Chapter Eighteen: Lena's TearsLena's PovPain.That was the first thing Lena felt as her consciousness began to return. It started as a dull ache in her body, spreading like a storm cloud until it pressed down on her chest, suffocating and unrelenting. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she winced at the harsh light of the hospital room. Everything smelled sterile—too clean, too cold.It took a moment for her eyes to focus, but when they did, the first thing she saw was Damian. He sat by her bedside, his large frame hunched forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tightly. His head was bowed and his dark hair fell into his face. He looked. tired. Broken, almost."Damian," she croaked, low and dry and raw.His head shot up immediately, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. Relief washed over his face, softening his usual hard expression. “Lena,” he said, his voice gentle but strained. “You’re awake.”Tears sprang to her eyes, unbidden and unstoppable. She turned her face away, biting her
Chapter Nineteen: UnravelsDamian's POVThe first morning rays peeked through the curtains as Damian sat amidst the dull glow of his private office. He hadn't slept, not even for a second. The happenings of the past night replayed in his mind like a broken record. The look on Lena's face, her tears, her accusations… they haunted him.He fisted his hands as he stared blankly at the half-empty glass of whiskey on the desk. It did nothing to drown his guilt or ease the storm that had been raging inside him."I will fix this," he muttered, mostly to himself. "I have to."A knock at the door broke through his thoughts. His right-hand man, Marco, stepped inside."We caught one of them," Marco said, keeping his voice low and cautious. "He's in the basement."Damian rose at once, his face hardening. "Good. I want answers." newPath Press---Scene 1: The InterrogationThe basement air was damp and cold, a stark contrast to the heated rage inside Damian. Tied to a chair, with his head hanging
Chapter Twenty : Conversation Lena's POVThe sun streams through my window, painting warm streaks of gold across the pale walls. Home. After days in the sterile confines of the hospital, I am finally back within the comfort of my own space-though it doesn't feel as comforting as it should. The events of the last few days replay over and over in my head-the attack, the pain, the overwhelming fear. But through it all, there was Damian. He was always there, a lurking shadow who refused to let go, by my side, so I was never lonely.Even now, standing by the door to my bedroom, I could have sworn he is close enough that I might feel the weight of his protection-the halo of a shield that I never asked for, yet somehow need. My body heals, but my heart is heavier than it has ever been. The questions that gnaw at me aren't answered, and my trust in Damian is very much compromised. Still, his devotion cannot be denied, and it is just that contradiction which spins my head around.Damian has b
Chapter Twenty-One: Confrontation Lena's POV The morning light seeps through the curtains. The gentle warmth is such a stark contrast to the cold knot twisting in my stomach. I hardly slept tonight. Every time I closed my eyes, Bianca's words rang inside my head like a knell of death. Her threats, Damian's hesitation, and it all feels like a jagged blade slicing through whatever fragile trust I had managed to build. I push the blanket aside and swing my legs off the bed, planting my feet on the cold floor. My body aches, but it's nothing compared to the storm raging inside me. The only way forward is through. I have to confront Damian. No more running from the truth. I open my door and step into the hall with trembling hands. The fresh coffee scent fills the air, together with the faint sound of Damian's movements in the kitchen. My heart pounds as I walk towards him, each step heavy with dread and determination. When I finally make it to the kitchen, he's standing by the sto
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Quiet Before the StormLena's POVThe silence between Damian and me had stretched out for what felt like an eternity. I had tried to focus on the mundane, the daily routine that seemed to be the only thing grounding me in this house of chaos. I went through the motions—serving him, staying in the background, pretending like everything was okay when it so clearly wasn’t. But the tension in the air, the unspoken words between us, grew heavier with each passing minute.It wasn’t just Bianca’s presence lingering in the background anymore; it was the weight of my own emotions. The truth of what Damian had said to me, the promise he made to me—it all collided in my mind. But a part of me didn’t know how to feel about it anymore. Was I really willing to allow myself to believe that Damian was finally choosing me over her? Could I even trust him again after everything that had happened?I was still struggling to find my place in his life. I could no longer ignore the c
Chapter Twenty Three : Bianca's TensionLena's POVI could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears as Bianca's cold eyes bored into me. The fragile hope I had allowed myself to feel, those moments with Damian where the world felt softer, kinder, crumbled beneath the weight of her presence.Damian didn't say anything for a moment. His jaw clenched, his hands fisted at his sides, and I could tell he was holding himself back. But Bianca looked like she was enjoying the tension in the room."Bianca, what are you doing?" Damian's voice was low-a warning laced with irritation. "What are you doing here? I thought you are smart enough to understand the situation that you don't just badge into my house anytime you feel like again"She didn't bat an eyelash. Instead, she stepped further into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. "I could ask you the same thing," she said, her tone icy. "You promised me, Damian. Promised me that she-" she jabbed
