บททั้งหมดของ Breaking the Billionaire Code: บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 30

Chloe Goldstein remembered the first time she met Killian Stone like it was yesterday.She had just turned twenty, fresh out of college, dating Jamie Holland, the son of a well-known New York politician. Life was fast, polished, and perfectly predictable. Then came the trip to Los Angeles with her father, Richard Goldstein, for a high-stakes business meeting with Mark Stone. Her father had insisted she come along, saying, “You’ll be meeting the Stone heir. Might as well get to know the future before it arrives.”At first, she’d rolled her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood to play the elegant daughter. But when she stepped into the Stone estate and saw Killian - tall, striking, confident without trying - something shifted. It wasn’t just his looks, though those helped; it was the gravity he carried, the calm intensity behind every move.Killian had noticed her, too. She had seen the way he stayed in conversation and the twinkle in his eyes. She had not planned to fall for him, not while Ja

Behind a simple façade hiding the wealth within, Redbird Cuisine was situated right in downtown Los Angeles.Inside, it was like entering a warm, contemporary dream: soft, golden lights hung low over mahogany tables, live jazz swirled through the air, and the aroma of toasted herbs and fine wine wrapped every guest. Through glass-paneled walls, a rich, softly lighted garden outside was shown; delicate fountains whispered beneath the starlight. As Aria got out of the smooth black car Killian had sent, she paused to take in the surroundings. Her deep sapphire blue wrap dress descended just below her knees, the silk embracing her softly at each stride. Her hair fell over her shoulders in gentle waves, slightly curled. Simple gold hoops adorned her ears, and her heels clicked softly against the marble floor.The host at the reception looked up with a smile. “Good evening. Do you have a reservation?”“I’m Aria Blake,” she said with a polite smile.“I’m here with someone - Killian Stone

Aria answered with a teasing look, "Mmm, depends." "What is something that people always misunderstand about you?" She stopped, putting down her fork. “That I’m fragile, or naive. I’m quiet - sure. Private, yeah. But I’ve survived more than people think.Killian nodded, eyes fixed on her. “I believe that.”“And you?” she asked, softly now. “What do they misunderstand about you?”“That I don’t feel,” he said. “That I’m all strategy and ambition. But there are things that…” He hesitated. “Things I can’t always explain. Like, being here with you seems to be the only genuinely enjoyable aspect of my day.They sat there quietly, each of them holding onto unspoken thoughts. Aria stood slowly, gathering their plates. “I’ll clear up.”Killian followed her into the kitchen, helping without a word. Their hands brushed, once, twice. The third time, she didn’t move hers away.They found themselves back in the living room once the dishes were finished. The music was quieter now. So was t

Killian stopped his car next to the curb beyond the small Spanish-style Airbnb Chloe had sent him. The neighborhood was calm; a silence that weighed the night more than it ought. His mouth tightened, and his hands held the steering wheel as he switched off the engine and remained still for a moment. The evening with Aria had been perfect. Nearly perfect. They were finally getting somewhere - unspoken words, clarity, that familiar pull that had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with something real. And now, thanks to Chloe’s dramatic call, he was here. He came out, ran a hand through his hair, and ascended the stairs. The door opened before he could knock. Chloe stood there, eyes red-rimmed and gleaming. Her cheeks were crimson as though she had been weeping for several hours. She looked… wrecked. Vulnerable. Not at all like the calculating, poised woman he remembered.This wasn’t the reception he’d expected. No perfume-slick seduction, no silk robes and slow smiles. Just

Aria looked over at him, her expression soft.Killian's tone was quiet, almost deliberate. “You know,” Killian said in a low voice. Thoughtful. "I asked you to come to this place because I come here when I need to feel calm, when I need to keep everything out - it is quiet here. The kind of silence I find with you." Aria straightened a strand of hair behind her ear, dropped her head, and smiled feebly as her cheeks grew warm with a gradual, faint blush.Killian leaned closer. She watched him as he delicately touched her jaw. He said, "Don't look away. Not when I mean it.”She remarked, her voice nearly invisible above the roaring fire. “No one ever looked at me like this before.” A vulnerability surfaced beneath her tender gaze. "Like I’m… something worth holding onto.”Then, without breaking eye contact, she gave him a small, honest smile - a little sad, but full of trust. "But I am trying."Rising upright, Killian put his elbows on his knees. "Aria, I have something I must say.