Nathan planted himself in Elena’s path, his gaze hard and showing no sign of any emotion. It was the look that always sent a chill through Elena's spine, she could never know what he was thinking. And he seemed to hate her more than he hated Liam Danvers himself. This time as Nathan stood in Elena's way, he wasn’t letting her walk away without hearing him out.Elena met his gaze, her nerves growing beneath her calm expression. "Please, get out of my way," she demanded coldly, although deep down she was in a lot of unease with him standing in her way like that. She was pregnant and she didn't want anything to happen and risk having any complications.As she looked at her brother, his expression unsettled her; the intensity in his eyes made her wonder if his resentment was building toward something darker. Trying to shake off the unease, she took a step to the side and brushed past him, hoping he would let her leave it at that.But Nathan wasn’t finished. He was even more annoyed that
A wave of betrayal and disbelief washed over Elena after hearing what Nia Bennett, who was her and Nathan's Aunt, had to say. She hadn’t expected support from the old woman, especially when it involved Nathan; Nia would take his side over her anyways, but nonetheless to hear her against her, against the child she was carrying… It was almost too much. Elena realized she might be more alone in this than she’d initially thought. A part of her understood Nathan and Nia's feelings; after all, she was carrying a Danvers in her belly, a name that represented everything they despised. Even so, the child was still hers, an innocent life that hadn’t yet taken a breath. She couldn’t bring herself to imagine aborting him. Raising her head, Elena met Nia's gaze and then she turned to stare at Nathan with a defiance look and said,“That's not happening.” She protested. She couldn't imagine aborting the baby. It wasn’t just that Elena loved the unborn child, though, in her way, she did. But her
At the Carrington's residence. The morning sun shone through the streets. Liam stood outside his sleek sports car outside the Carrington residence, watching as Ethan carefully helped Mr. Carrington up the steps and into the house. He let out a sigh, turning his thoughts to Aretha who was nowhere to be seen. He hadn’t come to the Carrington residence just to visit; he came here for Aretha because he needed her help. Aretha had known Selena from their college days, and she seemed to know about the person she was. If Liam could get Aretha's help and testify against her in court he would easily win this lawsuit.‘Where is she?’ Liam wondered. He hadn't seen Aretha ever since he arrived and she had told him she would meet him there, yet she was nowhere to be seen. “Easy, Dad,” Ethan murmured, steadying Mr. Carrington with a supportive grip.Liam observed them quietly, relieved that Mr. Carrington was finally out of the hospital. This was a step forward. But he still had to help them d
Aretha took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Liam's with a determined gaze. “I’ll help you,” she said, though a slight hesitation lingered in her tone. She wasn’t entirely comfortable with her decision. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to support Liam; it was just that the idea of going against Selena, her old college friend, left her feeling like a bad person. Aretha had known about Selena’s manipulative ways, but they had never directly affected her, so she had stayed on the sidelines.Though they’d drifted apart after college and rarely spoke now, the thought of siding against Selena brought some guilt. Still, seeing Liam’s hopeful expression, she reminded herself why she’d agreed.Liam’s face lit up, a genuine smile spreading across his features. Relief and gratitude was visible in his eyes, and he gave her a slight nod, clearly grateful for her support.“Thank you, Aretha. This means a lot,” Liam replied, his voice laced with sincerity. A subtle, satisfied smile played at his lips a
The men exchanged glances before one of them leaned back, his hand lingering over the cash and counting it. He looked up at Nathan with a frown. “Yeah, don't worry, we can handle the job easily.” He paused and tossed the stacks of money to the other guy beside him, saying, “But this isn’t enough for us to do the job,” the man said, his voice low but insistent. “We are supposed to take care of two people, not just one. The price you’re offering here? It's only for one.”Nathan’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. His teeth clenched as he shot them a hard glare. “What do you mean, two?” he snapped. He’d only specified one target, so they had made up the second target. It seemed like these guys were trying to milk more money out of him and he wasn't going to let that happen. What did they take him for? A fool?“You greedy bastards!” he spat angrily, his voice dangerously calm. “You’re supposed to handle one person. What the hell do you mean, two people?”The second man, who had been sile
The midday sun beat down on her, as Elena exited the apartment she lived in and walked to her car. She settled into the driver’s seat, feeling the intensity of the heat radiating from the sidewalk outside. She adjusted her sunglasses and took a slow, calming breath, enjoying the cool blast of air conditioning as it began to ease the uncomfortable warmth.Then she inserted the key in the ignition. Turning the key she fully expected the engine to roar to life. But instead, it gave a weak sputter and fell silent. “Oh, come on!” she muttered, frustration in her voice and in her tone as she tried again. This time, the engine barely sputtered before quitting completely, leaving an uneasy silence around her. “This can't be happening right now.” She mumbled, pushing herself back against the car seat as she pulled a strand of hair from her face.She glanced around, almost embarrassed, as if someone might witness her struggle with the aging car. It felt like a cruel reminder of everything she’d
Nathan was seated down, contemplating what he had done, when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen before bringing it to his ear. The voice on the other end was chilling and unemotional.“It’s done,” the man reported, his tone carrying a finality that made Nathan feel like something had twisted deep inside him, “We took care of her, just like you wanted.”Nathan didn’t respond immediately. His gaze drifted to the dull, worn-down walls of the small apartment, the silence around him feeling suddenly oppressive. He’d thought this would bring him relief, some sense of satisfaction. But instead, his chest felt nothing but heartache, guit, sadness, a sick ache building as he gripped the phone tighter.He swallowed, his expression cold and voice barely above a whisper as he replied. “Are you sure?” he asked, he was feeling bad. Nonetheless he was still hoping that they had truly done their job and took care of Elena, “You made certain she couldn’t survive?”