Chapter Twenty-Four: Alex's Secret ArrivalThe night air was still, the slightest trace of jasmine carried inside on the breeze from the garden. I sat hunched over the kitchen table with my hands clasped, tightly wrapped around the coolness of my now teacup cold cup of tea, I wasn't drinking-it just held it for the Lukewarm presence it did and anchored me. The house was quiet-a dense silence that made every groan of the floorboards, every whisper of the wind, seem amplified. Damian hadn't returned yet, and the tension in my chest had eased just a little, though my thoughts were anything but calm.I stared out the window, the moonlight painting silvery patterns across the grass outside. Damian's face flashed in my mind-his eyes, cold and calculating, yet so unexpectedly gentle at times. The memory of his rare kindness confused me. Was I starting to depend on it? Starting to depend on him?It was a thought that grated on me deeply, but nothing compared with the ache every time I thought
Chapter Twenty-Five: Shifting LoyaltiesThe night after Alex's visit was a blur of restless pacing and whispered prayers. I couldn't shake the look in his eyes or the weight of his words. I'll come back for you. They echoed in my mind like a siren's call, pulling me into a sea of confusion and guilt.But there was no room for guilt in this house. Damian would sense it, just like he sensed every other crack in my armor. And when he did, there would be consequences.The morning sun brought no relief, only a growing sense of dread. I moved through my chores with mechanical precision, careful not to draw any attention to myself. Damian had left early, as he often did, but his presence lingered in the house like a storm cloud.By the time he came back in the afternoon, I was in the kitchen, scrubbing the counters like they would clean the chaos inside my head."Lena," his voice called from the hallway, sharp and commanding.I froze, the sponge falling from my hand. "Yes?" I called out, try
Chapter Thirty-Six: Lena's Despair and Strength(Lena's POV)I woke to the sound of dripping water. My head throbbed, and every muscle of my body ached like I'd been run over by a freight train. I tried to move, and the cold, hard floor beneath me bit into my skin, its dampness seeping through my clothes.The room was pitch black, except for the faint, flickering light spilling in from a crack under the heavy steel door. The air was thick and stale, with the metallic tang of rust and blood.Where am I?My memories came back in flashes-being dragged from Damian's estate, my futile attempts to fight back, the cold, mocking laughter of Marcus's men. My chest began to tighten as reality set in-I was Marcus's prisoner."Damian," I whispered, hardly above a whisper. Did he know what had happened? Was he coming for me?I pulled myself upright, wincing at the pain shooting across my ribs. My stomach growled, a pained reminder that I hadn't eaten in what felt like days. Other than the rusted b
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Desperation's Edge(Damian's POV)My blood ran cold the moment the report from my most trusted informant came in. Alex had offered himself to Marcus in exchange for Lena's freedom. It was not the self-sacrifice that had rendered me speechless; it was the audacity of the move.Alex had always been loyal, a man who knew the delicate web of power and strategy we worked within. But this-this was madness. Throwing himself as collateral to Marcus, a man who lived to torment, was a choice I couldn't understand.I slammed my fist against the edge of my desk, the sharp pain barely registering through the cloud of anger and frustration. My men stood at attention, awaiting my orders, but I couldn't speak yet. My mind was a storm of questions, all circling back to one undeniable truth: Marcus was winning."Find out where they're keeping Alex and Lena," I barked. My voice came out cold as steel. "I want eyes on that place within the hour. And if Marcus tries to pull another s
Chapter Thirty-Seven Shadows of Hope(Lena's POV)The cold seeped into my bones, an unforgiving reminder of how long I’d been in this wretched place. The room was nothing but stone walls and darkness, with no windows to mark the passage of time. Hunger gnawed at my insides, but the pain wasn’t just physical—it was the fear, the uncertainty, that truly weighed me down.I sat in the corner, knees to my chest, trying to breathe shallowly to remain calm. My wrists still ached from the rough ropes that had secured them only hours before. They'd left me alone since then, but the silence was worse than any threats. It let my mind wander to places I didn't want it to go.Damian.Was he looking for me? Would he even know where to start? I hated it, but a part of me wanted to believe he was out there, tearing the world apart, piece by piece, to find me. What if he wasn't? What if I was another mere pawn in some chess game, easily sacrificed?A sudden sound—the turning of the key in the lock—wre
