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Chapter 69
Huling Na-update:
2025-02-24 00:46:36
Kaugnay na kabanata
Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 70
LUCAS' POV We all sat down in a circle on the porch as we watched the sun set while sipping coffee which was a tradition for them as Lucille explained to me. “It's so nice to finally meet you in person Lucas”, Emily, my mother's twin sister commented breaking through the silence. She was also a blondie just like my mother and sister but her round brown eyes with slightly chubby cheekbones gave her a natural doll face appearance. I politely responded by forcing out a small smile shifting in my seat again to contain the awkward feeling I had. Being away from my real family for so long definitely made me feel out of place and like a stranger, no matter how accommodating they seemed. Asides from Lucille who easily wormed her way into my heart, Elena was still the only person I recognized as my home. Who was I kidding? She was basically family to me. Even though Aunt Emily later explained how she was the one who took me away from birth but couldn't keep me because she was being monit
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-24Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 71
ELENA'S POVThree days passed with me spending each day at the cemetery, always waking up next to my mother's tombstone where she was buried. Despite my swollen eyes and the urgent need to shower, I still couldn't bring myself to go back to a life without her in it. She was all I had and lived for since Dad bailed on us. Even though I refrained from saying it out loud before now but I hated him more now. If there was anyone to blame, he would take all of it and nothing less. “Elena?”, a familiar voice called from behind me while I hurriedly wiped my snot before turning around to meet him. Lucas. The boy I'd always known was shy, easily intimidated and sweet but the man standing in front of me was cold and intimidating. His neatly styled black hair made his other facial features stand out in a way that gave him an imposing aura. “Elena, what happened?”, he rushed towards me, crouching down to my level with his eyebrows raised in concern. Being the first person to show me any sense
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-25Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 72
LUCAS' POVElena was sound asleep in the guest bedroom when I carefully shut the door behind me heading back outside the house and getting into my car. I may have pretended not to be really affected about her mother's death but really, it took everything in me not to murder Adrian right there and then. My first stop was at Elena's mother's house which looked neat like someone still lived there. I treaded lightly up the stairs with my senses on alert as I suddenly felt I wasn't alone.Sure enough, as soon as I pushed open the door to her mother's room for a quick search around, a glint of shock flashed through my eyes on seeing the figure in front of me. “What a surprise to see you here, Mr Hawthorne”, I said, confidently leaning on the doorframe with my arms folded across my chest. His previously somber face switched to being cold and desperate. “Lucas, what are you doing here?”, he asked straightforwardly with an unfriendly gaze. I shrugged my shoulders while deeply scrutinizing h
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-26Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 73
ELENA'S POV I rolled endlessly to my sides unable to sleep for more than a minute without seeing the peaceful face of my mother laying in her own cold blood. It's been almost a month now and nothing plagued my dreams more than that picture. My eyes flew open as I let out a soft sigh in frustration turning around to slowly grasp my environment. I've been at Lucas place for days now and it was strange that I barely saw him. Although I was given the best care in his absence but it still felt as if he somehow built a wall around himself.Furrowing my eyebrows in suspicion, I threw the covers off me making my way to his bedroom and as usual, the sheets were well arranged with a certain sense of desolation to his room. Something was definitely going in and I had to figure it out. Lucas had been there for me through all my darkest moments and I couldn't abandon him now. Holding the thought, I cheerfully skipped to the kitchen where there was no maid in sight unlike Adrian's villa which ha
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-28Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 74
LUCAS' POV My head throbbed with severe pain as I weakly entered into the house planning to briefly check in on Elena then collapsing on the couch as I did in the past couple of days. Although the company had been doing great especially since I made those money launderers disguised as board members pay dearly for their wrongdoings and even threw some in prison but all the growth has meant nothing due to an emptiness I felt like a huge hole in my stomach. I knocked tiredly on the door to Elena's new bedroom waiting for a response but none seemed to be forthcoming. “Elena, are you in there?”, I asked, frowning in suspicion and just when I pushed the door open, there was no sign of her. My eyes instantly widened in alert with every sign of weariness disappearing into thin air as I raced down the stairs. “Where did she go?”, I questioned the first maid in sight, exuding coldness mixed with anxiety and panic. “Where the fuck is Elena?”, I screamed harshly this time, not caring if she
