Share

67. The true

Author: Karen Moon
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

The kiss was unexpected and stole the air from my lungs, mixing confusion with a strange warmth that washed over me like a wave. I should have pushed Thomas away, should have screamed, but my mind was numb from the closeness, from the intensity of that moment.

For a second, all the anger, hatred, resentment—everything seemed to melt away under the touch of his lips. It was a gentle kiss, but there was something dark in it, an urgency and possessiveness that reminded me of how he controlled everyone around him. My body was weak, and that touch held me, as if it had the power to either shatter me or piece me back together with a single gesture.

Then, reality hit hard, like a slap. I pulled back, breaking the contact, my gaze overflowing with a mix of pain and disbelief.

"Don't you dare!" I yelled, though my voice came out trembling. "You have no right, Thomas!"

He flinched as if I had struck him. There was shame in his features.

"Sorry," Thomas murmured. "I just… I don’t know. I just wa
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • Revenge Business   68. Betrayal

    I had betrayed Masato.Still in shock, trembling and feeling panic coursing through my veins along with my blood, I stared at my own pale hands. I swallowed nervously and leaned against the cot, trying in vain to suppress the urge to run from there.What would Thomas do now? I doubted that Masato would allow himself to be caught alive. Despite the series of failures we’d been through, he was still a powerful billionaire with resources. Surely, he must have an escape route, a plan B that would prevent Thomas from getting his hands around his neck.With a heavy heart, I remembered when the CEO with wheat-blonde hair scoffed and said there were Falcons infiltrated among the Eagles. Could one of them be responsible for Masato’s downfall?Tears wouldn’t stop streaming down my face. Agonized, I cried, expecting the worst.Now that I had confessed everything, I would surely be killed. Thomas would see no reason for me to remain alive. He already had the information he needed.Between bouts o

  • Revenge Business   69. Behind the ropes

    The week passed slowly.Because of the injury, I couldn’t leave the room. Day after day, two doctors visited to see how things were going. I ate five times a day and took medication that made me groggy. Both doctors said the side effect was common, though my paranoia suggested they were drugging me on purpose.But what would be the point of drugging someone who was being heavily watched on some sort of island-prison? Especially if that person was recovering from a gunshot wound?Thomas hadn’t reappeared. I couldn’t stop imagining that he might be doing something terrible to vent his frustration, like torturing my sister and my father, or maybe even Masato, who could be anywhere.The billionaire's words always lingered in my mind. My father was a self-centered, con-man scoundrel who didn’t hesitate to abandon his wife and daughters to pursue a new lifestyle. But even so, knowing that he negotiated his own services and offered my sister just so Thomas would leave me alone turned my stom

  • Revenge Business   70. Broken ties

    "Your sister wants to speak with you."Thomas’s deep, restrained voice filled the room as soon as the door opened.I gasped. He looked stunning, even mesmerizing, in his blue dress shirt with two buttons undone and dark jeans. His hair was slicked back, and judging by his expression, something bad must have happened."Can I see her?" I asked in a low voice."I came to get you for that exact reason. How’s your wound?"I lifted part of my shirt so he could see the large bandage. The rough stitches were well taken care of, and as long as I avoided sudden movements, I’d be fine.Thomas looked at the spot where a bullet had pierced me, and for a second, I saw pain and guilt in his eyes. But his expression quickly returned to its usual look. He moved toward me with controlled, measured steps and gently helped me up from the bed.My legs were still weak and trembling, and I almost lost my balance. After helping me steady myself, Thomas began to guide me through the corridors of the enormous

  • Revenge Business   71. Resistence

    Apparently, Masato had made his move on the board. And with that move, he wanted to say two things.The first was that, obviously, he wasn’t dead or in trouble. The second meant that while the Falcons might have infiltrated the Eagles, the opposite was also true.And from the expression on Thomas's face, it seemed he had no idea that his private paradise, surrounded by his loyal lackeys, wasn’t as safe as he thought.I tried to take a deep breath to contain my nervousness. Masato wouldn’t harm Carmelia, but she was gravely injured and needed medical assistance. And what if one of the infiltrated Falcons recognized her? Thomas said he had no intention of killing anyone, but what if Carmelia became a real threat?As if reading my thoughts, Thomas began giving orders to his men:"Search the entire perimeter. I want footage from all security cameras. No vessel leaves or enters without my approval."Desolate, I looked for a corner to sit. Painfully, I leaned against one of the walls and pl

