All Chapters of Bound by a Billion Dollar Marriage: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Isla stepped into the courtyard just as Marcus Marcus, right, her actual senior called again. In her rush earlier, she'd left her folder behind, and he'd kept it safe for her."Okay, I'll meet you outside the office building," she said, hurrying that direction.The moment Isla resurfaced on campus, Bianca got word immediately.She'd changed into a clean dress, fixed herself up, and headed for the gate where she spotted a familiar figure under the trees, cold eyes already fixed on her, radiating quiet menace.This woman is genuinely bad news. I got hit with an entire can of soda out of nowhere earlier and I still don't fully understand how."Isla!"Isla had just hung up when Bianca came storming toward her.She slowed, phone still in hand, expression flat.Marcus was approaching too, just behind her out of Isla's sightline. Bianca clocked him immediately and adjusted her approach on the fly.She stepped forward, grabbed Isla's hand, voice suddenly warm. "Sis, why are you walking so fas

Staring into those wicked, dangerous eyes, Isla's face went completely rigid, lips twitching, expression frozen in place.Wait. WAIT. Isla flashed back instantly to that first night at the estate the outfit he'd sent to her room. The one she'd been humiliated into wearing.Shame and fury flooded her at once, her small hands gripping the fabric of her pants where they rested on her knees.Her nosy, gossipy energy from a moment ago evaporated instantly, like someone had doused her with ice water.Grayson caught her expression cycling through red and white in rapid succession, and correctly guessed exactly what she was thinking about.That first night really did leave an impression.A beat later, Isla cleared her throat twice to cover the awkwardness, forcing herself back into composure. Determined not to waste the rare opportunity of him actually answering questions, she pressed on.She looked up again, plastering on a forced smile, facing the devilishly handsome man beside her. "Ahem s

Bianca opened the show with a solo dance performance.Her classical routine, all graceful lines and ethereal staging, made for a genuinely stunning opener.Watching from the wings, Isla could tell exactly where Bianca's attention was fixed the whole time.Front row, center seat. Grayson.The song ended to thunderous applause. Bianca took her bow and exited as Isla and Marcus stepped back onto the stage.Passing each other in the wings, Bianca murmured, "I'll be waiting backstage once this wraps."Isla heard it and said nothing the implication was clear enough. She wants her ride secured.Out on stage, Isla noticed Grayson clapping enthusiastically as she walked out same as the rest of the audience while he'd stayed completely still for Bianca's number.Interesting. Guess the sparks haven't caught yet.She shook off the distraction and refocused on the job.The full ceremony ran three hours before wrapping up.As everyone took their final bows, Isla trailed at the back of the group. Di

When Isla came to again, her wrists and ankles were bound, locked inside some kind of bathroom stall.No light. Just cold, damp dark. Terror hit her instantly. Her clothes were soaked through, barely covering her at all.Kidnapped. Who? Bianca? Torn clothing, no obvious physical injury beyond the ankle, all-female captors, this had Bianca written all over it.I HELPED her. And this is how she repays it.Every small movement sent pain lancing through her body, throbbing ankle, pounding head.She tried to call out and couldn't force a sound past the gag. Disheveled, exhausted, utterly helpless.That absolute snake. I did exactly what she asked and she still turned on me.Isla had forgotten how petty Bianca actually was, furious that Grayson had brushed her off in favor of Isla earlier, and now that she'd finally landed his attention, apparently this was payback for the earlier slight.Vicious. Genuinely vicious.The gag in her mouth turned her stomach, nausea rising with every breath.S

Exhausted, Isla let herself be carried out of the building. She wanted nothing more than to sleep, but stepping outside, she found the entire campus lit up floor to ceiling, a crowd of faculty waiting anxiously nearby.Dozens of teachers and students packed the hillside, it looked like half the school had turned out.Isla wanted desperately to hide her face, but with nothing to cover herself and nowhere to go, she just turned her head, shut her eyes, and lay limp against Grayson's chest, playing corpse.Grayson: "..."He carried her the entire way down the hill without setting her down once. Marcus pulled the car around, opened the door, and stood aside as Grayson settled her into the back seat.Isla grabbed a fistful of his sleeve, refusing to let go. "It'll get dirty... I'll ruin your seats."Wrapped in nothing but his oversized suit jacket, barely covered, she was terrified her blood would stain the leather.Her small face was a portrait of genuine distress.Grayson actually paused