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Chapter 74
Last Updated:
2025-02-28 00:11:24
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Bound 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 : 2025-03-03Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 80
LUCAS' POVThe chilly night breeze brushed past my face as I strolled down the city's bustling streets yet unable to find the beauty in anything. My gaze swept through everything around me with disinterest and a tiny bit of irritation. This wasn't me, I told myself. My sudden elevation in status had somehow erased the humane side of me. Right now, the only person that kept some of the broken pieces inside me together, was Elena. She might not know it but the beautiful memories I had with her gave me a reason to keep fighting for her. All those promises our teenage mind thought impossible and stupid but we said it out loud anyways, it was time to.make her see she could live those dreams. My shoulders bumped into someone instantly disrupting my thoughts and I swiftly twisted my head to the direction if the person who'd bumped into me with a cold glint shining through my eyes. “Is it so hard to watch where you're going?”, I growled out, a few veins popping out from my neck. “I'm rea
Last Updated : 2025-03-04Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 81
ELENA'S POVMy arrival back to Adrian's house was going smoother than I expected but I'd already learnt not to get used to it, even for a millisecond. The house had become much quieter and almost empty as the maids were all gone, leaving just Adrian, I and Miss Edith. As for the bedroom arrangement, I usually stayed up watching the television as an excuse to fall asleep on the couch even though I'd woken up a few times in Adrian's bed which had me scrubbing vigorously in the shower everytime. In the past few days however, Adrian had seized every chance to put on a show in public, even at the company. Not only did he make me have lunch with him at the cafeteria surrounded by intrigued and blushing gazes, he also spoon fed me and waited on me hand and foot under the prying eyes of the workers. I collapsed on the couch again tonight, eagerly grabbing my bowl of popcorn ready to watch a show I'd begun to love. Just then, the couch seemed to sink a little lower as Adrian occupied the sp
Last Updated : 2025-03-05Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 82
ELENA'S POVThe morning arrived in its usual cheerful air with a group of birds chirping endlessly while I yawned tiredly, stretching out my long legs on the couch. It was super relieving to know I didn't wake up in Adrian's bed this time. At least he finally had the good sense to leave me alone last night. “Miss Elena”, the housekeeper's voice resounded merrily in my ears as she stretched a hot cup of coffee towards me. Ever since my mother's death, she had naturally taken it upon herself to be like my second mother despite my initial resistance. Living in Adrian's house again made me realize how lonely I was and her constant words of encouragement always brought me to tears as I heard my mother's voice through her everytime. “Thank you Miss Edith”, I said, relishing the taste of the coffee on my tongue then dropping the cup down to let it cool off. She hummed in response with her eyes shining affectionately towards me and gently stroking my chin before turning around to leave.
Last Updated : 2025-03-06
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Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 124
LUCAS' POVThe past one week has been hellish in my apartment and at the company as well - Elena's silence which made me uncomfortable and Henry's appointment as the standing CEO until my official wedding with Sofia, as announced to the entire world by her cunning father. Even from my investigations, it wasn't certain whose side Henry was on - but there was only one way to find out and it could only be through the woman I once called ‘mother’. “It's pretty strange how you stopped coming around to beg for my apology after your stupid plans couldn't get me killed that night”, I said, raising the cup of coffee to my lips but not letting a drop pass through them. I couldn't trust her. Ever again. From where she sat on the couch opposite me, she seemed to have aged much in such a few weeks. The weary lines running across her face all scrunched up together into a deep frown, staring at me in confusion. “What are you saying Lucas?”, she asked, a slight tremor in her voice perharos due to
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 123
ELENA'S POVThe air was saturated with the smell of fresh bacon and savoury pancakes, making me sniff even harder from my dreams. My eyes subconsciously opened staring straight into the kitchen from the sofa I laid on. He was right there - whistling a happy tune while flipping the pancakes in the pan. Pancakes and bacon. It was both our favourite meal for breakfast as I clearly recall my winnings for lots of them so we'd share at school. But now, she got to share them with him…and he seemed happy. He was happy, and that should be all that matters right? “Elena?”, his voice came, sounding right in front of me and making me shut my eyes quickly in embarrassment. Shit. Shit. How did I get so lost in my thoughts that I didn't see him coming? I wasn't prepared to face him after everything I saw last night. “Hey”, he whispered, squatting down the length of the sofa and planting a peck on my forehead, causing my skin to recoil in irritation. I jerked up to a sitting position, wiping of
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 122
ELENA'S POV‘Hate is a strong word to say’, my mother always said each time I ranted on and on about a certain person that wronged me that day. I have never been the forgiving type and usually, it always took me longer than normal to snap out of my overflowing kindness and patience towards anyone. But as I watched him disappear farther and farther into the distance away from me, into the cold we were no longer strangers to, Hate only seemed to downplay the raging emotions I felt towards him. It was a line he'd been crossing more frequently than often in the past few days. How dare he use her to back up his threats? A cold frost of air huffed through my nostrils followed by the incessant ringing of my phone. “Hello”, I said, knotting my eyebrows close together in a defensive manner. “Elena”, a voice I could recognize even in my afterlife, coursing the rage within me a hundred times faster. Too angry to give any reply, I hung up immediately storming off into the house and heading s
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 121
LUCAS' POV My fingers trembled with joy holding her bags while strolling behind her, watching as she went into the house with a straight face. She will get used to it soon. This was her home and I hoped she learnt to love it soon. As we stepped into the living room, Elena and I suddenly stopped halfway turning our heads around with a deep frown forming on my face. Just as my lips began to purse tightly refraining from cursing out loud, Sofia descended downstairs wearing a bright smile on her face, making my hands itched to tear it off. “What is this?”, I asked, barely getting a grip on myself. Her eyes brightened even more as she turned in the direction of Elena with a polite nod. “Relax Lucas, I somehow managed to hear we were going to have a guest for a while and even though it was short notice, I still had to put all this together for her”, she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice like I was the stupid one. Seconds ticked by without a response from me so she walked up to
Bound by debt; Freed by love CHAPTER 120
ELENA'S POVThe loud sounds of wailing filled my ward, almost making me believe I had died and was being grieved over. Nathan, Lucas and I simultaneously stared at each other then shifting our gazes back to Eloise who wept like a baby with her head on my laps. “I should have never left you alone. I'm so sorry. I can't forgive myself for what happened to you, Elena”, she sobbed heartbreakingly, her tears soaking through the hospital gown on me while my hands laid helplessly beside me, not knowing what to do with them.“It…it's okay. I, I'm fine now Eloise”, I muttered hesitantly, a deep frown covering my eyebrows in deep contemplation on how to console her. During the past few days she had spent at Nathan's place as I advised, mostly insisted, her features now looked brighter along with a certain glow I couldn't quite place. Except the tears streaming down her face and smudging her makeup all over the place. “Eloise, Eloise, I'm fine. You don't have to—”“No you're not”, she counter
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
