SebastianIt’s been a month. Thirty days since the explosion that almost killed off the Alexanders. A month since Christopher lost his place at Bell Energies and I stepped into his shoes.Shoes that don’t fit and probably never will. All I have dreamt of for years was to get my revenge on Christopher, but I am not enjoying it.And yet, here I am, sitting at this goddamn desk, staring at reports and contracts, pretending like any of this matters. None of it does. Not without Elizabeth. Not without the woman pilling at my heartstrings. Not without our baby. I run a hand through my hair, leaning back in the chair that still reeks of Christopher’s cologne. The office feels suffocating, the air stale, and every corner a reminder of him. He’s too quiet these days, playing along like some obedient lapdog. But I know better. I know him. A cornered animal is the most dangerous kind. Whatever Christopher is planning, it’ll be calculated, brutal, and thorough. He’s not done. Not by a long sho
ElizabethThe room is dark, but I can still make out the shapes of the walls, the shadows pooling in the corners. This place feels like a prison, and I’ve been counting every second since I woke up here. The padded walls mock me, their softness hiding the cruelty of my situation. My legs feel restless, and my body wired with tension. I’ve been staying in my room, pretending to sleep, watching, waiting. They think I’ve given up. I haven’t. Dr. Maggie’s face flashes in my mind. That fake smile she gave me when she said the flyers were distributed. "Someone will call," she said with such conviction as if she cared. But I knew the truth when I saw the flyers crumpled in her bin. She lied to me. She doesn’t want me to leave. I can’t stay here anymore. I glance at the small pile of items I’ve managed to gather: Dr. Maggie’s stolen keycard, a long coat swiped from a visitor weeks ago. I’ve been planning this for a month, using every moment to map out routines, shifts, and patte
SebastianI pace the length of my office, my footsteps heavy against the polished floor. My jaw is clenched so tightly it hurts, but I don’t care. My thoughts are racing, each one more frantic than the last. "Find out where that video was taken," I bark at my assistant. My voice comes out sharper than I intended, but I don’t have the patience to care. She nods briskly, her eyes wide with urgency, and rushes out without another word. The door shuts behind her, leaving me and eric alone with the deafening silence and my pounding heart. Then, Eric’s voice explodes through the quiet, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. "She's alive, Dad!" His voice cracks with raw emotion. "She's alive!" I freeze. Eric lowers the phone slowly, his fingers trembling, and turns to face me. A wide grin stretches across his face, pure relief radiating from him like a beacon. For a moment, I just stare at him, the words echoing in my mind. She's alive. Relief crashes over me, so sudden and
ElizabethI turn around slowly, her soft voice still playing in my ears. She stands there—tall, striking. Her red hair cascades over her pale shoulders, framing a face that feels oddly familiar. Her green eyes, bright yet holding something deeper, meet mine with a mix of curiosity and warmth. "Hey," I say, my voice unsure, testing the word on my tongue. "Hi," she replies with a friendly smile. "I'm Sarah." Sarah. The name hits me like a wave, crashing into my chest and leaving me breathless. I don’t know why, but it feels... significant. Familiar in a way that makes no sense. The connection is instant and electric, and I don't understand it. Sarah sits across from me, her movements light, almost too graceful for a place like this. "What’s your name?" she asks, her voice laced with an innocent curiosity like she’s eager to know me. I hesitate, a lump forming in my throat. "I... I don't remember," I admit, forcing a small, awkward smile. "They call me Jane here." Sa
ChristopherI storm into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me. My coat slips from my shoulders, falling to the floor in a heap, but I don't care. My mind is too clouded with rage, and frustration gnawing at every fiber of my being. My chest tightens with every breath I take, and my hands are trembling—whether from anger or exhaustion, I don’t know anymore. Sebastian Valdez. That name alone makes my blood boil. He has taken everything from me—my company, my goddamn legacy. Bell Energies was my birthright, my family's empire, and now it's rotting in his filthy hands. I want to rip him apart, piece by piece, watch him suffer like I have these past few months. The thought consumes me, fuels my every waking moment. I stop in my tracks, my pulse pounding in my ears. A flash of red catches my eye. I freeze. The figure stands near the window, facing away from me, bathed in the soft glow of the city lights spilling through the curtains. Long, flowing red hair cascades dow
SebastianThe cottage sits in a clearing, its weathered wooden exterior blending into the dense background. The air is cool, and heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine. I sit on the old porch steps, nursing a tumbler of coffee in one hand, my phone in the other. Eric leans against the railing, his sharp features drawn tight with frustration, while James, broad and rough around the edges, paces the dirt path in front of us, the gravel crunching beneath his boots. "What did they find?" James bellows, his Southern drawl thicker than usual, a clear sign he’s losing his patience. Eric sighs, running a hand through his hair. "The men went to the location where the video was taken," he begins. "Elizabeth was there. Witnesses say she was taken by two men. They work for some asylum. Beyond that, I don’t have many details." I interrupt, the weight of my own thoughts pressing against my chest. "Celeste knows I was sleeping with Elizabeth." Both men stop what they’re doing and star
