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Chapter 225
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2024-10-29 19:42:56[Cordelia]
Whatever it was that my mother gave me last night, it was strong enough that even after three cups of coffee I am still not fully awake. Moving through life as if dragging my body through a fog of molasses, my body fights me every step of the way as I struggle to get dressed.
Opening my carry-on bag, I remember the emeralds I packed last minute. Pulling them out, I find something nice to wear that will look good with green.
Maybe if I wear the emeralds, it will appease whoever it is who feels they need to interfere with my heart by reminding me of the one I still love. It is one thing to send me presents. It is quite another to go out of your way to make me think I am going insane.
Because that is what is happening. Either I am being haunted and ghosts are real, or I am imagining things. I'm not sure which reality scares me more.
Pulling the antique comb from its box for the first time in over 5 months, I arrange it prominent
Bab terkait
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 226
[Cordelia]"That's because he's going to have a special monument," she tosses those words over her shoulder casually as if stating something annoyingly obvious as she waves us through security.Recognizing me, the guard tips his hat as we pass. "Welcome home, Mrs. Steele.""Thank you, Stelly," I wave, grateful I remember his name. Looking over he notices Jasper in my mother's arms and his face softens. "Is that...?""Yes," I nod, my smile growing. "This is little Mr. Steele, Jasper."While the guard shakes the baby's little hand, Sydney stands waiting at the elevator, stomping her feet and looking at her watch as if each minute were costing her something valuable.But there isn't anything more important than Jasper learning his legacy. Atlas loved this company, as did his grandfather. It is a family business, even if it is a big one. As soon as we enter, the elevator Sydney presses the button for the executive floor. I press the button right below for the design department. "I want t
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 227
{Cordelia]"Excuse me," Crissy stands and follows Sydney. I am hoping it is to have a heart-to-heart.My mother has been suffering since Sydney decided to cut off all ties with her. I am sure Sydney must be hurting too. Finding out your whole life has been a lie, and then seeing your mother embrace someone you were taught to hate--well I can relate to that feeling myself."How are you doing," Clark asks and I get him caught up in the ins and outs of daily life, keeping the stranger things to myself, or at least trying to. As I speak, he keeps looking down at my hand. "Another gift," he points at the emerald. "He seems to like giving you expensive trinkets lately." My fists clench. "Yes, he has." I glare up at him. "I have a feeling we both know who is doing this so I am going to say this once and hope it gets through his thick skull." Clark's face goes very still as he sits there, waiting. "Tell him he needs to stop. Either he is with me or he is not, but I am tired of being haunted
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 228
[Cordelia]On the other side of the door is the type of joyful space you'd expect in any pediatrician's office. Warm sunlight streams through high windows illuminating a saltwater fish tank that takes up a corner of the room. There is a rack of magazines and a small bookcase with parenting books. A group of children with a very tired-looking mother with 3 kids under 5 years old watch the colorful fish swim. That could have been me, in a different life where Atlas had married me out of love and not necessity. I give her a sympathetic smile as we are escorted into Dr. Smithe's office. It is a very large and comfortable examination room, with soft cushioned couches for us to sit on and a more proper examination table in the distance. A few moments later, Dr. Smithe enters the room and her sunny disposition brightens the room as she approaches us."You must be Cordelia," she holds out her hand for me to shake. "And this must be little Jasper."I open the carrier so that she can get a be
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 229
[Atlas]As soon as the girls left the office, I could hear the sound of Clark closing all the blinds and turning on the light."You might as well come out," he grumbles. "I know you heard everything."I press open the panel where my hidden office rests. From the outside, it just looks like an ordinary bookshelf, but if you know how to access it, the bookshelf slides out of the way opening into a small but well-stocked room, barely bigger than a desk, with a private bathroom and a minifridge. It's not so different from the type of panic rooms that many executives have built into their office spaces, and that is likely what this room will become once the charade is done.From this hidden office, I listen in on meetings and conversations, sending Clark text messages or emails to help him negotiate trickier situations. He is a good enough businessman to handle most of the day-to-day work on his own but I still feel responsible for the success of S
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 230
[Cordelia]We followed Clark and the police officer to a private office away from the rest of the hospital. It didn't have the antiseptic feel of the emergency room, nor the unflattering overhead florescent lighting. Instead, it had soft chairs and sunshine. Just outside the window is a beautiful rose garden. It seems wrong that we are disturbing this space."This the hospice wing," Clark explains and it makes sense. This is the part of the hospital where the very old and the terminally ill come to spend their last days. They want those days to be peaceful and pleasant. "I recognize it from Grandpa Jasper," his voice is soft and sad. He looks at little Jasper bundled in my arms and his eyes fill with tears. "Why did they bring us here, Clark?" my voice is shaking and Tilly grabs my arm. A doctor walks through the door and takes a chair across from us. "I brought you here because I am hoping you'll allow me to be your specialist. After looking at your son's scans, I am certain I can h
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 231
