ANYA Panic surged through me as I struggled against the ropes. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest. “Think before you answer my question,” he said sharply. “Does Hunter value you or not?” I froze, my mind racing. Was this how I was going to die? If I said no, that I wasn’t important to Hunter, he’d kill me without a second thought. But if I said yes, that Hunter valued me, he’d… I couldn’t finish the thought. The idea of what he might do made my stomach turn. I bit my lip, tears streaming down my face as I thought. 'Dying might be better than what he’ll do if I say Hunter cares about me.' “Well?” he barked, his voice cutting through my panic like a blade. “Go on. I’m listening.” I swallowed hard, my voice shaking as I finally spoke. “I don’t know,” I said, my words stumbling out. “I don’t know what goes on in his head. But everything I’ve told you is the truth. He didn’t marry me because he cared about me. He married me to make my life
ANYA In the bathroom, I stood under the shower, letting the hot water cascade over me as I scrubbed my skin for what felt like the hundredth time. It didn’t matter how hard I scrubbed....nothing could erase the feeling of the blood that had splashed onto my face. Tears streamed down my cheeks, mixing with the water, but I didn’t try to stop them. My body trembled, and I hugged myself tightly, desperate to feel some sense of safety. Finally, I sank to the floor of the shower, curling into a ball in the corner. The sound of the water hitting the tiles echoed around me, but it couldn’t drown out the memories. I closed my eyes, and the scene replayed itself in my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t escape. The moment Hunter had saved me, leading me out of that room, I had thought the worst was over. But when we stepped outside, I saw them; Hector, Carlos, and Manuel. Hunter’s brothers. They stood there, their expressions calm, almost bored, as if the chaos surrounding them was
ANYA I clenched my fists, as I stared at Hunter. My hands trembling as I said inwardly. “You killed all those people to save me. You ordered all of it for my sake. But this isn’t the life I want. This isn’t the life I can live.” I swallowed hard, my voice barely audible. “And that video… it’s my only way out. I need to send it to Evans. It's the only way you would let me go, Hunter.” Quietly, I slipped out of bed and grabbed my bag, pulling the camera out. My heart pounded as I tiptoed into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. Sitting on the floor, I turned the camera on, scrolling through the footage until I found what I was looking for. My breath caught in my throat as the video played. Hunter’s face filled the screen, his movements precise and deadly. I watched as he shot one man after another, their bodies crumpling to the ground. I saw the way he snapped a man’s neck with his bare hands, the camera capturing every horrifying detail. It was all there. Evidence
ANYA "I want to please you," I replied. "I..... I will suck your cock and fully give myself to you. I want to experience what it feels like when my husband, Hunter Steele, makes love to me." Hunter swallowed, his eyes filled with surprise. His gaze stayed on me as his expression shifted between surprise, confusion, desire and finally concern. “Anya, I don’t think you’re in the right frame of mind for this,” he said gently, lifting me up from the ground. “But I want you,” I insisted, my voice trembling. “I’m thinking clearly, Hunter. I assure you.” I went on my knees again, but he stopped me, lifting me off the floor and pulling me into his arms. His embrace was warm, grounding me in a way that made my chest ache with guilt. “It’s okay, Anya,” he said softly. “Some other time.” He held me close for what felt like an eternity, his steady heartbeat pressing against mine. When he finally let me go, I couldn’t meet his gaze, afraid of what he might see in my eyes. We sat on
ANYA Bernice’s eyes blazed with anger as she pointed a finger at me. Her voice rose, sharp. “You’re a liar, Anya. A hypocrite! You think you can eat your cake and have it too, don’t you?” she accused, her words spilling out like venom. I stood there, stunned, as she continued. “You tricked me. You deceived me. You asked your husband to take you on a honeymoon and made me believe you didn’t want him. And Cross? You cheated on him!” Her words hit like daggers, but I refused to let her disrespect me. I straightened my back and fixed my gaze on her. “I am not a liar, Bernice,” I said, my voice firm. “And I am not a cheat, especially when it comes to Cross. So be very careful about what you say to me, and how you treat me.” I took a step closer, my tone dropping lower. “And this is the last time I’ll warn you....don’t ever put your hands on me again.” For a moment, the room was filled with tense silence. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the mixture of rage and frustratio
ANYA Needing a distraction, I decided to head to the kitchen. Marie was there, humming softly as she worked. The sight of her calm demeanor immediately made me feel a little more grounded. “Hey, Marie,” I said, stepping into the warm, inviting space. She turned to me with a kind smile. “Hello, Mrs. Steele. Would you like something to eat or drink?” I shook my head. “No, I just wanted to spend some time here. I would really love to assist you right now. What can I do?" Marie handed me a small knife and a cutting board. “Here,” she said. “If you really want to, you can help me chop these vegetables. It might help take your mind off whatever seems to be troubling you.” I smiled gratefully, feeling impressed by her perceptiveness as I took the knife from her and got to work. For a while, we worked in comfortable silence, the rhythmic sound of chopping and the delicious aroma of food filling the air. It was a small reprieve, but it was exactly what I needed. As I chopped,
