The morning sun streamed through the large windows of Adrian’s penthouse, casting a golden glow across the elegant living room. The soft hum of the city below was barely audible from this high up, but Elena could still feel it—the weight of the world outside pressing in.She sat curled up on the couch, staring at the thick wedding planner binder resting on the coffee table. It was open to a page detailing possible venues, all grand and extravagant. Beside it, there were sketches of wedding dresses, color palettes for floral arrangements, and a list of high-profile vendors eager to be part of the event.It was overwhelming.Adrian sat across from her, one arm draped over the back of the chair, his sharp gaze never leaving her. He had been watching her carefully for the past ten minutes, waiting. He could see it in the way her fingers fidgeted with the edge of a page, the way she sighed but never turned it.Finally, he spoke.“Elena,” he said, voice gentle but firm. “Talk to me.”She bl
Elena stood frozen in front of the boutique window, her breath catching in her throat.The dress was there.A vision of white lace and delicate embroidery, its bodice adorned with intricate floral patterns that cascaded down into a flowing train. The soft glow of the boutique lights illuminated it, making it seem almost ethereal, like something out of a dream.A dream she had once dared to have.Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. She should walk away. She should pretend she never saw it.But she couldn’t.It wasn’t just any dress. It was the dress. The one she had picked out long ago, back when she still believed in fairytales. Back when she had imagined walking down the aisle, heart full of love, eyes locked on the man who would be waiting for her at the altar.A past version of herself had chosen this dress. A girl who had never known betrayal. A girl who hadn’t learned how painful love could be.Her throat tightened.“Elena?”She flinched at the familiar voice behind her.
Adrian’s phone buzzed.At first, he barely noticed, too focused on the sight before him.Elena stood in front of the boutique’s mirror, the wedding dress hugging her frame in a way that made his chest tighten. The soft lighting in the store bathed her in a golden glow, and for a fleeting moment, it was easy to imagine a different reality—one where things had gone right, where they hadn’t been ripped apart by betrayal, lies, and time.Then, the vibration came again.And again.A strange unease coiled in his gut.Excusing himself, he stepped out of the boutique, the cool evening air brushing against his face as he pulled his phone from his pocket.Unknown Number.His jaw tightened. He hesitated a second, then swiped to open the message."You think you’ve won, but you’re not even close. You'll soon lose everything."Adrian’s grip on the phone turned to iron.A threat. Calculated. Precise. Someone was warning him off.His eyes flicked up, scanning the street. Pedestrians moved along the s
Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room as Elena slowly opened her eyes.For a moment, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting reality sink in.Today was the day.The day she would become Adrian’s wife.A soft breath escaped her lips. She should have felt nothing but joy, anticipation, maybe even a little nervous excitement. And she did—part of her was undeniably happy. But beneath that, a strange unease curled in her chest, stubborn and unshakable.Maybe it was just wedding jitters.Or maybe… it was something else.A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts."Come in," she called, sitting up and running a hand through her hair.The door swung open, and Sophie, her friend and maid of honor, stepped in, her face glowing with excitement. She held up two coffee cups like an offering."Good morning, bride-to-be!" Sophie grinned. "I brought caffeine and a reality check. You’re getting married today."Elena let out a small laugh and took t
Elena took a deep breath as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.The wedding gown fit her perfectly, hugging her figure in all the right places. The delicate lace trailed down in an ethereal cascade, the embroidery shimmering under the soft light. Her hair was styled elegantly, soft curls framing her face, her veil waiting to be placed. Everything was perfect.Except for the gnawing unease curling in her stomach.She tried to brush it off, but it lingered. An unshakable feeling that something was wrong.Her heart wasn’t pounding with excitement—it was drumming with unease.She turned to Sophie, who was adjusting the veil, her eyes twinkling with excitement."Sophie… are you sure everything’s okay?" Elena asked quietly, gripping the edge of the dressing table.Sophie frowned. "You’ve been asking that all morning. Talk to me. What’s going on?"Elena hesitated, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her gown. "I don’t know… I just feel like something bad is going to happen."
