"What" he gripped her tighter "Ellaya, this is the first time someone has touched you, which is why you are feeling this way. It is fine, everything will be fine; you will get used to it." He held her face and attempted to kiss her, but was thrown to the ground before he could even do so.Iden took hold of his color, pulled him, and punched him once more.HOW. DARE. YOU. MOTHER. FUCKER . Kapow, he struck him, furious.Austin regained consciousness after a moment and struck him in the chest, causing him to stumble back. As Iden's shadow bodyguard pointed their gun at Austin from a distance, he lifted his eyebrows and motioned for them to stay out of his way. Austine charged him once more, grinning and wiping the blood from his lower lip, but Iden blocked the blow and struck instead. "Did you not hear what she said?" KAPOW"She does not want you to touch her you mother fucker" . KAPOW"She does not want to marry you a fucking bastard". KAPOW"How the fuck you dare touch her, you fucki
Ellaya woke up the following morning to her phone ringing nonstop. Glancing away from her sleep, she extended her hand to grab her phone. Her phone exploded as soon as she pressed the green button, and a sharp voice called out from the other side "Ellaya, how did it happen and why were you not in contact with us last night?" Her mother's stern voice sounded in her ear, confusing her. "Mama, what happened and what I did not tell you?" her confused brows knit."Oh my sweetheart, I know you do not want your parents to worry, but please don't; everything will work out just fine. I wish I could be with you right now.""Mama..." she was interrupted."You are a star; you just need to control your image. It is okay, my darling, do not cry so much."Ellaya was staring at her phone, unable to make sense of what her mother was saying or what was happening. Her voice came through as she put her phone back to her ear."Austine's parents will be arriving shortly, so you can go and relax.Oh, my s
"Ellaya, are you ready?" Iden grabbed her arms and looked at her, concerned.Ellaya nodded her head and pressed her lips firmly. Two women assisting her in handling her gown, and the other two helping her with her microphone.Her naturally purple hair, worn loose, complemented her purple long gown perfectly, bringing out the brilliant purple in her eyes. Iden told her that she looked like the most beautiful woman in the world and forbade her from using any artificial lenses or makeup to cover up her natural skin tone and hair colors. Her pink skin was glowing with a hint of shiny makeup. And there she stood looking like a goddess."Ellaya" Iden said, gazing into her purple eyes, "You do not have to be nervous okay.""All I am worried about is that they might think I am endorsing a cartoon character at this charity event, or that they might throw tomatoes and rotten eggs at me for looking like a purple princess". Ellaya repeated her statement nth time while biting her inner cheek.Iden
She turned to look around; she could only hear screams and loud footsteps in the empty hallway. She slowly walked while holding her gown and trying to make sense of what was going on. The farther she walked, the more distinct the creams and heavy footsteps were. She looked around for people but was unable to locate even one. She picked up her pace quickly but was startled by a burning smell that she could not identify. She was terrified and wanted to enter the party hall, but a thick cloud of smoke obscured her vision, making it feel burning. She wondered where the cloud of smoke was coming from as she turned to look at her left and saw a huge flame shoot out of one of the guest rooms. She felt the flames roar angrily towards her face and fell down with a scream, avoiding a near-death experience. She realized the hotel was on fire, she broke out into a cold sweat "The hotel is on fire, shit, shit, oh god, please save us". She muttered. She knew she had to flee, but her body w
His phone had rung multiple times previously, but he had decided to ignore it and watch her perform. After she finished, he left and went outside to the garden, where he lit a cigarette and dialed the number. Kaito had been explaining to him how the Russian mafia had invaded their territory; during the attack, over ten soldiers were killed, but they were able to capture three of their men alive, who were now in his custody. "How much time will it take, man?" Frustrated, Kaito asked"Do not kill them in your fret already, Kai, keep them alive until I return".Moments passed in silence before Kaito answered, "Yes."He was aware of Kaito's prolonged silence, which was likely an attempt to maintain composure. He loved his people the most, and his weakness was that he could not keep his cool; he lost it easily. Kaito was a short-tempered and ignorant individual. He needed to finish his business here and return as soon as possible if he did not want Kaito to kill them and rush to the Rus
"Ellaya Wake up, you lazy head. How long are you going to sleep?" A gentle voice kept repeating in her head. She tried hard to open her eyes, but everything was blurry. She closed them, forcing hard, and then opened them again, only to find everything white.'Is this place heaven? No, I cannot be in heaven because I have not done anything good to deserve it. It might be hell, but how would I find out if I asked someone?' She tilted her head and saw nothing but white walls and darkness. She blinked several times to clear her vision, and now she could see a table and a sofa—everything earthly. With confused gaze.Her face was filled with pain. A voice spoke again in her head "I died without telling him that I started to fall in love with him. Did he also die in a fire? "The fire" was so painful. "Iden.." with a scream, she abruptly sat up on the bed. "Iden..." She looked around, her eyes watering, and began to cry. She felt as though someone was holding her heart in tight grip, she bit
