When Eric heard Ainsley's words, he was filled with a mix of frustration and disbelief. Typically, tasks like this were left to the packโs doctors, but now he found himself being summoned to take on a job that seemed beneath him. He couldnโt help but feel resentful as he moved forward, preparing the IV.โEric, wait a second, do you know how to do this?โ Ainsleyโs voice cut through the air, dripping with doubt.Ericโs hand trembled as he tried to find the right vein, but in his haste, he struck the wrong one. Ainsleyโs expression soured immediately, his gaze growing colder with each failed attempt. โIf you canโt, Iโll get someone else to do the job. Donโt force yourself.โEric, who had always prided himself on his skills, clenched his jaw. His face tightened in determination. โKeep still,โ he snapped. โIf I donโt get her on a drip, Iโll write you a letter of resignation tomorrow and go home to help my father gather herbs.โAinsleyโs jaw tightened. He didnโt have time for games, but Eri
After the cloth was removed, Mavis immediately relaxed. She had been gagged for so long that she couldn't help but cough, her face turning red from the strain. Her vision blurred for a moment, but when it cleared, Ainsley's feet appeared in her line of sight. For a brief second, Mavis paused, the overwhelming emotions of fear and frustration almost drowning her. Suddenly, she felt a harsh grip on her chin, pulling her head up sharply. The force was enough to make her eyes widen in shock. She saw Ainsley's eyes dangerous and full of malice."I'm in a bad mood right now. I don't have much patience. You better answer whatever I ask you..." His voice was cold, each word dripping with icy authority.Mavis's heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran down her spine. Ainsley's grip tightened, and she felt the pressure digging into her jaw. It hurt, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she dared not show weakness. The pain was overwhelming, but she fought to stay composed. Ainsley's hand, gloved i
Mavis felt Ainsleyโs disdain like a cold blade slicing through her heart. His voice, dripping with venom towards Lucian, made her stomach churn. Every insult, every cruel word about the man she loved, felt like a personal wound. But she couldnโt speak, couldnโt defend him. Fear held her tongue in place.How dare he say that about Lucian? Her mind screamed, but the words couldnโt escape her lips. Her gaze flitted between Ainsleyโs cold face and the floor beneath her, desperate for the strength to speak, to challenge him, but the courage failed to materialize. She knew the danger of antagonizing him, the fear of what he could do. He wasnโt just any man; Ainsley was the Alpha of the Litha Night Walker Pack, ruthless, calculating, and untouchable.Her heart ached for Lucian, the man she admired with every fiber of her being. Lucian deserves more than this. He deserves respect, she thought bitterly. But there was nothing she could do at that moment. Her hands, clenched into fists by her si
โI know she works at Club Scarlet Heart. She's your employee...โAfter a brief moment of silence, Lucianโs mind started to piece things together. Could I have offended Ainsleyโs employee? He wondered. Given Ainsleyโs domineering nature, he could see how any action could lead to conflict.Lucian hesitated, then spoke, his voice uncertain, "So... she's okay, right? She's not dead?" Lucian's voice faltered as he spoke. It wasn't so much a question as an attempt to convince himself.Mavis, struggling for control, could barely keep her body upright. Every fibber of her being ached as she knelt on the cold ground. She was drained, emotionally and physically, she couldn't even find the strength to lift her head. All she could hear were the harsh, chaotic sounds of her breath, her own desperation suffocating her.What have I done? She thought, the realization like a weight pressing down on her chest. The raw, bitter truth tore through her mind. Lucian. He had played her, used her, and now she
In the dimly lit room, Eloiseโs eyelids fluttered open. The weight of the silence in the air settled heavily upon her. Her sharp, fearful gaze darted around the unfamiliar space, trying to grasp where she was. The cold room made her feel trapped, as if the darkness itself were closing in on her. She lay motionless in the bed, her long, tangled hair splayed around her like a dark halo, a mess of exhaustion and dread.Eloiseโs heartbeat quickened as she took in her surroundings. The atmosphere was tense, thick with the kind of tension only secrets could breed. Ainsley stood by her side, his presence imposing. He was watching her, waiting, as though he had been standing there for an eternity, his eyes burning with the weight of a question that needed to be answered. His rigid posture betrayed his impatience, but his eyes, those deep, calculating eyes, betrayed something darker, something closer to suspicion.The air between them seemed to crackle with unsaid words, and the tension threat
His pulse raced as the wolf inside him howled with hunger. Every instinct screamed at him to claim her. He stepped closer, his breath shallow. She trembled beneath his touch, her eyes wide.She felt herself melting against him, her own emotions tangled with his. Despite everything, the connection between them, however strained, was undeniable. The bond they shared, the one that had once felt like a curse, now pulled her in deeper. I hate this, she thought, but I need this. I need him.Her body responded instinctively, the pull of the bond stronger than her thoughts."Mark her now," Adrian growled, his voice thick with urgency. "You feel it too, the bond, the pull. Sheโs yours, and every moment you wait, someone else could claim her. Donโt let doubt steal whatโs already yours. Mark her, before itโs too late."With Adrian urging him, his heart was pounding. He gently cupped her face, pulling her closer, his breath warm on her skin. With a deep growl, he was about sinking his teeth into
