Semua Bab The Billionaire's Forgotten Bride : Bab 21 - Bab 30

Chapter 21The interior of Maison de L'Étoile smelled of expensive champagne and crushed pearls. It was the most exclusive haute couture boutique in the city, catering only to the ultra-elite.Zara stood on the circular velvet pedestal, gazing into the three-way mirror. The dress was a masterpiece a midnight-blue silk slip gown that cascaded down her body like liquid water. It was backless, elegant, and dangerously alluring.It didn’t scream for attention; it commanded it. "It is perfection, Madame Frost," the lead designer, Henri, gushed, adjusting the hem. "You will be the undisputed queen of the banquet tonight.""It’s adequate, Henri. Thank you," Zara said, her tone polite but detached.Just then, the crystal chimes above the boutique door jingled violently."I don't care if you have a private client, push them out! I am Chloe Sterling, future Mrs. Ethan Cole. I need a dress for tonight, and I need it now!"Zara met Henri’s panicked gaze in the mirror and offered a slow, chilling

Chapter 23"Uncle Julian! You look like James Bond, but with better hair."Julian Thorne threw his head back and laughed, the sound warm and rich, filling the foyer of the Frost Estate.He was a devastatingly handsome man, with tousled golden-brown hair, warm hazel eyes, and a smile that had graced the covers of Forbes and GQ alike. As the CEO of Thorne Global, he was Ethan Cole’s only true rival in the tech sector.To the world, he was a ruthless innovator. To four-year-old Leo, he was the guy who brought him rare LEGO sets from Tokyo."Thanks, buddy," Julian said, scooping Leo up into his arms and tossing him gently into the air, making the boy giggle. "You look pretty sharp yourself. Are you guarding the castle tonight?""Yes," Leo said seriously, adjusting his Spider-Man pajamas. "The perimeter is secure.But you have to bring Mommy back by midnight. She needs her sleep. Her cortisol levels have been elevated."Julian chuckled, shaking his head. "I promise, little man. Midnight."

Chapter 25"Little bird..." The words hung in the air, a ghost suddenly made flesh.Zara’s heart didn’t just stop; it felt as though it had been violently ripped from her chest. Her hands trembled, hovering just inches above Ethan’s collapsed body.The urge to drop to her knees, to cradle his head, to scream for an ambulance, clawed at her throat. It was a primal, devastating instinct.But her feet remained glued to the marble floor. No, her mind screamed, fighting the tidal wave of her own heart. He pushed you away. He chose her."Ethan!" Chloe’s shrill shriek shattered the paralysis of the ballroom.She threw herself onto the floor, her emerald dress pooling awkwardly around her as she grabbed Ethan’s shoulders, shaking him."Ethan, wake up! Somebody call an ambulance! Are you all just going to stand there?!"Julian’s arm wrapped securely around Zara’s waist, pulling her back from the chaotic epicenter."Zara, look at me," he murmured, his voice a steady anchor in the spinning room.

Chapter 27The rain lashed against the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of Zara’s study, the thunder rattling the heavy oak doors.Zara sat in her leather chair, a glass of untouched red wine on the desk. She had been staring at the wall for two hours since she returned from the hospital.The suppressants are failing. Chloe’s panicked voice played on a loop in her head.A terrifying mix of guilt and hope warred in Zara's chest. For five years, she had built her empire on a foundation of hatred.She had used her anger at Ethan’s abandonment to survive the agonizing nights of her pregnancy. She had used it to push through the grueling hours of corporate takeovers.If Ethan was a victim... if his mind had been stolen from him... who was she angry at?"Mommy? "Zara snapped out of her trance. Standing in the doorway of the study was Leo.He was wearing his oversized dinosaur slippers, dragging his stuffed blue penguin by the wing. His dark hair was sleep-tousled, making him look devastatin

Chapter 29The guest bedroom of the Frost Estate was bathed in the warm, dim glow of a bedside lamp.Ethan slowly opened his eyes. The pounding in his skull had dulled to a persistent, heavy ache.He was lying on a massive king-sized bed, wearing dry clothes a pair of sweatpants and a plain grey t-shirt that felt entirely too soft. The scent of lavender and expensive laundry detergent filled his lungs.He wasn't in the penthouse. He wasn't in the hospital. Memory rushed back, hitting him like a freight train. The Starlight Gala. The hospital. The rain. The little boy in the dinosaur pajamas.Leo. Ethan shot up, ignoring the scream of his bruised muscles."I wouldn't move so fast if I were you. The doctor said your blood pressure is dangerously low."Ethan whipped his head toward the corner of the room. Zara was sitting in a velvet armchair, her legs crossed, a steaming mug of tea in her hands.She had changed out of the midnight-blue gown and was now wearing a thick, oversized cashmer