Lisa’s eyes fluttered open, the soft light from the morning sun filtering through the curtains. For a brief moment, she felt disoriented, unsure of where she was. The last thing she remembered was being at home, the sound of gunshots echoing through the mansion. Her heart raced as the memory hit her like a wave, but then she realized she was safe, lying in a bed that felt softer than she remembered.She blinked a few times, letting her vision adjust as she took in her surroundings. This wasn’t their home in the city. The room was different, unfamiliar yet comfortable. The soft scent of fresh linens and a hint of lavender filled the air, and she realized it wasn’t just a dream—Ace had taken her away, somewhere far from the chaos.As her senses fully returned, Lisa noticed something else—Ace wasn’t there. She glanced to the other side of the bed, expecting to see him lying next to her, but the space was empty. The covers were neatly tucked, as if he had never been there at all. A frown
Evelyn sat in the cold, dimly lit cell, her back pressed against the hard concrete wall. Her hands rested on her lap as she stared at the flickering bulb above her. The silence in the cell was suffocating, broken only by the occasional clanking of chains as she shifted her weight. The events of the past few days spun in her head, clouding her usually sharp mind with frustration and anger.Her husband, Richard, had locked her up. She could hardly believe it. After everything they’d been through, he’d actually gone through with it—caging her like some kind of animal. She bit the inside of her cheek, refusing to give in to the weakness of tears. Crying was for those who didn’t have a plan. And Evelyn always had a plan.Leaning her head back against the wall, she closed her eyes, trying to think her way out of this mess. Being stuck here would ruin everything. The plans she had meticulously set in motion were hanging by a thread, and Richard—her crazy, unpredictable husband—was the one t
Ann sat quietly at the wooden table in the small country home, staring down at the old flip phone in her hand. Her fingers traced the edges of the device as the weight of the conversation she had just had with Evelyn lingered heavily in her mind. The night was silent, save for the occasional crackling of the fire burning in the hearth beside her. It was a comforting sound, but tonight, nothing could ease the turmoil that had settled deep in her chest.For the first time in a long time, she felt regret. Real, aching regret. She had helped Evelyn for years, serving as her eyes and ears inside Ace’s world. It was all part of the plan—Evelyn’s plan, the one she had laid out so meticulously. Ann had played her part well, keeping tabs on everyone, feeding information back to Evelyn, and making sure things went as smoothly as possible.But now, everything had changed.Lisa was pregnant.That one simple fact had upended everything. Ann had no idea until the recent events unfolded, and the wei
Lisa wandered through the expansive halls of the new house, her bare feet padding softly against the cool, wooden floor. The unfamiliar space was both comforting and unsettling at the same time. She still had no idea what country she was in or even how far away from home she might be. All she knew was that Ace had whisked her away in the middle of the night, taking her somewhere far from the danger that threatened them.But now, standing in this strange, secluded house, she felt more isolated than ever.She gazed out one of the tall windows, watching the mist roll over the sprawling landscape. The house was nestled in a countryside she didn’t recognize, and though the scenery was peaceful, there was something eerie about not knowing exactly where she was. It felt like being in a gilded cage—a beautiful prison with no walls but plenty of secrets.As she made her way through the house, she couldn’t help but notice how quiet it was. There were only four people living here: Ann, two oth
The next morning, Lisa woke up feeling slightly better, though the unease still lingered. As she slowly stretched and sat up in bed, she could feel the baby’s movements, soft and comforting. It reminded her of what truly mattered. But that nagging feeling in her chest wouldn’t go away, and the isolation in this strange place was making her feel worse.Ace was still gone. She knew he had to be handling things, but the lack of communication was getting to her. She needed answers, and more importantly, she needed to understand what was really happening around her.With a sigh, Lisa threw on a simple dress and left the bedroom. The house was quiet, as always. As she walked down the hallway toward the dining room, she noticed the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. A small comfort, but it didn’t settle her nerves.When she entered the room, she found Ann sitting at the table, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea, staring at it with a distant look in her eyes. This had
Evelyn paced back and forth in the small, dimly lit room, her phone gripped tightly in her hand. She had been calling Ann repeatedly, but each time, the call went straight to voicemail. Frustration and anger boiled inside her as she stared at the device, willing it to ring, but it remained silent."Come on, pick up," she muttered under her breath, dialing Ann’s number for what felt like the hundredth time.The line rang once, twice, and then went dead again.Evelyn clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around the phone. She had relied on Ann to be her eyes and ears, to help her carry out her plan to bring Ace down. But now, it seemed like Ann had gone silent, leaving Evelyn in a precarious position. Without her, the entire plan was at risk."She’s avoiding me," Evelyn hissed, throwing the phone onto the bed in frustration. "That traitor."Her bodyguard, a tall, muscular man with a stern expression, stood by the window, watching her carefully. He hadn’t said much, but his presence w
