~Elena~
I felt a shiver run down my spine as our eyes met.
What was he doing here?
" Open up," I heard him say from outside the car. I hesitated at first because my instinct screamed caution. Since he had seen me laughing, it could pose a big threat to my plans. I was unsure whether to roll down the window or drive away, but he knocked again, more insistent this time.
‘’open up,’’ I finally opened the door, and he entered beside me and wore his seatbelt, Then he faced me. ‘’Drive,’’he ordered.
I gave him a questioning look, and then he pointed forward, only for me to realize that Ariana was coming out of the restaurant and heading toward my car.
My heart skipped a beat, and she waved enthusiastically when her eyes met mine. I ignored her, started the car, and drove out of the garage in a hurry.
She was the last person I expected to see.
As I drove past her, she looked confused and continued waving, but I ignored eye contact and only focused on the road.
"Amazing!" he shouted as we got on the road. ''I’m glad I was able to convince you to drive faster," he said, but I didn’t respond because I didn't share his enthusiasm. Instead, my mind was racing with questions.
Why did he suddenly want me to drive away?
Was he part of their plan?
Is he connected to Owen and Ariana?
‘’Don’t worry, I bear nothing against you,’’ he said as if reading my mind. ''I just wanted you to leave the restaurant.''
I gripped the wheel tightly and looked away from the way for a split second and then drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, getting impatience, and when I turned my eyes back to the road, I asked a simple question. ‘’why are you in my car?’’
I had to know who my enemy was, and even though my instinct told me to trust him, I couldn’t yet because I had no idea who he was and what he could do to me.
I have trusted Owen in my past life, and it only led to my death.
‘’I saw you heading out, and you looked like you were struggling hard to keep it in and…’’
I cut him off. ‘’You saw me laughing in my car, right?’’
He nodded. ‘’not my business, but I just feel that you needed someone to talk to.’’
I looked at him again and gave him a questioning look, pondering why he cared about what happened to me. Even during my funeral, he was there, kneeling and praying for me. I couldn’t get why a man who didn’t even know me that well would care about me.
‘’Don’t give me that look,’’ he muttered.
I raised an eyebrow. ''What look?’’ I asked, genuinely puzzled.
Christian rolled his eyes and frowned, his face contorting into a comical mix of annoyance and irritation.‘’That is the look that you are giving to me. It's like you are trying to burn a hole through my soul with your skepticism,’’ he said, paused for a moment, then continued. ‘’ Don’t worry, you can trust me this time. I am not a bad person,’’ he said and smiled at me, his dimples showing on both sides. ‘’your secret is safe with me.’’
I looked away from him and focused on the road. ‘’sorry, I didn’t know that I was glaring at you.’’ I told him.
Even though he seemed like a good person, there was no way I could trust anyone again after everything that had happened to me and the years of consequences I had endured. "Do you want me to drop you off somewhere?" I asked, hoping to avoid dealing with him for the rest of the day.
He sighed. "Are you trying to get rid of me that fast?" He laughed when I started to respond. "Like I said, I’m not your enemy. I’m here because I want you to feel better."
"Why?" He cared so much for a reason, and I was determined to figure it out.
"You’re always so direct, aren’t you?" He chuckled, then heaved a deep sigh. "How Owen spoke to you in the restaurant wasn’t right. No one should be spoken to that way, especially a woman. I know how degrading it is..." He paused, looking out the window. "I’ve seen it happen to my mother before..." His voice trailed off, and I noticed he was tapping his fingers on the window as though trying to suppress memories. At that moment, he seemed vulnerable, surprising for the country’s largest company heir. For a second, I felt sorry for him.
"You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to," I said softly.
He nodded. "It’s all in the past now." He shifted in his seat and then looked at me. "What do you say we go somewhere and let it all out?" he suggested.
I shot him a glare, and he burst out laughing. "Not what you’re thinking. There’s a place I go to let out my anger—a special place."
"A special place?" I repeated, skeptical.
Why would he want to show me something so personal? Christian's acting made it seem like he knew me better than I did. Had we met before, other than at the hospital? I couldn’t remember seeing him at any events, but the familiarity in his tone made me wonder. "Why are you showing me a place that’s supposed to be special to you?" I asked.
"Because I think you need it," he replied.
"Are you forgetting you were just on a date with my sister, and now you’re talking to me about some special place?" I shot back.
He chuckled. "Trust me, Elena, I don’t care about that date. When she said you’d be there, I had to come."
