Todos os capítulos de THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET BRIDE : Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

Nolan Drake, Damian Cross’s assistant, appeared without warning. At his signal, two guards seized the hysterical Liana Vale and dragged her out of the hotel. By the time Celeste Monroe found her daughter, Liana was crumpled on the pavement, trembling and too weak to stand. The moment she saw her mother, she lurched forward and clung to her sleeve like a drowning woman. “Sob… Mom, help me! I changed my mind—I want to marry Damian! I want to be the lady of the Cross Consortium! That was supposed to be my place. I won’t let Aria humiliate me like this! If I marry him, half the Cross Consortium will be ours. I’ll give you your share, I promise. Please, Mom!” Celeste’s anger softened as she watched her daughter break down. The thought of Aria ending up with Damian—of Patsy Oates somehow winning from beyond the grave—twisted something bitter inside her. Grinding her teeth, Celeste made a silent vow: Liana would marry Damian, no matter what. Once that happened, they would never fear poverty

In her previous life, Aria had only known Clara in passing, but she knew enough. Clara’s husband, Julian Crest, was one of Meridian City’s elite and a close confidant of Damian Cross. Just a month earlier, at Liana’s birthday celebration, Clara had been drugged and ended up in Julian’s bed. The scandal had forced them into marriage. But Julian’s heart belonged to another, and he blamed Clara for everything. Only Aria knew the truth—it had been Liana who tampered with the drink. Which made Clara and Aria unwilling but necessary allies against a shared enemy. After Clara left, Aria finished packing. She didn’t own much—just a few changes of clothes. That was all she’d ever been allowed under Rowan Vale’s roof. She didn’t go downstairs. Instead, she waited calmly in her room, knowing exactly who would appear next. Soon, a knock came. Liana stepped inside holding a steaming bowl of chicken soup, her smile overly bright and dripping with false warmth. “Hey, sis! I made you someth

When Celeste Monroe reached the front gate, Rowan Vale informed her bluntly that Aria had already left. She stared at him in disbelief. “What? That little brat left without even saying a proper goodbye to me?” For a fleeting moment she looked almost sentimental, but once she remembered that her plan with Liana was about to succeed, her disappointment evaporated. Rowan shot her a strange, cold look before walking back into the house. “You’ve never liked Aria anyway. Why pretend now?” Celeste ignored his disgust entirely. “Whatever. Once the plan works, Rowan is next on my list.” Meanwhile, Aria Vale was already on the road, the memory of Celeste’s expression bringing a small, satisfied smile to her lips. Her bright eyes gleamed with quiet amusement, and she even hummed softly, enjoying just how perfectly everything was falling into place. By now, Clara had completed every task assigned to her, and tomorrow would be nothing short of unforgettable. At a red light, Nolan Drake studied A

“Aria, I think I just found your little secret.” Damian narrowed his eyes, holding her small hand as his other slipped into her sleeve and pulled out a silver needle. It glinted coldly between his fingers—sharp, polished, and clearly not something an innocent girl should be carrying. Aria’s eyes widened, but she quickly regained her composure, offering him a blank, harmless look. “A needle, hmm?” Damian’s smile was thin and icy. “Aria, are you trying to get rid of your fiancé, or is this one of your schemes? Speak.” But Aria didn’t panic. She had expected this confrontation from the moment he stopped believing her “naive little girl” act backstage at the engagement party. And until she was certain he wouldn’t lose interest in her real self, she couldn’t risk dropping the facade. So she blinked her wide eyes and tilted her head. “Big brother, do you like shiny little needles too?” Damian squinted, frustrated but curious. Was she really still pretending to be foolish? Straightenin

Aria Vale’s heart lurched painfully, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as panic gripped her chest. Damian. Her Damian. All she wanted that morning was a single glimpse—just one moment to confirm he was safe and still within reach. But where could he have gone so early? Barefoot and frantic, she dashed through the villa, searching every corner. Not in the living room. Not in the gardens. Not in the study. He was nowhere. Her Damian had left her. Disappointment crashed through her so hard she nearly collapsed. Then something clicked. Not one maid had spoken to her all morning. The realization chilled her. Of course—Mrs. Whitmore. The housekeeper had watched Damian leave at dawn, looking troubled, skipping breakfast, and heading straight to the back hill—somewhere he only visited when deeply upset. It had been a long time since he’d gone there. Today was clearly no ordinary day. Mrs. Whitmore immediately assumed Aria was the cause and seized the chance to “educate” the new youn