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CHAPTER 32: Finding Trust
Last Updated:
2025-05-06 07:09:52
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Liya Glensdale stared blankly at her untouched coffee while the rain washed against the windows of the little diner she sat in. She constantly picked at her nails with nerves unsettled as the minutes flew by on the wall clock, drawing the inevitable meeting with the man who could decide her brother's fate, closer. When the bell above the diner rang, Liya’s eyes popped up as she watched a man enter and shake the rain off his trench coat, his presence immediately changing the atmosphere of the entire room. Her heart began racing as she watched Damian Viktor approach her table. He was by far taller than she had thought, with a scrawny face and a smile that made him look more sinister and cruel than kind. Even with his sharp suit that emphasized he was well-off, his appearance screamed that he was a dangerous man, the kind you don't get involved with. He sat down across from her, skin spread like he owned the place. “Liya Glensdale,” he said with a flat yet rough voice. “I’ve been anti
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Liya’s scream echoed throughout the room as the window shattered, spraying shards of glass all over the study. Her body shifted backward impulsively, her heart beating noisily in her chest. She rushed for shelter, her hands trembling as she took cover behind the gigantic desk, the wood pressing into her back.A figure showed up in the broken window, his face covered by a mask, then with sharp and precise movement, he dragged his body through the broken glass. His silhouette was frightful, shaped by the night outside and the shining weapon in his hand glaring at her. The air around him was filled with danger and her breathing came in pants.“Miss Glensdale, move.” Melinda’s frantic voice cut through the havoc. She emerged in the doorway, a gleaming black firearm in her grip.Liya didn't wait for her to repeat herself. She ran further into the study, hiding behind a heavy oak desk as the infiltrator advanced toward her. The intruder’s face was masked, his figure covered in black from he
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The atmosphere outside the mansion seemed strangely silent compared to the chaos that just happened in the study. The storm had passed leaving the night wet and calm, but Liya’s heart was anything but still. The scene repeatedly played in her mind. Every detail troubled her mind as she followed Aldo and Melinda down the shadowy hallway, her movement quick to keep up with them.Liya’s breath came out in pants, her palms sweaty as she wrapped her arms around herself. She had never felt so uncomfortable, so totally exposed. The beauty of the mansion, with its spotless floors and grand chandelier, felt more like a sugar-coated cage rather than a shelter.Aldo stopped suddenly, turning to her. His fierce gaze on her and for a minute, her breath stopped. “We don't have a lot of time,” he said in a low but firm voice.”Damian won’t stop just after a single attack. This was the first of many, so we need to hurry.”Liya’s stomach knotted. Thoughts of the lifeless human in the study filled her m
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The figure that stood at the doorway was tall, shoulders wide, and somewhat hidden by the dim lighting in the room. Her pulse pumped and her head ached. Didn't they say this was a safe place, reinforced and impenetrable? So what was this man doing standing inside the supposedly secured room and glaring at her? How did he break through the mansion’s security? “Who…who are you? What do you want?” Her voice cracked, shaking with fear. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he fixed his sharp eyes on her, assessing her like a predator examining its prey. He stepped forward and Liya willed herself to move but her legs refused to cooperate. Her eyes flitted to the monitors but they were black and without any image. The room which had once felt like a refuge suddenly felt like a snare. “I–I’ll scream,” she stuttered in a quivering but feisty voice. The man raised his brows, a light smile on his lips. “You could, but I wouldn't advise it,” he said in a smooth and calm voice, sounding bore
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The strong grip over her mouth made Liya tremble in fear–she couldn't scream nor could she call for help. “Don’t try to scream,” her attacker said as he removed his hand that was pressed over her mouth. Before Liya could turn around, she felt something sharp and cold like a knife press into her side, and she stiffened, fear gripping her. “Walk,” the man steered her towards the staircase which led down to the garden. Her mind busied itself with thoughts of an escape. She searched around for a way out. She looked at the door, contemplating if she could make a run for it and get help. Like he read her mind, he pressed the knife harder into her sides. “Don’t even dream about it. One wrong move from you and you'll be ending up tonight in a body bag and not on a bed with your husband,” he warned her. Liya gulped, her throat suddenly dry from fear as she nodded, allowing him to guide her.They moved through the garden in silence, the constant rustling of leaves and crickets the only th
