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CHAPTER 22: Meeting
Last Updated:
2025-04-24 16:33:52
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Desperate Measures CHAPTER 23: Sister Talk
Aria walked into Liya’s room. Liya had been able to regulate her breathing and stop herself from freaking out, panicking, and flinching at every single sound by some miracle. She didn’t know how she was able to do it, but she did it. Aldo had already left her to herself after he had hugged her and promised to protect her. She knew that he was either in his study or in his room, reading over a few files just as usual. It was like she had almost been right in front of death but was somehow lucky. For how long though?Aria’s knock on the door was able to bring her back to reality. She managed to smile at the girl, who returned the smile with the brightest one she could muster. “Do you need something?” Liya asked, and she shook her head. “I just wanted to see you before I go to bed,” Aria whispered, tip-toeing until she got to Liya’s bed, and sat down, taking her hand in her smaller ones.“That’s okay,” Liya whispered back, making both of them laugh. But then, Liya had other things in m
Last Updated : 2025-04-25Desperate Measures CHAPTER 24: Photograph
After checking up on Aria and going back to his office to check on the security cameras that Melinda had said she put in place, Aldo headed back to his study to go through a few documents that needed his attention. He checked up on Aria again and this time, she was really asleep. He couldn’t hold back his chuckle. He was glad she could sleep after all that they had been throughout that day. Liya decided to keep herself busy with something after Aria had left her room for hers. As she walked down the halls, she noticed the door to Aldo’s room was open. She had never been in there so she didn’t bother knocking as she walked into the room. It was the first time so she took time to admire it. The room was covered in white. Like a hospital. The only things that were of a different color were the mahogany doors and tables. She wondered how he managed to stay in an almost monochrome room. She was so lost in thought, that she didn’t even notice when he walked into the room. He tapped her sh
Last Updated : 2025-04-26Desperate Measures CHAPTER 25: Broken Trust
After talking to Liya, Aldo knew that nothing would ever remain the same. He wanted to head to his room, but he knew that sleep was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He ended up going to his study to see if he would be able to go through some files that needed his attention. Business was the only thing that seemed to save him whenever he was drowning in thoughts. He tried going through them, but he couldn't get Liya’s voice out of his head. Her calm voice when she said she just wanted him to be real with her. He didn't know if all the answers that he had given her were the best but at least he was truthful to her. It was true that he and Damian were close. Very close allies and businessmen back then. Damian was more like an older brother and that was due to their age difference. He was a mentor but now Damian was more like a wolf hunting Aldo down. Aldo ran his hands through his hair in frustration, as he tried not to groan. A knock on the door brought him out of his dilemm
Last Updated : 2025-04-27Desperate Measures The bargain
Liya Glensdale stared blankly at her untouched coffee while the rain washed against the windows of the little diner she sat in. She constantly picked at her nails with nerves unsettled as the minutes flew by on the wall clock, drawing the inevitable meeting with the man who could decide her brother's fate, closer. When the bell above the diner rang, Liya’s eyes popped up as she watched a man enter and shake the rain off his trench coat, his presence immediately changing the atmosphere of the entire room. Her heart began racing as she watched Damian Viktor approach her table. He was by far taller than she had thought, with a scrawny face and a smile that made him look more sinister and cruel than kind. Even with his sharp suit that emphasized he was well-off, his appearance screamed that he was a dangerous man, the kind you don't get involved with. He sat down across from her, skin spread like he owned the place. “Liya Glensdale,” he said with a flat yet rough voice. “I’ve been anti
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Desperate Measures The first strike
Liya’s scream echoed throughout the room as the window shattered, spraying shards of glass all over the study. Her body shifted backward impulsively, her heart beating noisily in her chest. She rushed for shelter, her hands trembling as she took cover behind the gigantic desk, the wood pressing into her back.A figure showed up in the broken window, his face covered by a mask, then with sharp and precise movement, he dragged his body through the broken glass. His silhouette was frightful, shaped by the night outside and the shining weapon in his hand glaring at her. The air around him was filled with danger and her breathing came in pants.“Miss Glensdale, move.” Melinda’s frantic voice cut through the havoc. She emerged in the doorway, a gleaming black firearm in her grip.Liya didn't wait for her to repeat herself. She ran further into the study, hiding behind a heavy oak desk as the infiltrator advanced toward her. The intruder’s face was masked, his figure covered in black from he
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Desperate Measures The next warning
The atmosphere outside the mansion seemed strangely silent compared to the chaos that just happened in the study. The storm had passed leaving the night wet and calm, but Liya’s heart was anything but still. The scene repeatedly played in her mind. Every detail troubled her mind as she followed Aldo and Melinda down the shadowy hallway, her movement quick to keep up with them.Liya’s breath came out in pants, her palms sweaty as she wrapped her arms around herself. She had never felt so uncomfortable, so totally exposed. The beauty of the mansion, with its spotless floors and grand chandelier, felt more like a sugar-coated cage rather than a shelter.Aldo stopped suddenly, turning to her. His fierce gaze on her and for a minute, her breath stopped. “We don't have a lot of time,” he said in a low but firm voice.”Damian won’t stop just after a single attack. This was the first of many, so we need to hurry.”Liya’s stomach knotted. Thoughts of the lifeless human in the study filled her m
