Second Marriage, The Billionaire's Planned Love novel Chapter 114

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114 Chapter 114 Cornered Like Prey

114 Chapter 114 Cornered Like Prey

Caleb’s POV 1

I cannot comprehend the catastrophic mess I’ve orchestrated. What possessed me during Heidi’s farewell gathering that cursed night? The whiskey transformed me into someone unrecognizable, and now I face consequences that feel like eternal punishment in the family’s deepest dungeon.

Days of grueling territorial negotiations, days attempting to extract myself from this nightmare with Yara’s faked cartel assassination attempt, and every avenue has been systematically blocked by her father’s network. Roman Rossi has cornered me like a wounded animal with nowhere to flee, using his daughter as the ultimate weapon.

“Boss?” Xavier’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts like a blade through flesh.

“Up here,” I call back from the penthouse rooftop that overlooks our territory.

The city sprawls beneath me like a battlefield of glittering lights, and I find myself contemplating whether falling might be preferable to the alternative fate Roman has designed. The thought chills me more than any rival family’s threats ever could.

“What’s the emergency, Don?” Xavier’s face shows genuine concern as he emerges onto the rooftop with Dominic, Finn, and Jude flanking him like the loyal soldiers they are. When I summoned them, my voice cracked like a teenager’s, desperately pleading for their immediate presence.

“I’m drowning in concrete boots, and every struggle pulls me deeper into Roman’s trap,” I say, embracing each of my most trusted capos.

“Then we break out the good bourbon until the world makes sense again,” Dominic suggests, already reaching toward the outdoor bar like he’s preparing liquid courage instead of simple refuge.

“Absolutely not.” My voice carries more authority than intended. “Drinking created this disaster. One night of too much whiskey, and now Roman owns me through his daughter’s fabricated assassination attempt.”

“Smart thinking. I’ll prepare something without the poison,” Finn offers, moving toward the bar setup like he’s mixing salvation instead of simple sodas.

“I’ll still be drinking because dealing with Nora while sober is impossible,” Jude

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mutters, earning dark chuckles from everyone except me. Nothing feels amusing when your empire hangs in the balance.

“Talk to us, Don. What’s consuming you alive?” Xavier settles into one of the chairs, his expression deadly serious.

“I’m getting married.” The words taste like ash mixed with blood. “Roman’s set my execution date, and I’ve already been forced to agree.”

“Like hell you are,” Dominic explodes with the fury of a true soldier. “We won’t let you sacrifice yourself over one drunken mistake.

“It’s not that straightforward,” Finn interrupts, handing me a glass of ice–cold Coke. “This is about protecting Ivy from Roman’s network, isn’t it? They’re using her as their primary leverage.”

“Exactly.” The admission burns my throat worse than any bullet wound I’ve endured. “I’ve offered them everything – the entire shipping operation, my personal fortune, territorial concessions. But the Claremonts have one non–negotiable demand.”

“Hold on.” Dominic looks confused like he’s missing crucial intelligence. “What am I not seeing here?”

“Gemma hasn’t briefed you?” Xavier asks with surprise.

“Gemma’s been shadowing Ivy constantly since this war began. The women have established rotating security shifts,” Dominic explains with military precision.

“Same with Ruby. She’s barely returned to our apartment,” Xavier adds grimly. “And Jude’s practically established permanent residence in my guest room to avoid his own domestic battleground.”

Jude raises his glass in a mock salute to that accurate assessment.

“The Claremonts are waging psychological warfare against Ivy,” Finn explains, his voice tight with suppressed violence. “They’re stalking her through the territory, cornering her in public establishments, telling her she’s destroying a family alliance and needs to disappear so I can honor my obligations to Yara’s protection.”

“They’re what?” Dominic’s face flushes with the kind of rage that usually precedes

bloodshed.

“Yara ambushed Ivy at her regular cafe recently,” Jude continues with dangerous calm. “Created a public spectacle, weeping about how Ivy was destroying her safety and

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stealing her family’s protection. Ivy was humiliated before every civilian witness.”

“Roman’s been more direct with his territorial threats,” Finn adds with barely controlled fury. “He’s made it crystal clear that if I don’t submit completely, they’ll systematically destroy everything Ivy values. They understand exactly how to weaponize her conscience.”

My chest constricts as I relive every failed negotiation session. “I brought in our best lawyers, mediators, even neutral family representatives who might broker another solution. I offered Roman enough tribute to live like royalty for generations. But they don’t want money or territory concessions. They demand my absolute submission, and they’re willing to torture Ivy psychologically to achieve it.”

“This is extortion by any definition,” Dominic states, pacing across the rooftop like a caged predator. “It’s criminal harassment within our territory. We can eliminate this threat through traditional channels.”

“While they systematically destroy Ivy in the process?” I shake my head violently. “Roman threatened to ensure the cartel threat becomes real and ensure Ivy understands it’s her direct fault. You know Ivy – she’d carry that guilt until it killed

her.”

“She’s already blaming herself for everything,” Finn says quietly, his words hitting me like physical blows. “When Brodie betrayed her years ago, she recovered her strength quickly. This situation is fundamentally different. She’s fragmenting from within.”

“What about when Max’s father abandoned her?” I ask, desperately seeking perspective on her resilience.

Finn gives me a strange look filled with information I’m missing. “You don’t know the complete story, do you?”

When I shake my head, he continues with careful precision, “Max’s father wasn’t some boyfriend who fled responsibility. He was a one–night encounter at an underground masquerade auction. Ivy isn’t the type for casual encounters, but she described him as magnetic, completely irresistible. She never expected contact again, and when she discovered the pregnancy, she had no method to locate him.”

The revelation strikes me unexpectedly hard. “She never mentioned those details.”

“She made peace with raising Max alone because there was no relationship to mourn,” Finn explains with brutal honesty. “But with you, she opened her heart completely for

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