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Last Updated : 2025-02-15
Latest chapter
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 32: Finding Trust
“Maybe she is worthy of being trusted,” Melinda said, looking up at Aldo as he went through his files. He was tired of keeping things to himself and she seemed like the only person he could talk to at that point. The only thing he could do was hope that Melinda wasn't going to be one of the next people to betray him. That would mean everyone around him was a snake. He knew it would somehow affect his empire so moving forward he had to be careful.“I don't know anymore,” he said, going through all the routes that she had changed. He was going through the new passwords. After Liya had given the passwords away, he felt the need to change them again. “She was just scared, trying to save her brother. You might have done the same thing if Aria was in trouble.”Aldo paused, looking up at her and she apologized immediately. “It's fine,” he said stiffly. He might have done the same thing if it was Aria but the case was different here. Liya was constantly trying to be independent. She didn't
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 31: Opened Eyes
Liya waited for Aldo to tell her to continue walking away, but he didn't. He grabbed her hand instead and pushed her back into the car. He was mad at her, and she knew that much. It was mostly her fault and she couldn't even blame him. He got into his side and drove so fast like he couldn't wait to be out of the same car with her. It hurt her because things were finally starting to make sense between both of them and she had ruined things with one text. Even in her head, she was starting to compare herself with Franco. The one thing she didn't think she’d ever do. But it was the truth. She had betrayed Aldo as well. Giving the same information that Franco had given. Aldo parked the car in the garage and got out without her. She watched him as he walked out of the garage, and into the mansion. Liya couldn't bring herself to come out of the car. She sat there and allowed the tears to flow. She bent her head to her chest and cried even more. She reached into her purse, bringing out her
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 30: No Trust
The door to the warehouse slammed shut, but Aldo didn’t seem to care as he started the car. Liya felt pale. She could feel her throat contract from time to time, but she didn’t even have anything to come up her throat, which she was thankful for. She didn’t want to throw up in the car and annoy Aldo more. He drove off, barely looking at her and she couldn’t bring herself to say anything either. She had chosen Aldo back there, and it should have been enough for him. But obviously, it wasn’t enough for him. He suddenly turned to her. “Why did you choose the note?” It wasn't the question that she expected him to ask, but she was willing to answer him because she knew why. “I just couldn't pull the trigger.” The words were barely out of her mouth when he interrupted her. “I knew you couldn't,” he said, slamming his hand against the wheel, making her flinch. She bit her lower lip so hard she was sure it would bleed if she added any more pressure. Aldo grabbed the steering wheel until
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 29: Test of Loyalty
Liya couldn’t hold back her tears as she ran back to her room. She was thankful that there were none of the maids or guards present in the hallways.As soon as she shut the door, she allowed the tears to flow freely as she sank to the floor. Aldo was betrayed barely twenty-four hours ago, and she had just done the same thing. How could she be so stupid?What if it was just a test from Damian? She wished that she didn't have to face Aldo ever again but she knew that it was going to be impossible. They practically lived in the same house. She was Mrs. Marino. Aldo’s fucking wife. What kind of wife betrayed her husband?She pushed the thought out of her head. She buried her face in her knees as she sobbed. She didn’t even know when she fell asleep on the floor. As she woke up the next morning, Liya hurried to the bathroom. She could barely see clearly as she stared at herself in the mirror. She couldn't recognize the woman that stared back at her. Her eyes were swollen, and her cheeks
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 28: Betrayal
