Chapter Seven
Declan pushed his way through the crowd, his face flushed with fury. Stella stood still, her expression a mix of defiance and fear as Jacob's words hung in the air."How dare you speak to my wife like that!" Declan shouted, stepping forward to shield Stella.Jacob sneered. "It's none of your business. I'm talking to Denver and Stella."Declan's hands clenched into fists. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm the storm inside him. If he lost control now, he might do something regrettable.When Declan reopened his eyes, Jacob was reaching out to touch Stella’s arm. Rage surged through Declan again.“How dare you touch my wife! Don’t make me warn you again, or you’ll be waking up in the hospital!” Declan’s voice was a low growl, barely controlled.The club had gone quiet. Everyone was watching, murmuring to each other about what might happen next.Jacob, unphased and arrogant, raised his hand, aiming to slap Declan across the face. His smirk suggested he enjoyed this, feeling cool and in control.But just as his hand moved through the air, a hand shot out, grabbing Jacob's wrist tightly. The slap was stopped mid-air.Declan stood confidently, his eyes locked on Jacob’s, ready for whatever came next.Jacob’s face twisted with anger as his arm was caught in mid-air. He spun around, ready to lash out at whoever dared to intervene. His eyes widened in shock when he realised it was his uncle, the owner of the club, who had stopped him."Uncle," Jacob stammered, his voice a mix of confusion and fear.“He—He tried to embarrass me. Let me teach him a lesson..." He tried to justify his actions, his face flushed with the need to prove himself.His uncle cut him off sharply, not interested in his excuses. "Enough, Jacob," he said sternly, his voice carrying through the now silent club.The uncle turned away from Jacob and approached Declan with an extended hand, his demeanour changing entirely."Mr. Declan, I apologise for my nephew's behaviour tonight. It's not reflective of our values here," he said, his voice filled with respect.Declan took his hand, nodding slightly, his posture relaxed but his eyes still wary.The uncle then turned back to Jacob, his expression stern. "You will apologise to Mr. Declan and his wife immediately. We do not condone such disrespect in my establishment."Jacob’s mouth opened and closed, his usual confidence drained away. He looked around, seeing the expectant faces of the club-goers, his own friends, and other patrons who murmured among themselves.Reluctantly, Jacob faced Declan and Stella. "I—I apologise," he muttered, not meeting their eyes. It was clear he was humiliated, forced to back down in front of the crowd.Declan nodded, accepting Jacob's apology, but his expression showed he wasn't fully convinced. As the uncle turned to talk to another guest, ensuring the situation was under control, Jacob leaned closer to Declan."This isn't my fault," Jacob whispered harshly, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Why should I be embarrassed? It's Stella's fault for dressing like that—so seductive like some stripper..."Declan's eyes narrowed as he listened to Jacob try to shift the blame onto Stella. The atmosphere around them tensed again; the murmurs in the crowd grew louder, picking up on the new conflict brewing.Declan's patience snapped. He didn't wait for Jacob to finish his sentence. His hand moved quickly, striking Jacob across the face with a sharp slap. The sound echoed through the club, drawing a collective gasp from the crowd.Jacob stumbled back, his hand flying to his cheek, his eyes wide with shock and pain. He looked around, his gaze landing on his uncle, who had turned back at the sound of the slap.The uncle's face was filled with disbelief and disappointment as he witnessed his nephew's humiliation.“Uncle, you need to do something about this animal!” Jacob shouted in pain while holding his cheek which looked red.Chapter Eight As Jacob felt the sting from the slap, anger boiled up inside him. He turned to his uncle, his eyes full of fury. "You need to handle this! He's acting like a crazy mad man!" he shouted, pointing at Declan.The club owner, a tall and strong man who everyone respected, looked straight at Jacob. He spoke in a calm but firm voice, "Jacob, say sorry to Mr. Declan now, or I will stop giving you money and take away your credit cards," he said, making it clear he was serious.Jacob, feeling proud and stubborn, shook his head. "No! Why should I say sorry when—"Before he could finish, the uncle signalled to his security team. Two big men quickly came over, grabbed Jacob, and forced him to kneel in front of Declan.People around them gasped. One security guard took out a small device that made a buzzing sound, showing he meant business.It was a torturing device that can electrocute and make someone feel so much pain till the person faints. Scared of getting hurt and embarrasse