Adrian stormed out of the estate, his pulse a relentless drumbeat in his ears. Every second that passed felt like a blade twisting in his chest. Elena was gone—taken from him on their wedding day. The thought alone was enough to send his fury to the boiling point.He pulled his phone from his pocket with a grip so tight his knuckles turned white. "Where is she?" he barked the moment his head of security answered."We're tracking the SUV's last known location, sir. It was last seen heading east, but the street cameras lost it near the old industrial district."Adrian swore under his breath. Not good enough."Pull every traffic feed within a ten-mile radius," he ordered. "I want satellite surveillance, drone footage—whatever it takes. If they so much as stop for gas, I want to know.""Understood, sir. We have teams mobilizing."Adrian clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding. "Find her. Now."His driver was already waiting, the sleek black car idling. Adrian wrenched open the door and slid
Adrian’s phone buzzed.Unknown number.His grip tightened as he answered. “Where is she?”A low chuckle came through the speaker. “Straight to the point. I like that.”Adrian’s patience was razor-thin. “I won’t ask again.”The man on the other end sighed. “If you want your precious bride back, you’ll have to pay. One hundred million dollars. Cash. No police, no games.”Adrian’s jaw clenched. “And if I refuse?”Another chuckle. “Then I suppose you’ll have to find another bride.”Rage shot through Adrian’s veins like fire. His other hand curled into a fist. “You’re making a mistake.”“No, you are,” the man said. “You have twelve hours.”The line went dead.Adrian exhaled sharply, his mind already working.One hundred million dollars? He could pay it. But he wasn’t about to let these men win.He turned to his CSO, “Track the call.”He was already ahead of him, typing furiously on a tablet.“The call was bounced through multiple locations,” he said. “But it started near the docks.”Adrian
Elena stood before the full-length mirror, her fingers resting lightly on the smooth silk of her dress. The reflection staring back at her seemed almost like a stranger—ethereal, poised, but beneath the beauty lay a heart still mending from the wounds of the past.She never thought this day would come.Not after the kidnappings.Not after the threats.Not after nearly losing her life.Yet, here she was—just hours away from becoming Adrian’s wife.A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts."Elena?" Sophie’s voice carried through the heavy wooden door, gentle yet firm. "It’s time."Elena took a slow breath, steadying herself before turning. Sophie stood in the doorway, eyes glistening with emotion.A small, wobbly smile tugged at Sophie’s lips. "You look beautiful."Elena let out a shaky breath. "Do I?"Sophie stepped forward, adjusting a loose curl that had slipped from Elena’s elegant updo. "Like a bride who fought through hell to stand here."Elena’s throat tightened, emo
“No. Don’t lock the leak. Keep the route open. We’re baiting them.”Another pause. Adrain’s fingers tapped the edge of the desk lightly.“They bypassed surface-level security. That wasn’t random. Someone’s been inside—knows our system language. I want full trace protocols on the backend. Key mirroring. Subtle algorithm shifts. Anything they’ve left behind.”He listened, eyes never leaving Elena.“Yes. Remote only. Do not alert IT. Don’t even breathe a word in our system channels. If anyone asks, say we’re on routine maintenance.”He ended the call.Elena came beside him, her fingers grazing the back of his hand. “You’re setting a trap.”“We’re giving them a stage,” he corrected. “Let them feel safe. Let them perform.”She tilted her head, her voice soft. “And then?”He turned to her, eyes gleaming in the low light. “Then the curtain falls.”He moved to the liquor cabinet and poured two glasses—one for him, one for her. He handed hers with a subtle grin, the tension between them meltin
Elena was already rising, hurrying toward his seat with her tablet. “Look. Look at this! There’s been an unauthorized transaction—massive funds have just been moved out of one of the company’s sub-accounts.”Adrain snatched the device and scanned the screen. His breath caught. “Twenty-five million dollars... gone?”“It’s real. It just happened,” she said. “Our system just flagged it as an anomaly because of the destination account—it’s masked.”“Get the tech team on the line. Now!” Adrain ordered, already heading toward his office with Elena right behind him.Within minutes, the company’s head of cybersecurity, appeared on the large screen in the home office, his face pale.“Sir, we just noticed it as well. The system flagged it seconds after the funds moved.”“Who the hell did this?” Adrain’s voice was laced with ice.“We’re still tracing it. The hacker covered their tracks with precision. This wasn’t amateur work—this was planned. The account used was buried deep under layers of hid
The warehouse was cold, shadowed by rusted iron beams and buzzing with dim overhead lights. A thick air of tension filled the room as Elias Wolfe paced back and forth, his jaw clenched, his hands fisted at his sides.His men stood before him—four in total—each with their heads slightly lowered, avoiding the furious gaze of the man they feared more than death itself.“So,” Elias finally said, his voice cold and slow like a blade being drawn. “You mean to tell me… even after planning this for over a week, with the timing perfect, the positioning flawless… you still couldn’t cause one simple accident?”Silence.One of the men, lean and dark-haired, cleared his throat and stepped forward hesitantly. “Boss, we—we almost had it. It was so close. The car exited on schedule, we followed the pattern, and everything was on track—”“And yet,” Elias cut in, glaring, “she’s alive. Again.”“They out did us and crossed before the train did, they used the train to their advantage, boss,” another spok
