โAinsley, have you lost your pride and confidence? The Ainsley I know will always be determined and make everyone proud. I donโt know this damn drunk. If you want, Iโll ask Jacob to buy you a plane ticket right now. You can go wherever you want. What if the Moon Goddess allows you to meet again? Maybe fate isnโt done with you two yet. "There might still be hope.โ Eric couldnโt watch Ainsley ruin himself. He roared, hoping Ainsley might cheer up again.โNo, she wonโt see me again.โ Dejected, Ainsley stared at his palm. He murmured, โShe ran away. She hates me. I know it deep down in my gut. I felt it when she left.โAinsley picked up a bottle of wine from the floor and held it up. He took the bottle to his mouth, only to discover there wasn't a single drop of liquor inside.Ainsley kept tilting the wine bottle with a blank expression. He was completely drunk.Eric looked down at Ainsley and couldn't hide the pain in his eyes.Eric's eyes fell on Ainsley's palm. He thought, 'Eloise, you
Kelly nodded firmly, already setting the wheels in motion to organize the private plane. He left the study, leaving Ellison alone with his thoughts, the stillness of the room accentuating the cold air creeping through the darkened space.Ellisonโs eyes gleamed with a strange mixture of excitement and determination as he stared out into the shadows. His fingers drummed absently against the desk as his mind raced. The game was far from over. He had been tracking Eloise for months, and now, finally, he was closer than ever.Shortly after, the sound of an SUVโs engine hummed in the air as it sped down the winding road of Waikiki Beach. The breeze outside the window carried a hint of salty air, the smell of the ocean mixing with the scent of the flowers blooming nearby.The car came to a gradual halt as Ellison frowned, surveying the area. โThis place, right?โ he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he glanced out the window.The driver nodded, replying calmly, โYes, sir, this is it
Eloise mocked herself in her heart. Maybe my life has become too simpleโฆ so my mind has become slower. Maybe Iโve become numb. Maybe too much silence turns even the sharpest mind dull.Ellison looked at Eloise's faded face with a kind of quiet appreciation, his eyes tracing the faint outlines of what was once a bright, wild smile from a distant childhood memory. His gaze lingered, as if hoping to pull her past self into the present. But the longer he looked, the more his eyes flickered with regret. It was as though the smiling Eloise, the girl full of spark and mischief, had been buried beneath years of pain and dust. And now, she was gone.What did they do to youโฆ? What kind of monster do you have to become to survive what you went through? Ellisonโs chest tightened with an emotion he couldnโt name. He wanted to blame Ainsley, he wanted to blame the system. But the truth was, he had his chances. He couldโve helped her back then. But he didnโt.โThe coffee tastes superb,โ Ellison said
Eric copied the video clips from the USB drive to his laptop. Just as Eric was about to open it, Jacob touched the back of Eric's hand and gave him a warning."It might be hard to see, so be prepared," Jacob said, his voice low and grim, a shadow clouding his face.Eric didnโt take it seriously at first. His lips curled slightly in mild skepticism. But then, his eyes widened. He jerked back, his mouth falling open as the first frame of the video flashed across the screen.โWhat the hell!โ he exclaimed, his voice shaking with disbelief.He pointed to the video that was playing, unable to tear his eyes away from the disturbing scene unfolding.โThis is just the beginning,โ Jacob said nonchalantly, almost too casually, as if he had already grown numb from seeing it over and over again. But there was a bitterness to his tone, a fury buried deep beneath his calm.Eric fell silent. The room seemed consumed by silence, thick and suffocating like a dense fog. Time passed slowly, agonizingly s
After driving for a while, Ellison stopped at a remote store.โLook around. "If you canโt find your favorite mug here, weโll go to another store.โ Then Eloise sat down in a recliner.Ellison pretended to concentrate on choosing a cup, but he kept glancing at Eloise, unable to stop himself. She looked so relaxed, almost untouchable, yet that sarcastic edge in her voice lingered in his mind.โDo you like something?โ Eloise noticed Ellison looking at her, raising an eyebrow as her lips curled into a half-smile.โYes,โ Ellison pointed and said, โI want this game.โ His voice was a little too quick, a little too loud, clearly a deflection. But it made her snort.After leaving the store, Ellison discovered that the red marks on the back of his hand had disappeared. He rubbed that area vigorously with his back to Eloise. He looked at the bruise and felt much more satisfied, as if something had been lifted off of him.Eloise walked ahead. She asked, โWhat kind of recliner do you want?โโI thin
In the stillness of the night, Eloise made her way to the most secluded house on the property. Her face was cold, but her eyes portrayed a deep simmering sadness.โIโve come to see you,โ she whispered hoarsely, though the house was empty except for her.The room was cloaked in darkness, but she knew every inch of it as if it were part of her. She navigated through the familiar surroundings with ease, her hands brushing over the table until they found a candle. With a flick of her fingers, the small flame sputtered to life, casting a warm glow over the photo resting on the table.It was a portrait of a young girl, smiling brightly. Eloise stared at it, a lump forming in her throat. "Rain, I miss you so much," she murmured, her voice barely audible.The portrait was a gift from a traveling artist she had met on Waikiki Beach, who had captured Rainโs likeness based on Eloise's memory. She didnโt own any other pictures of Rain; this was all she had left.Her fists clenched as nausea rose
