Arla's heart pounded as she stormed into her father's office. She found him sitting at his desk, completely unaware of the emotional turmoil he had caused. The sight of him only fueled her anger and pain."How could you do this to Mia?" Arla demanded, her voice trembling with emotion. "How could you sell her off like some object to a man who will never love her?"Her father looked up, his eyes cold and calculating. "Arla, you know this is a strategic alliance," he replied calmly. "It will strengthen our family's position in society.""She's your daughter!" Arla shouted, "Not some pawn in your business games!"As her father's dismissive response hung in the air, Arla couldn't hold back the years of hurt and neglect any longer. "You were never there for me after Mom died," she said, her voice cracking with pain. "I needed my father, but you were too busy building your empire to care."Her father's eyes narrowed, but Arla continued, her voice rising with each word. "And now you've done t
As Arla stepped out of her father's company, she decided to stop by a nearby cafe. Her stomach rumbled, and she figured a quick snack would help calm her nerves after the intense confrontation. She ordered pastries and juice, presenting the credit card Liam had given her to the cashier.A few minutes later, as she was savoring her pastry, a text message from an unknown number lit up her phone screen. Arla's brow furrowed as she read the message: "What the hell are you doing outside the estate?" Her pulse quickened as she realized it was Liam, her husband, texting her.She hastily left the cafe and rushed back to the estate. However, the scene that awaited her was frightening. A young man lay on the ground, beaten and bloodied. Arla's heart raced as she moved further, only to find Liam sitting on a chair in front of the estate, his knuckles bruised and bloodied, and the young man who had opened the gate for her earlier lying battered on the floor.A lump formed in Arla's throat as she
As Arla ran into the house, Liam's eyes caught sight of one of his guards staring lustfully at her. A surge of fury coursed through him. He swiftly drew his gun and, in a flash, shot the guard's arm. The man fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding limb and whimpering in pain. With a cold, dispassionate expression, Liam gestured to his bodyguards, who quickly dragged the injured man away to face the consequences of his disobedience.Liam's face hardened as he turned to address the remaining guards, his voice dripping with malice. "This is a warning to all of you," he growled, his dangerous tone sending chills down their spines. "Disobeying me comes with grave consequences. If any of you dare to lay eyes on Arla or fail to show her the respect she deserves, you will face a fate far worse than what you have just witnessed."The guards trembled, their faces pale with fear as they nodded obediently. They fell silent, the air thick with tension. Liam's message was clear, and none of them
As Arla lay on the cold, hard bed in her makeshift prison, she found it impossible to ignore the looming presence of Liam, who stood just beyond the iron bars. His eyes bore into her, and she knew he was waiting for a reaction, any sign of fear or submission. But Arla refused to give him the satisfaction.Instead, she focused on the dim light filtering into the room, the musty smell of the basement, and the rhythmic drip of water from a nearby pipe. These distractions provided a momentary reprieve from the harsh reality of her situation."You can't keep me here forever," Arla finally said, her voice barely more than a whisper but infused with a steely determination that took Liam by surprise."I can do whatever I want," he replied, his tone a menacing sneer. "I own you; you're mine, Arla," he said again, his voice now dangerous. "And I'll keep you locked up until you learn how to behave within my walls."His words sent shivers down her spine, but Arla's stubbornness resurfaced, and sh
Henry's fists rained down on the trembling man, each blow more merciless than the last. His knuckles, bruised and bloodied, continued their assault as rage fueled his every action. The dimly lit warehouse echoed with the harrowing sound of flesh hitting flesh, a vicious symphony of violence.After what felt like an eternity, Henry finally relented, his chest heaving with exertion. He wiped the sweat from his brow, leaving a smudged streak of blood across his forehead. The man lay on the concrete floor, whimpering and broken.Turning away from the battered figure, Henry addressed his fellow gang members. Their faces, illuminated by the flickering fluorescent lights above, were stony and resolute. "So, our little rat got into the estate," Henry spat, venom dripping from his words. "And he's been diggin' up dirt on us, boys."The gang murmured amongst themselves, their anger and frustration palpable in the air. The man on the ground was a mole, an infiltrator who had wormed his way into
Mia's fingers trembled as she dialed Arla's number, her heart racing in her chest. The phone rang, each tone echoing in the quiet of her room, but there was no answer. Mia felt a surge of desperation as the call went to voicemail. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves before leaving a message."Arla," Mia began, her voice cracking with emotion, "please pick up. I really need you." She paused, fighting back tears as she tried to find the words to express the turmoil she was experiencing. "I'm sorry for calling so late, but I didn't know who else to turn to."As she spoke, Mia paced the room, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. The shadows cast by the flickering candlelight danced across her features, illuminating the worry and fear etched on her face."I know you've got your own life and your own problems to deal with, but I'm really struggling right now," Mia continued, her voice wavering. "I need someone to talk to, someone who understands what I'm going through.