Chapter Thirty Six: The Unthinkable Price(Damian's POV)The tension in the room was stifling, thick enough to choke on. Marcus stood across from me, leaning against his desk with a smug smile playing on his lips, his eyes glinting with the satisfaction of a predator toying with its prey. My fists were clenched so tightly at my sides that I could feel my nails digging into my palms, but I didn't care. My mind was consumed by one thing, and one thing alone-Lena."I'll give you one last chance, Marcus," I said, my voice low but laced with a warning. "Tell me where Lena is, and I'll consider letting you walk away from this unscathed."Marcus chuckled, a sharp, mocking sound. "Unscathed? Oh, Damian, you're still under the impression that you're in control here.I took a step closer, my glare unwavering. "You're playing with fire, Marcus. You know what I'm capable of.""And you know what I want," he countered, straightening up and crossing his arms. "This isn't about power, Damian. It's ab
Chapter: Shadows of Despair(Lena's POV)The room was dark and dank, the walls closing in on me like a silent, jeering prison. My wrists ached from the rough ropes that had earlier bound them, and though now they'd let me free to move, bruises remained to cruelly remind me. The cold floor beneath me, the faint sound of dripping water somewhere in the distance. Days had passed-I wasn't sure how many-since they'd taken me, but it felt like an eternity.No food, no warmth, nothing but the smothering silence that had become my companion.I curled up into the corner, wrapping my legs tight against my chest, and just let the darkness comfort me. My mind went back to Damian: his eyes fierce, his arms embracing protection, his voice with a strength on which I could always lean upon. Did he at least know where I was? Did he even care?But then, there was Alex. His face haunted me just as much as Damian's did now.Alex had been my safe harbor once, a quiet and steady presence in a chaotic world
Chapter Thirty Four : Desperate PursuitDamian's POVMy study was quiet except for the soft hum of a clock on the wall, the papers and maps strewn across the desk the result of hours of frantic planning and blind alleys. My chest was tight, as if the air around me had thickened beyond breathing. It had been more than twenty-four hours since Lena was taken, and each passing second seemed another nail hammered into my resolve.I ran a hand through my hair, disheveled and damp with sweat. The suit that had been immaculate now wrinkled, the tie flung somewhere onto the floor. The polished veneer that I'd kept in place was in a thousand pieces, much like my poise. Lena was out there somewhere, with a man whom I despised more than anything in this world. And I had no idea how to get her back.“Damian,” one of my guards spoke cautiously from the doorway, interrupting my spiraling thoughts.“What?” My voice came out harsher than intended.He stepped forward hesitantly. “We’ve received a tip a
Chapter Thirty-Three : A Deal of Sacrifice Lena's POV The darkness was oppressive. I had no idea how long I'd spent in this grimy room. The air was damp, the stone walls cold against my back, and the silence was only relieved by an intermittent shuffling of footsteps outside the door. My stomach growled in protest, but I had long stopped thinking about food. My lips were dry from thirst, and every inch of my body was bruised due to the rough handling by Marcus's men during the abduction. The worst wasn't the pain but the crippling fear, the uncertainty of what was to happen. I sat curled in the corner, legs to my chest, trying to draw some comfort from my body. Memories of Damian's voice, his touches, his kisses merely replayed constantly in my brain. Did he know where I was? Would he even come for me? I shook the thought away. Damian was strong and resourceful, but Marcus wasn't someone you crossed without consequences. What if Bianca had told him lies? What if he thought
Chapter 32: The Betrayal Within(Damian's POV)The silence in my study was oppressive. Papers were scattered across my desk, the remnants of a frantic search for answers, but nothing felt right. My mind was a mess of worry and rage. Lena was gone, taken right from under my nose, and I knew exactly who was behind it.Bianca.I had underestimated her-no, I had underestimated the length she would go to hurt me. Since Lena's disappearance, my security tripled its efforts, but it was no more than a Band-Aid on a wound that refused to staunch bleeding. Bianca slithered her way back into my life again, like a snake, this time not alone. Marcus was her ally, as dangerous as he was cunning, and together they'd stolen what meant most to me.I sat brooding and thinking when, suddenly, my study door burst open. Two guards immediately stepped forward, hands on weapons, but I waved them off.And there she was. Bianca."How did you get in here?" I asked coldly, rising from my chair.She leaned again
Chapter Thirty-One: Dangerous Intrigues(Bianca's POV)The darkly lit bar was silent, save for the periodic clinking of glasses and the hum of hushed conversations. I sat in a secluded corner, my fingers tapping impatiently on the polished surface of the table. Across from me, Marcus leaned back in his chair, his steely eyes watching me with a calculating intensity."You've outdone yourself, Bianca," he said, the smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "I didn't think you had the guts to approach me directly. After everything that had happened, after how you had supported your Damian over me, so you can come to me?”I leaned forward, my voice low and deliberate. "This isn't about guts, Marcus. It's about strategy. Damian's gotten too soft, too distracted. If you want to bring him down, now is the time. You should know this world we are, one’s enemy can be one’s friend, so you don’t have to be surprised about this, I just brought up a stategy for you to grab, it’s all in your hands n