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-28Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 75
ELENA'S POV Resuming my job at the Hawthornes company made me more busier than expected as I was no longer under Karen but back to my former position as a senior team lead of the interior design department. “Miss Elena, it's so nice to have you back”, Eloise squealed once she saw me, also congratulating me on my pregnancy as it was beginning to show a bit. Although I seemed content on the surface at being back on track and having a little space from Adrian, I wasn't fooled by his showers of affection and pretentious care as it was all just a way of keeping his eyes on me. As for Lucas, he hadn't come around much as I instructed but he'd been busy doing some investigations concerning the tape I sent him on the night of my mother's death. Something just wasn't right about it. From everything I knew about my parents especially my mother, she was always the first to apologize to anyone as she valued her relationships dearly. I had to find out what it was and I couldn't let Adrian's
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-28Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 76
LUCAS'S POVThe pungent smell of antiseptic and sanitizer filled the hallway as I paced up and down, constantly regulating my breaths. It was the third day and Elena was yet to awaken from her unconscious state. Adrian sat on a bench in the corner with his nails digging deep into his hair. All the time, I hardly resisted the urge to tear him apart and put him in her shoes instead. Only then would the world be a better place. A doctor soon approached us wearing a stoic look on her face making it impossible to know what to expect but I drew close anyway, my eyes shining with anticipation. “Which of you is related to the patient?”, she asked, a strict and firm tone in her voice. “I am”, “I am”, Adrian and I simultaneously answered, inching closer to her with heavy breaths pounding in determination. “okay, which of you brought her here?”, she asked, squinting her eyes in confusion. “I did”, I hastily replied, turning my head to meet Adrian with a light smirk in my gaze. Somehow I'd f
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-28Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 77
ELENA'S POVMy dry, eyed gaze rested on the ceiling above me, entertaining the numbness inside me. My hands laid motionlessly by my side as I vividly listened to the commotion outside my ward. “Let me in or I'll bring this hospital down and make you all loose your jobs”, Adrian yelled desperately from outside, the sound of his fists on the door resounding loudly in my ears. “I'm sorry sir but the patient doesn't want to see you now”, my doctor said, her tone firm and unafraid. I should say something…just like the last time, I thought but every part of my body only felt too heavy to move an inch. Anger, hurt and above all the pain that came with everything seemed to paralyze me and it summed up my uncertainty of what to say if I saw Adrian's face. My expectations from him during my pregnancy crumbled to pieces the moment he denied the baby after what he put me through just to conceive. “Elena, can you hear me? Let me in now”, he yelled continuously, fiercely banging on the door c
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-01
Pinakabagong kabanata
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
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 140
NATHAN'S POV It was crazy how rarely I visited Lucas' company despite being his business advisor for years now. According to my knowledge as well, Lucas was also hardly ever here as well. More than half of the employees definitely didn't recognize me but I could care less anyways because I wasn't here for them - I was here on an errand from that cunning motherfucker, Lucas. The door to my office automatically opened as there was a face detector on it, making it the only office in the company that couldn't be compromised. Lucas had refused to increase the security into his office, saying dumb stuffs like “They'll just fine another way to break in without my knowledge, but you”, he patted me on the shoulder like it was supposed to be an encouragement. “They wouldn't give you much attention so they wouldn't see me coming…at all”. Just as I stepped inside the office, barely taking in the fresh scent of lavender and the breathtaking view from my large window occupying the entire east s
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 139
