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Home / Romance / Dirty little Secrets:The billionaire's hidden heir / Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

All Chapters of Dirty little Secrets:The billionaire's hidden heir: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

50 Chapters

Chapter 11

I kept my eyes glued to the tabloid, muttering under my breath, “Just say it already, Holden. Whatever’s on your mind.”Holden let out a nervous chuckle but didn’t dare turn his head. He’d tried that once and nearly gotten us killed. It was his first day back then, so I let it slide. “I’m not sure I should, sir,” he replied.I kept scrolling through the articles and photos of myself from the airport. A smirk pulled at my lips when Franklin Desmy’s picture appeared. It had been snapped right after I left. Poor guy had shown up barely a minute too late and was now scrambling to reach me. His secretary had already called five times, but I wasn’t picking up. Franklin should consider himself lucky I’d waited around at all. If it weren’t for his connection to YL Holdings my biggest rival I wouldn’t have bothered.“Since when do you hold back around me, Holden?” I asked dryly. He’d been my secretary for over five years now the longest anyone had lasted. Even though he could drive me crazy so

Chapter 12

It was strange how simply closing a door could shut out the entire world. All the chaos and noise from the day seemed to dissolve the moment I stepped inside my own space. Every time I walked into my penthouse, this deep, heavy silence would wrap around me. Some nights it felt almost too much, but most of the time I’d grown used to it.The lights came on automatically as I entered, followed by the soft hum of the AC kicking in. I tossed my car keys in their usual spot and made my way straight to the bedroom on the left side of the living area. I stripped off my clothes, my body aching after such a long day.Right after leaving Richmond Villa after that pointless fight with Mom I’d headed straight to the office. Work was the only thing that ever cleared my head when everything else felt like it was falling apart. It kept me grounded.I was about to set my Rolex Daytona on the dark wood nightstand when my gaze fell on that single gold earring. It had been sitting there for over six year

Chapter 13

ELARAShe stood in front of the full-length mirror, the white lace off-shoulder A-line wedding dress fitting her like it was made for her body alone. Her hair was swept into a soft, low bun with a few dark strands framing her face. Those warm brown eyes sparkled brighter than I’d ever seen them, and her smile lit up the whole room.My best friend turned around, clearly hoping for my honest opinion. I stepped closer, gently spun her, and adjusted the long veil so it sat perfectly with her bun.“Now,” I said, catching her eyes in the mirror blue meeting brown. “You look like the most beautiful bride in the world.”I don’t make Clara Bennett blush often, but today she did. Her cheeks flushed pink as she let out a soft giggle. “Are you only saying that because you’re the one who did my makeup?” she teased, dropping onto the bed. The room was a disaster zone clothes, brushes, pins, and bags scattered everywhere. Just a little while ago it had been total chaos.“Maybe,” I teased back, and w

Chapter 14

ELARAI could call my best friend Mrs. Clara Bennett for the rest of my life now. The wedding had gone perfectly, without a single hitch, and the reality of it hit me harder than I expected. As her maid of honor, I stood right behind her, wiping away tears while the photographer captured shots of the happy couple.Nathaniel Carter had spared no expense. It was every woman’s dream wedding from the sleek limousine to Clara’s breathtaking thousand-dollar dress. Every detail screamed luxury.After the ceremony, the reception was held in the hotel’s grand ballroom, which had been transformed into something magical. A massive four-tier cake took center stage beside a flowing chocolate fountain.Guests in elegant suits and glamorous dresses mingled around the hall, champagne glasses in hand. I watched the newlyweds posing for more photos, both of them smiling so wide it almost didn’t seem real. The cold bubbles tickled my throat as I took another sip.When the photos finally wrapped up, Cla

Chapter 15

ADRIAN “…and yeah, I already told you that,” I muttered, only half paying attention to Nathaniel. My eyes kept drifting across the crowded hall, searching for one particular person. “So what do you think?” he asked. I blinked and finally turned to him, having no idea what he’d been saying. “Sorry?” Nathaniel studied me. “What’s going on with you, man? You’re completely distracted.” I shrugged and took a sip of my wine. “Nothing.” He wasn’t buying it. “Who is she? The one who’s got you this twisted up?” “No one,” I said flatly, steering the conversation away. “So when are you coming back to work?” He let out a dramatic sigh. “It’s my wedding day, Adrian. I’m not talking about work.” I smirked. “We were literally just talking about the Diane project.” “That was only because you wouldn’t let it go, Mr. Ice Block.” “Careful,” I warned. “I’m still your boss.” He rolled his eyes and gave up. Just then, Clara walked over with that bright, sunny smile of hers. Nathaniel’s face lit

