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Chapter 9
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2025-01-04 21:38:26
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Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 10
ELENA'S POV The sleek black car came to a smooth stop in front of Hawthorn Corps, the towering building casting a shadow over the bustling street. I gathered my things, taking a deep breath as I prepared to face another day at work. Adrian stepped out of the car first, his cold demeanor a stark contrast to the warm sunlight filtering through the city skyline. As usual, he ignored me, his mind focused on the business empire he had built from the ground up. I couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment towards him, hating the man who had forced me into this contractual marriage.I followed suit, exiting the car and making my way to the entrance of Hawthorn Corps. Despite being married to the CEO, I kept my personal life private. No one at the company knew I was Adrian's wife, and I intended to keep it that way. It was better this way; no one needed to know about the complexities of our arrangement.Stepping into the expansive lobby, I nodded to the security guard and made my way
Last Updated : 2025-01-05Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 11
ELENA'S POVI felt my hand make contact with Karen's cheek, the sharp sound of the slap echoing through the tense air. A stunned silence followed as Karen stared at me, her hand pressed to her reddened skin.It didn't take long for her minions to jump to her defense. "How dare you slap Karen?" one demanded, their voice filled with outrage. "You think you can get away with anything just because you're someone's mistresse?"Another chimed in, their words dripping with malice. "Yeah, you should be ashamed of yourself. Don't you have any respect for Mr Hawthorn's fiancée?"Their accusations felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head, freezing me in shock. The world seemed to slow down around me, their words repeating in my mind over and over again. 'Adrian's fiancée?'The irony of the situation was not lost on me. Here they were, accusing me of being a mistress, completely unaware that I was, in fact, Adrian's wife. Even if it was a contracted marriage, it still
Last Updated : 2025-01-06Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 12
ELENA'S POV "Elena, are you alright?" he asked, concern etched on his face. Without waiting for an answer, he pulled me into a warm embrace, his arms encircling me protectively.I clung to him, my tears soaking into his shirt as I tried to catch my breath.Lucas held me tight as I sobbed into his chest, my body trembling with emotion. After a few moments, he gently pulled away, his expression a mix of concern and tenderness."Elena, you have to be more careful," he scolded, his voice firm but gentle. "You almost got hit by a car! What were you thinking, crossing without looking?"His words, meant to be caring, only served to make my tears flow harder. I clung to him tighter, burying my face in his chest as I let all my pent-up emotions out.Lucas, realizing the gravity of my distress, wrapped his arms around me once again, holding me close as he stroked my hair. "It's alright, Elena. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Just take your time."Lucas, sensing that I was in no state t
Last Updated : 2025-01-07Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 13
LUCAS POVLucas took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation ahead. "Elena, I ran away because I had no choice. My father passed away, and his family was after me and my mother for our inheritance. They were willing to kill us both, so I had to make the decision to run away and protect my mother."He paused, reliving the painful memories. "It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make but I knew that if I stayed, we would both be in danger. So I left everything behind and started a new life in a different city. I couldn't risk contacting you or anyone else for fear that it would lead them straight to us."Lucas looked into Elena's tear-filled eyes, his expression sincere. "I never stopped thinking about you, Elena. I missed you every day, but I couldn't come back until I was sure it was safe. And now, I have the resources to protect myself and my mother. That's why I came back, to make things right and to try to win back your trust."I stared blankly at
Last Updated : 2025-01-08Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 14
ELENA'S POVElena stirred awake to the sound of a gentle knock on the door. Blinking the sleep away from her eyes, she sat up, her mind still foggy with the remnants of her dreams."Come in," she called out, her voice still thick with sleep.The maid entered with a warm smile on her face. "Good morning Miss Elena. Mr. Lucas has requested your presence for breakfast, and he would like to accompany you home after that."Elena's heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Lucas again. She nodded, "Thank you, please tell him I will be down soon."The maid nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.Elena took a deep breath, running a hand through her dishevelled hair. She felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension at the thought of leaving the safety of the room and facing the world again. But she knew that she couldn't hide forever, and she was ready to take the next step.After freshening up and getting dressed, Elena made her way downstairs to the dining room where bre
Last Updated : 2025-01-08Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 15
LUCAS POV I sat at my desk, the sunlight pouring in through the windows and warming my skin. My thoughts were consumed by the financial reports in front of me, but my mind kept drifting back to last night. Elena had been captivating, her intelligence and wit shining through in every conversation. I found myself replaying our interactions in my mind, a small smile forming on my lips.As much as I wanted to focus on work, I couldn't shake the thought of her. I knew she was dealing with a difficult situation with Adrian, but I couldn't deny the connection I felt. Just as I reached for the phone to call her, my assistant's voice buzzed through the intercom."Mr. Lucas, there's someone here to see you."My heart skipped a beat at the thought that it might be Elena, but I quickly composed myself. "Send them in," I replied, setting down the phone and turning my attention to the door.Alicia burst into the room, her energy palpable as she rushed towards me. I braced myself as she wrappe
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 16
ELENA'S POV I woke up early, the morning sunlight filtering through my curtains. I stretched and sat up in bed, preparing myself for another day at work. After getting ready, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door, making my way towards the office.I had walked away angrily from Adrian's presence last night and surprisingly he let me go.Why would he have me followed? It's enough he's ruining my life with the contract marriage!As I approached the entrance, I noticed Karen and her minions standing there, a smirk on their faces. I knew they were up to no good, and sure enough, they intentionally blocked my way, trying to make me late and lose a point."Excuse me," I said, trying to keep my tone polite as I attempted to squeeze past them.Karen stepped in front of me, her eyes glinting with malice. "Oh Elena, we didn't see you there," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You should watch where you're going. You wouldn't want to be late, would you?"I gritted my teeth, know
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Bound by debt; Freed by love Chapter 17
ELENA'S POV Just then, the lights in the office flickered and went out, plunging me into darkness. I felt a cold breeze blow past me, and a shiver ran down my spine.Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching from behind me. I turned, my heart racing, but I couldn't see anything in the pitch blackness."Who's there?" I called out, my voice echoing off the walls.There was no response, just the sound of footsteps growing closer and closer. Fear gripped me as I realized I was not alone in the office.I took a step back, feeling for the door behind me. But as my hand closed around the knob, I felt something cold and metallic against my neck."Don't move," a voice whispered in my ear. "Or you'll regret it!"" P.pplease let me go," I stammered,trying to get the stranger to reason with me.I felt something cold press on my back, and I froze in shock and fear ran down my spine.' He was pressing a gun on my back! Fuck he has a gun!' I thought thinking of a way out for myself. " Please what
Last Updated : 2025-01-10
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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
