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Chapter 9: Making a Deal with the Devil.
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-01 15:10:48The gala is suffocating.
The reason might be different, but not from the sparkling chandeliers, sparkling champagne glasses, or a sweet aroma in the air. A. No. It's because of him. Ethan Sinclair. He can barely hold onto my wrist. The thin scar beneath my bracelet is gently brushed over by his thumb, his touch being deceptively mild. But his eyes? His eyes are razor-sharp. Where did you get this?" His voice echoed like a blade. My pulse spikes. I try to pull away. He doesn't let me. “It's nothing,” I say. Lie. He sways more and more. “Please don’t deceive me.”. Despite my heart-pounding shiver, I still managed to laugh with great force. “You have no right to demand the truth from me, Ethan.” He sighed. When you keep your own secrets, it's not possible. His jaw flexes. His speech emits a flickering light, leaving it unreadable. Before I can make sense of it, someone else smuggle in. But wait! Elias. Without any searching, I can be sure he's present. The scent of expensive whiskey and his deliberate motion send a chill down my spine. It's impossible not to experience this. Why? Ethan is being watched by Elias like he's playing with its food, as if the man is unaware. Ethan doesn't take the bait. "What do you think?". Elias grimaces. "Oh, my goodness!" is a compliment. Then—he turns to me. His words are hard for me to hold in my hands. His voice is delicate and menacing, so tell him where the scar came from, Isabella. I am experiencing discomfort due to a lump in my throat. I can't. I won't. The silence stretches. Elias is only aware of what he says when Ethan's fingers flickered at his side. Why? “You're wasting my time, Carter.”. Elias chuckles. “Am I? Is your fear a mere emotion? The tension coils tight. In the midst of a silent battle, they were involved. And I? I need to get out. Now. I turn and disappear into the crowd, but Ethan runs away with it. He holds me in his womb. Hard. “We're leaving.”. His voice is final. A command. Not a request. As Ethan pulls me through the doorway, Elias looks on with amusement. As we pass, he leans down. He has his breath running up and down my ear. You're running out of time, Isabella.". A chill slams through me. And then—. We're outside. My skin is being bitten by the crisp night air. Although the gala's golden glow illuminated me, it did not provide any warmth. My hand frees itself. “I’m not going to leave you here.”. Ethan stops. Slowly. Turns. His expression is cold. “Yes, you are.”. My chest tremors rise and fall rapidly as I ask, "What do you think?" How about throwing me into another cage? His jaw tightens. “I don't need to.”. A car door swings open. And Damien Cross steps out. The world tilts. He's always sharp, with a dark suit and sharp eyes, and his presence in the air is felt with greater force. He gazes at Ethan and looks amused as he laughs. Why? “Trouble in paradise?” Damien muses. Before he falls, Ethan's hold tightens and catches him. "It'll be of no consequence to you.". "It's a bit of pity, but I'm betting you're going to see that on her side," Damien quipped. Then—he looks at me. Really looks. It appears as though he has an undiscovered secret, something I don't want him to know. "Why is he here?" I ask blankly. "That's a question you should ask yourself, sweetheart," Damien giggles. Ethan's patience snaps. “Now, Isabella.”. I don't have a choice. When both of them are observing me, it feels like playing a game of guessing in an unknowing way. I slide into the car. My pulse? A drum of war in my ears. Ethan follows. As Damien lies down, the doors close with a gentle click. The silence is suffocating. Then—. A folder is taken from Damien's jacket by him. Slides it across the seat. He leans his back and says: “You’re in this game for a while, Isabella. Keep reading.” You know who they are? I don't move. I don't breathe. Ethan's eyes darken as he grabs the folder. Opens it. His expression doesn't change. The change in the air strikes me as it is. The storm building. With no response, he flips it over. And I see. My name. My past. My secrets. There were numerous documents, photos, and reports that occupied my time, but I can't remember which ones to refer to. I believed my life had been lost.? A past I pledged would never be uncovered. The folder is closed as I ask, "Where did you get this?". Damien smiles. But it's not warm. Not kind. "You're not alone in keeping secrets, bro," he exclaims. Ethan exhales slowly. Then—. He turns to me. Expression unreadable. Voice calm. “Start talking.”. My head trembles. "I can't.". With his fingers resting on the folder, he says. "You're left with no option.". The air tightens. I'm trapped. Cornered. And I know—.
