Laaya stood in the dimly lit gym, her heart still racing from Iden's words; his confession hung heavy in the air, thick and suffocating. She took deep breaths and tried to study herself, but the emotions inside her were too strong to control. Iden had turned away from her, his shoulder tensed, and she could see the struggle in his posture, as his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. He was fighting a battle with himself, and she desperately wanted to help him win. After a suffocating silence, she softly called out "Iden," her voice tremulous. "You don’t need to be prince or hero, I don’t need you save me. I just need you to be with me. I do not care what others think or say; I know who you are." He moved slowly, his eyes dark and stormy. Laaya, you do not understand. I am not good for you. "I could hurt you in ways you cannot imagine." She stepped closer, closing the gap between them. "Let me choose to be with you, despite the risks and criticism, because I believe in you
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on Ellaya's face. A chilly touch grazed her face as she twisted in her sleep, flinching in her banket and twitching her eyes. Her finger curled into the warmth of her blanket. The deep captivating voice - pulled her from her slumber. "Good morning, princess." The aroma of freshly brewed coffee danced in the air coaxing her eyes to open. She blinked, her lashes fluttering, and peeked out from beneath her hand. Everything felt like a dream - the kind you never want to wake up from Thought of last night, of him, swirled in her mind, keeping her awake until dawn. And there he was leaning over the edge of her bed, his gaze intense, like a character out of a forbidden romance novel. From her eyes to her jaw and lips, his knuckles traced her face. There was a pause in the silence as their eyes met and remained fixed on each other until his voice reverberated through the empty space. "Good morning Love". He move
With her mouth agape, Ellaya stood gazing up at heaven from the gangway. The yacht’s name, Heaven is etched in elegant gold letters on the stern. Iden held Ellaya's hand and led her inside. "Oh! My. God, Is it yours?" She cried out in excitement, turning and glancing all over. " No, this is Mr. Ruan's, my boss". "A man of luxury, that is for sure". Iden chuckled at her enthusiasm, "Yeah, he is." The yacht was a sleek modern vessel with a polished deck, gleaming chrome railing, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the azure sea. It’s a floating heaven where time slows down, and the world beyond fades away. Ellya stood holding the railing, closed her eyes, and breathed in the salty air while admiring the glittering sea. Iden stood behind her. "Are you enjoying the surprise?" She turned to glance over her shoulder and smiled at the owner of the magnetic voice. As the sun begins its descent, casting a warm, golden glow across the water, Iden leads Ellaya to th
Their kiss taste of salt and logging. The room is saturated with candlelight, casting shadows on the mahogany walls. Iden hands map the curves of Ellaya’s body, and the world outside ceases to exist. The yacht rocks gently, echoing their rhythm. Iden released her grip on her swollen, dark pink lips after what seemed like an eternity. He buried his head, breathed heavily, in her neck beneath her thick hair as they gasped for air. "Ah!!...", a soft moan escaped her lips, she steered on his unexpected kiss on her neck, bit her already swollen lips, and Iden lifted his head and looked at her half-closed eyes, a smile saying, "Do not do it, princess, or I will lose control." Her eyes widened, and she met his intense gaze. His hands were caressing her body, and she knew exactly what that famished expression meant. Unsure of what to say, Ellaya pursed her lips even more. She met his intense gaze, without flinching "Oh! No, I am still a virgin should I need to tell me? Will it matter
As she passed out from the orgasm, her mind went blank unable to process the sudden rush of euphoria. The passion between them like wildfire, leaving them breathless and warning for more. Iden stood up and opened his shirt's two buttons. But was stopped in the middle. his phone rang. Echoing in the empty room, overlapping the rhythm of their rapid breath. His jaw tightened, his knuckles white gripping the phone. Muted the cell he sat at the edge of the bed, cupped Ellaya’s face and kissed her forehead, "I need to take this call, I will be back, okay." She nodded her head. Iden left the room with his phone. The room, once filled with their shared desire, now echoed with the emptiness of his absence. Ellaya's finger trembled as she wrapped herself in the silk bedsheet and sat on the edge of the bed. She put her shaking hand on her face, taking a deep breath and it trailed from her cheeks to her lips, to her neck. Her skin prickled as if a thousand fireflies had kissed it,
"Hello Ema", Ellaya greeted, her smile bright as she handed over her luggage and dashed forward. Welcome back, Miss. How was your trip?" Ema's voice was warm, her smile mirroring Ellaya Good. How is everyone?" Ellaya's pace is quickened. "Everyone is doing well ma'am. Sir and madam are home today with guests." Ema replied, trailing behind her with the luggage. "Guests? who?" Her lips pursed in thought. The sweet aroma of coffee and freshly baked cookies wrapped around her, mingling with the distant hum of conversation and laughter. As she stepped into the living room, her feet halted. her eyes widened, and her forehead creased deeply. "What are you doing here", The words slipped out before she could stop them. Ellaya's gaze swept the room, taking in the faces turned towards her, their smiles frozen mid-sip. silence hung in the air, thick and heavy. Then a voice shattered it. "Ellaya, my baby girl, my little princess!." Her mother's voice rang out loud and clear, as she rushed