I pressed further. "Why are you so interested in me? Do you even know me that well?"
Christian nodded. "Trust me, Elena. I know you more than you realize." The way he said it made me think back to the look on his face at my funeral. There was something sincere behind his words, but I couldn’t trust anyone yet.
Once bitten, twice shy.
"Where is this place you're talking about?" I asked. I needed it. After surviving death, I had to let out all the anger I felt towards Owen and my sister and for starting the revenge plan.
"Take a turn on your right," Christian directed.
With each turn, he guided me until we finally reached a bridge, where he told me to stop. "Welcome to the place where you can let out all your anger," he said.
I frowned, glancing around. Why had he brought me to a pedestrian bridge? "What are we doing here?" I asked.
Instead of answering, he got out of the car, walked to the edge of the bridge, and let out a scream.
"What are you doing?" I called, stepping out of the car. I looked around, checking that we weren’t being watched. Any paparazzi would kill for a story like this, and I didn’t want them using it against me. "What are we doing on a bridge?"
"This!" he yelled again, then turned to me. "Come on, I know you've wanted to do this—just scream it out!"
I hesitated, tucking my hair behind my ear as I walked towards him. "I don’t know… this feels ridiculous. We look like we’re—"
"Forget all of that," he interrupted. "Just scream it out!"
He pointed at me, and I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. I let out a scream—loud and raw. For once, I didn’t care who heard. I was letting out the pain I’d held inside for so long, the torture, the betrayal. I screamed until my voice broke. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt lighter.
Free.
"This feels amazing!" I shouted, and Christian laughed, spreading his arms wide as he gazed at the sky.
"This is where I come whenever I feel unhappy," he said. "I scream my heart out because here, no one cares. No one notices me."
He was right.
We were in a forgotten corner of the road, where barely any cars passed. It was just us, and it was peaceful. The air felt different here—calmer.
"I’d love to do this again with you," he said suddenly, and I found myself unsure how to respond.
"I…" I trailed off.
"You don’t have to decide now, Elena," he said gently. "But I’ll be here if you need me." He sighed deeply, his eyes fixed on the setting sun. We stood there for hours, barely speaking, staring at the sky. I could feel his gaze whenever I glanced at him, and I couldn't deny its effect on me.
"I should head home," I said, checking my Rolex. My mind urged me to say more to him, but I couldn’t. The words wouldn’t come out. I still didn’t trust him fully, and if I included him in my revenge plan, I had to study him first.
"Yes," he responded, turning to me. I quickly averted my gaze, unable to meet his eyes. I wanted to say more but needed more courage. "You can go ahead. I'll call my driver to pick me up." He gestured for me to leave, and I glanced around, seeing no sign of a car nearby.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded. "See you soon, Elena." He pointed towards the car.
I waved, then climbed into the car. Once inside, I looked at him through the windshield and noticed he was watching me, too. I quickly looked away, fastening my seatbelt. Without another glance, I started the car and drove away.
Throughout my trip back home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the consequences of my actions toward Owen and the rumors they would have created. I was ready to face them all, but I knew I had to deal with my family before I could conquer anything.
I wasn’t surprised when I got home and met everyone seated and waiting for me in the living room. Before I could say anything, my stepmother, Phaedra, headed toward me and slapped me in the face.
‘’what have you done?’’
