Lahat ng Kabanata ng Betrayed by One, Loved by the Billionaire : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

The receptionist slid a glossy key card across the marble counter with a smile on her face that looked like she had perfected it after so much rehearsal.“Mr. Blackwood, your suite is ready. One suite with two separate bedrooms and an ocean view. We hope you enjoy your stay at the Paradise Grand. Thank you.”Alex accepted the card with a nod, his expression unreadable. I reached for mine, thinking I’d quickly slip it into my purse before following him toward the elevators, but then I realised that there was only one for both of us. I could feel the receptionist’s eyes on me, curious, maybe even judgmental, as to what I was looking at.As soon as we were out of earshot, my chest tightened inside of me. I had been holding back the words since we left Miami, but they burst out before I could stop myself.“One suite?” My voice trembled with anger that I could no longer restrain. “With two bedrooms?”Alex didn’t even glance at me. “Do you have a problem with that?”I quickened my ste

The sun pressed hot against my skin, the salty breeze hitting the edges of my towel. I leaned back into the comfortable cushioned lounge chair, hat tilted low to shield my face from the sun, the turquoise pool reflecting dazzling light that almost mocked the terrible mood that I was in. My phone pressed warm to my ear, Lois’s familiar voice filling it up with requests to hear everything happening.“Girl, you sound tense already,” she said. I could practically hear her chewing gum in the office as she spoke to me, that carefree rhythm of her tone. “Aren’t you supposed to be sipping drinks with little umbrellas and forgetting all your worries and problems? Maldives, Chloe! It’s the freaking Maldives!”I let out a bitter laugh, pushing my sunglasses up to rub my eyes with my hand. “Oh yeah, so relaxing. You mean while the world labels me as Alex Blackwood’s newest mystery fling? While my name trends like some scandal headline in every blog and article?”Lois snorted. “Please. I saw those

The door to the suite shut behind us with a dull click, sealing in the silence that had followed us all the way from the elevator. I tossed my bag onto the table harder than I intended to, the thud echoing in our spacious room. My arms folded across my chest, and the words spilt out from my mouth before I could stop myself.“What the hell was that back there?” My voice found its way through the air, sharp, accusing.Alex didn’t flinch one bit. He loosened the buttons on his cuff with maddening calm, walking toward the minibar like he hadn’t just turned an already tense encounter into a battlefield. “What was what?” he asked with a smooth voice, his tone sounding bored by me.I blinked, fury bubbling hotter. “Don’t you dare play coy with me.” I stepped closer to him now, every nerve in my body buzzing with frustration. “Bryan. My ex-husband. You practically staked your claim on me while we were in front of him. What was that about?”He poured amber liquid into a glass, the sound of

The moment we stepped into the glittering dinner hall, I felt the air around me change to something else I couldn’t describe. Chandeliers rained gold over the room, the polished tiled floors shone brightly like mirrors, and the live jazz band playing in the background delivered rhythms that made everyone move at least once. Waiters in white jackets weaved seamlessly between guests, pouring them champagne, placing hors d’oeuvres onto trays that glowed under the light. For a second, I couldn’t deny it, I was stunned and happy that I was here.But that awe burned away quickly.Alex’s hand at the bottom of my back steered me toward a circle of elite people in society and investors dressed in expensive suits and sleek dresses, their laughter polite, their eyes searching for the next dollar to be made.“Gentlemen. Ladies,” Alex said smoothly, his voice cutting through like silk over steel. He gestured to me with the faintest smile. “This is Miss Chloe, my General Manager.”The acknowled

The night air clung heavy and warm as I staggered out of the bar confused, my heels stumping unevenly against the stone pavement. My vision swam a little, the glow of the streetlamps blurring into halos. The alcohol burned hot in my veins, loosening my tongue, anger spilling out of me in broken mutters.“I’m done. Done with all these foolish men,” I hissed to no one in particular. “They all think they own the damn world. Bryan, Alex, every freaking single one of them. Done.”Behind me, his voice came smooth, amused, the faintest curl of laughter riding on it. “Good thing I’m just a nobody looking for a drink.”I spun clumsily, staring at him, though the edges of my vision tilted. He followed at a slow, steady pace, hands in his pockets, eyes glowing under the light.“A nobody?” I laughed too loudly, the sound brittle and sharp. “Please. That’s what they all say until they’ve got you right where they want you. Invisible. That’s what I am. Invisible to Bryan. Invisible to Alex. Invi