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Chapter 21 : The kidnap
Last Updated:
2025-03-03 22:43:50
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Anaïs Iluak was all too familiar with the symphony of waves crashing against the rocky shore, but it irritated her tonight as she sat by the window of their little wooden shack. Her sketchpad, filled with crude outlines of gorgeous costumes and confident stances dancing across the pages, was illuminated by the faint light of a single lantern.One drawing, a picture of herself on a brightly lit runway, caught her attention as her fingers traced the lines. "Paris," she whispered, picturing the cheers of a devoted audience. However, her reverie was abruptly cut short by the harsh, cruel reality of her father's wheezing cough filling the air.She rushed to his bedside. "Papa?" she murmured tremulously. Her father, Tuarik, turned feebly, his eyes weary and cheeks sunken, clear signs of his deteriorating health. He croaked, "I'm fine," though he was out of breath from the exertion.Anaïs adjusted his blanket and replied, "Stop saying that. You're not okay." The sight of the almost finished
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The steady sound of clinking dishes and murmured conversations in the diner was oddly comforting. Anaïs moved between tables with practiced precision, her mind preoccupied even as she took orders and refilled coffee cups.From the counter, Margaret called out, "Hey, Anaïs, table five wants extra cream.""You got it," Anaïs replied, grabbing a small pitcher. Her hands moved on autopilot, but her thoughts remained fixed on the surrogacy offer.Approaching table five, she saw a familiar face, Marco, the fisherman, seated with a few of his coworkers. He smiled as their eyes met."Taking over the world one coffee at a time?" he teased as she poured the cream.Anaïs managed a faint smile. "Trying," she replied.Marco’s expression turned serious. "You look tired. Everything okay?"She hesitated, then shrugged. "Just busy."He leaned back, concern etched across his face. "Anaïs, you know, if you ever need help, ""I’m fine," she interrupted, her tone sharper than intended.Marco raised his ha
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Anaïs stood at the edge of the large window, looking out over the mansion's well-kept grounds. Her thoughts were distant. Just a few weeks ago, she was a simple girl living in a simple local settlement but here she was, in an estate foreign to what she had known and a future that hung in a balance. The sky was getting darker and the horizon was lit up by the fading sunset. The estate felt more like a cage than a haven, with its vast fountains, tall pillars, and infinite acres of space.The contract preparation had been swift.Shortly before that, her father had an emergency and was rushed to the hospital.“The surgery is inevitable”, the Doctor had said.Anaïs had proceeded swiftly with the contract preparation. She had spent long hours in companies of medical staff who had been monitoring and preparing her body for a baby.Finally it was today. It was the day she had been getting ready for, yet never really prepared for.Under the opulence of the space, her body appeared to belong t
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Cael Moriane sat back in his leather chair, staring at the frosted glass of his office window. The air conditioner worked tirelessly. Muffled sounds of the Moriane Empire filled the hall outside, assistants tapping on keyboards, executives barking commands. Inside, the only sound was the faint hum of his phone vibrating on the desk.He looked at the screen, it was an email from his assistant.His lips pressed into a thin line. He hadn't cared about the candidates personal stories. Dependability, discretion, and the ability to follow through was all that mattered. Everything else was just noise but after last night he had been uncharacteristically curious.He had noticed that it was her first time with a man and he soon wanted to know more about her.He had instructed his assistant to run a proper and complete check on Anaïs. He wanted to know more than what the agency was able to gather about her.The buzz of the intercom broke the silence. His assistant’s voice came through, delibera
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Cael had just returned from the office as the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the expansive grounds of the Moraine home. The estate was one of the many properties in his family's name. This was his home. Where Anaïs now lived temporarily.The estate was quiet as usual but as the butler opened the door, Cael immediately sensed that something was off. The atmosphere within the mansion felt heavy, almost stagnant. The butler also looked unsettled."Where’s Anaïs?" Cael asked in suspicion, shrugging off his coat.The butler hesitated. "She…she hasn’t been seen since this morning sir, and she is not…not in her room either.” he stuttered.Cael scowled. "What are you saying? She possibly couldn't leave without anyone noticing.”His frown deepened. Quickly he went up the staircase two steps at a time, heading for Anaïs’ room. The moment he opened the door, his heart sank. She truly wasn't inside. The bed was made, the curtains were drawn, and her perfume was somewhat in the air,
