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chapter 43
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Protecting The Heiress Chapter 44
NIKOLAIOn getting indoor, Kate creeps behind Lia, making her jump. This isn't the first, second or third time Lia had told Kate not to do that, but she never listens. Frankly, she never listens to Lia at all. Creeping behind Lia is something that scares the living daylight out of her, but Kate doesn't care.Lia stops, a cold glare turning towards Kate. "Do that again, and you’re getting fired." The surprise on I and Kate's face mirrors each other. Lia has never been assertive about what she doesn't want so I'm slightly proud of her for this progress. It's okay to be friendly, and assertive at the same time. "I'm sorry ma'am." Kate bows her head curtly. The rest of walk to the elevator continues in total silence. On getting to the elevator, we walk in, and just as the doors are about to close, a foot wedges in, forcing them open.The face I see next is enough to sour my mood for the whole day. Lia's step brother. Lia shares the same sentiment with me because of how she rolls her
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 45
NIKOLAIIt’s been three days Lia has locked herself away in her room, and it's starting to weigh on me. She’s taken the rest of week off work, which makes sense after everything that went down, but the constant crying and isolating herself? It’s tough to watchWe barely talk anymore, even our awkward hellos in passing is barely there. I don’t know how to help her, and it’s driving me insane. Comforting people isn’t exactly my forte, and it’s frustrating as hell standing on the sidelines, useless. Taking actions have always been my strength, but I doubt that’s what Lia needs at the moment. I saw her yesterday, and she looked completely drained. Her eyes were puffy and red, and her once radiant face was dull and lifeless. The fire that usually burned in her blue eyes was snuffed out. I figured leaving her alone would give her time to process what happened, most people would crash out the way she did. But it's been four days, and she's only slipped further into despair. I went through
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 46
NIKOLAIHer forehead creases as she process my words before her brows furrow in disbelief. “You’re serious?”"Yes," I answer without a moment of hesitation. Fuck, what am I even doing? "Yeah, sure." Her surprise transforms into a soft smile and it squeezes my chest. I miss that too. "Tomorrow, then,” I say. Lia nods before disappearing into her room. My shoulder sags as a wave of relief washes over me. Damn, I didn’t even realize how nervous I was asking Lia that.I spend the rest of the night searching for the perfect park until I begrudgingly settle for one. I don't understand why I'm doing any of this, why I’m so invested in cheering Lia up. All I know is I want to, I’m desperate to. The next morning unfolds like any other day. I breeze through my routine like I usually do while looking over my shoulder, expecting to find Lia right behind me, but she doesn’t show up. Now, it's time for our outing, and I'm pacing the end of hallway waiting for Lia. I won't call it panic, but i
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 47
NIKOLAII’ve never felt real fear in my life until I saw Lia fall into the water right before my eyes. It all happens in slow motion, seconds stretching painfully long. One minute, she’s standing near the edge, glancing around, and the next, she’s falling into the water.My body moves on instinct, and I’m sprinting across the park before I know it, legs pounding against the ground, heart slamming so hard it feels my chest might break.The distance between us feels endless, and with every second that passes, dread claws at me.Finally, I reach the edge of the water. My lungs burn as I spot her limp form sinking beneath the surface. Without hesitation, I dive in. The cold water hits me like a slap, but I push through to where she is and grab a hold of her. She’s limp, heavy, almost lifeless and the thought haunts me.I haul her to the surface and drag her back to the shore, my hands already shaking with panicA cr
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 48
LIAAs we step out of the store, Dr. Daniels sighs and rubs the back of his neck. “I’m sorry about my son, again. He can be quite a handful.”"Aren't they all?" I chuckle, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear that the wind sweeps across my face.“Yeah, they are,” he says, casting a fond glance at his son, who is busy tugging at his sweatshirt sleeves, completely absorbed in his own world. Dr. Daniels rests a hand over the boy’s shoulder. “I look away for one second, and he’s already causing trouble.”I smile at the boy, but my heart clenches. Kids are so innocent. I’ve always wanted a house full of them, but now the dream feels further away than ever. My smile fades away as my gaze drifts to the evening sky, where hues of purple and orange paint the horizon. The park is emptying out, and the once lively chatter has faded into a quiet lull.“How’ve you been coping?” Dr. Daniels cuts through the silence, his tone cautious, like he isn’t sure how to breach the subject. The trut
Protecting The Heiress chapter 49
LIAThe next morning, I find myself standing before the Rodriquez Villa, a place that once felt like home. My late father employed only one housekeeper, Kira. If he had been poisoned over the years, she must know about it more than anyone. I’m certain she won’t divulge the truth outright, but trying to find out won’t hurt. As Nikolai pulls the car to a stop, I swing open the door and glance back at him. “I’ll be back soon,” I say, stepping out. He climbs down from the car too, following me without a word. “You don’t have to follow me in,” I say over my shoulder. “I’m not letting you face your stepbrother alone.” As he falls in step behind me, he replies with a grumble that earns a faint smile from me.The memory of last night floods my mind and I reminisce about how Nikolai comforted me without even knowing what was wrong with me. It makes my smile widen into a grin and warmth curls within me in contrast to the chaos happening around me. Do I even have the right to feel this way w
Protecting The Heiress chapter 50
