All Chapters of One Night with My Ex's Billionaire Best Friend: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

147 Chapters

Chapter 81: The Blackmail That Backfired

Julian Blackwood has been quiet. Too quiet.While everyone focused on SEC investigations and insider trading allegations, Julian’s been working.Doing what he does best. Digging. Investigating. Finding dirt.He calls Lucian at six AM.“I found something. Get to the office. Now. Bring Marcus.”Thirty minutes later, they’re in Julian’s office. Documents everywhere. Laptop screens glowing.“Tell me you have good news,” Lucian says.“Better than good. I have nuclear.” Julian pulls up files. “Remember how I investigated Vaughn before? Found his embezzlement? His payments to Vanessa?”“Yeah.”“I kept digging. Because men like Vaughn always have more secrets. And I found them.” He turns his laptop. “Vaughn’s been running a Ponzi scheme. For three years. Through his investment fund. Stealing from investors to pay returns to other investors. Classic fraud. Sophisticated. But traceable.”Marcus leans forward. “How much?”“Seven hundred million. Across two hundred investors. Some of them very pr

Chapter 82: When Ethan Hit Rock Bottom

Two weeks after Vaughn’s arrest.Ethan Cole sits in his therapist’s office. Fourth session. Making progress. Supposedly.“Tell me about the drinking,” Dr. Sarah Martinez says.“I stopped. Three days sober.”“That’s good. What triggered the decision?”Ethan looks at his hands. “I woke up in a park. Downtown. No idea how I got there. Phone dead. Wallet missing. Some kid taking photos of me for social media.”“Photos?”“Yeah. ‘Ethan Cole, pathetic drunk ex-boyfriend passed out in Battery Park.’ Got about fifty thousand likes. My boss saw it. Called me in. Told me to get help or get fired.”“So external pressure motivated the change.”“Is that bad?”“It’s a start. But lasting change usually requires internal motivation. What do you want, Ethan? For yourself?”He’s quiet for a long moment. “I want to stop being this person. The bitter ex. The drunk. The guy who destroyed the best thing in his life and can’t move on.”“The best thing being Ariana.”“Yeah. Though she’d probably laugh at that

Chapter 83: The Security Detail

I noticed the man in the lobby first.Mid-forties. Suit. Earpiece. Standing too casually near the elevators.Trying to look like he belongs. Failing.“Lucian, who is that?”He doesn’t even look. “Security. Don’t worry about it.”“Security? Why do we need security?”“Just a precaution. With Vaughn arrested, his associates might, react. Marcus thought it was wise.”“Associates? What associates?”“Investors he defrauded. Business partners who lost money. People who might blame me for his arrest.” Lucian takes my hand. “It’s nothing. Just being careful.”But the next day, there are two men. Lobby and parking garage.Third day, there’s one following me to work. Discreet. Professional. Obvious.I confront Lucian that evening.“I have a shadow. A security shadow. Following me everywhere.”“I know. I hired him.”“Why?”“Because Vaughn’s in prison but his trial hasn’t started. Because people are angry. Because you’re eight and a half months pregnant and I’m not taking any chances.” He’s firm.

Chapter 84: The Package That Terrified Her

The package arrives at work. Addressed to me personally.Small. Unmarked. No return address.My assistant brings it in. “This was just delivered. Security already cleared it.”“Thanks, Emily.”She leaves. I stare at the box.Something feels wrong. Off.I call Chen. He’s outside my office within seconds.“Problem?”I show him the package. “Does this seem weird to you?”He examines it. “No return address. Hand-delivered to reception. Security cleared it through X-ray.” He looks at me. “Want me to open it?”“Please.”He uses a letter opener. Careful. Professional.Inside, bubble wrap. He unwraps it.A USB drive. And a note.Handwritten. Block letters.**YOU DESTROYED MY LIFE. NOW I’LL DESTROY YOURS. WATCH THE VIDEO.**My blood goes cold.Chen immediately calls it in. “We have a threat. Package delivered to Ms. Vale. Contains threatening note and USB drive. Need a tech team. Now.”Within fifteen minutes, my office is full. Chen. Building security. IT specialist. Lucian on his way.The IT

Chapter 85: Moving In Together

Two weeks in the safe house hotel.Patterson’s arrested. Charged with stalking. Harassment. Criminal threats.Bail set high. He’s not getting out.But we can’t go back to the penthouse. Not yet. Security’s being completely overhauled.Cameras. New locks. Bulletproof windows. Everything.It’ll take another week.Lucian sits across from me. Breakfast in the hotel suite. Security posted outside.“We can’t live like this,” he says.“I know.”“I mean after the penthouse is ready. After the trial. After everything. We can’t keep jumping from crisis to crisis. Moving. Hiding. Running.”“What are you saying?”“I’m saying we need stability. Real stability. A home. Not just a place we sleep between disasters.” He takes my hand. “Move in with me. Officially. Not because of threats or security. Because we’re building a life. Together. And I want that life to have a permanent address.”“I already live with you. My lease ended three months ago. All my stuff’s at the penthouse.”“I know. But I never

