CHAPTER THIRTY
GABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The doctor arrived almost immediately, he was an elderly man whom I've seen quite a few times in the mansion. He gave some ointment and medicines to help with the pain, he advised not to do any kind of work with it, at least for the next few weeks. I still couldn't believe that Lucian had easily let me off after I had pointed that gun at him. Or maybe he was saving the punishment for later, the thought made me shuddered. I was already battered and bruised enough, my body wouldn't be able to take any more of his torture. I slowly walked towards the dresser and opened it. My eyes fell on the brilliant ring. I took hold of it with shaky fingers. Maybe it was my fault that he always hurt me, if I surrender instead of fighting him, would it be any different? No, I had no other option than to fight. If I stopped, I would be betraying Derek. It sat wCHAPTER THIRTY ONEGABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I squirmed under his penetrating stare, thankfully, I had returned the key to its position when I heard the sound of the door."What are you doing here?" The sound of his voice jolted me slightly, at least he didn't sound or look upset...yet."I..." My frantic brain couldn't think of anything to say.I thought he wasn't supposed to return from his study for at least a few hours. This would probably explain why the door had been kept unlocked, it was because he had planned on returning.His frosty eyes were still staring at me expectantly for an answer, even worse was when he started to approach, each stride as intimidating as that of a feral creature."I...w..wanted..."In four heavy strides, he was in front of me, my legs were too paralyzed to even move an inch, my heart was pounding so hard, my mind and body wouldn't be able to take it if he decided to pu
CHAPTER THIRTY TWOGABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The next morning, I got my cellphone. Anya had presented it to me as Lucian had promised. He hadn't come to my room last night until it was very late and had disappeared before I woke up.The only person I called was mother, hearing the sound of her voice gave me slight reassurance, we talked for some minutes, she made mention of father and Phoebe who had resumed her private dance classes, I could only listen quietly. Don't get me wrong, I was still very much mad at both of them for my present situation, but I could hear the loneliness in my mother's voice, for that, I was willing to listen to anything she wanted to talk about. The moment the call ended, I exited the room. I was feeling very uneasy. The feeling had been there ever since Lucian made mention of the cameras.I had checked around yesterday and even but didn't find any. Maybe they were just too tiny or very well hidden to b
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREEGABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The rest of the day went by in a blur, Lucian left after dinner. He told me that he still had some work left to be done. I left Loretta and took a stroll in the garden which had become my favorite spot outside the mansion, but this time, I wasn't here to for the peace I usually get from the fragrances of flowers. I was here to meet Anya. After checking around, I concluded that this would be the safest place around the house. He was just one of my father's men, why would Lucian carry out such a detailed background check on him? Devin had brought that report file just before I entered, that was something that reassured me that he wasn't dead. I stared at my phone screen, unable to fathom the numerous questions running through my mind. Why was Derek's last name here different? The Identity photo in this file looked like it had been taken a long time ago, perhaps even before I met h
CHAPTER THIRTY FOURGABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Gabrielle?"Lucian came to view even as I tried to calm my frantic heart.I watched his eyes scan around and prayed silently that Anya was already out of view, his intimidating grey eyes returned to me as he completed the distance between us in long strides."I've been searching for you around the house, I didn't think you would be here." He muttered.I forced a faint smile, praying that my features give nothing away of the panic I felt inside, didn't he say he had some work to attend? why was he searching for me only after such a short time?"You said you'd be busy, so I came here, I really like it here."At least I didn't have to lie about that, the flowers and the atmosphere reminded me so much of home."I knew you appreciate flowers, this place has already been yours for years, waiting for you, and here you are." The corners of his lips lifted lig
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVEGABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~He didn't stop until he brought us to the bedroom.The moment my body hits against the mattress, he pushed my dress off in a fluid motion. The raw lust in his gaze made him seem like a wild sex beast that was set to ravish his preyI told myself that this was probably the last time he would ever touch me, I would be free tomorrow and would never get to be branded by his possessiveness ever again. This last time, I would surely be able to bear whatever he planned for me. He was impatient as he easily tore through my bra. He slapped against my ass cheek through the thin fabric materials of my panties and I jumped from the sudden hit.I didn't get a chance to massage the hurtful spot when he yanked off the sheer fabric with a tug.He slapped my butt again, harder this time and I was unable to control my shriek at the sharp stinging sensation on my ass. 
CHAPTER THIRTY SIXGABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I tiptoed quietly in the dark house. My heart leaped to my throat when I heard the sound of the opening and closing of a door. I went still, I didn't so as much as to take a breath. If Lucian had already realized my absence, then everything was over. I would never be able to leave. I craned my neck to see who it was. From my spot, I saw a figure, when the person advanced closer, I realized that it was Fred. My brows furrowed in confusion, what could he be doing inside the mansion so early in the morning?He looked around as though he was fearful of being caught. I shifted my eyes in the direction of where he had just come out from. Loretta's room. How could he be inside her room? What was he... My thoughts were blown off when my cell phone vibrated silently. Anya was still waiting.Pushing every thought aside, I hurried towards the main door. To m
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVENGABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~His eyes were like sharp daggers stabbing straight at us. My body shuddered involuntarily, I was more afraid of the murderous look in his eyes than the fact that there was a gun pressed against my throat."Let her go. And get off the van." He ordered calmly. I could see Fred and several other of his men behind him and dread pooled in the pit of my stomach. Whichever way this was going, I knew it wouldn't end well for me. It was either I got killed by Anya, or Lucian would do it himself. The dark glint in his eyes as he stared at us surely told me that dying by his hands would be a million times painful."I'm not that stupid," Anya spoke, shoving the gun further into my skin, her finger tightened even more as she met Lucian's frosty stare. "Open the gates! And order them to leave, or I'm going to kill her!"My eyes unblinkingly stared into Lucian's piercing ones. They portrayed on
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHTGABRIELLE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~It turned out to be Devin instead of Lucian. Anya's eyes were focused on me as she spoke over the phone. She was saying that if Lucian wants his precious little wife back, he should be ready to meet at the airport with Derek or she was going to kill me. A small part of me didn't believe that this was really happening to me. How did everything change so suddenly? I was so crushed and I hadn't even seen the storm coming. Everything I believed in turned out to be a lie and the biggest betrayal. Derek had never given me any cause to think he was anything but a kind and loving boyfriend. All I wanted right now was to wallow in my misery but this wasn't the right time nor situation for it.I was currently tied up with a gun aimed at my head. The call came to an end. Whatever had been Devin's response seemed to have made Anya satisfied. She turned her full attention on me, w