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Chapter 158
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
VictoryAnne ViceIs Sydney responsible, or is someone else pulling the strings...?
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Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 159
[Cordelia]As Atlas tried to address the audience, Theo placed a tablet in my hands so I could read the article on a full-sized screen. The headline read "BABY KILLER?!? Steele Sister Revenge"Scrolling down, I see a strangely distorted version of the events around my sister's accident. It was like my parent's worst words and accusations broadcast for the world to see, with full-color photos to boot. "Did Cordelia Steele attempt to kill her sister and her babies to steal her husband? Where was Angelica Greyson and what does she think now that she is back with Atlas Steele?"These questions were blasted on blogs, filling the comments. Along with much more hurtful, accusatory comments. There are even a few pictures from my Cordelia Louise website splattered in red with the words "baby killer" writ large. "Someone should push HER in front of a bus," one comment said. "I bet she was the one to push her sister.""How DARE she show up with Atlas Steele in public," another comment read. "W
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 160
How do you tell the truth without telling too much?There are things about that night that neither Angelica nor myself want everyone to know about. Secret things. Sister things. [Flashback--the day before the wedding]Angelica didn't want to marry Atlas. She was forced to do so by our parents. Or I should say, "heavily encouraged." They made it conditional for her to receive her trust fund so that she seal the deal with Atlas Steele. "When you marry into that family," they promised, "We will save Greyson Mills and your inheritance.When Angelica voiced her concerns and second thoughts, they scoffed. "You liked him enough to say yes to his proposal, you can like him enough to walk down the aisle. You just need to stay married to him long enough to bear him a son. Then you can divorce him. You just need to make it through the 5 years required by the prenup to continue the merger arrangement." She was a contract bride. Atlas thought he was in love. Angelica pretended pretty well. But i
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 161
Looking out at the sea of reporters, photographers, videographers, bloggers, and content creators, I felt like I was in the center of a cage hanging above a pool of angry sharks.Angry sharks that each wanted a pound of flesh.I freeze. I've done small publicity events for Greyson Mills, and I've stood by Atlas' side at big events, but I have never had so many hostile eyes focused on me.Eyes that are convinced that I have committed evil against another person. They all think I killed my sister's baby and that her accident wasn't an accident at all, but attempted murder to steal Atlas' love for myself. I take a deep breath. Whoever came up with this story is a sick, twisted individual. Thank god my parents never thought of that or I'd have been in prison instead of marched down the aisle.I take another deep breath. "Like I said," I surprise myself with my steady voice although my hands, tightly gripping the podium, are shaking. "Atlas has always been the man of my dreams. Look at h
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 162
[Cordelia] I'm in the hospital. Again. "You know, Cordelia, we need to stop meeting like this," Dr. Bennet chuckles as she checks my vitals. Since I woke up in this bed she's had someone come and check my levels every hour. "You're staying overnight this time." She grumbles telling me that I need someone to force me to relax because when left to my own devices I schedule news conferences and reality TV shows. By now everyone in LA knows that I collapsed at the press release earlier today. What had started as positive publicity ended up becoming an inquisition. I'm sure the internet is abuzz with gossip. I wouldn't know, since I’ve been banned from looking at any social media. Frowning, I listen while Atlas just outside my door. He's been on the phone all day. Occasionally I'll hear him say something like "You need to get to the bottom of this right away!" or "Find out who leaked this information to the media and press charges." But none of those earlier conversations bother
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 163
[Cordelia]When I woke up the next morning, Atlas was gone. I could still smell his fresh scent in the air after he was gone, so I know he stayed all night. "I'll be back to take you home around lunchtime," a small note on the table next to me read. The word home was underlined three times, so I knew he meant our real home. Shortly after I awakened, a nurse came in and took my blood again for the kidney replacement for Angelica. "Now that she is awake, we wanted to make a move on getting her that new kidney." "Why do you need my blood," I asked. Curious. "I already gave blood."The nurse explained that the results had been "inconclusive" and "unusual" and that they needed to run them again "Just to make sure." She did have good news, however--the results will be available later today, just in time for me to leave. The nurse said I can take a little walk as long as I take my IV with me, so with some help I'm moving around very slowly. Now that Angelica is awake I want to peek in an
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 164
