BOUND BY OUR MOTHER'S PROMISE: MARRIED TO A BILLIONAIRE CEO

THE UNEXPECTED DISCUSSION

The Price of Betrayal

The elegant private dining room fell into complete silence.

Before Lydia could say another word...

Adrian's phone vibrated.

He ignored it.

Then it vibrated again.

And again.

Within seconds, the device buzzed continuously against the polished marble table.

Adrian frowned and picked it up.

The confident smile on his face vanished.

His eyes widened.

"No..."

Another notification appeared.

Corporate account access revoked.

"What?"

Another one.

Executive privileges terminated.

Then another.

Company credit card deactivated.

Another.

Building access denied.

Company email suspended.

Digital credentials removed.

The blood drained from his face.

"No... no... this can't be happening!"

He refreshed the screen repeatedly, but more notifications continued appearing.

His breathing became uneven.

His hands trembled.

Suddenly, he shot to his feet, sending his chair crashing backward onto the floor.

"You did this!"

His furious voice echoed through the restaurant.

Several guests instinctively turned toward the private dining room.

Lydia remained seated.

Calm.

Elegant.

She slowly lifted her glass of water and took a small sip before placing it back on the table.

Only then did she raise her eyes to meet his.

"What do you think?"

"You've locked me out of everything!"

"My office!"

"My executive account!"

"My apartment!"

"My company car!"

"My access cards!"

"You've taken everything!"

Lydia's expression never changed.

She simply corrected him.

"My office."

"My apartment."

"My company car."

"My executive account."

"My access cards."

"They were never yours, Adrian."

"They belonged to me."

His jaw tightened.

"You can't do this!"

"I helped build Martinez Global!"

Lydia smiled faintly.

"No."

"You helped work there."

"There is a difference."

His breathing became heavier.

"I know your investors."

"I know confidential information."

"I know every secret inside your company."

Lydia leaned forward slightly.

"You keep confusing access with ownership."

"The access you enjoyed..."

"...was given to you."

"And anything given..."

"...can also be taken away."

For the first time since they had met...

Adrian found himself speechless.

Lydia calmly reached into her handbag and placed another envelope on the table.

"This is your termination letter."

She slid another document toward him.

"And this..."

"...is a confidentiality agreement."

His eyes narrowed.

"You expect me to sign it?"

"I expect you to read it."

He snatched the papers from the table.

The more he read...

The paler he became.

"You froze every privilege connected to me?"

"I removed everything that belonged to me."

"My apartment?"

"My property."

"My car?"

"My company."

"My cards?"

"My company."

"You planned this..."

"Last night."

His eyes slowly lifted to hers.

"So while I was calling you..."

"...you were preparing all this?"

"I was protecting myself."

Silence.

The restaurant suddenly felt much colder.

Adrian clenched the papers so tightly they crumpled in his hands.

"You'll regret this."

His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

"I promise you, Lydia..."

"...this isn't over."

Lydia rose gracefully to her feet and picked up her handbag.

She looked him straight in the eyes.

"I hope it isn't."

A small smile curved her lips.

"Because the next time we meet..."

"...you won't be facing the woman you thought you could manipulate."

"You'll be facing the woman who destroyed everything you thought you owned."

Without another word...

She turned and walked away.

Aira quickly followed behind her.

Adrian remained standing alone in the private dining room.

The humiliation.

The anger.

The hatred.

All of it burned inside him.

Slowly...

A cold smile spread across his face.

"So..."

"You've chosen war."

He looked down at the termination letter in his hand before crushing it into a ball.

"Fine, Lydia."

"If it's war you want..."

"...then let's see who loses everything first."

His eyes darkened with vengeance.

Little did he know...

The greatest mistake of his life...

Was only just beginning.

MEANWHILE...

The shrill sound of Iris's alarm echoed through the master bedroom.

10:00 a.m.

A large hand reached across the bedside table and silenced it.

For several moments...

Iris Logan remained lying on his back, staring blankly at the ceiling.

His mother's words from the previous night replayed over and over in his mind.

"Years ago, Evelyn and I made each other a promise..."

"One day, our children would become husband and wife."

He slowly rubbed his face.

"...You've got to be kidding me."

With a deep sigh, he sat up and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The curtains silently parted, revealing the breathtaking Logan Estate bathed in the morning sun.

Normally, the peaceful view helped him think.

Today...

It only reminded him that his peaceful life was about to disappear.

"An arranged marriage..."

He muttered.

"You interrupted a billion-dollar contract..."

"...for this?"

A knock sounded on the bedroom door.

"Come in."

Ethan stepped inside carrying a mug of black coffee.

"Morning, Boss."

"Morning."

Ethan studied him for a second before smirking.

"You look terrible."

"Thanks."

"You didn't sleep, did you?"

Iris accepted the coffee.

"What gave it away?"

"The fact that you've been standing in front of that window for five minutes."

A faint smile escaped Iris.

"You've become very observant."

"I have to."

"I work for you."

Ethan slipped one hand into his pocket.

"So..."

"Did Mrs. Logan finally tell you why she dragged you home?"

Iris remained silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"She wants me to get married."

Ethan blinked.

