Semua Bab Embraced By The Billionaire: Bab 101 - Bab 110

Avery was trying to calm her thoughts by reading a book in the small library. Suddenly, the phone lying on the table vibrated, displaying an unfamiliar number she didn’t recognize. Her heart skipped, a flicker of unease stirring inside her.Usually, unknown numbers meant trouble or journalists trying to dig for information. Still, after hesitating for a moment, she decided to answer.“Hello?” Avery said, her voice cautious.“Avery? It’s me, Oliver.” The voice on the other end sounded slightly hoarse, yet unmistakably familiar.Avery was a little startled. She had thought Oliver would never contact her again after their last meeting. Her ex-husband was in prison, and his phone privileges were extremely limited. “What is it, Oliver? Do you need something?” she asked flatly, keeping her distance. She didn’t want to give him any hope or allow this conversation to become a crack through which Oliver could slip back into her life.“No, Avery. I just wanted to ask how you and Adelia are doin

Ashton fell silent for a moment. The name Marcus had just mentioned over the phone sounded unfamiliar to his ears. All this time, he had believed he knew everyone within Gianna’s inner circle, yet this name had never once appeared on his radar.“Leo Clarke? Who is that?” Ashton asked, his voice flat but laced with deep curiosity. His brows knitted together as he searched his memory, wondering if the name had ever come up in passing conversations in the past. But there was nothing. Absolutely nothing.On the other end of the line, Marcus let out a soft chuckle. “Miss Robinson must know him very well, Ashton. Perhaps a little too well,” he replied.Ashton’s frown deepened. His mind worked at full speed, connecting the dots of the information he had just received. The fact that Gianna had been in Los Angeles. The fact that she had undergone an abortion. And the fact that Ashton himself had been in Tokyo at the time. If he wasn’t the father, then there had to be another man. And that man

The large television in the center of the Knight’s family room was broadcasting Leo Clarke’s press conference live. Ashton sat on the sofa with an expressionless face, but his clenched fists resting on his knees revealed the tension within him.Beside him, Sarah covered her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief at Leo’s courage in revealing everything.Avery stood a short distance away by the window, her gaze fixed on the television screen. She listened to every word that came from Leo Clarke’s mouth, saw the text messages displayed, and felt the sincerity in the man’s voice.Each of Leo’s words struck like a hammer, shattering the invisible wall that had separated Avery from Ashton over the past few days. The tightness in her chest slowly faded, replaced by overwhelming shame.When the broadcast ended and the screen shifted to a news summary, Sarah turned off the television. She looked at her brother and her future sister-in-law in turn, then quietly excused herself, giving them privacy.

Avery frowned as sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains and fell across her face. She was still curled up beneath the thick blanket, trying to calm the turmoil in her stomach, which felt as though it had just been hit by a massive wave.The nausea returned, stronger than yesterday. Every time she tried to breathe, the lavender-scented air freshener which was usually soothing, now felt like a sharp poison burning her nose.“Avery? Love, are you still in bed?” Ashton’s baritone voice came from the doorway, gentle but heavy with worry he couldn’t hide.Ashton walked closer and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out, touching Avery’s forehead, which felt cool and slightly damp. “You’re so pale. It’s been three days like this. I’m really about to cancel my meeting with the board today and take you to the hospital.”Avery slowly opened her eyes and forced a weak smile. “Don’t, Ashton. That meeting is very important for our legal process later. I’m fine, really. This is probabl

The next day, Avery began to feel confused about how she should act. She started unconsciously avoiding everyone by keeping herself busy with anything that could keep her out of Ashton’s reach. If Ashton entered a room, Avery would find an excuse to immediately leave for another one.The same went for Sarah. Every time the girl tried to strike up a conversation with her, Avery would look for reasons to end it quickly. She felt uncomfortable, and afraid of her own behavior.That morning, Avery spent hours in the nursery, pretending to be very busy rearranging Adelia’s wardrobe, which was actually already neat. In the afternoon, she shut herself away in the library, claiming that she had to finish the foundation’s annual report online.She refused to have dinner together, saying she was still full after her afternoon snack, and she always went to bed early or at least pretended to sleep when Ashton entered their bedroom.Ashton Knight was not a foolish man. He felt every inch of the dis