[Angelica] My parents came by earlier today, not to see how I'm doing, but to tell me about Cordelia's little "incident" at the press conference. It seems that she is so delicate and frail that she can't even speak with a group of reporters without fainting. Personally, I think she's being a little melodramatic. She's probably not as frail as she seems. She's a Greyson, after all, and we're all very tough, hardy people. Birthing one baby shouldn't be so difficult, and she still has almost three months to go. They were happy, of course, that I was awake, but I almost wondered if they'd have preferred it if I stayed asleep. The longer I was asleep, the better sympathy they garnered, or at least that was the message I received from them, albeit indirectly, during their visit. On the plus side, however, it looks like our story has gained so much attention that potential kidney donors from all over California have come forward to donate. The doctors want to try local first, but it is
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 165
[Cordelia] When Atlas came to pick me up this afternoon, a small green velvet box sat on the seat of my wheelchair, waiting for me to discover it. I raised a single eyebrow and he laughed, giving me the excuse that I needed "something to cheer me up," because I "had not been feeling well." "Atlas, you can't buy me jewelry every time I'm sick," I laugh as I open the box and find a beautiful diamond-encrusted charm bracelet worth more than some people's cars. A single green gemstone hangs from a loop with my initial, C, emblazoned on the surface in white gold. "I don't see why not," he smirks as he wheels me out of the room towards the main part of the hospital. We had to take an indirect route to Angelica’s floor. Atlas' security detail was able to secure a way for us to all gather in her room, but it took some tricky methods to make sure that the press was nowhere near when we heard the news about Angelica's kidney donor. "We tested everyone's blood," the doctor starts. "As we
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 166
[Cordelia]Nobody said anything in response. We all just watched the blonde nightmare waltz into the room expectantly, as if waiting for applause. "Sydney?" Atlas is confused, not quite seeing what is obvious to everyone else in the room. "Why are you here? This is a private family matter.""I was invited," her eyes go wide, innocent, a look that has always suited her in the past. "Unless you don't need me anymore, Doctor Jones?"We all look to the doctor, who looks at all of us. "Do you all know one another?"I can't help it, I start laughing. "Cordelia," My mother scolds me. "This is not at all humorous. Why are you laughing?""You're right, Mother." I continue to laugh, my chest heaving."This is the opposite of funny. This is a freaking nightmare. Don't you recognize her? That's Sydney Bryant!"My father goes very very still. "Bryant? As in the daughter of David and Chrissy Bryant."My mother goes very still next to him. "What are the odds," she says under her breath as she looks
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[Atlas]Delilah Fisher steps around the corner in a long, silver gown, her makeup flawless, and her smile large and welcoming.She looks so much like Angelica did when I first met her that my heart stutters. I love Cordelia with my entire being, and yet a part of me still reacts to the memory of the shining girl who captured my attention almost a decade ago. But this isn't Angelica. Delilah, while beautiful and poised, lacks the immaculate grace that Angelica exuded. Each of the sisters has a unique nature that shines through, despite having almost identical faces."Atlas Steele," her heels click in the silent room as she steps into the light. "Why is it so hard for you to believe your brother? Haven't you seen enough wonders in this world yet to understand that anything can be possible?""There's no such thing as mind control," I repeat. "Believing in psychic powers is for fools.""And you pride yourself on not being one," she smirks, amused. "But a true wise man would keep his mind
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[Jude]Sydney. Now that she has me under her control, I'll never be free of her. When I came to save her, I was convinced she was pregnant with my child. She had sent a distress signal to me using our private channels letting me know of her pregnancy and it was enough to get me to betray the Steele family and derail their plans to find their cure. Using what I knew about Atlas' missing mother was just a distraction.My goal had always been to claim my son.But then I discovered that beyond all logic Angelica is still alive.I should have realized this was possible and known that Magnus wouldn't give up such a valuable tool so easily. Angelica had been Magnus' toy for years before she was sent into my world. I knew he had modified her, and turned her into the perfect weapon, but I had no idea how deep those modifications went until I saw her face staring at me on that magazine cover.She shouldn't have survived that explosion. And yet here she is, unscathed, awaiting a new uterus in
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[Atlas]I twist my arm away from the guard in black. His face is blank as he reaches forward again. "Don't." My voice carries forward, and although it isn't loud, it holds a note of command that makes the armed guard pause."Sir," he blinks retracting his hand. "You are trespassing. I was ordered to take you into holding." My face remains still as my voice rings out again, "You will not touch us. You have no right." The guard swallows, taking a step back, my words hitting him with the force of a slap. "We will leave," I inform him. "You will report our apologies to your boss." He nods, accepting my command. "Atlas," Clark calls my attention to our situation. Blinking I snap awake, and pull my gaze from the guard. As soon as I blink, the guard stumbles backward shaking his head in confusion, as if my words and stare alone were enough to entrap him in some kind of trance. Around the edges of my vision, I see more guards headed in our direction. If we are going to make it out of h
