As she stepped into the bedroom, she saw a dark figure silhouetted next to the window and screamed. She stumbled backward, falling hard on the carpet as terror seized her heart like an icy fist.Strong hands reached for her and she fought against them with renewed panic, her mind still trapped in the nightmare. Every shadow looked like Dane, every movement a threat. "Lincoln! Lincoln, help me!""Hey, hey, calm down baby. It's me, it's just me," His warm, worried words were like a lifeline pulling her back from the edge of complete breakdown. She knew, loved and trusted that person more than anything in the world. It was her anchor in the storm."Lincoln? Is that really you?"“Hey, sweetheart. It’s just me. You’re safe now,” he murmured gently, reaching for her again with slow, careful movements so he wouldn’t scare her more."Someone's following me... he hurt me... I'm so scared," Scarlett whispered, shaking uncontrollably. "Please don't leave me alone. Don't ever leave me alone agai
Dane's hands roamed over her trembling body like brands, each unwanted touch burning into her skin and leaving invisible scars that she knew would never fully heal. The memory of his touch would haunt her again, maybe worse than before, she realized with growing horror.Every caress felt like a violation, every squeeze of his fingers a reminder of her helplessness in this moment. But somewhere deep inside, buried beneath layers of fear and pain, a flame of resistance still burned bright and fierce.She refused to be passive this time. She wouldn't just lie there and take it like some broken doll. She would fight with everything she had, every breath in her body, every beat of her heart, every fiber of her being.Scarlet writhed and kicked with desperate fury, stomping on his feet with her heels, clawing at his arms with her nails, biting when his fingers came too close to her mouth, anything to break free from his suffocating grip.But Dane's strength was overwhelming, his grip like i
The very notion of ownership repulsed Scarlet to her core. It not only challenged her fundamental existence but also undermined her dignity as a human being. She'd grown up believing she was equal to any man, that her thoughts and feelings mattered, that she had the right to choose her own path in life.Her parents had raised her to be strong and independent, to never let anyone diminish her worth or treat her as less than human. The idea that this monster thought he could reduce her to property was an insult to everything she had been taught to value about herself.She wasn't some object to be owned, some prize to be won or claimed, no matter what this monster believed in his twisted, delusional head. She was a person with hopes, dreams, fears, and the absolute right to decide who could touch her body and claim her heart.Scarlet drew in a sharp breath, the torment in her wounded spirit eclipsing even the physical ache that gripped her battered body. The emotional pain cut deeper tha
Scarlet's brow creased deeply in confusion and growing apprehension at his ominous words."What more could you possibly desire from me? Haven't you done enough?" she inquired, a sense of weary resignation mingling with stubborn defiance as she struggled desperately against his unyielding grip.She attempted with all her strength to disentangle herself from his possessive embrace. A surge of pure frustration and righteous anger welled up within her like a volcano ready to erupt.This man standing before her was the perpetrator of unspeakable horrors, the one who had shattered her world and stolen precious time from her life that she could never recover.She vividly recalled how endless nights had blurred into agonizing days as tears stained her cheeks in mourning for all that'd been brutally taken from her.So profound was the complete devastation wrought by Dane's calculated actions that Scarlet had resorted to adopting a false identity, feigning amnesia to shield herself from the unb
Lincoln embraced her tenderly in his strong, protective arms, a gesture of love that made Dane's blood boil with jealousy and rage.He watched the intimate scene unfold from his elevated vantage point, and his lips twisted into a cold, calculating grin that would've chilled the blood of anyone who witnessed it.The pinnacle of his elaborate and nefarious scheme had finally arrived, and he'd been waiting his entire adult life for this perfect moment of revenge and possession.After leaving the balcony, Dane rapidly put on his expensive silk shirt, and deliberately left several buttons undone in a calculated maneuver that he made in order to preserve an impression of casual sophistication mixed with dangerous sexuality.Without leaving the confines of his luxurious suite, he unlocked the door and strained his ears to pick up even the slightest sound, specifically the alluring melody of Scarlet's high heels clicking against the polished marble floors of the hotel corridor.Dane's heart q
The morning sun's golden rays lit up the sleek, polished exterior of the magnificent private jet as it climbed smoothly into the vast blue sky. Below, it stretched out endlessly like an ocean full of possibilities and dreams.Dane settled in comfortably on the luxurious soft leather seats. The plane's interior was a clear display of wealth and power, with every amenity a demanding traveler could want.Chris, his essential and trusted assistant who had proven his loyalty in countless dangerous situations, joined him on this important trip. So did a carefully chosen team of highly trained men, all dedicated to protecting and serving their boss without question.They covered huge distances across continents, crossing land and sea with the focus of people on a serious mission. Finally, their luxurious jet landed gracefully at Rome's prestigious international airport, in Italy's eternal city.The journey had taken them over all sorts of stunning landscapes, from snow-capped mountains to va