All Chapters of Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir: Chapter 281
- Chapter 290
303 chapters
Chapter 281
Ethan sat in the living room waiting for Jessica to come in, wondering what the reason for her visit could be.The door finally opened, and Theo stepped inside, gesturing for her to come in.She walked in with the confidence of someone who belonged everywhere she went.Her hair was pulled back, her sharp eyes scanning the room before landing on Ethan.The moment their gazes met, Ethan’s expression hardened.“How did you know I was here?” he demanded, his voice cold and clipped.She said nothing.Instead, she walked further into the room and sat down on the leather sofa across from him.Ethan’s jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with barely contained anger.But he said nothing.He simply turned his head toward Theo and gave him a single nod.Theo understood immediately and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.Now it was just the two of them.Ethan took a slow breath as the silence stretched, forcing himself to stay calm.“I’ll ask you again,” he said, his voice low.“How d
Chapter 282
“No,” Ethan said sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.Jessica's face scrunched in confusion.“What?” she asked, taken aback.He stood quickly, his expression tight.“It’s dangerous." He lied."You need to let this go, Jessica.”“I already have plans to make a public statement. Just… leave it alone.”He moved toward her quickly, then caught himself, running both hands through his hair in agitation."Jessica, please. Just don't. You don’t know what you’re—” He bit off the words, his chest rising and falling rapidly.When he spoke again, it was almost a plea. “Some stones are better left unturned. For your own sake. If you pursue this, I can’t protect you. Do you understand? I can’t—even if I wanted to."Her brows furrowed in suspicion.“Dangerous?” she repeated, a faint smirk tugging at her lips."Are you saying Adrian might try to harm me if I dig too deep?”Her smirk widened as her eyes gleamed. "If whatever I find could make Adrian want to harm me, then obviously
Chapter 283
Twenty-four hours had passed since Adrian dropped his bombshell.Twenty-four hours of silence from Ethan.And the world was burning.The public outcry had reached fever pitch. Social media platforms were ablaze with debates, arguments, and accusations. News outlets ran round-the-clock coverage, dissecting every angle of Adrian’s claims.Some demanded that Adrian be given his rightful place as head of Aurelius Conglomerate.Others argued that Ethan should at least share a significant portion of his holdings, some suggesting eighty percent, others arguing for a more “reasonable” sixty percent.The stock price of Aurelius Conglomerate continued its freefall, dropping another fifteen percent.The entire empire was teetering on the edge of collapse.But that wasn’t the worst of it.Some people had begun questioning whether Ethan was truly Magnus’ son.Since Ethan made the revelation that he was Magnus' son right after Magnus' funeral, people had claimed the timing seemed way too suspicious
Chapter 284
The press conference room was packed to capacity as reporters from every major outlet filled every available seat.The walls were lined with additional cameras on tripods, capturing every angle.Security stood at each entrance, their expressions stoic as they monitored the crowd.A podium bearing the Aurelius Conglomerate logo stood at the front of the room.The murmurs fell silent as Ethan stepped up to the podium.He wore a tailored black suit, his expression calm but controlled.His hands rested lightly on either side of the microphone as his gaze swept across the room.For a moment, he said nothing, letting the weight of the silence settle.“For the past twenty-four hours,” he began, his voice steady, “the world has been confronted with allegations that seemed impossible to believe. Claims that my uncle, Adrian Aurelius—a man we mourned, a man whose death was accepted as fact for over two decades—has returned from the dead with accusations that my father, Magnus Aurelius, attempte
Chapter 285
The second phase Adrian had set in motion was calling a meeting with everyone who had once been members of The Order.He had chosen the chamber that had been used for two centuries in the absence of a King—before Ethan's reign.Adrian sat at the head of the table.Facing him in two rows along either side were the former members of The Order.Among them were the council members, and those who had defected to The Shadow or simply cut ties.The moment Cavill rose from his seat, all eyes turned to him.“Before this meeting commences,” he began, his voice firm and authoritative, “before we delve into whatever purpose we’ve been summoned here for, I need to address something.”He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room.“When I and a very few others here—those who remained unwaveringly loyal to The Order—received the invitation to discuss a new dawn and the rebirth of what we once stood for, none of us expected this.”He gestured broadly at the gathered crowd. “We did not think that peopl
