LOGINShare
Chapter 49
Last Updated:
2025-02-09 00:30:27
Related chapters
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 50
LUCAS POV My grip tightened around the glass in my hand as I raised it to my lips, watching Elena and Adrian on the television with bright smiles on their faces. Elena wore a turtleneck sweater hiding the bruises on her neck from last night while her pale face was plastered in heavy makeup as she acted all loving with Adrian. The hate grew stronger in my eyes as I glared at Adrian planting a light kiss on her lips. How dare he even touch her after his display of wickedness last night? He didn't deserve to be even a breath close to her after last night. I was going to make him pay dearly for it. Even if Elena gave up on herself, I would die before I gave up on her. However, the thought of Elena never coming back to me gave me a burning sensation in my chest, slowly spreading to every part of my body.The look in her face when she left my place gave me reason to believe I had totally let her down. My eyes burned as I replayed the turn of events that led to the ugly situation ea
Last Updated : 2025-02-10Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 51
ELENA'S POV It wasn't suprising for anyone to think I was stupid. Even I knew how foolish it was to succumb to being treated like a piece of trash in the hands of the Hawthornes.But if giving the media and my colleagues a big, happy smile about being married to their evil and irresponsible boss would keep my family out of the streets, then I was left with no other choice. “How was last night with your lover?”, Adrian whispered into my ears as he pretended to plant a kiss on my cheek while we faced the flashlights from the camera. Mr. Hawthorne had decided to make his son trend again by using this announcement as a freaking excuse. “It's none of your business dog. When are we getting out of here? The fake smiles are making me sick”, I whispered back, forcing out a smile towards Karen who stared at me with murderous eyes.“Careful Elena, don't think I can't do anything to you just because we're in public”, replied Adrian, biting the lobe of my ear so hard until I was forced to apolo
Last Updated : 2025-02-11Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 52
LUCAS' POV My forefinger continuously tapped the table in front of me as my cold eyes pierced at my step brother, Henry Everhart. Apparently the son of my step mother, who I have also come to see as a mother to me. “Do you care to explain the reason for your display of tantrum today?”, I calmly asked, leaning back into my chair despite the urge to choke him to death. “Tantrum?”, he scoffed, flashing a wide grin towards me. “More than half of the board is already on my side Lucas. Father's stupid will doesn't count”, he fumed, shooting up from his chair and panting hardly. This was his weakness. Although I hadn't been in the same space with Henry for longer than five seconds but, his irrationality was one of his major weaknesses. It was also the reason I could easily figure there was a mastermind behind this. He wasn't alone. He wasn't smart enough to pull of this stunt all by himself. “Do you think I care?”, I asked in return, leisurely folding my arms across my chest. “Henry, a
Last Updated : 2025-02-12Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 53
LUCAS' POV My hands lazily ran through my hair as I deeply exhaled a sigh of exhaustion staring at my desk filled with papers which was very unlike me. But ever since I got that text, my mind has gone haywire, not daring to imagine the worse they would do if they got their eyes on Elena or go ahead to actually do something to her. I couldn't take it. Nor would I leave her unprotected. It is why I already secretly assigned a couple of my strongest bodyguards to follow her every step in different disguises every single day who reported every minute of her day to me. Okay, I'll admit I was enjoying this a little bit. We had not called each other since that fateful morning and I was beginning to go crazy unable to hear her voice or see her up close for days now. My phone's loud and piercing ringtone instantly brought me back to reality as I quickly picked it up, seeing the name ‘James’ appear on the lit screen. “Tell me you've got something solid”, I said, placing my phone on my e
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 54
ELENA'S POV “I'm leaving for Mexico tomorrow Lena. Please be safe. Love, Lucas”. My heart sunk to my stomach as I repeatedly read the text until I could feel liquid gathering at the bottom of my eyelids, threatening to ruin the mascara I'd just applied there. I instantly raised my head back, chanting the words “it's for the best, it's for the best” until I felt each drop return back to it's source, dropping my head back to its normal position. So he really was disappearing again huh? My heart ached at the thought of him not coming back ever. The searing pain from the separation since that morning came rushing back all of a sudden. Was this really the end for us? My trembling fingers typed several responses but no one seemed enough to communicate my whirling emotions. Just as I began to type another string of words, Adrian's nonchalant voice came from behind me while I involuntarily turned off my lit screen. “Hurry up and leave Elena. You reek of enough desperation already”, sa
Last Updated : 2025-02-14Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 55
ELENA'S POV My eyes pierced deeply with curiosity at Lucas's furious expression, watching him pace about while the nurse gently attended to me. I was currently putting on an hospital gown in place of the shredded gown once whole with sophistication. Lucas had carried me bridal style out of the room as two other men were left to continue from where he'd stopped. The painful screams, groans behind me and the reality of what I had just escaped all seemed to dim in comparison to the shock waves traveling through me at the sight of Lucas. “Are you real?”, I asked, whispering softly while pinching his sleeve with my trembling fingers. Only a low grunt of confirmation could be heard as he still refused to look at me. Even though his body's heat didn't give me warmth anymore, I still wished for a sort of communication from him. But the seconds ticked loudly stretching the silence between us with the sound of his heavy footsteps pacing the hallway right outside my door. I laid helplessly i