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Bound by deception Chapter 10 : The Unbreakable Chain
Despite feeling pain in my fingers, I can't shake off the folder. From the glossy photo inside, I can see my face staring back at me - this is before my nightmare became reality. Looking up, my eyes ablaze with anger. "What's going on?". Without any hesitation, Ethan leans down on the leather seat. “I want to know why.” Hean.... I shake my head. “No. No, this—this doesn't make sense. It was my first time meeting you in person last week. Damien makes a sharp and amusing laughter from the far end of the vehicle. "Do you believe it's me?" could be the question? "I look at him with a giggle. He responds with, "Laughter!". His gaze enlarges as he faces the folder, his expression spreading. "Do you suppose Sinclair misplaced something?!". Sweetheart, the photo is not for entertainment. A coldness that reaches me causes pain in my chest. I tighten my grip on the folder and have an irregular breath. Ethan looks at me with confusion. "It's not like he ever thought anything could happen
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Bound by deception Chapter 11: The first move
The club is a beast. I feel the pulse of music pulsing against my flesh. Neon lights vibrate with a heart rhythm, emitting red, blue, and violet light. In a fast-paced manner, the crowd moves swiftly as their bodies approach, sweat and fragrance blend together to produce eerie feelings. I move fast. I shouldn't be here. I don't belong here. The words spoken by Ethan linger in my thoughts. Your ability to earn Elias' trust will be assured by you. You're going to betray him when it's necessary. My stomach knots. Then I see him. Elias Carter. Confident, he's dressed in the VIP area with a swirl of whiskey on his wrist. He's keeping a close eye on the room with the sharp, unassuming arrogance of someone who has all his possessions. He hasn't seen me yet. Good. I go to the bar, where I order a drink that I won't touch. I wrap my hands around the glass, feeling a sense of grounding in its warmth.' I need a plan. I need—. It was unexpected to see you in this location. The voice
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Bound by deception Chapter 12 : A Warning Too Late!
I feel my hand around the phone as soon as I read the message. LEAVE NOW. YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU’RE PLAYING WITH.My pulse pounds. My skin prickles with unease. Someone's watching me. My breath remains firm as I look up. Even in the nightclub, there's still a sense of motion, with sweaty bodies pressing against each other, neon lights flickering and music pounding through my skull. However, the situation has changed significantly. There is someone among us who doesn't want me in this room. Despite everything, I remain in neutral and my hands grip the keys of my phone as I insert it. Quick thinking is my weakness.'". Rather than scanning the crowd, I'm not looking for someone. But I feel it. A presence. A weight rubbing against my body, unrecognisable eyes monitoring my movements. Think, Isabella. Don't panic. “Something wrong?”. The sound of Elias is clear and unsettling. My gaze focuses on him. His posture is surprisingly comfortable as he leans against the bar, but his eyes
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Bound by deception Chapter 13 : A Dangerous Gamble
My ribs are penetrated by the cold metal of the gun, but it's Elias holding me back. His fingers restrain my wrist—steadfast, unwavering.’ Too tight to break free. Ethan is still sitting in a serene manner across from us. Despite their weapons training, his men remain stationary. They wait. Because Ethan Sinclair doesn't react. He calculates. “You wouldn’t believe what you were.” Ethan’s voice is raspy and rasping, as if he was speaking about the weather. Elias lets out a low chuckle and then smiles. “That's not the case here.” He pulls me closer as he goes, until his breath begins to sting against his skin. "I am sure of what she'll be like, Sinclair.”. I feel a cold pulse running down my spine. Ethan's face remains unchanged, but the gentle hump in his jaw still fills me with it. “You have no intention of doing this,” Ethan confesses. Elias tilts his head, considering. Following that, he places the gun further into my body above my ribs. "I say yes," astonishedly. He nodded
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Bound by deception Chapter 14 : Nowhere to Run