Chapter Nine The mood in the club calmed down as the music started again, but people were still buzzing and whispering about the drama that had happened earlier. The club owner, Uncle Jim, knew exactly why he had acted so protectively toward Declan. He had recently found out something shocking since he is into the business of hosting the super rich business moguls and top government officials of the country. He rushed to the club when he chef the security camera and saw that Declan was there but when he came he found his nephew being disrespectful and embarrassing him. Declan was supposed to take over a very secret and powerful organisation. This group had a big say in politics, the military, oil and gas, and many other businesses all over the 7 continents of the world. Uncle Jim learned this through his wide network of connections. A reliable friend in the intelligence community had accidentally mentioned Declan's role, stressing how important and far-reaching his influence was
Chapter Ten Clara, still laughing, turned her attention to Declan, her voice laced with mock seriousness. "I mean, look at this," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "The owner must think you're some kind of celebrity or something. Got it all wrong, huh?" Denver, who was also quite tipsy, picked up on Clara's tone and joined in the teasing. "Yeah, Declan, who did you think you were tonight? The king of the world?" he chuckled, nudging Declan in the arm. Their laughter grew louder, drawing even more attention from the people around them. They were clearly enjoying the moment because they were back to mocking Declan, their words slurring slightly as they continued to poke fun at the situation. "Seriously, Declan, I didn't know we were in the presence of royalty," Denver continued, raising his glass in a mock toast. "To Declan, the mistaken fake VIP!" he exclaimed, laughing. Clara clapped her hands, adding, "Yeah, all hail King Declan, friend of the mighty and the powerful
Chapter Eleven “Mmmmm” Declan remembered how their kisses grew more passionate and how his hands wandered. He remembered how Stella responded with equal fervour, clearly ready to take things further when they were together the last time. The atmosphere now was charged with similar anticipation, but just as they were about to cross into more intimate territory just when he was about to kiss her, Declan paused. He pulled back slightly, looking into Stella's eyes with a mixture of desire and concern. He remembered how much red wine Stella had consumed at the club. The thought made him hesitate; he wanted to be sure she was fully in control of her decisions, not just caught up in the heat of the moment influenced by alcohol. "Stella," Declan said gently, his voice low and careful, "are you sure this is what you want tonight? I don't want the wine speaking for you." Stella looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and care in them. She felt a rush of affection for Declan, appreci
Chapter Twelve “Hahahaha, you’re so funny ! Are you an upcoming comedian?” “No, I’m not “Declan replied but he ignored his reply. Stella's brother laughed out loud, dismissing Declan's claim. "You must be joking," he scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is the event of the year. There’s no way a commoner like you could be invited, let alone be the guest of honour. Just because you married my sister doesn’t mean you’re suddenly an important part of the society! Better know that” The room filled with a tense silence as everyone waited to see how Declan would handle this new challenge. Declan maintained his composure, his expression calm and assured. Stella's brother, unable to contain his disbelief and irritation, raised his voice at Declan. "It's insulting for you to come into our house and lie about being a businessman!" he exclaimed, his face red with anger. He then turned to Stella, "You need to learn how to handle your husband and keep him quiet like a dog
Chapter Thirteen Stella's brother, still reeling from the shock of the cancelled business meeting, was determined to prove Declan wrong. As he scrolled through his contacts, searching for someone who could confirm or deny Declan's claims, his phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from a colleague in the industry, informing him of the reason behind the cancellation of the exclusive dinner. He burst into a terrible mockery laugh, drawing everyone's attention back to him. “Hehehhehhehehehh, hohohooo” "Well, well, well," he sneered, looking at Declan with disdain. "It seems your little charade has been exposed. The daughter of the business tycoon hosting the dinner fell ill. That's the real reason for the cancellation, not your imaginary influence." Hissed Stella’s brother Declan remained calm, unmoved by Stella's brother's taunts. He knew the truth, and nothing Stella's brother said could shake his confidence. Stella, watching her brother's behaviour, felt a m
Chapter Fourteen Declan felt the rage bubbling inside him as Richard's cruel words cut deep. He wanted nothing more than to lash out, to show Richard just how wrong he was about him. But then he doesn’t want to do anything that will hurt Stella’s feelings and he knows that family means a lot to her , infact that’s the reason she even agreed to their arranged wedding. . But before he could say or do anything, his phone rang, breaking the tense silence. “Excuse me, I need to take this important call” Excusing himself, Declan stepped away to answer the call. It was from the business tycoon hosting the part.His daughter was seriously ill. The man was crying and begging Declan to come and help his daughter before she dies… he sounded really desperate for help. “Please , you’re our last hope. Safe my daughter “ Mr Yang ,the business tycoon pleaded Without hesitation, Declan promised to go to their mansion immediately to treat her. “Alright, I will do what I can to make sure yo
