All Chapters of Claiming the billionaire ceo genius baby: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Belle leaned over her desk in her modest legal office, with the only light coming from a flickering overhead bulb. The room was simple, no indications of luxury, no shining marble floors, just the sort of place you'd expect a single mother to labour away from the high-society life she formerly knew. Her eyes drifted to a picture of her son, Theodore, chuckling at some lost time from their past. Looking at the picture, a slight smile pulled at her lips. Whispering, "How did we get here?" she felt it heavy on her chest. Old paper and ink's scent permeated the air; the city's buzz outside was barely heard. Belle's fingers stopped moving on the documents before her. Alistair, her ex-husband, haunted her. His shadow remained significant even after all these years. Her priority now, though, was Theodore. All she did was for him. The sound of little feet racing along the corridor outside interrupted her thoughts. Just in time to watch Theodore rush into the room, eyes wide with excitement

Alistair entered the softly lighted hotel lobby, his gaze searching every face he passed. He had no need to be careful. He was accustomed to being in charge, to watching the universe bend to his want. But today, something was unique. The air felt heavy with expectation, like the quiet before a storm. His fingertips grazed the edges of his coat while his keen eyes scanned the room. Lost in their own worlds, the individuals surrounding him appeared unaware of the tempest he was about to unleash. Alistair, though, was more knowledgeable. Everyone had a goal, and so did he. His boots tapped on the ground as he purposefully, methodically moved past the registration desk. His thoughts were sharp, running over every element of the data he had collected thus far. A woman in a crimson dress, too much perfume, eyes too wide entered the room; his gaze darted to the door. But she wasn't what he wanted. His phone buzzed in his pocket; he picked it up without pausing. "Alistair," came the voice

"What are you doing here?" she inquired, her voice quivering despite her efforts to remain calm. Her knuckles were white and her fingers clutched the desk edge as though it could keep her stable. Alistair's lips curled into a deliberate, predatory grin. Belle, I'm come to see my son. I came for him. Her heart raced. "You have no right," she replied, the words sounding strange in her throat. "Not after all you have done." With every passing second, the space between them shrank and the air between them appeared to grow denser. Alistair entered the room, his hawk-like gaze sweeping the workplace. He never let his eyes off hers; a sinister pleasure sparkled in his eyes. "I have every right," he responded quietly, almost threateningly. "I always do." Though she would not give up, Belle's palm shook on the desk. "Not any more," she responded, this time more forcefully. The instant you turned your back on us, you lost your opportunity. Still staring at Belle, Alistair moved deeper int

"Belle," Bernard's voice sounded low and frantic. Worried, he entered the room. We have to talk. Belle remained still. She already understood his remarks. The moment Alistair's name crossed her mind again, she had sensed it approaching. Though she had been attempting to ignore it, Bernard's gaze informed her it was genuine. It was going on. Bernard went on, "Alistair's fixation is not something that disappears. He will not rest till he has his desire. Her heart hammering in her chest, Belle rose slowly. Her fingers clutched the edge of her desk firmly as she gazed out the window. I had known that for some time. Running is not something I can do always. Bernard moved closer and his eyes softened. You cannot keep him away. He will not stop, Belle. You have to get ready. He's coming; when he arrives, it will be worse than before. She tried to hold back the tears by swallowing hard. To create a life outside of Alistair's reach, she had worked really hard to safeguard Theodore. Every

Belle, you should have come to me voluntarily, Alistair said, his voice ringing in her head, cool and collected. You will now pay the cost. Her eyes flew open. Like a burden in her chest, Alistair's words stuck to her. His constant desire to control her life had never changed; now, with Theodore's future in jeopardy, she was compelled to face the precise thing she had been fleeing. A chill crept up her back. Theodore was not something she could lose. She would not. The door behind her creaked open; she spun around, half-expecting to find Alistair waiting there to finally take her down. It was just the office's stillness, though. The room was also filled with the soft hum of the air conditioning, too calm, too quiet. Alistair's warning hung in the air, suffocing her. She had to act quickly. Every second mattered. But one thing she was certain of: she wasn't going to make it simple for him. This time, she would not give in. She would battle. Buzzing on the desk, Belle's phone brok