When A Billionaire Falls

When A Billionaire Falls

Ricardo Balleno · Completed · 221.5k Words

317
Hot
3.7k
Views
133
Added
Add to Shelf
Start Reading
Share:facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

Introduction

He was supposed to marry another woman…
But he fell in love with a small-town coffee girl instead.
And then he forgot her.


Ryan Callahan has everything—wealth, power, and a future already decided for him. When his ruthless father orders him into a strategic marriage, Ryan rebels… until a devastating car crash wipes his memory clean.

Stranded in a quiet town, he’s taken in by Lilia—a warm, stubborn coffee shop waitress who knows nothing about the empire he comes from. As she nurses him back to health, sparks ignite, walls fall, and Ryan finds something he’s never had before: real love.

But just as he chooses her… his memories return.

Torn between duty and desire, Ryan is dragged back into his gilded cage—forced to prepare for a loveless wedding while his heart remains with the girl he can’t forget. When his father forbids the match, Ryan must make a choice that will cost him everything.

On the day of his wedding, he stops the ceremony.

He chooses her.

But when he returns to find Lilia…

She’s gone.

No goodbye.
No trace.
Just the echo of a love he destroyed.

Now, with nothing left but regret and a promise he refuses to break, Ryan will cross every line, burn every bridge—just to find the woman who saved him… and the love he almost lost forever.

Chapter 1

Ryan pulled up to the sprawling hacienda just after nine in the morning, his shiny red Ferrari growling to a stop on the winding gravel driveway. Stepping out into the glaring morning sun, he slipped off his designer sunglasses to survey the familiar land. The hacienda sprawled across acres of fertile farmland, dotted with groves of mango and coconut trees. In the distance, stable hands were leading horses to the paddock, their shouts and laughter carrying on the breeze.

The air was heavy with the sweet scent of ripened fruit. It had been too long since Ryan's last visit. He set off down the shaded row of trees, Italian leather shoes crunching on the gravel path. Though dressed simply in jeans and a linen shirt, his confident stride and athletic six-foot-two frame evoked a young prince strolling towards his kingdom.

Winston galloped over on his chestnut stallion. "Sir Ryan! Good to see you," he called out cheerfully.

His tanned and weathered face creased into a smile.

Ryan greeted the longtime caretaker warmly. "It's been a while since I visited the ranch," he said, a touch of guilt in his voice.

"Well, as long as you're here now!" Winston steadied his horse. "Care to take her for a ride? Rekindle some memories?"

Ryan ran his hand along the horse's glossy neck, feeling her powerful muscles ripple beneath his palm. After a moment's hesitation, he hoisted himself into the worn leather saddle. Gripping the reins, muscle memory took over as he galloped across the estate. The stallion's hooves thundered over the ground, kicking up clouds of dust in their wake. The wind whipped through Ryan's gelled hair as he raced ahead.

Winston watched Ryan disappearing down the trail, a grin on his weathered face. Out here, far from the family empire and burdens placed upon his shoulders, it was like Ryan could actually breathe again.

"You still ride like you did as a kid," Winston remarked, riding up alongside him.

"Remember how you used to sneak off and take the horses out yourself?"

Ryan chuckled at the memory. "I always got in so much trouble for that. But it was worth it."

Returning the stallion to her pen, Ryan affectionately smoothed down her mane. The familiar smells of hay and leather brought back a swell of nostalgia. He walked down the row, peering into each stall. The ranch horses were stocky and well-muscled - trusted companions that had served the farm for years. Ryan trailed his fingers over their velvety noses as they nickered softly in greeting.

"I've missed this place," Ryan murmured, almost to himself. Being around the horses and the sprawling wildness of the ranchlands made his anxieties over the family empire melt away. Out here, the future didn't seem so suffocating.

Winston gave him a thoughtful look. "Well, the horses have missed you too. Anytime you need an escape, you know where to find us."

Ryan nodded, taking one last lingering look around the stables before he headed back up to the mansion. The raucous voices and clinking glasses indicated his father already had guests. Ryan took a deep breath, bracing himself as he continued down the paved path lined with lush gardens.

Passing through the imposing double doors, he followed the noise towards the dining room. The echoes of his footsteps on the Italian marble floors announced his presence before he appeared in the archway.

"Come join us, son!" his father called out jovially from the head of the table.

Ryan scanned the crowded room - his father's business partners were there, along with a few family friends. And of course, Margareth and her parents. Forcing a polite smile, Ryan took the empty seat beside his fiancée. Her crimson nails dug into his arm possessively as she greeted him.