Liam hurried through the hospital's automatic doors, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the air. His facial expression was a mask of worry. Beside him were Cara, Luke, and Megan, each of them having insisted on accompanying him after hearing about Elena’s accident. But their reasons were different. They weren’t there for Elena, they were there for him in this tough time. Cara and Luke didn’t know Elena at all to care, and Megan, though concerned, had no real affection for Elena due to her cunning and manipulative ways. The only reason Megan might feel a hint of worry now was because Elena was carrying Liam’s child, the baby that was family to her.Nonetheless, their presence was a comfort to Liam, though it did little to ease the anxiety within him. The doctor hadn’t been very clear on Elena’s condition over the phone, and Liam couldn’t get rid of the fear that something terrible had happened. He didn’t want to lose his child, especially not before he’d even had the chance to me
The next day.“Mr. Danvers, you're pushing yourself too hard," a gentle voice interrupted his thoughts. Liam blinked, turning to see a nurse regarding him with concern. "You need rest too, you know. Ms. Bennett is in good hands," she added kindly, her tone soft yet firm.Liam’s gaze shifted briefly to the nurse before returning to Elena's sleeping face. Her fragile state was a reminder of how dangerous the situation was. “I’m alright, thank you,” he replied, his voice calm but carrying a hint of finality. He offered a faint, polite smile, enough to ease the nurse’s concern without inviting further conversation.Liam leaned back slightly in his chair, his hands gripping the armrests. He also wanted to go home and get some rest. However he couldn't bring himself to leave Elena’s side. What if something goes wrong while he is away? He had to make sure she was alright, and Nathan didn't try anything.Nathan wasn’t done, not by a long shot. Even with the security stationed outside the hos
Liam watched Nathan, his jaw tightening as he watched his act unfold. The ease with which Nathan faked concern infuriated him. It wasn’t just the deception, it was the calculated way Nathan played on Elena’s trust. Liam’s instinct was to confront him and expose him immediately, to reveal the truth, but he knew better. Accusing her brother without evidence would only backfire; Elena would never believe him. They were enemies, so she would only see it as him trying to drive a wedge between her and her brother out of spite. No matter how genuine Liam’s intentions were, Elena’s trust in Nathan and her disdain for the Danvers family, would cloud her judgment. If Liam confronted her now, it would only deepen her mistrust and strengthen Nathan’s position. He needed proof; something undeniable that would shatter the illusion Nathan so carefully maintained. Until then, Liam could do nothing but wait and watch, even as the charade continued before his eyes. Good to see you're awake, Ms. Benn
Liam's head snapped toward Elena, as she stirred on the hospital bed, her eyelids fluttering as if she were struggling to open them fully. The faint rise and fall of her chest confirmed she was alive, but she looked weak and disoriented.“Elena?” Liam’s voice softened as he released Nathan abruptly, letting him drop to the floor. Nathan gasped for air, clutching his throat while glaring at Liam.Liam ignored him entirely, rushing to Elena’s bed side. He placed a hand on the bed's railing, leaning closer to get a better look at her face. “Elena, can you hear me?”Elena blinked slowly, her lips parting as she tried to speak, but her voice came out as a strained whisper. “L-Liam?”She sounded surprised, not only by Liam's presence, but because she found herself laying on a hospital bed. "What, happened?"“Yes, it’s me,” Liam said, his tone laced with relief. His gaze flicked briefly toward Nathan, who was still recovering on the floor but making no move toward Elena now. Returning his at
"Doctor, can I see her?" Nathan asked, his voice a carefully faked blend of concern and anxiety. He leaned forward slightly, as if eager to rush to Elena's side, but his eyes held a calculating glint, that showed his true feelings.He had no care for Elena, the only reason he wanted to see her was to make sure she wouldn't wake up. He was disappointed when he heard that she survived the car crash, even more disappointed when he tried to do it himself and he was almost caught.Dr. Grant, looking observant, paused for a moment, studying Nathan's face. He had seen countless worried family members in his years of practice and being a doctor, and something about Nathan's demeanor felt off. Even the way Nathan spoke and carried himself, it was all pretend. However, he couldn't deny a brother's request to see his sister, after all, he was just a doctor here and nothing else."Of course," Dr. Grant replied, stepping aside. "But she's still unconscious. I wouldn't expect ....""I understand,
