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Chapter 265
Last Updated:
2024-08-15 23:31:39
VictoryAnne ViceSorry for the wait everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter will be up in about an hour. :) I'm still trying to figure out my new schedule but even as I do, I promise two chapters a day :)
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Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 266
[Atlas]As I watch her sleep, the sun shining on her dewy skin, I know that I am the luckiest man on Earth. She and I are an improbable pair and every moment I'm with her feels like a denial of the universe's plans for my life. If I had made the mistake of marrying her sister, Angelica, I would have never known the paradise which is loving Cordelia Steele. Placing a gentle hand on her waist, I let it fall to her small belly. I hope we created another child last night, not to replace the one we lost, Jasper will be coming home, but because I want our next child to be created in love, not as a mistake. I want to remember this night forever. I never want to forget how it feels to be near her, knowing that there is no other place either one of us would rather be. "You know it will be weeks yet before we know if your plan succeeded," Cordelia smiles as her eyes flutter open. "I know our next little one is already in there," I reply as I bend down and kiss her belly button. I'm tempted
Last Updated : 2024-08-16Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 267
[Cordelia]The daylight streaming through the windows touches the edges of the young woman's face. She looks a lot like my dead sister, but there is something in the set of her eyes and the way she holds herself that isn't Angelica at all.But in the dim fading light of sunset, I can see why I was confused."That's not Angelica," I step forward and the closer I am to her, the more stark the differences become. Her hair is darker, her eyes are bluer, her face thinner, and her body more toned. "You were at the wedding last night.""Yeah," she swallows a sip of orange juice and holds out a hand to shake. "That was a beautiful ceremony, by the way, I was totally fangirling over your Tilly and Clark here," she points towards Tilly.I raise an eyebrow. "I don't know who you are, or I didn't when I kinda dropped in on the wedding. I was just sent here to deliver a package, I'm a bike messenger."She's babbling so I take her hand and watch as my touch seems to stabilize her. She's a bit more
Last Updated : 2024-08-16Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 268
[Cordelia]Delilah was more receptive to hearing what we had to say once the connection between my son and her brother was made. But she also seemed firmly set against believing any of it. She agreed to a DNA test but only if we paid for it."I have a question for you, Delilah," Clark said as we were finishing breakfast. "Were you the one who made the delivery right before the wedding?""Yes," she startled, the question surprising her. "And did you know it was your father that was sending the package?""Of course," she shakes her hair out of her face. "I mean, my boss was being a bit of a dick, so he sent me out in that heat on a bike because my dad was sending us out on another last-minute delivery run." She shrugs, "Something about wanting my dad to see what it feels like to risk his kid for once. Which is stupid, my dad doesn't even know I work at a messenger place. He thinks I'm out here going to school."Atlas and I look at one another. Last minute? That means he didn't know unt
Last Updated : 2024-08-17Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 269
[Cordelia]I stop and take a few deep breaths, letting Atlas catch up with me. He doesn't say anything. Pulling me into his arms he holds me tightly to his chest. I scared him. "I'm not leaving without you, Atlas, I'm just...so done with all of this," I sigh, letting my body sink into his. "Delilah and I aren't so different. I don't want to be someone else who is using."Atlas kisses the top of my head supportively. "We don't know here, we don't know anything about her," I add. "Maybe she's another victim, or maybe Magnus loves her." I look up at Atlas. "Do you think maybe Magnus might be motivated by love?"Atlas scrunches his eyebrows. "The son." "Yes. I know he has been coming after you for the cure for a long time, but something changed a handful of years ago. Something made him want to accelerate things. What if...""What if he stole our son to save his own," Atlas finishes for me. I nod. "Maybe he stole those embryos with a more selfish purpose, and he kept two for whatever
Last Updated : 2024-08-17Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 270
[Cordelia]We've been in Canada now for two weeks. My mother is giddy with excitement over our official wedding party tonight. A full gala event and fundraiser will be televised, and the details printed in fashion magazines. "The Fashion Power Couple" my mother predicts the headlines will read. "Or maybe," she muses "Devaroux and Steele--A fashion powerhouse." She is already preparing our staff to get started on our next line for LA Fashion Week this fall. "We want to make a splash. You will have more to prove and more eyes will be on you than ever." I tried to convince her that there have always been eyes on me but she is determined to stick to the idea that some eyes are more valuable than others. "Trust me, Delia, you will want to make your very best impression, and with that handsome husband at your side, it would be impossible to fail."I don't have the heart to tell her that Atlas and I won't be showing a line together at Fashion Week. Atlas and I get ready together, taking o
Last Updated : 2024-08-18Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 271