Margareth turned to Ryan, her crimson lips curling into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Where were you today, babe?" she asked, her long nails still gripping his arm.

"I was just out at the ranch, visiting the farmlands," Ryan replied simply, gently extricating himself from her grasp as he reached for his champagne glass.

"The farmlands?" Margareth raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "Whatever for? I didn't take you for the rustic, country type."

Ryan shrugged, keeping his tone casual. "I used to spend a lot of time out there as a kid. It was nice to see the horses again."

Margareth frowned, clearly puzzled by his interest. As an heiress who split her time between shopping sprees and the Hamptons, she saw the ranchlands only as the quaint backdrop to their lavish estate.

"Well, I'm just glad you're back now," she said brightly, patting his leg. "We were discussing plans for the exhibition gala this weekend. I had Pierre design the most stunning dress!"

"Oh right, the exhibit," Ryan said, remembering what his father had mentioned earlier. "You meant the unveiling of the new car model that the company is launching this weekend."

"Yes, of course!" Margareth laughed lightly. "I can't wait for everyone to see your latest creation. It's going to be such a hit."

"Your father says this new self-driving car system will revolutionize the industry," Margareth continued enthusiastically. "Just imagine - being chauffeured wherever you want, while you relax in the back seat!"

"Hopefully it lives up to expectations," Ryan said with a slight grimace. In truth, he found little fulfillment in his role at the company lately. The board made most of the decisions, leaving Ryan as little more than a figurehead - and soon to be beneficiary of the wealth.

"I'm sure it will be amazing," Margareth said firmly, then lowering her voice, added "And once it's a success, it will make a perfect time to announce our engagement." Her eyes sparkled at the thought.

Ryan's father stood up, tapping his champagne glass to get everyone's attention.

"As you all know, this weekend is our annual gala celebrating the release of the new luxury car models," he announced proudly. "This year, we will be unveiling the most advanced self-driving car on the market."

Enthusiastic murmurs rippled around the table.

"The gala will attract media attention and investors from around the world," Ryan's father continued. "It's the perfect stage to showcase our latest innovation and the future of Callahan Motors."

"And I expect all of you to be there to show your support," Ryan's father concluded, looking around sternly before breaking into a grin. "Now, let's have a toast!"

As the applause died down, Margareth's father stood up, raising his glass again.

"I'd like to make a toast of my own," he proclaimed, smiling at his daughter. "To Ryan and my beautiful Margareth."

Ryan stiffened imperceptibly as all eyes turned to him.

"We are so fortunate our children found each other," Margareth's father continued. "I can already envision the lavish wedding that will undoubtedly be the event of the year!"

Enthusiastic chuckles arose around the table. Ryan forced a polite smile, even as his gut twisted with unease.

"And of course, we are beyond thrilled to welcome Ryan to our family. The union of our two powerful dynasties will create an unstoppable empire!" Margareth's father declared.

"To Ryan and Margareth!" The table erupted in eager cheers and applause.

As the cheers died down, Ryan cleared his throat. "I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm," he began carefully. "But Margareth and I haven't actually discussed any wedding plans yet."

He felt Margareth's glare burn into him but continued. "We're focused on ensuring the success of the company first and foremost."

A confused murmur arose around the table. Ryan's father frowned, looking at him sharply.

"Don't be silly, son," he admonished. "You two are destined to be together! This union has been years in the making - it's what's best for the families."

Ryan held his tongue, knowing nothing he could say would change his father's mind.

Margareth's father let out an uneasy chuckle. "Of course, the boy's right, we shouldn't rush into anything," he said smoothly. "Plenty of time for wedding bells after the exhibition makes headlines, eh?"

He gave Ryan an appraising look - one that warned not to delay for too long. Ryan nodded politely, relief flooding through him. The conversation soon shifted to lighter topics, though he could still feel both fathers' scrutinizing gazes on him.

Desperate for a respite, Ryan cleared his throat and stood abruptly. "Excuse me for a moment," he muttered, avoiding making eye contact with his father or Margareth.

Ryan took the grand staircase two steps at a time, desperate to get away. At the top, one of the maids exiting a room nearly collided into him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Sir!" she exclaimed, startled. "Are you alright?"

Ryan avoided meeting her worried gaze. "I'm fine, just heading to my room," he muttered, moving to step past her.