ANYA I stared at Hunter, as he waited for my answer. The thought of a wedding gnawed at me. A wedding. A grand spectacle that would declare to the world that I was Hunter’s wife, his property. How could I even consider it when all I wanted was to escape? A ceremony meant sealing my fate in his world, a world I never asked for. I lowered my gaze, trying to avoid the intensity of his. “I’m not ready,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. Hunter didn’t push me. He just nodded, his jaw tightened but his voice remained calm. “What do you want, then?” I wanted to say freedom but I knew that wasn’t an option. Hunter would never let me go. He had made that clear. So instead, I shook my head and murmured, “Nothing.” His lips pressed into a thin line as he studied me. Then, without warning, he sat on my bed and reached out his hands, pulling me down to sit on his lap. The warmth of his arms wrapped around me, and for a moment, I felt small and fragile in his hold. “I want
ANYA I glanced up, meeting Hunter's gaze. There was something raw in his eyes, that tugged at me. A vulnerability I hadn't observed before. “I’m a man who’s used to taking what I want,” he admitted. “By force, if I have to. But with you… it’s different. You’re the first person I’ve ever wanted to please. The first person I’ve ever wanted to make happy.” His words made my chest tighten. I didn’t know what to say. “I’m not asking you to love me to death right now,” he added. “All I’m asking is for a chance. Achance to show you that I can make you happy. That you won’t regret being with me.” His voice grew steadier. “I’ll make you my priority, Anya. I’ll give you anything you want, as long as it’s within my power. All I need is for you to try." He took my hands in his. His touch was warm and firm, grounding me even as my thoughts swirled. “Can you give me that, Anya? Can you give me a chance?” As I stared into Hunter’s intense, expectant eyes, my mind wandered far away fr
HUNTER I sat in my study, gripping the edge of my desk so hard that my knuckles turned white. My head throbbed with anger. My men had just informed me that Anya had gone to the police station. Obviously to report me. I couldn't believe it. My own wife, betraying me like this. I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to suppress the boiling rage inside me. The memory of Evans’ lifeless body flashed in my mind. Cross had shot him. Cross, that sneaky coward, had dared to set me up. He thought he could twist everything to make me look like the monster. Before Anya left the hospital, I had received a call. Cross had been there, trying to see her. I knew without a doubt that Cross had seen an opportunity to manipulate her, and when Anya left the hospital, I knew Cross wasn’t done. The thought hit me like a jolt of electricity....Cross would try to finish what he started. He would try to kill Evans completely. I grabbed my phone immediately, dialing the doc
ANYA I sat across from the police chief, my hands trembling as I clutched my phone. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to stay composed. What I was about to do was quite difficult for me but Hunter had left me no choice. Just as the chief opened his mouth to speak, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen. It was Evans’ mother. My throat tightened as I excused myself and answered the call. “Mrs. Moore?” Her voice came through the line, broken and trembling. “Anya... what happened to my son? They won’t tell me much. Is he... is he going to make it?” I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “He’s been stabilized already. His condition was critical before but the doctors told me he is out of danger.” She broke into sobs, the sound tearing through me like a knife. “Why would anyone do this to him? Evans is such a good boy. He never hurt anyone.” Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. “I promise you, Mrs. More, I’ll make sure whoever did
CROSS "I'll leave only after I see Anya," Bernice said stubbornly three hours earlier at the abandoned school. The cold air brushed against my face as I let her have her way and we waited a while longer. "Will we really succeed?" Bernice asked as she suddenly began to entertain doubts. "So far, our plans have failed." “Of course we will,” I replied confidently. "Unfortunately, Hunter won't go down easily." She frowned, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Why not? If Anya tells the police Hunter killed Evans, won’t they arrest him?” I shook my head, lowering the binoculars for a moment to look at her. “You don’t understand men like Hunter. People like him are untouchable....at least by ordinary means. A simple accusation won’t be enough to bring him down. He’d need to commit a crime so shocking, so public, that even his wealth and connections couldn’t save him. But that’s not the point of this. We don’t need him in jail, at least not for now.” Bernice nodded slowly, though
