บททั้งหมดของ The Billionaire's Perfect Mistake : บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

Escola's POVWatching him rush after Azalea, something twisted in my chest. I almost couldn’t believe it. Seeing Ace Black, yes, Ace Black, the man my father wanted me to marry in support of his campaign, dashing after her like that made my heart flutter in a way I didn't expect.Why was I jealous? What the hell was wrong with me?In my mind, I had pictured someone else entirely. A rich, cold-blooded heir, puffed-up, full of himself, a caricature of arrogance. But it turned out to be Ace, and he looked utterly different in person tonight. His shirt was slightly rumpled, sleeves rolled up, and his face was etched with concern and panic that went beyond play-acting when he saw Azalea. I realized then I was drawn to something real. His worry, his immediate reaction… it touched something inside me.Even earlier at the bar when his text, “You’re late,” flashed on my phone, I’d felt irritated. I thought, 'Who does he think he is?' I sat in the car and was deliberately a few minutes late

Azalea's POVThe first thing I noticed was the sharp, metallic smell of blood lingering faintly in the air. My nose wrinkled instinctively as I forced my heavy eyelids open. White walls. A dull beeping sound somewhere nearby. My head pounded like I’d been run over by a truck.“Lea?” Lara’s voice broke through the haze, soft but shaky.I groaned, trying to sit up, but my body protested with every tiny movement. My lower back ached, my legs felt like a heavy log of wood, and my stomach, I instinctively placed a hand there, relief washing through me at the familiar, gentle rise beneath my palm.“I’m sorry,” I croaked, my voice weak and scratchy. “I ruined our vacation.”Lara let out a small laugh, her eyes watery but filled with that usual sass of hers. “Oh yeah, best vacation ever. You collapsing dramatically in the middle of the resort, definitely makes the highlight reel.”Despite how awful I felt, a small, dry laugh escaped my lips. “Always gotta steal the spotlight,” I mumbled, att

Escola's POV My heart trembled the moment I saw his message. I wasn’t sure if it was fear or excitement or a crazy mix of both. But the second my eyes landed on his name popping up on my phone screen, my stomach twisted into knots.I hadn’t been able to sleep. I tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling like it held all the answers to the mess I’d found myself in. Now, it was dawn. The sky was still the shade of dull grey and the birds hadn’t even started chirping yet when he called me.“We need to talk. Let’s meet up.”Those seven words carried enough weight to make my palms sweat.It didn’t sound good. I mean, what good ever came after “we need to talk”? But still, I couldn’t help but smirk a little. I could already imagine the look on his face. Probably all serious, his jaws clenched really tight, eyes stormy from anger and above all, still attractive. I threw my head back against the pillow, groaning. “What the hell did I get myself into?”Before I could even overthink more, a

Ace's POVI stared at my watch, the seconds stretching between minutes like miles. She was late. Again! My stomach twisted in knots that I couldn’t ignore. This wasn’t just an annoyance, it was fear mingled with longing. Fuck! What was I doing here?I wasn’t getting married. I refused to bind myself to her. I wasn't going to marry Escola. Yes, she was stunning, she was a woman with a powerful career, glowing skin, and everything that a man would ever want, but none of that mattered to me.My heart longed for someone else, someone I couldn’t risk losing.Yet here I was, waiting at the restaurant, in a crisp suit. My hands were restless as my mother’s voice echoed through my head, 'just do this for me. For your dad.'No. I wasn’t doing this for either of them. I was doing it for closure. For peace. For honouring the promise I’d made to myself. I would end it.Five minutes later, hell, I didn’t know if it was five or ten minutes later, I had already lost track of time. She walked int

Ace’s POVIt’s been a full week now. Seven long, restless days since I left that hospital room. Since I dropped those damn flowers by her door and walked away like a coward.Seven days without seeing Azalea, and I swore, it had been killing me.I had tried to keep myself busy with working on scripts, reading, even attempting to finish that book I started months ago, but none of it sticks. My mind keeps drifting back to her.It had also been a week of silence from my mother. Not a single text or call from her, and I knew why. Because I hadn’t agreed to the engagement. Because I was dragging my feet.The elections were coming and my father needs this political alliance with Escola’s family. He had been panicking, pulling every string he could. And now he needed me more than ever. But did I need him? No, I didn't.I had lived my life without relying on him. Built a name that was mine, separate from his empire. So why should I hand over my life like a pawn now?I ran a hand through my ha