LOGINChapter 69 I had lost track of time in the dark. My wrists were raw from struggling against the ropes, and my shoulders ached from being forced into the same position for so long. The blindfold was still tight across my eyes, and every small sound made my heart jump. I kept thinking about Ethan. I knew he would be looking for me. I just didn’t know if he would find me in time. I was drifting in and out of a restless half-sleep when I heard it. Raised voices. A loud thud. Then another. My body went rigid. I turned my head toward the sound, straining to listen. There was a crash, like something heavy had been knocked over, followed by the unmistakable sound of a fight. Grunts. A pained yell. The sound of fists hitting flesh. I held my breath, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. Then I heard Ethan’s voice — low, furious, and deadly calm. “Where is she?” There was another scuffle. Someone grunted in pain. I heard a body hit the floor hard. More fighting. It didn’t last long, but i
Chapter 68I was still sitting in my car when the unknown number flashed across my screen again. This time it was a call.I answered immediately. “Who is this?”A distorted voice came through, calm and direct.“Meet me at the old warehouse on the east docks. Come alone. No police. No one else. If you want to see her again, you’ll be there in one hour.”The line went dead before I could say anything.My heart started pounding. This was it. They were finally making contact with actual instructions.I looked over at Damien, who was sitting in the passenger seat. We had been going over possible leads when the call came in.“I have to go,” I said.Damien frowned. “Go where?”“They want to meet. Alone. They said if I want Lila’s location, I have to come by myself.”He shook his head. “That’s a trap, Ethan. You can’t go alone.”“I don’t have a choice,” I replied, already starting the car. “They have her. I’m not risking her life by bringing backup.”Damien grabbed my arm. “At least let me fol
Chapter 67EthanI was sitting in my car outside the police station when my phone buzzed with a notification from an unknown number. A video message.My stomach dropped before I even opened it.I tapped play with shaking hands.The screen showed Lila tied to a chair, blindfolded, in what looked like a dark, empty room. She was struggling against the ropes, her head turning like she was trying to listen for something. Even through the low-quality footage I could see the fear on her face.A distorted voice came through the speaker.“Stay away from things that don’t concern you, Doctor. This is your only warning. If you keep digging, or if you involve the police again, we won’t be so gentle next time.”The video cut off.I slammed my fist against the steering wheel so hard the horn blared. My chest felt like it was caving in. She was alive. That was the only good thing. But they had her. And they were using her to control me.I called Damien immediately.He picked up on the second ring.
Chapter 66Lila POV I woke up to darkness and pain.My head felt like it was splitting open, a dull, throbbing ache that pulsed behind my eyes with every heartbeat. I tried to move, but my arms wouldn’t budge. Something rough and tight was wrapped around my wrists, pinning them behind the back of a hard wooden chair. My ankles were bound too, the rope digging into my skin. A thick piece of fabric covered my eyes, blocking out everything.Panic hit me like a wave.Where was I?My breathing quickened as I twisted in the chair, testing the restraints. They didn’t give. The air around me was cold and damp, carrying a faint smell of dust and something metallic. I could hear nothing but the sound of my own ragged breaths and the faint drip of water somewhere in the distance.I was alone. Or at least I thought I was.I tried to scream, but my throat was dry and raw. A muffled sound came out instead. I swallowed hard and tried again, louder this time.“Hello?” My voice cracked. “Is anyone th
Chapter 65 I didn’t even knock. I stormed into my father’s office like the building belonged to me. The door slammed against the wall hard enough to make the framed awards on the shelf rattle. Richard was sitting behind his desk like he always did — calm, composed, sipping something dark from a crystal glass like the world wasn’t falling apart. He looked up slowly, one eyebrow raised, completely unfazed by my entrance. “Ethan,” he said evenly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” I crossed the room in three long strides. Before he could say another word, I grabbed him by the collar of his expensive shirt and yanked him halfway out of his chair. The glass in his hand tilted dangerously. “What the fuck did you do to her?” I growled, my face inches from his. “Where is Lila?” Richard didn’t even flinch. A slow, amused chuckle escaped him as he calmly set his glass down on the desk. He looked me dead in the eye, almost bored. “I’ve done nothing to your little nurse,” he said, his voice
Chapter 64 I drove straight to the police station without thinking twice. My hands were still shaking from earlier, and my mind wouldn’t stop racing. I had checked everywhere I could think of — Lila’s apartment, Heyes’ house, even the places she sometimes went to when she needed space. Nothing. She was just gone. The officer at the front desk looked up when I walked in. I must have looked like hell because he immediately asked if I was okay. “I need to report someone missing,” I said, my voice rough. “My girlfriend. She didn’t show up at work today and no one has seen or heard from her since yesterday.” He nodded and led me to a small room. Another officer joined us shortly after. They took my statement, writing everything down as I spoke. I told them when I last saw Lila, when I started getting worried, and how I had gone to her apartment and found it locked. After I finished, one of the officers leaned back in his chair and looked at me. “Do you have any idea who might want to
Chapter 41 The night of the party came faster than I wanted. I stood in front of my mirror for almost thirty minutes, staring at my reflection. I had changed outfits three times already. Nothing felt right. Every dress either felt too tight, too revealing, or not “appropriate” enough for a Black
Chapter 40 I paced my living room for almost an hour after getting home. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Sophia’s voice again. She’s nothing but a temporary distraction. Once she’s out of the picture, he’ll fall back in line. And Richard’s cold reply about t
Chapter 39 I was heading toward the supply room to restock some IV kits when I heard voices coming from one of the smaller conference rooms near the administrative wing. The door was slightly open, and I probably should have just kept walking. But something about the tone of the voices made me slo
Chapter 38 I took a deep breath before stepping through the hospital doors the next morning. My stomach was in knots. Even though Ethan had gotten my job back, I still felt like I was walking into enemy territory. The board had cleared me, but I knew not everyone would be happy to see me. The mom







