The boardroom was suffocating. The air felt thick, heavy, like the atmosphere itself had been charged by the collision of lies, truth, and unresolved vendettas. More than twenty people were present—family members, company shareholders, secretaries, assistants, and even Mr. and Mrs. Madison, whose two percent stake in the company, acquired thanks to Liza’s cunning, gave them the audacity to be present in the room. Their expressions were a mixture of curiosity, judgment, and superiority. And at the center of the storm, like the eye of a hurricane, stood Elion Copper.
His dark eyes, sharp and unyielding, were fixed on Ella. There was a depth in his gaze that could consume a person whole—a mixture of fury, disbelief, and an intensity that made her shiver in spite of herself. His voice, when it came, was laced with sarcasm that could cut through steel.“After being caught red-handed, what excuse do you have this time around?” he asked, each word likeElion Copper had never felt a storm like this inside him. It wasn’t just anger, nor was it simple frustration. It was something deeper, more primal, and terrifying in its intensity. He couldn’t define it—couldn’t even rationalize it—but the moment his eyes met Ella’s, the world seemed to narrow down to her alone. A surge of possessiveness clawed at his chest, a desperate, almost violent need to protect her. Not because anyone else asked him to, not because society demanded it, but because something inside him recognized her as his. Mine, his mind whispered. Every instinct screamed it, every heartbeat pounded it.He stared at her, and she squirmed under the intensity of his gaze. It wasn’t a mere glance. It was the weight of ownership, the gravity of a man who had power over everything, yet found himself powerless in the presence of one woman. Ella’s cheeks flushed under his scrutiny, and even Liza, who prided herself on reading every emotion in a room, faltered. T
The boardroom was suffocating. The air felt thick, heavy, like the atmosphere itself had been charged by the collision of lies, truth, and unresolved vendettas. More than twenty people were present—family members, company shareholders, secretaries, assistants, and even Mr. and Mrs. Madison, whose two percent stake in the company, acquired thanks to Liza’s cunning, gave them the audacity to be present in the room. Their expressions were a mixture of curiosity, judgment, and superiority. And at the center of the storm, like the eye of a hurricane, stood Elion Copper.His dark eyes, sharp and unyielding, were fixed on Ella. There was a depth in his gaze that could consume a person whole—a mixture of fury, disbelief, and an intensity that made her shiver in spite of herself. His voice, when it came, was laced with sarcasm that could cut through steel.“After being caught red-handed, what excuse do you have this time around?” he asked, each word like
The day stretched like a storm about to break. Elion Copper moved through the company corridors like a tempest in human form. His usual calm, measured presence had vanished, replaced by a brooding anger that radiated from him in palpable waves. Employees who usually dared to make requests or ask questions kept their heads bowed, moving with unnatural caution around him. Even the senior staff, who had weathered his moods countless times, felt the bite of something new—something sharper.Elion himself did not understand the origin of his fury. It was not rooted in business, not in incompetence, nor even in the routine annoyances that normally tested his patience. No, this anger was different. It gnawed at him from the inside, an instinct he could not name, a pull he could not resist. It had been building ever since their return from the hospital, festering silently beneath his composed exterior.Meanwhile, his attention was singular: Liza. Every t
The nurse settled beside Ella, her movements deliberate, careful, almost maternal. Every spoonful of the warm, nourishing food was delivered with tenderness, as if she could will Ella’s body to heal through each bite. Ella tried to focus on the taste, but nausea surged violently. She leaned forward, gripping the edge of the bed, and then, violently, she vomited.The nurse’s hands were swift, steady, wiping her face, adjusting her pillow, murmuring, “It’s okay… you’re safe now. Just breathe.”From the corner of the room, Liza’s eyes narrowed. A storm brewed behind her calculated gaze. She pulled out her phone, her fingers moving faster than thought, sending a message with venomous precision. Within moments, the doctor appeared, walking briskly, his presence calm but urgent.“Master Elion, Liza is recovering remarkably fast. I anticipate she could be discharged this evening. Given that her parents are abroad, I suggest she remai
Liza pretentiously placed her hand on her abdomen, exaggerating the pain as though the world itself had turned against her. Every movement was calculated, every groan timed for maximum effect.“Elion, you just saved my life, and I can’t watch anyone talk down on you, even if it means I should trade my life for you,” she said, her voice dripping with saccharine affection. The words were meant to sting, meant to remind everyone that she was the center of his world—at least in appearance.Maya immediately rushed to her side, feigning concern. She supported Liza, guiding her back to the bed with meticulous care, then leaned in, whispering advice that dripped with venom disguised as counsel. “Miss Liza, you shouldn’t risk your life for that slut. She’s not worth it.”Ella’s chest tightened. She pressed her hand against the lingering ache in her side, her mind racing. Slut… they call me a slut again. After everything, after the kidn
Without a word, Elion walked out of the ward, his steps measured, almost predatory. Henry followed silently, the air around them thick with tension. Seeing that Elion was heading straight for the car, Henry quickly opened the door and gestured for him to get in. Elion slid into the driver’s seat, his movements smooth, almost inhuman in precision. The engine roared to life under his touch, and in minutes, the villa came into view. Elion stepped inside without a word, moving past the living room with a calm so chilling it could freeze hearts. He sank onto one of the sofas, the weight of his frustration pressing down, an invisible storm brewing behind his composed exterior.What a reckless display last night, what a complete disaster. She dares test my patience again and again… Elion’s mind churned with silent fury, fingers drumming lightly on the sofa armrest. The thought of Liza’s life dangling in uncertainty had finally pushed him to act. His gaze was sharp, calcu