Semua Bab Billionaire Bentley's runaway princess: Bab 191 - Bab 200

The silence between Charles and Dominic stretched on, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. Nova and Bentley sat at a respectful distance, their eyes darting between the two older men, their hopes hinging on this fragile moment. Charles and Dominic continued their silent standoff, each too proud to be the first to speak.Finally, Dominic let out an exaggerated sigh, breaking the oppressive quiet. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table in a slow, rhythmic pattern. "So, Charles," he began, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "I hear you've taken up knitting. Helps with arthritis, does it?"Charles arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Oh, very funny, Dominic. I see your sense of humor hasn't improved with age. I see that you have been keeping tabs on me."Dominic scoffed. "Get off your high horse, Charles. I don't care about you that much.""That much?" Charles raised an eyebrow.Dominic chuckled, the sound unexpectedly li

The next two days slipped by, ushering Bentley back into the pulse of work, while Nova dedicated herself to the final touches for her business launch. His 3 days holiday which later turned to 5 days was finally over and he has returned to what he knows how to do best. Work.Bentley moved briskly down the hallway, absorbing each update from Franco, who trailed beside him, clutching a tablet stacked with reports. It was as if he couldn't wait till they got to the office. There were just a lot of things to handle.Franco cleared his throat, glancing down at the tablet before speaking. “While you were out, the acquisitions team finalized the SwiftTech deal. We’re set to close by month’s end, pending your review of their integration plan. Legal has already vetted it, but they want your final sign-off.”Bentley gave a brief nod. “Good, I’ll take a look at it today. Has the marketing team prepared the rollout strategy?”“They have, but there’s one small issue. They requested an additional bu

The gentle rustling of leaves above cast dappled shadows over the courtyard where Nova and Chloe sat, nibbling on fresh pastries they'd picked up from a local cafe. The soft breeze kept the air cool and refreshing, perfect for their relaxed afternoon chat. Nova’s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she hesitated, her eyes darting around shyly before she leaned in toward Chloe, the blush deepening as she started to share."Chloe…we, um, we did it. Bentley and I…" Nova trailed off, biting her lip before finishing with a smile. "We made love for the first time that night. That same night after having that discussion with you. Or was it the next day, I can't remember anymore." Her voice held a blend of wonder and warmth, and she looked down, nervously brushing an imaginary crumb off her lap. “I just wanted to thank you for, you know, giving me that push. I wasn’t sure I could actually go through with it, but you… you motivated me. If not for you, I don’t know if I’d have found the coura

Nova stumbled through the door of Bentley’s house—no, she corrected herself, not Bentley’s… it was their house once. But now?The silence inside wrapped around her like a cold cloak, the stillness reminding her of all the laughter, the late-night whispers, the comforting sounds of him somewhere nearby, the lovemaking and everything else.Now, every corner felt like it was hollow, taunting her with memories she wanted so desperately to shake. Her throat was raw, her hands shaking as she leaned against the entryway, forcing herself to hold back a sob that clawed its way up her chest. But she couldn’t hold it in.Hot tears blurred her vision as she sank down onto the nearest chair, her hands covering her face as the weight of betrayal settled over her. She barely registered the quiet footsteps approaching until a gentle hand rested on her shoulder, grounding her just enough to take a shuddering breath."Nova..." Chloe’s voice was soft, hesitant, as if afraid of disturbing the fragile cal

Bentley sat slouched on the edge of Austin’s leather couch, shoulders weighed down by the heaviness of the day's events. His head was cradled in his hands, and he looked like a man defeated. Austin watched him silently for a moment, giving Bentley space to gather his thoughts, before pulling up a chair beside him, settling in without a word. The quiet in the room was thick, inviting Bentley to break it.After a heavy pause, Bentley’s voice broke through, low and edged with weariness. “Austin… I messed up. I messed up so bad.”Austin leaned forward, his expression a blend of patience and concern. “Start from the beginning, man. Tell me everything.”Bentley inhaled sharply, as if bracing himself. “Nova… she found out, Austin.” His voice faltered, raw with emotion. “I tried to explain, but she didn’t want to hear any of it. She asked me if it was true—if I cheated on her. And… I couldn’t lie. I told her the truth. It was Ivy.”Austin’s face softened, but he kept his gaze steady, letting