《Falling For The Billionaire I Was Hired to Protect 》全部章節：第 31 章 - 第 40 章

By dawn, Sasha rushed into the penthouse, her heels clicking hard against the floor.“Jace, wake up,” she said, pulling the blinds open so sunlight spilled into the room. “We’ve got a problem. You have a meeting. An important one and you cannot miss this.”River, who had been sitting in the chair beside Jace’s bed all night, lifted his head slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Are you serious right now? He almost died yesterday. Maybe let the man breathe before you throw a meeting at him.”Sasha turned to him sharply, voice edged with urgency. “I know. But this is Maddox Enterprises collaborating with Jux Automobiles. If Jace isn’t there to sign, the whole deal could fall through. Months of work, gone.”Jace groaned, shielding his eyes from the light with one hand. “What are you talking about?” His voice was rough, clearly pissed off for waking up this early. “You’re the CEO,” Sasha said firmly. “They expect you to sign the agreement today. No one else can do it.”River stood, c

River made way for Jace's parents to enter and Jace was shocked to see them. Their names were Clara and Mike Maddox.For a long moment, the room was so silent that Jace could hear his own heartbeat slamming in his chest. His eyes darted from his father’s hard expression to his mother’s trembling hands. It felt unreal, like a nightmare he thought he had buried years ago.Jace’s voice cracked when he finally spoke. “What… what are you doing here?”Mike cleared his throat, his deep voice filling the air. “We heard the news of what happened to you, Jace. We couldn’t ignore it. We decided to visit.”But Jace’s jaw tightened. His voice rose, sharp with pain. “I don’t need your help. Not now. Not ever.”Clara took a hesitant step forward, her eyes glistening. “Jace, please… it’s been years. I’ve missed you every single day.”“Missed me?” Jace snapped, his laugh bitter, almost broken. “You disowned me. You left me standing in the rain with nothing. You told me I was no longer your son the mom

A month passed and Jace hadn't been himself since that incident with his parents. He rarely talks and him and River had grown distant. Though his memories had come back fully.The television flickered softly in the sitting room. A comedy show was playing, laughter echoing from the screen, but the atmosphere between Jace and River was anything but light. Jace sat with his arms folded, eyes staring blankly at the screen. River sat beside him, posture rigid, sneaking glances at Jace but saying nothing. The silence between them was heavier than words.For weeks now, Jace had been retreating into himself. Even though his memories had returned, it was as if the weight of them had crushed something inside him. River wanted to reach out, wanted to shake him, to comfort him, to demand answers, but all he could do was sit there, pretending the quiet didn’t cut like glass.The door suddenly banged open, making both of them jolt.“JACE!” Leo’s voice rang through the penthouse.Jace blinked, his b

River was on his way back home, his mind spinning like a storm he couldn’t control. The night air was cool, but he barely noticed it. Every step felt heavy, as if his boots were filled with lead. He couldn’t believe what he just saw, Eli was alive. Eli, the brother-in-arms he buried in his heart years ago. Eli Vargas, his military friend, the man who was supposed to be dead, was standing on that rooftop with a sniper rifle in his hands.River’s heart raced rapidly. His chest felt tight as he replayed the moment over and over in his mind, the sharp shot, the assassin collapsing at his feet, and then Eli’s face appearing through the rifle scope haze. The smirk. The undeniable recognition.“No,” River muttered to himself, shaking his head as though denying it would make it less real. “Theo told me… Theo said none of them made it. He swore it.”The thought hit him like a punch to the ribs. Theo. His informant. The man he trusted with finding out if any of their old team had survived that m

River took Jace's car as he went to Theo's house because he had been there before and he knew the place. By the time he arrived, he broke down the door.The sound of splintering wood echoed through the quiet street. River’s chest rose and fell as he stepped inside, eyes sweeping across the living room. The curtains were drawn, the air stale, as if no one had lived here properly for weeks. He could hear faint shuffling in the back, the kitchen.River’s jaw tightened.He moved silently, each step slow, until he reached the doorway. There, hunched over the counter, Theo was stuffing clothes into a worn duffel bag, hands shaking as he tried to move faster.River’s voice was sharp. “Going somewhere?”Theo froze. His shoulders stiffened before he slowly turned, eyes wide. “R-River, what are you doing here?”River didn’t waste time answering. He crossed the space in two strides and slammed his fist into Theo’s jaw. The force sent Theo sprawling against the counter.“You think you can play ga