ANYA I stared at the phone in my hand, the one I had picked up at the primary school. My mind kept going back to the scene...Evans bleeding, Hunter standing over him, his hands pressed against the wound. The more I thought about it, the more the pieces seemed to click together in my head. Hunter must have taken my phone when he dropped me off in the morning. He didn’t want Evans to call me. He didn’t want me to know what he was planning. But somehow, Evans had found a way. He always found a way. Even when I was stubborn, ignoring his calls, refusing to listen to him, he never gave up on me. I closed my eyes, the image of Evans lying in a pool of his own blood flashing in my mind. When I had walked into that classroom and seen Hunter there, I thought....no, I knew he was hurting him. He didn’t look like a man trying to save a life. He looked like a man trying to finish what he started. And the way he had been so shocked to see me....his face when I walked in told me everythin
ANYA I sat by Evans’ side, clutching his hand as if my grip alone could keep him tethered to this world. Tears streamed down my face, hot and relentless, blurring my vision. The beeping of the monitors was the only sound in the room, a cruel reminder that he was still alive....but barely. I couldn’t stop crying. The weight of it all crushed me, suffocating me with every breath. My mind wouldn’t stop replaying everything, every memory, every moment that had led to this. I thought back to that night at the reunion party. I had been so angry with Evans when he told me he loved me. I could still see the hurt in his eyes, the way he’d looked at me like I was breaking his heart with the words I said. I pushed him away then, refusing to deal with the truth of his feelings. And now here he was, lying unconscious, fighting for his life. I remembered the day Hunter had pointed a gun at Evans. The image was burned into my mind, the cold look in Hunter’s eyes, the way his voice had bee
HUNTER I stared at Anya, my heart racing as her words sliced through me. Her voice cracked. “I have to get Evans to the hospital right away,” she said, trembling. I watched as she patted her pockets frantically, but sighed and gave up when she recalled that she wasn't with her phone. Then her gaze shifted, and she saw it lying on the floor beside Evans. Her eyes darted toward me, filled with suspicion and hurt. She picked up the phone with trembling hands, and I could see the realization settle on her face. She thought I had taken it. She thought I had done this to Evans to stop him from reaching her. My chest tightened as I saw her put the pieces together in her mind, pieces that painted me as the villain. “Anya,” I said softly, stepping much closer to her, but she recoiled, her eyes burning with fury. She was already dialing when I reached out and grabbed her hand. “I already called 911,” I said firmly, holding her gaze. “How can I believe you?” she snapped, pulli
HUNTER The sight of Anya’s phone lying on the ground suddenly caught my attention. My heart hammered in my chest as I stared at it, questions flooding my mind. "Why is her phone here? What’s happening?" I was about to force Evans awake and ask him when a scream shattered the silence. Anya. Her voice made my heart skip a beat, raw and terrified. I looked up quickly, my breath catching when I saw her. Relief washed over me, so powerful it almost knocked me to my knees. “Anya!” I exclaimed, sprinting toward her, my hands still covered in Evans’ blood. She stopped in her tracks, her wide eyes locking on me for the briefest moment before she rushed past me. My arms reached out instinctively, but before I could even think of hugging her, she shoved me aside and ran straight to Evans. “Evans!” she cried, collapsing onto the floor beside him. Her hands trembled as she touched his face, her voice cracking with panic. “No! No, no, no! Evans, wake up! What happened? Who did this to y
HUNTER I was buried in paperwork, my desk cluttered with files and my phone buzzing intermittently with emails. I was on the verge of signing a very important deal and didn't trust anyone to handle it better than I would. It kept me so focused until a message notification broke my concentration. I picked up my phone, glancing at the screen, and froze. 'Please help me, I'm in danger, someone wants to kill me. He kidnapped me, took me to an abandoned school in the outskirts of town and I just managed to send this message to you. I don't want to die. Please save me, Hunter.' The message was from Anya. My heart stopped for a moment, then began to pound so hard I could feel it in my ears. I reread the message, hoping I’d misunderstood, but the words didn’t change. Danger. Someone wanted to kill my wife. I tried to steady my breathing, gripping the phone tightly. Who would dare? I was sure no one would ever touch her. No one had that kind of nerve—not in my city. I’d cut off my
CROSS Evans' hands trembling as I held his phone out to him. The barrel of my revolver pointed directly at his chest, a silent reminder of the consequences of defiance. “Unlock it,” I ordered, my voice cold and steady. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting between me and the gun. “Now,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. His fingers fumbled as he obeyed, unlocking his phone with a shaky swipe. I leaned over him, scrolling through his contacts until I found the number I needed. Pressing it, I handed the phone back to him. “You’re going to make this call,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. “And you’re going to say exactly what I tell you to say. Nothing more, nothing less.” Evans swallowed hard, nodding quickly. His voice trembled as the line connected. “Hello? Hey, it’s me,” he said, following my instructions as he read from the paper I had given him. “I… I need you to take your phone to Anya. She's currently at the library. Please, it’s important. I n