All Chapters of The Billionaire's Little Thief: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

51 Chapters

CHAPTER FOURTY ONE

The first thing I heard was the steady beeping of a machine.My head felt unbearably heavy. A dull throbbing spread through my entire body, making it feel impossible to move.I tried opening my eyes, but everything was blurry. The bright light above me hurt and keeping my eyes open felt impossible.I tried blinking several times until the room slowly came into focus. The ceiling above me looked unfamiliar. White and bright.The moment I attempted to move, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder and upper chest. A groan escaped my lips before I could stop it."Don't move." The deep voice instantly caught my attention.I slowly turned my head. Leonardo was sitting beside my bed and for a second I thought I was hallucinating. He looked terrible, his shirt was wrinkled, his jaw was covered in stubble. Dark circles sat beneath his eyes and he looked like someone who hadn't slept in days. The powerful, perfectly composed Leonardo Blackwood looked completely worn out.Relief flashed across his

CHAPTER FOURTY TWO

"Wow," I muttered. "You switched personalities fast."Adrian ignored me. Leonardo glanced between us suspiciously. "What did I interrupt?""Nothing," Adrian answered so quickly it sounded suspicious.I bit back a laugh. "Absolutely nothing," I agreed.Leonardo looked unconvinced. Before he could question us further, Adrian spoke."We have a problem.”Leonardo's expression hardened. "What happened?”"The shooter poisoned himself this morning before we could question him.”"What?" Leonardo asked quietly."He had a capsule hidden in one of his teeth. By the time the guards realized what happened, it was too late.”A muscle ticked in Leonardo's jaw. "So whoever sent him made sure there won't be a loose end.”I suddenly felt cold, because that meant someone powerful was involved."What about Iris?" Leonardo asked. "Still refusing to cooperate."Adrian sighed. "She won't tell us who funded her but we traced the account used to transfer the money to her.”Leonardo immediately looked up. "An

CHAPTER FOURTY THREE

I slowly placed my phone aside, then reached into my bag. "I still have something they left behind."I pulled out a silver chain. The metal had faded over the years, but I kept it polished as much as possible. "My parents gave it to me before they died.”Leonardo studied it carefully.I wrapped my fingers around the pendant."I don't even remember most of that day anymore.” My voice shook. "I was too young.”Then Leonardo quietly asked, "What happened?”"My parents supposedly died in a car accident." My voice trembled. "But my uncle didn't believe it.”Leonardo remained silent, listening."Then two days later, they came for him."Leonardo's eyes narrowed. "They?"I nodded. "Three men, they came asking for a key."Leonardo frowned. "A key?"I nodded again. "They kept saying my parents gave him a key.”I laughed weakly. "The problem was... my uncle didn't know what they were talking about.”I stared at the chain in my hands. Lost in memories I spent years trying to bury."My uncle hid m

CHAPTER FOURTY FOUR

I couldn't stop staring at Leonardo."No wonder you reacted the way you did when you saw me dancing with him.”He nodded. "I didn't like seeing him near.”The honesty in his voice made my chest tighten and I looked away. "You could've told me.”"I wanted to." His answer came immediately. "But I wasn't sure why he approached you.”“Well, fair enough.”"We're going to find out why those men came after your family." His voice had become cold and determined. "We'll find out who sent them.”My heart skipped. A strange sense of hope stirred inside me. I'd spent fifteen years trying to figure out why my parents died. For the first time, I had someone standing beside me, someone who understood what it felt like to lose everything.I opened my mouth to respond when my eyes landed on the food containers sitting untouched on the table and already cold. "Oh no."Leonardo followed my gaze to the food and pointed accusingly at me. "This is your fault.""My fault?""You're the one who started talkin

CHAPTER FOURTY FIVE

For a second, we just stared at each other.Her lips parted. "Ri... Riley..." Her voice was barely audible.She took a shaky step backward, then another as though she'd seen a ghost and collapsed.The moment Avery collapsed, my body moved before my mind could catch up."Avery!"I threw the car door open and ran to her. She lay motionless on the asphalt and for a second, I thought she was dead.My knees hit the ground beside her. "Avery!”My hands shook as I lifted her head onto my lap. "Avery, wake up.”Her eyes remained closed and panic clawed at my chest. No. No. No.Behind me, doors slammed. Footsteps approached and Leonardo and Adrian reached us.Leonardo crouched beside me. "Riley.”I barely heard him. My hands trembled as I pushed Avery's hair away from her face. She looked horrible and thin like she hadn't eaten properly in weeks. “Avery, please wake up."She didn't move. Adrian checked her pulse. "She's alive.”The words calmed me a bit."Adrian," Leonardo ordered. "Take her."