Richard sat in his dimly lit office, the faint glow of the desk lamp casting shadows across his face. A smirk played on his lips as he watched the grainy security footage of Evelyn escaping from the cell. His eyes followed her every movement, watching as she sprinted with the help of that traitorous bodyguard."She thinks she's smart," Richard muttered to himself, a low chuckle escaping his throat.The scene replayed in his mind: Evelyn, frantic but determined, running through the dimly lit halls, her eyes darting around as if she expected to be caught at any moment. But she hadn’t been. Richard had let her go, knowing full well what she was planning. It was all part of the game, and now the pieces were moving just as he wanted them to.A knock on the door broke his thoughts."Boss," one of his men said as he stepped inside, his voice cautious. He approached the desk and set down a plain white envelope. "A message came for you."Richard’s eyes flicked to the envelope, his smirk fading
The three men sat in their dimly lit office, the air thick with tension. The first man leaned back in his chair, a wide grin stretching across his face. He loved this part of the game. The power, the control—it was everything he lived for. The thrill of watching Richard squirm when he saw their message on video had been exhilarating. It was moments like these that made everything worth it."This is getting boring, you know!" he said loudly, his voice echoing through the room. He had a penchant for theatrics, always speaking with a certain dramatic flair that his companions found either amusing or irritating, depending on the day.The second man, sitting across from him, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His focus was on the leader, who sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. The leader had always been the calm one, the strategist. He never acted without thinking three steps ahead, and it was this calculated approach that had kept them ahead of everyone else for so l
A year had passed since the chaos, and now, the air in their new home was filled with a sense of peace that neither Ace nor Lisa had ever known. They were far away from the world they used to know, the one that had been filled with danger, betrayal, and uncertainty. It was a small, quiet life now, one where the past didn’t matter, only the future they were building together.Lisa cradled their baby girl in her arms, smiling down at the tiny face that had completely changed her world. Their daughter, with her soft dark hair and delicate features, was the perfect blend of both of them. A reminder of the love and strength that had carried them through everything.Walking down the hallway of their cozy little house, Lisa could hear the faint sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore in the distance. It was serene, soothing in a way that felt like a lullaby to her soul. She made her way to the room where Ace was sitting, his back facing the door as he gazed out the large windo
Ace leaned against the doorframe of the small bedroom where Lisa lay resting. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated her peaceful face, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just hours ago. He couldn’t stop thinking about Richard’s lifeless body and how close his wife had come to harm. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts, and the only thing keeping him grounded was the sight of Lisa, safe and sound in their bed."Stay here," he whispered softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Lisa stirred but didn’t wake, her exhaustion finally catching up with her after everything that had happened. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then turned to leave the room, closing the door quietly behind him.Ace’s expression hardened as he walked down the hallway toward the warehouse's lower levels, where Evelyn was being held. His men had taken care of Richard’s body, as per his orders, disposing of it far away from their hideout. Now, there was one
Grey stood outside the cell where Evelyn was being held, watching her through the small window. The bruises and cuts on her face were evidence of the fight she had put up, but there was no sympathy in his eyes. She had brought this on herself, and Grey had no more business here. His part was done—he had helped Ace capture her, and now it was time for him to leave.He pushed the door open and stepped inside, the cold air of the cell greeting him as the heavy metal door closed behind him. Evelyn was slumped in the corner, her arms wrapped around her knees, her hair hanging loosely over her face. She didn't look up as Grey entered, but he could sense that she was fully aware of his presence.A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he sat down in the lone chair facing her. "Oh, poor Evelyn," he said mockingly, his voice filled with dark amusement. "I must say, it's been quite a ride, hasn't it?"Evelyn remained silent, her head tilted slightly, but she didn’t look at him. Grey didn’t