I feel a sensation in my bones whenever the phone rings, which is not good. While pulling out the device, a creepy, slow crawling dreadlocks me. In the dimly lit conditions of the club, that screen gleams with mystery.' Unknown Number: Run. I fixate on it, the sole thought in my mind pumping adrenaline into my body. My hands tighten around the phone. This is the message, squeezing me like an unchecked fishpot. Ethan notices immediately. Then his gaze sharpens, he becomes fixated on me and I can't help but wonder what it is. His voice is delicate yet subdued with darkness. I don't answer. I can't. It's taking a while for me to figure out the significance of that message. A warning? A threat? A distraction? Ethan approaches, his presence throbbing. His fingers flicker, indicating impatience. "Isabellum," his tone is sharpened, demanding. My pulse was pounding and I swallowed with great force. "I don't know.". Not really. Ethan doesn't buy it. With his jaw squirting, his cold st
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06Bound by deception Chapter 15 : Checkmate
Ethan lets go of me. The air changes, suffocating with pressure, like an invisible weight. I gaze at him, my heart beating against my chest.. My body is unresponsive, uncertain of what I just heard. "What the hell am I doing here?" asked me. Ethan doesn't look at me. His gaze remains fixed on Elias, imperceptible and unwavering. He has no hesitation in defending his position and there is no indication of regret as his hands slip into his pockets, as if this was just a business transaction. It makes me feel a chill. "Take her," he asserts, with a composed tone. Too calm. As Elias laugh and smiles, the sound pierces my flesh like the weight of a knife. He nods and two of his men come forward, their presence obscuring my view. ". Everything inside me screams. No. This isn't happening. I take a moment to relax before the alley, but there's no way out. Black SUVs blocking the only exit and the men standing guard overshadow the walls on either side. The security team of Ethan rem
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06Bound by deception Chapter 16 : The Lesser Evil
The underground garage is quiet. Too quiet. The pulsating sound of overhead fluorescent lights does not alleviate the tension in my chest. Then—. A phone rings. Not mine. Not Ethan's. One of his men, who is standing near the SUV, responds. His expression hardens instantly. He becomes stiff, his eyes moving towards Ethan.. “Sir, we've a problem.”. My wrist becomes tighter as Ethan holds onto me. With a raspy voice, he moves forward. "Talk." is the response. "The guard maintains a steady breath and then grimaces. "Security breach." is the response. A person made an effort to enter the penthouse elevator.' A previous access number was employed. Hence, Ethan's entire body tenses. “Whose?”. The guard hesitates. “Yours.”. The air shifts. A frigid, fatal silence fills the air. Upon exhaling, Ethan's head is raised. "Substantiate.". The guard continues: "Your personal access code was used by someone else. It didn't work, but they tried it a few more times and then just left.". My
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06Bound by deception Chapter 17 : A Deal with the Devil
No sound can be heard from the underground parking garage, except for the low hum of nearby vehicles. My spine is shaken as a cold breeze travels through the air.'". I barely notice it. Ethan is my sole focus. His entire body goes still. His jaw muscles flex, and for a moment his grip on my wrist snaps. Still, he remains attached to it. The frigid and sane eyes flicker backwards as they hold out for an immobile call. Ethan snatches it without hesitation. He has a sharp, clipped voice. What the hell is going on? The guard doesn't answer. Nodding away from the phone, he does it instead. The sound is made louder by Ethan touching it. A pause. The other end is murmuring in a low voice.?... Ethan ejects through his nostrils with a sharp sound. He tense his fingers while talking to the phone. "I'll take care of it.". After that, he puts the device in his pocket and heads towards me. The tone of his voice is illegible, but his gaze has been altered. I see it. The flicker of someth
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06
Bab terbaru
Bound by deception Chapter 49 – Unseen Chains
