The man led Chloe through the hallways, his grip was firm but surprisingly gentle. The echo of her cane tapping against the floor punctuated their silence as they left the building behind. Chloe's pulse was still racing from the humiliation of the cafeteria, but the further they walked, the more the tension in her chest began to ease.The moment they stepped outside, the cool breeze brushed against her skin, bringing with it the subtle scent of flowers and fresh grass. The distant sound of birds chirping and the rustle of leaves created a peaceful backdrop to the chaos swirling inside her mind.He guided her to a bench in a secluded corner of the company’s garden. The bench creaked slightly as she sat down, her hands gripping her cane as if it could ground her. Chloe stared into the darkness of her own world, willing herself to breathe, to let go of the sting of those awful words still ringing in her ears.The kind man remained silent, his presence steady beside her. She could sense
Leo stood still, his gaze following Chloe and Adam as they walked away. The garden was quiet, which was very different from the thoughts going through his mind. He watched the way Adam’s hand rested protectively on Chloe’s arm, guiding her away. Chloe didn’t resist, but Leo could sense her reluctance. The subtle hesitation in her step, the way she glanced back, even though she couldn’t see him—it tugged at something deep inside him.There was something about Chloe Westbrook that stuck with him. He had dealt with countless powerful people—politicians, businessmen, even crime bosses—but she was different. She didn’t command a room with wealth or authority. Leo had sensed it from the moment they met; she had a quiet strength that intrigued him, a spark of resilience in her voice that made him want to understand her more. "She doesn't belong in my world," he muttered under his breath in a barely audible voice. Yet, the pull she exerted on him was undeniable. He hadn’t expected to car
Meanwhile, Chloe sat in her room, restless, trying to block out the thoughts that had been swirling in her mind since leaving the company garden. Adam had driven her home even though she protested slightly.She couldn’t shake the strange sensation that had settled in her chest after her encounter with Leo. There was something about him, something unsettling yet oddly... comforting.Her hand rested on her cane as she leaned back in her chair, trying to clear her mind. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Leo’s face… at least a mental image of what she thinks he looks like—his strong, unreadable expression, his calm yet commanding voice. It wasn’t just the fact that he had helped her; it was the way he had spoken to her, as if he saw something in her that no one else did.She shook her head, trying to dispel the thought. She didn’t need this right now. Her life was already complicated enough without getting tangled up in whatever it was this strange man represented.But more tha
Dan Sawyer entered his house later than usual that evening, his mind still reeling from a day filled with back-to-back meetings and frustrating negotiations. He barely had time to think about anything else—least of all Chloe—though she had slipped into his thoughts once or twice when he wasn’t paying attention. His tie felt too tight around his neck, his shoulders tense from the weight of the day.As soon as the door closed behind him, he was greeted by Sofia."Welcome home, sweetheart!" she chimed cheerfully. She sauntered toward him, her lips pulled into a wide smile.Dan barely glanced at her, before giving a cute response, “Thanks.” Something about her happiness seemed too bright, too exaggerated, for what should have been an ordinary evening. Sofia always carried a certain charm, a confidence that was almost tangible, but tonight, there was an extra layer to it that Dan found unsettling.Sofia leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, her lips lingering a little longer than neces
Chloe sat in her room, still feeling restless after her conversation with Adam. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—about her life, about Leo, and now about the possibility of seeing again. The idea filled her with both hope and fear. As much as she yearned for her sight, a part of her was afraid that nothing would change. That even if she could see, the world would still look down on her and still treat her as if she were broken.A soft knock interrupted her thoughts."Chloe," Adam called, his voice just outside the door. "Francis is here."Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of her eldest brother. She had spoken to him briefly on the phone, but this would be their first real meeting since they’d found her. Since they’d discovered she was their long-lost sister. She couldn’t help but feel nervous. What would he think of her? Would he see her as fragile too?Taking a deep breath, she called out, “Come in.”The door opened, and Adam stepped in first, followed by Francis. She cou
Leo returned from his morning run, his face glistening with sweat as he entered the grand marble foyer of his mansion. The cool air inside was welcomed, different from warm air outside. As much as the run was suppose to clear his mind, today was kind of different.He couldn’t place it or wrap his mind around it, but he felt unsettled. He pushed the distraction aside as his second-in-command, Anton, appeared at the base of the staircase, waiting for him. “Morning, boss,” Anton said in his usual calm but efficient voice.Leo nodded, grabbing the towel offered to him by one of his staff as he wiped the sweat from his face. “What’s the update?”Anton stepped forward, his eyes steady and professional. “The whistleblower we found the other day? The one spying on us—he’s waiting in the basement. We’ve started... softening him up, but he’s ready for your attention when you are. Also, the lady you asked me to look into—Chloe Westbrook—her file is on your desk.”Leo’s heart skipped a beat, th
