“Drive,” Damian ordered, his voice as cold as the winter night.“Yes, sir,” Henry replied, turning the ignition and setting the car in motion.The drive back felt infinitely shorter than the agonizing ride to the warehouse. Seeing Elara in his arms was both a comfort and a curse—she was here, alive, but the marks of what she had endured under Charles’ watch seared into his mind. He had her back, but not whole.Elara’s breathing was steady but shallow. Damian had wrapped his suit jacket around her, feeling her tremble beneath it. Every glance in her direction stoked the fire in his chest, fueling a rage that simmered just beneath the surface. He didn’t know if it was the cold, the fear, or the shock that made her shake, but it only made his resolve stronger.“You’re safe now,” he murmured softly, more to himself than to her.Elara’s voice came in soft, broken whispers. “Damian... I didn’t think you’d find me.”“I’ll always find you,” he replied, his tone sharp but gentle. His fingers r
The underground cell was damp, the air thick with the stench of mold and rusted metal. Charles groaned as Jackson and two of Damian’s men dragged him from the trunk, his limp body barely able to support its own weight. Damian stood at the entrance of the cell, arms crossed, his expression unreadable except for the flicker of rage in his eyes.“Wake him up,” Damian ordered, his voice sharp as steel.One of the men threw a bucket of ice-cold water over Charles, causing him to sputter and jerk back into consciousness. His eyes, still glazed from the beating, widened as he realized where he was. The surroundings of the underground prison beneath Damian’s estate brought a wave of panic crashing over him.“Please...” Charles rasped, his voice weak. “It wasn’t... I didn’t want to...”Damian’s gaze was ice cold as he stepped forward, crouching down so his face was level with Charles’. “Spare me your excuses, Charles. You sold her—my wife—to a monster, Daniel. You kidnapped her, abused her, and
The night deepened, casting long shadows across Damian’s estate. His mind swirled with the weight of vengeance, each thought sharper than the last. As he stared out of the window of his study, the dim light from the moon barely penetrated the dark sky. He could feel it—the quiet before the storm. Asher was out there, and the confrontation was inevitable. But Damian was not one to rush. Patience was a weapon, and when the time came, he would strike with precision and fury.His phone buzzed on the desk, snapping him out of his thoughts. The screen flashed with a name— ‘Demon.’ Damian picked up without hesitation.“Talk.”“I’ve got eyes on him,” Demon’s gravelly voice rumbled through the phone. “Asher’s been laying low, but not well enough. He’s moving in the underworld, making deals. I’ll have him cornered in a matter of days.”Damian tightened his grip on the phone. “No mistakes. I want him alive.”There was a pause on the other end, the faint hum of traffic in the background the only
“Please,” he begged. If he had known this could happen, he would have done exactly as Elara wanted. “Don’t do this.”Damian smirked, an evil smile plastered on his lips as he walked away. Just a few inches from them, a fire burned inside a large pot with an iron rod heating inside it. Damian grabbed the handle, pulling the iron out. He shoved it back in, waiting a moment before retrieving it again. He approached Charles, whose eyes were wide open in terror.“W-...” he stammered. “What do you think you’re doing?”“What do you think?” Damian demanded before pressing the red-hot iron into his body.“Ah!” Charles screamed in pain. He gasped for breath. The sharp, searing agony radiated through his body, making his vision blur. Sweat formed on his brow as he struggled to stay conscious.“You won’t die from this,” Damian smirked. “From the pain, I’ll make sure of that.”“Forgive me, please,” Charles pleaded, his stomach growling.“You’re still hungry, aren’t you?” Damian laughed harshly bef
Anita stayed outside all night, waiting. She stood up as soon as she heard the sound of Anna’s door opening, but before she could enter her house, Anna had already seen her.“Don’t tell me you slept here all night?” Anna questioned.“No,” Anita replied, lying. “I’m just coming out.”Anna looked at her with questioning eyes. She knew Anita had slept there all night.“Stop lying,” she said, approaching the already weakened Anita. “Get a hold of yourself and don’t fall apart. He’s busy working his ass off for you and your son.”“But...” Anita paused. “He should have at least called or picked up my calls. He should have returned them immediately after seeing his missed calls. Something is wrong.” She nervously bit her fingers. “I can feel it.”Anna watched as she started panicking. She shook her head, wondering how Anita could love her husband like this. She had always been jealous of them, of the love they shared. Anna had thought Anita’s husband was perfect and truly loved her until she
“We’re here,” Anita informed Anna as soon as they stepped off the bus. Charles’ firm stood tall and magnificent.“Let’s go in.”They both walked inside, but were immediately stopped by the receptionist.“Who are you looking for?” she asked, her eyes scanning their clothes.“My husband,” Anita replied.“Your husband?” the receptionist repeated. “Who?”“Charles,” she responded with a smile, trying to remain friendly.“Oh. You’re Mr. Charles’ wife?” The receptionist’s demeanor instantly changed. She knew better than to offend her.“Ye...” Before she could finish her statement, she was cut off.“Whose wife?” Margaret’s voice rang out, filled with anger. Her eyes burned with hate as they roamed over Anita’s body. She wasn’t impressed. She had imagined Charles’ wife would be someone extraordinary and beautiful. The image she had created shattered as she moved closer. “Whose wife?” Margaret repeated. “Tell me.”“Young lady, you don’t have to be rude,” Anna interjected, fully aware of why Mar
Anita’s vision blurred as she clutched James’ arm, her legs struggling to support her. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks—Charles hadn’t stayed overnight for work. He had left. But where? And why hadn’t he come home?Anna rushed to her friend’s side, her face etched with worry. “Anita, breathe. Don’t lose yourself like this.” She rubbed Anita’s back, trying to soothe her.Margaret, still adjusting her disheveled appearance, smirked from the corner of the room. “Maybe he just didn’t want to come home to you.”“Shut your mouth!” Anna snapped, her patience reaching its limit. “If you say another word, I’ll make sure you regret it.” Her eyes narrowed, warning Margaret to back off.James, who had been watching the situation unfold with a tight jaw, intervened. “Enough, Margaret.” His tone was cold and final, leaving no room for argument. “You will speak to Anita and her friend with respect.”Margaret’s mouth snapped shut, but the sneer on her face remained. James’ gaze softened a
“I don’t want your pity, James!” Anita cried, pulling away from him. She wiped her cheeks furiously, trying to regain her composure. “You don’t understand. This isn’t just some heartbreak. This is my entire life collapsing around me.”James looked taken aback, but his expression quickly softened. “I understand more than you think, Anita. I’ve seen how much you cared for him. This isn’t just about love; it’s about trust.”Margaret, still trembling in the corner, gathered herself, attempting to stand tall despite her injuries. “You think this is my fault?” she spat, her voice laced with venom. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Charles is a grown man. He made his choices. I didn’t twist his arm.”Anita turned to Margaret, her fury reignited. “You’re a snake. You think you’re so clever, playing the victim while you take my husband away from me? You had no right!”James stepped in again, his voice firm. “You’re fired, Margaret.”Margaret trembled as she heard those words. “Sir,