There was an eerie silence in the ward, not a single sound could be heard, and Ellaya was restless because she was alone. It had been hours since Iden left to finish his important work. She was incredibly bored as she fiddled with her fingers. She was starving and could not leave the hospital room. When she closed her eyes, all she saw was his stunning face as it rose from the fire, embracing her and addressing her by name. She snapped open her eyes as the door opened and she heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. When a pair of black shiny shoes appeared in front of her, her gaze shifted from the shoes to the well-built body to the breathtaking handsome face. Iden hurled a paper bag onto the table next to her and collapsed onto the couch, drained "Hmm! what is this?" Ellaya closed her eyes and hummed as she lifted the paper bag to her nose and inhaled the mouthwatering aroma of the food. She repeatedly inhaled the delicious aroma of the meal, then opened her eye
Ellaya was fiddling with her phone while seated. She knew no one knew what happened, so she dialed a number, and Eva's extremely angry voice answered. "Where are you lost Ella? I have been trying to reach you for the past three days, but your phone is constantly off. You have no idea how concerned I am for you. If you were going to jump ship to New York and spend eternity there, at least you could have given me a massage." Ellaya was forced to disclose everything that transpired during the charity event after hearing her irate voice. "Oh my goodness! Ella, how did that happen? Are you okay?" On the other end of the phone, Eva cried out in concern. "Do not worry, I am fine. Tell me how everything's going." "Listen, do not worry about anything right now; instead, focus on your health." Eva has a worried tone. "Eva, what is wrong?" Eva sounded tired, and Ellaya sensed that her voice was not as enthusiastic as before. "Ahem..."Eva remained silent for a brief while. Ellaya se
It had been weeks since Ellaya woke up. Though her physical injuries were healing, she seemed to be a shadow of her former self. She had shut herself off completely, retreating into a silent world where no one could reach her. Iden never brought up Uncle Richard, and she didn’t seem inclined to talk about him either. Their unspoken agreement to avoid the topic only deepened the growing chasm between them. Iden rarely visited the hospital, but when he did, he lingered outside her door, never stepping in for more than a brief glance. The once vibrant and animated Ellaya sat on the hospital bed one sunny morning, staring out of the window. The sunlight poured in, illuminating her frail figure. She had lost so much weight that her clothes hung loosely on her, and the dark circles under her eyes revealed the sleepless nights she endured. Her hands rested idly in her lap, motionless, and her lips trembled faintly, as though she wanted to speak but had forgotten how. Iden had seen many
Iden walked in, hands shoved deep in his pockets, his eyes darting between Ellaya’s face and the man sitting on her bed. His footsteps were slow and deliberate. His expression was cold, void of any emotion, as always. The man’s gaze tracked Iden with narrowed eyes and a stoic demeanor. Iden paused near him, then turned to look at Ellaya, who seemed transfixed on her husband, like a deer caught in headlights. “Will you not introduce me to him, puppet?” the man asked, his voice dripping with condescension, a grin plastered across his face. Iden chewed the word puppet under his breath as his brows knitted. As if jolted from a trance, Ellaya flinched at his words and shifted her gaze from the Iden to man then again, man to Iden . “He… is Iden he... is my h... husband,” she stammered, licked her dry lips, her voice shaking, tears glistening in her eyes. Iden observed her with a mix of curiosity and concern. He had seen every expression on her face, but never fear—now, she looke
Iden leaned back, a devilish grin spreading across his face, eyes sparkling with malice. “This is for thinking about my woman the wrong way, Alex,” he sneered, his voice smooth yet laced with venom. “And for the girls whose lives you ruined.” Alex's breath quickened, panic flaring in his chest as he clutched his neck, feeling the warmth of the poison seeping into his veins. “You son of a bitch,” he gasped, desperation coursing through him. “You can kill me, but not him. He would never let her go, never.” His voice faltered, each word strained as the poison began to tighten its grip. Iden froze for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he locked onto Alex. Kai and Annabel spun around, concern etched across their faces. Iden moved in close, gripping Alex's hair tightly, forcing him to look up. “Who is he?” His voice was low and menacing, a growl that sent shivers down the spine. Alex, however, just grinned defiantly through the pain, his eyes sparkling with defiance. Iden lifted him
