CHAPTER 0037 NOWHERE TO RUN ELENA, Pain. It was the first thing I felt. A deep, searing ache that pulsed through my body, burrowing into my bones. Every nerve screamed in protest, dragging me between the suffocating grasp of unconsciousness and the cruel reality of wakefulness. There was no in-between, no escape—just raw, unrelenting agony. The air was stale, thick with the scent of old fabric and something sharper, more metallic. Blood. My blood. A dull, sticky warmth clung to my skin, and when I forced my eyes open, the ceiling above me came into view—stained yellow with water damage, cracks spreading across its surface like fractured veins. The room was small, suffocating. Shadows loomed in the corners, pressing in. The sheets beneath me were rough, grating against the raw wounds on my body, their touch a cruel reminder of everything I had survived. I tried to move. A white-hot pain slashed through my side, stealing my breath. A strangled whimper slipped past my lips befor
CHAPTER 38THE PLANELENA,The room felt too small, too heavy with the weight of everything that had happened and everything that still lay ahead. The silence wrapped itself around me, pressing into my skin, suffocating me with its intensity. The faint hum of the air conditioner was the only sound, and it did nothing to settle the storm inside me. Ryan’s hand gripped mine, firm, warm—his touch a lifeline, but even his presence couldn’t dull the ache gnawing at me from the inside.The decision had been made. There was no going back now. And yet, the consequences of it stretched out before me, like a dark chasm, and I couldn’t see the other side. I couldn’t breathe.The pain in my chest wasn’t from the gunshot wound. It wasn’t from the physical injuries Evan had left me with. No. This was a different kind of agony—a deeper kind of loss, one that went to the very core of who I was. Betrayal, broken dreams, and the wreckage of a future I’d never have.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to bl
CHAPTER 0039 THE PRICE OF ESCAPE ELENA, The next few hours passed in a blur, a series of fragmented thoughts and rushed decisions. My body moved on autopilot, going through the motions of preparation, but my mind—my mind was far away. It kept circling back to one thing: the irreversible choice I’d made. A choice that would erase me from the lives of everyone I had ever known. A choice that would sever the last ties I had to a life before Evan. A life before Ryan. I felt the cold grip of fear tighten around my chest, but underneath it, there was something else—a flicker of hope. A desperate, fragile hope. Maybe, just maybe, this was the only way out. Maybe if I disappeared, I could finally be free. Maybe I could start over, rebuild myself from the wreckage Evan had left behind. Ryan kept his promise. He was here, with me, and he had already made arrangements. The people he knew—the ones who could make me disappear—were meticulous. The plan was airtight. Every detail had been a
Chapter 40FREEDOM OR IS IT? ELENA, "Where are you headed, Elena? You know you can’t leave me."Evan's voice sent a shiver down my spine, freezing me in place. My blood ran cold as I turned to face him. Evan stood there, his dark eyes locked onto mine, his expression unreadable yet filled with something sinister. My heart pounded against my ribcage, my breath coming in shallow gasps. Ryan, who was standing beside me, stiffened at the sight of him. He had known Evan was dangerous—I had told him so many times. I had warned him that Evan was a man who cared for no one but himself, a man who saw people as possessions rather than individuals with free will. And now, here we were, caught in the very nightmare I had tried to escape. "Evan," I whispered, trying to mask the fear in my voice, but he heard it. He always did. He took a slow step forward, his movements calculated, as if he were a predator approaching his prey. Then, with a snap of his fingers, several men in black suits—his s
CHAPTER 0041THE ESCAPE..ELENA,The airport pulsed with life—hurried footsteps echoing across the polished floors, the chaotic hum of overlapping voices, the rhythmic beeping of security scanners. But for me, the world had narrowed into one singular sensation: the relentless pounding of my heart, each beat hammering against my ribs like a war drum.Ryan’s grip on my wrist was firm but not painful, an anchor keeping me tethered as we weaved through the throngs of travelers. My fingers trembled as they clutched the sleeve of his jacket, still haunted by the phantom weight of the gun that had been in my hands minutes ago. It was gone now, but I could still feel the cool metal pressing against my palm, the power of it, the fear of it.What had I done?No, worse—what had I almost done?My breath hitched, but there was no time for hesitation, no room for guilt or second-guessing. The moment I stopped to think, to feel, it would consume me. And if I let that happen, I wouldn’t survive."Whe
CHAPTER 0042THE CHASERYANThe moment Elena disappeared into the crowd, my entire body screamed at me to turn back, to chase after her, to make sure she made it out safely. But I couldn’t. If I followed her, they would catch us both. I forced myself to move in the opposite direction, every muscle coiled tight with tension. The airport was a battlefield, and we were the prey. Evan’s men weren’t searching blindly—they were hunting. Their formation was meticulous, their movements sharp and purposeful. They had eyes scanning every terminal, every waiting area, every possible escape route.I kept my head down, my steps measured, ignoring the pounding in my chest. If I ran too soon, I’d give myself away. I needed to slip through the cracks, to find a way out before they spotted me. But luck wasn’t on my side.“There! That’s him!”The shout cut through the noise of the airport, and every instinct screamed run. I bolted, desperate to find refuge anywhere. A startled businessman yelped as I s