[Cordelia]"Doctor, are you saying my little boy is seriously ill? That it isn’t just a cold?"I can't remember what he says next because everything else is a blur. His words rush past me in a whirlwind of confusion. More scans, more tests, more treatments that may or may not work. Apparently this virus is so lethal that it kills most of the people who catch it. It’s also extremely rare. Steele Labs had been working on a cure for this virus and several others by making a miracle treatment that would work on everything from this illness to infant lung cancer.They died before they could ever share it with the world. And now my baby, my perfect baby boy, might be dying like so many other Steele babies before him. "He's a strong, healthy child," the doctor assures us, "And while there is no perfect cure for an illness like this, but with treatment he has a chance. We were able to save Atlas and Clark from this illness, maybe some of the same treatments will work for Jasper.""But it mi
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 232
[Cordelia]"Magnus?" A cold chill runs down my spine. "Magnus Fisher.""If I had only known," Atlas runs his hands through his hair, "I could have alerted the police when he first appeared to you. I could have stopped this disaster from tumbling out of control."Something clicks, something Angelica said before she died. "Atlas, before Angelica died she mentioned something about there being someone out there who she was trying to protect me from, somebody more terrible than I could imagine. She said he was the reason she was doing all the terrible things that she was doing to drive us apart," I blink up at Atlas. "Could that person have been Magnus?"Atlas looks startled. "If that's true, how deep does this go?" Atlas wonders aloud. "If Magnus had a hand in Angelica's disappearance, or even in our relationship..."Atlas' eyes brighten with realization, but then his face falls as the meaning sinks in. "How many people has Magnus sen
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 233
[Cordelia]When we returned to Steele Industries, my mother was waiting anxiously. Sydney was nowhere to be seen, buried deep in the archives. She looked lost, despondent, and so alone my heart ached to see it. Being around Sydney is only causing her pain. I think of my other mother, the one who raised me, and wonder how she is doing. I haven't spoken to her since that awkward tea. Mr. Greyson, the man I grew up calling father, has called a few times and left a few messages. He even sent a small care package when Jasper was gone. But I haven't been ready to forgive them. Seeing Crissy Devaroux is making me question whether or not I have been fair to them. Yes, I never felt showered with their affection, but maybe that isn't entirely their fault. Maybe as a younger child, I would have always felt like I was living in my older sister's shadow. Maybe, I should give them another chance. "Maman, are you okay," I sit down next to her and wrap my arms around her to give her a sideways hu
Bab terbaru
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 372
[Clark]We left the luau under close guard. Jude, in his new official capacity as Fisher family bodyguard, helped us leave discreetly without drawing attention."We will contact you when it's time," Jude nodded to us both. "The wedding is tomorrow. Be prepared. We may need to make a quick escape.""We're going to need your ship until we leave the port, but I've already arranged a mid-sea transport," Delilah informed us. "Don't worry," she smiles, "We'll all be out of your hair soon."After dropping Atlas off, I headed back to my hotel. All of my dragonflies were currently in a dormant status, waiting to activate once they've reached their destination. Needing rest before the big day, I attempted to sleep, but my mind was plagued with nightmares.I've never liked taking sedatives, I don't like the foggy feeling they give me. I prefer to be alert and in control of my thoughts, which is part of why these dreams are affecting me so deeply--I feel like I'm losing my mind. "What if I am? W
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 371
[Cordelia]The man drew closer and I realized my mistake immediately."You're not Atlas," my accusing finger hovers below his chin. He is maybe two inches taller than Atlas, and I'm not used to looking up at such a familiar face. "Close, but not quite."The gentleman laughs. "Right there, Lil Miss," his voice has a strong, rugged-sounding accent. "Or should I say," he takes my passport and squints at the picture, "Ms Ortega. A pleasure to meet you, I'm Wally." "Wally?" I blink up at the stranger with an overeager smile. The longer I look at him the less he looks like my Atlas. While he does have the same chiseled features and a similar muscular build, everything from how he holds himself to how he speaks is so very different. This man is hot on the surface in the ways that Atlas is cold and aloof. My husband shares his smiles sparingly and they are almost never so wide and toothy. But when Atlas smiles at you, really smiles, you know it is genuine. I'm not sure I can trust a thing t
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 370
[Cordelia]Once we were airborne and free of Canadian airspace, the tension level of the passengers on the plane immediately relaxed, as if we had passed some kind of test.Even Suzanna breathed a sigh of relief when we landed in New York City. But then she does something I wasn't expecting. She dismisses most of our guards. They nod, taking her word as a commandment, leaving us with only three security members in one of the largest airports in the United States. "This next leg of our trip will be on a commercial airline," she explained as we gathered our belongings. "We will call too much attention to us with that many guards. I'm calling in some of my own for when we arrive." She replies when I question her judgment. "Magnus likely put a tracker on this plane. We need to trick him, and there's no better place than New York City. But if we continue to move in a large pack, we're bound to attract attention." "Reste près," my mother Cristine held out a hand for me to hold as she held
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 369
[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
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 368
[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
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 367
[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
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 366
[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
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 364
[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
