All Chapters of The Billionaire Who Wants Me Next: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

73 Chapters

Chapter Fifty-One

ElaraThe ballroom slowly quieted as the host returned to the stage.His smile carried the kind of confidence that only rich people and men holding expensive secrets seemed to possess.“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced smoothly, “we will now present tonight’s featured artwork.”The lights dimmed slightly.A velvet curtain near the center stage slowly pulled away.And suddenly…The entire room fell silent.Even from where I sat, the painting reached straight into my chest.It was haunting. Beautiful in the most painful way possible.Dark shades of blue and silver bled across the canvas like grief itself had been trapped inside paint. A lone figure stood near an ocean cliff beneath a storm, their face hidden while waves crashed violently below them.Longing. Hope.Somehow the painting carried all of it at once.For the first time tonight, I completely forgot about the guests around me.Forgot about Celia.Forgot about Louis.Forgot about Alistair.I just stared.The host began explaini

Chapter Fifty-Two

ElaraI stared at the note so long the words almost stopped looking real.“You looked at the painting the same way you look at me when you forget to hide it”.My heartbeat became genuinely concerning after that.It was ridiculous.Dangerous men should not be allowed to write sentences like that.Especially not men like Alistair.I folded the note carefully before anyone nearby could notice my expression changing. Unfortunately, my face had apparently already betrayed me because the older woman sitting near me smiled knowingly as she passed.I immediately looked away..For the rest of the event, I avoided looking directly at Alistair. Which became difficult because I could feel his presence constantly.Every time someone laughed near the front row, my eyes instinctively wanted to find him.Every time applause erupted during the auction, I became painfully aware of him sitting somewhere nearby looking entirely too calm after casually spending ten million dollars on a painting for me.For

Chapter Fifty Three

LoiusThe drive back from the charity event felt like sitting inside a slowly collapsing building.Silent. Dangerous.Celia stared out the passenger window the entire time while I gripped the steering wheel harder than necessary. The tension between us had started the moment the auction ended, and somehow it only became worse with every passing minute.I already knew what was coming. I just didn’t know how ugly it would get.The second we entered the house, Celia finally exploded.“Do you have any idea how humiliating that was?”Her voice cut through the room sharply as she threw her purse onto the couch.I exhaled slowly, already exhausted. “Celia”“No, Louis. Don’t start acting calm now.” She came towards me furiously. “Everyone was watching me tonight.”I loosened my tie roughly. “It was an auction. Someone else bid higher. That happens.”“That happens?” she repeated incredulously. “Someone practically destroyed me in front of the entire room.”Her expression darkened even more.“A

Chapter Fifty-Four

ELARABy the time I reached the hospital, the glittering lights of the gala felt like they belonged to another world.The sterile scent of antiseptic replaced expensive perfume, and the quiet hum of medical equipment drowned out the memory of music and applause.As I stepped out of the elevator, I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text.Running late. At the hospital with Louis’s grandfather.I stared at Alistair’s name for a second before locking the screen and slipping the phone back into my purse.Then I headed toward the private suite.My chest loosened slightly when I walked inside and found Mr. Laurent awake.“Elara.”His smile was weak but genuine.I immediately crossed the room and took his hand.“You scared me.”A soft chuckle escaped him.“I’m too stubborn to leave this world yet.”“Good,” I said, squeezing his fingers. “Because you’re not allowed to.”His laugh turned into a cough. I helped him settle against the pillows before sitting beside him.For the next several minu

Chapter Fifty-Five

Louis The moment I stepped into my grandfather’s room, I knew he hadn’t called me in there just to talk about his recovery.He sat propped up against the pillows, looking weaker than he liked to admit, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.“Sit down, Louis.”I pulled a chair closer to the bed.“How are you feeling today?”“Old,” he muttered. “Now answer my question.”I frowned. “You haven’t asked one yet.”“When are you taking your relationship with Elara to the next level?”The question hit me so suddenly that I nearly laughed from pure shock.“What?”My grandfather narrowed his eyes.“Don’t act surprised. It doesn’t suit you.”I leaned back in my chair, trying to look confused.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Yes, you do.”His voice was flat and certain.For several seconds neither of us spoke. Then he sighed.“Louis, I may be lying in this bed, but I’m not blind.”My jaw tightened.“Grandfather..”“I don’t want to see Celia in my room anymore.”That got my full attention.

