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Chapter 71
Last Updated:
2025-02-25 01:04:32
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Bound 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-01Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 78
ELENA'S POVIt had been three days since I stopped Lucas and Adrian from exploding in the hallway and a few hours after that since he left the divorce papers on the table, barely looking at me as he spoke to me while offering words of reassurance and coldly recounting the vengeance he was going to shower on the Hawthornes family. At the time, my entire face was wrapped in gauze leaving only space for my eyes and mouth but still painful to use so I could only stare wordlessly at him, yelling for him to stop. Although it still amazed me how he managed to get Adrian's father’s agreement to the divorce but the large pit inside my stomach bleeding out heart wrenching tears only made nothing matter anymore. The divorce. Lucas. Even myself. “Miss Elena?”, I blinked back to the present, slightly turning my head to meet Eloise's round, blue eyes filled with concern and sympathy. “Sorry, got lost in my thoughts again”, my eyes lit up a little with an apologetic smile. She frowned deeply at
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 79
ELENA'S POV The day had finally come for me to be discharged from the hospital and I dreaded it more than I anticipated it. The scars still stuck to my skin but no longer painful to feel and stare at unlike before. Although three weeks wasn't enough to get over the terrible changes in my physical appearance, I was determined to get through this as something more important occupied my mind. Eloise, Lucas and Nathan sat around my bed munching on a quick breakfast as we engaged in a light hearted conversation. “I think the public has really grown interested in your marriage ever since the first scandal”, Nathan said, his tone keen and observant. My eyebrows subconsciously raised in amusement with my spoon of food pausing in mid air. “What do you mean? That was such a long time ago and I barely remember it. Besides, even if they still do, they probably hate me more”, I countered, my spoon dropping back to the bowl of food as I suddenly recalled my traumatic experience after the scanda
Last Updated : 2025-03-03
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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