Last Updated : 2025-01-22Desperate Measures The stranger with the note
The figure that stood at the doorway was tall, shoulders wide, and somewhat hidden by the dim lighting in the room. Her pulse pumped and her head ached. Didn't they say this was a safe place, reinforced and impenetrable? So what was this man doing standing inside the supposedly secured room and glaring at her? How did he break through the mansion’s security? “Who…who are you? What do you want?” Her voice cracked, shaking with fear. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he fixed his sharp eyes on her, assessing her like a predator examining its prey. He stepped forward and Liya willed herself to move but her legs refused to cooperate. Her eyes flitted to the monitors but they were black and without any image. The room which had once felt like a refuge suddenly felt like a snare. “I–I’ll scream,” she stuttered in a quivering but feisty voice. The man raised his brows, a light smile on his lips. “You could, but I wouldn't advise it,” he said in a smooth and calm voice, sounding bore
Last Updated : 2025-01-22Desperate Measures CHAPTER 5: MORE FINDINGS
The days after the attack went by in a blur for Liya. The broken window had been fixed but flashbacks from that night continued playing in her head like a broken record. She had finally seen the dangerous world he lived in, a world she was no part of. Liya roamed the wide halls of Aldo’s mansion, the fanciness around her a total opposite of the storm inside her. Even with the expensive crystal chandeliers and paintings that decorated the walls, the air was still filled with tension. She felt like a prisoner in a golden cage, her every move watched by Melinda or one of Aldo’s men. Her brain kept returning to Aldo’s words from the night of the attack: you're a party to the game now. She couldn't figure out what he was saying. What role did she play and what game was he talking about?While roaming, she came across a library, the room was filled with books from floor to ceiling, it was every girl's dream. She ran her fingers over them, inhaling the smell of leather and paper which was
Last Updated : 2025-02-12
Latest chapter
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 25: Broken Trust
After talking to Liya, Aldo knew that nothing would ever remain the same. He wanted to head to his room, but he knew that sleep was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He ended up going to his study to see if he would be able to go through some files that needed his attention. Business was the only thing that seemed to save him whenever he was drowning in thoughts. He tried going through them, but he couldn't get Liya’s voice out of his head. Her calm voice when she said she just wanted him to be real with her. He didn't know if all the answers that he had given her were the best but at least he was truthful to her. It was true that he and Damian were close. Very close allies and businessmen back then. Damian was more like an older brother and that was due to their age difference. He was a mentor but now Damian was more like a wolf hunting Aldo down. Aldo ran his hands through his hair in frustration, as he tried not to groan. A knock on the door brought him out of his dilemm
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 24: Photograph
After checking up on Aria and going back to his office to check on the security cameras that Melinda had said she put in place, Aldo headed back to his study to go through a few documents that needed his attention. He checked up on Aria again and this time, she was really asleep. He couldn’t hold back his chuckle. He was glad she could sleep after all that they had been throughout that day. Liya decided to keep herself busy with something after Aria had left her room for hers. As she walked down the halls, she noticed the door to Aldo’s room was open. She had never been in there so she didn’t bother knocking as she walked into the room. It was the first time so she took time to admire it. The room was covered in white. Like a hospital. The only things that were of a different color were the mahogany doors and tables. She wondered how he managed to stay in an almost monochrome room. She was so lost in thought, that she didn’t even notice when he walked into the room. He tapped her sh
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 23: Sister Talk
Aria walked into Liya’s room. Liya had been able to regulate her breathing and stop herself from freaking out, panicking, and flinching at every single sound by some miracle. She didn’t know how she was able to do it, but she did it. Aldo had already left her to herself after he had hugged her and promised to protect her. She knew that he was either in his study or in his room, reading over a few files just as usual. It was like she had almost been right in front of death but was somehow lucky. For how long though?Aria’s knock on the door was able to bring her back to reality. She managed to smile at the girl, who returned the smile with the brightest one she could muster. “Do you need something?” Liya asked, and she shook her head. “I just wanted to see you before I go to bed,” Aria whispered, tip-toeing until she got to Liya’s bed, and sat down, taking her hand in her smaller ones.“That’s okay,” Liya whispered back, making both of them laugh. But then, Liya had other things in m
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 22: Meeting
