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13: THERE'S STILL HOPE

Author: Glittering gold
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-05 19:52:11

ELARA’S POV

“Elara, my dear!” Mr. Deluca’s warm voice boomed as soon as he spotted me. His white hair seemed even more prominent than the last time I saw him. Without hesitation, he wrapped me in a firm hug, the scent of his cologne mingling with the faint aroma of Italian food wafting through the restaurant.

“How have you been?” he asked, his thick Italian accent adding charm to his words.

“I’ve been well,” I said with a soft smile.

“You’ve grown so much, Bella!” he declared, stepping back to get a good look at me, his eyes twinkling with genuine affection.

I chuckled. “The last time you saw me was only two months ago. Do you think I’ve really grown that much in such a short time?”

“Oh, come now,” he replied with a wave of his hand. “Each time I see you and your brother, you both look more and more like your father”

Nico pulled out a chair for me, gesturing for me to sit beside him. Across the table, Mr. Deluca and Elliot, my brother, were already seated.

“But I’m the prettier versio
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  • The Billionaire’s Regret    240

    ELARA’S POV“I’m going on a little trip,” Nicolas said, smiling that same dead smile. The one that didn’t touch his eyes. “When I get back… we’ll start our journey to Majorca.”He leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead.I didn’t flinch.I didn’t move.But inside?I was screaming.His “affection” always came wrapped in control. Gentle hands hiding the monster behind the mask. And this morning was no different. Every kiss, every soft word, was a leash.“Are you even listening to me?” he asked, annoyed now. I hadn’t moved from the headboard, my body wrapped tight in the heavy duvet like armor.“Yeah,” I whispered, forcing a smile that I couldn’t feel. “I heard you.”He narrowed his eyes, studying me too long. Too quiet. Like he was peeling my skin back to see what I was hiding underneath.“Are you okay?”“Just… a migraine.” I lowered my gaze. “It’s nothing.”He stepped closer, pressed his palm to my forehead. His skin was warm. My stomach churned.“Do you need me to stay back? If y

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    239: DOOMED

    ELARA’S POV The silence after the guard spoke was unbearable. I stayed on my knees, shaking all over. My breath was shallow. My eyes burned. The cold floor pressed hard against my skin, and my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. I looked up. Nicolas hadn’t moved. His face was calm. Too calm. That unreadable quiet he always wore like armor. But something flickered in his eyes something darker. Not anger. Control. “I told you not to touch her,” Nicolas said quietly. The guard blinked. “I… sir, I had to. She was—” A gunshot cracked through the air. I screamed and jumped back, landing hard on the floor. The guard dropped instantly, grabbing his leg. Blood spilled fast onto the pristine carpet as his screams filled the room. I couldn’t breathe. I slapped a hand over my mouth, eyes wide, frozen in place. Nico calmly slid the gun away like it was nothing. “She’s not your concern,” he said coldly, then turned to me. “You okay, sweetheart?” I couldn’t answer. No

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    238: CAUGHT!

    ELARA’S POV The yacht was bigger than I expected. Not the fancy kind with shiny glass railings and butlers in suits. No. This one felt more like a floating prison. It had multiple levels, confusing hallways, thick steel doors, and cameras in every corner. Every step I took outside the bedroom felt risky. Like one wrong move, and I’d be caught. Like falling into the sea with sharks waiting below. Nico said I could walk around if I wanted. That it was his way of showing me he “trusted” me. Yeah, right. But I still smiled and kept quiet, even when I saw things I shouldn’t have. Men moving crates that looked too heavy to be wine. Doors slamming shut when they noticed me. I didn’t ask. As long as I played the role the girl who chose this, who chose him he wouldn’t see me as a threat. He’d keep thinking I was warming up to him. So I let him talk about the future. About Majorca. About beach houses and silk robes and champagne on the balcony. He made it sound like some fairytale lif

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    237: TRUST

    ELARA’S POV The shower was warm. Too warm. My skin turned red under the spray, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn it down. My head going back to the day I got taken, what Jenna said to me. “He’s coming and he will make you wish you were dead” Is this it? Oh My god! was she talking about Nico? What did she know? Shit. Was she trying to warn me that day or was she mocking me? I scrubbed my skin raw, trying to erase the memory of his lips, his hand on my waist, the stink of the cell. But it wouldn’t come off. As I rinsed, I leaned against the cold wall, heart pounding. My hand to the pendant to the now warm pendant around my neck. Think, Elara. Think. Outside the bathroom window, I saw it again— waves. Endless water. The sky met the ocean in a soft, distant haze. No shore in sight. This wasn’t just a prison. This was a prison floating on water. After what felt like hours of scrubbing my skin and hair, I stepped out of the shower. I grabbed my clothes

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    236:

    ELARA’S POV: I should’ve known it was coming the kiss. The moment I agreed to leave with him, Nicolas’s hand tightened around mine like a claim. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, like he’d won a prize he’d been chasing for years. He stepped closer, his other hand brushing a piece of hair from my cheek with far too much care. Then his lips found mine. It was Cold, Pressing Possessively on mine, But I quickly pulled away as if it was burning hot, I forced a stiff smile onto my face. “I just… feel dirty,” I whispered, voice tight. It took everything in me to not wipe my lips with my hand. And just widen my smile. He chuckled low, amused. “Where are my manners? You do need a bath.” He stared at my face with triumph. And with that, he slid his arm around my waist and started walking me out of the room. His hand gripped my side like we were lovers. I kept my face still, blank, neutral. Only smiling when his eyes occasionally found mine. But every step with his touch mad

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    235: YOU MADE ME DO THIS

    ELARA’S POV I woke up to pain. My body ached in places I didn’t even realize could hurt. The cold floor beneath me didn’t help. The same small, damp room. The same stink of mildew and something rotting deep in the walls. Every breath felt heavier than the last. I thought I was going to get used to it by now… but I guess I was wrong. Because I can still feel it. My mouth was dry, throat raw. The untouched sandwich from yesterday sat on the floor next to the chipped cup of water. I hadn’t eaten. Couldn’t. I think I’m going to have my fifth vomit any second from now. Plus, It felt like my stomach had curled up and decided it didn’t want anything anymore. Not until I was safe. Not until I was free. From this place. But the again when will that be? How do I get out here while I’m stuck in a cage. But just then the door creaked open. But it was too dark in here to make out who it is. The light has gone out a long time ago. I hear the sound of Heavy boots. Three of

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