LOGINThe long night had finally come to an end. The evidence of the previous day’s events had already been cleared away at least for most people.
Autumn lay nestled in a warm embrace. The heat radiating from the body behind her slowly eased the tension in her muscles and pulled her back toward sleep.She was still feeling melancholic over the discovery from the day before. She couldn’t fully process everything Eric had put her through. Part of her wanted nothing more than to swinThe long night had finally come to an end. The evidence of the previous day’s events had already been cleared away at least for most people.Autumn lay nestled in a warm embrace. The heat radiating from the body behind her slowly eased the tension in her muscles and pulled her back toward sleep.She was still feeling melancholic over the discovery from the day before. She couldn’t fully process everything Eric had put her through. Part of her wanted nothing more than to swing her fist into his face, but she held herself back.*Violence is never the answer.**Bastard made me drown in depression when he knew the entire time that it was his fault,* she thought bitterly before forcing herself to close her eyes again. Her mind was already working on how she could use this new information to her advantage.Her eyes eventually fluttered open. She stared at the fogged-up window with disinterest.*After the day I had yesterday, I deserve
Eric stared at the spot where Sophia had been forced to her knees only moments ago. The arrogance he had worn like armour slowly drained from his face. His jaw tightened as he tried to pull himself back together.“Mr. King—”“Gabriel.” His voice was flat. “Fix the hole that allowed her to sneak in. Tighten security around the entire perimeter and increase the number of patrols. I don’t want another incident like this.”He didn’t wait for a reply. He walked past the woman standing by the door and entered the house, his footsteps quick and heavy.He took the stairs two at a time, heading straight for the room he knew better than any other in the house. When he opened the door, the first thing that hit him was the sound of soft, distressed wailing.The continuous beeping of the medical machines filled the quiet spaces between the baby’s cries.Eric stepped inside slowly. His eyes went immediately to the small crib. The infant’s face
Sophia struggled against the restraints, trying to break free as she was dragged forward. Her protests turned into muffled noises. Her hands were bound behind her back, but she still fought. *How?!* she thought as they pulled her from her hiding place. *How?! How did they find me?* She had taken every precaution, yet she had still been caught. The house came into view as they dragged her toward the front. From here she could see it more clearly the long, winding driveway, the carefully decorated porch. It looked rustic, yet every detail screamed wealth. She knew it must have cost him a fortune. Buying something this beautiful and furnishing it so carefully for that “Joanna” woman. The love and care were evident in everything, and it made her jealousy burn even brighter. She couldn’t understand what Joanna or Autumn had that made him do all of this for them. Even the house he had thrown her out
True to her plan, Sophia staked out King’s Holdings headquarters again. Just like before, she waited for the minivan that was loading medical equipment.“It’s probably for that woman and her children,” she thought out loud, remembering the conversation between the two nurses.And just like before, she waited for the van to move so she could silently trail after it.When the van finally pulled away, she followed at a careful distance. This time she was more precise. She already knew where they were headed.“This is all for formality,” she told herself. “I just need to be sure they are still there.”Her plan was simple. Using the van as a distraction would make it easier to move around without being noticed. If she had gone directly to the house on another day, the risk of being caught would have been much higher.They drove past Surrey, leaving the main road that led to Kingston Manor and heading deeper into the woodlands. Sophia’
His words froze her solid. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.*Mirabella’s death was because of him.*“My daughter died because of you?” she asked, her voice sounding distant even to her own ears.All this time she had fed herself with guilt for moving out of the house. For pushing for the divorce. All this time she had believed it was her fault.*It was his fault… not mine?*The anger returned, more intense than before.“It was because she had Kingston blood coursing through her veins. That was what killed her,” he corrected her.Autumn couldn’t hear anything else he was saying. Her mind was consumed by the nights she had cried herself to sleep under the weight of guilt while he had known the truth the entire time and still let her carry it alone.“You blamed me for it,” she said, her voice taking on an edge.“You blamed me for the death of our daughter even though you knew the truth.”He looked away from her in shame.“Yes, I did,” he admitted. “Particularly because it was—
“Eric?” she spoke in surprise. “What are you doing he—”Her words were cut off by a firm grip on her forearm.She gasped at his actions. “Eric, what the hell are yo—”He tightened his grip and pulled her into the car, shutting the door behind them. She landed sprawled across the leather seat, trying to catch her breath as she glared up at him through the curtain of her hair.Silence filled the car. The only sounds were their breathing hers more laboured and the light rain splattering against the windows as the vehicle began to move.“Are you crazy?” she finally spoke after collecting herself.His gaze shifted from the road to her.“I’m crazy?” he asked, his voice tight with barely restrained anger. “Are you speaking for yourself or for me?”“You are actually crazy.” She tried to sit up. “No normal person would kidnap another person just because he feels like they are his property.”“I have work, Eric!” she raised her voice. “I was working. My whole life doesn’t revolve around you.”
I had spent the last few days trying to settle into the new house in Edinburgh. On the outside, everything looked perfect. The stone walls were strong, the air was fresh, and we were far away from the chaos of London. But inside the house, a different kind of war was starting.I had tried to get to
Autumn’s POVWe had finally arrived in Edinburgh. After the flight and the long drive from the private airfield, I was physically exhausted. The city was beautiful even in the dark, with its old stone streets and the looming castle in the distance, but I was too tired to truly appreciate
Autumn POVI sat down on the sofa, staring at the TV. A broadcast of an interview was playing on the screen, the bright lights of the television reflecting in my eyes. The words being said echoed in the vast, space of the living room. It felt like the house was too big now, especially with the
I asked a passing maid where Eric was, and she directed me toward the sunroom. I walked off, giving my thanks before she could even finish speaking. How dare he treat me in such a manner? I am not a child he can simply restrict from going out; I am a grown woman, and my son’s life is currently at r







