Elina's departure from the troubles swirling around her felt like a breath of relief. She'd been planning the vacation for so long, and now seemed like the right time to explore that option."Do you have to go by this time?" Viktor asked. He didn't particularly like the idea of her leaving, but he'd sit with it since Elina wasn't one to listen to instructions at whatever cost."I have to," she sighed, watching her father's bodyguard and driver carry her luggage to the vehicle parked outside. "It's only a few weeks. Maui is quiet and peaceful, unlike this god-forsaken town!"Viktor nodded. There wasn't much he could say or do, especially since she'd rejected going with bodyguards. He just had to make sure she got on the plane safely and unnoticeably.Maybe Elina's leaving was for the best. It'd give him time to fight the war that was slowly beckoning.Her father bid her farewell with a forced smile, concealing the tumultuous emotions beneath the surface. With a bodyguard next to her, E
It had been four hours, maybe five, since Gerald's conversation with Viktor. He sat at the corner of the room, a place where he could keep an eye on Elina. As feeble as she seemed, she was just as conniving as her father.Elina began to grunt tirelessly, calling on Gerald's attention with her muffled cries. He tried to ignore it, focusing on his next series of plans, but her struggle grew more raggedy— like she was trying to say something.Gerald reluctantly walked up to her, pulling down the towel covering her mouth. A stoic expression on his face as he asked what she wanted. "I wouldn't want to have to knock you out, Elina."She gasped, panting to catch her breath as she glared at him, his imposing figure hovering over her. "What kind of kidnapper doesn't give their victims bathroom breaks?!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.Elina couldn't seem to get scared of Gerald. Her father was the target, not her. Even though a lot about him had changed in such a short period, she still kn
The sleek black car glided through the city streets as Oliver stared out of the window, lost in his thoughts, until Bill broke the silence."Oliver, we need to talk about something," Bill said, his eyes focused on the road.Oliver turned to look at him, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "What's going on?" He asked in a husky tone. Bill took a deep breath before diving into the unsettling story that seemed to be flying around. "It's about Elina and Gerald. Seems like trouble is brewing."Elina and Gerald? Was there ever a moment of peace with those two? Oliver raised an eyebrow, concern etching lines on his forehead. "Trouble? What happened?"Bill recounted the situation, describing how Gerald had forcefully taken control of Manuel's company and was now holding Elina hostage. Oliver's jaw tightened as he processed the gravity of the situation."Not to mention, Manuel Harper was the sick lad's father. How fucking surprising is that?""Gerald? The same guy who used to be a mere pawn in t
The room was completely dipped in silence as both parties held each other's gaze, waiting for one to speak first. Oliver was seated on a chair next to Gerald's hospital bed. The air was choked with the pungent smell of antiseptics and drugs that made the experience worse for Oliver.It had been two days since Gerald had been in the hospital, but this was the first time Oliver was setting eyes on him. No matter how hard Oliver tried to push down his anger, he couldn't seem to forget how much of a scumbag Gerald had always been. And now, they sat before each other, struggling with internal deliberations until Gerald finally pierced through the silence with his hoarse voice."I'd repay you for this, I promise," He said, groaning as he got up. "I'd have died back there if it weren't for you. I couldn't possibly-""Stop patronizing me," Oliver interrupted harshly. "Rather, tell me why I was the only person you could reach out to. Is this another game of yours? Did Viktir send you?"Gerald,
A strange wave of anxiety reverberated through her bones as she stood by the door. The open icon pasted on the door wasn't enough reason for Elina to knock. The anxiety was eating her up from the inside, yet this step was necessary in the course of returning her peace of mind.After a while, Elina knocked, and a voice came from the other side of the door, ushering her in. This therapist was one of her closest friend's recommendations, and Elina planned to get the best out of it. The last couple of months had been a spiral from one traumatic experience to another. It had sucked her dry. The nightmares were consistent, but she couldn't leave. Her safety was dandling, and her father's foes would stop at nothing to use her as an avenue to punish him. There was no escaping it.Just as Gerald had done, there would be many more. And Elina wasn't ready for it. She needed to heal and become stronger. Quietly, she walked into the brown, furnished office where a man sat at the end of the room,
Alexander was well aware of his sister's hate for the Lionheart family. Every single one of them, especially Oliver's father. Gianna had gotten into a series of unfortunate happiness with that household.After all this while, it hadn't still ended. George Lionheart was gone, and Oliver was just as much of a nuisance as his father was. He poured his sister a glass and tossed it to her. Gianna downed it in a go, her hands ruffling her hair as memories from the past started to gush in, gnawing at her stability.Alexander could tell from the way Gianna paced the room that her anger had gone over the roof— as it always does. Gianna's heart started to ache. She hadn't healed at all after all this time had passed. It was shameful.Extremely shameful by a man who barely cared about anything but himself! Oliver's father was her unbecoming, and even in his death, his deeds remained deeply engraved in her heart. If she still had one.Gianna took another sip of the whiskey and slammed the glass o
The plush carpet muffled Michael's footsteps as he approached Oliver's office. Oliver's secretary eyed him with suspicion as he tried to make his way through without a prior appointment. Michael's attempts to charm her were met with skepticism until he resorted to some arguments that eventually persuaded her to announce his presence.With a stern-faced security guard walking behind him, Michael entered Oliver's office. The atmosphere was tense, and Oliver scrutinized him with a raised eyebrow, diverting his attention from the pile of files sitting on his desk.Michael extended a hand. "Oliver, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm John Reynolds, a lawyer. I've been following your career closely, and I believe I can be an invaluable asset to you." Oliver remained skeptical, eyeing Michael's outstretched hand before reluctantly shaking it. Who was this dude?Oliver had never seen him or heard of him. "What makes you think I need a lawyer?""Well, Oliver, let me show you." Michael placed fi
Bill entered Oliver's office wearing a troubled expression. Oliver glanced up from his paperwork, sensing an unusual tension. Something was up, as always. "Boss, we got a problem," Bill stated, hesitating slightly. Oliver leaned back in his chair, a questioning look in his eyes. "What's going on?""It's Andrew, your lawyer," Bill began. "He resigned suddenly, and no one has seen him since. It's like he vanished. Left the country, they say."Oliver's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "Resigned? Without any notice?" He paused, his mind swerving to the unusual approach by Reynolds.Reynolds approached him three days ago, and suddenly Andrew was missing? There had to be a connection. "What the hell happened?"Bill sighed, choosing his words carefully. "According to the office buzz, he met with a strange man the day before he disappeared. The bar's CCTV recorded it when I checked. The fellow was able to avoid the cameras, though. Still, it didn't look like a friendly conversation."Oliver's