Alle Kapitel von The Billionaire's Little Thief: Kapitel 71 – Kapitel 80

The moment I closed my bedroom door behind me, I leaned against it and let out a slow, weary breath.First Natalia, now Grandma Blackwood.I rubbed my temples wearily. “Just stay out of Grandma's way,” I muttered to myself. “If she doesn't want to acknowledge your existence, don't give her a reason to notice you.”That sounded like the safest plan.The next few days passed in a blur of birthday preparations. Natalia continued wearing her perfect little mask.She smiled at everyone, complimented the maids and followed Grandma Blackwood around like the sweetest girl imaginable, listening attentively to every suggestion and anticipating every need. She even thanked the staff whenever they brought her something. It was enough to make everyone wonder if she'd undergone some kind of miraculous personality change. Everyone seemed convinced… except me. I wasn't fooled, every smile felt carefully rehearsed, every act of kindness looked calculated and whenever her eyes landed on me, there was

NATALIA’S POVWatching them descend those stairs together was torture. Every step Riley took felt like a knife twisting deeper into my chest.She didn't belong beside him. She didn’t belong in this family. Yet there they were—Leonardo Blackwood and Riley the picture-perfect couple.The guests couldn’t stop staring.“They look perfect together.”“What a handsome pair.”“I’ve never seen Mr. Blackwood look at anyone like that.”Every compliment aimed at Riley burned through me. I kept smiling. I had to.The old Natalia would’ve marched across that ballroom, ripped Riley away from Leonardo, and reminded everyone exactly who was supposed to stand beside him.But not tonight. Tonight demanded patience. A single careless mistake would ruin everything I'd worked so hard to build over the past week.So I smiled, I laughed. I greeted guests with warmth, and played the role everyone wanted to believe.The sweet, reformed Natalia, the devoted woman who had finally matured. If only they knew.I w

LEONARDO'S POVI watched Sofia support Riley's trembling body down the hallway until they disappeared from sight. She never looked back.Something inside me tightened. I forced myself to look away.“Take him.” I ordered.Two guards seized the half-dressed man by the arms. The guards dragged him out of the guest room.“Damien. Adrian.”The three of us followed the guards into one of the security rooms.The guards forced the man into a chair. He looked nervous now, but not terrified.I pulled another chair forward and sat directly opposite him. “Name.”He hesitated. “...Victor Cole.”I stared at him. “I’ll ask you once. Tell me exactly what happened.”He swallowed before answering. “I was upstairs looking for the restroom, when she approached me and started flirting with me.” “And then?”“She… she led me into the guest room.”I leaned forward slightly. “So you followed a stranger because she asked you to?”He nodded instantly. “Yes.”His answers came too quickly. Not once did he stop t

RILEY'S POVSofia and I walked back into the mansion, but all I could think about was that tattoo.I rubbed my temple, hoping the throbbing ache behind my eyes would ease if I stopped thinking about it. It didn't If anything, it only grew worse. “You should sit down for a while,” Sofia said softly as she walked beside me.I shook my head. “I don't have time.”“Riley—”“If that man disappears…” I looked at her. “Then every chance I have of proving my innocence disappears with him.”She sighed but didn't argue again.We had barely stepped into the main hallway when I saw Damien about to go upstairs.“There he is,” I murmured.Sofia followed my gaze. “Should we go now?”I nodded.We crossed the hallway and Damien noticed us. He looked up just as we approached.A warm smile appeared on his face. “Riley.”His eyes swept over my face, taking in my pale complexion and the exhaustion I couldn't hide.The smile on his face faded almost instantly.“You look terrible.”“I feel worse.”“I’m not s

The living room was so quiet that the ticking of the grandfather clock echoed through the air.I reached for the black duffel bag one of my guards had confiscated and unzipped it. I turned the bag upside down and bundles of cash spilled across the marble floor. I also opened the envelopes and brought out a brand new passport and an airline ticket.“Leonardo.” Grandma looked at me with confusion written all over her face. “What’s going on?” she asked quietly.No one answered.I picked up the passport and glanced at the name before tossing it back onto the pile.“So…” My voice remained calm. "...would you care to explain why one of the Moretti family's guards gave you money and a passport to leave the country before sunrise?”“I…” He looked toward Natalia, then went silent again.I exhaled through my nose. “So that's your decision.”I turned toward Adrian. “His memory seems unreliable.”Adrian already knew what I wanted. He unclipped the pistol from his holster and handed it to me.The