[Delilah]The entertainment news station has Atlas and Cordelia's break-up playing in an almost continuous loop. They were prepared for this. They were even hoping for it. "Go ahead and use my name," I offered. "My father already assumes and it will help with the plan." And yet, even so, I flinch every time she says "Delilah" with so much venom. That bitter, vengeful harpy of a woman is not the Cordelia Steele I've come to know over the last couple of weeks. Patiently I wait for my phone to ring. I expect he'll call any moment now. If someone had told me two weeks ago that everything would change that night, I'd When I got on my bicycle two weeks ago, heading out for a last-minute delivery to a wedding, I never thought it would be a pivotal moment in my life. But it was. Nothing was the same. ______________________________________________[Two weeks ago]After spending the evening speaking with Stephen Greyson I learned about Angelica and Sydney. Looking at their photos felt surr
Last Updated : 2024-08-19Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 272
[Cordelia]The press was all over our breakup minutes after I stormed out of that ballroom. This was all according to plan. Our relationship is about to become messy, public, and unavoidable. Magnus won't need to have me followed because the press will do it for him. And we will have an opportunity to set the script. Not him. We won't let him control our lives any longer. Delilah gave us the idea to use her as part of the excuse. Her father sent her to our wedding, let him think that Atlas is still so obsessed with Angelica that he'd sleep with another one of her doppelgangers on the day of our wedding. The hope is that if Magnus believes his daughter has a chance of stealing Atlas' heart, maybe he'll give us back our son. Maybe I can convince him that he doesn't need Jasper any longer if he thinks he has another way to get what he needs. Or maybe, he'll be so distracted by what he thinks we are doing that he won't notice what we're really up to. I know I should be happy that Atl
Last Updated : 2024-08-20Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 273
[Cordelia]Steadying my frayed nerves with a deep breath, I realize I can't remember the last time I spoke with him. Oh yes, now I remember. It was when he was threatening my life."Cordelia, are you there?""Jude," I hiss. "Why are you calling?"There is a long pause. "You know why. "He must be somewhere that he can't speak freely. Then why did he call me? Why not wait? "Is he okay?" My little guy is so small and precious. "Is he...?"Would he call just to tell me he's dead? That my precious little joy is gone from the world, lost and far away, without his mother to calm him. "He's doing well now that I've adjusted his treatment. He still has a long way to go until recovery but..."Jude gives me precise medical details of my son's current condition. With his skills, he was able to bring him back from near critical. He's become quite familiar with the disease since working on Magnus' son, Devin. "Listen, I don't have a lot of time before she wakes up," he murmurs rapidly. "Listen.
Last Updated : 2024-08-21
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Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 407
[Cordelia] Today is our 20th second anniversary. We've lost count of the first one, forgetting it entirely as a moment of sadness. Instead, we honor the day when we took our vows and meant them, 7 years later in Napa. Usually, we leave Los Angeles and take the week for just the two of us. Even after two decades, we haven't lost our hunger for one another and I look forward to our time away where we can just be two people together and in love. But this year, my husband is feeling a bit nostalgic. This is why I'm in the lobby of the Steele Hotel and Resort, recreating a memory I wish I could forget. When he sent me the cryptic text this afternoon, I confess I was more than a little bit confused. Why, of all places, would he want me to meet him there? At least this time I'm not wearing a hoodie with a dress tucked into a pair of loose sweats. And while my face is covered with large sunglasses, it's more to protect my identity and not draw too much attention. I am far too recogniza
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 406
[Clark] "Come on. Dad!" My daughters pull me along by my arms. I've never been able to deny them anything they wanted but tonight they are asking too much. "It's only a blind date!" "Girls," I admonish, "What have I said, I'm not ready to let someone new into my heart. Your mother was more than enough for me." Cassie stares up at me with her starlight eyes, as deep and black as her mother's, and doesn't relent. "You promised you'd let us have anything we want for our birthday. Grandma helped us pick her out. You have to try, Dad. For us!" "Grandma Suzanna or Grandma Jenny?" I grump, "Who do I need to send a thank you note." "Both!" the girls giggle. "You owe us, Dad," Cassie counters. Her red curls bounce as she stomps her foot. "Do you know how weird it is to look on a DATING AP for potential girlfriends for our father? It's so gross. You should be grateful" "Yeah," Maddie chimes in, swinging her hair over her shoulder as she twists her lips just like Tilly used to, her hand
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 405
[Jude]If the universe were fair, I wouldn't have lived to see today. If karma took her toll, I wouldn't be friends with Clark and Atlas Steele, our children growing up side by side. Once the shadow of Magnus was lifted from our shoulders, and Angelica and I were finally able to go about our lives the way we always should have been able to do, It became easier to make good with my life. Angelica and I were married shortly after Mathilda's funeral. It was a small ceremony on the family medical boat, just before the two of us set sail with our daughters, Melanie and Veronica. When the DNA showed that they were indeed my children, and NOT Magnus', that his experiment had never stuck, it was easy to adopt them. In their mind, Angelica is their mother. When they are old enough, we'll tell them the truth about Aunt Sydney, but for now, we are sparing them the burden of her insanity.And we give them love, all the love of a couple who has always wanted children of their own.Angelica, it tu
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 404