  • Revenge Business   72. To the rescue

    As we headed to the helicopter, I felt the weight of the situation sink into me. The strong wind from the blades whipped across my face, and even with the sharp pain in my abdomen, my concern for Carmelia was greater. Thomas was focused, silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon, lips pressed into a tense line. I knew he was not only worried about locating my sister but also about maintaining control of the situation after Masato's unexpected attack.As soon as we took off, the silence between us became almost palpable. My thoughts were racing, divided between fear and anger. Carmelia should never have been involved, but now she was a valuable piece on both sides of the board. And that tormented me. What would Masato do to ensure Thomas stayed away?I remembered the day of my mother's funeral, when the Japanese CEO confessed his feelings and fears to me, at least partially. In contrast, I remembered the same Masato who physically punished me after discovering I had disobeyed his orders.W

  • Revenge Business   73. Consequences of a not too distant past

    Thomas stood frozen beside me, his eyes wide as he took in the scene before us. His lips parted as if he wanted to speak, but there was no sound. Just a heavy, terrifying silence.Adrian kept the gun firmly pointed at Carmélia, but his gaze was fixed on his brother, a mocking smile forming on his face.“Is that fear I see on your face? Now that is a surprise.”My fear and shock at seeing the brother who had been so mistreated by Thomas quickly faded, giving way to anger. I took a step forward, but the billionaire beside me gripped my arm tightly, stopping me from moving further.“Let her go! Let her go now!” I shouted, enraged, seeing how pale Carmélia looked, likely from blood loss.“I’ll let her go, Bianca, don’t worry.” His voice was so calm and controlled, as if he were commenting on the weather. “No need to get so worked up. After all, I only needed bait, and you fell right into the trap.”Where were Thomas's other associates? Why weren’t they showing up? I looked around, searchi

  • Revenge Business   74. Hostage

    My heart was pounding uncontrollably. I knew that if I approached, I would be stepping into a game where the rules belonged to Adrian, and any misstep could mean the end. But Carmélia’s life depended on my choice, and I couldn’t leave her behind.I cast one last look at Thomas, hoping he had a plan — anything. He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with helplessness and anger, but he made no move. I knew he was trying to stay calm, trying to think of something as I slowly walked toward Adrian.Each step echoed in the silence, increasing the weight of that decision. Adrian smiled, satisfied, as if he had already won. He pulled the weapon away from Carmélia and grabbed her arm, pushing her toward Thomas.“There you go, brother, I kept my part of the deal. Now, Bianca is my guarantee.” He pulled me to his side, keeping the gun pointed at me.I tried to stay steady, but my hands trembled. I looked at Thomas one last time, hoping he’d say something, do anything to stop Adrian from taking

  • Revenge Business   75. Fatricide

    Adrian's weight on my body felt unbearable. His blood trickled, hot and thick, down my neck and face, mixing with my own blood, which continued to seep from the wound on my side. I tried to move, but I was too weak. My arms trembled as I struggled to push his limp body away.It was then, amid my blurred vision and rising desperation, that I heard hurried footsteps approaching. My heart leapt as I saw Thomas appear in front of me, his gaze filled with a restrained fury and, at the same time, relief. In his still-trembling hands was the firearm that had fired the shot.He had saved my life… and killed his own brother.The man quickly lifted Adrian's body off me, his expression shifting to something between worry and despair as he took in my condition."Bianca," he murmured, his voice rough. His fingers shook as they touched my bruised, blood-covered face. "I'm... sorry it came to this."A solitary tear slid down my cheek as I tried to smile, even with the pain throbbing in every part of

