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CH.13

Author: Golden Butterfly
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

Serena's wrists, so delicate, felt the harsh bite of the unforgiving metal handcuffs as the police officer gently ushered her into the back of the van.

She glanced over her shoulder at her father, President Bolting, who stood with a calm and composed demeanor at the entrance of the prestigious Royal Hotel. Despite his stoic exterior, his eyes revealed a tumultuous mix of pain and disbelief.

The van doors slammed shut, sealing Serena off from the chaos erupting outside.

She drew a shuddering breath. This had to be some cruel mistake. Her, accused of murder? The absurdity of it all threatened to overwhelm her.

Her trembling hands fumbled for her phone before remembering it had been confiscated as evidence.

A whimper escaped her lips as the van rumbled to life, its tires crunching on the gravel drive.

Outside, President Bolting watched helplessly as the van carrying his daughter disappeared around the bend.

As soon as it was out of sight, he pivoted on his heel and stormed toward his lin
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    The people in the crowd gasped in shock as President Bolting's fist connected with Alex Montgomery's face.A hushed murmur rippled through the gathered spectators as they witnessed the leader of their nation losing his composure in such a violent display.Alex staggered back, clutching his jaw, but the smirk never left his face. In fact, it seemed to widen into a satisfied grin as he straightened and squared his shoulders, seemingly relishing in the president's loss of control.This was exactly the reaction he had been aiming to provoke.President Bolting stood heaving with fists still clenched at his sides as he glared daggers at the younger man.The once immaculate suit was now in disarray, while his perfectly styled hair was now unkempt. It was clear that Alex's taunts had shattered the carefully constructed image of composure he presented to the world.The murmurs grew louder as phone cameras began documenting the scandalous scene.President Bolting could sense the scrutiny from a

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.15

    It felt as though the bustling city had turned a deaf ear to President Bolting’s pleas despite him being the most powerful man in the country. The scandal seemed to have eroded people’s faith in him, chipping away at the respect they once held for their leader.But he wouldn't let them tarnish Serena's reputation this way. He couldn't.President Bolting made a silent vow then and there - he'd bring forth the truth and vindicate his precious daughter no matter what it took.Deep within him, the middle-aged man knew it was against protocol for authorities to divulge information about ongoing investigations, especially when relatives of suspects were involved.His presidential authority didn’t exempt him from this rule. Yet, propelled by desperation and paternal love, he decided to take matters into his own hands and reach out directly to the detective leading Serena's case.President Bolting searched through his contact lists with trembling fingers and dialled a particular number.He ha

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.16

    Alex strode through the ornate double doors of his mansion with a self-satisfied smirk playing across his chiseled features.He had just left the award gala where his carefully orchestrated scandal had played out perfectly. He had successfully destroyed his wife, Serena's reputation.Slipping off his designer jacket, he made his way upstairs with the intent on celebrating his triumph during his sweet dreams tonight.As he pushed open the bedroom door, his eyes locked onto the vision lounging on his silk sheets. It was a lady, clad in barely-there red lingerie with her lips curled into a sultry smile.A wicked grin graced Alex’s face. Exactly who he had been expecting!"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite little minx," Alex purred, crossing the room in a few long strides.He cupped her enchanting face in one hand while his thumb traced the curve of her full lips. "I take it you enjoyed the show this evening?"The lady’s eyes danced with wicked amusement as she reached up to loosen his

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.17

    The harsh fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting an unforgiving glare on the dingy interrogation room.Serena's delicate features were etched with apprehension as she surveyed the bare walls and scuffed linoleum floor.A battered metal table stood as the room's centerpiece, flanked by two unstable chairs that looked as if they could barely support her slight frame.She lowered herself gingerly onto one of the chairs, back ramrod straight, every fiber of her being exuding the poise and elegance that had made her a beloved celebrity. Yet her eyes betrayed a tempest of emotions - fear, anger, and a deep sadness that pierced her usually impassive demeanor.The door creaked open, and Serena tensed involuntarily. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into the sleek wooden armrests as she steeled herself for the onslaught of accusations to come.A young officer strode in with file in hand, His gaze immediately locked onto her lithe frame."Miss Bolting," he acknowledged with a curt nod b

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.18

    A harsh bang on the table made Serena flinch back to reality.She looked up to find Davis glaring at her again with his lips curled into a sneer."Quit playing games, Miss Bolting. We have witnesses who saw you fleeing the scene covered in Miss Delaney's blood. You might as well fess up now and save us all some time."Panic gripped Serena's chest at those accusations. Her breathing became shallow and rapid. This couldn't be true. It wasn’t true.She opened her mouth to speak, but only a strangled sound came out.Jenkins stepped in smoothly. "That's enough inflammatory assertions for now, Officer Davis. My client is not obligated to submit to your prosecutorial badgering without more substantive evidence."His calm, even tones helped Serena regain her equilibrium.Davis looked furious but couldn't seem to regain his footing against the accomplished lawyer. For the first time, a flicker of hope sparked within Serena's embattled heart.Jenkins maintained his professional demeanor as Davi

