บททั้งหมดของ Forced to marry a Ruthless Billionaire : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

My courage held strong, and James finally quieted. I stayed with him long into the night, the two of us retreating to our favorite spot by the water, wrapped in the safety of the dark. He pleaded with me not to run away from him again, and in return, I opened up. I shared small, fragile truths about my father and my family, trying especially to warn him about my mother, hoping to prepare him for the sheer force of her personality. "My mom is always like that," I explained gently. "You'll just have to get used to her. Honestly, I was even planning to invite you over to our place for dinner soon." He looked surprised, but then his expression hardened into fierce determination. He told me he needed to work harder, to secure a future where he could take care of me so I would never have to worry. "James, I don't need anyone but you," I whispered, smiling up at him. "Do you really want to go with me?" he asked, his voice thick with sincerity. "I will follow you anywhere," I replied wit

Still lying on my bed, I felt entirely disconnected from my own body. I was sick with worry for my family, paralyzed by the agonizing reality that I was sacrificing the love of my life to save them. The future felt like a terrifying, black void, and the crushing weight of it all was suffocating me. The bedroom door opened so silently that I didn't even register it. Charles stood right beside my bed, but I was so deeply lost in my own despair that I jumped when he finally spoke. "Irene, what are you thinking about?" Charles asked gently, his face drawn and pale. "You haven't been eating, and you haven't slept well in days." A small, pathetic sob escaped my lips. "How can I possibly eat when our lives are in such a mess, Charles? To think that Andrew of all people is our only hope. That there is no one else in the world to help us." Charles looked away, staring blankly at the wall. "I try not to think about it. For my own sanity," he muttered, his voice trembling slightly. "The trau

Before stepping inside, I scrubbed my face dry, plastering on a mask of normalcy. When I pushed the front door open, I found the entire family gathered in the living room, deep in a hushed, frantic discussion. My sudden greeting shocked them into silence. Mother stood up immediately, her posture rigid and her eyes sharp. "Irene," she announced flatly, the tension radiating off her in waves. "You have to marry Andrew." I had been dreading this exact moment. I always knew she was the architect behind this nightmare. “Did you sell me off just to satisfy your own selfishness, Mother?" I demanded, my voice trembling with absolute betrayal. "Tell me, do you really hate me that much? I know you wanted this..." “No, Irene, I want to save this family's reputation," she shot back without a shred of remorse. "Look at the facts. Andrew helped your father today, and the board meeting was a success because of him. We need a powerful hand to attach ourselves to. My dear, think about it our famil

I was in my studio, losing myself in the massive canvas before me. Taking a moment to breathe, I reached for my coffee mug to cool down. The low, steady hum of the television in the background suddenly spiked in volume. Frantic, shouting voices cut through the quiet room. I turned toward the screen, my eyes locking onto the breaking news ticker. A chaotic video played—soot-covered men stumbling out of a collapsed Kentucky coal mine. The reporter's panicked voice announced that several workers were still trapped deep underground. Shock. The blood drained from my face. Kentucky. James. The ceramic mug slipped from my numb fingers, shattering against the hardwood floor. Dark coffee pooled around my feet, but I couldn't move. The horrific news was broadcasting everywhere. Across the country, in his modest shop, James’s father was mid-trim for a customer when he glanced up at the small wall-mounted TV. The clippers fell idle in his trembling hand as absolute terror and dread washed over

Late into the night, the stark, cold light of the laptop screen illuminated James’s hardened face. He was digging deep, scouring the darkest corners of the internet for every scrap of information he could find on Andrew. He analyzed his rival’s early successes, his ruthless acquisitions, and his expansive, suffocating web of power and influence. Beside the keyboard lay a small velvet box. James paused his relentless typing and reached out, his fingers brushing the fabric before snapping it open. Inside sat the diamond engagement ring he had never gotten the chance to give her. He stared at it, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached, before his eyes darted back to the screen. A glossy, high-definition article mocked him a photo of Irene and Andrew on their wedding day. He clicked on a recently uploaded video interview. The host smiled warmly at the camera. “Our esteemed guest today is the renowned, highly successful CEO of Royal Holdings, Andrew," the interviewer beamed. "Welcome, sir