"...What?"

"I'm serious."

For a second...

Ethan simply stared at him.

Then he burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry, Boss..."

"I really am..."

"But I never imagined the great Iris Logan would lose an argument to his own mother."

Iris rolled his eyes.

"I'm glad you're enjoying this."

"Oh, I am."

Ethan finally stopped laughing.

"So..."

"Who's the lucky woman?"

"I've never met her."

"You've never met her?"

"My mother's childhood best friend's daughter."

Ethan nodded slowly.

"So you're actually considering it?"

"I don't know."

"I told Mum I don't believe in marrying someone I've never met."

"And?"

"She said sometimes the best people in life begin as strangers."

The room fell silent.

Just then...

Iris's phone vibrated.

Mum Calling...

He answered immediately.

"Morning, Mum."

"Iris."

"Yes?"

"Have you had breakfast?"

He smiled helplessly.

"You always ask that first."

"Answer the question."

"Not yet."

"I knew it."

He chuckled.

"I'll eat."

"Good."

There was a brief pause.

Then Sophia continued.

"And don't forget."

"In two days, Evelyn and Lydia will be arriving."

"I want you to personally pick them up from the airport."

Iris closed his eyes.

"Mum..."

"Hmm?"

"Firstly, you called me away from a billion-dollar meeting to tell me I'm getting married..."

"...and now you're telling me I'm going to pick up a woman I've never even met from the airport?"

Sophia laughed softly.

"You'll survive."

"I still don't understand why I can't send James or one of the drivers."

"Because I said so."

He sighed.

"That's not an explanation."

"It's enough."

He knew there was no point arguing.

Whenever his mother used that tone...

She had already won.

"Fine."

"I'll pick them up."

"Good."

"And Iris?"

"Yes?"

"Wear something nice."

He laughed.

"Mum..."

"I'm serious."

"I always dress well."

"I know."

"But I want my future daughter-in-law's first impression of you to be perfect."

Before he could reply...

The call ended.

He slowly lowered the phone and looked at Ethan.

"My mother has officially lost her mind."

Ethan grinned.

"No..."

"I think she's determined."

---

Across the city...

Lydia Martinez had absolutely no idea that in exactly two days...

The man she had never met...

Would be waiting for her at the airport.

And neither of them knew...

That one promise made by two mothers years ago...

Was about to change both of their lives forever.

Cindy stood before the full-length mirror inside the luxurious hotel suite, slowly touching up her lipstick.

A satisfied smile spread across her face.

"I can't believe it..."

She chuckled to herself.

"I actually did it."

She had seen countless wealthy men walk through the Eclipse Grand Hotel.

Businessmen.

Celebrities.

Politicians.

None of them had ever caught her attention the way Iris Logan had.

The moment she saw him step out of that black Lamborghini...

She knew he wasn't just rich.

He was powerful.

And now...

He was walking straight toward her room.

She laughed softly.

"Looks like today is my lucky day."

A knock sounded on the door.

Her smile widened.

Without wasting another second, she hurried over and opened it.

Standing outside...

Was Iris Logan.

Still dressed in his perfectly tailored black suit.

Still calm.

Still unreadable.

Cindy stepped aside with a charming smile.

"Come in."

Iris walked into the suite without saying a word.

The room was elegant, decorated with expensive furniture, soft lighting, and a breathtaking view of the city skyline.

Cindy quietly closed the door behind him.

She walked over to a small table and poured two glasses of expensive wine.

Holding one out to him, she smiled sweetly.

"To new friendships."

Iris accepted the glass.

"Thank you."

She sat beside him on the sofa, deliberately closing the distance between them.

"So..."

She crossed one leg over the other.

"What exactly brings the famous Iris Logan to my room?"

Iris looked at her calmly.

"You invited me."

She laughed.

"I did."

"But most men don't hesitate."

"They usually know exactly why they're here."

"And you?"

She studied him carefully.

"You seem... different."

Iris took a slow sip of wine before setting the glass down.

"What do you do for a living, Cindy?"

The sudden question caught her off guard.

She blinked.

"That's an unusual question."

"I asked first."

She smiled.

"I work in hospitality."

"Hospitality?"

"Something like that."

Iris nodded slowly.

"I see."

A brief silence followed.

Then Cindy leaned a little closer.

"So..."

"Aren't you going to ask me why I invited you here?"

Iris met her eyes.

"I already know."

She smiled confidently.

"Do you?"

He nodded once.

"You saw a wealthy man..."

"...and decided to take your chance."

For the first time that evening...

The smile on Cindy's face faltered.

"You've got me all wrong."

"Do I?"

She forced another laugh.

"I just thought you looked lonely."

Iris leaned back against the sofa.

"I've spent years meeting people."

"It becomes easy to recognize who wants your company..."

"...and who wants your money."

The room suddenly felt much quieter.

Cindy's heartbeat quickened.

This wasn't going the way she had expected.

She had assumed Iris Logan would be another rich man who could be easily charmed.

Instead...

It felt as though she was the one being carefully observed.

And she couldn't shake the feeling...

That Iris Logan hadn't come to her room because of her.

He had come for a completely different reason.