Semua Bab RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK: Bab 41 - Bab 50

The second my lips brushed against his, I knew I had made a mistake.A terrible, reckless, unforgivable mistake.Because the moment it happened, Nolan took over.He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t second-guess.His hand slid around the back of my neck, fingers curling into my hair as he tilted my head, deepening the kiss without an ounce of restraint. His other hand gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him, trapping me in the heat of his body.I gasped against his mouth, and he took full advantage, pressing deeper, his tongue brushing against mine in a slow, deliberate stroke that sent a shiver all the way down to my toes.Damn him.Damn me.I knew better. I knew what he was capable of—how he twisted things, how he played these games like he always won because he did always win.And yet…I didn’t pull away.Not when I should have. Not when I had every reason to.Instead, my fingers curled into the lapels of his suit, gripping him like he was the only thing keeping me standing.I hated h

The moment Nolan hung up, I dropped my phone onto my desk and let out a slow, shaky breath.Two weeks.That was all the time he’d given me.It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.For now, I needed to focus on my father.Everything else—Nolan, the engagement, the contract—I’d deal with later.—I spent the rest of the morning at the hospital.My father was awake but still weak, his body slowly recovering from the weeks spent in a coma.Even so, his sharp mind was still intact.And it didn’t take him long to notice something was off.“You’re distracted,” he commented, watching me over the rim of his coffee cup.I forced a smile. “Just tired.”He hummed, unconvinced. “Chelsea’s worried about you.”Of course, she was.Chelsea had spent the entire night pestering me, demanding to know what Nolan had said when I called him.When I told her he’d agreed to wait, she was relieved.But she also knew it was only temporary.“I’m fine,” I assured him. “I just have a lot on my plate.”My f

I spent the next few days rewriting the contract, making sure every clause benefited me instead of Nolan. If he wanted me as part of his empire, he would have to do it on my terms.But I knew one thing—Nolan wasn’t stupid.He wouldn’t accept these changes without a fight.And that fight was coming.⋆⋆⋆The moment I walked into Nolan’s office, his eyes locked onto me.“Demi.” His voice was smooth, but there was a sharp edge beneath it. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”I tossed the contract onto his desk. “I made some changes.”Nolan arched a brow and leaned back in his chair. “Changes?”I folded my arms. “Read it.”His eyes darkened with intrigue as he picked up the papers. Silence filled the room as he skimmed the pages, his expression unreadable.Then, after a long pause, he let out a low chuckle.“You’re bolder than I expected.”I lifted my chin. “You thought I’d just roll over and accept your terms?”His smirk widened. “I hoped.”I clenched my jaw. “You wanted contr

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating against the nightstand.I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes before grabbing it.Chelsea.I exhaled sharply, already knowing this wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.“Hello?”“You didn’t call me last night,” she snapped.I sighed, sitting up. “I was tired.”“You were avoiding me,” she corrected.I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Chelsea—”“Tell me you’re okay,” she cut in.I hesitated.Because was I okay?No.Not even close.But I also wasn’t about to admit that.“I’m fine,” I said instead.Chelsea sighed. “I don’t believe you.”I forced a laugh. “Shocking.”There was a pause.Then, her voice softened. “Demi, you don’t have to do this.”A lump formed in my throat.“Yes, I do.”“Demi—”“I have to go,” I murmured. “I’ll call you later.”Before she could protest, I ended the call.Then, I buried my face in my hands.This was my life now.And I had no choice but to live it.By the time I made my way to the kitchen

I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, my mind racing with the weight of what I had done.I had moved in with Nolan.Not because I wanted to.But because I had no choice.His penthouse was sleek, modern, and everything I had expected—cold, controlled, and completely impersonal. It was the kind of place that didn’t feel lived in. The kind of place that had no warmth, no real comfort.I sat up, brushing my fingers through my hair, exhaling slowly.It had only been a few hours since I arrived, and already, I felt trapped.The door to my room opened without a knock.I turned, narrowing my eyes as Nolan stepped inside."Ever heard of knocking?"He ignored the jab, crossing the room like he owned it—like he owned me. "We need to go over a few things."I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Can it wait? I barely got settled.""You can settle in after we go over the rules."My lips parted, heat flashing up my spine. "Rules?"He nodded, completely unfazed. "If you’re going to live here, there need to be