ChristopherIt has been a week since Elizabeth returned. A week since she walked through the doors of this house like she still belonged here. A week since she accused me of trying to have her killed.If she’s planning something, she’s keeping it close to her chest. She hasn’t let a single crack show. And that unsettles me. I’ve done everything to contain the situation—cut off every loose end. I even fired Agnes, Edward’s nanny, the only person close enough to notice something was off. No one who knows what happened to Elizabeth is still around, except Celeste, Celia, and Martin. But still, she keeps her distance. She watches me like she’s studying me, like she’s remembering.Does she remember? The thought burns through me like whiskey down my throat.“What’s going on in that head of yours?”Celeste’s voice drags me back to the present. She’s been standing in my office for who knows how long. I never even heard her come in. She’s smirking, her eyes gleaming with amusement.“Why are
ElizabethI sit by the window, staring out at the vast estate, but I might as well be staring at prison bars. Every entrance and exit is watched. The staff move about, avoiding my gaze, their silence speaking volumes.But at least I have Edward.Each day, another memory breaks through the fog, slipping into my mind like a whisper. I can almost see it now—what happened to me, why I ended up here, but I know I can’t rush it. My mind is protecting me from something.The weight of it all presses down on my chest. One child still hidden away, nameless and safe with Michael’s grandmother. And Edward—still here, still vulnerable, as long as he remains under this cursed roof.Doubt creeps in, slithering its way into my thoughts. Have I done the right thing coming back? But I shake it off. I have to push forward. I have to find something—anything—that can prove what Christopher did to me. Or at the very least, what he’s capable of.I spend my days searching, slipping through the house like a g
ElizabethShock ripples through me, leaving my body frozen in place.Of all the games Christopher could have played, I never imagined this.A proposal?Renewing our vows?He doesn't love me.He never has.So why?I can't question him. Not now. Not when I'm starting to remember. Not when I know who he truly is. I need to play this carefully, keep my face neutral, my voice steady. Whatever he’s planning, I need to stay ahead of him.“Elizabeth, Christopher asked you a question,” Celia’s sharp voice cuts through the room. There’s an edge to her tone, a demand laced with impatience.Anger simmers beneath my skin. If I say yes, I go back to being Christopher’s puppet, his punching bag. My stomach churns at the thought. I take a breath, preparing to respond, but before I can, the doorbell rings.Relief floods me. Saved by the literal bell.The house manager rushes in, looking pale. “You have guests.”Celia’s eyes narrow. “Who?”Before the house manager can answer, two tall figures step into
Elizabeth BellI watch myself pressing the makeup sponge to my bruised cheek. The mirror is unforgiving, reflecting back a face I barely recognise, hidden beneath layers of foundation. My black eye stands out despite everything I try to mask it with.How did I get here?How did I let things go so wrong?"Elizabeth," Christopher’s voice cuts through the silence, sharp and angry.“Hurry the fuck up in there. Don’t make me wait. And make sure you look presentable. I don’t need people asking questions.”I swallow hard, forcing down the anger that rises every time he talks to me like that. I answer him quietly, "I’m done."Standing up, I smooth the glittering black dress clinging to my body, its sequins catching the light.My hair is a glossy sheet of black that falls to my shoulders, and my hazel eyes—once full of life—look dull now. I swipe a finger over my red lips, fixing the lipstick. I know, objectively, I look beautiful. But right now, it feels like a mask.I step out of the room an
Chapter 2ElizabethI can’t move.I’m staring at Christopher, my mouth open, heart hammering, and he’s looking at me as if nothing unusual just happened.As if he hasn’t just agreed to trade me to another man like I’m some lose change.My mind spins, disbelief and horror mingling as Sebastian’s voice breaks through.“There’s no going back if you agree to this, you know,” he says to Christopher, his voice edged with dark amusement.Christopher scoffs, barely glancing at him. “I know that, Sebastian. I know exactly whats at stake.”A nauseous feeling rises in my stomach, and I turn quickly, making my way to the bar as my legs threaten to give out. The man I loved once and trusted completely is now using me as a gambling chip, tossing me around like I’m nothing.What the hell is wrong with him? How did we come to this?I reach the bar, my hands shaking as I order whiskey, downing the first shot in one gulp and feeling the burn slide down my throat, a temporary numbness.I barely hesitate
ElizabethI drag myself through the front door, each step weighed down with exhaustion, bitterness, and anger that’s simmering just below the surface.The night’s events play over and over in my mind, each memory igniting fresh resentment. Christopher, the man I once trusted with my life, had crossed every line and left me feeling like nothing more than a dirty pawn.I move slowly through the darkened hallway. I reach the bedroom, my heart pounding. Maybe it’s the whisky still swirling in my veins, or maybe it’s the realisation that I have nothing left to lose. Today is the day.I will leave him. Christopher Bell's over. no matter what it takes.As I push the door open quietly, my eyes fall on the bed, and I have to suppress the urge to laugh.There he is, sprawled out and sleeping soundly, and he’s not alone. Curled up next to him, her blonde hair spilling over his shoulder, is a woman—a slim, young figure, her arm draped possessively around his waist.I don’t even blink. Of course,
