All Chapters of Falling For The Billionaire I Was Hired to Protect : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

River leaned against the balcony railing, the city lights stretching far below him like a restless sea. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, flicked his lighter, and watched the small flame dance before touching the tip. Smoke curled upward, wrapping around his face. He needed space. Space from him.From Mister Control Freak.River’s jaw tightened as he exhaled slowly, watching the smoke drift into the night. Jace Maddox had this annoying way of talking to him, ordering him around, like he owned him. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe part of River hated the fact that Jace could talk to him however he wanted. And River hated himself more for letting him get away with it.All because of this stupid fake boyfriend act.“Penny for your thoughts?”The chirpy voice pulled him out of his head. River turned his head lazily, his dark eyes meeting a woman’s amused stare.She stood there, maybe early thirties, her hair swept up in loose curls, lips painted a bright red. Her dress clung to her

Jace sat on the couch, his chin resting on his hand, staring blankly at the muted TV. The quiet of the house felt louder than ever. River was gone. Sasha was busy. Leo was God knows where.And Jace was bored. Not just bored, restless. His mind kept replaying that kiss from a week ago, and worse, River’s coldness afterward.The sharp sound of the doorbell broke through his thoughts.Finally, something to distract him.Jace got up quickly, walking to the door. But the moment he swung it open, his body froze.“Hello, Jace,” Cole said, leaning casually against the doorframe, his smile sharp, his eyes glinting with something that made Jace’s stomach turn.Jace’s heart kicked hard in his chest. He slammed the door shut immediately.But it didn’t stay shut for long.The door opened again as Cole pushed his way in, stepping inside like he owned the place.Jace took a step back, his voice sharp. “What the hell do you want, Cole?”Cole shut the door behind him, his grin widening. “Now, now, is

The next morning felt heavy. The air inside the house was unusually quiet, the kind of quiet that pressed against your ears and made every small sound feel too loud.Even Sasha noticed it.She stood near the breakfast bar, sipping her coffee, her sharp eyes darting between River, who sat lazily scrolling through his phone, and Jace, who pushed his food around his plate without eating.Finally, Sasha set her mug down with a soft clink.“Okay, what’s going on?” she asked, her tone cutting through the silence.Both men looked up at the same time.“Nothing,” they said in unison.Sasha’s brows shot up. “Really? You two are acting like someone died, and you expect me to believe nothing is wrong?”Jace sighed, his fork clattering against his plate. He rubbed his temple, then looked at Sasha. “It’s… Cole.”Sasha frowned. “Cole? Who’s….” Her eyes widened. “Wait. That Cole? The ex?”Jace nodded reluctantly.“No way. How did it happen? I thought you said he didn’t know where you lived,” Sasha pr

“Jace.”A soft nudge to his shoulder stirred him from sleep. Jace blinked a few times, the warm hum of the car fading as his eyes slowly adjusted.“We’re here,” River said, his deep voice calm but firm.Jace sat up quickly, rubbing his eyes. “Already? That was fast.”River smirked faintly. “You slept through the whole ride.”Jace’s cheeks warmed slightly, but he ignored the teasing tone, stepping out of the car. His breath hitched as his eyes widened.The villa was massive. Modern architecture mixed with tropical touches, wide glass walls overlooking the ocean, and a pool that glimmered under the evening sky.“Holy… wow,” Jace muttered, taking it all in.Leo’s whistle broke the silence. “Now this is vacation life.”Sasha walked past them with her bag slung over her shoulder. “Don’t get too comfortable. We’re not staying here forever.”“Still,” Leo grinned, “I could get used to this.”Inside, the villa was just as breathtaking—spacious living areas, sleek furniture, and the distant sou

Two days had passed, and the air inside the suite had turned heavy.Sasha noticed it.She noticed the way Jace moved around like a ghost, his smile now faint and practiced, the way River leaned against walls, arms folded, pretending nothing was wrong.The tension between them was thick enough to choke on.Leo had tried to lighten the mood with his usual jokes, but even he gave up when River shot him a look that could kill.So Sasha stayed quiet, choosing to observe rather than push.It was already evening when her phone buzzed, the screen flashing an incoming call. She stepped to the side, answering quickly.“Yes, this is Sasha.”The voice on the other end was serious, almost panicked.“What? Are you sure?” Her brows furrowed. “Fine. I’ll handle it.”When she hung up, her gaze immediately darted to Jace, who sat on the couch staring at nothing.“We have to go back,” Sasha announced, her tone leaving no room for argument.Jace looked up, his expression unreadable. “Why?”“Business emer