Chapter Fifteen “No! No! My daughter can’t die . She’s so young and has a great future ahead…“ As Mr. Yang watched in horror, blood began to trickle from his daughter's nose, and the beeping of the machine monitoring her vitals grew louder and more urgent. He knew that time was running out, and he couldn't bear to lose his precious daughter. "Stop! Stop immediately!" he shouted, his voice filled with panic and desperation. "Get away from her! You're only making things worse!" The healer, taken aback by Mr. Yang's outburst, stepped back, unsure of what to do. Mr. Yang turned to Declan, his eyes pleading. “I’m trying my best to heal her …” the healer started stammering , by now his hands were shaking and he was sweating profusely. He was also confused and didn’t know what to do. "Shut up and get away from my daughter. Please, Declan…please help my daughter" he begged, his voice cracking with emotion. “I thought none of you wanted me here “ Declan said while rolling the sleev
One evening, as we sat together in the living room, Hazel’s eyes sparkled with a new idea. “I’ve been thinking... we’ve been focused on defense, on reacting to the threats against us. But what if we went on the offensive?” I exchanged glances with Kai, Declan, and Vincent, all of us intrigued but cautious. “What do you have in mind, Hazel?” Kai asked, leaning forward, his eyes narrowing with interest. “We know there are people out there who want to hurt us. We’ve been playing their game, letting them set the rules. What if we turn the tables? What if we take the fight to them?” Declan cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. “Now that’s a plan I can get behind.” Vincent, always the strategist, tapped his chin thoughtfully. “It’s risky. We could provoke a war.” Hazel’s smile was wicked, filled with the fire that had drawn us all to her in the first place. “They’re already at war with us. They just don’t know we’re about to win.” Kai leaned back, considering her wor
One evening, as we sat together in the living room, Hazel’s eyes sparkled with a new idea. “I’ve been thinking... we’ve been focused on defense, on reacting to the threats against us. But what if we went on the offensive?”I exchanged glances with Kai, Declan, and Vincent, all of us intrigued but cautious. “What do you have in mind, Hazel?” Kai asked, leaning forward, his eyes narrowing with interest.“We know there are people out there who want to hurt us. We’ve been playing their game, letting them set the rules. What if we turn the tables? What if we take the fight to them?”Declan cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. “Now that’s a plan I can get behind.”Vincent, always the strategist, tapped his chin thoughtfully. “It’s risky. We could provoke a war.”Hazel’s smile was wicked, filled with the fire that had drawn us all to her in the first place. “They’re already at war with us. They just don’t know we’re about to win.”Kai leaned back, considering her words. “Y
The room fell into a stunned silence as the gravity of their situation settled over them like a shroud. Stella felt her chest tighten, the weight of their actions pressing down until she could barely breathe. Declan, still dazed, stared blankly at the screen. Mason, ever the stoic one, was pale, his eyes wide with disbelief and regret.For a long moment, no one moved or spoke. The only sound was the soft hum of the hidden chamber, the cold, clinical atmosphere in stark contrast to the chaos they had narrowly escaped above. But the knowledge that the harbingers were spreading across the city, that they had unleashed something unstoppable, hung over them like a death sentence.“We’re responsible for this,” Stella whispered, her voice cracking. “We did this.”Mason didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on the screen as the shadowy figures swarmed through the streets. “We didn’t know,” he said quietly, but there was no conviction in his words. They both knew it was a hollow excuse.Declan fi
As Stella and Declan made their way back to Mason’s office, the dawn light casting long shadows across the pavement, a strange sensation tugged at the back of Stella's mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was still amiss, that the calm after their battle was deceptive.Mason greeted them at the door, his face haggard from sleepless nights of research and preparation. He nodded as they entered, the atmosphere heavy with the unspoken relief of survival. Yet, as Mason closed the door behind them, an eerie silence settled over the room, thicker than before."I think we did it," Declan said, his voice breaking the tension. "The city's safe."Mason nodded, but there was no satisfaction in his eyes, only a lingering unease. He walked over to the bookshelf, pulling down the same dusty tome they had been studying. He flipped through the pages, his fingers trembling slightly."There’s something I need to show you," he said quietly, his tone almost ominous. He turned the book towa
