ELIZABETH'S POV 'Oh, I'm so sorry mistress, I didn’t know you were the one standing over there. I thought it was one of the servants. You must leave this arena, my mistress. If the Don sees you here Under my watch, I will be held accountable For your actions.' A guard said and walked me to my room.'Is anybody forbidding from staying there?' I asked in genuine curiosity.'I am not allowed to answer your questions mistress, but the Don requested that you should not be by yourself in this estate.' He said and walked off.I chuckled in realization. Adam doesn't want me sniffing around the compound. How cliché because that was exactly what I resolved to do. I knew he was suspicious of me, but that could not stop me from achieving my goals.I paced around the room for a while trying to figure out Adam's weak point.I remembered how his eyes spoke thousands of lustful words in my ears before he caught himself. I remember the desires I saw in his eyes when I stepped out of the car. I knew w
ADAM'S POV 'Kevin?' I asked in shock.'Yes, boss?' He asked, bending his head in submission.'You seem like you have something to say?' I asked, looking at him expectantly. The other Brodas turned too, waiting for whatever he will say.'I'm sorry for interrupting you, but I don't think we should kill her yet. She can serve a much bigger purpose sometime later in the future,' He said, his head still bowed.'What do you suggest then?' I asked, still curious.'Let's send her to the sisterhood caven, where she'll be taught fierce loyalty. Afterwards, she will be one of ours.' Kevin answered.I looked from Kevin to Yumi and back to Yumi. My eyes lingered on her for a while. It will be very hard to get Yumi to be part of us. It will take severe torture, and she might die in the process. Well, that will be a win-win.'Just allow me to die in your hands, Adam,' Yumi said tiredly.I chuckled at her and turned to Kevin. 'Very well then. I'm sure she'll serve a much better purpose.' I said and
ELIZABETH POV:Adam watch out!' I screamed in fear.I guess he didn't hear as he swivelled to the left, right where the danger zone was. I didn't recognise any of the huge men that stood there.'Who are these people, and what do they want?' I yelled in horror. In as much as I act strong and tough, I know how to retreat from danger zones when I see one.Ignoring me and my wails, Adam turned to my maidservant. 'Lizzy, protect your mistress. Never let her out of your sight. If anything gets tensed, you know what to do.' He said protectively.Lizzy nodded curtly in understanding and locked the car after Adam went out.'What did he mean by that?' I asked tearfully after Adam got out.'I will explain later, but for now, you have to sit tight and watch them,' she said, hushing me.I watched as Adam walked closer to the men and tried to have a conversation with them. They sized him up instead and walked dangerously close to him.And that exact moment, Lizzy pressed an emergency button I never
ADAM'S POVAdam watch out!' She screamed in fear.I don't see it until it's too late, a black car with tinted windows stops very close to ours and I almost bump into them.Thankfully, I managed to get the car in place before loosening my seatbelt. I watched in confusion as two hefty guys came out of the car and charged towards ours.Quickly, I left Lizzy with specific instructions and left the car. I walked up to them and demanded some sort of explanation. They didn’t know who they were dealing with.‘Why did you bump into us?’ I asked the first man angrily.'You should be grateful you're not dead yet,' one of them said sarcastically and charged for me.'What is it you want?' I asked, trying to pacify them.'We received specific orders to kill you and bring the woman in the car alive,' the other one said.Elizabeth? How did they know about Elizabeth? And how did they know that we were coming that way? Something wasn't right.'We can make this easy for you. Give us the girl and we will
Elizabeth’s POV‘He has requested that you meet him in Sir Richard's private chambers. We're here to get you prepared to see your husband.' They said and I could hear a scorn from one of them. I ignored her because she knew nothing about my plans.They bathed and scrubbed me well and dressed me in the finest purple gown I had laid eyes on. I looked terrific when they were done with the light makeup, which did nothing but complement my beautiful face.'He's waiting, mistress,' Lizzy said and gestured me to follow her. We walked from the east wing to the west wing, where Richard's room was.'Leave us,' Adam said to the guards and the maidservants accompanying us.As they left, Adam gestured for me to sit beside him. 'I'm so sorry for how I treated you yesterday. I was in pain and I wasn’t thinking straight. Do you forgive me?' He asked genuinely.I looked into his eyes and saw how truthful they were. I hated the fact that I could not completely ignore him. I hated the little tingling fe
ADAM'S POV'You should see things for yourself,' Kevin said and left the room.I raced to Richard's room immediately.‘The doctor said that his health is deteriorating seriously and he had little time to live.' Kevin whispered in my ears.We walked down to his room and found the doctor attending to Richard. 'Adam, thank God you're here. These are the prescriptions he needs to keep him going, but I will be very honest with you. He has very little time,' the doctor said as a matter of fact.'What do you think will help his condition?' I asked carefully, not allowing my voice to slip.'Human connection. He doesn't need to be isolated. I have seen patients like this, and if there's one thing that makes them recover, it is a connection with their families, their friends and their spouse especially.' The doctor explained.'Is that a matter of certainty?' I asked the doctor.'Like I said, from all the patients I've interacted with, that has always been the cure.' The doctor said.'Send for E
