Chapter Seven : Under Bianca's RuleThe ride to Bianca's mansion was punishment. I sat in the back seat, quietly, my hands clasped tightly together, my stomach twisting in knots. Bianca sat up front, her laughter cutting through the air as she chatted on the phone. Every now and then, she'd glance at me through the rear view, her eyes full of disdain.When we finally arrived, the mansion loomed before me through the windows of my carriage, a predator ready to pounce. Immense in size, so cold, inhospitable. The towering gates grudgingly creaked open; I was shown inside without any complimentary formalities.Bianca didn't waste any time. "Follow me," she snarled, the heels clattering loud on marble floor as she took me down a long hall. There were expensive paintings decorating the walls, the floors gleamed, and every corner just seemed to scream wealth. Yet there was no warmth here, only this suffocating atmosphere of dominance.She halted before a small door and pushed it open. "This
Chapter Eight: Trapped Heavy air, suffocating, as I crept down the dark corridors of the mansion, my bare feet making no sound on the cold marble floor. My heart was racing, pounding in my ears so loudly I just knew it would be heard. My breaths were shallow, fear clawing at my throat, but I pressed on.I couldn't stay here anymore. I didn't know where I'd go or what would happen to me, but anywhere was better than this place-better than putting up with Bianca's cruelty and Damian's indifference.I reached the front door, the large ornate handle glinting in the faint moonlight spilling through the high windows. Freedom was so near I could almost taste it. My shaking fingers reached out and skimmed the cold metal, when a gruff voice shattered my tenuous hope."And where do you think you're going?"My blood ran cold, and I was rooted to the spot. Slowly, I turned to find Bianca standing behind me. The silk robe was hanging loosely on her thin frame, her arms were crossed over her chest
Chapter Nine : The Weight Of Sillence The darkness in the room barely spread to the corners when I shut the door behind me. It was that harmless, almost not-heard click of the latch that sounded like the last nail hammered into a coffin. This room, small as it was, was my only pedestal to unravel myself. But here, too, the walls seemed to encroach on me, choking with reminders of my failure.I leaned against the door, sliding down until I sat on the cold floor. Knees tucked to chest, arms wrapping tightly about them, as if holding myself together could stop the ache inside. Hot, endless, tears started before I could stop them, carving silent trails down my cheeks.Why had I thought I could endure this?Every moment here reminded me of how helpless I felt. Seven years, seven long years-serving Damian, paying off the debt i owe- Being in Damian's cold mansion is far better than staying here. I thought I am there to serve Damain, how come serving his girlfriend too? It wasn't in the dea
Chapter Ten: Damian's Thought Damian's PovThe night was still, but my mind wasn't. I was sitting in my dimmed study; the amber glow of the desk lamp cast shadow patterns on the walls. The drink in my hand had remained untouched for hours, the ice melting in it, diluting the amber liquid.But nothing diluted the thoughts churning in my head.Her face just wouldn't leave me.Lena.I leaned back in the leather chair, my eyes fixed on the ceiling as her image flickered in my mind: those wide, frightened eyes, the way her slight frame seemed to shrink as Bianca stood over her, spitting cruel words even in my presence.I had watched it all, watched as Bianca stripped her of what little dignity she had left.And I had done nothing.No, it wasn't true. I'd done something. I'd let Bianca take her away even when I knew deep down she doesn't have a good intention towards her.I squeezed my eyes shut, clenching the glass so hard it was in danger of shattering.It hadn't been my choice-not reall
Chapter Eleven : Taking What's MineDamian's PovI couldn't sit still anymore.From my clenched fists to the heat rising in my chest, my entire body screamed for action. I knew exactly what I needed to do, and I had no longer a doubt left. I had allowed her to suffer enough, and now it was time to fix this.I got into the car, my heart pounding in my chest as the tires screeched against the road, slicing through the night like a knife. Bianca's house was far enough from mine that the ride gave me ample time to think, but my thoughts were more like a haze, really.Anger. Frustration. Guilt.What had I done?She had begged me, pleaded with me, and I had just let her go. I had allowed Bianca to drag her into this nightmare. I had stood by and told myself I didn’t care.But now, the thought of Lena in that house, enduring Bianca’s cruelty, made my blood boil. I didn’t know how I had let this go on for so long.I had to stop this.It came into view, and the mansion sat coldly in the distan
Chapter Twelve: A Glimmer of HopeLena's PovThe hum of the car engine filled the silence, but it did little to drown out the pounding of my heart. I sat stiffly, my hands gripping my skirt so tightly my knuckles turned white. Damian sat beside me, his profile sharp under the dim light from passing streetlamps. His jaw was clenched, his hands gripping the wheel with tension that made me wonder if it might snap under the strain.I wanted to speak, to ask him why he'd come for me, why he'd stormed into Bianca's house like a raging storm and pulled me out of that hellhole without a word. But the words were trapped in my throat, tangled with the fear and confusion that had consumed me since the moment he appeared at Bianca's door.I stole a glance at him, but his face didn't give anything away. His gaze was fixed on the road, his brows furrowed as if wrestling some invisible demon.Why? The question screamed inside my head, louder than the roar of my own heartbeat. Why would he care?The