Annabel twirled the pendrive between her manicured fingers, a sly smile curving her lips as she leaned closer. “Is this what you were talking about, sweetheart?” she purred, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. She crouched down, her fingers brushing against Alex's cheek, sending a shiver down his spine. Alex’s eyes widened in disbelief, a storm brewing within him. “Fucking bitch,” he growled, his voice low and menacing. Anger radiated off him like heat waves, and he clenched his fists, knuckles turning white. “I knew you were a fucking traitor! I knew you were just putting on an act to get close to me.” A cruel laugh escaped him, echoing around them, sharp and bitter. “I should have killed you after I… after I fucked you that night.” He paused, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air, his chest heaving with rage. “But wait, it was my damn mistake. I wanted to kill both of you together.” His eyes fixated on the pendrive again, narrowing suspiciously as if it he
The hand under his trembled slightly, her eyelashes flicked. Iden's body stiffened, rigid, and his heart throbbed violently. He clenched his hand, his eyes focused on her. Her eyes weren't focused, but she slowly opened them and tried to say something. "Laaya," he whispered. Finally, the tear he had been holding back fell down his cheeks, and he didn't even realize it. "Iden," she spoke softly. Her eyes were still not focused and fluttered twice before she finally shut them again. "Ellaya," he called out, his voice laced with panic. The doctors rushed in. "She... she just opened her eyes," he said anxiously, gently rubbing her hand. "Don't worry, Mr. Ruan. She's out of the coma now," the doctor reassured him. Iden exhaled deeply, nodding silently, his gaze fixed on her pale face and the steady rise and fall of her breaths. Every passing moment felt like agony to him. Guilt, a sensation foreign to him until now, gnawed at his insides, tormenting him with every breath. At
Iden returned to the hospital, his clothes clean and looking noble and handsome, as if the accident meant nothing and was just a passing moment. But the scrapes on his knuckles hinted at a fierce battle he had fought, as if he had gone through hell and back. He pushed open the door, and the sight still stung his eyes, hurting him like hell. His footsteps were light on the floor as he approached her bedside. Sitting down beside her, his fingertips touched her. She was pale and warm against his skin, still unconscious, still in a coma. He caressed her cheeks, noting the bandages on her head and the faint marks of several small cuts. "I am sorry, princess. I should have done better," he whispered, his voice cracking with sheer emotion. He had beaten the shit out of the person who caused her condition, but the flame in his heart still burned fiercely, and he knew why. If only he had not allowed her to sit in the car and wait for her death. If only he had never left. But he knew th
Ellaya was taken to the emergency room, leaving Iden waiting outside, surrounded by doctors and nurses. He was injured and still bleeding but was hell-bent on not getting treated until he was sure she was mended. "Iden, you need to wrap up your wound first," Annabel said, clasping his shoulder and squeezing lightly to ground his lost soul. Iden sat on a chair, his fingers clasped together, head hung low, legs spread apart. His shirt was dyed with red and dark blood, not only his. He was amidst a quest for revenge, yet here he was, tortured by the woman he sought vengeance upon. His eyes flicked toward the operating room, and his fingers tightened. His lips stretched in a straight line, and his eyes were bloodshot. The cold metal gate stared back at him as if mocking him. Inside, Ellaya was surrounded by doctors and nurses. Each moment stretched like an eternity, piercing him like a knife cutting through his very soul. Kaito stood in the corner, arms folded, eyes fixed on his brothe
Iden gently lifted Ellaya out of the wreckage, holding her close as he carried her away from the burning car. Ellaya felt delicate and weightless in his arms, her skin warm to the touch. Despite the searing heat from the flames, Iden pressed on without hesitation. His sole purpose was to ensure Ellaya's safety. Ellaya, can you hear me?" he gasped, his voice trembling with fear and anxiety as he hurried to a safe distance, Annabel right beside him. His heart raced in his chest as he rushed away from the burning wreckage, holding Ellaya close. Each step felt like a race against time, every movement fueled by desperation and a fierce resolve to save her. Ellaya's body seemed so delicate and weightless in his arms, her skin radiating warmth against his own. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment, meeting his gaze with a hint of recognition before gently closing again. "Stay with me, Ellaya," he murmured, his words thick with emotion. "Please, stay with me." Tears welled up, clouding
Sitting rigidly in the car, Ellaya watched in horror as her husband, holding her best friend, jumped out, leaving her utterly alone in the speeding vehicle. Her face lost all color, and her body shivered uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her cheeks like raindrops, and her grip tightened around the car seat as fear crept into her bones, sending chills down her spine. Her fingers trembled as she grabbed the handle of the car door, contemplating jumping out to save her own life. But as if something shifted within her, she dropped the idea. She retreated, folding her legs to her chest and hugging them tightly, hiding her face between her knees as if shielding herself from impending harm. She felt cold and numb, her mind unable to process anything but her past—her abusive and manipulative parents, her struggles in childhood to live a normal life, her desperate craving for parental love, and then Iden, who had entered her life like a sweet melody. Everything had seemed surreal at th