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Bound by debt; Freed by love
Last Updated : 2025-04-03
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She thought she could endure a loveless marriage to repay her family’s debt—but she didn’t count on the cost of her heart. Once the proud daughter of a wealthy businessman, ELENA BRADFORD watched her life crumble when her father’s betrayal left her and her mother drowning in debt. Desperate to protect her family, she reluctantly agreed to a marriage contract with her father’s former business partner’s reckless son, ADRIAN HAWTHORNE—a man who once loved her during their university days but now only mocks her fall from grace. Trapped in a cold marriage filled with scorn and humiliation, Elena finds herself suffocating under the weight of Adrian’s cruelty. But everything changes at a high-profile dinner when she locks eyes with the one person she never thought she’d see again—LUCAS EVERHART, her childhood best friend, who once confessed his love before vanishing from her life. Now a powerful CEO, Lucas is stunned to see the woman he loved trapped in a toxic marriage. Learning of her misery, he vows to free her from the chains of her past—even if it means clashing with Adrian who refuses to let her go. As old feelings reignite and secrets unravel, Elena must decide: will she fight for the love she once believed in, or will her past mistakes keep her from the future she deserves?
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Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 118
ELENA'S POV It felt like four years ago when everything was back to normal again with an air of merriness and hopeful hearts. I walked around the house with surprise filling my gaze and uncertain steps. “Sweetheart”, my eyes snapped up in the direction of the voice I'd almost forgotten, freezing in place as I stared at my mother. “Mom? Is, is that you?”, I asked, my feet flying towards her and gripping her tight to my self while bursting into tears. “O my baby girl”, she said, sniffling in between and stroking my hair. “I missed you so much. How could you leave me like that?”, I sobbed in her arms, feeling like a little girl all over again as she had been my safe space since my childhood. She apologized over and over, our tears soaking each other's shoulders until we ran out of breath, finally disentangling from the hug and flashing bright smiles towards ourselves. So it was all a bad dream afterall. My mother wasn't really gone. She was right here with me. “Where's Dad by the w
Last Updated : 2025-04-03Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 117
ELENA'S POV The air in the bar tonight was more lively than usual, but my mood still remained dampened as I continued to stare into space, mixing shots robitically. “Elena, how come you're still moody? I already apologized”, Betty said, sliding her hand around my waist like she usually did in a playful manner. The clothes we were required to wear during our shifts were very uncomfortable for me as I've always held myself in an high sense of elegance since childhood. My closet was filled with monotonous clothes which were also, pants most of the time. As for the bright colorful clothes I owned, they were only a few I wore during high school and only on special outings with Lucas. So my night shifts here were always done in a grumpy mood, majorly because of the lust filled eyes fixed on me throughout the night and the number of times I'd been helpless even when disrespected. This job was my, no our only hope until I found another place to take on, which wasn't seeming so sure at t
Last Updated : 2025-04-02Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 116
LUCAS' POVBreakfast had never been my thing, at least until Elena was around as she also wasn't also one. Early in our friendship, or so she probably thought, we easily clicked because of our similarities. We could both be focused when we wanted to, had dreams bigger than the world put together and weren't vulnerable with anyone other than ourselves. Perhaps it was why our separation killed me everytime. Even though it was only metres apart. ***Flashback ***My heart continued to pound as we drove through the gates of the big mansion, I'd now come to know as the Everhart Mansion. I face palmed the windows of the car taking in every sight, trying hard not to recall the scenes of the horror movies I'd watched a lot. Rolling my eyes to the strange woman quietly sitting beside me, I couldn't help but start to believe I was stupid. What if she was wrong? What if she was a damn good liar who had only deceived me to get me here? I softly squeezed the gun I'd stolen from the stud
Last Updated : 2025-04-01Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 115
ELENA'S POV The night no longer went as bad as I expected mostly because of the comforting company of Dave as I opted to address him and the tons of compliments I got on my new look. Being a busy night as always, Dave and I didn't get to talk much as I was the only one taking care of everyone's orders but more importantly, our conversation as brief as it lasted was enough to lift my mood from its previous state. At some point when it was past midnight, there was no sight of him anymore like he'd chosen to retire early for the night which I envied now the luxury no longer existed - only a mere wish. And by the close of the night, I headed home feeling a lot lighter in my spirits and just when I was a few metres away from the familiar doorstep, the door slowly opened, revealing no one else but…Was that not Eloise's father? What was he doing out of prison already? And in the house! Oh my goodness! Eloise, please be alive. Please stay alive. The old bastard snuck a peek to his left
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 114