The night was calm and quiet, the stillness broken only by the sound of rapid footsteps approaching the estate. The guards, ever vigilant, snapped to attention, their hands reaching for their weapons as the shadows of men came into view. But these were not enemies, they were Liam's men, and they were in bad shape.Blood stained their clothes, their bodies hunched over in pain and exhaustion. Liam, who had been enjoying a quiet evening, rushed to meet them, his eyes wide with shock. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice heavy with concern."It was a trap," one of the men gasped, his breath coming in ragged bursts. "Henry's men knew we were coming. They ambushed us."The weight of the words hit Liam like a punch to the gut. He had sent his men on a mission, confident in their abilities and their loyalty. But now, as he looked at the wounded and weary survivors, he realized that he had sent them into a death trap."They were waiting for us," another man said, his voice thick with grief
Henry stumbled into his home, drunk and disoriented. As he made his way through the dimly lit hallway, he caught a glimpse of Mia, but in his inebriated state, he saw Arla's face instead. A smirk played on his lips as he moved closer to her, his voice slurred, "Oh, what are you doing here?"Mia, shocked and frightened by Henry's strange behavior, instinctively took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. But Henry, still believing he was with Arla, closed the distance between them, pulling her into a tight embrace. He tenderly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, his gaze lingering on her brown eyes, which were now filled with fear and uncertainty.Suddenly, Henry twirled her in a dance-like motion, their bodies moving in an awkward harmony as he held her hands and pulled her into a silent dance. The room was quiet, save for the soft humming that escaped Henry's lips. Though terrified and longing for escape, Mia couldn't help but feel a familiar tenderness toward her husband. D
Henry glared at Mia, his voice dripping with disdain. "I have no use for you. You're useless to me very useless. Why don't you die with your father?"Mia screamed, her eyes filled with anguish. "Haven't you done enough? What did we do to deserve this? Leave us alone!"In a split second, Henry cocked the gun, his finger hovering over the trigger. Realizing his intention, Jason leapt in front of Mia, shielding her from the imminent danger. The gunshot rang out, and the bullet grazed Jason's arm, eliciting a pained grunt.Henry chuckled, his cold laughter echoing through the hall. "Good, you can have her. I don't care about that bitch." With those words, he gripped Arla's arm tightly and dragged her towards the waiting car before speeding away.Liam, his heart pounding with fear and desperation, knew he couldn't risk following them. Henry was an unpredictable and volatile man who wouldn't hesitate to harm Arla. The realization of his own feelings for Arla hit him like a tidal wave, and
The morning sunlight filtered through the lush greenery of the garden as Donna was wheeled out of her room by her maids. Seeking solace in the serene environment, she instructed them to leave her alone, relishing the temporary peace that nature provided. Just as she began to relax, the sound of clapping interrupted her reverie, and she turned to find Vivian standing before her, an unreadable expression on her face."It's nice of you to grace us with your presence," Donna remarked sarcastically, leaning back in her wheelchair and adjusting the blanket on her lap. "Aren't you tired of being Liam's shadow?"Vivian chuckled, her eyes fixed on Donna with a steely gaze. "Aren't you tired of acting?"Donna's brow furrowed in confusion, her body tensing up at Vivian's words. "What do you mean, 'acting'?"In a sudden, swift motion, Vivian pulled Donna off the wheelchair, causing her to shriek as she fell to the ground. Vivian glared down at her, her voice filled with accusation. "I know you ca
Liam growled, his voice rough with passion. He captured her lips in a fierce kiss, his tongue demanding entrance. Arla opened to him willingly, their tongues tangling in a dance of desire. His hands roamed over her body, tracing the curves of her hips and the softness of her thighs through the thin fabric of her nightgown.Arla moaned into his mouth, her hands threading through his hair, pulling him closer. She arched her back, pressing her breasts against his chest, inviting him to explore her further. Liam's hands found the hem of her nightgown and with a swift motion, he pulled it over her head, leaving her completely bare before him.Her body was a vision of perfection. Her skin, smooth and flawless, glowed in the dim light. Her breasts were full and round, her nipples puckered and begging for attention. Liam's mouth watered at the sight, and he lowered his head, taking a taut peak into his mouth. He suckled and teased, his tongue flicking and swirling, eliciting a series of moans
