dial clicked beneath his fingers. His chest constricted with each ring on the opposite end. And then there was a voice. “Hello, the Sanchez residence.” A young man's pleasant-sounding voice said. In an attempt to maintain a steady tone, Richard cleared his throat. “Yes, could you let Marie know that her father is calling her?” There was a pause. “Yes, sir, that's alright. Of course. Please give me a moment. As he put the phone down and rushed away, he could hear the boy's voi

Aaron's eyes went wide with surprise. He was momentarily unsure of his level of consciousness. He caught his breath in his throat and blinked once and twice. Kara Thompson stood in the doorway, a gleam in her eyes and the sweetest smile. Kara Thompson. The same woman who had vanished silently from his life almost five years prior. No phone calls. Absent letters. His life was left with a huge hole that took years to fill. And now she was here. It was as though she had just gone out for coffee and come back after six months. His voice was hardly audible above a whisper as he said, “Kara?”It was still a stunning smile as it grew. Movie star ideal. Her green eyes sparkled with that dangerous confidence he hadn't seen in a long time, and her red lips curved as if they had been sculpted for the screen. Time seemed insignificant as her jet-black hair cascaded down her back in lustrous waves over her shoulders. She was dressed in a sleek navy-blue dress that fit her body like it was desi