Evelyn sat alone in her study, the dim light of the afternoon filtering through the heavy curtains, casting long shadows across the room. The air was thick with tension, and the silence was oppressive, only broken by the soft ticking of the clock on the mantel. She had been trying to distract herself with paperwork, reading over documents, invoices, anything to keep her mind from wandering to darker places. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to Richard. Her husband. The man who had been missing for days without a word. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face—smiling, laughing, taunting—and the last time they spoke, that terrible argument replayed over and over in her head. And now, he was gone, and no one seemed to know where he was. A sharp knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, making her jump slightly. Her pulse quickened as she looked up, her eyes narrowing as she watched the door slowly open. One of her men stepped inside, his expres
Lisa stood in the kitchen, staring down at the plate of food in front of her. The savory aroma of Ace’s favorite dish—pan-seared steak with roasted vegetables—filled the air, but instead of bringing comfort, it only deepened the ache in her chest. She had spent hours in the kitchen, meticulously preparing every detail, hoping that maybe—just maybe—this time he would acknowledge her efforts. She glanced over at the clock on the wall. It was almost 7 p.m. Ace would be home soon, but even the thought of his return didn’t fill her with the usual excitement. The tension between them had been building for days, ever since she returned after the terrifying incident. She’d told him everything, begged for his forgiveness, promised to make things right. But it didn’t matter. Ace hadn’t been the same since.His silence was deafening. Every attempt she made to reconnect, to earn back his trust, seemed to fall flat. She’d tried talking to him, tried showing him that she was sorry through her acti
The crisp night air clung to Lisa’s skin as she stepped out of the mansion, feeling the heavy weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. It was late—much later than she usually ventured out—but she needed space. Space from the suffocating silence in the house. Space from Ace’s coldness. Space from the gnawing sense of failure that had wrapped itself around her heart over the past few days.She wrapped her cardigan tighter around herself, the fabric offering little warmth against the chill creeping into her bones. The mansion's towering structure loomed behind her, a dark silhouette against the evening sky, and the quiet whispers of guards stationed at every corner only added to the oppressive feeling that had been building inside her since Ace had turned away from her yet again.She hadn’t left the grounds in weeks. Not because she wasn’t allowed—though she suspected Ace would’ve preferred it that way—but because leaving felt like giving up. It felt like abandoning the only chance s
Richard groaned as he stirred awake, every inch of his body aching from the beating he'd endured. His vision blurred as he blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light around him. It had been days, maybe even a week, since he'd been locked away in this place, and the pain was a constant reminder of his helplessness.He shifted, feeling the tight ropes digging into his wrists. His shirt had been stripped off, leaving him cold in just his black pants. The metallic scent of his own blood hung in the air, mingling with sweat and grime. Each movement sent a sharp jolt of pain through his bruised body, but it only fueled the anger burning inside him."Stupid men... they will pay for this," he muttered through clenched teeth. The humiliation of being captured and tortured like this gnawed at him. He was supposed to be in control, not the one tied up and left to rot. His pride had taken just as much of a beating as his body.His thoughts turned to Evelyn, his wife. The woman who, in his mind, s
Evelyn sat in her lavish living room, her eyes fixed on the ornate chandelier hanging above her, but her mind was far from the sparkling lights. It had been days since she received the pictures of Richard beaten and tied up, and though it unsettled her, a part of her was relieved. The silence was peaceful—no angry outbursts, no threats, no reminders of his dominance over her life.She sighed, leaning back into the plush couch, her fingers drumming against the armrest. She should’ve been working to get him back by now. Any other wife in her position would be frantic, moving heaven and earth to rescue their husband. But Evelyn... she hesitated. The truth was, she didn’t want him back. Not yet, anyway.As the days passed, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered that maybe this was the perfect opportunity. With Richard out of the way, she could focus on her own plans, her own future. She wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder or worry about his interference. His absence gave her
Lisa stood in the kitchen, her hands busy chopping vegetables for the meal she had planned for Ace. His favorite—roasted chicken with rosemary and garlic. She hoped maybe this time, he would acknowledge her efforts, maybe even sit down to eat with her. But the past few days had been strained, and he barely spoke to her, let alone shared a meal.Her movements were mechanical as she set the chicken in the oven and began cleaning the countertops. She paused for a moment, pressing a hand to her stomach as a wave of dizziness hit her. It had been happening more frequently lately—this strange fatigue, the bouts of nausea that came without warning. As a nurse, she had run through a list of possibilities, but none of it made sense. It didn’t feel like any illness she had encountered in her training.Lisa glanced at the clock. It was almost noon. Ace hadn’t even come out of his study yet, and she knew there was no point in telling him about her hospital visit. He wouldn’t care, not in his curr
Ace tossed his jacket onto the couch as he walked into the living room, his face blank but his mind buzzing. He hadn’t seen Lisa all day, but that was nothing new. Lately, they’d both been doing their own thing, and honestly, he wasn’t sure how much he cared anymore. She had been making all these efforts—cooking his meals, trying to start conversations—but he just wasn’t in the mood to let her back in. Not after everything.The familiar smell of food wafted through the house, and he knew she had made something for him again. He walked past the kitchen without even glancing at the plate. He didn’t care if she made his favorite meal; nothing she did could make him forget the choice she had made. Settling into his office, Ace leaned back in his chair, staring at his phone for a moment. He hadn’t heard from Lisa in hours, and now that he thought about it, the house felt oddly empty without her. His gaze flicked to the clock on the wall. It was getting late—almost 7 p.m.—and she hadn’t t
Ace woke up to the sound of the soft breeze coming through the half-open window. His eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the sunlight filtering into the room. Normally, he’d already be up and dressed, halfway out the door and on his way to work. But today was different. He wasn’t going anywhere.Lisa was still asleep beside him, her soft breathing steady. She hadn’t been feeling well, and though she had insisted it was nothing, Ace couldn't shake the concern gnawing at him. He turned his head slightly, watching her for a few moments, his brow furrowing. Even in sleep, she looked tired, and that worried him. He hadn’t been there for her lately, and seeing her this way stirred something inside him. Guilt? Maybe. But more than anything, it was the need to protect her, to keep her close. Without even thinking about it, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. His fingers hovered there for a moment longer than they should have before he pulled his hand ba
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