LUCAS' POV “Lucas, the clients were really pissed when you didn't show up yesterday and I'm really scared they wouldn't want to do business with us anymore”, Henry reported, his voice laced in concern and distress. My eyes remained shut with my back turned against him without moving an inch like I'd heard none of the words he said. Honestly, my plans for my arrival had crashed completely since that night with Elena. I had secluded myself in the safe corners of my room for days now without a single word to anyone.Most times, it felt like the walls were closing in on me and crushing me into pieces completely. I hadn't only lost her but myself as well. Why wouldn't she hear me out? The dead, empty gaze in my eyes as she spat those words angrily. Had my arrival for her in the first place been in vain? Blames on me for making the first mistake, walking out of everything we had without a word. And now, we both weren't the same people anymore as I seemed to have kept hurting her even whe
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 113
ELENA'S POV I had barely shut my eyes for less than a minute trying to catch some sleep before preparing for work but the scenes from earlier continued to play in my head, reliving every word we said. Pressing my face down with an extra pillow and groaning into it, the not so old encounter disappeared only to return this time with exaggerated scenes. “Aaarghhh! Damn you Lucas”, I screamed at the walls in front of me, my voice breaking slightly in frustration. Just then, the door to my room creaked open revealing Eloise's round, curious eyes peeking inside before stepping in fully. “You look troubled Elena, what's the matter?”, she asked, her voice filled with concern as she carefully dropped the tray besides me on my bed. I gently rubbed my heavy eyes, sighing tiredly and assuring her it was nothing. “Wait, you look different, I'm not sure if it's —”, she suddenly paused, hanging her mouth wide open as she circled me around the bed checking out my hair. “Elena!”, she shrieked in
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 112
ELENA'S POVBeauty sessions had always been my least favorite thing to do even as a kid which was why I'd always carried my hair in one consistent style over the years - a ponytail, imply because it was the eaisest. My shoulder length dark brown hair had always been maintained in the best way I could but, over the years as both a workaholic and lazy person, my hair began to barely be noticed by me. But the makeover today with Betty had not only been therapeutic but even, more entertaining than I thought. Loud music blasted through the tiny walls if her studio apartment while we went through different styles and colours on the internet. My head buzzed in confusion as I was soon stranded in the multitude of choices, scared to pick wrongly and live with the regret like I didn't already have enough to last a lifetime.As if seeing through my confusion, she turned off her phone reassuring me to trust her, which I frankly couldn't bring myself to but laid back anyways. After several hours
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 111
LUCAS' POVThe following days were spent taking Sofia out on dates like slipping on a mask Mr. Anderson wished to see. Even though we quarrelled on each date, we still never failed to put on a show when we noticed eyes on us. “She's not talking to you or it's the other way around?”Sofia asked on one of the dates, which turned out to be our last in Greece aas my head had been overwhelmed with the thoughts of Elena in the past few days. My hands clenched my phone tightly on my laps, itching to call her, hear even a whisper of her voice but it now seemed like an impossible task to do. My head began to drown in dozens of questions surrounding Elena, like why she still never replied to my last text on my first night here. Was she too deep in grieving the arrest of Adrian that my existence was now like a faraway thought to her? These were the questions repeatedly playing in my mind like a bad record, turning my nights to sleepless ones. “We're done for the evening”, I simply responded,
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 110
LUCAS' POV Things really didn't go as planned here as I ended up being in Greece a week longer but that didn't stop me from executing my plans concerning Adrian. Mr Anderson struck exactly where it hit me the most, probably expecting me to see my foolishness in holding on to something that didn't exist anymore. And he was wrong. The emotions still as clear as daytime coursing through my entire being was mostly frustration at my own incapabilities. Why couldn't I get her to feel the exact same way I did for her? Why couldn't I get her to give me a chance? With me, she didn't need to give so many chances, all I needed was just one. She couldn't deny her awareness of the lengths I'd go for her. She was mine as long as she asked it so why wasn't she asking? “Lucas Everhart, you have successfully deceived me”, Mr Anderson said, the calculating tone betrayed the softness in his voice. A small smirk hid on my lips while I raised a questioning eyebrow choosing to play innocent in my actio
Last Updated : 2025-03-30
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Chapter 1: A Betrayal Among Friends
Elena's POV I had grown up surrounded by luxury, security, and the warmth of family friends like the Hawthornes. My father, Charles Bradford, often spoke of Victor Hawthorne with admiration, calling him his closest ally, a partner both in business and life. Our families spent countless evenings dining together, laughing over shared successes. We shared vacations and milestones, and I never imagined that Victor Hawthorne would one day stand in my home, dismantling everything I held dear without a second thought for our family friendship.The day began like any other. I had been working tirelessly, managing my budding interior design business. I returned home later than usual to have dinner with my parents, a cup of coffee in one hand and a stack of documents in the other. But the sight that greeted me in the driveway made me freeze. Lawyers and men in dark suits streamed in and out of the house, carrying paintings, vases—anything of value.I dropped my coffee, its contents spilling ac...
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