Delilahās thoughts raced. Was he watching me? What does he think of me now? Panic clawed at her insides. What was I thinking, doing that here? In Marcoās house, of all places? Heās bound to find out everything eventually.Without another word, Delilah turned and ascended the stairs, her mind churning with excuses and lies to mask what had just transpired. When she reached the landing, Marco stood by the railing, his gaze fixed on the floor below. Men in black suits were cleaning the bloodstained tiles. The sight sent a cold shiver down her spine.Breaking the silence, she said, "It creeps me out when youāre this quiet. Whatās going on in your mind?"His voice, deep and measured, came after a beat. "Since youāre asking⦠Iāve been thinking about a lot lately.""A lot?" Delilahās chest tightened. Her palms were clammy as she searched his expression for a clue.Desperate to deflect, she blurted, "Whatever you saw there, just think of it as an illusion. It never happened. I only did i
Marcoās voice boomed from downstairs. "Miele, your guests are here." (Honey, your guests are here.)Delilah froze mid-step, her heart racing like a trapped bird."Guests?" she muttered under her breath, frowning.The tone of Marco's voice was unreadable, but something about it made her chest tighten. Her mind churned with possibilities. Who would show up uninvited? Especially now, with everything that had happened.She didnāt hesitate. Delilah descended the staircase, her heels clicking against the steps. The moment her eyes landed on the scene below, she stopped in her tracks.Two peopleābound and on the floor.Delilahās breath caught as recognition set in. One of them was Martin. His face, pale and streaked with sweat, was unmistakable even behind the blindfold. Next to him, a woman with wild, disheveled hair sat trembling. Unlike Martin, her blindfold had slipped off.Delilahās brows furrowed. The woman was a stranger."Who the hell is this?" Delilah demanded as she stepped clo
The hum of the taxi engine filled the evening air, but Ava's heart raced louder in her chest. Clinging to Martinās arm, she whispered, "I canāt wait. Soon, weāll be out of this country. Just you and me."Martin smiled, his hand resting over hers. "I know, love. Weāre almost there."The driverās eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, his silence a stark contrast to Avaās excitement. Martin leaned forward, his voice firm. "Can you drive faster?"The driver raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Ava chimed in, her tone pleading, "Please, we need to get to the airport quickly.""Alright," the driver muttered, his foot pressing slightly harder on the accelerator.Ava leaned back, her head resting against Martinās shoulder. His confidence reassured her. After all, he had just successfully deposited the $100 million. That kind of money could buy freedom, silence, and anything they wanted. They were untouchableāor so they thought.Martin checked his watch. Nineteen minutes to the airport. It
With the piece of paper tightly clutched in her hand, Delilah flagged down a cab and instructed the driver to take her to the address the man scribbled. The journey felt endless, her heartbeat thundering louder with every mile. By the time the cab stopped in front of a small, simple house, her palms were slick with sweat.The first thing she noticed was the padlock on the door. A wave of frustration coursed through her. "This man really thought he could run forever," she thought, gritting her teeth. She scanned the area quickly and spotted a jagged stone near the sidewalk. Picking it up, she approached the door and began hammering the padlock with all her strength. Each strike echoed like a cry of desperation in the empty street. It wasnāt until the shackle broke and the padlock fell to the ground with a clang that she stopped.Breathing heavily, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The smell of dampness and stale air greeted her. She flicked on the light switch, illumin
Delilah sat down with a huff, feeling like her chest might explode from the inconsistent rhythm of her heartbeat. She forced a smile, though the slight tremble in her hands betrayed her anxiety. "This is the original," she said, staring the Donation Acknowledgment letter across the table. "Itās the only one I was given."Helenās sharp eyes glimpsed at the letter as she leaned back in her chair, one brow arching skeptically. "I donāt think this letter is genuine," she said bluntly. "There are so many red flags here."Delilahās fingers twitched, and a faint sheen of sweat broke across her temple. Ruby, seated beside her, glanced between them and finally broke the heavy silence. "Can you just get to the point already?" Ruby said, her voice dry. "Youāre going to give Delilah a heart attack."Helen didnāt spare Ruby a glance as she placed the letter on the table and began to point out the flaws one by one. "First, there are grammar and spelling mistakes. A legitimate organization would
A yellow taxi pulled up in front of the towering building, its windows gleaming under the streetlights. Martin walked out from the building, a gym bag clutched tightly in his hand. He glanced around, his movements quick, then opened the carās back door and tossed the bag inside before sliding in next to Ava.The driver, expressionless, started the engine, pulling into the quiet street.Avaās sharp gaze shifted to Martin. Her red lips curled into a faint smirk. "Are you sure you really want to leave the country?"Martin leaned back, an easy grin spreading across his face. "Yes, Ava. Iām very sure.""Oh?" She arched a brow. "And what about your oh-so-elusive funds? Last time I checked, you were borrowing money from me because you couldnāt afford a meal."Martinās grin faltered, replaced by a look of mild annoyance. "You donāt need to embarrass me in front of the driver."Ava let out a quiet hiss, her eyes rolling as she turned to stare out the window.Martin leaned closer, his voice d
Delilah slid into the backseat of the cab, her heart hammering with excitement. The bag beside her was heavier than anything sheād carried before, but the thought of what it contained kept her adrenaline surging. She glanced out the window as the cab sped through the quiet streets. When the tall, gleaming building of Safe Haven International came into view, a smile tugged at her lips.She knew this place well. Memories of the last time sheād been here swirled in her mind, but today, everything felt different.Once the cab stopped, Delilah handed over the fare and stepped out, dragging the bulky gym bag with her. The effort made her muscles burn, but she wasnāt about to let that show. With her shoulders squared, she carried the bag into the lobby, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.The receptionist at the front desk looked up from her screen, her professional smile faltering ever so slightly when she noticed the oversized bag in Delilahās grasp. The smile retu
Helen leaned forward, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she dug into Rowan Wilderās schedule. Her eyebrows furrowed as she mumbled under her breath, "Too bad he offended Mrs. Rose."Out of nowhere, Rubyās voice cut in, startling Helen."How long is this going to take?" Ruby leaned against the back of Helenās chair, arms crossed. "I want that double pay she promised."Helen sighed, glancing over her shoulder. "Give me a few more minutes. This stuff takes time."Ruby rolled her eyes but said nothing, stepping away to let Helen work.A few minutes later, Helen pushed her chair back. "Got him."Ruby perked up, peering at the screen."Heās not heading to the studio today," Helen explained. "Heās free, and heāll be at a restaurant nearby. Small place, not too crowded. He likes his privacy.""Thatās perfect," Delilah said, her voice calm but firm. She stood in the doorway, arms folded as she listened. "Weāll move fast. Letās plan."Later that afternoon, Delilah lay flat on the rooftop
Delilah returned to the mansion late in the evening. She quickly changed into a soft, silk nightgown before joining Marco for dinner.The evening passed in quiet conversation, with Marco occasionally watching her intently as if assessing her health. After dinner, they retired to the bedroom, where Marco finally spoke."Itās been a few days since you were discharged," he said, his deep voice calm yet carrying an hint of authority. "The doctor instructed me to remove the bandage by now, so Iāll need to take care of it tonight."Delilah nodded without hesitation. She trusted him completely, though a flicker of warmth passed through her at his steady insistence on overseeing her care.She approached him, and Marco gently guided her to sit on the edge of their bed. He positioned himself beside her, his tall frame intimidating yet offering a silent reassurance."So," Marco began, his hands brushing over the bandaged area on her right hand, "how was it at the cafĆ©?"Delilah tilted her head