Lahat ng Kabanata ng THE BILLIONAIRE’S MYSTIQUE BRIDE: Kabanata 121 - Kabanata 130

The smell hit him first—dust, hay, and dried sweat soaked into the wooden beams. Zac stepped into the poorly lit space, the creaking barn door closing behind him with a hollow thud.It was a secluded ranch, far from the city. Not marked on the map, or easy to locate. The kind of place where if you screamed, the echo would fade—and no one would ever hear you.A single bulb dangled from a rusty hook above, casting a sickly orange glow over the center of the barn.Below it, a man was seated in a worn-out chair, slumped but barely breathing.It was Brian.His wrists were bound, ankles tied to the legs of the chair, head low like he couldn’t lift it anymore.His face was swollen, bruised around the mouth and cheek. Blood crusted along one eyebrow. His breathing came in short bursts. Every inhale looked like it cost him something. Still, his eyes were wide open, darting around at the figures that stood in the shadows around him.Zac didn’t speak at first. He just stood there, arms folded, a

As soon as Zac stepped out of the interrogation room, the first person he saw was Mia—seated at the far end of the hallway, speaking quietly with another officer.The moment their eyes met, she stood to her feet.“Zac,” she said softly.“Mia?” He blinked, surprised. “You’re here already?”“Yeah,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “We came as soon as we heard.”Behind her, Samantha and Angelo approached quietly. Zac’s eyes moved to them briefly, then back to Mia.She motioned vaguely over her shoulder. “How… how did you manage to handle all this in such a short time?”Zac let out a weak sigh. “We ran a thorough investigation,” he said. “Pulled every string we could find. I’m just… I’m glad it’s finally leading somewhere.”Mia gave a small nod.Zac turned slowly as Samantha stepped closer. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone, handing it to her. “Here. Your phone.”“Oh, thanks,” Samantha replied, taking it. “I’ll just go through the contents shortly.”Then

The knock came again, followed by a familiar voice, muffled through the heavy wooden door. “Mia? Sam? Are you in?” Sam raised her brow and smirked. “Yup. That’s Angelo. He’s the one picking us up tonight.” “Oh…” Mia’s lips parted slightly, and disappointment shaded her face, but she masked it immediately. “That’s… that’s nice of him,” she added quietly and opened the door. Angelo stood there, sharp in a tailored navy-blue suit that matched her gown almost too perfectly. For a second, it looked like they had dressed for each other. His eyes swept her from head to toe, and he broke into a smile. “Wow. You look stunning… as always.” He leaned in for a respectful side hug. Mia smiled, brushing her hair away from her face. “Thank you…” “You both ready?” he asked. “Yeah, sure.” She turned back, grabbed her clutch, and followed them out. They made their way downstairs. A long black limo waited outside the hotel entrance, already humming low under the soft rays of street lam

Downstairs in the dining hall, the party was winding down. Only a few people remained, scattered across the long table. There was no music playing, aside from the faint noise from the guests chatting. Charles Cornell, the host, was still in his high spirits, wine in one hand. He was clearly drunk—his words slurred, his laughter loose and warm. He moved from table to table, sharing one too many stories with whoever still cared to listen. Fred, Mia’s father, sat near the head of the table, drinking expensive wine like it were water. He was deep in a conversation about offshore investments with people he normally wouldn’t even be worthy to stand next to. But tonight, there were no boundaries. Samantha sat near the center of the table, mid-conversation with Sarah. Their laughter was lighter—less drunken, more giddy. They looked like they really had a good time. At the far end of the table, Angelo sat by himself, his fingers wrapped around a half-full glass. His eyes were fixed on Ch

“Whatever,” Mia said, tying her hair in a bun. “I’ll go first.” She glanced at Zac, who still hadn’t moved. “It’s obvious you’re not in a rush to get up.”Zac cracked his knuckles, still lying under the covers. “Take your time. Closet’s open—feel free to grab anything that fits.”Mia nodded, already walking toward the bathroom. “Thanks,” she called over her shoulder.Once she disappeared behind the door, Zac exhaled slowly and pulled the duvet off himself. The stubborn tent in his boxers remained.He glanced down—and winced.“Nope. Still here,” he muttered, annoyed. He sat up and stared at the ceiling, as if it might offer salvation. Then, back down. “Okay. Calm down, little man. She’s gone. There’s no reason to be standing at attention anymore.”But that wasn’t enough. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and breathed in deep, trying to will his body to cooperate. He kept his hands closely at his sides, refusing to touch it.Okay, Zac, don’t think about her. Don’t think abou