Chapter Thirty Four : Desperate PursuitDamian's POVMy study was quiet except for the soft hum of a clock on the wall, the papers and maps strewn across the desk the result of hours of frantic planning and blind alleys. My chest was tight, as if the air around me had thickened beyond breathing. It had been more than twenty-four hours since Lena was taken, and each passing second seemed another nail hammered into my resolve.I ran a hand through my hair, disheveled and damp with sweat. The suit that had been immaculate now wrinkled, the tie flung somewhere onto the floor. The polished veneer that I'd kept in place was in a thousand pieces, much like my poise. Lena was out there somewhere, with a man whom I despised more than anything in this world. And I had no idea how to get her back.“Damian,” one of my guards spoke cautiously from the doorway, interrupting my spiraling thoughts.“What?” My voice came out harsher than intended.He stepped forward hesitantly. “We’ve received a tip a
Chapter: Shadows of Despair(Lena's POV)The room was dark and dank, the walls closing in on me like a silent, jeering prison. My wrists ached from the rough ropes that had earlier bound them, and though now they'd let me free to move, bruises remained to cruelly remind me. The cold floor beneath me, the faint sound of dripping water somewhere in the distance. Days had passed-I wasn't sure how many-since they'd taken me, but it felt like an eternity.No food, no warmth, nothing but the smothering silence that had become my companion.I curled up into the corner, wrapping my legs tight against my chest, and just let the darkness comfort me. My mind went back to Damian: his eyes fierce, his arms embracing protection, his voice with a strength on which I could always lean upon. Did he at least know where I was? Did he even care?But then, there was Alex. His face haunted me just as much as Damian's did now.Alex had been my safe harbor once, a quiet and steady presence in a chaotic world
Chapter Thirty Six: The Unthinkable Price(Damian's POV)The tension in the room was stifling, thick enough to choke on. Marcus stood across from me, leaning against his desk with a smug smile playing on his lips, his eyes glinting with the satisfaction of a predator toying with its prey. My fists were clenched so tightly at my sides that I could feel my nails digging into my palms, but I didn't care. My mind was consumed by one thing, and one thing alone-Lena."I'll give you one last chance, Marcus," I said, my voice low but laced with a warning. "Tell me where Lena is, and I'll consider letting you walk away from this unscathed."Marcus chuckled, a sharp, mocking sound. "Unscathed? Oh, Damian, you're still under the impression that you're in control here.I took a step closer, my glare unwavering. "You're playing with fire, Marcus. You know what I'm capable of.""And you know what I want," he countered, straightening up and crossing his arms. "This isn't about power, Damian. It's ab
Chapter Thirty-Seven Shadows of Hope(Lena's POV)The cold seeped into my bones, an unforgiving reminder of how long I’d been in this wretched place. The room was nothing but stone walls and darkness, with no windows to mark the passage of time. Hunger gnawed at my insides, but the pain wasn’t just physical—it was the fear, the uncertainty, that truly weighed me down.I sat in the corner, knees to my chest, trying to breathe shallowly to remain calm. My wrists still ached from the rough ropes that had secured them only hours before. They'd left me alone since then, but the silence was worse than any threats. It let my mind wander to places I didn't want it to go.Damian.Was he looking for me? Would he even know where to start? I hated it, but a part of me wanted to believe he was out there, tearing the world apart, piece by piece, to find me. What if he wasn't? What if I was another mere pawn in some chess game, easily sacrificed?A sudden sound—the turning of the key in the lock—wre
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Desperation's Edge(Damian's POV)My blood ran cold the moment the report from my most trusted informant came in. Alex had offered himself to Marcus in exchange for Lena's freedom. It was not the self-sacrifice that had rendered me speechless; it was the audacity of the move.Alex had always been loyal, a man who knew the delicate web of power and strategy we worked within. But this-this was madness. Throwing himself as collateral to Marcus, a man who lived to torment, was a choice I couldn't understand.I slammed my fist against the edge of my desk, the sharp pain barely registering through the cloud of anger and frustration. My men stood at attention, awaiting my orders, but I couldn't speak yet. My mind was a storm of questions, all circling back to one undeniable truth: Marcus was winning."Find out where they're keeping Alex and Lena," I barked. My voice came out cold as steel. "I want eyes on that place within the hour. And if Marcus tries to pull another s
Chapter Thirty-Six: Lena's Despair and Strength(Lena's POV)I woke to the sound of dripping water. My head throbbed, and every muscle of my body ached like I'd been run over by a freight train. I tried to move, and the cold, hard floor beneath me bit into my skin, its dampness seeping through my clothes.The room was pitch black, except for the faint, flickering light spilling in from a crack under the heavy steel door. The air was thick and stale, with the metallic tang of rust and blood.Where am I?My memories came back in flashes-being dragged from Damian's estate, my futile attempts to fight back, the cold, mocking laughter of Marcus's men. My chest began to tighten as reality set in-I was Marcus's prisoner."Damian," I whispered, hardly above a whisper. Did he know what had happened? Was he coming for me?I pulled myself upright, wincing at the pain shooting across my ribs. My stomach growled, a pained reminder that I hadn't eaten in what felt like days. Other than the rusted b