The boat cut through the churning waves, each stroke taking them further from the collapsing island. Stella's heart pounded as she glanced back, watching the land sink into the sea. The messenger's words echoed in her mind: "You've unleashed something far worse." What had they done?Declan's determined face gave her a sliver of hope. They rowed in silence, the tension between them thick as the mist rising from the water. As night fell, the city skyline appeared on the horizon, its lights twinkling like stars. They were headed back to civilization, but what awaited them there?They docked at a quiet marina, exhaustion pulling at their limbs. Stella's legs trembled as she stepped onto the pier, but she forced herself to keep moving. They had to find answers, and they needed help.Declan led the way through narrow, dimly lit streets. The city's pulse was different from the island's serene rhythm, the air thick with the hum of life and the scent of asphalt. They reached a small, nondescri
The boat cut through the churning waves, each stroke taking them further from the collapsing island. Stella's heart pounded as she glanced back, watching the land sink into the sea. The messenger's words echoed in her mind: "You've unleashed something far worse." What had they done?Declan's determined face gave her a sliver of hope. They rowed in silence, the tension between them thick as the mist rising from the water. As night fell, the city skyline appeared on the horizon, its lights twinkling like stars. They were headed back to civilization, but what awaited them there?They docked at a quiet marina, exhaustion pulling at their limbs. Stella's legs trembled as she stepped onto the pier, but she forced herself to keep moving. They had to find answers, and they needed help.Declan led the way through narrow, dimly lit streets. The city's pulse was different from the island's serene rhythm, the air thick with the hum of life and the scent of asphalt. They reached a small, nondescri
Stella worked through the night, her eyes fixed on the map. The man watched her closely, his presence a constant reminder of the danger she was in. As she traced her fingers over the symbols, she began to notice a pattern. Each symbol corresponded to a place on the island, places she had visited in her months of solitude. She realized her grandfather had hidden the clues in plain sight, using the island as a giant puzzle."We need to go to the old lighthouse," Stella said, pointing to a symbol that matched the structure.The man narrowed his eyes. "Lead the way," he ordered, tightening his grip on her wrist.They made their way through the dense forest, the path illuminated by the first light of dawn. The lighthouse loomed ahead, its silhouette stark against the rising sun. As they approached, Stella's heart pounded. She hoped her plan would work.Inside the lighthouse, the air was thick with dust and decay. Stella led the man to a trapdoor hidden under a pile of debris. She hesitated
Stella woke up in a dimly lit room. Her head throbbed, and her vision was blurry. She tried to sit up but found her hands and feet bound. Panic surged through her as she scanned her surroundings. The room was small, with a single barred window high up on the wall. The door was heavy and wooden, with no sign of a handle from the inside."Where am I?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.Footsteps echoed outside the door. Stella's heart raced. The door creaked open, and the man from the shore entered, his expression cold and unreadable."Who are you? What do you want from me?" Stella demanded, trying to keep her fear at bay.The man ignored her questions and placed the black metallic chest on the floor in front of her. "You have something that belongs to me," he said, his voice steady and chilling."I don't know what you're talking about," Stella replied, her mind racing to understand.The man crouched down, his eyes locking onto hers. "Your grandfather had something that righ
Chapter Sixty Stella stood on the shore, her brush dancing across the canvas as she captured the serene beauty of the island. Three months had passed since she arrived, and it had been a transformative experience. The peace and quiet had allowed her to reconnect with nature and tap into her creative side. Her paintings, once amateurish and uncertain, now radiated a sense of confidence and skill. They were reminiscent of the Greek goddesses she had always admired, and she felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. But as she mixed colors on her palette, a sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach. She had been dreading this moment for weeks, ever since her father's letters had stopped arriving. And then, it came. A small boat arrived on the shore, carrying a somber-faced messenger. Stella's heart sank as he approached her, his eyes filled with sympathy. "Miss Stella, I'm so sorry to inform you that your grandfather has passed away," he said, his voice barely above a whisper