The morning arrived, marked by the rhythmic sounds of footsteps that roused me from my slumber. I peeped to see Rue, gathering some worn clothes for laundry. A smile adorned her face when she noticed me, and I reciprocated the gesture before she walked out. I sat up, tossing the duvet aside, and stretched. Locating my footwear at the bed's edge, I slipped my feet into them and stood up. The urgency to prepare for departure lingered, prompting me to grab the crumpled black card I had discovered in the garden.The card was crumpled, but thankfully, the numbers were still discernible. I planned to sneak out when an opportunity presented itself or perhaps make a call to him, seeking assistance. Leaving the mansion without Alistair's knowledge seemed impossible, and I needed a careful strategy.Approaching the window, I pulled the curtains aside, my gaze scanning the surroundings. A raised brow signaled my surprise – Alistair's car was conspicuously absent from the premises. The possib
ALISTAIR’S POV“Here are your keys, sir,” an attendant spoke, handing me the keys to my hotel room. With a smile, he left, leaving me to settle on the plush bed.The flight journey had been notably lengthy, and I couldn’t help but wish I had a mansion in Alaska. Visiting this place wasn’t something I had anticipated, particularly due to its cold weather. My disdain for the cold, particularly winter, made me regret not considering this destination sooner.I seized a bottle of whiskey from the bar section of the room, pouring myself a generous glass. Fortunately, having reserved the finest room in the entire hotel, everything was tailored to my convenience.Alaska became my destination because of Amelie. According to her uncle and aunt, she had returned to the city. While I felt a sense of relief that she hadn't divulged our encounter, I couldn't help but wonder about her decision to leave. With the meeting scheduled for 4 pm today, a glance at my watch assured me that I had ample time
The car sliced through the night, navigating the city’s streets as Jayden meticulously traced the map on his phone. My impatience reverberated through my tapping legs, and Jayden, picking up on my urgency, motioned for the chauffeur to step on it.We pulled up to a new location, a building teeming with life. Laughter echoed from within, a stark contrast to the previous desolate scene. The car parked near the fence, and Jayden, sensing the gravity of the situation, took the lead as we approached the lively house.The air was thick with anticipation as we stepped closer, my mind racing with possibilities. Could Chloe be inside, blissfully unaware of the chaos she left behind? Or was this another dead end in the relentless search for her? My fists clenched, and with every step, the echoes of laughter seemed to mock the urgency of our quest.Jayden took the lead, ringing the doorbell as I loitered behind him. The building, bathed in a white coat and surrounded by an ensemble of flowers, e
CHLOE’S POV As I trudged towards the road, tears streaming down my cheeks, a bitter rage simmered within me. “Fuck them all!” I seethed inwardly, unable to suppress the torrent of emotions coursing through me. Forgiveness seemed an impossible feat, a distant thought I refused to entertain, especially not after the betrayal I endured. And Alistair, his actions etched a wound too deep to heal. "Fucking Levons, all of them," I muttered bitterly, my steps heavy with resentment. Home beckoned me, a place tainted by memories of Mom. Yet, it was there I sought solace, hoping to find closure and bid her a proper farewell. Alistair's failure weighed heavily on my shoulders, a betrayal that cut deeper than I could bear, a betrayal not just to me, but to her memory. "Where to, miss?" the cab driver asked, his voice laced with concern as I sank into the backseat. I provided the address in silence, brushing off his inquiry into my somber mood. Ignoring his probing questions, I simply urged him t
Alistair’s Pov Turning the knob, I entered the room that had once been prepared for Chloe. A frown creased my brow as I scanned the empty space, the absence of her presence weighing heavily on my mind. I made my way to the bed and picked up her robe, holding it close as if seeking solace in the lingering scent of her. The familiar fragrance reminded me of her, stirring a sense of longing within me. A deeper frown etched itself onto my features as I berated myself for letting her slip away so easily. Why had I allowed her to leave? If only Jayden had been there, he would have been more vigilant, more determined to keep her by my side. The entire trip had turned into a nightmare, and if I had known it would end like this, I would never have given her the card or dismissed my guards. Regret gnawed at my heart as I realized the likelihood of ever seeing her again was slim. Knowing her as I did, she would have gone into hiding, far from anywhere I would think to look. The weight of my m
CHLOE'S POVMy eyes, heavy with exhaustion, bore the weight of countless tears shed. Streaks of sorrow stained my cheeks, silent witnesses to the anguish within. Hands trembling uncontrollably, I found myself seated at the breakfast table, my gaze fixed vacantly on the steaming cup of coffee before me.My hair, tousled and unkempt, bore witness to the chaos within. Despite Aspen's attempts to send attendants to groom me, I adamantly refused, shooing them away. In that moment, I found solace in my natural appearance, devoid of any desire for makeup.Grief consumed me, fueled by thoughts of vengeance against Alistair. As I gazed at the bread knife lying beside the mug, the image of him lying in a pool of his own blood played out in my mind repeatedly. Aspen had fulfilled his promise by sheltering me in one of his hotels. To ensure my comfort, he provided me with a phone and a prepared card. Despite his assurances that the card contained no tracking device and he had no interest in monit
Alistair’s Pov Amelie's uncle stood before me, a deep frown etched upon his face, his hands hidden behind his back. His disappointment was palpable, a silent rebuke for my recent display of disrespect towards Amelie and her family. I understood his reaction all too well. My actions had undoubtedly caused disappointment and strained relations within the family. It was still a surprise that grandfather had chosen not to include himself and simply stayed mute. While I was relieved that grandfather had refrained from intervening, a sense of unease lingered in the air. His threat loomed over me like a dark cloud, a reminder of the consequences of defying him. I wanted to believe that he would never carry out such a heinous act as harming Chloe, but I knew better than to underestimate him. grandfather was a man of his word, and his threats carried weight. He never made empty promises, and if pushed to the brink, he would not hesitate to follow through on his intentions. The unsettling
Alistair’s Pov Amelie's uncle stood before me, a deep frown etched upon his face, his hands hidden behind his back. His disappointment was palpable, a silent rebuke for my recent display of disrespect towards Amelie and her family. I understood his reaction all too well. My actions had undoubtedly caused disappointment and strained relations within the family. It was still a surprise that grandfather had chosen not to include himself and simply stayed mute. While I was relieved that grandfather had refrained from intervening, a sense of unease lingered in the air. His threat loomed over me like a dark cloud, a reminder of the consequences of defying him. I wanted to believe that he would never carry out such a heinous act as harming Chloe, but I knew better than to underestimate him. grandfather was a man of his word, and his threats carried weight. He never made empty promises, and if pushed to the brink, he would not hesitate to follow through on his intentions. The unsettling