Chapter Forty : Damian's Redemption(Damian's POV)The weight of the world pressed upon my shoulders as I stared at the whiskey in my glass. The amber liquid swirled lazily, but did absolutely nothing to numb the storm inside me. The news of Alex's sacrifice sat heavy as a rock in my chest, crushing me with guilt and fury. He'd offered himself to Marcus to save Lena-something I should've prevented.Free, yes, but at what cost? Alex's freedom had turned into Marcus's weapon, and I was the one who'd handed it to him on a silver platter."Sir, we need to discuss a strategy." Ethan's voice pierced my thoughts. My most trusted man was standing at the door, his face etched with concern."I don't want a damn strategy," I snarled, slamming the glass down onto the desk. The force sent the whiskey splashing over its rim. "This is my mess, Ethan. I'll clean it up.""Damian, you can't just walk into Marcus's territory alone. That's suicide.Then I'll die fixing what I broke," I growled, rising fr
Chapter: Will to Survive(Lena's POV)Darkness was the only thing surrounding me. It seemed alive, pushing against me on every side, the weight of it suffocating me. My body ached from the cold, damp floor. My stomach twisted in hunger, my lips cracked for want of water. I had lost all sense of time. No windows, no light, no telling whether it was day or night. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional distant footsteps of my captors.I curled up in the corner of the room, hugging my knees to my chest. My mind replayed the events that had led me here. Damian's face lingered in my thoughts, his last words to me before everything went dark: "I will come for you.I wanted to believe him, to cling to that hope, but doubt stole in like a thief in the night. Would he find me in time? Would he risk everything for me?The door creaked open suddenly, bathing the room in harsh light. I winced, shielding my eyes, my heart racing. Two of Marcus's men stood in the doorway, their fac
Bianca's New PlanLena's POVDark clouds gathered over the city as if the sky itself sensed the brewing storm. I sat at the window of Damian's mansion, staring out over the horizon, my mind disturbed. It had been days since Bianca's last threat, and no matter what Damian tried to tell me, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the calm before the storm.Bianca wasn't a woman to give up. No, she was a woman who smiled while whetting her blade.And she was planning something. I knew it.Damian ramped up the security, having double the amount of guards posted at the house. Every doorway was monitored and no one came or left without being searched. It should have made me more comfortable, but it didn't. Bianca had means, connections—she wasn't the kind of woman who had to play by rules.She was unpredictable.And then, as if the world had it in for reliving my worst nightmares, Damian stormed into the room, his phone clutched in his hand.His face was unreadable, but the tension
Lena’s POVThe house was colder than ever. It wasn't the chill of the air, but the chill that seeped into my bones and made me hollow inside. I had been saved, rescued from the hell Bianca and Marcus had subjected me to, but I wasn't free yet. Not yet.Because the moment Damian had enveloped me in his arms, telling me I was safe, I had felt it—fear.Fear of what came next.Fear of what he needed.Fear that I would never be normal again.I sat beside the window in the darkened bedroom where Damian had brought me back. My fingers traced imaginary patterns on the glass, my mind replaying every detail of what had happened. The chains. The black room. Marcus's sneer. Alex's willingness to sacrifice himself for my liberty.And Bianca…She wasn't done. I knew it.I took a deep breath, misting the glass with my exhalation. The door thudded shut, and I bristled at once. My heart pounded as I shifted my head infinitesimally, to discover Damian standing there.He towered there, his face impassiv
Chapter Title: The Truth RevealedLena's POVThe fury boiling inside of me was something new for me. My heart pounding in my chest, I stormed into Damian's office, my hand clutching the proof so tightly that it turned white from the grip. I had been humiliated, abandoned, and made to endure because of Bianca's deceptions. But now, I had evidence—undeniable evidence—that I had been framed.Damian sat behind his desk, sorting through some documents, but his entire body stiffened the instant I entered. His black eyes snapped up to meet mine, and for a brief moment, I saw something there—guilt, doubt, maybe even remorse.I didn't care.I slammed the folder onto his desk with emphasis. The papers scattered everywhere across the polished surface, some falling on the floor."See it," I insisted, my voice firm and uncompromising. "See it and say that you did not make an error."Damian exhaled deeply, sitting back in his seat, his expression neutral. "Lena, if you've come here to—""Don't," I
