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Bound by debt; Freed by love
Last Updated : 2025-01-17
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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 24
ELENA'S POV My head was bent downwards with my full focus on the work in front of me." Eloise, could you please help me get the documents ready for the next meeting?" I asked, still focusing on my work." Elena!" The voice called, and I froze in shock."Lucas!" I muttered, raising my head to stare at the owner of the voice. I sucked in a sharp breath on seeing his handsome face once again. ' There he was in all his glory with his kissable lips,' I thought, biting my lips." Elena," he called again, jolting me out of my reverie. " Stop it! He has a fiancée!" I cautioned myself, clearing my throat noisily to distract myself. " What do you want, Lucas?" I asked, not wanting to look weak in front of him."We need to talk." "Lucas, what are you doing here?" she asked, putting down her pen.I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "I need to know what happened with Adrian. I saw you with him yesterday, and I'm worried."My face grew serious, my expression becoming guarded. "Lucas,
Last Updated : 2025-01-17Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 23
LUCAS POVI couldn't shake the image of Elena in Adrian's arms out of my mind. Why was she with him? What had happened? I tried calling her, but my calls went straight to voicemail. Frustration and worry gnawed at me as I paced my office floor.Why wasn't she picking up my calls? Was she ignoring me on purpose? Or worse, had something happened to her?My heart raced as I dialled her number again and again, hoping to hear her voice on the other end. But each time, I was met with the same automated message.Anger boiled up inside me, and before I knew it, I had hurled my phone against the wall. It shattered into a million pieces, the sound echoing through my empty office." Fuck!" I slumped back into my chair, my head in my hands. What had I done? Now I had no way of reaching Elena, no way of knowing if she was okay.I felt helpless, and the thought of Elena with Adrian only made it worse. I knew I had to do something, but what? I couldn't just sit here and wait for her to call me
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 22
ELENA'S POV " Get out of the car, Elena!" He ordered, and I gulped down saliva. " No!" I replied, folding my hands akimbo and refusing to budge." I had told you to drop me a few distance away, but you refused, now you Want me to come out of your car and make me the topic of the week!" I continued, frowning my face angrily.He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, " What am I to do with you, Elena!" He mumbled, and I hissed." You could sell me to the next man willing to take my hand in a contract marriage since that is what your dad is good at!" I mocked, and I could see him gritting his teeth angrily. ' Good!' I thought to myself with a smirk." Drive the car to the underground car park," he ordered through gritted teeth, and I giggled, sitting back properly. I didn't bother turning to look at him and kept my entire focus staring through the window. The car soon pulled up at the underground car park, and I smiled happily. Pulling out my nose mask from my bag, I was quick
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 21
" I'm not up to anything Elena, i just want to smooth things out between us but you're acting difficult!" He replied and I scoffed." Don't act like you don't know how we got together! You and your father forced me into this marriage and now I'm the one acting difficult! Who took pleasure in humiliating me? Who embarrassed my mother at the slightest chance?Who made the employees spread rumours about me?Who made it possible for Karen to act like your fiancée?Who made it possible for Karen to have power over everyone even when she isn't in a high position?If you hadn't been irresponsible from the beginning, Karen wouldn't have used her fake image to command everyone to gather thier works for me to do it overnight!And even after you found out about it, which I'm sure you did earlier. You didn't act on it, instead you mocked me and left me alone in the building making it possible for a stranger to assault me!You have no right to complain about my attitude to you because you deser
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 20
My head throbbed as I slowly opened my eyes, wincing at the light streaming in through the windows. I tried to sit up, but the room spun around me, forcing me to lie back down. As my vision cleared, I realized I was in an unfamiliar bedroom, and panic began to rise in my chest.Just then, a familiar voice spoke. "Easy there, Elena. You're safe now."I turned to see Adrian sitting by my bedside, his eyes filled with concern. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Adrian, why are you in my room?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.He gave me a gentle smile. "I was worried you might have nightmares after what happened, so I stayed up to keep an eye on you."I blinked, trying to process his words. "What happened?"Adrian's brow furrowed. "You slept in my arms last night, I brought you here to take care of you."I felt a wave of relief wash over me, grateful for Adrian's presence. Despite the strange circumstances, I felt safe with him. I inhaled deeply, I couldn't help but
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 19
LUCAS POV Alicia frowned. "Who's Elena?"I stared at her in disbelief. "You don't know who Elena is? She's my...she's a friend of mine."Alicia shook her head. "No, I've never heard of her."I narrowed my eyes, my suspicions growing. "Are you sure? You didn't pick up my phone earlier because you knew Elena was in trouble?"Alicia looked at me incredulously." So what if I did? How dare you cheat on me with some lowlife!" She accused, and I stared at her in confusion. " What!" "Lucas, are you cheating on me?" Alicia asked, her voice trembling with hurt.I stared at her in disbelief. "Alicia, we're not in a relationship. You know that."She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "No, Lucas. I know you have feelings for me. I can see it in the way you look at me."I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Alicia, I'm sorry if I've given you the wrong impression. But I don't feel the same way about you. You're my friend, and I care about you, but that's all."Alicia's face
Last Updated : 2025-01-12Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 18
LUCAS POV I drove as fast as I could to Elena's office, my heart pounding with worry. As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw Adrian's car parked haphazardly near the entrance. A sense of dread washed over me as I rushed out of my car and towards the building.As I approached, I saw Adrian coming out of the office, Elena in his arms. She looked unconscious, her head lolling against his chest. Anger and fear coursed through me at the sight.Adrian looked up and noticed me, a smug smirk crossing his face. It was as if he was proud of what he had done, showing off his conquest like a trophy."What have you done to her?" I demanded, my hands balled into fists at my sides.Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "Just a little sleeping aid, nothing to worry about. I'm taking her home with me."I took a step forward, ready to take Elena from his arms, but Adrian stepped back, out of my reach."Don't even think about it, Lucas," he warned, his voice hard. "You've had your chance with her, now
Last Updated : 2025-01-11Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 17
ELENA'S POV Just then, the lights in the office flickered and went out, plunging me into darkness. I felt a cold breeze blow past me, and a shiver ran down my spine.Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching from behind me. I turned, my heart racing, but I couldn't see anything in the pitch blackness."Who's there?" I called out, my voice echoing off the walls.There was no response, just the sound of footsteps growing closer and closer. Fear gripped me as I realized I was not alone in the office.I took a step back, feeling for the door behind me. But as my hand closed around the knob, I felt something cold and metallic against my neck."Don't move," a voice whispered in my ear. "Or you'll regret it!"" P.pplease let me go," I stammered,trying to get the stranger to reason with me.I felt something cold press on my back, and I froze in shock and fear ran down my spine.' He was pressing a gun on my back! Fuck he has a gun!' I thought thinking of a way out for myself. " Please what
Last Updated : 2025-01-10Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 16
ELENA'S POV I woke up early, the morning sunlight filtering through my curtains. I stretched and sat up in bed, preparing myself for another day at work. After getting ready, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door, making my way towards the office.I had walked away angrily from Adrian's presence last night and surprisingly he let me go.Why would he have me followed? It's enough he's ruining my life with the contract marriage!As I approached the entrance, I noticed Karen and her minions standing there, a smirk on their faces. I knew they were up to no good, and sure enough, they intentionally blocked my way, trying to make me late and lose a point."Excuse me," I said, trying to keep my tone polite as I attempted to squeeze past them.Karen stepped in front of me, her eyes glinting with malice. "Oh Elena, we didn't see you there," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You should watch where you're going. You wouldn't want to be late, would you?"I gritted my teeth, know
Last Updated : 2025-01-09
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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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