Semua Bab The Billionaire's Forgotten Queen : Bab 31 - Bab 40

Valeria’s POVThe night pressed down on me, thick and suffocating.Damien’s smile cut through the darkness like a blade. He strolled toward me, slow and deliberate, as though he already owned the ground beneath my feet.“Stay back,” I hissed, my voice raw from shouting inside.He chuckled softly, tilting his head. “Why so tense, Valeria? You just had a family reunion. You should be grateful I brought you that little gift.”“Gift?” My fists clenched at my sides. “You call dragging my brother out of the shadows a gift?”He raised a brow. “I call it… entertainment. Watching your face when you saw him? Priceless.”My chest burned with rage. “You’re twisted. You’ve always been twisted.”“And yet here we are.” He spread his arms, mock-innocent. “You keep finding your way back to me, one way or another. Don’t you ever wonder why?”“I didn’t come here for you,” I spat. “I came because you baited me, because you couldn’t leave me alone for one night.”He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a

Valeria’s POVThe shadow filled the doorway.Damien.Even in the dark, I felt his presence like a blade against my throat. My daughter’s small arms tightened around my neck, and the tremor of her body made my blood turn cold.“Stay back,” I hissed, my voice breaking. “Don’t you dare take another step.”He leaned lazily against the frame, as if he owned the house. His voice was smooth, almost gentle. “You really think you can crawl out that window with her in your arms? You’d both break before you touched the ground.”“Then I’ll break,” I snapped. “Better that than letting you touch her.”He stepped forward, slow and deliberate. “Don’t be dramatic, Valeria. I’m not here to hurt her.”My grip tightened around her. “You stay away from her!”She whimpered into my shoulder, and my heart shattered.Damien’s eyes gleamed in the shadows. “Why are you so sure I’m the monster in this story?”“Because you’ve proven it every single time you opened your mouth,” I spat. “You poison everything. Eve

Damien’s POVThe message still glowed on my phone screen.She’s not safe. They’re planning to move her.I read it twice, then a third time, the corners of my mouth twitching upward. Finally, something useful.I dialed the number immediately. The line rang once before a hushed voice answered.“You got it?” the caller whispered.“Who are you?” I asked, calm, measured.“You don’t need my name. Just know she’s going to leave the city soon. Tonight, maybe tomorrow. Max is pushing for it.”I leaned back in my chair, swirling the whiskey in my glass. “And Elena?”A pause. Then: “She’s fighting him. Says moving will draw more attention. But Max doesn’t care. He’s desperate.”I smirked. “Of course he is. Desperation makes men stupid.”“Do you… do you want me to keep watching?” the caller asked, voice low, nervous.“Yes.” I set the glass down with a soft click. “You’ll tell me where they go, who drives them, and every single stop they make. If you miss a detail, I’ll know.”The line went dead.

Valeria’s POVThe house felt heavier than ever that morning. Every wall, every window, every creak of the floor seemed to whisper Damien’s name. I sat at the kitchen table, my hands around a cold cup of coffee I hadn’t touched. My daughter colored quietly at the end of the table, her crayons scattered, her little rabbit tucked by her side.Max stood by the window, his arms crossed, eyes scanning the street. He hadn’t said much since sunrise, but his silence was loud, full of urgency.Finally, he turned. “We have to go. Today.”My throat tightened. “You keep saying that.”“Because it’s true.” His voice was sharp, but not cruel. “Every second we stay here, he gets closer.”Elena came in then, her arms folded tight. She looked at both of us, her jaw stiff. “And every second you talk about leaving, you’re walking into his hands.”Max spun toward her. “You don’t know that.”“Yes, I do!” Elena snapped, her voice shaking. “You think Damien doesn’t expect this? You think he won’t have people

The cabin smelled of cedar and dust. The old wooden beams groaned with every shift of the wind outside. For a moment, it almost felt safe. Almost.Max pushed the heavy door shut and bolted it twice, his broad shoulders tense. “We’re here,” he said, his voice low, almost to himself. “Finally.”Valeria slid down onto the couch, her daughter curled against her chest, small hands clutching at her blouse. She stroked the girl’s hair, whispering, “It’s okay, baby. We’re safe now.”But her own voice betrayed her. Too tight. Too thin.Elena moved toward the kitchen, flicking on a dim light. “I’ll find water. She needs to drink.”Max followed her with his eyes. “Check the cupboards first. Place has been empty for years, but who knows.”“I know,” Elena said shortly, pulling open a creaking cabinet.The tension between them was sharp, like two blades scraping. Valeria felt it immediately. “Enough,” she said, raising her head. “We can’t afford to turn on each other now.”Max exhaled, rubbing the