Se connecterChapter 278ElowenKian and Matteo pulled me into Matteo's study five days after the bed incident, and I could feel the weight of something serious hanging in the air between us."What's going on?" I asked, settling into the chair they'd positioned for me. Five months pregnant meant they were increasingly careful about where I sat and for how long."We filed the case," Kian said, sliding a stack of official documents across the desk. "Three days ago. Charges have been formally filed against James Ashton, Richard Stratton, Marcus Bellamy, and Christopher Harding."I felt my breath catch. "Three days ago? Why didn't you tell me immediately?""We wanted to make sure everything was secure first," Matteo explained. "Anna and the six other witnesses are all in protected housing. Declan and Reina have been coordinating with the authorities to ensure they're completely safe. Once we knew everyone was in place, we filed."I scanned the documents without really reading them, my mind spinning. I
Chapter 277MatteoI found Kian in his office, staring out the window with his hand pressed against the glass like he was trying to reach through it into another world."Hey," I said, closing the door behind me. "You've been quiet all evening. What's on your mind?"He didn't turn around immediately. When he did, I could see the weight of something heavy pressing down on him. Confusion mixed with concern mixed with something I couldn't quite identify."The bed," he said making me confused."What about the bed?" My brow raised."Elowen broke it."I blinked. "She broke it? How? Did she fall? Is she hurt?""Not like that." He turned to face me fully. "She was holding onto the frame while we were... and it just splintered under her hands. Matteo, she broke solid wood with her bare hands. She barely applied any pressure and it just gave way."I crossed the room slowly, processing this. "That's not possible.""That's what I said." Kian moved toward me. "But I was there. I felt it happen. And
Chapter 276ElowenI couldn't wait to call Caroline.We were back at the villa, Giuliana napping upstairs, and I was practically vibrating with excitement as I dialed her number.She answered on the second ring. "El! Hi! I was just thinking about you.""I have news," I said. "Big news. We got engaged. Last night, on the beach, both of them proposed and...""Oh my god!" she screamed. "El, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you! But wait, I have news too.""What?" I asked, grinning so hard my face hurt."I'm married," she said simply. "Damien and I went to register yesterday. It wasn't planned. After we discovered I was pregnant, Damian suggested it and I said yes immediately. We just... we didn't want to wait. El, I'm pregnant."I literally gasped. "Caroline! Oh my god! You're married? And pregnant?""I'm married and pregnant!" she repeated, and I could hear the joy cascading through her voice. "El, I'm so happy I could burst. Are you crying? I'm crying!""Yes," I admitted, tears alread
Chapter 275ElowenI should have known something was up when Matteo told me to pack a bag without asking any questions."Trust me," he'd said that morning, kissing my forehead as he handed me a small suitcase. "We're taking you somewhere for the day. Just you, me, Kian, and Giuliana.""Where?" I'd asked, suspicious."It's a surprise," Kian had answered, already packing his own things with the kind of efficiency that suggested this had been planned for a while.I hadn't argued. Mostly because I was exhausted. The past few weeks had been relentless... the case against James Ashton consuming every waking moment, my pregnancy advancing, the weight of everything I'd learned about my origins pressing down on me constantly.So I'd packed a bag, and I'd asked no more questions... Actually they both helped packed the bag, I only said what was needed.Now, three hours later, we were pulling up to a private villa on the Amalfi Coast, perched on a cliff overlooking water so blue it didn't seem re
Chapter 274Elowen Declan didn't say a word as he placed four photographs on the table.Four men. They were all older now, with graying hair and expensive suits that screamed wealth. They looked like people who had spent their entire lives believing they were untouchable."Their names," Declan began, "are Marcus Bellamy, Christopher Harding, Richard Stratton, and James Ashton."I looked at the photos. These were the men who had destroyed Anna’s life years ago."Bellamy and Harding left the UK right after it happened," Reina explained. "One went to Switzerland, the other to Monaco. They’ve stayed away from the Ashtons since then. As far as we can tell, they haven't been in trouble since. They built legitimate lives.""And Stratton?" Kian asked."Richard Stratton stayed," Declan said. "He’s been the Ashton family’s fixer for decades. He’s the one who made sure the police never looked too closely at anything James did. He’s just as guilty as the rest of them."Then he pointed to the las
Chapter 273ElowenThe investigation moved faster than I expected.Reina and Declan were now hunting the men who'd destroyed Anna's life, and we'd returned home the day after Anna agreed to move forward with the case.A week passed.I noticed Kian and Matteo had been disappearing into Matteo's office more frequently, their voices low and serious when I passed by. At first, I told myself it was just work, that they had business to handle and I shouldn't be paranoid.But then I caught them whispering in the hallway outside our bedroom, and something in my chest tightened.I walked up to them, arms crossed over my rounded belly. "What's going on?"They both looked up, startled."Nothing," Matteo said quickly."We're just discussing some logistics," Kian added.I narrowed my eyes. "Logistics about what?"They exchanged a glance, one of those silent conversations that usually didn't bother me but right now made my blood boil."Tell me," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "Right now.
Chapter 119 Matteo "Why not?" Kian asked, and there was something cruel in his tone now, something sharp and deliberate. "You brought my professional ethics into it, seems fair to discuss your priorities as a father." I moved before I could think, my hand shooting out to grip the edge of Adrian'
Chapter 113Elowen It was true, though the call wasn't until two thirty, but Zac didn't need to know that.He checked his own watch and nodded, though something in his expression suggested he knew I was looking for an exit."Of course," he said easily, signaling for the check. "Can't have you miss
Chapter 115Elowen My enhanced hearing meant I'd caught every word of her conversation with that Zac character, every laugh and polite deflection and moment of what might have been genuine interest.She'd talked about her work with passion I'd never heard from her before, had smiled in ways that m
Chapter 108Elowen"You didn't get this work because you're my friend, you got it because you're good at what you do, Damien wouldn't hire you just as a favor to me, he's too professional for that.""I..." I started, but couldn't finish because I was suddenly crying again, overwhelmed by the kindne