Nathan was just as nervous, if not more than brad. "Hold on," he said, reaching for his phone, panic creeping into his voice. "Let me try and call for help."His fingers moved quickly, dialing a number with speed. The phone rang only once before someone answered."Hi, Mr Simpson, it's Nathan," he said, his voice tight with growing anxiety. As he began to realize what a dangerous situation he was in, panic began to set in. "I’m being chased. Need backup, now."After a brief exchange on the other end with Mr Simpson, Nathan hung up and leaned back in his seat, his eyes locked on the rearview mirror, watching the Danvers security vehicles closing in fast. Brad glanced at him nervously. "Are they going to be able to help? We’re running out of time."Nathan didn’t answer immediately, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the road ahead. "Yes. Just give them a few minutes. Simpson's men are close by."Some time later, they were still being pursued by Danvers security, unable to shake them. B
Liam stood frozen in the doorway, his breath caught in his throat as his gaze darted from the panick stricken doctors to Elena. She was lying on the bed, looking still and lifeless.The beeping of the heart monitor echoed in his ears, sharp and irregular. He had been gone for only a few minutes, but it felt like a lifetime. Something was terribly wrong already. What happened when he was gone? He didn't know, but he was very worried for Elena and his baby."Is she going to be okay?" Liam asked, his voice was barely above a whisper as he asked the doctors. His eyes searched their faces for an answer, but no one seemed willing to give. They were too focused on Elena.Doctor Grant, focused and calm despite the chaos, didn't look up as he adjusted the machines. "We're doing everything we can, Mr Danvers. I suggest you go outside sir."Liam's stomach twisted with anxiety. He felt like he shouldn't leave Elena and the baby’s side, but he knew the doctors needed space to work. Reluctantly, h
At the same time, Irene and Alvin Danvers arrived outside the hospital room, accompanied by Doctor Grant.The doctor Grant was telling them about Elena's health and the risks she could face on her way to recovery. He spoke calmly, his tone professional yet reassuring. “So far, there have been no complications. She should recover well.”Alvin Danvers voice was composed as usual, but laced with concern as he enquired“And the pregnancy? Is the baby going to be okay?”“Yes, we believe so,” Doctor Grant replied, nodding his head. “But even with all indications being positive, we can’t be completely sure there won’t be complications. It’s something we’ll need to monitor closely.”"That's such a relief, that she is better," Irene Danvers sighed, her tension slightly easing. As much as she and the Danvers family didn't like Elena, they were worried about her, because she was carrying, potentially the future heir to the Danvers empire. Irenes brows furrowed again as she asked, “What other ris
Slipping into the room, Nathan’s eyes were fixed on Elena with a cold, predatory intensity. Not even seeing her in the state that she was in, made him feel bad for her. It was a testament of how much hatred he had built up for her, ever since the betrayal.The door clicked shut softly behind him. As he approached the bed, his footsteps were slow and deliberate. His gaze roamed over her pale face. He stood by the bed, glaring down at her unconscious body. At first, his facial expression was casual, as if he were merely observing something boring. But then, suddenly, his demeanor shifted. His eyes softened, and his brow furrowed in an almost sorrowful way. The rapid change in his emotions was unusual and unsettling. It was as though two opposing emotions: cold detachment and remorse battled within him, each fighting for dominance. Well, Elena was someone whom he used to consider family, and loved so of course he was going to be feeling bad and guilty, but at the same time he hated h
Liam turned to look at Nathan. Their expressions were unreadable as the two men stared at each other. From the hostility in each other's eyes, it was clear they were enemies.Liam turned back around with a sigh. Although he disliked Nathan’s presence intensely, he decided to tolerate it for now. There were more pressing matters at hand than their mutual disdain.Nathan stepped further into the room, closing the door quietly behind him. His gaze lingered on Elena. And a storm of frustration was boiling beneath his calm facade. ‘How the fuck is she still alive?’ he thought bitterly. ‘Those bastards. Useless idiots. I should have done this myself instead of hiring some incompetent fools.’ The sight of Elena still breathing, although shallowly, was infuriating Nathan. All his carefully planned plans, the money he had spent, the risks taken now felt like it was a waste.But the wasted money was the least of Nathan's concerns right now.He feared that if Elena woke up, there was a very rea