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Chapter 327
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Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 328
[Atlas]Clark's face is drawn and tired, his body hunched. He looks like he's been stuck in this chair for days, and perhaps he has."How's she doing today," I ask as I take a step deeper into the room. His daughters are asleep in a double stroller next to him as the nurses prepare to transport their mother. They make little bubbles in their sleep as they lay in their separate seats, their little fingers touching."As well as can be expected," he sighs like a man who feels the weight of everything on his shoulders. In one quick, tragic moment, he went from a man desperately in love planning his wedding to an almost widower and single father. "They still can't figure out what caused her cardiac arrest. Has Cordy said anything more about what happened before her episode?""No," I shake my head, my disappointment coloring my voice, "She hasn't been willing to talk about what happened." My anger rises as I tell him all about how our relationship has been disintegrating, how we are sleepin
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 329
[Clark]My brother is such a fool. He often is when it comes to Cordelia. I trust in his ability to make this right, but I also worry about the two of them. They've both been through so much pain."We're ready, Mr. Steele." the nurses inform me as they detach her IVs but keep her ventilator in place. She has a few other vital machines keeping her alive, but that is the only one she cannot do without until her lungs remember how to breathe on their own. My poor lost Tilly. When she "woke" yesterday, it did so much damage to her lungs they say she'll have permenant scarring. Even if she does recover, she'll have a hard time breathing for the rest of her life.Cassie and Maddie droop sleepily in their stroller as I say goodbye to their mother. They had been sleeping just a moment before, but my argument with their uncle snapped them awake. But they are such good girls, that they hardly ever cry. As their little eyes look around and take in everything they see, I can't help but marvel at
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 330
[Clark]Cordelia is seething mad. Whatever happened between her and Atlas has created a rift between them and Atlas is going to need to work hard if he wants to win back her trust. Whatever he said or did this time has her behaving much like she did when she divorced him the first time, and if he isn't careful, he'll be speaking with her lawyers a second time. She has the same resolute look on her face, the same determination of a woman with nothing to lose. "Please let me know when you have updates on Tilly," she requests as I help her with Jasper's stroller.Her usually sweet smile has a sour downturn on the edges as I pull her into my arms for a final hug. "I'll let you know as soon as her condition changes," I promise, letting her go. As I watch her wheel my nephew into the lobby of the finest luxury hotel in Honolulu, I find myself jealous of my brother. Yes, his wife isn't speaking to him at the moment, but at least she is strong enough to leave him. I'd rather have Tilly slap
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 331
[Clark]"Jenny," Matthew Madison scowls, his brow pinching as he looks between his wife and me. "Give the boy a break. He loves her too." Tilly's mother cracks her knuckles and I'm reminded so strongly of my fiance that I almost start crying. I won't crack in front of them. I need to stay strong for all of my girls. But it is hard facing off with her parents. I wish we were here on a happier occasion and on better terms. I think I'd have grown to like Jennifer Madison. My Tilly is very much like her mother. So much so that I'm certain that no amount of kindness will break through to her now. Her face is hard, unrelenting, as she condemns me with her eyes. I try to remind myself that she's hurting too but giving her that much grace is growing difficult as she spews hate and vengeance with her eyes. I understand that seeing her only child weak and unresponsive must be breaking her inside, but that doesn't mean I'll relent to give her what she wants. I won't let her cross my boundaries
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 332
[Cordelia]The helicopter's blades blasted wind into our faces, stealing our words, but the message was clear, even if Atlas couldn't exactly hear what I was trying to say. "Atlas, I'm leaving you."The way his face instantly fell, I could tell the message hit home. I am done competing with his "mother" for attention. I'm tired of having my words disregarded. As the helicopter lifted off, my best friend inside, I couldn't help but think about all the moments we have survived as a family. And now Tilly, who has held me together so many times, is falling apart and might need me more than ever. If only psychic abilities were real, as suggested by that woman pretending to be Susanna. I would place my hands on her and wish her well. I would wish so hard that she'd be holding her children right now. I can feel Atlas' eyes on me as I leave. He doesn't chase me, he knows that won't help. He is giving me space to think.Clark is a kind friend. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 333
[Cordelia]Picking up the magazine, I bring it closer to my face. The nanny, a sweet girl named Catie, informs me that it is the latest issue. "Just dropped off this morning." How is this possible? "Are you sure?" I query, knowing that this photo can't be real. Angelica has been dead for several months now, and yet here she is wearing an orchid-colored satin dress standing next to Sydney along with Delilah whose dress is a slightly darker purple. "Maybe it's an actress, or another missing embryo," I make a guess. "Magnus is capable of anything."Including maybe cloning his favorite co-collaborator? No, if he could do that, he'd have replaced her the first time she "died."Setting it down I take a photo and text it to Clark. After a few minutes of waiting, I send it to Atlas and finally to Jude with the added message. "Tell me I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing."I take several deep breaths as I wait for my replies. "I'm coming over now," Atlas texts back, not bothering to ask wh
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 334
[Jude]Angelica. I never thought I'd see her face again. She was supposed to be dead. "How many times will you die, my love, before you leave me forever," I know I cannot caress her face through the screen of my phone, but I try as I look at her image, standing peacefully next to my lover, Sydney. Turning off the phone, I use my fingernail to get between the front and the back plate. I see exactly what I need, hidden just below the outer shell. After making a few adjustments, I close it back up. Good as new. "I'm going to save you both," I announce, not that they can hear me.I had planned to rescue Sydney. But now that I know Magnus also has Angelica, I'll have to modify my plans. "There's no way around it," I mumble to myself. There is no other way."I can't choose between my son and my wife. If I had known Angelica was still alive, I'd have never fallen into Sydney's arms, but now that my baby is growing within her, there is no way I will let either one of those women remain un
Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele Chapter 335
[Jude]"You might as well take a seat," the blonde smirked. "Nobody will come for you for some time yet and we have things to discuss." She pats the seat on the bench next to her as she lifts the veil on her oversized hat and removes her sunglasses.She looks so much like Angelica at it burns. "Delilah," I smile at my unexpected savior, "I'm surprised your father let you out of his sight.""I didn't have a choice," she sighs, rubbing the space between her eyes. "After he cracked the cipher, we couldn't use our usual methods to communicate. And I have so much to say," she pauses, folding her sunglasses in her lap. "But not a lot of time. I'm wedding shopping," she nods to a spot just beyond a thick line of trees, and in the distance I see a black sedan. "The driver thinks I'm motion sick.""I'm listening," I say calmly although my heart is beating rapidly. I need to get to Angelica and Sydney. If it had been either of those sisters on this bench, we'd already be halfway to Fiji. "I'm
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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
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