“The woman at the center of the storm.”Logan Pierce’s words hung in the air like an omen, sinking into the dimly lit room like a fog, thick and suffocating.I forced my expression to remain neutral, though every nerve in my body was on edge. The way he said it, like he already knew me. Like I was some predetermined piece in a game I hadn’t agreed to play made my skin crawl.“That’s dramatic,” I muttered, keeping my voice flat.Logan’s smirk deepened, the corners of his mouth curving with something that wasn’t quite amusement, wasn’t quite malice. “Isn’t it?”Ethan wasn’t amused. “Sit.”He didn’t direct the order at Logan. He meant me.For a moment, I considered defying him. Just to remind him I wasn’t some pawn he could push around. But the weight of exhaustion settled deep in my bones, and I knew I had to pick my battles. So, I sank onto the leather couch, my arms crossing over my chest.Logan, completely at ease, took his time settling into the chair across from me, stretching out
Bound by deception Chapter 48 – Into the Lion’s Den
The SUV sliced through the night like a silent predator, devouring the miles between us and the city. The hum of the tires against the road was the only sound filling the tense silence inside the car. Ethan sat beside me, his jaw tight, his fingers drumming against his knee in a steady calculated and controlled rhythm. His mind was somewhere else, far ahead of us, mapping out the next move, anticipating every possible threat. I stared out the window, watching as the towering skyscrapers and flickering neon lights of New York faded into darkness, replaced by vast stretches of highway and dense, looming trees. The further we drove, the more it felt like we were leaving civilization itself. A cold knot twisted in my stomach. Finally, I exhaled, breaking the silence. “Where exactly is ‘home’?” Ethan’s gaze flicked to me, but his expression remained unreadable. “Somewhere safe.” I let out a hollow laugh. “Safe? There’s no such thing anymore.” He didn’t argue. He didn’t need to
Bound by deception Chapter 47 – No Safe Haven
The room felt like it had been drained of oxygen. I stared at the phone in my hand, my fingers curled so tightly around it that my knuckles turned white. The screen flickered, casting a pale glow on my face, but all I could focus on was the image. The bold, jagged letters scrawled across my apartment door like a bloody warning. Nowhere is safe. A shiver crept down my spine. The words weren’t just a threat. They were a promise. I sucked in a shaky breath, but the air felt thick, heavy, as if the walls were closing in. Ethan moved first. His hand shot out, snatching the phone from my grasp. His grip was tight, controlled, but the muscle in his jaw ticked. A sign that the control was hanging by a thread. His gaze flicked over the image, scanning every detail, and then, with a sharp inhale, he turned to me. “Pack a bag.” I blinked, my mind still trying to catch up. “What?” “You’re not staying here. You’re not going back to your apartment.” His voice was clipped, edged with
Bound by deception Chapter 46 – The Line We Can’t Cross
“Let go of me, Ethan.” I kept my voice steady, but my body betrayed me. My hands trembled. My pulse hammered against my ribs, each beat screaming at me to run. Ethan’s grip on my wrist didn’t tighten, but it didn’t loosen either. His fingers, warm and solid, were the only thing anchoring me in place. He stood rigid, his jaw ticking, his body wound so tight it looked like he might snap. “I can’t.” A shiver rippled down my spine. Elias let out a low whistle. “Oh, this is getting good. What’s next, Sinclair? You gonna lock her up in your penthouse?” Ethan didn’t even spare him a glance. His gaze was locked on mine, intense and unyielding. “If that’s what it takes to keep her safe.” A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me. “You don’t get to decide that.” His grip flexed. Just a twitch of his fingers but I felt it everywhere. “I do when Damien Cross is hunting you.” Elias exhaled dramatically. “And there it is. The Sinclair control complex.” He smirked, shifting against the des
Bound by deception Chapter 45 – The Truth That Shatters
The room felt like it was closing in. The walls seemed narrower, the air thick with something I couldn’t name. The grainy video on the screen played in an endless loop, the scene burned into my mind. Ethan. A silencer. A body collapsing to the floor. Blood spreading like ink across white tiles. My breath came fast, uneven. It was like my brain refused to process what I’d just seen. “Tell me that wasn’t you.” My voice barely sounded like mine. It was strained and fragile on the verge of breaking. Ethan didn’t move. He didn’t speak. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes… God, his eyes. I had seen them dark before, filled with anger, with lust, with unspoken emotions I never had the courage to name. But this? This was different. His gaze was a void. Hollow. As if the man I thought I knew was locked somewhere inside, just out of reach. Something inside me cracked. I stepped back, shaking my head. “Say something.” Ethan finally exhaled, slow and control