Last Updated : 2025-02-14Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 56
LUCAS' POV “What the fuck took you guys so long?”, I yelled breathlessly at the two bodyguards I'd assigned to guard Elena. Nothing prepared me for the sight I met after bursting the door open. “We're sorry Mr. Lucas”, one of the men apologized in a remorseful tone, bowing his head. “The men escorting her seemed to have sensed our mission so they intentionally lost us”, he explained. I blew out a huge sigh of relief, running my fingers through my hair in frustration as the chill feeling I had grew stronger and stronger inside me. What if I hadn't come? What if I didn't make it on time?The image of her torn lips set my bones on fire making me hate myself even more. “Well, did you manage to get any of them?”, I asked, steadying my breath to remain calm as I studied their straught-to-business expressions. “Yes sir. They're in the basement as we speak”, one of them replied, his eyes shining in a somewhat mischievous light. My eyes narrowed at him briefly before recalling it was exact
Last Updated : 2025-02-15Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 57
ELENA'S POVFour days had started to feel like a year and half after I'd been locked up in a cold, empty room by Adrian. I continuously banged the door for the first two days but the bland meal I ate each day like a prisoner didn't help refill the strength for that. So here I was, curled on the ground with my eyes shut trying hard to not focus on how miserable my life had become. Everytime I thought there could never be anything worse than being in a contract marriage, I was always proved wrong by the lengths my new family took just to make my life a living hell. Up until now, I wasn't certain about the person who'd set me up like that but it was definitely within the Hawthorne's family. It had to be them but a large chunk of my anger was held against Adrian's father. There was not a single doubt he knew about Mr. Elvis's reputation before sending me straight into the lion's den and yet, he still did. My lips trembled against each other as I burst into a heart shattering cry, curli
Last Updated : 2025-02-15
Latest chapter
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 67
ELENA'S POV Having breakfast at the table was weird for me but Lucas and his sister's constant banter made it less weird. Despite the troubling call yesterday which made the three of us awfully silent, the twin siblings still found a way to jab at each other with their words. I mostly chuckled, other times choking down my food which I intentionally took my time to nibble on. Soon, my life was going to go from something to nothing all again. Every bit of happiness was taken away from me the moment I’d just started getting used to it, so why bother to hold on to any at all. My lost gaze found their way to Lucas again, sitting across the table passing glares to his sister who chewed slowly in satisfaction at her brother's expected reaction. A soft smile tugged on the corner of my lips as I instantly saw the love that had grown between them within just a day of…bonding, I guess. Although they still had a lot to uncover about their family but somehow being together made it seem less bu
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 66
LUCAS POV Pregnant? A bomb exploded in my ears as I took a few involuntarily steps back taking in her somber expression and her leaner stature that looked nothing like her. “She was far worse than this when we brought her here”, Lucille said, like she read my mind. “I had to check her pictures twice to make sure”. Elena casted a glare towards Lucille, warning her to keep her mouth shut then awkwardly took a few shameful glances at me. “You know, this could be a hot topic for the media”, Lucille spoke up again, her shiny eyes seemed to be enjoying every moment of this. This time, my icy glares were directed at her almost regretting having her for a sister and a twin at that. “You're now officially a side piece huh”, she continued to tease, not in the least affected by my cold gaze. “Shut up Lucille”, Elena and I snapped at the same time, already fed up of her blunt and embarrassing remarks. “Lena how? Did he force you? James mentioned he saw you at the hospital and I've been text
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 65
ELENA’S POVI stared out the window out of my strangely well furnished room they threw me in for days now. After banging endlessly and even attempting an hunger strike, the pregnancy hormones didn't let me live up to my determination. Although I had no idea where I was but this place was awfully quiet and weirdly peaceful giving me some sort of much needed break. I twisted my less sore wrists which weren't tied to anywhere that they began to feel numb and swollen. My eyes wandered back to the blinking red dot at the top corner of the room knowing I was being watched. “Hey if you can hear me, at least tell me if I'm going to die or not”, I yelled towards it, turning back to the window facing the deserted island. Soon the door opened, letting in carts of food and different snacks making me sigh in frustration. “Uhm I just finished eating a full meal. Maybe you could bring it back later”, I said to one of the maids, wearing an apologetic expression but they all continued to do their j
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 64