She smiled at him—actually smiled. “Adrian, it was like something out of an action movie. I swear, my heart hasn’t stopped pounding.”Adrian’s jaw clenched. “That’s not funny.”“I know, I know,” she said quickly, putting her hands up in surrender. “But we’re alive, right? Safe. You should have seen my driver—he pulled the craziest move. Those guys almost caught up to us, but then the train—oh my God, Adrian—the train!”She broke into a laugh, the tension of adrenaline still unraveling from her bones.“We were being chased, and then out of nowhere, a train’s approaching, full speed. My driver saw it, gauged the timing and boom—we made it across just seconds before it passed. The attackers got stuck on the other side. I think I screamed.”“You think you screamed?” Adrian stared at her, eyes blazing. “Elena, you were nearly killed. Again.”She reached out and cupped his face, softening her tone. “I know, Adrian. I know it was real. I was scared out of my mind. But I'm also grateful to be
The black SUV sat idling across the street, blending into the row of parked cars. Inside, Elias Wolfe’s men sat silently, watching the entrance of Elena’s office building through tinted windows.A call came in.Elias’s voice cut through like a blade. “She’s coming out soon. I want her in the hospital. Hit them so hard, or chase them toward an accident. Adrian will be weak. And then,” his voice darkened, “we strike him badly.”“Yes, sir,” one of the men answered. “We’ll make it look like an accident.”Elias ended the call with a smirk and stared at the city skyline from his penthouse. “Let’s see how much strength you still have, Adrian.”The day had been oddly quiet—too quiet.Elena stepped out of the building, phone in hand, bag on her shoulder. Her special driver, a combat-trained chauffeur Adrian had handpicked, opened the door for her. He noticed something off but kept calm.“Everything okay, ma’am?” he asked as she settled into the backseat.Elena smiled. “Yes. Let’s head home.”T
The morning sun spilled into the office through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on the sleek, polished floors of the company. Despite the recent attempt on her life, Elena walked in with quiet confidence, her head held high. She wore a cream blazer over a silk blouse, paired with tailored pants that complimented her poise—unshaken and graceful.The secretaries greeted her with relief and admiration. Some even paused in their work to offer shy smiles or nods of encouragement. Everyone had heard whispers of the near-fatal accident. Everyone also knew she survived. And now she was back.Elena smiled, calm but fierce.She stepped into her office and took a deep breath. The scent of lavender still lingered in the air from her favorite diffuser. Her assistant, walked in seconds later, holding a cup of coffee.“You’re here,” she said with a breath of surprise. “After everything…”Elena accepted the coffee and smiled. “They want me to crawl back into hiding. But I won’t give the
The screech of tires tore through the quiet afternoon, followed by the sickening sound of metal crunching against metal.A black SUV skidded violently off the road, slamming into a row of safety barriers just outside the quiet café district on the outskirts of the city. Smoke hissed from the crumpled hood as bystanders screamed and rushed toward the wreck.Inside the second vehicle—the intended target—no one was present except the driver. The passenger seat where Elena was supposed to sit... empty.She had stepped into a boutique moments before the crash.The driver, stunned and bloodied, tried to move, but his arm was pinned. Nearby, someone called emergency services. Another pulled open the crumpled door. But the damage had already been done—just not to the right person.Because Elena was safe.And the accident had failed.Adrian's phone rang as he was finishing a meeting. The words “It’s Elena” from his assistant had him tearing out of the building before the call even ended.When
One of the other men, Mr. Crane raised a brow. “That’s bold. Even for you.”“I don’t have the luxury of waiting around,” Adrian said plainly. “I built my company to withstand storms—economic, corporate, even personal. And through every storm, we’ve delivered results, year after year.”He let that settle before continuing. “I know the others will come with flashy slides and empty promises. I came with proof. And with relationships that weren’t built yesterday.”Mr. Stan chuckled, leaning back. “You always did know when to strike. And you’re right—we go way back. We’ve seen how your company weathered chaos and came out on top every single time.”Crane exchanged a glance with the third executive, then nodded slowly. “So what are you offering today?”Adrian slid the folder toward them. “Everything you asked for—and more. With guarantees. No delays. No press. Just results.”The room went quiet again as they opened the folder and scanned the proposal. Minutes ticked by like seconds. Then ca
The ride home from the board meeting was quiet, but it wasn’t silence filled with tension—it was the quiet before a storm. The kind of stillness that wrapped around a plan forming, a decision waiting to unfold.Inside the villa, Adrian discarded his blazer and sat at the head of the long mahogany dining table. Elena brought over a fresh cup of coffee and took the seat across from him, her eyes steady and calm.“We need to talk,” she said, folding her hands together.“I know,” Adrian nodded. “The deal.”She leaned in slightly. “You said it yourself—it’s one of the biggest we’ve ever aimed for. If we secure it, we bury Elias and any threat from within the board. But we’ve got problems.”Adrian rubbed his jaw. “The board knows about the deal. Which means our mole—Mr. Trent—knows too. Elias has his ears and likely already made moves to sabotage or outbid us.”“And other companies are in the race,” Elena added. “Bigger names, hungry to win, with no drama dragging them down.”Adrian’s eyes