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"Let her go. Now!."The men stopped in their tracks, their expressions shifting from menace to apprehension. A figure stood behind a lamppost wavering light, his angular figure exuding a sense of menace and dominance.Anaïs felt relief as she saw who it was. It was Cael."Who the hell are you?" Spat the scarred one, though his voice wavered."Someone you don't want to mess with," Cael replied coldly, stepping closer into the light. His tone held an assured self-confidence and arrogance that froze the group in place. "I would give you all just three seconds to get lost before I make you regret this."The men hesitated, sizing him up. But something about his unwavering gaze and calm bravado told them he wasn’t bluffing. Slowly but surely, cursing under their breath they backed up into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.Anaïs, still trembling, watched as they disappeared before turning to face Cael. Relief washed over her but it was short-lived just as she met
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The tension in the room swelled like a gathering storm. Anaïs stood rooted in place, her hands tightening on the emerald gown as the accusatory glare of the attendant and other staff bore into her. "This is ridiculous," Anaïs said with burning indignation. She felt humiliated.Before the attendant could respond, the room door swung open, and two high-profile-looking figures entered. Sheryl Dominic, a statuesque model with a strong reputation for drama and gossip as much as beauty, walked in with her boyfriend, Anderson Omar.Sheryl’s blonde hair was perfectly coiffed and her diamond-studded sunglasses made her seem larger than life, while Anderson’s chiseled jaw and bored expression screamed celebrity accessory."Excuse me," Sheryl announced loudly, removing her sunglasses with a dramatic flare "I believe a very special dress was reserved for me."The attendant’s attitude changed instantly. Gone was the haughty tone she’d used with Anaïs, replaced with a flattering tone. "Oh, Miss
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Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 21 : The kidnap
It had just been over a week since M&G released their status quo-breaking design—a design flawlessly adorned and paraded by Anaïs. The success of the design had ultimately catapulted Anaïs into the global spotlight. Anaïs' fan base had grown rapidly in the past month but this new shoot was exactly what no one was expecting. Anaïs, a newcomer already gracing the global stage. It was unheard of. Fans and critics alike devoured every Anaïs story in the media. Anaïs Iluak was no longer just a rising star; she was the embodiment of success with just a few gigs under her belt, a model whose unprecedented rise defied all expectations.Early in the morning, just before the first light of the day, Anaïs was abruptly woken by the soft yet insistent knock of her midwife, Alara.Anaïs stirred, feeling too tired to get up. Still feeling under the weather she blinked sleepily as the midwife approached the bed corner. The pregnancy had started taking its toll. Thankfully, she had nothing much plan
Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 20 : Uncharted water
The backdrop had been prepared as the set was bathed with warm, bright lighting. It had been perfectly and meticulously prepared to highlight the beauty of the shoot. The design of the dress prepared for the shoot had its inspiration from the ancient civilization of Greece. It had been perfectly matched with modern style, perfectly giving it a unique, elegant, and somewhat nostalgic allure.Anaïs stood lost in awe at the beauty of the dress on its stand.“Majestic, isn't it?”, a calm voice asked behind her.Startled and back to reality, Anaïs turned to see a middle-aged woman standing behind with a smile. “Yes, it is,” Anaïs replied, smiling back.“Our fashion designing team put their heart and soul into making this masterpiece.” She said,“Ohh, don't mind my manners, I am Charlotte Olivia, the chief operation officer.”“Nice to meet you, Ms. Olivia; I am Anaïs Iluak.”“Come on, no need to introduce yourself. You are the hottest topic right now so definitely I know who you are.” Oli
Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 19 : New beginning, New enemies
Anaïs exhaled sharply as she exited the hospital stepping into the cool of the morning. She rubbed her palms to keep warm as the cool morning breeze brushed past her.It was about that time of the year.Her schedule for the day had been planned by her assistant. Lucy had been meticulous and detailed about each planned event. She had just visited her father at the hospital. He looked rather lively and energetic. Although still skinny from the tole of the sickness, he was beginning to regain his color. Anaïs replayed the details of the visit in her head.“You are finally achieving what you always desired my dear. I am very proud of you”. Her father had said.“...but never forget where you came from, never forget your values…” he had advised.With a lingering sadness and a spark of defiant hope, she clutched her bag as she made her way to the sleek company car.She hadn't bothered asking him about the last statement he made the first time she visited, the night Cael had rescued her fro
Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 18 : shadows unraveled
The air in the room was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, and terror.A bulb hung from the ceiling flickering above, casting intermittent shadows across the cold concrete walls.A woman sat bound to a chair in the middle of the room, her once-smooth skin marred by bruises, dried blood streaking along her temple. Her breaths were ragged, her body trembling from a mixture of pain and exhaustion.She had killed without hesitation. Seduced and slaughtered. The simplest of jobs, or so she had thought.What she hadn’t noticed was the micro camera planted in the room. It had been there all along—an extra measure known only to members of the security team.It recorded every movement, every breath, every thrust, even the murder scene—damning evidence.And now, the hunter had been hunted.The heavy door creaked open, and the temperature in the room seemed to double over. Oppressive and heavy.Boots clicked against the ground in slow, deliberate strides.Cael Moraine stepped into the dim l
Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 17: A Rising Star
Anaïs’s hand hovered over the contract for a moment, her heart was beating fast. This was it. What she had always desired.She called her nerves and pressed the pen to the paper, signing her name in elegant strokes.A wave of exhilaration and excitement coursed through her as she set the pen down.Henry Osborn smiled warmly.“Congratulations, Miss Anaïs. Welcome to Twilight Globals.”Lucy, her new assistant, clapped her hands excitedly. “We’re so happy to have you! And speaking of exciting news…” She slid a folder across the office desk.Anaïs picked it up, her gaze pointed as she flipped through the pages.“Contained in there is information for your first official gig,” Henry said leaning back in his chair, watching her reaction. “A high-end editorial shoot with Élla Mays Vogue magazine. They requested you specifically.”Anaïs gasped.Élla Mays Vogue. One of the biggest fashion magazines in the industry.Anaïs's hands trembled slightly as she closed the folder. For her, this wasn't
Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 16: Shadows in the Spotlight
News of the hospital incident spread like wildfire. Rumors and speculations were in abundance. Some articles claimed that it was a mere coincidence, an unfortunate case of reckless driving while Others were convinced it was a targeted attack—an attempt to silence a possible threat before her career could fully take off.Some conspiracy theorists even suggested that Anaïs had staged the event for publicity. Nothing seemed new and true in the media world anymore.Anaïs sat on her bed as she scrolled through the news article.She stirred, looking up as the room door opened.Cael stood by the door. His gaze swept over her, cool and assessing, but there was something else…something warm before his usual detached expression settled in place.His gaze shifted to her phone. "We’re handling the media," he stated, stepping closer."That escalated fast," she muttered, watching him as he stepped in, shutting the door."That’s how this world works," he replied smoothly.She gave him a side glance
Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 15 : A calculated enemy
The world went blurry in an instant as Anaïs hit the pavement, knocking the air out of her lungs. A sickening loud thud followed—flesh against metal. Gasps erupted around her.Anaïs turned to see Alex sprawled on the ground, blood seeping from his shoulder. The car that had nearly run her down sped off, disappearing into the distance.Her heart pounded. She would have been the one lying there, she thought as her hand instinctively flew to her stomach. The baby.She turned again to the driver."Alex!" She called out as she scrambled toward him.The driver groaned in pain, his face twisted in pain. "Miss Anaïs… are you all right?""Don't speak," she said, her hands trembling.Quickly, a nurse and a few security personnel rushed out, getting into action."Get him inside, now!" one of the hospital staff ordered.All Anaïs could do was watch as Alex was being carried onto a stretcher. A nurse also came towards her. “Miss, are you all right?”.She balled her hands into fists. This was no
Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 14 : A new dawn
When Cael Moraine spoke, the world listened.His statement wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t filled with anger or revenge.It was simple.On his official account, he posted:"Truth has a way of revealing itself. Let’s move on from this."No hashtags. No further explanations.It was subtle, yet brutal.It meant he was done with Sheryl. It meant she was finished.Brands, sponsors, and industry professionals followed his lead, severing ties without hesitation.Within the hour, it was confirmed—Sheryl Dominic was officially blacklisted from the elite modeling circles.Back in her penthouse, Sheryl’s hands trembled as she slammed her phone onto the table.She couldn’t breathe. The walls felt like they were closing in.Her carefully curated empire was crumbling around her, and she had no escape.Dr. Percy wasn’t returning her calls.Her manager had sent a single text: "We need to talk."Even her most loyal fans had gone silent, their blind faith evaporating with the weight of evidence.Sheryl sat
Shadows of a lost heiress Chapter 13: The Fall of Sheryl Dominic
Within the hour, the internet had a new obsession. The narrative, so fragile it had begun to shift.A leaked surveillance video from the award ceremony’s restroom surfaced on multiple platforms, showing an entirely different version of events from what Sheryl had claimed.The footage was clear. Anaïs had only stood her ground, her face looking tensed with discomfort. Never once was she seen moving a muscle in attack.Instead, Sheryl had been the aggressor, her body language hostile, her lips and facial expression moved in a manner that dripped with condescension. Then, there it was, Sheryl’s so-called "fall". It was nothing but an exaggerated performance. There was no forceful shove, no aggression from Anaïs. In fact, Sheryl had glanced around, apparently aware of the cameras, and she had dramatically stumbled onto the floor.The internet exploded."Wait… so she LIED?!""I knew something felt off. This was all an act!""This can be career-ending.""I can't believe my beloved Sheryl