โEllison! "I donโt want to bet anymore!โ Eloise shouted at the stage, her voice rough and hoarse, like a desperate cry.โItโs too late,โ Ellisonโs lips moved, his words like ice. Heโd made a decision. Instead of leaving, he wanted to win the bet. More than that, he wanted her.Memories flooded Eloiseโs mind, sharp and vivid. In her eyes, Ellison at that moment seemed just like her in the past, lost, defiant, and broken.But Ellison didnโt deserve it! Not after everything.She walked toward the center of the stage, her steps deliberate, her heart pounding with emotion. She bent down and picked up the white shirt from the floor. Her fingers brushed against the fabric, and then she reached for Ellisonโs hand, which rested on the zipper of his suit pants. Her voice was low but commanding, โCome with me.โEllison stood frozen, stunned by the sudden seriousness of her expression. His heart skipped a beat.The audience below the stage began to murmur, their annoyance growing louder. โWho are
In the car, Ainsley gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white as he sped toward the airport. His mind was spinning. Without thinking, he reached out to Jacob through their mind link. His voice was sharp, his words clipped with urgency.โDo you know Remmy?โ Ainsley asked, his tone barely contained as anxiety surged through him.Jacobโs voice crackled through the link, his confusion evident. โWhy are you looking for her?โ He didnโt fully understand the gravity of the situation.Ainsleyโs voice hardened, desperation creeping into his words. โShe knows where Eloise is.โJacob didnโt hesitate. โUnderstood,โ he said, his voice steady despite the tense situation. โIโll handle it. Do you need me to book you a flight?โโNo need,โ Ainsley replied immediately, his tone resolute. โIโm heading to the airport now.โAs Ainsley disconnected the link, he pushed the accelerator harder, the engine roaring as he raced back home to grab his ID. Every second felt like an eternity, the pressure mountin
"Ainsley WIlliams! Damn you! "You promised me!โ Eloiseโs eyes blazed red with fury, veins visible on her temples as her body shook violently.Her scream echoed so loudly throughout the room that the light on the ceiling trembled from the force of her rage. She kicked at the bed frame, sending it crashing against the wall with a loud bang. The curtains flapped wildly in the air from the force of her movements, as if they too were disturbed by the storm erupting within her.The pain that flashed through Ainsley's eyes nearly froze him in place. His breath caught, but he focused hard on what he was doing, refusing to waver, even though guilt was clawing through his chest.Then her voice ripped through the room, raw and shattering, โAinsley! I hate you!โAinsley's eyes were filled with unbearable pain, the kind that didnโt show in blood but hurt worse than any wound. He clenched his jaw and abruptly lowered his head. Without a word, he pressed his lips to the scar on the back of her waist
The fall of the Anthony Group was no longer just a rumor, it had become a harsh, bitter truth echoing through every corner of Metrocityโs high society. Stock prices had started to tremble, investors were pulling out like rats from a sinking ship, and tonightโs extravagant banquet couldnโt mask the rot eating away at the core of a once-mighty empire. The air was thick with tension and forced laughter, the scent of overpriced wine failing to disguise the underlying stench of desperation.Michael Eliot leaned against a marble column; he stood silently at the edge of the lavish banquet, his tall frame cloaked in a sleek black suit that matched his mood. His fingers played with the rim of a half-empty glass of red, untouched wine since it was poured. On his other hand, a cigarette smoldered, forgotten and the ash dangling dangerously. He looked detached, like a man who had accidentally walked into the wrong life. He hated these gatherings. The fake smiles, the hollow toasts, the false cama
Ainsley returned to work after resting for a few more days. When Jacob called himโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆAinsley didnโt hesitate. He glanced at Ellison, who looked back at him curiously.โYou donโt mind, do you?โ Ainsley asked, already picking up the phone before Ellison could even respond. But Ainsley knew this call wasnโt from Jacob.His chest tightened. His voice remained calm, but every nerve in his body stood on edge, waiting and wanting.Thenโฆโฆ..โLet the Anthony Group go,โ her voice came, stiff, emotion coiled tightly beneath the surface.Ainsley leaned back in his chair. His grip on the phone tightened. It was her. That damn voice, he hadnโt heard it in days, and yet the second she spoke, his entire world tilted.He smiled slowly and coldly, and said in a voice that burned with longing masked as mockery, โAre you begging me now, Eloise? Or is that just your way of dressing up pride in pretty words?โEllison's blood ran cold.Eloise! The name slammed into his chest like a fist. He stared at Ains
