Eloise’s eyes remained fixed on Gloria, her expression hardening.“Miss Hill, are you sure that if I follow your instructions this time, you’ll hand over all the copies and swear you won’t tell a soul?”Gloria, her voice dripping with mockery, opened her mouth to respond. She was about to remind Eloise, who held the power here, to boast of her control, but before she could utter a word, Eloise spoke again.“Miss Hill, everyone has their secrets. But if you lie to me again, if you betray me just one more time, I will kill you.” The chill in Eloise’s voice sent a tremor through the room. She stared at Gloria, her eyes unwavering, each word carrying the weight of a promise.Gloria recoiled, gasping for breath. Her heart hammered in her chest as the severity of Eloise’s gaze paralyzed her. She means it. This isn’t some empty threat. She’s serious… The thought slammed into Gloria's mind with the force of a physical blow. Eloise wasn’t a woman to be trifled with.Unable to hold her ground,
Through the crack in the door, Lucian saw the woman inside. It was Eloise, the person he had been looking for. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He blinked a few times, almost as if his eyes were playing tricks on him.Richard walked over and asked, “Alpha Astra, why don’t you come in?”Suddenly, Lucian used his hand to cover Richard's mouth with great force. Richard looked up and saw Lucian's bloodshot eyes filled with murderous intent.The next second, he followed Lucian's gaze and looked inside as well. Richard's eyes instantly widened. He was stunned.Lucia thought, Eloise? What is she doing here? "What is she doing?" Richard felt so humiliated and angry! That he can barely lift his head!“Eloise! How can you be so cheap?” someone in the room said, her voice laced with disgust.Through the crack in the door, both Lucian and Richard saw the familiar figure. She was kneeling humbly on the floor giving a foot massage to a middle-aged man.Lucian saw the others inside. Their fac
Gloria’s voice echoed through the tense room, her words filled with a sense of harsh finality. “Alpha Astra, you know who Ainsley is, right? He was the one who sent Eloise to the werewolf prison. You should know that. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Alpha Anthony, he’s standing right next to you. Ask him if the Golden Moon Pack still considers Eloise one of their own.”Gloria's eyes narrowed, and she focused on Richard for a moment. “I remember Alpha Gary telling our Alpha that he didn’t consider Eloise a member of the Golden Moon Pack anymore. That’s the truth. You can ask anyone, but that’s what was said.” She paused, then added, “Of course, we’re outsiders, so you might not believe us. But what about her family members? Alpha Astra.”Lucian’s heart began to race as Gloria’s words hit him like a wave. He stared at Richard, searching for some kind of reassurance, but Richard didn’t meet his eyes. He turned his gaze to the ground, as if ashamed. The silence between them spoke vol
Richard didn’t notice the frosty vibe radiating off Eloise. He was too busy feeling embarrassed about the scene he’d just walked into. His face was turning redder than a tomato in a blender, and he couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Without a second thought, he turned on his heel and scurried out of the room, practically tripping over his own feet.Gloria, however, was in a much better mood.Oh, Eloise. Looks like your reign of “I’m way cooler than everyone” is finally over. I’m going to leave you here to rot. Don't even think about escaping not with your dramatic, aristocratic ways!With an air of superiority, she kicked the box of money at Eloise’s feet. "It’s yours now. Enjoy it," she said with a wicked grin.Eloise didn’t even flinch. Her eyes barely flickered toward the money as she reached down, grabbing the box with a kind of indifference that only people who have had their fair share of drama can pull off."Backup," Eloise said; cool as a cucumber, her voice thick with the
Rachael was worried about Eloise, so she went out to look for her.However, Eloise was nowhere to be found. She bit her lip nervously, staring into the empty space of the street. How could she disappear so quickly?She thought. Maybe she went back to the dorm. After all, Eloise had no friends, maybe she just needed some time alone. That made sense, right?She ran to Eloise’s dorm, her spare key trembling in her hand. Inside, the room was empty. She had to be here, Rachael thought, waiting for what felt like forever. But no one came.Frustrated, she dashed back to the café. She asked everyone, but no one had seen her. What if she went to the Scarlet Heart Club? She dialed Flora’s number, but there was no answer.Time slipped away, an hour and a half had passed since Eloise left.Rachael’s thoughts spiraled. What if she’s hurt? What if she’s... She couldn’t finish the thought. Panic took over. Has she gone to the Scarlet Heart Club? Rachael wondered, her mind jumping to that possibilit
Behind the wheel, Ainsley’s knuckles were white, gripping the steering wheel like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one sharp and cutting deeper into his chest. The coldness that gripped him wasn’t from the winter air, it was something more. It was anxiety, panic, and fear that Eloise might be slipping away from him forever.Why does it hurt so much? He wondered. Why is it that when I found out she was missing, it felt like my entire world was falling apart?Rachael’s words echoed in his mind: “She might harm herself, Alpha Williams. You need to find her. Now.” The sheer weight of those words made his heart stop, and yet, here he was, racing against time, unable to make sense of his own emotions. All he knew was that he had to find her.“Adrian, can you sense where Eloise is?” Ainsley’s voice was hoarse, barely a whisper as he spoke aloud, seeking some connection to his wolf.Adrian’s reply was strained. “I can only feel that she’s