Sebastian “Who knew Seattle had so many psychiatric hospitals?” Eric’s voice cuts through the tense silence as he thumbs through the list on his phone, the light from the screen illuminating his face in the dim confines of my car. I glance at him from the driver’s seat, exhaustion weighing heavily on both of us. The rain streaks down the windshield, the rhythmic tapping a sharp contrast to the frustration brewing between us. “I’m starting to think that we might not find her, I mean what if they moved her somewhere else?” I mutter, gripping the steering wheel tighter. My knuckles are white, and my patience is nonexistent. Eric exhales loudly, his head dropping back against the seat. “None of the hospitals have confirmed or denied her presence. It's the same rehearsed answers every time: ‘We can’t share patient information. Privacy laws. Blah, blah, blah.’” “What the hell are we going to do?” I snap, my frustration boiling over. Eric doesn’t answer immediately, his mind
Elizabeth The common room hums with a low murmur of voices, the occasional scrape of a chair against the tile floor, the shuffle of slippers as patients wander aimlessly.I sit in the corner, book in hand, though I haven't turned a page in the last ten minutes. My eyes skim over the words, but I don’t absorb them. I’ve learned to pretend—pretend to be cooperative, pretend to trust Dr. Maggie, pretend I’m nothing more than ‘Jane,’ a quiet, submissive patient who no longer questions why she’s here. But I’m not Jane. And I’ll never be. The moment I let my guard down, the moment I stop pretending, they’ll make sure I never leave this place. So I wait. I watch. I listen. Then, something changes. A commotion stirs outside the common room. Footsteps—urgent, heavy. Voices, low but firm. I lift my head. Across the room, Dr. Maggie storms in, her face pale, eyes darting around like she’s expecting someone to jump out and grab her. “Come with me, Jane. Now.” Her voice is sharp,
ElizabethThe air is warm, and the whispers in the wind carry a gentle melody that wraps around me like a soft embrace.It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the world stopped spinning so fast.A year of peace, happiness, and love. I take a deep breath, letting the warmth fill my lungs, and I can almost forget the pain that once consumed me.My father finally let me leave, and Sebastian had bought us a beautiful manor.He said it was the last thing Sarah had requested before she vanished.So far, she has kept her word and hasn’t returned. I glance around the garden, where flowers bloom in vibrant colors, a stark contrast to the darkness that once surrounded my life.We finally named our son Michael James Valdez, and Edward is more than happy to have two more siblings.The Bell name is nothing but a bad memory now, a shadow that lingers in the corners of my mind.But as I stand here, reading Christopher’s name out loud, I can still feel the pain and anger just below the surface.
Sebastian“Sarah!” I exclaim, the name escaping my lips like a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “So you came here, the last place I saw you before you pretended to be dead.” My voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of tension. “I did. You’re the only person who knows it, and I knew you would come searching at some point,” she explains, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine.I walk over and sit opposite her, the familiar surroundings of the manor bringing back a flood of memories—some good, some painful. “The last time we were here…” she begins, her voice trailing off as she looks around, lost in thought.“You were cheating on me throughout,” I interject, the bitterness rising in my throat.“I was,” Sarah confirms, her gaze unwavering.“Why?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest.“I don’t know, Sebastian. I loved Christopher, and I thought you could make me forget him. Turned out I was wrong,” she admits, her voice softening.“You co
SebastianThe sun hangs low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the ranch as Elizabeth and I sit on the porch. The wooden boards creak softly beneath us, and a gentle breeze rustles the leaves of the nearby trees.I glance at her, taking in the way the light dances in her hair, and I can’t help but feel a sense of peace, even amidst the chaos that has surrounded us.“I don’t think my father will ever let me leave this ranch again,” Elizabeth says, her voice tinged with frustration.“I know I wouldn’t,” I reply, releasing a long sigh.The weight of everything hangs heavy in the air between us. Things are awkward; the last time we were together, I didn’t know I had a son.When I asked her to marry me, she didn’t give me an answer. Everything has been a roller coaster since then—me being kidnapped, ending up shot and in a coma, and then her being kidnapped and almost dying. It’s been a whirlwind, and I can’t shake the feeling that we’re still caught in the storm.“So, I have a so
