Semua Bab The Billionaire Married Me, Then Forgot How to Love Me: Bab 101 - Bab 110

(Serena)James’ whole posture shifts, shoulders rising like he’s been caught in something. He straightens, adjusts the blanket in the pram a little too deliberately.I don’t miss the flicker in his eyes. That fast calculation he does when he’s trying to figure out how bad something looks. How bad this looks.He’s holding the baby.Her baby.Savannah turns next, slow and smiling, like I’ve walked in at the perfect moment.Her hands are clasped in front of her and her hair’s been styled, just messy enough to look natural. There’s a glow to her, either from good lighting or a good performance. I can’t decide which.“Oh, Serena!” she calls, her voice airy and warm like I’ve just stepped into a spa lounge. “I’m so glad you’re here.”She steps toward me like she’s welcoming me into her courtyard, like this isn’t some cruel twist in a morning that was already hard enough to stomach. I’ve barely had time to breathe today, now this?“I’ve just been telling James,” she says, her voice dropping

(Serena)I freeze. So now we revert back to the real James under personal pressure?Is this who he truly is, who he always will be?“I’m going James, if I ever come back is up to you. But a tip for you, if you react like this every time, I won’t ever be back.”He lowers his voice just enough to make it feel colder. “You leave like this, expect divorce papers in a month.”I get closer to him. “Is that supposed to scare me?”His mouth is a hard line. He doesn’t answer. “You can’t survive without me. I’ll ruin you.”“News flash for you, you already did. But I’ll come back stronger. I don’t need you, and worse, I don’t even want you right now.”“Once the Hale name is gone, you think you’ll thrive? Not a chance.”“You think I care about your threats?” My voice is trembling now, but not from fear. “I’ve been hearing your mother’s since the day I walked in here. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”“Stop blaming my family for every bad thing that ever happened to you. You never tried t

(James)Savannah moves toward me with a damp cloth in her hand, but I hold up mine before she can touch me.“Don’t,” I say. “I’ll sort it out.”She stops, cloth hovering in the air, eyes wide and wounded. “James…”“I mean it. This isn’t appropriate right now. You shouldn’t be here.”She doesn’t back away. She never does.“I saw them leaving, your face…” Her voice softens. “I just wanted to check on you. As a friend. That’s not a crime.”“No,” I say, turning away. “But it’s not nothing either.”She lingers. I can feel waiting around behind me, and for once, I wish she’d just take the hint. Maybe Serena is right about Savannah. But I’ve lived us from Savannah’s point of view too, and I get why Savannah has trouble letting us go.“I’m not going to apologize for still loving you,” she says gently. “I’ve never hidden that.”I turn round and wince a little. I feel bruised in places I didn’t forgotten could hurt. It’s been years since I had a fist fight. I feel kind of energized. I know Wes

(Serena)The restaurant Sabine chose is discreet and impossibly chic.It’s the kind of place where no one raises an eyebrow when two of the most influential women in the world walk in with their security detail just behind them.I’m already seated when they arrive- Vivian in an ivory pantsuit and killer heels, Sabine in her signature navy wrap dress and a diamond tennis bracelet that likely costs more than my bakery equipment.I stand to greet them, bracing myself against the table, careful not to let my weight fall on the wrong foot. Sabine notices instantly. Of course she does.“You’re limping, and you have a sling?” she says gently as we sit. “What happened?”“I slipped,” I reply smoothly. “Top stair, outside Hale Mansion. It wasn’t as dramatic as it sounds.”Vivian’s eyes narrow. “You were fine when we left the other night.”“I was.” I force a smile. “It’s nothing. I’m okay.”They don’t push, but I can feel the awareness hanging in the air. These women have made a life out of read

(James)I land on the 74th floor and the entire Hale Tower shifts into motion.They see me. Everything sharpens. Cleaner lines, quieter voices, faster steps.A cup of black coffee is already waiting in the glass-walled corner office. Triple-filtered.No sugar. No cream. Perfect.“Mr. Hale, good morning,” Arden says as she steps into stride beside me. Impeccably tailored grey suit, hair back, tablet in hand. “COO-level briefings start in twenty. Leo has finalized encryption on the venture doc for the Emirati delegation. And Camilla wants five minutes about the Zurich deal.”“She can have four,” I say, scanning the morning alerts Theo left flagged on my desk.Arden gives the smallest nod. “Also… your father called. Twice.”“Let him wait.”Across from me, my personal office stretches across half the floor. Crystal skyline. Oak-and-black steel fixtures. Minimalist luxury. Power incarnate.This place is built to run countries.“Arden, cancel my one p.m. I’ll be at the mansion this afternoo