CHAPTER TWELVE Late into the night, under a moonlit sky, Catherine and Ronnie finally arrived home, their footsteps echoing through the tranquil darkness. Ronnie had spent the evening at the office, leaving Catherine feeling not just sleepy, but utterly drained as they crossed the threshold of the mansion.With the tenderness that had defined their relationship, Ronnie gallantly offered to carry Catherine to bed, his strong arms poised for the task. However, a sweet and gentle smile crept across Catherine's face as she lovingly declined his chivalrous gesture. She knew that her drowsy mind might concoct delightful dreams if left to its own devices.In the dimly lit foyer, Ronnie suddenly patted his pockets, his expression shifting to one of mild concern and apology. "I forgot my phone," he admitted with a hint of self-chastisement.Catherine, despite her fatigue, responded with unwavering affection, her eyes filled with understanding. She yawned delicately and waved a languid hand in
CHAPTER THIRTEEN As Ronnie walked to his car, the weight of his forgetfulness bore down on him like an anchor. How could he possibly forget his phone, he wondered, chiding himself inwardly for this momentary lapse of memory? His frustration grew as he realized he would have to retrace his steps which might eventually lead to returning to the office to retrieve it.With a heavy sigh, he turned the ignition and started up the engine, intending to head back to the office. But just as he was about to shift into reverse, the melodic chime of his phone's ringtone filled the car's interior. Ronnie's ears perked up, and he followed the sound to its source, discovering his phone lying innocently on the back seat.He retrieved the device, and as he glanced at the caller ID, the name "Lucy" lit up the screen. Confusion washed over him; he was almost certain that Lucy was out of town. Ronnie hesitated for a moment, torn between answering the call and letting it go un
CHAPTER FOURTEEN*MATURED SCENE AHEAD*The heavy iron door swung open, revealing a sliver of pale light that sliced through the oppressive darkness of Caitlin's wretched prison. Her trembling form shrank back as she glimpsed him descending the twisted staircase, his malevolent smirk sending shivers down her spine. Desperation welled within her, yearning for the very walls to become her savior, to swallow her whole and protect her from this remorseless monster."Close the door behind me," his command hung in the air, the intensity in his eyes unwavering as they bore into her cowering figure.Caitlin jerked in terror as the door slammed shut with a deafening crash. She made a feeble attempt to retreat to the farthest reaches of the room, but the unforgiving chain, coiled like a serpent around her legs.Her heart raced as his predatory gaze devoured her, inch by inch. It was a sickening, objectifying scrutiny that made her feel like not
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Catherine descended the grand staircase, dressed in a mini sleeveless nightgown, her intention being to grab a quick breakfast before her morning shower. As she entered the spacious dining room, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. The room was unusually empty."Hayden?" she called out, her voice tinged with curiosity, as she approached her personal maid who happened to be the sole occupant at the moment.Hayden, ever composed, simply shrugged in response to Catherine's inquiry. Just as Catherine was beginning to wonder about the whereabouts of the rest of the household, she noticed her grandmother and her personal maid making their way downstairs.Quickly moving to assist her elderly grandmother, Catherine gently guided her to her designated seat at the dining table. A warm smile graced the matriarch's face as she acknowledged Catherine’s thoughtfulness."I'm not that old, Caitlin," her grandmother chided playfully, waving off Catherine's assistance with a tw
CHAPTER SIXTEEN Catherine reclined on her bed, the room cloaked in the hush of secrets too long kept. The weight of her untold truths was an invisible burden, pressing on her like an insistent hand. The bond she'd cultivated with Hayden was a lifeline in this sea of concealed emotions. It was a revelation that dawned on her like a spark in the night – she needed someone beyond the confines of Mr. Devan's realm. And so, with a sense of both trepidation and liberation, she turned to her confidant.As Catherine turned toward her friend, it was as though the universe conspired in that moment, conspiring to unfurl a tapestry of trust and vulnerability. The dim glow of the room painted a halo around Hayden, her eyes a canvas of concern, framed by the curtains of an unwavering friendship.She leaned in, and with a voice that trembled like a fragile leaf on the brink of falling, Catherine whispered, "I'm really confused, Hayden."With a gesture of support, Hayden edged closer, her chin restin
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Theo's footsteps echoed through the grandiose hallways of the mansion, their hushed resonance reminding him of the weight of his familial obligation. Despite the opulence that surrounded him, an unsettling feeling gnawed at his core. It was as if the very walls of this grand abode held secrets, and the familiar grandeur offered little solace. He couldn't help but note that, during his absence, not a stone had been displaced, not a painting altered, and not a whisper of change had brushed these hallowed halls. Only a subtle shift in the cast of servants hinted at the passage of time.His thoughts, however, continued to orbit around a singular enigma – Caitlin. She was the woman who had captivated his cousin Dario's heart, and yet, the vivid descriptions Dario had painted of her seemed to clash starkly with the woman Theo had briefly encountered earlier. Dario had characterized Caitlin as sassy, arrogant, and laden with sarcasm, a tempestuous whirlwind of a personality
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Swimming was indeed a tempting idea, just as Hayden had suggested. It could offer Catherine a refreshing escape from the complexities of her current life. However, there was one major obstacle: she couldn't swim. The thought of exposing her body for everyone to see the painful scars on her back and tummy, inflicted by Matt, paralyzed her with fear.Sitting at the edge of the pool with her legs tucked inside, she had draped herself in a white bathing robe to conceal her scars. She watched the shimmering water, wishing she could immerse herself in its cool embrace like the others. But the scars, both physical and emotional, held her back.A deep, baritone voice interrupted her thoughts, and without even turning around, she knew who it belonged to. Ronnie. His voice had become familiar to her, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to it.Granting him permission to join her. Ronnie settled down beside her, their shoulders almost touching. He called her name softly, "Caitl
CHAPTER NINETEEN "I..I didn't..." Catherine stuttered, her voice quivering with fear, her head bowed in submission.The ominous silence that followed was pierced by the sharp click of Matt's tongue, a sound that sliced through the air like a blade, cutting off her words like a vise closing around her throat. "Don't speak until you're told to," he ordered, his words laced with a malevolent authority that silenced her with a chilling finality.Catherine instinctively pressed herself closer to the wall, as if willing it to envelop her, to shield her from the malevolent force that now stood before her, casting a sinister shadow that seemed to stretch infinitely.Accusations tumbled from his lips like venom, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. "You seduced Steven," he accused, jabbing his finger accusingly in her direction.She shook her head vigorously, her voice stifled by the command not to speak. How could she dare to s