Chloe’s fingers tightened around the small card as Natalie read the words aloud. “Be good.”“Be good?” Chloe echoed with a frown on her face. The message was short, cryptic, and lacked the usual formal tone she expected from a bouquet delivered to a corporate office.Before Chloe could voice her confusion, Natalie flipped the card over. “Oh, there’s something else. The card is signed ‘Your Knight in Night Armour.’”For a brief moment, Chloe's breath caught in her throat and her mind went blank. The phrase "Knight in Night Armour" kept playing over and over in her head, taking her back to a long-ago night she had tried to forget. There was only one person she had ever called that.Dan.He had saved her on that terrible night when she was attacked, protecting her from harm. And when their love had begin to blossom. Chloe had playfully called him her “Knight in Night Armour,” a nickname that had once symbolized her trust in him. But that was a lifetime ago—before everything had fallen
The day dragged on slowly at first for Chloe. She kept herself busy, but her mind drifted back to the flowers and the turmoil from the morning. The hurt, the anger—it was all still fresh. She struggled to focus, her thoughts spiraling. How had everything gotten so complicated?By mid-morning, the office’s usual buzz picked up, and Chloe managed to immerse herself in work. She listened to reports, contributed her insights, and found a bit of solace in the routine. Soon, it was lunchtime.Natalie, as kind as ever, popped her head around the corner. "Hey, Chloe. It’s almost lunchtime. Can I help you get something to eat?"Chloe smiled at the offer, grateful for the gesture. “Thank you, Natalie. I’ll have something simple, maybe a turkey sandwich and some fruit?”Natalie nodded, her voice cheerful. “I’ll get it for you. Be back in a bit!”Chloe leaned back in her chair as Natalie left for the cafeteria. It was a small thing, but she appreciated Natalie’s thoughtfulness. For a moment, she
The dining room grew quiet again as the remnants of their dinner were cleared away. Chloe sat back in her chair, her fingers tracing the edge of her napkin. Despite the tension of the past few days, this moment of calm felt precious, even fleeting. She exhaled softly, feeling her shoulders relax for the first time since the ordeal began.“Chloe,” Leo began, breaking the silence with a thoughtful tone. “Would you like to take a stroll? Stretch your legs a bit?”She tilted her head, intrigued. “A stroll?”“Just around the mansion,” he said. “It’s quiet this time of night. I can show you the garden, maybe even the library if you’d like.”Her lips quirked into a faint smile. “A guided tour of the Leo King estate? How could I say no?”Leo chuckled as he stood, moving to her side to offer his arm. “Shall we?”Chloe hesitated for a moment before taking his arm. “You’re the one who’s supposed to be resting, you know,” she reminded him in a teasing tone.“I’ll be fine,” he replied smoothly. “
When Chloe woke up, the room was a bit dark and silent. The gentle sound of the air conditioning and the far-off footsteps were all that suggested that there was life in the mansion somewhere. Chloe was now lying in bed, feeling the soft mattress underneath her, which was very different from the chair where she had dozed off.She sat up slowly, disoriented for a moment. Her hands brushed against the soft sheets, and a faint scent of lavender lingered in the air. The faint ache in her muscles from the events of the day before made her sigh softly.“You’re finally awake,” a familiar voice said from somewhere nearby in a warm and teasing tone.Chloe turned her head toward the sound, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Leo,” she said softly. “You’re out of bed. You shouldn’t be up. You should be resting.”“Don’t tell me you’re going to be one of those grumpy nurses who would keep me in bed all day if they could,” he quipped with a faint chuckle in his voice.Chloe couldn’t help but laugh
The room was still and quiet, the only sound you could hear was the soft, rhythmic beeping of the monitors beside Leo’s bed. Shadows from the dim overhead light played across the walls, creating a calm amidst the storm that had torn through the night.Chloe sat slumped in the chair beside him, her head resting on the edge of his bed. Her breathing was soft, her face turned slightly toward him, her fingers still curled around his hand as if even in sleep, she couldn’t let him go.Leo’s eyes fluttered open slowly, his vision hazy and blurred at first. The ache in his chest was a dull throb, a reminder of the bullet that had narrowly missed his heart. He blinked, the fog lifting as his gaze focused on the figure beside him.Chloe.For a moment, he simply watched her. Strands of her hair fell across her face, and her lips were parted slightly in the relaxed stillness of sleep. Despite the exhaustion evident in the dark circles beneath her eyes, there was a softness to her features that
