THE BILLIONAIRE'S VENGEFUL WIFE RETURNS-Chapter 209: A HELPING HAND

This Chapter is dedicated to Mich34. Hi Mich, thanks for the golden ticket.

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"Like I said, I’m not done yet, and you’re not allowed to see it," Harlow said firmly, crossing her arms. She had no idea why this man was so determined to insert himself into every part of her life.

Alanis leaned against the stared pillow, smirking. "Come on, my villain, you have nothing to hide. Plus, I promise not to change anything already written." His voice was smooth, coaxing, but Harlow remained unimpressed.

"I want to see it," he added, tilting his head. "And you’re not going to stop me now, are you?"

"You’re not seeing it." She said with finality.

Alanis sighed dramatically. "That would be breaking our little rule, wouldn’t it?"

Harlow scowled. She knew he’d pull this trick, using her punishment to invade her privacy. Just two more days. Two more days, and she’d be free from his nonsense.

Grumbling under her breath, she shoved the laptop toward him. Alanis grinned in triumph and eagerly started reading from the beginning.

At first, he chuckled at her ridiculous, overly romanticized ideas of their love. All the colors of roses every day, vacations, dreamy getaways, and many more. He smirked. So this is what she thought we would be like?

But as he kept reading, his expression darkened, and his smile faded.

He reached the part where Claudia had returned, feigning illness once again. Where Harlow had shoved her into the pool. Where he had believed she was trying to drown her.

Alanis clenched his jaw. He had accused Harlow of attempted murder back then, believing Claudia’s lie.

Now, reading it from Harlow’s perspective, the truth hit him like a slap. Claudia had planned everything. And he, like an idiot, had fallen for it.

His face contoured into disgust as he read through it. From Harlow’s pov, he was a terrible person. Something he already knew. He wouldn’t judge her for hating him so much.

By the time he reached the last page, his stomach twisted into knots. There was no ending.

"Are you happy now?" Harlow snapped, yanking the laptop back.

Alanis exhaled, leaning back into the pillows. "What a sad story." He remarked his dark eyes on her.

Harlow glared at him. "What, do you love how heartless you were?" To her, he would never understand because everything she had written about was done in the past. He might see her as a fool or weirdo even if she was only telling her past.

"If I ever was that way, then, it’s not exactly something to be proud of," he admitted. "But... you could turn the story around, my villain. Don’t you think?"

Harlow rolled her eyes. "You promised you wouldn’t change anything in the script."

"I did," Alanis nodded, feigning innocence. "But you did skip a few key parts."

She narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

He smirked. "Oh, you know... the part where I kissed you. The part where you threw yourself at me..."

"I what?!" She cut him off, her cheeks already burning.

"...And I was a real gentleman by not touching you."

Harlow groaned, rubbing her temples. "You’re unbelievable." She spat. That night had been a mistake, she couldn’t take up all four men and had been on the receiving end.

"Now I think of it, you never paid me for my help. All I got was a slap." He said casually. "I can’t be all bad, Villian. And how long are you going to keep judging me for... the past? I’ve done a lot to make things right." He softened slightly.

He continued, "I gave you the company. I willed everything I own to you. I’ve confessed my love for you countless times to so many people. I—"

"When will you realize I don’t need any of that?" she cut him off, her tone sharp. His words only angered her more.

"When will you realize it’s too late? I don’t need your love or your stupid confessions. All I want is to rip your stupid heart apart!"

She made a dramatic clawing motion with her fingers on his chest, and Alanis chuckled.

"Well, that’s why you’re my villain, isn’t it?"

"Well since you think you’re the only good person here, I’ve done more than you could ever imagine." Harlow started.

"I’ve had to keep up with your bullshits. I’ve taken good care of you when necessary." She said, her frustration palpable. She has had countless sleepless nights since Alanis got injured, she’s cared for and treated his wound alone without any help.

"You did all that because of your punishment." Her mouth flew open. This ungrateful bastard.

She could have rejected helping him but she didn’t.

Before she could react, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Let me go, Alanis!" Harlow squirmed against his hold, her face heating.

"Mmm, nope. I read you loved hugs so much, so I’m ready to give you that." He rested his chin on her head. "Oh, and make sure to add this moment to the script. I refuse to be the only bad guy. I demand a redemption arc." From now on, he has decided to only make her wishes come through in any way he could.

Alanis believed in there, there was still his Harlow. The one who loved and cherished him. He needed that Harlow now more than ever.

Harlow gave up struggling after a while. She was done arguing or even fighting with him.

As she lay still, his scent bathed her nostrils and she instructively inhaled deeply. She recalled the first time she had smelled Alanis and Lavender became her favorite smell.

As she relaxed in his arms further...

Badum...

Badum...

Badum...

She could feel Alanis’s heart beating so fast. It raced as fast as hers did. They both raced in rhythm and she wondered if his heart was beating for her. She wished it had been like this in the past, maybe things wouldn’t have been the way they were.

"Go to sleep now, it’s getting late." She heard his deep voice.

"I can’t sleep with you holding me this tight," Harlow said calmly and as if back to her senses, she struggled to free herself from his hold again, but she couldn’t.

"I want us to stay longer, can you do that for me?" Alanis asked calmly.

"Just because you heard I loved hug from a screenplay doesn’t mean I do. Hugs are from my past life, not this one." She finally forced herself from his hold.

"In this life, I’d rather hug a croc than you." Her words were like venom but Alanis didn’t react to it. He said nothing and just watched her silently.

"If you want me to be a croc then I will." He said calmly but Harlow let out a frustrated sigh. She was truly tired of this man. He wasn’t making her revenge easy at all if he kept saying these things to her... She bit her lips.

"I’ll sleep in the guest room." She turned around to leave but before she could, Alanis grabbed her hands and yanked her back to the bed. freewebnøvel.com

Harlow, still shocked by his action fell with her back hitting the soft mattress. Her eyes went wide when he hopped on her. As if realizing herself, Harlow thrashed her hands at him to fight him off, but he seized both hands with little effort.

"Who says you can sleep in the guest room?" He asked, tilting his head to the side as he watched her closely.

"Let go of me," Harlow said in a commanding manner and he laughed, this time showing off his white teeth.

"And what if I say no?" She struggled to fight him again, but she couldn’t even lift a finger.

"You’re assaulting me now and that is against the rules," Harlow said.

"Who says I’m assaulting you? I’m going to ask for a favor and you can’t refuse." Harlow bit her lips. Times like this are when she wishes she had not breached their contract to face his punishment.

"What are you going to say? I want to kiss you." She said dramatically. "Fine, kiss me, and let’s get over with it." Alanis smiled at her words.

"My, my." Alanis clicked his tongue. "Were have your thoughts been my villain? I wasn’t even thinking of that." Harlow blushed at his words.

"But since you asked." He drawled. "I need help somewhere else." He said calmly, not meeting her gaze. And when Harlow’s eyes followed his line of sight, her eyes went wide.

"No!" She barked. Alanis was really crossing the line this time. She has promised not to ever do anything with him, and now he’s forcing her to do it.

"I haven’t even said a thing." He bellowed.

"I don’t care but I’m not doing anything you ask. I don’t care if you extend the punishment." Harlow barked.

"But just know this, my villain," he leaned in, voice dangerously low, "the more you reject me, the more your punishment will increase. And eventually..." He grinned. "You won’t be able to refuse me anymore."

Harlow swallowed hard.