The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 230

Dwayne

The fluorescent lights in the underground garage flickered intermittently, casting eerie shadows that danced across the oil-stained concrete walls. The air was thick with the smell of exhaust fumes and dampness, creating the perfect atmosphere for what I had planned. I could feel my heart hammering with anticipation as I watched Vivian slowly turn around.

Her face was a masterpiece of shock and terror - eyes wide with genuine fear, mouth slightly agape, her perfectly applied makeup unable to hide the color draining from her cheeks. This was the Vivian I remembered, the one who knew exactly where she belonged in the hierarchy of power.

*Perfect,* I thought, savoring every micro-expression of panic crossing her features. *Still the same terrified little bitch who remembers who her true master is.*

She stumbled backward instinctively, her designer heels clicking against the concrete as she put distance between us. Her voice came out as barely more than a whisper, trembling with genuine fear.

"Dwayne! How... how are you here? They're hunting you down, aren't they? Everyone says you're hiding..."

I took my time advancing, each step deliberate and predatory. The sound of my footsteps echoed off the garage walls, creating an ominous rhythm that seemed to sync with her rapid breathing. I could see her pulse fluttering in her throat, could smell the faint scent of her expensive perfume mixed with the sharp tang of fear-induced sweat.

"You mean Orion and his precious wife?" I said, letting casual indifference color my tone. "Sure, they'd love to get their hands on me. But tell me, sweetheart - how exactly would they know I'm here in this lovely, isolated little spot?"

I paused, letting my smile turn genuinely cruel. "But more importantly... why would they actually give a damn what happens to you?"

Her hands flew up to clutch at her chest, a defensive gesture that only made her look more vulnerable, more breakable. The movement caused her silk blouse to shift, revealing the delicate hollow of her throat where I could see her pulse racing.

"Think about it logically," I continued, closing the distance between us with predatory patience. "You were my accomplice for months. You helped me get close to them, fed me information, played the perfect little spy. Do you honestly believe they see you as their friend now?"

I could see the doubt creeping into her eyes, the way her lower lip trembled slightly as she processed my words.

"Don't be naive, baby," I said, reaching out to grip her shoulders firmly. My fingers found the soft fabric of her expensive blouse, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath. "To people like Orion and Aveline, you'll always be damaged goods. A useful tool when convenient, disposable trash when you're not."

But instead of the grateful collapse into my arms I expected, something unexpected happened. Her fear seemed to deepen. She began shaking her head frantically, her voice becoming small and broken in a way that didn't quite fit the script I had in mind.

*What the hell?* I thought, trying to process her reaction. "Look at me," I urged, softening my tone. "It's okay. I'm your ally here."

"I'm not... I'm not afraid of you," she whispered, her eyes darting around the garage as if expecting someone to materialize from the shadows. "I'm afraid of... God, Dwayne, I'm terrified of Orion. He's so powerful, so connected. No one dares to cross him anymore. I can't... I'd literally rather die than betray him."

The mention of that bastard's name felt like ice water in my veins. Here I was, finally having her exactly where I wanted her, and she was cowering at the thought of another man? The same man my father spent every waking moment praising and fearing?

Rage began building in my chest like a pressure cooker about to explode.

"I can't be here!" she continued, her voice rising to near-hysteria. "It's almost three o'clock! I have to get back, I have to... Oh God, if I'm even five minutes late, Orion will know something's wrong. He'll suspect me!"

I stared at her in absolute disbelief. The confident, manipulative woman I remembered had been replaced by this... this cowering wreck who jumped at shadows and whispered another man's name like a prayer.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" I exploded, grabbing her chin roughly and forcing her to meet my eyes. "You pathetic, worthless bitch! When did you become such a beaten dog?"

Her skin felt cold under my fingers, and I could feel the fine tremors running through her jaw as she tried to look away from me.

"What happened to the woman who used to beg for my attention?" I snarled. "Remember who you actually belong to - you're MY property, not Orion's plaything!"

"No, no, no," she kept repeating like a broken record, shaking her head so violently that her carefully styled hair began to come undone. "I can't, I can't, I can't..."

That was it. The combination of her complete dismissal of my authority and her pathetic worship of my greatest rival sent me completely over the edge. The careful planning, the strategic patience - all of it evaporated in a red haze of fury.

"Fine!" I roared, my voice echoing off the concrete walls. "Looks like you've completely forgotten what it means to be afraid of me!"

I grabbed her wrist brutally, feeling the delicate bones shift under my grip as I slammed her back against the nearest concrete pillar. The impact knocked the breath out of her, and I heard a soft gasp escape her lips.

"This godforsaken parking garage is completely empty," I growled, pressing my body against hers to pin her in place. "No witnesses, no cameras, no rescue coming. Maybe it's time I reminded you exactly who you belong to, exactly what your place in this world really is."

My hands found the expensive fabric of her blouse and began tearing at it with savage satisfaction. The silk ripped easily, the sound surprisingly loud in the enclosed space. But something was wrong - despite the obvious fear in her expression, her body remained completely limp, unresponsive. She wasn't fighting back, wasn't pleading, wasn't even trying to protect herself.

That passive resistance, that complete lack of reaction, infuriated me beyond all reason.

I pressed her harder against the pillar, the rough concrete scraping against her exposed skin. One hand closed around her throat while the other forced its way beneath her torn clothing, feeling the rapid beating of her heart beneath her ribs.

"Time to refresh that memory of yours!" I hissed directly into her ear, close enough to smell the subtle scent of her shampoo mixed with fear-sweat.