Semua Bab A contract with the ruthless mafia billionaire : Bab 41 - Bab 50

Lia’s POVKade’s hand burned on my jaw but I managed to rip my face away and shoved him hard in the chest, the force pushing him back a little.“Don’t you touch me.” My voice thundered in the car. “I’d rather rot on the streets than let you drive me anywhere. Do you hear me, Kade? Rot.”The words flew like glass shattering between us. But it seemed that my words didn’t move him even a bit. He didn’t blink, Instead, his lips curved into that same cruel and sly smirk that made my blood boil. He looked down at me like I was amusing him, as though my rage was nothing but something he was already too used to. “You think this is about a ride home?” His voice was quiet, but dangerous. “You have no idea how many eyes are on you now that I’ve set you free.” I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms so tightly that it hurt. “Don’t you dare start with manipulation games with me because I’m not the Lia that you easily scared in the past anymore.” I shot back.He leaned closer and his bo

Lia’s POVThe pounding on the door of my apartment rattled through the quiet like a war drum. Someone wasn’t here to exchange pleasantries.Heavens…..it better not be Kade.I muttered, tugging my robe tighter around me as I made my way across the living room. I wasn’t expecting anyone by this late hour, not after the bad night I’d just had.My brain still carried the memory of Kade’s eyes the moment I bolted before the situation would have gotten deeper than that. A cocktail of anger and something darker burned in my throat, but I shoved it down as I unlocked the door—Selene.She stood there like a storm wrapped in silk with her lips painted in venom-red lipstick, eyes glittering with pure fury. For a while, we just simply stared down at each other before parting my lips to speak.“Of all the houses in this city, you had to show up at mine? What the hell are you doing here, Selene?”But she didn’t waste any time and walked into my apartment without my permission, her heels clicking

Lia’s POVThe cheap dress I’d bought from the thrift store clung to my skin like something I didn’t want anyone to discover. I had stitched it myself just to make it a bit presentable for this event tonight.Not to talk of my damn shoes that pinched, but I’d told myself none of that mattered because I wasn’t here to compete with anyone. I was here to sell my art.My paintings stood lined against the wall like neglected children as I hovered around them, trying to catch the attention of passing guests, smiling when someone paused for half a second. “These are my original works,” I said more times than I could count. “They’re about emotions, struggle and rebirth…”But their eyes would look past it and then walk away towards champagne and safer conversations.It was like I wasn’t even there. Like my work was invisible in a room that screamed of the wealthy and powerful.As the hours passed, I could feel humiliation eating at me. I wanted to take my paintings and drag them out of this gli

Kade’s POVLia’s rejection replayed over and over. Her voice when she told me that she didn’t belong to me anymore. Wonder what she’s been up to these past few days.I’d already gotten used to a thousand rejections in my life but crushed them all into dust. But hers—hers lingered too long that it was supposed to, sharp as a blade carving me open from the inside.I sat on the edge of the leather couch holding my phone in my hand, my thumb hovering over her number. Just one call won’t hurt Kade. Just to hear her voice and end the call before I would say too much.But I didn’t press it. My pride was louder than desperation inside me, and I was a man who never had to beg for anything in his life.Sigh…I let out a sharp breath and tossed the phone aside. The glass in my hand clinked as my grip tightened around it. She doesn’t mean a damn thing to me….just a little girl that I could move on easily from.But my body betrayed me.Because when I closed my eyes, I didn’t see just her face—I fe

Lia’s POVThe elevator ride to my apartment felt endless. My mind wouldn’t stop replaying what had just happened at Julian’s penthouse — he almost kissed me! Not to talk of the way his voice dipped when he pulled away last minute as he whispered about desire. I could still feel him — the heat of his body behind mine, the way his breath had brushed against my ear like a secret.It shouldn’t have affected me this much, but it did, because my skin still tingled where his fingers had guided mine across the canvas. “Forget about what happened, Lia. Maybe he’s just trying to mess with you.” I murmured more to myself. But the more I tried to convince myself that I was over it, the more the memory wouldn’t leave my head.Julian wasn’t like Kade. His touch wasn’t about dominance or control. Everything about him was wrapped in gentleness, and temptation disguised as curiosity. He didn’t demand my submission; he lured me into it. And that made it worse. Because somewhere between his teasing w