All Chapters of Bound By A Billion-Dollar Lie: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

201 Chapters

The Breaking Point

Anastasia’s POV Dmitri and I decided to catch up at a small restaurant nearby. The place was quiet, tucked away from the main road, the kind of spot where you could talk without anyone bothering you. We settled into a corner booth, and I ordered a salad while Dmitri got a steak. "So," he said, leaning back. "How have you been? Really?" I smiled, the expression practiced and easy. "I've been good. Busy, but good. You know how it is." He studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "You're lying." "I'm not lying." "You're smiling like everything's fine, but I can see it. Something's wrong." I waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing, I'm just tired. I've had a lot going on." "Is it Nikolai?" His voice hardened. "Did he hurt you? Because if he did, I'll….." "No." I cut him off quickly. "It's not Nikolai. It's not anyone either just... me." He didn't look convinced, he leaned forward, his expression serious. "Anastasia. We've known each other since we were kids. I can tell when som

Returning back home

Nikolai's POVThree days, that was how long I'd been gone. It's been three days of meetings, negotiations, and sleepless nights spent worrying tirelessly about the woman I'd left behind in London.The plane touched down in London, and I was out of my seat before the seatbelt sign had even turned off. Elias was waiting for me at the arrivals gate, his expression carefully neutral."Sir. Welcome back.""Elias." I shook his hand briefly, then walked toward the exit. "Fill me in. What's happened while I was gone?"He fell into step beside me, tablet in hand. "The stocks have stabilized. The press conference that you and miss Anastasia had, helped greatly, and the public seems to be moving on from the scandal. Leona has been quiet ever since, but I'm still keeping a close eye on her.""That's great, Weldone Elias." I paused. "So what about Anastasia? How is she? Where is she currently?”Elias hesitated but just a fraction of a second, but I caught it."She's fine, sir. She was at the offic

Reservations

Nikolai's POVI sat at the table, nursing the glass of whiskey, my eyes fixed on the entrance of the restaurant. The place was exactly what I'd asked for, a place that was intimate, quiet, the kind of place where conversations could be had without shouting over the noise. Soft music played in the background, and the candlelight flickered against the white tablecloth.Despite the really chill restaurant I couldn't relax. My mind was elsewhere, tangled with the thoughts of Anastasia and the distance that was continually growing between us.A little escape from my thoughts and so I took another sip of whiskey, the burn doing little to calm my nerves. Whatever was going on with her, I hoped it wasn't serious and I really hope it is something we could talk through over dinner, so I can at least try to fix it or make it better.The door opened, and everything suddenly stood still as she walked in.She froze the moment her gaze fell on me. There was a strange expression that crossed her face

Flight to Athens

Nikolai's POVThe private flight to Athens was awkward and silent. Anastasia sat on the opposite side of the cabin, her gaze fixed on the window, her body turned away from me. I kept to myself, pretending to read through documents I couldn't focus on.The silence between us was heavy, suffocating and every time I glanced in her direction, I saw the same thing, hollow eyes, pale skin, a distant expression that made my chest ache.I tried not to think about her and just tried to focus on business and the upcoming meeting with my grandfather, on anything other than the woman who was slipping through my fingers but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't, it was impossible.She was right there, close enough to touch, and yet she felt a million miles away. We landed in Athens, and a car was already waiting to take us to the estate. The drive was just as quiet. I watched the familiar streets pass by, my mind elsewhere.When we arrived, my grandfather was standing at the door, a wide smi

Sooner or Later

Anastasia's POVI splashed cold water on my face, trying to calm the nausea that had been churning in my stomach all evening. The mirror reflected a version of me I barely recognized, pale, hollow-eyed, exhausted. I looked like a ghost of the woman I'd been just weeks ago.The door opened behind me, and Ariana appeared in the reflection."Anastasia? Are you alright, dear?"I forced a smile, the expression feeling foreign on my face. "I'm fine, just a bit tired from the flight."She studied me for a long moment, her eyes sharp despite her age. Then she closed the door behind her and walked toward me."You're lying.""Ariana…..""I've raised children, Anastasia. I've seen every kind of tiredness there is. That's not the kind of tired you are." She paused, her voice softening. "You're pregnant, aren't you?"The words hit me like a physical blow. I stared at her, my mouth opening and closing, the lie already forming on my lips but something in her eyes, that warm, understanding, patient f

