Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire Replaced Me With My Assistant : Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

Sophia's POV I opened the door to my apartment with the same energy I had carried all day: dragging, heavy, as if I carried on my shoulders the sterile smell of the hospital and the silent weight of Emma, still asleep. The day had been long, marked by that strange offer from Pierce, but also by the monotonous sound of the monitors and the immobile pallor of my best friend's face. I expected to find the darkness and silence that awaited me every night, a scenario that fit perfectly with the emptiness I felt. Instead, I was greeted by a warm, soft light. Candles? And a smell... divine. Of something homemade, of tomato, garlic, fresh basil. "I heard the key in the door," a familiar voice echoed from the kitchen. Michael appeared in the doorway to the living room, wearing one of those ridiculous aprons Emma had given me as a joke, with the words 'Kiss the Chef'. In his hand, he held a wooden spoon. His smile was cautious, but genuine. "Michael... what are you doing here?" I ask

Alexander's POVThe Reed Group boardroom in New York was silent, but the tension was so thick you could cut it. My uncle and aunt, Alistair and Beatrice Reed, were seated on the other side of the immense mahogany table, their faces as cold as the marble floor."Alexander, this has gone far enough," said Uncle Alistair, adjusting his expensive jacket. "Your parents, God rest their souls, would never have approved of this alliance with the Pierces. You are jeopardizing the family's legacy."Aunt Beatrice leaned forward, her ice-blue eyes piercing through me. "They are people without our class, Alexander. Without our tradition. And your way of conducting business... well, it is simply improper."I took a deep breath, feeling the anger boiling inside me. When I spoke, my voice was low but laden with venom."You have no idea," I said, staring fixedly at one and then the other. "This company was sinking when I took it over. And you? You sat in your exclusive clubs, waiting for the dividends

Sophia's POVI still held the phone in my hand, the tears of relief drying on my face. My friend had opened her eyes. It wasn't a complete miracle, but it was a spark of hope after so many days of darkness. I needed to see her. Now.I went to Mark's office and knocked gently on the door."Come in," his voice came from the other side.I opened the door and saw him sitting at his desk, focused on a document. He looked up and smiled when he saw me."Mark, I need to be away for a few hours. My friend Emma... she woke up. I need to go to the hospital."He put down his pen immediately. "Of course, Sophia. Go. Don't worry about anything here.""Thank you," I said, turning to leave."Sophia, wait," his voice made me stop at the door.I turned around. "Yes? Is there something else?"He seemed to hesitate, choosing his words carefully. "It's about my mother. She... she wants to see you. To apologize for that incident at the pool last time."I sighed. "Mark, it's not necessary. We both know it w

Alexander's POVMy office at the Reed Group was silent, illuminated only by the light from my computer and a desk lamp. It was almost eleven at night. I was sitting in my leather chair, my white shirt unbuttoned at the collar and my tie loose. For some goddamn reason, the image of Sophia in that black dress the night I traded her for Victoria wouldn't leave my head.I needed information. More information.I got up and went to the door. I opened it carefully and peered into the dark hallway. Nothing. Total silence. Victoria must have been home already. I closed the door and locked it, turning the key until I heard the safe click.I went back to the desk and picked up my phone. I dialed the detective's number.He answered almost immediately. "Mr. Reed.""Do you have any news?" I asked, skipping the greetings."Yes, sir. I'm still following Miss Morgan. Today she followed her usual routine: she went straight from work to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She seems to make daily visits."M

Irina's POVI watched the matriarch there, motionless as one of the expensive statues decorating the place. She held the photos with a trembling hand. Her eyes, normally so cold and calculating, were glistening with unshed tears."After all these years..." her voice came out broken, different from her usual tone of authority. "Richard, is it really her?"Pierce approached, his smile confident, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. "The partial DNA tests don't lie, Eleonor. This girl is her. Twenty-eight years old. Raised in an orphanage."Eleonor let out a sound between a laugh and a sob. Her hands, adorned with diamonds, caressed the blurry photo."My granddaughter...", she whispered. "My little one. After searching for so long..."I remained alert. Her genuine emotion was dangerous. Emotional people make mistakes, and in our line of work, mistakes are costly.Suddenly, Eleonor raised her head, her eyes narrowing. The vulnerability had lasted less than a minute."Wait." Her v