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CH. 20
Last Updated:
2025-04-30 05:04:58
Golden ButterflyThird bonus chapter :)
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HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.21
ELISE“Kieran… please.” I finally manage only a raw and pleading whisper.I am utterly exposed, sprawled across his desk. My legs are open and my nipples reddened by his hands with his finger still inside me.I am begging him, shameless and desperate… my pride in tatters.And that’s when he finally reacts.I see the evidence of his arousal. Of a bulge straining against his gray suit pants, the heat radiating through the fabric. It’s the only sign he’s affected at all, but it’s enough. For a moment, I’m not alone in this.“You’re aroused,” I whisper, needing to know I’m not the only one unraveling.Kieran raises an eyebrow as if he’s indifferent to his own reaction.The air between us hums with tension… a silent battle of wills.“So you’ll help me, right?” My voice is firmer than I expect, defiant despite my vulnerability.His fingers are still inside me.I hold his gaze, refusing to back down.Even aroused, Kieran’s face remains impassive like a Greek statue, handsome and unmoved by d
Last Updated : 2025-04-30HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.1
ELISE"Hurry," Natasha urges in a low voice. "You will soon be called to give your anniversary speech and she'll come looking for us soon."I freeze outside my office door, my hand hovering above the handle. Natasha 's voice stops me from entering."Almost done," Alexander mutters. "That's the last of the safety reports. What about the offshore accounts?"My husband. And my stepsister. In my office. Discussing... what exactly?"Already taken care of. Father signed the transfer papers this morning. The Singapore branch is fully independent now, no CASSOVILE oversight."I hear movement, then Alexander's voice again. "You're brilliant, you know that? Elise never suspected a thing."My name in his mouth feels like a betrayal already. I pull out my phone and start recording."Poor Elise," Natasha 's tone is mocking. "Always so worried about doing the right thing. She never understood that the right thing is whatever makes the most money."My chest tightens as Alexander responds. "Her obses
Last Updated : 2025-04-11HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.2
ELISEThe ride from The Pinnacle to the penthouse is dead silent, except for Natasha's nails tapping away on her phone screen.I stare out the window, watching Rosienne's lights blur together as tears well up in my eyes."Can you stop that?" I mutter, nodding at her fingers.She doesn't even look up. "Stop what?""The tapping. It's driving me crazy."Natasha rolls her eyes but stops, then goes back to scrolling silently.The security team finally let me go back to what used to be my home with Alexander, though they've got some guy stationed in the lobby—"for my protection," they keep saying.Yeah, right."I'll have her stuff sent over to our place," Natasha tells dad, talking about me like I'm not even here. "She shouldn't be alone tonight, but Alexander has to deal with the board meeting... you know, because of everything."Everything. That's their code word for my public "meltdown"—what they're calling my attempt to expose their lies.When the elevator doors open, I step into what
Last Updated : 2025-04-11HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.3
ELISESilence hangs in the study.My father stands before me expressionlessly.He moves toward his desk, fingers hovering over something beneath the mahogany surface."I've only ever tried to keep you safe, Elise," he mutters.His gaze fixes on a point beyond my shoulder, unwilling to meet my eyes. "Even from yourself."A cold sensation creeps up my spine, settling between my shoulder blades. The hair on my arms rises despite the warmth of the room."What do you mean?" My voice comes out smaller than intended, betraying the fear building inside me."It means I've decided." His finger presses down with a quiet click.The heavy oak door swings open almost immediately.Two men enter. They are company security, their dark suits immaculate and their expressions professionally blank. I recognize Mathew, the head of security and his deputy whose name escapes me. Their presence transforms the study from sanctuary to trap in an instant."Dad?" I step backward instinctively, bumping against a l
Last Updated : 2025-04-11HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.4
ELISEI wake up in pieces.Sound comes first. Then feeling rough sheets scratching against my skin.Finally, my eyes crack open to blinding white ceiling tiles glowing under buzzing fluorescent lights."She's waking up," someone says nearby. "Vitals look good."I try to lift my hand to my pounding head, but something stops me. Looking down, I see padded restraints binding my wrists to the bed.My heart starts racing."Where—" My voice breaks, dry as sandpaper. "Where am I?"A woman steps up to the bed. She wears light green scrubs and holds a clipboard to her chest. Her blonde hair is pulled back so tight it looks painful, and her smile never reaches her cold eyes."Good morning, Mrs. Westfield. I'm Nurse Wagner. You're at Pinewood Wellness Center," she says, glancing at her notes. "You arrived about fourteen hours ago."I pull against the restraints, feeling them dig into my skin. "Why am I tied down?" I hate how weak I sound."Standard procedure for new patients who got aggressive d
Last Updated : 2025-04-11HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.5
ELISEDays at Pinewood Wellness Center blend together into one long, blurry mess. I can't tell if I've been here for weeks or months anymore.The rooms have no windows, and the strict schedule wipes out any sense of time passing. Only the different nurses coming and going remind me that the world outside still exists."Good morning, Mrs. Westfield." A nurse I don't recognize puts a small cup of pills on the table next to my bed. "Time for your medicine."I look at the pills. There seem to be more than yesterday, or maybe the day before. They keep changing the doses, adding new ones, until my thoughts feel like they're moving through molasses."What are these?" My voice sounds strange, weak from barely using it."Just your regular treatment." The nurse's smile is polite yet empty. "Dr. Mercer added something to help you sleep better."Sleep better. A nice way to describe the nightmares that make me wake up screaming. The visions of Alexander and Natasha laughing while I sink into dark