As the car moved forward, Eloise let go of the hand covering her lips. She tasted rust, and knew it was blood. She leaned back in her seat and thought, Whatever he wants to do, just let him be. Anyway, no matter how hard I struggled, it would be useless.In the car, Ainsley called out to his guards through the mind connection, "Everyone return to Club Scarlet Heart."When the car stopped outside the club, Ainsley didn't say anything else. He leaned over, picked up Eloise, and walked towards the club."Don't move. If you don't want me to repeat what I did to you in the car in front of everyone, you had better behave yourself. Don't make me angry. It won't do you any good." Ainsley sensed Eloise's struggle and stopped her with an indifferent expression.Eloise was furious. Was Ainsley always ignoring her wishes?However, after taking a look around, she closed her eyes. She had no right to choose.Elijah and the others had arrived at the club. Meanwhile, Ainsley was leading Eloise to the
Lucian had always been known for his kindness. A man who spoke with respect, never raising his voice, never letting anger control him. He was composed, polite, someone who could always be counted on. But now, he stood before Ainsley, shouting as if his entire world was crumbling.He was in agony, but there was a bitter laugh on his lips."Ainsley, that's ridiculous!" Lucian's voice cracked. "What makes you think you can ask me to do something you can't even bring yourself to do?" His gaze was filled with disbelief as he locked eyes with Ainsley. "I will never admit that I could fall for a woman like her!"Ainsley remained calm. "In that case," Ainsley said, his voice low but steady, "stay away from her. Maybe you're right, but I'll find my own way to say those things you can't."Lucian's laugh was hollow, almost maniacal as he eyed Ainsley like he was the greatest fool in the room."Ainsley, you're ridiculous," Lucian scoffed. "I’ll watch you... But as for Eloise? I’m done. I’ve alread
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.“Are you here yet?” she asked sharply.From the other end, Eric’s voice came hurried, uneven, and heavy with movement. He was clearly in motion. “I can’t come,” he said, no greeting, just urgency. “I’ll leave Ainsley with you for now.”Eloise shot upright. “Wait a minute,” she snapped. “Leave him with me for now? Isn’t Hank there?”She heard the sigh in Eric’s throat before he spoke. “Hank isn’t fre
Stepping aside, Eloise said in a formal tone, “Let me introduce you. This is Jack Ray, the representative of our partner.”Mandy, blinking in confusion, stepped forward and extended her hand politely. "Hello….."“Mandy, I’ll follow the project this time,” Eloise cut in swiftly, not allowing her to finish.Mandy froze, utterly bewildered.Eloise leaned close and whispered in her ear, “I’ll explain after we get back.”Jack 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.“Have you met Jack before?” Mandy asked curiously as they neared the Moonlight Garden. “I thought I was going to be in charge of the project?”Eloise forced a smile. “Don'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.”Mandy still looked unsure. “Okay… but rest well after this problem is solved, okay?”A
The secretary suddenly stood up, her voice hurried and apologetic. “I’m sorry, Mandy." Our president said he wanted to meet with Ms. Anthony alone to seek cooperation this time.”Eloise, 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. “Take the others out of the conference room,” she instructed quietly, her voice calm but commanding.“But…” Mandy’s brows furrowed in deep worry. She didn’t want to leave Eloise alone.Eloise looked at her steadily, her gaze unwavering, burning with determination. “Mandy, you know how important this cooperation is to me.”It wasn’t 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. “Let’s go,” 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.“Get in the car,” 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.“No,” he said firmly.“Why?” Eloise asked, frowning deeply, confused by his sudden refusal.“I don’t want to sit in the back seat, I want to sit there.” He pointed insistently at the passenger seat beside her.Eloise blinked, momentarily stunned. She didn’t quite understand what difference it made, but for Ainsley, it clearly meant everything.“I want to sit next to you,” he said seriously, his eyes locked onto hers, filled with an intensity that surprised h
“No reward?” Ainsley’s mouth trembled, and he looked like he might burst into tears at any second.Eloise bit her lip hard. “Of course, you get a reward. Like I said, you did great.” 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. “Everything’s ready, we can send it now.”No 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 — in every memory, every thought. Now, the air inside the car felt stifling. Eloise turned her head sharply to the window, blinking hard. He couldn’t 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 Ainsley’s 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 didn’t cry. She didn’t 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.“Won’t it hurt her if she doesn’t cry?” Eric asked once, whispering in a low voice, watching her through the window.“I’ve been through worse,” Eloise heard it she croaked, her voice raw and
“I want shoes to match,” she said softly.“Yes, ma’am. Right away,” the shop assistant said, hurrying off.Mandy walked closer and touched Eloise’s arm gently. “Eloise... are you sure you’re ready for this?”Eloise turned her eyes toward her. There was no hesitation in them. Only a fierce, burning determination.“I have to be,” she said, her voice almost breaking. “I don’t have a choice.”Mandy’s throat tightened. She wanted to hug her, to pull her back, to stop her from going, but she knew she couldn’t.Just then, Eloise’s phone buzzed.Mandy immediately grabbed it from the counter and handed it to her. “It’s Jacob,” she said quietly.Eloise answered on the second ring. “I’m ready.”“Good,” Jacob’s voice came crisply through the speaker. “A car is waiting for you outside. Your passport and visa are in the car. You’ll be taken directly to a private jet. You need to leave within the next twenty minutes.”“Understood,” Eloise said without hesitation.“And Miss Anthony... don’t be late,”
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!” Eloise’s 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, “Ainsley! I hate you!”Ainsley's eyes were filled with unbearable pain, the kind that didn’t 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