I cradled Elisabeth in my arms, stroking her back as I looked around. Her ex-boyfriend seemed determined to instill fear, which revealed a lot about his character. He sought to intimidate, to show how vulnerable and accessible she was.“Lis, I need the name of this damn guy,” I kept my tone firm.She shivered in my arms, wiping her face on my shirt and lifting her chin towards me.“Patrick, I need to leave,” she replied, looking fearful and sighing. She tried to pull away, but I held her in place. “Please, don't try to stop me.”“I won't try; I will.” I stared at her coldly. “Running away is not the solution. He found you here in Seattle, based on what you said about your ex. This bastard has the resources to find you even in hell.”I sighed, holding her hands as she sobbed amidst the tears.“I can't put you at risk, either. Don't you understand?” Pulling her hands sharply, Lis turned her back. “He could have thrown you from up here; we might not have arrived in time... This damn guy
“Would you like me to take Elisabeth to a warehouse? Only then will you release my children...” She trembled.“Are you sure he has your children?” I furrowed my brow. A cunning man wouldn't be foolish enough to kidnap children, which could attract the attention of the police or the press.“What? Why would he lie?” She spoke in shock.“To scare you and make you do everything he orders!” I took another step forward, standing in front of the gun. “He's using you; let me help you.”“No, you're lying!” She shouted, cocking the gun. “Back off!”In a quick move, I disarmed her by hitting the gun under the handle, making it jump and fall to the ground, along with the cell phone I had inadvertently dropped in the action. Caroline hurriedly crouched down, trying to reach the gun. I kicked it back towards Greg, who promptly picked it up and aimed it at the nurse.&ldquo
POV: ELISABETHI woke up with a start, looking around and trying to identify where I was. Had I fainted? The room was luxurious, with dark walls and soft lighting from crystal chandeliers. The imposing furniture stood out, featuring a large canopy bed with a dark wooden headboard. The room was decorated with classical artworks, an elegant fireplace, and exotic collectibles. As I got out of bed, my feet touched a Persian rug, reinforcing the atmosphere of luxury and mystery.I looked for my heels but couldn't find them. Carefully, I opened the door and heard male voices. Following the sound, I reached the stairs and noticed two men conversing while drinking. Greg was the first to notice me and whispered something into the CEO's ear before leaving.“I'm glad you're awake,” said Patrick, extending his free hand toward me. I descended the stairs and was led by him to the sofa. “Are you feeling better?” I nodded, still a bit nervous. “I'm sorry for getting you involved in all this mess…I..
“Thank you.” I walked behind her, watching her from head to toe for any signs of danger or hidden weapons. I never imagined that the nurse from the nursing home could be one of his pawns in this game!Opening the door, I saw my grandmother sitting, staring out the window, clutching a blanket.“Grandma?” I went towards her.“Elisabeth?” She looked at me, surprised. “My girl, I thought you had died in the car accident. I'm so glad God didn't take everyone from me!”I smiled gently. Her mind wasn't in the present, but her heart still felt the pain and despair of losing me.“I'm fine, Grandma. We are safe and together.” I kissed the top of her head and sat down in front of her. “How are you feeling?”“Like a truck ran over me.” She smiled gently, closing her eyes and inhaling deep
POV: PATRICKI transported the nurse's family out of the country, using my contacts to ensure their protection. The bastard always seemed to be one step ahead, and to make matters worse, Heloise was back in Seattle, ready to play.“Forbs, I need you to contain her for now!” I nearly shouted over the phone, furious.“Patrick, if I could control my siblings, don't you think I would have done it already without bothering you?” He sounded fragile over the phone, sighing. “I'm sorry you guys ended up like this. I didn't expect my sister to be as sick as our mother.”“Unfortunately, old friend, she seems worse to me. She's lucid in her actions. I'm afraid Heloise's only mental problem is her obsession with me.” I clenched my fists. “What is she doing in Seattle?”“She acquired 40% of Forbs News Times shares.” Coughing, he cleared his throat. “My mind isn't what it used to be, Morgan. I need you to prevent them from taking over everything I fought to achieve. Stop Heloise and Celdric, take o
“No, it won’t change anything!” I lifted her, throwing her over my shoulder. Lis let out a startled squeal in response. “Shh, if you wake your grandmother, I’ll spank that lovely butt of yours.”“Patrick Morgan, put me down... You act like a caveman when you do this!” Struggling, she bit the back of her thighs, provoking a delightful moan from her.“Oh, Lis... That sound is much better!” I teased, carrying her to my room and into the bathroom, where there was a large hot tub facing a floor-to-ceiling window, offering a beautiful view of the landscape.I set her down gently. Elisabeth looked around, surprised, and amazed.“Wow, you’re very rich!” She turned to me, embarrassed. “Sorry, did I say that out loud?”“You did, but that’s not exactly what I wanted to hear from you, loud a
POV: ELISABETHI spread soap on my arms, keeping my eyes fixed on his. Patrick seemed strangely troubled by his past, which set off alarms in my mind.“Just a man with no direction in life...” he replied, lowering his gaze and taking the sponge from my hands, kissing the tips of my fingers. “Let me help you.”Turning around, Patrick pulled me between his legs. I leaned my head on his shoulder, allowing myself to feel his gentle touches caressing my skin, which shivered wherever his fingers passed, massaging.“We both try to hide our past.” I sighed with my eyes closed. “I understand you don't want to talk, but I hope you understand that I have fears about not knowing who you are completely... Loving you, giving myself entirely, and being so hurt that I can't piece myself back together.”“Lis, I would never hurt you; I would never raise a ha
POV: PATRICKI was mesmerized by Elisabeth, naked, and captivated by the TV rising from the floor. She was the most beautiful sight, so I pulled her onto the bed, dominating her from above. My heart pounded with a strange certainty, and an absurd idea came to mind.“Just marry me!” There was so much conviction in every word that I was surprised by the proposal myself.It made sense. We had only recently become involved, but I had always respected the professional boundary. That never lessened my interest and curiosity about this woman, who always intrigued me. Everything changed after that discovery. Since then, living behind masks no longer seemed fair!Elisabeth had the ideal profile I had been seeking. She was trustworthy, dedicated, loved what she did, and still nurtured a passion in her heart: to be a writer.There was no one better than her for this. I wanted her in my place,