Mavis stood there, her body stiff with shock, as the weight of Lucianโs words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her breath caught in her throat, her mind spinning. Why? Why does everyone want to see me broken? The anger and confusion clawed at her from the inside, and her eyes, wide with disbelief, burned with resentment. She couldnโt understand how everything had gone so horribly wrong.Lucianโs eyes, cold and unfeeling, watched her with a detached amusement, as though her pain was little more than an inconvenience. His expression, impervious to the emotional turmoil brewing inside Mavis, betrayed no surprise. Of course, sheโs acting like this. She always is selfish, ignorant, and blind to the consequences of her actions.Does she really think she can fool everyone with her lies? Lucian thought angrily. She has the nerve to claim Eloise is pretending to be hurt. She thinks I would fall for that? His gaze darkened as he thought of Eloise, her quiet dignity, her strength hidden beneath
"Lucian," she whispered, her voice cracking, breaking under the strain of her emotions, "Please, just... tell me what I did wrong. I... I can fix it. Iโll change. Iโll be whatever you want." Her words came out in a desperate, pleading rush, but there was no softening in his gaze, no flicker of the man she had once known.Instead, Lucianโs lips curved into a cruel, humorless smile, and he stood up, the movement cold and precise, like a predator closing in on its prey.โYouโve already done enough, Mavis. What you donโt understand is that your mistakes were made long before today. You thought you could manipulate me, control me... but you never had that power. And now, itโs too late.โ His voice was ice, the finality of his words sinking in.Mavisโs knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor, her mind reeling, her body shaking uncontrollably as tears threatened to spill. She had no idea how to respond to that. The weight of Lucianโs rejection was suffocating, and her heart felt as if
Time passed slowly.Eloise glanced at her wristwatch again, her brows knitting in frustration. The ticking felt like it echoed louder in the room than it had any right to, like each second was dragging its feet, deliberately mocking her patience. She shifted slightly in her seat, the silence becoming more stifling by the minute. Ainsley sat across from her, completely still, his small eyes trained on her face with an eerie calmness.The shrill ring of her phone startled her.Her body tensed instinctively. She snatched the phone from the table, her thumb sliding across the screen to answer.โAre you here yet?โ she asked sharply.From the other end, Ericโs voice came hurried, uneven, and heavy with movement. He was clearly in motion. โI canโt come,โ he said, no greeting, just urgency. โIโll leave Ainsley with you for now.โEloise shot upright. โWait a minute,โ she snapped. โLeave him with me for now? Isnโt Hank there?โShe heard the sigh in Ericโs throat before he spoke. โHank isnโt fre
Stepping aside, Eloise said in a formal tone, โLet me introduce you. This is Jack Ray, the representative of our partner.โMandy, blinking in confusion, stepped forward and extended her hand politely. "Helloโฆ.."โMandy, Iโll follow the project this time,โ Eloise cut in swiftly, not allowing her to finish.Mandy froze, utterly bewildered.Eloise leaned close and whispered in her ear, โIโll explain after we get back.โJack personally walked them all the way to the car, his gaze never leaving Eloise until she disappeared from his sight.Inside the car, Eloise slumped back against the seat.โHave you met Jack before?โ Mandy asked curiously as they neared the Moonlight Garden. โI thought I was going to be in charge of the project?โEloise forced a smile. โDon't misunderstand. There are certain things about this project I need to handle personally. You've been working so hard, Mandy. You deserve a break.โMandy still looked unsure. โOkayโฆ but rest well after this problem is solved, okay?โA
The secretary suddenly stood up, her voice hurried and apologetic. โIโm sorry, Mandy." Our president said he wanted to meet with Ms. Anthony alone to seek cooperation this time.โEloise, Mandy, and the other Anthony Group representatives exchanged confused glances, uncertainty flickering between them. What a strange request! Suspicion brewed silently in the air.Mandy parted her lips to protest, but Eloise reached out, stopping her with a firm hand. โTake the others out of the conference room,โ she instructed quietly, her voice calm but commanding.โButโฆโ Mandyโs brows furrowed in deep worry. She didnโt want to leave Eloise alone.Eloise looked at her steadily, her gaze unwavering, burning with determination. โMandy, you know how important this cooperation is to me.โIt wasnโt just important to her; it was crucial to the future of the Anthony Group. It was everything.Mandy hesitated a moment longer, then finally nodded. โLetโs go,โ she said, her voice reluctant. She signaled the othe