~Elena~The slapI knew I should have expected it when I got home. During my entire ride back, my phone had been blowing up with calls from my family, Owen, and a flood of texts and social media notifications. Since Owen had involved the paparazzi, I knew the news would have spread online, and the only person who would sympathize with me was my grandfather—the only one who cared about me. The rest wouldn’t even understand why I turned down Owen’s proposal. I was right because, as I walked in, Phaedra was already in my face, slapping and yelling at me. My father, as usual, sat there with his head lowered, like he always did whenever Phaedra and Ariana started harassing me.I knew he wouldn’t say a word. I had dealt with his silence for years, enduring it until my plan to marry Owen finally happened. “Have you decided to drag this family through the mud?” Phaedra kept yelling, pushing me backward with her hands. “Are you trying to destroy this family’s reputation?”Ariana suddenly burst
~Christian~“He has been calling you non-stop,” my secretary said as she handed over my phone. I swiped through the screen, staring at the multiple calls from my grandfather. I knew he’d been expecting me to visit since I had promised to come to the mansion as soon as I returned, but I hadn’t gotten the time yet. I first visited my parents' grave, stopped by my penthouse, and then went on a date with someone I didn’t even like. But it turned out to be enjoyable—because she was there.As I stepped out of the car onto the winding driveway, I was immediately greeted by the familiar, breathtaking view of my grandfather’s estate. The majestic mansion rose before me, its elegance and grandeur still awe-inspiring. I had visited countless times, yet the beauty never failed to leave me breathless.I approached the entrance, stopping momentarily as the soft gurgling of water caught my attention. The fountain stood proudly at the front, depicting a giant lion with water dancing from its mouth. “G
~Elena~I could feel my heartbeat increase as I drove into the Royal Cuisine car park. I had not expected that he would reply to my message so quickly, making everything easier because I wouldn’t have to worry about explaining what I wanted from him. My eyes roamed when I exited my car, and I heard cameras clicking. But I couldn’t see anyone anywhere. My instinct told me that the paparazzi were around somewhere, and I figured they might have gotten a hint from when we both followed each other yesterday on Instagram. Since they were stalking me, they followed me to the restaurant. Again, it was making my work easier. As I opened the grand doors of the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the luxury surrounding me. The restaurant was breathtaking and lived up to its name as the biggest restaurant in the city. It was a masterpiece of luxury with sleek marble floors, rich wood paneling, and lavish furnishings. The atmosphere was sophisticated yet inviting. A maître d approached me,
~Christian~I couldn’t stop staring away from Elena as she savored each bite on her plate. Her elegance and poise captivated me, and I found myself entranced. When I finished my meal, I wiped my mouth clean with a napkin, casually dropped the handkerchief on the table, and relaxed on the chair. I watched as Elena slowly raised her head but avoided my eyes. She wrapped her slender fingers around the wine glass, and then her eyes locked onto mine as she took a sip. ‘’so,’’ I started a conversation since we were both done eating. ‘’Elena, would you like to be my date for my family dinner?’’ I went straight to the point since we both knew what we wanted, and if we continued denying it, it would only mean we were lying to ourselves. Her eyes widened in shock, and she choked on the wine. ‘’Are you alright?’’ I asked, leaning forward to check her.She coughed, her face red, and then she picked up the napkin and wiped her mouth clean. ‘’your family dinner?’’ I nodded. ‘’yes, this weekend.
~Elena~My hands grew colder as the car drove into my grandfather’s estate. Throughout the ride, I tried so hard not to be obvious about being around him, and each time he tried to speak to me, I responded with quick words that wouldn’t drag the discussion any further. I was not supposed to be helpless in front of a man who could be like everyone else, and even though he gave a good impression at my funeral, I still didn’t trust him yet because I had no idea what he was capable of doing. "We have arrived, sir." The driver’s announcement and Christian’s hand on my shoulder jolted me out of my thoughts. ‘’I uhm…’’ I cleared my throat as I faced him. ‘’Thank you so much for today,’’ I told him. Just then, the door opened, and I gave him a little wave before stepping out of the car. I didn’t know what to say to him, and I felt like a fool seeing how he watched me walk out of the car without responding, but to my surprise, he walked out right after me and stood behind me. ‘’I have to wa
~Elena~My heart pounded hard in my chest as I drove into the driveway of the royal Mansion. Just like my grandfather’s Mansion, it exuded an aura of wealth and legacy yet rivaled it in building, making it seem like a common home in comparison. The beauty of the Mansion was breathtaking as I reached the front door, where Christian was waiting for me, dressed in a tailored blue suit that accentuated his chiseled features. A dazzling smile spread across his face as our eyes met, and I felt excitement. This was all fake, I reminded myself, but my heart pounded harder as he approached, still smiling. I forgot how to breathe for a second as he reached my side and stretched forth his hand for me to take. ‘’Welcome, Elena,’’ he said, his voice low and smooth. ‘’You look beautiful.’’ My face suddenly turned red, and I tried hard to avoid looking at him as each glance made my heart race faster. ‘’And you look dashing in your…’’I trailed off, unsure how to finish, but he understood and chuck