Aldo walked down to the basement. He could finally breathe after so long. After making sure that his girls were okay, he could finally pay attention to things that were a threat to their safety. His men pushed the iron door aside, and he walked in, inspecting the room. He noticed the man they had captured sitting in a corner, tied to the chair. Aldo felt his hands ball into fists as he walked up to the guy immediately. His head was cocked to the side, as blood flowed from the sides of his mouth. Aldo looked over to the men who were standing behind the attacker. “Has he said anything?” he asked, and they shook their heads. “He just kept saying that he won't say a word until his boss feels like he is worth saving.”Aldo tried his best to hold back his laughter at the mention of that. The attacker obviously didn’t know the kind of person he worked for. He was just going to be one of the countless souls who lost their lives all because they were sent on missions that they couldn’t retu
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 21: Just In Time
Aldo was going through some of the files that had been sitting at his table for the longest time. It was time that he focused on work properly, at least to take his mind off all the things that had been happening at home. His phone suddenly rang, and he rushed to pick it up. Melinda’s name flashed on the screen, and he frowned. He hurried to answer, hoping that there was nothing wrong happening at home. “What’s wrong?” he asked, with a sense of urgency in his tone.“Sir,” Melinda answered, panting. “The warehouse at the harbor is on fire.”“What?” he asked, hoping that he didn’t hear her properly, but she repeated the same statement. That alone made anger fill his body immediately. He managed to regain himself. He couldn’t be caught slipping. He hurried out of the office, into his car, and drove to the harbor.On his way there, Aldo hoped to God that Melinda was playing some kind of joke. He promised himself that he wasn’t going to react negatively if it turned out that she was telli
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 20: An attack
Liya woke up and she could instantly tell that something was wrong before she even properly opened her eyes. Her blanket slowly slipped off her shoulders as she stood up. She hurried downstairs to check where Melinda and Aldo were but everywhere was quiet. She didn’t want to panic. She hurried back to her room, bracing herself to call him and ask where he was. She didn't know why but she had a strong feeling of danger.Liya walked into the room just in time to hear the phone ping. Cautiously, she picked it up. She was slightly relieved when she saw that it was just a text from Melinda. That meant they were fine, right?Stay inside today. It’s not safe. The text said.Liya had to roll her eyes. Like it was ever safe at the house. They were always assuring her that the estate was safe and secure but somehow, someone always managed to breach the security. Going past the gates, going past the guards, making it through the alarm sensor, and sometimes, even crossing the electric fence. The
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 19: Partial Truth
Liya walked back to the mansion as she wrung her hands together. She still couldn’t make sense of the fact that Liam was there, trying to talk to her and then he was gone in a flash. The fear was obvious in his voice. Maybe if he hadn’t shown her how stupid he was, she might have believed him and trusted him to take care of himself. She was fighting a silent battle, trying to see if she wanted to tell Aldo about everything that Liam had just told her. But he specifically asked her not to trust Aldo. Not yet at least. Just as she was about to walk into the mansion, a blaring sound went off immediately, making her flinch and panic. It was the alarm. She hurried inside before any of the guards could come and see her outside. She looked around as she made her way up the stairs. She waited for Aldo to show up at any minute. Things were extremely unpredictable when it came to the man.Liya hurried to her room, changing her clothes which were now soaking wet. Just as she tied the comfortabl
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 18: Brother in the rain
The rain hadn’t stopped since dawn as Liya sat in the library, a blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders. The fireplace crackled low, adding warmth but not comfort. There was a stillness to the house today, the kind that makes silence feel louder. Outside, the guards were posted under the arches of the front gate, unmoving, rain dotting their coats. No one came in. No one left. Not that anyone could, not without Aldo’s permission.The message still haunted her. Two of them now, from the same anonymous number. Military-grade encryption, Mason had said. The kind of thing that could get someone killed just by tracing it. But what haunted her more was that lingering sense that the sender wasn’t a stranger.The way they wrote… it felt personal.She hadn’t spoken to Aldo since after their walk in the garden. He’d disappeared again. His absence left the mansion hollow in a way that didn’t make sense, considering it had always been too large for two people.Liya tucked her legs under her
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 17: Strange delivery
Liya didn’t realize she’d fallen asleep until knocking on the door shook her. It wasn’t loud, more like a soft tap meant to disturb without causing alarm. Still, in the dead silence of the early morning, it was deafening.She sat up, the blanket slipping off her shoulders. She glanced at the clock. 5:42 a.m. Odd. Too early for housekeeping or whoever it was.A moment passed, and then the knock came again. This time, a single tap. Then silence. She rose cautiously, wrapping her robe around her body as she approached the door. “Who is it?” she asked, her voice firmer than she felt.No response.She opened the door just a crack, peeking into the hallway. Empty. No sound, no movement. Just the numerous paintings on the wall. Her room was at a good distance from the main quarters. No one wandered here unless they had a reason.Her eyes dropped to the floor. A small parcel lay at the foot of her door. Wrapped in plain brown paper, no ribbons, no stamps. No handwriting on the outside. Like a
