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Chapter 14
Last Updated:
2025-01-08 00:43:56
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Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 15
LUCAS POV I sat at my desk, the sunlight pouring in through the windows and warming my skin. My thoughts were consumed by the financial reports in front of me, but my mind kept drifting back to last night. Elena had been captivating, her intelligence and wit shining through in every conversation. I found myself replaying our interactions in my mind, a small smile forming on my lips.As much as I wanted to focus on work, I couldn't shake the thought of her. I knew she was dealing with a difficult situation with Adrian, but I couldn't deny the connection I felt. Just as I reached for the phone to call her, my assistant's voice buzzed through the intercom."Mr. Lucas, there's someone here to see you."My heart skipped a beat at the thought that it might be Elena, but I quickly composed myself. "Send them in," I replied, setting down the phone and turning my attention to the door.Alicia burst into the room, her energy palpable as she rushed towards me. I braced myself as she wrappe
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Bound 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 : 2025-01-09Bound 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 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 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 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 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 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 : 2025-01-15
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Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 149
ELENA'S POVPain shot through my arms the moment I opened my eyes, adjusting to the strange surroundings I was in. Wait, how did I get here? The only thing I remembered was Dave dropping me off at my apartment after we'd escorted Eloise to the airport. But just when I stepped into my apartment, ready to retire for the night, I blacked out.I frowned, wincing a little when I felt a sharp sting of pain at the side of my head. Those bastards! My eyes took in the room even though it was pitch black and I could barely see a thing but I could definitely feel the pole my hands were tied to behind me. There was no need guessing or asking why I was in this position as it had always been one reason – Lucas. It was in times like this I wished he'd never returned, ruining my perfectly peaceful life before his arrival. Why couldn't they go after Sofia since she was his fiancee? Lucas and I hadn't exchanged a single word since his engagement party so how could they be so sure he would care as m
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 148
LUCAS POV I gazed emptily at the last page, soaked with tear drops from my red, swollen eyes aa I'd not slept a wink throughout the night. How in God's name could I ever have accepted the name Everhart? My breaths continued to slow down the more I tried to comprehend how Luci and I were only a product of my father's constant abuse towards my mother who was only fucking nineteen when she had us. Yet, her love for us spilled through the letters even with most of them covered in dried blood. Her only wish was for her children to never know the Everhart family, and now I realized just how much I'd broken it heeding to my fears of never being the man enough for Elena. Anyways, it was all done now and they would come anytime soon – when I least expected it. I picked up my phone to call uncle Dave and after three rings, he finally answered groggily. “Hey Lucas, are you on your way to the airport now? Call me once you land okay”, he said, yawning loudly and wincing shortly after. I smile
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 147
LUCAS' POV It was time for drinks as Alfred had said and I clicked the tip of my glass impatiently waiting for almost an hour. The club he'd chosen was the same one we met in for the first time a couple of months back. While I spent the abundant time on my hands contemplating if I'd made the right choice by agreeing to meet for dinner, a gust of cold, heavy air blew through the thick suit clinging to my back, resting harshly on my bare skin.Well, it was too late already to decide that, wasn't it? The carefree, teasing smile on my face instantly washed off when I sensed the murderous aura coming from him. Squinting my eyes softly in confusion, I opted to go straight to the point, “Looks like you're here for blood instead of drinks like you promised”, I said, carefully scrutinizing his expression but I'd easily forgotten, he wasn't easy to read through unless he let you in himself. His jaws clenched tightly, like they were barely restricting themselves from doing worse. “You have n
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 146
ELENA'S POVMy days had truly become brighter after only a few of these networking events with Dave. Although I felt like a terrible person who took his generous personality for granted but each time those thoughts attempted to creep in, I'd always blocked them out, refusing to dwell on them. “Are you sure you aren't already head over heels for him already?”, Eloise asked that morning as I paced up and about in my bedroom freaking out about what clothes to put on and how I was going to wear my hair, which was pretty unusual even for me. “Look at you, glowing like a young bride”, she remarked, her eyes shining with excitement as she stared at my distressed self moving around everywhere. I sighed in exhaustion, not in the mood to accommodate her silliness ever since I told her of my impromptu decision to agree to people's speculations of our relationship. “It was the safest option”, I'd tried to defend, knowing very well it wasn't. Neither Dave nor I could actually care less about t