Ainsley was in a pitiful state; his clothes soaked through, his shoes worn out beyond recognition. He must have been searching for her for a long, long time, wandering alone through the rain.โGet in the car,โ Eloise said urgently, her voice cracking as she took his trembling hand.Leading him carefully, she guided him back to the car, shielding him as best she could from the relentless rain.She pulled open the back seat door and gestured for him to climb in. But Ainsley stubbornly shook his head, water flying from his wet hair.โNo,โ he said firmly.โWhy?โ Eloise asked, frowning deeply, confused by his sudden refusal.โI donโt want to sit in the back seat, I want to sit there.โ He pointed insistently at the passenger seat beside her.Eloise blinked, momentarily stunned. She didnโt quite understand what difference it made, but for Ainsley, it clearly meant everything.โI want to sit next to you,โ he said seriously, his eyes locked onto hers, filled with an intensity that surprised h
โNo reward?โ Ainsleyโs mouth trembled, and he looked like he might burst into tears at any second.Eloise bit her lip hard. โOf course, you get a reward. Like I said, you did great.โ She reached out and ruffled his hair. The next moment, she froze as Ainsley, clearly overjoyed, rested his head contentedly on her shoulder.Just then, Eric came up behind them, his voice low. โEverythingโs ready, we can send it now.โNo one spoke. The tension in the air was almost unbearable as they quietly got into the car. As the vehicle rolled down the dark road, Eloise stole a glance at Ainsley, who had already fallen asleep beside her.He used to occupy most of her life โ in every memory, every thought. Now, the air inside the car felt stifling. Eloise turned her head sharply to the window, blinking hard. He couldnโt remember anything.All the entanglements they once shared ; love, hate and pain, now belonged to her alone.The car headed farther into the remote outskirts, taking a dark road lined wi
Eric hesitated, concern flickering across his face, but finally he nodded and stepped out, shutting the door behind him with a soft thud. Silence swallowed the room. Eloise stood motionless for a long, long time. The steady beeping of machines was the only sound, each one a harsh reminder of how fragile life was.Finally, she moved. Slow, heavy steps carried her to Ainsleyโs bedside. She reached out with a trembling hand but stopped an inch from touching him.Instead, she sank into the chair beside him, folding her hands tightly in her lap to hide how badly they shook. She didnโt cry. She didnโt scream. She just sat there, hour after hour, her eyes never leaving his broken body.Five days and nights blurred into each other.Every time Eric or Jacob tried to pull her away, she stayed rooted there.โWonโt it hurt her if she doesnโt cry?โ Eric asked once, whispering in a low voice, watching her through the window.โIโve been through worse,โ Eloise heard it she croaked, her voice raw and
โI want shoes to match,โ she said softly.โYes, maโam. Right away,โ the shop assistant said, hurrying off.Mandy walked closer and touched Eloiseโs arm gently. โEloise... are you sure youโre ready for this?โEloise turned her eyes toward her. There was no hesitation in them. Only a fierce, burning determination.โI have to be,โ she said, her voice almost breaking. โI donโt have a choice.โMandyโs throat tightened. She wanted to hug her, to pull her back, to stop her from going, but she knew she couldnโt.Just then, Eloiseโs phone buzzed.Mandy immediately grabbed it from the counter and handed it to her. โItโs Jacob,โ she said quietly.Eloise answered on the second ring. โIโm ready.โโGood,โ Jacobโs voice came crisply through the speaker. โA car is waiting for you outside. Your passport and visa are in the car. Youโll be taken directly to a private jet. You need to leave within the next twenty minutes.โโUnderstood,โ Eloise said without hesitation.โAnd Miss Anthony... donโt be late,โ
Mandy, who was driving, opened her mouth, only to realize she couldn't find a word to comfort Eloise. She knew Eloise too well, so she didn't feel the need for words to comfort her.The Anthony Group had many problems. Perhaps they had been overlooked, or perhaps Gary didn't think they were serious. Mandy was a little worried about Eloise, who was in the backseat. When Eloise was busy, she worked almost suicidly. Mandy thought she was supposed to hate Ainsley. After all, he was the one slowly forcing an extroverted woman into a corner. In all of Metrocity, Ainsley was the only person who could corner Eloise. But now, Mandy felt grateful to Ainsley. At least he would come on time to pick Eloise up for lunch and dinner, or Eloise would be too busy to eat.Mandy accompanied Eloise to work for several days, and Ainsley did not appear during this time.Eloise knew he was on a business trip.It wasn't the first time Ainsley had been on a business trip. Before, he'd call her no matter where
"Ainsley WIlliams! Damn you! "You promised me!โ Eloiseโs eyes blazed red with fury, veins visible on her temples as her body shook violently.Her scream echoed so loudly throughout the room that the light on the ceiling trembled from the force of her rage. She kicked at the bed frame, sending it crashing against the wall with a loud bang. The curtains flapped wildly in the air from the force of her movements, as if they too were disturbed by the storm erupting within her.The pain that flashed through Ainsley's eyes nearly froze him in place. His breath caught, but he focused hard on what he was doing, refusing to waver, even though guilt was clawing through his chest.Then her voice ripped through the room, raw and shattering, โAinsley! I hate you!โAinsley's eyes were filled with unbearable pain, the kind that didnโt show in blood but hurt worse than any wound. He clenched his jaw and abruptly lowered his head. Without a word, he pressed his lips to the scar on the back of her waist