ElizabethIts Monday morning. I sit on the edge of the couch, watching Christopher play with Edward on the floor. I can’t tear my eyes away as I watch him lift our son into the air, spinning him around until Edward is giggling uncontrollably.It’s these rare moments that mess with my mind and make me second-guess everything.This gentle, loving version of him is the man I fell in love with, the father I want Edward to have.When Christopher glances up at me, a softness in his blue eyes, he gives me a kind smile—the kind that used to melt me.For a split second, I feel a flicker of hope, a glimpse of the man he used to be.“Get ready, Elizabeth,” he says, his voice breaking the moment.“You’re coming with me to the office today.”I blink, completely thrown.“What? Why?” My voice comes out sharper than I intended, laced with suspicion.I don’t trust this. I don’t trust him.He chuckles, shaking his head like I’m overreacting.“I thought maybe you should go back to work. Get your old job
ElizabethThe office has made me feel alive again. The buzzing of hushed voices and the busy bodies takes me back to my passion.As I walk past the rows of desks, I can feel eyes on me and hear the whispers that follow me wherever I go. The name *Celeste* is on everyone’s lips—Christopher’s new fling.I should feel hurt or betrayed, but all I feel is relief.It’s been a month since Christopher last laid a hand on me. A month since I had to force a smile and pretend to care. If Celeste keeps him distracted, that’s fine by me. Maybe she’ll keep him away long enough for me to make my escape.I keep my head high, my heels clicking sharply against the floor, and step into Sebastian’s office.The air shifts as soon as I enter, the tension between us like an unspoken third presence in the room. He’s standing behind his desk, flipping through a folder, his dark eyes scanning the pages with a focus that makes my stomach tighten.He doesn’t look up right away, but when he does, it’s like the en
ElizabethShock ripples through me, leaving my body frozen in place.Of all the games Christopher could have played, I never imagined this.A proposal?Renewing our vows?He doesn't love me.He never has.So why?I can't question him. Not now. Not when I'm starting to remember. Not when I know who he truly is. I need to play this carefully, keep my face neutral, my voice steady. Whatever he’s planning, I need to stay ahead of him.“Elizabeth, Christopher asked you a question,” Celia’s sharp voice cuts through the room. There’s an edge to her tone, a demand laced with impatience.Anger simmers beneath my skin. If I say yes, I go back to being Christopher’s puppet, his punching bag. My stomach churns at the thought. I take a breath, preparing to respond, but before I can, the doorbell rings.Relief floods me. Saved by the literal bell.The house manager rushes in, looking pale. “You have guests.”Celia’s eyes narrow. “Who?”Before the house manager can answer, two tall figures step into
ElizabethI sit by the window, staring out at the vast estate, but I might as well be staring at prison bars. Every entrance and exit is watched. The staff move about, avoiding my gaze, their silence speaking volumes.But at least I have Edward.Each day, another memory breaks through the fog, slipping into my mind like a whisper. I can almost see it now—what happened to me, why I ended up here, but I know I can’t rush it. My mind is protecting me from something.The weight of it all presses down on my chest. One child still hidden away, nameless and safe with Michael’s grandmother. And Edward—still here, still vulnerable, as long as he remains under this cursed roof.Doubt creeps in, slithering its way into my thoughts. Have I done the right thing coming back? But I shake it off. I have to push forward. I have to find something—anything—that can prove what Christopher did to me. Or at the very least, what he’s capable of.I spend my days searching, slipping through the house like a g
ChristopherIt has been a week since Elizabeth returned. A week since she walked through the doors of this house like she still belonged here. A week since she accused me of trying to have her killed.If she’s planning something, she’s keeping it close to her chest. She hasn’t let a single crack show. And that unsettles me. I’ve done everything to contain the situation—cut off every loose end. I even fired Agnes, Edward’s nanny, the only person close enough to notice something was off. No one who knows what happened to Elizabeth is still around, except Celeste, Celia, and Martin. But still, she keeps her distance. She watches me like she’s studying me, like she’s remembering.Does she remember? The thought burns through me like whiskey down my throat.“What’s going on in that head of yours?”Celeste’s voice drags me back to the present. She’s been standing in my office for who knows how long. I never even heard her come in. She’s smirking, her eyes gleaming with amusement.“Why are