Richard PovAdam, thank God you're here. These are the prescriptions he needs to keep him going, but I will be very honest with you. He has very little time,' I listened as the doctor recited the statement just as he rehearsed. I smile broadly inwardly, almost removing my facade and giving him a thumbs up.'What do you think will help his condition?' Adam asked strained.'Human connection. He doesn't need to be isolated. I have seen patients like this, and if there's one thing that makes them recover, it is a connection with their families, their friends and their spouse especially.' The doctor explained.'Is that a matter of certainty?' I hear my brother ask the doctor.'Like I said, from all the patients I've interacted with, that has always been the cure.' The doctor explained patiently.I feel him watch me from the rim of his glasses. He knew better than to send a signal to me.I watch my brother look helplessly at me before turning to one of his guards. 'Send for Elizabeth imme
ELIZABETH'S POV I am surprised by how deep his voice is. 'What are you doing here?' He questioned authoritatively.I swallow the lump rising in my throat. 'I came to see you,' I said, regaining my voice.He looked at me curiously. 'What for?' He asked with rising brows.I could not understand. Can't he see the make-up and nightgown I wore to seduce him?'I just wanted to check up on you, that's all,' I said dismissively.He eyed me with suspicion. 'You saw me a few hours ago. Why do you want to see me again? Tell me, why are you here?' He continued.'Promise you won't get mad at me,' I said, tired of lying and going round.'I don't make promises. What brought you here Elizabeth?' He questioned authoritatively, walking dangerously close to me.'Okay, fine. Remember when you said I needed to take care of your brother sexually? I don't know what you mean by that exactly. I was wondering if you could teach me what I needed to know.' I said, looking at him squarely in the eyes.'And what
Adam’s POVAs soon as Corinth made a run for it, the chase ensued.The guards immediately shouted orders, their heavy boots echoing on the marble floor as they pursued her. Corinth moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd with a sense of urgency that gave precision to her every action. Her arms pumped, and her legs propelled her forward as she ran down the hallway, holding on tightly to the stolen gun.I followed her at a measured pace. She was driven by survival instincts, but panic often leads to mistakes. She would eventually slip up, and I intended to be there when it happened.At the end of the corridor, Corinth took a sharp turn into another hallway. A guard lunged at her, barely grazing her sleeve, but she spun around, driving her elbow into his ribs. He grunted in pain and stumbled back, crashing into a glass cabinet that shattered, sending pieces of glass everywhere.Another guard was on her quickly, reaching for her arm, but she ducked, swinging the gun to connect with his j
Corinth’s POVThe kitchen was filled with the aroma of fresh herbs and cooked meat, but it didn't give me the satisfaction I needed. I felt out of place.I stood at the shiny counter, my hands steady despite the cold surface.The head chef worked quickly and skillfully, preparing Elizabeth's dinner with pride in his work. He had no clue about my intentions.The moment had arrived. I reminded myself, "Don't mess up. Just do it and get out. It won't kill her. She'll be okay."I kept these thoughts in my head.I glanced at the spice rack. There was a small vial hidden between jars of basil and oregano, easy to miss. I had placed it there earlier to blend with the spices. My fingers brushed over it as I pretended to care about the plates.My heart was racing. There was no turning back.If I hesitated, my boss would punish me harshly. He never forgave mistakes. Failing was not an option for me.The chef turned to grab some rosemary. That was my chance.I carefully added a few drops of the
Adam’s POVThe room felt incredibly small, almost as if it were closing in on me. I could hardly breathe. My heart was pounding loudly, like war drums, as I stormed out, each step driven by the burning anger inside me.Corinth!!!That name was stuck in my thoughts, gripping my anger tightly. She had a simple task: deliver my message. Just one task, and she didn't do it.Maybe she even ignored it on purpose.I moved quickly through the hallway, my hands clenched in fists. I needed to find out what happened right away. Kevin had come out of his coma. That should have been the first thing I was told. Instead, I was kept in the dark. Someone was trying to keep me uninformed, someone wanted me off balance. And Corinth was at the heart of it all.As I got to the stairs, ready to go down, I noticed something move from the corner of my eye."Adam."I stopped and turned to where the voice came from. I saw Maximus standing there.He stepped in front of me, his face serious, his eyes sharp. He w