Chapter Thirteen: "Promises in the Dark"Lena's POVThe house was quiet, far too quiet. The kind of silence that seemed to press against the walls, lingering in the shadows like a secret no one was willing to speak. It had been hours since Damian left for his usual business, and though I should've felt relief, all I could feel was the weight of the loneliness that came in his absence.I couldn't remember the last time I had time to myself, to just breathe and think. The weight of Damian's power and intensity constantly smothering me, but I knew that wouldn't last long. Damian always came back, he always commanded attention. I wouldn't have long before he did again, and I wasn't sure what I would do with that.It was then that I heard it-footsteps at my door. Not heavy, powerful steps like Damian's but light and cautious.I got up from the bed, heart racing. Could it be him? No. He would've called first. He always did. Yet, this presence that lay beyond my door felt different. I approa
Chapter Fourteen: Whispers of DefianceLena's POVThe morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, a stark contrast to the storm that had raged within me throughout the night. Sleep had evaded me entirely, my mind replaying Alex’s visit over and over again. His voice still lingered in my ears, his promise echoing in the hollow chambers of my heart."I will come back for you."I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor as if the answers I sought could be found there. My chest was heavy, weighed down by the memory of his touch, the gentleness in his eyes, and the warmth of his voice. For the first time in years, I'd felt something other than despair.Hope.But hope was dangerous.It had been years since I'd let myself hope for anything, especially freedom. This life, Damian's world, it had stolen every fragment of me that once had dared to dream of a better tomorrow. And now, Alex had dared to hand that hope back to me, lighting a spark I wasn't sure I was strong enough to nur
Chapter One Hundred and seventeen: Escape in the DarkLena's POVThere was a single loud gunshot, a slicing cut into the night like a blade. It was a deafening crunch that wedged itself in my ears, pushing out the rest of the world.I froze. My heart stilled. My body froze.For a moment, I wasn't sure if I'd been hit.I hurt nothing—nothing ached or burned. But the quiet after the shot was stifling, a heavy weight of importance suspended in the air.And then I heard it. The hitch of breath, the low, agonized grunt.My gaze snapped to Damian.He crumpled back, his fingers digging into his ribs, clenching his side. Blood seeped through his black shirt, staining it a deep, dark red."Damian!" I exclaimed, racing towards him.His eyes never dimmed, his jaw still set, his face contorted in a scowl, but he didn't collapse. He didn't stumble. Injured, he stood—lethal, unstoppable.Against the wall, Bianca gripped the smoking gun in trembling hands. Her eyes were wild, her face vacillating be
Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen: The ChaseDamian's POVThe moment I stepped out of the warehouse, my phone rang. Logan's name was on the screen. I answered in a flash, my voice cold."Tell me you found her."I didn't like the silence, so I waited."We tracked her phone," Logan said. "But it was discarded three blocks from the estate. She's off the grid."My fist clenched around the phone. I knew what that accomplished. Bianca had done it intentionally. She had had Lena under wraps to avoid tracking. My chest seethed with rage and something deeper beneath—fear.Lena was in danger.I gave orders to my men, my voice coldly. "I want everyone on hand out searching for her. Every street corner, every surveillance camera. If anyone even caught a glimpse, I want to know about it."They scattered at once, wiser than to linger. My head was pounding, my pulse a beat of tension. I had kept Lena in the dark, thinking I could shield her from Bianca's manipulations. And now she had been yanked into
Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Cret CloserDamian's POVI stood in the middle of my office, staring at the map laid out on the table. My mind was racing, every thought slicing like a knife. I knew Bianca was brewing something big, and with Ricci involved now, things had become dangerous.Bianca wasn't just attempting to make my life complicated anymore. She was hell-bent on ruining me completely. And the worst, she was using Lena as a pawn.I tightened fists.I could not let that happen."Boss." Logan's voice snapped me out of my contemplation. He was at the door, his face serious. "We got more information."I stood up. "Tell me."Logan came in, closing the door. He placed a folder on the desk, but I didn't need to open it to know it was bad news. The tension on his face told me so."She's dating Ricci again," he told me. "Tonight. Same place as before."I gradually let out a breath, holding back my anger. "And?"Logan paused for a moment before going on. "They have something planne
Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen: TrappedLena's POVThe house was heavy with tension. Damian had been tight since the explosion, snapping orders at his men, making late-night calls, and taking off for hours at a time without informing me where he was going. I could feel the shift in the atmosphere—the war had begun at last.And I was caught in the middle.I remained in the living room, gazing at the dancing flames within the fireplace. The heat would have been calming, but instead, it was a reminder of the explosion—the roar of the sound, the shaking walls, the moment that I thought I was going to die.There were so many questions I wanted answered, yet no one was giving them to me.The men in the house avoided eye contact with me. They were keeping something from me. Even Logan, the one who had tried to be nice to me at least, had been chilly. Damian was keeping things from me, and I was sick of it.I needed some answers.I stood up and made my way towards his office. The door was o
Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen : The Chase Begins(Damian's POV)The scent of smoke and blood hung in the air as I loomed over the dead form of the man who had tried to abduct Lena. My fists were clenched at my sides, my temper barely under control.He was one of Bianca's men. That much was certain. But before I could get a word out of him, he had bitten down on something hidden in his mouth—cyanide, most likely.A tidy, efficient way to avoid talking.I expelled a rough breath. Bianca wasn't playing games anymore. She was escalating, putting me on the brink. And if she thought that she could take Lena away from me, she had another think coming.Logan intervened, his face stern. "We searched him. There wasn't much on him—no ID, no money. But we did have this."He handed me a phone. The screen was cracked, but it worked. I rapidly scrolled through it and found nothing but a single unread message."Take her to the docks. Midnight."My grip around the device hardened. Midnight was unde
Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: A Race Against Time(Damian's POV)The room was silent except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. I was by the window, staring out into the dark night, my head filled with thoughts I could not get rid of.Bianca had fled.She had vanished into thin air, and hard as I tried, I could not locate her.That was not the worst part.She had a plan. A big one. And I was wasting time stopping her.My fists tightened. I wasn't a man who let people get away. I wasn't a man who let enemies slip through his fingers. But Bianca had outwitted me, and now she was out there, waiting, plotting, watching.I was interrupted from my thoughts by a knock on the door."Come in," I growled.Logan came in, his face tense. He was holding a file, and by the glance in his eyes, I knew it wasn't good."We scoured all of the safe houses, all of Bianca's contacts," he reported to me. "She's gone. Completely off the grid."I clenched my teeth. "That's impossible. No one vanishes
Chapter One Hundred and Eleven: The Hunt BeginsDamian's POVI sat in the dimly lit office, my fingers clasped tightly around a glass of whiskey I hadn't even taken a drink from. The room was silent, with only the sound of the clock on the wall marking the time, each second ticking by longer than the last. My mind was reeling, taking all of the information I had on Bianca and Ricci.She'd made her final card, and I wasn't going to sit there and wait for the next move to be taken on her behalf. It was time to take the initiative.Logan came in with a groan of the door, his expression serious. "We have a lead," he said, slamming a file down onto my desk.I opened it immediately, reading the information. Photos, timestamps, where. Ricci's men had been entering and exiting the old warehouse off the docks—a place Bianca had been seen near recently."She's hiding there," I snarled, my jaw tightening.Logan nodded. "It's likely. We also apprehended a man who was working for Ricci. He was arr
Chapter One Hundred and Ten: The Shadow Closing InLena's POVThere had been this odd sense creeping over me for days. It was low-key at first—merely a feeling of discomfort, a voice in my head telling me that something wasn't quite right. But the longer it went on, the more difficult it was to shake.It was the way Damian's men looked at me when they believed I didn't see them. The hushed words that ended the moment I walked into a room. The way Damian himself had been acting—tense, reserved, as though he bore a weight too heavy for any single individual.And then the small but undeniable things.The first was the black car that constantly appeared.I had caught a glimpse of it two days prior while darting about on errands. I did not think anything of it at first, then noticed it again. And again. A black sedan with tinted windows, cruising a fancy foreign vehicle. Parked just far enough away not to raise suspicions, always coming different times but never once coming near.The secon
Chapter One Hundred and Nine: A Dangerous BargainDamian's POVThe scent of gasoline and salt hung in the air as I stepped out of the black SUV, my boots crunching into the gravel of the empty dock. The waters were still, too quiet, as though the ocean itself was holding its breath in anticipation. A single warehouse stood in the distance, its rusted front blending it into the darkness. This was where Antonio Ricci had chosen to meet me.I adjusted the gun in my holster, the comforting weight digging into my side. Two of my best men and Logan stood behind me, their faces cold, their hands on their guns. I wouldn't have been surprised if this meeting had turned into a shootout within seconds."Stay sharp," I muttered. Logan nodded curtly, his eyes scanning the area.A moment later, the large metal doors of the warehouse creaked open, and a man stepped out. Antonio Ricci. His suit was a sharp gray, the fabric barely ruffling in the soft breeze. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and the co