~Christian~I watched as Landon walked in with his father, his smug expression a familiar sight I had seen before. It had been years since we last saw each other, and I'd expected time to have changed him. But at one glance, he was still the same. He was still the same cocky boy I met when my parents died. His eyes locked onto mine, and that same condescending smirk spread across his face. My fists clenched instinctively, a surge of anger coursing through me, and I had the urge to punch him in the face.Landon's presence was a harsh reminder of our family's complicated dynamics. We shared a mother, but that's where our connection ended. He was the illegitimate son, born to a thug father. On the other hand, I was the rightful heir to the royal family. Landon always reminded me how he'd steal everything from me when we were younger. Seeing him again brought back memories I'd rather forget. His father's presence made matters worse.The little I knew about Landon's father was that he was
~Christian~The table grew silent, and the only noise was the clicking of our spoons on our plates. Dinner went on for almost an hour, with anyone barely eating anything on their plates except my grandfather. It was torture having people who were my enemies with me on the table pretending to be good, and finally, after almost an hour, my father spoke up again. ‘’Now,’’ he settled his glass on the table and wiped his mouth clean before speaking again. ‘’ The main reason for the dinner is to discuss the inheritance,’’ he announced. Elena suddenly stood up, but I grabbed her hand. ‘’where are you going?’’ I whispered to her. ‘’I…’’ she tried to speak as all eyes on the table turned towards her. ‘’I am not sure if I am supposed to be a part of this meeting.’’ My grandfather laughed and pointed to her chair so she could sit. ‘’Don’t worry about that because you are getting married to Christian. He will need your support as your husband.’’ Husband? I still haven’t gotten used to hearin
~Elena~"Thank you for today," I muttered to Christian as we stood beside his car, neither wanting to leave."It’s all thanks to you," he replied, a smile on his face. "I mean, I was able to make my grandfather happy again, thanks to you."A chuckle escaped my lips as I looked up at him, finding that he was also staring at me. "Owen almost ruined everything, by the way," I reminded him, and he sighed."As if I knew that was going to happen," he responded. "I already had everything planned out.""That’s so cool!" I said, genuinely excited. I was amazed by how quickly he had regained control of the situation. I had known it, even though he hadn’t told me directly. His quick thinking made me grow fond of him. I knew I shouldn’t be feeling that way, especially since I didn’t know him or his intentions towards me, but he had shown that I could trust him, even if it was just a little."Thank you for acting perfectly today in front of my grandfather," he said again, even though he had mention
~Owen~ I knew all hell would break loose once my father returned from the royal mansion. I hadn’t expected Christian to have me followed and discover the girls I’d been secretly seeing behind Elena’s back. The plan was to go there and ruin Elena's dinner, but it backfired, and now I was in serious trouble with my father. I knew exactly what my father would do—especially since it involved his favorite child: my older brother, the only one he truly cared about. Before he came back, my mother was already nagging me about what I’d done, warning me of the consequences and how I could avoid my father’s wrath that night. “Just make sure you go straight to your room and don’t say anything unless I ask you to. You know how he usually is when angry, so please, don’t make him even more annoyed,” she advised. Not wanting to make things worse, I followed her advice, heading to my room and sitting on my bed. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen when my father returned. Curious,
~Christian~The table grew silent, and the only noise was the clicking of our spoons on our plates. Dinner went on for almost an hour, with anyone barely eating anything on their plates except my grandfather. It was torture having people who were my enemies with me on the table pretending to be good, and finally, after almost an hour, my father spoke up again. ‘’Now,’’ he settled his glass on the table and wiped his mouth clean before speaking again. ‘’ The main reason for the dinner is to discuss the inheritance,’’ he announced. Elena suddenly stood up, but I grabbed her hand. ‘’where are you going?’’ I whispered to her. ‘’I…’’ she tried to speak as all eyes on the table turned towards her. ‘’I am not sure if I am supposed to be a part of this meeting.’’ My grandfather laughed and pointed to her chair so she could sit. ‘’Don’t worry about that because you are getting married to Christian. He will need your support as your husband.’’ Husband? I still haven’t gotten used to hearin
