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Sophie lay on the opulent bed in a glamorous room, its dim light casting a warm, golden hue over the luxurious furnishings. The bed's silk sheets felt cool against her skin, and the scent of jasmine lingered in the air. Seated next to her was a mysterious man, his gaze fixed on her face with an expression that danced between amusement and something more sinister. He reached out to brush a strand of her chestnut brown hair away from her face, but as her eyelids fluttered, he froze, withdrawing his hand. Her eyes opened slowly, locking onto his features. She was momentarily captivated by the sharp angles of his jaw and the intensity of his eyes, until he broke the silence. "Enjoying my looks?" he asked, his voice a blend of strength and seduction. Sophie gulped, her heart pounding as she sat up. "Who are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. A slow smile spread across his face, revealing perfectly shaped lips of a deep, rich red. He seemed to revel in her confusion.His dark hair, tousled and falling over his forehead, almost obscured his piercing blue eyes. When he casually brushed it aside, the full intensity of his gaze pulled her in like a magnet.
"Who do you think I am, sunflower?" he murmured, his tone a mix of arrogance and charm.
His aura was both commanding and chilling. Sophieâs eyes darted around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings and the intoxicating scent. Her protective instincts surged. She spotted a glint of metal on the drawer beside the bed. In a swift, decisive motion, she grabbed the object, a letter opener, and pressed it against his neck, her hand trembling slightly. "Don't move," she threatened, her voice firmer now, despite the fear she felt. The man smirked, seemingly unfazed by the sharp edge at his throat. "Is this how you repay the person who saved your life?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery. Sophie's breath hitched. Confusion and fear battled within her."Saved my life?" she echoed, her grip tightening on the letter opener.
His eyes, cold yet mesmerizing, held hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.
"Yes," he replied softly, the amusement never leaving his face. He leaned. âYou want to know something else? I am..."______________
Don't worry guys, I will do my best to drop this interesting story after this one. It's filled with dramas, secrets, tensions and unexpected events.
Please, if you enjoyed the excerpt, do well to drop a comment and motivate me to drop this masterpiece again đđđ
A Few Months LaterLife had started to return to normal for Karina and Sophie. Sophie, with the help of therapy and the constant support from Aidan and Karina, had begun to heal from the trauma of her kidnapping. They spent their weekends visiting parks, and museums, and sometimes just enjoying quiet family picnics, which helped Sophie find joy again.Karina and Aidan, too, had found a new rhythm in their relationship. They decided to set aside their past differences and work together for Sophieâs happiness and welfare. Aidan's family, especially his mother, Cruzita, had also mended fences with Karina. The shared goal of giving Sophie a stable and loving environment brought them closer.Meanwhile, Lilly had undergone her transplant surgery, thanks to the Everhardt family's efforts in finding a suitable donor. Her recovery was a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.During these months, Anita and Amira faced their trials. Amiraâs defense team, led by her best lawyers, had fought tirelessly t
The atmosphere was charged with a mixture of dread and desperate hope, a battle of wills playing out in the room.The men appeared, one of them carrying Sophie on his shoulder as she squirmed and cried. Karina called out desperately, "Sophie! Sophie!"Anita's expression turned concerned as she watched the scene unfold, her eyes flickering between Karina and Sophie. âIâm doing you the honors because Iâm a mother too. Use this moment well and say goodbye properly to your daughter.â She signaled to the man, who dropped Sophie down and the other went and untied Karina. The little girl ran to Karina, her face tear-streaked and trembling.âMommy, I missed you,â Sophie cried, trembling.Karina managed a smile through her tears, cuddling her daughter tightly.âDonât worry, darling. Iâm here. Nothing will happen to you.â She scanned Sophieâs face, then shot an angry look at Anita. âWhy does my daughter look like this? What have you been doing to her?!âAnita shrugged nonchalantly. âJust keep
Karina watched with teary, weary eyes as Anita paced impatiently. Lucas stood nearby, his face a mask of frustration. Juliana returned, her face pale as she informed them that Lilly was ready.Lucas sneered at Anita. âWhere are your men? They shouldâve been here by now.ââTheyâre coming. They should beââ She was cut off by a knock on the door.Anita took a step forward, but Lucas stopped her with a raised hand. He went to open the door and returned with two burly men in tow.âWhat the heck kept you guys?â Anita snapped.âSorry, maâam. Traffic was a nightmare,â one of the men apologized.Anita hissed. âFine. Lucas, theyâll go get Sophie now.âLucas nodded, watching them head upstairs before turning his gaze back to Karina, who was sobbing and staring at him with a mix of sorrow and betrayal.âLucas, I never thought you could do this to me,â she choked out, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and heartbreak.He leaned forward, feigning remorse. âIâm sorry, love. You know I ha
Anita asked, tensed, âWhat are we going to do?ââTie her up!â Lucas commanded. He dragged a chair and placed Karina on it, securing her tightly with ropes. âWhere are your guys who are supposed to take Sophie to the facility?â he grumbled.âThey are on their way,â Anita muttered, nervously glancing at Karina.Lilly appeared, her eyes widening in horror as she saw Karina, who was now bleeding from the head. âMommy, what happened to Aunt Karina?âLucas flicked his gaze at the girl, snarling, âUgh, this girl. Take her to her room and get her ready, Mother!âJuliana quivered and walked to Lilly. âLetâs go, my dear,â she said softly, leading Lilly upstairs as Lucas continued tying Karina to the chair.In the Everhardt mansion, Aidan walked into the house. âWhereâs Karina?â he asked Gina.âShe went to the office about 30 minutes ago,â Gina replied.He nodded and turned to leave but stopped as Georgia walked in with some files in her hands. âGeorgia, have you seen Karina?â he quickly asked.
Aidan and Karina arrived at the Everhardt mansion, the tension palpable between them. Aidan got out of his car and quickly walked up to her, his tone urgent. "Karina, I think we should inform Inspector Kai."Her eyes widened in surprise. "No. We shouldn't.""What? Why?" Aidan asked, bewildered."Lucas is no fool," Karina explained, her voice steady but tense. "He might have figured that I didn't just come to his family's house looking for him. I'm sure Anita told him already that she saw me at the hospital, and then he figured out that he messed up by lying to me twice."Aidan shook his head in frustration. "So, what are we going to do? Stay calm when Sophie's earring was lying in their house?"She sighed deeply, struggling to keep her composure. "Aidan, we shouldn't react impulsively. Lucas shouldn't think that I'm suspecting him."Aidan eyed her with concern. "Are you scared of him or what?""I'm just considering the odds and possibilities now. What if⌠my daughter is in that house
Karina answered it, faking her cheerful voice. "Hello, Lucas.""Hi, Karina. Uh, sorry but you can't see Anita or Lilly."Her brows creased. "What? Why?""They left the country. They went to Switzerland.""But you said we could have dinner with them, Lucas.""Yes, I had no idea they left. I just called my mom and she told me about it."She nodded. "So, when did they leave?""Last night, yeah."She nodded. "Okay. It's fine. Let's talk later." She ended the call and groaned. "He lied again."Aidan asked, "What happened?""I saw Anita and Lilly less than an hour ago, and he said they left last night," she concluded.Aidan's expression turned grim. "He's definitely hiding something, Karina.""I feel so too. I need to go over to his family's house.""I'm coming with you.""But you're going to stay outside and hide. Paraventure Lucas shows up, he shouldn't see you."He agreed, and they left. Aidan followed Karina's car as she drove to the Salvatore Mansion.When Karina arrived, she placed so