جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

Alex gazed at me intensely with a warmth that made the entire grand estate vanish into the background. For a beautiful, delusional second, the massive gap between our worlds disappeared. I felt like a princess in a fairy tale, entirely intoxicated by the victory of my own reckless courage. My skin tingled under his gaze, and the smell of his expensive cologne seemed to coat the back of my throat, sealing this moment into my memory forever. The spell was abruptly interrupted when my father stepped firmly between us, his face a mask of tight, professional discipline, though he seethed with quiet fury. “Mr. Stone, I am deeply sorry for her disruption,” he said, pulling out a corporate card and snapped it into my palm, his fingers pinching mine with a warning squeeze. “Nadia, take this card. Go to the main gates, hail a taxi, and go straight home. Now.” Alex stepped forward with purpose, positioning himself between me and my father, his hand reaching out to gently rest on my fath

“You like this color?” I stared at him and he stared back. “You’re not even going to respond?” I asked him, trying to hold back my amusement. “To what?” “The lady who just spoke.” “I responded.” The woman stood there, grimacing before one of her friends leaned in. “Ariella…” she murmured. “Isn’t that Alexander Stone?” The name didn't even make him pause. He exchanged one hanger for another. “I think that's him,” another friend whispered. “The one your father wanted to set you up with.” Their eyes shifted to me. “Who’s the girl with him?” “No idea.” “Must be some nameless girl.” “She’s not even as pretty as our Ariella.” They drifted away in a cloud of expensive perfume and hushed speculation, their voices dissolving into the murmur of the boutique. I watched them disappear between the displays before turning back to Alex, who was still comparing shades of blue as though the world beyond the clothing rack had ceased to exist. That was the first time I saw Ariella. Fa

When he slid the embossed gold-foil invitation across the kitchen table the next evening, tears pricked my eyes. I snatched the card, pressing it against my chest as a surge of pure relief flooded my veins. “Thank you Daddy," I choked out, looking at him with fierce gratitude. “I mean it. I will do anything you ask of me in the future, no matter what. Just name it. And it's done.” My father didn't smile as he asked. “Anything?” I nodded without a second thought, my heart racing. “Absolutely.” I had no idea that the reckless promise leaving my lips in that kitchen would become a trap, or how quickly those exact words would bind me to a debt I could never pay. Excitement and anticipation thrummed through me, yet I managed to restrain myself from telling him that I would be attending the fundraiser. The evening's gala was organized to raise funds for a children's cancer treatment center and to establish scholarships for students from low-income families. It was one of the city's mo

“Nadia, you need to break things off with him,” he rubbed his weary face. “This isn’t going to end well.” “How can you tell her to break up with a billionaire?” my mother fired back, slamming a plate onto the counter as she entered the kitchen, having overheard the exchange. “Just look at how he treats her—he genuinely cares!” My father remained unwavering, locking eyes with her and speaking firmly. “He’s not the billionaire.” As the days bled into weeks, the constant pressure from my family turned my home into a warzone, leaving Alex as the only light in my life. One quiet night, unable to handle the tension anymore, I cornered my father in the living room. “Have you accepted Alex’s proposal?” I demanded, my heart hammering against my ribs as I braced for his answer. He looked up at me, his face fully grim. “No. You are marrying Leonardo Stone, Alex’s father.” “No!” I scrambled backward, the wooden floorboards creaking beneath my heels. “I won't do it. I'm marrying Alex!” The

By afternoon, I had arranged to meet Adrian at a quiet café downtown. If anyone could reach Alex without drawing unwanted attention, it would be him. Alex had mentioned Adrian during the fundraiser. Before the evening drew to a close, he had taken my phone and saved Adrian's number himself. “Just in case,” he'd said, handing it back with an easy smile. “He's the only person I trust. If you ever need to reach me and can’t, call him.” I had lifted an eyebrow. “So, you trust him more than your own brother?” A dark chuckle escaped him as he shook his head. “Both of them can't resist a beautiful woman. That’s why they are my brothers.” I had laughed, assuming he was joking. Now, I wasn't so sure. Adrian sat across from me, listening with a soft expression as the coffee between us grew cold. When I finished, he didn’t look surprised. He just sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nothing can change Alex’s marriage, Miss McCoy. It's been fixed for months.” Adrian said with a deep