They threw her onto the floor and locked the door behind her. Ellaya scrambled to her feet, rushing to the door. She pounded on it with her fists, her cries of frustration and desperation unyielding.Ellaya pounded on the door, her palms pressing against the cold, unforgiving floor. Her desperate plea for freedom. But the door remained unyielding, its eavy wood a barrier between her and the outside world.Tears ran down her cheeks as she slid down, her back to the door. The memories of Iden haunted her -the way his eyes bore into hers, the touch of his hands on her skin. They had met under strange circumstances, and now fate had to cruelly separate them. She never imagined that her own parents would oppose her and force her to marry against her will.Ellaya clenched her fists, determination replacing her initial despair. She vowed to escape this prison, not just for herself but for her love. For Iden.The room was silent except for her ragged breath. Ellaya wiped her tears, her resolv
The room was a frigid cocoon, it's walls closing in on Ellaya. The cold floor gnawed at her skin, and her swollen eyes ached from relentless tears. She had cried until her soul felt raw, yet the pain remained an unyielding ache that threatened to consume her. Her mother's entrance was a thunderclap, shattering the fragile peace of her solitude. The woman's grip on Ellaya's arm was iron, yanking her from the floor. "What's wrong with him, Ella? We've known Austine for years" yelled as forced her to stand on her wobbly leg . Struggling to stand, Ellaya's voice trembled as she fought to stand her ground. " I don't love him mumma." The words hung in the air, a desperate plea. But her mother's eyes held no sympathy- only the certainty of duty. She threw her on the bed and went into the walk-in closet. Returning back with a long white gown that looked like a wedding dress. Throwing it onto the bed. "There's no love in this world" her mother spat, as if love were a foolish myth.
The tires screeched as Iden slammed his foot on the gas, weaving through the deserted streets like they belonged to him. His knuckles blanched around the steering wheel, jaw clenched tight, eyes flicking toward the passenger seat every few seconds. “Hold on, princess,” he muttered, voice raw, thick with desperation. “We’re almost there.” Ellaya slumped beside him, her coat wrapped tightly around her trembling frame. Blood seeped through the fabric, soaking into her side like ink in water. She clutched the collar like it was the only thing keeping her soul inside her skin. No cries. No moans. Just silence. That silence—so unlike her—shredded him. The car skidded to a halt at the private gates. Before the engine finished dying, Iden was out. He tore open her door and swept her into his arms. Her arm dangled limp, blood trailing behind them like a broken promise. “Stay with me, Ellaya,” he whispered into her hair as the elevator rose. His voice cracked. “Please hold on.” Th
Ellaya hesitated at the doorway, inhaling deeply. The house still clung to her—whispering ghosts through dust-laden air, pressing its past into her skin. Every shadow murmured stories; memories coiled in the wood and stone, weaving a tapestry of love, deception, and ruin. Her fingers trembled as they brushed the door. It creaked open with a reluctant groan. Silence devoured her whole. She stepped inside. The wooden floor groaned beneath her boots—each step a slow echo, like the thudding heartbeat of the house itself. The air was thick, stale, carrying the weight of forgotten arguments and kisses that had long since turned cold. Then— “Why?” The word sliced through the silence like a blade. She froze. That voice—deep, steady, sharpened by restrained rage—hit her like a gunshot to the soul. Her head snapped to the left. Iden sat on the single worn-out sofa. Legs sprawled. Fingers steepled. Shadows sliced across his face, obscuring the storm underneath—a mixture of grief an
The overweight, middle-aged man pulled Ellaya closer by the waist, reeking of sweat and stale cologne. He leaned in, breath hot against her ear. "It’s time to taste my favorite drink," he whispered, his voice thick with sleaze. Ellaya giggled, head thrown back in mock delight. “Mmm, lucky me,” she purred, her fingers brushing his bloated stomach. Her neck-length short red hair bounced with the motion, and when she smiled, her snow-white teeth framed by blood-red lips seemed almost too perfect—almost dangerous. His eyes drank her in with animalistic hunger.“God, you’re a piece of work.” He shoved the door open and tossed her onto the plush bed. She bounced twice, landing with deliberate grace. Her eyes flicked to the hidden camera inside the ornate painting. She smiled—seductive, knowing. --- Iden sat in silence, watching her every move. Every glance. Every breath. His hand clenched around the armrest, knuckles white. His chest burned, rage simmering like wildfire under h
