Semua Bab The billionaire hidden heart : Bab 261 - Bab 270

THE BILLIONAIRE’S HIDDEN HEARTAuthor: Esty’sChapter 34 — The Shadow Beyond BalancePart 1The first morning of the new era arrived quietly.Too quietly.Hope stood at the balcony of the mansion, watching the sunrise spread across the horizon.For the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was no ancient voice calling her name.No invisible force demanding that she choose.No prophecy hanging over her head.No ancient war waiting for her decision.The Ninth Gate was silent.The First World was gone.The cycle had ended.And somehow, that peace frightened her.Hope rested both hands against the balcony railing.Behind her, the mansion was slowly coming alive.She could hear Luna moving through the kitchen.Kael was already arguing with Noah about something.Serena and Lucian were speaking quietly in the sitting room.And somewhere upstairs, Lyra was discovering what it meant to live as part of a family she had only recently learned existed.Hope smiled.She had spent so long

THE BILLIONAIRE’S HIDDEN HEARTAuthor: Esty’sChapter 34 — The Shadow Beyond BalancePart 3The Ninth Gate opened.Hope felt it before she saw it.A violent pulse tore through the mansion, sending waves of energy through the walls.The floor split beneath their feet.Adrian grabbed Hope around the waist and pulled her away from the widening crack.“Everyone back!”The others scattered.Lyra raised both hands, ready to destroy whatever emerged.Kael rushed toward Luna and Serena.“Stay behind me!”Noah stood completely still.His black eyes were fixed on the light rising from beneath the mansion.He looked terrified.Hope had never seen Noah afraid.Not even when they faced the ancient powers of the First World.“What’s wrong?” Hope demanded.Noah didn’t answer.“NOAH!”He finally looked at her.“The Ninth Gate isn’t opening.”Hope frowned.“What?”He pointed toward the ground.“It’s waking up.”A thunderous sound shook the mansion.The ancient symbol beneath them began rotating.One c

THE BILLIONAIRE’S HIDDEN HEARTAuthor: Esty’sChapter 34 — The Shadow Beyond BalancePart 5The shadow pointed at Adrian.Hope’s blood turned cold.“No.”The shadow smiled.It had her face.Her eyes.Her voice.But there was nothing human behind that expression.Adrian stepped beside Hope.“Whatever you are, you picked the wrong person.”The shadow tilted its head.“You think this is about you?”Adrian’s jaw tightened.“Then stop looking at me.”“I am looking at you because she chose you.”Hope stepped forward.“You don’t get to touch him.”The shadow’s smile disappeared.“Then you don’t understand the price of Choice.”Hope raised her hand.Golden light immediately surrounded her fingers.“I don’t pay prices I didn’t agree to.”The shadow laughed.“You still think Choice means freedom.”“It does.”“No.”The shadow stepped closer.“Choice means consequence.”The moment it spoke, Hope felt something tear inside her chest.She gasped.Adrian immediately caught her.“Hope!”Her knees wea

THE BILLIONAIRE’S HIDDEN HEARTAuthor: Esty’sChapter 34 — The Shadow Beyond BalancePart 7The black hand descended toward Hope.Lyra moved before anyone else could react.“GET AWAY FROM HER!”A wave of destructive energy exploded from her body.The entire mansion shook.The black hand collided with Lyra’s power.For several seconds, neither side moved.Then the hand began pushing through.Lyra’s eyes widened.“It’s stronger than me.”Hope stared.“Lyra!”“Don’t come closer!”Lyra gritted her teeth.“If you get near it, it will use you to enter this world.”Hope refused to listen.She stepped forward.“Then we fight it together.”Lyra shook her head.“No.”“Lyra—”“You are Balance.”Lyra’s voice cracked.“And I am destruction.”She looked at Hope.“If something has to be destroyed…”Her eyes filled with determination.“…let me do it.”Hope’s heart tightened.“No.”Lyra smiled faintly.“You always were stubborn.”“So were you.”The black hand pushed harder.The floor beneath Lyra’s fe

THE BILLIONAIRE’S HIDDEN HEARTAuthor: Esty’sChapter 34 — The Shadow Beyond BalancePart 9“HOPE!”Adrian lunged forward.His fingers caught hers just as the darkness reached her waist.“Don’t let go!”Hope grabbed his hand with both of hers.“I won’t!”Aurelian stood several feet away, watching them with an unreadable expression.Lyra rushed forward.“Hope!”She reached for her sister.But the moment her fingers touched the darkness, a violent force threw her backward.“LYRA!”Kael caught her before she hit the wall.“I’ve got you!”Lyra pushed herself upright.“Let me go!”“You’ll get pulled in too!”“I don’t care!”Hope looked at her sister.“Lyra, stop!”“But you’re going alone!”“I won’t be alone.”Hope looked at Adrian.His grip was still locked around hers.Adrian pulled harder.“You’re not going anywhere without me.”Aurelian finally spoke.“He cannot follow.”Adrian glared at him.“Try stopping me.”Aurelian’s expression remained calm.“He already crossed the threshold.”Hop