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CHAPTER 116
Last Updated:
2025-04-01 23:10:22
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Bound 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 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 119
LUCAS' POV Twice. Twice now, I thought I'd lost her. It was like fate enjoyed making my stomach churn in regret, paying me back for the one time I broke our promise. To always be with each other. The reoccurring scene of Sofia kissing me out of the blue didn't also help matters. As I stared solemnly at Elena's pale and lifeless body, her bitter laced words and fireballs in her eyes were far more bearable than being without her. I could take all her hate just as long as she didn't disappear on me. How would she ever know my life without her in it had no meaning? “What the fuck was that?”, I raged, pushing Sofia off only to see an empty space right where Elena stood earlier. “Shit! shit! What had I just done?”, I muttered, pulling my hair forcefully. Sofia on the other hand, smirked cunningly with her back leaned comfortably against the sofa as she popped open the bottle on the table. “Relax Lucas. She's going to come around real soon. Trust me, I'm a woman”, she assured, a lazy an
Last Updated : 2025-04-04Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 120
ELENA'S POVThe loud sounds of wailing filled my ward, almost making me believe I had died and was being grieved over. Nathan, Lucas and I simultaneously stared at each other then shifting our gazes back to Eloise who wept like a baby with her head on my laps. “I should have never left you alone. I'm so sorry. I can't forgive myself for what happened to you, Elena”, she sobbed heartbreakingly, her tears soaking through the hospital gown on me while my hands laid helplessly beside me, not knowing what to do with them.“It…it's okay. I, I'm fine now Eloise”, I muttered hesitantly, a deep frown covering my eyebrows in deep contemplation on how to console her. During the past few days she had spent at Nathan's place as I advised, mostly insisted, her features now looked brighter along with a certain glow I couldn't quite place. Except the tears streaming down her face and smudging her makeup all over the place. “Eloise, Eloise, I'm fine. You don't have to—”“No you're not”, she counter
Last Updated : 2025-04-05Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 121
LUCAS' POV My fingers trembled with joy holding her bags while strolling behind her, watching as she went into the house with a straight face. She will get used to it soon. This was her home and I hoped she learnt to love it soon. As we stepped into the living room, Elena and I suddenly stopped halfway turning our heads around with a deep frown forming on my face. Just as my lips began to purse tightly refraining from cursing out loud, Sofia descended downstairs wearing a bright smile on her face, making my hands itched to tear it off. “What is this?”, I asked, barely getting a grip on myself. Her eyes brightened even more as she turned in the direction of Elena with a polite nod. “Relax Lucas, I somehow managed to hear we were going to have a guest for a while and even though it was short notice, I still had to put all this together for her”, she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice like I was the stupid one. Seconds ticked by without a response from me so she walked up to
Last Updated : 2025-04-07Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 122
ELENA'S POV‘Hate is a strong word to say’, my mother always said each time I ranted on and on about a certain person that wronged me that day. I have never been the forgiving type and usually, it always took me longer than normal to snap out of my overflowing kindness and patience towards anyone. But as I watched him disappear farther and farther into the distance away from me, into the cold we were no longer strangers to, Hate only seemed to downplay the raging emotions I felt towards him. It was a line he'd been crossing more frequently than often in the past few days. How dare he use her to back up his threats? A cold frost of air huffed through my nostrils followed by the incessant ringing of my phone. “Hello”, I said, knotting my eyebrows close together in a defensive manner. “Elena”, a voice I could recognize even in my afterlife, coursing the rage within me a hundred times faster. Too angry to give any reply, I hung up immediately storming off into the house and heading s
Last Updated : 2025-04-08Bound by debt; Freed by love 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-13Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 2: Bound by chains