But the maid hesitated, seeming to sense his turmoil. "Is everything okay, Sir?" she asked gently. "You seem...not quite yourself tonight."

Ryan paused, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes. For a moment he nearly unburdened himself - confessed how trapped he felt in this life of wealth and privilege.

But he swallowed back the words. The maid meant well, but she could never understand his gilded cage.

"I'm okay, thank you," Ryan said instead, forcing a smile. "Just tired from the day's activities. Please excuse me."

Last Chapters

You Might Like 😍

King of the Underworld

King of the Underworld

114.1k Views · Completed · RJ Kane
In my life as a waitress, I, Sephie - an ordinary person - endured the icy glares and insults of customers while trying to earn a living. I believed that this would be my fate forever.

However, one fateful day, the King of the Underworld appeared before me and rescued me from the clutches of the most powerful Mafia boss's son. With his deep blue eyes fixed on mine, he spoke softly: "Sephie... short for Persephone... Queen of the Underworld. At last, I have found you." Confused by his words, I stammered out a question, “P..pardon? What does that mean?”

But he simply smiled at me and brushed my hair away from my face with gentle fingers: "You are safe now.”


Sephie, named for the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone, she's quickly finding out how she's destined to fulfill her namesake's role. Adrik is the King of the Underworld, the boss of all bosses in the city he runs.

She was a seemingly normal girl, with a normal job until it all changed one night when he walked through the front door and her life changed abruptly. Now, she finds herself on the wrong side of powerful men, but under the protection of the most powerful among them.
Bella and Her Beast

Bella and Her Beast

19.5k Views · Completed · Sheridan Hartin
For all the little girls who grew up wondering what happens after the prince kisses the girl—this is the story they never told you.
.
Locked in her frozen tower, Bella dreamed of warmth, of touch, of freedom and of love. Cursed with the power of ice and snow, she’s spent her life alone. A secret they tried to protect the world from. Her only escape comes in the form of the books she reads. Stories of heat, desire, and the kind of love that could melt even her frostbitten heart.
Damien is the Beast. A dragon King with a temper forged in flame and a soul hollowed by duty. The world fears him. The people call him a monster. But beneath the scales and the rage lies a man who has never been touched by love.
When frost meets fire, the world shatters. She was never meant to leave her tower. He was never meant to find her. But destiny doesn’t bow to kings or care for cages and now the question burns through them both: Can Bella have her Beast? Or will the girl of snow melt in the heat of his desire?

.
"I’m keeping her."
"What?"
Before I can react, he scoops her up. Her small body fits easily in the cradle of his talons. For a split second, she looks startled, but not afraid. Her hand rests against one scaled finger, and she stares up at him with that same curious wonder, as though she’s already forgotten she was ever meant to fear me.
"Put her down," I try to command, panic threading through my thoughts. "You’ll hurt her."
"She’s ours," the beast insists, possessive and fierce. "Our snowflake."
First Taste in a Century​

First Taste in a Century​

1k Views · Ongoing · Sherry
Fresh out of college and fumbling through his first year in the real world, twenty-two-year-old Lysander wanders away from a friend’s party and into an isolated forest. There, he stumbles upon the high-tech laboratory hidden within the ancient castle of Vivienne—a vampire who has spent one century cultivating solitude. Disgusted by the intimacy required to hunt, she long ago withdrew from humanity, passing the endless decades perfecting homemade synthetic blood rather than sampling the countless varieties of plasma she grew tired of.

But Lysander’s arrival spells disaster. In a clumsy accident, he doesn't just ruin dinner; he obliterates her state-of-the-art scientific instruments. With her life’s work destroyed and her synthetic supply cut off, the scent of his living blood overwhelms her engineered senses. Forced to break a century-long abstinence, she takes what she needs, only to find herself addicted not just to his taste, but to the man himself.

Using the equipment as a flimsy excuse to lure him back, Vivienne battles a terrifying new obsession. She craves his body despite believing he’s taken, despising her own weakness. Meanwhile, Lysander’s initial terror curdles into a forbidden fascination. Can a relationship survive when one person feels everything, and the other only hungers?
Tempted By The Enemy

