Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire’s Secret Heirs : Kabanata 111 - Kabanata 120

~HUNTER'S POV~Walking behind Celine as we came down the marble staircase felt like the most natural thing in the world, even though everything about this moment was completely foreign to me. I had never taken a woman on a proper date before—not like this, not with genuine intention behind it. The women I had been with in the past had been transactions, arrangements, brief meetings that served a purpose and nothing more.But watching Celine's nervous glances back at me, the way her fingers fidgeted with the fabric of that blue dress that made her look like she had stepped out of a dream, I realized I wanted this to be perfect for her. She deserved perfection.Her beauty wasn't the polished, manufactured kind I was used to seeing at charity galas and business functions. It was something softer, more authentic. The way the afternoon light caught in her chestnut hair, the natural flush in her cheeks that had nothing to do with makeup, the unconscious grace in her movements—it was all

~HUNTER'S POV~The sound of my name being called made every muscle in my body tense. I knew that voice – Patrick Henderson, my former business partner and the closest thing I had ever had to a brother before everything went to hell three years ago.I turned slowly, my hand still gripping Celine's on the table, and there he was. Patrick stood near the restaurant's entrance, his familiar crooked smile in place, but his eyes held a sharpness that hadn't been there before. He looked good – expensive suit, confident posture, success written all over him. The kind of success that should have been ours together."Hunter fucking Reid," Patrick said, approaching our table with that easy swagger I remembered so well. "I heard you were back in town, but I had to see it for myself."I felt Celine's hand shift under mine, her fingers tightening slightly. She could sense the tension spreading out from me, even if she didn't understand its source."Patrick." I kept my voice neutral, professional.

~CELINE'S POV~I couldn't bring myself to look at Hunter as we drove through the quiet streets back to the mansion. My cheeks burned with the memory of what had just happened in his car, and every time I caught a glimpse of his profile in my peripheral vision, my heart would skip a beat all over again.The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable, exactly, but it was charged with something new–something that made the air feel thick and electric. I kept my hands folded in my lap, trying to ignore the way my body still buzzed from his touch.My phone buzzed, breaking through my thoughts. Blake's name lit up the screen.‘Caesar's fast asleep. Hope you're having the most amazing night! Don't rush back – I've got everything covered.’I couldn't help but smile as I typed back a quick response, letting her know we were heading home."Everything alright?" Hunter's voice was softer than usual, and when I glanced over, his eyes held a tenderness I had never seen before."Just Blake. She put Ca

~CELINE'S POV~ (A Few Hours Earlier)My cheeks burned with humiliation as I stumbled through the west wing corridors, Hunter's Egyptian cotton sheet wrapped around me like a makeshift toga. The soft fabric that had felt so luxurious against my skin just moments ago now felt like a scarlet letter, announcing my shame to anyone who might see me.The door to our small quarters couldn't come fast enough. I burst through it like I was being chased by demons, my heart hammering against my ribs.Blake was already up, moving around our cozy little kitchen with the easy grace of someone who had claimed this space as home.She had a steaming mug of coffee in her hands and was humming softly to herself when I crashed through the door like a tornado."Well, well, well," she drawled, her eyebrows shooting up as she took in my appearance. "Someone's doing the walk of shame this morning. Though technically, it's more of a run of shame, isn't it?""Blake, please," I whispered, my voice hoarse with

CHAPTER 119Playlist suggestion: “Constellation” by Jade LeMac.“Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Ray “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. ~HUNTER'S POV~The amber liquid swirled in my glass like liquid gold, catching the dim lights of Vincent's penthouse bar. The city sprawled below us through floor-to-ceiling windows, a glittering maze of lights and possibilities that somehow felt less overwhelming than the chaos in my chest."So," Vincent said, settling into the leather chair across from me with his own drink, "how's the love life going with the pretty Celine?"Despite everything, I found myself smiling—a real smile that felt foreign on my face after years of practiced corporate expressions. "Different," I admitted, taking a sip of the whiskey. "She makes me feel... different."Vincent raised an eyebrow, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Different how? Like you've discovered emotions beyond a cold, calculating businessman?"I leaned back in my chair, the leather creak