Last Updated : 2025-04-11HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.6
ELISEMorning light streams through the small window in my room, creating a bright patch on the dull floor.After six weeks in Pinewood Wellness Center, they finally moved me to a room with a window.Dr. Mercer called it a reward for "better behavior."The view isn't much, just a small courtyard with a few thin trees, but after so long in windowless rooms, it feels like a gift.I sit on my bed, watching dust float in the sunlight.My new medicine makes everything feel distant, like I'm watching my life through foggy glass. It's hard to think, hard to remember why I need to fight.A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. Nurse Wagner steps inside. She moves quietly, without the coldness the others have."Good morning, Elise. How are we feeling today?" She places a small paper cup with my pills on the table."We feel... medicated," I mutter with a weak smile.Her lips twitch slightly, the closest thing to sympathy I've seen in this place. "Dr. Mercer says you're doing better. That's
Last Updated : 2025-04-11HEIRESS OF RUIN CH. 7
ELISESunlight fills my small room at Pinewood Wellness Center.Two months in, I've learned how to pretend. The sad, angry version of me is gone. Now, I smile softly, act polite, and play the role they want.I brush my hair slowly, preparing for group therapy. Eye contact has to be just right. My words have to sound real yet not too detailed. Show feelings, but never too much.I walk to the mirror and study my reflection. Pale. Tired. But my fire hasn't dimmed.A knock on the door. Nurse Wagner enters with my morning pills."Good morning, Elise. Sleep well?" She places the small paper cup on my table."Better than I have in weeks." I smile. "Dr. Mercer's breathing exercises help a lot."She nods. "That's great to hear. Your reports have been positive.""I'm trying." I look into the cup and find three pills instead of four. "Another reduction?""Dr. Mercer thinks you're ready." She taps her tablet. "He's pleased with your progress in group sessions."I lift the cup to my lips. The tric
Last Updated : 2025-04-11
Latest chapter
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.21
ELISE“Kieran… please.” I finally manage only a raw and pleading whisper.I am utterly exposed, sprawled across his desk. My legs are open and my nipples reddened by his hands with his finger still inside me.I am begging him, shameless and desperate… my pride in tatters.And that’s when he finally reacts.I see the evidence of his arousal. Of a bulge straining against his gray suit pants, the heat radiating through the fabric. It’s the only sign he’s affected at all, but it’s enough. For a moment, I’m not alone in this.“You’re aroused,” I whisper, needing to know I’m not the only one unraveling.Kieran raises an eyebrow as if he’s indifferent to his own reaction.The air between us hums with tension… a silent battle of wills.“So you’ll help me, right?” My voice is firmer than I expect, defiant despite my vulnerability.His fingers are still inside me.I hold his gaze, refusing to back down.Even aroused, Kieran’s face remains impassive like a Greek statue, handsome and unmoved by d
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH. 20
ELISEKieran’s eyes hold mine, waiting for my response, testing my resolve and just how far I'm willing to go to secure his help.At first, I think he’s is mocking me so I sit frozen with my hands clenched in my lap, staring up at his expressionless face and searching desperately for any hint of humor or mercy in his eyes.There isn’t one. His gaze is cool, unwavering, as if he’s already weighed my pride and found it irrelevant.I have no room to negotiate. He gives me only five minutes, barely enough time to process the humiliation, let alone resist.My mind whirls, but my body acts before I can think.I rise from my chair, knees weak and my heart thudding hollowly in my chest.I feel the distance between us shrink and my world narrow to just this room, this moment.Kieran’s presence dominates the space by just standing there, looking relaxed and silent.The sharp cut of his tailored suit can’t disguise the strength beneath.He watches me, impassive as if I’m a puzzle he’s already so
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.19
ELISEI close the remaining distance between us with three confident steps and lean in to press my lips to his. However, a gasp tears from me when his fingers wrap around my throat in an even tighter grip than before my lips even meet his.The transition from apparent calm to violence happens so quickly I don't even see him move. One moment I'm approaching, the next I'm caught.His jaw clenches visibly and his eyes burn with a fury I've never experienced from anyone. They're no longer cold but blazing with an emotion so intense it's terrifying.Fear course through my veins with vengeance and my life flashes before my eyes. He's livid that I attempted to kiss him. Does he despise the idea because of Alexander? Or is there something deeper, some principle I've violated by trying to use seduction as currency?"It's obvious you have a death wish," he snarls through gritted teeth.His grip is firm enough to restrict my breathing without cutting it off completely."I-I'm sorry," I force o
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.18
ELISEI stand in the executive bathroom, staring at my reflection in the harsh lighting.My face is pale and eyes wide with lingering fear. The marble countertop feels cold beneath my trembling fingers as I try to steady myself.I blurted out the first thing that came to mind during that terrifying moment with Kieran. Of when his patience was gone and gun aimed directly at my chest, ready to end me if I didn't leave in the time he allowed.The memory of that steel barrel pointing at me sends another shiver down my spine.My stomach had growled loudly in the tense silence and something mortifying happened from the fear churning inside me.I dashed to the bathroom without even asking permission, humiliation burning through me like acid.The bathroom door had barely closed before I was sick, my body betraying me in the most embarrassing way possible.Thank god Kieran didn't follow… a small mercy from a man who seemed ready to kill me moments before.I need time to think, to recalibrate.
