moment, watching her. The way her face softened when she wasn’t aware of his presence, how her hand naturally drifted to her belly, protective and instinctual. His heart clenched at the sight. He needed to protect them both. He couldn’t lose either of them.“Lisa,” he called softly, stepping into the room.She looked up, her eyes brightening when she saw him, but there was a subtle tension in her posture. She knew him too well, could sense when something was on his mind. “Ace? Is something wrong?”He sat down beside her, running a hand through his hair. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”Lisa closed the magazine and turned her full attention to him, her brows knitting together in concern. “What is it?”Ace took a deep breath, trying to choose his words carefully. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the baby, and about you. About how dangerous things are right now, especially with Evelyn and everything going on. I need to know you’re safe, Lisa. Both of you.”Her lips pressed
Evelyn pov:Evelyn leaned back in her luxurious chair, the edges of her red lips curving upward into a slow, sinister smile. The moment she’d been waiting for had finally arrived. The information her spy had just delivered changed everything. Lisa was pregnant. "Well, well, well," Evelyn purred, swirling the wine glass in her hand, watching the liquid twirl as if it held the answers to her schemes. “So, Ace’s little wife is with child.”Her spy, a slim, nervous man, stood in the shadows of the dimly lit room. He looked everywhere except directly at Evelyn, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, clearly aware that he was in the presence of a dangerous woman."She’s pregnant, but she refused to leave when Ace asked her to move somewhere safer," he confirmed, his voice barely above a whisper.Evelyn let out a cruel laugh, her eyes sparkling with a mix of malice and amusement. “Of course she did. Stubborn little fool.”Setting down her glass, Evelyn leaned forward, her sharp
Richard's head throbbed, a constant reminder of the days he'd spent in confinement. His wrists were raw from the ropes that had once bound him, though now they dangled loosely at his sides. He sat slumped in a wooden chair, barely able to lift his head. His body ached from the repeated beatings, but none of that mattered. What truly hurt was the sting of betrayal from his own wife, Evelyn.He let out a bitter laugh as he thought about her. She hadn’t come for him. Not even a whisper of her presence in all these weeks. The woman who had once sworn to stand by him through everything had abandoned him when he needed her most. The men holding him had been talking about it—gossiping like hens—that his own wife had left him to rot in this filthy room.Across the room, the man in charge, a broad-shouldered brute named Marco, stood watching him with cold amusement. The door behind him creaked open as one of his henchmen walked in. They exchanged a few words in hushed tones, but Richard could
Evelyn sat in the luxurious lounge of her mansion, sipping on a glass of red wine, her mind racing with thoughts about her latest plans. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the chandelier overhead, the delicate hum of classical music filling the air. Everything was as it should be—perfect, controlled. She liked it that way. But today, there was a nagging sense of unease she couldn’t shake. Something felt off, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.Her mind kept drifting back to the hospital, where she'd caught a glimpse of Lisa. A smirk had crossed her lips when she realized Lisa had been at the pregnancy department. It had fit too perfectly into Evelyn's plans. Lisa was carrying Ace’s baby, which meant more leverage. It made everything sweeter.But even with that satisfying thought, the feeling of unease remained. She brushed it off, focusing instead on what her next move would be. Everything was working in her favor, after all. Richard was out of the picture, and Ace ha
Richard sat in the bedroom, the faint sounds of water dripping from the sink echoing through the room as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. His face, battered and bruised, seemed to belong to someone else. He barely recognized himself anymore. The once powerful and confident man he had been was now a shadow, physically beaten and emotionally drained. Yet, beneath the pain, there was a burning fire of anger—anger at Evelyn, anger at the men who had locked him up, and most of all, anger at himself for letting it all happen.After a long moment of silence, he turned away from the mirror and walked toward the bed, his body aching with every step. He gingerly lowered himself onto the edge of the mattress, his mind racing. Evelyn’s face kept flashing before him, her fake concern, her pathetic attempts at pretending she cared. She thought she could manipulate him, control him like she always had, but this time was different. This time, he was the one in control, and she didn’t even
The night was cool, and the streets were bathed in a faint glow from the streetlights. Hidden in the shadows of an abandoned building across from Richard’s estate, the men who had once held him captive sat in silence, their eyes locked on the mansion. They watched every movement, every flicker of light, noting when someone entered or exited. These were professionals, skilled in their craft, and tonight, they were keeping a close eye on Richard.From their vantage point, they could see Richard’s figure moving around inside. He was free, no longer bound by their chains or locked in the dark, damp cell they had kept him in for weeks. But the men weren’t worried. They had let him go for a reason. They had plans of their own.One of the men, a tall, lean figure with a scar running down the side of his face, sat with binoculars, tracking Richard’s every move. His name was Knox, the leader of the group, and he had been the one to make the call to release Richard.“What’s he doing now?” a voi
Evelyn woke up that morning with a heavy sigh, the kind that rattled her bones. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the tension that had crept in overnight, but the unease in her gut refused to leave. Something about the way the house felt this morning, cold and quiet, set her on edge.Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she wasn’t alone, that something had changed in the air around her. She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to breathe evenly. She was Evelyn. She was strong, untouchable. She didn’t need anyone—not even Richard. And yet, despite telling herself that over and over, there was no denying the fear crawling up her spine.She heard a faint rustling sound outside her bedroom door, and her body went rigid. Her muscles tensed as she pulled herself up, fixing her robe tightly around her body. Was it her bodyguards? One of the maids? She reached for her phone, the screen lighting up to show no messages, no calls. She furrowed her br
Ace tightened his grip on the steering wheel as they made their way to the hospital. His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror every few seconds, but he kept his face calm, not wanting to show any sign of worry in front of Lisa. His heart raced as thoughts swirled around his head—thoughts about their unborn baby, about Lisa, and the endless threats that seemed to surround them every day. Beside him, Lisa stared out of the window, her hand resting gently on her stomach. Ace glanced at her and smiled softly, knowing that she was just as anxious as he was about the baby’s health. Today was an important check-up, and they both wanted reassurance that everything was going well. As they continued driving, Lisa’s fingers drummed lightly on her thigh, her brows knitting together as she shifted in her seat. Something was off, and she could feel it. It wasn’t just her usual pregnancy nerves—there was something else, something lurking in the shadows. Her eyes darted to the side mirror, and that’
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