Liya paced around the library. She couldn't even go back to her room to sleep. It wasn't just the fact that she had seen Damian that managed to shake her but the message that she had gotten right after he had left her in the greenhouse but not without slipping a burner phone between the flowers. Damian had sent her a text that he had her brother in his custody and that she needed to act fast. Liya tried not to cry. It wasn't the first or second time that she was in such a difficult situation just because of Liam. She rubbed her sweaty palms against her jeans. She couldn't even call Liam to confirm if it was true, because his phone was switched off and she hadn't seen or heard from him since the day he came to warn her about trusting Aldo. Liya stared at the burner phone in her hand. The phone that she was supposed to send the codes that Damian needed. She shook her head, trying not to do it. But there was only one thought in her head and that was saving Liam. She knew she should l
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 27: Unexpected Visitor
Liya could barely keep to herself after she finally told Aldo goodnight. She had only slept for a few hours too, unable to settle the fluttering butterflies in her stomach. By the time she woke up, the sky was gray and gloomy. Almost as if there was an impending doom. But Liya didn't want to see it like that. Things were starting to make sense between her and Aldo and nothing would go wrong between the both of them. It was chilly around the house, and even the fireplace did nothing to help. It was warm, but Liya didn't feel comfortable around it. She had a cup of coffee and decided to head outside. She was sure that the estate would be more secure. She hadn't seen Aldo, Aria, or Melinda that morning, but she wanted to give them their space as well. As she walked into the greenhouse with her huge sweater, she quickly put on the rubber boots and walked through the arrangement of different flowers. She would stop and sniff, closing their eyes and committing the scent to memory. She hu
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 26: Comfort
Liya quickly had her bath and headed to Aria's room. She was barely in the mood for breakfast. All she wanted to do was spend some time with the little girl. Just as she was heading there, she walked past Aldo in the hallway. She opened her mouth to greet him, but the look that he gave her made her shut her mouth immediately. She wanted to go after him and ask him what was wrong, but she knew better than to do that. She couldn't push away the feeling that something had happened. Something that had shaken him. Something that couldn't have been easily fixed. Liya knocked, trying to smile as she got into Aria's room. Aria was already up and refreshed, reading a book on her bed. Liya tried observing every single action that Aria made, trying to see if she noticed that something was going on with her brother. But Aria seemed like she was oblivious to whatever had happened to Aldo. “Have you read Frieda McFadden's newest book?” She asked out of excitement. “Yes, I have,” Liya said, try
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 25: Broken Trust
After talking to Liya, Aldo knew that nothing would ever remain the same. He wanted to head to his room, but he knew that sleep was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He ended up going to his study to see if he would be able to go through some files that needed his attention. Business was the only thing that seemed to save him whenever he was drowning in thoughts. He tried going through them, but he couldn't get Liya’s voice out of his head. Her calm voice when she said she just wanted him to be real with her. He didn't know if all the answers that he had given her were the best but at least he was truthful to her. It was true that he and Damian were close. Very close allies and businessmen back then. Damian was more like an older brother and that was due to their age difference. He was a mentor but now Damian was more like a wolf hunting Aldo down. Aldo ran his hands through his hair in frustration, as he tried not to groan. A knock on the door brought him out of his dilemm
Desperate Measures CHAPTER 24: Photograph
After checking up on Aria and going back to his office to check on the security cameras that Melinda had said she put in place, Aldo headed back to his study to go through a few documents that needed his attention. He checked up on Aria again and this time, she was really asleep. He couldn’t hold back his chuckle. He was glad she could sleep after all that they had been throughout that day. Liya decided to keep herself busy with something after Aria had left her room for hers. As she walked down the halls, she noticed the door to Aldo’s room was open. She had never been in there so she didn’t bother knocking as she walked into the room. It was the first time so she took time to admire it. The room was covered in white. Like a hospital. The only things that were of a different color were the mahogany doors and tables. She wondered how he managed to stay in an almost monochrome room. She was so lost in thought, that she didn’t even notice when he walked into the room. He tapped her sh
