Semua Bab The Billionaire’s Betrayed Bride: Bab 61 - Bab 70

RILEY'S POV The soft chime of the doorbell announced my entrance into the coffee shop. The moment I stepped inside, warmth wrapped around me, freshly brewed coffee, warm pastries, cinnamon… everything comforting enough to make the entire day seem a little lighter.It was quieter than usual with only a few people sitting tucked into corners with laptops, a couple whispered over mugs of cappuccino, and soft music floated across the room.And then I saw her.Ava Aiden’s twin sister, already seated at a corner table, waving slightly when our eyes met.My stomach twisted as the embarrassment from yesterday slithered right back up my spine.I took a steady breath and walked over.“Hey,” I said softly.She smiled, bright and warm, like the embarrassment hadn’t been life ending at all.“Hello Riley. I’m glad you made it.”“I, uh… thank you for inviting me.” I sat down opposite her, clutching my purse in both hands. “And I.. I want to apologize for yesterday. I really didn’t know you were Ai

RILEY'S POV I should have known Claire was up to something the moment she barged into my room with that sweet smile plastered across her face. Claire’s smiles were many things, chaotic, mischievous, trouble-inducing, but innocent was never one of them. Not once, in all the years I’d known her.“Pack a bag,” she announced like a drill sergeant, yanking my wardrobe open. “We’re going on a trip this weekend.”“For what?” I blinked at her, half awake. It was barely 7:00am.“For fun,” she stated. “For healing and sisterhood. For estrogen and all the crap we’ve been through.”Hearing her sound so motivated made me laugh, completely amused.And when Claire was determined about something, resistance was futile. So I packed modestly, unlike her, and by noon we were on a bus to God knows where, she wouldn't tell me.She hummed excitedly all through the ride, like we were sixteen-year-old girls on their first escape from home.I didn’t mind it at all. Living with Claire meant there was somethi

RILEY'S POV I never got to understand what it was about concerts, the noise, the lights, or the heat of too many people pressed into one space, but when it ended, the world always went strangely quiet. Like someone turned a dial down on reality, leaving only the after-buzz in my ears and the pulse in my chest.The crowd spilled out of the arena in waves, everyone loud, breathless and laughing. But next to me, Claire was practically bouncing, the ends of her braids swinging as she talked about how good the performance was, and how nostalgic it was that those guys aged like fine wine.”I tried to keep up with her energy, but my mind was still stuck back at the love tree, at the moment Aiden stepped out from behind the branches like the universe’s worst-kept secret. Claire was behind it. I wasn't sure if Owen was part of this since he was nowhere to be found, but I knew she had help.It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't asked how she'd gotten the funds for this trip. What a sly bi

CLAIRE'S POV The weekend ended just as quickly as it had begun, and I was back to work again.Mondays at the office were usually loud. Ringing phones, printers whining, coworkers gossiping about their weekends. But that morning felt oddly peaceful. I was halfway through a report, twirling my pen and thinking about what dessert Riley and I should make that night, when my phone rang.The hospital’s name flashed on the screen. My heart instantly dropped.Hospitals don’t call for good reasons, they don’t call unless something is wrong.I picked up so fast the phone nearly slipped.“Hello?.” I mumbled.“Miss Claire?” the voice asked. I swallowed hard. “Yes, that's me.” “Your friend asked that I reach out to you. She’s been admitted due to abdominal pains. You may want to come in.”Abdominal pains?A cold shock ran through me.She was pregnant, that only meant one thing. Something dreadful I didn't even want to think of.I didn’t even remember grabbing my purse, or shouting at my boss t

AIDEN'S POVThe room was too quiet, not the peaceful kind of quiet, not the safe kind.This was the kind that crept under your skin and settled in your bones, the kind that made even your heartbeat sound intrusive.My footsteps echoed against the concrete floor as I walked around the metal chair in the center of the room. The man tied to it refused to look at me, even now. He stared forward, jaw set, his breathing slow, controlled. Too controlled.That alone was enough to get me on the edge.Most men in his position would’ve been shaking, begging, bargaining to keep their lives.But not him.He held himself like someone who believed he still had power. My guess, he was probably next in command to whatever thug that led him.“You’re a tough one,” I muttered, folding my arms and leaning against the table shoved to the far wall.He didn’t flinch, or blink. Just sat still like I wasn't even there.The dim bulb overhead flickered once, throwing a brief stutter of light across his face. Th