ElizabethThe dirt is cold beneath me. My body aches, every breath dragging fire through my chest. But I keep moving. I drag myself forward, inch by inch, the rough ground scraping against my skin. Smoke curls through the air ahead, thick and choking. I can see the commotion now—shadows moving, voices raised. I am so close. My lips part to call out, but the effort is too much. My body gives out. Darkness crashes over me like a wave. And then, through the void, I hear him. “Elizabeth!” Sebastian’s voice cuts through the silence. Desperate. Terrified. A weak smile tugs at my lips. He’s here. They all made it. And Sarah… Sarah actually saved them. The voices grow distant, fading like whispers in the wind. Everything gets lighter, quieter, until there is nothing at all. ……..Warmth surrounds me. Softness cradles my aching body. There is no pain here, only a strange sense of peace. Is this heaven? I inhale slowly, my chest rising with ease. The air smells familiar—clean linen, fr
ElizabethShe looks different. Red hair. Green eyes. Lighter somehow, as if the weight of the past has peeled away all parts that were Celeste. But the anger—oh, the anger—is still there. It simmers beneath her skin, sharp and blistering.Sarah tilts her head, lips curling in amusement."Elizabeth, it seems you are a glutton for punishment." Her voice is the same. Cold. Mocking. A phantom from a life I barely remember. I struggle for breath, my ribs screaming with each inhale. "Well, you look different," I rasp between gasps, my body barely holding itself together. Sarah flicks a strand of red hair over her shoulder, eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Yeah… it felt more like me." She shrugs, as if shedding Celeste—the woman she once pretended to be—was as simple as changing clothes. "Her role was done." She turns her gaze to Christopher, her expression shifting into something darker. "Where have you been, my love?" she asks, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I’ve been looking for y
Elizabeth The stars. They spin above me like scattered jewels in the black sky, swirling and shifting, refusing to settle. My head throbs with a sickening pulse, each beat reminding me of the impact. I try to lift my hand to my temple, but the pain is almost too much to bear. My vision is blurry, and I taste metal on my tongue—my blood. Everything hurts. Everything is wrong. I blink rapidly, trying to clear my mind. The wrecked car door hangs open beside me. My body shakes with every breath I take. The world around me is spinning, but I force myself to focus. I need to move. I need to get out of here. Christopher. I twist my neck, forcing my heavy head to turn, and there he is—slumped over the steering wheel, motionless. His chest rises and falls in uneven breaths, but for now, he's still unconscious. Good. I can’t stay here. Not like this. I look around. There’s nothing, just endless darkness around me. But I can’t think about that now. I need to get away. I need to
ElizabethI can see the horror in their eyes. Sebastian. Eric. Detective Adams. They stand frozen, their bodies tense, their hands twitching at their sides as Christopher drags me toward the front door. Detective Adams's gun is steadily pointing at Christopher, but he is frozen in place.Their helplessness is written across their faces, burning into my soul like a scar I will carry forever. Sebastian’s eyes lock onto mine, wide and desperate, pleading for me to hold on, to fight.But I can’t fight. Not with Christopher’s bruising grip digging into my arm, not with his breath hot against my ear as he hisses, one wrong move and your children die. I watch, my breath catching in my throat, as Sebastian reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black card. The same card we all know will leave no trace. His hands tremble as he extends it toward Christopher, his fingers curling tightly around it like he wants to crush it into dust instead. "Take it," Sebastian spits, his voice laced with
ElizabethI see an opening. The front door. It’s right there, just a few steps away. If I run now, I might make it before Christopher gets up. But my children. I can’t leave them. I won’t leave them. My heart pounds, my body screaming for escape, but my mind is already made up. I turn, my feet dragging against the floor as I push myself toward the staircase. I need to get to them. I need to make sure they’re safe. I take the first step, my legs burning, my ribs aching from Christopher’s last blow. But then I hear it—movement. “Elizabeth!” His furious scream echoes through the house, slamming into my back like a physical force. My entire body seizes with terror, but I don’t stop.I can’t stop.I push forward, every step feeling like a mile, every breath like shards of glass in my lungs. I can hear him behind me. Fast. Too fast. I force my legs to move, digging deep into whatever strength I have left. Just a little more. Just a few more steps. But then— BANG!The front door fl
ElizabethThe dining table stands between us. My breath is ragged, my pulse wild. Christopher watches me with a twisted smirk, his dark eyes burning with something cruel. The air in the room is thick, suffocating, pressing against my chest like an iron weight. "Where are you running to, Lizzy?" he asks mockingly, tilting his head like a predator cornering its prey. "I'm not running, Christopher," I say defiantly, my voice steadier than I expect. "Then stop." His tone sharpens into a command. "No, Christopher!" I scream, my hands trembling as I glance around, desperate for anything—a weapon, a way out, anything to put an end to this nightmare. "I will not let you leave my children without a mother. Not because you couldn't do better!" Christopher lets out a low, humorless laugh. His fingers twitch at his sides. "You're a menace to me, Elizabeth," he spits. "I married you to make my life better, to make my legacy stronger. But what did I get?" His voice rises, raw with rage. "You d