2024-05-15 22:09:57
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CHOSEN AS THE TRILLIONAIRE'S HEIR EMILY RETURNS
The rumble of an approaching bus jolted Emily out of her self-made vigil. Disappointment pricked at her. Zoey was usually here earlier. She adjusted the strap of her purse, the worn leather cool against her clammy hand. Doubt gnawed at her. Maybe doing this was a bad idea. But the memory of Zoey's radiant face, the joy in her eyes when she spoke of Ellis, fueled Emily's resolve. She wouldn't let Zoey enjoy all that when she was here.A sleek black car, not the familiar bus, rounded the corner and slowed to a stop next to Emily. Emily felt a jolt of panic go through her as she recognized Zoey peering out the passenger window. Panic clawed at her throat. She had not planned for this conversation to be done outside. But the lie, carefully constructed over weeks, sitting heavily on her tongue, demanding release. Emily had found out where Zoey usually came to this particular shop to have breakfast most days, or to order breakfast to go when she was late for work. This was the only chance s
CHOSEN AS THE TRILLIONAIRE'S HEIR AMBUSHED BY EMILY
Emily nodded. "Yes. A little girl. He's been... hiding her from you. We used to be classmates, and the mother of the child is also a classmate of ours. Or she was, but she had to drop out of college after getting pregnant."She didn’t mention that she was Ellis’ ex-girlfriend, to give more credibility to her story. She didn’t want Zoey to suspect that this was being done out of jealousy. And it was a bit of petty revenge since Ellis hadn’t even discussed about her with his new girl.Zoey stood frozen, the colour slowly draining from her face. Emily plunged on, weaving a narrative of concern and empathy, careful not to implicate herself as the source. She spoke of accidental encounters with Ellis and the child, painting a picture of a secret life he had kept hidden. She kept saying she could introduce Zoey to the mother of the child at any time, and she could also meet the child too as a form of confirmation. That was a lie but she said it so confidently in order to look genuine. All o
CHOSEN AS THE TRILLIONAIRE'S HEIR HER DOUBTS
She watched as Zoey's car drove away. The weight of the lie settled on her like a physical burden. The carefully constructed narrative, fuelled by months of stewing resentment, felt flimsy now. Uncertainty gnawed at her. There was no baby. What if Zoey found out that it was all a figment of her imagination, twisted by her jealousy?The thought sent a jolt of fear through her. If the lie unravelled, it would destroy any chance she had with Ellis. Zoey, the woman she supposedly protected, would become her enemy. Panic threatened to consume her. Maybe she should look for a baby that resembled Ellis and pay off the mother to pretend it was indeed Ellis' baby. Her mind moved through different solutions as she walked away. Zoey sat stiffly in the car, her mind a whirlwind. Emily's words echoed in her head – a baby, hidden away. The image of Ellis holding a child, a child he had not told her about, sent a fresh wave of nausea churning in her stomach. Doubt, a persistent weed in the garde
CHOSEN AS THE TRILLIONAIRE'S HEIR HE DIDN'T FALL FOR HER LIES
As she walked out of the office building, the city lights blurring into a kaleidoscope of colours, Zoey knew one thing for sure. The next week would be the longest of her life. Across town, at the Royale mansion, Ellis hummed along to music as he put the finishing touches on the arrangement of his room. A vase filled with lilies, Zoey's favourite flower, graced the centre of the table. He checked his watch – she should be here any minute. The doorbell chimed, and a smile spread across his face. He hurried to open the door, anticipation bubbling within him. But the smile faltered when he saw the woman standing on his doorstep."Emily? What are you doing here?" he asked, a frown creasing his forehead. Emily shifted uncomfortably. "Hey Ellis. Actually, there's something I need to talk to you about.""Yes?" Ellis frowned at her."It's about Zoey.""Zoey? What about Zoey? We’ve managed to go back to being cordial again, don’t ruin it by trying one of your shenanigans. I’m not in the
CHOSEN AS THE TRILLIONAIRE'S HEIR RECONCILED
Rain lashed against Zoey's apartment window, mimicking the storm brewing within her. Emily's words, laced with venom, echoed in her mind. Ellis had a child? Unthinkable. Yet, a seed of doubt had been planted, nurtured by her own anxieties. The past few days had been a slow descent. Gone were the playful texts, the lingering touches that spoke volumes more than words. Zoey got more distant with Ellis, always acting preoccupied to try and save her sanity. Zoey craved the warmth of his gaze, the way his laugh used to be reserved just for her. Now, it felt forced, shared with people she didn't even know.Their usual Tuesday date night arrived, a ghost of its former self. Reservations at their favorite Italian restaurant stood ignored. Zoey, using a fictional deadline as an excuse, buried herself in work, her laptop screen a cold barrier to the loneliness gnawing at her. Meanwhile, Ellis stood outside the restaurant, a bouquet of lilies wilting in his hand. He'd been early, waiting with a
CHOSEN AS THE TRILLIONAIRE'S HEIR ABDUCTED
The crisp spring air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers as Zoey stepped out onto the balcony of her apartment. She took a deep breath, a contented smile spreading across her face. After weeks of doubts and misunderstandings, she and Ellis had finally reconciled and their relationship was back on track. As if on cue, Ellis emerged from inside the bathroom, still tying his bathrobe. "Morning, beautiful," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder. "Sleep well?”Zoey leaned back into his embrace with a happy sigh. "Like a baby. You?""Best night's sleep I've had in ages," he replied, nuzzling her neck. They stood in comfortable silence for a few moments, simply enjoying being together again after so much turmoil.Little did they know, their tender moment was being observed through a high-powered lens from a windowless van parked down the street. By another person."Got a good view?" a gruff voice asked from the back of the
