All Chapters of The Billionaire’s Betrayed Bride: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

RILEY’S POVEthan had always known how to choose his moments.That was the thing people never noticed about him, not the charm, not the money, not even the arrogance that came later. It was the timing. He knew when you were tired, when you were alone, and least equipped to fight back. So when I stepped out of the records room and nearly collided with his chest, my first thought wasn’t why is he here?Of course he is.“Riley.”He said my name still belonged to him.I stopped short, my fingers tightening around the file I was holding. The corridor was quiet, so much I could almost hear my own breathing.Most of the staff were already heading out for lunch and the building felt distant here, muted by thick walls and shelving.“What do you want, Ethan?” I asked, keeping my voice level.He studied my face instead of answering, his gaze slow and deliberate, as if he were searching for something familiar. Something broken that he could still use. Should I say emotional downplay?.“You look

RILEY'S POV I woke up without panic for the first time in weeks.The realization came slowly, drifting in with the pale light filtering through the curtains. My chest didn’t tighten, neither did my thoughts scramble for threats and unfinished conversations, for faces I didn’t want to see. There was no alarm blaring, no sharp sound dragging me out of sleep like I’d done something wrong. Just silence.I lay there for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, listening to my own breathing as if it belonged to someone else. It felt unfamiliar, calm, unhurried, unburdened. The world hadn’t demanded anything from me yet.That alone felt like permission.I reached for my phone out of habit, thumb hovering over the screen. Notifications blinked back at me. Work emails, messages from Claire, the quiet insistence of responsibilities lining up to be acknowledged. And for a second, guilt rose instinctively, sharp and automatic.Then I set the phone back down. Today wasn’t about explaining myself

RILEY'S POV I hadn’t planned to stop by the hospital. It was one of those impulsive decisions that happened when my mind was too tired to argue with itself. I’d driven past the familiar white building at least twice before my foot eased off the accelerator on its own, the turn signal clicking softly like it had made the choice for me.Just a quick visit, I told myself. Just to check in for peace of mind.Peace of mind has become a luxury lately.The parking lot was half full, the afternoon sun reflecting off windshields in sharp flashes of light. I sat in the car for a moment after turning off the engine, hands resting loosely on the steering wheel, feeling that familiar mix of reassurance and unease the place always gave me.Hospitals had a way of holding everything at once. Beginnings and endings, fear and relief, joy and grief, all under the same sterile lights.I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and stepped inside. The air-conditioning hit immediately, cool and clean, carrying th

RILEY'S POV I had walked into the office that morning expecting the usual routine. The faint smell of brewed coffee lingering from the break room, low hum of the printer and distant chatter of colleagues who had nothing better to do than discuss what was happening in the office. I had expected normal. What I didn’t expect was the way all eyes turned to me the moment I stepped through the door, as if someone had flicked a switch and suddenly I was the only person in the room.My heels clicked against the polished tile floor, echoing just slightly too loudly in the tense silence. I could feel the weight of suspicion before anyone had even said a word. There was a subtle shift in the air, the kind of subtlety that only comes when people are waiting for someone to slip or falter. I clenched my bag strap a little tighter, willing myself to stay calm.By the time I reached my desk, I could feel the tension in my shoulders thickening, like invisible chains trying to pin me to the spot.

SOFIA'S POV I had prided myself on control. Every movement, every word, every decision meticulously calculated to maintain my position, my power, and my influence. I was untouchable, or at least, that’s what I had believed.That morning, as I walked into the office, I felt the usual surge of confidence. My heels clicked sharply against the tile, echoing authority. I smoothed the front of my blazer, smiled at the receptionist, and entered the boardroom as if I owned it, which in many ways, I did.But then something was off. There was an edge in the air I couldn’t immediately place. A subtle tension, like a thread pulled too tight, threatening to snap. I dismissed it at first, assuming it was just the usual corporate undercurrents. After all, there was always someone waiting for a misstep. And then it happened.My first error was small, almost imperceptible, but enough to set the tone for the day. I misread a memo from HR and scheduled a presentation at the wrong time, overlapping