Semua Bab Played by the Billionaire (English): Bab 41 - Bab 50

By afternoon, Joy became quieter.Not because she had a problem. Her work was going well, she finished the documents Alexander requested, and she even submitted a few reports before the deadline. But no matter what she did, what he said earlier kept coming back to her mind.Don't let them make you feel small.It was probably only for two seconds. But why did it feel etched into her brain? She was used to not relying on anyone. Ever since she lost her mother, she learned that she had to pick herself up when no one else would help. So when someone told her she didn't have to fight alone, she didn't know how to accept it.She sighed. "Focus, Joy."A little later, her cellphone lit up.Alexander: My office. Now.She frowned. She checked the time. 5:27 p.m. Working hours were almost over. She stood up and headed to his office. She knocked before entering. Alexander was standing by the floor-to-ceiling glass window, hands in his pockets, watching the fading sunlight."Do you need anything,

All morning, Joy desperately tried to avoid one thing.Her own notebook.Not because she didn't want to use it. In truth, she really wanted to. Since Alexander gave it to her last night, she had opened it several times and written down the little things that happened. Things she used to think weren't important.But now, it felt like she wanted to record every single day. And that was the problem itself. Because she noticed that Alexander's name was increasingly becoming a part of what she wrote.Alexander bought me a notebook.Alexander made fun of my hair.Alexander laughed today.And this morning, while looking at him sitting at his desk, she almost wrote: Alexander looked too good while drinking coffee.Good thing she stopped herself."You really have no shame, Joy," she whispered to herself. She closed the notebook and quickly hid it in her desk drawer. She didn't need to write things like that. Especially since none of it meant anything.Around eleven, she received a call from th

Joy stared for a long time at the small silver pendant in her palm.It was simple. No expensive stones, no grand design. But the two letters engraved on the back of it were what she couldn't get out of her mind.E.M.Evelyn Montalban.Alexander's mother. She slowly returned the necklace inside the small box."Why did you give it to me?"Alexander was still standing by the doorframe, one hand tucked inside his pocket. "Because I want you to keep it.""But why?""Because you're careful."She frowned. "There are many people more careful than I am.""Not with things that matter."She fell silent. His voice didn't beat around the bush; it was direct and certain. "Isn't this important to you?""It is.""Then why to me?"Alexander's expression remained unreadable, but a shadow crossed his eyes. "I don't want it in my room.""Why?"A brief silence passed before he answered in a low voice. "Because every time I see it, I remember things I don't want to remember."Joy sighed. Something stopped

The next day, even though it was still early, Joy already had a strange feeling.She didn't know what it was. Nothing bad had happened. No one called her. There was no new problem. But ever since she opened her eyes, it felt like there was a heavy rock pressing on her chest that she couldn't explain.Maybe because of their conversation last night. Maybe because of everything she learned about Alexander's past. Or maybe because of something she preferred not to name yet: the fact that she was falling too hard for a man who would never be hers.She closed her eyes for a moment. You shouldn't be thinking about that, Joy. She got up and prepared for work.When she arrived at the dining area, Alexander wasn't there. She looked at the wall clock. It was still early. She sat down and started eating.A few minutes later, she heard heavy footsteps from the hallway. Alexander. But he didn't go straight to the table. He was holding his cellphone, his forehead creased, and his expression dark."G

It felt like all the blood drained from Joy's body.She couldn't speak. Her trembling eyes repeatedly read the name printed on the document she was holding. She felt as if she had been doused with cold water.EVELYN MONTALBAN.It felt like a cold hand was tightly gripping her stomach every time her gaze landed on that name. Evelyn. The name of Alexander's mother. The only woman she saw in the old photographs, the brave woman who founded the foundation for orphans. The woman who owned the antique pendant that Alexander had entrusted to her with full confidence.But why... why was her name inside a confidential investigation report?And what made her heart pound even faster, why was her name included?"Alexander..."The deafening silence of the room was shattered. Her voice trembled slightly, full of nervousness and confusion.The man just stood not too far away. His dark eyes stared at her, his well-built figure like an emotionless statue, but a tremor in his thick jaw was visible. He