The air turned suffocating the moment Iden stepped inside the house. The walls pulsed with the echo of raised voices—harsh, fractured, and unforgiving. “As far as I remember, I made myself clear years ago,” Mayor Ruan said coolly, wiping his glasses with slow precision before slipping them back on. His fingers trembled—just enough to betray the storm beneath his calm. “We are done with them.” Across the room, Kai sat with deceptive ease, spine straight, jaw clenched. His voice cut through the static like a blade. “And as far as I remember, they’re still her blood.” The tension snapped into silence. Then came a sound like a splintering bone—a choked sob. Iden turned sharply. His mother was hunched on the couch, her face crumpled in tears. He rushed to her side, kneeling, his hand enveloping hers. “Mom, what happened?” The softness in his tone barely masked the urgency pulsing beneath it. Luna sniffled, voice breaking through the tremor of her grief. “Your uncle’s family
A sharp spin— Cold lips crashed against hers, slamming her back into the jagged brick wall. The scent hit her first. That same deep cologne—smoke, cedar, danger. Then came the ghostly chill of his skin, colder than memory. Her eyes flew open. His were shut, lost in the kiss. His mouth moved over hers slowly, deliberately, tongue tracing hers like a scar reopening. His palm gripped her waist, thumb circling in soft, possessive motions through the thin fabric of her dress. His other hand cupped her jaw with something like reverence. She was caught—breathless between flesh and stone—heart thrashing, body frozen. Heat bloomed in her chest. The kiss drugged her for a heartbeat—seductive, toxic, cruel. Tears burned the corners of her eyes. Nostalgia, sharp and brutal, surged up her throat— Then— A brutal knee to the gut. A groan tore the silence of the alley. Ellaya shoved him off her. He stumbled back, stunned by the force behind her strike. Straightening slowly, he clutched his s
Ellaya crouched behind a crumbling wall, her breath slow, deliberate—the kind you take before a kill. She lit a cigarette with steady hands, the flare briefly illuminating her sharp features. She inhaled the smoke with calm, predatory ease. "Time to say hello to dear daddy," she whispered, flicking the cigarette into the darkness. Her fingers closed around a jagged stone, its rough edges biting into her palm. With a sharp flick, she hurled it deep into the woods. Ahead, a cluster of gangsters lounged around a battered table, their laughter rolling like distant thunder across the night. The heavy air reeked of sweat, gun oil, and cheap beer—thick enough to taste. A heartbeat— Silence. Then— Alarms shrieked, cutting the night like wounded animals. Chairs scraped. Men cursed. The lazy haze of gambling shattered into frantic motion. She moved. A whisper in the dark. The warehouse swallowed her whole. Inside, the smell of gasoline and rust curled around her
Ellaya’s fists clenched, the muscles in her arms coiling with the familiar anticipation of combat. Across from her, the man charged — a wall of fury, his rage radiating like heat off an open flame. She didn’t move. Not yet. Every second stretched into infinity. Her breath was steady, slow. Then — with a snap of motion — she twisted sideways and drove her elbow into his ribs. The sickening thud cracked through the air. He folded instantly, crumpling like a broken doll. Before he even hit the floor, she moved again, hooking his ankle and sending him crashing onto the cold, blood-slicked concrete. The crowd erupted around her — a roar thick and frenzied — but it felt distant, muffled, like noise behind glass. Her world had narrowed to a sharp, merciless focus. Another fighter lunged at her from the side, a blur of desperation. Ellaya caught him mid-strike, pivoting smoothly, her body a blade honed by violence. With a brutal twist, she snapped his arm. The crack echoed louder th
Ellaya lunged, her kick slicing through the air toward her grandfather’s chest. But he was faster. His weathered hands snapped forward, catching her ankle mid-strike. In a single motion, he twisted and flipped her—her back hitting the mat with a bone-rattling thud. Before she could react, a brutal fist drove into her stomach. Pain detonated in her core. Her lungs collapsed inward. Breath scattered like broken glass. She doubled over. But he didn’t wait. He pinned her to the ground, calloused fingers digging into her wrists. Her body thrashed, muscles screaming, wrists raw beneath his unyielding grip. Ellaya cried out—sharp, guttural, alive. “That’s enough for today.” His voice cut cold through the haze. “You’re still weak. Like a toddler grasping at strength that isn’t yours. Push yourself harder.” She scrambled upright, shame searing hotter than any bruise. Her ribs ached. Her knuckles bled. But her mind? Steel. Survival wasn’t a choice. It was her god now.
A gust of wind tore through the room, sweeping papers off the desk like shreds of the past being ripped into the present. Kai stood in the doorway, chest heaving, drenched in sweat. One hand dragged a man by the collar—a mangled heap of flesh and bone. The man's face was grotesque, beaten to a pulp, barely conscious. Blood dripped steadily from his nose, painting a red trail behind them like a signature of vengeance. Arthur followed, silent as thunder before the strike. His fists were clenched so tightly the knuckles bled white. His eyes—cold, ruthless—locked on Iden like a scope lining up its mark. Without a word, Kai kicked the man’s legs out. He collapsed at Iden’s feet in a graceless heap. Silence held its breath. Then a weak, hoarse cry spilled from the man’s throat. He trembled, unable to meet Iden’s eyes. “Having fun, Danny?” Angelo’s voice sliced through the stillness, low and mocking as he crouched beside the man. A cruel smile twisted his lips. “Didn’t expect t