LUCAS' POV I puffed out a smoke watching the sun set from the balcony connected to my room. The previous night had gone exactly as I planned leaving me with a pile of questions I never thought to ask ever since.Why exactly did she find me then? She would have easily given the company to her son, Henry and kept her knowledge of me a secret. Perhaps I'd have liked it better if I never knew the truth about my family. Why did she get me to come back and act nice to me, if this was her plan all along? Something just didn't add up here. Another frustrated groan escaped my lips for the tenth time as I put out the cigarette, striding back into my room and laying down.My phone buzzed on the table besides my bed indicating a text and just as I picked it up, Nathan's heavy feet stormed into my room with a heavy expression as the announced the same dreaded words appearing on my screen. “Elena's gone missing”. My feet touched the ground almost instantly as I beckoned him to the balcony where
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 63
CHAPTER 63LUCAS POV The Everhart's family Villa upstate was a place I never considered to be home for lots of reasons. Asides from visiting here once to go through the documents my father left me, I'd never been here again. I wasn't blind to the hatred and anger steaming from them during my formal introduction as the new heir of the Everhart family and businesses. Nathan carefully rolled me towards the main entrance murmuring bitterly under his breath. “I don't get why we have to do this Lucas, we could just lock every single one of those haggard faces and torture them until they cough up their last breath”, he whined endlessly, eyeing the entire mansion in contempt. My cold, scrutinizing eyes were no different from Nathan's but his continuous whinings eased up my expression a bit. “I’m disappointed in you Nathan. You've been the business advisor to my father for years and you still don't know my family is more complicated than you think”, I calmly retorted, lowering my tone as w
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 62
ELENA'S POV The dull weather perfectly complimented my mood today as I moped into thin air still laying on the bed with my hands tied to each sides. I had not made a single sound or attempted to struggle when the doctors came and left each single day for a freaking week. According to Mrs Hawthorne, “we need to make sure there's no single escape no matter what”, she'd said, eyeing me in her usual contemptuous gaze. As for Adrian, I never caught a glance of him during these traumatizing sessions and the entire period I was locked in here but the moanings and loud music from his room kept me up for days straight. “Get me a mirror”, I muttered lowly, pretending not to notice miss Edith's face lit up in joy from the corner of my eyes as she raised her head to look at me. It was a surprise even for me but I couldn't help it, at least not after an entire month has passed. Although I wished to soar my dark world alone without having anyone to share my pain, anger or even irritation with b
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 61
LUCAS' POV My ears were the first to come alive to the steady beep sound of the monitor beside me followed by my heavy eyes only getting heavier as they struggled to flutter open. “Lucas?”, an echoing voice called, sounding both worried and angry. My best bet was James. He was the only sensible friend I had. “Lucas if you're not conscious today, I'm buying out your company”, another voice echoed beside me, yelling in a whisper. Wait! My company. The board meeting earlier today. My head shot up from the pillow with my pupils widening in realization but I soon regretted my actions as I collapsed back in pain. Nathan and James rushed to either sides of me, their faces looking a hundred times older. “What happened to me?”, I threw the question to both of them who started to stare at me like I was a fool. “So you're saying you don't remember the stupid act of yours before you passed out?”, Nathan asked, now glaring at me. I stared hesitantly at both of them, shifting uncomfortably in
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 60
ELENA'S POV The ticking sound of the clock could have as well been a timebomb because the bullets piercing into my face from Adrian's eyes were more than enough to send me to an early grave. Anyways, it was always a matter of his ego and I wasn't going to give in on this one. I glared back at him resting all my weight on one hip and tapping my foot as a sign of defiance. “So you're really willing to go against my father's wishes Elena”, he said quietly, a tone clearly indicating his resignation to a manipulative technique. My sharp, unblinking eyes stared unaffected at his overly used attempts to get through to me. “Since when has that ever bothered you Adrian? Shouldn't you be happy I'm choosing to stay in this cursed marriage with your entitled ass? Isn't that what you've always wanted? There you have it. I think you and your father should suck it”, I defended righteously, eyeing him in disgust. Even though I was dumb enough to offer myself to the sharp claws of the Hawthorne's
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 59
LUCAS' POV My chair swiveled continuously as I stared into the thin air with my fingers crossed above my thighs. Despite the increase of the cameras installed in my house, I still couldn't find the culprit. My maids were all clean, including their backgrounds. So who was the spy? This whole game seemed to have started a long time before and if I had to win, I had to go be ahead. My fingers hovered a over the landline, contemplating passing a message to James and Nathan, ordering their immediate prescence in my office. I knew I made their lives hell by treating them as my therapists, advisors and friends all at the same time, but they had no choice until we finally caught the mysterious person. Unfortunately, their unavoidable fate of misery was saved by a knock on my door pulling me out of my reverie. “Come in”, I replied, an edge in my voice. The door clicked open revealing the one figure I expected, making my lips subconsciously curl up into a knowing smirk. “Hello Mr. Elvis, i
