Все главы Protecting The Heiress : Глава 1 - Глава 10

LIA The weight of the cake and vodka box in my hand feels satisfying as I tuck it onto the passenger seat with a smile. Today is my husband's birthday, and I'm three days early from my week-long trip. I told him I wouldn't be here for his birthday, but that was just me messing with him. Pulling into the driveway, I steal a glance at the box. My stomach flips as I remember my husband's grumbled response on the phone when I told him I wouldn't be around for his birthday. How could he possibly believe I'd miss his birthday for a trip? For him to believe that is beyond me. I chuckle to myself. My life has never been more perfect than it is right now. I feel happy, content, and fulfilled. Truly, money can't buy happiness. I lived with having tons of money all my life but I wasn't truly happy. Especially after what happened following my mother's death. The secrets that came out destroyed the relationship between my father and me and for a while, I didn't know what happiness w

LIA Karl's betrayal has tormented me since we parted ways. The memory of that day is seared into my brain. My giddy anticipation, the weight of the cake and vodka in my hand, Karl's cruel words, and the venom in his eyes. It has burned holes into my memory, haunting me every waking moment. Two weeks of sobbing have left me hollow. I cried for what I have become and for the love I thought I had. I feel so angry, so used. My bitterness has gradually turned into hatred and resentment. This nightmare has become my new reality, no matter how much I wish it away. After I made a fool of myself by fainting in front of Karl and his mistress, I woke up to find myself curled up like a sardine on the couch of our living room, with my luggage and a divorce paper. Karl had instructed his driver, Olat, to take me to a mouse-sized apartment on the outskirts of town, with an ultimatum to leave after a month. How nice of him, right? I'm still in the apartment, not knowing where to start. I

NIKOLAI I got an anonymous job to bring Leo Rodriquez's daughter home safely shortly after the news of his accident exploded across the internet. The Rodriquez family is one of the wealthiest conglomerates, so it is a given that Leo Rodriquez has dominated the headlines after the news of his accident. Everything reeks of foul play from the news I have gathered, but I wasn't paid to play detective. My job is to bring Lia Rodriquez safely to New York. I don't usually deal with humans–just transporting contrabands–but the money offered to bring Lia Rodriquez safely to New York was too much to ignore. Not to mention, I am far behind my sister's hospital bill, and they threatened to cease her treatment. So yeah, I don't have much of a choice. Lia has bombarded me with tons of questions right from the time I told her about her father's condition up to this moment, but I have not given her an answer. I couldn't tell her about her father's critical state with her anxiety teetering over

LIA The tremors running through the floorboards make every thud from the floor below vibrate through me. My heart hammers like a wild horse against my ribs, and each gunshot causes my breath to hitch, making me jump at every sound. At some point, I cover my ears with my hands when I can't take the loud, jarring sounds anymore, but it doesn't stop the chaos from drumming loudly in my ears. I don't understand what is going on or why this is happening. I have no idea why these men are after me or what I have done to deserve a target on my back. Nothing makes sense anymore, and that fills me with fear to the brim. I have never been this scared for my life. Now, I see what a privilege it is to wake up every day because right now, I'm not sure I will make it past this night. The sudden news of my father's accident juxtaposed with what's happening causes a plummeting sense of terror inside of me. A choked, muffled cry escapes from my lips, and tears blur the empty room around me. I s

LIA Disoriented, I stir awake, and my hand shoots out on reflex, looking for a familiar warmth beside me, and I tense. But then I hear the sound of the shower running from behind the bathroom door drifts my way, and I relax. It's unusual because Karl never showers this early. He is a notorious alarm clock sleeper. Yawning and stretching, I swing my legs over the bed and pad towards the sound of the running shower, slipping past the door of the bathroom. I head straight to the vanity to get ready for my morning routine where I catch a glimpse of exposed pipes in the area an upper vanity should be. For some reason, my brain doesn't process this. Turning the faucet on, I greet Karl with a cheerful, "morning," as I splash water on my face. "What's up today?" I ask. "Why are you awake earlier than usual?" My lips curve into a smile. When he doesn't respond, I add, "Are you heading out of town?" I ask as that is the only time Karl wakes up earlier, but then I will still be the one t