The room was dimly lit, filled with sweat and the smell of cigarette smoke. Signs of earlier chaos were everywhere, with debris scattered around and chairs turned over. The man in charge of the kidnap, a wiry man with a gaunt face and sharp, hawk-like eyes, paced back and forth, his boots thudding heavily against the concrete floor.Before him, three men knelt, their faces bruised, blood trickling down from cuts on their foreheads and lips. Each bore the aftermath of a mission gone disastrously wrong, but they kept their heads bowed, too terrified to meet their leader’s burning gaze.The wiry man suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing on the closest man. “Just thirty damn minutes. Thirty!” he snarled, his voice echoing sharply against the cold, bare walls. “I told you to watch her, to keep her contained. All you had to do was scare her. Make her sweat a little. That’s it!”He took a step closer, his fists clenched at his sides. “And not only do you mess it up,” he growled, his voice dr
The office building had grown eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by the oppressive weight of uncertainty. Marcus paced in Chloe’s office, her cane and phone resting on the desk where he’d placed them after retrieving them from the floor outside. Every so often, his eyes darted to his watch. Over an hour had passed since Leo had taken off with Chloe. No updates. No calls.Marcus stared at his phone, his thumb hovering over Leo’s number. He’d called twice already, and each time, the line went straight to voicemail. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, shoving the phone back into his pocket.The silence in the room felt deafening. Marcus’s mind raced with worst-case scenarios. What if something had gone wrong? What if the men who had taken Chloe had backup? What if—No. He shook his head, forcing himself to stay calm. Leo would handle it. He promised he would. But the nagging feeling in his gut told him otherwise. He had waited long enough.Taking a deep breath, Marcu
Anton gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white as he pressed the accelerator, speeding through the city’s streets with no regard for traffic lights or the blare of honking horns. The SUV roared past intersections, weaving through traffic like a predator hunting its prey. In the back seat, Chloe held Leo’s limp body against her, her tears staining his shirt as she tried to steady him.Her chest heaved with sobs, her mind consumed with guilt. “This is my fault,” she whispered in a trembling voice. “He’s hurt because of me. If I hadn’t been—”“Enough!” Anton’s voice interrupted her. “He’s not dead yet, so stop crying over him like he is. Save it for later, when he can yell at you himself.”Chloe flinched at his tone, biting her lip to hold back her tears. She knew he was right—her tears wouldn’t help Leo now—but the feel of his blood soaking through his shirt, his shaky breaths, and the shallow rise and fall of his chest shattered her resolve. She nodded weakly, holding
A moment later, another set of footsteps entered the room—a slower and more deliberate one.“Chloe?” The familiar voice called out.Chloe’s breath caught in her throat. “Leo?” she whispered, disbelief and relief flooding her at once.Leo’s voice was calm yet clear, piercing the musty atmosphere of the dimly lit room. “I’d be careful if I were you.” His gun was raised, trained with deadly precision on the man holding Chloe.The kidnapper paused for a moment, keeping his gun aimed at Chloe, his hand tightening around the handle. “You wouldn’t put her life in danger,” he sneered, but the slight tremor in his voice revealed his doubt.Leo’s eyes burned with cold fury. “You think I won’t put a bullet in your head before you can even pull that trigger?” His words carried no bravado, only the lethal certainty of a man who had done worse for less.The man hesitated, his resolve faltering under Leo’s intense gaze. “I just do my job, alright? Nothing personal. You want her back? Let me walk out
Leo’s SUV and the other two vehicles stopped just outside the rundown warehouse, its rusty walls standing tall like a dark sentinel in the dim moonlight. The cold air bit him and his men as they exited the vehicles. The faint hum of distant machinery and the occasional creak of metal were the only audible sounds.Leo surveyed the warehouse, his jaw set and his hands steady despite the storm raging inside him. Chloe was in there, somewhere, and every second felt like a lifetime.He turned to his men. “We go in quiet. No unnecessary violence unless it’s unavoidable. Priority is getting Chloe out alive. Do you understand?”“Yes, boss,” Anton and the others replied in unison.Leo’s eyes flicked back to the building, scanning for weak points, entryways, anything to give them an advantage. But as he studied the area, his thoughts betrayed him.This is my fault.The words echoed in his head like a cruel refrain. Chloe’s capture wasn’t just a calculated move by the Gaglianos—it was collatera
Leo walked back and forth in his base, unable to keep still. His fists were clenched tightly, and his jaw set. He was like a lion caged in his own fury, his usually cool composure replaced by an edge of barely restrained violence.Every fiber of his being thrummed, his mind set on one mission—finding Chloe.A heavy door swung open behind him, and Anton strode in, followed by five of Leo’s most trusted men.Anton frowned and walked faster when he noticed the rigid stance of his boss. “We came as soon as possible, boss,” he said, halting in front of Leo, the men at his side straightening to attention. “What’s the situation?”Leo took a slow, measured breath, as if forcing himself to keep from shouting. “It’s Chloe,” he said in a low and dangerously calm voice. “She’s been kidnapped.”Anton’s eyes widened, genuine surprise flashing across his face. “Chloe? Westbrook?”Leo’s gaze sharpened as he turned to him, patience slipping. “Which other Chloe do we know about? Of course, it’s Westbro