Elena’s POVI sat in my childhood bedroom, now stripped of its warmth and luxury. Boxes were stacked against the walls, red tags stuck to everything indicating that it was seized. I could barely recognize my own life and situation. The contract lay on my desk, its stark black text taunting me. How does the status a family worked day and night to attain just change overnight like it's nothing?There was a soft knock on the door before my mother, Margaret, stepped inside, her face etched with worry. “Elena, darling, have you made a decision?”“What choice do I have?” My voice was barely above a whisper as I gestured to the contract. “It’s this or watch them take what little we have left and have us live like fugitives till we die. If it gets revealed to the press, we'll start getting investigated too. I don’t want you to go through that, Mum.”Her hands trembled as she placed them on my shoulders. “I wish I could do it instead of you. I wish your father would just appear and tell us tha
Last Updated : 2024-12-13
Latest chapter
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 122
ELENA'S POV‘Hate is a strong word to say’, my mother always said each time I ranted on and on about a certain person that wronged me that day. I have never been the forgiving type and usually, it always took me longer than normal to snap out of my overflowing kindness and patience towards anyone. But as I watched him disappear farther and farther into the distance away from me, into the cold we were no longer strangers to, Hate only seemed to downplay the raging emotions I felt towards him. It was a line he'd been crossing more frequently than often in the past few days. How dare he use her to back up his threats? A cold frost of air huffed through my nostrils followed by the incessant ringing of my phone. “Hello”, I said, knotting my eyebrows close together in a defensive manner. “Elena”, a voice I could recognize even in my afterlife, coursing the rage within me a hundred times faster. Too angry to give any reply, I hung up immediately storming off into the house and heading s
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 121
LUCAS' POV My fingers trembled with joy holding her bags while strolling behind her, watching as she went into the house with a straight face. She will get used to it soon. This was her home and I hoped she learnt to love it soon. As we stepped into the living room, Elena and I suddenly stopped halfway turning our heads around with a deep frown forming on my face. Just as my lips began to purse tightly refraining from cursing out loud, Sofia descended downstairs wearing a bright smile on her face, making my hands itched to tear it off. “What is this?”, I asked, barely getting a grip on myself. Her eyes brightened even more as she turned in the direction of Elena with a polite nod. “Relax Lucas, I somehow managed to hear we were going to have a guest for a while and even though it was short notice, I still had to put all this together for her”, she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice like I was the stupid one. Seconds ticked by without a response from me so she walked up to
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 120
ELENA'S POVThe loud sounds of wailing filled my ward, almost making me believe I had died and was being grieved over. Nathan, Lucas and I simultaneously stared at each other then shifting our gazes back to Eloise who wept like a baby with her head on my laps. “I should have never left you alone. I'm so sorry. I can't forgive myself for what happened to you, Elena”, she sobbed heartbreakingly, her tears soaking through the hospital gown on me while my hands laid helplessly beside me, not knowing what to do with them.“It…it's okay. I, I'm fine now Eloise”, I muttered hesitantly, a deep frown covering my eyebrows in deep contemplation on how to console her. During the past few days she had spent at Nathan's place as I advised, mostly insisted, her features now looked brighter along with a certain glow I couldn't quite place. Except the tears streaming down her face and smudging her makeup all over the place. “Eloise, Eloise, I'm fine. You don't have to—”“No you're not”, she counter
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 119
LUCAS' POV Twice. Twice now, I thought I'd lost her. It was like fate enjoyed making my stomach churn in regret, paying me back for the one time I broke our promise. To always be with each other. The reoccurring scene of Sofia kissing me out of the blue didn't also help matters. As I stared solemnly at Elena's pale and lifeless body, her bitter laced words and fireballs in her eyes were far more bearable than being without her. I could take all her hate just as long as she didn't disappear on me. How would she ever know my life without her in it had no meaning? “What the fuck was that?”, I raged, pushing Sofia off only to see an empty space right where Elena stood earlier. “Shit! shit! What had I just done?”, I muttered, pulling my hair forcefully. Sofia on the other hand, smirked cunningly with her back leaned comfortably against the sofa as she popped open the bottle on the table. “Relax Lucas. She's going to come around real soon. Trust me, I'm a woman”, she assured, a lazy an
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
Bound 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
Bound 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
Bound 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
Bound 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