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[Atlas]Damn it, Cordelia!"Pick up, pick up, pick up," the phone rings but nobody replies. "This number is unavailable as dialed, please try again," the message on the other end informs me as my blood pressure rises and my hands shake.A moment ago I had been talking to my wife. And then the line was dead. I sent her to Canada to keep her and our children safe, and she chose to bring herself to Magnus' attention. Sending a quick message to the guards in charge of watching over my family, I stare at my screen waiting for word of their status. "Atlas, is there anything I can do to help?"Blinking away from the screen I look up at my brother as our rented van parks a few blocks away from the luau. Our driver informs us of our arrival and waits for further instructions."I'm sorry, Clark," I close my eyes, rubbing my temples. "You were saying something?""Is everything okay?" He tries again and I groan. "No." I groan honestly. "Or at least, I hope everything is fine. Lately, it seems
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 365
[Clark]The message "Tilly SOS" flicked across the screen three times before winking out, leaving my screen blank. I open my email that I keep under an alias on a secure server. There is a single message alerting me to new information available on my server. I've used this system when working with people who needed to keep their identities safe and their messages secret. The last time I needed it was working with Jude while he was still under Magnus' watch.Even though it has been months since I used it, my fingers remember the passcodes. Soon, I'll be on the server. Two emails are waiting for me, both are from Tilly's parents. In the first message, they inform me that they have landed and are settling in their new place. It is a secure facility, surrounded by several acres of land, disconnected from the distant towns and cities. The Madisons, sparing no expense, went to extra lengths to include copious additional security.They are, after all, securing their legacy. Tilly is their o
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[Cordelia]There is a loud explosion just to the right of the airplane. "What was that," I lower the phone, turning it off as I gaze out the window to see what had caused the noise. "Nothing, Ma'am," the co-pilot says over his shoulder, "Just a little turbulence.""Turbulence?" I shout back as another boom resounds just outside the passenger's cabin as a curtain goes up between the pilots and the rest of the plane, blocking our view. "But we aren't even in the air yet!""Calm yourself, Mrs. Steele," Jake, the security guard, takes his phone from my numb hand. "Sit next to your children and trust your staff to get you out of here safely. We've got this, Mrs. Steele."He almost seemed offended in my lack of faith as he types into his phone what I'm guessing is a message to Atlas to calm his nerves and let him know we are alive. "But nobody is telling me what's happening," I grumble as I buckle in next to Jasper and the little girl I've decided to call Saphira until I learn her real na
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 363
[Atlas]"What do you mean gone," I barked into the phone, my hand clenching it tight enough to hear it crunch. These new smartphones seem to get flimsier with each model. I've broken 3 in the last 6 months from anger or nerves. I love my wife, but I'm pretty sure she's going to stress me into an early grave. "Your mother created a distraction, Sir," my lead guard, Jake, apologizes over the phone, not making excuses as much as stating facts. "Mrs. Suzanna Steele arrived late last night along with a young man she called Sasha. The next morning, while your mother and Ms. Devaroux kept me distracted searching for a false threat, your wife and this young man escaped."Cordelia has always been sneaky when she needs to be, and until this point, he had been very good at keeping her from falling into mischief. I wasn't expecting my mother to be part of the problem. At least now I know where she ran off to. Her room had been empty when I returned to the boat yesterday. "Are you sure it is m
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 362
[Clark]There are things that I need to keep secret from my brother, not because I do not trust him with my secrets, but because I do not want to burden him with them.Which is why I needed to get away. Without Tilly, there is no reason for me to stay on the boat."I'll meet you later, when it's time to go to the luau," I promise Atlas as I give him a hug and take my leave. I know that I could just stay at our family hotel, but I need to be somewhere else, somewhere that nobody recognizes me. And also, I want to ensure that what I am about to do is as untraceable as possible. "Mr. Janus," the man at the front desk smiles when I hand him a wad of cash in exchange for a key card. "Enjoy you stay. Please call down if you need anything."Adjusting my sunglasses, lower the bill of my baseball cap, grab my small bag, and make my way through the other guests milling around in the hotel lobby. Located along the beach it has a spectacular view of the the ocean.And the location of tonight's
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 361
[Jude]Opening the door, I push back the clinician waiting for Angelica to rise. The poor man looks lost, most likely expecting Angel to greet him and not a gruff guard in black."Excuse me," he calls out as I walk down the hall. I don't owe him any excuses or explanations. I'm her bodyguard. I can be seen coming and going from her room. Besides, I don't have time for niceties. I'm already late reporting to work. The guards all bunk together in a large room on the basement level. There are beds and a shared shower as well as a kitchen so that we don't disturb the rest of the house as we take care of our daily necessities. There weren't any free bunks when I arrived, so I sleep on a camping bed on the floor. As I march down there, the leader of the group raises his eyebrow. He can tell by the unused state of my sleeping area that I haven't been back to rest."Late night?" he questions me as I walk down the stairs, "Whoever she was, she better be worth it." He smirks. "Mr. Fisher will