CHAPTER FOURTY SIX

Leonardo's warning lingered at the back of my mind like a shadow refused to disappear, no matter how hard I tried to push it away. By the time I reached Avery's room, I forced myself to bury the thought.When I stepped inside, Avery immediately looked up from the bed."Well?" she asked anxiously.I smiled. "He agreed.""...He actually agreed?" She looked at me in disbelief.I nodded. "You'll stay with us for a while and work alongside me."For a moment, she simply stared at me as if she hadn't heard correctly. Then she let out a slow breath and laughed softly."I don't know whether I should thank him or be terrified.""You should probably do both."That earned a genuine laugh from both of us.An hour later, Avery was officially discharged. The nurse handed over her medication while reminding her to eat properly, drink plenty of water, and avoid unnecessary stress. Avery nodded so earnestly that even the nurse seemed convinced she'd actually follow every instruction.Outside, Adrian w

CHAPTER FOURTY SEVEN

But before I could react Avery lunged at Natalia. Natalia swung at her, but Avery ducked effortlessly, causing Natalia to stumble forward.Before Natalia could regain her balance, Avery grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her back. Natalia shrieked so loudly the entire hallway echoed.“Oh, so now we're making noise? Avery said."You psychopath!” Avery laughed. "You started it!”Natalia clawed at Avery's arm desperately trying to free herself, then grabbed Avery's hair in return. "Ow!" Avery hissed before pinching Natalia's cheek.Natalia yelped. “Stop pinching my face!”“I wasn't aiming for your face,” Avery replied. “Your mouth was just closer.”Soon they were both pulling each other's hair like two angry cats.I spotted Sofia running towards us. “Sofia!”She looked from Avery to Natalia. “What on earth is going on?”"They're fighting!""I can see that!"I wrapped my arms around Avery's waist. “Sofia, get Natalia!”Instead, Avery slipped right out of my grip."I wasn't finishe

CHAPTER FOURTY EIGHT

Leonardo and I walked side by side toward the dining room in silence.Comfortable for him, perhaps. For me, every step was torture. My mind refused to move past what had happened in his study only minutes earlier.The way he'd lifted me onto his desk as though I weighed nothing, the way his lips had brushed against my collarbone and I'd closed my eyes, waiting for him to kiss me… only for him to smirk and call me easy to tease.I pressed my lips together. Unbelievable.How was he acting so normal after doing something like that? He walked beside me with his usual calm expression, hands tucked into his pockets, as if he hadn't nearly given me a heart attack.We entered the dining room together and breakfast had already been served.Leonardo took his usual seat at the head of the table while I sat opposite him. The room fell quiet except for the soft clink of cutlery against porcelain.I picked up my fork, but instead of eating, I stole a glance at him and he looked completely focused

CHAPTER FOURTY NINE

Five minutes later, I hurried outside. Leonardo was already waiting beside the car, one hand resting casually on the roof.He looked up as I approached. "You actually came on time."I folded my arms. "You sound surprised.""I was expecting at least another ten minutes.""I can be punctual."His lips curved slightly. "If you say so."He walked around to the driver's side while I slid into the passenger seat. Moments later, the engine came to life, and we drove out of the estate.For several minutes, neither of us spoke.Morning sunlight spilled across the road, painting everything in a warm golden glow.I stole a glance at him and his attention remained fixed on the road, one hand resting lazily on the steering wheel."So..." I began."Hm?""Where are we going?""It's a surprise."I pouted. "But I want to know...""Be patient."With an exaggerated sigh, I leaned back in my seat and watched the trees blur past the window.A few more minutes crawled by and I turned to him again. "Are we

CHAPTER FIFTY

After nearly an hour at the stable, I could finally sit comfortably on the horse without looking as though I was about to fall off every three seconds.Leonardo climbed down first before offering me his hand. “I can get down myself.”“I know.”“Then why are you offering?”He looked completely serious. “Because of your shoulder. Besodes, knowing you, you'll probably trip.”I narrowed my eyes at him. “You've become very annoying today.”“I've always been annoying.”I slipped my hand into his anyway and the moment my boots touched the ground, I pulled my hand away. “I want to take you somewhere now.”He folded his arms. “Oh?”“My turn to surprise you.”He simply nodded. “Lead the way.”Nearly forty minutes later, we arrived in one of the oldest parts of the city. The streets were crowded with people, vendors called out to passing customers, and children ran between colorful stalls.The rich smell of grilled meat, roasted corn and spices filled the air.Leonardo stepped out of the car and

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