Liam's laughter was tinged with disbelief as he questioned Arla. "Are you trying to tell me that you didn't know him at all? Is that what you want me to believe?"Arla's face twisted with frustration, her words pleading for understanding. "I knew Henry, but we weren't close, Liam. I can't give you the answers you want, but I swear I've never lied to you."Liam's eyes hardened, the pain of betrayal still fresh in his heart. "I can't just forget what happened, Arla. I'm surrounded by people who have manipulated me, and it's hard to trust anyone."Arla's voice rose, her patience wearing thin as she defended herself. "I'm not asking you to forget, but don't paint me as the villain here. There are others who have played a role in all of this Vivian, Donna, and Laurette. Investigate them instead of constantly blaming me."Liam shook his head, his disbelief palpable as he scoffed. "Donna has been in a coma for two years, Arla. How can I confront her when she's only just awakened? And her fa
Arla stood trembling, her arms wrapped tightly around her body in a desperate attempt to preserve her dignity. As the maids stepped away, her mind was suddenly flooded with flashes of her past, memories long forgotten now resurfacing with a force that sent a shockwave through her system. Her head throbbed with an intense pain, the fierceness of her past and present colliding in a tuneless confusion and fear.Without warning, Liam lifted a hose connected to the tap, his actions fueled by a wave of cold, detached anger that seemed to have consumed him. As the icy water sprayed over Arla's vulnerable form, she was assaulted by the shock of the cold and the relentless pressure of the water, her body convulsing in response to the brutal onslaught.The weight of the memories, the stinging pain in her head, and the humiliation of Liam's actions overwhelmed her senses, her consciousness slipping away as she let out a desperate scream. Her body went limp, collapsing to the floor as she gasped
Liam sat in his office, his brow furrowed in concentration as he pored over the details of Donna's recovery plan. He knew that her return to Carponi would allow him to refocus on his affairs, which had suffered in the wake of the chaos that had engulfed the safe house. A sense of frustration filled him, the weight of the recent events bearing down on his shoulders as he struggled to regain control over his life.His thoughts drifted to Donna, and he felt a surge of anger at the role she had played in orchestrating Arla's kidnapping. He had discovered her involvement while she was in a coma and couldn't help but feel that she had contributed to the problems that now plagued him. Despite this, he was determined to see her walking and independent once more, not only for her sake but also to alleviate the burden that had fallen upon him.Liam understood that Donna must never learn of Arla's presence within the safehouse, knowing full well the turmoil that would ensue should their paths cr
As Donna was wheeled into the safehouse, her arrival was met with a mixture of relief and apprehension by its occupants. Vivian, observing from the shadows, felt her blood boil at the sight of her rival returning to the fold. In the privacy of her room, she unleashed her rage, the weight of her fury pressing down upon her like a suffocating blanket."Why is she waking up now?" Vivian seethed, her voice trembling with bitterness. "Today was supposed to be my special night with Liam." She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to control the tempest of emotions that threatened to consume her."Liam, why do you attract all these wild women?" she cried out, her despair mingling with the fury that coursed through her veins. Vivian's anger was all-consuming, her desire for Liam's undivided attention transforming into a dangerous obsession that blinded her to all reason.As she paced the confines of her room, her gaze fell upon a silver pen, its sharp edge glintin
Arla left Liam's room in the safe house, only to be met by a venomous Vivian, her hand raised and ready to strike. However, Arla was prepared this time. She caught Vivian's wrist, halting the slap before it could land. "I'm not ready for your mind games today," Arla declared, her voice hard and unyielding.Vivian's eyes widened in surprise as she took a step back, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. She studied Arla's face, noting a change in her demeanor that hadn't been there before. Had Arla regained her memories? The thought sent a shiver of fear down Vivian's spine, her carefully laid plans suddenly unbalanced on the brink of collapse.Biting her nails anxiously, Vivian watched as Arla walked away, her confident stride a stark contrast to the frightened girl she had once been. Vivian's anger, still simmering from the previous night when Liam had taken Arla away from her grasp, bubbled to the surface once more.Back in her room, Vivian's rage had reached its boiling po
As the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Arla's eyes fluttered open, a wave of fear washing over her as she found Liam sitting beside her, his gaze locked upon her face. Her heart racing, she instinctively recoiled from him, her voice barely a whisper. "Please, don't hurt me."Liam remained still, his eyes never leaving hers as he wrestled with the storm of emotions that raged within him. "I won't," he said finally, his voice raw and husky.Arla's brow furrowed in confusion, her hand moving to her throat, wincing as she felt the tender skin beneath her fingertips. "You tried to kill me," she accused, her voice shaking as she searched Liam's face for answers.Liam looked away, his jaw clenching as he struggled to come to terms with his actions. "I was angry," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "I lost control."As Arla watched him, a mixture of fear and disbelief warring within her, she realized that there was still so much she didn't understand. "Why?" she aske