Chapter Fifty-Six

ElaraBy the time I arrived at Alistair’s house, the sun had already begun to set.The moment I stepped inside, I found him waiting in the living room, looking entirely too relaxed for someone who had been sending me impatient messages all afternoon.“What took you so long?” he asked.I dropped my purse onto a nearby chair and sighed.“Louis’s grandfather called for me.”His eyebrow lifted.“Specifically for you?”I nodded.“He asked me to come see him. I couldn’t exactly refuse.”A slow smile spread across Alistair’s face.“That’s funny.”“What is?”“The old man trusts you more than most of the people in his own family.”I crossed my arms.“That’s exactly why I don’t plan on hurting him.”The smile faded slightly.“But Louis?” I continued. “Louis will pay for everything he’s done.”My voice hardened.“For every lie. Every betrayal.”A painful memory flashed through my mind.“And for making me lose my child.”Silence settled between us.For a moment, neither of us spoke.Then Alistair

Chapter Fifty-Seven

ElaraI couldn’t remember the last time I woke up feeling this relaxed.For a few seconds, I stayed buried beneath the expensive blankets in Alistair’s guest room, enjoying the silence. No emergencies. No dramatic phone calls. No business disasters.Just peace. Then I heard his voice.“No…, move the meeting to Thursday.”My eyes opened immediately. The peace lasted exactly seven seconds.I dragged myself out of bed and followed the sound towards the living area. There he was, sitting at the dining table with a laptop open, dressed in a crisp black shirt, looking annoyingly perfect. And working.He glanced up briefly.“Good morning.”Then he returned to his call as if he hadn’t spent the entire previous evening paying attention to me.The nerve. I narrowed my eyes.Two could play that game. I walked directly between him and the laptop.His gaze lifted.Mine remained innocent. He continued talking. I slowly picked up a bowl of fruit from the counter.Still talking.I stole a strawberry

Chapter Fifty-Eight

ElaraThe ring felt heavier than it should have.Even now, as I walked through the hospital corridor, I could still feel the weight of the velvet box inside my purse.A ring.Alistair had given me a ring.Not an explanation.Not a note.Just a ring.I hadn’t even recovered from the shock when I reached Louis’ grandfather’s room.Taking a steadying breath, I pushed the door open.The old man looked up immediately.The warm smile that usually greeted me appeared for only a second before concern replaced it.“My dear.”His eyes narrowed.“You look troubled.”I forced a smile.“I’m fine.”He chuckled.“You are a terrible liar.”I closed the door behind me and walked toward his bed.As always, his face brightened when he saw me.The sight made guilt twist painfully in my chest.He trusted me. He believed in me.And worst of all, he still believed there was a future between Louis and me. A future that no longer existed.“Come here,” he said gently.“Sit beside me.”I obeyed.The moment I sat d

Chapter Fifty-Nine

LouisThe moment my grandfather’s hand slipped from Elara’s, the room erupted into motion.A nurse rushed in first, followed closely by a doctor. Machines beeped steadily while everyone stepped aside. I stood near the wall, my jaw tight, watching as they checked his pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.For several minutes, nobody spoke. Finally, the doctor straightened and offered a reassuring smile.“He’s stable. The episode was likely caused by exhaustion and stress. He needs rest.”The collective relief in the room was immediate.My father exhaled slowly.My grandmother pressed a hand against her chest. Even Elara seemed to relax slightly.The doctor asked us to leave for a while so my grandfather could recover peacefully.One by one, we filed out into the hallway.I should have felt relieved.Instead, I felt trapped. Because my father was still here.The tension between us had existed for years, buried beneath polite conversations and family obligations. Yet lately it seemed im

Chapter Sixty

ElaraI hated questions that already had answers.They were the most dangerous kind. Because they forced you to confront truths you had spent months avoiding.The morning sunlight filtered through my apartment windows as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at my reflection without really seeing it.One question kept repeating itself inside my head.Do you still love Louis?Louis’ grandfather had asked for it yesterday. At the time, I had managed to avoid answering.But the old man had seen right through me. And now the question refused to leave.I picked up my hairbrush and dragged it through my hair.The answer was obvious. Painfully obvious.I still loved him.The problem wasn’t figuring that out. The problem was figuring out what to do with that information.Love didn’t magically erase everything that had happened.It didn’t erase betrayal.It didn’t erase heartbreak. It certainly didn’t erase Celia.A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts.Before I could answer, Denise wa

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