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 145
LUCAS' POVMy step mother had begun to look much better in only a couple of days she joined me in my apartment. Despite the sense of emptiness in her eyes, her previously sunken cheeks were starting to show some signs of revival unlike before. “I'm sorry for ever causing you this much pain Lucas, but there was no other way I could think of”, a day didn't go by without giving me an earful of her apologies and regrets for letting me know my true identity as an Everhart. ‘It’s a curse’, she always said and I chortled in response everytime. “If I had known, I'd have flown you out of the country to somewhere Steven would never be able to find you, but I was just too scared”, she sniffled, her tone sounding distressed and causing weary lines to form on my forehead again. “It's okay stepmother, I'll rebuild the Everhart family for all of us, I promise”, my hands rubbed hers gently, a flame of determination reflecting in my eyes. After taking my rightful position as heir to everything lef
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 144
ELENA'S POV “Elena, Elena, where are you?”, I heard Eloise' panicked screams from the kitchen and chuckled silently, enjoying the fuss, hoping it'll take longer but the inevitable scent of my cookies led her straight into the kitchen before I could enjoy my moment. “There you are”, she sighed in relief, sniffing the scent of the cookies as I neatly arranged them on a tray. “Can I have one?”, she asked, a sheepish tone I found endearing but I wasn't done teasing her just yet. “No, you can't. They're all for me and I didn't make any extras”, I explained, keeping up a straight face and stepping out of the kitchen while stifling a laugh. “Okay, I understand. You definitely need them more than I do”, she quietly conceded, following me closely from behind as I settled on the dining table serving on three plates. “Elena, what are you doing?”, she asked, her voice rising in panic again. Just as I was about to answer, the doorbell rang while she offered to get it. “Hi Dave, come on and ha
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 143
LUCAS' POVEverything else faded into oblivion the moment she walked in through those doors. The memories of last night flooded my head and just when I imagined tearing off from my seat and kissing her publicly to let everyone know she was mine, Sofia leaned into my ears to whisper, “Do you see that red dot on her shoulders?”, she asked, making me squint a little before I could see it. “My father wouldn't mind turning this into a blood bath once he senses any form of embarrassment from the both of us. I've already lost the one person I love and I can tell you it's not a pretty experience Lucas”, she said, a loving smile spreading on her face while her eyes pierced coldly into mine. I turned sideways to face her, returning the cold smile while caressing her cheeks to distract the public from the gun on my other hand poking her stomach below. “Then your father will not be the most scariest man you know, because if she goes down, you do…starting with the bastard in here”, I replied, wi
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 142
ELENA'S POV A soft sound of the door creaking open awakened me from my light sleep filled with only memories of the past. Despite the spur of the moment last night leading to everything Lucas said, somehow there was just no space to believe in them anymore. Maybe he meant it at the time but the sneaking bastard now quietly shutting my door proved me right. Perhaps if I was the angry antsy teenager he met, I'd be screaming his head off while overflowing with regret and lots of unknown emotions flowing through me, but I'd had enough to care anymore by now. Okay, admit I cared apparently. We were both matured adults and last night would forever remain forgotten and unspoken. I rolled to the other side, finding a note on the drawers next to the side he laid on last night which said only three words, “I’m sorry Elena”. Son of a b****! How convenient of him to suddenly regret his actions now he was starting a new life. “Breathe Elena”, I tried to calm myself, regulating my breaths and
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 141
ELENA'S POVThe ride back to the event's location was silent, mostly with me brooding and on the edge while Dave's was to avoid provoking my sharp claws. As we arrived at our destination, my eyes widened in surprise then excitement, taking in the view of the most beautiful and expensive hotel in the city. Before everything went south in my family, most of my private clients bitterly complained on how difficult it was to book this hall. Hmmm. Whoever got this place definitely had to be related to the president, I thought. Dave and I walked inside while he introduced me to the managers, informing them of my job here and as I beamed uncontrollably, still floating in my head, a lady walked up to join the circle, staring at me harder than normal. My eyes narrowed into slits feeling uncomfortable with her unapologetic stares and just when I had reached my limits, she blurted out, “Are you by any chance Elena Bradford?”, she asked. My stomach sank realizing the tone in her voice but I c
