chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Secret VisitorJulian had only been gone for twenty minutes. He said he had to "handle the press" downstairs and make sure no photos of Leo on a gurney made it to the blogs. He kissed my forehead, told me to stay strong, and left with three of his security guards.I sat by Leo’s bed, his tiny hand clutched in mine. He had fallen back into a light, fitful sleep. My mind was racing. The juice made the room spin. The words kept echoing in my head. I looked at the plastic cup on the bedside table and felt a shiver of pure terror.The door to the private room pushed open slowly. I expected a nurse, but instead, I saw a silver crutch, followed by a man who looked like he had crawled out of a wreckage.Lucius was still in his hospital gown, but he had thrown a dark trench coat over his shoulders. His face was pale, his forehead beaded with sweat from the effort of walking. He was alone. No guards, no Beatrice."What are you doing here?" I whispered, standing up. "You’re

Last Updated : 2026-05-11

chapter 22

Chapter 22: The Chosen SideThe tension in the room was so thick it felt like the oxygen had been sucked out. Lucius stood tall despite his injuries, his hand resting protectively on the edge of Leo’s mattress. Julian stood in the doorway, his silhouette framed by the harsh fluorescent lights of the hallway."The juice?" Julian repeated, his voice dropping into a dangerously smooth register. He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with a soft, final thud. "Lucius, you’re clearly suffering from post-concussive psychosis. You break into a private clinic, harass my fiancée, and start accusing me of—what? Sedating a child?""He told her himself, Vane!" Lucius shouted, pointing a shaking finger at Julian. "The boy said the juice made the room spin. What did you put in it? Melatonin? Phenergan? Something to keep him quiet while you play house?"I looked from Lucius’s frantic, bruised face to Julian’s calm, composed one. My heart was a drum in my ears. I remembered Leo’s wh

Last Updated : 2026-05-11

chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Poisoned VeilThe mansion was buzzing with a frantic, artificial energy. It had been less than forty-eight hours since Julian’s proposal, but the "Wedding of the Century" was already a moving train that couldn't be stopped. Designers were carrying mannequins through the hallways, and the scent of expensive lilies was starting to make my head ache.Julian sat in the center of it all, a glass of vintage scotch in his hand, looking over a digital guest list. He looked more like a general planning an invasion than a groom."The Governor is confirmed. The CEO of the National Bank is a maybe, but he’ll show up once he sees the press release," Julian said, not looking up. "Nina, the caterer needs to know if we’re doing the lobster or the wagyu for the third course.""Whatever you think is best, Julian," I said, my voice flat. I was standing by the window, twisting the giant diamond on my finger. Every time I looked at it, I saw the liquid in Leo's juice box."You're dist

Last Updated : 2026-05-11

chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Nurse’s WhisperI spent the rest of the evening in Leo’s room, watching the steady drip of the IV and thinking about Elena’s face. She hadn't looked like a woman who was just angry; she looked like a woman who knew a secret that was eating her alive.The night shift was changing. A younger nurse I hadn't seen before, a girl with tired eyes and a name tag that read Abby, came in to check Leo’s vitals. She moved quietly, adjusting the monitor cables while I stood by the window, clutching a lukewarm cup of hospital coffee."He’s a strong little guy," Abby whispered, noting his heart rate. "He’s been through a lot today.""He has," I said, my voice tight. "It’s been a long day for everyone."Abby glanced at the door, then back at me. She seemed hesitant, her hands lingering on the clipboard. "Ms. Avery? I know it’s none of my business, but... I saw the woman who was in here earlier. The blonde one.""Elena Valentine," I said, my eyes narrowing. "She shouldn't have be

Last Updated : 2026-05-11

All Chapters of The CEO secret Heir: the phoenix return: Chapter 21 - Chapter 24

chapter 21

chapter 22

chapter 23

chapter 24