~Christian~I watched as Landon walked in with his father, his smug expression a familiar sight I had seen before. It had been years since we last saw each other, and I'd expected time to have changed him. But at one glance, he was still the same. He was still the same cocky boy I met when my parents died. His eyes locked onto mine, and that same condescending smirk spread across his face. My fists clenched instinctively, a surge of anger coursing through me, and I had the urge to punch him in the face.Landon's presence was a harsh reminder of our family's complicated dynamics. We shared a mother, but that's where our connection ended. He was the illegitimate son, born to a thug father. On the other hand, I was the rightful heir to the royal family. Landon always reminded me how he'd steal everything from me when we were younger. Seeing him again brought back memories I'd rather forget. His father's presence made matters worse.The little I knew about Landon's father was that he was
~Elena~My heart pounded hard in my chest as I drove into the driveway of the royal Mansion. Just like my grandfather’s Mansion, it exuded an aura of wealth and legacy yet rivaled it in building, making it seem like a common home in comparison. The beauty of the Mansion was breathtaking as I reached the front door, where Christian was waiting for me, dressed in a tailored blue suit that accentuated his chiseled features. A dazzling smile spread across his face as our eyes met, and I felt excitement. This was all fake, I reminded myself, but my heart pounded harder as he approached, still smiling. I forgot how to breathe for a second as he reached my side and stretched forth his hand for me to take. ‘’Welcome, Elena,’’ he said, his voice low and smooth. ‘’You look beautiful.’’ My face suddenly turned red, and I tried hard to avoid looking at him as each glance made my heart race faster. ‘’And you look dashing in your…’’I trailed off, unsure how to finish, but he understood and chuck
~Elena~My hands grew colder as the car drove into my grandfather’s estate. Throughout the ride, I tried so hard not to be obvious about being around him, and each time he tried to speak to me, I responded with quick words that wouldn’t drag the discussion any further. I was not supposed to be helpless in front of a man who could be like everyone else, and even though he gave a good impression at my funeral, I still didn’t trust him yet because I had no idea what he was capable of doing. "We have arrived, sir." The driver’s announcement and Christian’s hand on my shoulder jolted me out of my thoughts. ‘’I uhm…’’ I cleared my throat as I faced him. ‘’Thank you so much for today,’’ I told him. Just then, the door opened, and I gave him a little wave before stepping out of the car. I didn’t know what to say to him, and I felt like a fool seeing how he watched me walk out of the car without responding, but to my surprise, he walked out right after me and stood behind me. ‘’I have to wa
~Christian~I couldn’t stop staring away from Elena as she savored each bite on her plate. Her elegance and poise captivated me, and I found myself entranced. When I finished my meal, I wiped my mouth clean with a napkin, casually dropped the handkerchief on the table, and relaxed on the chair. I watched as Elena slowly raised her head but avoided my eyes. She wrapped her slender fingers around the wine glass, and then her eyes locked onto mine as she took a sip. ‘’so,’’ I started a conversation since we were both done eating. ‘’Elena, would you like to be my date for my family dinner?’’ I went straight to the point since we both knew what we wanted, and if we continued denying it, it would only mean we were lying to ourselves. Her eyes widened in shock, and she choked on the wine. ‘’Are you alright?’’ I asked, leaning forward to check her.She coughed, her face red, and then she picked up the napkin and wiped her mouth clean. ‘’your family dinner?’’ I nodded. ‘’yes, this weekend.
~Elena~I could feel my heartbeat increase as I drove into the Royal Cuisine car park. I had not expected that he would reply to my message so quickly, making everything easier because I wouldn’t have to worry about explaining what I wanted from him. My eyes roamed when I exited my car, and I heard cameras clicking. But I couldn’t see anyone anywhere. My instinct told me that the paparazzi were around somewhere, and I figured they might have gotten a hint from when we both followed each other yesterday on Instagram. Since they were stalking me, they followed me to the restaurant. Again, it was making my work easier. As I opened the grand doors of the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the luxury surrounding me. The restaurant was breathtaking and lived up to its name as the biggest restaurant in the city. It was a masterpiece of luxury with sleek marble floors, rich wood paneling, and lavish furnishings. The atmosphere was sophisticated yet inviting. A maître d approached me,
~Christian~“He has been calling you non-stop,” my secretary said as she handed over my phone. I swiped through the screen, staring at the multiple calls from my grandfather. I knew he’d been expecting me to visit since I had promised to come to the mansion as soon as I returned, but I hadn’t gotten the time yet. I first visited my parents' grave, stopped by my penthouse, and then went on a date with someone I didn’t even like. But it turned out to be enjoyable—because she was there.As I stepped out of the car onto the winding driveway, I was immediately greeted by the familiar, breathtaking view of my grandfather’s estate. The majestic mansion rose before me, its elegance and grandeur still awe-inspiring. I had visited countless times, yet the beauty never failed to leave me breathless.I approached the entrance, stopping momentarily as the soft gurgling of water caught my attention. The fountain stood proudly at the front, depicting a giant lion with water dancing from its mouth. “G