Chapter 86: The Domestic Bliss They Stole

The penthouse is finished early.Two weeks instead of three. Contractors worked overtime. Double shifts. Whatever it took.We move in three days before the trial.I walk through the door and stop.It’s perfect. Exactly like the renderings. But better. Real. Tangible. Ours.“Welcome home,” Lucian says. “Our home.”Mrs. Caldwell’s already unpacked everything. My clothes in my closet. Books on shelves. Kitchen organized. Like we’ve lived here forever.“Margaret, you’re a miracle worker.”“I’ve had practice. And I wanted everything ready when you arrived. Both of you. Soon to be three of you.” She touches my stomach gently. “Emma deserves to come home to something beautiful.”The nursery takes my breath away.Soft yellow walls. White furniture. Window seat with cushions. Mobile hanging above the crib. Rocking chair in the corner.Everything perfect. Everything ready. Everything waiting for our daughter.“I can’t believe this is real.”“Believe it. This is our life now. Domestic. Settled.

Chapter 87: Julian’s Romantic Subplot

Julian arrives for dinner looking different.Not his usual confident swagger. Nervous. Distracted.“You okay?” Lucian asks.“Fine. Yeah. Fine.”“You said fine three times. You’re not fine.”Julian sits. Runs his hand through his hair. “I need advice. Relationship advice. From you. Which feels weird but here we are.”I lean forward. “You’re seeing someone?”“Maybe. Yes. Kind of. It’s complicated.”“Complicated how?” Lucian grins. “This is amazing. Julian Blackwood, eternal bachelor, actually interested in someone.”“Don’t make it a thing.”“Too late. It’s a thing. Tell us everything.”Julian sighs. “Her name is Rebecca Chen. She’s a prosecutor. Federal. Southern District.”I freeze. “Wait. Rebecca Chen? The prosecutor who delivered Vanessa’s letter to me?”“The same.”“You’re dating the prosecutor?”“I’m not dating her. I’m, we’ve had coffee. A few times. Talked. Connected. Maybe more than talked.”Lucian’s grinning wider. “How did this happen?”“I was delivering evidence. The Ponzi sc

Chapter 88: The Anniversary of That First Night

I wake up to Lucian watching me.“What?” I ask, still groggy.“Do you know what today is?”“Tuesday?”“It’s the anniversary. One year. Since we met. Since that hotel bar. Since you were crying and I asked if you were okay.”I sit up. Carefully. Nine months pregnant. Everything hurts.“One year. That’s, that’s impossible. It feels like yesterday. And also like forever.”“A lot happened in one year.”“Understatement.” I laugh. “We met. Fell in love. Fought Vaughn. Survived scandal. Got engaged. Created a human. Built a company. Lived through multiple crises.”“When you list it like that, it sounds exhausting.”“It was exhausting. Is exhausting. But also, the best year of my life.”“Mine too.” He pulls me close. Careful of my stomach. “I planned something. For today. Anniversary celebration. If you’re up for it.”“How elaborate are we talking?”“Not elaborate. Intimate. Just us. Recreating that first night. Well, parts of it. The good parts.”“The hotel bar closed six months ago. Renovat

Chapter 89: The Ring He Bought

After dinner, after the anniversary celebration, Lucian disappears into his study.Returns with a small box.“I have something for you. Was saving it for the right moment. Anniversary feels right.”“Lucian, you already got me an engagement ring. A gorgeous engagement ring.”“I know. This is different. Open it.”I open the box. Inside, a wedding band. Simple. Elegant. Perfect.Rose gold. Delicate vines etched into the metal. Tiny diamonds embedded throughout.“It’s beautiful.”“I bought it three months ago. Right after Vaughn’s first attack. When everything was chaos. When I didn’t know if we’d survive.” He sits beside me. “I was in a meeting. Board was questioning my judgment. Investors were panicking. Media was destroying us. And all I could think was, I need to marry her. Before something takes her away. Before I lose my chance.”“So you bought a wedding ring. During a crisis.”“I left the meeting early. Went to the jeweler. Spent two hours picking the perfect one. The one that felt

Chapter 90: Evelyn’s Unexpected Approval

Evelyn Blackwood calls the morning before the trial.“I’m coming over. This afternoon. We need to talk.”“About what?”“You’ll see. Just, be home. Both of you.”She hangs up before I can respond.“That sounded ominous,” Lucian says.“Your mother wants to talk. Right before the trial. That’s never good.”“Maybe she’s just checking in. Being supportive.”“Your mother doesn’t just check in. She has agendas.”Three hours later, Evelyn arrives. Designer suit. Perfect hair. Intimidating as always.But her face is softer. Less sharp. Almost, warm?“Thank you for seeing me,” she says. Actually polite.“Of course. What’s going on?”She sits. Carefully. Places her purse aside. Looks at both of us.“I owe you an apology. A real one. Not the half-hearted acknowledgment I gave before. A genuine apology.”I freeze. Evelyn Blackwood apologizing? Actually apologizing?“When you first started seeing Lucian, I was horrible. Dismissive. Cruel. I questioned your motives. Your character. Your worth.” She

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