Chapter 3

~FREYA~

The sunlight was the first thing that hit my face the next day. I let out a small wince as a splitting headache flowed almost immediately. I tried to sit up and that was when I felt the strong arm wrapped around me.

The minute my eyes connected with those messy strands of black hair falling all over his gorgeous face, my mind exploded with memories.

My lips parted slightly as my pulse kicked up. God, I remembered more than I wanted to.

The way his voice had dropped to a low, sinful murmur that felt like fingertips trailing down my spine. The way his breath had brushed my neck, slow and deliberate, making my entire body arch instinctively even though I couldn’t feel my legs.

The rough warmth of his palm sliding over my waist, holding me as if I wasn’t fragile at all, as if he wanted every inch of me, broken parts and all.

I remembered the way he kissed me so deep and consuming. The kind of kiss that made me forget Edward, my wheelchair, my heartbreak, my name. A kiss that made me feel wanted in a way I didn’t think was possible.

There was a moment, a single, dizzying moment, when he’d whispered something against my skin, something dark and lazy and wicked as he guided my hand to his hardened length.

“Do you feel that, Snowflake? That’s how badly I want you.”

My breath hitched just thinking about it.

And then there were the sensations, blurred by alcohol, need. His fingers tracing patterns on my ribs, his mouth exploring the sensitive spot beneath my jaw, his body pinning mine to the bed with a protective kind of dominance that made me feel safe and overwhelmed at the same time.

I remembered soft gasps. His low groans. The way he’d said my name like it tasted good on his tongue.

I remembered warmth. Intensity. The feeling of being… worshipped, almost.

Like for one night, my broken body wasn’t a burden but a map he wanted to memorize.

God, I wanted to scream. One night wasn't enough. I wanted more. And more.

Staring at his sleeping figure beside me made my face burn all over again. The sudden need to leave before he woke up and decided I wasn't worth it overwhelmed me.

So I quickly reached for my purse and took out my card and phone. The card had thirty million worth of money, an overpay but I felt like I couldn't pay him enough for making me feel alive. I immediately messaged my guards to come pick up.

In less than an hour, I was already heading home. Just then, Edward’s call came in. I swiped the answer button and he exploded almost immediately.

“What the hell did you do, bitch?!” He barked. “Why is your lawyer telling me that the transfer documents were destroyed? Have you lost your mind?”

My grip tightened around my phone. How could I not have seen that this man was playing me all along?

“Always you worthless broke bastards making a fuss over someone else's properties. The money and properties belong to me, I refuse to give them out, so what? I can do whatever I want.”

“Are you kidding me right now?” He blurted in disbelief. “Listen Freya, you will go back to Attorney Williams and sign those damn documents. All my efforts to tolerate you this last few years will not go in vain, got it? You must pay me back in full!”

Pay him back, huh? For what exactly?

“Are you delusional or something? Did you forget that these last few years, I have been the one spending on you, not the other way round?”” I asked.. “If anyone should be asking for compensation, it should be me and be rest assured, I will collect back everything in full!”

“You little bitch! If you do this, I promise you I won't take you back no matter how much you beg…” I hung up before he could say anything more and blocked him instantly.

An instant pain pierced through my heart and I let out a sharp wince as my chest tightened. My hand flew to my chest, clutching tightly to my chest as I struggled to breathe.

“Ma'am, are you okay? Should we take you to the hospital?” The guards asked but I couldn't even answer them, the pain was too much. I felt a warm liquid trickle down my nose and blood dropped onto my dress.

“Get the cars!” My chief guard yelled in panic, immediately, lifting me off the chair. My eyes watered as the suffocating pain persisted. Everywhere felt that tight. My lungs, my chest, my stomach. More blood streamed down my nose and my vision blurred. By the time I was placed in the car, my head spun sending me straight into unconsciousness.

I woke up to the rhythmic beep of a monitor and the smell of antiseptic in the air.

White ceilings. White walls. White sheets.

Hospital.

My lashes fluttered open slowly and the first thing I saw was the doctor standing beside my bed, flipping through my chart with a frown etched deep into his forehead.

“She’s awake,” he said calmly, then turned to me. “Miss Taylor, can you hear me?”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “Y–yes.”

He exhaled softly. “You had a cardiac episode brought on by severe emotional stress and alcohol intake. Combined with your existing condition, it could have been fatal.”

Fatal.

The word echoed in my head like a bell tolling.

“How long…?” I whispered.

The doctor hesitated for a fraction of a second too long. “You’ve been pushing your body beyond its limits. If you continue like this, seven months might be optimistic.”

My fingers curled weakly into the sheets. So I was really dying, huh? Tears stung my eyes.

The doctor gave me a few more instructions, no alcohol, reduced stress, rest, and finally left. My guards stood silently near the door, faces tight with worry.

“Prepare the jet and book me a one week vacation in Miami,” I instructed. If I had just seven months, I might as well travel the world and explore it to the fullest.

Miami felt like a place borrowed from another life.

For the first few days, I did nothing but breathe.

My guards kept a respectful distance as I spent my mornings on the balcony of the penthouse suite, letting the warm ocean breeze kiss my face. I watched people walk by, laughing, holding hands, living without clocks ticking above their heads.

I explored little cafés, rolled along the beach boardwalk, watched sunsets melt into the water. I even smiled, small, real ones.

Everything seemed to be going quite well and I was already getting excited for my next vacation. But that night, after I dismissed my guards to go have some fun, I headed to my suite to get some rest when I met the door wide open.

My heart skipped a beat. At that point, my logical brain was screaming at me to retreat and find my guards on immediately but my curiosity got the better of me. Just in case anything happened, I had the cops on speed dial.

“Hello?” My voice came out soft, brittle as I rolled in.

No answer.

I wheeled in slowly, my hand hovering near my phone. Every instinct screamed that this was wrong. My guards never left a door unsecured. Ever.

The door clicked shut behind me.

I froze. A familiar cologne filtered into the room at that moment and my breath hitched.

It… it can't be…

I wanted to turn, to confirm if it was really him but my body remained stiff with shock. My heart pounded as I listened to his approaching footsteps. He stood behind me and for a second, nothing happened.

Then cold fingers gently grazed my skin as he pushed my hair over my shoulders, exposing my neck.

“Did you really think you could run from me, Snowflake?”

Then a sharp hit to my neck artery plunged me right into darkness.