Semua Bab When love turns to ashes : Bab 41 - Bab 50

June stood in front of the ornate full-length mirror in the bridal suite of the Bloomfield Estate, her white gown cascading like a river of silk down her body. The delicate lace sleeves hugged her arms, and the soft shimmer of the beading caught the morning sunlight pouring in from the tall windows. A soft blush sat on her cheeks—not from makeup alone, but from nerves, excitement, and a thousand untold thoughts.Behind her, Renee, her childhood best friend and maid of honor, was gently adjusting the veil, her fingers steady but her eyes uncertain.“June,” Renee said softly, finally breaking the silence, “do you really want to go through with this?”June met her friend’s gaze in the mirror. “I already told you, Renee. I love Xander. He’s been good to me, and this—today—it’s right.”Renee sighed, stepping back. “I know you believe that. I just… I’ve been watching you. And I still feel like you’re holding something back. Like your heart is racing ahead, but your gut is lagging behind.”J

After the whirlwind of the wedding and their picture-perfect honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast, June returned home radiating joy. The media buzzed about the fairytale romance between June Williams and Xander — the heiress and the charming businessman. Everything seemed to be falling into place, and June felt, for the first time in a long while, secure.Xander had played his part flawlessly. Doting husband. Passionate lover. Supportive partner. He knew when to pull her close, when to listen, when to flatter, and when to stay silent. He had spent weeks studying her — not just her habits, but her heart.Now, it was time to act.One quiet Saturday morning, June sat curled on the living room couch, her laptop balanced on her legs as she sifted through quarterly reports from her family's company and the one she'd recently acquired from Larry. Her brows were furrowed, the corners of her mouth pulled down in exhaustion. Xander walked in with a tray of croissants and green tea — one of her favori

Months after their grand wedding, life seemed nothing short of perfect for June. She woke up each day next to Xander feeling blessed, loved, and deeply cared for. He had made the transition into married life seamless. Always present, always supportive, and always saying the right things. He picked up responsibilities at her company like he had been born to lead. When she handed him the title of CEO, it had been with full trust and gratitude. After all, he only wanted to ease her burden or so he said. She believed every word, because for once in her life, someone appeared to choose her without conditions.Xander played his role flawlessly. He was loving, attentive, and generous with his time and affection. He prepared her breakfast, showed up to her events, and whispered encouragement into her ears at night. But behind that smooth charm and seemingly perfect partnership, Xander had already begun the next phase of his silent conquest. Slowly and carefully, he started redirecting her ass

Xander stared blankly at the half empty glass of whiskey in his hand, the swirling amber liquid catching the warm light of the desk lamp. His heart was pounding against his ribs, a sickening rhythm of panic and confusion. He tried to reason with himself he had done everything right. Every step of the plan had gone perfectly. But now this… a baby. A child that might be his. A child he never intended.His fingers trembled as he reached for his phone, scrolling to the contact labeled simply Dad. He hesitated for a second before pressing Call. The line rang twice before the deep, gravelly voice of his father came through.“Xander,” the voice said, curt and steady. “What is it?”“There’s a problem,” Xander said, his voice low and tight. “June… she’s pregnant.”There was silence on the other end for a moment. “What do you mean she’s pregnant?”“She told me today,” Xander replied, standing and pacing across the study floor. “She’s excited. She thinks we’re going to raise the child together.

The nightclub was glowing with energy neon lights blinked in sync with the deep bass that rumbled through the floor. The velvet-roped VIP section shimmered with laughter, perfume, and smoke, but in the midst of all the glitz, Xander sat hunched over his drink, the ice in his whiskey melting slowly like the mask he wore every day.His friends Malik, Terrence, and Raymond had been there from the beginning. They'd grown up together in privilege, forged their brotherhood in parties, schools, scandals, and secrets. They were used to seeing Xander with a woman on each arm, always in control. But tonight, they noticed something different. His silence was heavier than the music. His smile, forced. His energy, erratic.Malik finally spoke up, nudging him slightly. “Yo, man. You good? You’ve been quiet the whole night. You should be floating new wife, company under your belt, legacy secured. This should be the highlight of your life.”Xander let out a dry laugh, finishing the last of his drink.