Semua Bab THE BILLONIARE UNWANTED SUBSTITUTE BRIDE: Bab 81 - Bab 90

The night air was thick with silence as Lily paced the dimly lit hallway of the safe house. Her mind was a whirlwind, thoughts racing faster than her feet could carry her. Each moment spent in that place felt like time borrowed precious and uncertain. She had barely slept since the confrontation with Charles. Her trust had been shattered into fragments, each one cutting deeper than the last.Liam hadn’t said much since returning from his private meeting with one of his intelligence contacts. The only thing he had told her was to “stay inside” and “don’t trust anyone.” And she didn’t. Not anymore.She paused by the large window overlooking the courtyard, arms folded tightly across her chest. The moon cast a pale silver glow, illuminating the shadows around the perimeter. She saw two of Liam’s men patrolling, their movements sharp and disciplined. But even that didn’t calm her nerves.Behind her, a door creaked softly.She turned swiftly, eyes meeting Liam’s as he stepped into the hallw

Liam stood near the expansive window of his study, the city lights behind him flickering like dying stars. Lily sat on the edge of the sofa, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her coffee cup. Around them, the low hum of strategists and loyal guards speaking into earpieces filled the room with a sense of wariness.“We’re not just playing defense anymore,” Liam finally said, turning to face them all. “It’s time we hit back.”Lily looked up, her eyes dark with determination. “And Emily?”Liam’s jaw tightened. “She made her choice.”“But she’s still my sister,” Lily insisted softly.Liam approached her, kneeling to meet her eyes. “And you’re my wife. I can’t let her destroy you out of some warped sense of betrayal.”A beat passed between them.“I’m not afraid of Emily,” Lily whispered. “I’m afraid of losing her forever.”Liam didn’t respond. He knew that fear. He’d seen it in the mirror every day since Julian Ward re-emerged into their lives, dragging the past behind him like a rust

The world outside the warehouse seemed to fall away, leaving only the buzz of monitors, the frantic tapping of keyboards, and the suffocating tension in the air. Liam stood motionless for a moment, his mind churning with strategies. Every instinct screamed for immediate retaliation, but Lily’s steady hand on his arm reminded him: rushing headlong into a trap was exactly what Jeremiah wanted.“We need allies,” Lily said, her voice calm despite the chaos. “People we can trust.”Liam nodded grimly. “There aren’t many left.”“There’s me.” Her words were soft, but firm enough to bring a faint crack to the wall he’d built around himself.For a moment, something raw flashed across Liam’s face an emotion so fierce it was almost painful to witness. Gratitude. Guilt. Love. It was all there, unspoken, heavy in the silence between them.He squeezed her hand briefly, then turned to the woman at the terminal. “Kayla, you’re the best I’ve got. I’m trusting you with everything.”Kayla gave a quick no

The days following Liam’s proposal passed in a golden blur. It felt surreal to Lilywaking up each morning beside Liam, planning their future, and seeing the spark of hope in his eyes where only shadows used to live.The world, however, wasn't content to let them bask in peace. News of their engagement spread like wildfire. Every tabloid, every news outlet had a headline about it: “The Ruthless Billionaire Finds Love” — “From Scandal to Sweetheart: Liam Carlyle’s Shocking Turnaround.”Paparazzi camped outside their home. Reporters chased their car down streets. Business rivals whispered about opportunism. Some investors questioned Liam’s judgment, as if love was a vulnerability he couldn’t afford.Lily sat at the breakfast table one morning, scrolling through an article that speculated she was after Liam’s wealth. Her stomach twisted painfully.Across from her, Liam lowered his newspaper and studied her carefully. “Ignore it,” he said firmly. “They don’t know you. They never will.”“Bu

The sun rose over the horizon in a glorious blaze of gold and crimson, heralding the first morning of Liam and Lily’s married life.Lily stirred against Liam’s chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart under her cheek. The air between them was warm and intimate, the sheets tangled around their legs. She smiled, stretching languidly as Liam’s arms tightened instinctively around her."Good morning, Mrs. Carlyle," Liam murmured, his voice husky from sleep.Lily lifted her head to meet his gaze. His dark hair was tousled, his blue eyes heavy-lidded but filled with such overwhelming tenderness that it stole her breath."Good morning, Mr. Carlyle," she replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes.He caught her chin between his fingers and kissed her, slow and lingering, as if they had all the time in the world which, for once, they did.Their first morning as husband and wife was not filled with chaos or obligations. It was just them, in a world that had finally, finally slowed down enough f