Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Celine did not sign the paper. She could not.

With her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird, she pushed past Darius’s towering frame, unlocked the consultation room door, and practically sprinted down the VIP corridor.

She ignored Kayden, who was waiting by the elevators with a dark, expectant smirk, and she ignored Darius’s deep, commanding voice echoing her name.

She needed to breathe. She needed sanity.

Refusing to make a choice between two predatory brothers, Celine fled the hospital, hailed a local taxi, and demanded the driver take her straight to her apartment. All she wanted was to curl up in her own bed, lock the world out, and let the hangover finally take over.

But the universe, it seemed, was entirely done giving Celine peace.

The moment her taxi pulled up to her modest, suburban apartment building, Celine froze.

Two massive, unmarked black moving trucks were parked haphazardly across the curb. A dozen men dressed in matching charcoal gray uniforms were efficiently marching out of the building's main entrance, carrying heavy boxes.

Panic seized her throat. Celine jumped out of the taxi, dropping a handful of cash onto the front seat, and ran toward the movers.

"Hey! Stop! What do you think you are doing?!" she screamed, lunging toward a man carrying a familiar wooden crate. "That is my vintage medical literature! Put that down!"

The mover did not even flinch. He simply stepped around her and loaded the crate into the back of the truck.

"Dr. Celine," a calm, polished voice spoke from behind her.

Celine whirled around, her face flushed with fury. Standing near the steps was Marcus, Darius’s personal assistant, holding a sleek black tablet.

"Who are you?" Celine gasped, her voice cracking. "What is the meaning of this? Why are these people stealing my things? I will call the police!"

"There is no need for law enforcement, Doctor," Marcus replied, his face a mask of nonchalance. "Your landlord has already been compensated for breaking the lease. In fact, Mr. Darius Smith purchased this entire apartment complex twenty minutes ago. Your belongings are not being stolen. They are being relocated to your new residence."

"My what?!" Celine screamed, her mind fracturing under the absurdity of the statement. "I did not agree to move! I haven't signed any contract! Darius cannot just buy my building and evict me!"

"Mr. Darius does not consider this an eviction, but an upgrade," Marcus said smoothly. He extended his hand, presenting a sleek, matte black electronic keycard. "A private chauffeur is waiting at the corner to take you to your new home. Your properties have already been safely unpacked."

Before Celine could launch into a full, screaming meltdown, her phone buzzed sharply in her hand. It was a text message from an unknown, restricted number.

The message read: An Excellent surgeon should not be living in a place with a leaking roof. Consider this a baseline comfort. There is much more where that came from, Celine. Sign the paper. D.

Celine stared at the screen, her chest heaving with hot rage. Darius was completely unhinged.

Defeated, exhausted, and having literally nowhere else to go since her apartment was now an empty concrete shell, Celine accepted the black keycard. She let the private chauffeur drive her across the city, pulling up to the most exclusive, high security residential skyscraper downtown.

The penthouse took up the entire top floor. When the elevator doors opened directly into the living room, Celine’s breath caught in her throat.

The space was magnificent, featuring floor to ceiling glass walls overlooking the entire shimmering skyline, plush neutral toned velvet couches, and an art kitchen.

In the master bedroom, her old, beloved books and personal trinkets had been meticulously arranged alongside brand new, ultra luxury furniture.

It was a paradise. A glittering cage designed by Darius Smith.

Just as Celine was trying to process everything, the penthouse doorbell rang. She walked over and opened the heavy double doors, only to find three delivery couriers buried behind a mountain of glossy white shopping boxes tied with silk ribbons.

"Delivery for Dr. Celine," the lead courier announced, bowing slightly.

"From Darius?" Celine asked, her voice laced with exhaustion.

"No, ma'am. The sender left a card."

Celine took the silver embossed envelope and tore it open. Inside, bold, elegant handwriting read: My brother thinks he can buy your loyalty with a roof over your head. He always lacked imagination. Wear these to our engagement dinner, my future wife. Kayden.

The couriers filed past her, filling the massive walk in closet with an overwhelming sea of luxury. Celine watched in a daze as they unboxed limited edition designer gowns, Italian leather bags, and diamond encrusted heels in bulk.

There were rows of luxury brands, entirely tailored to her exact size.

When the couriers finally bowed and left, the penthouse fell into a deafening, heavy silence.

Celine stood in the center of the luxurious master suite, utterly confused. She looked to the left, where Darius’s commanding text message still gleamed on her phone screen.

She looked to the right, where Kayden’s mountain of extravagant, glittering designer gifts sat.

Just twenty four hours ago, she was standing in the pouring rain, stripped of her career, her dignity, and her virginity, thrown from the heights of grace into the dirt.

Now, she was trapped at the very epicenter of a vicious, multi-billion-dollar war between two lethal brothers who wanted to possess her.

Every instinct told her to run, but to where?