Latest chapter

  • Revenge Business   80. a revealing nightmare

    A man in his fifties, dressed in the same attire as the Blood Ravens, entered the area where we were. He wasn’t pointing his weapon at us, though he held it in his left hand."I don’t know what kind of soap opera this is,” he warned, looking at Masato. “But you made a deal with us. The Hawk’s head is ours.”Thomas didn’t react. Masato looked confused, as if unsure of what to do. He glanced at me, desperate, but what could I do under these circumstances?!“Don’t let this happen,” I pleaded with Masato. “Don’t let them take Thomas. Please.”He didn’t even react. He just pretended he didn’t hear me.The silence felt heavy between us, like a silent threat. The Blood Raven man took a step forward, his disdainful smile illuminated by the faint light filtering through the trees. Masato looked frozen, as if every fiber of his being fought against some decision he knew he had to make.“So that’s it?” I shouted, my voice breaking. “You promised you were here to protect me, but now you’re going

  • Revenge Business   79. The meeting of the two nemeses

    Explosions and screams echoed around us as Masato and I ran, dodging debris and fallen bodies on the ground. The Royal Falcons and the Ravens were locked in an unending, relentless battle. The Blue Falcons, caught off guard, reacted immediately, but it was clear how exhausted they were.Worried, I bit my lip, wondering what they would do to Thomas. Had he already escaped to a safer place? I was genuinely concerned for him. As the man himself had said, the Blood Ravens didn’t take prisoners.Masato, with his focused and determined gaze, never let go of my hand, guiding me along a route that only he seemed to know.“We’re almost there,” he said as we ran, his voice muffled by the sounds of war around us. “The hidden pier is just behind those rocks. We have a boat waiting.”“Hidden pier?”“Yes. Thomas has a secret spot on this hell he calls an island. That’s probably where he’ll try to escape, though I doubt he’ll make it there alive.”I felt a knot in my stomach.“What if he survives?”

  • Revenge Business   78. The enemy of my enemy is my friend

    I froze, unable to process what was happening. Masato’s face, which I had thought lost forever, was right there in front of me, his expression serious and intense. My eyes filled with tears, a mixture of shock, relief, and anger bubbling within me.“Masato… you…” My voice came out shaky, broken by emotions. “Where have you been? How could you just disappear and leave me… with him?”I hugged him desperately. Despite the terrible sounds of the ongoing fight, the feeling of safety that washed over me was immense. There, in Masato’s arms, I knew I had nothing and no one to fear.“I didn’t leave you, Bianca. Believe me, it was the last thing I wanted to do,” he replied, his eyes burning with an unusual intensity. “To protect you and to get us out of this hell, I had to make a dangerous deal.”“A deal?” Horror mixed with relief in my chest. “With the Blood Ravens?”Masato nodded, a hint of surprise in his gaze as he realized I knew the gang’s name. He explained:“Yes. To reach you, to get y

  • Revenge Business   77. A new wave of attacks on sight

    Thomas's revelation hit like a cold stone in my stomach. I was still weak, my body barely recovered, and now we had a war ahead of us? The thought of more battles, more losses, more wounds was almost unbearable. But there was no time for hesitation.“How many?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.“More than we’re ready to face,” he replied, tension evident in his voice. “The Royal Hawks are determined to take control of the island and bring me down.” He paused abruptly. “And this time, they won’t make the same mistakes Adrian did.”“What do you mean by that?”Thomas sighed.“Our spies said they recently formed an alliance with another enemy group of ours.”“Another group?”The billionaire nodded, his lips pressed in nervousness.“Unfortunately, over time, as I expanded my empire, I made more enemies. Of course, the Eagles are still our biggest rivals, but other groups also want us destroyed.”I crossed my arms, distressed.“Okay, and who exactly have the Royal Hawks aligned with?”T