LIA The ride to the ROQ is quiet. Nikolai drives with his usual calm stoic, but I feel his eyes on me, glancing every now and then, like he’s searching for what to say. My mind is a tangled mess and too chaotic to start a conversation so I don’t say anything either. I can’t stop thinking about Kira and why she quitted. Kira was my father only for so long, there is no way she wouldn’t be aware of what was happening? Also who could Gareth be talking to on the phone? What file could his life depend on? I wish any of these make sense. I wish I could tell Nikolai about this—about Gareth, about my father, about everything —but I can’t. I won’t drag him deeper into this storm. He’s already done more for me than I deserve. I know for a fact that he’s already tired of me as it is judging by how insufferable I’ve been this past few days. I’m so sure he’s already reaching his breaking point. His voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Are you still mad at me?”I jump slightly at the sound, ca
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 51
LIATwo days later, I finally find a way forward with the project. After pulling extra hours to refine my ideas, making it much better than before, I’m fairly confident about it. All that’s left is to re-pitch it to the chairperson, Isabella Fontaine. The plan’s in motion, but first, I have a little side task to handle.Currently, Nikolai just pulls up to the sidewalk outside of the department store and throws me a puzzled glance.“Shopping?” he asks, a brow raised.I only smile, not giving him an answer as I slip out of the car. If only he knew we were here to find him a suit.“You haven’t answered my question yet,” he steps out to follow me, his long strides marching mine effortlessly.“You will see.” I reply with a grin, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer.He tilts his head in my direction with a suspicious look on his face. “I have a bad feeling abou
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Protecting The Heiress Chapter 65
NIKOLAIThe phone trembles in my hand, and I clench it so hard my knuckles ache as I fight the urge to hurl it across the room. My pulse drums loud and fast in my ears, each beat stoking the frustration, the doubt, and the guilt.Yes, I’m going to tell Lia I’m quitting. But not tonight. Not after everything that has happened. And not because I care about her more than Hannah.Screw Xander for even saying that. Screw him for daring to throw that accusation in my face. As if everything I’ve done, and every decision I’ve made haven’t been for my sister. Every damn sacrifice, how I live my life has been for my sister’s sake. Every time I think of doing something, the first thing that crosses my mind is how it’ll impact her.Everything has been heavily influenced by my sister—.Right. That isn’t entirely true. I have made a decision solely for me before. Just once I made a decision, and I didn’t think about my sister, but my selfish self. Accepting the job from Lia was the only time I wasn
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 64
NIKOLAISigning the contract with Lia was a selfish decision. I knew from the start that the pay wouldn’t cover my sister’s hospital bills, but I still went for the job. Now I’m paying the price for that decision.For the past one week, I’ve taken on some of the most dangerous jobs I’ve ever accepted. The kind of jobs that put me inches away from death. Jobs that used to give me a thrill and make me feel alive in some twisted way. But now, I can’t say the same anymore. Because the thrill no longer fuels me, rather it unsettles me. Every time I’m on the edge of life and death, I find myself hesitating. The adrenaline I used to love now feels more like a sick twist in my gut and it makes me want to turn and run, to protect myself.My sister makes me feel fearless. For her I’m ready to face anything, come hell, or high water. But it’s different when it comes to Lia. She makes me want to back down and avoid risks. Because every time I think about facing something that could end me, there’s
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 63
LIAPanic kicks in, pressing me forward until I burst into the kitchen. Relief washes over me as I see him, right there.Nikolai’s changed out of his soaked clothes, though his hair still glistens with drops of water, the dark strands occasionally sending a bead sliding down his neck. He's wearing those low-rise pants that hug his hips, and a fitted tee stretched over his frame, showing just enough… no. I shake my head and dart my eyes away. This isn’t the time to be ogling him; I’m here to confront him.When I shift my gaze back towards him, he’s looking at me over his shoulder, and the tiniest smile pulls at his lips before he looks away, or not… I’m just imagining things. Nikolai isn’t smiling at me.“Feel better?” His voice pulls me back to the moment as he turns fully, his eyes skimming over me with that subtle, unreadable appraisal.“Yes,” I answer and sneezes immediately, disproving my answer.“Clearly not.” He stops right in front of me, holding out a steaming cup. The space
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 62
LIAThe words I’ve kept buried seem to boil up inside of me. Words of hurt, longing, heartache that has twisted itself deep, when even I can barely reach it. I want to scream at him. I want to demand answers, force him to tell me why he disappeared, why he left me here to be mad with worry, clawing through days that stretched endlessly without him.But as he stands there, with softened face and eyes weighed with something unsaid, looking at me like he hasn’t shattered my world, like he hasn’t been gone for a week without a trace, like I wasn’t shell of myself because of his absence, like I haven’t been teetering on the edge, the words slip away. Every line I rehearsed in the mirror all vanish. My voice fades under the weight of his gaze and his silence.Tears spill over before I can stop them, mingling with the rain that lashes down, soaking me to the bone. The chill seeps into my skin, but the burn of his stare holds me still, locked in place.The world feels muffled, just the sound
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 61
LIAGetting ready for work doesn’t take long, and in no time, I’m pulling into the parking lot of ROQ.Kate is already at the entrance with her attention laser-focused on the tablet in her hand until she spots me. She and I have met in the middle ground and have agreed that she won’t jump in step beside and scare the living daylights out of me, she stays in my line of sight.As I approach, her eyes shift past me, darting through the lot. She doesn’t have to tell me who she’s looking for. I feel the same, though I doubt it runs deep for herFinally, her gaze snaps back to me, and with a quiet nod, she says, “Good morning, ma’am.”I nod in acknowledgment, too weighed down to respond.“Have you been able to reach him?” she asks. I shake my head, trying to hide how much I’m affected by Nikolai’s absence. But Kate’s eyes narrow, noticing more than I wish she would.“I wonder where Grumpy is.”I halt abruptly in my steps, making Kate tilt her head slightly toward me. “Is something wrong?”