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.19

    Jenkins turned to Davis. "Now, about securing my client's release on bail..."Officer Davis let out a harsh bark of laughter. "You can't be serious. After what we've heard today? Your client is a person of interest in a brutal murder case. She's not going anywhere until we get to the bottom of this."Keeping his voice level, Jenkins replied, "Miss Bolting has been fully cooperative. She's an upstanding citizen with no criminal record. There are no grounds to continue holding her.""Says you," Davis retorted, his eyes narrowing. "The evidence so far paints a different picture. As I said, your client had motive - a jealous rage over her man's cheating. And her fragile state today speaks volumes."Serena opened her mouth to protest, but Jenkins raised his hand, signaling her to stay quiet and let him do the talking."We'll let the courts decide if there are sufficient grounds for charges," the lawyer stated firmly. "For now, I'm invoking my client's rights and requesting her immediate re

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.20

    ~Meanwhile~Serena's body jerked forward as the sleek town car suddenly came to a halt. Red and blue lights were flashing behind the tinted windows. The Police! Serena gasped inwardly. Why were they here again?Jenkins put a reassuring hand on her trembling fingers. "Stay inside, Miss Bolting. I'll handle this."His authoritative tone did little to calm Serena's frayed nerves. He stepped out onto the desolate road, the door clicking shut behind him.She strained to make out his muffled words as he approached the blockade of patrol cars. Though she couldn't hear the exchange, Jenkins' rigid posture and terse gestures made it clear he was pissed off.Serena's stomach twisted into knots. They were so close to whisking her away from this nightmare. But now the flashing lights seemed to mock her, trapping her like an animal caught in their sights.Her throat burned with unshed tears as she watched Jenkins run an agitated hand through his dirty blond hair. A heated argument was ongoing

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.21

    The jarring ringtone sliced through the hazy afterglow, shattering the tranquil silence that had enveloped the couple tangled on the large plush bed.Alex stirred, his brow furrowing as he reached blindly for the offending device. The seductive lithe form shifted beside him, the sheets tangling around her lissom curves as she blinked owlishly in the dim light filtering through the heavy drapes."Speak!" Alex answered gruffly, his voice still roughened by exertion and the dregs of slumber. He stiffened almost imperceptibly when the voice on the other end relayed its message."Very well. I'll be right down."Snapping the phone shut, he turned to find the woman watching him with undisguised curiosity. Her tousled chestnut locks framed her face in an enticing disarray, and the smudged remains of her deep crimson lipstick only enhanced the wicked allure dancing in her kohl-rimmed eyes."That was Paul. My father has arrived at the manor." he supplied without any preamble.A muscle ticked in

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  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.204

    Only the monsters remained a seemingly endless horde that would continue to ravage and destroy until the entire world was little more than a barren, lifeless husk. Knox could not, would not, allow that to happen. Not after everything, not after the unfathomable sacrifices that had already been made in the pursuit of preventing such a future from coming to pass. Too much had been lost, too many lives extinguished in the fires of this onslaught. Darkness swirled around him and began coiling outwards to merge with the torrential downpour. The vortex rapidly expanded, growing in size and ferocity until it became an all-consuming maw ready to devour everything in its path. The earth itself seemed to tremble by the vortex of annihilation taking form, as if the very world were protesting the profane nature of the forces being brought to bear. The air itself seemed to warp and twist, reality buckling under the strain of the immense power being channeled. Each bolt of lightning tha

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.203

    Knox simply remained there for long, excruciating moments, taking in the sight of her serene repose as if etching every line and curve into his tortured memory so he wouldn't lose even the tiniest detail.Suddenly, Serena's body was engulfed in a dazzling burst of light, with glowing tendrils extending outward to encircle Knox's form. He pulled the light within, absorbing it as if he were a hole eating the stars. It was the portion of his soul he had given Serena in both their past lives and this current one, now being reclaimed after her death. Then Knox rose to his feet with fluidity, seemingly defying the rules of gravity once the last remnants of that magnificent essence were sucked back into his form."Let us never meet again!" he intoned, his voice a discordant rasp that held no trace of anything remotely human. The words carried such weight, such profundity of power that the trembling maid instantly crumpled motionlessly to the floor. Her mind simply could not withstand the

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.202

    Tears burned hot in Meredith's eyes at the brutal truth of Enzo's words. She had failed - failed utterly to protect Knox, failed to prevent this future from becoming their new reality. Deep in her soul, she could feel the ancient spirits of Queen Minerva and Princess Myra weeping bitter tears of sorrow and regret. Their sacred bloodline, their eternal legacy was now irrevocably tainted by this unraveling of fate.A choked sound somewhere between a sob and a bitter peal of laughter escaped her lips when Sahar's severed head came rolling to a stop at her feet with her dead eyes still holding a mocking glint of triumph even in death. The twisted wench had achieved her ultimate goal - to bring about the utter ruination of their legacy, the destruction of every last Cavalieri-Delgaard dynasty. All around them, the battle raged on with no end in sight, the air thick with the sights, sounds and smells of death. Killian's towering Lycan form, battered and bleeding from a thousand savage

