All Chapters of CLAIMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I woke up before my alarm. The city was still dark outside my windows. I was buttoning my shirt when I heard footsteps in the hallway. “Daddy?” I turned. Diana stood there in her pajamas, holding her stuffed bunny by one ear. “Come here.” She walked over and hugged my leg. I picked her up. “You're up early.” “You were gone,” she mumbled. “I was getting ready. You should still be in bed.” “I want pancakes.” I smiled faintly, “We’ll see what the chef can do.” We went downstairs. Margaret was already sitting at the dining table. “Good morning, Grandmama.” I sat beside Diana. Margaret looked at me for a moment but said nothing. The argument from last night was still there between us, but neither of us brought it up. Diana swung her legs under the table. “Daddy?” “Hmm?” “Damien said he's bringing his toy dinosaur today. Can I show him my stickers?” “We’ll see.” She frowned, “You always say that.” Margaret raised an eyebrow but I ignored her. After breakfast, I carr

Diana was in a talking mood this morning. Which usually meant trouble. She kicked her feet under the breakfast table. “Daddy, guess what Damien said yesterday?” I looked at her. “What?” “He said he wants to show me his new drawing. It's a dragon. And he said dragons are cool. And I said dragons are cool too. And then he said he wants to show me after school. So I told him maybe we can go to his house or he can come to ours and then—” “No.” She stopped, “But you didn't even hear the whole thing.” “No, Diana.” I kept my voice calm, “Not today.” She pouted and picked up her lunchbox. “You're always saying no lately.” I didn't answer. She wasn't wrong, but she didn't know why. The drive to school was mostly Diana talking. She hummed, asked questions about dragons and told me about something her teacher had said. I listened when I could. Then we reached the school. I saw them almost immediately. Ava and Damien. Ava was kneeling in front of him, fixing his backpack and brus

The gala hall looked expensive enough to belong in another world. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Gold decorations covered the marble pillars. People moved around with glasses in their hands, talking and laughing. I checked the folder in my hands. “Calm down, Ava. It’s just work.” I walked toward the staff coordination desk. “Any guest list updates?” One of the coordinators handed me a tablet. “Only a few changes. The VIP section is unchanged.” “Good.” I turned to check the next list. Then I felt it. Someone was watching me. I looked across the room. Liam. He stood with two board members, talking like nothing else in the room mattered. I looked away. Focus. I had work to do. But everywhere I went, I seemed to see him. Near the bar with investors, by the stage checking the preparations or at the entrance greeting guests. He was everywhere. I finally moved toward the staff refreshment area. I needed water and a few minutes away from him. Then I saw Genevie

I woke up tired. And it's not because I hadn't slept enough, my mind just wouldn't rest. The gala was still on my mind. I sat up and rubbed my face, “Get up, Ava. It's another day.” I got ready and went to work. By the time I arrived, Elena and Stacy were already talking. I had barely dropped my bag when Elena turned toward me. “You're not going to believe what happened last night.” I sighed, “If this is about the gala, I was there.” “Exactly,” Stacy said. “You were there with Sebastian Cross.” I paused. “He spoke to a lot of people.” Elena leaned closer, “Not like he spoke to you.” I opened my folder. “It was work.” Stacy laughed, “Work-related men don't look at women like that.” “He was being polite.” “Polite?” Elena said. “Ava, that man was interested.” “You're exaggerating.” Stacy tilted her head, “So you're saying he wasn't paying attention to you?” “I'm saying it doesn't matter.” Elena smiled, “That's what people say when something matters.” I looked back a

Liam’s POVThe morning light spilled across the dining table in long, soft lines, catching the edge of Diana’s cereal bowl as she swung her legs under her chair. The house was calm in that familiar way it always was before the day gained speed. I took my seat, greeted by the quiet clink of plates and the low murmur of my grandmother’s voice.“Good morning,” she said without looking up from her tea.“Morning,” I replied.Clara sat across from me, scrolling through something on her tablet. She lifted her eyes briefly, her expression sharp but not unkind. “You’re dressed early. Another meeting?”“A few,” I said.Diana was humming to herself, drawing small circles with her spoon. I watched her for a moment, letting the normality of it settle over me.“Daddy,” she said suddenly, looking up at me with wide brown eyes. “Can Damien come over again?”Her timing was always interesting.I forced a calm smile. “We’ll see.”She pouted for exactly two seconds before getting distracted by her fruit