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 60
LIAI haven’t heard from Nikolai in a week, and it feels like my world’s been stuck on pause. Scratch that—life hasn’t just paused. It’s slowed to a dull, gray crawl.The day he disappeared, I sensed something was wrong. I tried to get through to him every way I knew how. I called him more times than I can count, sent message after message. Eventually, his line stopped going through, so I left voicemails, each one more desperate than the last. But I got nothing. Not a single reply.Even though my project has been moving faster, and my week has been busier than ever, Nikolai is still there, at the back of my mind. He’s everywhere I look, his presence in every corner of my apartment.I water his flowers religiously, telling myself he’ll be back. After all, our contract still has four months left. Nikolai is responsible—he’d never just leave without finishing what he started. Yet, with each day that passes, I’ve been forced to make up new excuses for why he hasn’t called, why he hasn’t c
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 59
NIKOLAI“I don’t repeat myself,” I groan out.She lowers the can and wipe her mouth with the back of her hand, her expression unbothered. “I’m waiting until Hannah wakes up. I want to see her.”“You won’t be seeing her when she wakes up. Leave.” My voice is flat, final. But Blake, as always, presses on.“And why’s that?” She tosses the empty can into a nearby bin with a loud clatter and crosses her arms.“Because I said so.”She coughs out a rough scoff. “It’s been ages since I saw her. I miss her. So, I’m seeing her whether you like it or not.” “And then leave again?” My voice comes out as a bitter hiss, laced with disdain. I shake my head slowly. “I’m not putting Hannah that emotional stress again.” The thought of watching her disappointment is unbearable; having to explain, once more, why one of her favorite people is walking away with no real reason. There’s a reason it’s only me and Xander in her life now.Blake’s jaw clenches. “Don’t act like I left by choice. I had no other op
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 58
NIKOLAII don’t how I managed to ride my bike from the apartment to the hospital, but I did. In a blur of speeding through intersections, narrowly missing cars, and racing against dread. But somehow, I’m here, breathless and disheveled as I burst through the sliding doors of the hospital. The sterile smell of antiseptics stings my nostrils, but I barely register it, the frantic drumming in my chest drowning everything.A flash of someone in scrubs brushing past me jolts me back into the moment, and I nearly collide with him. "Watch it!” I snap, already halfway down the corridor, not waiting to hear his indignant mutter behind me.The air grows thick as I approach Hannah’s room, every step heavier than the last. My heart is pounding, and as I reach for the door handle, the simple act of pushing it open feels like an eternity.Nausea rolls over me when I’m greeted with eerie emptiness and no sign of Hannah. No. No. This can’t be happening. This can’t fucking be real. Hannah can’t be—n
Protecting The Heiress Chapter 57
NIKOLAI“What’s it?” I say with a raised brow.“Did… I do something wrong?” Her voice is quiet, her fingers fidgeting at her side.“No.”She swallows hard and her throat bobs.“Then why?”“Why what?”“Why have you been acting strange?” each word drops slowly, almost as if she’s afraid of what my answer might be. “Like I did something to piss you off.”I almost scoff. Lia couldn’t piss me off even if she tried, but I’m not about to say that to her face.“You didn’t piss me off,” I say simply, folding my arms.Her gaze drops for a moment before she meets my eyes again, her expression tinged with worry. “I... I know I did some embarrassing things yesterday. One thing in particular that’s probably pissed you off.”My brow furrows. I can’t think of anything Lia could have done to irritate me when she was drunk, but now that she mentioned it, I’m curious. “Which is?"She draws in a shaky breath and squeezes her eyes shut briefly as the words tumble out. “I’m sorry for... for asking you to h