Chapter 0043 GETTING BACK WHAT IS MINE EVAN, Fury burned through me, raw and consuming, an inferno raging in my veins. This wasn’t just anger—it was something darker, something more vicious. A relentless, gnawing force that refused to be silenced, clawing at the edges of my restraint like a beast desperate to be unleashed. She had escaped. Again. The realization hit me like a blade, sharp and unyielding, cutting deeper with every second that passed. My fists clenched at my sides, nails biting into my palms so hard that a sharp sting sliced through my skin. The pain was nothing. It barely registered against the inferno surging through my chest, against the violent pulse of rage pounding through my skull. Elena was gone. The airport terminal stretched around me, a cacophony of movement and sound—boarding calls droning overhead, hurried conversations, the rhythmic clatter of luggage wheels against polished floors. The scent of coffee, fuel, and sweat mixed in the air, creating a
CHAPTER 44 FOUND AGAIN ELENA I could still feel him. Evan. Even when he wasn’t there, his presence clung to me like a second skin, unseen but suffocating. It wasn’t just a memory or a lingering ghost of fear—it was something deeper, something that had settled inside me like a parasite, feeding on my terror. I felt it in the stiffness of my shoulders, the tight coil of anxiety in my stomach, the way my breath came too fast, too shallow. It lived in the way I flinched at sudden sounds, in the way my fingers curled instinctively into fists, as if preparing for a fight that had no end. But just because I couldn’t see him didn’t mean he wasn’t there. The airport hummed around me, a chaotic symphony of movement and voices—families reuniting with tearful embraces, business travelers moving with impatient efficiency, children laughing, flight announcements droning overhead. A world so oblivious to the fact that a hunted woman stood among them, heart pounding like a war drum. The ordi
Chapter 96 FAMILY COURTELENAI never thought I’d set foot in a courtroom again—not after everything I’d been through. But there I was, seated beside Ryan in a cold, echoing chamber that reeked of perfume, arrogance, and rehearsed lies. The polished wood, the artificial light, the judge’s impassive gaze—it all felt like a twisted theater where the truth was only allowed to speak if it wore the right suit.Sasha sat across from me, her strawberry-blonde hair curled to perfection, lips painted in the shade of deception. And Jason—God, Jason—looked smug in his tailored suit, his arm draped behind Sasha as if they were some power couple instead of the pair of vipers they truly were.They weren’t here for justice. They were here to humiliate me.To ruin me.To steal something that never even existed.The judge called the session to order, and I swallowed the dry lump in my throat. My palms were sweaty, but Ryan reached over and held my hand beneath the table, grounding me. His thumb brush
Chapter 95THE MASK FALLSELENAThe house looked different in the daylight. Smaller. Less imposing. But it still held ghosts.My heels clicked against the marble as I stepped into my childhood home. It had been years since I’d last stood inside these walls, and yet the scent of roses and old secrets hadn’t changed. The antique grandfather clock ticked steadily in the hallway, echoing like a countdown.Ryan lingered in the foyer, silent but close. I hadn’t asked him to come. He came anyway. And I needed that—needed him near in case I shattered.“My lady,” the butler said as he approached, eyes wide in surprise. “You’re… you’re here to see Mrs. Sinclair?”“She’s not a Sinclair,” I said, coldly. “She never was.”He swallowed hard and led us to the sunroom.There she was.Lounging in a cream sweater, pale as porcelain, her hair swept back into a tight chignon, sipping Earl Grey like it was any other Wednesday. My stepmother—Caroline.“Elena,” she said warmly, standing as if she’d been wai
Chapter 94UNCLE'S OFFERELENAThe press conference was televised live. Every major network covered it—New York Post, Sinclair Daily, even Morning Sunrise. It wasn’t just a statement. It was a performance.Jonathan Sinclair stood at the podium, flanked by two security guards and a wall of glistening flags behind him. The backdrop of the Sinclair Tower added to the spectacle. His silver hair was impeccably combed back, his bespoke charcoal suit flawless, and his voice—steady, calculated—commanded the room.“To the public, to our shareholders, and most importantly, to my beloved niece, Elena…” His voice dipped lower. “I offer not just an apology, but a promise.”I watched from the living room couch, fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white. Ryan stood behind me, pacing like a caged wolf.“I have made grave mistakes,” Jonathan continued. “The death hoax, the manipulation—it ends now. I was a desperate man trying to protect this empire, but in doing so, I forgot what truly matte
