All Chapters of Bound to the Cruel Billionaire: Chapter 31 - Chapter 36

"Played? What do you mean?” Thalia’s voice was thin, almost fragile. She sank back into her seat, trying to steady her breath, but her hands trembled in her lap, and her heart pounded so loudly she feared Keith might hear it. Something deep in her gut stirred. It was as if her instinct was telling her that whatever he was about to say would change everything. Keith sighed, and calmly changed his expression. It was clear he didn’t want her spiraling too far ahead. “We’ll know in due time,” he said evenly. “I’m still putting the pieces together. But rest assured, Conrad and I are doing everything we can to protect you.” He hesitated, then stepped forward and extended his hand. “And… I’m Keith. Keith Callaghan. Sorry for the late introductions.” There was something gentle in the gesture that made her think she can positively trust this stranger. Thalia stared at his hand for a second almost like she didn’t recognize what it meant before slowly reaching out. Her fingers touched h

(FLASHBACK A FEW DAYS AGO)Thunder cracked overhead as Kael’s black car tore into the circular driveway, tires skidding across the rain-slicked stone. The mansion loomed in the background, its gothic silhouette lit up by a flash of lightning that seemed to cleave the sky in half.Before the engine stopped rumbling, the driver’s side door slammed open. Kael emerged, drenched in seconds, his soaked coat clinging to his tall frame. But his fury burned hotter than the storm. His eyes locked onto the backseat.He then wrenched the rear door open and yanked Alina out by the arm. She shrieked, stumbling out into the torrential downpour.“Kael—Kael, stop!” she cried, slipping, her heels catching on the cobblestones. Her long hair plastered across her face, mingling with the rain and tears.But Kael didn’t stop.His grip was iron, clamped around her wrist like a man possessed. He pulled her mercilessly toward the estate gates, his jaw clenched, face carved with fury.“This is madness! You’re o

Keith stood by the front door, adjusting the cuff of his dress shirt. His blazer was hung over his arm, his phone tucked into his coat pocket, and the faint scent of cedar and clean soap followed him in the air. He looked every bit the successful man he was.But as he reached for the door, his eyes drifted back across the living room.There, seated on the floor beside the coffee table, Thalia was cross-legged and completely absorbed in organizing a small mountain of colorful pens and sticky notes. The table was now cluttered with new things. All things Keith had bought on a whim, claiming they were for her “creative sanity,” even if he didn’t quite know how she liked her stationeries yet.She hadn’t noticed he was watching her. Her head was tilted slightly, a lock of hair falling over her cheek as she frowned in concentration. Her fingers were delicately arranging gel pens by gradient color, violet to pink to sky blue. It was such a small, harmless moment. But Keith smiled.Then he sp