บททั้งหมดของ The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride : บทที่ 171 - บทที่ 180

"Just when we thought we had it all figured out, life threw us a curveball wrapped in dollar signs."The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our penthouse, casting a deceptive calm over the chaos brewing beneath. Alexander sat at the dining table, a thick dossier open before him, his brow furrowed in concentration. The sight was both familiar and unsettling."Leila," he began, his voice measured but tinged with an undercurrent I couldn't quite place. "We need to discuss this proposal."I set down my coffee, the rich aroma suddenly nauseating. "Another one? Didn't we agree to take a step back after the last project nearly consumed us?"He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. But this... this is different. It's a partnership offer from Global Innovations. The potential here is massive."I approached, glancing over his shoulder at the documents. The figures were staggering, the kind that could solidify our company's position at the pinnacle of the industry. But

You never see it coming when Alexander Hawke surprises you. Not like last night. Not in the way that makes your heart trip and your mind spin all at once.We were back in the penthouse—our sanctuary and sometimes, our cage. The city sprawled beneath us, lights flickering like a constellation we could almost touch but never quite hold. I was curled up on the sofa, clutching a throw blanket, still digesting everything from our rooftop talk—the kind of talk that hangs heavy in the air, full of unspoken fears and fragile hope.Alexander stood by the window, silhouetted against the night, looking different somehow. Vulnerable. Real. The ironclad businessman was gone—at least for now—and in his place was a man I barely recognized. A man I hoped I could trust.He broke the silence, voice low and steady, not the usual clipped command or guarded business tone. “Leila, we need to talk.”Just those words, so simple, sent my pulse racing. I’d waited for this moment, but also feared it, because wh

The message still burned on my phone screen, a cruel reminder that the shadows hadn’t faded—they’d only grown darker. Threats weren’t new to me; I’d learned early that stepping into Alexander’s world meant accepting danger as part of the package. But this time, it felt different. Personal. Like the stakes were no longer just the company or my family’s safety—they were about *us*, about everything we’d been trying to build.Alexander’s hand squeezed mine, a steadying presence amid the chaos swirling in my mind. But inside, my thoughts were racing faster than I could quiet. How far was I willing to go to protect what we had? How much of myself could I risk without losing the woman I’d fought so hard to become?---That morning, the reflection staring back at me in the mirror was unfamiliar. Not the shy, hesitant girl who’d walked into that penthouse months ago, but someone sharper, stronger, a woman forged in fire. My heart thudded—part fear, part fierce determination. Today, I was goin

I never thought I’d find myself celebrating a number on a spreadsheet. But that morning, it honestly felt like the entire universe was throwing us a party—even if no one else knew it.The second I stepped into the office, I could tell something was different. The usual tight shoulders and wary glances had softened, replaced by a buzz—like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something huge to finally break loose. It was that nervous kind of excitement, the sort that makes your stomach flip and your hands feel a little clammy.My heels clicked against the polished floor, sharp and steady, but inside, I was anything but calm. My heart pounded like a drum, each beat a reminder of the months of fight, frustration, and sleepless nights behind me. Every second I’d questioned myself, every bold decision I’d barely dared to take—it all felt like it was coming to this moment.Alexander was standing by the window, bathed in the soft, golden glow of the early morning sun. For once, he

If someone had told me a year ago we’d be standing here, on this balcony, overlooking the city as it slowly woke from its restless sleep—I would have laughed in disbelief. Maybe bitterly. Or maybe I’d have just curled up and cried, because this kind of peace felt like a dream too fragile to hold.The world beneath us was vast and alive, a pulsing grid of light and sound softened by distance. From here, the usual chaos was just a gentle murmur, like a lullaby promising rest. And for a moment—just a breath—I thought maybe time itself had slowed down, giving us room to breathe, to feel, to exist without the weight of everything that had come before.Alexander stood beside me, solid and steady, but there was something different in his stance tonight—something softer, less guarded. His shoulders still carried the weight of the world, but his eyes held a quiet I hadn’t seen in a long time. Not the steel-hard focus of the man who fought to control everything, but a softness. A glimpse of pea