CHOSEN AS THE TRILLIONAIRE'S HEIR THEIR DEMANDS
When Zoey regained consciousness, she found herself bound hand and foot, lying in the dim, cramped interior of what she realized must be the van she had seen before blacking out. Her heart pounded in her chest as fragments of memory came flooding back — the van, the glint of metal, a cloth smelling sickly sweet pressed over her mouth and nose just in case the blow hadn’t knocked her out.She jerked violently against her restraints with a muffled shriek, panic clawing at her throat. This had to be a mistake, a horrible nightmare she would wake up from any second now back in Ellis's strong, safe embrace. But her bonds held firm, biting cruelly into her wrists and ankles, and there could be no mistaking the grim reality of her pitch-black, eerily silent prison. She was a bit claustrophobic, and it heightened her panic. She realised that she wasn’t gagged, so she began to scream. "Ellis!" she cried out desperately, tears streaking her cheeks. "Somebody, please! Help me!"Her captors' moc
CHOSEN AS THE TRILLIONAIRE'S HEIR THE BLAST
Ellis's mind whirred frantically, panic battling with desperation and anger. "I got everything on your list. All the money, guns, contraband - it's all there, just like you demanded!"Another chuckle, deeper and more unsettling this time. "Oh no no no, those were just supplementary requirements, let's say. A means to an end, but not the end goal itself."Zoey whimpered softly as the blade dug in just enough to draw a slender bead of crimson against her skin. Ellis's own throat ran dry, heart thundering. "Then...then what?!" He rasped, hands raising in surrender. "What do you want from me?! I'll do anything if you'll just let her go!"He was trying to contain his anger. He didn’t want to use the cultivation his father taught him to start spiralling down a deep hole of vengeance. In his training, he was warned to avoid blood shed in order not to corrupt his Chi, and block his aura. That would lead to him starting the process to becoming a dark mage just like the evil he was supposed t
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THE FINALE
The bell above the door jingled merrily as Ellis pushed it open, cradling his newborn son Derek in his arms. Zoey watched them both, her face glowing with joy and fatigue after the difficult labor. After the tumultuous path that had led him here - the battles with rivals, the crushing workload, the periods of self-doubt - he had truly found peace at last. His company was thriving, his beautiful wife was by his side, and now they had brought new life into the world. As he gazed down at Derek's tiny, scrunched-up face, Ellis felt a surge of fierce, protective love unlike anything he had experienced before. "Welcome, little man," Ellis murmured, leaning down to kiss his son's head. The click of stiletto heels on hardwood announced the arrival of Amelia, Ellis's indispensable executive assistant. Her usual brisk demeanor melted into a warm smile as she caught sight of the family. "Congratulations, you two," she said, placing a gentle hand on Derek's back. "He's absolutely precious." Zo
FORGIVEN
Emily nodded, finally finding her voice after reining in her tears. "Thank you, truly. I don't even know what to say beyond how grateful I am that you're both willing to start taking steps toward forgiveness," She paused, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat."I hurt you both in such an unfair, selfish way and I'll regret that forever. You didn't deserve that at all," Emily went on, her eyes glistening with sincerity. "But I hope I can show you both through my sustained actions and personal growth that I'm not that toxic, jealous person anymore who let obsession cloud my judgment so severely."Zoey gave her a sad smile, her eyes still holding remnants of past hurt. "It's going to take time, Emily. A lot of time. You have to understand how profoundly your lies and manipulation destabilized my relationship with Ellis.""I know," Emily replied solemnly. "And I don't expect your forgiveness or renewed trust to come easily at all. I'll need to prove myself over and over again. I'
A STEP FORWARD
As she drove away, Emily couldn't help but let the tears flow freely. She cried for the hurt she had caused and the potential permanent damage she may have done to their relationship. She cried at the thought of Ellis's disappointed look when he realized she had tried to take advantage of him and his vulnerability during his close breakup with Zoey. And she cried over the self-loathing and remorse she felt for letting herself become such an ugly, selfish person for a period of time due to her unhealthy jealousy.Deep down, Emily realized she may have permanently burned the bridge of friendship with Ellis and her based on her actions. While she desperately hoped she could prove herself changing through therapy and personal growth, the possibility that their close bond of trust could never be salvaged was very real. And she would have to live with that heavy burden knowing she had brought it all upon herself. Over the next several weeks, the silence and distance from Ellis and Zoey was
SHE SEEKS FORGIVENESS
