Alle Kapitel von THE BILLIONAIRE'S REPLACEMENT BRIDE: Kapitel 41 – Kapitel 50

JULIANVictoria Vance’s representative was already deep in her checklist by the time I found her near the stage entrance. She had a headset around her neck and two different clipboards stacked in one arm.“Mr. Cross.” She looked up from the page she was staring at. “We're finalizing the seating chart for the first row. Mrs. Vance wants confirmation that you'll be taking questions after the statement and not just before it.”“Yes I will,” I replied. “Tell her it's confirmed.” “And also, about Mrs. Cross, will she be joining you for the full Q&A session, or will she only be present for just the opening statement?”“She will be joining me for the full Q&A,” I said without hesitation, though some part of me was doing the math in my head. Scarlet should have been out of that dressing room by now. “Where is she? Is she yet to arrive?” the representative asked, her brows furrowed.“We came together,” I responded, glancing at my watch. “But we ran into a minor inconvenience, so she had to

ELEANOR“I’ll see you out there, Julian,” I said, letting the words settle enough to rattle him. “With your wife.”I turned and walked away before he could answer, my heels clicking evenly on the floor. Behind me, I heard Vivian's voice, pitched low and enticing as she conversed with Julian, whose voice was sharper and more irritated.The thing about real control was that it never required orchestrating every single move. It was easy, really; it only required putting the right pieces in place and letting the rest burn down on its own.I hadn’t told Vivian to show up today. I hadn’t spoken to Margaret in days either, not since she called me panicked the day after the charity gala. I had no idea what either of them had done since, but whatever it was, it clearly worked. Scarlet was nowhere in sight, and rumors were going around, rumors I’d personally fueled, but they were effective nonetheless. Julian was on thin ice, and it was only a matter of time until the ice cracked and he went un

SCARLETShortly after Victoria left me and Julian, I spotted Chloe near the edge of the room and excused myself to meet her.“There you are.” She pulled me aside, her eyes scanning my face with concern. “Are you okay? I’ve been sick with worry about you all morning.”“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”“You’re not, and you really don’t have to pretend with me.” Her gaze dropped to the scratches on my forearm, and she winced slightly. “I should have paid more attention. I should’ve never even left early. If I’d just been more careful…”“It’s not your fault, Chloe,” I said softly. “You couldn’t have known she’d show up.”“I still feel terrible about it.”“Don’t. You got me two dresses in the nick of time, and you also helped Julian find me. That’s what actually matters.” I took her hand and squeezed it softly. “Thank you for today, for all of it.”She studied me for a second longer. She was still slightly unconvinced, but she was willing to let it go. She nodded towards the ot

JULIANHe walked off before I could give a reply, disappearing into the cluster of people at the private bar. I stood there a moment longer than I should have, trying to stop myself from going after him and shaking him for a direct explanation of what exactly he meant by his words. We were still, however, in a room full of people, investors to be exact, and Victoria’s cautions were still playing in my head like a fucked up anthem.I turned the exchange over and over again in my head, trying to decide whether it had been nothing more than an old rival enjoying one act of small and cheap cruelty, or something else considerably worse dressed up as one.I was still debating it when Marcus found me, a drink already in his hand, though this time, at least he had the sense to nurse it slower to avoid the disaster he made of himself the day before happening again.“Big man of the hour,” he said, moving beside me, his voice carrying a particular taunting edge I recognized instantly. “Must be

ELEANORHe stayed quiet for a long moment after that before speaking again. “That’s supposed to convince me you're trustworthy?”“It’s supposed to convince you I have no sentimental attachment standing in the way of what I’m offering you now.” My voice sharpened slightly. I was already growing impatient. “I raised that not only because it was required of me, but I have spent the last decade watching him lay the groundwork to inherit a company that was never his to begin with. A company that should belong to my son, Marcus. You asked me why a mother would want her son ruined. The answer is simple. I am not his mother.”“Does he know?” Martin asked. “That you’re not his mother.”“No. As far as Julian is concerned, I’m the woman who gave birth to him, his biological mother. It’s far easier to manipulate someone when they hold unspoken loyalty to you.”“You’re more dangerous than people give you credit for.”“I’m aware.”“So what exactly are you proposing?”“A partnership.” I moved to t