LOGINC H L O EI finally summoned the courage to call Marco during his video call hours at the rehab center. My hands trembled as I pressed the dial button, and my heart hammered in my chest as I waited for him to answer.When his face appeared on the screen, a smile immediately broke out on his face. "Chloe! I've been so worried. I've been calling, but you never pick up. Already giving up on me?" He tried to joke, but I could tell he was genuinely concerned.I forced a smile, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice a little shaky. "It's... it's been a chaotic few days."It was then he finally got a glimpse of the yellowish green bruise peeking from the collar of my robe as I shifted on the bed. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a look of confusion."What the hell is that?" he growled, his voice dangerously low.I tried to angle the camera away, but it was too late. "It's nothing, Marco. Just a little... accident.""Don't you dare lie to me, Chloe," he snarle
B I A N C ADamian’s sisters, Angela and Camilla came to the house the next day to see me. And Angela’s face was twisted with guilt as she looked at the bruises on my body."It’s all my fault," She said, her voice filled with remorse. "If I hadn’t made him feel like he was an outcast in our family and supported our late parents, Elijah would have never held an hatred this deep towards his own brother. As his older sister, I was supposed to protect him not push him away."I put a comforting hand on her arm. "You couldn't have known, Angela. Nobody could have predicted this. Please do not blame yourself." I said, looking at her.I could see the sincerity in her eyes. I knew she was genuinely sorry, and I appreciated her coming to me and apologizing. But I also knew that this wasn't her fault. Elijah was a grown man who made his own choices.He was wronged, quite a lot. But that didn't give him the right to hurt people. To terrorize them. To almost rape me. Damian didn’t deserve to suffe
B I A N C AI sat in Damian’s car, my body still shaken up from trauma as he drove closely behind the van to the hospital. Anna and Chloe sat in the back of the van with Alejandro. I was glad Chloe was getting medical attention. She looked pale and weak, but she was alive. That's all that mattered.We arrived at the hospital a short while later. The ride was quiet and I could feel Damian’s eyes on me every few seconds. He was worried. I could see it in the way he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what. And I didn't have the energy to make conversation.I was taken to the SANE exam and I laid on the hospital bed, my body stiff with anxiety. Damian sat in a chair beside me, holding my hand. The nurse, a kind woman with a gentle smile, explained everything she was going to do before she did it. She was patient and understanding, and after the violence I’ve been exposed to these past week, I appreciated her gentle approach.The
B I A N C AElijah froze, a look of shock on his face. "Damian? How the fuck did you find me?"Damian didn't answer. He just stared at his brother, his eyes filled with a cold fury. I had never seen him look like this before. He looked like a predator."You're dead," Damian said, his voice laced with venom. "You're fucking dead."He launched himself at Elijah, his fists flying. I could only watch in horror as the two brothers fought, their grunts and curses filling the room. Alejandro and the cops rushed in. Alejandro quickly went to Chloe's side, who was now leaning against the wall. He held her, trying to calm her down. The cops immediately went to Elijah, who was now pinned to the ground by Damian."It's over, Elijah," Damian said, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "It's fucking over."Elijah looked up at him, a look of defiance in his eyes. "It's not over until I say it's over," he spat. "You think you've won? You think you've saved her? You haven't. You'll never be able to undo
E L I J A HThe generator was a piece of shit. I could feel the frustration building inside me as I worked on the engine, my hands covered in grease. Anna was lucky I didn't kill her for interrupting me with Bianca.I had been so close. I could almost taste her fear, feel her body trembling beneath mine. But she had to open her stupid mouth and talk about things she knew nothing about. A wounded little boy? The nerve of her.But she was right. And that’s what pissed me off the most.I had spent my entire life living in Damian's shadow. He was the golden child, the one who could do no wrong. And I was the screw up, the disappointment. No matter what I did, it was never good enough.I worked harder, fought dirtier, and I still couldn't get what I wanted.I was sent from homes to homes and kept on getting rejected by every family because and I quote, ‘I was too much for them’. At least that’s what they told me. They never loved me. No one has ever loved me. And no one ever will.And that
B I A N C ABut just then, Anna came into the room. She was carrying a tray with our breakfast, but she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw us. Her eyes widened in fear as she took in the scene."Mr. Elijah, sir," she stammered. "I was just bringing the ladies their breakfast."Elijah’s head snapped toward her, his fury redirected. "Get out," he growled.Anna flinched, but she didn't leave. "Sir, there's a... there's a problem," she said, looking at Chloe and I.Elijah let go of my arm and turned to face her fully. "What problem?" he demanded."With the generator, sir," she said, her eyes darting around the room. "I heard it sputtering. I think it's about to go out. If it does, we'll lose power to the security system and the fences."Elijah's face darkened. He stared at Anna for a long moment, as if trying to decide if she was telling the truth."Fine," he snapped. "I'll deal with it. But when I get back," he said, turning to me, "Stay the fuck out of my way until I summon you."H
B I A N C A"You can't do that!" Hammington spluttered, his face turning a deep shade of crimson."I can," I said, my voice dangerously quiet. "I am the CEO. This is my company. And I will not tolerate insubordination. Now get out."I held his gaze, my expression unreadable. He was the first to loo
B I A N C ALucas looked dumbfounded, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. The entire store went quiet. Natalia's jaw was on the floor.For a beat, no one said anything.Then, Lucas let out a laugh. A loud mocking laugh that echoed in the store. "Your fiancé?" he sputtered. "Bianca, wh
B I A N C AI arrived at the jeweler’s store the next day and the moment I set my eyes on the wedding ring, I was surprised. It was the most beautiful ring I’ve ever set my eyes on.It was a marquise diamond ring. The diamond was huge and sparkling. It was set on a platinum band with smaller diamon
B I A N C ANatalia’s face was red. The smug expression she usually wore, the one that said she owned the world, was gone. All that was left was pure, unadulterated humiliation."I-I can explain," she stammered, tears welling in her eyes. "Lucas, it's not what it looks like."But Lucas wasn't looki







