Falling in love with a ruthless billionaire
img img Falling in love with a ruthless billionaire img Chapter 4 Four
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Chapter 6 Six img
Chapter 7 Seven img
Chapter 8 Eight img
Chapter 9 Nine img
Chapter 10 Ten img
Chapter 11 Eleven img
Chapter 12 Twelve img
Chapter 13 Thirteen img
Chapter 14 Fourteen img
Chapter 15 Fifteen img
Chapter 16 Sixteen img
Chapter 17 Seventeen img
Chapter 18 Eighteen img
Chapter 19 Nineteen img
Chapter 20 Twenty img
Chapter 21 Twenty one img
Chapter 22 Twenty two img
Chapter 23 Twenty three img
Chapter 24 Twenty four img
Chapter 25 Twenty five img
Chapter 26 Twenty six img
Chapter 27 Twenty seven img
Chapter 28 Twenty Eight img
Chapter 29 Twenty nine img
Chapter 30 Thirty img
Chapter 31 Thirty one img
Chapter 32 Thirty two img
Chapter 33 Thirty three img
Chapter 34 Thirty four img
Chapter 35 Thirty Five img
Chapter 36 Thirty six img
Chapter 37 Thirty seven img
Chapter 38 Thirty eight img
Chapter 39 Thirty nine img
Chapter 40 Forty img
Chapter 41 Forty one img
Chapter 42 Forty two img
Chapter 43 Forty three img
Chapter 44 Forty four img
Chapter 45 Forty five img
Chapter 46 Forty six img
Chapter 47 Forty seven img
Chapter 48 Forty eight img
Chapter 49 Forty nine img
Chapter 50 Fifty img
Chapter 51 Fifty one img
Chapter 52 Fifty two img
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Chapter 4 Four

The glow of the hallway lights cast elongated shadows as Jessica stepped out of her room. Her body felt heavy, each step slower than the last. Her mind was clouded with exhaustion, but she knew one thing, disobedience wouldn't go unpunished.

The memory of Raymond's cold hands tilting her chin, his dark eyes pinning her in place, still lingered. His voice had been smooth, almost mocking: "Come downstairs for dinner."

And so, she obeyed.

Her bare feet against the marble floor sent chills up her spine. The house was eerily quiet, save for the occasional distant footsteps of the staff moving in hidden corners. She finally reached the dining hall, and there he was–Raymond Shaw, already seated, his posture relaxed yet commanding, sipping a glass of wine as he waited for the meal to be served.

Jessica swallowed, forcing herself to move forward. Her instinct told her to sit close-after all, wasn't she his wife? But just as she pulled out the chair near him, Raymond's gaze snapped to hers.

Cold and unforgiving, a silent warning to her.

Her heart stuttered in her chest. Without a word, she took a slow step back, then another, before retreating to the last seat at the far end of the table.

Moments later, the chefs emerged from the kitchen, moving in perfect synchronization. Plates were placed before them, each dish crafted with delicate precision. The head chef, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, bowed slightly before speaking.

"Tonight's main course is Coq au Vin, a traditional French dish slow-cooked in red wine with pearl onions and mushrooms." His voice was steady, professional. "This recipe has been passed down for generations, originating from the rustic kitchens of Burgundy. We hope you enjoy it."

With another bow, he turned and left with his staff, disappearing into the kitchen.

The room fell into silence.

The only sound came from Raymond's cutlery softly clinking against his plate. He ate methodically, his movements precise, like a man who had control over every aspect of his life-including her.

Jessica lowered her gaze to her untouched plate. The food looked divine, something she had never tasted before. But her stomach churned with unease. How could she eat when she felt like a prisoner?

Out of habit, she stole a quick glance at Raymond and that was a mistake.

He had already stopped eating and was staring at her.

"You don't have good manners," he said flatly, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade.

Jessica stiffened. Her fingers clenched in her lap. "What do you mean?" she asked, though she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

Raymond set his cutlery down, eyes darkening. "When food is placed before you, you eat. You don't sit there gawking at it."

Jessica bit her lip, her heart pounding.

"No." The word left her mouth before she could stop it.

Raymond's fingers tightened around his knife, the sharp metal pressing against his palm.

Silence...

Then, his voice, low and dangerous: "Eat the food, Jessica."

His tone carried a warning, one that sent a cold shiver down her spine.

She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she reached for her cutlery. She wasn't hungry. She wanted to push the plate away but she wasn't stupid. If she decides to be stubborn, she'll have to face the consequences.

As she slowly took a bite, she felt Raymond's eyes on her, watching.

He found amusement in her obedience.

The moment he finished his meal, he stood up. Without another word, he walked past her as though she were nothing more than a stranger in his home.

Jessica's fists clenched.

Her voice cracked as she spoke, "I'm your wife, Raymond. The way you're treating me-it's wrong."

She barely finished her sentence when he stopped.

A long pause.

Then, slowly, he turned his head, his sharp features unreadable.

"Did you just speak without permission?"

Jessica's pulse quickened. She knew she had crossed a line but something inside her snapped.

She stood up, her voice firm despite the tremor in her hands. "If you wanted a slave, you should have married someone off the street!"

The air in the room shifted.

Raymond turned fully toward her now, his expression dark, predatory. He took a slow, deliberate step forward.

Jessica instinctively stepped back.

Another step.

And another.

Her back hit the wall.

Before she could move, Raymond grabbed her wrist, his grip like steel. She let out a small gasp, struggling to free herself, but it was useless.

Without a word, he dragged her through the halls.

"Let me go!" she cried, twisting in his grip, but he didn't falter.

She kicked and struggled, but nothing worked.

By the time they reached her room, her breath was ragged from the effort.

Raymond threw her inside, the force sending her stumbling onto the floor.

The door slammed shut and a sharp click echoed in the silence.

Jessica scrambled to her feet, rushing to the door, grabbing the handle and twisting it.

It was locked.

Raymond's voice came from the other side, low and indifferent.

"I'll unlock it tomorrow evening."

Then his footsteps were fading away.

Jessica's knees buckled, and she sank to the floor.

Tears blurred her vision as she pressed her forehead against the door, her hands trembling against the wood.

Her voice came out broken.

"What did I do to deserve this...?"

Meanwhile, at the airport.

The roar of a private jet hummed through the runway as a white car pulled up near the steps. The door swung open, revealing a tall, well-dressed couple.

A young woman stepped out of the jet, her long chestnut hair flowing behind her.

The moment her dark eyes landed on them, a wide smile spread across her face.

"Mom! Dad!" Joyce Reyes shrieked, dashing toward them.

Her mother let out a soft laugh, pulling her into a warm embrace. "We missed you, sweetheart."

Joyce pulled back, grinning. "You missed me so much that you actually came to pick me up?"

Her father cleared his throat. "There's something we need to tell you."

Joyce tilted her head, slipping into the car beside them. "What's wrong?"

Her father paused before the next words he said shattered her world.

"Your boyfriend, Raymond... got married yesterday."

The car was silent. Then– "What?!" Joyce's scream echoed through the car.

            
            

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