The rest of the day went smoothly for Chloe. After her lunch with Natalie, she returned to her desk, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. The tension that had weighed on her earlier seemed to dissipate with every hour that passed. Leo’s message still lingered in her mind, his words echoing like a soft reassurance she hadn’t realized she needed.Her fingers brushed against the flowers sitting on her desk, and every time she inhaled their sweet fragrance, it felt like a quiet reminder of her strength. Despite everything she had been through—the scandals, the betrayal, the lingering whispers of doubt—Chloe found herself smiling.As the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, signaling the end of the workday, Natalie returned to Chloe’s side with her usual cheer. “Hey, Chloe. Almost time to head out! How did the rest of the day go?”Chloe smiled warmly, her fingers still tracing the petals of the bouquet. “Better than I thought it would. Thanks for checking on me, Natalie.”Natalie bea
The next morning, Chloe stepped out of her room, her cane tapping lightly on the polished wooden floor. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant navy-blue blouse tucked into tailored slacks, her hair flowing in soft waves around her face. Despite her blindness, Chloe always made an effort to present herself well, and today was no exception. The day ahead was an important one, and she could feel the pressure of it.Waiting just outside her door was Adam, who leaned casually against the wall, his own attire sharp yet slightly relaxed—a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and grey slacks, giving him an approachable yet polished look. When Chloe heard the sound of his footsteps and sensed his presence, she smiled. “Good morning, Adam,” she greeted warmly, recognizing the familiar sound of his light, steady breathing.“Morning, Chloe,” Adam responded, a smile in his voice as he straightened up. “Ready for breakfast before we leave?”Chloe reached out with her hand, and Adam immed
After leaving the hospital, Adam drove Chloe straight to one of the city's high-end boutiques for their shopping trip. The boutique was known for its exclusive designer collections, and today, Chloe would be picking out an outfit for the Billionare Club Business DInner. Though she couldn’t see the outfits, she was determined to make the best of the situation.“Alright, Chloe,” Adam said as they entered the boutique, his arm guiding her inside. “What’s your first request?”Chloe smiled softly, adjusting her cane as she stood by his side. “Let’s start with something classic, maybe an A-line gown, something that’s elegant but not too loud. I’ll need something that flows well... you know? I like those kinds of dresses.”Adam grinned. “You’ve got great taste. Wait here,” he said, guiding her to a seat. “I’ll get a few options.”Chloe sat patiently, listening to the soft shuffle of the boutique’s staff as they moved about. The scent of fresh fabrics and leather wafted through the air, rem
Stepping out of the sleek black car, Chloe felt the heat of the evening settle around her as she stood between her two brothers, Adam and Francis. She held onto Adam’s arm, her cane tapping lightly on the pavement beneath her. The low murmur of voices and the flashing of cameras was enough to let her know they had arrived.The red carpet beneath her feet was soft, totally different from the hard pavement they just left behind. Flashing lights assaulted her senses, though she couldn’t see them, but the frenzy of the paparazzi and reporters was undeniable.. Reporters were shouting questions left and right, their voices cutting through the cool evening air like knives, and the Westbrooks were at the center of their attention.The questions came fast, overlapping each other, shouted from every direction as they made their way toward the entrance.“Mr. Westbrook! Who’s your guest tonight? Is she in any way related to the Westbrook?”“Chloe! How does it feel being here with the Westbrook f
After Adam left Chloe at the bar, she allowed herself to relax a bit. It was peaceful, for a moment.Then a familiar voice pierced the air, sharp and biting, cutting through the tranquility like a knife.“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the little blind imposter.”Chloe’s breath caught in her throat, her entire body tensing at the sound of that voice. She hadn’t heard it in years, but she would never forget it.Nancy.Chloe’s hand tightened around her cane as a chill swept through her. She had thought Nancy was out of her life for good, a ghost from the past that had long been buried. But here she was, standing close enough for Chloe to sense the cold venom in her voice.The hairs on the back of Chloe’s neck stood on end, her heart pounding in her chest as Nancy’s presence loomed. Chloe’s mind raced. What was Nancy doing here? Was it a coincidence or something? And more importantly—what did she want?“I never thought I’d see the day you’d crawl your way back into high society,” Nancy c
But before Nancy could finish her sentence, they were interrupted by a deep and smooth voice. “Is there a problem here?”Chloe’s heart skipped a beat. She recognized that voice instantly.Leo.The air around them seemed to shift as Leo’s presence filled the space. Chloe could feel it—the quiet strength, the controlled power that radiated from him like a force field. She hadn’t expected him to be here tonight and she couldn’t help the relief that washed over her.Nancy, startled by the interruption, turned sharply, her anger momentarily faltering as she took in Leo’s tall, imposing figure. He stood with a calm yet intimidating posture, his dark eyes locked onto Nancy’s with a look that made it clear—he wasn’t someone to be trifled with.Leo stepped closer. “I believe Chloe has made herself clear,” he said, each word measured but carrying an unmistakable edge. “There’s no need for this to go any further.”Nancy’s gaze shifted from Leo to Chloe, her lips curling into a bitter sneer. “An
“Alright,” Francis said, his tone softening. “But let’s not let Adam off the hook so easily.”Chloe chuckled softly, her mind still lingering on the warmth of Leo’s hand and the feeling of safety he had given her.They took a few steps and Francis paused. “You know what? We should probably get going,” he said gently, taking her hand and guiding her toward the exit. His voice, though steady, carried an edge of concern. “I know tonight was a lot.”Chloe nodded, gripping his arm lightly as her cane tapped beside her. “It was... more than I expected,” she admitted, her thoughts still partially on Leo and the unexpected connection she felt with him.As they reached the waiting car, Adam joined them, looking apologetic as he helped Chloe into the backseat. “I’m sorry I left you alone for so long,” Adam said, his tone genuinely remorseful. “I got held up, but I shouldn’t have left you by yourself.”Chloe smiled, shaking her head. “It’s alright, Adam. I wasn’t alone for long.” She didn’t elab
As she approached the main hallway, she heard faint voices. She stopped, her senses heightened as she strained to listen. The conversation seemed to be coming from the sitting room, where her brothers were meeting Uncle Henry.Chloe paused, her curiosity piqued.“I still think it’s too soon,” she heard a gruff voice say—likely Uncle Henry. “How do we know she’s even a Westbrook? Have you done the DNA test yet?”Chloe froze, her breath catching in her throat.“How sure are we that she’s really your sister?” the voice continued, doubt lacing every word. “I’m just saying, it’s a bit convenient, don’t you think? After all these years, she shows up, and suddenly she’s part of the family?”Chloe’s heart sank as she listened to the cold, calculated tone in Uncle Henry’s voice. He didn’t believe she belonged here. He thought she was an imposter.Her heart pounded in her chest as she remained frozen in place, straining to hear more of the conversation from the sitting room. She knew she should
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