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Chapter 49
Last Updated:
2025-02-09 00:30:27
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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
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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
Bound 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
Bound 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
Bound 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,