Chapter Fifty Four: The Truth Beneath the LiesLena's POVThe air in my room was suffocating, pressing down on me like a weight I couldn't tolerate. My hands trembled at my sides as I paced back and forth, my mind reeling with everything that had just happened. Damian had looked at me with suspicion in his eyes—suspicion that hurt more than any wound.How could he ever think I would betray him?I tightened my fists, breathless. Bianca did this. I was certain of it. But she had played her cards too perfectly this time, leaving evidence so incriminating that even Damian had paused before me. The video footage… the alleged proof of my "betrayal."I needed to clear my name.I swallowed my pride and made myself think logically. If I allowed emotions to rule my head, I would be where Bianca had wanted me to be—broken and defenseless. But I was not about to let her win.Step one: go through everything that had occurred.I was on the edge of my bed, eyes shut while I replayed each detail in m
Unraveling Sanity(Lena’s POV)The first time it happened, I thought I was imagining things.A simple change—my jewelry box sitting on the opposite side of the vanity, my closet door slightly open when I knew I had shut it before bed. I chalked it up to exhaustion, the lingering aftereffects of the nightmare I’d been living through. But when it kept happening, again and again, I could no longer deny it.Someone had been in my space.I stood in the middle of my bedroom, my pulse thrumming under my skin. There was a weird cologne on the air-a scent no one else would catch at all-but strong enough to make my stomach chum. I checked the lock on my door-it remained intact. No signs of forced entry. Yet, I wasn't losing my mind. It was as if my mind knew that I had tucked my diary under my pillow the previous night. It was now on the desk, opened to some random page.A chill all over my spine.Was someone trying to play foul with me?I tried to push the paralyzing sense of paranoia creeping
Bianca's Ruthless PlanThe private lounge was tucked away from prying eyes, a place where powerful men and dangerous people made the kind of decisions that shaped empires and destroyed lives. Tonight, it would serve a different purpose—tonight, it would be where Bianca sealed Lena's fate.Bianca sat alone at the head of a long, dark mahogany table, her manicured fingers tapped rhythmically against the top. Dim lighting cast unforgiving shadows across her face and accentuated the steely expression in her eyes. Beside her stood four men-four chosen specifically for this role-four to play out the specifics of her plan. These weren't any ordinary thugs. These were pros-manipulators, enforcers, masterminds.And Bianca was about to give them the job of a lifetime.She crossed her legs and let out a slow breath. “We’re not here to waste time.” Her voice was smooth, yet filled with authority. “Lena has become a problem that needs to be dealt with. Permanently.”The scarred man sitting directl
Chapter Fifty Price of WarDamiann's POVWhen Lena stormed out, the last words she flung cut deeper into my chest as silence settled in."Choose between your revenge or me."Those words weighed heavy on my mind, heavy and unremitting as a cold, immovable pressure that seemed to weigh upon me. Swallowing my revenge against Marcus was like poison-it went against the very grain of my being. While something far worse sounded a lot like losing Lena forever.I balled my fists, pacing the length of my office, where my heart slammed against my ribs.How had it ever come to this?He'd taken everything from me, from my pride and dignity to Lena, although the latter he'd had only for a brief time. Everything in me demanded revenge. But what did that make me if I let him just walk away from what he did? A coward? Some man too weak to finish what he started?But Lena…She was the first person to make me feel alive in a long time. With her, I wasn't just a man bent on destruction—I was something mo
The Reckoning(Damian's POV)Lena was safe now. That should have been enough. But it wasn't.Not when the man who had caused all of this was still out there, untouched, waiting for his next move.I stood by my office window, staring out into the city's lights, my mind unsettled. It was as if the weight of everything that had happened so far pressed on me like an immovable force. Lena was resting now, but he had seen the fear in her eyes, a hesitation in her movements. She was trying to be strong, but he knew the damage Marcus had inflicted was more than just physical.And that was something I couldn't forgive.A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts."Come in," I said, already knowing who it was.Adrian stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He had been watching me ever since Lena was rescued, waiting for me to say what he already knew I was thinking."You're not letting this go, are you?" he asked.I turned to face him. "Would you?"Adrian let out a deep sigh, running a ha
Lena's POVI woke up gasping for air, my lungs burning like I had been drowning in my own fears. My body jerked up, but something warm held me down. My heart was racing, my skin soaked in sweat. The room was dark, but not the kind of suffocating darkness I had been trapped in. It was softer. Familiar.Then I heard his voice.Lena," Damian whispered, his tone laced with something raw-something I wasn't sure I was ready to face.I turned my head toward him. He was sitting beside me, his face barely visible in the dim light of the bedside lamp. He looked exhausted, his normally sharp features dulled by sleepless nights. His shirt was wrinkled, his tie loosened, as if he hadn't left my side for hours. Maybe even days.I swallowed hard, my throat dry and scratchy. “Where… am I?” My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.“You’re home,” he said immediately, as if he needed to reassure himself just as much as he needed to reassure me. “You’re safe.”Safe.The word should have comforted me,