The conference room turned thick with tension as people were afraid Ainsley would make a comeback. If so, they would suffer.Ainsley sat still, the usual fire in his gaze dulled. No color touched his cheeks; he looked neither angry nor defeated.โAinsley,โ one of the shareholders snapped, almost too quickly. โItโs done. Step down from your position. Youโre no longer CEO of the Williams Group.โAnother chimed in, his voice tremulous but thrilled, โYes. You heard the board, get the hell out of the building.โChairs scraped, papers rustled. Tension rolled like a wave about to crash.But then, a voice rang out, cutting clean through the noise. It was steady, almost too steady.โWho said the final vote had been cast, or have I suddenly been removed from the shareholders? Because the last time I checked I happened to be one of the shareholders.โThe room fell into a shocked hush, peopleโs heads snapped toward the source. Gasps rippled across the boardroom. Faces turned pale.Ellisonโs brows
Eloiseโs brow twitched slightly. Her calm gaze faltered for a second.Jacob caught it. That tiny flicker of emotion sent a surge of rage through him. He threw the apple aside.โArenโt you worried? "Donโt you care what couldโve happened to him?โ he snapped, his eyes burning into her face.Eloise turned her head away. โI didnโt ask him to.โJacob stood. His voice was firm, serious. โNo, you didnโt. But maybe you shouldโve. You could hate him, you could curse his name. But donโt act like you donโt care. Because when you collapse, your body answers what your mouth refuses to say. The only treatment you responded to was his touch.โShe clenched her jaw. โHe locked me in that place. I donโt care how long he sat by my bed.โJacob stared at her. โThen tell him that. Not to me. "You keep telling everyone you donโt care, but your hands were shaking when he touched you.โShe didnโt answer.โDuring the years you were gone, Ainsley searched for you like a possessed man,โ he added, his voice sharp
The car reeked of blood. It was the only smell Ainsley could register; thick, metallic, and heavy in his nose and mouth. He stirred with a low groan, his body aching as if it had been crushed from the inside out. Pain throbbed behind his bandaged head, spreading like wildfire through his skull and down his spine.He tried to move.โDonโt move,โ Jacob snapped from the front seat, spinning around. His voice cut through the air like a blade. โYou scared the hell out of me, Ainsley. What the fuck were you thinking?โAinsley winced. His hand reached for the door handle, but it slipped off weakly. His head dropped back, the world spinning.โI passed out again, didnโt I?โ he muttered.Jacobโs hands clenched the steering wheel, so tightly his knuckles turned white. โYou did more than that. You nearly fucking died. You collapsed in front of a hundred people like your damn soul left your body.โHe turned fully to face him, his eyes blazing like fire. โDo you understand what that looked like? Yo
Suddenly, Ellison stood up and pushed Ainsley hard. He said, โLet her go. Youโre so selfish! Didnโt you hear her? Eloise has no intention of going with you!โAinsley, caught off guard, stumbled backward. His usually fierce and commanding presence, like a true Alpha, was broken at an unexpected moment. He collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.Gasps echoed through the crowd, the peopleโs eyes widened in shock. Even the air seemed to stand still.Jacobโs face darkened. Without hesitation, he rushed forward and knelt beside Ainsley. โAinsley, are you okay?โ His voice cracked with concern as he reached to cradle his head. But his palm came out wet. Jacob looked down and froze. His fingers were stained red.โWhat is this?โ he whispered, stunned.Blood!A sharp silence followed. Ellison, noticing the shift, stepped forward instinctively, but Hank had already rushed past him, panic flashing in his eyes. โAlpha Ainsley?โEloiseโs eyes widened. Her body stiffened, and for a moment, she see
Ellison stood frozen on the stairs, halfway down, his hands clenched tightly on the railing. Heโd come down to stop Ainsley, to intervene, but when he saw the fire in Eloiseโs eyes, the way she held herself back from launching another object, he couldn't move. Not yet.Ainsleyโs cold voice echoed through the tension-filled room. โWhat else do you want to throw at me? Iโll get it for you.โEllison stepped forward, breaking the thick silence. โNo need to bother you, Ainsley. Iโm free right now, and Iโll help her.โHank took a step, ready to intervene, but Kelly subtly blocked him with a glance.As Ellison reached the floor, he picked up a broom lying nearby. The scrape of the handle against the tiled floor felt too loud in the quiet. He offered it to her with a calm face, but sarcasm glinted in his eyes.โMaโam, here you go.โEloise looked at the broom, then at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. โA broom?โHe nodded once, the corner of his lips lifting in a crooked smile.โMa'am, flu
Lucian, unfazed, threw his jacket to the ground in front of Ainsley. โFine. Letโs see what happens,โ he said before he turned and left.Ainsley stayed where he was, watching Lucianโs departure with steely eyes. The tension still hung in the air, thick and unresolved.โWeโre going to Waikiki Beach this afternoon,โ Ainsley said after a long pause. โIโm sure sheโs there. I need to find her.โMeanwhile, on the other side of the island, Eloise paced restlessly in her room, her nerves fraying with each passing moment. Her thoughts spiraled. She had been hiding, but it was all falling apart now. Ainsley was coming for her.No, she told herself. I canโt let him find me. Not again.Then, just as the wind picked up, a familiar warmth brushed against her.Her body stiffened, her breath caught in her throat. She didnโt have to turn to know he was there. The scent of him, so unmistakable, overwhelmed her senses.Ainsley stood behind her, his presence enveloping her. His arms wrapped around her alm