Emily paced back and forth nervously in her living room. Tomorrow was Ellis and Zoey's first anniversary and she had finally decided it was time to come clean and apologize for the lies and manipulation she had put them through around the time of their dating some time ago. She knew that they may not listen to her, but she had found love with someone, and she was trying to turn a new leaf for him. She wanted him to see that she was serious about changing her spiteful character, and hoped to show her love for him that way. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. This was the right thing to do, regardless of how awkward or uncomfortable it might be. Ellis and Zoey deserved the truth and a sincere apology from her after everything that had happened.Emily thought back to how it had all started over a year earlier. She had been harboring feelings for Ellis, long before he had started dating Zoey. But thinkingback, she knew that she never truly loved Ellis. She had just been aft
DEFEATED THE EVIL
Meanwhile, in Ellis’ mind, he was in a chamber he didn’t recognise, standing alone. He looked around but he couldn’t find a way out of the place. There were no walls, no windows, no lower basement entrance. He tried touching the walls to see if there was a secret passage, but nothing happened. He called out several times, but got no response. He didn’t know what to do, and though he vaguely knew that it was a dream, he still felt a little weird, like it was actually happening. After several failed attempts to escape the weird chamber, he sat on the floor and began to meditate.He tried to reach for his aura deep within him, to see if it could somehow lead him out of there. He could feel the Qi, but it was not obeying his command. It was like it was locked down somehow. But he didn’t give up, he remained in a meditative pose, and calmed himself down till his heart rate slowed considerably. While in that state, he heard a voice. “Congratulations, you passed the test. I made the right c
HONEYMOON
For their honeymoon, Zoey was ecstatic when Ellis took her to the Maldives. She had always wanted to visit there. And not just that, Ellis had also purchased a private island in Zoey’s name, so she could always come there at any time. He planned to have a beach villa built there later so they could use it as a vacation spot, but for the time being, just a log cabin had been erected. The log cabin had modern amenities, like a hot tub, kitchen with up to date appliances, running water, a standby generator, etc. But it also had rustic features like a real fireplace with a chimney, an outdoor grill pit, a cleared out campsite, and a small lake instead of a swimming pool.The place was beautiful. They spent their first night there in bed all day, then they slept till afternoon. After waking, their meal had already been prepared by the local chef Ellis had hired. He didn’t want Zoey stressed out during the honeymoon, she would only cook if she chose to. Hehad so many activities planned for
WEDDING
As the months ticked by, everything slowly started falling into place. Zoey's dress was altered to perfection. The venue was booked and the menu tasting was complete — they selected a seasonal tasting menu with locally-sourced ingredients. The cake was a delicious vanilla sponge with tart lemon curd filling and a Swiss meringue buttercream frosting. One of Zoey's favorite touches was Gemma's idea to have a "coffee bar" at the reception with gourmet coffee drinks, flavored syrups and delicious accompaniments like biscotti and cannoli. She knew their guests would appreciate a delicious caffeinated pick-me-up after dancing the night away.In the last few weeks leading up to the wedding, Zoey was a bundle of nervous excitement. She tried her best to get enough rest and stay hydrated, knowing she needed to be in top form for the biggest day of her life. Ellis, on the other hand, seemed to take everything in stride. His calm, steady presence was invaluable for keeping Zoey grounded when she
PROPOSAL
Ellis took a deep breath as he looked across the candlelit table at Zoey. Her eyes sparkled in the flickering light and her dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. After so much time together, he knew this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He reached across the table and took her hand in his. "Zoey, we've been through so much together these past several months. You've supported me every step of the way as I took on the challenging role of CEO at Royale Company. You're my partner, my best friend, my everything. I know some people may find it too soon, or some may say that you’re after my money. But I know in my heart that what we have is real. " He paused, his heart pounding in his chest as he got on one knee, and brought out a custom made diamond ring that cost a hundred million dollars. Zoey gasped. "I don't want to imagine my life without you by my side. Zoey, will you marry me?"Zoey's eyes went wide and she brought her hands up to cover her mou
IN JAIL
George, for his part, saw his gilded life come crashing down in what felt like an incomprehensible nightmare. Gone were the bravado, the vainglorious sense of entitlement, the belief that he could indulge in whatever impulse struck him without consequence. His charmed existence had been brutally ripped away, replaced by the sullen, emasculating confines of a jail cell and the prospect of an incarceration looming ahead. Just like his brother, Marcus. Stripped of his identity, his wealth, and the support system that enabled his wanton ways, all George was left with was to reckon with his shattered sense of self. None of his party friends even visited, or tried to help him. He thought they would have his back, but now his eyes had cleared.His thoughts often drifted to Lisa, the wife whose unconditional love he had so wantonly discarded in pursuit of shallow gratification. Was it truly worth sacrificing everything — his marriage, his family, his father's pride and the staggering family f
