Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 116

Chapter 116

1loaned back in my chah, smirk playing on my lips & Twatzfied tuica and Jane

“You two are disgustingly cuts, you knee then

to dech other 1 stk ng hand, irling the wish in ay ga

Janine shot me a plate. “Weren’t you the one who was abestutely disgusted with the idea of me being with gue beef frie

1 feigned a gagging motion. “I still am. The sight of you two makes my stomach churn.”

Loca smirked, leaning closer to Janine. “And you haven’t even heard the half of what we do yet, and you’re already disgusted?

Janine chuckled as my expression darkened. I grabbed my wine glass and downed it in one gulp, my face contorting, “I don’t need details. Ever.”

I reached for the wine bottle to pour myself another glass, hesitating for a moment as a memory surfaced. My lips curled into a soft smite “wry’s “Wine” i could almost hear her laughter in my office the day we named it together.

“Uh–oh,” Luca said, snapping me back to reality. He and Janine were both grinning at me. “You love her, don’t you?”

1 chuckled, setting my glass down. “You have no idea.”

Janine blushed, narrowing her eyes at me. “I don’t recognize this man in front of me. Who are you, and what has lvy done to my brother?”

I hesitated for a beat before reaching into my pocket. Pulling out a small velvet box, I set it on the table.

Janine gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Luca had to stifle her excitement by clamping a hand over her mouth.

“Asher!” she squealed the second Luca let her speak. “What are you going to do?”

I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “I’m going to ask her to marry me. For real this time. No contracts, no schemes behind her back. Just love.”

Janine’s eyes welled up. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

I pointed at her, smirking. “That. I was avoiding that. And I didn’t want you running to her, ruining the surprise.”

“Congratulations, man,” Luca said, shaking my hand. Then he glanced around the restaurant. “Wait, where is she, anyway?”

“She said she had a surprise for me,” I replied, feeling a warmth creep up my neck.

Luca raised an eyebrow, ready to tease, but my phone buzzed. I frowned, pulling it out.

“Hello, Asher Sterling,” a distorted voice greeted me. “We have your wife.”

My blood ran cold. My hand tightened around the phone, sweat forming on my brow.

“If you want her alive,” the voice continued, “you’ll stay calm. Don’t react, don’t move, and don’t alert anyone.”

I forced my expression to stay neutral, my eyes darting to Luca and Janine, who were chatting obliviously. Taking a deep breath, I stood. “Excuse me. I need to take this.”

Once outside, I hissed into the phone, “What do you want?”

“Tell your companions you need to leave. Make up an excuse. Then I’ll tell you what’s next.”

My eyes scanned the street, searching for anyone suspicious. Nothing. My mind raced as I calculated my next move. I re–entered the restaurant, plastering on a fake smile.

1/2

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Chapter 116

Janine horned “When that we’ve been plerising the b

Luca squeezed her hand. “Let lony gs, Janine. You brez vy’s fut

I gave them an apologetic emite. “I’ll make it up to you, 1 promine

Before they could protest further, I was out the door, my heart pounding as I dialed the rab

Luca’s POV

The moment Asher’s phone rang, I knew something was off. It wasn’t just the way he froze mid sentence, his hand gripping was struggling to stay calm. It was the way his eyes darted to me, then to Janine, before he quickly looked away Bater’s my best fre we were kids–and he’s never been able to hide anything from me. Not really.

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” he said, standing up and flashing us that apologetic smile of his. It was the same one he used when he filed last minute. But this time, it felt different. He was hiding something bigger, and I could see it in the tightness of his jaw, the way his fingers Expat nervously against his thigh.

As soon as he was out of earshot, I turned to Janine. “Babe, something’s wrong with Asher,”

Her brows knit together, and she nodded, her voice low. “I was thinking the same thing. I’ve known my brother my whole life, and he’s a terrible far. He likes to think he’s smooth with it, but he isn’t. Something’s off, Luca. We have to find out what it is.”

I didn’t hesitate. “We have to tail him then.”

I dropped a hefty tip on the table for the complimentary wine we barely touched, and we were out the door before Asher could even hop in his car.

Janine grabbed my hand, her grip tight, and I could feel the worry radiating off her. We hid behind a pillar, watching as his car skidded away quickly.

“He’s not just my brother,” she said quietly as we rushed towards our car. Janine had a hard time running because she was in heels, but I held her hand, leading her. “He’s my best friend too. If something’s wrong, I need to know.”

“We’ll figure it out,” I promised, squeezing her hand. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together.”

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