RETURN OF MY BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

He’d barely towelled his hair when the phone on the counter screamed. Ethan snatched it up, breath still hot from the shower.“It’s been two days. Lauren Whitmore hasn’t returned home,” the spy said, voice flat.“I’ll call Amy.” He did, fingers fumbling....Amy answered on the second ring. “Hi, Amy.”“Thank God. Lauren said she was in Beverly Hills and would be home soon. It’s been seven hours. Her phone rings but no one answers…” Her voice frayed. Ethan didn’t wait to hear more. He ripped on the nearest clothes and ran.Preston Carter called as he came down the drive.“I’m outside Opulen Bank in Beverly Hills. Lauren’s car is parked here. Her phone was under the car—there’s blood. Police are here.” The words landed like a punch.Ethan sprinted. At the scene he took Lauren’s phone, thumbed at it, listening to static and the small fury of his own hands. “CCTV shows two masked men,” Preston said. “One hit her with a stick, dragged her to a car. They parked out of CCTV so we couldn't c

Ethan was filled with victory, but his heart was restless.“Where is Lauren, Dad?” he asked quickly.Raymond smiled softly. “She told Amy she’ll stay at our house tonight.”Ethan gasped. “Are you serious, Dad?”Tears welled in Raymond’s eyes. “Ethan, today you made me proud—but also ashamed of myself. All these years, I chased after Blackspire and never truly paid attention to how you were coping. That night in my study, I realized something painful. I was more afraid of losing Blackspire than of how losing Lauren would destroy you. I had forgotten my family. Ethan, you have become everything I failed to be.”Ethan’s eyes softened. “Father, you inspire me more than you know. You built Blackspire. You pushed me to complete my tech startup. You may not be perfect—no one is—but you’ll always be my inspiration.”A quiet smile passed between them.For the first time in years, it wasn’t about business.It was about father and son.***Ethan entered the house, the air filled with excitement

“Ethan broke into our system in the basement and stole the footage of Caleb Monroe burning Guinevere Cross’s house — then gave it to the police,” one of the Helix Dynamics men said angrily.Miss Crayon slammed her hand on the table. “He lied to us about the project. He tricked us, hacked our CCTVs and our systems.”Fisher, the oldest with grey hair, frowned. “But… why hasn’t he come after us?”“He’s buying time,” Tony said. “Ethan always has a plan. We don’t know it yet. We must get into his tech company.”“You mean Air Tech?” Fisher asked.“Yes. Put spies inside his company,” Miss Crayon replied.Tony smiled sadly. “You think he’s simple. Everyone who works with him now were his college friends. He led their tech team then. He tried ideas like Mark Zuckerberg’s, and even when he was passed over he kept working. Now his apps compete with Facebook and Instagram.”Fisher nodded slowly. “I heard he doesn’t walk with bodyguards.”Tony chuckled. “He does have bodyguards, but you’d never sp

Lauren jumped to her feet and glared at Guinevere. “You did this to Amy?”Guinevere’s face was stone. “Say one more word and I’ll pull the trigger.”Lauren advanced. Guinevere took a step back, eyes hard. “Don’t come any closer. Do you hear me? I will fire.”Lauren didn’t stop. She kept moving until she was beside the fire extinguisher. In one quick motion she grabbed it and swung. The can struck Guinevere’s wrist; the gun flew from her hand and skittered across the floor. Lauren snatched it up before Guinevere could react.She trained the barrel steadily on the intruder, every inch of her trembling. “You had no business coming into my house to touch my friend,” Lauren said, teeth clenched. “Playing the victim after what you did—how dare you.”Then she fired, the bullet lodging in Guinevere’s left leg. Guinevere screamed and bounded out the door, clutching the wound. Lauren watched her go for a long beat, then collapsed to her knees beside Amy.Amy was unconscious, blood darke

The courtroom was packed—reporters lined the benches, cameras flashing outside the double doors. Everyone wanted to see the heir of Monroe Holdings stand trial.“Case number 45873,” the clerk announced. “The People of the State of California versus Caleb Monroe, charged with felony kidnapping.”Caleb sat at the defense table in a crisp suit, his jaw set, eyes cold. His father, Jonathan Monroe, sat behind him, his presence as heavy as the chandeliers overhead.The judge, Honorable Marcus Delgado, leaned forward. “Counsel, are we ready to proceed?”The prosecutor, District Attorney Angela Ruiz, rose first. “Your Honor, the evidence is clear. The defendant, Caleb Monroe, unlawfully restrained and removed Mrs. Lauren Whitmore against her will. Under California Penal Code 207, that is kidnapping. The law does not require he harmed her physically—only that he moved her without consent, by fear or coercion. We will prove that.”Caleb’s attorney, Richard Holloway—one of Beverly Hills’ most