Chapter 16

Adrian Blackwood She stood at the front, reading a paragraph she’d written about the bride, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. As the maid of honor, she spoke with such genuine emotion that it was impossible not to watch her. That midnight-blue dress clung to her curves in all the right ways, and her warm brown hair fell loosely around her shoulders, catching the light. Her fair skin practically glowed under the spotlight. She was the first person my eyes landed on when I walked into the hall, and for the first time, I really noticed her. Now, as I waited for her answer, I had no clue what was going through her mind something that rarely happened to me. Women usually made their interest obvious, flirting shamelessly with their eyes and body language. But Elara seemed cautious, like accepting a simple dance was a decision that needed careful thought. After a brief pause, she finally slipped her hand into mine. The song that began playing was slow and sensual, the dimmed lights

Chapter 17

ELARA I thought I was completely immune to handsome men. Living in Italy, I’d seen more than my fair share of good-looking guys and had learned how to keep my cool around them. So when Taylor Alonso the country’s hottest model flirted with me while I did his makeup, my heart didn’t skip a beat. I stayed perfectly calm.But right now, standing in Adrian Blackwood’s arms, everything felt different. This man, with his dangerously sexy voice and looks that could make anyone weak, had my heart racing out of control. The way he held me so steadily, those sharp gray eyes locked onto mine… it felt like a whole swarm of butterflies had taken over my stomach.I finally blinked and realized his arm was still wrapped around my back. “Um…” He gently helped me steady myself, and I quickly stepped back, creating some much-needed space between us. This man was trouble. Every time he got close, my emotions went completely haywire. “Thank you… and sorry for bumping into you like that.”“No problem at

Chapter 18

The knots in my stomach grew tighter with every passing minute as the cab drew closer to Denvar Street the neighborhood where I was born and raised. After days of overthinking it, I had finally decided to do what I should have done years ago: visit my parents. I hated myself for being such a coward, always imagining the worst. They were my parents. What was the worst that could happen?“Mommy, what’s this place called?” Leo asked, pressing his face against the cab window. He’d been thrilled when I told him we were going to my hometown. I hadn’t mentioned he might meet his grandparents I was still scared I might back out at the last second. Or that Dad might still be angry with me.“Denvar Street,” I said, pointing out the window. “See that park over there?” It was the same park where I used to hang out all the time. A small smile tugged at my lips as memories flooded in—one morning before school, sitting on that bench, stressing over a chemistry test I hadn’t properly studied for.“It

Chapter 19

“Elara?” My mother’s voice froze me in place. Something inside my chest cracked open at the sound of it. I turned around, and the moment her eyes met mine, they widened in pure shock. “Oh my God! Elara! Is that really you?”In two quick steps, she was right in front of me, grabbing both of my hands. Her face was a mixture of frantic joy and tears. “Hi, Mom,” I said, my voice breaking. Six years was a long time. I’d missed her so much that just standing there looking at her hurt.“Oh, my baby. You came. You finally came home,” she cried, pulling me into her arms. I hugged her back just as tightly, letting silent tears slip down my cheeks.When we finally pulled apart, I smiled and wiped my face with my fingers. “How have you been, Mom?” There were a million things I wanted to say, but that was all that came out.“My daughter hasn’t been home for six long years. How do you think I’ve been?” Her blue eyes were full of quiet longing.“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m so sorry,” I sobbed as the tears

Chapter 20

We sat in heavy silence for what felt like forever. Half an hour passed without either of us saying a word. The chamomile tea I’d made for him sat on the coffee table, the cup now empty. After a long internal battle, Dad had finally given in and drank it.He kept his arms folded tightly across his chest. Every so often, he’d sneak a glance at me, but the moment our eyes met, he’d quickly look away.I couldn’t stand the quiet anymore. Six years of it was more than enough. “Dad… I’m sorry,” I said softly, breaking the silence.He shifted slightly in his seat but still wouldn’t meet my eyes.“When I first got to Italy, things were really tough,” I continued, needing him to finally understand. “I had almost no money, I was pregnant, and I had no idea how I was going to survive. You can’t last long there without cash. I only had enough for maybe three days. Somehow, I found a job as a waitress.” My throat tightened as the memories came rushing back. “The pay was awful, but I didn’t have an

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