All Chapters of The billionaire who tried to erase my fiancé : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The first thing Daphne Beckett noticed when she stepped into the Grand Conservatory of the Royal Ontario Museum was how much everyone seemed to want something. She had learned that in these kinds of events, a smile was rarely just a smile.People smiled because they had been invited. Others smiled because they had donated enough money to have their family name displayed somewhere in the museum. And some were there because they wanted access to Arthur Beckett; The powerful man behind Arkett Holdings and one of Toronto's most influential developers, or to the deals that would be made between the wealthiest people in the city before the night was over.Daphne had grown up around people like these.She knew when to smile, when to hold back, and how to accept a compliment even when she knew she was being judged. She also knew how to stand beside her father without making it look like she was just his daughter.Tonight, she wore a beautiful red gown her father had chosen for her. It was el

Daphne did not sleep well after the gala.Mason's warning kept bothering her that night.He had said it softly, almost tenderly, but the look in his eyes made it sound like a threat.By morning, Daphne was angry with herself for letting Mason get to her.Mason Cooper didn't really know Warren. He only knew Warren as an independent architect without a family empire, political connections, or a name that opened doors.Warren didn't want anything from her. He wanted to build a life with her.To Daphne, that difference mattered.Daphne stood by the tall windows of her suite at Beckett Estate, holding a mug of coffee as she watched the snow fall over the grounds.A knock sounded.“Come in.”Lila walked in carrying two takeaway cups.“I brought reinforcements,” she said. “The kitchen staff tried to give me herbal tea, which is honestly insulting after the amount of champagne I watched people drink last night.”“You drank champagne too.”“One glass.”Daphne raised an eyebrow. “Three.”“One g

The photograph remained on Warren’s phone long after Daphne stopped looking at it.Daphne stared through the rain-covered window.“Call the police,” she said.Warren’s expression remained tense. “And tell them what? An Unknown person sent me a photograph because I asked questions about Halcyon Quay?”“At least there'll be a record.”He was quiet for a moment.Daphne crossed the room and took his hand. His fingers were cold.“This isn't just about your father anymore,” she said. “It's about us.”“I know.”“I’m scared.”He looked at her. He could hear the frustration in her voice.Warren’s expression softened. He pulled her into his arms.“I’m scared too.”It was the first time she had heard him say it.Someone had watched them. Someone knew where they were.“I don’t want you dragged into this,” he murmured.“I already am.”He looked down at her.“You don't get to push me away every time things get difficult. We are in this together.”After a moment, he nodded.“Okay.”He took screensho

Six months later, Daphne Beckett no longer woke up expecting to see Warren's name on her phone. She no longer thought about the headlines that followed his disappearance, the anonymous photographs that somehow ended up in the press, or the questions people whispered at charity events. She was tired of the sympathetic looks from people who had always envied her. Daphne had believed that if she searched hard enough, asked enough questions, and refused to accept the evidence, Warren would eventually walk through a door and explain everything. Then the investigation grew wider. The studio was searched. The black SUV was traced to a rental company that turned out to be a shell company, but it disappeared before investigators could find out who owned it. Warren's phone went dead. His one-way ticket was confirmed. Even the cash found with his packed belongings was traced to an account linked to Sterling Studio's operating funds. Then the hotel footage surfaced. It wasn't enough to

Warren woke because water was dripping onto his face.At first, he did not know where he was.There was only darkness, a brutal ache behind his eyes, and the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. His body felt heavy and stiff. When he tried to move, pain tore through both shoulders.His wrists were bound above his head.The rope had cut deep enough that his hands were numb.He forced his eyes open.A faint glow revealed broken concrete walls, rusted pipes, and a damp floor. The air smelled of mould, oil, and wet cement.Warren inhaled sharply.His ribs protested.Then memory returned.The call at his studio.A man claiming to have new information about Daniel Sterling's original Halcyon Quay report.The location near the waterfront.The black SUV waiting at the curb.He remembered hesitating.Then he remembered the anonymous message sent to Daphne.Stop digging. Or lose her.He had thought that if someone truly had information, he could not ignore it.Not when his father's name had be