บททั้งหมดของ The Billionaire’s Secret baby: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

The Montgomery estate was a sprawling glass-and-steel monstrosity in Greenwich, a cold reflection of the family that owned it. Julian didn't wait for the gates to open; Marcus drove the SUV straight through the perimeter security, the screech of metal on metal a declaration of war.By the time Julian reached the front doors, Lydia was already there, flanked by her father’s private security. She looked impeccable in a cream-colored silk suit, a glass of champagne in her hand."Julian, darling," she cooed, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "I assume you’re here to thank me for clearing the air? The Sterling name deserves better than a common blackmailer."Julian didn't slow down. He stepped into her personal space, his shadow swallowing her whole. The security guards moved forward, but Marcus and his team blocked them with a silent, practiced efficiency that made the Montgomery guards hesitate."The photo, Lydia," Julian said, his voice a low, terrifying vibration. "Who gave

The red "Live" light on the tripod finally flickered out, leaving the penthouse in a ringing, heavy silence. Elara’s shoulders slumped, the adrenaline that had fueled her viral confession evaporating in an instant. She felt hollowed out, as if she had just exhaled three years of held breath.Julian didn’t move. His hands were still heavy on her shoulders, his warmth a solid, grounding force in the center of the room."You did it," he whispered into the crown of her hair. "You just dismantled the most powerful family in New York with a ring light and a cell phone."Elara turned in the circle of his arms, her eyes searching his. "I didn't do it to win, Julian. I did it so I wouldn't have to run anymore. I’m tired of being afraid of your last name.""You don't have to be," Julian said, his voice a low promise. "Because from this moment on, that name belongs to you just as much as it belongs to me. If the board wants my resignation, they can have it. I’ll start a new firm. I’ll call it 'L

The drive back from the clinic was unusually peaceful. Leo had finally succumbed to a nap, his small head lolling against Julian’s shoulder in the back of the Maybach. Julian looked down at the boy, then at Elara, whose hand was resting tentatively on his knee. For a few miles, the empire felt small, manageable, and filled with light.That peace shattered the moment the car pulled into the private underground garage of the Sterling Penthouse.Usually, the garage was a tomb of silence, occupied only by Julian’s collection of matte-black Italian sports cars. But today, a bright red convertible was parked haphazardly across two stalls. Standing beside it was a woman who looked like she had stepped off a runway in Milan—tall, blonde, and wearing a coat that probably cost more than Elara’s first car."Julian!" she called out, her voice a sharp, melodic chime that echoed off the concrete walls.Julian’s hand tightened on Elara’s. His face went from relaxed father to defensive warlord in a h

The penthouse had become a gilded battlefield. For three days, Julian and Elara had moved through the vast, marble-clad rooms like ghosts, their only point of contact being Leo’s high chair during breakfast. The "Separate Rooms" rule was a cold, physical wall that Julian found himself staring at every night until the early hours of the morning.He was sitting in his study, the city lights of Manhattan blurred through the glass, when Marcus stepped in. The head of security looked as though he hadn't slept since the encounter in the garage."Sir," Marcus said, placing a tablet on the desk. "The forensic sweep is complete. Sienna Rossi's movements over the last eighteen months are... enlightening."Julian leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me she’s lying, Marcus. Tell me there is no child.""There is a child, sir," Marcus began, and Julian felt a cold weight settle in his gut. "A boy. Fourteen months old, currently residing at a private villa in Lake Como. His name is Alessandro."

The engagement party had been a blur of champagne, camera flashes, and the hollow congratulations of people who had snubbed Elara only a week prior. Now, the penthouse was quiet, the city lights below shimmering like fallen stars.Julian was in the nursery, watching Leo sleep—a nightly ritual that had become his meditation. Elara, still dressed in her floor-length midnight-blue gown, sat at the antique writing desk in the library. She was sorting through a stack of mail that Marcus had brought up from the private secure box.Most of it was floral arrangements and wedding catalogs. But at the bottom of the pile was an envelope that looked out of place. It was yellowed, the edges frayed, and the handwriting was a shaky, familiar scrawl that made Elara’s breath hitch.It was addressed to her, but the postmark was from three years ago. The return address was her father’s old apartment in Queens."Julian?" she called out, her voice thin.He appeared in the doorway seconds later, sensing th