Chapter Fourteen

Elena punched and kicked, trying to escape. Suddenly, a bike stopped to a halt beside her. The rider slammed into her attackers, sending them flying. He yanked off his helmet, revealing messy brown hair.

"Elena, come on!" he shouted.

Elena's eyes widened as she recognized the rider - Ethan. She grabbed his hand and swung her leg over the bike. Ethan sped away, leaving the fight behind.

As they sped onto the main road, Elena's grip on Ethan's waist loosened, and she let out a deep breath. Ethan glanced at her in the side mirror, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

"How did you know?" Elena asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Ethan's smile faltered for a moment, and he focused on the road ahead. "Know what?" he said, his tone casual, but his eyes darting back to hers in the mirror.

"I destroyed the clip, Ethan," Elena said, her voice firm. "Stop playing dumb."

Ethan sighed, his shoulders sagging. He pulled the bike over in front of a shop and killed the engine. Without a word, he swung off the bike, yanked off his helmet, and strode into the cafe.

Elena followed, her eyes fixed on his back. "Ethan, wait," she said, but he didn't turn around.

"Answer me, Ethan!" Elena demanded, her voice echoing off the walls.

Ethan halted, his back still to her. He stood frozen for a moment before disappearing into a pathway that led to a room. Elena followed, her footsteps closing in behind him.

"You're not going to say anything, are you?" she accused.

Ethan spun around, his face twisted in frustration. "What the hell do you want to know, Elena?" he exploded.

"I want to know everything, Ethan," Elena said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of concern.

Ethan's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes burning with intensity as he closed the distance between them. Elena backed away, her heels hitting the wall with a soft thud. She couldn't escape the piercing gaze of his eyes.

"You want to know everything, Elena Wellington?" Ethan's voice was low and frightening, his words dripping with a threatening tone.

"This game is a game of chess, where pawns are sacrificed, and knights are betrayed. It's a game of strategic revenge, where the queen is the ultimate prize."

He paused, his eyes glinting with a fierce determination.

"In this game, you'll either rise to power and become my queen, working together to take down our common enemy... or you'll be cast back into the darkness of your past, forced to relive the wounds you're desperately trying to heal."

Ethan's hands dropped from the wall, releasing Elena from his grasp. He strode to the table, snatched a file, and gave it to her. "Signed and sealed, Elena Wellington. You'll play by your husband's rules. The game is on."

He slapped a packet of cigarettes and a gun on the table, the sound echoing through the room. He hopped onto the table, his eyes glinting with a mischievous spark.

Elena sank into the chair beside the table, her eyes fixed on the file. "What's the plan?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of nervousness and curiosity.

Ethan flicked his lighter, the flame dancing as he lit a cigarette. He took a long drag, exhaling a stream of smoke as he grinned.

"We'll make our marriage public, wifey. Everybody knows about your recent divorce. He said, his voice dripping with calculation. "That's exactly what we need to exploit. We'll make sure you're splashed across every newspaper headline: 'Heiress Remarries in Record Time.' It's the perfect bait."

She raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

He leaned in, his eyes glinting with strategy. "If you want to play this game, you need to be willing to put yourself out there. No more hiding in the shadows. We'll make you a household name, and they'll be eating out of the palm of your hand."

Elena sprang to her feet and closed the distance between them, her eyes locking onto Ethan's with an intensity that made his mind race. She stood inches from him, her gaze piercing, as if daring him to reveal his next move.

Ethan's thoughts mixed up, his heart skipping a beat under her analysis. He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the room before returning to hers, searching for a hint of what she was thinking.

Ethan stubbed out his cigarette and stood up, his hands slipping into his pockets. "We hook the bait, love," he said, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.

Just then, his phone rang, shrill in the silence. He grabbed it from the table and answered with a curt "Speak up."

The voice on the other end was reluctant. "We caught them, but they're not talking."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "I'll be right there."

He grabbed his jacket and lighter, his movements quick and confident.

"Stay here, Bryan will pick you up soon," he told Elena, already heading for the door.

Elena's curiosity got the better of her. "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Ethan turned back, his eyes locking onto hers. "Business to take care of. See you tomorrow, wifey." He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead before turning to leave.

Elena's voice echoed after him, sweet and husky. "Ethan Nelson."

He paused, looking back over his shoulder. "Sorry about the misunderstanding. Just want to wrap this up quickly."

Elena's heels clicked on the floor as she moved closer, her eyes sparkling with concern. "Be safe, Mr. Nelson."

Ethan flashed her a charming smile. "Will do. And no one's ever told you how sweet you look when you're worried about someone? Your ex was a fool." He winked before disappearing out the door.

Elena's smile lingered, her hands absently smoothing her hair. "He's so sweet," she breathed, the words barely audible.