I walk into the room, a smile carefully placed on my lips. It’s light, almost playful, as if I’ve walked in on an intimate moment between old friends."What's happening here?" I ask casually, strolling further into the room. My eyes flick from Christopher to Celeste, taking in the way she’s perched on his lap, the way his hand grips her thigh possessively. It’s a picture-perfect moment of deceit, one I’ve walked into far too many times before.Christopher’s head snaps up at the sound of my voice, and I watch as shock and something close to anger flicker across his face. "Elizabeth, what are you doing here?" he demands, his tone sharp.I tilt my head, feigning innocence. "I thought you said this was our house?" I let my gaze drift lazily around the room before settling on Celeste, whose lips curl into a slow, knowing smile. My stomach tightens. It takes a moment, but recognition dawns.That’s where I saw her. The hospital. She called herself Sarah. She tried to turn me against Sebastia
ChristopherThe silence in the car is suffocating. I grip the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turn white. Elizabeth sits in the back, her head turned toward the window, while Edward clings to her like he’s afraid she’ll disappear again. I glance at my mother, catching the way her lips press into a thin line. She’s thinking the same thing I am.What the hell is Elizabeth playing at?She’s changed. That much is clear. The woman I knew was fragile, naive—an easy pawn. But this version of her, sitting there with that eerily calm expression, feels different. It’s unnerving. I can’t read her, and that terrifies me.My plans are crumbling. A month ago, I was set to pocket one hundred and fifty million dollars, and now, here she is—back from the dead, threatening to ruin everything. And to make matters worse, thanks to her father and her lover, she still holds the majority shares of Bell Energies. That thought alone makes my blood boil. As if Sebastian Valdez wasn’t already enough of a
I freeze.The air in the room shifts, growing thick and suffocating. My fingers tighten into fists, nails digging into my palms so hard it hurts. My breath catches in my throat as I see them—Christopher, Celia, and Edward.It takes everything in me not to recoil, not to let the storm inside me show on my face. My pulse hammers against my ribs, my stomach knots so tight I feel like I might be sick.I bite down on my lip, the sharp pain grounding me, keeping me from crumbling. I cannot lose control. Not now. Not when the enemy is standing right in front of me. My destroyer. My nightmare in flesh and blood.And then, before I can prepare myself, it happens.“Mama!”Edward’s voice rings through the room, so innocent, so pure. My baby. My sweet, beautiful boy.He wiggles free from Christopher’s grasp and runs toward me with arms wide open. My heart shatters into a million pieces.I stand too fast, the chair scraping against the floor. The room disappears, the walls fade away, and all I see
The office is a mess—papers scattered, the scent of sweat and sex thick in the air. My grip tightens around Celeste’s waist as I press her against the cool glass of my desk. She gasps, her head falling back, exposing the delicate line of her throat. My lips trace the curve, tasting her, owning her.Celeste’s fingers weave through my hair, tugging, urging me closer. Our passion has always been undeniable, raw, consuming. But now, there’s something else, something heavier—maybe it’s the cocktail of drugs in my system, maybe it’s the sheer fucking euphoria of knowing I’ve won. Everything is golden. Every enemy crushed beneath my feet.My mouth captures hers again, demanding, punishing. She moans into me, wrapping her legs around my waist, and I lift her effortlessly, ready to devour her completely—“Stop, Christopher.”The words crash through the haze of pleasure, and I freeze, my breathing ragged. Celeste pulls back, her eyes locked onto the television screen behind me.“Christopher, lo
I stand in the middle of the room, my hair now back to its raven color, falling loosely over my shoulders. The reflection staring back at me in the glass window is of someone who looks tired, someone worn down by battles that should never have been hers to fight. But despite it all, I still look like me. Still Elizabeth.Around me, everyone stands tense, their faces lined with concern. The air is heavy with unsaid words, with fears no one wants to voice aloud."Are you sure about this, honey?" James Alexander asks, his deep voice breaking through the quiet. His protective instincts radiate off him like heat, his arms crossed over his chest as he studies me.I nod, even though my stomach churns. I cannot let them see me falter, not now. Not today.James sighs, stepping closer. "Remember, someone already tried to kill you, Elizabeth. They even came for me and your brothers. So if, at any point, you feel unsafe, I want you to leave. No hesitation. Do you understand me?"His tone is firm,
I step into the penthouse behind Sebastian, my heart pounding, my breath uneven. The air inside is thick, suffocating, and every nerve in my body is still tingling. I keep my head down, afraid that my face will betray me, that the guilt of kissing Sebastian, the guilt of liking it, will be written all over me.Michael’s voice cuts through the silence.“Elizabeth, where were you? Are you okay?”His concern is real, I can hear it in his voice, but it does nothing to soothe the storm inside me. I force a small, tight-lipped smile, trying to steady myself.“I’m sorry. I needed some air, so I rode a cab around,” I lie, my voice even, controlled.Michael’s eyes flicker between me and Sebastian.“Where did you find her?” he asks, his gaze narrowing slightly.Panic surges through me. I can’t let Sebastian answer that. If Michael knew the truth, if he sensed even a sliver of what happened between us, I don’t know what he would do.“Downstairs,” I cut in quickly before Sebastian can speak. “I w