All Chapters of The Billionaire’s Captive Bride: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The aroma of buttered toast and fried eggs lingered in the air, warm and grounding. Sunlight poured through the large windows in delicate streams, casting a soft glow across the kitchen.I sat at the long counter in an oversized hoodie, legs folded beneath me on the stool. My plate was almost empty, a sign that I’d actually enjoyed breakfast for once.Mrs. Thornton moved around the kitchen with her usual grace, humming as she arranged a small jar of homemade jam beside my plate."I hope you know you’re spoiling me," I said, reaching for it with a grin.She glanced over her shoulder. "That’s the whole point, sweetheart. Besides, you’re the only one who gives me feedback. Leo just eats and disappears.""Sounds about right," I murmured.She poured herself tea and joined me at the counter. "He’s been... less of a storm cloud lately. You have something to do with that?"I tried not to smile too much. "Maybe. Maybe not."Mrs. Thornton gave me a knowing look over her teacup. "Well, whatever

The drive was quiet, the kind of quiet that wasn’t heavy but wasn’t relaxed either. Leo had one hand on the wheel, the other resting loosely on his thigh, his gaze fixed ahead.I didn’t know if the courier’s delivery yesterday was the reason he was taking me out of the mansion, but the idea had been tapping at the back of my mind since we left.When we slowed in front of a cream-colored two-story house with a tidy garden and bright blue shutters, I sat up straighter.“Is this where you're having your meeting,” I asked.“No,” he replied, stepping out. “You’re staying here until I’m back.”I followed him up the walkway. The door opened before we reached it, revealing a couple in their late fifties. The man had sharp eyes that softened when he looked at Leo, and the woman smiled warmly.“Mr. Castelli,” the man greeted.“Stefano,” Leo said with a nod. “Alessia.”They stepped aside, letting us in. The air inside smelled faintly of fresh bread.Leo didn’t sit. “No one gets in without you op

The music inside the grand hall was soft, almost too polished to notice, like it was meant to be background noise for the clinking of glasses and murmured conversations.Leo’s hand stayed anchored at my waist the entire time, guiding me subtly from group to group. His tone was calm and authoritative as he spoke to the other men, his gaze occasionally cutting across the room, scanning for faces he knew or ones he didn’t trust.I tried to mirror his composed presence, smiling faintly when someone acknowledged me, but my mind kept replaying last night’s overheard conversation in sharp fragments.Even though his focus was on business talk, I felt him notice me, the slight way his hand flexed at my side, the quiet, questioning glances he shot down at me, his thumb brushed once against my hip in a way that wasn’t affectionate, but probing.By the fourth group, his patience must have run out. “Excuse us,” he said smoothly to the men, then turned me toward the balcony.The night air was coole

I was still stretching under the covers when the sound of the door opening reached me. The faint creak was followed by Leo’s low footsteps across the rug.Before I could even lift my head, his shadow fell over me. He bent down, pressing a warm kiss to my lips.“Good morning,” he murmured.I made a sleepy noise in response, rolling halfway onto my side. “Morning.”“We have somewhere to go today,” he said, straightening a little while still sitting on the edge of the bed.I yawned, blinking up at him. “Where?”“My parents’ house.”The fog of sleep cleared instantly. I froze mid-yawn, staring at him like he’d just told me he’d sold me again.He raised a brow. “That bad?”I shook my head so fast my hair whipped around my face. “No. No. Another time.”His mouth twitched not quite a smile. “What’s wrong?”“It’s… weird,” I said, clutching the sheet a little tighter.“That’s not the real reason.” His tone softened, but the mafia authority in it left no space to dodge.I sighed. “I’ve never re

I woke up to silence. No movement beside me, no steady breathing that could only belong to Leo. The curtains were drawn tightly shut, blocking out all traces of daylight, and the heavy blanket was tucked securely around me as if someone had taken their time to make sure I didn’t get cold.I slid out of bed, feet touching the soft rug, the air in the room cool against my skin. My first thought was to check Leo’s office.Maybe he was working, like always.The office was empty. The desk was bare except for a closed laptop and a neat stack of papers. The leather chair was pushed in. He hadn’t been here in hours.I made my way downstairs, the scent of something sweet lingering faintly in the air. When I reached the kitchen, Mrs Thornton was there, stirring something on the stove.She looked up, smiling. “Oh honey.”“Hey,” I murmured, stepping in.“Come here.” She waved me closer, then pulled me into a hug before I could react. “I know meeting his parents didn’t go well.”I let out a faint,