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~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY~ MELISSA’S POV Albert smiles with satisfaction as the men who chose him step forward. One by one, he welcomes them as if they have just pledged loyalty to a king. “Wise choice,” he says calmly. Then he gestures toward the man with the scar on his face. The scarred man walks toward me without hesitation. Before I can react, he pulls a scarf from around his neck, tears it into two long strips, and grabs my wrists. I struggle immediately. “Stop—!” But he is stronger. He binds my wrists tightly and then ties the other strip across my mouth, silencing my voice. My protests turn into muffled sounds as I try to pull away. Albert barely looks at me. Instead, he takes out his phone and dials a number. When the call connects, he switches it to loudspeaker. A voice answers almost immediately. “I got your message,” Blake says. His voice carries a trace of irritation. “I’m trying my best.” The older man chuckles softly. “Well, I called
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE~ MELISSA’S POV The gunshots grow louder, one after another, sharp explosions that echo through the night. Each blast sends a painful pulse through my head, as if the noise is drilling directly into my skull. I press my hands against my temples, trying to steady myself. Then suddenly— A loud crash echoes from below. It sounds like something or perhaps someone breaking into the house. My heart leaps into my throat. Panic takes over before I can even think. I rush to the wardrobe, pull the door open, and squeeze myself inside. The space is tight and smells faintly of wood and fabric. I pull the door shut as quietly as I can, curling into the darkness. My breathing is uneven. I try to silence it by covering my mouth with my hand. A few moments later, I hear the bedroom door open. Footsteps. Then a man’s voice fills the room. “I know you’re in here,” he says calmly. “Come out while I’m still being nice.” My body stiffens. I cl
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT~ ADRIAN’S POV I lean back against the smooth edge of the tub, the water now cooling around me, my mind still racing through possibilities when I hear a voice outside the bathroom door. “Your Majesty, your meal has been placed on the table in your room.” For a moment, I don’t respond. My gaze remains fixed on the ceiling as another thought begins to form. Then I speak. “Bring my phone to me.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” A minute later the door opens quietly. I hear the careful footsteps of the servant approaching. When I glance up, he is standing near the entrance, head lowered respectfully as he extends the phone toward me. I take it from his hand. “Thank you.” He bows slightly and leaves without another word, shutting the door behind him. The room falls silent again except for the soft drip of water from the showerhead. I stare at the phone in my hand for a moment. Then I scroll through my contacts until I find the name I’m
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN~ BLAKE’S POV I remain standing near the bar, arms folded loosely across my chest, maintaining the image of calm patience while irritation coils tighter inside me with every passing minute. The music from the club swells and fades around us, lights sweeping across the room as guests laugh and drink, completely unaware of what is unfolding beneath their feet. Twenty minutes pass. Twenty long-ass minutes of pretending. Finally, the three officers return from their inspection. Their expressions are relaxed now, satisfied that they have seen enough. “Sorry for the disturbance, Your Highness,” one of them says respectfully. “We’ll take our leave now. If Mr. Carter drops by, give us a call.” “Sure,” I reply smoothly. I remain exactly where I am, watching them walk toward the exit. I do not move. I do not speak. I simply wait. The moment they step outside, I keep my gaze fixed forward, counting silently. Ten seconds, twenty, th
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX~ BLAKE’S POV I gulp down more liquor, the burn sharpening my focus as I leave my office with Steve following closely. The hallway to the secret area is dimly lit, shadows stretching along the walls. I step in, and the lights are already on, revealing Dave Carter—frozen, his face betraying pure terror. “Uhm… Mr. Blake, I thought we could talk at the open bar. I’m really not comfortable here,” he stammers. I pull a chair toward me and sit, facing him. My gaze is steady, controlled. “This is a confidential discussion,” I say, letting a faint smile play across my lips. “By the way, you got here earlier than I expected.” “Yeah… my office isn’t too far from here,” he replies nervously, attempting to regain some composure. I glance at Steve and nod slightly. “Now let’s get down to the main deal. First,” I say, “take his phone.” Steve moves quickly, searching him aggressively. Dave struggles, trying to fight him off, but Steve wrests
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE~ BLAKE’S POV Before leaving the house, we watch the area for a few minutes, making sure no one is paying attention to our movements. We exit the same way we came in—quietly, leaving no trace behind. Dave Carter is Melissa’s lawyer. We can’t just storm into his office and drag him out. That would raise suspicion, something we don’t need right now. Once we’re inside the car, I open the file I found earlier and pull out my phone. I scan through the documents until I find his number. I dial it. The line rings twice before he answers. “Hello?” he says. “Good day, Dave,” I reply calmly. “This is Blake… Melissa’s friend.” There’s a brief pause on the line. “Oh,” he says. “Yes, I’ve heard quite a lot about you from her. What can I do for you?” His tone is polite, professional. “We need to meet as soon as possible,” I say. “It’s about Melissa. She’s currently missing, and I might need your help to find her.” Silence. Then suddenly
CHAPTER FIFTY This is no time to cry. I swallow the lump in my throat and straighten my back. If I fall apart now, I may never get back up. I turn to Nina, my voice low but firm. “We’ll crash in a hotel for now.” She nods immediately, no questions asked. Within minutes, we’re inside
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT The moment I lift my head, Adrian’s gaze meets mine. Cold. Empty. Unrecognizable. His jaw tightens, and when he speaks, his voice cuts through the silence like a blade. “Get down on your knees, Melissa.” The words slice through me. I don’t argue. I don
CHAPTER FIFTY SIX He asks me if I’m absolutely sure. There’s no hesitation this time. I nod once, firm. “Yes.” That single word seals it. He studies my face like he’s searching for doubt, something to make him stop me but he finds none. He exhales slowly and agrees to proceed, promi
CHAPTER FORTY NINE Nina waves down a taxi, and the moment it pulls over, she hurries to open the door for me. I climb in slowly, holding my belly protectively, still shaken from everything. I tell the driver my house address. The car begins to move. For the first time in days, I fee