  • Revenge Business   76. Prelude

    The darkness enveloped me completely, and time seemed to lose its meaning. There was no pain, no fear—only a comforting emptiness that almost made me forget everything that had happened.When I finally awoke, I found myself in a place that was initially unfamiliar. The ceiling was white, illuminated by a soft light. Blinking slowly, I realized I was in a comfortable bed, surrounded by machines and medical equipment. The sterile smell and the low hum of the devices around me made me realize that I was back in the hospital ward of Falcon Island.I turned my head slowly and saw Thomas sitting next to my bed, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped, and his eyes fixed on me. There was an intensity in them that seemed to suggest he was carrying the weight of the world. Upon noticing I was awake, he leaned closer, taking my hand.“How do you feel?” he asked, his voice low, almost as if he were afraid to break the silence.I tried to speak, but my throat was dry. Thomas quickly grabbe

  • Revenge Business   75. Fatricide

    Adrian's weight on my body felt unbearable. His blood trickled, hot and thick, down my neck and face, mixing with my own blood, which continued to seep from the wound on my side. I tried to move, but I was too weak. My arms trembled as I struggled to push his limp body away.It was then, amid my blurred vision and rising desperation, that I heard hurried footsteps approaching. My heart leapt as I saw Thomas appear in front of me, his gaze filled with a restrained fury and, at the same time, relief. In his still-trembling hands was the firearm that had fired the shot.He had saved my life… and killed his own brother.The man quickly lifted Adrian's body off me, his expression shifting to something between worry and despair as he took in my condition."Bianca," he murmured, his voice rough. His fingers shook as they touched my bruised, blood-covered face. "I'm... sorry it came to this."A solitary tear slid down my cheek as I tried to smile, even with the pain throbbing in every part of

  • Revenge Business   74. Hostage

    My heart was pounding uncontrollably. I knew that if I approached, I would be stepping into a game where the rules belonged to Adrian, and any misstep could mean the end. But Carmélia’s life depended on my choice, and I couldn’t leave her behind.I cast one last look at Thomas, hoping he had a plan — anything. He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with helplessness and anger, but he made no move. I knew he was trying to stay calm, trying to think of something as I slowly walked toward Adrian.Each step echoed in the silence, increasing the weight of that decision. Adrian smiled, satisfied, as if he had already won. He pulled the weapon away from Carmélia and grabbed her arm, pushing her toward Thomas.“There you go, brother, I kept my part of the deal. Now, Bianca is my guarantee.” He pulled me to his side, keeping the gun pointed at me.I tried to stay steady, but my hands trembled. I looked at Thomas one last time, hoping he’d say something, do anything to stop Adrian from taking

  • Revenge Business   73. Consequences of a not too distant past

    Thomas stood frozen beside me, his eyes wide as he took in the scene before us. His lips parted as if he wanted to speak, but there was no sound. Just a heavy, terrifying silence.Adrian kept the gun firmly pointed at Carmélia, but his gaze was fixed on his brother, a mocking smile forming on his face.“Is that fear I see on your face? Now that is a surprise.”My fear and shock at seeing the brother who had been so mistreated by Thomas quickly faded, giving way to anger. I took a step forward, but the billionaire beside me gripped my arm tightly, stopping me from moving further.“Let her go! Let her go now!” I shouted, enraged, seeing how pale Carmélia looked, likely from blood loss.“I’ll let her go, Bianca, don’t worry.” His voice was so calm and controlled, as if he were commenting on the weather. “No need to get so worked up. After all, I only needed bait, and you fell right into the trap.”Where were Thomas's other associates? Why weren’t they showing up? I looked around, searchi

  • Revenge Business   72. To the rescue

    As we headed to the helicopter, I felt the weight of the situation sink into me. The strong wind from the blades whipped across my face, and even with the sharp pain in my abdomen, my concern for Carmelia was greater. Thomas was focused, silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon, lips pressed into a tense line. I knew he was not only worried about locating my sister but also about maintaining control of the situation after Masato's unexpected attack.As soon as we took off, the silence between us became almost palpable. My thoughts were racing, divided between fear and anger. Carmelia should never have been involved, but now she was a valuable piece on both sides of the board. And that tormented me. What would Masato do to ensure Thomas stayed away?I remembered the day of my mother's funeral, when the Japanese CEO confessed his feelings and fears to me, at least partially. In contrast, I remembered the same Masato who physically punished me after discovering I had disobeyed his orders.W

DMCA.com Protection Status