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.201

    The sight of everyone she loved fighting for their very existence against such overwhelming odds...it was a blade twisting in Meredith's heart.A searing agony lanced through her and she knew Enzo was injured. It was the effect of a mate bond whether fated or chosen. She stumbled, gasping for air as she clutched at her chest. The pain was almost beyond endurance… like a molten lance of agony that threatened to bring her to her knees. Tears burned in her eyes and her sight blurred as the true gravity of their situation hit her like a battering ram. Any wound inflicted by these abominations was fatal. Their claws, fangs, and very essence were imbued with a poison that corrupted all it touched.“Is there no way?” Her mind reeled like ashes on the wind as another spasm of anguish gripped her in its merciless talons. “Is there no way to save them all? To avert this future I've foreseen?”Her body trembled violently and her legs threatened to give out beneath her as she watched her love

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.200

    Meredith drew on her newly regained powers and unleashed a torrent of energy at the beasts. The demons recoiled, shrieking in fury and anguish as magic seared their rotting flesh. The stench of burning meat filled the air, mingling with the miasma that clung to the creatures.Meredith maintained the onslaught, driving them back through the shattered doorway with relentless determination.Next, she sealed the room with an impenetrable barrier when the last of the abominations stumbled back into the hall, wailing in pain and wrath.She turned to face the trembling girl. "Stay here if you wish to live, child," Meredith instructed. "This madness needs to cease, and soon, before it swallows us all."Then she swept from the chamber and out into the chaos that had engulfed the estate's once-clean halls. The hallway ahead was a nightmare come true, with claw marks on the walls, bloody paintings, and the crushed bodies of fallen defenders strewn over the floor like discarded objects.Meredi

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.199

    Meredith's heart thundered against her ribcage as she paced the length of Knox and Serena's bedroom suite. Her footfalls echoed with a hollow resonance that belied the emptiness gnawing at her very soul.The incessant rattling and banging against the thick oak door grew more insistent with each passing moment in a cacophony of destruction that served as a reminder of the hellish forces laying siege to their home. Beyond that rapidly crumbling barrier, chaos ruled in an unholy storm of violence that threatened to devour all Meredith held dear.Shrieks of unimaginable agony intermingled with roars. Each haunting wail, each guttural bellow, sent a fresh wave of anguish coursing through Meredith's immortal frame. How many had already fallen? The question burned in her mind like acid, eating away at what little composure she managed to maintain. How many brave warriors, loyal protectors of the estate had lost their lives under the claws of these abominations? The faces of those she had

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.198

    "I'm the only woman alive now who can give you an heir, bear you children to carry on your bloodline..." Her words were a hushed whisper. "I am your rightful mate at long last. We were always meant to be together as one, you and I. Two halves of the same whole."She sniffled again as a fresh wave of tears spilled forth. "You should have accepted my request earlier, when I simply wanted to enjoy one night with my betrothed...to bask in the warmth of your embrace, as is my right as your—"Her words died on her lips when Knox suddenly closed the distance and wrapped his hand around her slender throat in a grip, wrenching her forward until her feet left the ground. Then he slammed her head back against the stone wall with brutal force to crack her skull. Sirona let out a pained, wheezing laugh as she stared up at him with wild, unfocused eyes. A thin trickle of crimson seeped from the corner of her mouth, tracing a macabre path down her chin."You...you wouldn't dare..." she choked out

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.197

    Knox felt as if the entire world had collapsed around him, with a devastating blast of despair and despair threatening to break what little remained of his damaged psyche into a million shattered fragments. The sheer, all-consuming agony that had lanced through him was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. It that it defied description… as though every nerve ending in his immortal body had been set ablaze and doused in acid simultaneously.The air became heavy and oppressive as the full impact of what had happened started to sink in, and the cold stone of the dungeon walls seemed to close in around him.Knox simply couldn't - no, he utterly refused with every fiber of his being to accept the cruel reality that his worst fears had been realized in the most brutal and decisive way imaginable. Serena. His beautiful, precious mate...the very radiant light in his darkness...she was gone. Why? The question kept coming back to him, echoing through the vast emptiness of his head, e

  • THE TYRANT'S CONTRACT BRIDE   CH.196

    The huge double doors to the dungeon at one of Knox's estates slid open, revealing his towering figure. An oppressive air accompanied him, making it feel as if the very atmosphere held its breath in his presence. Dark tendrils like mist swirled around him, and his eyes that was always cold, blazed with a fury that made them appear even icier than usual. His mind was still reeling from the hateful words Serena had hurled at him in the car earlier, and in a moment of desperation, he had teleported himself here.Knox despised himself for losing control and slapping Serena in a moment of anger. He couldn’t forgive himself, especially when the thought crossed his mind that perhaps Sirona had found a way to bypass his restraint meant to keep her in check, and had gotten into Serena’s mind. More than half of him believed the venomous words Serena had spoken weren't hers but were instead Sirona’s doing. This belief drove him to the dungeon, determined to confirm his theory.His eyes lan

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