Adam's POVI hadn’t slept. I was tired, my eyes burned, and yet morning came, but my head wouldn’t sleep. Mirroring a shivering voice, slithering through the thoughts of the mind, wherever I closed my eyes, the very next moment, shadows got keen at the border of my moment, my sight. I didn’t know what was real anymore.Elizabeth curled up next to me, her breathing steady but shallow.Carefully I pushed her hair from her face, letting my fingers linger on her cheek. She appeared serene, but I knew it was an illusion. She was still plagued with nightmares. I had gotten up more than once to her shaking in her sleep and mumbled words that made no sense.That thought turned my blood to ice.Elizabeth turned a little and buried her face in my chest. I held her a bit tighter and then slipped out of bed gently. She didn’t stir.I dressed quickly. My body was worn out but my mind was as sharp as it had ever been. Today was the day I would get the answers I needed.By the time I entered the sec
Adam's POVI first noticed it in the little things — pauses, misplaced objects, an extra beat spent staring into space. Elizabeth had always been sharp, from her calculated endeavors to her scalpel-sharp mind. But recently, there was something different.She would reach for her food but then stop, narrowing her eyes as though she were aware that something just wasn’t right. Then she’d shake her head and make herself eat, though her appetite was sporadic. On some nights, she would eat an entire meal in minutes. On other nights, she hardly ate at all.And then came the confusion.She would forget things, the little things at first. Where she had left her phone. If she had answered a message〕. Then it escalated. Whole conversations fell from her mind. She repeated the same questions, even within minutes of one another.Initially, I told myself it was just stress. Pregnancy was complicated on the body, and Elizabeth had enough on her plate. However, I was not someone who disregarded my gu
Elizabeth's POVThe first time it happened, I wrote it off as nothing but exhaustion. I had screamed my fucking head off at that disappearing figure in the mirror.I caught a glimpse of a mirror today while fitting in brushing my hair before bed. I took the lamp off, and then turned back, and I swear my reflection didn’t follow.I blinked.There was nothing peculiar in the glass. Just me. My slightly uncombed hair, my weary gaze, my finger caught in mid-action.I exhaled and wrangled myself into laughter.Pregnancy fatigue. That’s all it was.But later that night, I was roused by whispers.My pulse quickened as I opened my eyes to stare at the darkness. It was faint, like a voice on the wind, low enough in pitch that the words couldn’t be made out.I turned my head slightly.Adam was lying next to me, his breathing slow and steady, deep in sleep.I held still, listening.The murmurs appeared to come in from one end of the room, close to the window. But when I changed, they went away.
Corinth's POVAfter a long pause, Adam finally sighed. He glanced over at Nico and Raphael and gave a small nod.“Take her to the infirmary.”Without another word, Raphael put a steadying hand on my back and guided me out.*******We had just stepped inside when the cool, sterile smell of disinfectant seeped into my nose. The room was silent, the air-conditioner purring softly.I sat down on the patient’s bed and Raphael stood by the door, arms crossed.But then, Nico stepped forward.His fingers curled and uncurled at his sides. He looked so serious doing it.Then he turned to Raphael.“I got it from here.”Raphael didn’t budge at first. He narrowed his eyes slightly.I could almost hear the silent judgment in his eyes.But after the longest moment, Raphael released a slow breath.He shook his head, muttered some words under his breath and turned and left.The door clicked closed behind him.And then, there was silence.I looked at Nico, who suddenly looked nervous.He cleared his th
Corinth's POVThe maids cast anxious looks at one another. After a few seconds of doubt one of them opened the door.The girl who had shut the door retreated slowly, her fingers shaking.Raphael didn’t wait. He put his arm around my waist for support and walked me toward the exit. My legs shook, but I willed myself to keep standing.As soon as we crossed the threshold, I felt a chill go down my spine when something in the back of the room moved quickly.A shadow lunged toward us.Before I had time to react, Raphael spun around, his reflexes a split second fast.He avoided the hit at the last moment, his hand lashed out and caught the wrist of the girl who dared try to shove us.He yanked her forward with a slightly calculated, completely nonchalant sort of movement, disrupting her center of gravity. She took a shocked, short shout, hands waving as she nearly fell downstairs.The other maids sucked in their breaths, their faces locked with terror.She teetered and almost caught herself
Corinth’s POVThe voices outside the restroom cubicle became louder.“She’s in here.”I scrunched my hand over my mouth, my heartbeat pounding against my ribs. I leaned my back against the cold wall, listening to the footsteps approach.“Corinth,” called one of the maids, sharply, and taunting. “Come out now or we’re coming in.”I dug my fingers into my own skin, struggling to keep my breathing even. If I said nothing, maybe they’d go away. Maybe they’d get bored.But I wasn’t that lucky.Kicking the cubicle door, one of them made a loud bang. I jumped.“You deaf, whore?” another one hissed. “Open the damn door.”I hesitated. And if I took too long, they’d barge in. They had no boundaries.“Last warning.”I squeezed my eyes shut one moment, released a breath, then felt for the lock. As soon as I slid it open, the door flew inward, almost smacking me in the face. Before I even had a chance to react, a fist grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled me forward.A shrill scream tore out of