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.17
ELISEKiran’s height and presence are suddenly overwhelming in the confined space.The scent of him registers… an underlying notes of something distinctly masculine. His face remains impassive, but the intensity of his gaze is almost tangible like a physical weight pressing down on me."I have information about Alexander's plans," I choke out, fighting to keep my voice steady despite the sudden dryness and contraction in my throat. "Plans that involve both of us."Kieran doesn't respond.His silence is more unnerving than any question or accusation would be. The coldness in his eyes makes it clear he's measuring every word, every gesture, cataloging them for future reference."He intends to use my technology and patents after our marriage.” The words are coming faster now as they push against the wall of his silence. "Once he has what he needs, he plans to have me declared mentally unstable. My father is helping him. They've already prepared the documentation, selected the facility wh
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.16
ELISEI slip inside Kieran's suite and close the door quietly behind me.The entryway is dark, illuminated only by the ambient city light filtering through distant windows.The air is cooler here and carries a faint scent of cedar and something else. I pause, listening for any sound that might indicate Kieran is already here, but the suite remains silent save for the barely perceptible hum of advanced electronics and the distant muffled sounds of the city eighty floors below.I remove my heels and hold them in one hand to eliminate any sound as I move deeper into the suite.The marble floor is cold against my bare feet, a sensation that heightens my awareness of every detail around me.Following the floor plan in my memory, I turn to the first room on my right which is Kieran's office whenever he stays at the hotel.I place my hand on the door handle, taking a deep breath to steady myself before turning it and stepping inside.The space is exactly as my intelligence suggested: masculi
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.15
ELISEI time my move with precision, watching the server with the tray of Dom Pérignon Rosé Gold Methuselah 1996 make his way through the room.Alexander mentioned earlier that each 4 liter bottle costs about 49,000. An extravagance meant to impress the guests.The crystal flutes catch the light from the chandeliers, creating tiny prisms across the polished marble floor.The young server follows his predictable path between the east entrance and the area where the most influential guests have gathered, his white-gloved hands steady despite the fortune he carries.Three, two, one...I step directly into his path, positioning myself so when we collide, the champagne will splash exactly where I need it to.The server's eyes widen in alarm when he realizes what's about to happen, but momentum carries us both forward.I can see the exact moment he recognizes me and the horror that crosses his face at the inevitable collision."Oh!" I gasp as the golden liquid cascades across my gown.The co
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.14
ELISEI stop at the entrance of the Westfield Hotel's grand ballroom, taking a moment to absorb the scene.The space has been transformed for tonight. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light across marble floors, white orchids and gold accents adorning every table.Glittering decorations and elegant lighting create an atmosphere of opulence that's meant to impress. To others, it looks magnificent. To me, it feels like an elaborate stage set for the performance to come.I arrive late to avoid meeting with my father alone."Champagne, Ms. Blackwood?" A waiter appears beside me, holding a tray of flutes."Thank you." I pick one up, keeping my hands steady despite my racing mind. Tiny bubbles float to the top, catching the light like little trapped stars.My smile feels like a mask glued to my face. Every second in this room requires a performance worthy of an Oscar.Hours earlier, I sent a text to Kieran Westfield's private number that cost me some amount and a promise of future considerat
HEIRESS OF RUIN CH.13
ELISEThe makeup brush moves gently over my cheek, adding a little glow to my skin. The sun is slowly setting outside the large windows of my penthouse, covering the city in golden light.I will stand beside Alexander at our pre-wedding gala in less than an hour, smiling for cameras and accepting congratulations from Rosienne's wealthiest people."You have such lovely cheekbones," the makeup artist remarks, tilting my chin to catch the light. "I'm just making them stand out a little more."I give her a small smile, though my mind is busy sorting out tonight's guest list, of who will be useful, who is a threat, and who I still need to figure out.It feels strange. I am preparing for battle while getting ready for a party."Let's make your eyes stand out more," the makeup artist suggests. "It'll match that stunning red dress."That dress. My small act of defiance.Alexander won't like it. He has picked out a blue gown for me. He expects me to wear it. The thought of his controlled frust