Chapter 286
Elara rose from her seat, breaking the contemplative silence.“You're is right,” she said firmly. "If anyone deserves to lead as the substitute King until a true King emerges, it’s you.”She paused, her tone turning cautious. “But we cannot ignore the reality of the situation. I don't Ethan will be willing to give up the throne. And even though the council has confirmed that The Army is no longer loyal to him and no longer protecting him, it doesn't change the fact that he has supernatural powers.”Her expression grew stern. “Reports also show that he’s got hired guards protecting him. If things turn into a full-blown war, he could bring in mercenaries. And in the process, we risk exposing The Order.”She looked around the room. “Unlike previous centuries, The Order cannot afford to be exposed in this era. Staying hidden is the only way we can keep doing what we do, especially with how modern governments work now.”Adrian’s smirk widened.“You’re absolutely right, Elara,” he said smo
Chapter 287
Adrian stepped inside the warehouse, his footsteps echoing against concrete floors.Dim overhead lights flickered weakly, casting long shadows across stacks of abandoned crates and machinery covered in dusty tarps.His expression remained calm, almost pleasant, as he walked deeper into the space.The guard from the chamber appeared from a side corridor, his face tight with tension.He approached quickly, stopping a respectful distance away.“Sir,” he began, his voice low. "She hasn’t talked. We asked her multiple times how she got the information, who tipped her off, but—”“She’s refusing to speak,” Adrian finished for him.The guard nodded. “Yes, sir. If you’d allow us to apply more… pressure, we could—”A dark chuckle escaped Adrian’s lips, cutting him off mid-sentence. "I don’t think someone tipped her off.”The guard’s eyes widened. “But how—”Adrian’s smirk deepened as he walked past the man without another word.That was exactly why Adrian hadn’t wasted time dragging out accusa
Chapter 288
Ethan had returned to the mansion since he’d cleared the air.He was in what used to be Magnus' study room—now his—when a guard knocked and told him that Lara was here to see him.His heart leaped.Without thinking, he quickly left the study and headed to the balcony where the guard said she was waiting.And there she was, standing with her back to him, facing the city lights that stretched endlessly below.His chest tightened with relief and excitement as he called her name. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you, especially here," he added.“I can’t believe there’d be a day where I’d be standing here again after I left,” she said quietly, her voice hollow. "At this exact favorite spot of Magnus.” A dry, bitter chuckle escaped her lips.Her expression made his stomach drop the moment she turned to face him.Her face was drawn, exhausted, as if the weight of everything had pressed down on her until there was nothing left. Tears were already forming in her eyes.“Sometimes,” sh
Chapter 289
Within minutes, the dining table had been transformed.Plates of roasted chicken glazed with honey and herbs sat steaming beside bowls of creamy mashed potatoes. There were grilled vegetables drizzled with olive oil, freshly baked bread still warm from the oven, and a rich beef stew that filled the room with its savory aroma. A bottle of wine stood uncorked at the center, flanked by crystal glasses.Ethan and Lara sat across from each other, the clinking of silverware the only sound for a few moments as they ate.Then he set down his fork and looked at her.“So,” he began carefully, “does this mean you’re back fully?”She paused mid-bite, then nodded with a faint smile. “Of course.”She set her fork down too, meeting his gaze. “I needed time to process everything, but… this is where I belong."Her smile faltered slightly. “We’ve all been through hell, but walking away won’t change what happened. And you shouldn’t have to face this alone.”He felt something loosen in his chest as relie
Chapter 290
“Are you certain?” Ethan’s voice was sharp, his grip tightening on the phone. "Theo, are you absolutely certain about what you just said?”Lara’s head snapped toward him, concern flashing across her face.“I’m positive, My Lord,” Theo replied, his voice urgent. "I followed them from the warehouse where she was being held. I’m at the seaport now, hiding behind some shipping containers.”Ethan’s heart hammered in his chest.“They have her tied up,” Theo continued quickly.He paused, and Ethan could hear the tension in his breathing. "From what I overheard, they’re waiting for the order to… to finish it. They mentioned dumping her body in the water afterward.”Ethan shot to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.Lara’s head snapped toward him again, alarm flashing across her face.“Can’t you save her?” Ethan demanded, already pacing toward the window. His mind was racing, calculating distances, time, possibilities.“I can’t,” Theo said, frustration bleeding into his vo