ELOISE’ POVMy heart ran wild and was continuously filled with chaotic thoughts yet releasing different words from my mouth. The mix of beats surrounding me through my heavy headphones all sounded distorted, making me feel like I was drowning and there was no one coming to save me. “...Hold on cause I'm letting go. I'm gonna—” I paused abruptly, noticing the heavy silence around me which wasn't a good thing. Spending half of my day behind a glass filled with lots of impatient and expectant eyes while I performed was not at all included in my expectations to be a part of the entertainment world. I could feel the glares piercing through the glass like lasers and imagined them drilling into my skin just like Elena's betrayal. Actually, hers stung more than this.Why was it so hard to support me? Just when I finally started to have something for myself. If she could go through her toxic marriage with Adrian, get heartbroken by Lucas and pick herself up then why couldn't I? What was it
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 138
ELENA'S POV My eyes flurried open, gradually adjusting to the soft beams of sunlight resting on my face. I stretched more comfortably, suddenly pausing as my body finally sensed the unfamiliar surface where I laid. Turning my face to take a look, my lungs gave way to a shrieking sound but thankfully, sighting Dave laying peacefully on the sofa opposite mine made me swallow the panic rising to my throat. How could I have done this? Yanking the covers off my body, I jerked into a sitting position trying to make sense of the situation with a lot of questions buzzing around my head. How had I fallen asleep in a stranger's house? How did I not scream myself awake somewhere in the middle of the night? This was all too much for me, I had to get out of here. With light and careful steps, I finally stepped outside racing all the way to my house and collapsing on my couch, breathing hardly. “Elena?”, Eloise' voice came from behind me, circling me with suspicion in her eyes. “Oh Elly, w-wh
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 137
LUCAS' POV Not so surprisingly, the recordings from the cameras in my office had been wiped out, making me order for all the cameras to be removed. There was no use for them anyways since their locations had been found already. The culprit could have been Henry or any other pawn and despite how impatient I felt in digging out the root of the case, I knew it would only do the opposite of the results I really wanted. ‘patience, patience, Lucas’, I chanted repeatedly underneath my breath with my knuckles resting on my desk as I watched them dispose all the cameras, not knowing whether to be angry or sad. Despite my tough and cold exterior that night as I threatened him - meaning every of those words still, the sting from the betrayal still hurt deeply more than anything. I'd thought giving him a promotion and making him the acting CEO during times when I was out the country for a meeting or business dinner would make him realize my sole trust in him and recognition as my brother.
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 136
ELENA'S POV Dear Miss Elena, we sincerely appreciate your offer to design the hall for the party. Please take a look at the contract details below and let us know if you need any clarifications. We'd be happy to help! I blinked twice at my screen still in awe at Dave's commitment to helping me soothe my frustrations and bring my dreams to life. How come he still went ahead with this plan even when I'd asked him to stay away from me? No. This was just too unfair. He didn't have to do all these because my response was still the same. The past few years of my life had been traumatic and still overwhelming at the slightest thought of it. No one, not even Eloise knew about my constant nightmares and the pills stacked up under my pillow that helped me sleep soundly. That's right! I had ran out of those and needed to restock soon. “Hey Lena”, Eloise said, jumping in on the bed and snuggling up to me. My eyes froze into the empty space in front of me, surprised at her sudden entrance whi
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 135
NATHAN'S POVThe Brooks family was among the top five wealthiest in Atlanta - a city known for its beautiful summer sights and most times, a substitute of Vegas. Casinos, drugs and trafficking thrived bountifully underneath the beautiful women and all the fun you could find there. Despite my family always emphasizing my addiction to fun and lots of women flicking around me, somewhere deep down inside my heart accused them for bringing me up here in the first place. My father for instance, was never a better example than any of us as we - my brother and I grew up to see different shades and sizes of women leaving his bedroom every morning. At a very young age, we made countless trips to the casino watching how he handled deals with a few of his ‘businessmen’ and how we feared he might lose his life sometimes. Fortunately, it didn't take long to get used to the tense atmosphere mixed with thick smoke and the smell of pipes and drugs in the air. Not so surprisingly, it soon became m