Saying goodbye to Athens again

Anastasia's POVWe didn't stay long in Athens. The following morning, we were already packing our bags, preparing to leave. The tension between Nikolai and me was still thick with unspoken words, the silence that brewed was nothing but heavy and suffocating.We moved around each other like ghosts, careful not to touch, careful not to speak more than necessary and every glance we stole at each other was loaded with things we couldn't say, every accidental brush of hands sent sparks that neither of us chose to acknowledge.Before we left, Ariana pulled Nikolai aside. I watched them disappear into the study, a knot forming in my stomach. What does she want to tell him? Does she want to break her promise? Is she telling him about the baby? I don't trust Ariana enough for her not to tell Nikolai, she had every reason to tell him even with the fact that they're practically family.I moved to follow, but before I could, a hand on my arm stopped me."Anastasia." Demetrios's voice was warm but

Trying to escape reality

Anastasia's POVThe silence on the way to the airport didn't end there; it followed us like a leech as we drove back to London, just like the flight. Nikolai and I sat on opposite sides of the car, the space between us feeling like a canyon.Although he tried to make conversation a few times as the car pulled away from the estate, the silence settled between us like a heavy blanket. I stared out the window, watching the familiar streets of Athens pass by. Nikolai sat beside me, his body angled slightly toward me."The flight shouldn't be too long," he said. "We should be back in London by early afternoon."“Okay…”"The weather in London is supposed to be mild this week, it would be better than the heat here."“Interesting…”"I was thinking we could have dinner at the penthouse tonight. Something quiet. Just the two of us."I kept my eyes on the window. "Fine."He paused, clearly searching for something else to say. "Did you enjoy seeing my grandfather?""It was nice.”A loud sigh esca

The truth isn't always pretty

The office was quiet when I walked in, but Elias was already waiting for me, with a thick file in his hands. His expression was serious, his mouth set in a thin line."Sir, there is something you need to see."I settled into my chair, loosening my tie. "What is it?"He placed the file on my desk. "I traced a series of fraudulent deals back to Bianca Reed and I found that she's been running a charity foundation scam."I opened the file, my eyes scanning the contents. The scam was elaborate, fake charity events, forged donation receipts, money funneled into offshore accounts. It was the kind of scheme that required connections and credibility.Then I saw the name.Anastasia Reed.Her name and signature was on the paperwork. Her position as CEO of Reed & Associates was being used to give the scam legitimacy.My blood ran cold."Sir," Elias said carefully, "there's a chance Miss Anastasia wasn't aware of what her sister was doing and itt could be a misunderstanding."I wanted to believe

Breaking Point

Anastasia's POVI listened to him, my heart shattering into a thousand pieces, every word he spoke was a knife, cutting deeper than the last.The contract is void. You broke the rules. I can't fault an innocent baby for a mistake. A mistake, he considered our child was a mistake.I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. What was there to say? He'd made his feelings perfectly clear. I was nothing more than a vessel carrying his heir. A responsibility he couldn't walk away from."I understand," I whispered underneath my breath.I didn't wait for a response. I turned and walked away, my legs carrying me toward the bedroom. I could feel his eyes on my back, but I didn't look. The moment I closed the door behind me, I broke down.The tears came hard and fast, sobs wracking my body as I sank onto the bed. I pressed my hands to my face, trying to muffle the sound, but it was useless. The pain was too much. The rejection was too complete.I can't fault an innocent baby for a mistake

An Empty House

Nikolai's POVThree days.It's been three days of misery, anger and days of taking out my frustration on everyone around me.The office had become a war zone. Employees walked on eggshells, avoiding eye contact, speaking in whispers. A few had already been fired, good people who didn't deserve it, but I couldn't bring myself to care. If they couldn't do their jobs properly, they didn't deserve to be here.That's what I told myself, anyway.Elias had been watching me with growing concern. He'd tried to intervene a few times, but I'd shut him down every time. I didn't want to talk, I just wanted to bury myself in work and pretend everything was fine.It wasn't fine.The office was quiet, the usual hum of activity subdued by the tension that had settled over the floor like a storm cloud. I walked through the rows of desks, my eyes scanning for any sign of incompetence, any excuse to unleash the fury that had been building inside me for days.I found it in the form of a junior analyst na

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