Chapter 93THE SILENCE BETWEEN USELENA,The hospital wing was too quiet. Not peaceful—never that—but sterile in a way that felt false. The kind of silence that clung to your skin, made your heartbeat echo like a warning, made every step feel too loud. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, humming a nervous tune, casting sharp shadows on the linoleum floor as I moved slowly down the corridor, my boots clicking like accusations.Everyone had told me not to come.“She’s dangerous, Elena.”“You don’t know if she’s still under Jonathan’s control.”“Let Adrian handle it.”But they didn’t understand.I had to see her.Not for revenge. Not for answers.For closure.Evelyn had once been my closest friend. My confidante. My shadow. The one who brushed my hair back after surgeries, who whispered comfort into the void when I forgot who I was. When I’d lost everything—my sight, my freedom, my sense of self—Evelyn had stayed.Until she didn’t.Until she betrayed me.She had lied to me. Lied so beaut
Chapter 92SAFE ISN’T SAFEELENA, The silence in the safehouse was deceptive. Too perfect. Too still.Even the wind, which howled outside like some long-forgotten spirit, couldn’t penetrate the oppressive quiet that pressed against the walls. I sat upright in bed, every sense on edge. The floor beneath me vibrated with the faintest creaks, the kind old houses made as they settled into themselves—but this wasn’t just an old house. This was supposed to be a fortress. Hidden. Secure. Untouchable.Yet my pulse said otherwise.I pressed a hand against my stomach. The baby—just a whisper of life—rested within me, and already, my instincts were sharper. Louder. Every inch of me screamed that something was wrong. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt watched. Hunted. Like prey in a cage disguised as safety.I slipped on a hoodie, not bothering with shoes, and crept out of the room. The hallway yawned before me, long and dimly lit by a single emergency bulb hanging above. Shadows danced along the
Chapter 91Womb & WarELENA,The weight of the test in my hand was like the weight of the world. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. The moment the two pink lines appeared, my vision blurred. I stared at the small strip, numb to the tremor in my fingers, unable to process what it meant.Pregnant.A child.My first instinct was to panic. A baby meant vulnerability—something I couldn’t afford. It meant ties to this world, to Ryan, to the monstrous family that still lurked in the shadows. It meant another complication I didn’t need. But then, amidst the panic, something else stirred—something deeper, something softer. A flutter of hope, or was it dread disguised as it?I pressed the back of my hand to my lips, feeling the burn of unshed tears in my eyes. How could this happen now? How could I possibly bring a child into this chaos, this war?I sank back onto the edge of the bathroom sink, my breath coming in shallow bursts. The darkness outside the window seemed to press in closer, the c
Chapter 90Blood Oaths & BusinessRYAN'SThe boardroom smelled like power—aged mahogany, expensive cologne, and the unspoken stench of betrayal. Ryan stood at the head of the long glass table, every eye on him, most of them cold and calculating. His hands gripped the back of the chair in front of him, knuckles pale against the leather. The Sinclair name was stitched into every corner of this room, from the monogrammed coasters to the gold-embossed folders. But so was the rot his uncle left behind.“I know Jonathan is still pulling strings,” Ryan said, voice calm, controlled. “And I’m done pretending otherwise.”Silence. A single cough from the far end. Then Mr. Caldwell, the CFO, adjusted his tie and narrowed his eyes. “That’s a serious accusation, Mr. Sinclair.”“It’s not an accusation. It’s a statement of fact.”He slid a thin folder across the table. Inside were photos—grainy but clear enough—of Jonathan Sinclair walking into a private residence just weeks ago. Beneath that, survei
Chapter 89The Ghost in Her EyesELENA,The silence after the video ended was louder than any scream. It settled over the room like dust in a tomb—heavy, stale, suffocating. Not even the steady hum of the old cabin's heater could cut through it. All I could hear was the phantom echo of Jonathan's voice: "My perfect heir." The words played on loop, like a dirge inside my skull.Ryan didn’t let go of my hand. His grip was firm, tethering me to the present, but my mind was already unraveling, pulling threads I didn’t know were loose. That girl—the one with eyes like mine and Jonathan’s sharp, predatory posture—she couldn’t be mine. That wasn’t possible. I would have remembered. I would have felt something. Wouldn’t I?But I didn’t. I didn’t remember a pregnancy. I didn’t remember holding a baby. I didn’t remember her.I wasn’t even sure I remembered me.“She looks like him,” I whispered, my voice hollow. “But… there’s something in her eyes. Something I know.”Ryan didn’t respond immediat
Chapter 88Fractures & FlashbacksELENA,The safehouse was too quiet.Nestled deep in the Catskill Mountains, this secluded cabin had been chosen for its obscurity, but all I felt was the suffocating silence that wrapped around me like a shroud. I stood by the frosted window, staring out at the moonlit outline of pine trees. Somewhere, far in the woods, an owl hooted, but I didn’t flinch. I was beyond flinching now.Behind me, the crackling fire in the hearth offered warmth, but it was a false comfort, unable to reach the cold, stillness that had settled deep in my bones. My hands rested on my stomach—flat, still secret. I hadn’t told Ryan yet. I wasn’t even sure if I could.Ryan.He was pacing in the living room, sharp, calculated steps echoing in the stillness. He hadn’t slept in two days, not since we fled the burning hideout. His appearance was a far cry from the immaculate man I had once known. His shirt was half-buttoned, sleeves rolled up in haste, and his hair was a wild mess