[Cordelia]15 hours later I place my feet back in LA for the first time in 6 months. We have been gone for so long that I had forgotten how loud it is, or how oppressively hot it can be in summer. Clark met us at the runway alone, the girls with their grandparents. "I hope you don't mind, but I wanted to drive you home. We could have sent a driver but," he explains, "I wanted to be the one to welcome you home." He does his best to smile, but as his melancholy grin drifts to how I hold on to my husband's hand, I can see how much this is costing him. "I'm glad it was you," I reach forward to give him a hug. "Thank you." Atlas, who has been receiving a slew of messages from Theo as soon as we landed, asks to be dropped off at the new Steele Industries building. "Looks like they need me," he apologizes, kissing my hand. "I'll make it up to you tonight," he whispers in my ear and I shiver in anticipation. "I'm going to hold you to that," I whisper discretely in his ear, trying to be mi
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 403
[Cordelia]The rest of that day went by in a blur. I insisted we rush back to the compound even though everyone had received the news that Tilly was gone. I couldn't believe it. My mind couldn't process the possibility of a world without Mathilda Madison. She wasn't just my best friend, she was my sister. So I couldn't let her go. Clark was distraught. He and Tilly took a while to find one another, and when they did finally make the right connection, they fell for one another hard. It was beautiful watching my two best friends fall in love--they were perfect for one another. But not all stories end with a happily ever after. That was a hard lesson for me to learn as well. I wanted nothing more than to watch Tilly raise her daughters. When we made it back an hour later, her body had already been collected. I had wanted to see her, to give it a chance to see if I could have brought her back: just one touch, one spark. I was convinced that I could have been the one to save her. The
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 402
[Sydney]Why can't they just let me die? It would be so easy, I'm already cut and bleeding. Why bother with the IVs and the monitors? It doesn't matter anymore. Did it ever matter?My entire existence has been a fraud. If my hands were free I'd count the ways on my fingertips all the ways I've been lied to and used.A madman altered my DNA and injected me into the wrong mother. I was raised believing I was special only to discover I was the offspring of my enemy. The man of my dreams was married to the daughter my mother was supposed to have, and I was just a cheap copy of the woman he once loved, my genetic twin, Angelica. Was this life ever really mine to begin with? Even now they aren't honoring my desire to die. "She needs more blood," the doctor announces over my head, her clear voice cutting through the din of the operating room chatter. "Her blood pressure has dropped to dangerous levels. We can't use the anesthesia. She'll need to be awake for the procedure."Procedure?"I d
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 401
[Clark]The dissection of Magnus' brain was one of the most intensely fascinating and uniquely horrifying things I have ever experienced. Using my computer to guide the charge, we attached wires to his brain, fed through a divide that my mother had retrieved from her vault. "This will disrupt his signal. It will keep him from making a full memory transfer. Hopefully whomever he's jumped into will have a fighting chance." Everything my mother has said since I volunteered for this task has sounded like something from a science fiction movie. The duplicates we had seen in Delilah's footage of her father's secret lab were all designed to hold Magnus's memories in an artificial extension of his life. Not all of them looked like his current body, as often it was useful for him to become someone entirely different for spying purposes. "Is this how he always seemed to know everything?" I ask aloud. We had wondered how he managed to get around all of our codes, to find ways to learn about wh
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 400
[Cordelia]"Wally?" Holding my hand above his head, I pause, hesitating. Just a moment before I was about to take this man's life without even the smallest shred of remorse. It was necessary to protect my family. My children and my husband. "Cordelia," He blinks, his eyes roving my face and the surroundings like a caged animal. Licking his dry, salty lips, his body is otherwise completely still. "I don't have much time. He's fighting me...I..."Wally's muscles spasm, shaking Atlas as well as he holds him in place. Closing his eyes, his body stills, as if the effort of keeping still is so great that he cannot do anything else at the same time. He whispers something that I can't quite make out, so I lean in, trying to capture his words.As my hair brushes his cheek, he repeats himself. "You need to end this, Cordelia. Don't let him escape to harm another. His other mind is gone, Suzanna saw to it, but he can still jump to someone else.""Wally, what are you saying," I shake my head. "No
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 399
[Cordelia]Atlas and I raced down the hall to the exit, soldiers moving out of our way as we passed, nobody bothering to stop us as my husband's icy glare and dominant aura kept them pinned in place. Magnus is dead and I have never been more terrified in my life. The door to the outside pushes open and we are instantly blinded by the overhead sunshine that covers the beach with an oddly bright gray that stings the eyes. It is warmer than it had been earlier, the wind having died down, trapping the moisture of impending rain, held in place by the gathering storm. "Jasper," I call out gently, scanning the beach. "Wally?""Atlas do you see Jasper?" I grab my husband's arm. His pulse is rapid beneath my fingertips as we move forward as one and find the abandoned picnic blanket and Jasper's little galoshes next to a much larger pair. "Wally!" I scream out towards the waves and find him standing in the water, at the far edge of the beach. There is no sign of my son. None. It's as if the