Lisa lay peacefully in bed, the soft warmth of the blankets cocooning her, her body relaxed as sleep slowly pulled her under. She was vaguely aware of the gentle ticking of the clock on the wall and the quiet hum of the house, sounds that had become comforting in this strange new place Ace had brought her to.But then, something shifted. A sound, almost imperceptible, but enough to make her stir.Her brow furrowed, still caught in the remnants of a dream, as she called out, "Ace?"There was no reply.She blinked her eyes open, pushing herself up on the bed. Her hand reached out, instinctively seeking Ace’s familiar warmth beside her, but her fingers touched only cool, empty sheets. Her frown deepened as she sat up fully, glancing around the dark room. Where was he?"Ace?" she called again, louder this time.Still nothing.A chill crept up her spine as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, slipping her feet into her slippers. Something didn’t feel right. Her heart began to bea
Ace sat in his office, fingers drumming against the wooden desk as he stared at the stack of papers in front of him. His mind wasn’t on the documents, though. No matter how much he tried to distract himself with work, his thoughts always drifted back to Lisa and the baby. He hadn’t been home much lately, caught up in his dealings, and a part of him knew he was avoiding her.His phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him from his thoughts. He picked it up, seeing Grey’s name flash across the screen.He answered immediately. “Grey?”“We have her,” Grey’s voice came through, cool and composed. “Evelyn’s in our custody. She’s in the cells now, and we rounded up a few of her men, but Richard wasn’t with them.”Ace’s heartbeat quickened. They had Evelyn. Finally, they had her. But the news about Richard not being there left a bitter taste in his mouth. That man was like a ghost, always slipping through their fingers.“I’m coming soon,” Ace said, his voice firm. He stood up, grabbing his coat, a
Ann sat in the dimly lit room, her hands trembling slightly as she held the burner phone.Grey and his team had just briefed her on the plan—she was to call Evelyn, pretend to be sorry, and offer her some fabricated information about Ace and Lisa. It was a risky plan, but one they hoped would finally lead them to capturing Evelyn. Her mind was racing, trying to process the weight of what she was about to do. She had betrayed Lisa once by working with Evelyn, and though she had switched sides, the guilt still gnawed at her. Now, they were asking her to go back into the lion’s den, to trick the very person who had manipulated her before. Grey stood across from her, his expression calm but serious. “Are you ready?”Ann swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah… I’ll do it.”One of Grey’s men handed her the phone, the screen lit up with Evelyn’s number. Ann’s thumb hovered over the call button for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this call would either lead to Evelyn’s capture o
Grey stood in the dimly lit room, his phone in hand as he looked at the group of men before him. They were a small but elite team, hardened by years of working in the shadows, each of them bound by loyalty to one another.Ace had been one of them once, and now that Lisa was back, Grey felt a sense of relief. They were all in this together again.“I just spoke to Ace,” Grey began, his deep voice cutting through the silence. “Lisa is back. She’s safe. But things are still tense between them.”The men exchanged glances, some nodding in acknowledgment, others frowning at the thought of the ongoing tension between Ace and Lisa. It had been a long road for the couple, and though Lisa’s return was a relief, it was clear that the war between them and their enemies was far from over.One of the men, a tall, muscular figure with a sharp jawline and a serious expression, stepped forward. He was known as Briggs, and he was the leader of their small group, a strategist who rarely spoke unless he h
Evelyn leaned back in her plush chair, the dim light of the room casting shadows across her sharp features. A slow, satisfied smirk spread across her lips as she watched the live feed of Richard locked up in the isolated house. He was pacing, his usual calm and controlled demeanor slipping as he realized the gravity of his situation. It brought Evelyn a sense of twisted satisfaction to see her husband, always so proud and calculating, reduced to a caged animal."How the tables have turned, dear Richard," she whispered to herself, her fingers drumming on the armrest. The power shift between them was intoxicating. He had been trying to control her for too long, always thinking he could outsmart her, manipulate her into submission. But Evelyn had always been one step ahead, playing the long game, and now, with Richard out of the way, her plans could finally proceed uninterrupted. Or so she thought.A knock on the door interrupted her moment of victory. One of her men entered, his face
Ace stood at the far end of the room, arms crossed as he watched Lisa enter. His expression was cold, eyes narrowed, the tension in the room palpable. Lisa could feel the weight of his stare, the anger simmering beneath the surface. It wasn’t like him to be so distant, so guarded. But she understood why—everything had been spiraling out of control, and her sudden return had likely only added to the chaos.“Why are you here, Lisa?” Ace’s voice was low, almost a growl. He took a step forward, his eyes locked on hers, searching for answers.Lisa took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before responding. “I tried calling you, but you didn’t answer. I came because I needed to tell you something important.”Ace’s jaw clenched as he shook his head. “You should’ve stayed where you were. I put you there for a reason. It was to keep you safe.”“Safe?” Lisa scoffed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “How can I be safe when everything is falling apart around us? Evelyn has her claws