Bound by deception Chapter 44 – Torn Between Devils
“Put the gun down, Ethan.” Elias’s voice was smooth and calculated like a snake slithering through the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He stood in the doorway with the ease of a man who owned the world, his fingers lightly brushing against the frame. His other hand was tucked in his pocket, casual, almost lazy, but I knew better. Nothing about Elias Carter was ever lazy. Every move was deliberate. Every word, a weapon. Ethan, however, was a fortress. His stance was unwavering, shoulders squared, his gun aimed with lethal precision. He wasn’t just holding a weapon. He was a weapon. “You’re trespassing.” His voice was razor-sharp. Elias smirked. Smirked. Like none of this mattered, like he hadn’t just shattered the world I’d built with his sudden presence. “And you’re holding something that belongs to me.” The words sliced through the air, thick with meaning. My breath caught. Me. Ethan’s hold on the gun tightened. “She doesn’t belong to you.”
Bound by deception Chapter 43 – Shadows of the Past
I shook my head, my chest rising and falling too fast. “No.” Ethan didn’t move. Didn’t blink. “Yes.” My pulse pounded against my ribs like a trapped animal. I took a step back, needing distance, but Ethan was relentless, closing in, his presence thick like a storm cloud about to break. “Elias is gone,” I whispered. “He has to be gone.” Ethan tilted his head slightly, studying me like he was waiting for me to figure out the truth on my own. “Do you really believe that?” I wanted to. God, I wanted to. But Ethan’s voice carried the weight of something inevitable, something unshakable. I clenched my fists at my sides. “He used me. Lied to me. Left me.” I swallowed against the tightness in my throat. “Why the hell would he want me back?” Ethan’s eyes flickered with something unreadable before he spoke. “Because you’re the only thing he ever lost.” The words slammed into me. For a moment, the room faded, replaced by the ghosts of memories I had fought to bury. Elias’s hands
Bound by deception Chapter 42 – The Only Way Out
I stumbled back, shaking my head, my breath coming too fast. My heartbeat slammed against my ribs, a wild, frantic rhythm that made my chest ache. “You’re lying.” Ethan didn’t move, didn’t blink. “Am I?” His voice was maddeningly calm, like he was talking about the weather and not completely tearing my world apart. I wanted to believe that. Needed to believe that. But the video kept replaying in my mind, every detail slicing through me like a serrated knife Elias smirking, rolling that damn cigarette between his fingers like I had been nothing more than a business deal, an asset. A job. My stomach lurched. “How long have you known?” My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. Ethan exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw like he was debating how much to say. “Long enough.” I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “And you just let me keep believing he cared?” He arched a brow. “Would you have believed me if I told you earlier?” I opened my mouth, ready to snap ba
Bound by deception Chapter 41 – The Target
The walls of Ethan’s hidden room closed in around me, suffocating, too full of secrets I wasn’t ready to face. My pulse pounded in my ears as his words echoed inside my skull. “You were a job.” It wasn’t possible. It wasn’t real. I took a step back, gripping the edge of the desk to steady myself. The folder with my name on it sat between us like a loaded gun. My life, reduced to paper. Dates. Records. A complete history. Ethan watched me with maddening patience, as if waiting for me to process the truth or waiting for me to break. I wouldn’t. I lifted my chin. “You’re lying.” He sighed, rubbing a hand along his jaw. “I don’t lie, Isabella.” Something in his voice made my stomach churn. He sounded tired, almost resigned, but there was an underlying certainty that terrified me. I turned my back to him, gripping the folder so tightly my knuckles ached. I flipped through the pages again, my eyes scanning too fast, desperate for something. Anything to prove him wrong