Tempted By The Enemy

4k Views · Completed · rituparna darolia
Twenty-two-year-old Alyssa Van Every is in a dilemma. Her close friend, Sienna, is marrying billionaire, Lucas Donnelly who, along with his brothers, happens to be her older brother, Alex's sworn enemy.
She escapes to Preston Island to attend the wedding without informing him only to collide with Lucas’s hot, fiery and arrogant brother, the twenty-three-year-old, Nicholas Donnelly. Sparks immediately fly between them but Alyssa refuses to acknowledge them fearing her brother's wrath.
The wedding is over and Alyssa tries hard to forget the mysterious Nicholas Donnelly but can he forget her? Can he ignore the attraction he feels for her, feelings that have resurfaced after ten years?
What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to sinful temptations? Read to find out!
Part of the Temptation Series. Can be read as a standalone.
Cursed Fates

Cursed Fates

1.6k Views · Ongoing · Taylor Ashcraft
Charlotte Sinclair was murdered at the hands of her abusive boyfriend. After dying, she wakes up in the body of another. She pieces together information from her first day as Aribella Voss, realizing that she's been reincarnated into a book she knew all too well. The only problem: She was fated to die in this story as well. She sets out on a mission to ensure that doesn't happen, but when she begins changing important parts of the story, she also changes the plot of the story she knew. Without the upper hand, Aribella no longer has idea what lies in her future.
After One Night with the Alpha

After One Night with the Alpha

541.3k Views · Completed · Sansa
One Night. One Mistake. One Lifetime of Consequences.

I thought I was waiting for love. Instead, I got fucked by a beast.

My world was supposed to bloom at the Moonshade Bay Full Moon Festival—champagne buzzing in my veins, a hotel room booked for Jason and me to finally cross that line after two years. I’d slipped into lacy lingerie, left the door unlocked, and lay on the bed, heart pounding with nervous excitement.

But the man who climbed into my bed wasn’t Jason.

In the pitch-black room, drowned in a heady, spicy scent that made my head spin, I felt hands—urgent, scorching—searing my skin. His thick, pulsing cock pressed against my dripping cunt, and before I could gasp, he thrust hard, tearing through my innocence with ruthless force. Pain burned, my walls clenching as I clawed at his iron shoulders, stifling sobs. Wet, slick sounds echoed with every brutal stroke, his body unrelenting until he shuddered, spilling hot and deep inside me.

"That was amazing, Jason," I managed to say.

"Who the fuck is Jason?"

My blood turned to ice. Light slashed across his face—Brad Rayne, Alpha of Moonshade Pack, a werewolf, not my boyfriend. Horror choked me as I realized what I’d done.

I ran away for my life!

But weeks later, I woke up pregnant with his heir!

They say my heterochromatic eyes mark me as a rare true mate. But I’m no wolf. I’m just Elle, a nobody from the human district, now trapped in Brad's world.

Brad’s cold gaze pins me: “You carry my blood. You’re mine.”

There is no other choice for me but to chose this cage. My body also betrays me, craving the beast who ruined me.

WARNING: Mature Readers Only
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

2.9m Views · Ongoing · Harper Rivers
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother.

"What is wrong with me?

Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?

It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.

He’s my boyfirend’s brother.

This is Tyler’s family.

I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.

**

As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.

Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.

When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.

I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.

**

I hate girls like her.

Entitled.

Delicate.

And still—

Still.

The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.

Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t care.

It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.

It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.

I’m not here to rescue anyone.

Especially not her.

Especially not someone like her.

She’s not my problem.

And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.

But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon

Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon

498k Views · Completed · Riley
My name is Audrey, and I'm the adopted daughter of the Bailey family.
Four years ago, the Bailey family faced a devastating financial crisis.
Just when bankruptcy seemed inevitable, a mysterious benefactor emerged, offering salvation with one condition: a contract marriage.
Rumors swirled about this enigmatic man—whispers claimed he was hideously ugly and too ashamed to show his face, possibly harboring dark, twisted obsessions.
Without hesitation, the Baileys sacrificed me to protect their precious biological daughter, forcing me to take her place as a pawn in this cold, calculated arrangement.
Luckily, in those four years, the mysterious husband never asked to meet in person.
Now, in the final year of our arrangement, the husband I've never met is demanding we meet face to face.
But disaster struck the night before my return—drunk and disoriented, I stumbled into the wrong hotel room and ended up sleeping with the legendary financial mogul, Caspar Thornton.
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
Mated to Her Alpha Instructor

