All Chapters of Claiming Daddy : Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

Stella "More guards, Lawrence? I already trip over Cyrus's men constantly," I sighed, watching two more suited figures take positions around the lobby fountain. Their eyes tracked me like wolves sighting easy prey. Lawrence's thumb traced my knuckles distractedly as we crossed the marble floors. "Unfortunate necessity, little moon. Hostile forces regroup faster than expected." I wrinkled my nose, memories of recent public scandals and Family reprisals simmering bitterly. "With Bijou's schemes exposed and the gallery liquidated, surely that nest of vipers poses minimal threat now?" Lawrence hesitated, eyes clouding. "There may be deeper resentments brewing in shadows that require heightened vigilance." He guided me toward the elevators with one proprietal hand lightly pressed against my lower back. I bristled under his hovering closeness. "Resentments from whom? The community laid blame squarely on her toxicity once truth surfaced." I prodded for clearer answers, suspicions risi

Stella"More bodyguards attending my morning jog now?" I frowned at the suited figures flanking the lobby doors. Their assessing gazes tracked me like wolves sighting prey. Lawrence's thumb traced my knuckles placatingly as we crossed the marble floors. "Merely a precaution, little moon. Threats appear from shadows lately."I wrinkled my nose, anxiety spiking. "Threats from whom? Your brother's not as you think and that fraud Bijou neutralized." I searched Lawrence's face for fuller explanation but his expression remained inscrutably reserved. "There are always parasitic opportunists envying your gifts and alliances with me now." His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "I eliminate risks decisively."I bristled uneasily. Exactly how far did Lawrence's protective claim extend behind the scenes? Relentless security lately verged upon imposing confinement no matter his reassurances. Outside, two more guards fell in step trailing my usual route to the leafy park nearby. Their looming n

LawrenceThe scent of blood turned my stomach, cutting through the damp underground air. .My inner beast recoiled at the sight of the guys’ crumpled body, recognizing what remained of the guy under swelling purple bruises and crimson gashes. "Did he opened up?" I asked the guard and he shake us head. Stella’s hitched gasp wrenched me back to the terrible present. Her wide eyes took in the vicious scene, hands trembling as she struggled to reconcile this brutality with the sanctuary she knew."Wh-hhhats happening here Babe?"I ached to soothe her fears but necessity chained me rigid, preventing even a sideways glance lest duty falter under compassion’s pull. “Enough for now,” I bit out gruffly to the guards. “See him secured.” My guards flanked the guy’ lolling form, hoisting his battered weight between them. They bore him down the concrete hallway lined with iron doors as I focused on steadying Stella where she swayed unmoored by shock. “Come, my heart. Let me explain,” I coax

Stella "It can't be..." My voice faded to a shocked whisper. I stumbled back a step, one hand flying to my mouth. There, on his knees with hands bound behind his back, was my stepfather. The one who had made my childhood a misery after my father died. The one who I thought I'd left behind for good when I went away to college. Without hesitation, he had abandoned us for his own selfish reasons, claiming to have found abetter life elsewhere, telling me that I was the reason why he wasn't living a smooth life. The man who made me cry to sleep throughout the time I thought of him as my father. Never for once did he not try to abuse me and my mother before she died. Lawrence grasped my shoulders, concern creasing his brow. "Stella? What is it, my love?" It was everything. I wanted to scream and do something crazy. Anything at all, just to take me away from here. I could feel Lawrence's hand on my shoulder, but I still found myself sinking in a void. It didn't feel right. It felt

  Stella  Smack! "How dare you!?" She shouted. The stinging slap seemed to echo in the sudden shocked silence. I pressed one hand to my flaming cheek, staring at the mother who birthed and betrayed me in one awful moment.  "You ungrateful wretch!" she shrieked, face mottled nearly purple with rage. "Your depraved thugs ambush my husband and drag him off to God knows where, and you stand there so smug! Was our providing you food and shelter all those years not enough?" The room tilted crazily. Lawrence quickly moved to restrain her, but I halted him with one raised hand.  Trembling, I turned back to the woman I had once desperately craved love from. "So that's why you came? Checking on your meal ticket, not your daughter?" Bitterness roughened my voice. Blinders torn violently away, I sudden