Mated to Her Alpha Instructor

203.6k Views · Completed · Marina Ellington
I'm Eileen, an outcast at the shifter academy, all because I don't have a wolf. My only saving grace is a knack for healing that got me into the Healer's Division. Then one night in the forbidden woods, I found a stranger on the brink of death. One touch, and something primal snapped between us. That night tied me to him in a way I can't undo.
Weeks later, our new Alpha combat instructor walks in. Regis. The guy from the woods. His eyes lock on mine, and I know he recognizes me. Then the secret I've been hiding hits me like a punch: I'm pregnant.
He has an offer that binds us tighter than ever. Protection… or a cage? Whispers turn ugly, darkness closes in. Why am I the one without a wolf? Is he my salvation… or will he drag me to ruin?
The Spy Who Left

The Spy Who Left

1.7k Views · Completed · Orion Vale
"She's naive. A pretty little socialite who got lucky marrying above her station."
"I still can't believe she actually did it. Aria Hart, filing for divorce. Who saw that coming?"
"How long do we think it'll take before she comes crawling back?" Another voice joins the conversation.
"Three days," Victoria declares. "Five at most. She has no money, no skills, no family. Where's she going to go?"
When Aria Chen divorced billionaire Leon Hart, New York's elite sneered, betting she'd crawl back within days. She never did.
Three years later, the world is rocked when Dr. Aria Vale, CEO of a revolutionary cybersecurity empire, steps into the spotlight. The mysterious genius who built a billion-dollar company from nothing is none other than Leon's discarded wife, the woman everyone thought was just a pretty ornament.
Now, every powerful man wants the queen Leon threw away a renowned scientist seeking partnership, a financial titan proposing an empire, and an actor offering devotion. Each sees the brilliance Leon ignored.
Then Leon discovers the truth: Aria's sacrifices, her secret double life, and the daughter she's been raising without him. For the first time, the man who once took her for granted must fight for her love. But can he compete with men who valued her from the beginning?
A story of love, betrayal, and power where the king must kneel before the queen who never needed saving.
Pregnant by My Husband's Rival Alpha

Pregnant by My Husband's Rival Alpha

15.2k Views · Completed · Christina
I woke up three years into a marriage I barely remembered—pregnant with twins that weren't my husband's.

Those words should have destroyed me, but the truth was worse: I'd been used as a broodmare by the man who swore to love me, set up in a hotel room with a stranger because My husband Alexander Cross couldn't father children himself, and now I carried the secret babies of Damon Lester—the most powerful and dangerous Alpha in San Loris—while my own family replaced me with the daughter they'd always wanted. But when that same stranger's doctor appeared at my door, when twenty million dollars exchanged hands over a fake perfume bearing my secret identity, and when Damon's gray eyes locked onto mine with recognition I couldn't afford, I realized my carefully hidden life as the legendary perfumer Vera was colliding with a pregnancy that could cost me everything.

Could I protect my babies from the husband plotting my death, hide my true identity from the Alpha who's been hunting me for years, and reclaim the freedom I'd buried along with my dreams—even if it means standing alone against the wolves who see me as nothing more than a womb to be used and discarded?
Diaries Of A Hybrid And Her Mate

Diaries Of A Hybrid And Her Mate

2.3k Views · Ongoing · Sherryann Martinez
R18 MATURE CONTENT

Beautiful Aubrianne Ivanov, raised by her single mom, had a tough childhood. With low self-esteem, she became an outcast and was alone one too many times for her liking. Time spent at her part time job, she eventually grew into a brave, confident, and determined young woman who walked right into an opportunity that would change her life forever.

Will Aubrianne truly feel whole? Will she find what has been missing in her life? Will she allow herself happiness and joy? Will she find love, and most importantly, will she survive what's to come?

Join Aubrianne on her journey as she discovers who/what she is and navigates all the heartbreak, betrayal, drama, and exciting and thrilling events that come her way...

Excerpt:

She lay before him in all her magnificent beauty draped across his king-size bed in the most compelling and provocative way known to man or beast. And for Alpha Zayne, it was the most captivating view he had ever had the pleasure of seeing with his own eyes.

She stared at his every movement, lips slightly parted, her stunning brown eyes scanning every inch of his gorgeously toned and glorious body while heat radiated off of hers. He was HERS.

Her body trembled in delight and anticipation; she was ready and wanted to be with him in every way.

As innocent as she was, she wanted him to...no need him to take her in the worse ways, bringing her to heights of pleasures she had never experienced before.

Fuck she is beautiful, one fine specimen, and she is all MINE, MY MATE. A wave of pure unbridled possessiveness vibrated through Alpha Zayne. He thanked the Divine Moon Goddess, for she has truly blessed him.

He drank her in, eyes trailing up her toned sexy legs spread wide for him, and she gave him that come-and-get-it look.